Mumbai: Each Christmas, the city’s churches, homes, and gaothan squares are temporarily sublet to the Holy Family. Depending on the available real estate, they appear either as a compact nuclear unit — Baby Jesus, Mother Mary, and St Joseph — or accompanied by a sprawling entourage of angels, shepherds, cattle, and kings. Space also determines scale — from finger-sized figurines to life-size tableaux housed in custom-built sheds.While Christmas staples like the tree, the Advent wreath, and the star have remained largely unchanged in form and function, the Nativity scene has evolved with the times. Many contemporary cribs go beyond the familiar mise-en-scène of a hay-strewn manger beneath a star-lit roof to articulate messages that speak to present-day social and environmental realities, and occasionally, political ones.The Nativity scene at St Pius X College, Goregaon, is a diptych titled “Persecuted Peacemakers”. It features on the one side Christians targeted and killed for their missionary work and campaigns for social justice, such as Fr Stan Swamy, Sr Rani Maria, Graham Steines, and members of Manipur’s Kuki-Zo community persecuted for their faith. And on the other, Christians who forgave their attackers, such as Pope John Paul II. The crib, says the concept note, serves as a reminder that “faith grows even in the midst of trial, and that from the wounded community seeds of reconciliation and peace can be born”. Baby Jesus, at the centre of the scene, is the beacon of peace.“The theme is inspired by Pope Leo’s prayer intention for December 2025 ‘for Christians in areas of conflict’,” said Fr Prashant Padu, director of Propaedeutic Year (leading the foundational year for men studying to become priests). The conception and execution of the crib is assigned to the first-years, who settle on a theme after a month of brainstorming, research and reflection. “We think up a couple of ideas and pray over them for at least two days. This is followed by another round of discussions to shortlist themes,” explained Fr Padu. The themes ‘Christian persecution’ and ‘love for the poor’ ran neck and neck this year. He asked the young candidates to research both, but Pope Leo’s message on persecution tipped the scales in its favour.Interestingly, unlike most cribs that are unveiled on Christmas Day itself, the one at St Pius was inaugurated on December 19, a day before the seminarians went home for the holidays.At St Pius X Church in Mulund, the Nativity sets Jesus, a symbol of hope, against a distinctly modern idol of pleasure and promise: the cellphone. The tableau is dense with symbolism. On one side, solitary figures bent over their phones inhabit a cityscape of blue-tinted skyscrapers; on the other, communities gather in fellowship on green lawns. A bionic hand rises from the ground to point towards the cellphone, while a human hand descends from the sky to gesture at the manger — both hands a span apart, framing a choice between tech-driven dreams and God-given hope.At the nearby St Pius X High School, a more traditional scene unfolds, with the manger set against hills and fields — a bucolic landscape peopled by the customary Nativity attendants. On closer inspection, however, the shepherds reveal themselves to be shepherdesses and women farmers, churning butter, gathering fruit, fetching milk — and thankfully, also resting and chatting. The display, says Fr George Athaide, parish priest of St Pius X Church, anticipates the International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026, a theme selected by the UN to highlight the roles women play in agrifood systems. (In India, agriculture employs about 80% of rural women, according to NITI Aayog.)Another thematic binary unfolds at St Peter’s Church in Bandra, where an Old Monk factory faces off with an NGO. One side of the landscape is dominated by the sticks and stones of consumerism — bars, shops, entertainment venues, and the other by hospitals, schools, and nonprofits. The backdrop echoes this divide, laid out like a split mood-board, with words such as “partying” and “social media” ranged against “outreach” and “family time”. “We discussed more complex themes but realised that children might not understand them. Since it is usually young people who visit the cribs, we decided to choose a theme they would find easy to grasp,” said Althea Sequeira, vice-president of St Peter’s Youth, the group that worked on the Nativity scene alongside the parish’s confirmation students.Several streets away, a seemingly conventional Nativity at St Anne’s Church reveals an environmental message rooted in grass and native plants — an invitation to appreciate and conserve God’s gift of nature. “The crib endeavours to use natural material and display the beauty of grasses and plant material that are normally viewed as wild or waste,” said Premila Martis Parera, who led the team of volunteer-parishioners, but calls herself the chief procurement officer for sourcing the material, which ranged from old whiskey tubes to foraged grasses. “Beauty is present in creation all around us. We just need to observe and give thanks.”St Francis of Assisi created first first Nativity sceneSt Francis of Assisi is credited as the creative director of the first Nativity scene, staged 802 years ago in the hill town of Greccio, Italy, about 80 km north of Rome. Accounts suggest that his time in the Holy Land between 1219 and 1220 inspired him to recreate a living tableau of Christ’s birth, emphasising the poverty and simplicity that marked it. Two weeks before Christmas, he instructed a friend to set up the scene at a cave in Greccio—where a hermitage had been built for him—and at Christmas Mass, illuminated with torches and candles, the first Nativity was brought to life.

