US housing starts at 13-year high, factory output gains

US homebuilding surged to a 13-year high in December as activity increased across the board, suggesting the housing market recovery was back on track amid low mortgage rates, and could help support the longest economic expansion on record, report agencies.There was also some encouraging news on manufacturing, with other data on Friday showing production at factories increasing for a second straight month in December, indicating some stabilization in one of the industries hardest hit by the Trump administration’s 18-month trade war with China.Though US President Donald Trump and Chinese Vice Premier Liu He signed a “Phase 1” trade deal on Wednesday, a first step toward defusing the trade war, manufacturing is not out of the woods yet. Boeing (BA.N) this month suspended production of its fast-selling 737 MAX jetliner and ripple effects of that decision are already being felt, with a major supplier announcing layoffs last week.“The shockingly large rise in home con...

German cabin crew union plans further strikes at Lufthansa

German cabin crew union UFO said on Saturday it was planning further strikes at Lufthansa (LHAG.DE) to increase pressure on management after talks with Germany’s largest airline and two potential mediators did not yield any results, report agencies.The union will announce more details on Wednesday at 1400 CET (8.00 a.m. ET), a UFO spokesman told Reuters. The flight attendants’ union had said earlier it was looking into the possibility of staging strikes lasting for an indefinite peri...

Businesses, entrepreneurs fuelling diverse economic growth of BD

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) Limited in Bangladesh has awarded eight organisations in different categories for their contribution in promoting the country and to foster the sustainable growth of t...

BIFPCL distributes blankets in Rampal-Mongla

Bangladesh-India Friendship Power Company (Pvt.) Limited (BIFPCL) has been contributing significantly for the social development through diversified social works including distribution of blankets in Rampal and Mongla upazilas of Bagerhat district.  These activities are focused on changing the fate of mass people of this region. Talukder Abdul Khaleque, Mayor of Khulna City Corporation (KCC) made these remarks while distributing blankets given by BIFPCL in Gouramva union on Sunday as chief guest. A total of four thousand blankets have been distributed by the company amongst the destitute suffering from cold weather in different union parishads of Rampal and Mongla Upazilas. Talukder Abdul Khaleque, Mayor of Khulna City Corporation (KCC) attended the distribution program as C...

PM receives treatment at NIOH

Pressure was from ICC to play WTC game in Pakistan: Papon

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Nazmul Hassan Papon said that the main reason to visit Pakistan is to play the matches of World Test Championship (WTC) for which there is pressure on them from the International Cricket Council (ICC).The two-match Test series that Bangladesh would play in Pakistan is the part of WTC game, which Papon said is like Test World Cup.“If it is just bilateral series, then the situation would have been different but the two-match Test series is the part of World Test Championship, which is being organized by ICC. It is kind of World Cup. The championship game is being play by home and away basis, so there is no option [to avoid it],” Papon said here today.“I think we should take part here as a full member of ICC. And ICC also wants that. This was the main pressure actually.”The BCB chief said they would understand the whole situation of Pakistan once they would play the three-match T20 International series for which Bangladesh is leaving the country on January 22. The three T20Is are scheduled to be held on January 24, 25 and 27 and all the matches will be held in Lahore.“I think we will understand the whole scenario once we’ll go there for T20 series. If the problem arises during the tour then we can discuss about it and can take the next course of action,” he pointed out.After the T20 series, Bangladesh would visit Pakistan for two more times—firstly for first Test and secondly for an ODI and the second Test.The BCB president further said if any unwanted situation happens there, the...

Dhaka dwellers’ dream of smart city

Digitalization has been on the agenda of the government for a long time. Along with digitalizing the country the word ‘smart city’ is also being thrown around quite a lot. Recently, the po...

Delta Plan 2100

For many years, Bangladesh has been facing a number of delta related challenges in the form of frequent natural hazards, salinity intrusion, sea level rise, and so on. Thus already Bangladesh has gone through a high pressure on its land and water res...

Eat some more at S’MORES

Luncheon at Mainland China

Duck a l’orange