Royal Dutch Shell Posts Rise in Earnings Despite Lower Oil Prices

Royal Dutch Shell Posts Rise in Earnings Despite Lower Oil Prices
DealBook: Deutsche Bank Posts Fourth Quarter Profit, Beating Predictions for a Loss
Bits Blog: Microsoft Brings Outlook to iPhone, Other Mobile Devices
Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams Win in Australian Open Semifinals
Sinosphere Blog: 1989 Cables Offer New Detail, and Questions, on Tiananmen
Hezbollah Kills 2 Israeli Soldiers Near Lebanon
U.S. Suddenly Goes Quiet on Effort to Bolster Afghan Forces
G.O.P.’s Invitation to Netanyahu Is Aiding Obama’s Cause on Iran
Administration Official Criticizes Israeli Ambassador Over Netanyahu Visit
DealBook: After Alibaba Spinoff, Yahoo May Become a Takeover Target
Machine Learning: Video Feature: Signs That Virtual Reality Is on the Verge of Taking Off
Federal Reserve Won’t Raise Interest Rates Before June, at Earliest
Bits Blog: Chinese Government Takes Aim at E-Commerce Giant Alibaba Over Fake Goods
Facebook Sales Beat Forecasts, but Expenses Increase Even Faster
Ukraine Clamps Down on Travel to and From Rebel Areas
North Korean Leader to Visit Russia in May
Over-the-Top Amenities: Sweating the Details
French Comedian Stands Trial Over Comment Against Jewish Journalist
Scholars at Odds on Ukraine
All-but-Forgotten Prisoner in Jordan Is Suddenly at Center of Swap Demand by ISIS

Posted: 29 Jan 2015 01:00 AM PST

Improved performance in oil refining, chemicals and marketing offset the effects of lower oil prices. But there were troubling signs, including low replacement of reserves.

DealBook: Deutsche Bank Posts Fourth Quarter Profit, Beating Predictions for a Loss

Posted: 29 Jan 2015 12:54 AM PST

Increased uncertainty in global financial markets prompted clients to do more trading and generated fees for the bank.

Bits Blog: Microsoft Brings Outlook to iPhone, Other Mobile Devices

Posted: 29 Jan 2015 12:00 AM PST

Outlook, Microsoft's workhorse email application, has finally arrived on mobile devices, including iPhones and iPads.

Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams Win in Australian Open Semifinals

Posted: 28 Jan 2015 11:16 PM PST

Sharapova made brisk work of Ekaterina Makarova on Thursday, while Williams beat Madison Keys in straight sets to advance to the Saturday final.

Sinosphere Blog: 1989 Cables Offer New Detail, and Questions, on Tiananmen

Posted: 28 Jan 2015 10:36 PM PST

The release of Canadian diplomatic cables has cast new light on the military crackdown in Beijing, but one assertion in them — that top Chinese officials asked the Swiss ambassador about transferring large sums abroad — has been disputed.

Hezbollah Kills 2 Israeli Soldiers Near Lebanon

Posted: 28 Jan 2015 09:49 PM PST

The missile strike was the latest in a string of events along Israel's northern frontiers that have raised the risk of a broader confrontation.

U.S. Suddenly Goes Quiet on Effort to Bolster Afghan Forces

Posted: 28 Jan 2015 09:01 PM PST

The American-led coalition regularly shared details on how the money was being put to use, but as of this month the information is now considered classified.

G.O.P.’s Invitation to Netanyahu Is Aiding Obama’s Cause on Iran

Posted: 28 Jan 2015 07:35 PM PST

When Israel's prime minister accepted an invitation to address Congress, it had the unintended effect of helping the president rally Democrats on nuclear talks with Iran.

Administration Official Criticizes Israeli Ambassador Over Netanyahu Visit

Posted: 28 Jan 2015 06:24 PM PST

The tension with Israel is over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's acceptance of Republican leaders' invitation to address Congress about Iran without consulting the White House.

DealBook: After Alibaba Spinoff, Yahoo May Become a Takeover Target

Posted: 28 Jan 2015 05:55 PM PST

Its $39 billion stake in the Chinese e-commerce behemoth has obscured both the weakness and the potential of Yahoo, which, post-spinoff, will be judged by its core Internet business.

Machine Learning: Video Feature: Signs That Virtual Reality Is on the Verge of Taking Off

Posted: 28 Jan 2015 05:50 PM PST

Major technology and media companies are investing heavily in virtual reality, a signal that the experience may soon be ready for mass consumption.

Federal Reserve Won’t Raise Interest Rates Before June, at Earliest

Posted: 28 Jan 2015 05:31 PM PST

The Federal Reserve gave its most upbeat economic assessment since the recession, though it did say inflation remains sluggish.

Bits Blog: Chinese Government Takes Aim at E-Commerce Giant Alibaba Over Fake Goods

Posted: 28 Jan 2015 05:30 PM PST

The Chinese government regulator complained about what it said were unlicensed merchants, fake goods and other illegal practices on the company's hugely popular shopping websites.

Facebook Sales Beat Forecasts, but Expenses Increase Even Faster

Posted: 28 Jan 2015 05:26 PM PST

A big increase in stock payouts to employees helped push expenses up, and the stock was down in after-hours trading.

Ukraine Clamps Down on Travel to and From Rebel Areas

Posted: 28 Jan 2015 05:13 PM PST

After new border restrictions were put in place, a policy of isolating and frustrating rebel-held regions has taken a major and maddening turn.

North Korean Leader to Visit Russia in May

Posted: 28 Jan 2015 04:43 PM PST

Mr. Kim will attend a ceremony celebrating the defeat of Nazi Germany, in his first trip abroad since taking power.

Over-the-Top Amenities: Sweating the Details

Posted: 28 Jan 2015 03:48 PM PST

Developers of super-luxury apartments in New York are redefining the meaning of "amenity." Once it was a steam room. Now it's a hamam.

French Comedian Stands Trial Over Comment Against Jewish Journalist

Posted: 28 Jan 2015 03:16 PM PST

Dieudonné M'bala M'bala stood trial in criminal court on Wednesday over a comment he made lamenting that a prominent Jewish journalist did not die in "the gas chambers," prosecutors said.

Scholars at Odds on Ukraine

Posted: 28 Jan 2015 02:51 PM PST

After members of an association supporting post-Soviet studies object to fellowships linked to a controversial Russia scholar, some academics accuse them of censorship.

All-but-Forgotten Prisoner in Jordan Is Suddenly at Center of Swap Demand by ISIS

Posted: 28 Jan 2015 02:42 PM PST

The Islamic State has said that if a failed suicide bomber, Sajida al-Rishawi, is not released by Jordan, it will kill a Japanese and a Jordanian hostage.