https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/rss/330784/feed Latest news and updates on TikTok, the globally popular social media platform. The app, which merged with Musical.ly in 2018, lets users create short videos under a minute long complete with visual effects and background music. It has since come under scrutiny in countries like the US and India because it is owned by a Chinese company. Critics have accused the app of posing a national security risk, a claim that TikTok has repeatedly denied. Known as Douyin in China, the app is owned by... en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg Ishani Sarkar Ishani Sarkar Lili Reinhart and Tom Bateman’s irresistible chemistry in The Love Hypothesis (2026) has fans swooning worldwide. The film, which premiered on Amazon Prime Video on September 23, is based on Ali Hazelwood’s bestselling novel of the same name. It follows PhD student Olive Smith (Reinhart), who begins a fake relationship with brooding professor Dr Adam Carlsen (Bateman), only for their feelings to start turning real. The Love Hypothesis is currently the most watched film on the streaming platform,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3369283/meet-actor-jack-martin-who-dating-lili-reinhart-love-hypothesis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3369283/meet-actor-jack-martin-who-dating-lili-reinhart-love-hypothesis?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 30 Sep 2026 10:00:05 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial When Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu used his last policy address this month to announce an interdepartmental task force on minors’ use of social media and artificial intelligence platforms, he was placing Hong Kong within a widening international consensus. The digital lives of children can no longer be left to the goodwill of technology companies. Secretary for Justice Paul Lam Ting-kwok has since confirmed that legislation is among the options. This inquiry should proceed with an open... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3369094/hong-kong-moves-right-direction-minors-social-media-use?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3369094/hong-kong-moves-right-direction-minors-social-media-use?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 28 Sep 2026 23:15:13 +0000 Reuters Reuters Alabama said on Friday it had reached a settlement with TikTok and its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, that required the social media platform to impose new usage limits and enhanced age-verification measures for users in the US state, resolving claims that the platform endangered children and misled consumers about its safety. The agreement, which came days before a scheduled trial, calls for TikTok to implement changes for teenagers in Alabama including a two-hour daily time limit, pauses... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/economy-trade-business/article/3368877/tiktok-settles-lawsuit-alabama-least-us100m-apply-safety-steps?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/economy-trade-business/article/3368877/tiktok-settles-lawsuit-alabama-least-us100m-apply-safety-steps?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 26 Sep 2026 01:38:08 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Introducing legislation to protect minors by regulating social media use is among the options on the table, Hong Kong’s justice minister has said, after the latest policy address unveiled plans to create a task force to review the situation. Speaking to the South China Morning Post and other media outlets on Wednesday, Secretary for Justice Paul Lam Ting-kwok dismissed concerns that such measures could infringe on individual rights and freedoms, emphasising that the goal was to protect children... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3368710/legislation-among-options-regulate-minors-social-media-use-justice-minister?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3368710/legislation-among-options-regulate-minors-social-media-use-justice-minister?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 25 Sep 2026 00:30:12 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Paris prosecutors said Tuesday they had opened several probes after receiving complaints concerning women filmed on the street without their consent using smart glasses. Anyone wearing smart glasses can take photos, film videos, listen to music, make phone calls, translate text or interact with an AI assistant. Meta’s smart spectacles, developed in partnership with Ray-Ban maker EssilorLuxottica, have become a commercial success. Meta sold 7 million pairs in 2025. Other companies, including... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3368459/france-prosecutors-probe-secret-filming-women-smart-glasses?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3368459/france-prosecutors-probe-secret-filming-women-smart-glasses?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Sep 2026 03:57:56 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Madonna, Bob Dylan and Jack White have banned phones from their concerts. An exasperated Adele once asked an audience member: “Can you stop filming me? … You can enjoy it in real life rather than through your camera.” In the sporting sphere, however, those bastions of decorum at Augusta National Golf Club are alone in waging war on mobile devices, employing a strict cell phone ban for patrons attending the US Masters. Mark Calcavecchia, the 1989 Open Championship winner and veteran of 18... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/article/3368373/reel-life-sports-events-confront-whole-new-world-social-media-influencers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/article/3368373/reel-life-sports-events-confront-whole-new-world-social-media-influencers?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 22 Sep 2026 14:30:06 +0000 Aidan Jones Aidan Jones Thailand has moved to make weight-loss pens prescription-only, as a glut of the GLP-1 medicines – which mimic the hormones released once someone is full – floods the black market and influencers swarm TikTok to extol the quick wins of the simple injections. The Southeast Asian nation, which is never far behind wellness or aesthetic trends and has a notorious black market in counterfeit drugs, has seen the uptake of GLP-1 medicines skyrocket, doctors say, including the market-leading Ozempic... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/health-environment/article/3368044/thailand-makes-weight-loss-pens-prescription-only-counter-glut-illegal-medicines?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/health-environment/article/3368044/thailand-makes-weight-loss-pens-prescription-only-counter-glut-illegal-medicines?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 18 Sep 2026 11:21:59 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse The European Union is set to propose curbing access to social media, video-sharing platforms, chatbots and online games to children under the age of 15, according to a draft legal document seen by AFP. A proposed new law – to be formally presented on Thursday – would mean banning minors under 15 from opening their own accounts, with a tiered system of access under parental supervision for younger children. As well as age limits, the new “EU KIDS Act” would force digital giants to make their... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3367618/eu-propose-curbing-social-media-online-games-under-15s?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3367618/eu-propose-curbing-social-media-online-games-under-15s?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 15 Sep 2026 11:15:21 +0000 Hoang Thi Ha,Pham Thi Phuong Thao Hoang Thi Ha,Pham Thi Phuong Thao Vietnam is often held up as proof of China’s underwhelming soft power in Southeast Asia: a millennium of resistance against Chinese domination, a border war within living memory, unresolved maritime disputes and elite surveys that consistently show Vietnamese respondents’ deep distrust of Beijing. Yet beneath these strategic tensions, a quieter shift is under way. Young Vietnamese are warming to Chinese culture, language, lifestyles and economic opportunity. From crowds queuing for Labubu toys... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/opinion/article/3367227/politics-aside-young-vietnamese-are-warming-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/opinion/article/3367227/politics-aside-young-vietnamese-are-warming-china?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 13 Sep 2026 04:00:12 +0000 SCMP’s Asia desk SCMP’s Asia desk US President Donald Trump has condemned Australia’s recent moves to clamp down on social media – predominantly run by American tech companies – as “a form of extortion”, hinting at more threats to come. “President Trump has unequivocally warned trading partners against imposing digital services taxes, fines, and other forms of extortion on America’s leading technology sector,” White House economics spokesman Kush Desai said on Tuesday night, as reported by news.com.au. “The administration... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3366867/trump-slams-australias-social-media-crackdown-extortion?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3366867/trump-slams-australias-social-media-crackdown-extortion?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 09 Sep 2026 04:16:42 +0000 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang China is cracking down on artificial intelligence-generated “slop” – low-grade, mass-produced synthetic content cluttering social media and news feeds – as part of a sweeping campaign against the abuse of the generative technology, the country’s top internet watchdog said on Wednesday. In a statement posted to its website, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) said it had scrubbed more than 5.61 million pieces of harmful or illegal content and removed some 49,000 accounts during its... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/article/3366096/china-cracks-down-ai-deepfakes-and-clickbait-cluttering-wechat-rednote-douyin?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/article/3366096/china-cracks-down-ai-deepfakes-and-clickbait-cluttering-wechat-rednote-douyin?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 02 Sep 2026 09:15:21 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have selected seven of the most interesting and important news stories covering global relations from the past few weeks. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Trump says he plans to meet Kim Jong-un this year, citing good relationship US President Donald Trump said that he planned to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un later this year, despite Pyongyang denying that the two leaders were in direct communication. Read the full story here. 2. China... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/article/3365671/trumps-north-korea-hope-us-revokes-visas-chinas-rocket-force-7-global-relations-reads?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/article/3365671/trumps-north-korea-hope-us-revokes-visas-chinas-rocket-force-7-global-relations-reads?