Late Saturday, TikTok ceased access for its users in the United States just before a national ban on the application was set to take effect.

A notification for users stated, “A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the US. Unfortunately, that means you can’t use TikTok for now.” The message also expressed hope, indicating, “We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office. Please stay tuned!”

Following extensive legal battles, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a law on Friday that bans the popular video-sharing platform, citing national security concerns unless its Chinese owners finalize a sale to non-Chinese buyers by Sunday. TikTok has gained widespread popularity, allowing users—from teenagers to grandmothers—to attain celebrity status through viral videos.

President-elect Trump recognized TikTok’s role in connecting with younger voters, which contributed to his election success in November. In discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Trump suggested he might impose a 90-day delay after taking office. “I think that would be, certainly, an option that we look at. The 90-day extension is something that will likely be done, because it’s appropriate,” he noted, implying an announcement could come on Monday.

The law permits a 90-day extension if the administration demonstrates progress toward a viable deal, although TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, has adamantly rejected any sale. The outgoing Biden administration has opted to leave the situation for Trump to address, with White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre characterizing TikTok’s latest remarks as a “stunt.”

In the wake of the Supreme Court ruling, TikTok CEO Shou Chew expressed gratitude to Trump for his “commitment to work with us to find a solution.” Chew is also slated to attend Trump’s inauguration on Monday.

The law mandates that companies like Apple and Google remove TikTok from their app stores, effectively preventing new downloads. These companies could face penalties amounting to $5,000 per user accessing the app. Additionally, Oracle, which hosts TikTok’s servers, is legally required to enforce the ban.

Following the legal setbacks, Apple and Google proceeded to remove TikTok from their mobile app stores in the U.S. after the enforcement of the law that aims to address national security concerns. Signed by President Biden in April, the law obligated ByteDance to divest its U.S. operations or face shutdown—a directive that ByteDance has refused to comply with. American firms hosting or distributing TikTok in the U.S. must now cease their activities, risking fines potentially worth billions of dollars.

While the law does not explicitly name any U.S. firms, it stipulates that it would be unlawful for “an entity,” “marketplace” (like an app store), or “internet hosting services to enable the distribution, maintenance, or updating” of TikTok and other ByteDance products, compelling Apple and Alphabet Inc.’s Google to remove TikTok from their U.S. app stores.

The announcement that West Coast rap icon Snoop Dogg would be performing at the Crypto Ball—an event organized by Donald Trump associate David Sacks—took many by surprise. Joining him on stage will be rapper Nelly. This news prompted shock, confusion, and frustration among fans, many of whom struggled to comprehend why these artists would choose to associate with an event linked to Trump.

Snoop Dogg’s participation raised eyebrows, particularly given his 2017 music video “Lavender,” in which he parodied the former president. This stark contrast to his current involvement in an event supporting Trump left many puzzled.

A fan shared a screenshot from the parody video on X, showing Snoop aiming a pistol at a Trump impersonator, who is clad in clown makeup and sporting an overly orange complexion. When Snoop pulls the trigger, a flag reading “bang” emerges.

At the time of the parody’s release, Trump reacted strongly to how he was depicted, stating on X, formerly known as Twitter, “Can you imagine what the outcry would be if @SnoopDogg, failing career and all, had aimed and fired the gun at President Obama? Jail time!” as reported by The Mirror US.

There was a time when Snoop and Trump enjoyed a friendly relationship; Trump even praised the rapper’s music on The Apprentice in 2007. Snoop later participated in Trump’s Comedy Central roast in 2011, solidifying their amicable rapport.

Despite any apparent tensions, Snoop Dogg expressed his affection for Donald Trump last year, stating, “I have nothing but love for Donald Trump,” in an interview with The Sunday Times in 2024. He added, “Donald Trump? He ain’t done nothing wrong to me. He has only done great things for me. He pardoned Michael Harris.”

Michael “Harry-O” Harris, co-founder of Death Row Records—which Snoop now owns—plays a significant role in the rapper’s connection to the industry’s history. While their relationship has seen ups and downs, it’s evident that Snoop and Trump have reconciled, as demonstrated by the rapper’s scheduled performance at the upcoming pre-inaugural event.

India and the United States have formalized an agreement aimed at enhancing collaboration in cybercrime investigations, as announced by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). This pact was signed just days before the Biden administration transitioned to the Trump administration.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was executed in Washington, D.C. on January 17, 2025, by Indian Ambassador Vinay Kwatra and Acting U.S. Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Kristie Canegallo, according to the MEA.

The agreement facilitates increased cooperation and training between the respective agencies of both nations concerning the use of cyber threat intelligence and digital forensics in criminal investigations.

In India, the implementation of the MoU falls under the purview of the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) within the Ministry of Home Affairs.

In the United States, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), alongside its agencies, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Cyber Crimes Center (C3) of Homeland Security Investigations, will oversee its execution.

The MoU recognizes the complex relationship between cybercrime and the common security challenges shared by India and the U.S., which include terrorism, violent extremism, terror financing, drug trafficking, organized crime, human trafficking, illegal migration, money laundering, and transportation security.

By bolstering cooperation in cybercrime investigations, this agreement is expected to further strengthen security collaboration between India and the U.S., reinforcing their comprehensive global strategic partnership.