For too long, multinational corporations—and digital firms in particular—have used existing rules to avoid paying taxes in countries where they do much of their business. For some time now, multinational companies (MNCs) have been gaming the rules of the global…
The Mozambique authorities should urgently investigate and appropriately prosecute alleged sexual exploitation of Cyclone Idai victims by local officials, Human Rights Watch said today. Hunger and destruction caused by the cyclone have left hundreds of thousands of women vulnerable to abuse. Victims, residents, and…
Dhaka, Apr 29 (UNB) – President Abdul Hamid on Monday urged specialist physicians to serve patients more sincerely and take an initiative to reduce their consultation fees as these are beyond common people’s capacity. “You (doctors) are engaged in a…
At the end of a joint visit to the country, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Mark Lowcock, head of UN migration agency (IOM) António Vitorino, and UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Filippo Grandi, reiterated their commitment to find safe and sustainable solutions for Rohingya…
Dhaka, Apr 28 – Bangladesh can prosper further by ensuring more and better jobs for women, said a World Bank report released on Sunday. Bangladesh is among the few countries in South Asia that has increased female employment in the…
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Apr 23 2019 (IPS) – At the risk of reiterating what should be obvious, the question of private or public ownership is distinct from the issue of competition or market forces. Despite the misleading claim that privatization promotes…
Dhaka, Apr 23 (UNB) – Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) on Tuesday claimed that garment workers did not get their wages raised but those were actually reduced by 26 percent in the new pay structure if the annual 5 percent increment…
Bandar Seri Begawan, Apr 22 (UNB) – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday proposed formation of a regional economic forum with five Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states of South and Southeast Asian region, including Bangladesh and Brunei. She…
Cairo, Apr 22 (AP/UNB) — The Arab League has pledged $100 million per month to the Palestinian Authority to make up for funds withheld by Israel because of payments made to the families of Palestinian attackers and prisoners. Palestinian President…
‘Take a risk, challenge yourself and always be positive’ Dhaka, April 21 – Sonia Bashir Kabir, the outgoing managing director of Microsoft Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal, Bhutan and Laos, wants to play a role in making technology available for the citizens…
Dhaka, Apr 20 (UNB)- Bangladesh needs skilled manpower possessing technology-based knowledge in the digital economic era, speakers told a seminar on Saturday. They noted that the youths will have to gain technical skills to compete with digital economy of the…
While countries all over the world are committed to cut down their greenhouse gas emissions to meet the Paris Agreement goal, nuclear experts gathered at the 11th edition of the international atomic energy forum- Atomexpo 2019, held in Sochi, Russia…
Dhaka, April 18 – The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), an international agricultural research centre, on Thursday launched ‘global food policy report 2019’ that highlights Bangladesh as one of South Asia’s leaders in improving rural development indicators and food…
by Brendan Donnelly Director, The Federal Trust It is easy to sympathise with last week’s reluctance of President Macron and other EU-27 leaders to endorse an extension of the Article 50 Brexit negotiations until the end of October 2019. There…
by Werner Raza, Jan Grumiller and Bernhard Tröster The European Union’s disproportionate pressure for trade liberalisation risks exacerbating political strains in the last democracy of northern Africa. Tunisia is the only country in northern Africa in which a democratic political…
Solar pump irrigation has brought a new dimension in agriculture in the drought-prone Barind tract benefiting its people in many ways. “Solar power irrigation is not only contributing to lessening pressure on fossil fuel driven power supply but also reducing…
By Jomo Kwame Sundaram and Anis Chowdhury Kuala Lumpur and Sydney, Apr 16 2019 (IPS) – The World Bank’s Enabling the Business of Agriculture (EBA) project, launched in 2013, has sought agricultural reforms favouring the corporate sector. EBA was initially…
Can government deficits be financed directly by central banks, as modern monetary theory suggests? The question should not be if but how much. All things are poison, and nothing is without poison, the dosage alone makes it so a thing…
The impact of high levels of debt on development efforts “cannot be overstated”, the head of the United Nations Development Fund (UNDP) told a Ministerial Breakfast Meeting on least development countries (LDCs) on Saturday. “While debt financing remains an important…
BANGKOK, Thailand, Apr 3 2019 (IPS) – Asia and the Pacific’s phenomenal development has been a story of rapid urbanization. As centres of innovation, entrepreneurship and opportunity, cities have drawn talent from across our region and driven economic growth which has…
Europe can remain a manufacturing hub if it ensures early adoption of game-changing technologies, engages with global supply chains and manages the green transition. Manufacturing is dead, they said. But after four years, ten research reports, 47 case studies, an…
Unless the world faces its “social, economic and environmental challenges head-on”, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said on Tuesday, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), will not be met. Addressing the final plenary of the UN Youth Forum on Tuesday, he…
Dhaka, April 10 – Education minister Dr Dipu Moni yesterday said at least 2,500 non-government educational institutions across the country are going to enjoy the monthly pay order (MPO) facilities from next month. The minister said they have screened approximately…
The long-awaited 360-meter long Dirgha Bridge over Taltala River on the Pirojpur-Nesarabad road in Najirpur upazila of the district opened recently. Local Government and Engineering Department (LGED) constructed the bridge, including approaching road of both sides at a cost of…
Dhaka, Apr 10 (UNB) – The Working Committee on Anti-Money Laundering-Combating Financing of Terrorism has directed all the ports in the country to install scanners to examine incoming and outgoing goods to prevent the siphoning off money through export and…
Raval, Barcelona, March 2019. The streets are full of young people (and not just students)—sitting, sipping drinks, gazing more at laptops than into each other’s eyes, talking quietly about politics, making art, looking cool. A time traveller from their grandparents’…
Dhaka, Apr 7 (UNB) – A day after nominating his younger brother as his party successor, ailing Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad on Sunday donated his all assets to a trust. “Our chairman has donated his all movable and immovable…
Dhaka, Apr 7 (UNB) – Chairman of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) Md Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan on Sunday said they will make no compromise over the issue of tobacco as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed her commitment to make…
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has said he will annex Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank if he is re-elected. Israelis go to the polls on Tuesday and Mr Netanyahu is competing for votes with right-wing parties who support annexing…
Northern Electric Supply Company (NESCO) Limited is going to implement a mega project aims at enhancing the power production capacity to meet the growing demand of power in the region. Besides attaining the ultimate goal of creating regional balance in…