SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has long been fixated on getting humans to Mars. On Monday, that vision received a strong endorsement from the newly inaugurated president, reports AP. In his inaugural address, President Donald Trump vowed to “pursue our manifest destiny into the stars, launching American astronauts who plant the Stars and Stripes on the planet Mars.” Musk, standing nearby, grinned broadly and celebrated enthusiastically. Trump signs order making Musk’s DOGE Commission official This moment highlighted the unconventional alliance between Musk, the billionaire tech mogul with lucrative federal contracts, and Trump, whose partnership was prominently showcased throughout the day's events. Musk publicly praised Trump at a rally following the inauguration, echoing the president's promise of an impending "golden age" for the nation. “It is thanks to you that the future of civilisation is assured,” Musk told the crowd at Capital One Arena. On X, Musk expressed his support for Trump’s return to office with a post reading: “The Return of the King.” During the Capitol Rotunda ceremony, Musk was seated prominently among other tech leaders, including Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, behind Trump’s family but closest to the president. At one point, Trump’s youngest son, Barron, greeted Musk with a handshake, a moment visible in televised coverage. Musk's alignment with Trump follows his significant financial backing of America PAC, contributing approximately $200 million to the pro-Trump organisation during last year's campaign. Musk comments on Tulip’s resignation on X The inclusion of numerous billionaires in Trump’s administration has sparked criticism, with former President Joe Biden warning of an emerging oligarchy dominated by tech moguls. Trump has tasked Musk with collaborating on a project called the Department of Government Efficiency, working alongside former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. The initiative, which operates outside formal government structures, aims to drastically reduce federal bureaucracy, regulations, and spending. Musk previously set a $2 trillion target for these cuts, though he has since acknowledged that achieving such a figure may be unrealistic. “If you aim for $2 trillion, I think we can at least get to $1 trillion,” Musk said during a Q&A session on X with pollster Mark Penn. Since the election, Musk has frequented Trump’s Florida resort and participated in meetings with potential Cabinet members and global leaders. However, Musk's relationship with some of Trump's allies has been less harmonious. Steve Bannon, a conservative podcaster and former campaign adviser, has criticised Musk’s support for immigration visa programmes, which he claims conflict with Trump’s “America First” agenda. In a recent interview, Bannon declared his intent to challenge Musk’s influence, stating, “We’ll have Elon Musk run out of here.” Additionally, Musk faced backlash from Republican lawmakers after his platform, X, played a role in derailing a bipartisan government funding proposal last month. His dissemination of false claims on X, which has faced criticism for abandoning misinformation safeguards, has raised concerns about its potential to sway public opinion, particularly given Musk's ties to the Trump administration. Elon Musk faces backlash after Nazi salute during Trump’s ceremony At the rally, Musk expressed enthusiasm for Trump’s second term, declaring, “Man, I can’t wait. This is going to be fantastic.”

