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China, Japan and South Korea agreed on Sunday to restart cooperation and pave the way for a summit in the latest move to ease tensions between the Asian neighbours.
Even as China and the United States seek to mend frayed ties, including a summit this month between Presidents Xi Jinping and Joe Biden, Beijing is concerned that Washington and its key regional allies are strengthening their three-way partnership.
Beijing, Seoul and Tokyo had agreed on annual summits from 2008 to bolster diplomatic and economic exchanges, but two-way rows and the COVID pandemic interrupted the plan, with the three leaders last meeting in 2019.
The three foreign ministers met in the South Korean port of Busan for their first such meeting since 2019, after officials of the three countries agreed in September to arrange a trilateral summit at the "earliest convenient time".
Front Page
India, US work on pact for quick return of stolen antiquities (Page no. 3)
(GS Paper 2, International Relation)
India is close to signing an agreement with the United States under which the process for the return of stolen antiquities will be hugely simplified.
Instead of India having to prove that the item in question belongs to it, the US will automatically offer it for return once the Cultural Property Agreement (CPA) comes through.
On being asked about the progress on the India-US agreement, a spokesperson for the US Embassy in New Delhi told, “We are eager to conclude a bilateral CPA, which would help to prevent illegal trafficking of cultural property from India to the US.”
The protection and return of cultural property is a priority for India and for the US, the spokesperson said, adding that they have been working closely with the Ministry of Culture and the Indian Embassy in Washington on this issue for close to two years.
Govt & Politics
Murmu calls for judicial service to recruit judges (Page no. 6)
(GS Paper 2, Judiciary)
President Draupadi Murmu Sunday called for the creation of an all-India judicial service to recruit judges, saying this will help make the judiciary diverse by increasing representation from marginalised social groups.
Murmu was delivering the inaugural address at the Supreme Court’s Constitution Day celebrations. She spoke on matters including gender and caste representation as well as accessibility to justice. Chief Justice of India (CJI) D Y Chandrachud also spoke at the event.
The President said the cause of justice is best served by making it accessible for all, but pointed out that barriers still exist.
Cost is the most significant factor. And there are other barriers like language, which is beyond the comprehension of a majority of citizens.
She said: “A more varied representation of India’s unique diversity on the Bench and the Bar definitely helps serve the cause of justice better.
One way to hasten this diversification process can be the creation of a system in which judges can be recruited from varied backgrounds through a process that is merit-based, competitive and transparent.”
Ideas Page
26/11 & art of remembering (Page no. 11)
(GS Paper 3, Internal Security)
In the history of terrorism, the Mumbai 26/11 terror attacks were as innovative as the 9/11 attacks on the US. While passenger airplanes were used for the first time as weapons of destruction during 9/11, the Mumbai attacks saw an unprecedented feature of live operational control of terrorist acts from foreign soil.
Also significant during 26/11 was the terrorist handlers’ capability in utilising the target country’s free electronic media for further killing and live feedback.
Competitive Indian visual media covering the Mumbai attacks beamed minute-to-minute details to the domestic audience which served as a barometer of the damage inflicted on the Indian psyche and resultant panic, the two vital aims of any terrorist group. It enabled the Pakistani handlers to calibrate attacks using the cell phones of ground-level terrorists.
Simultaneous attacks on targets totally confused an unprepared Mumbai police and public, much like the September 2001 attacks on Americans.
The elaborate subterfuge which the handlers had planned in setting up their communications through Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) by utilising foreign cell phone numbers was yet another new feature.
Explained
Centre asks states to review preparedness: What we know about the pneumonia outbreak in China (Page no. 16)
At a time when China is seeing a spike in respiratory illnesses as it enters its first full winter season after lifting Covid-19 restrictions last December, the Centre has initiated a review of the preparedness measures to combat such illnesses, saying that it is closely monitoring the situation and there was no need for alarm.
In view of the recent reports indicating a surge in respiratory illness in children in northern China in the recent weeks, the Union Health Ministry has proactively decided to review the preparedness measures against respiratory illnesses, as a matter of abundant caution.
This is noted to be important in view of the ongoing influenza and winter season that results in an increase in respiratory illness cases. Government of India is closely monitoring the situation, and indicated that there is no need for any alarm,” a statement by the Health Ministry informed.
It added: “In a letter by Union Health Secretary to States and UTs, they have been advised to immediately review public health and hospital preparedness measures viz. availability of HR, hospital beds, drugs & vaccines for influenza, medical oxygen, antibiotics, personal protective equipment, testing kits and reagents, functionality of oxygen plants and ventilators, infection control practices in health facilities, at a senior level.”
Economy
Economists estimate Q2 GDP growth rate at 6.7-7% on services, govt capex progress (Page no. 17)
(GS Paper 3, Economy)
A pickup in services, strong government-led capital expenditure and an uptick in consumption-oriented sectors, especially high-end consumption, has supported growth in the July-September quarter, with economists pegging Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate at 6.7-7 per cent.
Though growth rate is seen slowing down sequentially from the first quarter’s (April-June) growth rate of 7.8 percent amid concerns over external demand, domestic consumption demand and services in totality are likely to have contributed the maximum share to the growth for the second quarter.
Closer to the data release of the Q2 GDP data, which is slated on November 30, many economists are now expecting growth rate to be near 7 per cent.
The overall growth forecast for financial year 2023-24 is, however, being seen around 6.2-6.7 per cent as growth may moderate in the second half of the year given the input cost pressures and waning of base effect.
Both the government and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) have forecast a growth rate of 6.5 per cent each for the financial year 2023-24.
The RBI has projected 6.5 per cent growth for July-September and 6.0 percent for October-December. Last month, RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das said the GDP growth rate for the second quarter may surprise on the upside.