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Funeral Held for Bossi in Pontida Monastery
Politicsil-sole-24-ore6d ago

Funeral Held for Bossi in Pontida Monastery

A funeral for 'Bossi' was held at the monastery in Pontida, attended by approximately 400 family members, friends, and guests. Separately, Matteo Luigi Bianchi has taken over a seat in the Chamber.

US pulls diplomatic staff from Karachi, Lahore amid pro-Iran protests in Pakistan
WorldSCMP23d ago

US pulls diplomatic staff from Karachi, Lahore amid pro-Iran protests in Pakistan

The United States has ordered non-emergency staff at two Pakistani consulates to leave the country and granted permission for staff to leave missions in Saudi Arabia, Cyprus and Oman as Iran retaliates over US-Israeli raids. The State Department ordered non-emergency US government employees and their family members at the consulates in Lahore and Karachi to leave Pakistan due to “safety risks”, the US embassy in Islamabad said in a statement on Wednesday. It said there was no change to the...

Fatal apartment fire in Vantaa, Finland
Worldhelsingin-sanomat24d ago

Fatal apartment fire in Vantaa, Finland

An 18-year-old woman recounts escaping a fatal apartment fire in Vantaa, Finland, that killed her sister and other family members. Police suspect arson.

US Begins Evacuating Some Embassy Staff In Israel 'While Flights Still Available'
Worldindex-hrzerohedge28d ago2 sources

US Begins Evacuating Some Embassy Staff In Israel 'While Flights Still Available'

US Begins Evacuating Some Embassy Staff In Israel 'While Flights Still Available' "Persons may wish to consider leaving Israel while commercial flights are available," the US State Department announced Friday, signaling that US strikes on Iran could be imminent,. It provided confirmation the US government has begun evacuating "non-emergency" personnel from the embassy in Israel and their family members, citing "safety risks" amid growing tensions with Iran. via AFP The new urg...

Trump's State of the Union Address
PoliticsReutersBBCbloomberg+32NYTwsjFTwapoThe GuardianNPRAl JazeeraFox News+24 more1mo ago35 sources

Trump's State of the Union Address

Ahead of the State of the Union address, Democrats consider skipping the event, while Trump plans to focus on the economy and discuss tariffs and ICE.

US pulling staff from embassy in Beirut amid Iran tensions
PoliticsKorea Heraldzerohedge1mo ago2 sources

US pulling staff from embassy in Beirut amid Iran tensions

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- The US State Department is pulling out non-essential government ‌personnel and their eligible family members from the US Embassy in Beirut, a senior State Department official said Monday, amid growing concerns about the risk of a military conflict with Iran. "We continuously assess the security environment, and based on our latest review, we determined it prudent to reduce our footprint to essential personnel," said ‌a senior State Department official, speaking on conditi

Meta's AI Would Like To Keep You Posting After You're Dead
Technologyzerohedge1mo ago

Meta's AI Would Like To Keep You Posting After You're Dead

Meta's AI Would Like To Keep You Posting After You're Dead Ever since social media became a fixture of daily life, an uncomfortable question has lingered: what should happen to someone’s account after they die? Leave it frozen in time? Hand it to family members as a memorial? Or quietly let it fade into the algorithm? A few years ago, Meta Platforms explored a far more ambitious possibility, according to Futurism. In 2023, the company received a patent describing how a large language model could be trained on a user’s past posts to simulate their voice and behavior — keeping an account active if the person were “absent,” including in the event of death. The filing, led by CTO Andrew Bosworth, outlined how such a system could generate posts, comments, likes, and even private messages in the user’s style. The idea was striking, and for many, unsettling. Meta has since said it has no plans to move forward with that example. But the patent offers a snapshot of a moment when tech companies were aggressively testing the limits of what generative AI might do — including extending a person’s digital presence beyond their lifetime. The Futurism piece says that the concept isn’t entirely theoretical. A small but growing “grief tech” sector has promoted AI tools that recreate voices or personalities of the deceased using photos, recordings, and written messages. Proponents argue that such tools could offer comfort. Critics worry they could complicate the grieving process. Even within Meta’s own public comments, there has been ambivalence. CEO Mark Zuckerberg has spoken about AI companions as a way to address loneliness and, in a 2023 interview with podcaster Lex Fridman, suggested that interacting with digital representations of loved ones might help some people cope with loss. He also acknowledged the psychological risks and the need for deeper study. The business logic behind such experiments is difficult to ignore. Platforms like Facebook are filled with dormant accounts — profiles that remain but are rarely updated. More AI-generated activity could mean more engagement and more data. As University of Birmingham law professor Edina Harbinja observed, the commercial incentive is clear, even if the ethical path forward is not. Others urge caution. University of Virginia sociologist Joseph Davis has argued that part of grieving involves confronting the reality of loss, not blurring it with simulations. Meta has distanced itself from the patent’s more provocative scenario. Still, its existence underscores how far companies have been willing to push generative AI — and how complex the questions become when technology intersects with death, memory, and identity. Tyler Durden Fri, 02/20/2026 - 12:00

