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If the beginning of every year is associated with making resolutions, the final days of December are often dedicated to reflecting on the highs and lows of the past 12 months. As 2024 draws to a close, it’s time to take stock of the strides made by Aboitiz Foundation in fulfilling its commitment to uplift Filipinos’ lives through education, jobs and climate action. Creating meaningful and lasting change requires teamwork, which is why Aboitiz Foundation scaled up partnerships with stakeholders. By cultivating the culture of collaboration, we’re able to work with a wide range of stakeholders to ensure our programs reach more communities. Education has always been at the heart of Aboitiz Foundation’s mission. The Aboitiz Future Leaders program continues to make a significant impact, supporting 123 new scholars this year across various universities in the Philippines. More than just providing financial support to students, the scholarship is about creating pathways to success and empowering the youth to become changemakers. Since the program began in 2006, Aboitiz Future Leaders have graduated from college, becoming innovators and catalysts for progress in the workforce. Aurora PH, Aboitiz Foundation’s initiative to connect last-mile schools to the internet through solar power, surpassed its 2024 pilot goal of linking 10 schools to the digital world. A total of 11 schools in remote communities now harness sustainable energy to access educational materials and vital resources. One of the project’s newest beneficiaries is Iram II Elementary School in Zambales. In partnership with Subic EnerZone, solar panels were installed on top of school buildings, providing a reliable power source for students and teachers. Moving forward, Aboitiz Foundation aims to energize 300 last-mile schools to improve access to education and empower surrounding communities through access to vital services and livelihood opportunities. Elevate AIDA has been a game-changer for women empowerment. This program, in partnership with Connected Women, provides training in artificial intelligence and data annotation to women from marginalized sectors. For 2024, a total of 1,800 women from various provinces, including the cities of Naga and Talisay and the municipality of Consolacion, successfully completed the program. Equipped with digital skills, the graduates can seek employment opportunities that allow them to earn a steady income while balancing their responsibilities at home. Looking ahead over the next five years, Aboitiz Foundation plans to scale up Elevate AIDA to benefit 300,000 women, further expanding its impact and empowering more women across the Philippines. In the area of climate action, 2024 marked the launch of CarbonPH, a large-scale, multipartite reforestation and watershed recovery project in partnership with the provincial government of Cebu. This initiative involves the reforestation and protection of the 29,000-hectare Central Cebu Protected Landscape, which serves as Cebu’s main water source and is home to several endemic species. Beyond its mission to drive positive change, Aboitiz Foundation is committed to nation building through initiatives in education, jobs and climate action. 2024 was a testament to the power of partnership, with our programs inspiring innovation and creating lasting impact. As we look ahead to 2025, Aboitiz Foundation’s vision remains clear: To continue building a better and more sustainable Philippines. We’re keen on forging new partnerships and sustaining our collaboration with long-time stakeholders to fulfill our vision of transforming more lives and creating inclusive growth.DAMASCUS, Syria — Syria's prime minister said Monday that most cabinet ministers were back at work after rebels overthrew President Bashar Assad, but some state workers failed to return to their jobs, and a United Nations official said the country's public sector came "to a complete and abrupt halt." Meanwhile, streams of refugees crossed back into Syria from neighboring countries, hoping for a more peaceful future and looking for relatives who disappeared during Assad's brutal rule. The rebel alliance now in control of much of the country is led by a former senior al-Qaida militant who severed ties with the extremist group years ago and promises representative government and religious tolerance. The rebel command said Monday they would not tell women how to dress. Syrian citizens stand on a government forces tank that was left on a street Monday as they celebrate in Damascus, Syria. Hussein Malla, Associated Press "It is strictly forbidden to interfere with women's dress or impose any request related to their clothing or appearance, including requests for modesty," the command said on social media. People