From Times Online Software giant will make first company-wide job cuts in its history as economic downturn hits its second-quarter profits Murad Ahmed Microsoft announced today that it will eliminate 5,000 jobs worldwide, the first company-wide cuts in its history. The software giant said that posts will go from nearly all its departments, including research ... Read more
Dhaka Mirror
Nazi angel of death Josef Mengele ‘created twin town in Brazil’
The Nazi doctor Josef Mengele is responsible for the astonishing number of twins in a small Brazilian town, an Argentine historian has claimed. By Nick Evans in Buenos Aires The steely hearted “Angel of Death”, whose mission was to create a master race fit for the Third Reich, was the resident medic at Auschwitz from ... Read more
Mexico police chief’s head found in ice box
The head of a Mexican police chief was delivered to his colleagues in an ice box in the country’s latest drug-related violence. The incident came as 16 other people were also killed in Mexico’s northern state of Chihuahua in attacks the authorities believe are linked to the country’s drug wars. “Hitmen cut off commander Martin ... Read more
Victoria Beckham’s live-in clothes
Victoria Beckham says she “lived” in her new dress designs. The 34-year-old former Spice Girl, who sucks her thumb while wearing a military cap covering her eyes on the cover of Russian Vogue magazine, was inspired by herself to create her latest fashion range. She said: “Vintage underwear played a big influence on the collection, ... Read more
Killing of children in Gaza condemned
Cultural Correspondent Dhaka will host a week-long festival featuring films from home and abroad for the children. More than 120 films from will be screened at the second international children’s film festival, beginning on January 24, said the
Chronic obstructive lung disease
Easir Abedin Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a lung disease in which the lungs are damaged, making it hard to breathe. In COPD, the airways-the tubes that carry air in and out of your lungs – are partly obstructed, making it difficult to get air in and out. Cigarette smoking is the most common ... Read more
‘Banchte Shikho Nari’
Courtesy: thedailystar.net
Relieved but not resting
Bishwajit Roy It was not a victory to celebrate. It rather came as a relief for Bangla-desh when they handed a six-wicket defeat to Zimbabwe in the second game to square the three-match series 1-1 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday. Anything other than a victory would not only have awarded the series ... Read more
Both B. League encounters end in draws
bdnews24.com, Dhaka Khulna Abahani Krira Chakra on Wednesday earned the first point after 14 defeats in a row when the hosts held visitors Chittagong Mohammedan Sporting Club to a goalless draw at Khulna Stadium on Wednesday. Away at MA Aziz Stadium in Chittagong, hosts Chittagong Abahani Limited were also held to a goalless draw by ... Read more
BB warns 5 foreign banks on zero farm lending
Sajjadur Rahman Despite the central bank’s mandatory order, five foreign commercial banks, including the banking giant Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC), have failed to disburse a single penny as farm credit in the first half of the current fiscal year. “The banks providing no farm credit have already been served warning letters by ... Read more
Shipbuilders dispel recession fears
Sohel Parvez Local shipyards still receive enquiries from foreign buyers about building small vessels despite a downturn in the global shipbuilding industry amid an economic recession and uncertain demand outlook
High interest rates hamper industry, says Dilip Barua
Bdnews24.com . Dhaka The industries minister, Dilip Barua, on Wednesday said current interest rates were hindering industrial development in Bangladesh. ‘It’s hard to make profit at the current 14-15 per cent bank interest against industrial credit,’ Dilip told a delegation of the International Business Forum of Bangladesh at his ministry on Wednesday. Sympathising with businesses ... Read more
Malaysia plans to freeze recruitment of foreigners
AFP, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia is preparing a second economic stimulus package to fend off the threat of recession and is considering freezing the recruitment of foreign workers, reports said yesterday. The stimulus package, which comes after a 2.0-billion-dollar programme unveiled last November, is focused on helping companies and workers affected by the global slowdown, The ... Read more
Nation goes to polls of hopes today
Shakhawat Liton A landmark chapter is going to be written in the history of the country’s local government system as the upazila parishads go to polls today amid high expectations of people after around 19 long years. The most crucial local government body in terms of formation and functions, an upazila parishad is viewed by ... Read more
Govt plans to keep local govt men in party posts
Wants to modify ordinances to remove restrictions; LGC opposes bid to make such changes, asks govt not to give block allocation to MPs for fear of graft Shakhawat Liton and Hasan Jahid Tusher The Awami League-led (AL) government is likely to bring major amendments to local government ordinances, allowing elected representatives to continue holding posts ... Read more
Police and AL party men start collecting tolls jointly from traders
Staff Correspondent In association with police, leaders and workers of different associate bodies of ruling Awami League have started collecting toll from retailers, traders, businessmen, transport owners, footpath vendors at different places in the city as well as throughout the country. These groups had remained inactive in the last seven years but soon after the ... Read more
Andaman tragedy: Thai PM agrees to talk with UN agencies
Staff Reporter Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday agreed that he would allow international agencies to talk about the alleged abuse of illegal migrants by the Thai authorities, according to news agencies. “They (the agencies) should talk with us and see how we can work together. But they also have to recognise the fundamental problem ... Read more
BNP partymen asked to work hard to strengthen party: Delwar
Chaotic situation may arise centring Deputy Speaker: MK Anwar Staff Correspondent BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar on Wednesday asked party leaders and activists to be united and work together to strengthen the party’s organisational activities. He said as the number of women is half of the total population in the country, “we along with women ... Read more
Fishermen earn right to fish
Tanguar Haor Fishermen earn right to fish Wasim Bin Habib, back from Tanguar haor, Sunamganj It could have been just another day in the life of Dinesh Barman, a fisherman who along with his mates had just reeled in a 5kg ruhi onto his boat. But the catch was not the only reason to celebrate ... Read more
Mashhud meets Hasina, discusses fate of anti-corruption purge
PM assures co-op in continuing the drive UNB, Dhaka Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina assured the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) of necessary cooperation in continuing the anticorruption drive, which climbed its climax during the past interim regime throwing many high-profile graft suspects behind bars. “The PM has assured us of providing all cooperation for continuation of the ... Read more