Kusal Mendis ruled out of LPL 2026 With hamstring injury

Pakistan has reaffirmed its commitment to helping revive negotiations between the United States and Iran, saying it is making every possible effort to bring both sides back to the framework established under the Islamabad memorandum of understanding signed last month. Officials believe renewed dialogue remains the best path to easing tensions in the Middle East and restoring regional stability. Speaking at the Foreign Office’s weekly media briefing on Thursday, spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Pakistan remains concerned about the fragile security situation in the region despite a brief period of relative calm in recent days. He said the temporary reduction in violence had raised hopes for a lasting ceasefire, but recent developments have shown that the situation remains highly unstable. Andrabi stressed that Pakistan continues to support diplomacy as the only practical solution to the conflict. He said Islamabad welcomes every effort aimed at maintaining the pause in hostilities and encouraging both Washington and Tehran to return to negotiations. According to him, Pakistan remains actively engaged with all relevant parties and will continue supporting diplomatic initiatives. He added that discussions are still taking place to restore stability, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy shipping routes. Pakistan, he said, is working to encourage both countries to resume talks under the Islamabad memorandum of understanding while also following the commitments outlined in the Pakistan Qatar joint statement issued on June 22. The Foreign Office urged both the United States and Iran to exercise restraint and honour their commitment to restart technical level discussions. Andrabi said continued dialogue is essential to resolving outstanding disputes and preventing another escalation that could threaten regional peace and global energy supplies. The Islamabad memorandum of understanding was signed on June 18 after weeks of diplomatic efforts. The agreement was intended to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and create conditions for ending the wider conflict that began following US and Israeli strikes on Iran earlier this year. Under the understanding, both sides had agreed to continue negotiations over the following two months. However, tensions returned on July 7 when Iran launched attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, including a Qatari liquefied natural gas tanker. Tehran accused Washington of violating the agreement, leading to renewed US military strikes on Iranian targets. Since then, the conflict has expanded, with Houthi forces in Yemen imposing a naval blockade affecting Saudi Arabia and increasing pressure on another key maritime route. Violence has continued to spread across the region. On Wednesday, explosions were reported at a natural gas export facility in Egypt, while a US owned floating storage vessel was reportedly struck by a drone. At the same time, the United States and Saudi Arabia carried out joint operations against Iran backed armed groups in Iraq following attacks on American troops and Saudi energy infrastructure. After several days without major military action, the United States also launched fresh strikes against Iranian targets on Thursday in response to attacks on American bases in Jordan. During the briefing, Andrabi also rejected a recent documentary produced by Germany’s international broadcaster Deutsche Welle about Pakistan’s nuclear programme. He described the report as misleading and said it relied on outdated claims, speculation, and one sided sources. The spokesperson argued that the documentary failed to accurately reflect the history and purpose of Pakistan’s nuclear programme. He said responsible journalism requires balanced reporting and careful verification, adding that publishing unsupported allegations could damage the broadcaster’s credibility. He maintained that Pakistan has a strong command and control system for its nuclear assets, supported by legal, technical, and institutional safeguards that meet international standards. According to Andrabi, these arrangements have been recognised by independent experts. Responding to questions about India’s decision to block social media accounts belonging to Pakistan Television and other Pakistani platforms, Andrabi criticised the move, calling it another example of restrictions on independent media. He said the Indian government was attempting to limit access to alternative viewpoints while promoting an official narrative. He also urged the international community to take notice of what he described as shrinking space for free expression and media freedom in India.

Eight months after his tragic death, the remains of thirty-two-year-old former international student Bikram Lama are finally being prepared for repatriation to his family in Makwanpur, Nepal. Bikram, who had been sleeping rough near Sydney’s Hyde Park, passed away unobserved in December, prompting widespread public outrage and intense scrutiny over the systemic failures that leave non-residents trapped in homelessness. Following months of agonising waiting for his grieving seventy-one-year-old mother, Seti Maya Lama, the New South Wales coroner has released his body to a Sydney funeral service, allowing the family the opportunity to perform his final rites. The prolonged delay in returning Bikram’s body was initially prolonged by mandatory DNA verification procedures, but persistent backlogs within the New South Wales coronial system extended the ordeal for months after testing was completed. Legal experts and former judicial officials have highlighted the incident as evidence of flaws within the state’s coronial framework, citing a lack of dedicated police investigative units and poor inter-agency coordination. With financial assistance provided by community organisations, international students, and the Nepalese government, Bikram’s family is preparing to receive his remains, while frontline advocates continue to push for a formal inquest to address the underlying homelessness crisis.