Civic education 'low priority' in CA schools, report says. One nonprofit is working to change thatMANILA, Philippines — On the 15th anniversary of the Maguindanao massacre that left 58 people dead, including 34 media practitioners, a Malacañang official assured that the government will continue to ensure that journalists can do their jobs of defending the truth without fear of reprisal. In a statement on Saturday, the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) honored the memory of the 58 victims of the 2009 bloodbath in Ampatuan, Maguindanao—the single deadliest attack against journalists in the country’s history. “The administration of President Marcos vows continued support for the media in defending truth and addressing the demands of a modern press,” said the PTFoMS, led by its recently appointed Executive Director Jose Torres Jr. READ: Ampatuan massacre victims’ kin still crying out for help The agency also reaffirmed its “unwavering commitment to protecting the lives and freedoms of journalists in the Philippines,” and appealed to all sectors of society to help uphold press freedom and protect journalists’ rights. “A free press is essential to a functioning democracy, and we must all contribute to ensuring that journalists can do their jobs without fear of reprisal ... We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that justice prevails, and that the Philippines remains a safe place for journalists to work,” the PTFoMS added. On Nov. 23, 2009, armed men abducted and murdered 58 people accompanying the filing of the certificate of candidacy of then Buluan, Maguindanao Vice Mayor Esmael Mangudadatu who was running for Maguindanao governor. Mangudadatu was challenging Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., son of then Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr., the patriarch of Mindanao’s leading Muslim political clan. Andal and his brother Zaldy Ampatuan were later convicted to life imprisonment without parole for the 57 killings along with 28 co-accused, including policemen. The body of a 58th victim was never found. The victims included Mangudadatu’s wife, his two sisters, media practitioners, lawyers, aides and motorists who witnessed the abduction or were mistakenly identified as part of the six-vehicle convoy. The PTFoMS said the massacre “serves as a stark reminder of the dangers media workers face in pursuit of truth and accountability.” The PTFOMs also renewed its commitment to strengthen its efforts to prevent and address media killings and violence, and enhance coordination among government agencies and media organizations, especially at the local level. 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 .
Over an evening of discovery and dialogue, Information & Computer Systems Technology students from Camosun College presented their capstone projects Dec. 12 to clients, potential employers and other visitors. The projects ranged in topics from streamlining manufacturing workflows to building a management system for a dance studio. Students also engaged with guest speakers at Fort Tectoria on Fort Street. “We are incredibly proud of the hard work and dedication our students have shown,” noted Saryta Schaerer, program chair of the computer science department at Camosun College, in a news release. “The symposium not only showcases their technical abilities but also their capacity to innovate and solve complex challenges. It’s a testament to the high calibre of education and training they’ve received here at Camosun.” Camosun student Ryan Kim explained that the project involved working with a sponsor to develop a project to address their business needs. Kim, along with two other students, worked with Victoria-based dance studio Raino Dance to create a studio management tool. "They were dissatisfied with their current studio management tool, so we came in, we gathered their requirements, and we determined their use cases and the pain points with their current solution. We prototyped a new solution that can answer those concerns," said Kim. "We get a chance to work in a business setting, in a development setting with a team, and get our feet wet by being professional developers." Now that the team has finished the first phase of the Khoreia Studio Management System, they hope to eventually shop the software to other studios as a solution to management woes. The capstone projects are part of Camosun's strategic plan to offer more students an applied learning opportunity including capstones, service learning, work-integrated learning and apprenticeships.
