TURNING RECESSION INTO REWARD
Strategic investment can cure economic ailment
M. Shahidul Islam.
A hybrid brand of ‘National Socialism’ is back in disguise as the governments everywhere is stepping into economic management of matters that have hitherto been under the purview of the private sector.
That does not mean the Hitlerism is back, but it does prompt one to wonder if there is something called independent economic policy making in the offing, like the sovereign foreign policy of nations, so to speak.
May be, although the very thought of a sovereign economic policy can not be envisioned without
Month: November 2008
Arctic reported to be on thin ice
AP.
WASHINGTON: Autumn temperatures in the Arctic are at record levels, the Arctic Ocean is getting warmer and less salty as sea ice melts, and reindeer herds appear to be declining, researchers have reported.
“Obviously, the planet is interconnected, so what happens in the Arctic does matter” to the rest of the world, Jackie Richter-Menge of the Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory said in releasing the third annual Arctic Report Card on Thursday. The report, compiled by 46 scientists from 10 countries, looks at a variety of conditions in the Arctic.
The region has long been expected to be among the first areas to show impacts from global
Politicians, rights groups unhappy
CONDITIONAL EASING OF EMERGENCY
Politicians, rights groups unhappy
Shahidul Islam Chowhdury.
While political parties are seemingly unhappy about the government’s decision on conditional relaxation of restrictions on campaign for the forthcoming general elections, rights groups and labour organisations believe the relaxation will not help any section of society to enjoy democratic liberties and basic rights.
They demanded a complete withdrawal of the state of emergency for unhindered electoral campaigns
Researchers allege trick in test report announcement
MELAMINE PRESENCE IN MILK
Researchers allege trick in test report announcement
Kazi Azizul Islam.
The commerce ministry has played a trick in making decisions on the test of tainted brands of imported powder milk, leaving people confused, alleged researchers and consumer rights activists on Tuesday.
The ministry on Monday announced five out of the eight milk brands tested were free of melamine by endorsing the results of the tests by the Bangladesh Council for Scientific and Industrial Research and
Thinking about self employment? Read this out!
If you had a run of unhappy jobs, or perhaps you think that you can do better than your firm, then it might be worth giving working for yourself some serious thought as you create your life plan. But mind it that giving up your job to work for yourself is a major decision with major consequences. If it goes well, you will be very happy. But if it does not, you might find yourself re-starting the journey from the point further back. Well, here are some tips that you should examine before indulging
BlackBerry with clickable touchscreen ready to take on iPhone
The new touchscreen BlackBerry has an “intuitive touchscreen” that can be pressed down like buttons on a keyboard, joining a crowded market for new smartphones
Murad Ahmed, Technology Reporter.
A new touchscreen BlackBerry phone is launched today, ready to battle with the likes of Apple’s iPhone and the new “Google phone” in the run up to Christmas.
The BlackBerry Storm aims to blow away its rivals with an “intuitive touchscreen” which can be pressed down like buttons on a keyboard, unlike other touchscreen mobiles where users tap the unresponsive glass.
The Times was granted a brief look at the new phone yesterday. With its neat metallic edges and rubber sides, the Storm looks sleek and stylish, but is also easy to hold and use. However, at first glace it is thicker and heavier than rival devices.
The new BlackBerry joins a crowded market for touchscreen phones, which is dominated by Apple’s iPhone. Nokia and Google have released new smartphones in recent weeks, but industry experts consider the iPhone to be the “sexiest” touchscreen and has set the bar high for similar devices.
BlackBerry phones have long been seen as an unglamorous device, the reliable companion of office
MSC gives Russell taste of first defeat
Staff Correspondent
Alamu Bukola Olalekan (C) the Nigerian forward of Dhaka Mohammedan forces his way through the Sheikh Russell defence at the BNS on Tuesday. — New Age photo
Title contenders Dhaka Mohammedans inflicted the first defeat on Sheikh Russell on Tuesday, winning 2-1 in the crucial Citycell B League match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.
Mohammedans, the traditional black and white outfit, outclassed their opponents in every department from the very beginning with an organised brand of football and would have won by a bigger margin if their forward line had utilised the chances that they created. On the other hand Sheikh Russell relied too much on their attacking duo of Moroccan skipper Twati Youness and veteran Alfaz, who had very
Amrita And Shakeel To Tie Knot?
Amrita Arora and her boyfriend Shakeel Ladak are reportedly set the tie the knot.
After going through a series of relationships, it finally appears as though they are set to marry next year.
A source said: “Amrita and Shakeel are planning to get married by March 2009. The two families have already met and are currently sorting out the dates. It will be either March 3 or 6 and will be held at a luxurious resort in Goa.
It’s been Amrita’s dream to have a beautiful church wedding in Goa. The couple has been going around for more than six months with Shakeel even accompanying Amrita to Los Angeles in August when she was shooting for Kambakht Ishq.”
“Shakeel’s everything Amrita has wanted in a manhe’s strong, dependable, supportive of her career and is very successful in his own right. Shakeel’s family is in the construction and real estate business (Red Stone Group) and Shakeel oversees its administration.
Amrita loves it that he’s so caring and mindful of her interests. In fact, Amrita was particularly touched when Shakeel organised a surprise party for her to bring her out of her low spirits, after his
BCS candidates continue fast unto death
DU Correspondent.
