
Panic among spectators at soccer game kills at least 56 in the West African nation of Guinea CONAKRY, Guinea (AP) — Officials and witnesses say chaos erupted at a soccer game in Guinea after fans protested a referee’s call and thousands of panicked spectators tried to flee the stadium, leaving at least 56 people dead in the West African nation. Local news website Media Guinea reported that security forces used tear gas. A journalist covering the game for a local sports website tells The Associated Press many of the dead were crushed as they tried to escape through the stadium gates. The world’s latest sports crowd disaster unfurled Sunday in the second-largest city in the military-run nation. Information there is sparse and government-controlled at the best of times. It was not immediately clear how much the death toll could grow. Houston's Al-Shaair apologizes for hit on Jacksonville's Lawrence that led to concussion HOUSTON (AP) — Houston’s Azeez Al-Shaair took to X to apologize to Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence after his violent blow to the quarterback’s facemask led to him being carted off the field with a concussion. Back in the starting lineup after missing two games with a sprained left shoulder, Lawrence scrambled left on a second-and-7 play in the second quarter of Houston’s 23-20 win on Sunday. He initiated a slide before Al-Shaair raised his forearm and unleashed on the defenseless quarterback. In the long post, Al-Shaair says "To Trevor I genuinely apologize to you for what ended up happening.” Mollie Marcoux Samaan stepping down as LPGA commissioner after 3 1/2 years of record prize money Mollie Marcoux Samaan is leaving after more than three years as LPGA commissioner. In a surprise announcement Monday, Marcoux Samaan says she will step down in January, just three weeks before the LPGA starts its 75th season. Liz Moore is the chief legal and technology officer. She'll be serving as interim commissioner until a search committee can find a permanent replacement. Marcoux Samaan was the athletic director at Princeton when she took over the LPGA in May 2021. Prize money has soared during her tenure. She also has faced criticism for the LPGA not gaining in popularity during a rise in women's sports. Jets are sticking with struggling Aaron Rodgers as their starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers will remain the New York Jets’ starting quarterback despite speculation the team could bench him in what has been a disappointing season. Interim coach Jeff Ulbrich said during a video call that he still believes Rodgers, who turned 41 on Monday, gives the Jets their best chance to win. Rodgers was 21 of 39 for 185 yards and touchdown passes to Davante Adams and Isaiah Davis but also had an interception returned 92 yards for a touchdown by Leonard Williams in the Jets’ 26-21 loss to Seattle on Sunday. College playoff bracket offers last dress rehearsal and one more chance to see where the SEC stands The next set of College Football Playoff rankings will be released Tuesday night under heavy scrutiny before the final bracket is set on Sunday. It will be one last chance to see just how much the selection committee loves the Southeastern Conference. The best gauge will be whether Miami, which suffered its second loss over the weekend, is placed behind any or all three SEC teams with three losses — Alabama, Mississippi and South Carolina, all of which are coming off wins. Whatever happens, the SEC is likely to have at least five teams in the 12-team field when the final bracket comes out. Kansas holds off Auburn for No. 1 in AP Top 25 as SEC grabs 3 of top 4 spots; UConn slides to No. 25 Kansas continues to hold the No. 1 ranking in The Associated Press Top 25 men’s college basketball poll. Auburn is pushing the Jayhawks in the latest poll after winning the Maui Invitational and checked in at No. 2. Two-time reigning national champion UConn nearly fell out entirely after an 0-3 week at Maui, falling from No. 2 to 25th. The Southeastern Conference had three of the top four teams with No. 3 Tennessee and No. 4 Kentucky behind the Tigers. The poll featured six new teams, headlined by No. 13 Oregon, No. 16 Memphis and No. 18 Pittsburgh. Ryan Poles to remain Bears general manager and lead search for new head coach LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — Chicago Bears president Kevin Warren said Ryan Poles will remain the general manager and serves as the point person in the search for a head coach to replace the fired Matt Eberflus. He says Poles will have the “final say” if the two have differing opinions on who should get the job. Chicago had never fired a coach during a season. But a six-game losing streak marked by questionable coaching decisions spurred the founding NFL franchise to change course. The Bears let Eberflus go Friday and replaced him on an interim basis with offensive coordinator Thomas Brown. TCU, Duke climb into top 10, Notre Dame drops in women's AP Top 25; UCLA and UConn remain 1-2 TCU has its best ranking ever in The Associated Press Top 25 women’s basketball poll after a convincing win over Notre Dame. The Horned Frogs jumped eight spots to No. 9, the first time the school has ever been in the top 10. The Fighting Irish, who were third last week, fell seven spots to 10th after losses to TCU and Utah. UCLA remained No. 1, followed by UConn, South Carolina, Texas and LSU. USC, Maryland and Duke are next. Michael Andretti's Formula 1 dream comes to bittersweet fruition without his involvement Michael Andretti has been sidelined from his namesake motorsports organization and won’t have any role with the Formula 1 program he spent the last four years desperately trying to launch. His effort to get a program partnered with General Motors into F1 was approved last week, a month after he stepped aside from his teams. F1’s decision to expand its grid for Cadillac F1 came amidst a federal antitrust investigation into why Liberty Media refused to admit Andretti Global and after Andretti partners Dan Towriss and Mark Walter claimed controlling interest of the fledgling effort. Guardiola hits 'reset' with Man City floundering in the Premier League The season starts now for Pep Guardiola. The Manchester City manager saw his team extend its remarkable winless run to seven matches and drop 11 points off the pace in the Premier League by losing 2-0 to Liverpool on Sunday. But that is all in the past for Guardiola. He says “Reset. There’s a feeling we start from here this season.” How he intends to move on from the worst run of results in his managerial career remains to be seen. It all starts Wednesday with a home game against Nottingham Forest. The midweek round of games also sees Liverpool travel to Newcastle and Arsenal host Manchester United.IDT Corporation Reports Record First Quarter 2025 ResultsRajasthan Royals (RR) are the champions of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2008 edition. Unfortunately, the Rajasthan-based franchise didn't get their hands on the elusive title after winning the inaugural edition of the IPL. For the IPL 2025 edition, star wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson will continue to lead the Rajasthan franchise. Under Samson's leadership, RR reached the playoffs of the IPL 2024 season. IPL 2025 Mega Auction Day 1 Live Updates . The Rajasthan Royals have had some good performances in the past few seasons but they have not been able to go all the way and win the IPL for a second time. Rajasthan Royals do not have any Right to Match (RTM) cards left for the IPL 2025 mega auction after they retained Sanju Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer and Sandeep Sharma. They have a purse of Rs 41 crore heading into the IPL 2025 mega auction. RR Players Bought at IPL 2025 Auction: Jofra Archer (12.50 Crore), Wanindu Hasaranga (5.25 Crore). RR Players Retained Ahead of IPL 2025 Auction: Sanju Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, Sandeep Sharma RR Previous Season Recap: Under Sanju Samson's captaincy, Rajasthan Royals finished in third place in the IPL 2024 edition. RR qualified for the playoffs. RR ended up with 17 points and secured eight wins from 14 league stage matches. Sadly, Rajasthan were eliminated from the tournament after they suffered a defeat against Sunrisers Hyderabad. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 24, 2024 08:29 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com ).
BMO Announces Cash Distributions for Certain BMO Exchange Traded Funds and ETF Series of BMO Mutual Funds for December 2024The benefits of "Organic Tanking'' are very real. And the people who run the Dallas Cowboys know it, which helped inform some of the roster moves made in advance of Sunday in Washington ... site of one of the most circus-like outcomes in NFL history. The Cowboys defeated the Washington Commanders 34-26 in Week 12 of the 2024 NFL season, thus ending a five-game drought. ... and causing a lot of observers to say the same thing about this sort of "accidental'' anti-tanking win. That is ... "The Cowboys are so bad they can't even tank right!'' This game was a snooze-fest in the first half, but 41 of the 60 game's total points scored come in a fourth-quarter flurry, which special-teams heroics and long-distance dial-ups the order of the stretch run. In fact, 38 points were scored in the final 5:16 of action. And why? Why did Dallas, which entered the game with a lowly 3-7 record and an eye on improving its lot in next April's NFL Draft, find the heart to eventually take a 20-9 lead with just over five minutes remaining? And then find a way to do it again when kick returner KaVontae Turpin took one to the house for a 99-yard TD to go up 27-17? And then find a way to do it again when special-teamer Juanyeh Thomas grabbed an onside kick and ran it to the end zone for a second kick-return TD? Related: No Tank You! How'd Cowboys Shock Commanders in Bizarre Upset? Answer: Because even though the franchise needed to lose ... the players are not conditioned that way. That, really, defines what we call "Organic Tanking.'' It's about letting the outcome happen and accepting it. Or, in the case of Cooper Rush and Micah Parsons and the rest of the Cowboys, not letting the negative outcome happen and not accepting it. Related: Cowboys Shock Commanders in All-Time Wild Finish
( MENAFN - GetNews) Setting new standards in utility design, research, and patented technologies. An accomplished civil engineer with more than ten years of experience in the US serving various roles in the field, Rajasekhar Chadalawada is causing a stir in the industry with his innovative research, leadership in major infrastructure projects, and creative utility engineering style. Chadalawada is expanding the scope of civil engineering in the contemporary era with two recently approved patents, and a portfolio of highly cited papers. A Forward-thinking Executive Promoting Transformation in Civil Engineering Chadalawada, who is currently employed with Verita Telecommunications Corporation as an OSP Engineer, has made a living by turning problems into opportunities. His proficiency in fiber design and utility engineering, along with his thorough knowledge of USDOT and federal regulations, allow him to design projects that adhere to strict quality and compliance requirements. Chadalawada is in charge of managing technical teams at Verita Telecommunications, making sure project deadlines are fulfilled, and working with regulatory bodies to expedite approvals. His leadership has continuously resulted in the timely and economical completion of projects, establishing him as a reliable authority in the sector. Chadalawada's reputation has been further solidified by his prior positions at major corporations like Fullerton Engineering and Burns & McDonnell. He has overseen a variety of teams, created sophisticated processes, and applied creative engineering solutions for projects ranging from subterranean utility infrastructure to power transmission. Leading the Way in Innovation: Patents and Research Rajasekhar's dedication to research is evident in his extensive portfolio of technical publications, which are available on Google Scholar. His works cover diverse topics, including: Two Approved Patents: According to a Fullerton colleague, "Rajasekhar Chadalawada's expertise in underground engineering and utility design is transforming the landscape of civil engineering. His ability to integrate data-driven solutions with practical applications ensures that projects are not only efficient and sustainable but also pave the way for smarter, more resilient urban infrastructure.” Honors and Outstanding Leadership Numerous honors during Chadalawada's career highlight his accomplishments and influence. Noteworthy Accomplishments Include: Contributions to Peer Reviewing Articles for Various Publications Rajasekhar Chadalawada has actively contributed to advancing civil engineering and transportation systems through his role as a peer reviewer for esteemed publications. Drawing from his extensive expertise, he has provided critical evaluations and insights for research articles covering a range of cutting-edge topics, including Smart Sensing Technologies for Monitoring and Detecting Leaks in Underground Pipelines and Innovative Trenchless Technologies for Installing Underground Fiber Optic Cables. His reviews have also addressed pioneering studies on Optimizing Public Transit Networks for smart cities, Real-Time Traffic Management for autonomous vehicles, and the environmental implications of Green Concrete in sustainable infrastructure. By meticulously assessing the methodologies, data-driven approaches, and practical implications of these works, Chadalawada ensures that published research meets the highest standards of quality and relevance. Additional details about his contributions, including published works and citations, can be found on his Google Scholar profile . Creating the Future: Sustainable Infrastructure and Smart Cities The aim of Chadalawada goes beyond traditional engineering. His efforts are in line with the global movement toward smart city development and sustainability. He is helping to create a future where cities are more resilient, eco-friendly, and efficient by introducing innovations in multi-modal transportation integration, sustainable materials, and traffic management. "I believe that civil engineering is the cornerstone of societal advancement," Chadalawada stated. "We can create infrastructure that not only satisfies present demands but also foresees future difficulties by utilizing technology." A Career with a Foundation in Research and Education Chadalawada has equally strong academic credentials. He studied for a Master's degree in Transportation Engineering at Bradley University after graduating with a Bachelor of Civil Engineering from Vignan University in India. His most notable research endeavors include: These initiatives demonstrated his ability to combine study with practical application while also solidifying his expertise. A Thought Leader in Civil Engineering The impact of Chadalawada, a recognized thought leader in civil engineering, goes beyond his work responsibilities. As a peer reviewer for esteemed journals and a regular panelist at professional conferences, he has been instrumental in shaping conversations about innovations in the field. His insights on seismic reinforcement for high-rise buildings and autonomous car navigation have gained him widespread respect. For more information, connect with Rajasekhar on LinkedIn or contact him at ... . MENAFN18122024003238003268ID1109009662 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. 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AGI presents not just a tool but a partner in reshaping how business, growth, and innovation are fundamentally conceived AGI offers startups the ability to pivot almost instantaneously in response to market changes or regulatory shifts It is less a tool and more an emergent collaborator, transforming what it means to build, innovate, and lead AGI, or artificial general intelligence , is on the brink of transforming the startup landscape in ways we’ve only glimpsed in science fiction. Where once “AI” was synonymous with smart automation, today’s AGI advancements push us beyond narrow applications into something closer to human-level intelligence. It’s no longer a matter of optimising processes or refining recommendations but of building systems with a depth of adaptability that mirrors human reasoning. For startups, the implications