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Author: News Desk

  • Ulema are not allowing Zakat funds to be spent on the education of the needy: Shehbaz

    Ulema are not allowing Zakat funds to be spent on the education of the needy: Shehbaz

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif addressed a ceremony at the National University of Technology, Islamabad, and said that the government faces hurdles in using Zakat funds to spend on the education of the needy as the Ulema had issues with using these funds for educational purposes.

    Shehbaz Sharif also said that if the Zakat funds can’t be used for the education of the needy students, then what is the logic in spending this money on other necessities for the students.

    The prime minister also said that if we want to progress, we should not create issues over very small things.

    Addressing the ceremony, Shehbaz Sharif also mentioned that the promotion of skilled and technical education should be a priority.

    He further stated that technical education is the key to the success of any country.

  • Twitter introduces content monetisation, paying influencers from advertising revenues

    Twitter introduces content monetisation, paying influencers from advertising revenues

    Elon Musk’s social media platform, Twitter, has taken a significant step by initiating payments to content creators from advertising revenues for the first time. This development has caught the attention of numerous influencers; however, not all users are eligible to receive compensation from the platform.

    Influencers such as Ian Miles Cheong, Benny Johnson, and Ashley St. Claire, who are considered high-profile figures within the far-right community, shared details of their Twitter earnings prior to the official announcement of monetiation.

    “Wow. Elon Musk wasn’t kidding. Content monetisation is real,” tweeted a user named End Wokeness, boasting 1.4 million followers, showcasing earnings surpassing $10,400.

    Users who have subscribed to Twitter Blue and have accumulated over 5 million tweet impressions per month for the past three months are eligible to receive earnings.

    Elon Musk, who also serves as the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, stated that an initial sum of $5 million will be distributed, accumulating from February onwards. However, the program is only accessible in countries where Stripe, a payment platform, supports payouts.

    Renowned writer Brian Krassenstein, boasting approximately 750,000 followers, claimed to have received $24,305 from Twitter. Similarly, SK, another creator with around 230,000 followers, reportedly earned $2,236, while political commentator Benny Johnson, with 1.7 million followers, disclosed earnings of $9,546. Ashley St. Clair, a writer for Babylon Bee, shared that she earned $7,153.

    Who will not benefit from Twitter monetisation? According to Twitter’s content monetisation standards, sexual content, as well as pyramid schemes, violence, criminal behaviors, gambling, drugs, and alcohol-related content, cannot be monetised.

    In a blog post, Twitter explained that creators’ share of advertising revenue would be determined based on the number of replies to their posts and monthly impressions.

    According to a report by The Washington Post, some non-political contributors expressed frustration with the company’s lack of transparency during the program’s rollout.

    “My tweets have generated hundreds of millions of impressions for Twitter every year,” stated Matt Navarra, a social media strategist who runs the tech-focused newsletter and community Geekout. He further added, “And I’ve been on the platform for 15+ years. It’s pretty lame that there is no payout coming my way. Twitter has never generated any income directly from all the content I have contributed.”

    This development comes shortly after Twitter faced fierce competition from its rival Meta-owned Threats, which witnessed millions of sign-ups within hours of its launch.

  • 69 per cent of child abuse victims are boys, report reveals

    69 per cent of child abuse victims are boys, report reveals

    A ‘confidential’ report from the home department has revealed that the number of boys facing atrocities of child abuse is higher than that of girls in Punjab.

    Dawn shared the findings of the said report on Friday, revealing that during the first five and a half months of 2023, a total of 1,390 incidents of child abuse were reported in Punjab, among them 69 per cent were boys while 31 per cent were girls.

    The report identified several key factors hindering the control of sexual crimes against children and it also provided recommendations to combat them.

    The report disclosed that out of all the culprits facing trials in courts in cases of child abuse, 55 per cent were neighbors, 32 per cent were strangers, and 13 per cent were relatives.

    Furthermore, the report revealed that Gujranwala region/division reported the highest number of child abuse incidents (220), followed by DG Khan (199), Faisalabad (186), Multan (140), Bahawalpur (129), Sheikhupura (128), Sahiwal (127), Sargodha (103), and others. The Rawalpindi region and Lahore city had the lowest numbers, with 69 and 89 cases, respectively.