The candidates, who had qualified in the 27th BCS examinations as per the results
published on January 21, 2007, continued their fast unto death programme for the third consecutive day at the Central Shaheed Miner on Tuesday.
They said they would not end their programme unless the government met their demand.
Seven of the candidates and one of their guardians fell sick on the third day of their hunger strike and they were taken to the Dhaka Medical College and Hospital.
The candidates Khairul Islam, Nasrin Jahan Shimi, Shumi Akhter, Razia Akhter, Sayem, and Sumon
Democrats are looking for bigger House majority
Ap, Washington.
Democrats reached for a blowout at the polls Tuesday in heavy early congressional balloting that could add more than 20 seats to their House majority.
Long lines formed as polls opened before daybreak in about a dozen Eastern seaboard states. Democrats were counting on heavy turnouts to capture more than 15 GOP seats, and they had a good chance to wrest away another two dozen seats. Republicans had fewer than a dozen Democratic targets they had any hope of defeating.
“I knew the lines were gong to be really long,” Jennifer Howard, 51, of Herndon, Virginia, told
Mobiles in pockets hit fertility
PTI.
NEW YORK: An Indian American fertility expert has warned men that keeping their cellphones in pockets and belts while talking on hands-free could affect their fertility.
In a study published on in the Journal of Fertility and Sterility, Ashok Agarwal, lead author, says men who keep their cellphones in their pockets or clip them to their belts while using an ear piece to chat may be compromising their sperms.
An earlier study conducted on some 361 men, he said, had found a significant relationship
Jennifer Hudson mourns family
Oprah Winfrey, Beyonce Knowles, Missy Elliott and Queen Latifah attended the memorial service for Jennifer Hudson’s mother, brother and nephew yesterday (03.11.08).
Jennifer looked “upset but managed to keep herself together” as she joined 450 mourners at Chicago’s Apostolic Church of God to bid a final farewell to her mom Darnell Donerson, brother Jason Hudson and seven-year-old nephew Julian King, who were fatally shot last month.
The Oscar-winning actress entered the church with her fiance David Otunga, following a procession of two hearses and a horse-drawn carriage which carried Julian’s coffin.
Once inside the building, Jennifer, 27, spent some time in front of the open caskets of her brother and
‘Aishwarya Rai should stop trying to act’
NDTV Correspondent (New Delhi) In these times of economic crisis and a relatively sober, gift-less Diwali, Delhi needed some hilarity, and that’s just what it got. Stand-up comedian of Indian descent, Russell Peters, was in the National Capital to raise the spirits of the people and bring them out of their doledrums. Apart from his … Read more
Broadband Policy to be announced soon
BSS, Dhaka.
Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser for Post and Telecommunications Brig Gen (retd) MA Malek said here yesterday the government will soon announce the “National Broadband Policy-08.”
With the announcement of the policy, he said, the Internet service facilities will increase in the country and cost of using Internet will also be reduced.
He said this while inaugurating a website to provide online services to Bangladesh National
Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
Global Warming
Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
Farhad Tuhin.
Greenhouse gases naturally blanket the Earth and keep it about 33 degrees Celsius warmer than it would be without these gases in the atmosphere. Over the past century, the Earth’s temperature has increased by about 0.5 degrees Celsius and scientists believe this is because of an increase in concentration of the main greenhouse gases namely carbon dioxide (76%), methane (13%), nitrous oxide (6%), and fluorocarbons (5%). People are now calling this climate change over the past century the beginning of ‘Global Warming’. Fears are that if people keep on producing such gases at increasing
Karan Johar praises Shilpa Shetty’s bikini act
Spicezee Bureau. Mumbai, Oct 29: Shilpa Shetty’s ever-so-perfect vital stats have seen many of her Bollywood contemporaries go green with envy and rarely do any of them get generous with compliments for this long legged lass. Nevertheless, men have often gone gaga over her perfect curves and the latest one, who seems to be smitten … Read more
BB asked to seek recommendation of national pay commission
PROPOSAL FOR SEPARATE PAY STRUCTURE
BB asked to seek recommendation of national pay commission
Staff Correspondent.
The finance ministry has asked Bangladesh Bank to seek recommendation of the National Pay Commission on its proposed separate pay scale for the officials and employees, official said.
‘If the government allows the central bank to have a separate pay structure for its employees, it will increase pressure from other government agencies like the National Board of Revenue and the Police for the same, putting fresh burden on the exchequer,’ said a senior official of finance ministry.
The official also said that the National Pay Commission could actually provide recommendation on
Ode to the oxygen-givers
Slideshow by Noazesh Ahmed at Chhayanat
Cultural Correspondent
Photographs by Noazesh Ahmed
Noazesh Ahmed is a name that hardly needs any introduction. He is an internationally reputed plant geneticist and notable photographer. Ahmed started as a photographer in the ’50s. He is a plant geneticist by profession and has made immense contribution to the agriculture sector of the country.
“Mahabanashpatir Padabali,” a photographic slideshow on plant life in Bangladesh by Noazesh Ahmed was held on November 1 at Rameshchandra Dutta Smirti Milankendra,