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Teas to try in a brand new year

I am making a wishlist of teas to try this year. Next to books or rather, along with a book - it's the easiest escape I can think of. And there are so many choices, so many teas that I expect to have a bit of an adventure with, and hope there are a few here that pique your curiosity too.

STAND OUT FROM THE CAFÉ CROWD

Restaurateur Gauri Devidayal on facing her fears, how the ranking game is affecting dining, and her pride in homegrown brands

Young India's luxury DREAM

The world's top fashion brands are flocking to India, hoping to penetrate a market that has more retail space, better defined online shopping experiences and, most importantly, a growing young population that isn't shy to live the high life

PLAYING THE SAME TUNES

Modern composers are yet to make a mark on the Carnatic stage as performers prefer 19th century compositions

Just listen, don't advise

Sometimes all that a person wants is a safe space to articulate their feelings - give them your attentive presence

Wintering birds are here - pause and watch

The sun burns off the last of the fog, and I wonder whether the haze was pearlescent winter mist or charring smog. The retreat is like a cover being pulled off from a magician’s show: bright things begin appearing from the grey winter sameness. We begin to see the yellow beak of the Bar-headed goose which has flown over the Himalaya to India.

A bike custom-made for the rider

Royal Enfield's latest, the Shotgun 650, inspired by custombuilt bikes, takes the rough with the smooth in style

The world confronts four major economic challenges right now

Conventional economics needn't be dumped but economists must apply their tools to the objectives and constraints of the day

Skiers may be staring at snowless slopes for ages

A snow scarcity at Gulmarg and Auli has disappointed skiing buffs. Since global warming, unlike El Niño, isn't about to reverse, this problem may persist. They'll need innovative lures

FLIGHTS DELAYED OR CANCELLED: KNOW HOW TRAVEL INSURANCE CAN HELP

The media is rife with stories of passengers stranded at airports and inside the aircraft (even the tarmac in one case) due to flight delays caused by dense fog conditions in Delhi and other parts of north India. Every winter, we see various flights getting delayed, diverted, or cancelled due to inclement weather.

Saudi Arabia still considering Brics membership invitation

Saudi Arabia is still considering an invitation to become a member of the Brics bloc of countries after being asked to join by the grouping last year, two persons with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Thursday.

Wall Street is praying firms will start going public again

For two long years, private companies have spurned public markets as rising interest rates dashed lofty valuations

'Client caution is slowing IT'

Extreme caution among clients in the global market has sparked a slowdown across verticals in the IT industry, Debashis Chatterjee, managing director and chief executive officer of LTIMindtree said.

WHEN SIGNALS IN SPACE GET A RESPONSE

What happens in outer space is a never-ending source of mystery and wonder.

'New GST burden may make biz unsustainable'

SportsBaazi, facing GST hurdles, pivots with new revenue streams

Akasa inks $20-bn deal to buy 150 Boeing MAX

The latest order takes the airline's cumulative order book to 226 aircraft

Coal India Ltd eyes lithium, rare earth mines from govt

The move is in line with the company's plans to diversify into newer, more long-term areas

Malaysia Airlines seeks code-share pact

Malaysia Airlines is in talks with an Indian carrier for a potential partnership to increase its reach in the world's third-largest aviation market, a top company official said, even as he lauded New Delhi's decision of not giving any more flying rights to foreign carriers to boost its own players.

Litmus test for Asian Paints nears

Asian Paints Ltd investors are in a sombre mood.

South's problem of plenty hurts growth outlook for cement

Ccement prices in south India are under pressure. In recent months, prices in the south have fallen faster than the all-India average.

Cashfree targeting return to profitability by Q1FY25: CEO

The firm has introduced over 10 products across payouts, verification & connected banking

Newgen Software on an upward growth trajectory!

Newgen Software Technologies, an India-born global IT product company, has solidified its position as a world leader since its inception in 1992.

India hardens stance at WTO over public stocks of grains

Won't negotiate on any farm issue until WTO finds permanent solution to subsidies problem

Big sops unlikely for farmers in budget

In the interim budget presented in February 2019, ahead of the last general elections, the Centre announced the flagship PM-Kisan scheme which promised a direct cash transfer of 16,000 every year for every farm household.

Japan to help India cut power sector emissions, build infra

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the country's development aid agency, is working with India on a roadmap to reduce carbon emissions in the power sector, Saito Mitsunori, the chief representative of the agency's India Office said.

Cabinet clears 3 SFC posts, 2 coal power projects

The Union cabinet on Thursday greenlit equity investments by two Coal India subsidiaries for new thermal power plants, and approved three senior posts in the Sixteenth Finance Commission (SFC), which is being set up.

Railways on track for a better show

Higher revenues and bigger handouts are expected to help Indian Railways fare better in the year ahead, two people aware of the matter said.

Digital fair play bill likely after elections

Digital economy giants such as Amazon, Google and Facebook may have to contend with a new Indian law to check anticompetitive practices.

AI researchers fear undetectable fakes

Rishi Sunak is Britain's prime minister.

Design Cafe on sale, may merge with larger peer

Unable to scale up and with existing investors unwilling to pump more funds, WestBridge Capital-backed interior solutions provider DesignCafe has been put on the block.