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An Exclusive Interview with Bringar CEO Balachandar Karthikeyan on His Journey and the Company’s Chatbot App

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:57 GMT

Balachandar Karthikeyan, a 28-year-old tech entrepreneur from India, has been making waves in the tech industry with his impressive contributions to WhatsApp, Signal, and his own chatbot company, Bringar. Despite not being the best-performing student in school or college, Balachandar taught himself programming and hacking skills through books and online resources. His talent and hard work paid off when he discovered a security bug in WhatsApp and reported it to the team, leading to a collaboration with the co-founder and team. In addition to his work with WhatsApp and Signal, Balachandar founded Bringar, a chatbot company that has reached 25 million users globally and is one of the few chatbot companies worldwide to run without external investment. In this interview, we’ll learn more about Balachandar’s journey and his innovative contributions to the tech industry.Q: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got started in the tech industry?A: Of course, I’...

Digital Meets Culture: No Standing and Outer Edge Partner for an Unforgettable Web3 Experience

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:57 GMT

 Leading digital marketing agency, No Standing is excited to announce its partnership with Outer Edge in anticipation of their upcoming four-day event – Outer Edge LA (formerly NFT LA). Both No Standing and Outer Edge share a passion for uniting the worlds of Web2 and Web3. This collaboration represents their joint commitment to staying at the forefront of technology and cultural advancements. The partnership opens the door for long-term collaboration opportunities as both companies continue to lead and innovate in the rapidly evolving digital landscape.Outer Edge LA is an immersive experience taking place this week, from March 20th to 23rd, 2023. The event is set to explore the convergence of Web3, digital collectibles, and the creative industry across arts, sports, music, and entertainment from around the world in the vibrant city of Los Angeles.The partnership has also entailed No Standing managing the digital advertising for the event. As a cutting-edge full-service digita...

12 years later, apartment project at center of Bay Area housing battles cleared to move forward

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:57 GMT

After more than a decade, one of the Bay Area’s most contentious housing battles has finally come to a close.Over objections from neighbors who sued to halt a 315-unit apartment project slated for the East Bay suburb of Lafayette, the California Supreme Court this week declined to review a lower court’s decision that the development meets state environmental requirements and construction can begin.Pro-housing advocates cheered the move while at the same time highlighting the 12-year fight as an example of the region’s challenges in building more desperately needed homes.“This decision is a win for housing, but the fact that this project has taken so long is exactly why we have such a catastrophic housing shortage,” Sonja Trauss, founder of YIMBY Law, said in a statement.Save Lafayette, the neighborhood group that sued to stop the development, known as Terraces of Lafayette, said officials and courts who have backed the project are ignoring the increased...

Ex-USAF officer gets prison time for actions in Capitol riot

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:57 GMT

By Michael Kunzelman | Associated PressWASHINGTON — A retired Air Force officer who stormed the U.S. Capitol dressed in combat gear and carried zip-tie handcuffs into the Senate gallery was sentenced on Friday to two years in prison.Larry Brock, 55, of Grapevine, Texas, joined other rioters on the Senate floor only minutes after then-Vice President Mike Pence, senators and their staff evacuated the chamber to escape the mob attacking the building on Jan. 6, 2021.U.S. District Judge John Bates also sentenced Brock to two years of supervised release after his prison term and ordered him to perform 100 hours of community service. Brock, who declined to speak in court before the judge imposed his sentence, remains free until he must report to prison at a date to be determined.Prosecutors had recommended a sentence of five years in prison followed by three years of supervised release.Bates convicted Brock in November after a trial without a jury. Brock waived his right to a jury trial.Th...

Forecast: Atmospheric river barreling towards California may spare the Bay Area, dump snow on Sierra

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:57 GMT

It looks like the luck of the Irish may be with the Bay Area when it comes to our next series of storms.Another atmospheric river storm expected to careen into the Bay Area next week is now looking like it will tack farther south, meteorologists say, leading them to downgrade the amount of rain forecasted to douse already saturated ground. In total, most cities around the Bay will get about an inch of rain by Wednesday, with light showers beginning Sunday morning.“The main impacts of the storm will be in the LA area,” said Sarah McCorkle, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Monterey.The Central Coast — where a series of storms have hammered levees, downed trees and caused landslides — could also dodge the worst of the atmospheric river next week, with no large waterways currently forecast to hit major flood stage. There is always a small chance that the storm could skirt north, increasing the flood risk, McCorkle said, though that’s not currently ant...