The biggest scandals of the British royal family
PoliticsReutersbloombergNYT+12wsjThe GuardianAl JazeeraFox Newstimes-ukDWBusiness InsiderThe Independent+4 more1mo ago15 sources

The biggest scandals of the British royal family

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. CTR/ Star Max/ AP Images King Edward VIII rejected the crown in 1936 so he could marry a divorced American woman. In 1995, Diana sat down for a tell-all solo interview and talked about Charles' affair. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested on Thursday on suspicion of misconduct in public office. For centuries, the British royal family has cultivated an image of duty and decorum. As public figures, they've also had their share of scandals. Forbidden romances, tabloid firestorms, and allegations of misconduct have rocked the House of Windsor over the years. Here's a look at some of the biggest scandals involving royal family members. King Edward VIII rejected the crown in 1936 so he could marry a divorced American woman. Wallis Simpson and Edward VIII. Len Putnam/AP Directly after his father died in 1936, Edward VIII took the throne. Less than a year later, he renounced it. That's because he had fallen hard for Wallis Simpson, an American socialite who'd already been divorced once and was working through her second. His proposal of marriage caused social and political uproar, since the Church of England technically forbade Edward from marrying someone who'd been divorced. Eventually, Edward was forced to abdicate. "I have found it impossible to carry the heavy burden of responsibility and to discharge my duties as King [...] without the help and support of the woman I love," he said in a radio address to the nation in December 1936. Edward and Simpson married in 1937 and stayed together until Edward's death in 1972. (And she wasn't the only commoner who married into royalty.) Princess Margaret fell in love with a married man. Captain Peter Townsend and Princess Margaret. AP Captain Peter Townsend was a Royal Air Force officer who served as an equerry — essentially an attendant to the royal family. He spent a great deal of time with Margaret, and before long, the two fell in love. The only problem was that he was married. Things got even more scandalous in 1953 when Townsend divorced his wife and proposed to Margaret, but the rules of the Church of England forbade such a marriage. (After all, Margaret's uncle Edward VIII had to relinquish the throne in order to marry a divorcee.) The relationship came to a heartbreaking close in 1955 when they called off the engagement. There was simply no way for Captain Townsend and Princess Margaret to have a happy ending. Her eventual marriage to a different man ended in a high-profile divorce. Princess Margaret and Anthony Armstrong Jones. AP Not long after calling things off with Townsend, Margaret married photographer Anthony Armstrong Jones. It was the first royal wedding to ever be televised. A few years later, their union became a source of "growing public ridicule," The New York Times reported. They fought in public, Margaret took long vacations without her husband, and rumors swirled around her close friendship with a man 17 years her junior. In 1976, the couple announced their separation, and two years later, they were officially divorced. Margaret became the first royal to divorce since Henry VIII, who reigned way back in the 1500s. Princess Diana and an alleged lover were secretly recorded on the phone. Princess Diana and James Gilbey. Kimimasa Mayama/Reuters; David Jones/AP In 1992 — while then-Prince Charles and Princess Diana were still married — media outlets published the transcript of a conversation between Diana and an alleged lover named James Gilbey. In the conversation, Gilbey told Diana that he loved her and called her by the pet name "Squidgy" 53 times. That's how the scandal earned the memorable moniker "Squidgygate." Later, in an interview, Diana confirmed that the conversation was real, but denied that it was adulterous in nature. The same thing happened to Diana's husband, Charles. Camilla Parker Bowles and Prince Charles. Alistair Grant/AP Not long after Diana's leaked phone call, Charles, Queen Elizabeth's oldest son, had one of his own. An Australian magazine published the transcript of a call between Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles — a longtime married friend. The transcript all but confirmed what many rumors had postulated: That Charles and Camilla were romantically involved. In one of the more confounding parts of the conversation, the couple joked about Charles turning into a tampon in order to "live inside" Camilla's trousers. Later that year, Charles and Diana announced their separation. Then Diana gave a bombshell TV interview, and the marriage collapsed for good. Prince Charles and Princess Diana in 1992. AP In 1995, Diana sat down for a tell-all solo interview with journalist Martin Bashir to talk about the immense pressures of public life and her struggles with self-harm, postpartum depression, and