Latest news with #NadaMaucourantAtallah
The National
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Who's profiting from AI-generated music?
About the piece by Saeed Saeed AI-generated band Velvet Sundown are a Spotify hit, but is the music any good? (July 2): The writer left out a key point. These AI bands aren't just about experimentation, they're a business model. Streaming models benefit when algorithm driven "safe" music fills up playlists, because it's cheap to make and easy to push. Meanwhile music of real artists gets buried. It's worth asking who actually profits when the human element gets stripped away. Hint: the platforms that host them. Karam Touba, Dubai Yes, AI can make amazing music, if the person or people giving it the prompts are any good. Margaret Reynolds, Muscat, Oman AI music has a parallel in AI-generated photography. Why do people need to generate an image of a person suffering rather than use the thousands of images taken by photojournalists in the field every single day. Those are real people risking their lives to bring us real information. These are machine generated and inauthentic. There really is no comparison. Brenda Davies, Hoi An, Vietnam The kidnapping of Alawite women must stop With regard to Nada Maucourant Atallah and Adla Massoud's report 'Get the money fast if you want her alive': Syria's Alawite women and girls disappear in abductions (July 1): These scenes are unbearably brutal. How can those who call themselves world leaders speak of humanity, yet offer offenders international protection and recognition? Norma L, Cincinnati, US Gaza ceasefire still too far in the distance In reference to Mohamad Ali Harisi's report Hamas reviews Gaza ceasefire proposal as Netanyahu vows 'it's over' for group (July 2): For the Hamas spokesperson Mahmoud Taha to say that US is not serious about ending the Gaza war is odd as it is not a US problem at all. I am concerned about the US economy, US debt and the size of the Pentagon. Frederice Klinge, Hamburg, Germany Hamas is clearly useless as a governing body. It doesn't care about Gaza at all and is perfectly alright with continuing the killings of their own people, with peace still too far away on the horizon. Ali Faisal, Inverness, Scotland Jamie Lucas, London, UK
The National
02-07-2025
- Politics
- The National
Disappearances of Alawite women, and a 'terrorist cell' in Beirut
Criminal gangs are thought to be behind the disappearance of a growing number of Alawite women in Syria. Members of what has been described as a terrorist cell were arrested in Beirut. Hamas officials have said the group is positively engaging with mediators for a ceasefire. On today's episode of Trending Middle East: 'Get the money fast if you want her alive': Syria's Alawite women and girls disappear in abductions Beirut 'terrorist cell' plotted day of attacks mirroring shock of Israel's pager assault, security sources say Hamas says it is 'positively engaging' but fate of Gaza ceasefire lies in US-Israel talks This episode features Nada Maucourant Atallah, Beirut Correspondent; and Mohamad Ali Harisi, Foreign Editor.
The National
30-05-2025
- Business
- The National
Israel approves more settlements and Saudi Arabia tightens Hajj security
Israel has approved 22 more settlements in the occupied West Bank. Authorities in Saudi Arabia are making arrests for abetting unauthorised pilgrimages this Hajj season. Syria has signed billions of dollars worth of energy deals with international companies led by the Qatari UCC Holding. On today's episode of Trending Middle East: Israel approves 22 West Bank settlements in major blow to prospect of Palestinian state Saudi Arabia arrests 26 people for transporting illegal Hajj pilgrims Syria signs $7bn Qatari-led deal to double power supply This episode features Thomas Helm, Jerusalem Correspondent, and Nada Maucourant Atallah, Beirut Correspondent.
