another promise fulfilled
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Another promise fulfilled’: PM Shehbaz unveils m…

ByJustpaste.in

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday announced a comprehensive package of reforms aimed at modernising consular services for overseas Pakistanis, with government officials describing the measures as the fulfilment of another commitment made to the Pakistani diaspora.

The new initiatives are designed to make consular services faster, more transparent and more accessible through digitalisation and streamlined procedures.

The reforms include QR code-based complaint registration at Pakistani embassies, a simplified attestation process for Power of Attorney and property-related documents, a one-step Apostille attestation system, an evening shift at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad, and a courier-based document attestation service.

The government is also integrating the databases of the Higher Education Commission (HEC), Inter Board Committee of Chairmen (IBCC), NADRA and the National Police Bureau to speed up document verification. In addition, a mobile application is being developed to enable digital verification of birth, death, marriage and family registration certificates, along with other official documents.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said overseas Pakistanis are a valuable national asset and reiterated his government’s commitment to providing efficient, transparent and citizen-friendly services for Pakistanis living abroad.

The reforms were welcomed by overseas Pakistanis, many of whom said the initiatives would help reduce delays and simplify access to essential consular services.

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    Uganda backs sending troops to planned Gaza peace …

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    Uganda’s Parliament has approved a government proposal to deploy troops to a planned international peace and stabilisation force for Gaza, marking the country’s first commitment to the proposed multinational mission. The resolution was introduced by Uganda’s Minister of Defence and received parliamentary approval following debate among lawmakers. With the decision, Uganda joins Morocco, which has also announced its willingness to contribute troops to the proposed force. The Ugandan government has not publicly disclosed the diplomatic discussions or political considerations behind its decision. However, the move sparked debate in Parliament, with opposition members expressing concerns about the potential implications for Uganda’s foreign policy and regional relationships. Opposition lawmaker Hassan Kiromera questioned the mission’s objectives, asking which parties Ugandan troops would ultimately be expected to confront if deployed. He argued that the government should provide greater clarity regarding the mandate of the proposed force before committing military personnel. Defence Minister Jacob Oboth-Oboth defended the proposal, stating that the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) possess extensive experience in international peacekeeping operations, including missions in Somalia and other conflict zones. He said that this experience would enable Ugandan troops to contribute effectively to efforts aimed at restoring peace and stability in Gaza. According to the report, the proposed Gaza International Stabilisation Force is expected to consist of approximately 20,000 personnel from multiple countries. The force is reportedly planned under a proposal associated with US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace and would be commanded by US Major General Jasper Jeffers. The mission is intended to help maintain law and order in Gaza following the end of hostilities between Israel and Hamas. Reports indicate that the proposal was first introduced earlier this year as part of broader discussions on post-conflict governance and security arrangements in the territory. The development follows recent announcements regarding a reported agreement under which Hamas would disarm and Israel would gradually withdraw its military forces from Gaza. Under the reported framework, the international stabilisation force would be deployed after the phased Israeli withdrawal. However, uncertainty remains over the implementation of the proposed arrangement. Israeli officials have reportedly expressed serious security concerns after reviewing the reported agreement, arguing that certain provisions could pose risks to national security. As a result, questions remain about the timeline and conditions for the deployment of the multinational peace force despite Uganda’s parliamentary approval.

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    Search for survivors intensifies after devastating 7.1-magnitude earthquake strikes southern Japan

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    Emergency responders in southwestern Japan are racing against time to locate survivors trapped in rubble following a powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake that killed at least 13 people in the Kumamoto region of Kyushu island. The powerful tremor, which struck at a shallow depth of ten kilometres, flattened residential homes, triggered severe fires, ruptured critical bridges, and cut electricity to nearly 37,000 households. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi confirmed the death toll during an official address in Tokyo, while chief cabinet spokesman Minoru Kihara noted that at least seven individuals suffered severe injuries and more than 9,000 residents sought safety across hundreds of emergency evacuation shelters. Search operations remain heavily concentrated in the town of Kashima, where part of the Aeon Mall collapsed after a gas explosion ripped through the structure shortly after the primary quake. Rescue teams in specialised gear navigated twisted steel girders and fallen concrete inside the shopping centre, where at least two women lost their lives and eight others were pulled from the debris. Meanwhile, in Yatsushiro city, search crews continue to look for nine workers unaccounted for at a Nippon Paper Industries plant after a large smokestack collapsed onto the facility below. The seismic shock registering at the maximum level on Japan’s intensity scale caused widespread logistical disruption across Kyushu island, derailing a cargo train, suspending high-speed bullet train lines, and causing structural collapses at the historic centuries-old Kumamoto Castle. In response, the Japanese military has deployed 3,600 personnel alongside 20 reconnaissance aircraft to support disaster relief efforts, clear impassable roads, and assess localised damage in remote communities.

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    Lahore High Court rules abused women retain dower rights following divorce

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    The Lahore High Court has ruled that a woman who seeks a divorce on the grounds of her husband’s cruelty, abuse, or marital misconduct is not automatically deprived of her right to receive her unpaid dower, known as haq mehr. Delivering the judgment, Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani dismissed a petition filed by a man challenging lower court decisions in Toba Tek Singh that awarded 50 percent of a deferred dower to his former wife, Nisha Shahid. The petitioner argued that under family law provisions, the court lacked a legal basis to grant dower following a khula dissolution. However, the High Court drew a clear distinction between a standard khula, where a woman seeks separation solely due to personal incompatibility, and a judicial dissolution triggered by a husband’s mistreatment. The court clarified that abuse encompasses physical violence as well as psychological, emotional, verbal, and economic misconduct, noting that a wife is not required to present formal medical reports or police filings to establish her claim. The ruling directed Family Courts to assess the underlying causes of a marital breakdown rather than stripping a woman of her dower rights purely because the separation is categorized as a khula. Additionally, the Lahore High Court recommended that the Punjab government and the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan update relevant family laws to ensure clear determinations of fault in dower disputes.

