After U.S.-China climate deal, focus shifts to India
After this week's carbon deal between the U.S. and China, No. 3 emitter India faces growing pressure to devise a clear strategy and step out of China's shadow during pivotal global climate talks. Read
Oil slumps to four-year low as Brent crashes below $80 a barrel
NEW YORK - Oil prices slumped more than 3 percent to four-year lows on Thursday, with benchmark Brent crashing below $80 a barrel, after a stockpile surge at the delivery point for U.S. crude frayed nerves of traders already worried about an oil glut.
PM Narendra Modi tightens grip on power
Narendra Modi has drawn trusted bureaucrats into a tight embrace. Interviews with two dozen sources, reveal that key decisions are now thrashed out between his office and civil servants, often at the expense of ministerial authority. In a series of meetings with civil servants, often without the ministers they nominally report to, Modi has urged bold decisions and promised all the help they need. Full Article
Al Baghdadi urges attacks in Saudi Arabia
Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi calls for attacks against the rulers of Saudi Arabia in a speech purported to be in his name, saying his self-declared caliphate was expanding. Full Article
Tainted drugs suspected in sterilisation deaths
Tainted or sub-standard drugs probably led to the deaths of 13 women after sterilisation surgery at a family-planning "camp" in Chhattisgarh, and owners of the factories that produced them have been summoned for questioning, a senior official said on Thursday. Story | Pictures
BlackBerry signs up Samsung in services push
BlackBerry Ltd struck partnerships with Samsung Electronics Co Ltd and other high-profile players to enhance the capabilities of the new mobile-device management and security platform it unveiled on Thursday, and its shares jumped 8 percent. Full Article
Murray hammered by Federer at ATP Finals
Roger Federer annihilated Andy Murray 6-0 6-1 to seal top spot in Group B at the ATP World Tour Finals on Thursday and send the shell-shocked home favourite crashing out of the tournament. Full Article
Study reveals the value of being an ape bully
Scientists said on Thursday a study of chimpanzees in Tanzania spanning 17 years found that males that subjected females to long-term aggressive behavior, often including physical attacks, greatly improved their chances of fathering babies with them. Full Article
Latest Headlines
India-U.S. deal revives WTO and hope of world trade reform
India and the United States settled a dispute on Thursday that had paralysed the World Trade Organization and risked derailing a $1 trillion package of reforms of global customs procedures. Full Article
Bollywood makes up for years of bias against women
After being fined 25,000 rupees for working on a Tamil movie, Charu Khurana sought legal recourse. The Supreme Court vindicated her stand this week by instructing the Maharashtra chapter of the Cine Costume Make-up Artists and Hair Dressers Association to allow women to take membership as makeup artists. Full Article
Society
Rickshaw drivers take 'respect for women' message to Delhi's streets
Delhi rickshaw driver Narotan Singh was never interested in the problems faced by women and girls - his only interaction with the opposite sex was with females from his middle-class family. Last month his attitude to women was transformed by a class on gender sensitisation run by the charity Manas Foundation and Delhi's Transport Department. Article
Sachin on Sachin: Memoir of a cricketer
Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar tells his life story in the memoir, “Playing It My Way”. The book showcases the extraordinary life of a cricketing genius and shows him to be honest, funny, sentimental and a practitioner of subtle diplomacy. He also reveals his passion to play for India even in the face of crippling injuries, his memory for details, and his golden heart. Full Article
Why traditional insurance plans will beat ULIPs during the tax-saving season
Most ULIPs (unit-linked insurance plans) are far better compared to traditional insurance plans. They are more flexible, more transparent and have the potential to generate bigger returns. But insurance sales do not necessarily follow simple logic. There are a variety of reasons why traditional plans are likely to fare better. Full Article
India Insight
Rajdeep Sardesai on Modi, the Gandhis and politics in India
The best journalists get front-row seats to the most tumultuous years of a nation. Journalist Rajdeep Sardesai was in such a position for this year’s general election in India. Sardesai has published a book, “2014: The Election that Changed India,” and he shared his thoughts with Reuters on Modi, his ill-fated rival Rahul Gandhi, and politics in India. Full Article
National Museum revives antique jewellery exhibition
For a country that associates art mostly with canvases, sculptures and installations, an exhibition showcasing 5,000 years of antique jewellery can be a novel experience. Walk into the Alamkara gallery at Delhi’s National Museum and you will see more than 200 glittering ornaments placed in 25 dark brown cases. The dim yellow light creates an impression of objects locked in time. Full Article
Privacy
Exclusive: U.S. FTC asking Apple about health data protection
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission is seeking assurances from Apple Inc that it will prevent sensitive health data collected by its upcoming smartwatch and other mobile devices from being used without owners' consent, two sources told Reuters. Full Article
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Window washers rescued
Two window washers trapped on a broken platform outside the 69th floor of New York's One World Trade Center are rescued. Slideshow
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