Briefing 08-11-2020

Rise in profits of’ listed banks

Most of the listed banks witnessed rise in EPS (earnings per share) for July-September, 2020 compared to same period of the previous year. Officials said the banks' EPS rose following the central bank's policy support provided for not classifying any loans till December to cope with the COVID-19 situation. Page 9

Civil war feared in Ethiopia’s Tigray

Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed says there have been airstrikes on military targets in Tigray state, whose leaders have fallen out with the national government. But there has been no confirmation that the targets have been hit. Tigray's governing party said on Thursday that there had been airstrikes but a senior official told the BBC that nothing had happened on Friday. Page 11

Trump’s chief of staff positive for Covid

Mark Meadows, the White House chief of staff, has contracted Covid-19 just weeks after Donald Trump came down with the virus, which has claimed the lives of more than 236,000 Americans. Mr Meadows, a former North Carolina congressman who is the fourth chief of staff to Mr Trump, was diagnosed with the virus on Wednesday, one day after the presidential election. Page 11

BD to cultivate more bio-fortified crops

Bangladesh has initiated to increase the production of bio-fortified crops aiming to reduce nutrient deficiencies of the people. Industries minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun told a virtual global summit on Friday. "Zinc-enriched rice highly helps fulfil zinc deficiency in human body. The government is taking measures to boost output and consumption of zinc-enriched rice." Page 16