AFP, BEIJING: New loans extended by Chinese banks in July fell to their lowest level in two years, official data showed yesterday, as authorities tighten credit on concerns over the country's mounting debt problem. Chinese lenders gave out 463.6 billion yuan ($69.8 billion) in loans last month,…

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is set to open the operational activities of the much-awaited deep-sea port in Patuakhali, about 319 kilometres southwest…

AFP, SAN FRANCISCO:  Microsoft on Thursday said it is bolstering its Xbox arsenal with the purchase of a startup specializing in letting people join in the fun while watching live-streamed game play. Microsoft did not disclose financial terms of the deal to buy Seattle-based Beam, which puts an…

AFP,MANILA: Japan yesterday  announced it is pouring a massive $2.4 billion into a new railway in the Philippines aimed at easing Manila’s notorious gridlock. Japan, the Philippines’ top trading partner and source of aid, said the 38-kilometre (24-mile) elevated commuter line would…

AFP, BRUSSELS:  Eurozone second quarter growth slowed sharply, official data confirmed yesterday, weighed down by Brexit concerns and a poor performance in struggling France and Italy. Growth in the 19-nation eurozone came in at 0.3 per cent , down from 0.6 per cent  in the three months to…

AFP, TEHRAN: Iran is preparing to allow local companies to import iPhones for the first time to try to curb the huge market in smuggled Apple products, state media reported Thursday. The trade ministry has requested licences from the country's Trade Promotion Organisation for nine Iranian companies…

AFP, HONG KONG:  A strong lead from Wall Street and a rebound in oil prices gave Asian stock markets a lift yesterday, even as fresh economic data…

A new online campaign is putting pressure on fast food giant McDonald's to impose a global ban on products from animals treated with antibiotics.,…

AFP,WASHINGTON:  Paywalls were supposed to help rescue newspapers from the crisis of sinking print circulation as readers shifted to getting their…

AFP, KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s economic growth eased in the second quarter, the central bank said yesterday, attributing the slowdown to a decline…