BHUBANESWAR l Saturday l september 12, 2026 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l JEYPORE 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 D E 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 Black Sea have disrupted shipping routes, raised freight Global trade can and insurance costs and exposed the vulonly progress if sea nerability of global supply chains. lanes are secure, Modi’s proposals came against a broader supply routes backdrop of rising protectionism, sancremain open, and tions and geopolitical fragmentation, with seafarers are safe. emerging economies seeking to build more India is a staunch supporter of resilient trade and investment links within freedom of the Global South. His pitch was to move navigation and BRICS towards measurable economic safety of seafarers integration. “The economic strength of BRICS has Narendra Modi grown at nearly twice the pace of the 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 . 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 AYA N TH J ACOB @ 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 Local currency pitch 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 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 free, dom 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. 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. , , According to the official readout, the leadIndia-Russia ers “shared perspectives on key regional and economic global issues of mutual interest, including partnership the conflicts in West Asia and the Black Sea gathers region which have impacted maritime trade momentum. and the safety and security of Indian President Putin and I participated seafarers.” in INNOPROM, The talks also covered the broader Indiabringing together Russia strategic partnership. The two leaders companies from “agreed to remain engaged ... to further both countries strengthen the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between the two countries”, Narendra Modi, PM which they said continued to show “significant growth”. 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 value-chain 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 Russiandesigned reactor site. BRICS delegates, mediapersons to get a taste of the exotic Arabica brew from Koraput’s hills Sudarsan Maharana @ Bhubaneswar From the hills of Koraput to the tables of one of the world’s biggest diplomatic gatherings, Odisha’s Koraput Coffee is all set for a global tasting experience at the two-day BRICS Summit 2026 in New Delhi. Tiger Bright, a 100 per cent Arabica coffee, grown in the forested hills of Koraput, will on p7 be served to domestic and international media delegates and guests attending the summit on September 12 and 13. The coffee was picked by the Odisha government following a communication from the Ministry of Exter nal Af fairs (MEA), as part of showcasing India’s indigenous and homegrown products during the mega international congregation. Official sources said, around Xi jinping’s first bilateral trip in seven years today 1,500 packets of the coffee, each weighing 250 grams, have been dispatched by the Tribal Development Cooperative Corporation of Odisha (TDCCOL) to New Delhi for the summit. The MEA had asked Odisha if it could contribute to the media kits under the One District One Product (ODOP) initiative, which will give the state a branding opportunity for its distinctive products. Underlin- ing the appreciation Koraput Coffee was getting in the recent times, the MEA had also asked the if it would be able to send 1,500 packets for the delegations. With the entire consignment required to reach New Delhi by September 9, TDCCOL officials said, the team went into an overdrive, with the order being delivered by air within 36 hours. India lines up 15 bilateral engagements in three days Modi gifts Putin a Russian translation of Thirukkural “As the global event is expected to bring a large contingent of international and domestic delegations and media to the national capital, it has offered us a chance to take the story of Odisha’s Koraput Coffee, its farmers and its unique forestbased cultivation model to an international audience,” said TDCCOL branch manager Rakesh Ranjan Biswal. Prime Minister Narendra unified digital payment system call for the bloc Modi himself has lauded Koraput Coffee for its exquisite flavour and hailed it as the ‘Pride of Odisha’. In one of his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ programmes last year, the PM had highlighted how this unique brew, known for its rich aroma and exceptional taste, was not only winning hearts across the country but also transforming the lives of local farmers, especially women in Koraput region. Russia exploring services, pharma import from India With over `2.43L cr proposals in bag, CM Majhi concludes UAE outreach Girl found dead, boy drinks phenyl at Sishu Ashram Gauhati HC upholds talaq-e-hassan, says it is a valid form of divorce steel and downstream industries. Major agreements included an MoU with CAZBAA Project Ventures FZCO for LNG storage while Rana Holdings Limited signed an MoU covering green energy, AI data centres and rare earths. Sharaf Group entered into an agreement for housing while PTCL Infrastructure signed another pact for steel and steel downstream industries. Investment Intents were received from Dalwin Marine and Turbo Power Engineering for ship repair, Ion Technologies Private Limited for a propellant manufacturing plant and Agrifields FZCO for fertilisers and Continued on P5 chemicals.  Jagatsinghpur: An 11-yearold girl at Sishu Ashram, a rehabilitation centre for distressed children here, allegedly died by suicide on Friday morning and in the evening a 14year-old boy at the facility drank phenyl after taking it from a toilet. Sources said the girl, who was from a village under Naugaon police limits, had been staying at the ashram for the past eight months following the death of her parents. On Friday morning, around 8 am, she was reportedly playing with other children on the ashram premises. A few hours later, she went into a room and allegedly hanged herself using her clothes.  Continued on P5 e x p r e s s ne w s s e r v i c e E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Bhubaneswar The investment outreach of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) concluded on a high note on Friday with Odisha securing proposed investments of `2,43,162 crore and employment potential of over 6.18 lakh. The three-day visit of a highlevel Odisha delegation led by Majhi to Abu Dhabi and Dubai resulted in 24 MoUs and investment intents, following 46 oneon-one investor meetings and six roundtable engagements. The final day centred on the Odisha Investors’ Meet–UAE 2026 in Dubai, attended by around 400 business leaders, in- CM Mohan Charan Majhi addressing investors in Dubai, on Friday | Express vestors and members of the UAE business community. Investment engagements on the day covered travel and tourism, logistics, financial investment, LNG storage, green energy, artificial intelligence and data centres, rare earths, ship repair, propellant manufacturing, fertilisers and chemicals, housing, @ 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-ehassan, the marriage had become void. However, the state government submitted that since the 1935 Act for divorce registration had been repealed and the post of Registrar of Muslim Marriages and Divorce consequently abolished, the petitioner’s divorce could not be registered under the repealed law. The government further submitted that the petitioner could approach the jurisdictional marriage and divorce registrar. The court held that if the petitioner satisfies the requirements under Section 12 of the Act of 2024 and its proviso, the jurisdictional registrar will record the divorce in the divorce register and if it is refused, he may seek recourse under Section 17 of the Act. The court said the wife, who was not present, was free to challenge the talaq-e-hassan before an appropriate forum.