Star的2024-02-13目录

THE RAND BEGAN the week on better footing, dipping below the R19-mark yesterday on the back of a subdued US dollar as investors were cautiously awaiting US consumer inflation data today for clues on the potential trajectory of interest rates. The US inflation numbers will give markets a new sense of direction, following recent resilient economic data coming out of the world’s largest economy that has further supported a cut in interest rates by the Federal Reserve (Fed). Fed chairperson Jerome Powell recently highlighted that rate cuts were “not likely” to happen in March, adding that he could not overstate how important it was to restore price stability, by which he meant inflation is low and predictable. This comes after the volatile domestic currency weakened to R19.15/$1 into the end…

THIS YEAR’S opening of Parliament occurred in a difficult economic climate. Just last week, the International Mone-tary Fund downgraded its economic outlook for South Africa. Given that the outlook was only 1.8% growth to begin with, the possibly of even slower growth (just 1%) should concern us all, as we strive to build a more inclusive economy that significantly addresses unemployment, poverty and inequality. In this context, the work of Parliament carries even more weight, with a greater responsibility to safeguard critical industries. Nowhere is this truer than in the construction sector. The South African construction industry is a critical economic contributor. It makes up 3% of the national gross domestic product, to the value of more than R30 billion, provides much-needed employment to some 1.3 million people,…

NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang said yesterday that every country needs to have its own artificial intelligence infrastructure in order to take advantage of the economic potential while protecting its own culture. “You cannot allow that to be done by other people,” Huang said at the World Government Summit in Dubai. Huang, whose firm has catapulted to a $1.73 trillion (R33 trln) stock market value due to its dominance of the market for high-end AI chips, said his company is “democratising” access to AI due to swift efficiency gains in AI computing. “The rest of it is really up to you to take initiative, activate your industry, build the infrastructure, as fast as you can.” He said that fears about the dangers of AI were overblown, noting that…

BRITISH American Tobacco, which sold 555 billion cigarettes last year, is now working towards a society where smokers migrate from cigarettes to smokeless alternatives. Apart from cigarettes, the group with 46 000 employees around the world also sells vapour products, heated products, modern oral products (pouches held between the gum and lip stuffed with nicotine and other products), and traditional oral pro- ducts such as snus and snuff. Chairperson Luc Jobin said in the annual report released yesterday that extensive discussions were held in 2023 on their strategy and purpose, and the result was to provide greater clarity on what the group meant by “Building a Better Tomorrow” and that this meant “Building a Smokeless World”. “The refined strategy is a natural extension of the foundation that we…

SASFIN Group’s chairperson Deon de Kock has stepped down from the post after he took temporary medical leave in December, with Richard Buchholz in line to take up the position.Sasfin said yesterday: “We refer to the announcement made by the group on November 6, 2023, wherein shareholders were advised of Mr Deon de Kock’s temporary medical leave. “The group hereby informs shareholders in accordance with section 3.59 of the JSE Limited Listings Requirements, that Mr de Kock has, in consultation with his medical team, decided to step down as chairperson, non-executive director and member of the human resources and remuneration committee of Sasfin Holdings and Sasfin Bank Limited.” This change was expected to take effect on March 15 subject to regulatory approval by the Prudential Authority. Sasfin said it wished…

FORMER Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng has repeated assertions that he will be president of South Africa which was “predetermined by God” despite attempts on his life. He accused “influential politicians” of making attempts to assassinate him at the end of last month because he was a threat to South Africa’s political arena, while also taking a swipe at President Cyril Ramaphosa’s leadership. Mogoeng assertions come ahead of the national and provincial elections, the date of which Ramaphosa is expected to announce in a few days. Justice Mogoeng was tipped to be the presidential candidate for the All Africa Alliance Movement, however, media reports have suggested he has abandoned that idea. The former chief justice, appointed by former president Jacob Zuma, retired from the Constitutional Court in October 2021 after serving…

