Drug-Addict Jalandhar Man Crosses India-Pak Border, Detained

A man from Punjab's Jalandhar, who is addicted to drugs, crossed the India-Pakistan border and was detained by the Pakistani Rangers. Sharanjit Singh, a native of Jalandhar's Bhoypur village, crossed the border into Pakistan on November 2, according to the police. Shahkot's Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Sukhpal Singh said Sharanjit's family filed a missing persons report on November 7.

However, the family got to know about Sharanjit's whereabouts weeks later when a photo of him handcuffed by the Pakistani Rangers went viral on social media.

Victim's Friend Left Him At Town Close To Pak Border

Speaking to NDTV, Sharanjit's parents said that he left the house on the evening of November 2. Sharanjit's friend Mandeep left him at Khemkaran, which is located just four kilometres from the Pakistan border. When Singh didn't return, his parents enquired about his whereabouts from Mandeep.

Mandeep lied to the family for several days but eventually revealed that he left Sharanjit at Khemkaran. On November 21, the family were left devastated after they received news through social media that Singh had been detained in Pakistan.

The man's family has appealed to the central government to bring him back home.

Shahkot's Station House Officer (SHO) Balwinder Singh said that after the missing persons report was filed on November 7, the Border Security Force (BSF) requested information about Sharanjit, following which it was revealed that the man crossed the border.

Victim Had Case Filed Against Him

Sharanjit's family said that he had been a wrestler for the last 10 years. However, he started using drugs in 2024.

Sharanjit became an addict and would often disobey his family and fight with them. His elder brother has been living in the United States for the last eight years, while his sister is a student in Punjab.

Earlier, a first information report (FIR) was registered against Sharanjit in connection with a brawl, and he was released from jail on October 17. 

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Toxic Syrup Survivor, 5, Returns Home After 115 Days, But Without Eyesight

In a tragedy that claimed the lives of 24 children across Madhya Pradesh after they consumed a poisonous cough syrup, a five-year-old boy from Chhindwara has returned home after a 115-day battle for survival, carrying both the scars of the tragedy and a story of extraordinary resilience.

Kunal Yaduvanshi, a resident of Jatachhapar village in Chhindwara district, was among the children who fell critically ill after consuming the cough syrup 'Coldrif'. While 24 families lost their children, Kunal survived after months of intensive treatment, prolonged dialysis, and continuous medical intervention.

His return has brought back life and sound to a house that had remained silent for over three months.

However, the survival has come at a cost. The toxic effects of the syrup have left Kunal with permanent damage to his eyesight, and he is currently unable to see. He is also facing difficulty in walking, and doctors say his recovery will be long and uncertain.

Kunal fell ill on August 24 after developing a mild fever. His family took him to a local doctor, Dr Praveen Soni, who prescribed medicines and the cough syrup. Instead of improving, Kunal's condition rapidly deteriorated. Medical tests later revealed that the syrup had severely damaged both his kidneys, leading to acute kidney failure.

As his condition worsened, Kunal was referred to Nagpur on August 30. His father, Tikku Yaduvanshi, took him there the next day, where he was admitted to multiple hospitals, including AIIMS Nagpur. For nearly a month and half, the child underwent painful daily dialysis. Doctors informed the family that given the extent of kidney damage caused by the toxic syrup, the chances of survival were extremely low.

Despite the grim prognosis, Kunal continued to fight. After 115 days of intensive treatment, he was finally discharged and brought back to his village.

Doctors say that the toxic effects of the syrup also caused severe damage to his eyes. The fluid in his eyes dried up, leading to loss of vision. The neurological impact of the poisoning has also affected his mobility.

For Kunal's family, however, his survival itself is nothing short of a miracle.

"He was slipping away from us every day. We had almost lost hope," his father said. "Now he is back with us. Even if he cannot see right now, we believe he will recover slowly."

Doctors say the child will require long-term medical care, rehabilitation, and monitoring. His parents and doctors remain hopeful that, just as he defied death, he may also gradually recover some of what he has lost.

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Navi Mumbai Airport To Begin Commercial Flight Ops From Tomorrow

The Adani Group-promoted Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) will commence commercial flight operations on Thursday, according to a statement.

First conceived in 1997 by Maharashtra's city planning agency, City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO), Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the airport in 2018.

The airport was inaugurated by the Prime Minister on October 8 this year.

At the foundation-laying ceremony, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had announced that the "first flight from Navi Mumbai International Airport will take off in December 2019".

