Whatsapp 93125-11015 For Details
World
Presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping head into their big meeting at a country estate on Wednesday hoping to stabilise US-China relations after a period of tumult, but the US president also is prepared to confront his counterpart on difficult issues such as trade, Beijing’s burgeoning relationship with Iran and human rights concerns.
The two leaders, who will meet on the sidelines of a summit of Asian-Pacific leaders, last spoke a year ago. Since then, already fraught ties between the two economic superpowers have been further strained by the US downing of a Chinese spy balloon that had traversed the continental US and over differences on the self-ruled island of Taiwan, China’s hacking of a Biden official's emails and other incidents.
The two leaders are in California for the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum but will hold their one-on-one talks at Filoli Estate, a country house and museum about 25 miles (40 kilometres) south of San Francisco, according to three senior administration officials.
The officials requested anonymity to discuss the location, which had not yet been confirmed by the White House or the Chinese government due to tight security.
Govt & Politics
Navy chief flags fragile situation in South China sea (Page no. 7)
(GS Paper 2, International Relation)
The fragile security situation in the South China Sea, in addition to violations of established Codes of Conduct or Confidence Building Measures, poses a clear and present danger to order at sea, Admiral R Hari Kumar said Wednesday.
At the Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue (IPRD), he said that since the Indo-Pacific is the most militarised in the world, it further increases the probability of the competition turning into a conflict. The event was hosted jointly by the Navy and National Maritime Foundation.
Owing to the increased presence of multinational forces, and differing interpretations of international laws, there is this fear that the Region’s ‘global commons can change to contested seas.
He said that more than 50 warships of extra-regional forces continue to remain deployed in the Indian Ocean Region for different missions, such as for anti-piracy patrol off the Gulf of Aden, adding that the wider Indo-Pacific also has significant naval presence.
PM launches Rs 24k cr scheme for vulnerable tribal groups (Page no. 7)
(GS Paper 2, Social Justice)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday launched a Rs 24,000-crore project for vulnerable tribal groups on the birth anniversary of tribal icon Birsa Munda from Jharkhand’s Khunti district.
The PM Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan is meant to ensure last-mile welfare scheme delivery and protection for Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).
At a gathering in Khunti, Modi also launched the Visksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra, a nationwide programme to reach out to all villages and include those eligible for various central schemes.
The Prime Minister underlined that his government gave priority to the deprived as someday he had eaten with them, lived with them and their families.
Explaining the scheme for tribal push, he said like there are most backwards among the backwards, there are PVTGs who are backward among the Adivasi community.
They (PVTGs) did not get pucca houses, no schools for their children… but now we are reaching (out to them). Earlier, governments only added them to the data, but I am adding to their lives.
Express Network
Top court to centre: Make model for girls toilets in proportion to their numbers (Page no. 6)
(GS Paper 2, Health)
The Supreme Court has asked the Centre to set down a “national model for the ratio of the number of girls’ toilets per female student population across government-aided and residential schools in the country” before it finalises the draft National Menstrual Hygiene Policy, 2023.
A three-judge bench presided by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud also asked the government to bring about uniformity in terms of the modalities to be followed for the distribution of sanitary napkins.
The bench, also comprising Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Mishra, also asked the Centre to consider the practices followed in different States in order to arrive at the optimum policy which ensures that an adequate supply of sanitary napkins is made available to female students in schools in the requisite age group and that the modalities for distribution are facilitative in all respects.
Editorial
Ease of control (Page no. 10)
(GS Paper 3, Science and Technology)
After the much-debated and controversial introduction of the IT Rules 2021, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) released the draft Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill, 2023 on November 10.
The Bill proposes to scrap the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act of 1995, which regulates the broadcast sector, in favour of unified regulation for “broadcasting, OTT, Digital Media, DTH, IPTV”.
According to I&B minister Anurag Thakur’s comments on X, the Broadcasting Services Bill, 2023, would advance the Prime Minister’s vision for “ease of doing business” and “ease of living”, although looking at the reactions to the IT Rules 2021, which were also introduced under the pretext of national welfare, one might wonder whether the vision here is actually the “ease of control and regulation”.
Of course, introducing regulation to serve citizens is a fundamental priority of any democratic system. However, the BJP’s history with media regulation suggests anything but public service. This is because its media regulation policies have never achieved what they promised.
Economy
Trade deficit hits record high in October driven by gold imports (Page no. 13)
(GS Paper 3, Economy)
Driven by gold and silver imports during the festive season, India’s trade deficit in October surged to a record high even as India’s goods exports entered the positive territory after eight consecutive months of decline due to weak demand in the Western countries and in China due to its property sector crisis.
The trade deficit swelled to $31.46 billion in October after gold imports surged by a massive 95 per cent to $7.2 billion last month compared to October last year.
Festive demand also boosted Silver imports which leaped 125 per cent to $1.31 billion, official data released by the Commerce and Industry Ministry on Wednesday showed.
While merchandise exports jumped 6.3 per cent to $33.57 billion compared to October last year, imports surged over 12 per cent to a record $65.03 billion.
Notably, labour-intensive sectors such as gems and jewellery, textiles, and leather declined 9.82 per cent, 5 per cent, and 8.08 per cent respectively.
On the contrary, outbound shipments of electronic, and engineering goods registered a steep jump of 28.23 per cent and 7.20 per cent respectively last month compared to October last year.
India, US other IPEF member ink supply chain resillience pact (Page no. 13)
(GS Paper 3, Economy)
India, the US and 12 other members of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) entered into a supply chain resilience agreement that aims to cut dependence on China and help shift manufacturing of crucial goods to member nations.
The 14 countries that are part of IPEF include India, Australia, the US, Japan, Fiji, Korea, New Zealand, Singapore and Thailand, and make up for 40% of global gross domestic product and about a third of global goods and services trade.
India joins US and 12 other Indo-Pacific Economic Framework For Prosperity (IPEF) partners to ink the #IPEF Supply Chain Resilience Agreement, a first-of-its-kind international agreement that will fortify and strengthen global supply chains, foster adaptability, stability and sustainability.
Explained
APEC (Page no. 15)
(GS Paper 3, Economy)
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) grouping is meeting in San Francisco in the United States for the Leaders’ Week which began on November 11 and will conclude with the Economic Leaders’ Retreat.
US President Joe Biden and China’s President Xi Jinping will have their first in-person meeting in a year on Wednesday (November 15) on the sidelines of the APEC summit. India is not a member; however, India’s Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, is attending the forum.
Biden and Xi will meet amid the tensions and prolonged low in US-China relations, with issues of trade being among the major sticking points.
Among the other leaders in San Francisco this week are Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo. President Vladimir Putin of Russia has not attended any major international summits since he invaded Ukraine in February 2022, and he will be represented by Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk, who is not under US sanctions.