[wanabidii] Top Headlines: Gunman, 2 hostages killed as cops storm Sydney cafe to end 16-hour siege

Daily Newsletter | Tuesday, December 16, 2014

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Gunman, 2 hostages killed as cops storm Sydney cafe to end 16-hour siege

Cops did not confirm whether the two hostages who were killed — a 34-year-old man and a 38-year-old woman — were caught in crossfire, or shot by the gunman.

How the Sydney hostage crisis unfolded

The siege at Lindt Chocolat Cafe began around 9.45am in Martin Place, a plaza in Sydney's financial and shopping district that is packed with holiday shoppers this time of year.

2 Indian hostages safe, families relieved

Two Indian nationals — Vishwakant Ankit Reddy and Pushpendu Ghosh — were among the hostages involved when Monis began his siege.

CITIES

AAP renews vows on bijli, paani

Aam Aadmi Party’s popularity during the last assembly elections had a lot to do with its focus on free water and cheaper electricity. This year, both issues have found their way to the series of dialogues it has conducted with Delhiites and will form a major component of the party’s manifesto.

Three bankers arrested for their alleged role in FD scam

City EOW arrests three bank employees in the cash-credit cheating case of Rs 141 crore case.

Police raid Uber's Bengaluru office

Uber Bangalore office was raided in the afternoon by RTO officials.

TECH

Xiaomi: The rise of a smartphone giant

A clever social media strategy and a business plan that emphasized selling services that work on the phone helped Xiaomi build frenzied support.

You may soon use WhatsApp from your desktop

Hidden inside the code of a recent WhatsApp update is the mention of "WhatsApp Web."

6 hot portable speakers you can buy

Here's a list of supreme-sounding travel speakers that you can carry like a can of beer, put on the dashboard like a coaster or fit in the bulb-holder!

SPORTS

Viswanathan Anand beats Adams to win London Classic

Five-time chess world champion Viswanathan Anand won his maiden London Classic title after defeating British GM Michael Adams in the fifth and final round.

Difficult but not impossible to qualify for ISL final: Materazzi

Chennaiyin coach-cum-player Marco Materazzi said his side can still qualify for the ISL final but conceded the difficult task ahead against Kerala Blasters.

Surprised by India's show in Champions Trophy: Tom Boon

Belgian sharp shooter Tom Boon said that he was impressed with the performance of Sardar Singh-led Indian team in the just-concluded Champions Trophy.

BUSINESS

RBI allows banks to recast large project loans

Hundreds of road, power, steel and other large projects that are stuck because of their inability to generate cash flows required to repay loans are likely to go on-stream with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) allowing lenders to extend the repayment period for these projects.

SpiceJet gets 10 days to raise funds or face end

The Centre has given a final chance to cash-strapped SpiceJet to survive, asking the low cost carrier to raise funds within the next 10 days, possibly from promoter Sun Group chief Kalanithi Maran, or face closure.

No stricter norms for towers, mobiles

The government has decided against tightening radiation emission norms for cellular towers and mobile phones despite growing concerns over their ill-effects on human health.