Within hours of President Donald Trump’s inauguration, the new administration took down the Spanish-language version of the official White House website. The site — currently https://www.whitehouse.gov/es/ — now gives users an “Error 404” message. It also included a “Go Home” button that directed viewers to a page featuring a video montage of Trump in his first term and on the campaign trail. The button was later updated to read “Go To Home Page”. Hispanic advocacy groups and others expressed confusion at the abrupt change and frustration at what some called the administration’s lack of efforts to maintain communication with the Latino community, which helped propel him to the presidency. The Spanish profile of the White House’ X, @LaCasaBlanca and the government page on reproductive freedom also were disbanded. Meanwhile, the Spanish versions of other government agencies such as the Department of Labor, Justice and Agriculture remained available for users on Tuesday. Asked about the changes, White House principal deputy press secretary Harrison Fields responded Tuesday that the administration is “committed to bringing back online the Spanish translation section of the website.” “It’s day two. We are in the process of developing, editing and tweaking the White House website. As part of this ongoing work, some of the archived content on the website went dormant. We are committed to reloading that content in a short timeline," he said without elaborating. Trump removed the Spanish version of the page in 2017. At that time, White House officials said they would reinstate it. President Joe Biden reinstated the page in 2021. The page's removal coincided with Trump’s first-day wave of executive orders highlighted by the launch of an illegal immigration crackdown that was one of his key campaign pledges. Trump on Monday declared a national emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border and announced plans to send U.S. troops to help support immigration agents and restrict refugees and asylum. According to 2023 Census Bureau estimates, about 43.4 million Americans — 13.7% of the U.S. population age 5 and older — speak Spanish at home. The U.S. has no official language. Monica Rivera, a brand and communications strategist in New York City of Puerto Rican and Cuban descent, said the shutdown sends a clear signal. Read: Trump announces 500 bln USD AI infrastructure investment in U.S. “There are 43 million Latinos who speak Spanish as their first language and removing access to information directly from the White House draws a distinct line as to who they are serving and more dangerously, signals to the administration’s MAGA base that we as Latinos are ‘other’ and a less significant part of this country," Rivera said. Anthony Hernandez, a paralegal in the nation's capital, wasn’t initially aware of the move and said it suggests what the coming years of a second Trump presidency would look like, with specific issues making headlines while “minor but equally malicious things like that go unnoticed.” “A move like shutting down the Spanish White House page and X profile serves no purpose other than to cut off resources for millions of Hispanic Americans and immigrants attempting to enter the United States legally," Hernandez said. "And it’s a slap in the face to the millions of Hispanic voters that supported him in this recent election.” Trump’s secretary of state, Marco Rubio, is Cuban American and speaks Spanish. At his swearing-in Tuesday, he gave remarks in Spanish, thanking God, his family and Trump. Meanwhile, Hispanic leaders and communication strategy experts expressed surprise with the page's removal, given Trump’s popularity with certain Latino voters. “If the White House is seriously interested in engaging with Latinos, the second largest group in this country, then they need to make sure that updates can also be distributed in Spanish, a preferred language for millions in our community,” said Frankie Miranda President and CEO of the Hispanic Federation. He called that a way to ensure "everyone is a part of the civic process.” Kris Klein Hernández, a U.S. historian specializing in race, gender, and sexuality at Connecticut College, said the content removal from official White House websites not only limits the access available to Spanish-speaking U.S. citizens and migrants but leads "some to question which constituencies the administration prioritizes.” Read more: Rhino.ai announces $50M series A to transform enterprise modernization Jeff Lee, former deputy cabinet secretary and deputy director of external and international affairs for former California Gov. Jerry Brown, said the move seems counterintuitive given the opportunity to “showcase” policy changes, especially ones related to economics and border security. “I didn’t see any other language mediums that got the kibosh. So I think that’s a really interesting thing to single out — if that’s the case," Lee said. AP VoteCast, a nationwide survey of more than 120,000 voters, found Trump won a larger share of Black and Latino voters than he did in 2020, and most notably among men under age 45. Young Latinos, particularly young Latino men, also were more open to Trump than in 2020. Roughly half of young Latino men voted for Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, compared with about 6 in 10 who went for Biden.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced a 500-billion-U.S.-dollar investment from OpenAI, SoftBank and Oracle in artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure in the United States. At a White House event Tuesday afternoon, Trump said the three companies are set to partner on a new AI infrastructure company called Stargate, which will be building "the physical and virtual infrastructure to power the next generation of AI," including data centers across the nation. The companies will begin with a 100-billion-dollar investment, with plans to invest up to 500 billion dollars in the project over the next four years. The CEOs of all three tech firms joined the president at the White House for the announcement. In early January, Trump announced that 20 billion dollars from an Emirati developer will be invested to build data centers across the United States.