    “It is also concerning that many cases go unreported. Fear and cultural taboos in our society make it difficult to report such crimes,” read the findings of the report. It underscored that lack of support from family members, friends, neighbors, or the community makes it immensely difficult for the victim to speak up against the abuser.

    The home department recommended that the Child Protection and Welfare Bureau (CPWB) play a more active role in child protection. It suggested that the CPWB should have a dedicated team of professionals, including child protection officers, psychologists, law officers, and doctors, to safeguard children from abuse and aid victim rehabilitation.

    The report stressed the need for a well-defined coordination mechanism among different stakeholders, including police, parents, CPWBs, and relevant federal and provincial agencies. It strongly recommended that national and provincial legislatures review existing child protection laws and reform the existing apparatus.

    The home department has sent the report to the Lahore Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) and the Regional Police Officers (RPOs) for strict implementation of provided recommendations.

  • EU parliament urges Indian PM Modi to protect minorities

    EU parliament urges Indian PM Modi to protect minorities

    On Thursday, the European Parliament urged Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to end ethnic violence in Manipur, and to do more to protect ethnic and religious minorities in India. Modi is currently on an official visit to France, having been invited to attend the country’s annual Bastille Day national festival as a guest of honour. 

    However, between the ceremony and the diplomatic courting, EU parliamentarians in Strasbourg approved a motion that urged India to end violence in the country’s northeastern Manipur state, and to protect the minorities there. 

    The motion also criticised the ‘national rhetoric’ of the local state government, run by Modi’s right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). EU parliamentarian Pierre Larrouturou released a statement on his Twitter, with an accompanying video.

    In his tweet, Larrouturou stated that Modi and Macron can “pretend that everything is going well in India”,however, the EU parliament is recalling facts, and strongly condemns the human rights violations that take place in India.

    “Every day in India, thousands of Muslims, Christians, and members of ethnic minorities see their rights repressed,” the statement read. “To remain silent on the situation would have been a humiliation for all those who fight for their fights and suffer every day from the Hindu nationalism imposed by the Modi government.”

    In May, CNN reported how residents of Manipur say there has been a breakdown of law and order. This was after a spell of violence that left at least 58 dead and tens of thousands more homeless.

    In a speech to the public, Larrouturou went on to point out, “In Manipur, for the past two months, we have seen monstrous violence. Over 120 people have died and 1700 homes have been devastated, 250 churches have been destroyed, 40,000 people have fled for their lives.”

    Despite differences over the war in Ukraine, namely India’s continued support to Russia, as well as tensions over human rights violations in the country, Western democracies are courting Modi and what is currently the world’s most populous country, as a counterweight to China’s influence in Asia.

    India is also one of the largest global buyers of French arms. On Thursday, India approved in principle the purchase of 26 French marine Rafale jets and three Scorpene-class submarines, news agency ANI reported. 

    During Modi’s last visit to Paris in 2015, he announced a landmark deal for 36 Rafale fighter jets worth around €4 billion ($4.48 billion).

  • Taliban praises Twitter’s freedom of speech and credibility amidst Threads launch

    Taliban praises Twitter’s freedom of speech and credibility amidst Threads launch

    Twitter’s challenges in attracting advertisers, maintaining site functionality, and retaining users have been widely discussed. However, amidst these struggles, an unexpected endorsement has emerged from an unlikely source—the Taliban. Anas Haqqani, a prominent figure within the Taliban, recently expressed his appreciation for Twitter in light of Meta’s Threads, a rival platform that gained over 100 million users within a few days of its launch.

    Haqqani, in justifying his decision to remain active on Twitter, highlighted two key advantages the platform offered. “The first privilege is the freedom of speech,” he stated. “The second privilege is the public nature & credibility of Twitter. Twitter doesn’t have an intolerant policy like Meta. Other platforms cannot replace it.”

    Meta, the parent company of Threads, has made it clear that the new platform will adhere to the same content guidelines as its sister app, Instagram. This includes a stipulation that explicitly prohibits support or praise for terrorism, organised crime, or hate groups.

