Bangladesh’s trade relations with the United Kingdom (UK) and Japan have become somewhat strained over non-cooperation on the part of BGMEA regarding foreign direct investment (FDI) in apparel sector, officials said Sunday. Diplomats of the two countries on several occasions raised the issue to the competent authority, but the government so far has not been [...]
Share prices at the country’s two premier bourses showed uptrend as the day’s trading began on Monday. The Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) general index gained 171.70 points or 2.96 percent to 5956.66 at about 1:00pm. Of the 251 issues traded by then, 247 advanced, 1 declined and 3 remained unchanged. Meanwhile, Chittagong Stock Exchange [...]
The cost of treating cancer in the developed world is spiralling and is “heading towards a crisis”, an international team of researchers says. Their Lancet Oncology report says there is a “culture of excess” with insufficient evidence about the “value” of new treatments and technologies. It says the number of cancer patients and the cost [...]
Wangari Maathai, the first African woman recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, died after a long struggle with cancer, the environmental organization she founded said Monday. She was 71. One of Kenya’s most recognizable women, Maathai won the Nobel in 2004 for combining environmentalism and social activism. She was the founder of the Green [...]
The outline of a large and ambitious eurozone rescue plan is taking shape, reports from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington suggest. It is expected to involve a 50% write-down of Greece’s massive government debt, the BBC’s business editor Robert Peston says. The plan also envisages an increase in the size of the [...]
Pakistan’s military will not take action against the Haqqani militant group that Washington blames for an attack against its embassy in Kabul, despite mounting American pressure to do so, a Pakistani newspaper reported on Monday. Army chief General Ashfaq Kayani held a “special” meeting with his top commanders on Sunday to discuss the security situation, [...]
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo both hit hat-tricks as Barcelona and Real Madrid went on a Spanish goal rampage Saturday, shrugging off worryingly lacklustre midweek performances. Argentine magician Messi registered his 12th career hat-trick in a Barcelona shirt in a 5-0 mauling of Atletico Madrid as the defending champions moved into second place in [...]
The true cost of the UK’s involvement in the Libya conflict could be as high as £1.75bn – almost seven times more than government estimates, according to a new study. Research by a respected defence analyst suggests that the government has given a misleading picture of the costs of supporting the military operation, now in [...]
The historic Palestinian bid for statehood goes before the United Nations Security Council Monday, where it looks set for a largely symbolic debate in the face of a promised American veto. Lebanon’s Nawaf Salam, the Security Council president for this month, said he circulated the letter of application to all 15 members of the Security [...]
Prime minister Sheikh Hasina has ruled out a dialogue with her arch political rival Khaleda Zia. She thinks that the people of the country will not support BNP which Khaleda heads. Hasina claimed the main opposition will never succeed in its agitation to unseat her government. “The people of the country will not stand up [...]