Anavyssos Beach was filled with kites as people celebrated Clean Monday under ideal weather conditions. Families and groups gathered early to enjoy the good weather and stable winds.

Families in Nottingham have expressed strong condemnation, citing an 'utter disregard for victims' in relation to an unspecified event, demanding accountability.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has announced the 'Meri Rasoi' scheme, which will provide free oil, sugar, and dal to 40 lakh families in the state.

Families in Nottingham have condemned what they describe as an 'utter disregard for victims', expressing their outrage and demanding accountability.

Mfon Ekpo delivered a keynote speech at the 2nd Anniversary Celebration of GIFA, an organization founded in December 2022 by the late First Lady Pastor Mrs Patience Umo Eno to strengthen families and uplift communities.

Syria closes al-Hol camp after relocating thousands of ISIS-linked families  rudaw.net

A Tipperary councillor, who heads the representative body for councillors, shared the struggles of local politicians, including difficulty securing mortgages and supporting families on part-time wages for full-time roles.

A notorious camp in Syria tied to alleged IS families is emptied as final convoy departs  AP News

Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa will host his second annual foundation gala in April to support single-parent families.

The Underground Festival in Waipara, New Zealand, gathered farming families to share information, food, and time off the farm.

Morocco's Director General of National Security, Abdellatif Hammouchi, has approved exceptional promotions and social support measures for the families of four police officers who died in a tragic traffic accident in Sidi Ifni.

US bishops have sharply criticized the plan for new mega-centers to detain migrants, comparing them to World War II prison camps and stating that holding thousands of families in large warehouses is concerning.

A Valencian publishing house has reissued Juana Doña's book dedicated to her husband, a victim of Francoism. The editor highlights the text, with a prologue by Vázquez Montalbán, as an inspiration for other repressed families to share their stories.

An economist highlights that food price movements have a disproportionately larger impact on Estonian families and consumer behavior compared to wealthier countries, where food constitutes a smaller share of total spending.

Over the past decade, Limassol has quietly transformed into one of the most dynamic real estate markets in Europe. What was once seen primarily as a holiday destination is now firmly positioned as an international business and lifestyle hub attracting investors, professionals and families from across the world. At the centre of this transformation is […]

An Australian child in a camp for families with links to IS fighters says she wants to come to Australia, a family member told SBS.

Georgia will begin an active review of its socially vulnerable families database to ensure state aid reaches only qualified recipients, citing a steady growth in beneficiaries and 'economic success'.

Charitable organizations have successfully delivered aid to thousands of families in Egypt, providing much-needed assistance.

A long-running Montessori school in County Galway is facing potential closure as an adjacent school's expansion plans will reduce its available space, causing concern among families and staff.

Birthrates have fallen since Russia’s invasion but some have held on to hope and are bringing up children despite risks

STEA, the Social and Health Organization's Funding Centre, has decided to cease funding for holiday organizations, leaving many families with disabled members unable to afford much-needed vacations.

SAN FRANCISCO, AGUSAN DEL SUR — Continuous moderate to heavy rains triggered by a prevailing shear line and generally bad weather have inundated vast portions of the Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary in Agusan del Sur. The situation forced families in low-lying communities to evacuate, disaster officials said. The marsh — often described as the natural

Compared with wealthier countries, where food accounts for a smaller share of total spending, price movements have a proportionally greater impact on Estonian families and are reflected more quickly i

Venezuelan authorities have approved a fast-track protocol for an amnesty law, following its passage by the National Assembly, as families of political detainees continue vigils and call for further releases.

Ramadan at Dubai's Global Village: Extended timings, free tickets for families  khaleejtimes.com

A long-running Montessori school in County Galway has called for a public meeting after they were told they will have to close their doors soon, prompting deep concern among families and staff.

A wedding in Fatehpur turned violent after a pet dog's barking led to a brawl between the bride's and groom's families. The disturbance during rituals escalated when the groom's side allegedly attacked the animal, resulting in a physical fight. At least five people were injured, and the ceremony was called off. No formal complaint has been lodged yet.

Grieving families are urging Congress to implement aviation safety reforms in the wake of a recent midair collision near Washington D.C., highlighting concerns about air traffic control and safety protocols.

Some government plans for SEND were leaked earlier this week. But what else do families want to change?

As Reform UK gains traction, an investigation reveals the views of its senior figures on women and families.

Venezuela’s new amnesty law gets a chilly response from the opposition and detainees’ families  Associated Press News

Russell Westbrook's wife received a message wishing death upon her family from a sports bettor, highlighting a growing issue of athletes and their families facing harassment from bettors.

Mary Ann Pajo watched quietly as cemetery workers opened her son’s tomb in Manila this week and removed his body for examination by a forensic pathologist. Accused of dealing drugs, 30-year-old Joewarski Pajo was shot dead while playing a game on his phone, one of thousands of extrajudicial killings alleged to have taken place under former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte. A hearing begins at the International Criminal Court on Monday that will determine whether Duterte will stand trial over...

Venezuela’s acting president Delcy Rodriguez signed an amnesty law that could free hundreds of political prisoners.

Cuban families are receiving essential goods marked 'Made in Mexico' as the island nation's economic crisis continues to worsen, highlighting the severity of the situation.

The Trump administration is moving to terminate housing assistance for families with mixed immigration status, a policy change that could impact thousands of households.

The Administration for Children and Families has purged thousands of obsolete guidance documents to streamline operations and reduce confusion for programs like Head Start.

The government is paying compensation totaling more than Rs19.6 million to the families of 40 people killed in a suicide bombing at an imambargah in Islamabad this month, the Prime Minister’s Office said on Thursday. The February 6 attack, claimed by the Islamic State (IS) group, on the outskirts of the capital was the deadliest in Islamabad since a 2008 truck bombing that killed 60 people at the Marriott Hotel. “Relief cheques have been delivered to the heirs of 36 martyrs belonging to Islamabad,” PMO said in a statement, adding each victim’s family received Rs5m. Cheques will also be delivered to four families of victims living outside Islamabad, the statement said. Although officials have not released a final death toll, the statement marked the first official acknowledgement that 40 people were killed in the blast. On Feb 11, PM Shehbaz had announced compensation for those martyred and injured in the suicide attack while visiting the site of the attack. Speaking on the occasion, he said, “These terrorists have no religion, and they have crossed all the limits of cruelty.” The suicide attack occurred during Friday prayers. The last major attack in Islamabad took place in November when a suicide blast outside a court killed 12 people and wounded dozens, the first such incident to hit the capital in nearly three years.

One year after Donald Trump’s aid cuts, families in Zimbabwe’s Mwenezi district are struggling to survive due to the climate crisis and reduced support.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani proposes a 9.5% property tax increase as part of a $127 billion budget, warning of a $5.4 billion shortfall without it.

The Berlinale Series Market's Up Next: Germany showcase highlighted new crime and fantasy productions, featuring themes of crime families, gold heists, and interdimensional doppelgängers.

