Morning Digest | China backs New Delhi Declaration’s focus away from ‘geopolitics’ during G-20 summit; Ukraine says statement on Russian war ‘nothing to be proud of’, and more

The Hindu’s Morning Digest brings readers a select list of stories to start the day

G-20 Summit | China backs New Delhi Declaration’s focus away from ‘geopolitics’

China, which had strongly opposed in the negotiations leading up to the G-20 Summit any direct references to Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, finally backed the New Delhi Declaration and reaffirmed its recent calls for the grouping to stay away from “geopolitics”.

G-20 Summit | Ukraine says statement on Russian war ‘nothing to be proud of’

Kyiv on September 9 criticised the G20 leaders’ statement on the Russian invasion, which denounced the use of force for territorial gain but refrained from direct criticism of Russia by name. “Ukraine is grateful to the partners who tried to include strong wording in the text. At the same time, in terms of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, the Group of 20 has nothing to be proud of,” said Oleg Nikolenko, a spokesman at the Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Ministry.

Concerns grow over legal vacuum as India moves to repeal Section 377 in the wake of disturbing cases of sexual assault of animals

The proposed Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 Bill has stirred concern among animal rights activists in India due to the removal of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) without the introduction of any alternative provisions to address sexual crimes against animals .Section 377 states, “Whoever voluntarily has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal, shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.”

India-U.K. agree to continue to ‘work at pace’ towards a Free Trade Agreement