From politics and power to society, culture and the ideas shaping our times, the latest issue of Open Magazine brings together stories that go beyond the headlines. Pick up the latest issue, 'Look Who’s Talking Regime Change'. Enjoy good writing and original arguments ~ @prasannara @sudeeppaul @cpmadhavan @kavereeb @RajeevDOpen @curbset @Ullekh @MoinakMitra6 @suvirsaran @lennyspeaks @rahulpandita @Iyr_Adi @Suhelseth Sohini Dey, and others... #OpenMagazine #LatestIssue #LookWhosTalkingRegimeChange

Can the RBI stop the rupee from falling against the US dollar? Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has clarified that the central bank can intervene to prevent sharp fluctuations, but it does not determine or fix the exchange rate. As the rupee faces pressure from rising oil prices, importer demand for dollars and foreign investor outflows, a weaker currency can increase the cost of crude oil, imported goods and raw materials, adding to inflationary pressures. The RBI’s interventions, including measures to manage dollar demand, aim to ease pressure on the currency market—not guarantee that the rupee will appreciate. Sitharaman also spoke about India’s fiscal deficit, the government’s debt-to-GDP target and the need to turn women’s educational achievements into greater opportunities for employment, enterprise and leadership. openthemagazine.com/business… #Rupee #RBI #NirmalaSitharaman #IndianEconomy #Inflation

#NepalFloods | She had spent 25 years caring for her community. When the floods came, Usha Rijal lost her own home yet sat in a relief camp recording the missing and dead, distributing food and medicines. Two months on, she still travels to care for patients, even as she struggles to rebuild her own life. For her, recovery cannot wait for the waters to recede from memory. @sumitsinghAT reports. openthemagazine.com/world/ne…

US forces in West Asia are ready for potentially major operations against Iran within 96 hours of an order from Donald Trump, CNN reported, citing US officials. The reported target list includes energy infrastructure, military sites and nuclear facilities. Trump has not made a final decision. openthemagazine.com/world/us… #USIran #DonaldTrump #Iran

#NepalFloods | Sixteen years of building a home. A childhood spent within its walls. Dreams of a garden growing beside it. Then the floods came, leaving mud where a lifetime of memories once stood. For Srijal Rijal, survival now means learning to live with what cannot be rebuilt. Two months on, @sumitsinghAT reports on loss, resilience and the long road to recovery. openthemagazine.com/world/ne…

Eric Bauza, the Emmy-winning voice actor behind Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Tweety and other iconic cartoon characters, has died at 46. With more than 400 acting credits and three Children’s and Family Emmy Awards, Bauza helped bring the Looney Tunes universe to a new generation. openthemagazine.com/entertai… #EricBauza #LooneyTunes #BugsBunny #Cartoon

Rapper Nicki Minaj joined US President Donald Trump onstage at a rally in Port Huron, Michigan, on Sunday, expressing support for his administration ahead of the midterm elections. “President Trump, it is an honour to stand with you every single time, and I will continue to support you forever,” she told the crowd. Trump acknowledged Minaj during his remarks, praising her appearance and calling her smart. Before the rally, White House Communications Director Steven Cheung shared a video featuring himself and Minaj aboard Air Force One, captioning it, “Ladies and gentlemen, I think we may have found the new White House Press Secretary!” openthemagazine.com/world/ni… #NickiMinaj #DonaldTrump #USPolitics #Michigan

The United States leads the world in data centre facilities, accounting for 38.9% of those listed by Data Center Map, with 5,037 facilities—more than the next nine countries combined. India ranks sixth with 338 data centres, just ahead of Australia’s 336. The top 10 also include the UK, Germany, China, India, Canada, Italy and Japan. Source: Data Center Map #DataCentres #DataInfrastructure #Technology #India #OpenMagazine

Javed Akhtar has defended Rashmika Mandanna amid online trolling over her Hindi accent, calling out what he described as “fake and baseless linguistic superiority”. He said those criticising her pronunciation should try speaking Tamil themselves before mocking her. After a social media user pointed out that Rashmika is not a Tamil actress, Akhtar acknowledged his mistake and apologised. He added that people should appreciate those who speak their language, even if they have an accent. #JavedAkhtar #RashmikaMandanna #VijayDeverakonda #Language #Bollywood

