After months of testing, OpenAI rolled out "advanced voice" mode for ChatGPT back in September . The feature lets you have real-time conversations with ChatGPT: You can interrupt the bot and its "speaking" to ask another question, and it understands your tone of voice, which it uses to both inform its responses, as well as the inflection it uses. (It's very creepy when it laughs.) One feature of advanced voice mode has been missing since launch, however. When OpenAI first announced the perk back in May, it showed off how ChatGPT would be able to access your camera and "see" the world around you. While chatting with the bot, you could point your camera at something, ask a question, and ChatGPT would answer as best it could. Seven months later, this capability is here, and it's frighteningly impressive. In order to access it, you'll need to have a paid subscription to ChatGPT—either Plus ($20 per month), or Pro ($200 per month). ChatGPT Team subscribers are also eligible. The feature may not be available on your end right away, even if you pay, since OpenAI is rolling it out over time. Testing out ChatGPT advanced voice mode's vision feature Accessing the camera is pretty straightforward once it rolls out to your account. You launch advanced voice mode the same way you always do, using the waveform icon in the bottom-right of the chat. From here, you'll see a new camera icon, which, of course, launches the live camera feed. This doesn't interrupt the chat: You can be in the middle of a conversation with ChatGPT, open the camera, and continue gabbing away, only now with the camera feed as part of the conversation. The first time I used this, I pointed the camera at a Nintendo Switch box I had nearby, with an iPhone cable and my Magic Trackpad resting on top of it, and asked, "What is this?" ChatGPT said: "It looks like a Nintendo Switch OLED box with some cables and a laptop on top. Are you planning on setting it up?" Two of out three correct, as it mistook my trackpad for a laptop, but hey, close enough. Next up, I pointed it at my water bottle, and asked it to identify what I was highlighting: "That looks like a black Hydro Flask bottle. It’s great for keeping drinks cold or hot! Do you take it with you often?" I asked a follow-up: "Do you know what model of Hydro Flask this is?" ChatGPT: "I can’t be certain of the exact model, but it looks like one of their wide-mouth bottles, probably around 32 ounces. It’s definitely designed to keep your drinks at the right temperature for hours." That...is basically right. I'm not all that comfortable with ChatGPT guessing the size correctly, either. I moved on to my keyboard, which ChatGPT accurately stated was an Apple Magic Keyboard. I asked which keys it could see, and named a handful, but not all, of the keys I had in frame. So, I asked how many keys it could see, and it said "about 30," when there were 26. So, again, close. It was able to identify the MagSafe port on my MacBook, as well as the two USB ports and the headphone jack to its right. It recognized the air vent in my ceiling, and the specific type of boots I had by my front door. All in all, it basically recognized everything I tested it on—minus the trackpad. Advanced voice mode's sight is fast But beyond recognition, I think what startled me the most was the speed of these responses. You ask ChatGPT to identify something, and it does, sometimes quicker than if you asked a real person to do it. Sometimes, the bot will hold onto a word for a moment (e.g. "I thiiiiiiiiink that's a...") which is probably a trick to let ChatGPT process the rest of what it wants to say. I've also caught it less sure of itself with its first response: I pointed it at my Magic Mouse, and its first guess what a computer mouse. But when I asked what brand it was, it didn't only specify Apple, but said it was an Apple Magic Mouse, known for its "sleek design" and "touch-sensitive surface." All things considered, though, these responses are often near-instantaneous, which speaks to how powerful OpenAI's models are these days. I'm still largely an AI skeptic, but this was the first development in a while that impressed me—and I'm torn about how I feel about that. On the one hand, I could see this tech being used for good. Imagine how helpful something like this could be for users who are blind or have impaired vision, especially in a convenient device like smart glasses . Someone could ask their AI assistant what direction they're facing, to read the menu at a restaurant, or whether it's safe to cross the street. Tech like this could change search for the better, and make it easy to learn new things about the world by pointing our smartphone camera at a subject. On the flip side, my mind turns to the negative, especially since AI is still prone to hallucination . As more and more people use this technology, they will inevitably experience the mistakes AI can make, and if they're relying on the bot to help them with tasks—especially something that involves their safety—hallucinations can be dangerous. I didn't experience any large errors; just the trackpad mixup. Anderson Cooper found that the bot made a mistake on a geometry problem (again, not a huge issue). But it's a good reminder that as this tech improves rapidly, its inherent flaws raise the stakes for failure. Perhaps that's why every live camera session warns you not to use the feature for anything involving safety.Rockwell Medical (NASDAQ:RMTI) Cut to Hold at StockNews.com
