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Gold prices reached a new peak yesterday, with the price of a 22-carat gold sovereign rising to Rs. 337,600 in the Colombo Pettah market.
Traders said the price had climbed from Rs. 319,000 recorded the previous day, marking the first time it has crossed the Rs. 330,000 level.
Meanwhile, the price of a 24-carat gold sovereign, which was Rs. 345,000 on Sunday, has now increased to Rs. 365,000.
All trade unions of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) yesterday decided to suspend the trade union action they launched on 4 September following discussions with Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody.
CEB Engineers’ Union Executive Committee Member Dhanushka Parakramasinghe said the decision was reached after the Minister agreed to all 24 proposals submitted by the unions. He noted that the unions will call off their action once a written assurance is received from the Minister.
‘The Minister has accepted our 24 proposals and agreed to provide a written commitment. Once we receive that, all unions will suspend their ongoing trade union action,’ Parakramasinghe said, adding that the written assurance was expected shortly.
Way before most businesses need investors, they need discipline. Most entrepreneurs dream of attracting investors at some stage, but the truth is, the majority are not ready when the opportunity comes.
Getting capital is not about a polished sales pitch or a glossy presentation deck. It is about proving that your business can grow sustainably, manage risk, and deliver returns.
Investors, especially venture capital and private equity funds, operate with discipline.
Do you want capital? Prove you can disappear for a month and the lights stay on. If your business cannot operate without you, it is not ready for investment.
Think of it like parenting. You spend years teaching your child how to think, make decisions, and handle challenges.
My little girl is only a few months old, and already I find myself thinking about how to prepare her for the world. One day, she will have to face it without me in it, and my job is to make sure she is ready for that moment.
One morning, I will watch her walk into school on her own. No one wants a parent sitting in class doing the homework.
A business that depends on the founder for every move is just like an adult who has never learned to survive on their own. That level of readiness requires maturity.
Your financial records must be accurate and transparent. Operations should be consistent and documented. Decision-making should rest on systems, not instinct.
Compliance is part of that maturity. Know the laws and regulations that govern your sector; nothing scares investors faster than a business with missing filings or unpaid tax arrears.
Investors look closely at how you manage obligations to regulators, employees, and customers. A business that cuts corners on compliance sends a signal of risk.
When investors see that your company follows the rules, pays what it owes, and keeps its governance clean, they see more than a good idea. They see reliability.
In the end, capital is not scarce. Credible, investor-ready businesses are. An investor wants a machine: something that runs when you’re on holiday, scales when you sleep, and grows when leadership changes.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria cruised to a 4-0 victory over the Benin Republic on Tuesday at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo but fell short of securing automatic qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Despite the emphatic win, Nigeria finished as one of the best second-placed teams in the CAF qualifying series and will now advance to the African playoff round.
Striker Victor Osimhen was the standout performer of the night, scoring a sensational hat-trick to power Nigeria past their West African neighbours.
The Galatasaray forward opened the scoring just three minutes into the game, calmly finishing off a swift attacking move to give the Super Eagles a dream start.
The visitors showed flashes of resilience but struggled to contain Nigeria’s high pressing and attacking tempo.
Osimhen doubled the lead midway through the first half with a trademark header, rising highest to meet a cross from Samuel Chukwueze.
Shortly after the break, the 26-year-old completed his hat-trick with a composed finish from close range, effectively putting the result beyond doubt.
With Nigeria still chasing a superior goal difference to improve their ranking among the runners-up, coach Éric Chelle’s men maintained their attacking intensity until the final whistle.
Their persistence paid off in added time when substitute Frank Onyeka smashed home a superb volley from Moses Simon’s cross to seal the 4-0 victory.
The result capped an impressive performance but was not enough to lift the Super Eagles to the top of their group, meaning they will have to navigate the playoff stage to secure a place at the 2026 World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The biological father of the late Bilyaminu Bello, who was murdered by his wife, Maryam Sanda, in 2017, has commended the pardon of his daughter-in-law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
According to him, he had been on a quiet quest to secure freedom for Maryam, who had been on death row since her sentencing for the murder of her husband.
Alhaji Ahmed Bello Isa, who made these revelations in a joint interview conducted on Tuesday in Abuja with Alhaji Garba Sanda, father of Maryam, stated that his motivation was purely humanitarian, and that he wanted his daughter-in-law released so she could look after her two young children, and that executing her would not bring back his son.
He explained that, ‘as a devout Muslim, I had long accepted the tragic incident which has been a subject of public discussion, choosing to forgive and leave judgment to Allah.
‘There is nothing more painful than for someone to lose a son in the way I lost my son, Bilyaminu. However, what gives me some measure of comfort is that he left behind two beautiful children, my granddaughter, Sa’adatu Bilyaminu, and my grandson, Bilyaminu Bilyaminu, named after his father.
‘I have forgiven Maryam who was found guilty of killing my son. Before the end of the trial, I made every effort to let both the Police and the Court know that I did not want her prosecuted, because I did not want a situation where my grandchildren, who had lost their father so tragically, would also lose their mother..
