chennai l sunday l october 18, 2026 l `12.00 l PAGES 24 l vellore EDITION FSSAI proposes ban on fructose, sucrose in infant food products The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India proposed a ban on adding fructose and sucrose in food products for infants up to six months old Aim is to curb early exposure to sugar Currently used as carbohydrate source According to a statement from Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, emphasis is on minimising exposure to added sugars during the earliest stages of life. “The proposed restriction seeks to ensure that infant nutrition products meet the nutritional needs of this age group without unnecessary addition of sucrose and fructose,” the ministry observed ■ ■ Under the current provisions, lactose and glucose polymers are the preferred sources of carbohydrates. Sucrose and/or fructose could be added only when required as a carbohydrate source Multiple studies have shown that early exposure to sugar creates a preference for sweetened food, leading to health issues later in life 60 days The draft notification is open for public scrutiny 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 Trump waives 17 killed in pandal stampede Russia-related curbs on India Heavy rain in Kolkata leads to human crush after pandal gates give away; several injured s u b h e n d u m ai t i @ Kolkata But US retains the right to withdraw waiver 1 P u s h p i ta D e y @ New Delhi WITH THIS ISSUE Grain of Truth PLUS 12 P AGES Dipke granted conditional bail, Neha Bora freed The US has waived punitive tariffs on countries purchasing Russian oil, temporarily relieving India of the threat of additional duties of up to 100% over its purchases of Russian crude. In an executive order signed on October 16, President Donald Trump invoked national interests to waive key tariff penalties under the new Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026. The waiver suspends the additional duties days before they were scheduled to take effect on October 18. The move provides temporary relief to India, one of the largest buyers of Russian crude, but the threat of tariffs remains as Washington retains the authority to withdraw the waiver. Trump’s move comes days after he announced that the US would import diesel from Russia, in a bid to bring down domestic fuel prices ahead of the November midterms. The US administration would continue to monitor imports of Russian-origin crude oil and natural gas by other countries and keep the President informed. The US House of Representatives passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 by 262 votes to 159 on September 16. The legislation empowers the President to impose additional tariffs of up to 100% on goods from the five largest buyers of Russian crude oil and natural gas. India and China, both major buyers of Russian crude, would have been among the countries most exposed to the proposed tariffs. India is particularly vulnerable because it imports more than 88% of its crude oil requirements. Russia emerged as its largest supplier ever since the war in Ukraine began. This newspaper had on Friday reported that India was confident it would remain protected from US sanctions over its purchases of Russian oil and gas, with government officials indicating that Washington is unlikely to penalise New Delhi. They said India was in regular discussions with the US administration. “From what we sense, the US government will not put sanctions on India. We have been in touch with the US team and India’s standpoint has already been conveyed regarding the challenges that could arise because of that,” an official had said.  Yo-yo diesel diplomacy: P12 2 I have submitted to the Congress a certification that the issuance of such a waiver at this time is in the national interests of the United States Donald Trump, US President Temporary relief The US, however, retains the power to impose additional duties of up to 100% on goods from major buyers of Russian energy 500% levy provision The Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 also provides for a 500% tariff increase on Russian goods 3 arrangement Power utility officials say TN govt warned of rise in demand in July S G URU V A NM I K A N ATH A N @ Chennai Senior officials of the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (TNPDCL) told TNIE that they had warned the Tamil Nadu government, as early as July that , electricity demand could go up, but the warnings were allegedly ignored, forcing the state to now pay up to `37 per unit for emergency power. The TNPDCL floated tenders to procure power for the period from October 12 to 31 only on October 6; by then, cheaper power available in the market had already been secured by other states. For instance, Andhra Pradesh finalised a short-term power purchase agreement on September 9, securing power at `16-`20 per unit for October. Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu has Tenders floated late The TNPDCL floated tenders to procure power for the period from Oct 12 to 31 only on Oct 6; by then, cheaper power available in the market had been secured by other states finalised agreements to procure 1,000 MW of power at `35 per unit from October 15 to 31. The power will be used only during evening peak hours and midnight hours. Recently Electricity Minister , C T R Nirmal Kumar said that the procurement was expected to increase the utility’s expenditure by around `5 crore to `7 crore a day . According to officials, the utility could have saved at least 50% of this additional expenditure if it had procured power through shortterm tenders in advance. This comes at a time when the state’s power-sector entities had a combined outstanding debt of `2.47 lakh crore as of March 31. A senior official with knowledge of the procurement discussions, speaking on condition of anonymity, said officials had raised concerns over the prolonged summer-like conditions and unexpected weather changes in July when suggesting |advance procurement to meet the demand. The minister could not be reached for comment. P5 ‘Godfather of gaana’ breathes his last at 75 UD AYA N K I S HORE @ New Delhi All India Students’ Association (AISA) leader Neha Bora was released from detention on Saturday morning, while Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke was granted conditional bail later in the day by a local court, after he signed a peace bond. Both were detained by the Delhi Police on Friday ahead of the Lehra do Tiranga protest at Connaught Place. Dipke was arrested in a fresh case for violating a peace bond furnished by him on October 10. He was produced before a special executive magistrate court, which imposed various conditions on him while granting him relief. On October 10, he was detained inside a flight at Delhi airport along with CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka. A case for breach of peace was registered. Dipke was released after signing a bond undertaking not to disturb peace