are also reading... Nearly two days after rebels entered the capital, some key government services shut down after state workers ignored calls to go back to their jobs, the U.N. official said, causing issues at airports and borders and slowing the flow of humanitarian aid. Rebel leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, who was long known by his nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Golani, also met for the first time with Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi Jalali, who stayed in Syria when Assad fled. Israel said it carried out airstrikes on suspected chemical weapons sites and long-range rockets to keep them from falling into the hands of extremists. Israel also seized a buffer zone inside Syria after Syrian troops withdrew. Syrians wait to cross into Syria from Turkey on Monday at the Oncupinar border gate near the town of Kilis, southern Turkey. Khalil Hamra, Associated Press In northern Syria, Turkey said allied opposition forces seized the town of Manbij from Kurdish-led forces backed by the United States, a reminder that even after Assad's departure, the country remains split among armed groups that have fought in the past. The Kremlin said Russia granted political asylum to Assad, a decision made by President Vladimir Putin. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on Assad's specific whereabouts and said Putin did not plan to meet with him. Damascus was quiet Monday, with life slowly returning to normal, though most shops and public institutions were closed. In public squares, some people still celebrated. Civilian traffic resumed, but there was no public transport. Long lines formed in front of bakeries and other food stores. There was little sign of any security presence, though in some areas small groups of armed men were stationed in the streets. Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts Syrian citizens celebrate Monday during the second day of the takeover of the city by the insurgents in Damascus, Syria. Hussein Malla, Associated Press Across swathes of Syria, families are now waiting outside prisons, security offices and courts, hoping for news of loved ones who were imprisoned or who disappeared. Just north of Damascus in the feared Saydnaya military prison, women detainees, some with their children, screamed as rebels broke locks off their cell doors. Amnesty International and other groups say dozens of people were secretly executed every week in Saydnaya, and they estimate that up to 13,000 Syrians were killed between 2011 and 2016. "Don't be afraid," one rebel said as he ushered women from packed cells. "Bashar Assad has fallen!" In southern Turkey, Mustafa Sultan was among hundreds of Syrian refugees waiting at border crossings to head home. He was searching for his older brother, who was imprisoned under Assad. "I haven't seen him for 13 years," he said. "I am going to go see whether he's alive." Jalali, the prime minister, sought to project normalcy since Assad fled. "We are working so that the transitional period is quick and smooth," he told Sky News Arabia TV on Monday, saying the security situation already improved from the day before. Israeli soldiers sit on top of a tank Monday along the so-called Alpha Line that separates the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights from Syria, in the town of Majdal Shams. Matias Delacroix, Associated Press At the court of Justice in Damascus, which was stormed by the rebels to free detainees, Judge Khitam Haddad, an aide to the justice minister in the outgoing government, said Sunday that judges were ready to resume work quickly. "We want to give everyone their rights," Haddad said outside the courthouse. "We want to build a new Syria and to keep the work, but with new methods." But a U.N. official said some government services were paralyzed as worried state employees stayed home. The public sector "has just come to a complete and abrupt halt," said U.N. Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Syria Adam Abdelmoula, noting, for example, that an aid flight carrying urgently needed medical supplies was put on hold after aviation employees abandoned their jobs. "This is a country that has had one government for 53 years and then suddenly all of those who have been demonized by the public media are now in charge in the nation's capital," Abdelmoula told The Associated Press. "I think it will take a couple of days and a lot of assurance on the part of the armed groups for these people to return to work again." World reacts to overthrow of Syria's Assad regime People wave Syrian opposition flags at City Hall Square in Copenhagen, Denmark, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Emil Nicolai Helms/Ritzau Scanpix via AP) Emil Nicolai Helms People attend a rally