A look at the headlines today:
1. SC verdict today on Chidambaram's bail plea in money laundering case
The Supreme Court is scheduled to pronounce verdict today over Congress leader P. Chidambaram's plea seeking bail in the INX Media money laundering case. A bench headed by Justice R. Banumathi had on November 28 reserved judgment on the appeal filed by Chidambaram, who challenged the November 15 verdict of the Delhi High Court denying him bail in the case. During the arguments, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had claimed in the apex court that the 74-year-old former finance minister continues to wield "substantial influence" on crucial witnesses in the case even from the custody, while he said that the agency cannot "destroy" his career and reputation by making baseless allegations. Opposing his bail plea, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the ED, maintained that economic offences like money laundering are grave in nature as they not only affect the nation's economy, but also shake people's faith in the system, especially when it is committed by people in power.
2. India to gift interceptor vessel to Maldives today
In sync with deeper security ties with the Maldives, India is set to gift an interceptor vessel to the island nation today. India will also launch three community development projects, besides initiating the process to roll out RuPay card in the Maldives and an LED lighting project in its capital Male. These projects will be launched during a video conference between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. The ties between the two countries are on an upswing after Solih became president in November last year. RuPay card facilitates electronic payment at all Indian banks and financial institutions.
3. Sweden's King and Queen to visit Mumbai today
Swedish royal couple King Carl Gustaf Folke Hubertus and Queen Silvia Renate Sommerlath will be in Mumbai today. The royal couple and the delegation accompanying them will have a lunch meeting with Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari. The King and the Queen are on a five-day official visit to India. On Monday, they met top government officials including Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Delhi. The couple will land in Mumbai today morning and head straight to Versova beachfront to participate in a beach cleaning programme with UN Earth Champion Afroz Shah, after which they will head to the Raj Bhavan for lunch. In the afternoon they will visit the Doorstep School for under-privileged children and interact with its founder Bina Lashkari in south central Mumbai, and later attend a dialogue on gender parity. Members of the visiting delegation will be having business meetings at a south Mumbai hotel in the afternoon.
4. US Congresses passes Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act
The United States Congress has passed the Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act, which, among other things, proposes that America redirects resources to address the mass internment of over 1,000,000 Uyghurs and other Muslim ethnic minorities in China. The move by the House of Representatives is expected to generate a sharp reaction from China. The Act, which calls for an end to the detaining, torture and harassment of the Uyghur communities in China, was passed by the Senate earlier. By passing this bill, Congress is showing that the US will not turn a blind eye to the suffering of the oppressed, House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy said. "As with the Hong Kong Democracy and Human Rights Act, we are sending a simple but powerful message to the Communist Party: power cannot be maintained at the expense of the rights of the people without substantial consequences, he said. Senators Marco Rubio and Bob Menendez, Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said that the bill is an important step in countering the totalitarian Chinese government's widespread and horrific human rights abuses in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.
5. Larry Page, Sergey Brin step down; Sundar Pichai promoted as Alphabet CEO
Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin have announced that they are stepping down from the leadership role of the parent company Alphabet. Google CEO Indian-American Sundar Pichai (47), will be assuming the role of Alphabet CEO, making him one of the most powerful corporate leaders of the world. Considered as a significant shakeup in the Silicon Valley company, an announcement in this regard was made by Page and Brin in a letter to the company employees, which also included a statement from Pichai. With Alphabet now well-established, and Google and 'Other Bets' operating effectively as independent companies, it's the natural time to simplify our management structure, wrote the two Google co-founders. "We've never been ones to hold on to management roles when we think there's a better way to run the company," they said. "And Alphabet and Google no longer need two CEOs and a president. Going forward, Sundar will be the CEO of both Google and Alphabet. He will be the executive responsible and accountable for leading Google, and managing Alphabet's investment in our portfolio of Other bets," said Page and Brin.
6. Premier League: Jose Mourinho's anticipated Old Trafford return today
Jose Mourinho says his time at Manchester United is "a closed chapter" and he is only interested in beating them when he takes his in-form Tottenham side to Old Trafford on Wednesday. It is the new Tottenham manager's first return to the touchline at United's home ground since his sacking by the club last December. "This is a closed chapter for me," said Mourinho, who has won all three of his matches in charge of Spurs. "I left the club, I took my time to process everything that happened, I took my time to prepare myself for the next challenge. "Honestly, United for me is in my book of experiences, it's in my history book." United are struggling under Mourinho's successor, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, but go into the game just two points behind fifth-placed Spurs. "It is not for me to analyse United now," Mourinho said at his pre-match press conference. "I analyse them as an opponent, how they play. How can we beat them? How can they beat us? For me that is the important thing." Mourinho is excited about the prospect of returning to Old Trafford.
7. ISL: After hat-trick of draws, Odisha eye win against Bengaluru
Odisha FC will look to break their string of draws with a victory when they host defending champions Bengaluru FC at the Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex today. Josep Gombau's side come into this tie after playing out three successive draws, two goal-less results against ATK and Kerala Blasters, followed by a 2-2 draw away to Chennaiyin FC. The pattern of play in all these matches have been similar. They dominated the ball with slick movement and passing, but failed to take their chances and convert their dominance into results. As Gombau seeks to deliver results, he faces a tough challenge in Bengaluru FC. The Blues are undefeated in the league so far and boast a water-tight defence which has conceded only two goals in six matches. "It is a beautiful game against Bengaluru, who are one of the strongest sides and the current champions of the ISL. I think it will be an interesting game because both teams play similar football. I am happy with the way we are preparing well for this game and the mentality of the team," said Gombau. Odisha will bank on Aridane Santana, who has scored four goals so far, to help breach the Bengaluru backline. But much will depend on playmaker Xisco Hernandez who has the ability to carve open any defence. He has also shown his eye for goals, having scored three so far.
