The economy more than halved between 2010 and 2021, official Syrian data cited by the World Bank in spring 2024 showed. World Bank data estimated Syria's economy was $23.63 billion in 2022 - roughly on par with Albania and Armenia, which each have fewer than three million inhabitants. Following the new rulers' takeover in December, the central bank pledged to adopt an official unified exchange rate. Despite the central bank sanctions, Western governments allowed Syria to use frozen funds for humanitarian purposes, such as medicine and food. Dwindling oil and tourism revenues decimated Syria's exports from $18.4 billion in 2010 to $1.8 billion in 2021, according to the World Bank.

Anisur Rahman, a member of the first Planning Commission after independence, economist, and musician, is no more. Jalil was responsible for his care, as Rahman’s family members live abroad. Anisur Rahman, who studied economics at Dhaka University and Harvard University, taught at both Dhaka University and Islamabad University. After independence, under the leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib, he joined the first Planning Commission of Bangladesh alongside economist Nurul Islam. “His family members will decide on the burial arrangements after arriving from abroad.

The meeting will focus on strategies for market recoveryFinance Advisor Salehuddin to sit with stakeholders over stock market crisisFinance Advisor Salehuddin Ahmed is set to meet with stakeholders to discuss solutions for the ongoing crisis in Bangladesh's stock market. The meeting will take place at the Dhaka Stock Exchange, or DSE, office in the capital's Nikunja on Tuesday. Earlier in October 2023, he met officials from the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, to discuss the situation. Following the October meeting with the SEC, a decision was made to reduce the tax rate on capital gains from the stock market. This has prompted the advisor to engage with stakeholders to devise recovery strategies.

REUTERS/Anushree FadnavisJake Sullivan, National Security Advisor of the United States, speaks at an event at the Indian Institute of Technology in New Delhi, India, Jan 6, 2025. REUTERS/Anushree FadnavisThe US government is in the process of removing restrictions on Indian nuclear entities, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said on Monday, in a bid to forge deeper energy ties with New Delhi and bolster a 20-year old landmark nuclear deal. The US Department of Commerce's list currently includes at least four entities of India's Department of Atomic Energy, and some Indian nuclear reactors and nuclear power plants. India's stringent nuclear compensation laws have previously hurt deals with foreign power plant builders, leading the country to defer its target to add 20,000 MW of nuclear power from 2020 to 2030. In 2019, India and the US agreed to build six US nuclear power plants in India.

After China, the virus has been detected in India’s Karnataka stateNo cause for panic over HMPV, experts urge precautionThe Human Metapneumovirus, or HMPV, first detected in northern China earlier this winter, has been reported in India's Karnataka state. Experts assure the public that the virus, which shows symptoms similar to influenza, is not fatal in most cases. Health professionals urged the public not to panic over the respiratory illness. After the virus's detection in China, the country issued warnings, especially as the virus has been found to primarily affect children. Dr Mushtuq added that while HMPV is not fatal, people with pre-existing conditions might face serious risks.

A group of students hold a symbolic hunger strike in front of the Dhaka University Vice Chancellor’s Office on Monday, Jan 6, 2025 to demand that housing facilities be ensured for all of the university’s students. They say they will continue the protests from 10am to 5pm every day until their demands are met. Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi

A tribunal has sentenced Anik, a Bangladeshi expatriate identified by a single name who was living in Saudi Arabia, to life in prison after being caught at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport with 15,000 pieces of banned narcotic yaba. Judge Anurav Chakrabarty of the Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal-2 delivered the verdict on Monday. In addition to the prison sentence, Anik was also fined Tk 500,000. Another suspect in the case - Anik’s cousin, Masud aka Rubel - was acquitted as the charges against him were not proven. A total of 15,050 yaba tablets were recovered during a search of his bag.

One or two places in the Rangpur Division may see light to drizzling rain on MondayCold wave forecast after two days of light rain in parts of BangladeshThe Bangladesh Meteorological Department has forecast rain in three divisions, followed by falling temperatures across the country, possibly leading to a cold wave. However, one or two areas of the Rangpur Division may see light rain or drizzles. A cold wave begins when the temperature drops below 10 degrees Celsius over a significant area. When temperatures are between 8-10 degrees Celsius, it is considered a mild cold wave. A severe cold wave occurs when the temperature drops below 6 degrees Celsius.