Since 2021, Adani Airports Holdings Limited (AAHL), a subsidiary of Adani Enterprises Limited (AEL), has led the development, construction, and operational readiness of the greenfield airport, progressing it from accelerated construction to phased commercial operations within a compressed time frame.

Now, finally, the airport, inspired by India's national flower, the lotus, the terminal architecture integrated cultural identity, contemporary design and sustainability features, is set for operations after nearly eight years, which also includes two years of the pandemic.

The development is expected to reduce congestion at the existing Mumbai International Airport, besides significantly boosting capacity in the MMR.

On the first day, IndiGo, Air India Express, Akasa Air and Star Air will operate domestic services, connecting the new facility to nine destinations across India, the private airport operator said on Wednesday.

The airport will handle 15 scheduled departures on the first day, it said, adding that during the initial phase, the facility will operate for 12 hours -- 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 (arrivals and departures) per hour, it added.

The first phase of the five-phased airport has been built at a cost of Rs 19,650 crore.

Spread across 1,160 hectares, the airport will have one terminal and one runway in the first phase, with an annual passenger handling capacity of 20 million.

By the time all five phases of the airport are completed, it will be catering to 90 million passengers annually, along with dedicated cargo terminals and multimodal connectivity.

The entire project is being developed in multiple phases under a special purpose vehicle, Navi Mumbai International Airport Ltd (NMIAL), in which the Adani Group has a 74 per cent stake, and the remaining 26 per cent is owned by CIDCO.

From February next year, operations are planned to progressively scale up to round-the-clock services, the airport operator said.

The opening adds a critical new gateway for a region that has faced sustained congestion for over a decade, it said, adding that planned as part of a distributed aviation framework, NMIA supports Mumbai's transition to a multi-airport system aimed at improving capacity, operational resilience and long-term scalability.

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 private airport operator said.

Retail and food and beverage offerings have been curated with a focus on affordability and local relevance.

With operations set to begin tomorrow, NMIA is expected to strengthen Mumbai's role as a global gateway and support long-term economic growth through expanded aviation capacity, the airport operator stated.  

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

(Disclaimer: New Delhi Television is a subsidiary of AMG Media Networks Limited, an Adani Group Company.)

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"Pathetic Trainwreck": Trump Says Stephen Colbert Should Be "Put To Sleep"

On the eve of Christmas, President Donald Trump has unleashed a fresh blast of vitriol at late-night comedy talk shows, saying comedian Stephen Colbert is a "pathetic trainwreck" who should be "put to sleep."

Colbert's "The Late Show" is scheduled to end in May 2026, a decision his fans say smacks of censorship.

In a late-night Truth Social post, Trump wrote that Colbert "has actually gotten worse" since being "terminated by CBS, but left out to dry." 

"Stephen is running on hatred and fumes. A dead man walking! CBS should, 'put him to sleep,' NOW," Trump wrote.

Colbert has hosted "The Late Show" since 2015, and it has been the highest-rated late-night talk show on US television. His opening monologues often take aim at the Republican president.

There was no immediate public response from Colbert or CBS to Trump's post. 

CBS announced the sunsetting of Colbert's show after one more season in July, the same month its parent company reached a $16 million settlement with Trump. CBS called the cancellation "a purely financial decision."

Trump had sued Paramount, alleging that CBS News' "60 Minutes" program deceptively edited an interview with his 2024 election rival, Kamala Harris, in her favour.

In another overnight post, Trump repeated threats to yank the broadcast licenses of networks whose content he deemed overly critical. 

"If Network NEWSCASTS, and their Late Night Shows, are almost 100% Negative to President Donald J. Trump, MAGA, and the Republican Party, shouldn't their very valuable Broadcast Licenses be terminated? I say, YES!" 

On Sunday, CBS's new editor-in-chief, Bari Weiss, pulled a "60 Minutes" segment on alleged torture at El Salvador's CECOT prison -- where Trump sent hundreds of deported Venezuelans -- saying it needed more reporting. 

In August, Disney-owned ABC briefly suspended its late-night star, Jimmy Kimmel, before bringing him back on a one-year contract.

Kimmel had annoyed conservatives with comments in the wake of the murder of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk.

Trump appears to be aiming to reshape the US media landscape, which he says is biased against conservatives.

