Senior UK MP warns users off Chinese-run TikTok app

The TikTok logo is displayed at a TikTok office on December 20, 2022 in Culver City, California. (AFP)
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Updated 06 February 2023
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Senior UK MP warns users off Chinese-run TikTok app

  • Kearns said the bigger concern was “data penetration” via Chinese companies, and the way Beijing was using that data to intimidate “those who sought refuge in the UK and around the world”

LONDON: The head of an influential parliamentary committee in Britain on Sunday advised people not to use the Chinese social media app TikTok because of data security concerns.
“There is a reason why China has this app...,” Conservative deputy Alicia Kearns, who chairs parliament’s foreign affairs committee, told Sky News television.
“Our data is a key vulnerability and China is building a tech-totalitarian state on the back of our data. So we have to get far more serious about protecting ourselves.”
Kearns referred in passing to the recent incident in which the US shot down a Chinese ballon off its Atlantic coast. China has denied US allegations that it was being used for espionage purposes.
Kearns said the bigger concern was “data penetration” via Chinese companies, and the way Beijing was using that data to intimidate “those who sought refuge in the UK and around the world.”
Asked if she was saying people should delete TikTok from their phones, she answered: “Without question... It is not worth having that vulnerability on your phone.”
Kearns has been a longterm critic of China’s intelligence activities and what she says is its abuse of technology to that end.
A spokesman for TikTok responded to Kearns’s allegations on Sunday.
“TikTok is enjoyed by millions of people across the UK, and we want to be clear that they can trust us with their data.
“We’re taking steps like storing UK user data in our data center operations in Ireland, starting this year; further reducing employee access to data; and minimizing data flows outside of Europe.”
Relations between London and Beijing have been tense for a number of years.
Points of contention have included China’s crackdown in the former British colony of Hong Kong, and Britain’s refusal to grant a Chinese company Huawei access to its 5G network because of security concerns.
Last October, a British-based Hong Kong pro-democracy activist accused Chinese diplomats of assaulting him during a protest outside China’s consulate in Manchester, northern England.
During the ensuing diplomatic row, six Chinese envoys left Britain and returned to China. Kearns at the time accused them of having “fled the UK like cowards, making clear their guilt.”

 


US supercomputer named after Nobel laureate Jennifer Doudna to power AI and scientific research

Updated 30 May 2025
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US supercomputer named after Nobel laureate Jennifer Doudna to power AI and scientific research

  • Dell Technologies contracted with the energy department to build the computer
  • Not clear yet how the computer will rank on the listing of the world’s fastest supercomputers

BERKELEY, California: A new supercomputer named after a winner of the Nobel Prize in chemistry will help power artificial intelligence technology and scientific discoveries from a perch in the hills above the University of California, Berkeley, federal officials said Thursday.
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright announced the project Thursday alongside executives from computer maker Dell Technologies and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang.
The new computing system at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory will be called Doudna after Berkeley professor and biochemist Jennifer Doudna, who won a Nobel in 2020 for her work on the gene-editing technology CRISPR. It’s due to switch on next year.
“One of the key use cases will be genomics research,” said Dion Harris, a product executive in Nvidia’s AI and high-performance computing division, in an interview. “It was basically just a nod to her contributions to the field.”
Dell is contracted with the energy department to build the computer, the latest to be housed at Berkeley Lab’s National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center. Previous computers there have been named after other Nobel winners: Saul Perlmutter, an astrophysicist, and Gerty Cori, a biochemist.
It’s not clear yet how the computer will rank on the TOP500 listing of the world’s fastest supercomputers. The current top-ranked computer is El Capitan, located about an hour’s drive away at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. That’s followed by other supercomputers at US national labs in Tennessee and Illinois.


Israel kills another journalist in Gaza as global criticism intensifies

Updated 29 May 2025
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Israel kills another journalist in Gaza as global criticism intensifies

  • Moataz Mohammed Rajab was killed by an airstrike on a civilian vehicle
  • Latest casualty comes amid mounting international calls for sanctions on Israel

LONDON: Israeli forces killed Moataz Mohammed Rajab, a Palestinian photojournalist and video editor for Al-Quds Al-Youm TV, in an airstrike on Gaza City late Wednesday, amid mounting international condemnation of Israel’s conduct in the war.

According to the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate, Rajab was killed while covering Israeli attacks near Al-Nafaq Street, when an airstrike hit a civilian vehicle. He died instantly along with other civilians.