celebrating the fall of Syrian President Bashar Assad's government, at central Syntagma square, in Athens, Greece, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) Yorgos Karahalis People wave Syrian opposition flags at City Hall Square in Copenhagen, Denmark, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Emil Nicolai Helms/Ritzau Scanpix via AP) Emil Nicolai Helms People gather to react following the fall of Syrian president Bashar Assad’s government, in Trafalgar Square, in London, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali) Alberto Pezzali People wave Syrian opposition flags at City Hall Square in Copenhagen, Denmark, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Emil Nicolai Helms/Ritzau Scanpix via AP) Emil Nicolai Helms People gather to react following the fall of Syrian president Bashar Assad’s government, in Trafalgar Square, in London, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali) Alberto Pezzali People attend a rally celebrating the fall of Syrian President Bashar Assad's government, at central Syntagma square, in Athens, Greece, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) Yorgos Karahalis Members of the Syrian community in Finland wave a Syrian flag and celebrate in Helsinki, Finland, Dec. 8, 2024. (Roni Rekomaa/Lehtikuva via AP) Roni Rekomaa People attend a rally celebrating the fall of Syrian President Bashar Assad's government, at central Syntagma square, in Athens, Greece, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) Yorgos Karahalis Syrians wave opposition flags and give out sweets during a spontaneous rally in Wuppertal, Germany, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, following the fall of Syrian president Bashar Assad’s government. (Christoph Reichwein/dpa/dpa via AP) Christoph Reichwein Syrians celebrate the fall of the Assad regime in Syria at a demonstration in Stockholm, Sweden, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Jonas Ekstroemer/TT News Agency via AP) Jonas Ekströmer A Syrian man waves a flag during a spontaneous demonstration celebrating the fall of the Assad regime, in Nicosia, Cyprus, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias) Petros Karadjias People gather to celebrate the Syrian government fall at Faith mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel) Emrah Gurel Syrians wave Syrian opposition flags at a rally in Wuppertal, Germany, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, following the fall of Syrian president Bashar Assad’s government. (Christoph Reichwein/dpa/dpa via AP) Christoph Reichwein People wave Syrian opposition flags at City Hall Square in Copenhagen, Denmark, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Emil Nicolai Helms/Ritzau Scanpix via AP) Emil Nicolai Helms Syrians living in France gather on Republique square after the Syrian government fell early today in a stunning end to the 50-year rule of the Assad family, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard) Aurelien Morissard People gather to celebrate the Syrian government fall at Faith mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel) Emrah Gurel People gather to celebrate the Syrian government fall at Faith mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel) Emrah Gurel People gather to celebrate the Syrian government's fall, in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel) Emrah Gurel Syrians living in France hug during a rally on Republique square after the Syrian government fell early today in a stunning end to the 50-year rule of the Assad family, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard) Aurelien Morissard People gather to react following the fall of Syrian president Bashar Assad’s government, in Trafalgar Square, in London, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali) Alberto Pezzali People gather to celebrate the Syrian government fall at Faith mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel) Emrah Gurel People attend a rally celebrating the fall of Syrian President Bashar Assad's government, at central Syntagma square, in Athens, Greece, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) Yorgos Karahalis A Syrian man waves a flag during a spontaneous demonstration celebrating the fall of the Assad regime in Nicosia, Cyprus, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias) Petros Karadjias Be the first to know
India shouldn't build another LLM: Nandan NilekaniA VAN-lifer has revealed how he bought a used white Citreon van on Facebook Marketplace and moved in. Harry Gilbert, 24, packed in his busy London life in exchange for a home on wheels to save thousands on rent. Advertisement 16 Harry Gilbert and his Citroen Relay 06 Credit: harry gilbert 16 The 24 year-old was previously living and working in London Credit: harry gilbert 16 Harry packed up London life to take advantage of remote-work perks and now he lives and travels in a van Credit: harry gilbert The Isle of Man native was living in Putney, London, when he started working remotely and decided to take the plunge. . He told The Sun: "I started working remote and thought there's no point me being here." So he packed his bags, moved home, and bought a Citroen Relay 06 on Facebook Marketplace for £1,600. Over the course of a year, Harry built the bed and cupboards from scratch but used flatpack furniture for the rest of his home. Advertisement READ MORE ON MOTORS MEALS & WHEELS Inside UK's first classic car museum hidden inside a PIZZA restaurant SOMETHING BORROWED Top 10 most leased cars of 2024 from family favourite to glam supermini He shared the process via YouTube, and TikTok where he's racked up 198,000 followers. Harry also installed a gaming PC in his van, this is an internet satellite known as a Starlink, along with solar panels to enable him to work remotely. The van is also equipped with a stove, fridge and a toilet/seating area. In total, his tiny-home cost £10,000. Advertisement Most read in Motors SOMETHING BORROWED Top 10 most leased cars of 2024 from family favourite to glam supermini SAFETY FIRST Drivers brace for major rule change as classic cars face MoTs for the 1st time ROAD BLOCK Part of M8 to shut for 'up to a week' after motorway flooded by SEWAGE PARKING MAD AA reveals Scots shopping centre one of the worst in the UK for parking charges Harry spends around £1,000 a month - £400 on cash withdrawals, £220 on fuel, £200 on groceries and £180 on internet/subscriptions. He brings in £1,200 from work. The TikTokker says he's now completed nine months of vanlife and visited 12 different countries. He said: "For me, it's just a different way of living. Advertisement "I know people talk about the rat race - but times are changing and a lot of people work remotely now. "People can get so sucked up in it [London life] they kind of forget it [van life] is possible. Harry believes people should take advantage of working remotely and that freedom is "the best thing". He said: "I get to go where I want, do what I want, work when I want. So, I think that's rich in itself." Advertisement But the TikToker admitted he does struggle - one downside, he claimed, is loneliness. He explained: "For the first couple of weeks travelling around Europe I didn't really have much contact with people. "I was kind of by myself the whole time and there were times when that was very challenging. 16 Inside Harry's van is a gaming PC, a bed, cupboards, a fridge, sink and stove Credit: harry gilbert Advertisement 16 Up close of Harry's gaming PC Credit: harry gilbert 16 Harry also has a toilet and seating area Credit: harry gilbert 16 The van doesn't have a shower but Harry washes in local hostels Credit: harry gilbert 16 Harry likes to distance himself and visit non-touristy spots Credit: harry gilbert Advertisement 16 Harry loves the freedom of van life, he can travel when he wants, wherever he wants Credit: harry gilbert "I don't really do many touristy things, or go to any touristy places, I like to distance myself and go to to places that not many tourists go." Harry doesn't really plan his routes but uses an app called Park 4 Night to pick a nice spot for the night. Another downside is "bad weather", he says. Advertisement The TikToker recalled the night that led him to consider whether van life was for him. During the early hours of the morning, on a stormy night on the Isle of Man, Harry's Starlink flew off the van roof and smashed against the ground. Feeling tired and unwell, Harry got up to retrieve the pieces. He added: "That was probably the only time I have debated van life." Advertisement On the other hand, there are many pros to van life. He explained: "You can book a holiday and it not be nice but you're stuck there because you booked the holiday. "But with a van, you can go somewhere and if you aren't feeling it or don't really like it, you can just drive somewhere else. "You can also visit more places, it really is the freedom of it." Advertisement Read more on the Scottish Sun GHOST TOWN Former Scots shopping hotspot 'decaying' as multimillion pound revamp ‘failing’ VAX HORROR Striken Scots 'gaslit' by health bosses after complications from Covid vaccine Harry isn't thinking too deeply into the future just yet but hopes to find somewhere off-grid to live in. His plan for now is just to "go with the flow". 16 He even had time to enjoy a trip in a ski lift Credit: harry gilbert 16 Harry has a Starlink on his van he uses for internet purposes Credit: harry gilbert Advertisement 16 He uses an an app called Park 4 Night to pick a nice spot for the night Credit: harry gilbert 16 Harry admitted travelling can get lonely Credit: harry gilbert 16 He's visited lots of places so far and plans to visit many more Credit: harry gilbert 16 He has a comfy-looking bed area Credit: harry gilbert Advertisement 16 Harry's home on wheels against a stunning backdrop Credit: harry gilbert