are as profound as they are daunting: AGI presents not just a tool but a partner in reshaping how business, growth, and innovation are fundamentally conceived.In India, where a startup culture has ignited over the last decade, the potential of AGI could be particularly catalytic. For a country producing an unparalleled number of engineers and data scientists, AGI offers more than efficiency; it introduces an era where technology doesn’t merely support human effort but actively collaborates in it. Already, several Indian startups are making headlines by integrating AGI to address the country’s unique challenges, from scaling healthcare solutions to transforming rural education. In the tech hubs of Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and beyond, startups are using AGI models to design systems that don’t just execute commands but interpret and adapt, often outperforming traditional AI models that dominate the landscape. The implications for decision-making are remarkable. AGI’s potential to parse immense datasets, identify nuanced patterns, and suggest solutions in real-time could make today’s analytics tools look like relics. Consider an ecommerce startup: conventional AI can improve inventory predictions and user recommendations. AGI, however, could dynamically adapt to sudden market shifts, adjusting strategies based on real-world data and evolving customer behavior patterns. It’s the difference between a machine learning model that predicts the next purchase and an AGI system that predicts and adapts to the entire market’s mood swings. But it’s not just in practical applications that AGI promises transformation; it changes the speed and ambition of startup growth. In a competitive market, adaptability is a currency. AGI offers startups the ability to pivot almost instantaneously in response to market changes or regulatory shifts. With AGI, a financial technology startup navigating India’s strict compliance landscape could foresee potential regulatory shifts by analysing historical policy changes, international trends, and socio-political cues. This foresight doesn’t just save time; it provides an anticipatory advantage, allowing startups to innovate within compliance, often outpacing competitors still deciphering new regulations. However, the marriage of AGI and startup ambition also raises profound ethical questions. While AGI can analyse, predict, and even advise, it lacks the ethical guardrails that are often integral to responsible decision-making. For Indian startups, especially those operating in sensitive areas like healthcare and finance, this introduces a moral weight. With AGI, a healthcare startup could scale diagnostics across rural clinics, yet it would also need to confront questions about accountability in life-and-death decisions. The moment AGI moves from supporter to decision-maker, the ethical stakes escalate sharply, and with that, the pressure on startups to embed ethical considerations within their technological DNA. The stakes are economic as well. While many predict that AGI will increase productivity, it could also concentrate power and capital in unforeseen ways. If the promise of AGI holds, it’s possible that a handful of AGI-powered firms might amass capabilities that dwarf those of traditional competitors, creating economic asymmetries that extend across borders. Indian startups, especially, will need to grapple with how to deploy AGI without allowing it to exacerbate inequalities. There’s a pressing need for regulatory frameworks that balance innovation with equity, ensuring that AGI’s benefits aren’t cornered by a few at the expense of many. This regulatory challenge is already prompting action. In the EU and the U.S., conversations around AGI’s oversight have shifted from abstract to immediate, with regulatory bodies beginning to draft policies aimed at keeping AGI’s capabilities within ethical and legal bounds. India, where the startup ecosystem is both vast and culturally unique, is likely to take a different regulatory path, one that prioritises localised concerns while remaining cognizant of global trends. Startups, in turn, are encouraged to participate in these regulatory discussions, not just as stakeholders but as innovators who can actively shape policies that safeguard AGI’s integration. And then there’s the cultural impact. For a country as diverse as India, AGI in startups represents an unparalleled opportunity to develop solutions rooted in local contexts. Traditional AI has often been accused of being blind to cultural nuance, applying uniform solutions to heterogeneous problems. AGI, with its capacity to learn and adapt in ways closer to human cognition, offers the potential for systems that are culturally aware and regionally specific. Imagine a language-learning app that understands not just Hindi or Tamil but the linguistic nuances of specific dialects, adjusting its approach to best serve users from different regions. This type of adaptation, tailored to India’s mosaic of cultures, is an exciting frontier AGI could enable. The dawn of AGI for startups isn’t just technological; it’s a redefinition of purpose. When a machine can adapt, respond, and reason, the role of human creativity shifts from direct command to collaboration, from building tools to partnering with them. As AGI continues to evolve, the distinction between “human” and “machine” contributions will blur, forcing founders and CEOs to consider not only how they use AGI but also how they coexist with it. In this new