TikTok's ban, unban and learning Mandarin, Chinese?

Well, isn't this a plot twist worthy of a political drama? TikTok gets the chop in the US, and reinstated hours later, as we are all transported back into the chaotic era of Donald Trump's Presidency.

Talk about timing that's more scripted than reality TV.

It was an interesting time on TikTok, as content creators stateside hosted mock funerals and actually hysterically bawled on camera – whilst Brits and Aussies ran amuck without their American cousins overshadowing them with pure ridiculousness.

The ban dropped like a political bombshell, and even then we couldn’t leave them alone as the majority of us moved to Rednote (and signed agreements that were written in Chinese – gulp) to keep up with the online banter that the US brings. And did they bring it – learning Mandarin Chinese. Finding a random Canadian and believing he was the CEO because he was wearing a rollneck. Sharing their experiences of healthcare with Chinese Gen Z’ers who had heard of these rumours in the past, but thought it was communist propaganda. You could not make it up.

And then just like that - poof - we're back where we started. It's like a bizarre game of whack-a-mole. One minute you're scrolling through dance challenges, the next you're caught in a geopolitical merry-go-round.

Gen Z’s collective eye-roll could probably power a small island at this point. I mean, who needs Netflix when real-life politics is this wild?

Trump poster shred

Just when the TikTok political rollercoaster wasn't wild enough, someone decides to elevate the drama outside the US Embassy in London.

A shredded poster of Donald Trump – talk about a visual mic drop. The location? Deliberate. The execution? Provocative.

The stunts that go viral aren't just about the act itself, but the conversations they spark. And this? Nothing says self-destruction like it. Some will call it genius. Others? Inflammatory. But isn't that the entire point?

Saveways: Krept and Konan's supermarket sweep

Move over, Morrison’s. Croydon's got a new player that's not just selling groceries – it's making a statement.

Krept and Konan, known for dropping beats and bars, are now dropping something equally revolutionary – Saveways. A supermarket that's more than just aisles and shelves. It's a space fully accommodating Black and Asian products all under one roof. A simple ask, but something Black and Asian people have never been able to do – shop all their own products whether for their hair or skin or seasonings and spices, all in one place.

Gone are the days of jumping from shop to shop for hours on end just to get the necessities that work for our skin and our hair and help create the foods that have been passed down for generations. Parents will probably be sharing this on WhatsApp faster than you can say “community power". And honestly? They should. The stunts that inspire conversation, create dialogue, and challenge the status quo – that's what I’m here for. And Saveways? It's doing just that.