Explanation: During Cyclone Michaung, an oil spill from Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited into the Buckingham Canal and Ennore Creek in Tamil Nadu highlighted environmental risks. Ennore Creek serves as a critical buffer along Chennai's Coromandel Coast, protecting aquifers in the Araniyar-Kosasthalaiyar Basin. Wetlands like Ennore Creek are vital natural defenses against disasters in Chennai's flood-prone coastal region.

Explanation: The threat by Iran to close the Strait of Gibraltar and the Mediterranean Sea underscores the strategic importance of this narrow waterway. Serving as a crucial link between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, it has significant historical and geopolitical implications for trade routes and military operations between Europe and Africa.

Explanation: The decision to name the new airport in Ayodhya after Maharishi Valmiki, as ‘Maharishi Valmiki International Airport Ayodhya Dham’, highlights a strategic move to honor the cultural heritage of Ayodhya. Scheduled for inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 30, 2023, this naming reflects efforts to promote and preserve the city's rich cultural and historical significance.

Explanation: The curtain raiser event for the India International Science Festival (IISF) 2023, held in Faridabad, Haryana, marked the upcoming event's significance in promoting scientific discourse. Scheduled at the DBT Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI) – Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB) campus, the festival aims to foster innovation and collaboration in biotechnology and allied sciences from January 17-20, 2024.

Explanation: Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin inaugurated the World Tamil Diaspora Day celebrations in Chennai, emphasizing global Tamil unity. Spanning two days, the event drew Tamils from 58 countries, showcasing cultural solidarity. It featured state ministers, representatives, industrialists, writers, and more, underscoring the cultural and social significance of the Tamil community worldwide.

Explanation: In Lakshadweep, a dispute has erupted over government claims to Pandaram lands, sparking tension with locals who assert traditional ownership rights. The conflict intensified when the administration attempted to number coconut trees, prompting allegations of potential deforestation. Officials have avoided formal statements, while a senior official downplayed concerns, calling them speculative.