A bill titled 'The Power Bill, 2017' was passed in Parliament yesterday keeping a provision of harsher punishment of maximum 10 years' jail and Tk 10 crore fine or both for carrying out any act of sabotage in any electricity infrastructure or installation, reports UNB from Sangsad Bhaban.…

The government will continue its efforts to implement the VAT and Supplementary Duty Act, 2012. The project to implement the Act has been extended till December 2020. The Executive Committee of the National Economic Committee (ECNEC) approved the revised project at a cost of Tk 690.13 crore yesterday,…

The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) has urged the authorities concerned to take steps to bring down the interest rate of home loan and flat registration fee, reports BSS. The apex trade body also suggested increasing the timeframe for repayment of home loan up to at…

AFP, BEIJING: China and South Korea yesterday day hit out  at a US decision to impose stinging tariffs on imported solar panels and  washing machines, which marked the latest salvo in Donald Trump’s “America  First” drive. The US president approved the steep tariffs—up…

Environment and Forest Minister Anisul Islam Mahmud yesterday said initiative has been taken to manufacture concrete block instead of conventional brick under pilot basis in order to avoid air pollution by operating brick kilns in the country, reports BSS. “After feasibility study...the government…

AFP, TOKYO: Tokyo stocks opened higher yesterday after Wall Street powered to another set of records on a deal to end a three-day government shutdown in Washington. The benchmark Nikkei 225 index gained 0.45 per cent or 107.92 points to 23,924.25 in early trade while the broader Topix index was up 0.37…

AFP, DAVOS: After a gala opening set against spectacular snowfall, the World Economic Forum starts in earnest yesterday basking in robust global growth but facing warnings that the world’s have-nots are missing out more than ever. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is to deliver the first keynote…

As the Asia-Pacific continues to create jobs at a very fast rate, unemployment in the region is expected to remain low by international standards, at around 4.2 per cent in 2018, according to a new report by the International Labour Organization (ILO), reports UNB. The ILO’s ‘World Employment…

AFP, FRANKFURT AM MAIN: European Central Bank president Mario Draghi will paper over discord among colleagues at a press conference Thursday, analysts predict, with policymakers divided on their response to heftier economic growth unaccompanied by higher inflation. Top central bankers know the end is…

Stock markets maintained upward trend for the fourth consecutive days of the week yesterday due to higher transactions, reports BSS. The day’s trade…

Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute (BLRI) has appointed Dr Nathu Ram Sarkar as its director general, said a press statement. Prior to his joining,…

AFP, SAN FRANCISCO: Netflix shares raced higher in after-hours trade Monday as the streaming television giant reported better-than-expected gains in its global subscriber base and a quarterly profit that nearly tripled from a year ago. Netflix has been on a tear with original programs such including…

MA Awal has been elected chairman of AB Bank Limited while Feroz Ahmed was made vice-chairman of the bank, the bank said in a press statement. The board…

AFP, NEW YORK: Procter & Gamble reported higher quarterly sales yesterday behind strength in some health and beauty products, but earnings tumbled in part due to one-time costs connected to US tax reform. Net income in the second quarter ending December 31 dropped 68 per cent to $2.5 billion, in…