bulimia. She also revealed that she knew about Charles' affair with Camilla. ("There were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded," she famously quipped.) And Diana even admitted that she'd been unfaithful to Charles, saying that she had been "in love" with James Hewitt, her riding instructor. The BBC interview itself has since come under scrutiny. An article in the Sunday Times in 2020 alleged that Bashir manipulated Diana into doing the interview by showing her brother, Charles Spencer, fake bank statements that purported to show the media had been paying royal associates for information about her. A 2021 inquiry concluded that Bashir acted in a "deceitful" way, and the BBC and Bashir apologized. A few weeks after the interview, the Queen herself urged her son and daughter-in-law to divorce, and the following year, they made it official. Charles and Camilla, on the other hand, wed in 2005 and are still together. Princess Anne divorced her husband and married a member of the royal staff. Mark Phillips and Princess Anne in 1976. AP Princess Anne, the only daughter of Queen Elizabeth II, married Olympic equestrian Mark Phillips in 1973. The couple spent large swaths of time apart and didn't appear to be happy — People magazine described the marriage as a "joyless sham." Then, in spring 1989, a British newspaper obtained stolen copies of letters written to Anne by one of her equerries, a British naval officer named Timothy Laurence. Though the content of the letters wasn't made public, tabloids described them as "extremely intimate" and "too hot to handle." In 1992, Anne announced that she was divorcing Phillips, and that she planned to marry Laurence. The two have been together ever since. Paparazzi caught Sarah Ferguson in a compromising "toe-licking" incident. Sarah Ferguson. John Redman/AP Sarah Ferguson (popularly known as "Fergie") married Queen Elizabeth's son, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, in 1986. Six years later, scandal erupted: Paparazzi photographers captured Fergie vacationing with an American financial advisor named John Bryan. In one photo — an image quickly plastered on the front page of The Sun — Bryan appeared to be licking Fergie's foot. Things didn't go very well after that. Fergie and Andrew separated in 1992, the same year as Charles and Diana, and divorced in 1996. Later, Fergie was accused of taking a $633,000 bribe. Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew on their wedding day in 1986. AP Fergie's marital drama didn't end after the divorce. In 2010, a News of the World journalist posed as a businessman and said he got Fergie to accept a £500,00 (about $633,000) bribe in exchange for access to her ex-husband, The Guardian reported. A video recording of their meeting was released to the media, and Fergie later apologized, saying she'd made a "serious lapse in judgment," Reuters reported. Prince Harry spent a day (yes, a single day) in rehab. The clinic where Prince Harry spent a single day in 2002. Sion Touhig/Getty Images After admitting to his father that he'd tried marijuana, a 17-year-old Prince Harry spent a day at the Featherstone Lodge rehabilitation center in London, The Telegraph reported. A statement from the royal family said Harry had agreed to visit the clinic "to learn about the possible consequences of starting to take cannabis." He was also photographed wearing a Nazi costume. Prince Harry's Nazi costume made headlines around the world. Adam Butler/AP In January 2005, British paper The Sun published a front-page photo of Harry wearing a Nazi armband, apparently at a costume party. The prince, who was 20 at the time, quickly released a statement of apology that read: "Prince Harry has apologised for any offence or embarrassment he has caused. He realises it was a poor choice of costume." In 2012, Harry got naked at a private party in Las Vegas, and someone leaked the photos to The Sun. Prince Harry in 2012. Sang Tan/AP The British tabloid published the naked photos of the prince in 2012, which were taken by another party-goer during a game of strip billiards in his hotel suite. According to an anonymous source who was in attendance, the prince's security team appeared to be aware that people were taking photos. "No one asked for our phones or anything about us when we arrived at the party," the source told The Sun. "It was obvious people were taking pictures." That same year, Closer Magazine published a photo of Kate Middleton sunbathing topless on its cover. Kate Middleton. WPA Pool/Getty Images At the time the pictures were taken, Prince William and Kate Middleton were staying in a private holiday home owned by the Queen's nephew, Viscount Linley. After the couple won a lawsuit against the company, Closer was ordered to pay $118,000 in damages to William and Kate in 2017. Meghan Markle walked herself down the aisle after her father was caught staging paparazzi photos in the lead-up to her wedding to Harry. Meghan Markle walks herself down the aisle. WPA Pool/Getty Images Thomas Markle's