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 01 Sep 2026 14:00:09 +0000 CNA CNA Singapore plans to introduce legislation early next year requiring social media platforms to roll out stronger safeguards for teens, including possibly setting a daily time limit, Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo has said. If a platform could not or did not want to introduce these stronger safeguards, Singapore intended to raise the minimum age of access to that platform to 18, Teo told journalists in an interview on Friday. The government wanted to know what... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3365845/singapore-may-require-social-media-firms-set-daily-time-limits-teens?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3365845/singapore-may-require-social-media-firms-set-daily-time-limits-teens?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 31 Aug 2026 09:27:24 +0000 Sam Beltran Sam Beltran Roblox has become a flashpoint in Southeast Asia’s debate over child safety online, as officials scrutinise whether young users are being exposed to harmful subcultures on the gaming platform. But analysts warn that it might just be a convenient scapegoat for wider failures in how children are protected online and offline. Most recently, Roblox has been linked to the August 18 school shooting in the southern Philippine city of Zamboanga, where a Grade 9 student brought two firearms to a private... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3365586/philippine-roblox-ban-call-sparks-wider-debate-over-childrens-online-safety?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3365586/philippine-roblox-ban-call-sparks-wider-debate-over-childrens-online-safety?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 28 Aug 2026 08:59:28 +0000 Varvara Rodchenko Varvara Rodchenko Singer-songwriter Stella Lefty’s country-pop single “Boston”, which went viral on TikTok before its official release in March, peaked at No 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart this week, sitting just below Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas”. On Monday, the 24-year-old announced her first tour days after she released her debut album Long Way Home. The tour will kick off on January 9 in Detroit, and span 18 cities including a fitting stop in Boston on January 17. The album features 14 songs totalling 38... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3365524/meet-stella-leftys-boyfriend-vincent-mason-whose-country-hit-hell-dancefloor-went-viral-tiktok?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3365524/meet-stella-leftys-boyfriend-vincent-mason-whose-country-hit-hell-dancefloor-went-viral-tiktok?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 28 Aug 2026 04:30:13 +0000 Alexa Vernice Pacis Alexa Vernice Pacis Every year, the internet searches for a song to define the summer, and one of this year’s contenders is definitely “Ain’t In LA” by rising pop star Adéla Jergová. A viral trend on social media right now is using the phrase “It can’t always be LA, someone’s gotta hold it down in … ” where fans around the world name their city, which is in line with the song’s message of empowering girls by honouring their hometown roots and taking pride in their upbringing. View this post on... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3365402/meet-music-producer-jackson-shanks-who-dating-rising-slovak-pop-star-adela-jergova?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3365402/meet-music-producer-jackson-shanks-who-dating-rising-slovak-pop-star-adela-jergova?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 27 Aug 2026 04:41:37 +0000 Igor Patrick Igor Patrick Brazil’s data protection authority fined ByteDance US$30 million on Tuesday over its handling of children’s data on TikTok, the largest penalty it has imposed since it was created in 2020. The National Data Protection Authority, known as the ANPD, found five breaches of Brazil’s data protection law and gave ByteDance 10 working days to appeal. The company must also erase the records of users aged 13 to 18 whose parental authorisation is not regularised within 60 working days, instruct every... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/article/3365246/brazil-fines-tiktok-record-us30-million-profiting-childrens-data?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/article/3365246/brazil-fines-tiktok-record-us30-million-profiting-childrens-data?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 25 Aug 2026 16:26:05 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse British police have arrested 12 people after a car pursued by police crashed while driving the wrong way on a major road, killing five youths and two officers. The deaths on Saturday came as officials warned of a trend for young people to carry out dangerous driving stunts to post on social media. However, police on Monday denied the collision was linked to filming for the TikTok online platform. Police in the Cleveland area of northeast England said there was “no evidence to indicate that... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3365104/uk-police-arrest-12-after-deadly-wrong-way-crash-killed-7?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3365104/uk-police-arrest-12-after-deadly-wrong-way-crash-killed-7?