vijayawada l saturday l september 12, 2026 l `9.00 l PAGES 14 l late city EDITION SC seeks timeline for FSSAI’s food warning label rollout Supreme Court has asked FSSAI to come up with more clarifications on its planned labels of nutrients of concern — fat, sugar and salt ‘clarify threshold levels of nutrients’ sc for nutritional literacy in schools Food Safety and Standards Authority of India proposed phased implementation of front-of-package labelling (FoPL) on packaged foods high in added saturated fat, added sugar and salt. The bench asked FSSAI how it proposed to identify sweetened beverages which fall under Phase I; and what are threshold levels of the specific nutrients for such beverages ■ ■ A bench of justices J B Pardiwala and K Vinod Chandran also asked the Centre how it plans to increase nutritional literacy in schools while flagging that children are under risk of unhealthy eating behaviours The bench said FSSAI should revisit its design of the FoPL labelling keeping in mind consumer behaviour and online sale of food products 10 days time granted to fssai to file its affidavit on the sc’s queries CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA ■ BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOgGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI 1 Modi suggests study to remove the bloc’s top 10 trade barriers, supporting 100 startups a year to expand into other BRICS markets and creating 1,000 new business partnerships annually 2 3 Maritime security mandatory for expanding global trade, says PM, warning economic growth and supply-chain resilience could not be separated from the security of shipping routes Putin highlights BRICS’ growing economic weight relative to G7, saying the former accounted for over 40% of global GDP over the past five years, compared with 29% for the G7 4 Modi holding Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s hand and walking side-by-side along with other global leaders showed not just solidarity, it sent a loaded message to the US Big PM push for BRICS trade integration Security, peace, minerals widen ties with Russia PUSHPITA DE Y @ New Delhi Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday called for a threepillar strategy to deepen trade within the expanded BRICS grouping, while stressing that stronger economic integration would depend on secure sea lanes, open supply routes and the safety of seafarers as geopolitical conflicts increasingly disrupt global commerce. Addressing the BRICS Business Forum here, Modi urged the BRICS Business Council to identify and remove the bloc’s top 10 trade barriers, support 100 startups every year to expand into other BRICS markets and create 1,000 new business partnerships annually, with progress reviewed every year. “As BRICS enters its third decade, I would like to urge the BRICS Business Council: Can you prepare a report on removing the top 10 trade barriers among BRICS nations? Can we support 100 BRICS startups annually to scale up in other BRICS markets? Can we forge a thousand new partnerships among our businesses? We should review our progress on these three parameters every year,” Modi said. At the same time, Modi placed maritime security at the heart of his vision for expanding global trade, warning that economic growth and supply-chain resilience could not be separated from the security of shipping routes. This carries significance as conflicts in West Asia and the Global trade can Black Sea have disrupted shipping routes, raised freight and insurance only progress if costs and exposed the vulnerability of sea lanes are global supply chains. secure, supply Modi’s proposals came against a routes remain broader backdrop of rising protectionopen, and ism, sanctions and geopolitical fragmentation, with emerging economies seafarers are safe. seeking to build more resilient trade India is a staunch and investment links within the Global supporter of South. His pitch was to move BRICS tofreedom of wards measurable economic integration. navigation and “The economic strength of BRICS has safety of seafarers grown at nearly twice the pace of the Narendra Modi rest of the world,” Modi said, describing BRICS nations as emerging hubs for innovation and solutions. The economic agenda unfolded alongside a sharper geopolitical message from Russian President Vladimir Putin, who criticised sanctions and what he described as coercive economic pressure. Putin also sought to highlight BRICS’ growing economic weight relative to the Western-led G7. “Over the last five years, more than 40% of the world GDP has been produced by the BRICS countries, whereas the contribution of the so-called G7, the Group of Seven—I don’t know why they call that the Group of Seven—stands at only 29%,” he said. Putin stressed that Russia is not working against anyone. “What we are doing is not against anyone. We are in favour of our interests,” he said while calling for greater cooperation in infrastructure, logistics, finance and technology . on p7 Xi jinping’s first visit to India in seven years today j aya n t h j a c o b @ New Delhi Prime Minister Narendra Modi walks hand-in-hand with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian along the red carpet of the BRICS Business Forum. Russian President Vladimir Putin and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa also seen in the picture | PTI India, Iran seek long-term ties J AYANTH J ACO B @ New Delhi INDIA and Iran have agreed to pursue a long-term, ‘win-win’ approach to their bilateral relationship as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian held talks against the backdrop of an escalating conflict in West Asia. The meeting, held on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit, was the second interaction between the two leaders in two weeks. They had met on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Bishkek on August 31. “From Bishkek to Delhi, the productive discussions continue,” Modi said after the meeting. He said the two sides discussed the India-Iran friendship and agreed on the need to take the relationship forward with a Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu pulled up ministers, secretaries, collectors and other officials over delay in clearing files, and stressed the need for faster decision-making to ensure efficient administration. He pointed out that some officials were not interested to go through the files related to their respective departments, but were very much interested in checking their WhatsApp messages. Reviewing the status of file clearance on the second and final day of the Collectors Conference at the State Secretariat on Friday Naidu expressed