Karine Jean Pierre ducks when asked about ex-Biden advisor calling Hunter pardon an 'attack' on justice
Sign up to our daily newsletter Did you know with an ad-lite subscription to Lancaster Guardian, you get 70% fewer ads while viewing the news that matters to you. Extraordinary talent can bud from anywhere, and one North West sixth form has committed to seeking it out - and nurturing it until it blossoms into something great. In our regional league tables measuring the performance of state-funded sixth form schools and colleges across the UK, the University of Liverpool Maths School took out the top spot in the North West , among some fierce competition. In the 2022/23 school year (the most recent data available, until this year’s data has been finalised and published), it had an exceptional A Level point score of 47.93 - giving it an average grade of A-. Advertisement Advertisement The school was also rated ‘outstanding’ across the board by Ofsted, the government’s education inspector, in its most recent review, which looks at quality of education, student behaviour and attitudes, school leadership and management, and student safeguarding. We caught up with headteacher Damian Haigh about the selective college’s unique curriculum, as well as what makes it a great place to be a student - and what it takes to secure a spot. This is what he told us: The University of Liverpool Maths School and its students The University of Liverpool Mathematics School is a specialist 16-to-19 sixth form school, housed in a university building on its central Liverpool campus. It’s fairly new, only having opened in September 2020. Mr Haigh, a maths teacher of nearly 30 years, has been the school’s headteacher since its inception - and worked on getting it up and running while it was still in the project stage. With just over a hundred students, the school is a pretty big contrast from his past life as an assistant head teacher at Wilmslow High School in Cheshire, which houses more than 2,000. Advertisement Advertisement The University of Liverpool Maths School is selective, meaning that while it is a fees-free state-funded school, it admits students based on how well they meet certain criteria. But Mr Haigh said they very rarely turned applicants away, with some eager young people travelling up to 40 kilometres each day to attend. “They have to be really keen on maths, because we do an awful lot of maths. But the students are really, really varied, actually,” he continued. “I really welcome applications from students from all over the region to places at the school. If they love maths and want to do maths A Levels, then they I would really encourage them to to check us out. “Most people who apply for a place get offered a place. The only reason that we wouldn't offer somebody a place would be if we thought they weren't going to enjoy it and weren't going to thrive here. Other than that, we're really keen to have everybody come and be part of what we do.” Standing out The University of Liverpool Maths School teaches just four A Levels; maths, further maths, physics and computer science, “plus a whole load of other stuff on top of that to some of the most amazing students across Merseyside and the North West”. But A Levels are just a small part of what the school offers, with a unique and varied curriculum that goes above and beyond - meeting its academically-advanced students where they stand. Advertisement Advertisement The titular university is one of the school’s key sponsors. It is currently housed in a university building - and all going well, may soon move to a more permanent home, a “lovely old building” in the north end of campus. But the institution is also vital in providing pupils with that extra academic challenge. “In the specialist maths school system, you're required to have a university with a strong maths department to support you in your work. And that's actually really important for us because our students are very high potential students,” Mr Haigh said. “Sometimes they're students who might come to us already having learned a lot of the content of A Level maths, sometimes even A Level further maths, and I will use university lecturers [and] researchers to help me with extending those students.” That meant young people might work with staff from the university on research projects, physics experiments, or even competitions. This classwork was supplemented with field trips to CERN and other major European research institutions - generously funded by donations for families who couldn’t otherwise afford it - and visits to top UK universities like Cambridge and Imperial College London. A great place to learn Part of what made the school such a great place to learn was the young people themselves, and their zeal for the subject. Advertisement Advertisement “If you go and listen in when our students are in a room with no staff around, if you just listen in at the door, then sometimes they'll be talking about the normal stuff that teenagers are talking about,” Mr Haigh said. “But a lot of the time, they're actually just doing maths and science together. And they're just genuinely having fun talking about how to code and how to solve problems and things like that. It's a brilliant peer group to be part of.” But this didn’t mean that they didn’t have to face or overcome any challenges, with the headteacher saying many pupils came to them very shy, or introverted, or lacking confidence. Some had even experienced bullying or social exclusion in their previous schools because they loved maths, and were seen as “different” by their peers. “When they come to us, suddenly they're in a much safer place. They're able to be themselves, and then we're able to take advantage of that newfound sense of safety in challenging them to go further with their maths, but also to go further with their team-working skills, their leadership skills and their communication