The World Bank (WB) has approved USD 476 million for two projects in Bangladesh to develop strong financial sector and to improve agricultural productivity for one million poor farmers. Of the amount, USD 300 million has been earmarked for the Financial Sector Support Project (FSSP) and USD 176.06 million…

Asian cities continue to dominate the annual MasterCard Global Destinations Cities Index, making up half of the top ten. Bangkok has retained its position at number two with 18.24 million international overnight visitors and is catching up with top-ranked city, London, says a press release. The MasterCard…

The US State Department has issued the first of its 2015 Investment Climate Statements, providing country-specific information and assessments on investment-related laws and other important factors for doing business abroad, reports UNB. The US embassies and consulates prepare these public documents,…

Xinhua, ROME: Enhancing small farmers' capability to tackle the impacts of climate change is essential to world food security, according to an agriculture expert. "Climate change is already impacting global agriculture in numerous ways, and will further affect it in the future," Alexandre…

AFP, AHMEDABAD: Gripping his inhaler as he struggles to breathe, rake-thin Chinnapan Chinnakannu blames his years spent labouring in one of India’s scores of asbestos cement factories for his debilitating illness. When he first started at the factory in western Gujarat state, Chinnapan said he…

Airtel Bangladesh Limited has won the Asia Communication Awards (ACA) 2015 for its best customer experience initiative.  The award was handed over at the gala award ceremony of Asia Communi-cation Award 2015 held at the Four Seasons Hotel, Conrad Centennial in Singapore recently, says a press release.…

Rashedul Haque has recently joined as managing director of International Leasing and Financial Services Limited (ILFSL), says a press release. Prior to joining here, he was working as deputy managing director of Reliance Finance Limited. He started his career with ILFSL and also worked with Standard…

AFP, FRANKFURT: Europe’s banking supervisory board will carry out stress tests of big eurozone banks in 2016, according to an interview with the watchdog’s president Daniele Nouy released on Saturday. “There will be a public and general stress test next year. It could only concern…

The Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board (BREB) has provided new electricity connection to three lakh four thousand and eight hundred households in the month of May, says a press release. Till May, REB has provided electricity to one crore seventeen lakh and five thousand households through 72 Palli…

Emirates and SNCF, France’s national railway company, recently announced a new codeshare partnership which will allow Emirates passengers from around the world to travel to 19 new destinations in France, says a press release. With just one easy-to-book ticket, travellers will be able to fly on…

AFP, ELMAU CASTLE: World leaders gathered for a G7 summit in the sun-drenched Bavarian Alps Sunday, their agenda clouded by the Ukraine conflict and the threat of Greece crashing out of the eurozone. German Chancellor Angela Merkel kicked off the day by treating US President Barack Obama to some traditional…

AFP, VIENNA: OPEC’s announcement that it is keeping crude output levels unchanged again, despite a collapse in oil prices, reflects the growing influence of booming US shale but analysts say the cartel is still the dominant player. The 12-nation Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)…

AFP, SAN FRANCISCO: Apple today is expected to unveil a ramped up music service that builds on the iPhone maker’s strengths in a challenge to Spotify, Pandora and other established players. In the biggest overhaul of iTunes since it was launched in early 2003, the service was anticipated to include…

In line with nation’s Vision 2021, this week the Government of Bangladesh announced that it will accelerate it’s transition from cash to digital payments, marked by the new partnership with the Better Than Cash Alliance. Access to Information (A2I), the government’s main driving force…