DAMASCUS (AP) — Exuberant Syrians observed the first Friday prayers since the ouster of President Bashar Assad , gathering in the capital's historic main mosque, its largest square and around the country to celebrate the end of half a century of authoritarian rule. The newly installed interim prime minister delivered the sermon at the Umayyad Mosque, declaring that a new era of “freedom, dignity and justice” was dawning for Syria. The gatherings illustrated the dramatic changes that have swept over Syria less than a week after insurgents marched into Damascus and toppled Assad. Amid the jubilation, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with allies around the region and called for an “inclusive and non-sectarian” interim government. Blinken arrived in Iraq on a previously unannounced stop after talks in Jordan and Turkey, which backs some of the Syrian insurgent factions. So far, U.S. officials have not talked of direct meetings with Syria's new rulers. The main insurgent force, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, has worked to establish security and start a political transition after seizing Damascus early Sunday. The group has tried to reassure a public both stunned by Assad's fall and concerned about extremist jihadis among the rebels. Insurgent leaders say the group has broken with its extremist past, though HTS is still labeled a terrorist group by the United States and European countries. HTS's leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, appeared in a video message Friday congratulating “the great Syrian people for the victory of the blessed revolution.” “I invite them to head to the squares to show their happiness without shooting bullets and scaring people,” he said. “And then after, we will work to build this country, and as I said in the beginning, we will be victorious by the help of God.” Huge crowds, including some insurgents, packed the historic Umayyad Mosque in the capital's old city, many waving the rebel opposition flag — with its three red stars — which has swiftly replaced the Assad-era flag with with its two green stars. Syrian state television reported that the sermon was delivered by Mohammed al-Bashir, the interim prime minister installed by HTS this week. The scene resonated on multiple levels. The mosque, one of the world's oldest dating back some 1,200 years, is a beloved symbol of Syria, and sermons there like all mosque sermons across Syria were tightly controlled under Assad's rule. Also, in the early days of the anti-government uprising in 2011, protesters would leave Friday prayers to march in rallies against Assad before he launched a brutal crackdown that turned the uprising into a long and bloody civil war. “I didn’t step foot in Umayyad Mosque since 2011," because of the tight security controls around it, said one worshipper, Ibrahim al-Araby. “Since 11 or 12 years, I haven’t been this happy.” Another worshipper, Khair Taha, said there was “fear and trepidation for what’s to come. But there is also a lot of hope that now we have a say and we can try to build.” Blocks away in Damascus' biggest roundabout, named Umayyad Square, thousands gathered, including many families with small children — a sign of how, so far at least, the country's transformation has not caused violent instability. “Unified Syria to build Syria,” the crowd chanted. Some shouted slurs against Assad and his late father, calling them pigs, an insult that would have previously led to offenders being hauled off to one of the feared detention centers of Assad’s security forces. One man in the crowd, 51-year-old Khaled Abu Chahine — originally from the southern province of Daraa, where the 2011 uprising first erupted — said he hoped for “freedom and coexistence between all Syrians, Alawites, Sunnis, Shiites and Druze.” The interim prime minister, al-Bashir, had been the head of a de facto administration created by HTS in Idlib, the opposition's enclave in northwest Syria. The rebels were bottled up in Idlib for years before fighters broke out in a shock offensive and marched across Syria in 10 days. Similar scenes of joy unfolded in other major cities, including in Aleppo, Homs, Hama, Latakia and Raqqa. Al-Sharaa, HTS' leader, has promised to bring a pluralistic government to Syria, seeking to dispel fears among many Syrians — especially its many minority communities — that the insurgents will impose a hard-line, extremist rule. Another key factor will be winning international recognition for a new government in a country where multiple foreign powers have their hands in the mix. The Sunni Arab insurgents who overthrew Assad did so with vital help from Turkey, a longtime foe of the U.S.