Musician Jim Gordon dies; ’70s-era drummer was convicted of killing his mother

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:57 GMT

By Beth Harris | Associated PressLOS ANGELES — Jim Gordon, the rock ‘n’ roll session drummer who played on classic records by Eric Clapton, George Harrison and The Beach Boys but suffered from growing mental health problems and spent the second half of his life in prison for killing his mother, has died at 77.Gordon died Monday at the California Medical Facility in Vacaville, the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation confirmed Thursday. It’s believed he died of natural causes, but the official cause will be determined by the Solano County coroner. Gordon, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia, had been in prison for four decades.From the mid-1960s to the mid-1970s, few drummers were more in demand than Gordon, a Los Angeles native and protege of the all-time versatile session man, Hal Blaine. Gordon had been drumming since his teens and — early in his career — was part of Phil Spector’s celebrated studio ensemble, “The Wrecking Crew,” ...

Catalytic converter thief takes cell phone from witness at gunpoint in unincorporated Redwood City

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:57 GMT

REDWOOD CITY — A catalytic converter thief making his getaway Thursday morning stole a neighbor’s cell phone at gunpoint when he saw the man recording the theft, authorities said Friday.The suspect was being sought.The theft happened about 7:26 a.m. Thursday in the Emerald Hills neighborhood of unincorporated Redwood City, the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.A neighbor saw the theft happening and began recording the incident with his cell phone.After removing the converter, the suspect realized he was being recorded, pointed a semi-automatic pistol at the neighbor and took the phone, police said.The suspect then got into a dark blue 2000s Honda Accord and drove away.The Honda was described as having no hubcaps, no “H”-shaped Honda emblem on the hood, no front license plate, and the numbers “55278022N° on the windshield.Anyone with information about the theft is asked to contact Detective Antonio Baggetta at abaggetta@smcgo...

Women’s March Madness: Maryland wins, Virginia Tech begins road to Final Four

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:57 GMT

As March Madness gets underway for the women’s side, the University of Maryland Terrapins came up victorious in dominating fashion while Virginia Tech begins its run in the dance.More Sports NewsMore College Basketball NewsHere is what you need to know about all the D.C.-area teams on day one of the NCAA women’s basketball tournament.MarylandGreenville 1 Bracket: No. 2 Maryland defeats No. 15 Holy Cross, 93-61It was a blowout for the Maryland Terrapins as they defeated Holy Cross 93-61. They scored the game’s first 14 points of the game in a contest where they led wire-to-wire.Five players scored double digit points led by two transfer players — Brinae Alexander with 18 points and Abby Meyers with 16 points. Diamond Miller and Shyann Sellers added 13 points apiece.As a team, the Terrapins shot 52% from the field while forcing the Crusaders — who won the Patriot League championship to make the dance for the first time since 2007 — into 24 turnovers.They advanced to the se...

Ronaldo included on Martínez’s first squad for Portugal

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:57 GMT

LISBON, Portugal (AP) — New Portugal coach Roberto Martínez included Cristiano Ronaldo in his first squad on Friday since taking over from Fernando Santos following the World Cup.The 38-year-old Ronaldo was left out of Santos’ starting lineup for Portugal’s knockout-phase games at the tournament in Qatar, including the quarterfinal loss to Morocco.Ronaldo, who plays for Saudi team Al-Nassr, can add to his international record 118 goals when Portugal plays European Championship qualifiers against Liechtenstein on March 23 and at Luxembourg three days later.“Cristiano Ronaldo is a player who is completely committed to the national team,” Martínez said. “I don’t look at age or other aspects. He has the chance to help the team and pass on his experience to other players.”Martínez made very few changes to the squad he inherited from Santos. Pepe, aged 40, was back again in defense, while Ronaldo was joined by João Félix, Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva as playmakers.Martín...

Lacazette nets 150th goal for Lyon in 1-1 draw with Nantes

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:01:57 GMT

PARIS (AP) — Lyon overcame conceding an early own goal to draw Nantes at home 1-1 in the French league on Friday thanks to Alexandre Lacazette’s 150th goal for the club.Lyon goalkeeper Rémy Riou saved Mostafa Mohamed’s third-minute shot but the ball hit central defender Castello Lukeba and went in.Former Arsenal forward Lacazette equalized in the 24th when he held off defender Nicolas Pallois and finished neatly.It was Lacazette’s 21st goal in 28 games overall this season. He’s up to second on Lyon’s all-time scoring list since rejoining the club.But he went off midway through the second half with an unspecified injury in a blow for coach Laurent Blanc.Lyon stayed in 10th place while French Cup holder Nantes was 14th.___More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsSource