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Moldova’s deputy PM on Russia’s influence and the EU membership push
Dumitru Alaiba discusses Moldova’s divide over EU membership and the challenges of Russian influence in the region.
Women will play a key role in a new Syria, says minister
Head of women’s affairs Aisha al-Dibs says women from all provinces and ethnicities will help rebuild war-torn country.
The Colombian coffee growers protecting the spectacled bear
South America’s only native bear is under threat. Coffee farmers in the Andes are doing something about it
German Christmas market attack suspect to face murder charges
Police said the man has been issued a warrant for pre-trial detention on five counts of murder.
‘Historic achievement’: Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City’s first metro line opens
Huge queues spilled out of the stations as the $1.7bn project officially opened after years of delays.
Celebrating with Christian friends in Syrian church, Sarah in Syria
For Sarah Kassim and many Syrians, al-Assad's regime marked a period of sectarianism. Now Sarah freely visits the church
Women to play major role in rebuilding Syria says head of women’s affairs
Syria’s new head of women’s affairs has told Al Jazeera that women will play a major role in rebuilding Syria.
Dozens dead after ferry capsizes in DR Congo: Official
At least 38 dead and more than 100 missing after ferry carrying people traveling for Christmas sank in the Busira River.
Cannibalism in Britain? How early Bronze Age bones reveal a grim tale
Prehistoric remains from nearly 4,000 years ago point to a grisly period of cannibalism in the UK.
Israel accused of bombing Kamal Adwan Hospital ICU risking patients, medics
The hospital's director has called for international intervention to protect patients and Gaza's health system.
The humble South African shoe that Hollywood A-listers, British royals love
After a funky makeover, the national shoe is being worn by the likes of Matthew McConaughey and Prince Harry.
Rebuilding Syria requires much more than bricks and mortar
The very social fabric that holds Syrian people together needs to be repaired.
Crowds mourn victims of deadly car-ramming attack at German Christmas marke
A memorial service was held on Saturday for the victims of the deadly car-ramming attack in Magdeburg, Germany.
I am living my own Nakba
I have lost my home and I feel I may be losing my homeland, too.
Video: Israeli military attacks barely functioning North Gaza hospital
Israeli forces have launched more attacks on the barely functioning Kamal Adwan Hospital in besieged North Gaza.
Trump threatens to take back control of Panama Canal over ‘ridiculous fees’
Trump also hinted at China's growing influence around the canal, which connects the Atlantic to the Pacific oceans.
Famous sports stars who died in 2024: Beckenbauer, OJ, West, Mays, Kiptum
A look back at the superlative sporting careers of some of the all-time greats who passed away in 2024.
Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 1,032
Here are the key developments on the 1,032nd day of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Usyk defeats Fury in points decision in Riyadh to retain heavyweight title
Oleksandr Usyk defeats Tyson Fury in Saudi Arabia to retain his undisputed heavyweight boxing crown.
Albania to shut down TikTok for 1 year, says platform promotes violence among children
TIRANA, ALBANIA — Albania's prime minister said Saturday the government will shut down the video service TikTok for one year, blaming it for inciting violence and bullying, especially among children.
Albanian authorities held 1,300 meetings with teachers and parents following the stabbing death of a teenager in mid-November by another teen after a quarrel that started on TikTok.
Prime Minister Edi Rama, speaking at a meeting with teachers and parents, said TikTok "would be fully closed for all. ... There will be no TikTok in the Republic of Albania." Rama said the shutdown would begin sometime next year.
It was not immediately clear if TikTok has a representative in Albania.
In an email response Saturday to a request for comment, TikTok asked for "urgent clarity from the Albanian government" on the case of the stabbed teenager. The company said it had "found no evidence that the perpetrator or victim had TikTok accounts, and multiple reports have in fact confirmed videos leading up to this incident were being posted on another platform, not TikTok."
Albanian children comprise the largest group of TikTok users in the country, according to domestic researchers.
There has been increasing concern from Albanian parents after reports of children taking knives and other objects to school to use in quarrels or cases of bullying promoted by stories they see on TikTok.
TikTok's operations in China, where its parent company is based, are different, "promoting how to better study, how to preserve nature ... and so on," according to Rama.
Albania is too small a country to impose on TikTok a change of its algorithm so that it does not promote "the reproduction of the unending hell of the language of hatred, violence, bullying and so on," Rama's office wrote in an email response to The Associated Press' request for comment. Rama's office said that in China TikTok "prevents children from being sucked into this abyss."
Authorities have set up a series of protective measures at schools, starting with an increased police presence, training programs and closer cooperation with parents.
Rama said Albania would follow how the company and other countries react to the one-year shutdown before deciding whether to allow the company to resume operations in Albania.
Not everyone agreed with Rama's decision to close TikTok.
"The dictatorial decision to close the social media platform TikTok ... is a grave act against freedom of speech and democracy," said Ina Zhupa, a lawmaker of the main opposition Democratic Party. "It is a pure electoral act and abuse of power to suppress freedoms."
Albania holds parliamentary elections next year.