for one year. He was made to sign another peace bond on Saturday . Bora was released after completing formalities related to her detention under Section 65 of the Delhi Police Act. “I was detained at Mandi House and kept here (at the police station) the whole night, until 5 am. Why are you (police) carrying out these illegal detentions,” she said. 1. Footwear scattered at the stampede site in Kolkata; 2. Kin of victims at the Calcutta Medical College; 3. A patient being stretchered into the hospital | special seventeen people were feared dead and many others injured after a downpour led to a stampede at a Durga Puja pandal on Saturday evening in Central Kolkata near Mahajati Sadan. Police authorities are yet to confirm the casualties. The tragedy occurred inside the Chorbagan Puja pandal around 7 pm. As it started raining, the crowd waiting outside the Puja pandal rushed forward, and some of them fell on the road, leading to the stampede-like situation, a police officer said. “At least 25 people were taken to the Calcutta Medical College and Hospital in serious condition,” he said. A television report said 17 people were declared dead on arrival at Calcutta Medical Col- try for more than 36 years, with his work spanning 400 films In an exclusive conversation and winning him the Tamil with TNIE, earlier this year, Nadu State Film Award for Best legendary composer and singer Music Director and the prestigDeva, while promoting his film ious Kalaimamani Award. with director Suresh After entering the Krissna, Charukesi, film industry in 1986 said, “Even if Suresh with Maattukara ManKrissna sir calls me naru, Deva reached his again for a new film tozenith during the 90s morrow, and even if it and early 2000s. is 2 am, I would sit Le gendary Tamil Deva down to compose.” film composer M S (1950-2026) Such was his passion Vi sw a n at h a n c o n for the craft. ferred the moniker “Thenisai The 75-year-old veteran com- Thendral” upon Deva during a poser died of cardiac arrest on felicitation ceremony in 1985 — Saturday . a year before Deva set foot in Born Devanesan Chokkalin- cinema — recognising his milegam on November 20, 1950, stone of composing over 300 Deva reigned in the film indus- tracks in music albums. P5 P r as h a n t h V a l l ava n @ Chennai French rage Flames ravage Lyon’s tourism office after it was set on fire by a mob during a protest against the “high cost of living” in France, on Saturday as part of a nationwide call for mobilisation of students, climate activists, farmers and others | AFP | P9 lege in Bowbazar police station area, while more than 30 others were admitted. West Bengal ch i e f m i n i s t e r S u ve n d u Adhikari and Chief Secretary Manoj Agarwal have reached the Calcutta Medical College to take stock. This is perhaps the first incident of stampede at a Durga Puja pandal in West Bengal. Health Minister Saradwat Mukherjee and senior officials also rushed to the hospital. Disaster management personnel have been deployed at the site. “Deeply shocked and saddened to learn about the stampede at the Chorbagan puja pandal. I pray for the speedy recovery of all those injured and for strength and courage for their families during this difficult time,” former chief minister Mamata Banerjee said. insulator fault Man dies after HT line falls on him at bus stop R A J A L A K S HM I S A MPATH @ Chennai A 66-year-old machine operator, who was waiting at a bus stop near Thiruninravur flyover, died of electrocution after an 11-kV high-tension line fell on his leg around 8.30 am on Saturday . The victim — Kannaiyan, a native of Mannargudi in Tiruvarur district — had been working at a masala manufacturing firm near Thiruninravur for the past two years, earning around `20,000 a month. He lived in Nazarathpet and commuted by bus. Police sources said that as Kannaiyan was standing with an umbrella at the unsheltered bus stop, next to a police booth and a railway bridge, the live wire fell on his leg. He suffered a severe electric shock and collapsed. Bystanders alerted the electricity board and police, but the victim could not be rescued immediately as the power supply remained active. The line later tripped, by which time Kannaiyan had died. A senior TNPDCL official said the line had fallen on him before it tripped, resulting in his immediate death. The official said, “A probe is on to ascertain whether the circuit breaker in the substation was functioning properly during the time of the incident.” P5 e x p r ess r e a d Two mins accounted for 99% of TVK’s donations Chennai: The ruling TVK has declared receiving contributions totalling `13.3 crore from four donors during FY26, according to a report filed with the ECI. Of the total amount received, two ministers — Aadhav Arjuna and R V Ranjithkumar —together accounted for a donation of `13 crore (99.25%) | P4 CHILD MODE call Children have fundamental right to internet access, rules Supreme Court s u c h i t r a ka lya n m o h a n t y @ New Delhi DEclaring that access to and use of the internet is a ‘fundamental right’ for every individual, including children, the Supreme Court has directed the Central government to create a national database for detection and removal of Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Material (CSEAM) on digital platforms. Crackdown on subscription-based sexual content The Supreme Court has taken serious note of lapses by social media platforms in curbing sexually explicit visual content depicting minors and directed that every intermediary must ensure no such material is offered, hosted, uploaded or promoted through a paywall or subscription, either directly or indirectly A bench comprising justices JB Pardiwala and K Vinod Chandran suggested introducing “child mode” for social media accounts, with greater emphasis on parental consent and oversight. “We have no hesitation in saying that the right to access and use the internet is a fundamental right of every individual under Article 21 read with Article 19(1)(a) of the Con- stitution. Our children, irrespective of their age, enjoy the same rights ... the safety of our children and their freedom are not at odds with each other.” The bench made these obser- vations while hearing a plea by Just Rights for Children Alliance (JCRA). The bench acknowledged that the internet is far from safe for children but held that keeping children away because of the failures of intermediaries to detect and remove harmful material would amount to mistaking the victim for the problem. “Children do not cease to use the internet merely because the law prohibits them from do- ing so, and they continue to use the same,” the bench said. The bench also directed that National Hash & URL List Database be set up for detection and removal of CSEAM, and said any entry in the database should be made after multiple tiers of verification, with the final screening being done by at least three trained human analysts who independently determine whether the material constitutes CSEAM.