Bernard Hoffman/Getty Images Thanks to the postwar Baby Boom and other factors, families in the '50s began moving to the suburbs. Levittown in Long Island, New York, is widely recognized as the first modern American suburb. Each home looked the same — they were all built in the Cape Cod-style and cost around $7,000. As World War II came to an end, families looked for ways to start over. Emboldened by the GI Bill's provisions for home loans, they moved out of the cities in droves for newly developed suburban communities. In fact, the suburbs expanded by 47% during the 1950s, according to the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. Levittown in Long Island, New York, was one of the first to introduce the idea of a pre-planned, mass-produced uniform suburban community, The New York Times reported. Families started moving there on October 1, 1947. Though the community welcomed an influx of families, non-white prospects weren't allowed. Notably, African Americans didn't see the same benefits from the GI Bill, and it would take some years before racial and ethnic minorities broadly shifted to the suburbs. Here's what it was like to live in America's first modern suburb in the 1950s. Before the 1950s, people mostly lived in cities to be close to factory jobs. Historical/Getty Images At the time, most people lived close to the city center to work in factories, or they lived in rural communities to work on farms, according to economist Jay Zagorsky. Everything changed in the 1950s when soldiers returned from World War II, sparking the great migration to the suburbs. Irving Haberman/IH Images/Getty Images The 1950 Census found that 60% of people lived in cities, while 40% lived in the suburbs. Thanks to factors like the construction of highways, the development of new neighborhoods from farmland, and even safety in the event of an atomic attack, these percentages would soon shift drastically. The GI Bill made it easier to afford a new home, prompting this transition from urban to suburban. Newsday LLC/Getty Images The GI Bill provided each returning soldier with benefits designed to stimulate economic growth. Each soldier was given a year of unemployment and free tuition to go to college. The military pledged to back all home loans, which allowed veterans to buy houses with little to no down payments. The Baby Boom started at the same time, causing many families to outgrow their city apartments. A family of four stands in front of their house in Levittown, NY. Joseph Scherschel/Getty Images Shortly after WWII ended, the Baby Boom began. In 1946, 3.4 million babies were born, more than ever before, and 20% more than in 1945, per History.com. This trend continued into the '50s. By the end of the boom in 1964, this generation made up 40% of the country's population. Most historians think it was because Americans were eager to have families after having postponed marriage and childbirth because of the Great Depression and World War II. Whatever the reason, people flocked to the suburbs to accommodate their growing families. In response to this growing need for space, suburban communities popped up at a faster rate in the '50s. An aerial view of a suburban community. Hulton Archive/Getty Images During the war, factories focused on creating wartime essentials, like airplanes and barracks. In the '50s, they refocused their efforts on building home components and automobiles using the new practices — like the assembly line — they implemented in the war, As a result, factories were able to produce materials for homes faster than ever before. Levittown in Long Island, New York, is widely recognized as the first modern American suburb. Tony Linck/Getty Images Levitt and Sons, a construction company, purchased a 7-square-mile plot of potato and onion farms in Long Island in 1947. They set out to build one of the first uniform suburban communities in the US. The community grew fast. In fact, a house was built every 16 minutes in Levittown. Tony Linck/Getty Images To construct the new community, which sits about 30 miles east of Manhattan, Levitt and Sons hired mostly unskilled workers to build the homes. They gave each a specific skill and created a sort of human assembly line. William Levitt even called his firm "the General Motors of the housing industry," The Guardian reported. The Levitts eventually constructed 17,447 houses between 1947 and 1951. During the peak of the construction boom, one was built every 16 minutes. People flocked to home sale events to get themselves a slice of suburbia. Al Fenn/Getty Images The first homes in Levittown cost new residents around $7,000, The Guardian reported. For veterans, there was no down payment. When adjusting for inflation, a Levittown home in 1950 would be roughly $97,000 in today's money. Every house in Levittown was identical. The Levitt family called it "the best house in the US." Joseph Scherschel/Getty Images At first, all the homes were built in the same style, and some residents even admitted to walking into the wrong house at times because they couldn't tell them apart, according to Khan Academy, citing Kenneth T. Jackson's "Crabgrass Frontier: The Suburbanization of the United States." The picturesque community was lined with greenery. In fact, a tree was planted every 28 feet in Levittown. Newsday LLC/Getty Images Each home in Levittown sat on a 6,000-square-foot lot, The New York Times reported. Outdoor spaces, like backyards, became focal points. Robert W. Kelley/Getty Images With the growing number of children, outdoor spaces became increasingly important to the suburban neighborhood. Inside each home, there were four rooms, a built-in TV set, and Hi-Fi for the radio. Joseph Scherschel/Getty Images At first, they were modest homes, but most families saw their new suburban lives as luxurious. Most Levittown residents experienced the responsibilities of owning a home for the first time. A man and a woman clean opposite sides of a window. Many homeowners experienced the responsibilities of owning a home for the first time. Newsday LLC/Newsday via Getty Images Many Levittown homeowners learned homeownership responsibilities, such as tending to a lawn. The suburb helped cement the idea of the "nuclear family" in American culture. The community prided itself on neighborhood amenities, like this mobile public library. Joseph Scherschel/Getty Images There were also swimming pools that children could use during the summer. Levittown also had seven shopping centers. Underwood Archives/Getty Images The shopping centers were called "village greens" and were designed to make the town more of a bustling community, per Encyclopedia.com. The suburbs were also known for being a safe alternative to the gritty city streets. Joseph Scherschel/Getty Images Since the streets in the suburban neighborhood were considered safer than those in the city, parents used to allow children to bike around by themselves, per the National Center for Safe Routes to School. Levittown was also known as a cheaper option compared to an apartment in the city. Bernard Hoffman/Getty Images The mortgage on a home in Levittown was reportedly about $29 per month, while most paid $90 per month in the city. By comparison, the average rent in New York City in 2026 is just under $3,500, according to Zillow. The monthly cost of a 30-year mortgage on a Levittown home today would be roughly $2,000. With all the amenities and perks, the community grew rapidly. In less than a decade, the population of Levittown reached 82,000. Bettmann/Getty Images The community has over 17,000 homes, making it one of the largest private housing projects in the history of the US. As a result, Levittown became a model for other suburban communities in the US during the 1950s. A suburban community in the 1950s. Joseph Scherschel/Getty Images Suburban home construction boomed in the 1950s. In fact, at least 15 million units were under construction by the end of the decade, according to the Wealth Management Group. Although suburban communities boomed in the '50s, the shift was reserved for white Americans. Joseph Scherschel/Getty Images For years, there were rules that restricted minorities from buying homes in Levittown, and even as the Civil Rights Movement was starting to take form and the rest of the country began integrating after Brown v Board of Education in 1954, Levittown remained mostly white. Two-thirds of Levittown residents today are white, according US Census estimates. Some of the few non-white families resisted this standard. Some non-white residents like William Cotter and his family fought against Levittown's whites-only standard. Newsday LLC/Newsday RM via Getty Images In 1952, William Cotter, a Black man, and his family, sublet a home at 26 Butternut Lane. When the lease was up, Levitt refused to renew it or sell them the home. The refusal sparked support for the Cotters, and the family eventually purchased another home from a white homeowner. With modern highways leading to the suburbs, men commuted into the city. New highways leading to the suburbs didn't come without traffic. Newsday LLC/Newsday via Getty Images The suburban boom corresponded with the expansion of interstate highways in the US, starting the modern iteration of the commute from the suburbs to the city. In 1950, 80% of men in Levittown commuted to Manhattan for work, The Guardian reported. During a typical day, the streets of Levittown were filled with women, as the men were mostly working in the city. Bettmann/Getty Images When men left to fight in WWII, women began entering the workforce, gaining newfound independence and freedom. However, they were suddenly expected to give this up again and instead focus on childbearing and rearing. In 1963, author Betty Friedan wrote in "The Feminine Mystique" that the suburbs "were burying women alive." However, some believe that women's dissatisfaction with staying home "contributed to the rebirth of the feminist movement in the 1960s," History.com reported. Women also got active in civic engagement. Women and children protest in favor of new stop signs. Newsday LLC/Newsday RM via Getty Images In 1959, women of Levittown, with children in hand, protested in favor of putting stop signs in an area with automobile-related deaths. Levittown became a symbol of prosperity and anticommunism in American politics and culture. William J. Levitt speaks with three senators. Bettmann/Bettmann Archive/Getty Images As American politics increasingly centered on anticommunism and Cold War tensions rose, Levittown and suburbs like it took on a symbolic meaning in American culture, representing prosperity and the "American Dream." Levitt was once quoted saying, "No man who owns his own house and lot can be a Communist. He has too much to do." In 2026, Levittown is still a sizable community with a population of about 50,000. Though it's full of modern businesses and technology, the community still holds a legacy as a post-war suburban haven. Read the original article on Business Insider

Two North Korean soldiers in Ukraine have expressed desire to move to South Korea rather than facing consequences for letting themselves be captured in the North. The regime might choose to punish their families instead.

Families in Missouri are expressing concerns over potential Medicaid disability cuts, putting pressure on officials to reconsider the proposed changes.

There is renewed hope for flood victims in Maai Mahiu as the State has issued land title deeds, with DP Kindiki announcing that the government has secured land to resettle 105 affected families.

Wandering and 'elopement' are dangerous behaviors exhibited by people with dementia, often marking a critical point for families in their caregiving journey.

Hamdan Ballal, co-director of the Oscar-winning documentary 'No Other Land,' has reported another attack by Israeli settlers on his family, resulting in his brother's hospitalization and other family members' arrests.

China's Debt Model Creates Danger Of Stagnation Authored by Daniel Lacalle, The latest social financing figures from China show an economy that is increasingly relying on government debt while private demand for credit remains weak. The strength of the Chinese technology sector and its exporting companies gives enough room for leverage. However, behind the weak private sector credit demand lies an evident economic slowdown that the Chinese government acknowledges, challenging consumption patterns, a significant overcapacity problem, and the depth of the housing crisis. The current economic model, focused on delivering 5% real economic growth, requires larger doses of debt to achieve smaller increments of growth, especially productive sector growth. The government has focused on reducing debt and overcapacity imbalances while reorienting its exports and financial system to lessen dependence on the US dollar; however, the main challenge for the Chinese economy remains boosting consumer demand, despite rate cuts and easing financial conditions. To understand the intensity of debt of the Chinese model, we must go to the year 2000 and see the acceleration in the flow of debt, not just the current stock. At that time, real GDP growth was around 8–9%, so each percentage point of growth came with roughly 13–16 points of debt‑to‑GDP. Government debt was very low, at around 25% of GDP, and most leverage sat in the state-owned corporate sector with modest household debt. China was able to deliver near‑double‑digit growth with a total non‑financial debt ratio barely above 120% of GDP. By 2023, non‑financial sector debt had risen to about 285% of GDP, more than doubling its level of 2000. Chinese think‑tanks and official commentators put the “macro leverage ratio” closer to 300% of GDP by 2025, according to the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. The macro leverage ratio rose by 11.8 percentage points to 302.3 percent in 2025, exceeding the 10.1-point increase reported in 2024. Over the same period, the trend of real GDP growth has slowed to roughly 4–5%, so each percentage point of growth now requires around 60–75 points of debt‑to‑GDP, more than three times the debt per point of growth required in 2000. Furthermore, it comes mostly from government debt. In January 2026, aggregate social financing jumped by 7.22 trillion yuan, significantly higher than in the same month of 2025 and above market expectations, consistent with 5% annual GDP growth and a larger composition of the public sector in the mix. Outstanding social financing reached 449.11 trillion yuan at the end of January, rising 8.2% year‑on‑year, while money supply (M2) rose by 9%.​ New yuan bank loans were 4.7 trillion yuan, about 420 billion less than a year earlier and significantly below consensus, showing the weak private‑sector credit demand and the prudent approach of Chinese customers and businesses to debt addition. RMB loans outstanding stood at 276.62 trillion yuan, up only 6.1% year‑on‑year, clearly below the pace of overall financing and money growth. The driver of credit growth in China is no longer households and private firms but the government and state-owned companies. The real estate problem has impacted Chinese families in numerous ways. Not only did most of them see the value of their homes decline, but many families invested in the attractive yields of real estate developers’ commercial paper, which led to large losses and even the wipe-out of savings for many. Additionally, despite the excess in supply of houses, prices have not fallen enough to warrant enough appetite for new mortgages, as affordability remains an issue and the traditional prudence of Chinese citizens when it comes to consuming and borrowing adds to the challenge. Beijing plans to issue 4.4 trillion yuan in local government special‑purpose bonds in 2025, 500 billion more than in 2024, looking to boost government investment and a “proactive fiscal policy,” knowing that raising taxes would be exceedingly negative for growth and consumption. Local governments are expected to issue more than 10 trillion yuan in bonds in 2025, including refinancing, general bonds, and new special bonds. The Chinese government knows that it can manage more debt but also sees the weak investment and household spending and acknowledges that large tax increases would be counterproductive.  However, to prevent future debt-driven stagnation, a focus on productivity is necessary. The official budget sets a deficit of 4% for 2025. However, once all budget items are consolidated, including government funds, special bonds, and off‑budget vehicles, this true fiscal deficit in 2025 is closer to 9%, up from 7.7% in 2024, according to Rhodium Group and JP Morgan. China increasingly relies on hidden or almost fiscal borrowing to support growth. With outstanding social financing now around 449 trillion yuan and real growth around 4–5%, each incremental point of GDP is increasingly linked with a much larger stock of debt than a decade ago. This rising credit intensity of growth may prevent a significant slowdown but may create a significant fiscal challenge in the future. The Chinese model demands high growth and low taxes; any change to the fiscal system will be negative. For years, local governments relied on the sale of land for property development to collect tax receipts. Thus, the drag from real estate is evident in the economy and in fiscal sustainability. Real estate development investment fell 13.9% year‑on‑year in the first three quarters of 2025, with residential investment down 12.9%, the steepest drop since 2021, according to official figures. Property investment and sales both posted double‑digit declines in 2024, and forecasters expect real estate investment to fall another 11% and sales to drop 7.5% in 2025, according to Reuters, with further declines in 2026 before stabilizing only in 2027… if it happens as fast as consensus estimates. The property sector, once a key engine for economic growth and tax receipts, absorbs new credit to stabilize its accounts without boosting growth or creating a multiplier effect. Additionally, China’s industrial capacity utilization remained at 74.9% at the end of 2025, well below the 78.4% peak reached in 2021. Overcapacity is clear in steel, autos, legacy chips, and parts of sectors like green tech, where expansion has surpassed domestic and external demand. Thus, the purchasing managers’ indices show weak new orders and foreign demand, while bankruptcies and insolvencies have risen, although not to levels that would indicate a financial crisis.​ The Chinese economy needs to reopen, improve investor and legal security and allow the housing slump to materialize fully to see the type of productive economic growth it needs to avoid much larger increases in debt. Otherwise, the risk of stagnation will likely be elevated as population growth stalls, overcapacity remains, and the stock of unsold property becomes a larger liability.   Tyler Durden Mon, 02/16/2026 - 22:25

