News

Tech company rejects as ‘pure fiction’ a report that a deal could take place if it fails to avoid an impending ban
Chinese officials have reportedly held preliminary talks about a potential option to sell TikTok’s operations in the US to the billionaire Elon Musk, should the short-video app be unable to avoid an impending ban. Another option is that Musk acts as a broker in a deal to sell the app.
Beijing officials prefer that TikTok remains under the control of its Chinese parent, Bytedance, but have discussed other options including a sale to Musk, Bloomberg reported. The Financial Times reported on the same day that the officials had discussed the preliminary possibility of Musk functioning as a go-between for Bytedance and any potential buyer that would prevent the app from being shut down.

Instead of wallowing in misery about potentially losing access to their favorite short-form video app, many TikTokers are flocking to RedNote, a Chinese social media platform also called Xiaohongshu.

TikTok is expected to go dark this weekend, leading millions of U.S. users to join the Chinese platform Rednote.

Chan, now 70, rehearses his trademark action comedy chops playing a film star battling bad guys to protect a CGI panda cub
Fun though it is to see Jackie Chan good-naturedly busting out the classic moves – and very spry he is at 70 years old – this really is a by-the-numbers piece of work. It’s a Chinese action comedy in which Chan plays himself, the adored movie star, who is a little bored with the range of downtime activities on offer for an icon like him.
Then he jumps at the chance to adopt a rare baby panda at the zoo, and shows up just as a kidnap attempt is under way: a battalion of tough guys have been sent in to abduct the CGI creature at the behest of some Middle Eastern businessmen whose obvious stereotypical villainy is finally redeemed by some sentimental tearjerking — and of course Chan has to kick their butts in that unique slapstick way, helped by winsome zoo assistant Su Xiaozhu (Shi Ce). It’s a kids’ film in essence, although oddly the action violence means that it has a 15 certificate in the UK.

A Chinese social media app called Xiaohongshu is one of the biggest winners from a looming TikTok ban. It's so popular in the US that Chinese users have started a new hashtag to welcome Americans. The ...

RedNote, or Xiaohongshu, is hugely popular in Mandarin-speaking countries and has more than 300 million monthly active users, according to Bloomberg.

Wang Xing was abducted in Thailand by increasingly bold crime gangs operating in Myanmar, putting an entire tourism industry at risk
Wang Xing thought he was travelling to a casting call with film producers in Thailand.
The 22-year-old Chinese actor, also known by his stage name Xing Xing, had been communicating on WeChat with people he believed were Chinese employees of a major Thai entertainment firm, according to Thai police. One of them greeted him at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi airport and led him through security, before telling him that the plan – to stay at a nearby hotel – had changed. Instead they drove 500km to Mae Sot in western Thailand.

Amid growing concerns over a potential TikTok ban in the US, Chinese social media app "RedNote," or Xiaohongshu, has quickly risen in popularity, securing a top spot on Top Free Apps list in Apple App Store in the US.

A prominent US strategist has claimed that TikTok's Chinese ownership allows an "enemy country" to "programme" American children through social media. Brian Kennedy, from the American Strategy Group,

Chinese authorities reportedly reached out to American billionaire Elon Musk to acquire the short video platform TikTok and save it from the US ban.

Chinese users are jokingly introducing themselves to American newcomers as their “Chinese spy friend” and asking this sudden wave of English speakers to help with their homework, while US users are requesting memes. If existing users notice a surge in ...

Amid growing concerns over a potential TikTok ban in the US, Chinese social media app RedNote – the international version of Xiaohongshu – has surged in popularity, claiming the top spot on the Apple ...