Investors have marked up ByteDance in recent months despite a US edict forcing a sale or blockade of TikTok.. Read more at straitstimes.com.

Hong Kong's Democratic Party said Thursday it is formally dissolving what once was the main political opposition group in the city. A task force has been set up to handle the legal and financial details of dissolution.

Hong Kong said on Wednesday that it is setting aside $127.67 million to create an artificial intelligence research institute that will conduct research and development.

TikTok and ByteDance are still opposed to a sale and are in talks with the Trump administration on a deal that would allow U.S. backers to own a larger share of the company, one person said. The talks are being spearheaded by U.S. Vice President JD Vance and national security advisor Mike Waltz, the person added.

Instagram is reportedly considering launching its short-form video feature, Reels, as a separate app as the future of Chinese-owned TikTok remains uncertain in the US.