Reports indicate that Iranian authorities are using unofficial 'black box' detention facilities for interrogations during protests, making it difficult for families to locate their detained loved ones.

A group of 34 Australian women and children with family ties to the Islamic State group, held in Syria's Roj camp for nearly seven years, have been turned back after attempting to leave for home.

There are few parts of the law quite as fraught as succession. As the great wealth transfer gets under way, wrangling about who gets what is tearing families apart

DR Sales, the international sales arm of Danish pubcaster DR, has boarded TV drama “The Best of Families” created by Maja Jul Larsen (“Cry Wolf “) and produced by Piv Bernth (“The Killing”). The six-part limited series is based on real events involving Denmark’s ChemiNova chemical factory in the early 1950s and exposes the human and […]

They’re normally behind the wok or taking orders, year-round. But when it’s time to celebrate, these Chinese restaurant families create their own traditions Two things are certain at Chinese restaurants in Australian country towns: you’ll find lemon chicken on the menu and the restaurant is open almost every day. In the 1960s and 70s, Ruby Lee’s parents ran the Pagoda Cafe in Burleigh Heads, a surf town in Queensland. They worked 14-hour days and opened the restaurant year-round, even Christmas. When they did eventually close for one day a year, it was for lunar new year. Continue reading...

A group of 34 Australian women and children, identified as families of deceased or imprisoned extremists, have been released from a Syrian detention camp and are set to return to Australia.

Made with 100% fresh milk sourced from the Arla-Dano Farm in Kaduna, Cool Cow Yoghurt brings creamy, naturally nourishing dairy to Nigerian families who want great taste without compromise. The post Arla Foods launches “Cool Cow Yoghurt” made with 100% fresh milk crafted to nourish! appeared first on Premium Times Nigeria.

A six-month listening exercise has been conducted as part of a schools project aimed at understanding and mitigating the impact of poverty on families, providing support and advice to parents.

North Korea has completed a new housing district in Pyongyang dedicated to the families of soldiers who died fighting alongside Russian forces in the Ukraine war, highlighting its support for Russia.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has opened a new housing district in Pyongyang, reportedly for the families of fallen soldiers, according to state media.

South Korea experiences heavy traffic and cultural activities as families travel and celebrate the Lunar New Year holiday, with special attention to newlyweds' traditions.

Families of Japanese abductees in North Korea have finalized their action plan, urging the government to secure the immediate return of all victims while their parents are still alive, and to strengthen sanctions if repatriation is not achieved.

The Indonesian government is preparing to roll out a substantial rice support program worth nearly $713 million in early 2026. The initiative aims to provide assistance to 35 million families across the nation.

Hearings are under way at a public inquiry into attacks in Nottingham that killed three people.

Two families in Dragostunjë, Librazhd, Albania, have been urgently evacuated due to severe landslides and the collapse of a road segment in the Arrat e Gurrës area.

The Delhi High Court stated that an unemployed wife's labor should not be disregarded, emphasizing that maintenance proceedings often become adversarial and do not serve the long-term interests of families.

The Education Services Union, citing the recent abrupt closures of Little Professors Learning Centre and Out of Box Academy, said such moves have far-reaching ripple effects on children, families and workers.

Luís Campos' film 'Terra Vil' centers on the story of support between two fragmented families, while also depicting a community and region deeply affected by the Entre-os-Rios tragedy.

Al Hol, the largest camp for relatives of Islamic State jihadists in Syria, which had been under Kurdish forces' control until late January, is now being closed.

Some affected residents have continued to express reservations over a Hong Kong government plan to resettle survivors of the Tai Po fire, saying they prefer in situ development as they fear an “unfair” flat selection process will leave their families with smaller homes. The residents urged the government to provide more clarity on how the new homes will be allocated, a day after they were offered an acquisition price of HK$8,000 or HK$10,500 per square foot, along with thousands of subsidised...

Twelve Palestine Action activists, including hunger strikers, have been granted bail and reunited with their families.

Senator Shehu Buba has distributed 18,200 bags of rice to families in Bauchi to provide support during the Ramadan fast.

US intelligence agencies estimate that between 15,000 and 20,000 individuals, including those linked to ISIS, are at large in Syria after escaping a camp for jihadist families amid chaos.

Morocco has initiated its annual 'Ramadan 1447' food support operation, a large-scale national solidarity effort aimed at assisting vulnerable families during the holy month.

Gloria Estefan has spoken out against the detention of immigrants in the US, urging Latinos to raise their voices and distinguishing between criminals and contributing families.

Denmark offers diverse tent accommodation options for families, ranging from traditional camping with Trangia stoves to luxurious glamping experiences.

Suvi Männikkö, 25, expresses her desire to have a child but feels unsupported by the current system, arguing that Finland, despite concerns over declining birth rates, does not adequately support those wishing to start families.

An ICU nurse shares her personal decision to remove her name from the organ donation registry despite planning to donate, citing issues with current organ donation rules that negatively impact families.

Despite Australia being a pioneer in regulating internet platforms, practical changes for teenagers have been minimal, with Australian families reporting that children easily circumvent age verification for social media.

Many families are on the roads as school holidays end in parts of the south and begin in central Finland. On Sunday, the traffic warning was raised to the orange level in eastern Finland.

The Gauhati High Court has directed the Assam government to ensure basic facilities for families evicted from Goalpara.

A collection of century-old glass plate photographs, acquired by the Ethnographic Museum a year after the Treaty of Trianon, preserves images of rural Hungary from the 1910s. These photos depict the somber faces of families from a country fragmented by historical events.

Ramadan at Dubai's Global Village: Extended timings, free tickets for families  khaleejtimes.com

By Jam Sta Rosa A Philippine senator called for deepening defence relationships and “continuous” pushback against China’s claims in the South China Sea while visiting one of Manila’s tiny possessions in the disputed waterway on Saturday. Thitu Island, known as Pag-asa in the Philippines, is home to about 400 Filipinos, mostly fishermen and their families, […]

Families in Alytus district, Lithuania, will now receive a one-time childbirth benefit of 1,000 euros, doubling the previous amount, as announced by the municipality.

In three Akwa Ibom oil communities, families now live within metres of blazing gas flares that have turned night into daylight, poisoned air and water, and exposed the widening gap between Nigeria’s oil wealth and the lives sacrificed for it.  The post SPECIAL REPORT: How gas flaring turns Akwa Ibom’s oil communities into a furnace  appeared first on Premium Times Nigeria.

Birthrates have fallen since Russia’s invasion but some have held on to hope and are bringing up children despite risks

Charitable organizations have successfully delivered aid to thousands of families in Egypt, providing much-needed assistance.

Heavy rains and a prevailing shear line have inundated vast portions of the Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary in Agusan del Sur, forcing local families to evacuate due to rising floodwaters.

Over the past decade, Limassol has quietly transformed into one of the most dynamic real estate markets in Europe. What was once seen primarily as a holiday destination is now firmly positioned as an international business and lifestyle hub attracting investors, professionals and families from across the world. At the centre of this transformation is […]

An inquiry into the attacks carried out by Valdo Calocane will hear evidence in London from Monday.

A lawyer is calling on the UK government to comply with a Nigerian High Court judgment that ordered the British government to pay £20 million each to the families of 21 coal miners killed in 1949.

Thousands of military families are currently on waitlists for childcare, highlighting deeper systemic issues within the US military childcare development centers.

A report highlights the persistent disparity in homeownership rates between Black and White families across major American cities, underscoring the financial challenges faced by Black households.

The UK government is reforming the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) system, with leaked plans sparking discussions about what families impacted by the changes want to see.

Under proposed changes, UK migrant families claiming in-work benefits could see their wait for settled status double to 20 years if they use public funds.

