The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) yesterday approved the National Agricultural Technology Programme-2nd Phase (NATP-2) in a bid to improve the overall socio-economic conditions of farmers and alleviate poverty with an estimated cost of Tk 1,878 crore. The approval came…

AFP, WASHINGTON: The International Monetary Fund said yesterday that the global economy faces wide-ranging threats from weak growth and rising protectionism,…

AFP, NEW DELHI: India’s meteorological department yesterday said it forecast an above-average monsoon this year, offering hope for farmers at a time when several regions are facing severe drought. Key agricultural states including Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka are facing a crippling…

Popular Social media networking site Facebook has verified the official page of Infor-mation and Communication Tech-nology (ICT) Division, reports BSS. The page https://www.facebook.com/ictdivisionbd/ was seen having a blue tick mark beside the site which means the page has been verified as genuinely…

AFP, HONG KONG: A fall in the yen pushed Japan’s stock market higher yesterday, helping it lead a broad Asia-wide advance, although analysts said…

AFP, BRUSSELS: The European Union yesterday renewed sanctions against Iran over its human rights record, even as it relaxes damaging measures imposed on Tehran to force it to rein in its disputed nuclear programme. “The Council (of member states) decided to extend until 13 April 2017 its restrictive…

Stock market ended flat yesterday, with showing marginal increase in price indices and market activities, reports BSS. The market began the week downward on Sunday and continued sinking till the close of the next trading session on Monday as sell pressure was high for cash in and re-positioning of a…

AFP, SHANGHAI: China's Bank of Tianjin has been defrauded of more than $120 million, it said, the third such giant crime against banks in the country this year. A "risk incident" at a Shanghai branch involved 768 million yuan ($122 million) and was related to its notes business, the bank…

AFP, SHANGHAI: Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba will acquire a controlling stake in leading Southeast Asian online shopping platform Lazada for $1.0 billion, it said Tuesday as Jack Ma's company seeks to expand outside its home market. Alibaba's Taobao platform is estimated to have more than…

Bangladeshis have won about Tk 22 lakh cash and prize money by playing web games on UC Browser during this cricket season, a press statement said yesterday.   Cash, Symphony phones and mobile recharges were given to 43,231 top winners.   The games were launched on March 7 and ended on April…

Pan Pacific Sonargaon Dhaka will decorate the hotel with festive colours to celebrate the Bengali New Year Pahela Baishakh, says a press release. From April 14 till 16, the Hotel has arranged a scintillating line up of 3 day events of delicious Bangladeshi gourmet and entertaining performances by artists…

Mahindra Comviva, the global leader in providing mobility solutions, yesterday announced its VAS business management partnership with du, the UAE based telecommunications service provider, the company said in a press statement. As part of the multi-year deal, Mahindra Comviva is among the companies…

Emirates SkyCargo, the freight division of Emirates Airline, has further strengthened its extensive route network with the launch of a weekly freighter service to Phnom Penh, Cambodia recently, says a press statement yesterday. The new freighter service to Cambodia’s capital is the carrier’s…