no-show at the royal wedding was thought to be due to his poor health, as he suffered a heart attack just days before Harry and Meghan Markle tied the knot in Windsor back in May 2018. However, in the year that followed, Thomas and the duchess appeared to have a strained relationship, with Thomas even speaking out against his daughter in several interviews with British tabloids. In 2011, Andrew resigned from his job because of his ties to Jeffrey Epstein. Prince Andrew. Sang Tan/AP Andrew served as the UK's trade envoy from 2001 through 2011, when he stepped down due to mounting criticism over some of his personal relationships, the BBC reported. Namely, he was close friends with American sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. This would not be the end of the matter, however. He stepped back from his royal duties altogether in 2019 after new allegations surfaced regarding his relationship with Epstein, culminating in a disastrous BBC interview. Prince Andrew and Virginia Giuffre, then known as Virginia Roberts, along with Ghislaine Maxwell. This photo was included in an affidavit where Giuffre claimed Prince Andrew directed her to have sex with him. Florida Southern District Court Virginia Giuffre, pictured with Andrew above, accused Epstein of forcing her to have sex with the prince when she was just 17 years old in 2001. The allegations from a 2015 defamation case resurfaced in the media as the case became unsealed. Andrew denied the claims, and a spokesperson for Buckingham Palace "emphatically denied" the allegations in an August 2019 statement provided to Business Insider. Four days after a catastrophic interview with "BBC Newsnight" where he spoke about his friendship with Epstein, Andrew announced he would step down from his royal duties. Epstein was found dead in his prison cell in August 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges. Giuffre died by suicide in 2025. Meghan Markle launched a lawsuit against British newspaper the Mail on Sunday after it published a private letter she wrote to her father. LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 11: Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, attends the annual Remembrance Sunday memorial on November 11, 2018, in London, England. (Photo by Samir Hussein/Samir Hussein/WireImage) Samir Hussein/WireImage Markle sued the publication over the misuse of private information, infringement of copyright, and breach of the Data Protection Act 2018 after it published excerpts from the letter earlier this year. She won the lawsuit in 2021. "I share this victory with each of you — because we all deserve justice and truth, and we all deserve better," Markle said in a statement. A judge later rejected the publisher's application for permission to appeal but said it can take the application to the Court of Appeals. The publisher, Associated Newspapers, said it would. After months of rumors, Harry and Markle announced they were taking a "step back" from royal life in 2020. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are stepping back from their roles as senior royals. Star Max/AP The announcement said they "intend to step back as 'senior' members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen." They also wrote that they would split their time between North America and the UK. The royal communications office followed up with a statement of their own. "Discussions with The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are at an early stage," the Queen's statement read. "We understand their desire to take a different approach, but these are complicated issues that will take time to work through." The couple carried out their last official royal engagement at the annual Commonwealth Day service in London in March 2020. They later bought a home in California. In March 2021, Markle and Harry gave a tell-all interview to Oprah Winfrey about their rift with the royal family, revealing one bombshell after another. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in their interview with Oprah Winfrey. Getty Images The two-hour primetime special was full of stunning revelations. Markle told Winfrey that Kate Middleton made her cry the week of her wedding over a flower girl dress and not the other way around, as had been reported in tabloids. She also said members of the royal family had "concerns and conversations" about how dark Archie's skin would be before he was born, and The Firm told them that Archie wouldn't receive a title or security, breaking from protocol. She also opened up about having suicidal thoughts amid constant tabloid criticism and racism, and said a senior member of the royal institution wouldn't let her seek help. Harry revealed that his family cut him off financially in the first quarter of 2020, and that Charles stopped taking his phone calls before they announced they were stepping back from the royal family. He also said that it hurts that the royal family never acknowledged tabloids' racist treatment of Markle, and that none of the royal family members have