Australia head coach Andrew McDonald opened up about veteran off-spinner Nathan Lyon’s injury ahead of the Boxing Day Test against England during the ongoing Ashes 2025-26 series. McDonald stated that Lyon is determined to return to the Australian cricket team after undergoing surgery for a torn hamstring.

Lyon suffered a hamstring injury late on the final day of the Adelaide Ashes Test against England. The veteran spinner hurt himself while stretching near the boundary at fine leg to stop a four. After receiving medical attention, Lyon left the field clutching his hamstring and was ruled out of the remainder of the series.

He’s Pretty Shattered – Andrew McDonald on Nathan Lyon

Nathan Lyon remains an important part of Australia’s plans despite concerns about his future. Andrew McDonald said that the spinner is deeply disappointed but eager to bounce back.

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After undergoing surgery, Lyon is still expected to remain with the Australia squad during the fourth Ashes Test, which is set to begin on Friday, December 26, in Melbourne. Lyon had suffered a calf problem that ruled him out of the 2023 Ashes in England.

“He’s pretty shattered,” McDonald told cricket.com.au late Tuesday. “He’s a huge part of what we do. “He’s facing a long recovery timeframe. That type of injury, it’s going to be a hard period for him to get back to where he was. “But he still wants to do it and that’s the main thing.”

India’s On the Horizon, He’ll Be A Key Part of It – Andrew McDonald

Australia’s Test schedule gives Nathan Lyon time to recover without rushing his return. After the final Ashes Tests in Melbourne and Sydney, Australia will not play another series until mid-2026, when they will travel to Bangladesh.

Australia are set to face New Zealand and South Africa before a demanding five-Test tour of India in early 2027, followed by the 150th anniversary Test against England. McDonald said the focus is on Lyon completing his rehabilitation and being ready for those key assignments.

“India’s on the horizon, he’ll be a key part of that,” McDonald said of Lyon. “We’ve got New Zealand (and) South Africa before that. So, get through this rehab and then (we’ll) look forward.”

Nathan Lyon Replaced by Todd Murphy for Final Two Tests

Nathan Lyon has been a key part of Australia’s Test team for many years. He has played 141 Tests, including 100 consecutive matches between 2013 and 2023. Australia used two spinners in some matches in the subcontinent, but Lyon remained the first-choice spinner at home.

Lyon has also spoken about his future plans. He has said many times that he wants to tour India and England with Australia in 2027. By then, he will be close to 40 years old, but is still keen to keep playing.

With Lyon ruled out, Australia have picked Todd Murphy as the main spin option for the fourth Ashes Test in Melbourne. The 25-year-old was preferred over Matthew Kuhnemann, Corey Rocchiccioli, and Mitchell Swepson.

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Navi Mumbai airport opens today with 30 domestic flights (Picture credit: PTI)

MUMBAI: Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) opens to commercial operations on Thursday after years of missed deadlines, opening a second gateway for air travel in the Mumbai region. The day will see four airlines operating about 30 domestic flights at India’s newest greenfield airport. The first scheduled arrival will be an IndiGo flight from Bengaluru, touching down at 8 am, while the first departure will also be operated by IndiGo, a morning service from Navi Mumbai to Hyderabad, scheduled to take off at 8.40 am. The terminal building will open to departure passengers around 6.40 am, said an NMIA spokesperson.“On Day One, domestic services will be operated by IndiGo, Air India Express, Akasa Air and Star Air connecting NMIA to nine destinations across India. The airport will handle 15 scheduled departures on the first day,” said an NMIA spokesperson.“During the initial phase, NMIA will operate between 8 am and 8 pm, with up to 24 scheduled daily departures to 13 destinations and the capability to manage up to 10 aircraft movements per hour. From Feb 2026, operations are planned to progressively scale up to round-the-clock services,” the spokesperson added. “Passenger services from day one will be supported by Digi Yatra-enabled contactless processing at designated touchpoints, along with trained terminal staff across kerbside, check-in, security and boarding areas,” the spokesperson said. Conventional check-in counters too will be available for passengers not opting for Digiyatra. Retail and food and beverage offerings have been curated with a focus on affordability and local preferences, the airport said.In its initial phase, NMIA opens with terminal 1 and one operational runway; the terminal building has a capacity to handle 20 million passengers annually, but it is expected to touch that number before mid-2026. The terminal building can accommodate about 2-3 million passengers beyond its declared capacity. The new airport is 45-50 km from North Mumbai, 35-40 km from South Mumbai and 35-45 km from the eastern suburbs.