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 24 Aug 2026 15:51:10 +0000 Reuters Reuters New ⁠Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said on Monday his party would introduce a bill in parliament that seeks to ban children under 16 from using social media, proposing fines of up to 10 per cent of a ‌platform’s global revenue for non-compliance. The bill would require social media platforms to take reasonable steps to verify users’ ages, including by using existing account information, facial technology and digital identity documents. “We simply cannot accept the harm being done to a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/australasia/article/3365022/new-zealand-plans-social-media-ban-under-16s-backed-big-fines?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/australasia/article/3365022/new-zealand-plans-social-media-ban-under-16s-backed-big-fines?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 24 Aug 2026 05:14:17 +0000 Reuters Reuters Seven people, including two police officers, died in a car crash in northeast England on Saturday after a car heading the wrong ‌way down a major road hit a marked police armed response car, the local police force said. Cleveland Police said the incident took place in the early hours of Saturday near the South Bank area east of Middlesbrough and that all occupants of the two cars ⁠died at the scene. “This is an incredibly sad day for Cleveland,” ‌Cleveland Police Chief Constable Victoria Fuller... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3364942/7-dead-uk-after-vehicle-travelling-wrong-direction-hits-police-car?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3364942/7-dead-uk-after-vehicle-travelling-wrong-direction-hits-police-car?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 22 Aug 2026 18:39:59 +0000 Alexa Vernice Pacis Alexa Vernice Pacis The fifth and final season of Outer Banks just dropped on Netflix, and anticipation among fans is high after the major cliffhanger and character death in Season 4. The show first aired in 2020 during the early days of the Covid-19 lockdown, and quickly went viral for its coastal aesthetics, the treasure hunt plot and the attractive young cast. After seven years of working together, the series wrap was emotional for the actors. “All of a sudden, we do that last shot, and then we hear, ‘That’s a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3364800/meet-jonathan-daviss-who-stars-pope-outer-banks-and-will-play-snoop-dogg-next?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3364800/meet-jonathan-daviss-who-stars-pope-outer-banks-and-will-play-snoop-dogg-next?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 22 Aug 2026 06:00:30 +0000 Teresa Elena Frontado Teresa Elena Frontado TikTok and its Chinese parent ByteDance have agreed to pay US$400 million to settle a US Justice Department lawsuit accusing the video-sharing app of violating children’s online privacy laws, resolving a major federal case as the platform’s American operations remain under intense political scrutiny. The settlement, announced on Friday, resolves allegations brought by the Justice Department and the US Federal Trade Commission in 2024 that TikTok and ByteDance collected personal information from... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3364895/tiktok-bytedance-agree-us400-million-settlement-us-over-childrens-privacy-suit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3364895/tiktok-bytedance-agree-us400-million-settlement-us-over-childrens-privacy-suit?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 21 Aug 2026 21:39:53 +0000 Sumnima Kandangwa Sumnima Kandangwa Every few years, the internet collectively selects a person to obsess over, usually because a hilarious video clip starring them goes viral, or because they said something “memeable”. Past iterations include Bhad Bhabie, who went viral for her catchphrase “Cash me outside, how about that”, and now has a successful music career. More recently, Haliey Welch became an overnight sensation as the “hawk tuah girl” after a clip of her being unfiltered during a street interview did numbers on social... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/people/icons-influencers/article/3364235/who-rizzler-meet-10-year-old-christian-joseph-known-his-rizz-face?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/people/icons-influencers/article/3364235/who-rizzler-meet-10-year-old-christian-joseph-known-his-rizz-face?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 19 Aug 2026 10:00:10 +0000 Varvara Rodchenko Varvara Rodchenko FX’s seductive drama series The Shards, which is based on the eponymous novel by Bret Easton Ellis, premiered on August 5. It stars Cindy Crawford’s daughter Kaia Gerber, Evan Rachel Wood, Wes Bentley and Hayes Warner. Warner plays Debbie Schaffer, the girlfriend of protagonist Bret Ellis (Igby Rigney), who gets tired of the secrets surrounding Bret and his family. But how exactly did Warner, who is also a pop singer, land the role in the erotic thriller adapted by Ryan Murphy? Read on to find... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3364526/meet-hayes-warner-pop-singer-who-makes-her-acting-debut-debbie-shards?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3364526/meet-hayes-warner-pop-singer-who-makes-her-acting-debut-debbie-shards?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 19 Aug 2026 06:49:41 +0000 Sumnima Kandangwa Sumnima Kandangwa Jenna Ortega’s recent appearance in a video interview with Esquire magazine has raised public concern over the Wednesday actress’ health. Esquire’s video, published last week, saw its comment section filled with users debating Ortega’s physique: “Why is everyone in Hollywood suddenly turning into skeletons?” one user wrote. Another commented, “Wow, Hollywood unhealthily skinny strikes another great actor. Please get better Jenna!” Several commenters compared Ortega’s transformation to Ariana... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3364366/meet-jenna-ortegas-sister-aliyah-nursing-student-over-1-million-tiktok-followers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3364366/meet-jenna-ortegas-sister-aliyah-nursing-student-over-1-million-tiktok-followers?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 18 Aug 2026 05:07:49 +0000 Caroline Lin Caroline Lin The iconic wrapper of White Rabbit, a six-decade-old Chinese milk confectionery, has recently gone viral in the West. Shared this month in a post on social media he retro packaging was hailed as an “absolute masterstroke of graphic design”. Its distinctive waxy paper – featuring a white rabbit against a red circle, with blue-and-white rabbit motifs lining both edges – has since racked up more than 6 million views and 260,000 likes. In the comments section, online users from around the world have... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3364210/chinamaxxing-trend-really-about-china-or-gen-z-fleeing-western-fatigue?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3364210/chinamaxxing-trend-really-about-china-or-gen-z-fleeing-western-fatigue?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 17 Aug 2026 14:00:16 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Whether he is pulling a pint, tossing a builder’s helmet in the air or running with Olympic medallist Mo Farah, the UK’s new Prime Minister Andy Burnham has embraced social media with a deft touch. As well as putting out videos on his own accounts on X and TikTok, he has sought to broaden his audience by appearing on entertainment channels run by creators with large followings. Compared with predecessor Keir Starmer, “Burnham has a far more astute communications team around him” with a “better... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3364179/uk-pm-andy-burnham-shifts-focus-tiktok-and-podcasts-social-media-push?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3364179/uk-pm-andy-burnham-shifts-focus-tiktok-and-podcasts-social-media-push?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 16 Aug 2026 07:59:43 +0000 Khushboo Razdan Khushboo Razdan For years, the conventional wisdom in Washington was that America’s China policy was moving in one direction: tougher. But walk into a classroom at Georgetown, Rice or another US university where the next generation of diplomats and foreign-policy professionals is being trained, and the picture looks less settled. A generation that has grown up with China’s rise is increasingly sceptical of the idea that Beijing should be treated primarily as America’s great strategic rival. That matters because... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3364108/us-future-policymakers-are-questioning-standard-china-threat-playbook?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3364108/us-future-policymakers-are-questioning-standard-china-threat-playbook?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 15 Aug 2026 02:00:55 +0000 Sumnima Kandangwa Sumnima Kandangwa Up-and-coming artist Sienna Spiro is only 20 years old, but she has already drawn comparisons to the likes of Adele and Lana Del Rey. The British singer immediately stands out amid the new wave of emerging musicians with her 60s-inspired hairstyle and aesthetic, but Spiro first went viral when her track “Die On This Hill” became an internet favourite on its release last October – it has been used over eight million times on TikTok, per W Magazine. Last month Spiro released her debut studio... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3363979/meet-sienna-spiro-new-adele-her-great-expectation-single-billboards-hot-100?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3363979/meet-sienna-spiro-new-adele-her-great-expectation-single-billboards-hot-100?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 14 Aug 2026 22:00:09 +0000 Gloria Tso Gloria Tso Jakarta-based upstart doughnut and dessert brand Butter Baby has a backstory like no other. “There [are] these ancient Sumerian texts on clay tablets that tell the story of the Anunnaki,” says company co-founder Nick Burch. “The Anunnaki [come] to Earth 400,000 years ago because they’re having environmental problems on their planet, so they try to solve these problems [by acquiring] gold, and Earth has a surplus of gold. We switched gold with butter, and that’s where the story of Butter Baby... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/lifestyle/dining/article/3363494/nick-and-henry-burch-building-butter-baby-and-lessons-mother-tory-burch?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/lifestyle/dining/article/3363494/nick-and-henry-burch-building-butter-baby-and-lessons-mother-tory-burch?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 12 Aug 2026 02:00:09 +0000 Lucy Quaggin Lucy Quaggin The White House has formally lifted the ban on TikTok on US government devices after the Justice Department determined that the version operated by the platform’s new US joint venture is no longer covered by a 2022 prohibition targeting applications controlled by its Chinese parent company, ByteDance. The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB), in a memo dated Monday, rescinded a 2023 directive that barred the use of TikTok on government devices over national security concerns arising... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/article/3363709/us-lifts-tiktok-ban-government-devices-after-bytedance-restructuring?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/article/3363709/us-lifts-tiktok-ban-government-devices-after-bytedance-restructuring?