las vegas slot machine Turkiye to allow pro-Kurdish party to visit jailed PKK founderIsrael strikes Houthi rebels in Yemen's capital while the WHO chief says he was meters away JERUSALEM (AP) — A new round of Israeli airstrikes in Yemen have targeted the Houthi rebel-held capital of Sanaa and multiple ports. The World Health Organization’s director-general said the bombardment on Thursday took place just “meters away” as he was about to board a flight in Sanaa. He says a crew member was hurt. The strikes followed several days of Houthi attacks and launches setting off sirens in Israel. Israel's military says it attacked infrastructure used by the Houthis at the international airport in Sanaa, power stations and ports. The Israeli military later said it wasn’t aware that the WHO chief was at the location in Yemen. An uneasy calm settles over Syrian city of Homs after outbreak of sectarian violence HOMS, Syria (AP) — Syria’s new security forces checked IDs and searched cars in the central city of Homs a day after protests by members of the Alawite minority erupted in gunfire and stirred fears that the country’s fragile peace could break down. A tense calm prevailed Thursday after checkpoints were set up throughout the country’s third-largest city, which has a mixed population of Sunni and Shia Muslims, Alawites and Christians. The security forces are controlled by the former insurgent group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which led the charge that unseated former President Bashar Assad. The US says it pushed retraction of a famine warning for north Gaza. Aid groups express concern. WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. officials say they asked for — and got — the retraction of an independent monitor's warning of imminent famine in north Gaza. The internationally Famine Early Warning System Network issued the warning this week. The new report had warned that starvation deaths in north Gaza could reach famine levels as soon as next month. It cited what it called Israel's “near-total blockade” of food and water. The U.S. ambassador to Israel, Jacob Lew, criticized the finding as inaccurate and irresponsible. The U.S. Agency for International Development, which funds the famine-monitoring group, told the AP it had asked for and gotten the report's retraction. USAID officials tell The Associated Press that it had asked the group for greater review of discrepancies in some of the data. Trump has pressed for voting changes. GOP majorities in Congress will try to make that happen ATLANTA (AP) — Republicans in Congress plan to move quickly in their effort to overhaul the nation’s voting procedures, seeing an opportunity with control of the White House and both chambers of Congress. They want to push through long-sought changes such as voter ID and proof-of-citizenship requirements. They say the measures are needed to restore public confidence in elections. That's after an erosion of trust that Democrats note has been fueled by false claims from Donald Trump and his allies of widespread fraud in the 2020 election. Democrats say they are willing to work with the GOP but want any changes to make it easier, not harder, to vote. Americans are exhausted by political news. TV ratings and a new AP-NORC poll show they're tuning out NEW YORK (AP) — A lot of Americans, after an intense presidential election campaign, are looking for a break in political news. That's evident in cable television news ratings and a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. The poll found nearly two-thirds of Americans saying they've found the need recently to cut down on their consumption of political and government news. That's particularly true among Democrats following President-elect Donald Trump's victory, although a significant number of Republicans and independents feel the same way. Cable networks MSNBC and CNN are really seeing a slump. That's also happened in years past for networks that particularly appeal to supporters of one candidate. New York to charge fossil fuel companies for damage from climate change ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Large fossil fuel companies would have to pay fees to help New York fight the effects of climate change under a bill signed by Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul. The governor signed the new law Thursday. It requires companies responsible for substantial greenhouse gas emissions to pay into a state infrastructure fund for repairs or projects that help avoid future damage from climate change. Lawmakers approved the bill earlier this year. It's meant to make big oil and gas companies contribute to the cost of repairs after extreme weather events or for resiliency projects. Such projects may include restoring coastal wetlands or upgrading roads, bridges and water drainage systems. Legal challenges to the new law are expected. Aviation experts say Russia's air defense fire likely caused Azerbaijan plane crash as nation mourns Aviation experts say that Russian air defense fire was likely responsible for the Azerbaijani plane crash the day before that killed 38 people and left all 29 survivors injured. Azerbaijan is observing a nationwide day of mourning on Thursday for the victims