skills,” he added. Stay up-to-date with the latest UK news and culture with our free UK Today newsletter. Advertisement Advertisement Community While the University of Liverpool Maths School didn’t tend to run as many community events as other schools might, they were no less present in the Merseyside and wider North West community. Part of that was outreach work - built on the recognition that great minds, and young people who will go on to change the world, can come from anywhere. “Every week we send teachers out from here to schools all over the region to run maths clubs or physics clubs, or do a bit of extra revision work for the top end of GCSE,” Mr Haigh said. “The reason that we do that is that we are very keen to identify talent in areas where there is disadvantage.” As a result, they had students come to them that have had a tough time in life, whether that be growing up in more deprived households, or having lived through serious and traumatic childhood experiences. They also had students coming to them who have had a great childhood, and “maths teachers who've been able to challenge them and support them”. “But they're not all like that,” he continued. “So we want to find the talent wherever it is so that we can nurture it, develop it, and send those students - whatever their starting points - we want to send them on to great success at university and to have great careers in science, technology, engineering and maths.” The University of Liverpool Maths School also made our list of the top 25 sixth form schools and colleges for A Levels in all of England. To learn more, check out our league table here .Voting machine firm suing Fox News now wants to probe Murdoch family trust fight
'Enough's enough': FENZ boss turns hose on bullying, harassmentDrones for commercial and recreational use have grown rapidly in popularity, despite restrictions on who can operate them and where they can be flown. No-fly zones are enforced around airports, military installations, nuclear plants, certain landmarks including the Statue of Liberty, and sports stadiums during games. Not everybody follows the rules. Sightings at airports have shut down flights in a few instances. Reported sightings of what appear to be drones flying over New Jersey at night in recent weeks have created anxiety among some residents, in part because it is not clear who is operating them or why. Some state and local officials have called for stricter rules to govern drones. After receiving reports of drone activity last month near Morris County, New Jersey, the Federal Aviation Administration issued temporary bans on drone flights over a golf course in Bedminster , New Jersey, that is owned by President-elect Donald Trump, and over Picatinny Arsenal Military Base . The FAA says the bans are in response to requests from “federal security partners.” The FAA is responsible for the regulations governing their use , and Congress has written some requirements into law. With a 2018 law, the Preventing Emerging Threats Act, Congress gave certain agencies in the Homeland Security and Justice departments authority to counter threats from unmanned aircraft to protect the safety of certain facilities. New drones must be outfitted with equipment allowing law enforcement to identify the operator, and Congress gave the agencies the power to detect and take down unmanned aircraft that they consider dangerous. The law spells out where the counter-drone measures can be used, including “national special security events” such as presidential inaugurations and other large gatherings of people. To get a “remote pilot certificate,” you must be at least 16 years old, be proficient in English, pass an aeronautics exam, and not suffer from a ”mental condition that would interfere with the safe operation of a small unmanned aircraft system.” Yes, but the FAA imposes restrictions on nighttime operations. Most drones are not allowed to fly at night unless they are equipped with anti-collision lights that are visible for at least 3 miles (4.8 kilometers). Over the past decade, pilots have reported hundreds of close calls between drones and airplanes including airline jets. In some cases, airplane pilots have had to take evasive action to avoid collisions. Drones buzzing over a runway caused flights to be stopped at London’s Gatwick Airport during the Christmas travel rush in 2018 and again in May 2023 . Police dismissed the idea of shooting down the drones, fearing that stray bullets could kill someone. Advances in drone technology have made it harder for law enforcement to find rogue drone operators — bigger drones in particular have more range and power. Some state and local officials in New Jersey are calling for stronger restrictions because of the recent sightings, and that has the drone industry worried. Scott Shtofman, director of government affairs at the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International, said putting more limits on drones could have a “chilling effect” on “a growing economic engine for the United States.” “We would definitely oppose anything that is blindly pushing for new regulation of what are right now legal drone operations,” he said. AirSight, a company that sells software against “drone threats,” says more than 20 states have enacted laws against privacy invasion by drones, including Peeping Toms. Will Austin, president of Warren County Community College in New Jersey, and founder of its drone program, says it's up to users to reduce public concern about the machines. He said operators must explain why they are flying when confronted by people worried about privacy or safety. “It's a brand new technology that's not really understood real well, so it will raise fear and anxiety in a lot of people,” Austin said. “We want to be good professional aviators and alleviate that.” Associated Press reporter Rebecca Santana in Washington, D.C., contributed.
Michael Vi The rally that was kicked off in early November with the election results has faded for some sectors, but not for the AI trade. Advanced technology poster child Palantir Technologies Inc. ( NASDAQ: PLTR ) reaches unprecedented heights If you liked this idea, sign up for a no-obligation free trial of my Seeking Alpha Marketplace service, Timely Trader ! I sift through various asset classes to find the best places for your capital, helping you maximize your returns. Timely Trader seeks to find winners before they become winners, and keep you out of losers. In addition, you get access to our community via chat, direct access to me, real-time price alerts, a model portfolio, and more. Sign up today! Josh Arnold has been covering financial markets for a decade, utilizing a combination of technical and fundamental analysis to identify potential winners early on in their growth cycles. Josh's focus is mainly on growth stocks. His goal is efficient and profitable use of capital, which overly rigid buy-and-hold strategies do not allow. Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, but may initiate a beneficial Short position through short-selling of the stock, or purchase of put options or similar derivatives in PLTR over the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.
Lument Finance Trust, Inc. Declares Quarterly Cash Dividends for its Common and Preferred Stock and Announces Special Cash Dividend Distribution
WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump suggests the United States should control Canada, Greenland, and the Panama Canal, sparking strong reactions from the involved countries. "Because we're being ripped off at the Panama Canal like we're being ripped off everywhere else," Trump said. Trump argues that Panama charges "ridiculous" fees for using the canal and criticizes President Jimmy Carter for ceding control of the canal in a historic peace treaty. "I leave them there as totally irrelevant issues and quite bordering on historical incoherence with what the Panama Canal has been, is and will be," said José Raúl Mulino, the president of Panama, through a translator. Trump has also targeted Canada on social media, suggesting it should become the 51st state and referring to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as a governor. "Canada allows people and drugs to flow in through our Northern Border," Trump said. Trump's comments have caused turmoil in Ottawa, leading to the resignation of the finance minister over disagreements on handling the new hostility. "What we need to do is make sure that we strengthen our relationships with our allies and treaty partners like Panama, not make ridiculous carnival barker threats," said Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, D-Florida. Trump also claims that U.S. control of Greenland is vital for "national security and freedom throughout the world." However, the Danish Prime Minister has stated that the territory is not for sale but is open for cooperation. During his first administration, Trump canceled a 2019 visit to Denmark after his initial offer to buy Greenland was rejected. This is not the first time a U.S. president has shown interest in Greenland; President Harry Truman offered to purchase it from Denmark in 1946 for $100 million in gold. President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday announced Miami-Dade County Commissioner Kevin Cabrera as the ambassador to Panama.Airflow Heating & Air Conditioning: Elevating Indoor Air Quality for Healthier Living
Apple iOS 18.2 New iPhone Software With Apple Intelligence: Should You Upgrade?
Faraday Future Announces it Will Change its Stock Ticker Symbol to "FFAI" and Host an “FF AI Open Day” Event in Early 2025Quarterly net revenues were RMB539.4 million (US$76.9 million) 1 Quarterly lidar shipments were 134,208 units SHANGHAI, Nov. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hesai Group (“Hesai” or the “Company”), (NASDAQ: HSAI), the global leader in three-dimensional light detection and ranging (lidar) solutions, today announced its unaudited financial results for the three months ended September 30, 2024. Operational Highlights Management Remarks “We are thrilled to share that our business continues to thrive and advance on a strong growth path,” said Yifan “David” Li, Hesai’s Co-Founder and CEO. “This quarter, we have made significant strides in the ADAS market, securing new design wins, partnerships, and development programs with key players, including a Top 3 OEM in Japan, SAIC Volkswagen, Leapmotor, and a premium EV brand backed by a leading Chinese automotive group. We also have reached a key milestone in our global expansion by successfully delivering B-sample units for our worldwide shipping programs with a leading global automotive OEM. OEMs at home and abroad have widely recognized lidar's essential safety features as a critical component in their holistic safety systems, similar to an ‘active’ seat belt or airbag. Furthermore, lidar’s versatility, with applications in emerging areas such as industrial robotics, smart factories and logistics, continues to garner attention. Our latest flagship product, OT128, a 360° mechanical, automotive-grade long-range lidar, is designed for scalable deployment in robotaxi and industrial applications. We are actively exploring new use cases and engaging with customers across both ADAS and AM sectors, leveraging our full lineup of versatile lidars. “I am also delighted to announce that Andrew Fan has joined us as our Chief Financial Officer. Andrew brings a wealth of experience in financial strategy and corporate finance, as well as an impressive track record of driving growth and operational efficiency in dynamic industries. His insights and leadership will be invaluable as we navigate the evolving landscape and continue to strengthen our position in the global lidar industry,” Dr. Li continued. “Andrew's strategic vision aligns seamlessly with our goals, and I believe his commitment to innovation and financial rigor will help us unlock new levels of success. I am confident that with his expertise and dedication, we are well-positioned for another exciting chapter of growth and accomplishment.” Mr. Andrew Fan, Hesai’s CFO, added, “Our strong third quarter financial performance was highlighted by robust operational execution across all key metrics. Quarterly shipment volume reached 134,208 units, marking our second consecutive quarter of nearly 50% sequential growth and propelling net revenues to RMB539.4 million (US$76.9 million), surpassing the upper range of our guidance. We maintained a robust blended gross margin of 47.7%, driven by effective cost management and our flywheel approach to cost and scale optimization. The margin was further bolstered by NRE revenues from our L4 lidar, which is being prepared for potential large-scale deployment by a leading global robotaxi player in the coming years. Our strong commitment to operational efficiency and financial discipline has also enabled us to consistently reduce our GAAP net loss for four consecutive quarters. Looking ahead, we’re expecting a record-breaking fourth quarter, with lidar shipments projected to reach 200,000 units—an astounding volume nearly matching our total shipments in 2023. Based on our current estimates, fourth quarter net revenues are expected to soar to nearly US$100 million, delivering an estimated net profit of US$20 million and a positive operating cash flow. Additionally, we anticipate achieving full-year profitability on a non-GAAP basis for 2024, positioning us to become the first automotive lidar company worldwide to achieve this remarkable milestone. This anticipated explosive growth underscores our robust momentum as we drive toward a landmark fiscal year finish!” Financial Highlights for the Third Quarter of 2024 (in RMB millions, except for per ordinary share data and percentage) Business Outlook For the fourth quarter of 2024, the Company expects net revenues to approach US$100 million (RMB702 million). The above outlook is based on the current market conditions and reflects the Company’s preliminary estimates of market and operating conditions and customer demand, which are all subject to change. Conference Call The Company’s management will host an earnings conference call at 8:00 PM U.S. Eastern Time on November 25, 2024 (9:00 AM Beijing/Hong Kong Time on November 26, 2024). For participants who wish to join the call by phone, please access the link provided below to complete the pre-registration process and dial in 5 minutes prior to the scheduled call start time. Upon registration, each participant will receive dial-in details to join the conference call. Additionally, a live and archived webcast of the conference call will be available on the Company’s investor relations website at https://investor.hesaitech.com . A replay of the conference call will be accessible approximately an hour after the conclusion of the call until December 3, 2024, by dialing the following telephone numbers: About Hesai Hesai is the global leader in three-dimensional light detection and ranging (lidar) solutions. The Company’s lidar products enable a broad spectrum of applications across passenger and commercial vehicles with advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous vehicle fleets (autonomous mobility). Hesai's technology also empowers robotics applications such as last-mile delivery robots and logistics robots in restricted areas. The Company’s commercially validated solutions are backed by superior R&D capabilities across optics, mechanics, and electronics. Hesai integrates lidar designs with an in-house manufacturing process, facilitating rapid product development while ensuring high performance, consistent quality and affordability. Hesai has established strong relationships with leading automotive OEMs, autonomous vehicle, and robotics companies worldwide, covering over 40 countries as of December 31, 2023. Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures To supplement Hesai's consolidated financial results presented in accordance with GAAP, Hesai uses the following measures defined as non-GAAP financial measures by the SEC: loss from operation excluding share-based compensation expenses, net loss excluding share-based compensation expenses, net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders excluding share-based compensation, and per ordinary share net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders excluding share-based compensation. The presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. For more information on these non-GAAP financial measures, please see the tables captioned “Unaudited Reconciliations of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results” set forth at the end of this release. Hesai believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide meaningful supplemental information regarding its performance and liquidity by excluding share-based compensation expenses that may not be indicative of its operating performance from a cash perspective. Hesai believes that both management and investors benefit from referring to these non-GAAP financial measures in assessing its performance and when planning and forecasting future periods. These non-GAAP financial measures also facilitate management's internal comparisons to Hesai's historical performance and liquidity. Hesai believes these non-GAAP financial measures are useful to investors in allowing for greater transparency with respect to supplemental information used by management in its financial and operational decision making. A limitation of using these non-GAAP financial measures is that they exclude share-based compensation expenses that have been and will continue to be for the foreseeable future a significant recurring expense in our business. Management compensates for these limitations by providing specific information regarding the GAAP amounts excluded from each non-GAAP financial measure. The accompanying tables have more details on the reconciliations between GAAP financial measures that are most directly comparable to non-GAAP financial measures. Exchange Rate Information This announcement contains translations of certain RMB amounts into U.S. dollars at a specified rate solely for the convenience of the reader. Unless otherwise noted, all translations from RMB to U.S. dollars and from U.S. dollars to RMB are made at a rate of RMB7.0176 to US$1.00, the exchange rate on September 30, 2024, set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board. The Company makes no representation that the RMB or U.S. dollars amounts referred could be converted into U.S. dollars or RMB, as the case may be, at any particular rate or at all. Safe Harbor Statement This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “aims,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “confident,” “potential,” “continue” or other similar expressions. Among other things, the business outlook and quotations from management in this announcement, as well as the Company’s strategic and operational plans, contain forward-looking statements. The Company may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including but not limited to statements about the Company’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: the Company’s goals and strategies; the Company’s future business development, financial condition and results of operations; expected changes in the Company’s revenues, costs or expenditures; the trends in, expected growth and the market size of the ADAS, autonomous mobility and robotics industries; the market for and adoption of lidar and related technology; the Company’s ability to produce high-quality products with wide market acceptance; the success of the Company’s customers in developing and commercializing products using its solutions, and the market acceptance of those products; the Company’s ability to introduce new products that meet its customers’ requirement; the Company’s expectations regarding the effectiveness of its marketing initiatives and the relationship with its third-party partners; competition in the Company’s industry; the Company’s ability to recruit and retain qualified personnel; relevant government policies and regulations relating to the Company’s industry; the Company’s ability to protect its systems and infrastructures from cyber-attacks; general economic and business conditions globally and in China; and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company’s filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of this press release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law. For investor and media inquiries, please contact: In China: Hesai Group Yuanting “YT” Shi, Investor Relations Director Email: ir@hesaitech.com Piacente Financial Communications Jenny Cai Tel: +86 (10) 6508-0677 Email: hesai@tpg-ir.com In the United States: Piacente Financial Communications Brandi Piacente Tel: +1-212-481-2050 Email: hesai@tpg-ir.com Source: Hesai Group _______________________________________ 1 All translations from RMB to USD for the third quarter of 2024 were made at the exchange rate of RMB7.0176 to US$1.00, the exchange rate on September 30, 2024, set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board. 2 See “Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” and “Unaudited Reconciliation of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results” included in this release for further details.
SANTA CLARA — Jake Moody missed another goal attempt in Week 17, setting social media and talk radio ablaze. Time for the 49ers to get a new kicker, or at the very least some competition during training camp in 2025. Not necessarily, even if Shanahan threw his tablet on the sidelines in frustration after missing a 41-yard attempt in a 29-17 loss to the Miami Dolphins. “I believe we’ve got the right guy,” Shanahan said Thursday as the 49ers (6-9) began preparations to host the Detroit Lions (13-2). He’s showed that at times. I thought he showed that at times in his rookie year.I thought he showed that in being 12 of 13 to start the year and I think he’ll show that in the future.” But rest assured that Moody will be watched closely to see how he performs in the final two weeks of the season, beginning with a spotlight game on Monday night in a rematch of last year’s NFC Championship Game won 34-31 by the 49ers. Since the game is at Levi’s Stadium, Moody should enter with some confidence. He’s 23-for-30 on field goal attempts a 76.7 rate that’s unacceptable in today’s NFL, let alone for a kicker who was selected in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft. But all seven of his misses have been on the road — one in Miami, two in Buffalo in the snow, three in Tampa Bay in the sunshine and one in Los Angeles. Which apparently came as news to Moody. “I actually didn’t know that,” Moody said. “That’s pretty interesting. I don’t think that necessarily has anything to do with it, being home or away. It’s just the misses, I’ve got to hit better kicks. It’s not any specific reason why I miss. I’ve just got to make sure I’m dialed in on my form.” Moody is 15-for-15 in field goal attempts at home, starting off 6-for-6 in the opener against the New York Jets. But Moody sustained a high ankle sprain on his right kicking foot in Week 5 against Arizona, missing three games as the 49ers cycled through Matthew Wright (also injured on a kick return) and Anders Carlson. “Since he’s come back, he hasn’t been as consistent, obviously,” Shanahan said. “I think a lot of it probably has to do with (the injury), just common-sense wise. Hopefully he can get to this offseason, heal up and find a stroke again.” Having a midseason injury was a “learning experience,” according to Moody. “Whether or not that was an issue, I don’t know. I’m still doing the best I can trying to keep everything that it was prior to the injury,” Moody said. “It’s not like you can really blame something.” Whether or not that was an issue, I don’t know. I’m still doing the best I can trying to keep everything that it was prior to the injury. It’s not like you can really blame something. While tempted to alter his approach and preparation, Moody thought better of it. He considers kicking similar to golf, and said it can take years for golfers to master a swing change. “In this business you don’t have that much time to try and dial something in and do big changes like that,” Moody said.”You’ve got to be consistent and not be changing too many things or you’ll be overwhelmed by everything.” While the 49ers may bring another kicker into camp just for an extra leg, Shanahan didn’t sound as if he was looking to set up a competition for No. 1. “I think you’ve got the wrong guy if you have to,” Shanahan said. “You do that when you don’t think you’re going to have a guy, but when those guys miss too much you go get a new one usually. And that’s what’s tough about the kicker position.” Shanahan hinted strongly Monday that linebacker Dre Greenlaw wouldn’t play in the last two games, saying he’d wait until talking to him before making it official. “He’s not going to play in these two games,” Shanahan said. “He understood.” Left tackle Spencer Burford (calf) did not practice and Shanahan thought there was a chance he’d be ready to face Detroit with Trent Williams and Jaylon Moore both on injured reserve. Left guard Aaron Banks (knee), who hasn’t yet been placed on I.R., did not practice and neither did edge rusher Robert Beal Jr. Those who were limited were safety Ji’Ayir Brown (ankle), running back Isaac Guerendo (foot/ankle). Nick Bosa (hip/oblique) was off the injury list. Veteran offensive lineman Matt Hennessey was added to the roster with Williams going on injured reserve, with Sebastian Gutierrez joining the practice squad. Shanahan will try to piecemeal an offensive line heading into Detroit, with newcomer Charlie Heck also in the mix. “We’ve got to mix and match a number of guys,” Shanahan said. The 49ers activated the practice clock on rookie linebacker Tatum Bethune, who has been out with a knee injury in hopes of getting him back before the end of the regular season. Detroit Dan Campbell thinks last year’s loss to the 49ers in the NFC Championship Game helped prepare them for taking another run at this season. “I think we’re really more mature,” Campbell told the Detroit media. “Every year you learn something about winning and losing. And when you take an `L’ like we did last year you learn from that . . . I think we’re much more prepared than at that time. You feel like you’re (prepared) but you get into that with a heavyweight that’s been there numerous times, you don’t always know. I think that as an experience has served us well moving into this year.” The Lions have also taken notice of what happened to the 49ers in 2022 when Brock Purdy tore the UCL in his throwing elbow in the NFC title game against Philadelphia and didn’t have a viable quarterback. Veteran quarterback Teddy Bridgewater was signed to the roster, giving the Lions three quarterbacks along with starter Jared Goff and backup Hendon Hooker. — Tight end George Kittle (68 receptions, 967 yards) needs 33 yards receiving to reach 1,000 for the fourth time in his career and second in succession. With eight touchdown receptions, he his three shy of his career high of 11 in 2022. — Wide receiver Jauan Jennings (63 receptions, 856 yards) needs 144 yards in his last two games to reach 1,000 for the first time in his career. HIs six touchdown receptions are a career high. Related Articles — Defensive end Nick Bosa has has seven sacks and needs three over the last two games for his fourth consecutive season in double figures. Bosa had 15 1/2 in 2021, 18 1/2 in 2022 (winning NFC Defensive Player of the Year) and 10 1/2 last season. First, Bosa is thinking about his eighth sack. “Just trying to get to the next one,” Bosa said. “But it would be cool.” — Defensive end Leonard Floyd has 8 1/2 sacks and needs 1 1/2 over the last two games to reach double figures for the second consecutive season and for the fourth time in his career. — Middle linebacker Fred Warner (117 tackles) needs 21 in his last two games to exceed his career high of 137 in 2021. Warner has exceeded 100 tackles in each of his seven seasons. — Quarterback Brock Purdy has 31 rushing first downs, three more than Colin Kaepernick had in 2013 and 2014.In 2024, Russia took over the Brics chairmanship. The central theme of the Russian year in Brics has been "Strengthening Multilateralism for Just Global Development and Security". It reflects the desire of all participants for constructive cooperation based on the principles of international law, the values of equality, mutual respect and the sovereign choice of the path of development. This year we have already worked in a renewed, expanded composition, and Russia, in its capacity as Brics chair, did everything to ensure that the new members would quickly and organically integrate into the Brics family. New participants realised that it is possible to achieve mutually beneficial results while respecting each other's interests. It is not surprising that all of them put forward useful, promising ideas and initiatives. There were tangible results in the spheres of politics and security, economics and finance, humanitarian contacts. During the Russian chairmanship more than 250 events on various levels were held, with the participation of government officials and private sector -- a lot of public events. Among them the Brics International Film Festival, the Brics Academic Forum under the motto "BRICS: New Figures on the World Chessboard", the Brics Theatre Schools, the 8th Brics Creative Business Forum. There was a meeting of foreign ministers of the Brics countries in which the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand Maris Sangiampongsa also took part between June 10-11 in Nizhny Novgorod. More than 80 countries -- including Thailand -- took part in the Brics Sports Games in Kazan. PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra, in her capacity as leader of the Pheu Thai Party, participated in the first International Political Parties Forum attended by around 40 parties from Brics and partner countries. Russia received Meeting of the Heads of the prosecutorial services, Brics Tourism Forum, Brics Twin Cities and Municipalities Forum, Meeting of the Heads of emergency services, 10th Brics Parliamentary Forum, Meeting of the Heads of the Supreme Audit Institutions, meetings of the Brics Ministers of Industry, Ministers of Labour and Employment, Ministers of Culture, Ministers of Justice, Energy Ministers, Communications Ministers, Science, Technology and Innovation Ministers, Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors, Health Ministers, Heads of the Customs Services, Heads of tax administrations, Heads of National Standardisation bodies and many more. Russia chaired Brics Media Summit, 1st Brics Women's Forum, Brics Digital Forum, Brics plus Fashion Summit, annual Meeting of the Brics Business Council. Innovations during the Russian chairmanship also focused on local self-governance. A municipal forum was held, featuring engaging discussions about everyday lives of citizens and how chairpersons of city and village councils address their challenges. The key event of the year was the Oct 22-24 summit in Kazan, which marked the opening of a new stage in the development of Brics. Delegations from 35 countries and six international organisations took part in it. Such a broad representation clearly demonstrated the growing interest in interaction between those countries which are actively pursuing a truly independent, sovereign policy. A common desire to strengthen coordination at international platforms was confirmed, including on issues of reforming global governance and the global monetary and financial system, combating modern challenges and threats, including terrorism, corruption, and drug trafficking. The Brics Kazan Declaration actually summarised the discussions that took place. It confirmed the commitment of all participants to building a more democratic, inclusive and multipolar world order based on international law and the UN Charter, recorded common determination to counter the practice of illegitimate sanctions. At the Brics summit the guidelines for institutional strengthening and further consolidation were outlined. The decision was made to create a category of "partner states". It is important to point out that the Kingdom of Thailand received an invitation and became a partner-state of Brics. A commitment was expressed to developing dialogue with countries of the Global Majority in the "Outreach" or "BRICS plus" format. We witnessed the Brics gradual transformation into a leading player on the world stage. Other achievements include the initiative on the creation of a grain exchange, establishment of a technological and investment platform, creation of a group for developments in the field of nuclear medicine. There are good prospects for strengthening industrial cooperation, implementation of new projects in energy, logistics, high technology and many other areas, intensification of interaction in cultural, scientific areas and sports, further promotion of contacts between civil societies and youth. In Kazan, we confirmed that Brics is not a closed format, it is open to all who share the values of Brics. Its members are ready to work on finding joint solutions without external dictates or attempts to impose narrow approaches. Brics cannot fail to respond to the growing demand in the world for precisely this kind of cooperation. Brics plays an important role in the global architecture of international relations. It represents almost 3.64 billion people, that is equivalent to more than 45% of the world population. One of its main tasks now is to maintain peace and stability, prevent the outbreak of a global war. We believe that Brics is capable of completing such tasks and will be able to help the world reach these noble goals. The results of the current year will become a solid foundation for further cooperation. Russia is handing over the Brics chairmanship functions to Brazil. We wish our Brazilian partners success in its Brics endeavours next year. Evgeny Tomikhin is Ambassador of Russia to Thailand.File photo MANILA, Philippines — Nearly four out of 10 jobs in the Philippines are “highly” exposed to artificial intelligence (AI) and its potential to either displace workers or support various tasks to boost the productivity of employees, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said. In a country report dated Dec. 20, the Washington-based institution estimated that 36 percent of jobs in the Philippines are “highly exposed” to AI, which can either replace human workers or “complement“ tasks to boost the efficiency of employees. The good news is “more than half” of those highly impacted jobs were also rated as “highly complementary”—where AI can augment rather than take over the tasks performed by the worker. READ: Adopt AI or perish This means that 14 percent of the total workforce in the Philippines are at risk of being replaced by AI, the IMF warned, adding that the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector might experience shifts amid recent advances in such a technology. The IMF specifically noted the proliferation of AI-driven chatbots and virtual assistants that now handle more customer service tasks. IMF staff estimated that roles such as technicians, services and sales, and clerical support have large exposures to AI. At the same time, these positions may also see the highest risk of job displacement due to the low potential for AI to just provide support to—and not replace—the workers in these occupations. On the flip side, there are a lot of opportunities for AI to augment the tasks of managers, professionals and machine operators. Workers in craft and trades, skilled agriculture, and elementary occupations were the least impacted by AI. The IMF also said that AI exposure varies by gender in the Philippines. It estimated that approximately half of all jobs held by women were highly exposed to the disruptions, compared to a quarter by men. “It is due to more women being employed as clerical support, service, and sales workers whereas men have a higher share in trades, agriculture, machine operations, and elementary occupations which are less likely to be impacted by AI at this stage,” it added. The latest country report was a product of the IMF’s 2024 Article IV Consultation in the Philippines that wrapped up early this month. And the findings were not surprising at all considering how vibrant the local information technology and business process management (IT-BPM) sector is. For this year, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) expects BPO revenues to grow by 6 percent to $31.4 billion. This means BPO receipts would outperform the growth of other key dollar engines such as remittances, which are projected to expand by just 3 percent based on BSP forecasts. The IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines, the umbrella organization of IT-BPM firms in the country, is projecting a much better revenue haul of $37.5 billion and for the domestic workforce headcount across the industry to reach 1.82 million by year’s end. Given the Philippines’ service-based economy, the IMF said the government would need to invest in digital infrastructure and education to ensure that the gains from AI use “are widely shared.” The IMF also urged local authorities to “strengthen the social safety net” for workers that will be replaced by AI. “The authorities concur that skills gaps, including those related to Al, and the high cost of power are the biggest bottlenecks to greater private sector investment,” the fund said. “They hope that joint efforts between the private sector and government agencies to modernize education curriculums, along with greater training for teachers at all levels and use of digitalization, will improve education outcomes,” it added. The IMF said that AI will have a potential impact on the global labor market, citing many studies predicting the likelihood that jobs will be replaced by AI, but in many cases will likely complement human work. In its study, it said almost 40 percent of global employment is exposed to AI. “Historically, automation and information technology have tended to affect routine tasks, but one of the things that sets AI apart is its ability to impact high-skilled jobs. As a result, advanced economies face greater risks from AI—but also more opportunities to leverage its benefits—compared with emerging markets and developing economies,” it noted. In advanced economies, it said about 60 percent of jobs may be impacted by AI. “Roughly half the exposed jobs may benefit from AI integration, enhancing productivity. For the other half, AI applications may execute key tasks currently performed by humans, which could lower labor demand, leading to lower wages and reduced hiring. In the most extreme cases, some of these jobs may disappear,” it warned. In emerging markets and low-income countries, by contrast, AI exposure is expected to be 40 percent and 26 percent, respectively, according to the IMF. 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 . “These findings suggest emerging market and developing economies face fewer immediate disruptions from AI. At the same time, many of these countries don’t have the infrastructure or skilled workforces to harness the benefits of AI, raising the risk that over time the technology could worsen inequality among nations,” it noted.