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 11 Aug 2026 21:40:01 +0000 Reuters Reuters A US appeal court on Monday allowed thousands of lawsuits to move forward against Meta ⁠Platforms, Alphabet’s Google, ByteDance’s TikTok, and other ⁠social media companies over claims they designed their products to ⁠be addictive to young users. The San Francisco-based 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the companies’ bid to reverse a lower court’s ruling forcing them to face some 2,400 lawsuits over the claims filed in federal court. The companies, which also include Snap Inc’s Snapchat,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3363578/us-court-allows-thousands-lawsuits-against-tech-firms-over-social-media-addiction?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3363578/us-court-allows-thousands-lawsuits-against-tech-firms-over-social-media-addiction?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 10 Aug 2026 19:28:15 +0000 Carolina Malis Carolina Malis The beauty aisle has had a quiet but unmistakable glow-up. Serums went solid, moisturisers went fragrance-free, and now that same forensic scrutiny is focused on a category that, for decades, didn’t invite questions: period products. The timing isn’t accidental. In 2023 and 2024, TikTok lit up with videos exposing mould inside unopened Always pads, while independent testing commissioned by advocacy groups found that some of the brand’s products emitted chemicals categorised by US health agencies... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/beauty/wellness/article/3361971/whats-really-your-menstrual-products-and-should-you-be-worried?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/beauty/wellness/article/3361971/whats-really-your-menstrual-products-and-should-you-be-worried?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 10 Aug 2026 00:00:08 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings The Cry Me an Ocean plush toys sat as forlornly as their name implied inside the Stoneridge Shopping Centre in the San Francisco suburb of Pleasanton. The Chinese brand Pop Mart had placed a “Robo Shop” vending machine stuffed with the small dolls on a walkway inside the mall, but passers-by barely gave them a second glance. A few shoppers said they vaguely recalled hearing the brand’s name somewhere, and one even name-checked Pop Mart’s viral Labubu figurines. But not a single person scanned... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3363328/how-chinas-brands-are-thriving-us-despite-rising-geopolitical-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/economy/global-economy/article/3363328/how-chinas-brands-are-thriving-us-despite-rising-geopolitical-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 09 Aug 2026 12:00:08 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse A New Mexico judge on Thursday ordered Meta to pay more than half a billion dollars over the state’s claims that the social media giant created a “public nuisance” and harmed children. Meta was previously ordered to pay US$375 million in damages to New Mexico in March when a jury found the company liable for endangering children by making them vulnerable to predators on its platforms, among other harms. “We disagree with the ruling and will appeal,” Meta said in a statement Thursday. “We work... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3363233/meta-ordered-us-pay-us567-million-address-child-safety-harms?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3363233/meta-ordered-us-pay-us567-million-address-child-safety-harms?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 07 Aug 2026 02:12:38 +0000 Sumnima Kandangwa Sumnima Kandangwa Celebrity gossip blogger Perez Hilton alarmed fans and the media when he appeared to hurt himself during a recent TikTok livestream. The 48-year-old is now recovering in a hospital after emergency services were dispatched to his home in Miami in response to reports about the graphic footage. “Deputies quickly located the individual’s residence, where they spoke with family members on scene, and confirmed he was alone inside,” the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office told CNN on Wednesday, adding that... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3363169/all-about-parents-perez-hilton-blogger-hospitalised-after-his-self-harm-livestream?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3363169/all-about-parents-perez-hilton-blogger-hospitalised-after-his-self-harm-livestream?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 06 Aug 2026 11:00:08 +0000 Han Li Han Li US President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the United States’ international broadcasting agency pledged on Thursday to sharpen its media challenge to China, including by expanding into short-form videos, podcasts and diaspora group chats. Sarah B. Rogers told a Senate committee hearing that Asia would remain a top regional priority for the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees Voice of America (VOA) and funds Radio Free Asia and other international broadcasters. “China is rapacious... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3362452/trump-nominee-vows-sharpen-us-media-challenge-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3362452/trump-nominee-vows-sharpen-us-media-challenge-china?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Jul 2026 22:46:26 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng ByteDance has integrated its enterprise collaboration unit into other teams, a move that sharpens its focus on using artificial intelligence to serve corporate clients as annualised AI revenue of US$4 billion pushes it to the front of the pack in China, according to sources. The Beijing-based company decided to integrate the product team of office tool Lark, known as Feishu domestically, into the product team in charge of the Doubao AI chatbot, according to an internal memo seen by the South... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/article/3362417/bytedances-us4b-projected-ai-revenue-tops-china-it-restructures-office-tool-lark?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/article/3362417/bytedances-us4b-projected-ai-revenue-tops-china-it-restructures-office-tool-lark?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Jul 2026 12:30:16 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Social media influencers Andrew and Tristan Tate will remain in prison for at least two more weeks until their next hearing as they fight extradition to the United Kingdom, where the brothers are accused of rape and sex trafficking, a federal judge said on Monday. US Magistrate Lauren Louis set a detention hearing for August 13 to determine whether the Tates should stay in jail or be released during what could be a months-long extradition process. The brothers were not in court on Monday or... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3362046/tate-brothers-will-remain-us-jail-2-more-weeks-they-fight-extradition-uk?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3362046/tate-brothers-will-remain-us-jail-2-more-weeks-they-fight-extradition-uk?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Jul 2026 20:16:23 +0000 dpa dpa We all know how easy it is to get hooked on scrolling, but what does this endless activity actually do to our brains? The core mechanism of infinite scrolling is similar to slot machines, explains Matteo Parissi, a registered and chartered forensic psychologist and head of psychology at Cygnet Hospital Harrow in the UK. “Our brain does not know when the next rewarding piece of content will appear, so each swipe while scrolling has the possibility of getting a reward,” he says. “For our brain... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3361410/how-infinite-scrolling-hijacks-brains-reward-system-slot-machines-do?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3361410/how-infinite-scrolling-hijacks-brains-reward-system-slot-machines-do?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Jul 2026 13:15:05 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse France’s parliament on Tuesday approved a bill banning social media access for children under 15, making France the first European country to bar children from apps such as TikTok. President Emmanuel Macron has championed the ban as a flagship reform of his final term in office and pledged to enforce it by September. “France is leading the way in Europe when it comes to protecting our children and teenagers,” Macron said in a video posted on social media, hailing “a major step forward”. He... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3361394/frances-parliament-approves-social-media-ban-children-under-15-eu-first?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3361394/frances-parliament-approves-social-media-ban-children-under-15-eu-first?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Jul 2026 19:32:09 +0000 Alexa Vernice Pacis Alexa Vernice Pacis Love is in the air this summer for The Vampire Diaries star Nina Dobrev: the Canadian actress was recently spotted in New York getting cosy with Australian model Dougie Joseph. CUTES!! 🥰❤️ 📸 Nina Dobrev and Douglas Joseph photographed in New York on July 11 ©️ nina dobrev central pic.twitter.com/xFPsTxb7We — Daily Nina Dobrev (@iamdobrevnews) July 13, 2026 This is Dobrev’s first public romance since last September, when People confirmed that she had called off her engagement with Olympic... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3360746/meet-dougie-joseph-nina-dobrevs-new-beau-after-her-split-olympian-shaun-white?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3360746/meet-dougie-joseph-nina-dobrevs-new-beau-after-her-split-olympian-shaun-white?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Jul 2026 22:00:23 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse There should be a “youth mode” for children on social media platforms in which addictive features and targeted advertising are turned off, EU lawmakers demanded on Tuesday. The calls are growing louder for the European Union to ensure that social media platforms and others are designed to be safe before children use them. An expert report on Monday also recommended a “safety-by-design” approach in which platforms protect minors from possible harms posed by the apps. “The responsibility for the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3360546/eu-demands-youth-mode-protect-children-addictive-social-media-features?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3360546/eu-demands-youth-mode-protect-children-addictive-social-media-features?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Jul 2026 11:14:32 +0000 Varvara Rodchenko Varvara Rodchenko Peacock’s dating reality show Love Island USA wrapped its eighth season on July 12. Trinity and Bryce became this season’s winners, taking home the title of America’s favourite couple, along with US$100,000. The two were crowned after a public vote, beating out the rest of the villa. Following the Islanders’ every step were not just the millions of viewers, but the hosts of companion show Love Island USA: Aftersun, Ciara Miller and Tefi Pessoa. The pair delivered weekly insights into all the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3360512/meet-tefi-pessoa-host-love-island-usas-companion-show-aftersun?