of the crash. Azerbaijan Airlines’ Embraer 190 was en route from Azerbaijan’s capital of Baku to the Russian city of Grozny in the North Caucasus on Wednesday when it was diverted for reasons yet unclear and crashed while making an attempt to land in Aktau in Kazakhstan. Cellphone footage circulating online appeared to show the aircraft making a steep descent before smashing into the ground in a fireball. Ukraine's military intelligence says North Korean troops are suffering heavy battlefield losses KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine's military intelligence says North Korean troops are suffering heavy losses in Russia's Kursk region and face logistical difficulties as a result of Ukrainian attacks. The intelligence agency said Thursday that Ukrainian strikes near Novoivanovka inflicted heavy casualties on North Korean units. Ukraine's president said earlier this week that 3,000 North Korean troops have been killed and wounded in the fighting in the Kursk region. It marked the first significant estimate by Ukraine of North Korean casualties several weeks after Kyiv announced that North Korea had sent 10,000 to 12,000 troops to Russia to help it in the almost 3-year war. How the stock market defied expectations again this year, by the numbers NEW YORK (AP) — What a wonderful year 2024 has been for investors. U.S. stocks ripped higher and carried the S&P 500 to records as the economy kept growing and the Federal Reserve began cutting interest rates. The benchmark index posted its first back-to-back annual gains of more than 20% since 1998. The year featured many familiar winners, such as Big Tech, which got even bigger as their stock prices kept growing. But it wasn’t just Apple, Nvidia and the like. Bitcoin and gold surged and “Roaring Kitty” reappeared to briefly reignite the meme stock craze. Why this Mexican American woman played a vital role in the US sacramental peyote trade MIRANDO CITY, Texas (AP) — Amada Cardenas, a Mexican American woman who lived in the tiny border town of Mirando City in South Texas, played an important role in the history of the peyote trade. She and her husband were the first federally licensed peyote dealers who harvested and sold the sacramental plant to followers of the Native American Church in the 1930s. After her husband's death in 1967, Cardenas continued to welcome generations of Native American Church members to her home until her death in 2005, just before her 101st birthday.

The standard Lorem Ipsum passage, used since the 1500s "Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum." Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC "Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?" Thanks for your interest in Kalkine Media's content! To continue reading, please log in to your account or create your free account with us.High price paid for David Jiricek an acceptable investment for Wild GM Bill GuerinThe Philippine Daily Inquirer, through its corporate social responsibility (CSR) arm, the Inquirer Foundation, continues to inspire and empower Filipinos across generations. Through a variety of impactful initiatives, the foundation bridges gaps within communities, fostering partnerships and meaningful connections nationwide. Since its launch in 2019, INQskwela has reached 10 local governments, benefiting over 60,000 learners across 94 schools and strengthening ties with local governments in Eastern Samar, Manila, Davao del Sur and Baguio. Memorandum of agreement signings and culminating activities have cemented these collaborations. Designed as a response to the Philippines’ low ranking in the Programme for International Student Assessment for reading, math and science, INQskwela integrates news content into lesson plans to promote literacy, critical thinking and readership among students. Teachers enhance lessons in social studies and English using INQPlus, making education more engaging and relevant. Culminating activities have included a quiz bee held in partnership with the Baguio LGU in May, and a journalism workshop held in November at Frances National High School in Calumpit, Bulacan, led by Inquirer editors Volt Contreras and Robert Jaworski Abaño. These initiatives help enrich student learning and offer unique benefits to partner schools and communities. This year, the Inquirer Read-Along program conducted five sessions, including a festival, in partnership with organizations, such as PLDT-Smart, McDonald’s, Philippine Airlines, Metrobank Foundation and Okada Manila. Over 200 children attended in-person sessions, while thousands more engaged online via the Inquirer Facebook page. NEVER-ENDING SUCCESS STORY The longest-running Inquirer advocacy, which promotes the love of reading among children turned 17 this year, finding solid partners for its sessions like the Metrobank Foundation (above) and cool venues like the Christmas Village of Okada Manila (below). —EUGENE ARANETA The program also held a special session for senior citizens, showcasing its commitment to fostering intergenerational connections and celebrating the joy of reading with people of all ages. On its 31st year, the Inquirer Journalism Scholarship Program expanded its support for aspiring journalists in partnership with