-backed Kurds . Turkey controls a strip of Syrian territory along the shared border and backs an insurgent faction uneasily allied to HTS — and is deeply opposed to any gains by Syria's Kurds. In other developments, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Turkey’s Embassy in Damascus would reopen Saturday for the first time since 2012, when it closed due to the Syrian civil war. The U.S. has troops in eastern Syria to combat remnants of the Islamic State group and supports Kurdish-led fighters who rule most of the east. Since Assad's fall, Israel has bombed sites all over Syria, saying it is trying to prevent weapons from falling into extremist hands. It has also seized a swath of southern Syria along the border with the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, calling it a buffer zone. After talks with Fidan, Blinken said there was “broad agreement” between Turkey and the U.S. on what they would like to see in Syria. That starts with an "interim government in Syria, one that is inclusive and non-sectarian and one that protects the rights of minorities and women” and does not “pose any kind of threat to any of Syria’s neighbors,” Blinken said. Fidan said the priority was “establishing stability in Syria as soon as possible, preventing terrorism from gaining ground, and ensuring that IS and the PKK aren’t dominant” — referring to the Islamic State group and the Kurdistan Workers Party. Ankara considers the PKK within Turkey's borders a terrorist group, as it does the Kurdish-backed forces in Syria backed by the U.S. A U.S. official said that in Ankara, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Fidan both told Blinken that Kurdish attacks on Turkish positions would require a response. The official spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity to discuss private diplomatic talks. The U.S. has been trying to limit such incidents in recent days and had helped organize an agreement to prevent confrontations around the northern Syrian town of Manbij, which was taken by Turkey-backed opposition fighters from the U.S.-backed Kurdish forces earlier this week. In Baghdad, Blinken met with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani, saying both countries wanted to ensure the Islamic State group — also known by its Arabic acronym Daesh — doesn't exploit Syria's transition to re-emerge. “Having put Daesh back in its box, we can’t let it out, and we’re determined to make sure that that doesn’t happen," Blinken said. The U.S. official who briefed reporters said that Blinken had impressed upon al-Sudani the importance of Iraq exercising its full sovereignty over its territory and airspace to stop Iran from transporting weapons and equipment to Syria, either for Assad supporters or onward to the militant Hezbollah group in Lebanon. Lee reported from Ankara, Turkey. Associated Press writers Suzan Fraser in Ankara and Sally Abou AlJoud in Beirut contributed to this report.Does Billionaire Ken Griffin Know Something Wall Street Doesn't? The Citadel Chief Sold More than Half His Broadcom Stock and Is Piling Into Another Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stock-Split Stock Instead
Published 3:45 pm Sunday, November 24, 2024 By Data Skrive Ranked teams will be on Monday’s college basketball schedule for five games, including the Auburn Tigers taking on the Iowa State Cyclones. Watch men’s college basketball, other live sports and more on Fubo. What is Fubo? Fubo is a streaming service that gives you access to your favorite live sports and shows on demand. Use our link to sign up for a free trial. Catch tons of live college basketball , plus original programming, with ESPN+ or the Disney Bundle.Told he could die in just months, this 27-year-old is 'more positive about life now'
Hezbollah launched approximately 200 rockets into Israel on Sunday as Israel prepared to initiate a new wave of airstrikes on Beirut. The Israeli military said in a statement that the rockets, fired by Hezbollah militants, targeted northern and central Israel and included three drones. It added that the country's aerial defence systems intercepted only some of the rockets. A launcher from which projectiles were fired toward the Haifa Bay area was struck by the military. At least eight people were injured by the afternoon. In Kfar Blum, close to the Israel-Lebanon border, first responders with the Magen David Adom rescue service said they treated a man who sustained serious wounds. A five-story residential building in Haifa, the largest city on Israel's northern coast, was evacuated due to fears of collapse after it was struck by a rocket, the Fire and National Rescue Authority reported. Additional damage was reported in the northern cities of Kiryat Shmona and Ma'alot, as well as near Petah Tikvah in central Israel. Meanwhile, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for missile and drone strikes on a military target in Tel Aviv, in retaliation for Israel's recent airstrikes on Beirut, Xinhua news agency reported. The attacks were carried out at 06:30 am local time (0430 GMT) "with a salvo of high-quality missiles and a squadron of attack drones," and "the operation achieved its goals," Hezbollah said in a statement, without specifying its target and the precise location. The group said in other separate statements that it also launched for the first time "an air attack with a squadron of suicide drones on the Ashdod naval base, 150 km from the Lebanese-Palestinian border." The group also claimed launching drone attacks on a newly-established operations room for the Israeli army in the settlement of Metula in northern Israel, and missile attacks on other northern cities including Hatzor Haglilit, Ma'alot, and Kfar Blum. Lebanese military sources, who spoke anonymously, told Xinhua that violent clashes have been ongoing since the early hours of Sunday between Hezbollah members and Israeli forces that had advanced in Lebanon's southeastern town of Khiam, the village of Yaroun in the central sector, and the village of Chamaa in the western sector of the border area. The Israeli army blew up about 18 houses on the eastern edge of Khiam, including the municipality building, they said. Meanwhile, Israeli warplanes carried out seven raids on towns and villages in eastern Lebanon and 10 on those in the south, and the Israeli artillery shelled 11 border towns and villages in southern Lebanon with about 50 shells, they added. The Israeli military also announced plans to renew airstrikes on Beirut's southern suburb, urging residents to evacuate the area in a post on social media platform X. On Saturday, Israel carried out at least three waves of strikes on the Lebanese capital, killing at least 20 individuals and injuring 66 others, according to Lebanon's Health Ministry. Since September 23, the Israeli army has intensified its air attack on Lebanon in an escalation of conflict with Hezbollah. Israel further initiated a ground operation across its northern border into Lebanon in early October. (Except for the headline, this story, from a syndicated feed, has not been edited by Odishatv.in staff)DENVER (AP) — Travis Hunter made a pair of proclamations Thursday: He’s for sure entering the NFL draft after this season, but not until he sees Colorado all the way through the College Football Playoff — if the Buffaloes make it there. The first was already a given for the draft-eligible junior who plays both receiver and cornerback. The second is a risk-reward play for a projected high first-round pick who averages around 120 snaps a game. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Get the latest sports news delivered right to your inbox six days a week.Syrians cheer end of 50 years of Assad rule at first Friday prayers since government fell
Truist Financial Issues Positive Forecast for Universal Technical Institute (NYSE:UTI) Stock PriceNone
MISSOULA — The Montana women's basketball team ran into a buzzsaw Sunday in defensive-minded Big Ten foe Minnesota. The Golden Gophers held the Lady Griz to a season-low seven points in the first quarter in racing to a 22-point lead. From there Minnesota cruised to an 84-45 win at Williams Arena in Minneapolis. Montana had a two-game win streak snapped in falling to 3-3. Minnesota, who held UMass-Lowell and Oregon State in the 30s in wins earlier this season, improved to 7-0. The Gophers are coached by former South Dakota skipper Dawn Plitzuweit, whose emphasis on defense has been well-received. Minnesota finished 20-16 in her first season and is off to an impressive start this year. Not only did Montana lose the game, the team may have lost redshirt freshman guard Macy Donarski for a while. She left the game in the first quarter with what looked to be a significant left leg injury. Donarski did not play last season due to a knee injury. Montana was befuddled from the start by the Gophers' defense. Minnesota stresses team defense with active rotations and an emphasis on forcing turnovers. The Lady Griz had 16 turnovers in the game Montana hit just 3 of 12 shots in the first quarter in spotting the hosts a gaudy 29-7 lead. Minnesota was 9 for 19 with two triples. The Gophers stretched their lead to 52-22 by halftime. The Lady Griz were 7 for 23 from the floor. Mack Konig and Adria Lincoln were bright spots with nine points apiece in the first 20 minutes. Minnesota continued to add to its lead in the second half. The Gophers led by as many as 40 points in the fourth quarter before settling for their 39-point victory. Montana's seven points in first quarter were a season low. The Lady Griz had the same total in the fourth frame.
ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistani police arrested thousands of Imran Khan supporters ahead of a rally in the capital to demand the ex-premier’s release from prison, a security officer said Sunday. Khan has been behind bars for more than a year and has over 150 criminal cases against him. But he remains popular and his political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf or PTI, says the cases are politically motivated. Shahid Nawaz, a security officer in eastern Punjab province, said police have arrested more than 4,000 Khan supporters. They include five parliamentarians. Pakistan has sealed off Islamabad with shipping containers and shut down major roads and highways connecting the city with PTI strongholds in Punjab and northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces. Tit-for-tat teargas shelling between the police and the PTI was reported on the highway bordering Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Earlier on Sunday, Pakistan suspended mobile and internet services “in areas with security concerns.” The government and Interior Ministry posted the announcement on the social media platform X, which is banned in Pakistan. They did not specify the areas, nor did they say how long the suspension would be in place. “Internet and mobile services will continue to operate as usual in the rest of the country,” the posts said. Meanwhile, telecom company Nayatel sent out emails offering customers “a reliable landline service” as a workaround in the areas suffering suspended cellphone service. Khan's supporters rely heavily on social media to demand his release and use messaging platforms like WhatsApp to share information, including details of events. PTI spokesperson Sheikh Waqas Akram said Khan's wife Bushra Bibi was traveling to Islamabad in a convoy led by the chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Ali Amin Gandapur. “She cannot leave the party workers on their own,” said Akram. There was a festive mood in Peshawar, with PTI members dancing, drumming and holding up pictures of Khan as cars set off for Islamabad. The government is imposing social media platform bans and targeting VPN services , according to internet advocacy group Netblocks. On Sunday, the group said live metrics showed problems with WhatsApp that were affecting media sharing on the app. The U.S. Embassy issued a security alert for Americans in the capital, encouraging them to avoid large gatherings and warning that even “peaceful gatherings can turn violent.” Last month, authorities suspended the cellphone service in Islamabad and Rawalpindi to thwart a pro-Khan rally. The shutdown disrupted communications and affected everyday services such as banking, ride-hailing and food delivery. The latest crackdown comes on the eve of a visit by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko . Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said authorities have sealed off Islamabad's Red Zone, which houses key government buildings and is the destination for Khan's supporters. “Anyone reaching it will be arrested,” Naqvi told a press conference. He said the security measures were in place to protect residents and property, blaming the PTI for inconveniencing people and businesses. He added that protesters were planning to take the same route as the Belarusian delegation, but that the government had headed off this scenario. Naqvi denied cellphone services were suspended and said only mobile data was affected. Associated Press writers Riaz Khan in Peshawar and Asim Tanveer in Multan contributed to this report.
HICKSVILLE, N.Y. , Dec. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Flagstar Financial, Inc. (NYSE: FLG) (the "Company") today announced the appointment of Brian Callanan , Senior Managing Director and General Counsel at Liberty Strategic Capital ("Liberty"), to its Board of Directors, effective December 16, 2024 . Commenting on the appointment, Joseph M. Otting , Chairman, President, and CEO said, "I'm pleased to have Brian join our Board. His proven track record and expertise in financial services, along with his strategic insights will be instrumental as we continue to execute on our transformation and long-term vision. Brian's perspectives will provide valuable guidance, and his leadership will play a critical role in driving sustainable growth, ensuring we achieve long-term success and maximize the value we deliver to our shareholders, employees, and clients." Callanan is a distinguished lawyer with extensive experience in financial regulation, regulatory compliance, and financial technology. At Liberty, Callanan leads the firm's legal function, serves on its Investment Committee, and focuses on financial sector investments. Prior to joining Liberty, he served as General Counsel of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, overseeing 2,000 lawyers across the department. As Chief General Counsel, he played a key role in major initiatives such as economic rescue programs during COVID-19, the design of new economic sanctions, and the implementation of tax reform. While serving as Deputy General Counsel, Callanan managed major litigation and advised on regulatory reform efforts, among other responsibilities. For his service, he received the Alexander Hamilton Award, the department's highest