It’s Christmas and there’s much to cheer for as the year ends. In Australia, the Indian cricket team is gearing up for the Boxing Day Test. As many as 90,000 people are expected to witness the clash at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground. There’s a curious history to how the name for a match right after Christmas came to be known as Boxing Day. It has much to do with broadcasting rights and the good old power of marketing. Interestingly, the term comes from the tradition of wealthy families preparing boxes of gifts for the less fortunate as a goodwill gesture. This time around, the stakes are high with the two teams tied 1-1 after three Test matches. Cricket fans could be in for a spectacle. On that note, let’s get to today’s edition. Big Story The Supreme Court on December 13 restrained the Enforcement Directorate (ED) from accessing and copying content from electronic devices seized during searches conducted on “lottery king” Santiago Martin, his relatives and employees in November. The ED’s searches came after a complaint by the Meghalaya Police that Martin’s Future Gaming company had "illegally" captured the lottery business in the state. Why is this significant? The top court's order could set precedence for other ongoing cases, including those related to Amazon India and NewsClick. It restricts ED from impinging on the right to privacy and prevents the accused from incriminating themselves. A rethink: This order might prompt a significant change in how the ED operates, especially while confiscating mobile phones or laptops of citizens. Earlier, too, an order by the Supreme Court forced the ED to change tack on how it registers cases. Only in Express The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is all set for some internal reform. Who would be the next party chief? We will only know by the end of February next year after the party holds its internal organisational elections. But one thing is certain: The candidate would have the stamp of approval from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). After a brief period of friction between the BJP and RSS during the Lok Sabha elections, their resounding victories in Maharashtra and Haryana elections have proven that both sides benefit from working together. From the Front Page Furore: It's not just the ED facing the music over the seizure of electronic devices of citizens. Journalists in Kerala are up in arms after the police demanded that a fellow journalist produce his mobile phone as part of an ongoing probe. The police are trying to figure out how Aniru Asokan got his hands on a “highly secret” agenda document of the Public Service Commission. But Asokan refused to reveal his source. Meet and greet: Preparing for Donald Trump’s arrival at the Oval Office, India has sent Ministry of External Affairs S Jaishankar on a six-day visit to the United States. With an eye on deepening ties with the US, Jaishankar is expected to engage with both the outgoing Joe Biden administration and the Trump team. Huddle: As India's economic growth slows, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stressed the need for new and bold reforms in a meeting with economists. With just over a month left for Union Budget 2025-26, the suggestions by the economists could set the tone for what is to come. One subject that dominated discussions was taxation, with economists flagging the need to reduce taxes in the country. Must Read Make in India: The government wants to reduce the dependence on imports for laptops. The reasons are two-fold: One, India cannot increase duties on laptops, PCs and similar IT products under its commitment to the World Trade Organization (WTO). And second, there's a growing security concern over the major chunk of laptops manufactured in China. There’s a need to boost domestic manufacturing, and the government has a plan. Towards social cohesion: “Poll after poll has shown that divisive politics and polarisation have, unfortunately, become potent electoral weapons,” writes Arun Prakash. In an Opinion piece, the former Navy chief reflects on what we can learn about diversity from both the late Tabla maestro Zakir Hussain and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. And Finally. Nearly 37 years ago, under the Rajiv Gandhi government, India banned the import of Salman Rushdie’s The Satanic Verses amid much sound and fury. Just a month-and-a-half ago, the current government failed to produce the said 1988 notification in court. The book has now made a quiet return on the bookshelves, for now only at Delhi's Bahrisons Booksellers. Before you go, tune in to today’s episode of the ‘3 Things’ podcast, where veteran journalist and contributing editor Neerja Chowdhury joins the host to reflect on the biggest events that shaped Indian politics this year. That’s all for today! Until tomorrow, Sonal Gupta