AboitizPower. Three University of the Philippines (UP) students—Andre Esguerra, Lau Bacia and Jaemie Talingdan—were awarded scholarships, which include stipends, book allowances, communication support and lodging for two academic years. This collaboration underscores the Inquirer Foundation’s dedication to nurturing future journalists who will contribute to nation-building through credible and impactful storytelling. The Inquirer ESG Edge initiative highlights the Inquirer Group of Companies’ (IGC) commitment to advancing sustainability through impactful partnerships and regional collaboration. As one of the three founding members of the Asia Sustainability Impact Consortium, alongside Malaysia’s Star Media Group and Indonesia’s Kompas Gramedia, the Inquirer is part of a pioneering cross-border alliance launched in June that collectively reaches 123 million individuals across Southeast Asia to help amplify sustainability efforts and foster regional awareness. As the Philippine representative in the consortium, IGC collaborates with 15 organizations from the business, civic, education and environmental sectors to promote sustainable practices. These esteemed partners include the Philippine Business for Social Progress, Philippine Business for Education, World Wide Fund for Nature Philippines, Philippine Center for Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development Inc., Center for Conservation Innovations PH Inc., Foundation for the Philippine Environment, Environmental Studies Institute, Philippine Initiative for Environmental Conservation, Allianz PNB Life, British Chamber of Commerce, League of Corporate Foundations, Ateneo Institute of Sustainability, Management Association of the Philippines, SustainablePH and Circularity Club 22. DEEP DIVE The first ESG Edge forum held in September tackled the state of education and gender equality, hearing from speakers who offered both insights and hard data. —EUGENE ARANETA Through these partnerships, Inquirer ESG Edge strives to educate the public and stakeholders about the importance of Environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles, creating a community that shares insights and informed discussions on critical sustainability issues. As part of its advocacy, Inquirer ESG Edge publishes weekly features and specials that address pressing ESG challenges and highlight innovative solutions. These articles, enriched by contributions from partner organizations, aim to inspire action and promote best practices. The initiative also offers interactive learning opportunities through Inquirer ESG Connect, a platform for webinars, workshops and forums that bring stakeholders together. In 2024, ESG Connect hosted two notable discussions: a session on quality education and gender equality in September and a forum on hybrid energy solutions in November. These events provided participants valuable insights and fostered collaboration on sustainable development strategies. By leveraging its extensive network and commitment to ESG advocacy, the Inquirer ESG Edge initiative serves as a catalyst for meaningful change, driving progress toward a more sustainable future for the Philippines and the broader Southeast Asian region. The Inquirer Internship and Immersion Program welcomed 64 student interns from universities nationwide in 2024. Interns from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, University of the East (UE), University of Asia and the Pacific, University of Santo Tomas, AMA University and Colleges, Bicol University, UP Baguio, UP Los Baños, UE Caloocan, De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, Far Eastern University, Ateneo de Manila University, Batangas State University, FAITH Colleges, Adamson University, International School Manila, and St. Francis of Assisi gained hands-on experience across departments, such as Marketing, Information Technology, Human Resources, Lifestyle, Research, Sports, the Luzon Bureau and Distribution, preparing them for future careers while contributing to the Inquirer’s dynamic operations. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . In response to Supertyphoon “Carina” and Severe Tropical Storm “Kristine,” the Inquirer Foundation spearheaded relief efforts to support affected families. Through the generosity of donors and the collaboration of partners like the Tanging Yaman Foundation and Angat Buhay, over 320 families at Barangay Bagong Silangan in Quezon City; Lian, Batangas; and Noveleta, Cavite, received essential supplies and assistance. AID EFFORTS The company goes beyond reporting calamities but also reaches out to the affected communities , like in the aftermath of Supertyphoon “Carina” in September (upper photo) and Severe Tropical Storm “Kristine” in November. —PHOTOS BY JONG DIZON AND TANGING YAMAN FOUNDATION These efforts exemplify the Inquirer Foundation’s abiding commitment to solidarity and community support in times of need. On its 39th year, the Philippine Daily Inquirer and its foundation remain steadfast in their mission to empower communities, enhance education and promote sustainability. Through its diverse programs and initiatives, the Inquirer continues to do its part in building a brighter future for the Filipino. INQ