The government has decided to start ‘crash programme’ against production and marketing of contraband polythene bags across the country, reports…

AFP, WASHINGTON: A hollowing out of the middle class in advanced economies like the US, amid weak wage growth and rising inequality, is holding back global growth, a senior IMF official said Monday. Tao Zhang, the International Monetary Fund’s deputy managing director, said the fund’s economic…

The government and different organisations have chalked out weeklong colourful programmes to celebrate World Tourism Day with the global theme ‘Sustainable Tourism - a Tool for Development’, reports BSS. “This year’s World Tourism Day carries an extra significance for the country’s…

AFP, PARIS: French President Emmanuel Macron’s government is set to unveil its first annual budget today, balancing tricky priorities as it seeks…

AFP, BRUSSELS: A summit of European Union leaders in Estonia intended to chart out a digital future for the continent is set to be upstaged by less utopian issues including Brexit and the unexpected rise of the far right in Germany. The EU’s 28 leaders, including British Prime Minister Theresa…

India's economy grew at its slowest pace for three years in the April-to-June quarter and growth has declined for six quarters in a row. Economic…

AFP, BRASÍLIA: The Brazilian government backed off a controversial proposal to authorize private companies to mine a sprawling Amazon reserve Monday after blistering domestic and international criticism. President Michel Temer’s office will issue a new decree yesterday that “restores…

Both the stock markets were down further yesterday due to mainly price fall in large-cap securities despite higher transactions, reports BSS. Among the falling major sectors were textile, food and allied and tannery industries. A total of 146 securities of the large-cap group incurred losses due to…

Japanese consortium comprises--Sumitomo Corporation, Toshiba Corporation and IHI Corporation signed an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract with state-owned Coal Power Generation Company Bangladesh Ltd (CPGCBL) for construction of a coal-fired thermal power plant and deep sea port…

AFP, LONDON: British jeweller Graff said yesterday it has purchased the world’s largest uncut diamond—roughly the size of a tennis ball—for $53 million (44.5 million euros). Canadian miner Lucara Diamond sold to Graff the 1,109-carat gem, the Lesedi La Rona, which was found in Botswana’s…

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday launched a 16bn rupee scheme ($2.5bn/£1.8bn) to electrify all households by December 2018, reports BBC. It will cover more than 40 million families in rural and urban India - roughly a quarter of the country. The “Saubhagya scheme”…

AFP, LONDON: Britain’s banks need to set aside another £10 billion ($13.5 billion, 11.3 billion euros) to cushion against potential consumer credit losses, the Bank of England warned Monday. The central bank’s Financial Policy Committee watchdog said the sector was “underestimating”…