javascript - react - Uncaught SyntaxError: Unexpected token < -

i'm using example found here:

https://github.com/mking/react-hn

unfortunately following error -

uncaught syntaxerror: unexpected token < 

in code:

var $ = require('jquery'); var newsitem = require('./newsitem'); var react = require('react');  $.ajax({   url: '/json/items.json' }).then(function (items) {   // log data can inspect in developer console.   console.log('items', items);   // use fake rank now.   reactdom.render(     <newsitem item={items[0]} rank={1}/>,     $('#content')[0]); }); 

the actual line giving me error is:

<newsitem item={items[0]} rank={1}/>, 

i've done similar examples there's no issue not sure makes different.