Business

The World Trade Organization has slashed its forecast for trade growth this year by more than half, warning the slowdown could hit living standards and jobs. The WTO said it expected trade volumes to grow by just 1.2% in 2019, down from the 2.6% it predicted in April.It also cut its global economic growth forecast from 2.6% to 2.3%. It ...

In a television interview, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman called for global action against Iran and warned that oil prices could otherwise rise astronomically. Bin Salman blamed Iran for the September 14 attack on Saudi oil facilities that cut its production by half and led to a spike in oil prices, reports Deutsche Welle. “If the world does not ...

Japan has increased its consumption tax for the first time in five years, bringing the long-delayed policy into effect despite concerns it may knock the economy. On Tuesday, the country raised its sales tax rate from 8% to 10%. The new rate applies to nearly all goods and services, though most food will be exempt, reports BBC.Past sales tax rises ...

Dhaka, Sept 30 : From now on, passengers can pay the fare directly through their bKash accounts while purchasing tickets of Novoair in any of the outlets located countrywide.  Novoair, a local private airline, and Mobile Financial Service Provider bKash have signed an agreement for opening merchant wallet facilities. Mofizur Rahman, Managing Director of Novoair and Mizanur Rashid, Chief Commercial ...

An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission concluded its recent visit to Jordan to assess recent economic developments in the country, said a statement by the IMF on Saturday. The new mission Chief for Jordan Chris Jarvis was introduced during the visit, it said, reports Xinhua. A mission to complete the third review of the IMF’s Extended Fund Facility (EFF) will take ...

Hong Kong stocks fell in opening trade Friday following declines on Wall Street as the impeachment inquiry into US President Donald Trump weighed on sentiment. The Hang Seng Index was down 0.75 percent, or 195.99 points, at 25,845.94, reports AFP.The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index was flat, slipping 0.40 points to open at 2,929.49 and the Shenzhen Composite Index, which tracks ...

Photo: Courtesy Dhaka, Sept 26 : A new aircraft was added to the fleet of US-Bangla Airlines on Thursday, raising their number to 10. The airline operates a fleet of twin-engine turboprop airplanes. Their latest addition is a brand new ATR 72-600, which landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport  at 3:20 this afternoon. Chief advisor of the airlines Captain Ahmed ...

The US and Japan have agreed an initial trade deal that will eliminate or lower tariffs on certain products traded between them. Duties on some agricultural goods will be removed or lowered, while digital products will also benefit.US President Donald Trump said the world’s first and third largest economies achieved a “tremendous” deal, reports BBC. The trade agreement did not ...

Chinese President Xi Jinping has presided over the inauguration of a second international airport for Beijing with a terminal billed as the world’s biggest. Beijing Daxing International Airport, built in less than five years at a cost of 120 billion yuan ($17 billion), is designed to handle 72 million passengers a year, reports AP.The Chinese capital’s main airport is the ...

Several Thomas Cook holidaymakers and crew in Cuba have said they are being prevented from leaving their hotels until they pay extra for their stay. One holidaymaker, Sue Petrow, said she was due to fly home on Wednesday, but her hotel told her she may be held at the airport unless she pays her bill, reports BBC.Cabin crew from Thomas ...