Vladimir Putin conveys to PM Modi his inability to attend G20 summit; Sergey Lavrov to attend
New Delhi, Aug 28: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin who conveyed his inability to attend the G20 Summit on September 9 to 10 in India and said Russia would be represented by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
The two leaders also reviewed progress on a number of issues of bilateral cooperation and exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual concern, including the recently concluded BRICS summit in Johannesburg, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin in its readout said "a mutual commitment" to the consistent implementation of "large-scale projects" in the energy sector and joint work on the expansion of international transport and logistics infrastructure was "expressed" during the conversation.
It said the significance of the decision on the expansion of BRICS at its summit in Johannesburg last week figured in the conversation and that they emphasised that it will undoubtedly contribute to the growth of the grouping's influence in international affairs.
The PMO said PM Modi and President Putin reviewed progress on a number of issues of bilateral cooperation and exchanged views on regional and global issues of "mutual concern", including the recently concluded BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) summit in Johannesburg.
"President Putin conveyed his inability to attend the G20 summit in New Delhi on September 9-10 and informed that Russia would be represented by Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov," the PMO said in a statement.
"While expressing an understanding for Russia's decision, the PM thanked President Putin for Russia's consistent support to all initiatives under India's G20 Presidency. The two leaders agreed to remain in touch," it added.
India is hosting the G20 summit in New Delhi in its capacity as the current president of the grouping.
Putin did not travel to Johannesburg for the BRICS summit from August 22-24 and joined some of its key sessions through video conferencing.
The Kremlin also said that topical issues of "Russian-Indian relations, steadily developing in the spirit of the special and privileged strategic partnership, were touched upon."
"The positive dynamics of trade and economic cooperation was underscored. A mutual commitment to the consistent implementation of large-scale projects in the energy sector and joint work on the expansion of international transport and logistics infrastructure was expressed," it said.
The Kremlin said Putin once again warmly congratulated Modi on the successful landing of the Chandrayaan-3 on the Moon near its South Pole and that they reaffirmed the willingness to further develop bilateral cooperation in the space exploration sector.
"The results of the XV BRICS summit in Johannesburg were discussed. The significance of the agreements reached, primarily, the expansion of BRICS, which will undoubtedly contribute to the growth of its influence in international affairs, was emphasised," it said.
In a landmark move, the top leaders of the BRICS nations last week decided to admit Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates as full members of the grouping that is largely seen as a counterweight to Western powers.
"The sides agreed on close interaction in the context of Russia's BRICS chairmanship starting on January 1, 2024. An exchange of views was also held with regard to the upcoming G20 summit in New Delhi," it added.
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Supreme Court takes suo motu notice of news over dog bite leading to rabies
New Delhi(PTI): The Supreme Court on Monday took suo motu cognisance of a media report of dog bite incident leading to rabies, saying it contained some "alarming and disturbing figures".
A bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan termed the news item published today in Delhi edition of English daily Times of India as "very disturbing and alarming".
The news report was about the death of a six-year-old girl, who was attacked by a rabid stray dog, in the national capital.
Taking cognisance of the news report, the bench said, "The news item contains some alarming and disturbing figures and facts."
It said every day, hundreds of dog bites were being reported in the city and on its outskirts, leading to rabies and ultimately, children and aged were falling prey to the dreadful disease.
"We take suo motu cognisance of this news item," the bench ordered.
It asked the apex court registry to register it as a suo motu petition in public interest.
"Let this order be placed along with the news report before the Chief Justice of India for appropriate orders," the bench said.
On July 15, while hearing a separate plea alleging harassment over feeding of community dogs in Noida, the apex court had asked the petitioner, "Why don't you feed them in your own house?"
The top court told the petitioner's counsel, "We should leave every lane, every road open for these large hearted people? There is all space for these animals, no space for humans. Why don't you feed them in your own house? Nobody is stopping you."
The observations came in a plea arising out of a March 2025 order of the Allahabad High Court.
The petitioner claimed harassment and said she was unable to feed community dogs in line with the Animal Birth Control Rules.
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