logo
Why Cristiano Ronaldo's engagement raised eyebrows in Saudi Arabia

Why Cristiano Ronaldo's engagement raised eyebrows in Saudi Arabia

Deccan Herald4 days ago
The capital of the conservative Islamic kingdom is not generally known as a place where globe-trotting couples flock to celebrate their romances. A decade ago, the religious police roamed the city streets hunting for unmarried couples and shouting at women to cover their hair. Sex outside of marriage was, until recently, punishable by flogging.

Hashtags

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Anwar cautions against costly AI mistakes in Malaysia
Anwar cautions against costly AI mistakes in Malaysia

The Sun

time8 minutes ago

  • The Sun

Anwar cautions against costly AI mistakes in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR: Digital transformation and artificial intelligence (AI) programmes could cost Malaysia tens of billions of ringgit over the next five years, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim warned today, cautioning civil servants against repeating past mistakes where huge budgets failed to deliver results. He tasked the Chief Secretary to the Government (KSN) and the ministries of Digital and Communications to examine critical issues such as the gap between expectations and reality, data governance, and the impact of AI on Standard Operating Procedures. Initial solutions, he said, must be presented within weeks. 'I'm asking KSN and all departments to reflect on this matter for, say, two weeks to one month, and provide an initial answer to address this problem. 'Do not repeat the problems that have occurred or been experienced by many other large legacy companies,' he said at the monthly civil service assembly. Anwar also cautioned against using AI as a cover for inefficiency or corruption. 'The principle (when it comes to AI) is transparency and effectiveness. There's no use spending billions but having nothing to show for it,' he stressed. The Prime Minister raised what he called the 'AI productivity paradox,' warning that despite widespread hype and heavy investment, the promised gains from AI tools often fail to materialise. 'While digital transformation is a cornerstone of national change, moving to digital sectors, IT and AI does not automatically guarantee increased productivity,' he said, citing studies by the United Nations University Tokyo and McKinsey. 'These studies show that although AI tools – including chatbots – can save users 64% to 90% of time, only 3% to 7% of these gains actually improve earnings or productivity,' he added. He said this was at the heart of the 'AI productivity paradox' and pointed to JP Morgan, a major US bank, which limits employee use of ChatGPT during working hours to specific departments due to unproven productivity benefits. Anwar drew historical parallels, recalling the 'paperless office' concept of the 1980s that ended up increasing paper use instead of reducing it. He also cited management expert Peter Drucker's observations on privatisation, where the belief that private companies were always more efficient proved wrong in cases lacking transparency and proper tender processes. 'Good governance remains the fundamental principle – the golden rule – for achieving efficiency, not simply adopting new technologies or systems,' he said. He stressed the Islamic principle of 'tabayyun' (verification) and cautioned against relying on AI tools like ChatGPT for sensitive information such as Quranic verses, noting a recent case in London where a prominent Islamic organisation used ChatGPT for such purposes, resulting in incomplete or inaccurate citations. 'AI is not absolute,' he said. 'It requires human verification, especially for critical information or during times of public anxiety,' he added.

Laura Loomer attacks Mehdi Hasan over his stance on Gaza, ‘Never seen anything more soulless than a Muslim calling for…'
Laura Loomer attacks Mehdi Hasan over his stance on Gaza, ‘Never seen anything more soulless than a Muslim calling for…'

Hindustan Times

time9 minutes ago

  • Hindustan Times

Laura Loomer attacks Mehdi Hasan over his stance on Gaza, ‘Never seen anything more soulless than a Muslim calling for…'