Both food and non-food inflation ease slightly on a point-to-point basisInflation down slightly in December, but remains in double digitsInflation in Bangladesh eased slightly to 10.89 percent in December, the final month of the year, but has remained in double digits. But, while the rate was lower than in November, it was still higher than the 10.87 percent inflation rate in October. Both food and non-food inflation eased slightly in December compared to the previous month. Food inflation fell from 13.80 percent in November to 12.92 percent in December, while non-food inflation went down from 9.39 percent in November to 9.26 percent. The urban inflation rate fell from 11.37 percent in November to 10.84 percent in December, while the rural inflation rate dipped from 11.53 percent to 11.09 percent.

As many as 90 Bangladeshi fishermen, who were detained in India at different times, are finally heading home, while another 95 Indian fishermen from Bangladesh are on their way home. A total of 185 fishermen were handed over between the two countries in the western international sea border on the Bay of Bengal on Sunday reports bdnews24.com. Two fishing trawlers of Bangladesh – “FV Laila-2” and “FV Meghna-5”, have been brought back. On the other hand, a total of six Indian fishing trawlers were sent back. Following the transfer, the fishermen and sailors left for Chattogram with their fishing vessels, the statement read.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said security guarantees for Kyiv to end Russia's war would only be effective if the United States provides them, and that he hoped to meet US President-elect Donald Trump soon after his inauguration. Zelensky used the three-hour interview published on YouTube to call for Ukraine's NATO membership, emphasising his belief that a ceasefire without security guarantees for Kyiv would merely give Russia time to rearm for a new attack. "Without the United States, security guarantees are not possible. I mean these security guarantees that can prevent Russian aggression," he said, tacitly acknowledging that Kyiv's European allies would be too weak militarily to manage on their own. The Ukrainian leader also said he would attend Trump's Jan. 20 inauguration if he receives an official invitation.

REUTERSPalestinians gather at the site of an Israeli strike on a house, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Gaza City, January 5, 2025. The effort comes amid a surge in Israeli military action in the enclave. This weekend, Israeli airstrikes in Gaza killed 105 Palestinians, medics said. Later in the day, an airstrike hit a police station in Khan Younis in southern Gaza, killing five people, medics said. The Israeli military said on Sunday its forces had attacked more than 100 targets across Gaza over the weekend, killing dozens of Hamas militants.

The BNP chief will travel on a special air ambulance from Qatar's EmirBNP Chairman Khaleda Zia is set to fly to London on Tuesday, following the completion of the formalities. She will depart at night on a specially arranged air ambulance from Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Ahead of her trip, Khaleda exchanged greetings and farewells with BNP Standing Committee members at her Gulshan residence “Feroza” around 9pm on Sunday. The air ambulance is equipped with advanced medical facilities, he added. Following a few days at her son’s residence, the BNP chief will travel to the United States for advanced liver treatment.

The families of the Bangladeshi fishermen will receive them when they arrive in Chattogram on MondayExtradition in the sea: 185 Bangladeshi, Indian fishermen finally on way to homeAs many as 90 Bangladeshi fishermen, who were detained in India at different times, are finally heading home, while another 95 Indian fishermen from Bangladesh are on their way home. The foreign ministry expects the Bangladeshi fishermen to arrive in Chattogram on Monday afternoon. Indian daily Anandabazar reported that 12 Bangladeshi fishermen were already taken to Haldia on Saturday morning to hand them over to Bangladeshi authorities. On the other hand, 95 Indian fishermen from Bangladesh prison will be handed over to the Indian Coast Guard. On the other side, the Indian home ministry decided to release the 90 Bangladeshi fishermen.

REUTERS/Dawoud Abu AlkasPalestinians gather at the site of an Israeli strike on a house, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Gaza City, Jan 5, 2025. Health officials said an Israeli airstrike killed five people in a house in the Nuseirat camp in central Gaza, while another airstrike killed four others in Jabalia in the northern edge of the enclave, where Israeli forces have been operating for three months. Later on Sunday, an Israeli airstrike hit a police station in Khan Younis in southern Gaza, killing five people, medics said. The Israeli military did not immediately comment on Sunday's strikes. In Gaza City's Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood, relatives and neighbours rushed to the Zuhd family's house, which was struck by an Israeli airstrike late on Saturday, killing seven people, medics said.