Ferry services on Padma River resume as fog lifts
Thousands of vehicles were stranded at the four dockyards on both sides of the river leaving passengers and vehicle workers stuck in the cold. Fog in the Padma basin began to increase after 10 pm on Sunday, said Zillur Rahman, deputy general manager (commerce) of BIWTC's Aricha office. The visibility came down to near-zero at midnight, forcing the ferry operators to suspend services. At that time, four ferries transporting passengers and vehicles from Paturia and Daulatdia docks got stuck in the middle of the river. There were 12 ferries waiting to cross the river at the two docks.
Source:bd News24
January 18, 2021 06:00 UTC
China's Q4 GDP growth beats forecast, ends 2020 in solid position after COVID-19 shock
GDP grew 2.3% in 2020, the data showed, making China the only major economy in the world to avoid a contraction last year as many nations struggled to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. "The higher-than-expected GDP number indicates that growth has stepped into the expansionary zone, although some sectors remain in recovery," Xing Zhaopeng, economist at ANZ in Shanghai. Yet, underscoring the massive COVID-19 disruptions worldwide, China's 2020 GDP growth was the weakest pace in more than four decades. Highlighting the weakness in consumption, retail sales fell 3.9% last year, marking the first contraction since 1968, records from NBS showed. Growth in retail sales in December missed analyst forecasts and eased to 4.6% from November's 5.0%, as sales of garments, cosmetics, telecoms and autos slowed.
Source:bd News24
January 18, 2021 02:48 UTC
Behind a secret deal between Google and Facebook
The clear disparity in how their companies were treated by Google when compared with Facebook has not been previously reported. Google and Facebook said that such deals were common in the digital advertising industry and that they were not thwarting competition. Google and Facebook declined to elaborate on the specifics of their deal. The agreement between Facebook and Google, code-named “Jedi Blue” inside Google, pertains to a growing segment of the online advertising market called programmatic advertising. Seeing a potentially significant loss of business to header bidding, Google developed an alternative called Open Bidding, which supported an alliance of exchanges.
Source:bd News24
January 18, 2021 01:52 UTC
Big Oil’s flagship plastic waste project sinks on the Ganges
Anne Rosenthal, counsel at US law firm Hurwit & Associates, representing Renew Oceans, also said it expects the project to fold. The Alliance and Renew Oceans declined comment on the amount of waste the project collected. Another Alliance project in the Philippines said on its website it had recycled 21 tonnes of plastic waste. There is no centralised source for data on plastic waste pollution across the globe. “There is no way to reduce plastic waste without reducing plastic production.”Chevron Phillips did not respond to a request for comment.
Source:bd News24
January 18, 2021 00:56 UTC
Australia unlikely to fully reopen borders in 2021 as virus cases slide
Victoria, which is hosting the Australian Open, reported four positive cases in overseas travellers, all associated with the tennis, taking the total to nine. The cases have prompted authorities to send three Australian Open charter flights into hard quarantine, forcing more than 70 players into a 14-day hotel room isolation. "I know that there's been a bit of chatter from a number of players about the rules. Australia has reported more than 22,000 local COVID-19 cases and 909 deaths since the pandemic began. NSW state Premier Gladys Berejiklian said she would consider permitting venues to ban entry to people who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19.
Source:bd News24
January 18, 2021 00:33 UTC
30 great dog breeds for seniors
Love taking epic adventures with your pet? Looking for ideas, tips, and like-minded adventurers? Social media groups can provide all that, and more; however, not all social media groups are created equal. We went on a search for the most helpful, popular, and fun online pet adventure groups, and we’ve dug up some real gems!
Source:Daily Sun
January 17, 2021 23:26 UTC
Heavily fortified statehouses around US see small protests
The heavy law enforcement presence may have kept turnout down. In the past few days, some extremists had warned others against falling into what they called a law enforcement trap. Washington State Patrol spokesman Chris Loftis said he hoped the apparently peaceful day reflected some soul-searching among Americans. The attack left a Capitol police officer and four others dead. Dozens of courts, election officials and Trump’s own attorney general have all said there was no evidence of widespread fraud in the presidential race.