Rhino.ai, a leading AI-powered enterprise platform, announced $50 million in Series A funding led by Koch Disruptive Technologies. The investment will fuel Rhino.ai’s mission to help organizations transform outdated systems into agile, scalable solutions. By combining agentic AI with human expertise, Rhino.ai's intelligent platform analyzes complex legacy systems and automatically generates modernized applications in any desired technology stack. While traditional modernization tools focus on code conversion, Rhino.ai orchestrates the entire transformation journey - from deep system analysis to collaborative requirements, refinement and automated development - reducing modernization timelines from years to months. Breaking new ground beyond conventional AI copilots, Rhino.ai is the first end-to-end platform that enables business teams, developers, and system integrators to collaborate seamlessly through an AI-powered modernization lifecycle. Rhino.ai’s state-of-the-art agent-graph architecture leverages a blend of industry-leading large language models (LLMs) alongside Rhino.ai’s own advanced, proprietary LLMs to deliver enterprise-grade transformations with unprecedented speed and accuracy." "Transforming enterprise systems requires more than automating isolated tasks. Our platform manages the end-to-end process, from discovery to deployment, enabling organizations to seamlessly transition to modern architectures without the constraints of proprietary systems,” said Adam Branch, CEO of Rhino.ai.   The global market for legacy system transformation is projected to reach $583 billion by 2027, underscoring the urgency for organizations to replace cumbersome systems with flexible, future-ready infrastructures. Rhino.ai is leading this shift, automating the discovery, transformation, and deployment of entire application portfolios through its innovative platform.  Rhino.ai’s platform transforms applications across diverse architectures, including low-code/no-code environments, microservices, and systems on platforms like AWS, GCP, Azure, or open-source frameworks. Its Universal Application Notation (UAN) framework decouples business-critical applications from vendor-specific constraints, enabling organizations to modernize without proprietary limitations. "Rhino.ai's innovative approach to legacy system modernization aligns perfectly with the urgent need for digital transformation across industries," said Byron Knight, President of Koch Disruptive Technologies. Koch Disruptive Technologies, Koch’s venture capital group, is leading the $50 million Series A funding round. This new funding will support Rhino.ai’s growth by expanding its engineering team, enhancing product offerings, and scaling operations to meet the surging demand for modernization solutions. Backed by Koch, Rhino.ai is well-positioned to redefine how enterprises and government agencies transform their technology landscapes. The investment will fuel Rhino.ai’s mission to help organizations transform outdated systems into agile, scalable solutions. "This partnership with Rhino.ai represents a continuing shift towards AI in our digital transformation efforts," said Matt Hoag, Koch CTO. "By addressing our technical debt more efficiently using AI agents, we have the opportunity to not just save time and money – but also free up our talented developers to focus on innovation."  About Rhino.ai Rhino.ai revolutionizes the way organizations upgrade legacy systems. By automating software development and simplifying complex modernization processes, Rhino.ai enables faster, more cost-effective digital transformation with unmatched operational agility. For more information, visit www.rhino.ai  About Koch Disruptive Technologies (KDT) Koch Disruptive Technologies is a venture capital firm partnering with principled entrepreneurs who are building high-growth companies that have the potential to transform industries. KDT has a flexible mandate to make investments at any stage of a company's life cycle, from seed to late-stage growth. KDT is a Koch company, one of the largest privately held companies in the world, with annual revenues that have exceeded $125 billion and operations in more than 50 countries. KDT helps its partners unlock their full potential by bringing them Koch’s capabilities and network, structuring unique capital solutions, and embracing a long-term mutual benefit mindset. For more information, visit www.kochdisruptivetechnologies.com