His appointee to head the Federal Communications Commission, Brendan Carr, turned heads when he told a Congressional hearing that "the FCC is not formally an independent agency," implying that his actions could justifiably be aligned with the political priorities of the White House.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Dhurandhar Actor Naveen Kaushik Reveals Why Pakistanis Are Loving The Film

Aditya Dhar's Dhurandhar has been unstoppable at the box office. Led by Ranveer Singh, the film's plot revolves around gangs of Karachi's Lyari Town. The film has been watched in Pakistan, and social media has been abuzz with reactions. Now, Naveen Kaushik, who played the character of Donga in the film, has opened up about why it seems to have had an impact on the audience in Pakistan.

What's Happening

• In conversation with Live Hindustan, Naveen Kaushik spoke about how he has noticed that the reactions coming in from Pakistan deeply reflect how people of that country realise that the film does not disrespect them.
• He said, "Maine ek cheez notice kari hai ki wahan se jo comments aa rahe hain... unhone ye notice kiya hai ki film mein humne wahan ki logon ko gaali nahi di hai, humne unko criticise nahi kiya hai. Humne Muslim community ko koi gaali nahi di hai. Koshish yahi rahi hai ki uss system mein jo corrupt log hain, ya jo agents hain jo poore mahaul ka misuse kiya aur aisi situations create kari jahan India pe attack ho rahe hain... humne unko highlight karne ki koshish kari hai. (I have noticed in the comments that the Pakistani audience has realised that the film has never talked ill about them, never criticised them. We have not abused the Muslim community. We have tried to highlight those corrupt people who have taken advantage of the situation and manufactured such attacks on India.)"
• He added, "Toh woh cheez wahan ke log bhi yahi recognise kar rahe hain ki, 'Haan, ye log humare desh ka bhi bhatta bitha rahe hain.' (This is what the Pakistani audience has recognised: yes, these are the people who have caused the trouble.)"
• "Toh log usse relate kar paa rahe hain ki hum bhi kehna chahte the, hum bhi chahte the ki aise logon ke upar sawal uthe. Unko koi target karein na ki woh ki ek insaan ke liye poora desh kharab hai, woh kehna galat hoga. Isliye film ko dekh kar pyaar bhej rahe hain, which is nice," concluded the actor. (They have related to the fact that these people must be questioned. They must be targeted... not the entire country, which would not serve the purpose. That is why the film has received so much love.)"

About Dhurandhar

Besides Ranveer Singh, Dhurandhar stars Akshaye Khanna, Arjun Rampal, Sanjay Dutt, R. Madhavan, Sara Arjun, and Rakesh Bedi in important roles.

Dhurandhar has emerged as a blockbuster, earning over Rs 600 crore in India. The film opened strongly with Rs 103 crore in its first weekend (Rs 28 crore on Friday, Rs 32 crore on Saturday, and Rs 43 crore on Sunday) and maintained momentum through weekdays, ending week one at Rs 207.25 crore.

The second weekend saw a surge, while weekdays stayed solid. By the third weekend, collections reached Rs 555.75 crore. The film continues its record-breaking run as 2025's biggest hit. After 19 days, the film's total collection stands at Rs 619.3 crore nett in India, as reported by Jio Studios.

Dhurandhar 2 Update

During the post-credit scene of Dhurandhar, the makers revealed that the sequel will release on March 19, 2026. Taran Adarsh shared that Dhurandhar 2 will hit screens in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam.

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No Study Says Only 9% Aravalli Above 100 Meters: Forest Survey Of India

The Forest Survey of India (FSI) has issued a rebuttal to recent media reports and interpretations suggesting that its studies or data indicate only 9% (approximately 8.7-9%) of the Aravalli hills rise above 100 meters in height, implying that 90% of the range would lose protection following the Supreme Court's judgment dated November 20. 

In a post on X, the FSI, responsible for assessment and monitoring of the forest resources of the country, clarified that it has not conducted or endorsed any specific study claiming that merely 9% of the Aravalli range qualifies as hills above 100 meters, nor has it concluded that 90% of the hills would be left unprotected as a result of the top court's recent order.

The backstory

The controversy stems from the Supreme Court's landmark judgment on November 20 in long-pending matters related to mining and environmental protection in the Aravalli Hills and Ranges. 

The court accepted a uniform definition recommended by a high-level committee under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC). This definition classifies landforms as "Aravalli Hills" if they rise 100 meters or more above the local surrounding terrain (relief), with adjacent areas and slopes included, and "Aravalli Ranges" as clusters of such hills within 500 meters of each other.

The ruling aimed to resolve longstanding inconsistencies in how different states defined the Aravallis, which span across Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujarat, and Delhi. The court also imposed a freeze on new mining leases until a comprehensive Management Plan for Sustainable Mining is prepared, emphasising the range's critical role in preventing desertification, recharging groundwater, and acting as a natural barrier against dust storms from the Thar Desert.