    Elon Musk’s involvement in Twitter’s operations has been marked by a series of seemingly arbitrary policy decisions, the loosening of moderation guidelines and enforcement capabilities, resulting in chaotic circumstances, and a focus on prioritising paying users. Under Musk’s leadership, instances of hate speech have surged, and ad sales for the platform have experienced a significant decline of 59% since the previous year.

    It is difficult to argue that having members of the Taliban celebrate the extent to which they can exploit the platform does not present a compelling case for potential ad buyers. Twitter, grappling with these challenges, must now confront the task of restoring confidence in its ability to provide a safe and appealing environment for both users and advertisers alike.

  • Court declares Imran-Bushra marriage case admissible

    Court declares Imran-Bushra marriage case admissible

    Additional District and Session Judge (ADSJ), Islamabad, Muhammad Azam Khan, has on Thursday declared a case pertaining to the alleged illegal marriage of Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan with Bushra Bibi during iddat admissible.

    The judge has remanded back the case by dismissing the civil court’s verdict. Earlier, the civil court had declared the case of illegal marriage of the former Prime Minister inadmissible.

    The petitioner, Muhammad Hanif, claimed that Bushra Bibi got divorced in November 2017 and married Imran Khan on January 1, 2018, which means that her Iddat period had not ended, “which is against the Sharia and Muslim norms.”

    Muhammad Hanif also submitted the statements of Mufti Muhammad Saeed, who conducted the marriage between Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi, and Auwn Chaudary, a former close friend of Imran Khan. Auwn Chaudhary was also one of the witnesses at the wedding.

    The petitioner said that Bushra Bibi moved to Islamabad soon after their nikah, which is the reason for filing a case in Islamabad.

    After the completion of arguments, the ADSJ declared the case admissible and returned it to civil court for hearing.

  • ‘College Gate’ hits TV screens with mixed reviews

    ‘College Gate’ hits TV screens with mixed reviews

    Green Entertainment rolled out a list of its anticipated dramas this week, including College Gate, an exploration of the lives of six students as they tackle bullying, financial independence, career dreams and pressure to step into adulthood. The cast includes a list of newcomers like Mamia Shajaffer, Khaqan Shahnawaz and Zarrar Khan.

    The first two episodes, where we see the students stepping into a new phase of their lives, debuted this week. We see the main leads struggling to follow dreams to become a singer, dealing with bullying or drug abuse.

    Social media users have mixed reviews about the episodes, with some applauding the show for focusing on the lives of teenagers and taking a break from saas-bahu dramas, while others felt that the casting choices could have been different.

    Some users found the episodes to be engaging for tackling issues only teenagers were dealing with.

    Many felt that the script was similar to the web series ‘Midsummer Chaos’ or Netflix shows like Elite.

    Others pointed out that the actors playing the characters could not pass off as teenagers, stressing that a more age appropriate cast should have been selected rather than actors in their 30s.

    https://twitter.com/RamyaEaswaran/status/1679303066376605701?s=20
  • Dukaan CEO lays off 90% of his support staff in favour of AI chatbot

    Dukaan CEO lays off 90% of his support staff in favour of AI chatbot

    Suumit Shah, founder and CEO of Bangalore-based e-commerce startup Dukaan, announced via his Twitter account that he has laid off 90% of his customer support staff in favour of using an AI chatbot. 

    The bot was built by one of the firm’s data scientists, and according to Shah was able to respond to initial queries instantly, compared to the average staff time of one minute and 44 seconds.

    In his tweet, Shah admitted that the layoffs were “tough, but necessary”, explaining that given the state of the economy, startups are prioritising “profitability”.  

    Customer Support has apparently been a long-time struggle for Dukaan. In a conversation with CNN, Shah said that the company had cut the cost of its customer support function by 85% after introducing AI technology. He reasoned that this part of the business had been problematic for some time, with delayed responses and limited availability of staff at critical times, among other issues.

    That’s what prompted Shah to come up with the idea to create a personal AI-assistant for Dukaan, which would answer customer queries instantly, precisely, and from anywhere. Dukaan’s AI-lead Ojasvi Yadav stepped up to the plate.

    According to Shah’s Twitter thread, just a day after the bot was launched, Dukaan’s AI chatbot ‘Lina’ had resolved 200 lives chats and 1400 support tickets. The success of Lina propelled the team to create Dukaan’s new product ‘BOT9.ai’. It is an AI assistant, that can learn the ins-and-outs of a business, and answer customer queries instantly, 24/7. 

    As Shah tweeted, “it’s less magical, sure, but at least it pays the bills!”

    Considering the era of AI we are in now, and the general widespread layoffs by tech giants, Shah’s decision had been met with much criticism. However, Shah continued to justify the layoffs by emphasizing how AI technology can optimise their operations. 

    Moreover, Shah believes that allocating employees’ expertise to areas requiring critical thinking, while relegating routine tasks to AI-powered chatbots, improves efficiency while also allowing for a better allocation of human resources.

    Many Twitter users were enraged at the apparent pride in Shah’s tweets. One user tweeted, “You disrupted the lives of 90% of your support team & you’re celebrating it in public. You also likely destroyed your customer support (disprove with good CSAT for the bot) – all for a basic ChatGPT wrapper. This is a new low even for you.” 

    https://twitter.com/_glnarayanan/status/1678644685726728192?s=20

    While the announcement may read as apathetic, it is not surprising that major companies are turning to AI to improve general performance and efficiency in what are considerably quite routine tasks. 

    According to a report from outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, which looks at layoffs across every industry, around 5% of May’s job cuts in 2023 were directly related to artificial intelligence. 

    Are you worried AI is going to replace you at work?

  • Critics slam world’s largest cruise ship as a “monstrosity” comparable to Titanic

    Critics slam world’s largest cruise ship as a “monstrosity” comparable to Titanic

    The Icon of the Seas, the world’s largest cruise ship, operated by Royal Caribbean International, has faced heavy criticism from skeptics who liken its upcoming maiden voyage to the ill-fated Titanic, according to The New York Post.

    Royal Caribbean International President and CEO, Michael Bayley, views the ship as a revolutionary advancement in sea travel, positioning it as the ultimate family vacation.

    Set to embark on its first journey in January of next year, the ship has an astounding internal volume of 250,800 gigatonnes (GT), dwarfing the Titanic’s 46,328 GT.

    The vessel boasts an array of features, including seven pools, nine whirlpools, and a record-breaking water park with six slides aptly named “Category 6.” It spans 19 floors, equivalent to the height of a New York City building, accommodating approximately 5,610 passengers and 2,350 crew members.

    While the ship has completed its initial tests, critics argue that its grand scale does not guarantee an improved experience.

    Online commentators have expressed their dismay, labeling the Icon of the Seas a nightmare and comparing it to visions of hell. Despite skepticism, the ship has generated significant attention, with the cheapest ticket for a seven-night cruise priced at $1,851 and the most expensive at $10,864.

    As the vessel’s maiden voyage approaches, opinions remain divided, with some fascinated by the ship’s remarkable features while others view it with intense dread. The ship’s size and ambitious design have ignited a spirited debate about the future of cruising and whether bigger truly means better in the eyes of travelers.

  • Interior Minister takes notice of threats to Hindu community

    Interior Minister takes notice of threats to Hindu community

    Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah on Friday took notice of threats to the Hindu community, instructing ministry officials to contact officers of Sindh government.

    Member of the National Assembly (MNA), Kheal Das Kohistani, met Rana Sanaullah and informed him about the recent situation and events in Sindh. In the meeting, it was emphasised to improve protection of the Hindu community.

    The Interior Minister further said that the protection of all religious minorities, including the Hindu community, is the responsibility of the state.

    On the other hand, in the northern districts of Sindh, police have increased the security of Hindu temples. According to police officials, the security has increased after the threats of dacoits for the return of Seema Rind.

    It should be noted that in the beginning of this month, Seema Haider, a Pakistani citizen, reached India with her four children after befriending a Hindu Indian boy on the PUBG game. In interviews given to BBC, Seema has said that she will live in India and not return to Pakistan.

    The highly publicised story led to extremist threats against the Hindu community in Sindh.