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FIU 35, Middle Tennessee 24
Aston Martin's New DBX707, 'Supercar' Of SuvsWayne Rooney has encouraged I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! viewers to vote for his wife to do a Bushtucker Trial as he feels she would want to “put herself to the test”. The former England footballer and Plymouth Argyle Head Coach said he was “proud” of how Coleen was doing in the Australian jungle in a post on social media on Saturday. The couple, who first met at school and began dating aged 16, share four sons – Kai Wayne, Klay Anthony, Kit Joseph and Cass Mac. “Proud of @ColeenRoo on @imacelebrity she’s doing great”, he wrote on X, formerly , alongside a collage of photos of her on the show. “Me and the boys would love to see her doing a trial and we know she’d want to put herself to the test. “If you can download the #ImACeleb and let’s get voting!” During the first task of the series, Radio 1 presenter Dean McCullough chose to partner up with TV personality Coleen as he hailed her as “Wagatha Christie”. Rooney, 38, was given the nickname when she accused Rebekah Vardy, who is married to Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy, of leaking her private information to The Sun in a viral post on social media. In July 2022, a judge at the High Court found the post was “substantially true”. During Vardy’s stint on I’m A Celebrity, she became the third celebrity to leave, saying the series helped her become more tolerant. Earlier this week, Liverpool-born Coleen told her fellow campmate that going to court over her feud with Vardy was her “worst nightmare” as she felt she was “putting on a show for the whole world”. However, she said she was not scared about making the viral post which kicked off the dispute, saying: “I just didn’t think it would have the impact it did, because I was just that sick and tired of it, it was draining.” Later in the episode, Rooney became emotional over the loss of her sister Rosie, after boxing star Barry McGuigan spoke about the death of his daughter. I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! continues on ITV1 and ITVX.Shares of Toast ( TOST -3.74% ) have had an unbelievable year. As of this writing, they have skyrocketed 110% just in 2024 (as of Dec. 11). That gain outperforms the Nasdaq Composite index . However, this growth stock still trades 41% below its peak, which might be compelling for investors looking to buy the dip. Before you do that, here are three things you need to know about Toast. 1. Its target market Toast is a hardware and software company that caters specifically to the needs of the restaurant industry. For example, it offers point-of-sale devices to help accept payment methods. Its suite of services also includes marketing tools, employee management, omnichannel capabilities, loyalty programs, and loans. Investors can view the company's offerings as being the operating system of a restaurant. One obvious downside of serving restaurants is how sensitive that market is to macro forces. If there are recessionary fears and consumer confidence takes a hit, money spent by households on eating out is an easy thing to cut. Add this to a high failure rate in the industry, and it's not exactly the best backdrop for a company like Toast. In the three-month period that ended Sept. 30, the company generated $1.3 billion in revenue, of which 14% consisted of subscription services. Investors want to see this figure go up because it's an extremely high-margin source of sales for the business. 2. Switching costs In order to be a successful long-term investor, I think finding businesses that possess an economic moat is a key part of the equation. These high-quality companies have certain traits that allow them to defend their industry positions against existing rivals, as well as new entrants. With that backdrop, I believe it's clear that Toast is building an economic moat of its own. Software enterprises, particularly those that have become crucial to their customers' daily lives, benefit from switching costs . This could also apply to the banking sector. Imagine if you had to change your credit cards, bank accounts, and brokerage to another financial institution. Think about the headache that would cause. Toast is likely benefiting from its own switching costs. Management doesn't provide data on churn, but it's a good sign that the customer base keeps expanding. Moreover, some customers are using more and more services over time and as their needs evolve, a clear indication of how entrenched Toast is becoming. Put yourself in the shoes of a restaurant owner or manager. Once a specific location's employees are trained on Toast's products and services, and those tools become fully integrated and work seamlessly, it's difficult to change this setup. The risk is that you cause operational disruptions. As long as Toast continues to provide a fantastic user experience, it will keep existing customers happy and be able to bring on new ones. Toast is also developing brand strength. Management points out that 75% of its customers come from inbound marketing channels, and a notable 20% come from referrals. 3. Growth potential As an earlier-stage enterprise, Toast has exhibited noteworthy growth. Revenue in the third quarter was 168% higher than in the same period three years ago. Wall Street consensus estimates see the top line expanding 89% between 2023 and 2026, still a robust pace. Key to the company's strategy is to bring on more customers at a rapid clip. Toast currently has 127,000 different restaurant locations on its roster, after adding 7,000 in the last quarter. But management sees huge opportunities both in the U.S. and internationally. Domestically, there are 875,000 restaurants in total. And outside the U.S., that figure balloons to about 14 million (excluding China). And restaurants are expected to spend $55 billion in the U.S. just on technology this year. That environment indicates that Toast still has lots of runway ahead of it. If you are looking to buy the stock, now you know more about Toast's customer value proposition, its switching costs, and the company's growth potential.
Global cenbank liquidity – from market headwind to tailwind?
