logo
Hearse driver tragically dies on the way to a funeral

Hearse driver tragically dies on the way to a funeral

The Star17 hours ago
Compiled by MARTIN CARVALHO, C.ARUNO and R.ARAVINTAN
IT was a heart-breaking end for a man who was driving a hearse to a funeral. He had collapsed and died while transporting a corpse in South Korea's Gyeonggi province on Sunday morning, China Press reported.
The hearse was found stopped right in front of the entrance of the Yangji Tunnel on the Yeong­dong Expressway.
Police arrived at the scene 10 minutes later and found a man in his 50s slumped in the driver's seat. They broke the window to help the man and performed CPR before sending him to the hospital.
Unfortunately, doctors failed to revive him.
Police believe that the man had lost consciousness mid-journey.
> The daily also reported that millennials in China are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence (AI) 'lovers' for emotional support to avoid the heartache of being in a real-life relationship.
Nuonuo (not her real name) admitted to having an AI boyfriend with whom she discusses her worries and work troubles daily. She even secretly chats with her 'boyfriend' during work and claims they 'go out' on dates and spend birthdays together.
'We never argue. We don't have to spend money. Yet, there is a sense of companionship,' she said.
Millions of mainland Chinese have downloaded apps offering AI companionship such as Mao­xiang and Xingye. In just one year, Mao­xiang's user base has more than doubled to over 2.2 million users.
However, experts said that an over-reliance on AI for compa­nionship would only widen the social rift between people.
This, they said, would exacerbate the falling birthrate in China, which dropped to just 1.18 births per woman in 2022.
About 90% of these app users were women, which meant the chances of men being in a relationship have fallen further.
(The above articles are compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). As such, stories are grouped according to the respective language/medium. Where a paragraph begins with a >, it denotes a separate news item.)
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Kenya launches second phase of China-sponsored youth coding initiative
Kenya launches second phase of China-sponsored youth coding initiative

The Star

time15 minutes ago

  • The Star

Kenya launches second phase of China-sponsored youth coding initiative

NAIROBI, July 3 (Xinhua) -- Kenya on Thursday launched the second phase of a youth coding initiative supported by CODEMAO, a Chinese online education platform, in partnership with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The launch event marked the beginning of the initiative's second phase, which will run from 2025 to 2030. The program aims to enhance digital literacy among adolescent learners across the country. Julius Bitok, principal secretary in the Ministry of Education, said Kenya is the first country in Africa to launch the second phase of the UNESCO-CODEMAO coding initiative for youth, as part of its efforts to build a digital, interconnected and inclusive future. "To prepare our youth for the jobs and challenges of tomorrow, we must invest in digital skills today. We support initiatives that foster innovation, digital literacy, and 21st-century competencies," Bitok said. Kenya was among the African countries, including Namibia and the Republic of the Congo, that implemented the first phase of the UNESCO-CODEMAO youth coding initiative from 2022 to 2024, aimed at enhancing coding and artificial intelligence (AI) skills among students and teachers. During the first phase, junior secondary school students and their teachers received devices and hands-on training in various aspects of coding and AI, culminating in the award of certificates of recognition. Four outstanding pupils and one teacher will participate in a week-long study tour to the southeastern Chinese city of Shenzhen from July 9 to 16, where they will visit technology companies and engage with Chinese culture. Activities planned for the second phase include online training and mentorship designed to strengthen the coding and AI capabilities of students and teachers. UNESCO's Regional Director for Eastern Africa Louise Haxthausen said the partnership with CODEMAO has played a key role in introducing Kenyan learners to digital tools, including AI. During the second phase, students will be provided with tablets and both theoretical and practical lessons to help them harness coding and AI for innovation and leadership in the technology sector. CODEMAO Chief Executive Officer Tianchi Li said in a video message that the organization is committed to supporting Kenya's digital transformation by investing in infrastructure, training, mentorship, and exposing young learners to cutting-edge technologies.

Japan plans ‘world first' deep-sea mineral extraction
Japan plans ‘world first' deep-sea mineral extraction

The Sun

time8 hours ago

  • The Sun

Japan plans ‘world first' deep-sea mineral extraction

TOKYO: Japan will from January attempt to extract rare earth minerals from the ocean floor in the deepest trial of its kind, the director of a government innovation programme said Thursday. Earlier this week the country pledged to work with the United States, India and Australia to ensure a stable supply of critical minerals, as concern grows over China's dominance in resources vital to new technologies. Rare earths -- 17 metals difficult to extract from the Earth's crust -- are used in everything from electric vehicles to hard drives, wind turbines and missiles. China accounts for almost two-thirds of rare earth mining production and 92 percent of global refined output, according to the International Energy Agency. A Japanese deep-sea scientific drilling boat called the Chikyu will from January conduct a 'test cruise' to retrieve ocean floor sediments that contain rare earth elements, said Shoichi Ishii, director of Japan's Cross-ministerial Strategic Innovation Promotion Programme. 'The test to retrieve the sediments from 5,500 metres (3.4 miles) water depth is the first in the world,' he told AFP. 'Our goal... of this cruise is to test the function of all mining equipment,' so the amount of sediment extracted 'doesn't matter at all', Ishii added. The Chikyu will drill in Japanese economic waters around the remote island of Minami Torishima in the Pacific -- the easternmost point of Japan, also used as a military base. Japan's Nikkei business daily reported that the mission aims to extract 35 tonnes of mud from the sea floor over around three weeks. Each tonne is expected to contain around two kilograms (4.4 pounds) of rare earth minerals, which are often used to make magnets that are essential in modern electronics. Deep-sea mining has become a geopolitical flashpoint, with anxiety growing over a push by US President Donald Trump to fast-track the practice in international waters. Beijing has since April required licences to export rare earths from China, a move seen as retaliation for US curbs on the import of Chinese goods. Environmental campaigners warn that deep-sea mining threatens marine ecosystems and will disrupt the sea floor. The International Seabed Authority, which has jurisdiction over the ocean floor outside national waters, is meeting later this month to discuss a global code to regulate mining in the ocean depths. – AFP

