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The latest news, analysis and opinion on Apps. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
last updated:
9 September, 2024
The DeepSeek logo and a Chinese flag. Australia is not the first country to take action against DeepSeek. Photo: Reuters
Australia

Australia bans Chinese AI DeepSeek from government devices

DeepSeek was being immediately removed from all government systems on national security grounds, Australia’s home affairs minister said.

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European Union

Europe forced Apple to allow other app stores. Porn quickly followed

Donald Trump

Trump orders creation of US sovereign wealth fund, says it could buy TikTok

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TikTok

How Trump 2.0’s embrace of TikTok has given the app a new lease on life in US

Trump’s new-found love for TikTok, born out of his popularity on the Chinese app, has opened a path for a new deal with ByteDance despite legal hurdles.

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US President Donald Trump has turned from TikTok foe to friend, giving ByteDance a narrow pathway to maintaining it biggest business in the country. Illustration: Davies Christian Surya
Italy

Italy blocks Chinese AI app DeepSeek, opens investigation into data use

The country’s data watchdog says the firm gave it ‘completely insufficient’ answers to questions about what it does with user information.

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Hong Kong science and tech

How well do DeepSeek, US rivals know Hong Kong? We put chatbots to the test

Chinese AI start-up DeepSeek recently sent shock waves through US markets, but how does its chatbot compare with American rivals?

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United States

DeepSeek shows China only 6 months behind state-of-the-art US AI: developers

American AI leaders have lauded DeepSeek’s apparent low cost and decision to launch its models as open source.

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The app icons of DeepSeek and ChatGPT are seen on a mobile phone screen. Photo: Reuters
United States

If at first you don’t succeed: Microsoft in fresh bid to buy TikTok, says Trump

Microsoft, along with Walmart, made a failed bid for TikTok during Donald Trump’s first term after he had tried to ban the app.

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DeepSeek

DeepSeek’s AI breakthrough could alter China’s ‘national fate’ in US tech war

‘We should have confidence that China will eventually win the AI war with the US,’ Qihoo 360’s Zhou Hongyi said in a Weibo post.

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Health & Fitness

5 fresh starts for your exercise goals: 2025 looks from top fitness brands

The Zupe: Superhealth for Everyone app is on the iOS App Store, while other items on our list are available at your favourite high-street stores.

Celebrate Chinese New Year with Lululemon’s Scuba Oversized Funnel Neck top. Photo: handout
TikTok

TikTok-loaded smartphones in US lists for thousands of dollars on eBay, Facebook

On eBay, listings could be found for as much as US$50,000, or as little as US$340, as of Friday.

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Some enterprising individuals are selling smartphones and tablets that have TikTok – and other apps from its parent company ByteDance. Photo: Shutterstock
Artificial intelligence

ByteDance in race with US rivals to drive artificial general intelligence

The Chinese unicorn’s Seed Edge programme reflects its aggressive investment strategy, as other major tech firms push their AI initiatives.

Apple

How Apple’s parental control features are child’s play to override

Security measures on Apple iPhones, iPads and Macs to protect children from unsuitable content don’t work, recent software tests show.

E-commerce

China’s super app WeChat bolsters e-commerce credentials via gift-giving feature

The feature accounted for over 80 per cent of recent sales made by live-streaming e-commerce firm East Buy on WeChat, local reports say.

Live-streaming firm East Buy’s latest sales results on WeChat bodes well for the super app’s e-commerce business. Photo: Shutterstock
US-China relations

Opinion | US and China should follow lead of their youth bonding on RedNote

Their interactions help debunk Washington’s ‘China threat’ narrative and should give Beijing the courage to relax its censorship and trust Chinese youth.

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For many young Americans, RedNote has given them their first direct interaction with mainland Chinese people. Photo: SCMP
US-China relations

US man says he set fire to congressman’s office over TikTok ban

Caiden Stachowicz, 19, faces more than 50 years behind bars if convicted of charges including arson and making terrorist threats.

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TikTok

Exclusive | Art of the TikTok deal: China softening to potential app sale, sources say

Beijing could be more open to ByteDance selling some shares to American investors to improve US relations, sources and analysts say.

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Singapore

Instagram brings parental supervision to Singapore with new Teen Accounts

Offering enhanced safety features for teens aged 13-18, these accounts are private by default, limit contact requests, and filter offensive content.

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Instagram has rolled out Teen Accounts in Singapore, offering built-in protections, parental supervision tools, and a new Sleep Mode to enhance safety. Photo: Reuters
TikTok

TikTok’s shutdown a ‘clever’ move ahead of Trump inauguration, analysts say

TikTok’s ‘theatrical conversion’ appeals to Trump, as the company seeks to improve its reputation and market valuation, according to analysts.

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Sex and relationships

In Spain, singles ditch dating apps in favour of finding ‘real life’ love

A monthly ‘slow dating club’ in Madrid attracts young people looking for face-to-face connection as part of a trend away from online dating.

US-China relations

Trump says he will ‘most likely’ give TikTok a 90-day extension

The US president-elect will probably announce the move on Monday, he said in an interview.

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Donald Trump give a thumbs up as he walks off after speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Dallas, Texas, in July 2021. Photo: AFP
US-China relations

TikTok sell-or-ban law is upheld by US Supreme Court

High court rules that law requiring ByteDance to sell video-sharing app to non-Chinese buyer or face US ban starting Sunday is constitutional.

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The US Supreme Court has ruled that a law forcing the sale or ban of TikTok is constitutional. Photo illustration: Reuters
Indonesia

Will Indonesia’s plan to restrict children’s access to social media succeed?

While many support the policy and say it should also limit screen time, others are concerned about implementation and data privacy.

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E-commerce

JD.com introduces gifting feature after Alibaba and Tencent

The Beijing-based tech giant has jumped on the latest trend in China’s e-commerce sector: online gifting.

Mobile payments

Alipay bears cost of system error that applied discounts to user transactions

The system error applied a 20 per cent ‘government subsidy’ to an undisclosed number of transactions on Thursday, according to users.

[Shutterstock] Stock Photo ID: 1078808396 PENANG, MALAYSIA - APR 26, 2018: Alipay expands its market to support retail merchants in Malaysia through a collaboration with MOLPay, the payment gateway for Malaysia and Southeast Asia. Shutterstock Images
Hong Kong

Struggling with Taobao? It’s now available in English for Hongkongers

The Chinese e-commerce platform has soft-launched an English interface in Hong Kong.

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The Taobao mobile application with English-language interface. Photo: Taobao
TikTok

Duolingo sees a spike in TikTok refugees learning Mandarin

Language-learning apps Duolingo and Drops say they have seen an increase in US users learning Chinese.

TikTok

Douyin cracks down on fake foreign accounts amid wave of ‘TikTok refugees’

Some mainland Chinese users have reposted videos, pretending to be foreign users to gain more followers, according to Douyin.

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