  • Thai F-16 Destroys Border Casino Used as Cambodian Drone Command Post

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    BANGKOK – A Thai F-16 fighter jet has destroyed a casino across the border in Cambodia that was being used as a drone control station, the Royal Thai Army confirmed on Monday. The air force is now targeting rocket bases threatening Thai communities in response to repeated Cambodian attacks. Thai F-16 Jets Strike Cambodian Positions […]

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    Tokyo’s shorts policy for office workers spa…

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    Japanese men are showing more leg at work than ever this summer, as the Tokyo Metropolitan Government continues pushing employees toward casual attire that includes shorts alongside t-shirts and trainers. Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike introduced the initiative, known as Tokyo Cool Biz, in April, aiming to build on her signature cooling campaign that has become a recognized annual tradition across the city each summer. Nearly four months into the programme, the newly permitted office shorts have drawn a mixed reaction from workers and commentators alike. Some people have welcomed the more relaxed dress code, saying it allows them to work comfortably despite the intense summer heat. Others argue the policy creates an unequal standard for women, who remain expected to wear tights even when showing part of their legs, while men can now go bare legged in shorts. A number of women have also described discomfort at having to see male colleagues’ leg hair in the office, a phenomenon some online commentators have labeled leg hair harassment. Noboru Watanabe, an environmental official with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, said the goal is to give people more clothing options during severe heat rather than dictate what they must wear, adding that there should be no issue as long as workplace attire does not offend anyone. Casual dress has grown more common among Japanese workers in recent years, particularly at startups and technology companies, but this year’s government recommendation has made the shift more broadly acceptable across traditional workplaces as well. Even so, some men have reported feeling self conscious about exposing their leg hair for the first time in a professional setting. Dr. Akifumi Funatsu, director of Gorilla Clinic, said he has noticed a rise in clients visiting the clinic not purely for cosmetic reasons but out of concern for what he described as social etiquette when wearing shorts, suggesting the policy shift has begun influencing personal grooming habits among Japanese men beyond the office itself. The debate reflects a broader tension in Japan between longstanding workplace dress norms and growing efforts to modernize corporate culture in response to increasingly severe summer heat, with officials balancing calls for greater comfort against concerns about fairness between male and female employees navigating different expectations around appropriate office attire.

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    Two killed, several injured in firing during funer…

    ByJustpaste.in

      MUZAFFARABAD: At least two people were killed and several others injured when gunfire broke out during the funeral prayers of victims of an earlier clash in Kot Tralla, near Muzaffarabad in Azad Kashmir. According to Azad Kashmir Police, the incident occurred during the funeral prayers being held for two people who had been killed in a firing incident between two groups a day earlier. The latest shooting turned the funeral gathering into another scene of violence, resulting in further casualties. Police confirmed that two people had been killed in a clash between two groups in Kot Tralla the previous day. Following the incident, funeral prayers for the deceased were arranged in the area. However, while family members, relatives and other mourners had gathered to attend the prayers, another firing incident took place. According to police officials, the latest exchange of fire resulted in the deaths of two more people, while several others sustained injuries. The injured were shifted to nearby medical facilities for treatment. The exact number and condition of those injured were not immediately available. The incident has caused concern among local residents, particularly because the violence occurred during a funeral gathering. Such gatherings normally bring together large numbers of family members, relatives and community residents, making any outbreak of violence especially dangerous. Police teams reached the area following the shooting and began efforts to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident. Authorities are investigating whether the latest firing was connected to the dispute that had led to the earlier clash between the two groups. The motive behind the initial confrontation has not yet been disclosed. Police officials are expected to investigate the cause of the dispute and identify those responsible for both incidents. Further action will be taken once the circumstances of the shootings and the identities of the suspects are established. The latest incident has also raised questions about security arrangements during funeral gatherings, particularly in areas where tensions exist between rival groups. Authorities may increase security measures in the area to prevent further violence and maintain law and order. Residents have expressed concern over the escalation of violence, as the dispute has now resulted in deaths on two consecutive days. The fact that the second shooting occurred during funeral prayers has further intensified fears of additional clashes. Police officials have urged residents to remain calm and cooperate with law enforcement agencies. They are also expected to take steps to prevent any further confrontation between the two groups. The bodies of the victims are being handled according to local procedures, while the injured are receiving medical treatment. Families of those killed and injured are facing another tragedy following the earlier deaths in the area. Authorities have not yet released complete details about the weapons used, the identities of the attackers or the exact circumstances that led to the latest shooting. An investigation is underway, and additional information is expected as police gather evidence and question witnesses. The incident highlights how disputes between rival groups can quickly escalate and affect innocent people, particularly when violence occurs in crowded public gatherings. The authorities’ immediate priority is to restore peace in Kot Tralla, provide security to local residents and ensure that those responsible for the shootings are brought to justice. Further developments are expected as the investigation continues and officials release more information about the casualties and the circumstances surrounding the two incidents.

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