AI Image chennai l sunday l october 18, 2026 l `12.00 l PAGES 28 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 pandal stampede Russia-related curbs on India Heavy rain in Kolkata leads to human crush after pandal gates collapse; 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 Internet access is fundamental right of kids: SC 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 Centre 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. The bench was hearing a plea by Just Rights for Children Alliance. 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 har mful material would amount to mistaking the victim for the problem. The bench also directed that National Hash & URL List Database be set up for removal of CSEAM. power TN warned of rise in demand in July Senior officials of the state power utility say the government ignored warnings and floated tenders late, resulting in the record high spending for emergency power | P5 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: P16 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 Dipke granted conditional bail, Bora released Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke was granted conditional bail and asked to sign a peace bond on Saturday, police sources said. He was arrested in a fresh case for violating a peace bond furnished by him on October 10. Dipke was produced before a special executive magistrate at the Mandir Marg police station and was granted bail on certain conditions. All India Students’ Association (AISA) president Neha Bora was also released on Saturday press Intake Man dies after HT line falls on him at bus stop near Chennai | P3 DGCA told to carry out 1-time check of pilot records | P9 BJP seeks fresh SIR, says Didi disrupted last one | P10 India gear up for Kiwi test | P15 Chennai hit by cloudburst-like rain, 1st 300 mm event of NEM @ Chennai North Chennai bore the brunt of an intense spell of rain on Saturday, with several neighbourhoods receiving over 150 mm in a few hours and two rainfall stations crossing the 300 mm mark since the onset of the northeast monsoon (NEM), the first such instance in Tamil Nadu this season. Hourly rainfall data from the Greater Chennai Corporation’s Integrated Command and Control Centre and TN Disaster Risk Reduction Agency showed that Zonal Office 1 at Kathivakkam recorded the highest cumulative rainfall of 310.2 mm by midnight, with half of the total rainfall occurring within a one-hour period between 9.30 pm and 10.30 pm. Similarly Par, rys station also crossed 300.9 mm, followed by Sathangadu (234.4 mm). Thiruvottiyur recorded 198.6 mm, while Ennore and Kargil Nagar received 192.4 mm and 180 mm, respectively . The rainfall intensified after 9 pm. A total of 26 weather stations, of which 20 are in Chennai, recorded over 100 mm. Chennai typically witnesses such rains towards the end of November and in December. The extreme rainfall is attributed to nearly stationary upperair circulation over Chennai and intense thunderstorm activity. Several areas have reported waterlogging. According to the corporation, seven water-stagnation complaints were reported on Saturday and , most of them were cleared. P3 arrangement e x p r ess r ea d A driver pushing an autorickshaw through a waterlogged road in Perambur on Saturday night | P Ravikumar S V K R I S HN A CH A I TA NYA 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 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 women 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. Disaster management personnel have been deployed at the site. This is perhaps the first incident of stampede at a Durga Puja pandal in West Bengal. 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. PM Narendra Modi condoled the deaths and announced an ex gratia of `2 lakh to next of kin of each deceased and `50,000 for the injured. Cumulative rainfall (mm) 310.2 Kathivakkam (150 in 1 hour) 300.9 Parrys 234.4 Sathangadu 198.6 Thiruvottiyur 192.4 Ennore Abhijeet Dipke ‘Godfather of gaana’ breathes his last at 75 Deva (1950-2026) Chennai: Legendary Tamil film composer Deva died of cardiac arrest on Saturday. He was 75. Deva brought gaana music to mainstream Tamil cinema. Throughout his career spanning 400 films, Deva delivered timeless melodies and foot-tapping numbers. His theme music for Rajinikanth’s Annamalai has become the opener for the star’s every film for three decades. Deva’s funeral will be held with full state honours in Arcot on Sunday | P7