OnePlus’s next-generation tablet, the OnePlus Pad 2, officially rolled out in Bangladesh recently. With a polished design, the new tablet introduces several characteristic and performative upgrades over the prior version. In a market ruled by reputed brands like Apple, Samsung, and Xiaomi, the OnePlus Pad 2 is up for pulling a good fight. Let’s delve into the features, pros, and cons of the OnePlus Pad 2. Key Specifications of OnePlus Pad 2 The OnePlus Pad 2 showcases distinct competitive advantages with its latest operating system, flagship processor, and other overhauls. Design The OnePlus Pad 2 uncovers a unibody metal body frame, providing a standard yet sophisticated look. The body measures 10.58 inches by 7.68 inches by 0.26 inches, respectively, in height, width, and depth, and weighs 584 g, making the tablet a bit larger and heavier than the ancestor OnePlus Pad. The Pad 2 is smaller and lighter than the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE+. The Xiaomi Pad 6S Pro is the closest tablet to Pad 2 in shape, weight, and feel.  Read more: Xiaomi Redmi Pad Pro Review: Features, Performance, and Value – Is It Worth the Buy? From a stylistic perspective, the OnePlus Pad 2 embodies a retrospective, traditional design with no futuristic innovation. It vibes the same polished metal look with a matte finish as other high-end tablets. Users will find a big circular camera module on the back, which sits in the middle when the tab is held in landscape orientation. You will find about six-speaker grills placed on both sides of the phone, along with a power button and USB-C charging port. The volume rockers and a magnetic zone to attach the optional Stylo 2 are arranged on the top. The lack of a headphone jack and a fingerprint sensor feels quite disappointing. Display The Pad 2's display features a large 12.1-inch IPS LCD panel with Dolby Vision compatibility, which renders fine visuals. At its price, OnePlus could have used an AMOLED panel to satisfy the mass expectations, but it decided to follow the market norm instead. With a high resolution of 3,000 by 2,120 pixels and a refresh rate of 144Hz, the Pad 2’s display surpassed the ancestor OnePlus Pad's smaller (11.61-inch) display featuring lower resolution (2000 by 2800 pixels) and brightness. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ has a bit larger display, but Pad 2 outperforms it in refresh rate and resolution. Read more: Oukitel RT8 Review: Rugged Tablet with Long Battery Life Turning to display quality, the visuals on the OnePlus Pad 2 screen seem less contrasty. The 900 nits of peak brightness level can hardly maintain visibility under direct sunshine. However, in low light and indoor conditions, the visibility feels fine. Cameras A tablet’s cameras are probably the least used feature. Most tablets available in the market provide basic lenses to enable users to pick emergency snaps. The OnePlus Pad 2 offers a 13MP (f/2.2) primary and an 8MP (f/2.3) front lens. Both lenses shoot pictures with low contrast and saturation. The Pad 2 can record videos at a maximum of 4K resolutions at a 30fps frame rate. However, exceptions like the Xiaomi Pad 6S Pro 12.4 offer more robustness, featuring a 50MP primary lens accompanied by a depth sensor and a 32MP selfie lens.  Performance and Hardware The integration of the latest flagship generation 3, 4nm Qualcomm SM8650-AB Snapdragon 8 processor is a major leap for the Pad 2, when its major competitors, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE+ and the Xiaomi Pad 6S Pro 12.4, are respectively using a 5nm Exynos 1380, and a 4nm 2nd generation Snapdragon 8 chipsets. Read more: Honor Pad 9 Tablet: Is It Worth Buying? On single- and multi-core Geekbench tests, OnePlus’s Pad 2 scores higher than both Samsung and Xiaomi models. Its graphical processing unit, an Adreno 750 chipset, is also stronger than the S9 FE+’s Mali-G68 MP5 and the Pad 6S Pro 12.4’s Adreno 740. Users can expect a better gaming experience compared to other available peers. The latest OxygenOS 15, built on the stock Android 14, smoothens app installation and navigation on the tablet. The operating system supports three years of Android updates and four years of security updates. Battery and Charger The OnePlus Pad 2 has a heavy-duty 9510 mAh battery supported by an 87W wired charging system. It outruns the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE+’s 10090 mAh cell in several tests. With regular usage, the Pad 2 is expected to run for around two days, providing a total of 11 hours of energy backup.  