Latest news with #366
Egypt Independent
24-05-2025
- Business
- Egypt Independent
Sisi ratifies final accounts for FY 2023–2024 budgets of several authorities
CAIRO, May 22 (MENA) – President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has ratified laws approving the final accounts for the budgets of several government entities for the 2023–2024 fiscal year. The approved budgets include those of the National Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development with LE231,083,980, the National Authority for Quality Assurance and Accreditation of Education with LE79,570,302, the Cairo International Stadium Authority with LE162,944,450, and the University Support and Development Authority with LE1,256,680,366. Additionally, the president ratified final accounts for the Grand Egyptian Museum, totaling LE10,735,845,612, the National Academy for Training, amounting to LE407,748,708, the General Authority for Tourism Development, with LE3,696,610,325, and the Prison Manufacturing and Production Fund, recording LE775,144,524. The laws were published in the Official Gazette. (MENA)
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Don't let Texas criminalize free political speech in the name of AI regulation
Texans aren't exactly shy about speaking their minds — whether it's at city hall, in the town square or all over social media. But a slate of bills now moving through the Texas Legislature threatens to make that proud tradition a criminal offense. In the name of regulating artificial intelligence, lawmakers are proposing bills that could turn political memes, commentary and satire into crimes. Senate Bills 893 and 228, and House Bills 366 and 556 might be attempting to protect election integrity, but these bills actually impose sweeping restrictions that could silence ordinary Texans just trying to express their opinions. Take SB 893 and its companion HB 2795. These would make it a crime to create and share AI-generated images, audio recordings, or videos if done with the intent to 'deceive' and 'influence the result of an election.' The bill offers a limited safeguard: If you want to share any images covered by the bill, you must edit them to add a government-mandated warning label. But the bills never define what counts as 'deceptive,' handing prosecutors a blank check to decide what speech crosses the line. That's a recipe for selective enforcement and criminalizing unpopular opinions. And SB 893 has already passed the Senate. HB 366, which just passed the House, goes even further. It would require a disclaimer on any political ad that contains 'altered media,' even when the content isn't misleading. With the provisions applying to anyone spending at least $100 on political advertising, which is easily the amount a person could spend to boost a social media post or to print some flyers, a private citizen could be subject to the law. Once this threshold is met, an AI-generated meme, a five-second clip on social media, or a goofy Photoshop that gives the opponent a giant cartoon head would all suddenly need a legal warning label. No exceptions for satire, parody or commentary are included. If it didn't happen in real life, you're legally obligated to slap a disclaimer on it. HB 556 and SB 228 take a similarly broad approach, treating all generative AI as suspect and criminalizing creative political expression. These proposals aren't just overkill, they're unconstitutional. Courts have long held that parody, satire and even sharp political attacks are protected speech. Requiring Texans to add disclaimers to their opinions simply because they used modern tools to express them is not transparency. It's compelled speech. Besides, Texas already has laws on the books to address defamation, fraud and election interference. What these bills do is expand government control over how Texans express themselves while turning political expression into a legal minefield. Fighting deception at the ballot box shouldn't mean criminalizing creativity or chilling free speech online. Texans shouldn't need a lawyer to know whether they can post a meme they made on social media or make a joke about a candidate. Political life in Texas has been known to be colorful, rowdy and fiercely independent — and that's how it should stay. Vague laws and open-ended definitions shouldn't dictate what Texans can say, how they can say it, or which tools they're allowed to use. The Texas Legislature should scrap these overbroad AI bills and defend the Lone Star state's real legacy: fearless, unapologetic free speech. John Coleman is the legislative counsel at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), a nonpartisan nonprofit that defends the free speech rights of all Americans. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Don't use AI regulation to criminalize political speech | Opinion
Gulf Insider
18-04-2025
- Gulf Insider
Hajj 2025: Friday Deadline For Domestic Pilgrims To Pay Fees
Friday is the deadline for domestic pilgrims to pay the last instalment of fees for the upcoming Islamic Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, authorities in the kingdom have said. The third and final installment constitutes 40% of the fees for the four main packages allocated to domestic pilgrims, the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has said. These packages are available for citizens and Muslim expatriates residing in Saudi Arabia who have chosen to pay the fees over three installments. The first package is pertaining to camps set up in Mina, a valley located around six kilometres east to the holy city of Mecca, to provide a high-quality service with shared accommodation. Prices start from SR10,366, excluding the cost of the transportation programme. The second includes hospitality camps with shared accommodation. Prices start from SR8,092 excluding transportation cost. The third package includes six towers located near the multi-level structure of the Jamarat Bridge where the Hajj symbolic stone-throwing rite is performed. Offering shared accommodation, this package starts with the price of SR13,150, excluding the transportation cost. The fourth package provides accommodation at the Kadana Al Wadi Towers, equipped with advanced facilities and personal services. This package entails meals and shared accommodation options. Its prices start from SR12,537. In February, the ministry opened registration for Saudis and Muslim foreign residents wishing to perform this year's Hajj rites due in June. The ministry said priority in registration is given to those who had not previously performed Hajj, except for the escort of the eligible pilgrim.
Gulf News
17-04-2025
- Gulf News
Hajj 2025: Friday deadline for domestic pilgrims to pay fees
Cairo: Friday is the deadline for domestic pilgrims to pay the last instalment of fees for the upcoming Islamic Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, authorities in the kingdom have said. The third and final installment constitutes 40% of the fees for the four main packages allocated to domestic pilgrims, the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has said. These packages are available for citizens and Muslim expatriates residing in Saudi Arabia who have chosen to pay the fees over three installments. The first package is pertaining to camps set up in Mina, a valley located around six kilometres east to the holy city of Mecca, to provide a high-quality service with shared accommodation. Prices start from SR10,366, excluding the cost of the transportation programme. The second includes hospitality camps with shared accommodation. Prices start from SR8,092 excluding transportation cost. The third package includes six towers located near the multi-level structure of the Jamarat Bridge where the Hajj symbolic stone-throwing rite is performed. Offering shared accommodation, this package starts with the price of SR13,150, excluding the transportation cost. The fourth package provides accommodation at the Kadana Al Wadi Towers, equipped with advanced facilities and personal services. This package entails meals and shared accommodation options. Its prices start from SR12,537. In February, the ministry opened registration for Saudis and Muslim foreign residents wishing to perform this year's Hajj rites due in June.
Zawya
20-02-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Ministry of Haj introduces 4 main packages for domestic pilgrims
MAKKAH — The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has introduced four main packages for domestic pilgrims, including citizens and expatriates, for the Hajj season of 2025. These packages are designed to cater to diverse budgets and preferences of the pilgrims, who can review and select from these packages according to their needs. The ministry published salient features of these packagers through its Nusuk electronic application. First package includes camps that have been developed in Mina to provide high-end services with a comfortable level of facilities and shared accommodation for the pilgrims. The prices of these camps start from SR10,366, excluding the cost of transportation. Second package is hospitality camps in Mina with shared accommodation, and their prices start from SR8,092 excluding the cost of transportation while the third package is accommodation in one of the six towers, which are distinguished by their location near the Jamarat Bridge and shared accommodation, and their prices start from SR13,150, excluding the cost of transportation. Fourth package is the Kidana Al-Wadi Towers, which are modern towers equipped with advanced facilities and personal services, with the provision of meals and shared accommodation options, and their prices start from SR12,537 excluding the cost of transportation © Copyright 2022 The Saudi Gazette. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