The Government Media Office in Gaza condemned what it called the “systematic targeting and assassination” of Palestinian journalists, accusing Israel of a deliberate campaign against the press.

“This is not random,” the office said in a statement. “Israel is deliberately assassinating Palestinian journalists.”

It urged the International Federation of Journalists, the Arab Journalists Union and global press freedom organizations to move beyond statements and take tangible action.

Rajab’s death comes amid mounting pressure on Israel to deescalate its assault on Gaza and ease a months-long blockade that has plunged the enclave’s 2.3 million residents into a severe humanitarian crisis.

Calls for restraint have grown increasingly urgent in recent days. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Israeli actions had taken “tragic and unacceptable forms,” and urged an immediate end to the bombings and resumption of humanitarian aid. He added that the forced displacement of Palestinians “is not and never will be an acceptable option.”

In one of the strongest public criticisms yet from a close ally, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz earlier this week questioned the justification for continued Israeli airstrikes, calling them “no longer comprehensible” and suggesting they go beyond the stated aim of defeating Hamas. Observers say the remarks reflect a growing shift in German public opinion.

As the war passes the 600-day mark, international calls for a ceasefire are gaining traction.

At least 44 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip on Thursday. The latest attacks came a day after desperate civilians looted a World Food Programme warehouse in central Gaza, highlighting the deepening humanitarian crisis.

Since the war began on Oct. 7, 2023, more than 54,000 people have been killed in Gaza, the vast majority of them civilians, including thousands of children.

The toll on journalists has also been staggering. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, at least 181 media workers have been confirmed killed: 173 Palestinian, six Lebanese and two Israeli.

The organization said that at least 17 journalists and two media workers were deliberately targeted by Israeli forces in what CPJ classifies as murder.

In a report issued Wednesday, CPJ said Israel’s blockade and hunger crisis are severely hampering the ability of the press to cover the war, with Gaza’s media sector now described as “dismantled” and “exhausted.”


TikTok and SRMG join forces to back local talent, drive MENA media innovation

Updated 28 May 2025
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TikTok and SRMG join forces to back local talent, drive MENA media innovation

  • Partnership will accelerate creator economy and drive commercial growth by integrating TikTok’s platform with SRMG’s media ecosystem, events, and training initiatives, companies said

RIYADH: Leading media group SRMG has announced a strategic partnership with TikTok to empower the next generation of content creators in Saudi Arabia and across the MENA region, while also driving commercial growth through a series of innovative initiatives. 

The partnership will leverage TikTok’s expertise in amplifying content reach, unlocking monetization opportunities, and fostering deeper connections with the region’s digitally native audience. It also aims to expand TikTok’s footprint through integration into SRMG’s flagship events and diverse media platforms, particularly in the fields of entertainment, sports, and lifestyle.

A key initiative under the partnership was the launch of #TikTokAcademy, a local program tailored for Saudi Arabia and developed in conjunction with SRMG Academy. This initiative invites aspiring digital storytellers to submit original content across lifestyle, fashion, film and entertainment, news, and sports. Selected creators will gain exclusive training across SRMG’s media brands, gaining firsthand experience alongside editors, journalists, and producers.

As part of the partnership, SRMG’s cultural and entertainment events such as the Billboard Arabia Music Awards and Hia Hub, will provide a prominent platform to spotlight TikTok creators and raise their profile. SRMG will also activate its extensive media network, including, Hia Magazine, Sayidaty, Arriyadiyah, and Billboard Arabia to amplify content and showcase creators through editorial and digital platforms.

This aligns with broader industry momentum, as the media sector added SAR 14.5 billion ($3.86 billion) to the GDP in 2023, with ambitions to more than triple that by 2030 and generate 67,000 jobs by 2024. The entertainment sector is booming as well, bringing in over SAR 1 billion in revenue and engaging more than 75 million people in the past five years. Social media is a major driving force behind this surge, with Saudi Arabia ranked among the top countries for usage, fuelling a new era of content creation, digital storytelling, and influencer-led innovation.

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Commenting on the partnership, Bassil Al Mouallimi Chief Strategy & Commercial Officer at SRMG, said: “We believe in the power of community and in the influential role the new generation plays in shaping the future of media in our region.” He noted that “the region’s creative economy is witnessing remarkable and rapid growth, particularly across the media, entertainment, and social platform sectors.” Al Mouallimi added: “Our strategic partnership with TikTok marks a significant step in solidifying our presence at the heart of this creative movement. We are working to connect talented creators with global platforms and foster an environment that empowers them to thrive and make a meaningful impact.” He emphasized that “this goes beyond simply producing trend-driven content — it’s about building sustainable career paths, amplifying authentic voices, and driving growth in the content economy.”