Source:Daily Sun
January 17, 2021 23:15 UTC
Barca's Messi sees red as Bilbao claim Super Cup glory
A goal in each half from Antoine Griezmann looked to have won it for Barca, after Oscar de Marcos equalised just before the break, only for Bilbao substitute Asier Villalibre to volley home in the 90th minute to send the game into the extra period. Three minutes into the additional half hour Inaki Williams curled a stunning effort into the far corner from the edge of the box to win the match for Marcelino Garcia's side. Messi was sent off in the 120th minute for lashing out at Villalibre as the Catalans sought an equaliser. Victory represents a third Super Cup title for the Basque side and their first silverware since they claimed the same trophy in 2015 with a 5-1 aggregate win over Barca.
Source:bd News24
January 17, 2021 22:41 UTC
Cargo ship sinks near Turkey, leaving at least 3 dead, officials say
Helicopters were dispatched to help with the efforts, Guner said. “There is information that another three crew members were seen motionless in the rocks. Crew members tried to get on lifeboats, but some jumped into the sea with life jackets, the news agency said. The ship had been bound for the port of Burgas in Bulgaria, Anadolu said, citing the Turkish Transport Ministry. Video shared by the Anadolu Agency showed the ship, visible from a beach, being rocked by waves.
Source:bd News24
January 17, 2021 21:00 UTC
Pay staff with own funds or face the sack: minister to local government councils
Speaking at a national dialogue in Dhaka on Sunday on improving the marginal people’s standard of living, he said the city corporations and municipalities are run by separate law that stipulates they must run on their own funds. But the local government bodies say they are unable to collect enough taxes and so, they cannot run on their own, he said. “I think there should be a law that says the councils that are unable to pay salaries for more than 12 months will be terminated." He assured the councils of government help to develop their sources of earnings. Helal Uddin Ahmed, secretary of the Local Government Division, UNDP Bangladesh's Resident Representative Sudipta Mukherjee, Narayanganj City Mayor Salina Hayat Ivy, Sylhet City Mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury and Gazipur City Mayor Jahangir Alam took part in the dialogue presided over by Hossain Zillur Rahman, executive chairman of Power and Participation Research Centre.
Source:bd News24
January 17, 2021 20:37 UTC
Letter to the Editor: As big donors close wallets, planet, health can thrive
One absolutely good thing to come out of the Trump presidency in its last week is the decision by some of the biggest corporate and private donors to close their pocketbooks to politicians for a least a while. That's great news for those of us who are low-income wage earners since big buck corporations give big bucks to Republicans to keep the minimum wage $7.25/hour. All that easy regulation of dangerous mining practices will fade away as survival of the Earth will be a paramount priority. So the withdrawal of big money from conservative partisans will be great for us regular citizens. HARRIET YOUNGFlagstaffLove 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0
Source:Daily Sun
January 17, 2021 20:37 UTC
Apparel exporters should be repaying the stimulus funds now. But they are pleading for more time
But from Sunday, the apparel exporter, who is based in Chittagong, has to begin servicing for the loan he took from the government’s stimulus fund for the export-oriented industries. “When I took on the loan from the stimulus package, I thought I would be able to realise the $1 million in arrears from my global buyers,” says the anxious exporter. Like him, there are hundreds of others in the same boat, all praying for an extension of the grace period to repay the stimulus funds. “The stimulus fund from the government enabled me to stay afloat. There is simply a cash flow crisis among the apparel exporters at present, said Shahidul Islam, managing director of Eurotex Group.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 17, 2021 20:15 UTC
Bangladesh creates Tk 10bn fund to technologically advance export-focused industries
The interest rate on loans from the fund will be five to six percent at the consumer level. The banks and financial institutions will take loans from the fund at one percentage point less than the bank rate and disburse them after adding two to three percentage point in interests. The entrepreneurs of special development-based sectors and those given top priority in the Export Policy 2018-23 will be eligible for loans from the fund. Currently, the bank rate is four percent after a one percentage point cut last year amid the pandemic crisis. It means that the banks and financial institutions will take loans from the fund at 3 percent interest and charge 5 percent interest for disbursement.
Source:bd News24
January 17, 2021 19:18 UTC
Letter to the Editor: Let's 'read the writing on the wall' when it comes to Ducey
Ducey is up to the same old tricks. Ducey has also continually whittled away at Arizona’s education funding since his office as state treasurer in 2011. Only when forced by the Red for Ed teacher walkout did he make minimal increases to offset the $1 billion cuts. Now he wants to reduce funding to schools for not holding in-person classes. How long will it take the public to read the writing on the wall?
Source:Daily Sun
January 17, 2021 18:45 UTC