Browns lose starting cornerback to shoulder injury against Dolphins3 fantastic ASX ETFs to buy in JanuaryPHILADELPHIA (AP) — Saquon Barkley normally would have tossed his game-used cleats to the kid who asked for the pair as the star Philadelphia Eagles running back ran off the field and back to the locker room. Sorry, kid. Not today. Barkley kept his mucked-up cleats for good reason — he became the ninth running back in NFL history to top 2,000 yards rushing in a season, reaching the milestone with a 23-yard run in the fourth quarter of Sunday's 41-7 win over the Dallas Cowboys. That rush gave Barkley 2,005 yards with one game left and stuck him exactly 100 yards from Eric Dickerson's record of 2,105, set in 1984 for the Los Angeles Rams. Barkley left the game after the run that got him past 2,000, finishing with 167 yards on 31 carries. “We definitely knew what the number was to at least get 2,000,” Barkley said. “We weren't leaving this field without at least accomplishing that. That's not the words from me, that's the words from the guys up front.” Whether Dickerson likes it or not — and the Hall of Famer made clear last week he does not — Barkley is coming for the record next weekend against the New York Giants. Well, maybe. The Eagles have clinched the NFC East and least the No. 2 seed in the conference, making that game mostly meaningless. Coach Nick Sirianni could opt to rest Barkley to protect him from injury ahead of the playoffs. “Whatever his decision is, I'm all for it,” Barkley said. “If his mindset is, go out and try it, we'll go out and try it. If his mindset is, let's rest and get ready for this run, I'll all for it, too.” Sirianni simply said, “we'll see.” His backward hat askew, Barkley laughed when asked if he wanted to break the record in a delicious twist against his old team. “I'm not overly trying to go get it,” Barkley said. “I'm not scared to. I would love to. But at the end of the day, we've got bigger things we're focusing on.” Barkley gets a shot at the record thanks to a 17th game of the season that Dickerson and the NFL did not have in 1984. Derrick Henry was the last running back to exceed 2,000 yards. He had 2,027 for the Tennessee Titans in 2020. Minnesota running back Adrian Peterson ran for 2,097 yards in 2012, the second most in an NFL season. Barkley, who left the Giants to sign a three-year deal with the Eagles for $26 million guaranteed, also set the NFL mark Sunday for most yards rushing in a player's first season with a new team. He ran for 176 yards and a touchdown in his first career game against the Giants. “I didn't come here or sign here just to rush for 2,000 (yards) and break a record,” Barkley said. “I'm here to do something special.” Barkley was drafted out of Penn State with the No. 2 overall pick in 2018. He was an instant success with New York and ran for 1,307 yards his rookie season. Barkley ran for 5,211 yards and 35 touchdowns and had 288 receptions for 2,100 yards and 12 TDs in six years with the Giants. He hit free agency after the Giants elected not to put a franchise tag on him. “I was in the dark,” Barkley said. “You don't know what's going to happen, you don't know where you're going to be. Everything is kind of up in the air.” His mission is clear — win a Super Bowl and maybe take down Dickerson. Sporting his trademark goggles and Jheri curl, Dickerson had seven straight 1,000-yard seasons in the 1980s, and the Hall of Famer is widely considered one of the best running backs ever. Dickerson finished with 13,259 yards, the ninth most in NFL history. Emmitt Smith holds the career record with 18,355 yards. “I don’t think he’ll break it. But if he breaks it, he breaks it,” Dickerson told the Los Angeles Times . “Do I want him to break it? Absolutely not. I don’t pull no punches on that. But I’m not whining about it. He had 17 games to do it? Hey, football is football.” In 1984, Dickerson topped 100 yards rushing 12 times to break O.J. Simpson’s 1973 record of 2,003 yards rushing in a season. Simpson set his record in 14 games for the Buffalo Bills before the NFL expanded to 16 in 1978. The NFL moved to 17 games in 2021. “The way football is right now, it’s kind of hard to rush for 2,000 yards in 14 games,” Barkley said. "So, whether it’s 16, whether it’s 17, it’s a feat that you can never take away from what I was able to do with the O-line. And only eight other players did it, so it’s a special moment.” AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
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