Sinosphere Blog: Dystopian Reality of China’s Smog Captured in ‘Airpocalypse’ App

Sinosphere Blog: Dystopian Reality of China’s Smog Captured in ‘Airpocalypse’ App
DealBook: Alibaba Creates a Consumer Credit Rating Service
Nishikori’s Late Rally Not Enough to Overcome Wawrinka
At Auschwitz-Birkenau, Holocaust Survivors, Ever Dwindling in Number, Gather to Remember
A Resilient Madison Keys Ousts Venus Williams at the Australian Open
Open Source: Egypt Condemns Western Outrage at Fatal Shooting of Protester
In Reprieve to Obama, Senate Democrats Agree to Wait on Iran Sanctions
Apple’s China Strategy Pays Off With Surge in Earnings
Pontassieve Journal: Life of Italian Nobility for Sale, Complete With Regulations and Taxes
Fidel Castro Shares Views on Warming of Relations
Botswana Doctor Is Named to Lead W.H.O. in Africa
Yahoo to Spin Off Its Stake in Alibaba
Netanyahu Talk Stirs Backlash in Israeli Race
DealBook: Yahoo Could Sell Its Alibaba Shares Without a Big Tax Bill
Smithsonian Considers Opening London Location
The TV Watch: ‘The Americans’ Returns to FX With Season 3
Greece’s New Left-Wing Cabinet Signals Willingness to Confront E.U. Over Policies
White House Drone Crash Described as a U.S. Worker’s Drunken Lark
Restaurants: Restaurant Review: Blue Smoke and North End Grill

Posted: 28 Jan 2015 12:34 AM PST

Airpocalypse, a sleek, color-coded app, provides weather conditions in Chinese cities, shows air quality measurements and, perhaps most important, "shares your excitement" on clear days and "feels your pain" on smoggy ones.

DealBook: Alibaba Creates a Consumer Credit Rating Service

Posted: 28 Jan 2015 12:33 AM PST

Sesame Credit Management will use data on online spending habits in an effort to make credit more available to millions of consumers across China.

Nishikori’s Late Rally Not Enough to Overcome Wawrinka

Posted: 27 Jan 2015 11:03 PM PST

Kei Nishikori of Japan showed a burst of energy in the third set before falling 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(6) to Stan Wawrinka, who advanced to the semifinals.

At Auschwitz-Birkenau, Holocaust Survivors, Ever Dwindling in Number, Gather to Remember

Posted: 27 Jan 2015 07:29 PM PST

In 2005, about 1,500 survivors attended the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the death camps. This year, there were fewer than 300.

A Resilient Madison Keys Ousts Venus Williams at the Australian Open

Posted: 27 Jan 2015 06:55 PM PST

In a match that felt like a changing of the guard, Keys, an unseeded teenager, defeated the 34-year-old Williams to reach the semifinals in Melbourne.

Open Source: Egypt Condemns Western Outrage at Fatal Shooting of Protester

Posted: 27 Jan 2015 05:21 PM PST

The Foreign Ministry expressed dismay that the killing of a female activist in Cairo had drawn widespread condemnation from the West.

In Reprieve to Obama, Senate Democrats Agree to Wait on Iran Sanctions

Posted: 27 Jan 2015 05:01 PM PST

While the House of Representatives weighs whether to impose new sanctions on Tehran, the Iranian Parliament is working on a resolution of its own.

Apple’s China Strategy Pays Off With Surge in Earnings

Posted: 27 Jan 2015 04:53 PM PST

The introduction of a large-screen iPhone in China helped propel Apple's profit to $18 billion and its revenue to nearly $75 billion.

Pontassieve Journal: Life of Italian Nobility for Sale, Complete With Regulations and Taxes

Posted: 27 Jan 2015 04:48 PM PST

Italy's long heritage of inherited wealth and property has withered thanks to cuts in government subsidies and high maintenance costs, among other factors.

Fidel Castro Shares Views on Warming of Relations

Posted: 27 Jan 2015 04:03 PM PST

In a letter, Mr. Castro wrote that he did not trust the politics of the United States, but added that this was not "a rejection of a peaceful solution to conflicts."

Botswana Doctor Is Named to Lead W.H.O. in Africa

Posted: 27 Jan 2015 03:26 PM PST

The much-praised appointee, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, promised to overhaul the regional office, which has faced criticism for its slow response to the Ebola crisis.

Yahoo to Spin Off Its Stake in Alibaba

Posted: 27 Jan 2015 03:19 PM PST

Shedding its 15 percent stake in the Chinese e-commerce site turns the spotlight to Yahoo's plans to revamp its core Internet advertising business.

Netanyahu Talk Stirs Backlash in Israeli Race

Posted: 27 Jan 2015 02:28 PM PST

Critics are attacking Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who plans to address Congress before Israeli elections, for politicizing a key interest: curbing Iran's nuclear program.

DealBook: Yahoo Could Sell Its Alibaba Shares Without a Big Tax Bill

Posted: 27 Jan 2015 01:47 PM PST

Yahoo is expected on Tuesday to unveil its plans on how to divest its 15 percent stake in Alibaba without generating a huge amount of taxes. The primary options involve a spinoff of the company's holdings in some fashion.

Smithsonian Considers Opening London Location

Posted: 27 Jan 2015 01:40 PM PST

The Smithsonian Institution has announced that it is considering a new 40,000-square-foot exhibition space in London, to open in 2021.

The TV Watch: ‘The Americans’ Returns to FX With Season 3

Posted: 27 Jan 2015 01:16 PM PST

Season 3 of "The Americans," about Soviet spies posing as suburban parents in Reagan-era America, begins on Wednesday on FX.

Greece’s New Left-Wing Cabinet Signals Willingness to Confront E.U. Over Policies

Posted: 27 Jan 2015 01:03 PM PST

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras's new cabinet includes Yanis Varoufakis, an economist who has called the eurozone austerity policy "fiscal waterboarding."

White House Drone Crash Described as a U.S. Worker’s Drunken Lark

Posted: 27 Jan 2015 12:18 PM PST

The man, who was at an apartment near the White House when he lost control of the drone, went to bed before reporting the episode, according to law enforcement officials.