By 2029, one of India’s biggest desalination plants will start giving Mumbai 400 million litres of drinking water per day. Mumbai will be only the second city in India after Chennai to use sea to produce drinking water, but Israel and Gulf countries have been doing it for decades TIMESOFINDIA.COM Why does the same Fanta have 3 times the sugar in India than the UK? A can of Fanta sold in India has three times the sugar of its British counterpart and contains an artificial dye that carries a prominent health warning in Europe unlike in India where it's in small print at the back — and yet India’s plan for front-of-pack warnings has faced fierce industry resistance 22 death sentences in 4 months: Did UP judge overlook 'rarest of rare' norm After judge Ravi Kumar Diwakar handed down 22 death sentences in just over four months, nearly 100 serious pending cases were recalled from his court. His record has renewed questions about the ‘rarest of rare’ test — and why most trial-court death sentences fail on appeal. 45% in the US, 79% in Sri Lanka, 7% in Pak: How positively the world views India A new survey by Pew Research Center reveals two very different ideas of friends and foes, shaped by decades of wars, alliances and geopolitical choices. Across 36 countries, about 45% have a favourable view of India, against 41% who don’t TIMESOFINDIA.COM India and the US are getting along again, but three big tests lie ahead India-US ties are looking up, but the Russia and Iran sanctions bill, FCRA, & BRICS will test reset ET CONTRIBUTORS How much health cover is good for you and your family? Experts explain Most people take a small cover when they are young and increase it as they age. Experts explain why this approach should be reversed Preeti Kulkarni Trump’s Iran sanctions are easier to announce than to turn into peace The true test of Washington’s sanctions on doing business with Tehran, isn’t whether it will impose pain but whether it can force a behaviour change on part of Iranian leadership Jane Kinninmont The Tukaram Mundhe effect: Why one honest officer isn’t enough That we laud Maharashtra’s FDA chief for doing his job, shows low public expectations from administrators. We should demand more, and also know that lone crusaders often get tagged as ‘high-handed’ Kiran Somvanshi Hello, Doctor. India’s top doctors here to answer your questions Hello, Doctor — our first-of-its-kind digital clinic for TOI+ subscribers — went live recently and the response has been phenomenal. You too can send in your questions; our editorial team will get India’s leading doctors to respond with clear, evidence-based guidance in everyday language Facing problems in a relationship? Write to the experts Feeling overwhelmed by family conflicts. Does intimacy scare you? Has grief immobilized you? Do you feel trapped by an addiction? Our experts will help you find answers to life questions you don’t know who to ask TIMESOFINDIA.COM India opens nuclear arms production to private firms. What changes? The move would put India in the league of a select group of nations where private industry plays a key role in the development and production of strategic weapons under stringent government oversight and contracts TIMESOFINDIA.COM Trending Topics ‘Grain’ revolution: How lost varieties of rice are coming back Decades after disappearing from Indian fields and kitchens, heirloom paddy is making a comeback, powered by seed savers, small farmers, and an appetite for what was once lost Sneha Bhura Deepthi Sanjiv Why Supreme Court refused to replace hanging with lethal injection The Supreme Court has upheld hanging as India’s sole method of executing civilian death sentences, finding no compelling evidence that lethal injection is more humane. But it has left the door open for scrutiny and a government-led expert review of alternatives TIMESOFINDIA.COM The Strain Of Hormuz US-Iran war will linger because neither party can trust the other. Plus, Netanyahu doesn’t want the war to end. What’s the way out? New govts in all three countries Yes, Sugar Is Pricier. No, Ethanol Isn’t The Villain Crop damage because of excessive rainfall, waterlogging, and disease has meant a nearly 11% cut in estimated production for 2025-26. Festival demand and firm global prices are adding pressure Gen Z protests split families — 'My parents treat this govt like it's God' Across India, youth-led protests are sparking conflicts across homes, as young people challenge political and religious beliefs they inherited, while worried