John F. Kennedy Jr. and his wife, Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, attended the Municipal Art Society Gala in 1998. Richard Corkery/NY Daily News Archive/Getty Images John F. Kennedy Jr., his wife, and her sister died in a 1999 plane crash near Martha's Vineyard. Rumors of a "Kennedy curse" were fueled by multiple family tragedies over the decades. JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette's relationship is now the topic of an FX series, "Love Story." The Kennedy family has been subjected to many tragedies over the years, including two assassinations and a plane crash that took the lives of John F. Kennedy Jr. and two other passengers. Nearly 27 years ago, on July 16, 1999, John F. Kennedy Jr., his wife Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, and her older sister Lauren Bessette were killed in a plane crash off the coast of Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts. There were no survivors from the accident. The relationship between John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy is now the topic of an FX series executive-produced by Ryan Murphy, "Love Story." Their deaths became a major news story and perpetuated rumors of a "Kennedy curse." JFK Jr.'s father, former President John F. Kennedy, was assassinated in 1963. His uncle, Robert "Bobby" Kennedy, was assassinated five years later in 1968. And two years before JFK Jr.'s death, his cousin Michael Kennedy also died after hitting a tree while skiing in Aspen, Colorado. Here's what we know about the plane crash that killed John F. Kennedy Jr. and two others. John F. Kennedy Jr. frequently made headlines throughout the 1990s. John F. Kennedy, Jr. at the Democratic National Convention in 1988. Bettmann/Getty Images As the son of a president and a member of one of America's most prominent political dynasties, John F. Kennedy Jr. was destined for the spotlight. JFK Jr. was born on November 25, 1960, just two weeks after his father was elected president. His father was assassinated on November 22, 1963, just three days shy of JFK Jr.'s third birthday. JFK Jr., affectionately nicknamed "John-John" by the public, attended the funeral on his birthday and was famously photographed saluting his father's casket. Throughout much of his adolescence and adulthood, he mostly remained out of the public eye. However, his public image began to change after he introduced his uncle, Ted Kennedy, at the Democratic National Convention in 1988. In September 1988, People named Kennedy, who was then a 27-year-old third-year law student at NYU, the "Sexiest Man Alive." JFK Jr. also dated a few celebrities throughout the 1990s, including "Sex and the City" star Sarah Jessica Parker, Cindy Crawford, and Daryl Hannah. John F. Kennedy Jr. began dating Carolyn Bessette, a publicist for Calvin Klein, in 1994. John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy in 1995. Rose Hartman/Getty Images They met in the fitting room at Calvin Klein, where Bessette helped JFK Jr. pick out wardrobe items, Elizabeth Beller wrote in "Once Upon a Time: The Captivating Life of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy," cited by People. Tall, sophisticated, and beautiful, JFK Jr.'s new girlfriend captivated the public. After two years of dating, the pair married in an intimate ceremony on Cumberland Island, Georgia, People reported. While their wedding ceremony was private, their relationship was anything but, thanks to the prying eyes of the paparazzi. Evan Agostini/Getty Images; NY Daily News Archive/Getty Images The media attention may have even inspired Kennedy to get his pilot's license in 1998. "That was some of the happiest times he ever had. Floating around with the buzzards in his Buckeye [plane]. It was the freedom," his close friend Robbie Littell told "JFK Jr: An Intimate Oral Biography" author RoseMarie Terenzio, according to People. "He said, 'It's the only place I can go where no one is bothering me. I have complete silence, and no one can get to me except the air traffic controllers.' Maybe that gives you insight into what he was really dealing with on the ground," his college friend Gary Ginsberg said, People reported. John F. Kennedy Jr. was traveling to Martha's Vineyard with his wife and her older sister when their plane was reported missing. The hangar where John Kennedy Jr. kept his Piper Saratoga airplane. Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection/Getty Images The Washington Post reported that Kennedy departed Essex County Airport near Fairfield, New Jersey, at around 8:38 p.m. on Friday, July 16, 1999. The sun was already beginning to set and "hazy conditions," which had been reported earlier in the evening, were getting worse, People reported. Kennedy planned to drop his sister-in-law Lauren Bessette on Martha's Vineyard before traveling to his family's compound in Hyannis Port with Carolyn. The couple was due to attend his cousin Rory Kennedy's wedding the following day, according to People. However, the plane never landed in Martha's Vineyard. An unidentified driver reported the plane had failed to arrive at Martha's Vineyard Airport as expected, according to the Post, citing an NBC report. It kicked off a search for the missing aircraft in the early hours of July 17. The Kennedy family notified the Cape Cod Coast Guard that the couple had not made it back to Hyannis. A Coast Guard helicopter searching for debris from John Kennedy Jr.'s plane. Daniel Goodrich/Newsday RM/Getty Images The Washington Post reported that the Coast Guard then began investigating whether the plane had landed at another airport. By 4 a.m., the Coast Guard began searching for the missing plane, and by 7:30 a.m., the Air Force and Coast Guard had launched 20 aircraft vehicles and two boats to search the area between Long Island and Martha's Vineyard, according to the Post's timeline. On Sunday afternoon, what was presumed to be debris from the plane was found on Philbin Beach on Martha's Vineyard. Among the debris was a headrest that was later concluded to be from the missing aircraft and a black suitcase that contained Lauren Bessette's business card. Rory Kennedy's wedding, scheduled for 6 p.m. that night, was put on hold as the family awaited more news. The Washington Post reported that after more debris was found in the days to follow, the search-and-rescue mission became a search-and-recovery mission. All three of the plane's passengers were now presumed dead. John F. Kennedy Jr. was 38 years old. Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy was 33, and her sister Lauren Bessette was 34. Five days after the crash, the bodies of John F. Kennedy Jr., Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, and Lauren Bessette were recovered. Massachusetts State Police divers left Menemsha on Martha's Vineyard on July 19, 1999. DON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images The debris field was identified off the coast of Martha's Vineyard, relatively near the estate once owned by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Kennedy's mother, The New York Times reported. (Kennedy Onassis died in 1994.) The bodies of John F. Kennedy Jr., Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, and Lauren Bessette were discovered by Navy divers on July 22, 1999, after an extensive search approved by President Bill Clinton. The bodies of the crash victims, which were ''near and under'' the main body of the aircraft, were still strapped in, according to the Times. Details began to emerge about what led to the crash. A television technician holds up the official handout map of the search and rescue area off Martha's Vineyard. JOHN MOTTERN/AFP/Getty Images Kennedy had only flown about 72 hours without a flight instructor, and had only about 300 total hours of flying experience, The New York Times reported in July 2000. He had reportedly rejected an offer to have a flight instructor accompany the group on their journey. As a newly trained pilot, Kennedy was not licensed to fly and navigate the air using flying instruments. Instead, he had only trained to fly using sight alone, which would have been extremely difficult in dark or hazy conditions such as those on the night of July 16. Warren Morningstar, a spokesman for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, told the Times that "flying at night over featureless terrain or water, and particularly in haze or in overcast, is a prime setup for spatial disorientation." About an hour into the trip, the plane's flight path became irregular as it began its descent into Martha's Vineyard, indicating that the pilot may have become disoriented by the darkness of the sky and the water, the National Transportation Safety Board concluded. "His flight path into the water is consistent with what is known as a graveyard spiral," Jeff Guzzetti, an NTSB investigator in the accident, told Terenzio, according to People. "The airplane makes a spiral nose down … kind of like going down a drain. The plane went into one final turn and it stayed in that turn pretty much all the way down to the ocean." The aircraft went down in the water about 7 miles from its intended destination of Martha's Vineyard. Mourners pay respects at the floral shrine outside of the building where John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn lived in 1999. Allan Tannenbaum/Getty Images The Washington Post reported that the plane did not send out a distress call. Instead, it made its final descent and crashed into the Atlantic Ocean in under 30 seconds. Kennedy, Kennedy-Bessette, and Bessette's bodies were cremated and buried at sea off the coast of Martha's Vineyard on July 22, 1999. "We are filled with unspeakable grief and sadness by the loss of John and Carolyn and Lauren Bessette," Ted Kennedy said in a statement on behalf of the Kennedy family. "John was a shining light in all our lives and in the lives of the nation and the world that first came to know him as a little boy." As the country mourned the loss, rumors of a "Kennedy curse" were reignited. John F. Kennedy, Jr. and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy attended the White House Correspondents dinner in 1999. Tyler Mallory/Liaison/Getty Images The extensive search captured the nation's attention, as did the tragedy of the three young passengers' deaths. Yet another tragic accident for the Kennedy family, the plane crash only added to rumors of a Kennedy family curse. "I've looked high and low and cannot find another family since the ancient Greek House of Atreus that has suffered more calamities and misfortunes than the Kennedys," Edward Klein, the author of "The Kennedy Curse: Why Tragedy Has Haunted America's First Family for 150 Years," said, according to The Washington Post. While there are many logical reasons for the fateful plane crash, it's nevertheless poignant that the Kennedy family, one of the wealthiest and most influential political families in the world, has suffered so much tragedy throughout the last 100 years. "The humanity of their story is what keeps us engaged," Kennedy family biographer J. Randy Taraborrelli told NBC News in 2019. "We peer behind the scenes of their wealthy lifestyle, and we see, for all the advantages they have, tragedy can still happen." Read the original article on Business Insider

"Big Bang Theory" star Kunal Nayyar uses his $45 million fortune to secretly pay strangers' medical bills on GoFundMe, calling it his "vigilante thing."

Two funeral directors have been jailed after a decomposing body was found in their mortuary, leading to outrage from grieving families.

