Woman Escapes Parents' Arranged Marriage to Her Cousin — and Joins the Air Force: 'I Had to Leave' (Exclusive)

At 19, Hamna Zafar knew she would lose her family unless she agreed to an arranged marriage with her cousin in Pakistan. However, as she was unwilling to give up her American dream of building her own life, the dutiful daughter rebelled and opted to escape to a future that led to serving in the U.S. Air Force. “I always thought about my parents. I always thought about my family. I always thought about my sisters,” Zafar, 23, tells PEOPLE.

Woman Furious That Her Fiancé Refuses to Take Her Last Name After They Get Married

A couple having a discussion (stock image).Photo:Getty Images Getty Images A woman is upset that her fiancé isn’t on board with her idea to take each other’s last name when they get married. She said she questioned the custom even as a kid, and when she would ask her parents about it, they would simply tell her it’s “tradition.” “They just couldn’t come up with a good answer!” she said. “It just doesn’t seem right to automatically err towards the man’s last name — I’m getting married into a partnership, and I want to express that outwardly to the world, and way more importantly, to my future children.

Woman Gives Birth on Washington Ferry, Captain's Second Birth While at the Helm: ‘Exceptionally Good News'

Crew members and passengers on a Washington State ferry “leapt into action” when a woman went into labor on the ship, and ultimately gave birth. The passengers were asked if there was someone with medical training on board who could assist with an emergency, Tripp said. But it wasn’t initially clear why the help was needed. Behind the scenes, crew members and passengers worked together to help the mom through labor “until EMS arrived,” according to WSF.

Woman Goes Viral After Sharing Story of 'Shortest First Date Ever' — an Experience That Left Her 'Mortified' (Exclusive)

A woman is going viral on TikTok after sharing her experience on “the shortest first date ever” — one she tells PEOPLE all about in an exclusive interview Maggie Smith explains she’s been dating “on and off for over a decade.” “The dating scene is tough for everyone, but it feels more superficial than ever in recent years,” adds the Alabama native, 32. “I have met people organically, on the apps, and my most recent ex…well, I met him on Twitter/X.

Woman in Her 90s Survives for 5 Days Underneath Home That Collapsed During Japan Earthquake

A damaged car lies underneath a collapsed building at Shika town in Hakui District, Ishikawa Prefecture on Jan. 8, 2024 after a major 7.5 magnitude earthquake.Photo:PHILIP FONG/AFP via Getty PHILIP FONG/AFP via Getty A woman in her 90s defied the odds when she was rescued from a collapsed home five days following the deadly earthquake in western Japan, according to various news outlets. Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.