‘I have taken it as the will of Almighty Allah, what happened to my son, and I do not blame Maryam for it. However, now that she has been sentenced to death, I beg in the name of Almighty Allah for mercy. If she is killed, who will take care of her two children? They will grow up as orphans, without a father or a mother’s love,’ he said
Asked about the statement by the family who expressed concerns over the Presidential pardon, he said ‘Anyone has the freedom in his family to express himself but as the biological father, he has forgiven her,”
Also speaking, Alhaji Garba Sanda, father of Maryam, expressed deep gratitude to Alhaji Bello and his entire family for their rare act of compassion, describing it as ‘a true reflection of faith and forgiveness.’
He said: ‘Words cannot describe our appreciation to the Bello family for this gesture of mercy and reconciliation. We continue to pray that something positive may yet emerge from this regrettable tragedy, that our families may heal, and that these children will grow up knowing love from both sides of their family.’
The two families, stated that they have chosen forgiveness, compassion, and faith over pain, and have committed to working together to raise the children in an atmosphere of peace and love.
Infrastructure Development Company Limited (IDCOL), in partnership with SME Foundation, organized a Focused Group Discussion (FGD) titled ‘Unlocking CMSME Potential: Bridging the Gaps.’ The session brought together entrepreneurs, financial institutions, regulators, and development partners to deliberate on the challenges and solutions for Bangladesh’s cottage, micro, small and medium enterprises (CMSMEs). Welcoming the participants, IDCOL CEO Alamgir Morshed stressed that CMSMEs contribute 25 percent of GDP and employ more than 34 million people, yet face a financing gap of over USD 73 billion (approximately BDT 9 lakh crore), constraining their potential. ‘CMSMEs are the backbone of our economy and crucial for resilience and job creation,’ Mr. Morshed remarked. ‘IDCOL has been working for over two decades to promote sustainable infrastructure, renewable energy, and inclusive finance. Building on this track record, we now want to ensure that CMSMEs also benefit from affordable credit, capacity building, and stronger market linkages.’ The consultation was attended by entrepreneurs, banks, NBFIs, MFIs, PKSF, Bangladesh Bank, SME Foundation, the Ministry of Industries, the Microcredit Regulatory Authority, BSCIC, and development partners, who shared their perspectives on the way forward.
EU countries have sought to settle on an emissions-cutting plan to bring to a key UN conference in Brazil, as divisions on the bloc’s green agenda threaten its global leadership on climate.
environment ministers for the 27-nation bloc gathered recently in Brussels with the clock ticking down on a United Nations deadline to produce plans to fight global warming by 2035.
one of the world’s biggest greenhouse-gas emitters behind China, the United States, and India, the EU has to date been the most committed to climate action, by some margin.
as such, the bloc was hoping to pull ahead and derive its submission to November’s COP30 climate conference from a more ambitious 2040 goal. But that is yet to be agreed by member states, leaving Brussels scrambling for a lastminute solution. Denmark, which holds the EU’s rotating presidency, has suggested submitting to the UN a ‘statement of intent’, rather than a hard target.
that would include a pledge to cut emissions between 66.3 percent and 72.5 percent compared to 1990 levels — with the range expected to be narrowed down at a later stage.
Transportation of jet fuel from Patenga to Chittagong airport through a pipeline began recently.
the project has been implemented at a cost of Tk 170 million to supply fuel oil to aircraft in a modern, environmentally friendly, time- and cost-saving manner. Previously, the cost of transporting jet fuel through tank lorries was Tk 80 million per year.
under the pipeline, 140 cubic meters of fuel will be transported per hour through an 8-inch diameter underground pipeline. Secretary of the Energy and Mineral Resources Department, Mohammad Saiful Islam, inaugurated the ‘Jet A-1 Pipeline from the main installation at Patenga to Shah Amanat International Airport’ in the port city on Tuesday morning. Jet fuel will now be transported through a 5.77-kilometre pipeline from Padma Oil’s main facility in the Guptakhal area of Patenga. Previously, jet fuel was supplied to the airport by tanker from Patenga, which was eight kilometers away
A prolonged shortage of fuel has hit filling stations across five northern districts, with depots in Rangpur running nearly empty due to disrupted rail supplies from Chattogram. Officials at the Padma, Meghna and Jamuna depots said the crisis has dragged on for about five months, severely straining the supply chain. Against a monthly demand of roughly 2.5 crore liters for the region, only about 30 lakh liters were delivered in August. Fuel from the Rangpur depots normally serves Rangpur, Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, Gaibandha and Nilphamari. Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) sources and depot officials blamed the railway’s shortage of locomotives for the persistent disruption.
Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, who played a key role in transforming the Paris 2024 Olympics into one of the largest social business events in history, has emphasized the importance of making all future Olympics, including the upcoming Los Angeles Olympics, carbon neutral. He made the remarks when Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo called on him at his hotel in New York recently. During their meeting, the two leaders discussed a range of pressing issues, said Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder. Yunus also extended an invitation to Mayor Hidalgo to visit Bangladesh at a mutually convenient time.