After Saiyaara, Ahaan Panday is set to enter romantic action with Beparwah, directed by Ali Abbas Zafar and produced by Aditya Chopra. The film marks his first on-screen collaboration with Sharvari and is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on March 26, 2027. Can it give Ahaan a fresh screen image? openthemagazine.com/entertai… #AhaanPanday #Sharvari #Beparwah #Bollywood

A father and son died after two slabs collapsed during construction at Milan Garden in Harsh Vihar, northeast Delhi, on Sunday evening. Chanderpal, 60, and Vijay Kumar, 33, were pulled from the debris during an overnight rescue operation and taken to GTB Hospital, where they were declared brought dead. The building was an old single-storey house on which an additional floor was being built. The cause of the collapse is under investigation, with officials examining the construction work and the building’s safety. openthemagazine.com/india/fa… #Delhi #HarshVihar #BuildingCollapse #delhinewstv

India’s women’s innerwear market presents an opportunity for established brands and new entrants alike. But winning consumers in a repeat-purchase category requires more than visibility: fit, pricing, product differentiation and customer loyalty all matter. Jockey’s ‘Feels Like Me’ campaign raises a larger business question: how can an established brand stay relevant as women’s expectations of innerwear evolve? Read the story: openthemagazine.com/branding… #Jockey #BrandStrategy #ConsumerBusiness #OpenMagazine

A Special MP/MLA court in Uttar Pradesh’s Sultanpur has dismissed the defamation complaint against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over alleged remarks against Amit Shah at a press conference in Bengaluru in May 2018. Gandhi travelled from Delhi to Sultanpur to attend the verdict. The complaint was filed by Vijay Mishra, then BJP district vice-president, and had been pending since 2018. The dismissal ends the proceedings at the trial court level, with any further legal steps depending on whether the complainant challenges the decision. openthemagazine.com/india/re… #RahulGandhi #AmitShah #Congress #DefamationCase #Sultanpur

Your phone needs an upgrade, but the price tag is making you think twice. India’s smartphone shipments fell in July–September, with the decline sharper in the under-₹20,000 segment. One major reason? Memory chips. As AI data centres drive demand for memory, chip prices have surged, pushing up smartphone costs and forcing brands to raise prices, cut features or offer lower-spec models. But there’s a catch: shipments aren’t the same as sales, and festive stocking patterns also affected the numbers. So, is it time to upgrade your phone or hold on a little longer? Tell us in the comments. #OpenExplainers #Smartphones #TechNews #AI #India #SmartphonePrices #Technology

Prime Minister Narendra Modi poses for a family photo with delegates from BRICS member and partner countries at the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum in the Parliament House complex. #BRICS #BRICSParliamentaryForum #NarendraModi #India #OpenBureau

Volvo has more than 50,000 European orders for its EX60 electric SUV but plans to cut around 2,500 jobs worldwide. Production delays, Chinese competition, US tariffs and changing demand for electric, hybrid and petrol cars are putting pressure on global automakers. Why are so many carmakers struggling to change gears? Sunny KS explains. openthemagazine.com/business… #Volvo #ElectricVehicles #AutoIndustry

Ahmedabad will host the 2029 World Weightlifting Championships, marking the first time India will stage the global event. The International Weightlifting Federation confirmed Gujarat as host after its Executive Board meeting in Ningbo, China. Indian lifters have won 18 medals at the World Championships so far: three gold, 10 silver and five bronze. openthemagazine.com/india/ah… #Weightlifting #Ahmedabad

The Surya Kiran aerobatic team took over the skies of Varanasi during the 94th Indian Air Force Day celebrations, delivering a spectacular aerial display. #IndianAirForce #SuryaKiran #IAFDay #Varanasi #OpenBureau

Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel laureate María Corina Machado has returned to her home country after nearly a year in exile. Confirming her arrival, she posted a brief, emotional message on X: “I am here. With you.” Her return follows intensive diplomatic engagement aimed at easing the country’s political gridlock. US President Donald Trump praised Machado and wished her safety. “I don’t know anything about it, but I think she’s a very nice woman,” he said. “She gave me her Nobel Prize, so how can I say anything else? And I hope she’s safe.” Washington’s engagement in the region, he added, was going “really well in Venezuela.” Source: X: MariaCorinaYA #Venezuela #MariaCorinaMachado #DonaldTrump #WorldNews