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Iran says coastal attack will lead to full Gulf closure and mine-laying

An attack on Iran's southern coast and islands will lead to Gulf routes being cut with the laying of sea mines, the country's Defence Council said on Monday, according to state media. The US is considering plans to occupy or blockade Iran's Kharg Island, the country's main oil export hub, to pressure Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to all shipping, according to Axios. "Any attempt to attack Iran's coasts or islands will cause all access routes in the Gulf (...) to be mined with various types of sea mines, including floating mines that can be released from the coast," the statement read. "In this case, the entire Gulf will practically be in a situation similar to the Strait of Hormuz for a long time (...) One should not forget the failure of more than 100 minesweepers in the 1980s in removing a few sea mines." The Defence Council recalled that non-belligerent states can only pass through the Strait of Hormuz by coordinating passage with Iran...

Pakistani runners impress during London Marathon 2025

Pakistan's runners made their mark at the London Marathon 2025, with Furqan Masood of Islamabad leading a spirited group of more than 40 Pakistani athletes and diaspora members who took on one of the world’s most iconic races. Masood completed the marathon in an impressive 3 hours, 10 minutes, and 7 seconds, showcasing resilience and strong pacing in a race that drew over 56,000 participants. Starting with a fast 20:44 for the first 5K and hitting the 10K mark at 42:09, he battled rising temperatures and fatigue in the latter half but dug deep to cross the finish line, earning 4,460th place overall.         View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by FurqanRuns (@furqanruns) "Crossing the finish line at the London Marathon was a deeply humbling experience," Masood said after the race. "We’re not professional athletes; we want to inspire people in Pakistan to embrace running as a passion and a healthier lifestyle." Close behind Masood was USA-based Salman Ilyas, finishing in 3:18:33, with Norway’s Muhammad Fasih Saleh (3:21:54) and Hamza Saleem (3:23:10) also delivering strong performances. Shah Syed was just two seconds behind Saleem, clocking 3:23:12. Among the women, Norway-based Amy Mir stood out by finishing her first-ever marathon in 3:52:00, despite limited training. "I hadn’t trained beyond 17K, but the energy of the crowd carried me through," she said. Veteran runner Hamid Butt from Lahore made history by becoming the first Pakistani to complete the Abbott World Marathon Majors twice, earning his second Six Star Medal with a time of 3:41:45. Meanwhile, at the Manchester Marathon, UAE-based Azmat Khan led the Pakistani contingent with a 3:15:48 finish, while Karachi’s Danish Raza and his son Abrar Ahmed completed the race together in 4:55. British Pakistani doctor Ahmed Zubair also finished Manchester’s course in 6:37:52. In the elite London races, Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe won the men's division in a rapid 2:02:27, while Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa dominated the women’s race with a winning time of 2:15:50. The growing presence of Pakistani runners on global marathon stages signals a rising passion for endurance sports within the community — blending personal achievement with national pride.

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