A war of words has broken out between Laura Loomer and ex-MSNBC host Mehdi Hasan after the latter accused Loomer of being 'soulless' and 'sociopathic.' Hasan shared a Rolling Stone report about Donald Trump's administration stopping all visitor visas from Gaza, including those for humanitarian and medical aid, after Loomer posted about Palestinian children being allowed into the United States for medical care. Laura Loomer attacks Mehdi Hasan over his stance on Gaza (AP Photo/Chris Szagola, File, @mehdirhasan/X) The Department of State wrote on X, 'All visitor visas for individuals from Gaza are being stopped while we conduct a full and thorough review of the process and procedures used to issue a small number of temporary medical-humanitarian visas in recent days.' 'It's amazing how fast we can get results from the Trump administration,' Loomer wrote on X, adding an applause emoji. The post appears to have been deleted now. Read More | Laura Loomer vs. Marjorie Taylor Greene: Shocking MAGA war breaks out over 2023 purchase Loomer previously shared a video showing children from Gaza arriving in San Francisco for treatment. 'Why are any Islamic invaders coming into the US under the Trump admin?' she wrote. Loomer added, 'This is a national security threat. We didn't vote for more Islamic immigration into the United States.' Mehdi Hasan and Laura Loomer's feud Hasan shared the Rolling Stone article which says, 'Trump cuts off medical visas from Gaza after Laura Loomer freaked out over a video showing several children being permitted to come to the U.S. for medical care.' He captioned the post, 'Imagine how soulless and sociopathic you have to be to see children getting healthcare and going out of your way to prevent them from getting it. The modern pro-Israel, Trumpist conservative movement'. Loomer quickly attacked Hasan over an old, deleted X post where he had written, ' Make American Planes Crash Again.' Hasan had shared the post earlier after two people died in a plane crash at Georgia's Covington Airport east of Atlanta. The post sparked outrage, and Hasan deleted it, calling it 'poorly worded.' Loomer shared a screenshot of Hasan's now-deleted post, and wrote, 'You are an Islamic immigrant. If you don't like the policies of the US, you can go back to the shit hole you came from. Please leave. Nobody likes you. I've never seen anything more soulless than a Muslim calling for more Plane Crashes in AMERICA. GET OUT OF MY COUNTRY PARASITE!' Hasan had, however, previously acknowledged that the post was not in good taste. He said after deleting the post, 'I deleted this sarcastic quote-tweet because MAGA and Islamophobic folks are clipping it out of context and trying to ridiculously suggest I'm inciting violence.' 'But this tweet was in poor taste, poorly worded, and has allowed people in bad faith to call me a terrorist, with one New York Post reporter cc-ing the FBI. So I deleted it. Meanwhile, the right wants to silence all journalists while crying 'a show free speech!'' he added.

Nation's Animation Series Elevates Malaysian Culture To The World
Nation's Animation Series Elevates Malaysian Culture To The World

Barnama

time11 minutes ago

  • Barnama

Nation's Animation Series Elevates Malaysian Culture To The World

By Marfika Adnan Haris Fadzilah KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 18 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian animation industry continues to carve its name on the global stage, with local productions not only winning the hearts of domestic audiences but also making significant inroads into international markets with pride and distinction. Popular animated series such as Upin & Ipin, Ejen Ali, BoBoiBoy and Mechamato are now recognised in hundreds of countries, serving as a medium of cultural diplomacy that showcases Malaysia's identity, values and way of life to global audiences. Les' Copaque Production Sdn Bhd founder and managing director Burhanuddin Md Radzi said that from the very beginning, he envisioned Upin & Ipin as a platform to portray the harmony of Malaysian society. 'Our guiding principle in every production is to promote national culture, highlight noble values, and impart lessons that audiences can embrace. At the same time, we incorporate Islamic values subtly, without branding the series as an Islamic product. 'We really bring 'Malaysia' into Upin & Ipin because our everyday lives are unique – we live harmoniously in a multiracial society,' he told Bernama recently. Burhanuddin said the depiction of village life and multicultural harmony in the series has captivated foreign audiences, who find the portrayal of Malaysian society fascinating. "We can see that foreign audiences are excited about the environments that are highlighted, such as village houses, daily life and everyday activities," he said.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store