Amid Minnesota Fraud Scandal, Legitimate Autism Centers Face Closure Authored by Troy Myers via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours), A Minnesota autism center for adults and children, which has been operating for more than 20 years, is facing closure in the wake of the massive fraud scandal in the state that dates back more than a decade and involves more than $9 billion of U.S. taxpayer money. The Holland Center in Minnetonka, Minn., on Feb. 11, 2026. Larson told a House subcommittee hearing on Jan. 21 that her center and numerous others in Minnesota are facing collapse after becoming collateral damage from the massive fraud scandal. Adam Hester for The Epoch Times The Holland Center is one of many legitimate centers in the state, which collectively serve thousands of disabled people. Founder, owner, and CEO Jennifer Larson built the Holland Center for her autistic, non-speaking son, who is now 25 years old. She said she has recently been forced to put hundreds of thousands of her own dollars into keeping the center afloat because the state didn’t pay a single claim for nearly two months. Because of the payment delays, Larson said autism centers like hers are being forced to reduce hours, cut staff, and close in some instances. Families are scrambling for help, disabled children and adults are regressing, and parents are leaving jobs to care for their disabled loved ones. Larson told The Epoch Times her facility can’t continue much longer. “The feds say it’s the state. The state says it’s the feds,” Larson said. “The kids are going to be the collateral damage.” The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services paused child care and family assistance funds to Minnesota in early January due to the alleged rampant fraud. The state is appealing. The Minnesota Department of Human Services told The Epoch Times via email that the federal government’s threat of withholding funds is “not impacting the current payment situation.” However, Larson’s center accumulated nearly two months of unpaid claims from Dec. 5 to Jan. 29, totaling more than $600,000. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz speaks during a press conference at the state Capitol building in St. Paul, Minn., on Feb. 3, 2026. Beginning in late December 2025, the state began using a new pre-payment review vendor called Optum, which uses artificial intelligence in its claims and reimbursement processes. Stephen Maturen/Getty Images ‘Everything Was Flagged’ Beginning in late December 2025, the state began using a new pre-payment review vendor called Optum, which uses artificial intelligence (AI) “at every step” of its claims and reimbursement processes. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz had announced the contract with the new system in late October 2025. “They implemented it because of the fraud. Obviously, the state wasn’t catching the fraud in the 300 or 400 centers that popped up in the last three years,” Larson said. She blames the Minnesota government for turning a blind eye to the “crime ring” involving fraud at Somali-run autism centers to an immense scale. Neither Walz nor his office could be reached for comment during multiple attempts via emails and phone calls. Now, she said, Optum is causing the delay of claims with few or unclear explanations in the review process. “The state has failed and lost millions and millions of dollars in the system, so, clearly, the state wasn’t going to be able to tell Optum what to look for because they didn’t know what they were doing,” Larson told The Epoch Times after she recently testified in Congress. “All of us, for the first round, nobody got anything. Everything was flagged.” Larson told a House subcommittee hearing on Jan. 21 that her center and numerous others in Minnesota are facing collapse after becoming collateral damage from the massive fraud scandal. Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-Wis.) asked Larson: “Ms. Larson, none of this would have happened if the fraud did not occur, is that accurate?” “Yes,” she responded. “What happened in Minnesota had nothing to do with the ethical, longstanding autism providers.” Larson said in her testimony that the state government’s “clumsy response” to fraud failed to distinguish between criminals and caregivers. She said abrupt disruption or loss of service can destroy weeks or years of progress for disabled children and adults, causing lifelong consequences. Payment Process The Minnesota Department of Human Services told The Epoch Times that it sent the first batch of more than 100,000 claims to Optum for review in late December 2025. The department said every two weeks, Optum receives batches of claims from the state. The system analyzes and flags any that need further review. Unflagged claims are paid after the initial analysis, the Minnesota Department of Human Services said. The agency will continue sending payments for unflagged claims on regular two-week cycles. A provider will receive an update every two weeks on a flagged or suspended claim, accompanied by reason codes, the department said. “If a claim is flagged, we may need additional information and documents from the provider before payments are made, which may cause further delay,” the Minnesota Department of Human Services said. Claims in Optum are listed as suspended until the state reaches a payment decision. The department did not provide detailed answers on why the Holland Center or other similar, longstanding facilities might have their claims flagged. Jennifer Larson, founder and CEO of the Holland Center, and her son Caden Larson in Minnetonka, Minn., on Feb. 11, 2026. Larson built the center for her autistic, non-speaking son, who is now 25 years old. Adam Hester for The Epoch Times The agency said it did not wish to disclose what kind of identifiers cause it to suspect someone is billing for services they did not provide, but officials generally look for “patterns of concern—claims that fall outside expected norms,” some of which could be blamed on administrative errors or poor documentation rather than intentional fraud. “Optum helps the state of Minnesota identify potential fraud, waste, and abuse by conducting pre‑payment reviews,” the company said in an emailed statement to The Epoch Times. “Optum has no authority to approve, deny, delay, or suspend claims, and payment decisions are made exclusively by [the Minnesota Department of Human Services] and the Office of Inspector General.” Most claims should be paid within 30 days, and legitimate claims that may have been flagged within 90 days, as required by the federal government, according to the agency. Financial Hit Meanwhile, with a payroll of $250,000 every two weeks, Larson has been forced to ask many of her employees to take unpaid leave. After nearly two months of unpaid claims, her center was partially paid on Jan. 29, bringing the owed amount down to about $300,000, Larson said. She said there’s been little to no word from state or health officials on why her claims were flagged in the first place. Larson doesn’t expect to get another payment for two weeks, putting her in a several-hundred-thousand-dollar deficit she doesn’t think will ever rebalance. She’s spent so much of her own money to keep the center’s lights on, Larson said, that she’s been forced to cut back on other bills to make ends meet. Fortunately, Larson said her landlords have been understanding of the situation. New Centers Years ago, when Larson witnessed new autism treatment centers popping up around her area and the state, she was initially relieved because, to her, it meant more help was coming for disabled children and adults. “There’s a need, and there’s a high prevalence of autism in the Somali community in Minnesota,” Larson said. “And I know that and I service a lot of the kids, but we can’t take them all. We’ve always had a waiting list.” A 2023 study by the University of Minnesota showed autism rates in 4-year-olds to be much higher among Somali children compared to other races and ethnicities. The report found 1 in 18 Somali children had autism, compared to 1 in 64 for white children, 1 in 31 for Hispanic children, and 1 in 30 for non-Somali black children. But when hundreds of autism centers popped up, it was a red flag for Larson. “No one wants to talk about it because everyone’s scared of saying anything wrong,” Larson said. “That’s why we’re here. It’s because everyone’s too afraid to say something.” Independent journalist Nick Shirley, who brought national attention to the alleged Minnesota fraud at day care centers with his viral video posted Dec. 26, 2025, attended the congressional hearing with Larson. “What we saw in Minnesota is how complicit the government has been in enabling this fraud to happen. Quality ‘Learing’ Center had over 90 violations, yet they continued to give that daycare $1.9 million,” Shirley said in his testimony. Meanwhile, the closure of Holland Center would dismantle a lifetime of work for Larson that all started with the birth of her son. Read the rest here... Tyler Durden Thu, 02/19/2026 - 20:55

The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) on Thursday approved the release of Rs19 billion for Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s Ramazan package. On February 12, PM Shehbaz had announced a Rs38bn Ramazan relief package, which would benefit more than 12 million families — around 36m people — through direct digital payments. In a post on X, the finance ministry said Finance Minister Muhammad Aurengzeb remotely chaired a meeting of the ECC. The post said that the ECC approved the “immediate release” of Rs19bn for the prime minister’s package to “ensure timely disbursement of assistance to vulnerable families”. “The remaining requirement out of the proposed Rs25bn will be released as and when necessary, in line with fiscal space,” the ministry said. “The prime minister’s Ramazan relief package 2026 is designed to provide targeted cash assistance to low-income households during the holy month, using National Socio-Economic Registry data to ensure transparency and objective beneficiary selection,” the finance ministry said. It added that the “funds will be disbursed directly through formal banking and digital channels to ensure secure, efficient and dignified delivery”. The ministry further said that during the meeting, the ECC also granted “in-principle approval for Rs1bn operational expenses, directing that detailed cost breakdowns be shared with the Finance Division to ensure transparency, fiscal prudence, and compliance with financial rules”. It stressed “balancing swift relief delivery with strong financial oversight” and further noted that “any unutilised funds would be surrendered in accordance with established procedures”.

Reform UK plans to reimpose the two-child benefit cap, with Robert Jenrick arguing the country cannot afford to support larger families.

An article urges the shutdown of agencies facilitating illegal recruitment for Russia, aiming to protect families from its consequences.

The new regulations go into effect in April

Families in Iran are commemorating those killed during protests, while teachers' strikes are taking place nationwide to condemn student killings.

Former CFPB Director Rohit Chopra reached a settlement with Navient over claims the lender overcharged student-loan borrowers. Michael A. McCoy/Getty Images Student-loan borrowers are now receiving checks from a $100 million settlement by Navient. A government watchdog accused Navient of misleading borrowers on their repayment options. The settlement comes as the Trump administration has reduced student-loan oversight. Student-loan borrowers, check the mail: there might be some money waiting for you. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — a federal watchdog — announced that on February 13, checks began going out in the mail to student-loan borrowers who qualified for a portion of the settlement the agency reached with major lender Navient in 2024. The settlement resolved claims from a 2017 lawsuit that accused the servicer of misleading borrowers about their repayment plan options, leaving them "cheated" out of lower monthly payments. The settlement permanently banned Navient from servicing federal student loans and required it to return $100 million to borrowers. Do you have a story to share about your experience with private student loans? Reach out to this reporter at asheffey@businessinsider.com. The payments are ongoing, and the CFPB has contracted with Rust Consulting — a firm that manages settlements — to administer them. The CFPB said in its latest announcement that the payments do not reduce any student loans that borrowers currently have. "I think there's been millions of Americans who could have avoided the consequences of default if they had been treated properly by their servicer," Former CFPB Director Rohit Chopra told Business Insider in 2024 after the settlement was announced. In addition to misleading borrowers about their payment plans, the CFPB accused Navient in its lawsuit of making errors in processing borrowers' payments, failing to deliver relief to defaulted borrowers, and misrepresenting cosigner requirements for taking out loans. Navient did not deny any wrongdoing and said in a statement at the time that "while we do not agree with the CFPB's allegations, this resolution is consistent with our go-forward activities and is an important positive milestone in our transformation of the company." The settlement was reached under former President Joe Biden, and it's unlikely that the Trump administration will pursue similar oversight. President Donald Trump slashed CFPB staff as part of his broader effort to reduce the federal workforce, and an April 2025 internal memo from the CFPB's chief legal officer called on the CFPB to "deprioritize" oversight over student loans. With Trump's looming changes to student-loan repayment, oversight over the industry could be even more critical, some lawmakers and policy experts have said. The Department of Education's plan to place lower caps on borrowing could push some borrowers into the private lending market, which lacks federal protection and could have higher interest rates. "Student debt places a tremendous burden on borrowers, their families, their communities, and the U.S. economy, driving employment, spending, and housing decisions that have long-lasting negative impacts on borrowers' financial health," a group of Democratic lawmakers wrote in a letter last year. "Placing a greater share of student loans into the hands of private lenders threatens to make these problems much worse." Read the original article on Business Insider