NEW DELHI: India has recorded steep declines in malaria, tuberculosis, maternal and child deaths, signalling what the government calls a decisive, results-driven phase in the country’s public-health journey.Addressing the Advancing Public Health Outcomes Forum 2025 on Wednesday, Union health minister JP Nadda said the gains were based on sustained political commitment, strong scientific capacity and people’s participation, rather than isolated programmes. “Disease control and immunisation outcomes today are the result of institutional strength and Jan Bhagidari,” he said.Incidence of malaria has dropped by over 80%, with deaths down 78%, shifting India from a high-burden to a high-impact phase. Incidence of tuberculosis has fallen from 237 cases per lakh population in 2015 to 187 per lakh — a 21% decline, nearly double the global average. Maternal mortality has reduced from 130 per lakh live births in 2014 to 88 in 2025, while infant mortality has declined from 39 to 27 per 1,000 live births. Under-five and neonatal mortality rates have also fallen far faster in India than globally.At the forum, four national reports reviewed progress on malaria, tuberculosis, lymphatic filariasis and immunisation. While they show that sustained programmes have sharply reduced the disease burden across most regions, they warn that the final phase of elimination will be the most demanding.The malaria assessment found transmission persisting in tribal, forested and hard-to-reach areas, with emerging risks in some urban pockets. As cases fall, experts cautioned that asymptomatic infections could be missed unless surveillance remains strong.The lymphatic filariasis report flagged gaps in post-treatment districts, especially in urban slums, industrial belts and migrant settlements. Uneven drug uptake, weak follow-up and limited morbidity care could threaten the 2027 elimination target despite years of mass drug administration.On tuberculosis, expanded diagnostics, digital tracking & newer regimens have improved outcomes, but poverty, malnutrition, migration and co-morbidities continue to drive transmission. Disruptions in care for migrants & the growing burden of post-TB lung disease among survivors were highlighted as major concerns.The immunisation assessment pointed to strong childhood coverage but warned of problems beyond early life—gaps in adolescent and adult vaccination, data inconsistencies and the absence of a life-course immunisation strategy.Strengthening primary healthcare remains central to the government’s approach. Nadda reiterated the goal of one Ayushman Arogya Mandir for every 2,000 people, noting that over 30,000 centres have already achieved national quality certification.

Mumbai: Summoning BMC chief Bhushan Gagrani for the second consecutive day, the Bombay high court came down heavily on the civic administration for failing to implement its own air pollution mitigating guidelines. It accused BMC of “doing nothing” to curb pollution and of poor oversight that failed to ensure dust-mitigation at construction sites.Stopping construction work was not the solution, constant and surprise monitoring with coordinated reporting from ground was, said the HC, which was hearing a suo motu PIL on unchecked air pollution in Mumbai.A bench of Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam Ankhad let the dust settle only after “concrete suggestions” to rein in non-compliant sites. They directed that civic squads begin “random, but periodic surprise visits daily” from December 29 and asked BMC to publicise its 28-point guidelines to improve the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) in various media.The HC suggested that the squads be given button cameras and GPS trackers and members do not carry their cellphones during site visits. One phone can be with the driver for any emergency. “No one should know of the visit,” the CJ stressed.Questioning why the compliance was so slack, the HC pointed out that there were at least 125 big construction projects worth minimum Rs 1,000 crore each which could easily afford the cost to implement the mitigating measures to curb pollution.The squads could start at least with the 36 sites that were visited by the HC-appointed inspection committee, senior counsel Darius Khambata, assisting as amicus curiae (friend of court) said. The HC said there should be fear in the mind of project proponents and BMC must publish consequences of non-compliance of pollution norms.The HC, in the first half of the hearing, grilled the BMC on the widespread non-compliance of its mitigating guidelines and posted the matter at 4pm summoning Gagrani again, observing that its senior counsel S U Kamdar “didn’t have instructions” to provide proper suggestions. “How many sites visited since 2pm yesterday?” the CJ asked. When Kamdar said of the 94 squads, 39 visited sites, the HC expressed dissatisfaction. Kamdar, and later Gagrani, said many staffers were on poll duty. The HC was unimpressed. “You should have applied for exemption from the election commission.” Janak Dwarkadas, senior counsel for the intervenor NGO Vanshakti, said, “It appears the right to life of citizens is subservient to election duty.” He suggested that BMC must stop new construction permissions if compliance at existing ones is a problem. The HC orally agreed.Tejesh Dande, counsel for NMMC, said the Navi Mumbai civic body will in 6 months add 52 more AQI monitors every 2 sq km and wants CCTV cameras at every construction site.The CJ asked about steps for construction workers. MPCB senior counsel Ashutosh Kumbhakoni said it has set up a panel to meet with the labour board for action to ensure safety of workers and of 22 RMC sites visited said seven were found non-compliant.The HC will now hear the PIL on Jan 20, 2026 for compliance.