reached out to apologize for the reasons he felt he had to leave. Following the interview, Buckingham Palace released a statement on behalf of the Queen. "The whole family is saddened to learn the full extent of how challenging the last few years have been for Harry and Meghan," the statement read. "The issues raised, particularly that of race, are concerning. Whilst some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately. "Harry, Meghan, and Archie will always be much loved family members." Before the interview aired, Buckingham Palace announced they were investigating claims that Markle bullied members of the royal staff — but no such investigations had been publicly made into Andrew's involvement with Epstein. Meghan Markle (second from right), Prince Harry (right), and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor (back row, right) with royal family members on Christmas Day in 2017. Chris Jackson/Getty Images The Times of London reported that Markle bullied two senior staff members during her time with the royal family. Buckingham Palace released a statement days before Markle and Harry's tell-all interview, saying that they were "very concerned" about the allegations, and that their HR team was investigating the claims. A spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex denied the claims to The Times, saying that the allegations were intended to undermine Prince Harry and Markle's interview with Oprah, calling it a "calculated smear campaign." While the palace launched an investigation into allegations that Markle bullied royal staff, no such investigations were publicly made by the palace when Andrew faced scrutiny over his involvement with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Royal biographers accused the palace of having double standards. Andrew was stripped of his royal patronages and military titles and faced a lawsuit as a private citizen instead of a royal. MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JULY 01: Prince Andrew, Duke of York, attends a commemoration service at Manchester Cathedral marking the 100th anniversary since the start of the Battle of the Somme. July 1, 2016 in Manchester, England. Services are being held across Britain and the world to remember those who died in the Battle of the Somme which began 100 years ago on July 1st 1916. Armies of British and French soldiers fought against the German Empire leading to over one million lives being lost. Christopher Furlong - WPA Pool/Getty Images In August 2021, Virginia Giuffre filed a lawsuit against Andrew, accusing him of sexual assault. She alleged that Epstein forced her to have sex with Andrew in his New York mansion, in London, and on Epstein's private island in the US Virgin Islands in 2001 when she was 17. The day after US District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan said the duke's motion to dismiss Giuffre's lawsuit was "denied in all respects," Buckingham Palace released a statement announcing that Andrew would no longer hold his royal patronages and military titles. "With The Queen's approval and agreement, The Duke of York's military affiliations and Royal patronages have been returned to The Queen," a spokesperson for Buckingham Palace said in a statement sent to Business Insider in 2022. "The Duke of York will continue not to undertake any public duties and is defending this case as a private citizen." In 2022, Andrew and Giuffre reached a settlement for an undisclosed amount. Andrew was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office as police opened an investigation into his ties to Epstein. Police officers at the gates at Royal Lodge, the former home of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor in Windsor, Berkshire. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office and is in police custody. Picture date: Thursday February 19, 2026. Jonathan Brady - PA Images/PA Images via Getty Images Andrew was arrested at his home in Sandringham, Norfolk, on February 19 and was released from police custody several hours later. An investigation is ongoing. The Justice Department's Epstein files revealed additional communications between Andrew and Epstein when the former prince was a UK trade envoy. Police conducted searches of his Sandringham home and at his former home in Windsor, Berkshire. "I have learned with the deepest concern the news about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and suspicion of misconduct in public office," Charles said in a statement. "What now follows is the full, fair and proper process by which this issue is investigated in the appropriate manner and by the appropriate authorities." The king's statement continued: "In this, as I have said before, they have our full and wholehearted support and co-operation. Let me state clearly: the law must take its course. As this process continues, it would not be right for me to comment further on this matter. Meanwhile, my family and I will continue in our duty and service to you all." Read the original article on Business Insider

