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28 Nov 2025 - Vol 04 | Issue 49

Dharmendra

The first action hero

All Magazine Stories - November 2025 Issue

Simone Ashley's stellar performance in This Tempting Madness

2 min read
Simone Ashley's stellar performance in This Tempting Madness
Web Series Review: Dining With the Kapoors
Web Series Review: Dining With the Kapoors
2 min read
He-Man with a Heart: Masculinity was gentle but never fragile with Dharmendra
Babar Afzal frames the artisanal luxury of pashmina
India Has 70 Lab-Grown Diamond Startups, More Than Any Other Country. Could the Platinum Story Repeat?
A festival gives a brand the opportunity to return to a meaningful moment in people’s lives. A useful contribution, repeated with care, can build familiarity over time
The partnership will become interesting when one of them says something the other does not want to hear. Both men know how to win an argument. England need them to know when to lose one
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had reportedly sought American military assistance against the Houthis. While President Donald Trump had not agreed to US strikes, Washington offered intelligence-sharing and targeting support
Donald Trump wants an Iran deal, cheaper oil and the world to pay for US protection of Hormuz. Google’s $15-billion Finland AI bet is also in his line of fire
Matthew Rhys scored a double acting victory at the 2026 Emmy Awards for The Beast in Me and Widow’s Bay. The wins added limited-series and comedy honours to his earlier drama triumph for The Americans
US Open 2026: Zverev wins, but Rolex, 0:07 and James Bond stole the show
The 78th Emmy Awards will take place at the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles on September 14
Hindi Diwas 2026: Amit Shah says Hindi connects India’s languages, helped him work across the country
BRICS Summit 2026: Why S Jaishankar says Modi’s India proved it can bring a divided world to one table
TV on Phones Without Mobile Data: India Could Unlock D2M’s Global Push
The Rolex clock hit 0:07 and the US Open camera cut to Pierce Brosnan. Perfect timing for Rolex—except this was the James Bond who put rival Omega on 007’s wrist
Colson Whitehead turns a work of crime fiction into a sharp portrait of 1980s New York
The choice of Indian, continental and Chinese offerings was well made
Manish Tiwary prompted AI to make a missing cover for a Nescafe rap. One album artwork later, the Nestlé India boss had accidentally prompted a much bigger question for advertising agencies
The person once seen as glamorous and aspirational is increasingly described as intrusive, attention-seeking and, in some cases, embarrassing
Cheetah Chrome, born Eugene Richard O’Connor, has died at 71
The Chief Minister never danced. AI supplied the steps, the song supplied the rhythm and social media supplied millions of spectators
Ireland’s border survived a war, a peace agreement and Brexit. It will not disappear because Donald Trump described its removal as natural
Cristiano Ronaldo has demanded lifetime stadium bans for supporters who weaponise personal tragedy. His intervention turned the chants targeting Ruben Neves into a test of football’s moral limits
Alexander Zverev’s New York triumph followed five-set battles in each of his opening two rounds. He finished the fortnight with his second Grand Slam title of the year, adding to his Roland-Garros crown
Abhishek Sharma struck seven fours and seven sixes during his 32-ball innings in Delhi. Seventy of his 82 runs came in boundaries as Afghanistan struggled to contain the chase
“We played to our standards,” said captain Harmanpreet Kaur after India’s 72-run win over Sri Lanka. She credited Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma’s opening partnership for setting up the triumph
India, Asia Cup & the Ghost of Pakistan
6 min read
Ads That Made Us Smile & Became Part of Our Lives
Ads That Made Us Smile & Became Part of Our Lives
6 min read
The Long Goal: A footballer chooses passion over a predictable life
Ghamasaan Review: Into the Badlands
Ghamasaan Review: Into the Badlands
1 min read
The iPhone Duo Has Landed
The iPhone Duo Has Landed
3 min read
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian interact in the presence of BRICS leaders at the Bharat Innovates exhibition during the 18th BRICS Summit 2026, in New Delhi on Saturday.
Mirzapur: The Movie Review - Return of the Familiar
Taking Flight: Life persists despite loss and grief in Tishani Doshi’s new poems