Pros and Cons of the OnePlus Pad 2 Pros - A large battery- Fast charging system- Stylus support- Six stereo speakers- Strong gaming performance- FHD+ IPS LCD, 144Hz refresh rate- Android 14 with OxygenOS 14.1- 4K video recording with gyro-EIS. Read more: Walton Walpad 10H Pro Review: Budget-friendly Tablet with Decent Performance Cons - No reverse/wireless charging- No Gorilla Glass protection- No SIM connectivity- No microSD slot- Lacks optical zoom/ultrawide camera- No AMOLED display- No audio jack- No fingerprint sensor Price of OnePlus Pad 2 in Bangladesh The official variant of the OnePlus Pad 2 features 12GB RAM and 256GB internal storage for BDT 49,999. Verdict The OnePlus Pad 2 brings some upgrades over its predecessor, the OnePlus Pad, but has its shortcomings. The tablet will draw users with robust performance, smooth navigation, durable battery backup, quality sound, and easy integration with other OnePlus devices. However, no AMOLED screen, audio jack, fingerprint sensor, and inclusive stylus at its price level can be a deal breaker for many.  On the whole, the OnePlus Pad 2 can a be good choice for users looking for a standard tablet around BDT 50000.  Read more: Xiaomi Pad 6 Review: Can It be a True iPad Alternative?

Dhaka's traffic congestion is a persistent challenge, often leading to long delays in reaching destinations, increased pollution, and commuter stress. These traffic woes significantly impact productivity and quality of life for city dwellers. In Dhaka, finding routes with minimal traffic is crucial to avoid wasted time on the roads and ensure smoother commutes. Staying updated on traffic scenarios has become essential in navigating the city's ever-evolving road networks. Let's explore effective ways to stay ahead of the traffic curve in Dhaka. 6 Smart Ways to Stay Updated on Traffic Jams in Dhaka . Google Maps Real-time traffic monitoring has become crucial for navigating the city's chaotic roads, and Google Maps excels in providing accurate, live updates. By leveraging data from the web and other sources, the app continuously tracks road conditions and highlights congested areas with color-coded routes–green for clear, yellow for moderate, and red for heavy traffic. Users can receive alternative route suggestions in real time, helping them avoid delays. In addition, Google Maps informs drivers of accidents, road closures, and construction, ensuring they know of potential disruptions. Previous traffic data also helps predict traffic patterns on certain routes. The app’s voice-guided navigation adds further convenience, enabling users to concentrate on the road while receiving updates. Read more: Best Free Personal Safety Android, iOS Apps for Women in 2024 Waze Known for its community-driven approach, Waze gathers real-time traffic data from users on the road. Drivers actively report road conditions, accidents, and other hazards, sharing their insights with the Waze community. This collaboration enables Waze to suggest users avoid congested areas and even alert them about sudden traffic incidents ahead. The software recalculates routes with time on changing traffic conditions, securing drivers’ uninterrupted navigation. Additionally, Waze allows users to report police presence, hazards, and road closures, providing a comprehensive traffic monitoring experience that helps commuters stay informed and make better decisions on the road. Ride-sharing Mobile Apps Through real-time traffic tracking and optimised route suggestions, ride-sharing apps have transformed the way to navigate urban transportation. These platforms continuously analyse road status, affirming that vehicle drivers and passengers avoid major congestion. Read more: 7 Food Delivery Apps for Dhaka For instance, the Uber app integrates live traffic data, providing alternative routes to sidestep delays and recalculating paths as needed. Similarly, the Pathao app uses up-to-date traffic information to optimise the journey, adjusting routes dynamically based on congestion. Both platforms offer a seamless commuting experience, helping users bypass traffic jams and reach their destination more quickly.

On Monday, US President Donald Trump issued an executive order extending TikTok’s operations for 75 days, a move that offers a reprieve for its users despite ongoing concerns about national security, reports AP. ByteDance, TikTok’s China-based parent company, was required to secure a U.S. buyer or face a ban by Jan. 19. Trump’s order potentially provides additional time for ByteDance to arrange a sale. Content creators respond to TikTok's uncertain future in the US “I guess I have a warm spot for TikTok,” Trump remarked. TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew attended Trump’s inauguration earlier in the day, seated alongside prominent U.S. tech leaders. Since joining the platform last year, Trump has gained nearly 15 million followers and credited TikTok for helping him connect with younger voters. However, its 170 million U.S. users faced a 12-hour outage between Saturday night and Sunday morning. The platform went offline shortly before a ban—approved by Congress and upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court—was set to take effect Sunday. Following Trump’s announcement on Monday to temporarily halt the ban, TikTok restored access for existing users. However, Google and Apple have yet to reinstate the app in their stores. The executive order raises questions about Trump’s strategy to address the regulatory, legal, financial, and geopolitical issues surrounding TikTok. Origins of the TikTok Ban TikTok, known for its short-form video content and advanced recommendation algorithm, has long faced scrutiny over its potential use by Beijing for spying or propaganda. This concern predates Trump’s first term. In 2020, Trump issued executive orders targeting ByteDance and WeChat, another Chinese-owned app. While courts blocked those efforts, Congress passed a law last year mandating TikTok’s sale to a U.S. buyer or a ban. The law, effective Sunday, allows fines of up to $5,000 per U.S. TikTok user for mobile app stores, such as Apple and Google, and hosting services like Oracle that continue distributing the app. On Sunday, Trump urged U.S. service providers to keep TikTok operational while he prepared an executive order pausing the ban. “The order will also ensure no liability for companies that kept TikTok online before it was signed,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. Could the Law Allow a Delay? The law includes provisions for a 90-day extension if progress toward a sale is evident before the ban’s effective date. However, Sarah Kreps, director of Cornell University’s Tech Policy Institute, questions whether this extension can apply retroactively. “Executive orders can’t override existing laws,” Kreps explained. “It’s unclear if the president has the authority to extend a law already in effect.” Alan Rozenshtein, a law professor at the University of Minnesota, notes that the president may have discretion to interpret what constitutes a “qualified divestiture” under the law, potentially allowing Trump to decide when ByteDance meets the requirements. TikTok goes dark in the US Could ByteDance Sell TikTok? Despite ByteDance’s reluctance to sell, Beijing hinted at a softer stance on Monday, potentially allowing TikTok’s separation from its Chinese parent company. Chinese Vice President met with U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Elon Musk on Sunday. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stressed that business decisions should follow market principles and adhere to Chinese regulations. Previously, Beijing resisted selling TikTok, portraying the app as a symbol of resistance against U.S. pressure. However, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Trump discussed TikTok during a call on Friday, though specifics were not disclosed. Trump has proposed a U.S. government-brokered deal for 50% control of TikTok, estimating its value at $500 billion. “It’s worthless without a U.S. buyer,” Trump stated. Enforcement Challenges The Justice Department typically enforces federal laws, but Trump’s executive order directs the attorney general to hold off enforcing the TikTok ban for 75 days to reassess the situation. This delay might face legal challenges but offers TikTok more time. Trump’s actions could conflict with lawmakers who supported the ban. House Speaker Mike Johnson reiterated the need for ByteDance’s full divestiture, saying, “I think we will enforce the law.” Kreps noted the issue could raise questions about separation of powers and checks and balances, as enforcement is not solely under the executive branch’s purview. Potential Legal Hurdles Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas highlighted several entities that could pursue enforcement of the ban, including state attorneys general and private organisations. TikTok users grapple with uncertainty, hope and frustration as ban approaches Gus Hurwitz, a legal expert, remarked that tech companies often weigh the risk of civil penalties against their business interests. Compliance decisions could become particularly complex if shareholder lawsuits arise. Companies Respond Questions remain about the actions of companies supporting TikTok’s servers, such as Oracle and Akamai Technologies, as well as the decisions by Apple and Google to remove the app from their stores. Oracle, which holds a 12.5% stake in TikTok Global, has not commented. Apple and Google have cited compliance with U.S. laws for pausing downloads.