Kinda Ibrahim, TikTok’s General Manager of Content Operations in MEA, South and Central Asia said “At TikTok, we are committed to empowering a new generation of storytellers by giving them the tools, platform, and global stage to express themselves and shape culture. Saudi Arabia is home to an incredibly engaged and creative community. Through this partnership with SRMG, we are doubling down on our efforts to nurture local talent, fuel the region’s creative economy, and help creators thrive, not just in the Kingdom, but across the world.” 

This strategic partnership builds on the momentum of earlier joint initiatives, including the launch of the Billboard Arabia TikTok Music Charts, a first-of-its-kind platform spotlighting the most streamed and culturally influential songs in the Arab world. It also follows the rollout of SRMG Academy’s first technology journalism course, powered by TikTok, designed to train the next wave of Saudi storytellers in navigating and reporting on the fast-evolving tech landscape.


Adviser to UAE president warns of regional gridlock without strategic shifts

(AN photo/Abdurrahman Fahad Bin Shulhub)
Updated 28 May 2025
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Adviser to UAE president warns of regional gridlock without strategic shifts

DUBAI: Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, defended the country’s foreign policy and addressed the Arab world’s uncertain geopolitical landscape during a panel discussion at the Arab Media Summit in Dubai.

“How can you explain everything that is happening in the Arab world now?” asked Taher Baraka, presenter at Al Arabiya.

Gargash responded with a single word: “Uncertainty.”

Elaborating on this theme, he pointed to the fragile resurgence of nations such as Syria and Lebanon as central to the region’s current volatility.

“We have two Arab worlds,” he said. “There is the GCC, and then there are Arab countries that are suffering.”

Gargash emphasized the UAE’s proactive foreign policy, which he described as essential to fostering stability and peace for the Emirati people.

“We know we have to address the problems in our region,” he said. “Yes, there are challenges — but there is also significant potential.”

He also addressed criticism surrounding the UAE’s decision to normalize ties with Israel, a move that has sparked debate across the Arab world.

“Normalization is being used as a scare tactic,” he said. “But it is a sovereign decision, and for us, it was the right choice.”

Despite this stance, Gargash reaffirmed the UAE’s enduring support for the Palestinian cause.

“Our commitment to the Palestinian people and their right to a state remains unchanged. Their suffering brings us real pain,” he said.

Gargash argued that without normalization, the Arab world risks clinging to outdated strategies that perpetuate conflict and division.

Using the metaphor of a “bottleneck,” he described the political paralysis in Syria and Lebanon, where armed militias continue to undermine national sovereignty.

“We cannot have two armies in one country,” he said. “We need realistic priorities.”

Gargash highlighted the UAE’s role in supporting crisis-hit nations, pointing to the large Lebanese and Syrian diasporas in the Emirates.

“The UAE has been the breathing lungs for Lebanon and Syria during the height of their crises. Many of their citizens came here and thrived. If they can innovate here, they can innovate in Lebanon or Syria,” he said. 


New currency in the works, says Syrian economy minister

Updated 28 May 2025
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New currency in the works, says Syrian economy minister

  • Syria is striving to become an open economy and attract foreign investment

DUBAI: Syrian Economy Minister Mohammad Nidal Al-Shaar has said his country is working on developing a new currency but will not make any hasty decisions.

Speaking at the Arab Media Summit on Wednesday, Al-Shaar said the new Syrian government was “dealing with this calmly and patiently” and pointed to the economy’s flaws under Bashar Assad’s regime.

“The regime had different channels to pay salaries, one was through royalties that were imposed on traders and the other was through captagon production. When the regime fell, these stopped so there is a shortage in liquidity currently,” he explained.

Liquidity was the main challenge faced by Syria’s economy, he added, as the previous regime had retrieved most of the country’s liquid assets from overseas before it fell.

“We are working on retrieving our funds from abroad in cash; unfortunately the regime was able to retrieve most of it but something is better than nothing,” he said.

Earlier this year, the UAE invested $800 million to develop the Syrian port of Tartous after the US lifted sanctions.

Al-Shaar said Syria was striving to become an open economy and attract foreign investment but was being selective to avoid creating economic chaos.

“Brotherly countries of the Middle East are all looking forward to protecting Syria from chaos, the Syrian people are tired of (it) and cannot bear any more,” he added.