kochi l sunday l october 18, 2026 l `12.00 l PAGES 24 l late city 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 18 killed in Kolkata stampede Russia-related curbs on India s u b h en d u m a i t i @ Kolkata 1 But US retains the right to withdraw waiver P u s h p i ta De y @ New Delhi 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 Conditional bail granted to Abhijeet Dipke UD AYA N KI S H O R E @ 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. 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 . WITH THIS ISSUE Grain of Truth PLUS 12 P AGES 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 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. 2 1. Footwear scattered at the stampede site in Kolkata. 2. A patient being stretchered into the hospital | special arrangement Waqf Board reconstitution sparks discontent E x p r ess N e w s S e r v i c e @ Kozhikode The reconstitution of the Kerala Waqf Board by the UDF government — dissolving the existing one — has triggered opposition from various corners, with the powerful Kanthapuram group of Sunnis declaring open protests over its non-inclusion. The reconstitution of the board, with IUML leader M C Mayin Haji as chairman, was announced through a gazette notification on Saturday A to. press Intake ED affixes summons at Pinarayi’s residence | P4 France protests turn violent | P9 Rift widens in Cong as Sudhakaran joins chorus criticising state govt A N N A J O S E @T’Puram Brewing resentment within the Congress has found a fresh outlet as more Congress leaders rallied behind Mathew Kuzhalnadan, MLA, in his open criticism against the UDF government’s stand in the CMRL pay-off case. Close on the heels of Kuzhalnadan accusing the government of going soft on former chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, an array of leaders joined the criticism. The biggest jolt against the leadership, especially Chief Minister V D Satheesan, came from former KPCC president K Sudhakaran, who lashed out at the government on Saturday night. Taking an indirect dig at Satheesan, Sudhakaran wondered whether there is a capable government in power. “We support Mathew Kuzhalnadan who has political clarity No one can threaten or . intimidate him. We are here to stand by him and protect him,” Sudhakaran said in an apparent message to Satheesan, with whom Kuzhalnadan had a tiff at the parliamentary party meeting the other day Criticising the government, . Sudhakaran urged it to take legal action. If there is a strong government, it should take action against Pinarayi. “I don’t know whether such a government is in office now,” he wondered. Significantly Sudhakaran’s open , support to Kuzhalnadan comes at a time when there is growing unease within the party against Satheesan. UDF convener Adoor Prakash had openly come out against Satheesan for a lack of consultations within the front.  ● More on P6 sc ruling ‘Net access fundamental right for children too’ s u c h i t r a k a lyan m o h an 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. 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 inter net is a fundamental right of every individual under Article 21 read with Arti- Crackdown on sexual content The SC 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 cle 19(1)(a) of the Constitution. Our children, irrespective of their age, enjoy the same rights ... the safety of our children and their freedom are At least 18 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. Eye-witnesses said many revellers on the lane outside rushed to take shelter inside the pandal after it began pouring. Those inside the pandal could not come out. As a result, people got trapped and tumbled on top of each other on a makeshift staircase, leading to the stampede. Hospital and police sources said the deceased included four men, 13 wom- en and one child. All 18 were declared dead on arrival at Calcutta Medical College in Bowbazar police station area, while more than 30 others are admitted. This is perhaps the first incident of stampede at a Durga Puja pandal in West Bengal. Disaster management personnel have been deployed at the site. West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari and Chief Secretary Manoj Agarwal reached the Calcutta Medical College to take stock. BJP MLA Bijoy Ojha from Jorashanko constituency is the chairman of the pandal committee while Debdeep Adhikari, CM’s nephew, is a member. Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the deaths and announced an ex gratia of `2 lakh to the next of kin of each deceased and `50,000 for the injured. not at odds with each other.” The bench made these observations 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 doing 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. HC declines to stay govt order Kochi: In a relief for the state government, the High Court on Saturday declined to stay the order reconstituting the Waqf Board. The court passed the order while considering a petition filed by former Waqd Board chairman K S Hamsa challenging the government order. P4 tal of nine members have been nominated, with two slots for non-Muslim members left vacant. All the members nominated by the LDF government, including chairman K S Hamsa and member Umar Faizy Mukkam, have been removed. Minister for Waqf and Minority Affairs N Samsudheen said the government went for the reconstitution as per the Kerala High Court’s nod. “There were a few petitions before the court challenging the reconstitution by the LDF gov- ernment. At that stage, the court said the government can reconstitute the board to make it right. It is the job of the government to set things correct,” Samsudheen told reporters in Palakkad. Asked about filling the vacancy of non-Muslims, he said it will be decided as per the direction of the Supreme Court, as there are petitions pending before it. Meanwhile, Mayin Haji, IUML state vice-president, assumed office as board chairman on Saturday itself.  ● More on P4