President Donald Trump’s inauguration on Monday featured several high-profile tech CEOs occupying some of the most exclusive seats, a notable break from traditional inaugural guest lists. Despite branding himself as a champion of the working class, Trump reserved spots close to the president typically held for family, former presidents, and distinguished guests for some of the world’s wealthiest tech leaders. Photos from the event revealed tech magnates interacting with several of Trump’s key cabinet members, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the health secretary, and Marco Rubio, the secretary of state. In one image, Rubio is seen in the background as Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan pose alongside Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and his fiancée Lauren Sánchez, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, and Elon Musk. Musk, regarded as one of Trump’s closest advisers, also leads Tesla, SpaceX, and the social platform X. Trump says 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico coming on Feb. 1 as he signs several orders on economy Other tech executives present at the event included Apple CEO Tim Cook and TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew. The involvement of billionaires in national politics is not new. Many influential donors, including billionaires, supported Trump’s Democratic opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, during the campaign. Former President Joe Biden, in his final days in office, honored liberal donor George Soros with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. However, the prominence of tech billionaires at Trump’s inauguration underscores the significant influence they could wield in his administration. In his farewell address, Biden cautioned against the growing power of tech oligarchs, warning they posed a threat to democracy. Responding to Biden’s remarks, Trump dismissed the criticism, claiming the executives had shifted their allegiance from Democrats, particularly Biden, whom they no longer supported. “They were all with him, every one of them, and now they are all with me,” Trump said in the Oval Office on Monday. Trump sworn in as 47th President of the United States, promises new 'golden age of America' Despite receiving substantial donations for his inauguration committee and more than $200 million in campaign support from Musk, Trump insisted he remained independent of their influence. “They’re not going to get anything from me,” Trump asserted. “I don’t need their money. What I do want is for the country to succeed, and they are smart people creating jobs.”

The price of bitcoin surged beyond $109,000 early Monday, mere hours before President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration, as an invigorated cryptocurrency industry anticipates swift action upon his return to the White House, reports AP. Previously a skeptic who once described bitcoin as “seeming like a scam,” Trump has recently embraced digital currencies with newfound enthusiasm. He has launched a cryptocurrency venture and pledged during his campaign to position the U.S. as the “crypto capital” of the world early in his presidency. Bitcoin’s Landmark Year Sparks Anticipation for Crypto Policy Expansion in 2025 Trump’s promises include establishing a U.S. crypto stockpile, introducing industry-friendly regulations, and appointing a crypto “czar” to his administration. “You’re going to be very happy with me,” Trump assured crypto enthusiasts at a bitcoin conference last summer. Bitcoin, the world’s most prominent cryptocurrency, was created in 2009 as a decentralised form of electronic cash, free from control by banks or governments. Cryptocurrencies, including bitcoin, have moved from financial fringes to mainstream prominence in dramatic bursts of growth. While the volatile nature of cryptocurrencies and their associations with criminal activity and scams have drawn criticism, their resilience against multiple price drops has surprised detractors. Many in the crypto industry, feeling targeted by the Biden administration, supported Trump’s campaign financially, contributing to his victory in November. Bitcoin has steadily risen in value since then, breaking $100,000 for the first time last month before briefly falling to about $90,000. It climbed approximately 5% on Friday and surged more than $9,000 early Monday, according to CoinDesk. Bitcoin tops $100,000 as big rally sparked by Trump election win rolls on Just two years ago, bitcoin was trading at about $20,000. Trump’s key cabinet and regulatory appointments include several crypto advocates, such as his choices for the Treasury and Commerce departments and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). A landmark “Crypto Ball” was held on Friday, celebrating Trump as the first “crypto president.” Tickets for the sold-out event cost several thousand dollars. Early Actions Trump May Take