The issue of coal is really an issue of energy security. India has reserves of coal which it needs to tap to provide energy to its people and to propel its development agenda. At the same time, it is committed to using this coal cleanly and sustainably,” said Piyush Goyal, the Indian minister…

NOVOAIR, one of the private airlines of Bangladesh yesterday started its operation on Dhaka-Saidpur-Dhaka route, reports BSS. The first flight, consisting 66 passengers took off from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) this morning, a press release said. Novoair will operate two flights daily…

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon yesterday said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman dreamt to turn country’s tourism capital Cox’s Bazar into global recreation center like Switzerland to hold major international summits around the year, reports BSS.…

AFP, LONDON: Oil prices rose yesterday, extending a recovery on efforts to tackle a global supply glut.    At about 1130 GMT, US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for delivery in April was up 64 cents at $39.10 a barrel. Brent North Sea crude for May delivery climbed 59 cents to $40.92…

A three-day sixth international agriculture technology fair begun yesterday in the capital with a view to enrich the entrepreneurs and the farmers from home and abroad with the knowledge of latest agricultural technology innovation and inputs, reports BSS. State Minister for LGRD and Cooperatives M…

AFP, WASHINGTON: The Federal Reserve cut its outlook for the US economy and kept its interest rate policy unchanged Wednesday, citing the impact of the…

AFP, LONDON: A global stocks rally ran out of steam in Europe yesterday, as fading prospects of another US interest rate hike sent the euro surging, weighing on eurozone exporters. The Frankfurt, London and Paris stock markets had opened brightly, following a largely upbeat session in Asia and overnight…

AFP, LONDON: With its leather chairs, glass tables and London prices, The Clink seems like any other restaurant. But the cutlery is plastic, the kitchen knives are kept locked up and the view from the window is of barbed wire. Located inside Brixton Prison in south London, The Clink lies behind three…

AFP, FRANKFURT: German airline Lufthansa said yesterday that low oil prices and booming passenger business sent profits soaring in 2015, a year marred by the Germanwings crash and drawn-out industrial action by pilots and crew. Lufthansa chief executive Carsten Spohr described last year as an “emotionally…

AFP, HONG KONG: Stocks, emerging market currencies and oil all rallied in Asia yesterday after Federal Reserve chief Janet Yellen lowered her expectations for US interest rate hikes this year. In a statement following the Fed’s latest policy meeting, Yellen cited concerns about the impact on the…

AFP, TOKYO: Japanese exports to China rose for the first time in seven months in February, the government announced yesterday, though analysts said the gain was distorted by the timing of the Lunar New Year holiday. China is Japan’s top trading partner, but the Asian giant’s economic growth…

AFP, NEW DELHI: Indian banks will strive to recover “every penny” from a beleaguered liquor baron who left the country owing more than $1 billion, the finance minister said yesterday, as warnings sound over a mounting bad debt problem. More than a dozen lenders are chasing Vijay Mallya,…

AFP, HONG KONG: Luggage giant Samsonite yesterday warned its outlook for this year was “uncertain” owing to the growth slowdown in key market China and a stronger US dollar. The firm said in a filing with the Hong Kong Stock Exchange that despite a tough trading year, it saw net profit rise…

AFP, TOKYO: Far from the flashbulbs of Tokyo fashion week, Yoshio Yokobori is juggling multiple roles—talent scout, cultural interpreter, dealmaker—in…

PTI, Kathmandu: Nepal on Wednesday said it will sign a trade and transit treaty and agreements on importing fuel from China during Prime Minister K P Oli’s forthcoming visit to the Communist giant. Oli is leaving for Beijing on March 20 on a week-long official visit. Minister for Industry Som…

AFP, MOSCOW:Rising oil prices sent the Russian ruble to its strongest level since the start of the year yesterday, a day before the central bank is expected to hold its key rates steady. The Russian currency was trading at 68.04 to the dollar after falling to a historic weak point in January. It stood…

AFP, TOKYO: Shares in troubled Toshiba plunged yesterday following a report that the scandal-hit firm is under investigation by US authorities over allegations it hid $1.3 billion in losses at its nuclear power operations. Bloomberg News, quoting unnamed sources, reported that the US Justice Department…

Chillies can be sweet. At least for the growers of the ‘lal sona’ (red gold) variety in the northern regions of the Jamuna basin, including…

State Minister for Posts and Telecommunications Division Tarana Halim said government will provide all kinds of cooperation to the local companies if they come forward with a smartphone at affordable rate. Tarana Halim came up with the remark while briefing the media after a visit of Walton Hi-Tech…

The Queen Mother of Bhutan, Tshering Pem Wangchuck yesterday visited the country’s leading business conglomerate BEXIMCO Group's Industrial…

AFP, JOHANNESBURG: South Africa increased its benchmark interest rate to a level last seen six years ago yesterday as it battles to avoid a credit downgrade in the face of slow growth and a weak currency. The country's central bank raised its repurchase rate by 25 basis points to 7.0 per cent, a…

The Westin Dhaka goes dark to shine the light on climate change marking Earth Hour 2016, a press statement said. The hotel will join millions around the world in turning off lights for one hour on March 19 at 8:30 pm local time to illuminate a powerful message about environmental awareness and action.…