parents see dissent as dangerous, futile or disloyal. This is forcing many families into silence, secrecy and estrangement Alka Dhupkar Arun George Bansri Shah TIMESOFINDIA.COM Zero FIR: Zero Logic A girl spoke unparliamentary words at Jantar Mantar. Yes, those words deserve criticism. But greater mischief is done by the case against her, filed by a person without locus standi, at a police station without jurisdiction, against the grain of multiple Supreme Court judgments Saurabh Gupta Aditya Prasanna Bhattacharya Hazare, Wangchuk & Protest Two hunger strikes, 15 years apart, produced different levels of public mobilisation. Sequencing, that is, what came first – messenger with a cause or the movement – in public perception, is what makes all the difference Ennapadam S Krishnamoorthy ‘We Didn’t Even Spare Ram’ We’ve found the story of corruption at the Ayodhya temple entirely plausible. That’s really our collective shame. That dishonesty and prayers coexist in places of worship, seems routine to most of us BJP’s challenge: A protest that belongs to no one, and to millions The spark was a remark from the Chief Justice of India about some students being idle cockroaches. That spark went on to ignite a fire covering a thousand anxieties of youngsters, not just exam paper leaks Swaminathan S Anklesaria Aiyar Inside India’s new technology to detect nerve agents in 13 seconds A new colour-changing test could make nerve-agent detection faster, simpler and more portable Quiet scars that adopted kids carry and their journeys towards healing While many such children lead happy lives, mental health experts say that among some, the struggles may not always appear as psychiatric conditions. Why biohacker Bryan Johnson’s new diagnosis may be hard to stomach Autoimmune gastritis is a disease that can stay hidden for a long time, despite constant monitoring Srirupa Ray Shimona Kanwar Heart vs Heir After 60 As more and more Indians seek companionship later in life, the new relationships are forcing families to be open about love but ring-fence wealth THE ECONOMIC TIMES Hazare, Wangchuk & Protest

Two hunger strikes, 15 years apart, produced different levels of public mobilisation. Sequencing, that is, what came first – messenger with a cause or the movement – in public perception, is what makes all the difference Ennapadam S Krishnamoorthy Scientists’ exodus: ‘Interference is hurting ISRO, restore its autonomy’ A former Isro chief explains what may have caused an exodus of scientists from India’s space organisation and what can be changed to make things better Noel Tata can’t take over top job so who could be next chairman of Tata Sons? Noel Tata, a Tata Sons director and Tata Trusts chairman, might otherwise have been an obvious choice to step in as interim chairman, but because of a rule introduced in 2022, he cannot. Among the names in circulation for the top job is TV Narendran, managing director of Tata Steel 'No restaurant in Mumbai is too famous to fail a food safety test' After inspections uncovered rats, mould, expired stock and serious hygiene lapses at some of Mumbai’s best-known food establishments, Maharashtra FDA chief Tukaram Mundhe explains why reputation cannot guarantee safety, how complaints trigger action, and why the statewide crackdown will continue TIMESOFINDIA.COM After Jantar Mantar victory, what next for Gen Z, Dipke, Modi and Rahul? Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation marks a rare setback for the Modi government and a political opening for the opposition, as Gen Z’s anger over education and jobs emerges as a defining issue ahead of crucial state and national elections TIMESOFINDIA.COM Five Wins And Five Frontiers for India We have hit big sixes with data, entrepreneurship, energy transition, infra, and defence. But have to face yorkers on urbanisation, manufacturing, tech sovereignty, space, and human capital. India has what it takes to ace this test $40 Trillion Warning For US America isn’t going to plunge into a crisis because of its huge, fast-growing debt. But it may slow-walk into one Krishnan Ranganathan Who pays for repair of leakage from a neighbour's bathroom? Leakage in concealed plumbing lines of 1st floor bathroom led to ground floor residents facing water leakage; Maharashtra court rules housing society cannot be held responsible for leakage or repairs inside individual units Did Lawrence Bishnoi’s aide Goldy Brar kill Khalistani terrorist Nijjar? In a leaked audio clip, gangster Goldy Brar purportedly claims responsibility for the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, leader of the banned Khalistan Tiger Force, in Canada. What the recording reveals TIMESOFINDIA.COM 'No restaurant in Mumbai is too famous to fail a food safety test' After inspections uncovered rats, mould, expired stock and serious hygiene lapses at some of Mumbai’s best-known food establishments, Maharashtra FDA chief Tukaram Mundhe explains why reputation cannot guarantee safety, how complaints trigger action, and why the statewide crackdown will continue TIMESOFINDIA.COM Opinion: Why India's rise unsettles the western world India’s growing economic clout, strategic autonomy and civilisational confidence are challenging old global hierarchies. The resulting unease reveals how reluctantly the West is adjusting to a country no longer willing to play by rules it did not write Minhaz Merchant TIMESOFINDIA.COM 'When I was 14 days old, my father buried me and left me to die' Her grandfather dug her out of the shallow grave in the nick of time. Nearly 70 years later, Sunita Aralikar, now a campaigner against female infanticide, recalls the attempt to end her life before it had even begun — only because she was a girl Sunita Aralikar TIMESOFINDIA.COM Why Skyroot could lead India’s spacetech revolution Skyroot's successful Vikram-1 launch marks a major milestone for India's private space sector. With government support and growing startup activity, the country could emerge as a global leader in small satellite launches Minhaz Merchant TIMESOFINDIA.COM Church & mosque over temple: Why this UK town’s Hindus feel let down A planning decision by Cambridgeshire authorities has left British Hindus questioning fairness after their bid to build the county’s first Hindu temple lost out to a church-led project. The verdict has reignited concerns over equal representation, religious identity and the future of a growing community TIMESOFINDIA.COM India Wasn’t Always a Package Deal How did we ever become one, single country? Yeah, it’s complicated ET CONTRIBUTORS World in churn, and India's foreign policy needs to adapt to it For two decades, India’s foreign policy rested on getting closer to America and treating China as the common threat. That bargain now looks increasingly dangerous Zorawar Daulet Singh TOI Contributor Actor John Goodman lost 90kg. The real story is that it took years A recent photograph of the 74-year-old Hollywood actor has renewed interest in his dramatic transformation. But Goodman’s weight loss was neither rapid nor linear. It began with sobriety in 2007 and unfolded through dietary changes, different forms of exercise and repeated efforts to avoid old habits TIMESOFINDIA.COM Where have all the children gone? Sikkim confronts a fertility crisis With India’s lowest fertility rate, emptying schools and an ageing population, the Himalayan state is looking beyond baby bonuses and IVF to treat falling fertility as a quality-of-life issue, not just a medical one ‘I jointly own a property with my NRI daughter and wish to sell it. What are the tax implications?’ Every week TOI+ subscribers send in legal questions and our panel of leading experts offers well-considered, practical, and actionable opinions on every query. From property disputes to inheritance matters, divorce queries to income tax issues, My Lawyer connects you directly with experts you can trust TIMESOFINDIA.COM If you have a Rs 4.5 cr retirement corpus, can you get Rs 4 lakh monthly income? For retirees looking to maximise their post-tax earnings, allocating a Rs 4.5 cr corpus into mutual funds is a viable option. Utilising a bucket strategy allows for an effective diversification across various fund types—liquid, debt, and equity—facilitating consistent income generation. This tactic not only mitigates tax exposure more efficiently than fixed deposits but also yields tax exemptions on capital gains. THE ECONOMIC TIMES Why gig economy is going grey A growing workforce in their late 50s and 60s has turned to jobs like cab driving and delivering groceries because they cannot afford to retire Himanshi Dhawan Don’t mourn leaky MGNREGA. Expand the new jobs scheme So far, the creation of durable assets while providing wages has not been taken seriously. The new scheme VB-G RAM G tries to shift focus, but it needs to go further Swaminathan S Anklesaria Aiyar Terms & Conditions Copyright © 2024 Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. All rights reserved. For reprint rights: Times Syndication Service.