IT remains to be seen whether the ANC will fill the Moses Mabhida Stadium during its election manifesto launch on February 24. This after the EFF made a fair showing at the same venue on Saturday despite not filling the 56 000-seater. The two parties have been engaged in a pre-election battle to fill to capacity the multi-purpose stadium ahead of this year’s national and provincial elections. The EFF raised eyebrows when they filled to capacity the FNB Stadium, which has more than 90 000 seats during the party’s 10th anniversary on July 29 last year but made a poorer showing on Saturday. The EFF’s choice of Moses Mabhida is believed to be a strategy by leader Julius Malema to try to contest KZN which is under the…

SHOP STEWARDS of the SA Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) have been accused of vandalising North West Star buses in Hammanskraal and Mabopane depots on Sunday night, due to a dispute over outstanding drivers salaries. The Pretoria News was told that bus drivers of the North West Star, a subsidiary of the embattled state-owned North West Transport Investment (NTI), had not been paid for the past two months. Disgruntled bus drivers demanded the expulsion of the business rescue practitioner (BRP), appointed in 2022 to address long-standing challenges at the NTI, blaming the BRP of withholding workers salaries and operating in bad faith. But service provider at NTI, Kobus du Toit, yesterday pointed fingers at Satawu shop stewards for vandalising the buses, adding that they also deflated bus tyres and…

Seven people lost their lives on Sunday morning, when a police Toyota Hilux bakkie and a Renault sedan collided along the R101 between Mookgophong and Mokopane, in the Waterberg District of Limpopo. The seven who died include five travelling in the Renault sedan, and two in the SAPS vehicle: a police officer and an arrested suspect who was being transported. “All five people from the Renault and two passengers from the SAPS Toyota light delivery van, an officer and a suspect, perished on the scene,” said Limpopo provincial police spokesperson, Colonel Malesela Ledwaba The driver of the SAPS vehicle, a sergeant, was rushed to hospital and is receiving medical attention. “The cause of this horrific accident is still unknown and is being investigated,” said Ledwaba. Provincial commissioner of SAPS in…

Ingredients ½ onion, diced 2 cloves garlic, crushed 1 red bell pepper, diced 1 tsp paprika 1 tsp ground turmeric 3 cups leftover white rice 2 tins (120g each) Lucky Star Sardines in Peri-Peri Sauce ½ cup frozen peas Serving suggestion: Lemon wedges Parsley Method In a large pan with a lid, heat 1 tablespoon of oil on medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, bell pepper, paprika and turmeric. Sauté for 1 minute until fragrant. Add the rice and ½ cup of water. Stir until well combined. Carefully place the Lucky Star Sardines in Peri-Peri Sauce over the rice and pour the remaining sauce over the entire dish. Sprinkle the peas over the dish. Cover the dish with a lid and allow it to steam for 5 to 7 minutes,…

The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (Sadag) has launched Teen Suicide Prevention Week, from February 11 to 18, as part of its continued commitment to youth mental health advocacy. This week is an important chance to bring communities, educators, parents, and students together to confront the grave issue of teen suicide, with a focus on building hope and providing individuals with necessary resources. Cassey Chambers, Sadag’s operations director, highlights the essence of tackling these issues and normalise reaching out for help. “Talking about hard topics like suicide helps to create open conversation, foster safe spaces for young people to talk openly about their struggles, and identify warning signs to get help. “As parents, caregivers, teachers and communities, we need to talk more about the issues and normalise that it’s…

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has extended the employment contracts of 32 000 youth brigades under the Nasi iSpani mass recruitment programme. The individuals will work as teacher assistants in schools across Gauteng. Their roles include Education Assistants (EA), General School Assistants (GSA), and Early Childhood Development Assistants (ECDA) in schools. Lesufi handed over the appointment letters to the job-seekers who packed the Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto on Sunday. These are individuals whose contracts ended last year. “These are young people who were recorded by a national government and their contracts came to an end. We felt that we can’t have 32 000 people unemployed when they have done so well,” he said. Addressing the crowd, the premier said young people should not depend on grants and handouts, instead, they must…