NS&I Faces £500 Million Payout Over Missing Savings Errors
FinanceThe Guardiantimes-uk1d ago2 sources

NS&I Faces £500 Million Payout Over Missing Savings Errors

National Savings & Investment (NS&I) is facing a record payout of nearly £500 million to bereaved family members due to long-running administrative problems that led to missing savings, resulting in the replacement of the NS&I boss.

Navigating Toxic Family Relationships
Healthdelfi-lt1d ago

Navigating Toxic Family Relationships

An article explores the challenges of dealing with toxic family members, such as a manipulative mother or narcissistic sibling, and discusses the decision to cut ties with close relatives.

Margareta Magnusson, Swedish ‘death cleaning’ author, dies age 92
CultureThe Guardianindian-express11d ago2 sources

Margareta Magnusson, Swedish ‘death cleaning’ author, dies age 92

Magnusson’s 2017 bestseller The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning turned the Scandinavian decluttering practice into a global phenomenon Swedish author and artist Margareta Magnusson, whose book on “death cleaning” became a global phenomenon, has died aged 92. Magnusson’s 2017 book, The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning, introduced international readers to the concept of döstädning – the practice of sorting through and giving away possessions in later life so that family members are not...

Cyprus repatriates 82 people from Saudi Arabia amid Gulf war
Worldin-cyprus17d ago

Cyprus repatriates 82 people from Saudi Arabia amid Gulf war

A Cyprus Airways repatriation flight from Dammam, Saudi Arabia, has landed in Cyprus carrying 82 passengers, the Foreign Ministry announced. The National Crisis Management Centre chartered the flight in coordination with Cypriot embassies in Qatar, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia. Those on board included Cypriot citizens, their family members, permanent residents of Cyprus, and European nationals […]

US orders non-emergency consular staff in Karachi, Lahore to leave Pakistan
WorldTimes of IndiaDawnndtv+1dhaka-tribune24d ago4 sources

US orders non-emergency consular staff in Karachi, Lahore to leave Pakistan

The US State Department said on Wednesday it had ordered non-emergency personnel from US consulates in the cities of Karachi and Lahore and their families to leave Pakistan due to security concerns. “The Department of State ordered non-emergency US government employees and the family members of US government personnel from US Consulates Lahore and Karachi to leave Pakistan due to safety risks,” the US Mission in Pakistan said in a statement. It said there was no cha...

When generosity is not enough, By Isiaq Ajibola
OpinionPremium Times24d ago

When generosity is not enough, By Isiaq Ajibola

In Nigeria’s elite circles, it is common to meet accomplished Muslims who live carefully structured lives. They plan their finances, children’s education, retirement, household expenses, and pilgrimage months ahead. They save deliberately, invest in various enterprises, and diversify their earnings over time. They also give generously; to family members, people back home, mosque projects, the […] The post When generosity is not enough, By Isiaq Ajibola appeared first on Premium Times Nigeria.

Families of Missing Persons Cope with Uncertainty
WorldwapoNPR28d ago2 sources

Families of Missing Persons Cope with Uncertainty

The article explores the profound emotional toll and guilt experienced by families of missing loved ones, using the Nancy Guthrie case as an example, and highlights efforts to support those navigating such a nightmare.

Death Penalty Sought in Saitama Triple Murder Case
WorldNHK Worldjapan-times1mo ago2 sources

Death Penalty Sought in Saitama Triple Murder Case

Prosecutors have sought the death penalty for a 43-year-old defendant accused of killing three family members in Hanno City, Saitama Prefecture, four years ago. The defense maintains the defendant's innocence, arguing he may not be the perpetrator or was in a state of insanity.

North Carolina Woman Found Alive After 24 Years
CultureThe Guardian1mo ago

North Carolina Woman Found Alive After 24 Years

A North Carolina woman who went missing 24 years ago has been found alive and well, leading to mixed emotions for her daughter who was asked not to disclose her location to other family members.

Parliamentarians’ attendance
PoliticsDawn1mo ago

Parliamentarians’ attendance

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

Most of my kids have moved out of the house, except for my youngest. I'm worried she's lonely in our near-empty nest.
CultureBusiness Insidervarietydeadline1mo ago3 sources

Most of my kids have moved out of the house, except for my youngest. I'm worried she's lonely in our near-empty nest.