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3360512/meet-tefi-pessoa-host-love-island-usas-companion-show-aftersun?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Jul 2026 10:01:24 +0000 Reuters Reuters The European ⁠Union will move to limit young ⁠children’s access to social media across the 27-member bloc, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Monday, in what would be the biggest such effort to date to guard against online dangers. Von ‌der Leyen presented a paper from two experts recommending a tiered approach, with under-13s only allowed to use social media for limited periods under the supervision of parents, carers and teachers. The curbs would be lifted gradually as... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3360405/eu-eyes-social-media-curbs-children?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/europe/article/3360405/eu-eyes-social-media-curbs-children?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 13 Jul 2026 11:34:16 +0000 Resty Woro Yuniar Resty Woro Yuniar Reports of sweeping lay-offs at Tokopedia, the Indonesian e-commerce giant majority-owned by China’s ByteDance, have renewed concerns about Southeast Asia’s largest digital economy as analysts warn the country’s tech winter shows few signs of easing. The cuts have also raised questions over the future of one of Indonesia’s best-known home-grown digital champions, with analysts saying Tokopedia’s deeper integration into ByteDance’s ecosystem could shift more technology, product and strategic... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3360001/indonesias-tokopedia-denies-mass-lay-offs-restructuring-deepens-tech-winter-fears?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3360001/indonesias-tokopedia-denies-mass-lay-offs-restructuring-deepens-tech-winter-fears?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Jul 2026 10:22:40 +0000 Anand Mathai Anand Mathai Indonesia’s attempt to keep children aged under 16 off social media platforms deemed high risk has quickly become one of the world’s biggest tests of online safety regulation, with more than 4.8 million suspected underage accounts removed or deactivated in the first three months of enforcement. For President Prabowo Subianto’s government, the figures are an early sign that major platforms are falling in line with its policy aimed at making the digital world safer for children. Communications and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3359973/indonesia-blocks-48-million-underage-social-media-accounts-are-kids-any-safer?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3359973/indonesia-blocks-48-million-underage-social-media-accounts-are-kids-any-safer?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Jul 2026 09:00:08 +0000 Ashlyn Chak Ashlyn Chak Connecting with women is not that hard, says Los Angeles-based content creator Emily Lin Enjie. In her most viral video, “How to get a girl to fall in love with you”, she highlights the importance of simply saying “tell me more” – and then, crucially, of shutting up and listening to the answer. The clip has garnered more than 1.4 million likes and 29.4 million views at the time of writing. It is part of her “Emily’s School of Women” series, which was launched in January 2026, and teaches... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3359551/how-do-you-get-girl-fall-love-you-emily-lin-has-answer-just-listen?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3359551/how-do-you-get-girl-fall-love-you-emily-lin-has-answer-just-listen?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Jul 2026 23:15:05 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Like plenty of local boys before him, Neil has come home to the stretch of Australian coast where he was born. Unlike most of them, he trails fame, fans and property damage in his wake. He is also a 1,000 kg (2,200lb) elephant seal. In June, the bellowing and blubbery five-year-old mammal hauled himself onto land for his twice-yearly tour of beachside towns in southern Tasmania state after months of feeding at sea. That is posing problems now that he weighs as much as a small car and has a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/australasia/article/3359259/australian-officials-tell-fans-give-neil-seal-some-flipping-space?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/australasia/article/3359259/australian-officials-tell-fans-give-neil-seal-some-flipping-space?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Jul 2026 04:52:01 +0000 Lucy Quaggin Lucy Quaggin A growing number of US lawmakers see the tax code as a way to shift corporate America’s reliance on Chinese technology, framing economic ties as a national security risk, seen most recently in a congressman’s comments on Thursday. Representative Nathaniel Moran said on Thursday that business leaders must remember China is an “adversary”, arguing that the American business world remains trapped in a “toxic relationship” with Beijing. Speaking at a Hudson Institute event, Moran highlighted... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/diplomacy/article/3359225/us-lawmakers-push-fewer-tax-breaks-reduce-reliance-china-technology?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/diplomacy/article/3359225/us-lawmakers-push-fewer-tax-breaks-reduce-reliance-china-technology?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Jul 2026 20:36:05 +0000