Iran and Oman have agreed on the details of new entry and exit routes for vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz, according to Xinhua.
Xi is back in India for the first time in seven years.
Merchant crews face the immediate danger when regional conflicts spill into shipping lanes. For Yemen’s civilians, renewed fighting compounds years of displacement, hunger and interrupted aid
Celine Dion publicly disclosed her stiff-person syndrome diagnosis in December 2022, after the pandemic had interrupted her touring schedule. Her subsequent Paris Olympics appearance preceded the return to full-length concerts
An uncertain ankle accompanied Elena Rybakina to New York, where even competing had been in doubt. Two weeks later, she had beaten Osaka, Zheng, Gauff and Sabalenka on her way to the trophy
BRICS Summit Day 2: Here’s What Leaders Will Discuss Today 
Joe Root has demonstrated that he can endure. England now needs to demonstrate that endurance is not its entire leadership plan
Joe Root, Quiet Menace & the Art of Staying
6 min read
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held bilateral talks in New Delhi on Saturday, on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit. Xi noted that the two leaders had met more than 20 times over the past 12 years
Babar Azam’s 76 helped Pakistan rebuild at Edgbaston and give their lower order a platform to attack. Turning that resistance into sustained runs remains central to Pakistan’s hopes of competing overseas
Stargazer: Elnaaz Norouzi, Shaunak Sen and Mauli Singh
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the unanimous adoption of the New Delhi Declaration at the BRICS Summit on Saturday. The document warns that rising global military spending is squeezing funds needed for development in poorer countries
Chinese President Xi Jinping’s New Delhi visit comes ahead of China assuming the BRICS presidency in 2027. Beijing’s proposed agenda spans artificial intelligence, green development, agriculture and poverty reduction
Saving Face: With his new wall reliefs, G Ravinder Reddy asks whether an image needs volume to feel monumental
Big hair. Borrowed nostalgia. Herd mentality dressed as brand strategy. Will consumers remember the brand or just the costume?
Vikram Chopra, Shantanu Deshpande and Peyush Bansal (from left) give their businesses a face and their advertising a personal stake. When the boss delivers the pitch, the company’s promise comes with a recognisable owner
ITC Hotels’ BRICS spread includes millet pulao and barnyard millet kheer, using familiar dishes to introduce traditional grains. Bajra and ragi also featured in breakfast preparations
Ladakh’s Lt Governor has set a two-month deadline to settle local communities’ rights and claims in protected areas
Ahimsa Pays
Ahimsa Pays
10 min read
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the BRICS Summit in New Delhi. The grouping’s push for a stronger global voice rests on finding common ground among members with competing interests
The Big Live-In Question
The Big Live-In Question
12 min read
KFC has a valuable character, a large network and plenty of experience making chicken entertaining. Popeyes has growing momentum. Customers have options
Pathology of the Patriarch
Pathology of the Patriarch
7 min read
Lessons for India from Greek Football’s Revival
Lessons for India from Greek Football’s Revival
4 min read
Wild Capital: Discovering Nature in Delhi - Delhi’s diverse ecology hides in plain sight
The Act of One: Power has only added to the performance of Vijay
Illuminating India’s BRICS moment: Light of Global South
The Mother of All Mega-Dams: India can no longer ignore the water bomb on its frontier
Alexander Zverev holds a 5-0 career record against Ben Shelton, but Sunday will be their first Grand Slam meeting. The German returns to the US Open final six years after losing the title match to Dominic Thiem
Vladimir Putin’s New Delhi visit combines summit diplomacy with bilateral meetings involving India and Egypt. Moscow is seeking deeper trade and investment ties as it contends with sanctions over the war in Ukraine
Aryna Sabalenka absorbed the pressure and powered her way into a fourth straight US Open final
Solomon Pappaiah carried literature through jokes, philosophy through debate, and culture through conversation
The Rules of Disorder
The Rules of Disorder
2 min read
Prime Minister Narendra Modi gifts Russian President Vladimir Putin a Russian translation of the Tamil classic Thirukkural during bilateral talks in New Delhi on Friday, ahead of the BRICS Summit. Composed by Thiruvalluvar, its 1,330 couplets explore virtue, wealth, statecraft and love
Intruder Alert: District after district in Assam has seen a rapid growth in the numbers of illegal immigrants from Bangladesh
The Punjab Paradox: A land of plenty and a people in peril
Facts and Friction: Will Sonia Gandhi's memoir conceal more than reveal?
Shirish Chandra Murmu
Probate Shift: The law eases with transfers and death
Lawrence Wong: Keeping it clean
Lawrence Wong: Keeping it clean
1 min read
MEA Clears the Air
MEA Clears the Air
4 min read
Denga said the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance had observed significant progress in India, particularly in the implementation of models focused on rural economic development and food security.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian arrives at Palam Air Force Station in New Delhi on Friday for the 18th BRICS Summit. His visit comes as regional tensions put energy security and diplomatic cooperation high on the agenda
The Death of a Guitarist
The Death of a Guitarist
4 min read
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said confronting unilateralism was a key goal of BRICS as he departed Tehran for New Delhi
‘The Revolutionaries’: In the Footsteps of Freedom
Addressing the BRICS Business Forum in New Delhi, Goyal said greater cooperation on digital payments and emerging technologies could help unlock new opportunities for trade among BRICS economies.
The Identity Project
The Identity Project
12 min read
Addressing the BRICS Business Forum, Jaishankar said the focus must be on making it easier for businesses across member countries
The Inevitable Failure of Radical Islam
The Inevitable Failure of Radical Islam
3 min read
The Strait of Hormuz, a crucial passage for global energy supplies, remains at the centre of the US-Iran confrontation. Attacks on tankers and military bases have extended the conflict’s risks across the Gulf and into Jordan
PM Modi recalled Swami Vivekananda’s 1893 Chicago address as the US marked 25 years since the 9/11 terror attacks. The speech championed religious acceptance and condemned the violence fuelled by fanaticism
Brent crude touched $108.77 a barrel on Friday as escalating West Asia tensions raised concerns over energy supplies. Sustained high oil prices could increase India’s import bill, fuel inflation and weigh on economic growth
New Delhi gears up for the BRICS Summit with arriving foreign delegations and heightened security. Union ministers and chief ministers may share a bus to Bharat Mandapam to help ease traffic disruption
DHS’s deleted “Mr Singh” post has reignited concerns over racism and religious profiling in America. Sikh groups say its imagery fuels suspicion of a community still scarred by post-9/11 hate crimes
India’s players celebrate during their Asia Cup semifinal win over Bangladesh in Dubai on Thursday. Harmanpreet Kaur’s side will chase a record eighth title in Sunday’s final
Bharat Mandapam will host leaders on September 12–13, with trade, energy security and global governance reform on the agenda
Salim Khan with son Salman Khan
At 47, Imran Tahir breaks his own record as oldest player to take a T20 five-wicket haul
Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Chinese President Xi Jinping, whose September 12–13 BRICS visit will be his first trip to India since 2019. The visit puts the spotlight on efforts to stabilise India-China ties, with a separate bilateral meeting yet to be announced
80s AI photo trend: From Piyush Goyal to Kiara Advani, who all joined the internet's biggest nostalgia craze?
National Security Guard personnel conduct a mock drill at Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium ahead of BRICS 2026. Around 15,000 Delhi Police personnel and nearly 200 paramilitary companies form part of the summit’s security shield
A humanoid robot outran Usain Bolt’s world record, clocking 100 metres in 8.64 seconds.
One shoe, two histories: adidas’s Single Shoe Service solves a problem its India team addressed through “Odds” in 2016. The solution has travelled further. The Indian footprint is missing from its official origin story
BRICS Summit: Why Xi Jinping's India visit could reset ties with PM Narendra Modi
India’s HPV vaccination programme offers eligible 14-year-old girls early protection against cervical cancer. The free, voluntary drive requires parental consent, while screening remains essential in adulthood
Freedom of Choice: BRICS and India’s idea of strategic autonomy