dynamic, Indian startups stand at the precipice of something remarkable: the opportunity to merge the technological with the human in a way that amplifies the best of both worlds, shaping not only the future of startups but perhaps the future of work itself. In exploring the reach and versatility of AGI within various industries, several startups illustrate its transformative potential in tangible ways. Take CureMetrix, which has pioneered AI tools like cmAssist to enhance breast cancer diagnostics. Studies published in the Journal of the American College of Radiology confirm that cmAssist boosts early detection rates by 27% and reduces false positives by 69%. This exemplifies how AGI-driven diagnostics are not only enhancing healthcare accuracy but also delivering critical efficiencies across medical workflows. Another health-focused player, Vara.ai, brings AGI to radiology, helping radiologists quickly analyse vast radiological data to highlight potential concerns. Its approach addresses a crucial gap in healthcare accessibility, particularly in regions where radiology expertise is scarce. By automating initial diagnostic reviews, Vara.ai exemplifies how AGI is improving healthcare scalability, accuracy, and access—a vision well-aligned with India’s healthcare goals. Beyond healthcare, Yellow.ai has established itself as a leader in customer service automation. By automating up to 90% of customer inquiries, their AGI-powered platform improves response times by nearly 50% and boosts customer satisfaction scores by around 40% . In an age where customer experience can make or break brand loyalty, Yellow.ai’s AGI solutions are helping enterprises optimise interactions at scale. Reflecting on AGI’s role in reshaping business interactions, Siddharth Kashiramka, Product Head, AGI at Amazon, observes, “We’re moving into a realm where AGI allows startups to ‘think’ in ways that aren’t just faster but fundamentally more intuitive, anticipating needs before they become obvious.” Adding another perspective, Anthropic is an AGI-centered venture formed by former OpenAI researchers. This startup is dedicated to developing AGI systems focused on safety and reliability, making its models particularly valuable in sensitive sectors like legal tech and customer support. As startups increasingly depend on AGI to manage complex, multi-step processes, Anthropic’s attention to safety is becoming a distinguishing factor, providing solutions that are as secure as they are powerful. In the foundational AGI research, OpenAI itself has transitioned from academic development to commercial deployment. By making its AGI models like ChatGPT widely accessible, OpenAI has enabled even small startups to incorporate AGI into customer service, R&D, and data analysis—domains once dominated by larger corporations. Startups in India are especially capitalising on OpenAI’s models, using them to create intuitive, data-driven interactions that rival those of global brands. Reverie Labs brings AGI into the world of biotech, focusing on the rapid simulation of molecular interactions for drug discovery. Reverie Labs’ platform allows for faster, more precise testing of drug viability, a process that traditionally consumes both significant time and resources. By accelerating drug discovery timelines, AGI from startups like Reverie Labs is not only driving innovation but potentially transforming life-saving treatments. Echoing the significance of responsible AGI implementation, Sivadeep Katangoori, an AI expert and angel investor, stresses, “AGI, while powerful, is a double-edged sword for startups. Yes, it opens avenues we couldn’t have imagined a decade ago, but it also demands a level of responsibility that many aren’t prepared for. AGI can’t replace judgment or empathy, and that’s where founders must draw the line.” “We’re moving into a realm where AGI allows startups to ‘think’ in ways that aren’t just faster but fundamentally more intuitive, anticipating needs before they become obvious,” says Siddharth Kashiramka, Product Head, AGI at Amazon. “This isn’t incremental innovation; it’s a new rhythm for startup growth.” Together, these startups embody the broad and growing influence of AGI across sectors, demonstrating how adaptable intelligence is evolving from a research dream to a practical tool. Each of these players, from CureMetrix in healthcare to OpenAI’s foundational models, brings unique strengths that underscore AGI’s vast potential in addressing industry-specific needs while redefining the operational capabilities of modern startups. AGI in startups transcends mere technical evolution; it’s a recalibration of intelligence, intertwining computational precision with human adaptability in an unprecedented dance of progress. We can’t be certain of anything but with how it’s going, the startup world will be revolutionised inevitably. As this synthesis deepens, we aren’t merely refining productivity but re-engineering the very cognitive fabric of enterprise. Indian founders, standing at this fulcrum of AI-human convergence, now face decisions that will shape not just market trajectories but societal futures. In this excellently profound shift, AGI is less a tool and more an emergent collaborator, transforming what it means to build, innovate, and lead. Let’s see what the future holds. Step up your startup journey with BHASKAR! From resources to networking, BHASKAR connects Indian innovators with everything they need to succeed. Join today to access a platform built for innovation, growth, and community.