The Centre has approved ₹944.80 crore as part of the central share from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) for Tamil Nadu, following the destruction caused by Cyclone Fengal, which hit the region on November 30. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) confirmed the release of the funds in two instalments to assist the state government in its relief efforts for the people affected by the cyclone.

Emulating the timeless lines of poet Sohan Lal Dwivedi, "Lahron se dar kar nauka paar nahi hoti, aur koshish karne walon ki kabhi haar nahi hoti" (One cannot cross the sea fearing waves, and those who try never fail), renowned international open-water swimmer Meenakshi Pahuja achieved a historic feat by swimming 17 kilometers across the Arabian Sea. She completed the journey from Rewas Jetty to the Gateway of India in Mumbai in 6 hours and 24 minutes, conquering the challenges posed by ocean currents, jellyfish, sea snakes, and fluctuating temperatures.

Tamil film Maharaja, starring Vijay Sethupathi, has made a significant impact in China, earning approximately ₹16 crore (RMB 13.37 million) at the box office on its first day of release. The movie is the first Indian film to be screened in China following a diplomatic agreement to normalize ties between the two nations after their standoff in eastern Ladakh.