kottayam l saturday l september 12, 2026 l `10.00 l PAGES 14 l 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 P U SHPITA 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 and insurance costs and exposed Global trade can the vulnerability of global supply only progress if chains. sea lanes are Modi’s proposals came against a broader backdrop of rising protectionsecure, supply ism, sanctions and geopolitical fragroutes remain mentation, with emerging economies open, and seeking to build more resilient trade seafarers are safe. and investment links within the Global South. His pitch was to move BRICS toIndia is a staunch wards measurable economic supporter of integration. freedom of “The economic strength of BRICS navigation and has grown at nearly twice the pace of the rest of the world,” Modi said, de- safety of seafarers scribing BRICS nations as emerging Narendra Modi 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 p9 Xi jinping’s first bilateral trip in seven years today Talaq-e-hassan valid form of divorce, rules Gauhati HC e x p r e s s ne 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 returned to her parental home in 2018 following differences with him. Despite efforts by petitoner, she did not return to his house. Later, the man pronounced talaq-e-hassan on three different days in March, April and May this year. However, the state submitted that since the 1935 Act for divorce registration had been repealed and the post of Registrar of Muslim Marriages and Divorce abolished, the petitioner’s divorce could not be registered under the repealed law. The HC held that if petitioner satisfies the requirements under Section 12 of the Act of 2024, the registrar will record the divorce in the register and if it is refused, he may seek recourse under Section 17 of the Act. 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 JAYA N TH JACO 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 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 India lines up 15 bilateral engagements in three days 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. Modi gifts Putin a Russian translation of Thirukkural Power crisis deepens as KSEB hits supply wall M a n o j V i s w a n at h a n @ Kochi Keralam’s power crisis is set to worsen, with the KSEB’s efforts to procure additional power from generating companies failing to yield results. As demand crossed 5,200 MW on Thursday, the board extended peak-hour restrictions from 6.15 pm to 12.45 am. Officials said the peakhour period has been stretching until 2 am in recent days. With peak-hour availability capped at 4,200 MW demand surged , past 5,200 MW on Thursday night, widening the deficit by 1,000 MW. The KSEB was forced to impose at least three rounds of power restrictions, lasting 15 to 25 minutes each, to manage the shortfall. The board also resorted to overdrawing power from the Central grid, risking punitive action. According to top officials, demand peaked at 5,450 MW at 10.30 pm—levels comparable to the summer peak. Meanwhile, Chief Minister V D Satheesan held talks with Chief Secretary Biswanath Sinha and KSEB chairman M G Rajamanickam on Friday directing the latter to , explore all options to procure additional power, even at exorbitant rates. However, the effort has yielded no results, with the Board unable to procure power from either the Day-Ahead Market or the Real● More on P4 Time Market.  Sadya at Sabarimala on all days of pilgrimage season E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ T’Puram The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) has decided to serve sadya for annadanam to pilgrims at the Sabarimala temple on all days of the upcoming mandala-makaravilakku season. The board announced the decision at a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister V D Satheesan on Friday, which re- viewed the arrangements for the pilgrimage season. Other major decisions include an insurance cover of `2 lakh to families of dev- otees who lose their lives while on the pilgrimage. The TDB will roll out the scheme in association with LIC. Currently devotees are provided , food four times a day at the hill shrine. The ‘pulav’ served at noon will now be replaced with Keralam-style sadya — with six-plus curries and a payasam. The sadya will not be served on banana leaves, and new large steel plates will be bought for the purpose. The decision to provide sadya to pilgrims comes weeks after Devaswom Minister K Muraleedharan slammed the TDB over complaints that devotees were denied the customary sadya on Thiruvonam day at the shrine. “We welcome the board’s announcement. The annadanam serving will be sadya this time,” Muraleedharan told ● More on P4 TNIE. 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 India-Russia leaders “shared perspectives on key reeconomic gional and global issues of mutual interpartnership est, including the conflicts in West Asia and the Black Sea region which have imgathers pacted maritime trade and the safety and momentum. security of Indian seafarers.” President Putin The talks also covered the broader Inand I participated dia-Russia strategic partnership. The two in INNOPROM, leaders “agreed to remain engaged ... to bringing together further strengthen the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between the companies from two countries”, which they said continboth countries ued to show “significant growth”. Trade and economic diversification are expectNarendra Modi, PM ed 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 Russian-designed reactor site. unified digital payment system call for the bloc Russia exploring services, pharma import from India