How Relaxed COVID-Era Rules Fueled Minnesota's Biggest Scam Authored by Kristin Robbins via RealClearPolitics, In my testimony before the Senate last week as chair of the Minnesota House Fraud Prevention and Oversight Committee, I outlined the genesis of Minnesota’s massive fraud scandal, how it expanded under relaxed COVID-era rules, and what steps the federal government can take to help stop the theft of federal tax dollars throughout the country.   Minnesota’s fraud crisis didn’t happen overnight; it took years. But it exploded when COVID hit, right when oversight was thrown out the window. How did Minnesota get so bad? In March 2020, Democrat Rep. Ilhan Omar authored a bill called the MEALS Act, which eventually became part of a larger COVID relief package. That law allowed states to waive the normal eligibility requirements for the National School Lunch Program. It eliminated income requirements and site inspections and expanded distribution methods. This opened the door for Feeding Our Future, which became the largest COVID fraud scandal in state and national history, stealing at least $250 million from taxpayers. To date, there have been 78 indictments and 61 convictions, with more cases headed to trial this spring. This was organized, deliberate theft, enabled by weak controls, refusal to take multiple reports of fraud from whistleblowers and the legislative auditor seriously, and a government culture that refused to treat fraud like a crime. The Feeding Our Future case revealed something even more disturbing: As many as half of the defendants were also receiving state money through other Medicaid-funded programs. But even after that became public back in 2023, Tim Walz and his agencies did nothing to stop those defendants from receiving additional state dollars. Billions of federal COVID dollars didn’t start the staggering fraud in Minnesota, but that did supercharge a system that had already been compromised. The original fraud scandal was tied to the Child Care Assistance Program, a federal program meant to help low-income families with children. There had been allegations of fraud reported with CCAP since 2011. By 2014 and 2015, there were raids, charges, and convictions of child care providers for billing non-existent or absent children, often exceeding $1 million in fraud in a single case. Then in March and April of 2019, just months into the Walz administration, the legislative auditor published two major reports outlining CCAP fraud. Those reports detailed fraudulent providers and alleged movement of millions of dollars in cash out of Minnesota to Somalia, including allegations that some of that money was funding terrorism. Whistleblowers have told us that shortly after those reports were released, the Department of Human Services shut down the criminal investigation unit for child care fraud. Rather than pursuing fraud as a crime, the Walz administration began renaming fraud as “overpayment.” Cases were routed to an internal “overpayment committee” to decide whether reimbursement should even be pursued. Staff were no longer allowed to speak with their counterparts at the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension without supervisor approval. Our committee has now uncovered fraud in multiple Medicaid programs, including autism centers, sober homes, non-emergency medical transportation, integrated community supports, and housing stabilization services. In December, we held a hearing on credible allegations of fraud in two additional areas: adult day services and assisted living facilities. We have now seen allegations of fraud in 14 Medicaid programs. It is staggering. The former first U.S. attorney who led these prosecutions estimated fraud at $9 billion, and that doesn’t include fraud in SNAP or child care programs. Minnesotans expect their tax dollars to go toward roads, schools, health care, and public safety, not to fund criminals purchasing resorts in Kenya and luxury homes and cars. Even more alarming are the allegations that Minnesota taxpayer dollars have made their way into the hands of terrorist organizations like Al-Shabaab, directly or indirectly. The money is literally flown out in suitcases from the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport. In 2017, estimates suggested $100 million in cash left annually. According to TSA, outbound cash was $342 million in 2024 and $350 million in 2025. That is astonishing. And it is wildly disproportionate compared to other airports. Minneapolis’ outbound cash is 99% higher than Dallas, Atlanta, LAX, and JFK, and 90% higher than Seattle. So where do we go from here?  Minnesotans are right to be outraged, and I hope other states learn from Minnesota’s failures. We need a culture that treats fraud as a crime, not as “overpayment.” We need to standardize and enforce basic internal controls. Both federal and state government need to require documentation, not attestation, to verify eligibility. We need more audits and stronger oversight. We need the federal government to enforce existing laws requiring states to pay back funds within one year when fraud or “overpayment” is found. We need more resources at the U.S. Attorney’s Office and CMS to investigate these cases. And we need stronger federal authority to track and investigate large sums of cash leaving our country. We need leaders willing to stand up to this injustice and protect the most vulnerable. Citizens in Minnesota and throughout the country deserve better. The time for accountability and justice is now. Kristin Robbins has served in the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2019 and is chair of the Minnesota Fraud Committee. Tyler Durden Wed, 02/18/2026 - 09:40

A school has implemented a 'cost of living cupboard' to assist families by providing donated dried food, clothes, and household goods from supermarkets.

New UK border regulations, effective February 2026, require dual British nationals to use a UK passport or a £589 certificate for entry, drawing criticism for potential discrimination against women and causing panic among families.

From November 1909 until August 1912, an unknown assailant – or assailants – murdered Black families in their homes under the cover of darkness

Six Olympic skiers from Africa, along with their families and coaches, are pushing for greater inclusion at the Winter Games.

Australia's Prime Minister stated that ISIS-linked families in Syria 'made their bed' as a group of 34 Australians were turned back to a refugee camp.

Australia has stated it will not assist the families of Islamic State militants in leaving a Syrian camp.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has gifted new apartments to the families of soldiers who were killed in the Ukraine war.

Suze Orman offers estate planning advice that could potentially save families significant probate costs.

Leader vows to repay the ‘young martyrs’ who died as North Korea intensifies propaganda glorifying troops deployed to fight for Russia

They’re normally behind the wok or taking orders, year-round. But when it’s time to celebrate, these Chinese restaurant families create their own traditions

Families of 34 Australians are set to depart from Damascus, Kurdish authorities say.

City of Cape Town’s wall of silence as families demand answers on paupers’ grave scandal  Daily Maverick

Kim unveils housing for families of soldiers killed overseas amid North Korea's support for Russia's war in Ukraine.

North Korea has provided new apartments to the families of soldiers who died fighting for Russia, with state media showing Kim Jong Un and his daughter touring the residences.

As families across China gather for the 2026 Lunar New Year holiday, pre-made dishes at their reunion dinners – the centrepiece of Spring Festival celebrations – have again come under scrutiny. Chinese households, many of which tend to reduce their budget, have increasingly been cautious, following a high-profile row over food transparency and quality involving a star influencer with millions of fans online and a national restaurant chain. “I work all year round overtime and do eat pre-made food...

Families are attempting to take over the management of William Blake House, a children's care home, as it faces potential closure due to significant tax debts.

Unfounded rumors about child abductions are spreading panic in Noida villages, leading families to withdraw children from school and parents to quit jobs out of fear.

A 'fast-spreading' measles outbreak has affected several schools in London, leading to hospitalisations and urgent calls for families to ensure their vaccinations are up to date.

The United Nations announced a significant decrease in the population of Syria's al-Hol camp as the Syrian government proceeds with efforts to relocate remaining families.

Families of political prisoners in Venezuela have launched a hunger strike, demanding the swift liberation of dissidents held by the government.

The BBC reports on families torn apart by the devastating side effects of common Parkinson's medications, which can lead to impulse control disorders like gambling or hypersexuality, as seen in one case where a husband stole £600k.

A wedding celebration in Uttar Pradesh's Fatehpur district descended into chaos after a dispute triggered by a family dog led to a violent clash between the two families. But the drama did not end there.

President Trump says that he has brought down inflation, but families are still struggling to pay bills and plan for the future.

Green Monday is being celebrated across Cyprus today, marking the start of Lent for Orthodox Christians. Traditional fasting foods take centre stage, while families head outdoors to fly kites. This year’s excursions to the countryside, however, are set to take place under cloudy skies and rain, according to the meteorological service. Forecasters say isolated thunderstorms […]

The health secretary has stated he takes concerns regarding the Leeds maternity care inquiry 'extremely seriously' and will meet with bereaved families on Monday, as the probe continues to face delays.

An article provides advice on how different family types can structure their wills to ensure their assets are distributed as intended, addressing common concerns like unequal inheritance among children or partner's rights.

The Syrian government has announced the closure of a camp housing families associated with Islamic State fighters.

The Syrian government has closed the Al-Hol camp, which housed approximately 24,000 people, primarily women and children associated with ISIS, and is relocating residents for reintegration.

Nigel Farage's Reform UK party plans to establish an ICE-style agency to deport hundreds of thousands of people annually and end 'leave to remain' status.

IICO supports families with Ramadan aid  Kuwait Times

A debate is ongoing in Spain regarding split versus compact school days, with families, teachers, and experts divided on the optimal schedule, particularly in regions like Catalunya and Euskadi.

At a public meeting in Tiruvallur district, the AIADMK general secretary recalls having made 10 electoral assurances, including one of granting a monthly assistance of ₹2,000 to all women heads of families holding ration cards. Soon after his party announced the promises, Mr. Stalin grew anxious and credited the sum into the accounts of Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai beneficiaries

This article reports on the young high-society couple, Gucci heir François Pinault Jr. and German Countess Lara Cosima Henckel von Donnersmarck, who come from wealthy families and were seen together.

Arne Lawrenz, director of Wuppertal Zoo, is described as the head of European elephant families, controlling breeding and potentially future end-of-life decisions for elephants in zoos.

The 'Mileva Vojvodić' public kitchen has distributed over 150,000 meals, now providing about 70 warm meals daily and quarterly food packages to around one hundred families in remote areas.

The American pedophile Jeffrey Epstein's network of contacts is reportedly causing turmoil for numerous royal families and prominent personalities.

The use of care benefits for looking after sick children has significantly increased in Norway in recent years, proving crucial for families like Nicky's.

Romania will continue providing energy support vouchers to vulnerable consumers until December 31, 2026, offering stability and predictability for low-income families.

Venezuelan authorities have approved a fast-track protocol to implement an amnesty law passed by the National Assembly, as families of political detainees await further releases.

Three au pairs in Espoo, Finland, including one who came to learn the language, claim their dreams were shattered as they ended up cleaning wealthy families' homes for low wages, effectively becoming cheap labor.

The Iraqi army has reportedly raided Kurdish homes in Kirkuk, forcibly expelling families from their residences.

Schools and families in Ireland are expressing serious concerns about potential cuts to Special Needs Assistant (SNA) allocations, with a Wexford principal emphasizing the vital care SNAs provide.

Social media has become deeply ingrained in daily life, but this constant connection has fostered a dangerous culture of comparison, leading individuals to perceive others' lives and families as 'better'.

Families and autism experts are calling on the federal government to enhance support for autistic children by improving access to early diagnosis and intervention services.

An ICU nurse explains why they removed their name from the organ donation registry despite planning to donate, citing issues with current rules that negatively affect families and suggesting a workaround.

An Australian child in a camp for families with links to IS fighters says she wants to come to Australia, a family member told SBS.

Continuous heavy rains from a shear line have caused widespread flooding in Surigao del Sur, displacing 23,651 families or 91,087 individuals in areas like Bislig City.