BHOPAL: “My son survived, but he returned to me without his sight,” said Tikku Yaduvanshi (36), his voice breaking as he recalled the 116 days his five-year-old son had battled for life after consuming the toxic cough syrup Coldrif in Parasia town, in MP’s Chhindwara district. “He cannot see, he cannot walk properly, and I cannot leave him even for a moment. How do I go back to work now?” Tikku said.The boy is among the few children to survive the killer cough syrup tragedy that claimed the lives of 26 children across Chhindwara and Betul districts. After more than four months of hospitalisation across multiple cities, he was finally discharged from AIIMS Nagpur on Monday night – alive, but with severe, and possibly irreversible, damage.For Tikku, a former employee of a private finance company, survival has come at an unbearable cost. He has not received a salary for the past four months, defaulted on housing loan EMIs, sold his cattle, and mortgaged his wife’s jewellery to fund treatment and sustain his family during the prolonged hospital stay in Nagpur. “We were four people staying there – my wife, two other family members and I – paying for food, rooms, everything, while our child was fighting for life. Govts and officials might come and go, what we have lived through in these four months cannot be put into words,” Tikku said.His son’s ordeal began on August 24, when Tikku first took him to paediatrician Dr Praveen Soni in Parasia. Two days later, as complications developed, he returned to the doctor. On September 1, Kunal was rushed to Nagpur and admitted to a private hospital. As his condition worsened, he was shifted to AIIMS Nagpur on September 11, where treatment continued for over three months. While the state govt has assured financial assistance towards medical expenses, Tikku said it barely scratches the surface. “Whatever money we receive will go into repaying the loans we took for his treatment. It does not cover our stay, food, or the debts we piled up just to keep him alive,” he said.Complete recovery remains uncertain. Doctors have not been able to say whether his son’s vision will return. “I want the govt to tell me – will it bear the cost of his future treatment,” he asked. “I have heard there are better facilities for eyesight treatment in Chennai. My child did nothing wrong. At least give him a chance,” he added. The Coldrif syrup tragedy has led to arrests, suspensions, and an SIT probe. Paediatrician Dr Praveen Soni, his wife Jyoti Soni, and the manufacturers of the syrup – Tamil Nadu-based Sresan Pharmaceuticals – have been named as accused. Yet, for families like these, accountability offers little comfort. “My son survived death. Now we are just praying he can see the world one day, and that we are not left alone to fight this battle,” Tikku said.

The US Justice Department released nearly 30,000 additional pages of documents linked to Jeffrey Epstein, marking the largest disclosure yet in the long-running investigation into the late financier and convicted sex offender. The files also contained many of mentions of US President Donald Trump, although it includes an email from a prosecutor pointing out the flights that Trump took on Epstein’s private jet during the 1990s.The Department of Justice said that some material includes “untrue and sensationalist claims” about Trump that were submitted to the FBI shortly before the 2020 election. The department said those allegations were unfounded and false, but the records were being made public in the interests of legal transparency, with protections in place for Epstein’s victims.

