Banks asked to ensure smooth exchange of torn notes
The Bangladesh Bank (BB) has directed all scheduled banks to ensure smooth services for exchanging torn, defective, and soiled notes, warning of stern action against those reluctant to comply.According to a circular issued on Monday, scheduled bank branches must provide exchange value for non-issuable and mutilated notes if more than...
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Gold prices ease as investors brace for US jobs data
Gold prices fell on Tuesday as investors grew cautious ahead of key US jobs data, as it is expected to shed light on future Federal Reserve interest rate cut prospects, reports Reuters.Spot gold lost 0.6% to $4,277.20 per ounce, as of 1102 GMT. Bullion has rallied 64% year-to-date. US gold...
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Illegal brick kilns shut in anti-pollution drive
The Department of Environment (DoE) has carried out a coordinated nationwide enforcement drive against air pollution, illegal brick kilns, the use of banned polythene and industrial units operating without environmental clearance.During the drives on Monday, mobile courts imposed fines, shut down several illegal brick kilns, destroyed around 1.5 million raw...
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Robusta coffee hits fresh 4-month low
LONDON, Dec 16 (Reuters): Robusta coffee futures on the ICE exchange fell to a fresh four-month low on Tuesday with the harvest in top producer Vietnam progressing apace and exports from Brazil picking up following the Trump tariff reversal. Meanwhile, cocoa prices recovered from Monday's slide.Robusta coffee fell 1.9% to...
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EU to unveil plan to tackle housing crisis
STRASBOURG, France, Dec 16 (AFP): The EU will on Tuesday present a first-ever plan to address the continent's deepening housing crisis, aiming to boost construction and regulate short-term rentals.The figures are stark: nearly 1.3 million people are homeless across the 27-nation bloc-more than the entire population of Brussels.Over the past...
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Oil slips below $60 on hopes of Russia-Ukraine peace deal
LONDON, Dec 16 (Reuters): Oil prices fell on Tuesday to below $60 a barrel - the lowest since May this year - as prospects for a Russia-Ukraine peace deal appeared to strengthen, raising expectations of a potential easing of sanctions.Brent crude futures fell 81 cents, or around 1.3%, to $59.75...
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EU set to scrap 2035 combustion-engine ban in car industry boost
BRUSSELS, Belgium, Dec 16 (AFP): The EU looks set to scrap a landmark 2035 ban on new petrol and diesel cars on Tuesday, as part of a package of reforms aimed at supporting Europe's embattled auto industry.Carmakers and their backers have lobbied hard for Brussels to relax the ban over...
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