admin
US producer prices accelerated in January, with the cost of goods outside the volatile food and energy category increasing by the most in more than three and a half years as businesses passed on import
admin
President Donald Trump has yet to formally nominate Kevin Warsh to succeed Jerome Powell as head of the Federal Reserve, a delay that while not unprecedented is also not typical and adds to uncertainty in
admin
Gold prices were largely unchanged on Friday, but were on track for their seventh consecutive monthly gain due to uncertainty surrounding US tariff policies.Spot gold was down 0.1% at $5,181.18 per ounce by 0837 GMT.
admin
OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman confirmed that the company has reached a strategic agreement with the U. S. Department of War to deploy its artificial intelligence models on the ministry’s classified network, signalling a major
admin
OpenAI has secured an unprecedented $110 billion investment commitment from Amazon, Nvidia and SoftBank, propelling the artificial intelligence company into what could be the largest private funding round in history and sharply intensifying competition in
admin
Does Prada want to coddle you in an unravelling world? At Milan Fashion Week on Thursday, the Prada show opened with cozy knit sweaters and multi-coloured scarves, only for garments to be ripped open, exposed
admin
In Islam, the mosque plays a fundamental role as a comprehensive institution for worship, spiritual purification, raising awareness, promoting religious and moral values, and strengthening community bonds. Historically, its role has not been limited to performing rituals; it has also served as a space for learning, disseminating knowledge, and engaging in dialogue, contributing to human development and refining religious and social awareness. In this context, Qatar has given special attention to mosques in terms of planning, construction, and equipping them, as well as developing their functional role to become centres of learning and beacons of cultural influence. The State has ensured that mosques fulfill integrated roles, combining worship, education, and cultural enrichment, reflecting a comprehensive vision that enhances the mosque’s presence in the daily life of the community. Today, mosques in Qatar, in addition to their religious role, have become platforms for lectures and cultural seminars, spaces for discussing pressing social issues, and venues for activities aimed at children and youth, contributing to the consolidation of Islamic values, building awareness, and strengthening social cohesion. Several leading examples exemplify this integrated role, including the Imam Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab Mosque, one of the key religious landmarks in the country. Inaugurated in December 2011, it is one of the largest religious projects completed and serves as a destination for worship and learning. It embodies the mosque’s significance in Qatar’s vision, as a comprehensive institution fulfilling religious, educational, and social roles. It also reflects the State’s commitment to preserving Islamic heritage and authentic architectural identity. Qatari architectureThe Imam Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab Mosque is distinguished by its design, inspired by traditional Qatari architecture, particularly the historic Al Qubaib Mosque, while incorporating modern elements for contemporary use. Spanning a vast area, it can accommodate tens of thousands of worshipers and features courtyards, arcades, and multiple domes that reflect the aesthetics of Islamic architecture. The mosque also includes Qur’an memorization facilities, libraries, and lecture halls, in addition to hosting major religious events. This reinforces its role as a religious and educational centre that contributes to the dissemination of knowledge and the consolidation of Islamic values. Furthermore, Al-Mujadilah Center and Mosque for Women serves as a distinguished example of a mosque’s role in intellectual discourse and community dialogue, drawing inspiration from the story of the female companion Khawla bint Tha’labah, whose story is immortalized in the Qur’an in Surah Al-Mujadila. The mosque provides a platform to enhance the presence of Muslim women in the fields of science and knowledge, offering a suitable educational and research environment. The centre aims to empower women through research and educational programs, intellectual initiatives, and specialized workshops, contributing to raising awareness and presenting a practical model for applying Islamic values in contemporary life. The Al-Mujadilah Mosque hosts community events and open dialogues, creating a space that combines worship and knowledge, and affirming that mosques in Qatar have become vibrant institutions serving all segments of society. Among the most prominent religious and cultural landmarks is the Katara Mosque, distinguished by its unique architectural design. This design, created by the Turkish architect Zeynep Fadiloglu in collaboration with restoration experts from Istanbul, lends the mosque a distinctive artistic character. The mosque, located in the Katara Cultural Village, is known for its distinctive blue colour, achieved through the use of glass mosaics and hand-carved tiles. Its design blends elements of classical Islamic architecture with exquisite artistic embellishments, making it one of the most beautiful mosques in the country and a popular destination for visitors as well as worshipers. The Katara Mosque plays both a religious and cultural role. It showcases the rich heritage of Islamic arts and reflects the cultural diversity of the Islamic world, while also serving as a space for learning and celebrating religious and cultural occasions. With its two minarets, the mosque stands as a model that integrates worship and knowledge within a global academic environment. Opened in 2015 as part of the College of Islamic