Gandhara heritage is a critical step toward reclaiming a legacy that has long been neglected, and by formalising the preservation and promotion of these ancient sites, the state is finally acknowledging that its identity is not a monolith. The importance of this initiative cannot be overstated; preserving the Gandhara heritage is not merely an act of nostalgia, but a strategic investment in the country’s cultural capital.

The benefits of this preservation extend far beyond the local population and future generations. Gandhara was once a global centre of learning and art, and its preservation impacts the cultural collective knowledge of the entire world. To allow these sites to decay is to permit a hole to open in the history of human civilisation. When the state protects these monuments, it is not just saving stone and mortar, but safeguarding the evidence of a time when the region was a beacon of intellectual and artistic synthesis.

To ensure this strategy is not merely a performative exercise, the focus must shift toward sustainable tourism, rigorous academic research, and the integration of these sites into the national educational curriculum. A focus on these key areas will transform these sites from stagnant ruins into active drivers of economic and intellectual growth. This, in turn, substantially enhances the soft power of the country, projecting an image of a sophisticated, pluralistic society that values its historical depth.

A long-term approach to heritage requires that the Gandhara legacy is integrated into the national brand, ensuring that the world views the country not just through the lens of current crises, but through its ancient contributions to humanity.

U.S. President Donald Trump said ​late on Saturday he would hold off on a fresh attack on Iran as long as a deal could be reached quickly to halt Iran’s nuclear ‌ambitions and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran and “other Middle Eastern Countries” asked for a time to complete a deal that would lead to “the Immediate, Complete and Total” reopening of the Strait and “an end to Iran’s nuclear threat,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. “Based on this request, I have agreed, for the future benefit of the WORLD and, likewise, the survival of a successful and prosperous Iran, to cancel the attack, subject ​to being able to rapidly make a DEAL.”

Israel “joins me in this commitment,” Trump wrote. Israel did not immediately make a public statement on the issue.

Iran warned the U.S. this ​weekend against any “adventurous action” and said it would retaliate decisively if American forces followed through on Trump’s threats of fresh attacks on Iranian targets.

Iranian ⁠Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi’s comments in separate phone calls on Saturday with senior Turkish, Pakistani and Saudi officials came just hours after Kuwait’s army said it destroyed hostile drones launched by ​Iran against several vital facilities.

Speaking to Pakistan’s Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Araqchi said Iran would respond decisively to any “aggression” and discussed the consequences ​of “destabilizing actions” by the U.S., as well as prospects for heightened regional insecurity, according to Araqchi’s Telegram account.

Araqchi later told Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan that any attacks by the U.S. and Israel or participation by regional countries in such actions would be met with a “proportionate response.” Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman spoke to Trump on Saturday and “expressed concern and asked for clarity” about U.S. plans for Iran, ​a U.S. official told Axios.

The Saudi crown prince spoke to Trump, a White House official told Reuters, but did not provide details.

Nournews, a media outlet affiliated with Iran’s top security body, ​said on Saturday that U.S. attacks on Iranian energy infrastructure would prompt Iranian strikes on oil fields in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, as well as the gas fields of Qatar and ‌Israel, saying, “all ⁠will be burned to ashes.”

At a cabinet meeting on Friday at the Camp David retreat, Trump said he believed U.S. negotiators, including his son-in-law Jared Kushner, special envoy Steve Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, could still reach a deal with Iran.

Read more: Tanker struck by ‘unknown projectile’ off Oman: UKMTO

But Trump also said he was losing faith in the Iranians, saying, “They break their word so often” — a claim Tehran has frequently leveled at Washington — and said he would be “hitting them.”

STRAIT OF HORMUZ

The risk of Iranian attacks has deterred ​most shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, an important conduit for global energy supplies, since the start of the conflict, sending shockwaves through ​the world economy.

A government ⁠facility in northern Kuwait and civilian property belonging to a company on Bubiyan Island were hit on Saturday, with falling shrapnel causing material damage but no casualties, the Kuwaiti army said.

Adding to the energy industry’s concerns, Iran’s Houthi allies in Yemen recently began threatening the Bab el-Mandeb, the strait at the other end of the Red Sea from the Suez Canal, another export route for Saudi ⁠crude.

The United Kingdom ​Maritime Trade Operations said on Saturday it had received reports of two maritime incidents off Oman, including one ​in which a tanker was struck by an unknown projectile that damaged the engine room. In the other incident, the master of a tanker reported seeing a large splash and an explosion close to the vessel, though no ​damage was reported.

The top American tennis player has already decided which celebrity he would most like to date, and Taylor Fritz seems prepared to explore life after Morgan Riddle.

When Taylor Fritz appeared in a YouTube golf video alongside influencers David Dobrik, Nick Nayersina, and Josh Richards, he declared Sydney Sweeney to be his crush.

The freshly single 28-year-old had the chance to express his interest publicly when the topic of famous women came up.

When asked about his celebrity crush, Taylor Fritz admitted, “Sydney Sweeney.”

Those in his immediate vicinity were hardly surprised by his response.

Richards argued right away that Fritz had a serious chance with the actress, who has inexplicably become the go-to response on the internet whenever a celebrity or athlete is asked to name their ideal mate.

“That’s in the realm!” Richards remarked.

Sweeney’s popularity has developed into something akin to a cultural instinct. Although the degree of curiosity might sometimes feel excessive, her acting career, frequent red-carpet appearances, and meticulously groomed public image have made her an indispensable presence.

On the golf green, Fritz’s revelation seemed to inspire him right away. He offered a message that further demonstrated his fascination directly to the camera after hitting a strong drive: “We’re talking about Sydney Sweeney, got me all f***ing teed up!”

It was clearly a public declaration of interest, though not a direct invitation conveyed to Sweeney in private. Whether she ever notices it or reacts is another story entirely.

Fritz’s remarks were made a few months after he and Riddle broke up in April. After meeting on the dating app Raya in 2020, the couple had been dating for around four years.

By chronicling life on the professional tennis circuit, Riddle gained a sizable fan base and established herself as a regular in Fritz’s player box. Before the pair discreetly parted ways, their relationship was heavily featured in the Netflix documentary series Break Point.