A goal glut, shocks galore, a Moroccan red-carded twice, an astonishing comeback by hosts Ivory Coast to win Sunday’s final after two group losses. The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations had it all. Here, we recall alphabetically some of the drama from a 24-nation tournament regarded by many observers as the most exciting since the event debuted in 1957. A Quarter-finalists Angola were a revelation under coach Pedro Goncalves, winning three matches in a row having failed to achieve more than one victory at a time in eight previous appearances. B Afcon-winning coach Djamel Belmadi was fired after Algeria flopped, with a loss to minnows Mauritania leading to a first-round exit for the Riyad Mahrez-captained side. C Champions Ivory Coast started the final with three players based…

IT IS THE eve of Africa Tech Summit Nairobi 2024, which is happening on February 14 and 15, which, sadly, I won’t be attending this year due to conflicting work priorities. I’ve been reflecting on the spark- ling in-person, human-to-human interaction I will miss out on over the next two days at the Sarit Expo Centre. Every so often, I encounter well-intentioned pontifications by African tech ecosystem colleagues faithfully echoing (mostly without contextual filtering) “how not to fail” advice delivered by the likes of Jessica Living- stone and many other prominent international venture capital (VC) and startup entrepreneurship heavies. Livingstone is one of the four American co-founders of Y Combinator (YC), a tech start-up accelerator, which, according to the firm’s website, has “invested in more than 4 000 companies…

RECENTLY, disturbing and sexually explicit fake pictures of Taylor Swift appeared online and were circulated swiftly. According to the New York Times, one image shared by a user on X was viewed 47 million times before the account was suspended. The social media platform had to suspend several accounts that posted the fake images of Swift, but the images were shared on other social media platforms and continued to spread despite those companies’ efforts to remove them. What happened to Swift can happen to anyone online. It has become very difficult to distinguish between authentic and fake content online. Online users have to contend with fake videos, calls and photos. This has prompted leading techno- logy giants to come up with solutions. Google announced that they will collaborate with…

ZIMBABWE is working on new measures to stabilise its local currency including linking the exchange rate to hard assets such as gold and creating a currency board, Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube said yesterday. The Zimbabwean dollar has fallen about 40% since the start of the year, hurt by increased foreign-currency demand from civil servants being paid December bonuses and weaker commodity prices denting inflows. President Emmerson Mnangagwa said authorities were looking to introduce a “structured currency”, without explaining how that would work, and the central bank governor said that work was ongoing. | Reuters…

The DA yesterday said it had asked authorities to charge Deputy President Paul Mashatile with corruption, upping pressure on the governing party ahead of the general elections. Mashatile has for months been at the centre of media investigations alleging he benefited from luxury properties made available to him by his son-in-law and others in return for help securing tenders and other favours. “We have laid an affidavit and supplied a charge sheet,” John Steenhuisen, the DA leader, told journalists, after handing a dossier detailing the alleged wrongdoing to police in Cape Town. “We hope to continue to use whatever channels we have to make sure that justice is done, and the matter is properly investigated.” A spokesperson for Mashatile did not immediately reply to a request for comment. He has…

The Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg, has ruled in favour of Home Affairs Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi following an application by a group of illegal immigrants that their detention at the Modderbee Correctional Services Centre in Benoni was unlawful and against the immigration and refugee acts. However, the court found no basis for this argument, saying the mere expression of intention to apply for asylum does not trigger the protections of the Refugees Act requirement to show good cause for illegal entry and to stay in the country. At the centre of the matter is an application by Thomas Godiso, Abi Osman Yusuf and four others on an urgent basis. They were seeking to interdict the minister and other respondents from detaining, prosecuting and deporting them until their status has been…

The failure of intelligence agencies during the July 2021 riots in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng has been questioned during public hearings on amendments to the intelligence laws. The ad hoc committee was in KwaZulu-Natal where communities said they were concerned about the fact that intelligence agencies failed to pick up information to help prevent the looting and violence that left more than 350 people dead. Police Minister Bheki Cele and former minister of state security Ayanda Dlodlo had publicly blamed each other when the looting broke out in 2021. Cele had claimed he did not receive any intelligence from the State Security Agency (SSA) about the impending riots. However, Dlodlo had denied this and said they had shared information with Cele and it was up to the police on…