honor. This appointment aligns with the $1.05 billion equity investment in March 2024 , which stipulated that two Board seats would be granted to lead investor Liberty Strategic Capital. With Callanan's addition, the Company's Board of Directors, which was reconstituted earlier in 2024, expands to nine members, including Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer, Joseph M. Otting , Milton Berlinski , Alessandro P. DiNello , Alan Frank , Marshall Lux , Lead Independent Director Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin , Allen Puwalski , and Jennifer Whip. About Flagstar Financial, Inc. Flagstar Financial, Inc. is the parent company of Flagstar Bank, N.A., one of the largest regional banks in the country. The Company is headquartered in Hicksville, New York . At September 30, 2024, the Company had $114.4 billion of assets, $73.0 billion of loans, deposits of $83 .0 billion, and total stockholders' equity of $8 .6 billion. Flagstar Bank, N.A. operates over 400 branches, including a significant presence in the Northeast and Midwest and locations in high growth markets in the Southeast and West Coast. In addition, the Bank has approximately 80 private banking teams located in over 10 cities in the metropolitan New York City region and on the West Coast, which serve the needs of high-net worth individuals and their businesses. Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This release may include forward‐looking statements by the Company and our authorized officers pertaining to such matters as our goals, beliefs, intentions, and expectations regarding (a) revenues, earnings, loan production, asset quality, liquidity position, capital levels, risk analysis, divestitures, acquisitions, and other material transactions, among other matters; (b) the future costs and benefits of the actions we may take; (c) our assessments of credit risk and probable losses on loans and associated allowances and reserves; (d) our assessments of interest rate and other market risks; (e) our ability to execute on our strategic plan, including the sufficiency of our internal resources, procedures and systems; (f) our ability to attract, incentivize, and retain key personnel and the roles of key personnel; (g) our ability to achieve our financial and other strategic goals, including those related to our merger with Flagstar Bancorp, Inc., which was completed on December 1, 2022, our acquisition of substantial portions of the former Signature Bank through an FDIC-assisted transaction, and our ability to fully and timely implement the risk management programs institutions greater than $100 billion in assets must maintain; (h) the effect on our capital ratios of the approval of certain proposals approved by our shareholders during our 2024 annual meeting of shareholders; (i) the conversion or exchange of shares of the Company's preferred stock; (j) the payment of dividends on shares of the Company's capital stock, including adjustments to the amount of dividends payable on shares of the Company's preferred stock; (k) the availability of equity and dilution of existing equity holders associated with amendments to the 2020 Omnibus Incentive Plan; (l) the effects of the reverse stock split; and (m) transactions relating to the sale of our mortgage business and mortgage warehouse business. Forward‐looking statements are typically identified by such words as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "outlook," "estimate," "forecast," "project," "should," "confident," and other similar words and expressions, and are subject to numerous assumptions, risks, and uncertainties, which change over time. Additionally, forward‐looking statements speak only as of the date they are made; the Company does not assume any duty, and does not undertake, to update our forward‐looking statements. Furthermore, because forward‐looking statements are subject to assumptions and uncertainties, actual results or future events could differ, possibly materially, from those anticipated in our statements, and our future performance could differ materially from our historical results. Our forward‐looking statements are subject to, among others, the following principal risks and uncertainties: general economic conditions and trends, either nationally or locally; conditions in the securities, credit and financial markets; changes in interest rates; changes in deposit flows, and in the demand for deposit, loan, and investment products and other financial services; changes in real estate values; changes in the quality or composition of our loan or investment portfolios, including associated allowances and reserves; changes in future allowance for credit losses, including changes required under relevant accounting and regulatory requirements; the ability to pay future dividends; changes in our capital management and balance sheet strategies and our ability to successfully implement such strategies; recent turnover in our Board of Directors and our executive management team; changes in our strategic plan, including changes in our internal resources, procedures and systems, and our ability to successfully implement such plan; changes in competitive pressures among financial institutions or from non‐financial institutions; changes in legislation, regulations, and policies; the imposition of