The author is worried her daughter might be lonely in the near-empty nest. Courtesy of Laura Falin I'm preparing myself to deal with an empty nest, but my youngest is still living here. I recently realized she might feel left behind and lonely in the house with just me and her dad. I want to help her with the transition to being the only child at home. I'm in the middle of what feels like a long transition period. One of my four kids is a young adult who has already moved out on his own. Another one of them graduates this year and will likely move away to college. Another opted for a community college but plans to move out in the next few years. I've been thinking about what I want my life to look like when I become an empty nester. I've already been making changes — like trying to make some new friends — with that life in mind. But recently, it hit me that my youngest daughter will probably have some similar "empty nest" feelings when she's the last sibling stuck at home with her parents. My youngest hasn't known a quiet house since she was born As the youngest of four, my daughter probably hasn't known a totally peaceful day since she arrived home from the hospital. She was the travel baby — waking up in her infant seat to discover she'd been carted to a school play, T-ball practice, or school pickup. She had built-in playmates right from the start, though, of course, they bickered and fought like any other siblings. Since I was a stay-at-home mom, even when her brothers and sister were in school, she was always going somewhere. We headed to the library, to storytime, or out hiking in the mornings because neither of us liked being stuck at home. And now, when all of my kids are teens or young adults leading busy lives, we still have noisy dinners or pile on the couch together to unwind with a TV show before bed. Our house is still pretty active, and her siblings might take her on a coffee run or to the thrift store on a Saturday to hang out. I'm concerned she might get lonely when everyone leaves It seems likely that my daughter will have some time living with just me and her dad after everyone else has moved out. I can't even comprehend what that will be like. The thought of just one child here at every dinnertime or weekend? We haven't had that in 20 years. But it goes beyond just the fact that the house will be quieter. She tells her sister about school drama, and they hash things out together. Her brother jokes around with her, or they talk about mutual friends and after-school activities. They're involved in her life in ways that I can't be, and I think she's going to be lonely when they're not there. I sought out expert advice I wanted advice from an expert on all of this, so I spoke with child therapist Alisha Simpson-Watt of Collaborative ABA Services. She told me that yes, the transition can be hard for some kids. "Siblings often serve as companions, role models, and sources of emotional support. When that daily interaction changes, younger children may experience feelings of loss, loneliness, or uncertainty," Simpson-Watt told me. She also said younger kids can get clingy, moody, or anxious when a sibling moves out. The best thing parents can do for their younger kids is to prepare them and communicate a lot. My daughter is older, but I know she'll still need some extra attention, and we'll need to communicate well with her. We'll also need to be ready to listen to her. Simpson-Watt said, "Research consistently shows that children who feel heard and supported during family transitions demonstrate stronger emotional adjustment." I'll plan some fun things for us to do as well We may be missing the other family members, but we'll have time to spend together as a smaller family. Simpson-Watt also said it's important to continue with our regular family routines to give everyone a sense of stability and security. I'll encourage my daughter to keep up her relationships with her siblings, even if they're not physically here as much. When my oldest son moved out, we all stayed in touch with texts and phone calls. He only lives about an hour away, so we also see him often, which has helped with the transition. In fact, my husband and I were out of town one weekend, and my son invited his siblings over for dinner. He cooked for them, they played games, and they all watched the Grammys together. I was kind of sorry I missed it, to be honest. But it makes me very happy to know that my kids are forging relationships with each other that go beyond my husband and me. Read the original article on Business Insider

Missing Puerto Galera teen found safe
Cultureinquirer11d ago

Missing Puerto Galera teen found safe

CITY OF CALAPAN — A 14-year-old girl from Puerto Galera in Oriental Mindoro who was reported missing has been found safe, authorities and family members confirmed Monday afternoon. Kate Nicole Visaya, a Grade 9 student and resident of Barangay Balatero in Puerto Galera, was reported missing after leaving her home at around 8 a.m. on

Tax Relief for Sanatorium Stays in Poland for 2025 PIT Returns
Financerzeczpospolita12d ago

Tax Relief for Sanatorium Stays in Poland for 2025 PIT Returns

Polish taxpayers can deduct rehabilitation expenses, including costs for sanatorium stays, from their income when filing their annual PIT return for 2025. This relief is available not only to disabled individuals but also to their closest family members who support them.

US orders personnel and families to evacuate Israel as Iran tensions escalate
Worldder-standardstraits-timesbalkan-web+1in-cyprus28d ago4 sources

US orders personnel and families to evacuate Israel as Iran tensions escalate

The United States State Department has authorised the departure of non-emergency government personnel and their family members from Mission Israel, citing safety risks, the US Embassy in Jerusalem announced on Friday. The embassy said it may further restrict or prohibit US government employees and their families from travelling to certain areas of Israel, the Old […]

Teyana Taylor's Dates for Oscars 2026 Revealed
Cultureenews29d ago

Teyana Taylor's Dates for Oscars 2026 Revealed

Teyana Taylor didn’t want her family members to engage in one battle after another over an Oscars invite.  The All’s Fair star—who received a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination this year for...