WaTCHING the audience’s reaction to Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address in the Cape Town City Hall was instructive. The ANC ministers and MPs all did their best to look upbeat. They pretended to smile and laugh. Some even managed to applaud as Cyril ploughed on interminably. “Listen to this one,” he called out, as if telling jokes while doing stand-up comedy on stage. They tried not to show it, but their taut, pale and worried faces gave them away as they tried valiantly to drown out the incredulous laughter, groaning and heckling from the rest of the gathering. They know that it’s all disinformation and lies. Even they can smell desperation in the air. The ANC MPs know that they’re in serious trouble. Cabinet ministers and backbenchers alike…

THE City of Tshwane's cash flow situation may be in dire straits with the metro being owed at least R23.3 billion by defaulting customers, but all is not lost. This was the sentiment expressed by mayor Cilliers Brink, who yesterday announced bold plans to turn around the metro’s fortunes. The municipality wanted to increase revenue and reduce expenditure in the range of R1 billion a month in the next six months. “We have to our advantage a R23.3bn debtors’ book that we aim to turn into cash. If a quarter of this debtor’s book is collectable, it is collectable in the next six months. If we succeed, we improve our cash-flow, our Eskom account, our credibility and creditworthiness,” he said. The City’s Eskom debt has shot up from R1.1…

Ingredients 1 cup (250ml) Guinness or any dark stout beer ½ cup (125ml) freshly brewed coffee 1 cup (250g) butter, melted ½ cup (60g) cocoa powder 2 cups (300g) treacle sugar 2 eggs 2 tsp (10ml) vanilla essence ⅔ cup (160ml) buttermilk or milk 2 cups (300g) cake flour 2 tsp (10ml) bicarbonate of soda ½ tsp (3ml) baking powder 1 slab (150g) dark chocolate, chopped Meringue icing: ½ cup (100g) white sugar 2 tsp (10ml) instant coffee ¼ cup (60ml) water 2 egg whites Pinch salt Pinch cream of tartar Method Preheat oven to 170°C. Line two 20–23cm cake tins with baking paper. Combine stout, coffee, butter, cocoa powder, treacle sugar, eggs, vanilla and buttermilk or milk. In a separate bowl combine flour, bicarbonate of soda and baking powder.…

WITH many individuals going out of their way to celebrate Valentine’s Day, Pearl Cele, operations manager at FNB Consumer Education, offers tips on enjoying the special day without breaking the bank. Cele believes that as pleasurable as pampering your loved ones can be, it does not justify breaking the bank, especially if you did not budget and plan for it. “There’s nothing wrong with spoiling our loved ones. However, we should not spend money we did not budget for or use credit to buy gifts. You can still enjoy this special day with your loved ones by keeping it simple. “If you are one of the people who celebrate Valentine’s Day, plan your activities ahead of time to avoid overspending on the day. “Also remember it’s the thought that counts…

To MARK Valentine’s Day, Showmax will be spotlighting local love stories that allow viewers to immerse themselves and enjoy the special day, which is also celebrated around the world. With the channel offering Valentine’s Day a uniquely local feel this year – there are three brand-new South African love stories – Forever Yena is one of the original programmes of interest. Forever Yena Just a few days before Valentine’s Day, Penny and Kwanda, the social media “it” couple leading in the series, unintentionally live-stream their break-up. Whether they can retrieve the “perfect umjolo” in time to preserve their relationship, the faith in love of their admirers, and a profitable marketing partnership with a dating app is the big question. In addition to Sikelelwa Vuyeleni (Adulting, 1802 Love Defies Time), Simphiwe…

South African star athlete Caster Semenya is set to take on the government of Switzerland at the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights. In what has been described as yet another David versus Goliath battle, the Olympian and her management team have pleaded with South Africans to step in and help with funds to fight this colossal battle. According to her legal representative, Greg Knott, the team has spent more than R30 million on legal and other fees that the team has had to source to ensure that the case continues to the highest level. “Even though it is difficult to quantify the exact figures because some of the work has been done pro bono, since we started back in 2019, we have spent more than R30…

EFF leader Julius Malema has urged his members to elect public representatives who will reflect the demographics of the country. Malema said delegates of the party had to bear in mind that South Africa comprises different racial groups and that must be reflected in the candidates they were voting for to go to Parliament. The EFF was meeting in Durban over the weekend to select 200 candidates to be on the national list to go to the national legislature. The number of parliamentarians for the EFF grew from 25 MPs in 2014 to 44 members in the 2019 national elections. In the latest Ipsos poll, the party is surging ahead of the DA to possibly become the official opposition. The party held its election manifesto launch at Moses…