restrictions on our operations by bank regulators; the outcome of pending or threatened litigation, or of investigations or any other matters before regulatory agencies, whether currently existing or commencing in the future; the success of our blockchain and fintech activities, investments and strategic partnerships; the restructuring of our mortgage business; our ability to recognize anticipated expense reductions and enhanced efficiencies with respect to our recently announced strategic workforce reduction; the impact of failures or disruptions in or breaches of the Company's operational or security systems, data or infrastructure, or those of third parties, including as a result of cyberattacks or campaigns; the impact of natural disasters, extreme weather events, military conflict (including the Russia / Ukraine conflict, the conflict in Israel and surrounding areas, the possible expansion of such conflicts and potential geopolitical consequences), terrorism or other geopolitical events; and a variety of other matters which, by their nature, are subject to significant uncertainties and/or are beyond our control. Our forward-looking statements are also subject to the following principal risks and uncertainties with respect to our merger with Flagstar Bancorp, which was completed on December 1, 2022 , and our acquisition of substantial portions of the former Signature Bank through an FDIC-assisted transaction: the possibility that the anticipated benefits of the transactions will not be realized when expected or at all; the possibility of increased legal and compliance costs, including with respect to any litigation or regulatory actions related to the business practices of acquired companies or the combined business; diversion of management's attention from ongoing business operations and opportunities; the possibility that the Company may be unable to achieve expected synergies and operating efficiencies in or as a result of the transactions within the expected timeframes or at all; and revenues following the transactions may be lower than expected. Additionally, there can be no assurance that the Community Benefits Agreement entered into with NCRC, which was contingent upon the closing of the Company's merger with Flagstar Bancorp, Inc., will achieve the results or outcome originally expected or anticipated by us as a result of changes to our business strategy, performance of the U.S. economy, or changes to the laws and regulations affecting us, our customers, communities we serve, and the U.S. economy (including, but not limited to, tax laws and regulations). More information regarding some of these factors is provided in the Risk Factors section of our Annual Report on Form 10‐K/A for the year ended December 31, 2023, Quarterly Report on Forms 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2024 , June 30, 2024 , and September 30, 2024 , and in other SEC reports we file. Our forward‐looking statements may also be subject to other risks and uncertainties, including those we may discuss in this news release, on our conference call, during investor presentations, or in our SEC filings, which are accessible on our website and at the SEC's website, www.sec.gov . Investor Contact: Salvatore J. DiMartino (516) 683-4286 Media Contact: Nicole Yelland (248) 219-9234 View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/flagstar-financial-inc-appoints-brian-callanan-to-board-of-directors-302331692.html SOURCE Flagstar Financial, Inc.China Working Overtime to Hire Western Chip Talent
Oregon already secured its spot in the Big Ten championship game, but the top-ranked Ducks have plenty to play for in their regular-season finale. Revenge may be on Oregon's mind when the Ducks host longtime rival Washington on Saturday in Eugene, Ore. Oregon (11-0, 8-0 Big Ten) would perhaps be closing in on its second straight College Football Playoff appearance had the Huskies (6-5, 4-4) not dealt the Ducks their only two losses last season. Washington edged Oregon 36-33 in Seattle last October, then slipped past the Ducks 34-31 in the Pac-12 title game to secure a playoff spot for the second time in school history. Both teams joined the Big Ten in August. Third-year Oregon head coach Dan Lanning is 33-5 leading the Ducks. But he remains winless against the Huskies (0-3). Oregon plots to sprint out of its late-season bye after using time to heal injuries, but Lanning doesn't believe the break should stall the flow of an undefeated season. "It's always about what we're able to do on the field. Motivation is overrated," Lanning said. "Our guys have to want to go out there and execute at a really high level. Since the beginning of the season we've talked about playing our best football at the end of November. We're there. This is our opportunity to go play our best football against a good team." The Ducks could have star wide receiver Tez Johnson back from a shoulder injury this week. Johnson has missed the past two games. That would be good news for quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who would regain the team's leader in receptions (64), receiving yards (649) and receiving touchdowns (eight). Washington, under first-year head coach Jedd Fisch, is 63-48-5 all-time against Oregon but is just 1-12-1 when facing the No. 1-ranked team in the country. The Huskies