Media reports and environmental groups have cited internal assessments - reportedly from the FSI - showing that, in Rajasthan alone, only about 1,048 out of 12,081 mapped hill formations (rising at least 20 meters) meet the 100m threshold. This equates to roughly 8.7%, leading to claims that over 90% of the Aravalli system could lose legal safeguards against mining, construction, and other activities.

These interpretations have sparked widespread protests in Rajasthan and Haryana, with environmentalists warning of accelerated ecological degradation, increased desertification risks, and threats to the Delhi-NCR region's air quality.

FSI's Clarification
The FSI emphasised that the figures being circulated do not represent an official FSI study concluding widespread loss of protection. It stated:

> "FSI categorically refutes claims in certain sections of the media that it has carried out any study saying that only 9% Aravalli is above 100 meters."

The organization further clarified:

> "FSI categorically refutes claims in certain sections of the media that it has carried out any study showing that 90% of the hills in Aravalli would be left unprotected following the recent judgement of Supreme Court" 

The FSI's position aligns with government clarifications, including statements from Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, asserting that the new definition - when applied to entire hill systems, contours, and surrounding areas - will actually bring over 90% of the Aravalli region under protected status. Officials have described the 100-meter criterion as a globally accepted geological standard (drawing from classifications like Richard Murphy's), aimed at preventing misuse and ensuring objective, map-verifiable boundaries.

Broader Implications
The Aravalli range, often called India's oldest mountain system (dating back over 2 billion years), has been a focal point of environmental litigation since the 1990s. Previous Supreme Court interventions, including bans on mining in certain areas, were driven by concerns over irreversible damage from quarrying.

While environmental activists and opposition leaders have labelled the new definition a potential "death warrant" for much of the range, the government and the court maintain that it strengthens uniform protection and sustainable regulation.

The FSI's rebuttal comes amid ongoing debates and protests, with calls for more inclusive criteria (such as slope-based definitions previously used by the FSI) to better capture the ecological continuity of the low-relief hills and ridges.

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Professor Suspended Over "Atrocities Against Muslims" Question In Exam Paper

A professor at Delhi's Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) was suspended after a question he set in a semester examination triggered widespread controversy and outrage on social media. 

The university has also constituted an inquiry committee to probe the matter, officials said.

The controversy centres on a 15-mark question in the BA (Hons) Social Work first-semester examination, held earlier this week, in a paper titled 'Social Problems in India'. 

The question asked students to "discuss the atrocities against Muslim minorities in India, giving suitable examples".

Prof Virendra Balaji Shahare created the test. 

Following complaints, the university said it took a "serious view" of what it described as negligence and carelessness on the part of faculty member.

"An inquiry committee has been formed to examine the issue. Until the committee submits its report, the concerned professor has been placed under suspension," a university official told NDTV. 

The official added that the move was taken to uphold academic responsibility and institutional discipline.

An order signed by officiating registrar CA Sheikh Safiullah, and circulated widely on social media, confirmed the suspension "till further orders". 

The order also stated that "Prof Shahare's headquarters during the suspension period would be New Delhi and he shall not leave the headquarters without prior permission of the Competent Authority".

The same order mentioned that a police FIR would be filed "as per rules". However, university officials later clarified that there was no intention, at present, to register an FIR against the professor.

"There is no proposal to file any police case against the faculty member. The matter is being examined internally through a committee," an official said, seeking to clear confusion arising from the wording of the order.

Images of the question paper began circulating online on Monday, prompting sharp reactions from several users, who questioned the appropriateness of the wording and alleged political or communal bias. 

The issue gained further traction after Kanchan Gupta, senior adviser to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, shared the suspension notice on X.

Jamia Millia Islamia suspends Social Work Dept professor for extremely provocative and communally polarising question in Semester 1 question paper. Inquiry ordered. FIR being filed.
JMI is a Central University with a mixed student community. The question shows malicious intent. pic.twitter.com/GSHzJOsg2o

— Kanchan Gupta 🇮🇳 (@KanchanGupta) December 23, 2025

"Jamia Millia Islamia is a central university with a mixed student community. The question shows malicious intent," Gupta wrote, criticising the paper setter.

While Jamia Millia Islamia has not issued a detailed public statement beyond the suspension order, sources said the inquiry committee will examine how the question was framed and approved, and whether it violated university norms or examination guidelines.

The findings of the committee are expected to determine the next course of action in the case.
 

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