Russian attacks have made an already harsh winter even harder to endure for Ukrainians. And yet, after four years of war, most remain determined to tough it out.

Grinding The American Middle Class To Dust Authored by MN Gordon via EconomicPrism.com, The housing market, for much of the 20th century, was the bedrock of the American Dream. Home ownership, and the financial stability it represents, was a sure path to middle-class prosperity. That dream turned to a nightmare for many American families during the epic real estate bubble and subsequent bust in 2008-09. What’s more, in the near two decades that followed, federal monetary policie...

An expert states that Trump accounts still have 'more unanswered questions than answered,' despite offering free money for some families.

Iran has demanded evidence regarding protest killings, while UN experts have highlighted discrepancies between official figures and grassroots estimates, compounding the anguish of families.

The government is undertaking reforms to the SEND system, with leaked plans sparking discussions about what changes families impacted by the system truly desire.

SMU's Mustang Partners has announced a historic $50 million gift from four families to support scholarships, Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) initiatives, and revenue-sharing.

The UN warns that emergency food aid in Somalia may cease by April, leaving families facing severe hunger and worsening conditions.

Nisreen Nassar and her family, like many other Palestinians, continue to live in schools and makeshift shelters.

REPORTS on the attendance of parliamentarians during sessions almost invariably evoke much interest among citizens. Although the average attendance in the National Assembly has been hovering around 60 per cent for the last many years and the citizenry seems to have made its peace with that, there are statistics which sometimes shock the people. For example, a Fafen report on parliamentarians’ attendance during the 23rd National Assembly session held from Jan 12 to Jan 22 this year indicates that 47 or 14pc members remained absent throughout the session and didn’t attend even a single sitting; 276 or 83pc of the total 332 members skipped at least one session. Similar statistics about the 22nd session indicate that about 70pc of the absent members didn’t seek prior leave from the House. The system of taking attendance is such that a person marked present might not have been there throughout the sitting and his/her presence for even a fraction of the sitting may be marked as present. Given the fact that the average duration of a sitting ranges from two to three hours (it was two hours during the first year of the present National Assembly), a member attending the sitting may have been present only for a few minutes. The absence of members from a sitting significantly impacts parliamentary proceedings. Our parliamentary system requires the presence of at least 25pc of the total members which constitutes the quorum. The Assembly proceedings are stopped after a member points out a lack of quorum and the subsequent head count confirms that the minimum required members are not present. A Pildat report indicates that during the past (15th) National Assembly, lack of quorum was pointed out in 105 (23pc) of sittings, and subsequently, 72 or 16pc of the sittings had to be adjourned on this basis. The abrupt termination of a day’s proceedings impacts the productivity of the Assembly as the day’s agenda (order of the day) is left incomplete. During the five years of the 15th National Assembly, on average, less than 50pc (49.47pc to be exact) of the agenda items could be taken up by the Assembly. Ministers’ absence also impacts the quality of proceedings and some of the agenda items have to be deferred because the relevant minister is not present. During the 23rd session of the current Assembly, for example, 29 federal ministers were supposed to answer members’ questions but a majority (19) of them did not show up on the day allocated for answering questions relating to their ministries. In most cases, the absence of the minister concerned deprives members of the opportunity to ask supplementary questions. Simi­larly, adjournment motions, privilege moti­ons and call-attention notices also require the presence of the minister concerned. The Speaker has repeatedly expressed displeasure at the frequent absence of ministers. Sometimes, ministers of state and parliamentary secretaries do not show up either to fill in for the minister concerned. Pakistan’s parliament is not the only one which faces issues of low attendance. Ministers generally take their cue from the prime minister and they are more likely to show up in the House if the PM is particular about his presence. During the life of the 15th Assembly, the attendance of the PM was a mere 13pc (11pc for Imran Khan and 17pc for Shehbaz Sharif). The attendance becomes more known through the media in the case of plenary sittings but the status of attendance is no different in the case of parliamentary committees. Many meetings are adjourned by the chair because the minister concerned and senior officials of the ministry do not show up at the meeting, leading to a wastage of financial resources spent on convening the meetings. However, one may add that Pakistan’s parliament is not the only one which faces issues of low attendance. Many parliaments face a similar situation and a number of parliaments have waived the condition of the presence of a minimum percentage of members for the validity of the proceedings. For example, the UK parliament and US Congress do not have a quorum requirement. The proceedings of the legislatures continue in these countries even if a single member is present in the House. In the case of the UK parliament, many parliamentary committees hold their meetings concurrently with the plenary. The proceedings of the plenary are watched by the members on CCTV while sitting in their offices or in meeting rooms. Members’ presence is required when a motion or a bill has to be voted on. Bells are rung at that time and members available within parliamentary precincts rush to the chamber to vote. The absence of a member from the precincts during the time of the plenary is, however, rare and frowned upon. A major reason for our legislators to be casual about their presence during the Assembly sittings has a lot to do with the preferences of a majority of their voters. Most voters are not so keen about their legislators’ performance in the Assembly. A member who works very hard on his parliamentary speeches and, for example, scrutiny of the annual budget, is seldom appreciated by the constituents. People want their elected representatives to attend to their personal issues, which need an influential legislator’s support for resolution due to poor governance. Finding jobs for constituents and their family members is one of the top expectations from legislators. Interceding with the local administration and police on behalf of the constituents to sort out their day-to-day problems is also among the informal responsibilities of legislators. Attending the weddings and funerals of voters’ extended families, too, is a strong preference of constituents. These informal chores are likely to be of greater help to a legislator in his re-election than making a speech in the House. The weak attendance of legislators is, therefore, not because of their lethargy. Instead, it is a reflection of the ground realities of our own governance and culture. The writer is president of the Pakistan-based think tank Pildat. X: @ABMPildat Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2026

Manipur's Chief Minister brought together displaced Meitei and Kuki-Zo families virtually, offering relief and urging trust-building, marking a significant step after the violence.

A proposed rule by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) could lead to the eviction of nearly 80,000 people, including many U.S. citizen children, from their homes.

An article suggests that American families often hold excessive cash in their checking accounts and provides strategies for better managing bank balances.

A severe winter storm has led to the cancellation of school buses across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, forcing families to arrange alternative transportation for students.

More people in China are choosing to stay away from their villages and families during Lunar New Year, according to Chinese national and businessman Xue Gang, 44. “Our parents do not mind, and even my parents are currently travelling around China. “Maybe next year I will bring them to Penang to witness the celebrations here,” he said. Xue, who was in Malaysia’s Penang state with his wife, daughter and friends, said festive performances were no longer common to enjoy back home. “If we want to...

Teacher Loses Career Over Two-Word Facebook Post Supporting ICE James Heidorn, who taught at Gary Elementary School in West Chicago, found himself at the center of a community firestorm that cost him not just his teaching position but his identity as an educator, all for posting two words on Facebook: "Go ICE."  The incident began in late January when Heidorn, a 14-year physical education teacher, responded to a news story about a local police department pledging cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. His personal Facebook post sparked immediate backlash in the heavily Hispanic district, with local activists circulating screenshots and demanding action against him. School officials quickly notified Heidorn on Jan. 22 about growing social media chatter. After meeting with HR staff that same day, he resigned briefly, then rescinded his decision hours later. He was set to return on Monday pending an investigation. The investigation never got that chance. "This process has been professionally and personally devastating and surreal," former West Chicago teacher James Heidorn told Fox News Digital. "I’ve spent 14 years building my career, pouring my heart into teaching kids, building relationships and being a positive role model. To see it all upended over two simple words, ‘Go ICE,’ where I expressed my personal support for law enforcement felt like a severe blow to my career." Indeed, the outcry was relentless.  Illinois state Sen. Karina Villa, a Democrat, publicly condemned the post. "I stand in unwavering solidarity with families upset about the disturbing comments reportedly made by an educator," Villa said. West Chicago Mayor Daniel Bovey joined the pile-on before any investigation concluded. In a Saturday Facebook video, he explained why Heidorn's comments were "hurtful" and "offensive" to the community. "So to have someone cavalierly rooting on—as if it's a football game or something, yeah go—events which have traumatized these children… that is the issue," Bovey said. Meanwhile, parents organized online, planning a boycott by keeping their kids from school, and the city held a “listening session” on Jan. 26 at Bovey’s request, complete with a Spanish translator. Attendees described the post as "cruel" and said "kids do not feel safe." Heidorn maintained that his post meant nothing beyond supporting law enforcement. "This started with a two-word comment on my personal Facebook page supporting law enforcement—nothing more," Heidorn said. "It wasn't directed at any student, family or school community." The distinction made no difference to the community or to the school administrators. "I was placed on leave and faced intense pressure before any full investigation or fair process could play out, with this it led to my resignation," Heidorn said. He resigned a second time rather than face termination after a hearing with school officials. A West Chicago Elementary School District 33 spokesperson called the post "disruptive" and said it "raised concerns and caused disruption for students, families and staff." The district declined to specify which rule Heidorn violated or whether teachers who publicly disrupt in favor of opposing immigration enforcement would face similar consequences. In fact, teachers across the country have protested President Trump's immigration policies without repercussions. In Chicago specifically, teachers even stormed a Target and harassed employees over the same policies without losing their jobs. But expressing support for law enforcement in Chicago is apparently controversial.  "It does feel like a double standard—due to my viewpoint being different from others within the community that I taught in," Heidorn said. "Fairness should apply equally, regardless of those viewpoints. If personal political speech is grounds for punishment, it should be consistent—not selective based on what side you're on." The fallout extended beyond his teaching position. Heidorn lost his coaching job at a nearby private school. He must now inform future employers that he resigned and explain why. "I really don't know what is next for me, as the teaching profession has been, up to this point in time, all that I ever wanted to do," Heidorn said. He earned a master's degree in educational leadership to become the best teacher possible. Now he spends time healing. "I lost my career, my income and the chance to close out my time with my students properly—no farewell, no goodbyes," Heidorn said. Despite the loud outcry, Heidorn has received some local support, including a GoFundMe being set up for him.  “James Heidorn, a beloved physical education teacher at Gary Elementary School, resigned after a single social media comment ignited outrage and a one-sided account that quickly spiraled beyond control,” the GoFundMe page reads. “What followed was not reflection or fairness, but permanent consequences that have changed the course of his life.” As for his future, he’s not sure what’s going to happen. "I really don’t know what is next for me, as the teaching profession has been, up to this point in time, all that I ever wanted to do," he said. "It is all I have ever studied for and teaching is what has defined me. Even advancing my education with a master's degree in educational leadership because I wanted to become the best teacher I can be." Heidorn said he’s exploring other options in education or related fields. “I want people to know I’m grateful for the outpouring of support from those who reached out, donated or shared my story,” he said. “It reminds me that most people value fairness and second chances. I’m determined to move forward positively and keep contributing to kids’ lives in whatever way I can.” Tyler Durden Wed, 02/18/2026 - 16:40

Fewer than 1,000 families remain at a camp in northeastern Syria's Hassakeh that once held relatives of suspected Daesh members, its former director said Wednesday, after thou...

