REUTERS, NEW DELHI- The twin engines of emerging Asian economic growth are grappling with the effects of soaring oil costs as India's inflation hits 13-year peaks and investors weighs the impact of higher fuel prices in China.

The pace of improvement of the standard of primary education has been very slow despite progress in developing infrastructure of academic institutions. Speakers at a seminar laid stress on a concerted effort of all quarters for making the primary education up to the mark. Otherwise, they rightly said, the prevailing dissatisfactory situation could bring a debacle in the whole education system. We agree with them that primary education is the foundation of all higher education. Children get basic education at the primary schools.

Bdnews24.com

The World Bank will give Bangladesh $1.3 billion in annual budget assistance for the next three fiscal years, said the WB's regional vice-president for South Asia Praful Patel on Monday.

The government will not fight with the political parties over the elections to the local government bodies which it hopes to complete by October, education and commerce adviser Hossain Zillur Rahman said Monday, reports bdnews24.com.

Bdnews24.com

Finance adviser AB Mirza Azizul Islam has said the government is firm to set up the office of ombudsman to increase transparency and accountability.

Bdnews24.com

– Candidates will not be allowed to start election campaigns before 21 days to the local government polls despite relaxation of the state of emergency, an official said Monday.

Bdnews24.com

Awami League president Sheikh Hasina has called upon her party to work together with a view to ensuring the triumph of the party in the next parliamentary election, said an AL statement issued on the party's 59th founding

Inspector general of prisons Brig Gen Zakir Hasan said Monday he was yet to perceive any major progress in the process of releasing former prime minister Khaleda Zia and her two ailing sons, reports bdnews24.com

Amid repeated demands by the BNP and its allies for their release, the IG prisons told reporters: "We are all ready to implement whatever decision comes from the government. But it'll be difficult to tell you when they will be finally released."

Bdnews24.com

The Awami League is commemorating its founding anniversary for the second time under the ongoing state of emergency.

Bdnews24.com

A senior special judge Monday took into cognisance the charges against 28 people in a case relating to August 21 grenade attacks and issued arrest warrants against eight fugitives.

Bdnews24.com

Awami League will decide in its presidium and central working committee meetings whether the party will take part in the city corporation polls, a senior leader said Monday.

Agency

New British high commissioner to Bangladesh Stephen Evans arrived in Dhaka Monday.

Phulbari Police Station in Dinajpur was built in 1875. A report of the Bangladesh Police calls the building 'highly risky'—the shabby and dilapidated structure might any moment be the cause of a serious accident, reports bdnews24.com.

Bdnews24.com

Managing directors of four insurance companies are over 67 years-old but still in office, despite a regulatory decision that bars anyone over the age limit to hold the positions.

Bdnews24.com

– The one-man show by outstanding, reclusive artist Safiuddin Ahmed opened Monday at the Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts, packed with art lovers.

President Nicolas Sarkozy, whose wife Carla Bruni is about to release her third album, has taken the novel step of opening up the Elysee palace to concerts during France's annual music festival, reports AFP.

Dutch boss accepts defeat

Sky Sports

Marco van Basten admitted that his Dutch side were second best during their 3-1 defeat to Russia.

Holland had entered the quarter-final contest as firm favourites having breezed through a group which included World Cup finalists France and Italy, but were outplayed from the off in Basel.

After sifting through the wreckage of France's calamitous Euro 2008 campaign, World Cup winners Bixente Lizarazu and Christophe Dugarry have identified Arsene Wenger as the ideal successor to much-maligned coach Raymond Domenech, who is facing dismissal following a forthcoming internal enquiry, The Telegraph reports.

Fifa.com

Mexico finished their series with Belize on Saturday, setting up an intriguing Group 2 in the next stage of North, Central American and Caribbean qualifying for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™. El Tri join Jamaica, Honduras and Canada - who beat St. Vincent on Friday - in what has the makings of an all-action section.

REUTERS, TOKYO - Years ago, when the first Armani boutiques opened in China, a furious customer walked into one of the shops, brandishing two Armani T-shirts.