Saudi Communications Minister Meets Leaders of Major Korean Companies

Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology Eng. Abdullah bin Amer Al-Swaha meets with leaders from major technology, space, and innovation companies during his visit to South Korea. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology Eng. Abdullah bin Amer Al-Swaha meets with leaders from major technology, space, and innovation companies during his visit to South Korea. (SPA)
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Saudi Communications Minister Meets Leaders of Major Korean Companies

Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology Eng. Abdullah bin Amer Al-Swaha meets with leaders from major technology, space, and innovation companies during his visit to South Korea. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology Eng. Abdullah bin Amer Al-Swaha meets with leaders from major technology, space, and innovation companies during his visit to South Korea. (SPA)

Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology Eng. Abdullah bin Amer Al-Swaha met with leaders from major technology, space, and innovation companies during his visit to South Korea, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Friday.

During a meeting with President of Korean Aerospace Industries Company Kang Goo-young, Al-Swaha and a delegation representing relevant authorities discussed strengthening Saudi Arabia's space capabilities and forming partnerships in the areas of advanced technologies, satellite development, systems integration, and space services.

The minister met with the leaders of NAVER company to expand their partnership in advanced technical solutions based on data and artificial intelligence.

The partnership aims to boost the systems and services for innovative business models for emerging Saudi companies. During the visit, the minister also met with Samsung and several venture capital investors and investment funds.



Albania Bans TikTok for a Year after Killing of Teenager

A view of the TikTok app logo, in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 28, 2020. (AP)
A view of the TikTok app logo, in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 28, 2020. (AP)
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Albania Bans TikTok for a Year after Killing of Teenager

A view of the TikTok app logo, in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 28, 2020. (AP)
A view of the TikTok app logo, in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 28, 2020. (AP)

Albania on Saturday announced a one-year ban on TikTok, the popular short video app, following the killing of a teenager last month that raised fears over the influence of social media on children.

The ban, part of a broader plan to make schools safer, will come into effect early next year, Prime Minister Edi Rama said after meeting with parents' groups and teachers from across the country.

"For one year, we'll be completely shutting it down for everyone. There will be no TikTok in Albania," Rama said.

TikTok did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside normal business hours.

Several European countries including France, Germany and Belgium have enforced restrictions on social media use for children. In one of the world's toughest regulations targeting Big Tech, Australia approved in November a complete social media ban for children under 16.

Rama has blamed social media, and TikTok in particular, for fueling violence among youth in and outside school.

His government's decision comes after a 14-year-old schoolboy was stabbed to death in November by a fellow pupil. Local media had reported that the incident followed arguments between the two boys on social media. Videos had also emerged on TikTok of minors supporting the killing.

"The problem today is not our children, the problem today is us, the problem today is our society, the problem today is TikTok and all the others that are taking our children hostage," Rama said.