Studies at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), it embodies the historical role of the mosque as a centre of learning and knowledge alongside worship. The mosque is distinguished by its minarets, each reaching a height of approximately 90m and adorned with Arabic calligraphy. The building rests on five pillars representing the pillars of Islam, courtyards featuring fountains, alongside the Quranic Botanic Garden, which showcases plants mentioned in the Qur’an and Sunnah. The mosque offers educational programs, competitions, and community events, and provides translation services in several languages, serving as an open space for intercultural dialogue. It has also received several international awards, reflecting its architectural and intellectual value. Assistant Director of the Mosques Department at the Ministry of Endowments (Awqaf) and Islamic Affairs, Mohammed bin Abdul Latif al- Mahmoud affirmed that the Ministry views the mosque today as an integrated religious, educational and social institution whose role extends beyond simply performing rituals to include guidance, instruction, and the building of values. He pointed out that rapid social and cultural changes necessitate activating the mosque’s role in promoting moderation and balance, consolidating national identity, and addressing societal issues with a spirit that blends tradition and modernity. Comprehensive standardsIn a statement to the Qatar News Agency (QNA), al-Mahmoud explained that the Mosques Department places great importance on enhancing the role of mosques as centres of learning and knowledge. This is achieved through organizing regular religious lessons and Quran memorization circles, and qualification programs for imams and preachers. The Department of Da’wah and Religious Guidance at the Ministry to host scholars and specialists, while encouraging youth and school students to participate in calling the adhan and leading Taraweeh prayers, thereby deepening their connection to the mosque. He pointed out that religious programs and lectures organized in mosques contribute to establishing a correct understanding of Islamic texts, promoting the values of tolerance and belonging, correcting misconceptions, and raising awareness of societal issues such as the importance of family, social solidarity, and respect for public order. These efforts, he said, positively reflect on individual behaviour and community stability, alongside enhancing the role of imams in family, social and educational matters. The Assistant Director of the Mosques Department further stated that the ministry adopts comprehensive standards in mosque development, combining Islamic architectural identity with contemporary requirements, while prioritizing construction quality, facility safety, and the provision of advanced sound, air-conditioning and lighting systems. Attached facilities supporting educational and cultural activities are also provided to ensure a safe and welcoming environment for worshipers. He added that mosques play a pivotal role in promoting the values of social cohesion and solidarity through charitable initiatives, encouraging donations and the payment of Zakat (obligatory alms), addressing societal issues in sermons and lessons in a constructive and educational manner, and contributing to reconciliation and strengthening the bonds of brotherhood and compassion among members of society. Al-Mahmoud revealed that the next phase will witness the implementation of qualitative plans to enhance the religious and cultural message of mosques. This will be achieved by supporting the national strategy through dedicating Friday sermons to addressing national issues in coordination with relevant authorities, developing programs targeting youth, expanding the use of digital platforms to disseminate religious content, training religious and administrative staff according to the latest standards, and launching initiatives that strengthen community partnerships and keep pace with the aspirations of the next phase. For his part, Consultant Imam at the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs Dr Mohammed bin Hassan al-Muraikhi, stated that mosques in the State of Qatarplay a pivotal role in promoting religious and moral awareness in society, noting that they remain open in service of Islam and the dissemination of its tolerant values. In a similar statement to QNA, Dr al-Muraikhi explained that mosques maintain continuous scholarly and da’wah activity, including daily Qur’an memorization and teaching by specialists, as well as the organization of the main Qur’an memorization competition, ‘Sheikh Jassim Competition,’ in addition to regular lectures and sermons. He added that the ministry exerts significant efforts to advance mosque activities by closely monitoring programs and lessons, ensuring diversity of topics and alignment with community needs. These efforts, he noted, have yielded positive and encouraging results, reflected in the growing number of participants in mosque activities and the visible impact of virtuous conduct on individual behaviour. Dr al-Muraikhi also highlighted the important role of Friday sermons, which address contemporary issues and topics of concern to Muslims, guiding them according to the correct methodology derived from the Qur’an and Sunnah. He expressed his appreciation for the material and moral support provided by the authorities to preachers, which contributes to enlightening people and clarifying the true path. Concluding his statement to QNA, Dr al-Muraikhi noted that mosques across Qatar are witnessing strong attendance, with worshipers performing their rituals in an atmosphere of tranquillity and without disturbance. He emphasized that moderation prevails, with no sectarian intolerance or deviant ideology, adding that society has developed a firm religious awareness enabling it to distinguish truth, reject heresies, and preserve the purity of the faith.
