Japanese economic growth fell short of market expectations in late 2025, official data showed Monday, adding to pressure on Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to stimulate activity after her recent election landslide.

After a roller coaster period since the reciprocal US tariff was announced in April last year, the cut from 20 percent to 19 percent is modest but offers some relief. Under the new deal, certain Bangladeshi RMG and textile products made with US cotton and man-made fibres can enter the US duty free, with volumes tied to Bangladesh’s purchases. Turning this window into real export gains will require careful planning.

As artificial intelligence evolves at a blistering pace, world leaders and thousands of other delegates will discuss how to handle the technology at the AI Impact Summit, which opens Monday in New Delhi.

India is scrambling to defend a new trade deal with the United States that critics have branded as a surrender to Washington, as countries navigate the fallout from President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs.

The High Court yesterday adjourned the hearing of a writ petition challenging the government’s decision to separate the functions of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) and create two new divisions.

Dhaka division remained the largest recipient of remittances in December, receiving nearly half of the total inflows, as migrant earnings continued to strengthen foreign currency reserves and support millions of households, according to a report by Bangladesh Bank (BB).

Stocks in Bangladesh saw a slight correction yesterday after a consecutive three-day rise, mainly due to a profit-booking tendency among investors.

When Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal announced on February 12 that India would receive the same concessional duty access on garment exports to the US as Bangladesh, alarm bells rang across Dhaka’s garment districts.

The government’s development expenditure in the first seven months of the current fiscal year 2025-26 (FY26) has slumped to its lowest level in at least 16 years amid fiscal restraints and political disruptions.

The reciprocal trade deal signed by the interim government with the United States has raised questions regarding the economic sovereignty of Bangladesh, especially in decisions on trade, energy and security.

Dhaka division remained the largest recipient of remittances in December, receiving nearly half of the total inflows, as migrant earnings continued to strengthen foreign currency reserves and support millions of households, according to a report by Bangladesh Bank (BB).

Technical disruptions necessitated the move in the public interest.

The stock market finally found its smile. Shares soared on the first trading day after the February 12 national election, lifting the main index to its strongest single-day gain in the past 18 months.

Vietnam has granted a licence to Elon Musk’s Starlink to operate its satellite internet services in the communist country, a government agency said.

The introduction of advertisements and sponsored content in chatbots has spawned privacy concerns for AI users as brands scramble to stay relevant in a fast-changing online environment.

The rising number of Vietnamese agricultural and food products obtaining Halal certification creates a great opportunity for domestic goods to penetrate rapidly global Muslim market.

The European Central Bank said Saturday it will expand access to its euro liquidity backstop to central banks worldwide, in a move aimed at boosting the single currency’s global role.

When global manufacturers shifted capacity out of China, Vietnam treated it as an emergency opportunity. Bangladesh, despite the conferences, the panels and decades of ambition, did not just underperform. In plain words, we failed.

As India races to narrow the artificial intelligence gap with the United States and China, it is planning a vast new “data city” to power digital growth on a staggering scale, the man spearheading the project says.

The loan-to-deposit ratio (LDR) in agent banking surged to 70.44 percent in the October-December quarter of 2025, indicating a year-on-year increase driven by a gradual rise in credit disbursements in rural areas.