Among nearly 30,000 pages of material is now available on the official Justice Department website.An FBI intake report dated October 27, 2020, records a tip from a former limousine driver. According to that report, the driver described a disturbing phone conversation he claimed he overheard in 1995 involving Trump and Epstein. The driver’s account says the woman later told him she had contacted police about what had occurred, and was then found dead in January 2000 by suicide. The details in the file are heavily redacted, and the authorities have made little to no determination about the allegations’ credibility.In an accompanying statement on X on Tuesday, DOJ addressed the claims. It said some documents contain “untrue and sensationalist claims made against President Trump that were submitted to the FBI right before the 2020 election.”The authotrity described the allegations as lacking any credible basis. “To be clear: the claims are unfounded and false, and if they had a shred of credibility, they certainly would have been weaponised against President Trump already,” the department said. The DOJ reitarated its commitment to transparency and the legal requirement to release the records, but also said that the inclusion of such claims in the files does not make them factual.Trump has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein. In public statements this week, the MAGA chief called the focus on the Epstein case as a distraction by Democrats, asserting that he “cut ties” with Epstein long before the pedophile’s arrest in 2019.The release covers a range of material, not just the unverified rape allegation. Internal emails in the files show Trump was recorded as having travelled on Epstein’s private jet in the 1990s more times than previously known — at least eight flights between 1993 and 1996. Trump’s association with Epstein in the 1990s is well documented, but inclusion in flight logs or social records is not itself an accusation of illegal behaviour.DOJ is constantly being pressured by Democrats for not releasing the full bulk of files. Supporters of the Transparency Act say the public has a right to see government records, even if they contain unverified claims.The latest release follows criticism of an earlier batch of Epstein records, some of which were temporarily removed from the DOJ’s online portal amid concerns about protecting victims’ identities. Authorities later restored those files after determining no victims were shown in the disputed photos.

South Africa National Cricket Team captain Temba Bavuma has finally addressed the controversial Eden Gardens episode that overshadowed an otherwise historic Test match last month. The opening Test between India and South Africa ended dramatically inside three days, with the Proteas sealing their first Test victory in India after 14 years.

However, the first Test between India and South Africa will be remembered for the controversial episode involving Temba Bavuma, Jasprit Bumrah, and Rishabh Pant. During the game, stump mic audio picked up comments from Bumrah and Pant that were widely criticized for mocking Bavuma’s height.

What Did Temba Bavuma Say About the Eden Gardens Row?

They called the Proteas captain “Bauna (dwarf),” and that remark sparked massive backlash, and later the head coach, Shukri Conrad, justified his “grovel” remark on India while citing Pant and Bumrah’s remark on Bavuma following their historic 2-0 whitewash in Guwahati.

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Now, Temba Bavuma explained that series against India are always intense, and emotions can spill over when the competition heats up. The skipper has stressed that aggression and passion are part of the contest, as long as basic respect between players remains.

Temba Bavuma wrote in his column for ESPNCricinfo: “A series against India is always going to be intense, and when it’s heated, it makes it even more of a spectacle and motivates the players further. As long as the respect is still intact between players, it’s all good with whatever happens on the field.”

Temba Bavuma opens up about the apology from Rishabh Pant and Jasprit Bumrah

The South African captain revealed that both Bumrah and Pant later approached him and apologized. Bavuma made it clear that while words spoken on the field are not forgotten, they are not carried as grudges either, and there is no bad blood between them.

Bavuma further recalled, “I know from my side there was an incident where they said something in their language about me. At the end of the day two senior players, Rishabh Pant and Jasprit Bumrah, came and apologized. When the apology was made, I was in the dark about what it was about; I hadn’t heard it at the time, and I needed to check in with our media manager about it.”

The Proteas captain signed off by saying, “What happens on the field stays on the field, but you don’t forget what is said. You use it as fuel and motivation, but there are no grudges per se.”

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Why Test Series 2-0 Win is a “Massive Moment” for South Africa?

On the other hand, Bavuma described South Africa’s 2-0 Test series win in India as a massive moment for the South Africa team. He highlighted how rare the achievement was, pointing out that their last series victory in India came way back in 2000.

South Africa’s 2-0 victory in the recent Test series after more than two decades showed how far the team has come and underlined their growth as a strong Test side, said Bavuma.

Looking back, Bavuma recalled tough memories from his earlier tours of India. In 2015, South Africa lost the series 3-0, and he featured only in the final Test in Delhi. The 2019 tour was even harder, with India winning all three tests against the Proteas side.