FinanceBusiness Insider1mo ago

We sold our house in Utah to rent in Denver. The move was a big financial risk, but it was worth it.

The author (second from right) moved with her family from Utah to Denver. Courtesy of Katy Anderson Our house was affordable in rural Utah, but we sold it anyway to pay more for a rental in Denver. It was a financially risky move, but it's worked out great for us because we're closer to nature. To help with the increase in housing, we're driving less and canceled subscriptions. Sometimes, a decision doesn't make sense on paper, but it just feels right to your soul. That's what my family's big move was like. Last year, our family of five sold our affordable home in rural southern Utah to move into a more expensive rental in a Denver suburb. We had wanted a change for a long time, and the timing finally felt right. We could've stayed where we were "safe" financially, but all our family members were struggling in different ways. I couldn't shake the feeling that nothing would really get better until we were brave enough to make a big change — so we did. Moving from Utah to Denver was a difficult financial decision One of the hardest parts to accept about moving was leaving our extended family and a house that we had lived in for 13 years. Even more difficult was that our house in Utah was affordable. We were privileged to buy a house when prices were reasonable, and mortgage rates were low. We would have moved a long time ago, but we felt stuck in a home we had outgrown because it was cheap. We knew that if we sold our house, we would be paying a lot more elsewhere. But the decision still felt right for our family. We figured Denver was worth the price increase We chose a Denver suburb because we love the outdoors and also miss the opportunities that a city provides. We have friends in the area, so we knew we would have a community once we arrived. The author's kids enjoy Denver's nature. Courtesy of Katy Anderson We chose an area known for its "small town feel." As soon as we moved in, I immediately fell in love with the neighborhood. We are surrounded by an abundance of mature trees, and are within walking distance of wonderful trails for walking and biking. I've been amazed at the wildlife around us, especially considering we live in a Metro area. Just walking the trails in our neighborhood, we've seen rabbits, coyotes, elk, raccoons, turkeys, and many different species of birds. We feel closer to nature here than we did in rural Utah. After living here for a few weeks, we decided to purchase e-bikes so we could ride much farther along the trails, including to coffee shops, restaurants, city gardens, and parks. This area also provides us with access to shopping, museums, concerts, and sporting venues. After living in a secluded town for so many years, having these amenities feels like a luxury. We're saving money in other ways Our rent is high in Denver, and that has been the biggest adjustment. Before we made the move, I was also worried about the cost of living, but I have been pleasantly surprised. Our kids even get free school lunch thanks to a statewide Healthy School Meals for All program. My kids have all commented that the food is of better quality. They actually want to eat the school lunches here. We are paying much less for gas in Colorado, as we are driving substantially less. In Utah, we lived on the outskirts of town and had to drive 15 to 20 minutes to get to work or to the nearest grocery store. When we moved to Colorado, we also immediately ended most of our subscriptions and streaming services. We've cut down on our discretionary spending and are eating more family meals at home. We also chose jobs that would help us adjust to our new housing costs We knew we would be paying more for housing no matter where we moved, so we chose a location with ample work opportunities. My husband is a psychiatric nurse practitioner, and I have picked up a part time job in addition to my freelance writing business. We are all making more money in Colorado than we could in Utah, where the minimum wage is still $7.25 per hour. Two of my teenage sons were amazed when they realized how much more they could earn in their new city. Right now, we are enjoying the freedom of renting. Buying a home in this economy feels daunting, and we want to take our time exploring Colorado to see where we may want to buy if it feels right. For now, I am grateful that my kids have a chance to experience living in a bigger city with more diversity and opportunities. Overall, I feel like we fit in here in a way that we never did in our old town, and that is priceless. Read the original article on Business Insider

WorldNHK World1mo ago

Fire at Yamaguchi Temple Kills Two

A fire broke out at a temple in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan, resulting in the discovery of two bodies. Police are investigating as family members living at the temple are reportedly uncontactable.