Firms reassess hiring in face of global headwinds
Firms reassess hiring in face of global headwinds

New Straits Times

time8 hours ago

  • New Straits Times

Firms reassess hiring in face of global headwinds

PETALING JAYA: From global corporations to Malaysian businesses, companies across industries are reevaluating their business models to navigate a rapidly changing global economy. Firms are restructuring operations to adapt to shifting geopolitical landscapes, technological advancements, and evolving climate targets, according to FMT. Malaysia has not been spared, with Goodyear, one of the world's largest tyre companies, shuttering its Malaysian operations as part of a global cost-cutting strategy. Meanwhile, Astro Malaysia, the country's leading content and entertainment company, has introduced company-wide measures to streamline its operations in line with broader shifts seen globally across the media and technology sectors. Why now? Three major trends are driving this wave of transformation. Geopolitics, trade tensions force rethink FMT said after years of globalisation, the pendulum is swinging back. Trade is being reshaped by geopolitics, with countries pushing to safeguard supply chains, even if it drives up costs. The US has hiked tariffs on China and hinted at more restrictions affecting Southeast Asia. Despite holding steady thus far, Malaysia's electrical and electronics exports remain vulnerable to mounting geopolitical headwinds. Meanwhile, businesses are streamlining supply chains to mitigate geopolitical risks. Friendshoring, or locating production in "friendly" countries, is on the rise, and Malaysia is benefiting. "Intel, Infineon and Micron have all invested heavily in new chip facilities here. Even Chinese firms are shifting production to Malaysia to navigate US trade restrictions. "But not all sectors are thriving. Semiconductor demand cooled last year after a pandemic-driven surge, prompting layoffs and hiring freezes in Penang's manufacturing corridors," the portal said. The glove industry, a sector that boomed during the Covid-19 pandemic, also saw a downturn in 2023, leading Top Glove to shut down factories in China and Vietnam. The tech industry has also seen significant workforce reductions. For instance, major Silicon Valley firms like Meta and Microsoft collectively laid off over 30,000 employees globally earlier this year - nearly 20,000 in the San Francisco Bay Area alone- as companies recalibrated after pandemic-era overhiring and shifted focus towards AI and automation. Similar cuts have also been felt closer to home, with layoffs impacting tech hubs in Singapore. The portal said the retail sector is facing its own challenges, with projections indicating over 15,000 store closures in the US this year, potentially leading to more than 200,000 job losses, as consumer habits shift and economic pressures mount. "Meanwhile, the automotive industry is undergoing significant restructuring. For example, Thyssenkrupp announced plans to cut around 1,800 jobs due to ongoing weakness in the automotive sector it supplies, citing declining production volumes and uncertainty due to potential new tariffs," it added. For many businesses, this is what downsizing looks like: scaling back in markets promising lower returns and doubling down in areas with longer-term potential. The energy transition The shift toward cleaner energy is another major factor. As climate goals tighten, energy producers and heavy industries are changing how they operate, and who they hire, the portal said. In Malaysia, government-linked companies Petronas and Tenaga Nasional are increasingly moving into renewables, areas that require different expertise and hence evolving headcount. "The same story is playing out globally. Car makers are investing in electric vehicles and trimming roles tied to combustion engines. Power companies are moving from coal to solar and wind, prompting retraining and reorganisation. "Malaysia's own energy roadmap calls for a pivot to low-carbon sources, bringing new jobs in solar, hydrogen and EV charging, while phasing out others." To support this transition, the government and industry are investing in retraining programmes, helping oil and gas workers move into green tech. But the clock is ticking. The companies acting now are those hoping to stay ahead of the curve, not get left behind. Doing more with less: AI, digital transformation In addition to responding to external shocks, companies are also pursuing greater productivity. Thanks to artificial intelligence (AI) and automation, many tasks, once performed by humans, are now handled by algorithms. Meanwhile, local banks are grappling with tightening regulations and rising non-performing loans, forcing them to streamline branches and retrain staff for digital banking operations. They are also increasingly using AI for customer service, reducing the need for large call centre teams, the portal said. In retail, brick-and-mortar chains are closing storefronts amid fluctuations in consumer spending and the rise of e-commerce platforms like Amazon and Shopee, sparking realignments into logistics and digital marketing over in-person sales. "The trend is global. A Bloomberg Intelligence report suggests up to 200,000 banking jobs worldwide could be lost to AI in the next five years. In Malaysia, ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, cut hundreds of jobs last year from its KL moderation team, as AI tools replaced many human screeners." Even startups are feeling the shift, the portal said. With investor money harder to come by, firms are prioritising lean teams supported by software tools. Hiring has slowed, and many companies are discovering they can maintain output with fewer people, provided they're using the right tech. For workers, this means reskilling is no longer optional. The most vulnerable roles are those that are easily automated. Developing tech fluency and adaptability is now the safest bet. A new business mindset All these moves, whether in response to geopolitics, AI or climate goals, reflect a broader shift in corporate thinking, the portal said. Companies are restructuring not because they're failing, but because they're evolving. Global firms are recalibrating their operations, and Malaysian workers and businesses are part of that equation. Some jobs will disappear while others will be transformed. But new roles will also be created, especially in sectors like advanced manufacturing, AI, and clean energy. The key is readiness. Those who anticipate change and adapt early will have the edge. In a volatile global economy, staying competitive means knowing when to pivot. The companies doing that now are likely to be the ones still standing a decade from now.

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