are led on offense by running back Jonah Coleman, who has racked up 1,008 yards and nine scores on the ground this season. Coleman averages 5.8 yards per carry and has 36 runs of at least 10 yards. In the passing game, wide receiver Denzel Boston is tied for the Big Ten lead with nine in touchdown catches and ranks sixth in the conference with 764 receiving yards. Whom Boston will be catching passes from is not yet known, however. Washington has not revealed whether Will Rogers or Demond Williams Jr. will start at quarterback. Rogers has started every game for the Huskies but was benched in favor of Williams two weeks ago after throwing a pair of interceptions in a 31-19 win over UCLA. Fisch said he has a "good idea" of how he will use his quarterbacks on Saturday, and while he wouldn't go as far as to name a starter, he did say Rogers responded well in practices last week. "On the same token, Demond's energy and Demond's confidence showed up. His ability to jump right in and feel really good about leading the group whenever it was his turn... he did a really nice job there as well," Fisch told Seattle Sports. "I think both guys responded well to the week of practice, and now, really, it's important for us that the guy we believe will start the game gets a significant amount of reps in practice week. But as you know, we're not afraid to play two quarterbacks." --Field Level Media
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Cupertino Parks and Recreation will kick off the holiday season Dec. 6 with the annual Community Tree Lighting at Quinlan Community Center. A local choir will sing holiday tunes before the tree lights up, and after the tree lighting, families can visit Santa and take photos. Warm dress is suggested for this outdoor event. For more information, visit https://www.cupertino.org/our-city/departments/parks-recreation/community-events/tree-lighting-december . The Cupertino Village shopping center is hosting live musical performances by William “Henry” Concepcion and Victoria “Marivic,” members of the band Trilogy, on Saturday, Dec. 14-21, 5-7 p.m. on the lawn between Cupertino Optometry and 99 Ranch Market. The duo will perform holiday pop and classic favorites at these free shows. While the duo is playing, there will also be a balloon twister and face painter for children. Cupertino Village is located at 10869 N. Wolfe Road. For more information, visit https://cupertinovillage.shopkimco.com . Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE), has relaunched its online customer resource center to include an all-new incentive finder for residential customers and updated resources for businesses and contractors. SVCE provides clean energy for residents of South Bay communities, including Cupertino. The SVCE eHub, located at https://ehub.svcleanenergy.org , is designed to help customers find rebates and other incentives to go all electric, as well as free expert advice and assisted home upgrades. An updated Appliance Marketplace helps renters and homeowners compare and select electric technologies. To learn how to navigate the new incentive finder and other tools, visit https://svcleanenergy.org/2024/11/15/incentives-finder .Article contentThe tycoon’s indictment clouds the prime minister’s prospects following important state elections F or India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi , it should have been the perfect prelude to the winter session of parliament. Two days before its reopening on November 25th, results showed that his Bharatiya Janata Party ( BJP ) and its allies had won a landslide victory in a state election in Maharashtra. The state is not just India’s richest and its second most populous. The stakes this year were especially high as the poll was seen as an indicator of whether the BJP could consolidate a political rebound after the surprising loss of its parliamentary majority in a general election in June. Discover more Priyanka Gandhi: dynastic scion, and hope of India’s opposition Poised to enter parliament, she may have bigger ambitions than that The Caspian Sea is shrinking rapidly This has big implications for Russia, which has come to rely on Central Asian ports Racial tensions boil over in New Zealand A controversial bill regarding Maori people punctures its relative harmony Once a free-market pioneer, Sri Lanka takes a leap to the left A new president with Marxist roots now dominates parliament too The mystery of India’s female labour-force participation rate A good news story? Maybe Why is it so hard for Indians to get a visa? Outsourcing firms are capitalising on Indians’ misery
Drone sightings sparking questions nationwideWACO, Texas (AP) — Georgia's Dasha Vidmanova and Columbia's Michael Zheng won NCAA singles tennis titles on Sunday. Vidmanova, a 21-year-old senior from the Czech Republic, beat DJ Bennett of Auburn 6-3, 6-3 for the Bulldogs' first women's singles championship since 2010. Zheng, a 20-year-old junior from Montville, New Jersey, beat Ozan Baris of Michigan State 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 to become the first Ivy League player to collect an NCAA men's singles crown since 1922. The final between Zheng and Baris was the first men's NCAA tennis singles final between two Americans since 2017. More AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis