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Food security under threat

2007-11-11 00:00:00

Country's food security seems to be under serious threat, both in short and long terms. Two consecutive floods in the months of July and August this year, disruptions in the supply of farm inputs, including fertilisers, seeds and diesel, have...

Taming the skyrocketing prices of essentials

2007-11-11 00:00:00

Shahiduzzaman KhanFood and Disaster Management Adviser Tapan Chowdhury has given the people an avowed assurance that the prices of rice would come down after the next Boro harvest, which government estimates say is going to have a bumper production. He...

Worries deepen over future of Pakistan

2007-11-11 00:00:00

Farhan Bokhari and Quentin PeelSHARES on the Karachi stock exchange, the Pakistani military regime's main economic showpiece, fell more than 4.0 per cent in the wake of the imposition of emergency rule.The fall prompted worries over the future of investments...

The significance of free thinking

2007-11-11 00:00:00

M A SamadTHE ultra conservatives in almost all settings have their very narrow view of the world. Besides, they also suffer perhaps from an excess of self-esteem and righteousness. The world view of such orthodox elements are too inflexible, too...

Improving the national image

2007-11-11 00:00:00

There are many determinants of foreign direct investments (FDIs) such as a positive macro-economic environment, sound state of infrastructures, easily trainable workers, good terms and conditions for repatriation of capital and profit by the investors, etc. Bangladesh is not lacking...

Burkle gets Bill Clinton's ear, no respect from Ovitz

2007-11-11 00:00:00

Seth Lubove“Sweet'' Alice Harris can't heap enough praise on Los Angeles billionaire Ronald Burkle. The founder of investment firm Yucaipa Cos., Burkle made his fortune in the grocery business and opened the first supermarket in the gritty Watts neighborhood long...

Democrats defy Bush veto threat on spending plan

2007-11-11 00:00:00

Brian FaleDemocratic lawmakers, ignoring a veto threat, will try to force President George W. Bush to approve an increase in domestic spending by combining it with legislation funding military construction and veterans' programs. Lawmakers said they will merge the appropriations...

China threatens to block industrial goods deal at WTO

2007-11-11 00:00:00

GENEVA, Nov 10 (AFP): China has threatened to veto any proposals on cutting customs tariffs on industrial goods at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) if its requests are not met, trade sources said yesterday. During a meeting of the negotiating...

Bleak US consumer outlook eclipses trade gap gains

2007-11-11 00:00:00

NEW YORK, Nov 10 (Reuters): US consumer sentiment tumbled in early November to its lowest since the grim aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, overshadowing a favourable report yesterday that booming exports trimmed the trade deficit to its slimmest since May 2005....

Financial turmoil, oil price to bring down European economic growth

2007-11-11 00:00:00

BRUSSELS, Nov 10 (Xinhua): The European economy was set to grow at a slower pace in the next two years as the financial turmoil and hiking oil prices began to bite, the European Commission said yesterday. In an economic forecast...

US, EU team up to tell China to abide by int'l trade rules

2007-11-11 00:00:00

WASHINGTON, Nov 10 (AFP): The United States and the European Union joined forces yesterday in a bid to "convince" China that it would be in its best interest to abide by the rules of international trade. The China "challenge" was...

Nepal's foreign employment soars by 26pc

2007-11-11 00:00:00

KATHMANDU, Nov 10 (Xinhua): The number of Nepali workers leaving for overseas jobs went up by a whopping 26 per cent in the first three months of the current fiscal year starting in mid-July, as compared to the same period...

40,000 workers on strike in UAE

2007-11-11 00:00:00

DUBAI, Nov 10 (PTI): In perhaps the longest such stir in the UAE, nearly 40,000 construction workers, a majority of them Indians, are on strike for the last eight days demanding better salaries and living conditions. The workers employed with...

Oil prices flirt with 100 dollar-landmark

2007-11-11 00:00:00

LONDON, Nov 10 (AFP): Crude oil prices struck new historic heights this week, surging above 98 dollars a barrel for the first time, on fears of tight energy supplies in the United States, the world's biggest energy user. Gold futures...

Euro steadies against 'safe-haven' dollar

2007-11-11 00:00:00

NEW YORK, Nov 10 (AFP): The euro held steady against the dollar here yesterday as fears about the depth of a credit crunch sent investors fleeing for traditional safe havens, strengthening the greenback and the yen. The euro had jumped...

Gold, oil pause on path to key highs

2007-11-11 00:00:00

NEW YORK/LONDON, Nov 10 (Reuters): Oil and gold both lost momentum yesterday, as they digested the week's volatility on their respective treks to all-time and 28-year peaks, but supply worries for oil, inflation fears for gold, and dollar weakness should...

Brussels proposes keeping EU's contested cotton aid regime

2007-11-11 00:00:00

BRUSSELS, Nov 10 (AFP): The EU Commission yesterday proposed keeping the bloc's cotton growers' subsidy scheme, largely de- linking aid from production, that Europe's highest court contested last year after a Spanish complaint. Under the system, most EU aid, 65...

Malaysian PM signals hike in fuel prices

2007-11-11 00:00:00

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 10 (PTI): Malaysian Premier Abdullah Badwai Friday said the government will have to restructure energy subsidies, signaling that Malaysians may soon have to brace up for a hike in petrol prices. Abdullah told his party delegates that...

Study finds 92pc local softwares pirated

2007-11-11 00:00:00

FE ReportA seminar titled 'Staying on the Right Side of the Law with Software Asset Management' was held recently at Dhaka Sheraton Hotel, with the patronage of the Business Software Alliance (BSA), an organisation dedicated to promoting a safe and...

HSBC gives away prizes to quiz winners

2007-11-11 00:00:00

FE ReportThe Honkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) Ltd, Bangladesh has distributed prizes to the winners of the HSBC Select Quiz Competition at a simple ceremony in the city recently.The grand prize winner, who successfully answered the three questions correctly,...

CCC to allow installation of 5000 billboards

2007-11-11 00:00:00

Our CorrespondentCHITTAGONG, Nov 10 : Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) will accord permission for installing over five thousand billboards and signboards afresh at different places of the port city, CCC sources said.The task of installing the same is now under process...

BRAC Bank to give donation to Cholera Hospital

2007-11-11 00:00:00

BRAC Bank will provide financial assistance to the Dhaka Hospital, popularly known as 'Cholera Hospital', for necessary renovation of its semi-permanent shed, reports UNB. To this effect, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) will be signed between ICDDR'B and BRAC Bank...

4 state-owned banks file 7,706 certificate cases in Comilla

2007-11-11 00:00:00

COMILLA, Nov 10 (UNB): The four state-owned banks have filed 7,706 certificate cases against defaulters in different upazilas of the district to realise Tk 282 million outstanding loans.Of the total, Sonali Bank filed 259 cases to realise Tk 5.63 million,...

Md Yeasin Ali reappointed DBBL MD

2007-11-11 00:00:00

FE ReportMd Yeasin Ali, a veteran banker of the country, has been reappointed managing director (MD) of Dutch-Bangla Bank Ltd (DBBL for another two years with effect from November 10, 2007.Prior to joining DBBL, Yeasin Ali served in Bangladesh Krishi...

Oman to import medicines, RMG, cosmetics from Bangladesh

2007-11-11 00:00:00

Oman's business leaders Saturday said they are interested in importing medicines, T-shirts, cosmetics and readymade garments from Bangladesh, aiming to strengthen the friendly relations between the two Muslim countries, reports UNB. Members of Oman Chambers of Commerce and Industry (OCCI)...

banglalink provides Hajj pilgrims with special services

2007-11-11 00:00:00

FE Reportbanglalink, a mobile phone company of the country, has taken an initiative to provide Hajj pilgrims with pure drinking water, necessary medicines, free phone kiosks and buses for shuttle services (airport drop service for Hajj pilgrims).As part of corporate...

Greenback weakens against BDT

2007-11-11 00:00:00

Sarwar Zahan US dollar weakened against Bangladesh taka (BDT) last week with steady demand for the greenback, fund managers said. Taka appeared to be slightly appreciated, as the central bank sold dollar to improve supply position and ease pressure on...

Agrani Bank managers urged to ensure more profit

2007-11-11 00:00:00

FE ReportBranch managers of Agrani Bank have been urged to come forward with dedication for earning more profit particularly from foreign exchange business. Chairman of the board of directors of the bank and former secretary of the Ministry of Finance...

Bangladesh trade fair in Bahrain begins Jan 22

2007-11-11 00:00:00

FE ReportTargeting to tap huge market potentiality of Bangladeshi products, Dhaka International Exhibition Company (DIEC) in association with the Bangladesh embassy in Bahrain will organise an eight-day trade fair there from January 22, 2008. The fair will be held at...

Adulterated ghee recovered in Ctg: Six arrested

2007-11-11 00:00:00

Our CorrespondentCHITTAGONG, Nov 10: A huge quantity of adulterated ghee was recovered by the Rapid Action Battalion from Bakalia Razakhali area in the city and six persons were arrested in this connection.According to the concerned sources, on receiving secret information,...