dis, pleasure over officials taking excessive time to clear files. He appreciated those who disposed of files within two days or less, and particularly commended of ficials who cleared them within hours. The Chief Minister advised Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said the existing global financial system remains vulnerable because of its concentration on a limited number of currencies. He called for a stronger shift toward local currencies in BRICS trade long-term perspective. The escalating situation in West Asia figured prominently in the discussions. “The prevailing situation in the region was also discussed. India remains steadfast in its commitment to the pursuit of enduring peace,” Modi said. According to the official readout, Modi reiterated India’s India lines up 15 bilateral engagements in three days Focus on clearance of files, not on WhatsApp messages: CM to officials S V i s w a n at h @ Vijayawada Local currency pitch ministers taking up to four days to clear files to expedite the process. He also took serious exception to the absence of some officials at the Collectors’ Conference, and directed Chief Secretary Sai Prasad to obtain explanations from them. Revealing that ministers M Ramprasad Reddy Kollu Ravin, dra and Payyavula Keshav were taking more time to clear files, Naidu noted that all the ministers should expedite the file clearance. The Chief Minister said a 360-degree assessment of IAS officers would be prepared after obtaining feedback from P4 various stakeholders.  consistent position that all issues in the region must be resolved through “dialogue and diplomacy”. He underscored the need for continued efforts to ensure lasting peace and stability, while safeguarding freedom of navigation and commerce and the safety and well-being of seafarers. Speaking at the BRICS Business Forum, Pezeshkian called for greater use of national currencies in trade among BRICS members. “One of the most important steps is to expand the use of national currencies in trade among the members,” he said, stressing that the move should be accompanied by mechanisms for managing currency risks and enabling reciprocal settlements. Modi gifts Putin a Russian translation of Thirukkural TTD puts cap on number of private vehicles on hills B M u r a l i @ Tirumala In a historic first, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, in coordination with the Tirupati police and TTD Vigilance Wing, has implemented a strict traffic regulation protocol to cap the overwhelming influx of private vehicles travelling up to the hills. The unprecedented intervention sets a daily threshold permitting a maximum of 10,000 to 15,000 private vehicles to ascend the Tirumala ghat roads. Once this cap is reached, all remaining private vehicular traffic will be halted at the Alipiri checkpoint at the foothills. To prevent inconvenience to pilgrims, the administration has structured a seamless doorstep public transit mechanism, guiding them directly into P4 designated foothill parking bays.  Talaq-e-hassan is a valid form of divorce: Gauhati HC e x p r e s s n e w s s e r v i c e @ Guwahati THE Gauhati High Court has ruled that talaq-e-hassan is a valid form of divorce and is not prohibited in India. Justice Arun Dev Choudhury passed the order on September 8 after hearing a petitioner, Rakibul Bhuyan, who sought registration of his divorce pronounced through talaq-e-hassan, where a husband pronounces the word talaq once a month over three straight months. According to the petitioner, he got married in 2016 but his wife left him and returned to her parental home in 2018 following differences with him. Despite efforts by the petitioner, she did not return to her husband’s house. Later, the man pronounced talaq-e-hassan on three different days in March, April and May this year in the presence of witnesses. The petitioner argued that following the pronouncement of the third talaq-e-hassan, the marriage had become void. However, the state government submitted that since the 1935 Act for divorce registration had been repealed and post of Registrar of Muslim Marriages and Divorce consequently abolished, the petitioner’s divorce could not be registered under the repealed law. The court said the wife, who was not present, was free to challenge the talaq-e-hassan before an appropriate forum. PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said “dialogue and diplomacy” remained the way forward to resolve conflicts as he and Russian President Vladimir Putin reviewed an expanding India-Russia agenda spanning maritime security, critical minerals, industrial partnerships and civil nuclear cooperation. Modi said India was ready to assist in peace efforts. In a post on X after the meeting, Modi said the two leaders discussed closer trade ties, including implementation of the Programme for Economic Cooperation 2030, as well as cooperation in infrastructure, energy, technology, defence and culture. Prime Minister According to the official readout, the leaders “shared perspectives on key reonce again gional and global issues of mutual interreiterated that est, including the conflicts in West Asia dialogue and and the Black Sea region which have imdiplomacy was pacted maritime trade and the safety and security of Indian seafarers.” the way forward The talks also covered the broader Inin resolving dia-Russia strategic partnership. The two conflicts and leaders “agreed to remain engaged ... to India stood ready further strengthen the Special and Privito assist in peace leged Strategic Partnership between the two countries”, which they said continefforts ued to show “significant growth”. MEA readout Trade and economic diversification are expected to shape the next phase of the relationship. India and Russia are working towards a $100 billion bilateral trade target by 2030, even as the sharp increase in Russian energy imports has widened the trade imbalance. The economic agenda is moving beyond oil and defence. Rail and tunnelling cooperation is being explored as part of an industrial push. Critical minerals is another strategic priority Officials said . the two sides are looking at cooperation across exploration, processing and recycling. Both countries are also examining a potential steel valuechain partnership, spanning raw materials to finished products. Civil nuclear cooperation remains another key pillar. Discussions also covered nuclear fuel-cycle cooperation and life-cycle support for existing Russian-designed reactors in India, while keeping alive talks on a second Russian-designed reactor site. unified digital payment system call for the bloc Russia exploring services, pharma import from India