admin
Forty years after Prime Minister Olof Palme was shot dead on a Stockholm street, Swedes are still wondering whether the murder was the work of a lone gunman or a political assassination. Decades later, the murder remains unsolved, and amateur detectives have turned to Artificial Intelligence in the hope of identifying new leads and persuading authorities to reopen an investigation that was shut down in 2020. The team on a crime podcast called Spar (Track) has started investigating leading theories about the murder with an AI engine developed for them by Swedish and Belgian software firms. “This is about the murder of our leader, a democratically elected prime minister. You can’t just close the case,” said Anton Berg, a co-presenter of the podcast, which intends to present the findings using AI gradually. So far, Spar has announced no breakthrough in the case. But, pointing to the ability of AI tools to learn and improve, Berg said: “Our hope is that this tool will get so advanced that we can open up the investigation again.” Palme was shot dead at close range on his way home from a visit to the cinema on February 28, 1986. Over the years, the finger of blame has been pointed at South Africa’s apartheid-era security services, Kurdish freedom fighters, right-wing extremists within the Swedish state and various lone gunmen. One man was convicted, but later freed, and prosecutors closed the case in 2020. A review last year confirmed the case would remain shut despite the main suspect being absolved. “We don’t know any more than we knew on the day of the murder, essentially,” said Gunnar Wall, who has written several books on the Palme killing. The AI engine developed for the Spar crime podcast mimics a team of human investigators to probe evidence, evaluate findings and identify gaps, but can do so much more rapidly. It can analyse the case’s around 30,000 publicly available digital documents in less than a second. Otherwise the entire case files — about 500,000 pages — would take a decade just to read, police say. From fingerprinting to DNA profiling, forensic technology has reshaped criminal investigations. AI could be another game-changer, experts say. In 2018, AI-assisted DNA analysis helped Los Angeles police catch Joseph DeAngelo, known as the Golden State Killer, who had murdered 13 people and raped at least 50 people many years earlier. “AI is a paradigm shift,” said Lena Klasen, the former head of Sweden’s National Forensic Centre and now Adjunct Professor in Digital Forensics at Linkoping University. “It is going to change how we work in the way that computers did. But this is bigger.” Gaining access to police files takes time, with only around 1,000 pages per year released. At this rate, it would take hundreds of years to be able to review all the information. Despite such problems, “our goal is to solve the murder,” Lundell said. There is also no guarantee that the evidence needed to solve the Palme case even exists. Three public commissions concluded that police bungled the early investigation. Documents were lost and leads were not followed up. “There is no technique that can help with information that isn’t there, and that is a big part of the problem that there are gaps in the information,” said Lennart Gune, Director of Prosecution at the Swedish Prosecution Authority. The use of AI in investigations also comes with some concerns. The Golden State Killer case caused a fierce debate about privacy after millions of people had their DNA data scanned without their explicit consent. In 2025, Sweden proposed a law that will allow police to use real-time, AI-powered face-recognition as a tool to fight gang crime, but its use will be limited over concerns about privacy and AI surveillance.
admin
Rehan Ahmed and Will Jacks smashed 44 off 16 balls to take England to a thrilling four-wicket T20 World Cup win over New Zealand in Colombo that kept Pakistan’s slender semi-final hopes alive.New Zealand, who
admin
Fast bowler Salman Mirza vowed on Friday that Pakistan will finish the Super Eights with a flourish against already-eliminated Sri Lanka, whether or not they still have hopes of reaching the semi-finals.Pakistan need to post