Pakistan’s two largest political parties are wrangling over who will take the prime minister’s job after inconclusive elections last week forced them to join forces to gain a majority in a parliament dominated by independents backed by Imran Khan. The squabbling is likely to deepen concerns about the stability of the nuclear-armed nation which is mired in an economic crisis and battling a surge in militant violence. Pakistan’s benchmark share index KSE fell 2.1% yesterday, its first day of trading after the results. Late on Sunday, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif – who won the largest number of seats after the independents – and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, son of assassinated former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, said they…

TRANSNET National Ports Authority (TNPA) will now be able to offload shipping containers at two of its ports in spite of inclement weather conditions after taking delivery of four hydraulic tension mooring units. TNPA yesterday said that the first batch of four hydraulic tension mooring units had been delivered and operationalised at the ports of Cape Town and Ngqura as part of the 52 units procured in the second half of 2023. In September last year, TNPA appointed Netherlands-headquartered Shore Tension for the supply of 52 additional hydraulic tension mooring units in a bid to improve operational efficiencies at the ports, reduce shipping delays caused by inclement weather conditions, and improve vessel turnaround time. This comes as TNPA suffered huge backlogs during the crunch time festive season, with vessels stuck…

GOOGLE has announced that it is investing $25 million (R475m) to boost AI skills in Europe. The tech giant is on the hunt for social enterprises and non-profits to help approach those who they believe could train in Artificial Intelligence. Google will also host “growth academies” to support businesses in their use of AI. Adrian Brown, an executive director of the Centre for Public Impact, a non-profit working with Google on the venture, said: “Research shows that the benefits of AI could exacerbate existing inequalities – especially in terms of economic security and employment. “This new programme will help people across Europe develop their knowledge, skills and confidence around AI, ensuring that no one is left behind.” Meanwhile, Google has just announced a $1 billion investment in a…

films have always been a beacon of hope and source of comfort. Legendary actors like Hugh Grant, Patrick Swayze and Julia Roberts, have melted our hearts over the years with their performances in timeless movies. This Valentine’s Day, after the celebrations, why not curl up on the couch, pop open a bottle of wine and watch an old classic with your love? Below are our top five recommendations to help heighten the romance: Love Actually (2003) The romantic comedy is written and directed by Richard Curtis, who wrote Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill and Bridget Jones’s Diary. Love Actually’s cast is led by Hugh Grant and delves into different aspects of love as shown through 10 separate stories involving eight London couples, five weeks before Christmas. We soon…

Given five days to release cadre deployment records The ANC has lost its appeal in the Constitutional Court against an earlier court decision to hand over all cadre deployment records to the official opposition. The Constitutional Court has ordered the ANC to hand over the records to the DA within five days. The ANC went to the apex court after it lost the case in the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein to hand over the cadre deployment records, stretching back from 2013. At the time, President Cyril Ramaphosa was the ANC deputy president after he was elected at the party’s conference in December 2012 in Mangaung. Ramaphosa chaired the deployment committee until he became president of the party in December 2017. The Concourt ruled yesterday that the…

Curro Holdings has confirmed that a teacher has been suspended at its Curro Academy in Protea Glen, Soweto, following allegations of racism. According media reports, the teacher allegedly called three learners monkeys after they were reportedly disruptive in class. Curro Holdings said it became aware of the incident last Friday and initiated an investigation. Curro said the incident is believed to have taken place in the first term of last year. “At the time, no formal complaint was made through any channels at the school or within the Curro organisation. The executive head of the school also became aware of the allegations on Friday and immediately informed the Curro head office,” Curro said. The group added that at no time was a formal complaint lodged with the school, through any…

Allianz Trade, a global leader in trade credit and political risk, has warned that the ongoing energy crisis in South Africa poses the heaviest drag on economic growth as it affects business activity. Allianz added that the crippling rotational power cuts will not be resolved in the next 12 months, in spite of the government’s promises to end them sooner. This was in spite of Allianz Trade upgrading South Africa’s country risk ratings, saying that it was among 21 countries that showcased their resilience to global shocks. In its Country Risk Atlas yesterday, Allianz said electricity generation posed the heaviest drag on growth, with the national utility being able to work at only half of its nominal capacity. This comes as Eskom implemented Stage 6 load shedding indefinitely – up…

The UK Friends of the University of Pretoria Foundation (UK Friends of UP) has been launched, marking a significant milestone in fostering international collaboration and support for educational initiatives. The UK Friends of UP aims to facilitate fund-raising and support initiatives that enhance educational opportunities, research endeavours and community engagement at the university. Through strategic partnerships and philanthropic efforts, the foundation aims to make a meaningful impact on the lives of students, faculty and communities locally and globally. The launch, held in London, was attended by UP alumni and supporters who share a common vision of promoting educational excellence and fostering meaningful connections between the UK and UP. Guest speaker was well-known host of the 702 Money Show, Bruce Whitfield. In his keynote address, Vice-Principal: Research, Postgraduate Studies and Innovation…

Half of South African women are reported to suffer some form of emotional or physical violence during childbirth. This is according to #CountOurBirths, which reveals that a survey done by Embrace, a social movement for women, indicates that one in two women experience obstetric violence at South African health-care institutions. The survey, which studied the birth experiences of 482 women in South Africa, showed verbal abuse – which includes bullying, humiliation and coercion – as well as physical violence are some of the forms of abuse that women are subjected to during child bearing stages of their lives. Julie Mentor of the Embrace movement said women in public health institutions are twice as likely to experience obstetric violence. Those who birthed in public health-care institutions were twice as likely to…

CAPE Winelands residents have expressed mixed views over the Tobacco Bill, with some saying it would help prevent illness and death, and others rejecting it for economic reasons. Public hearings on the Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill kicked off in the Ceres Town Hall on Saturday, with the portfolio committee on health noting the opposing views. “Many told the committee that the damage caused by tobacco far exceeds the limited positive economic and indigenous health spin-offs derived from it. “Some of them shared experiences of losing relatives to tuberculosis and cancer because of smoking. “They said tobacco kills and that it is not a mere slogan to intimidate, but a dangerous warning based on scientific evidence,” the committee said. “The participants who rejected the bill based their…

ISRAEL’S military said it rescued two hostages and carried out a series of strikes in southern Gaza early yesterday, sparking confusion and panic in Rafah, where more than 1 million people have fled to escape conflict elsewhere in the Palestinian enclave. The two hostages, Fernando Simon Marman, 60, and Luis Har, 70, were taken from Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak on October 7, Israel’s military said, adding that both were in “good medical condition” and were taken for further medical examination in Israel. The early-morning strikes came hours after President Joe Biden stressed during a weekend phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that there should be no military operation in Rafah unless there are plans in place to protect civilians. Israel has faced increasing pressure from allies and neighbours to…

Judging how the last Jukskei derby between the Bulls and Lions went down to the wire, another fiery clash can be expected when the two teams face off on Saturday. Ellis Park will this time play host to Jake White’s men, who will be looking for a second consecutive win over the home side in the United Rugby Championship (URC). Kick-off is at 3pm. Leighton Koopman takes a look at some tasty clashes that the game can provide. Generals could dictate the game Last time out, the flyhalves of both sides controlled the game and it will most likely be the same this time around in what is set up to be a free-flowing clash in scorching Johannesburg temperatures. Whether it’s Sanele Nohamba or Jordan Hendrikse, the Lions…

Brad Binder admitted that he is all hands and no rhythm on the guitar, but that he will be able to pick his opportunities better this season after an oscillating 2023 that was just off tune for Red Bull KTM. Speaking at the launch of the new KTM for the upcoming season yesterday on the MotoGP website, Binder said with a chuckle: “No, I am absolutely useless on the guitar … I can’t play them to save my life.” While the 28-year-old can finger a ditty or two, he arguably won’t have much time to improve his musical skills as it seems more than likely that he will be too busy fighting for world rider championship points in the hopes of improving on a fourth-place finish from last year.…