Business

DHAKA, Jan 18 (NNN-BSS) – The Digital Bangladesh Mela 2020, begin today, in the capital, with the aim to showcase next generation 5G internet technology and building efficient ecosystem and manpower model in the coming digital era.

Prime Minister’s ICT Adviser, Sajeeb Ahmed Wazed, inaugurates the three-day expo at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre, at Agargaon.

Post and Telecommunication Minister, Mustafa Jabbar, said, visitors would be able to experience the next generation internet technology 5G.

WASHINGTON, Jan 18 (NNN-XINHUA) – U.S. Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, met with Pakistani Foreign Minister, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, here, on Friday, discussing Afghanistan and bilateral ties, according to a statement released by the U.S. State Department.

The two sides talked about a range of issues, including Iran, U.S.-Pakistan cooperation, on the Afghan peace process, and building bilateral economic ties, the statement said.

New Delhi, Jan 16 (PTI) Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday said India and the US are in an "advance stage" of dialogue to resolve some of the pressing trade issues.

He said that both the countries can expand their trade relations which in future may result in a preferential or a free trade agreement.

"With the US, we are in an advance stage of dialogue to sort out some of the pressing issues," he said here.

Beijing, Jan 17 (PTI) China's economy grew by 6.1 per cent last year, the lowest annual growth rate in 29 years, National Bureau of Statistics said on Friday, as weak domestic demand and the bruising 18-month-long trade war with the US took their toll on the world's second-largest economic giant.

The new data comes a day after China and the US signed a long-awaited phase one deal, marking a ceasefire in the 18-month-long trade war which saw the world's two largest economies slap 25 per cent tariffs on about half a trillion-dollar worth of each other's exports.

Naypyidaw Jan 17 (AFP/PTI) Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives in Myanmar's capital on Friday in a show of support for the embattled government of Aung San Suu Kyi as Beijing hopes to smooth the way for multi-billion-dollar infrastructure deals.

The wide highways and manicured lawns of Naypyidaw, purpose-built by generals under Myanmar's junta, were dotted with red banners bearing Xi's face and greetings in Burmese and Mandarin ahead of the visit.

Panaji, Jan 16 (PTI) Shiv Sena's Goa unit on Thursday said misplaced priorities and wrong decisions have caused locals to lose their business to non-Goans, gradually merging Goa with other states.

The party's vice-president Rakhi Prabhudesai Naik congratulated people on the anniversary of Goa's historic referendum in 1967, but cautioned that misplaced priorities and wrong decisions are leading to the "catastrophe" that was averted in 1967.

DUBAI, Jan 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — QATAR said it had scrapped restrictions on leaving the country for nearly all migrant workers as part of reforms answering accusations of exploitation especially in the run-up to the 2022 World Cup.

The measure removes exit visas for hundreds of thousands of domestic workers left out of earlier reforms – mainly from Asian nations like Nepal, India and the Philippines – whom rights groups said were left open to abuse by being excluded.

WASHINGTON, Jan 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US threats to put tariffs on European autos did not come up during talks this week with American trade officials in Washington, EU Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan said Thursday.

Hogan’s remarks came hours after Germany’s defense minister confirmed a media report that Washington had threatened 25 percent duties on autos, demanding that three EU nations increase pressure on Iran.

PARIS, Jan 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — French trade unions blocked ports and disrupted power production, searching for a way to force President Emmanuel Macron to ditch a planned pension overhaul as the impact of transport strikes weakens.

Ferry services to Britain suffered delays and at least 20 bulk carriers waiting to export cereals were kept at anchor outside France’s major ports, data from financial data provider Refinitiv showed. Electricity output was down about 9per cent of available capacity.

16 Jan 2019; MEMO: Exploitative employers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are increasingly using tourist visas to hire Indians in a scam that leaves migrants open to labour abuse, police and activists said, Thomson Reuters Foundation reports.

Indian migrants on visit visas – quicker and cheaper to obtain than work permits – are wary of reporting exploitation on the job for fear of revealing their illegal status, they say.