My wife and I at our new home in Canada. Tara Pyfrom After a hurricane hit our home in the Bahamas in 2019, we decided to permanently move to Canada. Our family did so after a three-week whirlwind of online research and thorough paperwork. The quick move wasn't easy, but we're still in Canada six years later and glad we did it. "I guess we're moving to Canada." It was a quiet, almost outrageous statement considering our position. Just a few weeks earlier, Hurricane Dorian had slammed into our home in the Bahamas, a country I'd lived in my entire life. My family had spent 24 hours trapped in our attic, praying the roof would hold before evacuating to nearby Florida. Once we arrived, we found ourselves stuck in immigration limbo. For as long as possible, we tried to remain in Florida, close to home. However, in the wake of the disaster, the US authorities limited many Bahamians to stays of only a few weeks, our family among them. We had no legal option to stay in the US long-term, but we didn't want to return to devastation, either. This left us with very little time to figure out a future for our 6-year-old daughter and four dogs. Canada started to seem like our best option, since the country was actively looking for immigrants, with pathways toward legal permanent residency. We weren't confident in our choice, but we committed. I wish I'd known what was in store for us over the next three weeks. We spent the next few weeks searching for signs and navigating red tape We decided to move to a town near an ocean in Canada. Tara Pyfrom Once we'd set our sights on Canada, we narrowed our search to areas that met our nonnegotiables: Our home had to be near the ocean and within driving distance of some of our relatives in the US. We looked into school districts and housing costs and settled on a small town we'd only ever seen on Google Maps and Google Earth. From our temporary place in Florida, I cried and squinted over blurry Street Views, looking for a sign from the universe. During the most frantic time of my life, I learned to pay attention to the things that soothed my soul and made me breathe easier. The endless forests lining the residential streets, the deer-crossing signs, and the knowledge that the ocean would be just a short drive away were our consolations. My wife found a home on a local real-estate site that was the size and location we were hunting for. When we spotted a seashell from the tropics sitting on the bathroom counter in the grainy photos, it felt like a sign from the universe that we were on the right path. When we showed up, the place turned out to be the perfect fit. Our move to Canada happened quickly and frantically, but it worked out in the end. Tara Pyfrom Of course, our journey wasn't as simple as just selecting a property to call home. Moving to a brand-new country can be a legal maze full of dead ends. We knew we needed help with our immigration applications almost right away, but we didn't know anyone in the field to ask questions. We reached out to every Canadian we knew, asking for a referral to an immigration attorney. It didn't take long to find one: the ex-wife of our daughter's camp counselor's sister. The world might be a big place, but six degrees of separation is still a solid link. The paperwork was overwhelming. Every time I thought we finally had everything, our lawyer emailed another list of documents we needed. I ended up calling in favors back home and begging officials for copies of things as I struggled with the delays and extra stress. I learned the hard way that I should have all our important documents in the cloud before ever needing them. The whirlwind move wasn't pretty, but 6 years later, I'm still glad we did it I learned a lot throughout the move. Tara Pyfrom Moving to a new country with only three weeks of preparation is unhinged. For a long time, we struggled with mental-health issues from the trauma of the hurricane and the quick, major changes that followed. I didn't handle the stress well at all. I threw a fork at the dinner table once and had a full-on anxiety attack when I couldn't find the car keys. To-do lists became my lifeline, and eventually, I accepted that I couldn't make the process perfect. It took years of therapy to feel stable again and for our new home to really feel like home. Eventually, we managed to focus on the good in Canada, even though it was so different from where we'd lived before. We learned our new country had more in common with the Bahamas than we realized, like an abundance of kind people and dedicated families. Our family is in Canada now, but still has our Bahamian roots. Tara Pyfrom Today, we even tease our daughter that she is more Canadian than Bahamian when she insists she doesn't need a coat in sub-zero temperatures. At times, we catch ourselves acting very much like the locals — complaining about the weather constantly and apologizing for everything. Six years later, I'm confident this move was the best decision we could have made for ourselves and our family. However, I still tell people, "Don't move to a new country with only three weeks of planning!" Sometimes, though, there's little choice in the matter. And whether it's been planned for three weeks or three years, a move won't ever be perfect. Moving to a new country quickly is ridiculous, complex, and emotional, but survivable — and you can find peace on the other side of the chaos. Read the original article on Business Insider

Canberra banned an Australian citizen with alleged ties to the militant Islamic State (Isis) group from returning home from a detention camp in Syria, the latest development in the case of fraught repatriation of families of Isis fighters. The woman was planning to join another 33 Australians – 10 women and 23 children – and fly on Monday from Damascus, Syria, to Australia, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said on Wednesday. But the group was turned back by Syrian authorities to the Roj...

Kunal Nayyar, known for his role in 'The Big Bang Theory,' is reportedly using his earnings to pay medical bills for random families through GoFundMe.

Families in Venezuela have reunited with 17 released prisoners, while others continue to await an Amnesty Law.

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has renewed his call for 'united Hindus' and advocated for Hindu families to have at least three children, citing concerns about declining population.

Kunal Nayyar’s recent interview with The i Paper is currently going viral on X thanks to “The Big Bang Theory” actor’s revelation that he frequently goes on GoFundMe to anonymously donate to campaigns that provide money towards medical bills for families. Fortune magazine reported earlier this year that Nayyar’s reported net worth is $45 million. […]

Health visitor numbers in England have dropped by 40% since 2015, leading to dangerous caseloads and a lack of support for struggling families.

The public inquiry into 2,000 mental health deaths in Essex continues, with bereaved families sharing their testimonies.

Instead of working abroad for a few years and returning home, Vietnamese migrant workers in Japan and South Korea have switched to saving and buying homes, laying down stable foundations for their families and enabling their children to remain long term.

EXCLUSIVE: Liz Sargent’s drama Take Me Home, which won the U.S. Dramatic Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award, at Sundance is screening is also an acquisitions title at the Berlinale. The pic is being sold by Gersh. The film follows Anna, a 38-year-old Korean adoptee with a cognitive disability, who is played by the director’s sister. In […]

Families are attempting to take control of their children's care home, William Blake House, which has accumulated significant tax debts and faces a potential winding-up order.

Millions of people across Vietnam, including families, friends, and overseas visitors, have taken to the streets to welcome the Year of the Horse. Celebrations are widespread, from Hanoi's Hoan Kiem Lake to downtown Ho Chi Minh City.

From Hanoi’s Hoan Kiem Lake to downtown Ho Chi Minh City, families, friends and homecoming overseas Vietnamese packed the streets on Lunar New Year’s Eve, one of the country’s most anticipated nights of the year.

A 'spud truck' is distributing free meals to families, specifically targeting those who struggle with food insecurity outside of school term-time. The initiative aims to support households unable to afford regular meals.

In May 2024, headteachers at primary schools in St Albans told families their learning environments would be smartphone free and urged parents not to give their children the devices until the age of 14. Nearly a year into the experiment, Holly Bancroft explores the impact at one school

A collision between a car and a trailer on Monday claimed six lives on the National Highway in Sindh’s Naushahro Feroze District, officials said. Naushahro Feroze Senior Superintendent of Police Mir Rohal Khoso told Dawn that all six people who died were travelling in the car, while the trailer’s driver was injured. He said the accident took place between 5am and 6am, adding that “ostensibly, speeding and brake failure were probable reasons,” but the matter was being probed further. SSP Khoso elaborated that one side of the National Highway in the district was under construction, which was a “contributory factor behind increasing accidents”. He stated that, in collaboration with the motorway police, it has been decided to set up five points for checking the speed and fitness of vehicles to control the rise in accidents. Sindh Inspector General (IG) Javed Alam Odho, in a statement, ordered the Naushahro Feroze SSP to probe the accident and register a case. Expressing his grief over the loss of lives, IG Odho ordered that legal action be taken against those responsible after determining the causes behind the accident. Fatal road accidents on highways occur frequently in Pakistan, with the main reasons including speeding, hazardous overtaking, and disregard for traffic rules. On Sunday, at least 11 people were killed and eight were injured after a bus collided with a trailer on the National Highway near Tando Masti in Sindh’s Khairpur district. A day before that, 13 people died in a traffic accident involving an oil tanker and a passenger bus on the M9 Motorway near Karachi. Crackdown against overloading and speeding ordered In his statement, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah expressed his grief over the loss of lives in the accident and conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families. “We share the grief of the bereaved families,” he was quoted as saying in the statement issued by his spokesperson, Abdul Rasheed Channa. The statement said that the car involved in the incident was heading from Larkana Division’s Nasirabad taluka to Karachi. CM Murad also issued directives for the strict implementation of traffic rules and regulations. He ordered the Sindh IG to carry out a “crackdown against overloading and speeding”. He further directed that monitoring and fitness checks of vehicles be made more stringent across the province. “The protection of the public’s life and property is the government’s top responsibility,” the chief minister noted.

A Chicago teen, who bravely campaigned against the ICE detention and threatened deportation of her father, has died from a rare form of cancer. Her story highlights the personal toll of immigration enforcement on families.

North Korea has opened a new housing district specifically for the families of those who died in the Ukraine war, signaling its continued involvement and support.

A school district near Minneapolis has adopted an aggressive approach to protect the immigrant families of its students after experiencing student losses due to ICE actions.

New reports highlight the varying burden of healthcare costs on families across different states and identify U.S. cities where airport travel expenses are particularly high, impacting family finances.

The restaurant sector is facing a dual challenge of increasing operational costs and customers having less disposable income. This situation is making it difficult for families to afford dining out.