Mizuho Markets Cayman LP boosted its stake in shares of Alphabet Inc. ( NASDAQ:GOOGL – Free Report ) by 22.7% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 36,529 shares of the information services provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 6,759 shares during the quarter. Alphabet accounts for 25.3% of Mizuho Markets Cayman LP’s holdings, making the stock its largest position. Mizuho Markets Cayman LP’s holdings in Alphabet were worth $6,058,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Several other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of GOOGL. Christopher J. Hasenberg Inc increased its position in shares of Alphabet by 75.0% in the second quarter. Christopher J. Hasenberg Inc now owns 140 shares of the information services provider’s stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 60 shares in the last quarter. Kings Path Partners LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Alphabet in the second quarter valued at approximately $36,000. Denver PWM LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Alphabet in the second quarter valued at approximately $41,000. Quarry LP purchased a new stake in shares of Alphabet in the second quarter valued at approximately $53,000. Finally, Summit Securities Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Alphabet in the second quarter valued at approximately $55,000. 40.03% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, CAO Amie Thuener O’toole sold 682 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, September 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $160.44, for a total value of $109,420.08. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 32,017 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,136,807.48. This represents a 2.09 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link . Also, CEO Sundar Pichai sold 22,500 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, September 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $158.68, for a total value of $3,570,300.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 2,137,385 shares in the company, valued at approximately $339,160,251.80. The trade was a 1.04 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders have sold a total of 206,795 shares of company stock worth $34,673,866 in the last quarter. 11.55% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth View Our Latest Analysis on Alphabet Alphabet Price Performance Shares of NASDAQ GOOGL opened at $168.95 on Friday. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $168.47 and its two-hundred day moving average is $170.33. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.04, a current ratio of 1.95 and a quick ratio of 1.95. Alphabet Inc. has a 1-year low of $127.90 and a 1-year high of $191.75. The company has a market cap of $2.07 trillion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.41, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.20 and a beta of 1.03. Alphabet ( NASDAQ:GOOGL – Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 29th. The information services provider reported $2.12 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.83 by $0.29. Alphabet had a return on equity of 31.66% and a net margin of 27.74%. The company had revenue of $88.27 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $72.85 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $1.55 EPS. Analysts forecast that Alphabet Inc. will post 8.01 EPS for the current fiscal year. Alphabet Dividend Announcement The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 16th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 9th will be issued a dividend of $0.20 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 9th. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.47%. Alphabet’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 10.61%. Alphabet Company Profile ( Free Report ) Alphabet Inc offers various products and platforms in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia-Pacific, Canada, and Latin America. It operates through Google Services, Google Cloud, and Other Bets segments. The Google Services segment provides products and services, including ads, Android, Chrome, devices, Gmail, Google Drive, Google Maps, Google Photos, Google Play, Search, and YouTube. Featured Stories Five stocks we like better than Alphabet Insider Trading – What You Need to Know The Latest 13F Filings Are In: See Where Big Money Is Flowing Retail Stocks Investing, Explained 3 Penny Stocks Ready to Break Out in 2025 What is a Bond Market Holiday? How to Invest and Trade FMC, Mosaic, Nutrien: Top Agricultural Stocks With Big Potential Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GOOGL? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Alphabet Inc. ( NASDAQ:GOOGL – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Alphabet Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Alphabet and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .WASHINGTON (AP) — Marcus Dockery scored 27 points as Howard beat UNC Wilmington 88-83 on Saturday. Dockery added seven assists for the Bison (5-6). Blake Harper scored 18 points while shooting 5 for 11 (3 for 4 from 3-point range) and 5 of 8 from the free-throw line and added seven rebounds. Joshua Strong had 18 points and shot 4 of 7 from the field, including 4 for 6 from 3-point range, and went 6 for 6 from the line. The Seahawks (7-3) were led by Khamari McGriff, who recorded 34 points. Sean Moore added 13 points for UNC Wilmington. Harlan Obioha had 12 points. Howard used a 12-2 second-half run to erase a four-point deficit and take the lead at 82-76 with 2:14 remaining in the half before finishing off the victory. Harper scored 12 second-half points. Howard takes on Drexel at home on Tuesday, and UNC Wilmington hosts FGCU on Wednesday. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .