08-03-2019

More documents

Recommendations

Info

ECONOMY & BUSINESS 10 FRIDAy, MARCH 8, 2019 Executive Chairman of Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) Major General Mohd Habibur Rahman Khan, BSP, ndc, psc promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General yesterday. Chief of Army Staff General Aziz Ahmed, BGBM, PBGM, BGBMS, psc, G and Quarter Master General Lieutenant General Md. Shamsul Haque, psc adorned Major General Habib with the Lieutenant General rank badges at the Army headquarters.Before joining BEPZA, Lt. General Habib was Commandant, MIST and then Engineer in Chief of Bangladesh Army at Army Headquarters. He was commissioned in the Corps of Engineers in Bangladesh Army in 1981. Photo: Courtesy Asian markets mostly higher as Shanghai extends rally A Shanghai rally led gains across most Asian markets Wednesday as Chinese investors grow increasingly optimistic over trade talks with the US. With expectations that Washington and Beijing will eventually strike a tariffs deal already baked into equity prices, analysts say officials will need to provide some clarity on progress to give markets another step up. There are also warnings that with optimism so high, there could be a lot of disappointment if the final deal does not live up to the hype, or the two sides fail to even reach an agreement. The talk is that high-level negotiations are ongoing in order to pave the way for a signing ceremony between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping later this month. "A mid-March meeting … remains the expected next step, but if trade representatives are unable to agree on the final terms of implementation and enforcement measures, we could see the trade truce rally fade," said OANDA senior market analyst Edward Moya. Still, after a slow start Shanghai closed 1.6 percent higher to build on Tuesday's rally that came on the back of China's decision to slash taxes and ramp up spending, as leaders look to pep up the stuttering economy. Mainland Chinese markets are up more than 20 percent this year thanks to trade hopes and following a series of monetary easing measures to kickstart economic growth, which hit its slowest pace in three decades in 2018. Slow growth hits Aussie - Hong Kong rose 0.3 percent, while Sydney finished 0.8 percent higher after data showed Australia's economy virtually ground to a halt in October-December owing to tepid household spending and a weakening housing market. The news has fuelled speculation the central bank will have to cut already record-low borrowing costs, cheering equity markets but sending the Australian dollar tumbling about 0.6 percent against the greenback. Elsewhere, Manila jumped 1.4 percent, Mumbai added 0.4 percent and Taipei gained 0.5 percent, while Wellington edged up 0.2 percent. However, Tokyo ended down 0.6 percent, Singapore was off 0.1 percent and Seoul fell 0.2 percent. On currency markets the pound struggled to recover from losses against the greenback after talks between British and EU negotiators failed to hammer out a revised Brexit deal that Prime Minister Theresa May can pass through parliament. US private hiring beats expectations in February: ADP Hiring by private US companies again beat expectations in February, pointing to continued robust health of the labor market, according to a survey released Wednesday. Private companies hired 183,000 new workers in February, far stronger than the 175,000 economists were expecting, the survey showed, according to payroll services firm ADP. The report is scrutinized for hints of the direction of the crucial government jobs report due out Friday, and despite frequent deviations, the data seem to confirm a solid but slowing job market. Firms that produce goods added 44,000 while the dominant services sector hired 139,000, both sharply lower than the prior month. Hiring in January was revised up to 300,000, the highest since February 2006, according to ADP, which originally reported a 213,000 gain. "Job gains are still strong, but they have likely seen their high watermark for this expansion," said Mark Zandi, chief economist of Moody's Analytics. Chinese shares enjoy further gains Shanghai stocks staged another rally Wednesday, extending its latest winning run to a fourth day, following China's tax cut pledge and on hopes for the China-US trade talks. The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index climbed 1.57 percent, or 47.85 points, to 3,102.10 and the Shenzhen Composite Index, which tracks stocks on China's second exchange, was up 1.49 percent, or 24.43 points, at 1,660.41. The Hang Seng Index in Hong Kong added 0.26 percent, or 76.00 points, to 29,037.60. Rupee slips 11 paise to 70.60 vs USD in opening trade The rupee depreciated 11 paise to 70.60 against the US dollar in opening trade Wednesday on increased demand for the greenback from importers and banks. Forex dealers said, strengthening of the American currency in the overseas market weighed on the domestic currency. However, fresh foreign fund inflows, easing crude prices and positive opening in domestic equities supported the rupee and restricted the fall. The rupee opened weak at 70.60 at the interbank forex market down 11 paise over its last close. The local currency however pared the initial loss and was trading ar 70.55. The rupee Tuesday had strengthened by 43 paise to close at 70.49 against the US dollar. Foreign investors put in Rs 751.92 crore on a net basis in capital markets Tuesday, provisional exchange data showed. Origin and species: fighting illegal logging with science A timeworn laboratory in Britain's Royal Botanic Gardens may not seem like the obvious epicentre of efforts to halt international illegal logging, reports BSS. Beakers bubble away on a hotplate, while suspect guitars that have been sent by customs officials for testing sit on top of shelves lined with tattered old journals and reference books in a multitude of languages. But scientists at the Wood Anatomy Laboratory, part of the research centre at the gardens in Kew, southwest London, are working on a new global project to help precisely identify the origin and species of timber. Illegal logging is estimated to account for 15 to 30 percent of all timber traded worldwide, according to Interpol, with an estimated annual value of $51 billion to $152 billion (45 billion to 134 billion euros) in 2017. Much of the import and export business relies on paper trails for verification. However experts hope that their new project can, in future, provide enforcement agencies with some hard science that can quickly identify through checks whether a wood species is as claimed, and exactly where it was grown. "I'm hoping it will really help to reduce illegal logging," said Peter Gasson, the Kew institution's research leader in wood and timber. Chunks of wood from Laos are stacked in a pile, alongside other slices of timber with yellow sticky notes identifying them. The laboratory's samples originate from far and wide and some date back well over a century. Lying around besides the Leica and Nikon microscopes is a piece of African blackwood collected during British explorer David Livingstone's Zambezi expedition, dated 1860. There is method however in the apparent miscellany at one of the world's largest wood sample collections. Six chests of drawers hold 100,000 microscope slides of fragments, sorted in Latin by family, genus and then species. Each specimen contains three different slices through the wood: transverse, tangential and radial. "We're trying to build up and future-proof the reference collection of wood samples of all the commercial timbers used in the world," said Gasson. "We want a big, comprehensive library - and that's going to take a long time," added the expert, who started his life's work in the Kew lab as a student in 1977. While the Kew experts have the know-how to identify the species, they need help pinpointing where the tree originates, an expertise being provided by a separate partner team in northern England. By combining the wood analysis at Kew with isotope testing of different timbers in Yorkshire, the project should provide law enforcement agencies with a key tool to help rapidly establish whether the timber has come from legal sources. Kew will be able to determine the species of wood and the so-called stable isotope testing - looking at the chemical composition within the wood and patterns reflecting local rainfall and prevailing winds - can identify where the tree was grown. The project is also in partnership with the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), a not-forprofit body certifying sustainably-managed forests around the world which account for about 10 percent of the planet's productive forests. The 200 million hectares of FSC-certified forests hold around 2,000 species and the Germany-based organisation will be collecting geo-referenced samples to start amassing the database for use in fighting illegal logging. Michael Marus, FSC chief information officer and information technology director, said: "The science is there; what is needed is reference samples from forests which contain location data. Walton Digital Campaign Season 4 gears up sales The ongoing nationwide Walton Digital Campaign Season-4 has geared up the Sales of the local brand's electronics, electrical and home appliances across the country, says a press release. The campaign turned the entire country into a festive mood following massive branding and rally with band-parties. Buyers were thronging the local brand's outlets to pick up various sorts of appliances and then getting various worth's of cash vouchers or free products after registering their purchased items. With the aim of preparing a customer database to provide online based swift and best post sales services, Walton has been conducting digital campaign across the country since last year. On January 9 of this year, Walton started the campaign's season 4 all over the country. Under the season 4, customers of Walton brand fridges, televisions, air conditioners, laptops, computers, washing machines, generators and microwave ovens are offered cash vouchers up to Tk 1 lakh or different sorts of free products like motorcycles, laptops, fridges, televisions, home and electrical appliances. Uday Hakim, executive director of Creative and Publication Department of Walton Group, said, two sorts of initiatives had been taken to ensure the customers' participation into the campaign. Firstly, they greatly focused on conducting huge branding of the campaign, mentioning it he said, thus they decorated all plazas and distributor outlets with colourful banner and festoons. They also erected arcades at the important points of every district and upazila, he said adding: they arranged rally and road show with well-decorated carriages. Secondly, they offered sure cash vouchers up or free products to the customers on the registration of the purchased items, he noted. Under the offer, a large number of people has been already received Tk 1 lakh worth of cash vouchers in different regions of the country, he said adding: besides, thousands of customers have been received different sorts of free appliances through registering products. Amdadul Haque Sarker, executive director of Sales Department of Walton Group, said, the campaign has been received a sound response from the customers across the country. The customers were spontaneously registering their appliances purchased from Walton Plazas or distributor outlets, saying it he added, thus the process of preparing customer database has been accelerated. Area managers of different zones of Walton informed that total of 12 customers received Tk 1 lakh worth of cash vouchers till March 4, 2019, by which each of them later purchased various sorts of electronics, electricals, home and kitchen appliances. Of them, someone gifted different sorts of appliances purchased by the cash vouchers to their dear and near ones. Chattagram region of Islami Bank Bangladesh Ltd organized a Prize Distribution Program among the winners of month long iBanking Campaign at Islami Bank Training & Research Academy at Agrabad recently. Mohammed Monirul Moula, Additional Managing Director of the Bank distributed the prizes as chief guest. Presided over by Md. Amirul Islam, Senior Executive Vice President of the bank, Md. Mahboob Alam, Executive Vice President and Head of Agent Banking Division, Md. Nayer Azam, Head of Chattagram North Zone, G.M. Mohd. Gias Uddin Quader, Head of Chattagram South Zone, Mohammed Shabbir, Head of Khatunganj Corporate Branch and Meah Md. Barkat Ullah, Head of Agrabad Corporate Branch addressed the program as special guests. Islami Bank conducted the campaign from 25 September 2018 to 25 December 2018. Highest i-recharge, fund transfer, iPaySafe users and utility bill payers have been awarded under the campaign. Photo: Courtesy France unveils new tax for global internet giants France on Wednesday introduced a bill to tax internet and technology giants such as Google and Facebook on their digital sales, putting it among a vanguard of countries seeking to force the companies to pay more in the markets where they operate. The French bill was discussed at cabinet level and will be submitted to parliament in early April. Speaking to reporters, Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire described the levy as "a first step" in setting up "a 21st century taxation system". "It's a question of justice for our fellow citizens" and for "our businesses", he said, adding "no one can accept that big digital firms pay 14 percent less tax than our small and medium firms". "If we want to be able to continue to finance our public services, our day nurseries, our hospitals, our schools, we must tax value where it is created," he added. The tax, to be applied retroactively from January 1, sets a three percent levy on digital advertising, websites and the resale of private data by internet giants. It should bring in 400 million euros ($452 million) to the public purse this year, and 650 million by 2022, according to Le Maire - an amount the Le Monde newspaper called "a small sum" but "highly symbolic." Left-wing politicians denounced the measure as too feeble. "Bruno Le Maire is taking on these giants with a water pistol," Ian Brossat, a leader of the Communist party, told Liberation newspaper. And Manon Aubry, a leader of the France Unbowed party, told France Inter radio it was like "putting a plaster on a wooden leg". The government hopes the move will catch on abroad despite an earlier failure to reach consensus at the European Union level. Britain, Spain, and Austria have said they too intend to unilaterally tax the giants, while Japan, Singapore and India are also working on such schemes. Paris says it is now seeking "common ground" on the issue with fellow members of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in order to reach a worldwide accord. Talks are ongoing among 127 countries at the OECD in a bid to reach "a consensus-based, long-term solution in 2020," the international organisation said in a statement in January. An interim report should "be presented to the G20 during 2019," it added, speaking of the group of industrialised and emerging nations. President Emmanuel Macron came to power in 2017 promising to increase levies on global tech and internet groups, seeing their often minimal tax rates as part of a backlash in France and Europe against globalisation. Having failed to persuade his European partners to introduce an EU-wide tax - because of objections from low-tax jurisdictions such as Ireland and fears of provoking US President Donald Trump - France will now go it alone with its own new mechanism.
MISCELLANEOUS FrIDAY, MArCh 8, 2019 11 Newly-elected mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Md Atiqul Islam paid homage by placing wreaths at the portrait of the Father of the Nation in front of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi in the city on Thursday. Photo: Courtesy DNCC mayor Atiqul Islam pays homage to Bangabandhu on historic March 7 Islamic Foundation arranges dua mahfil for Bangabandhu DHAKA : The Bangabandhu Parishad of Islamic Foundation yesterday arranged a dua mahfil on Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on the occasion of his 7th March speech. "The historical speech of 7th March is the Magna Carta of the Bengalees. The speech encourages us till this date," said Shamim Mohammad Afzal, the Director General of the Islamic Foundation, at the discussion and dua mahfil, held at the main office at Agargaon. He said that Bangladesh has become a role model of development under the leadership of the daughter of the Father of the Nation, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Police: Man who killed parents feared psychiatric commitment Kim Nicholson's troubled son disappeared last year, but he sent his parents disturbing text messages and they learned he had placed a 911 call. Fearing he might have died, they hired a private investigator to track him down, reports UNB. Nine days later, on Feb. 13, police found Nicholson, her husband and their housekeeper dead in the family's home in a gated community in Southern California's Newport Beach. One of the women's eyes appeared gouged. Authorities had been summoned by the Nicholson's missing son, Camden, who had gone to a hospital, called police and confessed to the killings, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press. He said he killed his parents because he didn't want them to send him to a psychiatric hospital for evaluation, Newport Beach Detective Richard Henry wrote in an affidavit for a warrant to search the family's cars and home. Camden Nicholson, 28, is to be arraigned Friday on three counts of murder for the deaths of his mother and father, Richard Nicholson, and their housekeeper, Maria Morse. His attorney, Jessica Ann Watts, did not return messages seeking comment. The case shocked the affluent community where the Nicholsons lived and volunteered at a nearby Mormon temple. Some who knew the couple said they were unaware of their son's troubles. Police documents and a lawsuit filed by Morse's husband and adult children describe Camden Nicholson as a disturbed man apparently fueled by drugs. He went missing in December and his mother filed a missing person report advising that her son had Asperger's syndrome, depression and anger issues, Henry wrote. Police found Nicholson at a nearby hotel and determined there weren't grounds to place him on a psychiatric hold. Camden Nicholson did not return home and in January his parents canceled a credit card after their son used it to leave a $1,000 tip. They also received disturbing text messages and on a cellphone call log saw that in early February he had dialed 911, said Michael Youssef, the investigator hired by the couple. Newly-elected mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Md Atiqul Islam on Thursday noon paid rich tributes to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on the occasion of the historic March 7. During the time all the councilors including newly elected councilors were also present. Earlier in the day Md Atiqul Islam took oath at a ceremony held at the Prime Minister's Office, said a press release. After paying tribute, he said, “today is the historic March 7th. On this great day, I took oath as the mayor of DNCC from the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister told me that she wants to see a clean Dhaka city. So let's keep our surroundings clean and beautiful just the way we keep our house clean. We can keep Dhaka city clean by putting garbage at a specific place. In fact we are all Mayor of Dhaka.” He also said, “I want to work with all the councilors, politicians, nonpoliticians and general people. I will look first then will try and understand and later will work. I do not want to do anything to show people.” Later Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Md Atiqul Islam paid homage and tribute to the members of the Bangabandhu's family and four national leaders at Banani graveyard. At that time he offered prayers at his father, mother, later Mayor Anisul Haque and panel mayor Mohammad Osman Gani's grave. During the time all the councilors including newly elected councilors were present. GD-399/19 (6 x 4) GD-402/19 (12 x 4) GD-398/19 (9 x 4)
Page 1 and 2: FriDaY DhaKa: March 8, 2019; Falgun
Page 3 and 4: METRO FRIDAY, MARCh 8, 2019 3 Dalit
Page 5 and 6: STRATEGIC ISSUES FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2
Page 7 and 8: INTERNATIONAL FRIdAy, MARCh 8, 2019
Page 9: SPORTS FRIDAy, MARCh 8, 2019 9 Manc

08-03-2019

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?