Pakistan Test captain Azhar Ali has said that the team “is not taking [Bangladesh] lightly”, a day before the start of the two-Test series between both sides. Speaking at a press briefing on Thursday in Rawalpindi — where the first Test will be held from February 7-11 — Ali said: “Bangladesh can be a very competitive side, can surprise you, …

BERLIN: Thomas Mueller weighed in with a goal and an assist as holders Bayern Munich squeezed past Hoffenheim 4-3 on Wednesday to reach the quarter-finals of the German Cup. Mueller´s golden run continued at the Allianz Arena to leave him with seven goals and nine assists in the 14 games since Hansi Flick replaced Niko Kovac as coach last November. …

Moody’s Investors Services on Thursday announced a “stable outlook” for Pakistan’s banking system over the next 12-18 months underpinned by “robust funding and liquidity and close links with the sovereign”. In a press release, agency said in terms of the operating environment, economic activity in Pakistan would also be supported by the ongoing infrastructure projects as well as by improvements …

Global stock markets surged on Thursday after President Donald Trump was acquitted in an impeachment trial and China announced a tariff cut on US imports and aid to businesses reeling from a virus outbreak. London and Frankfurt opened higher, while Tokyo, Hong Kong and Seoul rose more than 2 per cent. Markets also were boosted by strong US corporate earnings. That helped …

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani authorities are undergoing a “very tough” second quarterly review with visiting staff of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as the country’s fiscal deficit breached 2.3 per cent of GDP in the first half of 2019-20 despite a tight control on the government’s expenditure. Informed sources told Dawn on Wednesday that fiscal deficit in July-December 2019 amounted to about Rs995 billion …

ISLAMABAD: Mystery prevails over the export of wheat and wheat flour — said to be responsible for the wheat flour price crisis — until the end of October despite a ban imposed in July and the ministries concerned are reluctant to offer any explanation. In June last year, the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet had noted that wheat …

LOS ANGELES: Kim Kardashian revealed that her daughter Chicago needed medical emergency as she had fallen out of her high chair. The Keeping Up with the Kardashians star made a very shocking revelation at a talk show, saying  that her daughter Chicago had fallen out of her high chair as a result of which her face was cut and she …

Kirk Douglas, one of the last superstars of Hollywood’s golden age of cinema renowned for his intense, muscular performances in Spartacus and Paths of Glory, died Wednesday aged 103. The US leading man, producer and director came to prominence in the late 1940s and never lost his popularity, taking on nearly 100 movies over a six-decade career that endured beyond …

Oscar-winning actress Viola Davis will play former US first lady Michelle Obama in a new TV series on the Showtime cable network, it was announced Wednesday. First Ladies will focus on the wives of US presidents and their lives in the White House, and media reports said Eleanor Roosevelt and Betty Ford would also be portrayed. “Presidents’ spouses have wielded remarkable …

Silver screen legend Kirk Douglas has died at the age of 103, after an illustrious career spanning more than a half century. Here is a selection of Douglas’s most famous roles, with a concentration of great performances coming in the 1950s and 1960s. -Champion (1949) In one of his most memorable early appearances, Douglas showed his mettle as a boxing champ …