Devastated families are mourning the children who died when a school roof collapsed in Pakistan.
Families experiencing profound grief are mourning the tragic loss of children who died in a school roof collapse in Pakistan. Islamabad: On Thursday, seven-year-old Romaisa Khan departed for school wearing a newly purchased pair of shoes that her father had recently bought for her.
Within several hours, she had tragically perished—among 34 students who lost their lives when the roof of her educational institution collapsed in the city of Peshawar, located in northwestern Pakistan.
He and his brother retrieved Romaisa from the debris of the Al-Khair Education Center, situated within a network of narrow streets on the outskirts of the city. They transported her urgently to the hospital, where medical personnel pronounced her deceased. "She left us too soon," he remarked.
School materials, textbooks, and damaged furnishings were scattered across the location where the roof had collapsed upon approximately 110 students who were attending classes across three separate rooms. In total, 34 students—all under the age of 13—and one female instructor were killed.
Before the arrival of law enforcement and emergency response personnel on Thursday, community members excavated through the wreckage using only their hands, transporting injured children to emergency medical vehicles.
Hospital administrators reported that the majority of the 45 injured children were discharged following initial medical treatment, although three remain in critical condition. Peshawar Police Chief Mian Saeed indicated that the school roof collapsed due to inadequate structural design of its foundation.
He further noted that the school proprietor has been taken into custody. Authorities have initiated a thorough investigation to assess the structural integrity of all comparable educational facilities.
Regarding another victim, thirteen-year-old
Japan says it is hosting a record number of foreigners.
Japan reports hosting a record number of foreigners. Tokyo: Despite rising anti-immigration sentiment, Japan has recorded its highest-ever number of foreign residents this year, as the country grapples with challenges stemming from an aging and shrinking population.
Based on government estimates, this figure represents an increase of 156,000 people since the end of last year and accounts for approximately 3.5 percent of Japan's total population.
Immigration expert Toshihiro Menju told AFP that Japan is facing a labor shortage across all sectors, ranging from highly skilled professionals to service workers.
He added that government initiatives—such as the use of AI and robotics, or efforts to increase the workforce participation of women and the elderly—cannot fully compensate for this shortfall.
Japanese businesses have urged the government to develop a comprehensive policy to support foreign residents.
However, growing anti-immigration sentiment has prompted calls—notably from Sanae Takaichi—for the implementation of stricter regulations. Japan tightened its permanent residency rules this month, requiring foreigners to demonstrate higher annual incomes and greater fluency in the Japanese language.
The self-described "Japan-First" Sansito Party—which characterizes immigration as a "silent invasion"—achieved significant gains in last year's Upper House elections.
Social media posts have falsely claimed that foreigners receive a substantial share of welfare payments and make Japanese streets less safe.
He suggested that if obtaining permanent residency becomes more difficult, the incentive for long-term stays in Japan will diminish; he added that a weak yen and low wages could also deter people.
Nevertheless, he anticipates that the foreign population will reach 10 million by 2040, driven by the ongoing labor shortage.
On Friday, the Ministry of Justice also announced that the number of individuals overstaying their visas—residing in the country illegally—had fallen to 65,000 as of July 1, a 4.8 percent decrease since the beginning of the year. READ MORE
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