on Crypto Crypto Council During his campaign, Trump vowed to create a special advisory council within his first 100 days to provide guidance on developing “clear” and “straightforward” cryptocurrency regulations. While specific details about the council remain unclear, Trump appointed tech executive and venture capitalist David Sacks as the administration’s crypto “czar” following his election. Former North Carolina congressional candidate Bo Hines was also named the executive director of the “Presidential Council of Advisers for Digital Assets.” At last year’s bitcoin conference, Trump assured supporters that new regulations would be crafted by individuals who support the industry. His pick to lead the SEC, Paul Atkins, has been a strong proponent of cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin has topped $87,000 for a new record high. What to know about crypto's post-election rally Crypto advocates have expressed frustration with what they perceived as hostile policies under the Biden administration, including strict enforcement actions and stifling accounting practices. Outgoing SEC Chairman Gary Gensler has defended these measures, asserting that the industry is “rife with bad actors.” “As far as general expectations from the Trump Administration, I think one of the best things to bet on is a tone change at the SEC,” said Peter Van Valkenburgh, executive director of advocacy group Coin Center. Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Trump has also promised that his administration will stockpile bitcoin, similar to how the U.S. holds gold reserves. At a bitcoin conference last summer, he stated that the government would retain the billions of dollars in bitcoin seized through law enforcement actions instead of auctioning them off. A draft executive order, shared online by crypto advocates, proposes establishing a “Strategic Bitcoin Reserve” as a permanent national asset managed by the Treasury Department through its Exchange Stabilization Fund. The proposal suggests the Treasury eventually hold at least $21 billion in bitcoin. Republican Sen. Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming has introduced legislation to mandate a bitcoin stockpile, arguing it would diversify government holdings and hedge against financial risks. Critics, however, cite bitcoin’s volatility as a drawback for its use as a reserve asset. Creating such a reserve, proponents argue, would further legitimise bitcoin. “This would be a giant step toward normalising bitcoin in the eyes of people who don’t yet see it as legitimate,” said Zack Shapiro, policy head at the Bitcoin Policy Institute. Ross Ulbricht Trump received enthusiastic applause at a bitcoin conference earlier this year when he reiterated his promise to commute the life sentence of Ross Ulbricht, the founder of the Silk Road drug marketplace that used crypto for transactions. Ulbricht’s case has become a rallying point for some crypto advocates and Libertarian activists, who argue that government investigators overstepped their bounds in prosecuting him.

TikTok content creators who make a living promoting their businesses and personal brands on the app were afraid Sunday that they would have to find new ways to engage consumers and make money as the app's future in the United States remained uncertain. TikTok told U.S. users that it was beginning to restore service just hours after the popular video-sharing platform went dark in response to a federal ban, which President-elect Donald Trump said he would try to pause by executive order on his first day in office. Some users reported Sunday that the app was working again, but it remained unavailable for download in Apple and Google’s app stores. Others remained locked out of accessing their profiles and the communities they had built online. Read: Xiaomi Redmi Turbo 4 Review: Is It a Value-for-money Midranger? Here's how content creators are reacting: Esthetician mourns her online community On a typical morning, esthetician and social media personality Lee Zavorskas scrolls on TikTok while she sips coffee. Sunday morning was different – she scribbled a to-do list instead, which included playing with her cats and dog and plotting how to bolster her presence on other platforms like YouTube since TikTok went dark for her Saturday night. “I’m a 58-year-old content creator that found a seat at the table that’s not available on Instagram,” Zavorskas said. While Zavorskas has more followers on Instagram, she found a large crowd of people over the age of 40 on TikTok, making it easier to build her audience. She held out some hope that she would be able to return to the community she found on the app. “It’s like going to your favorite restaurant and ordering your favorite food, and they’re like, ‘You know what? We took it away,’” she said. Small business owner fears for the future Tiffany Cianci, a Maryland-based content creator who owns small businesses, stopped posting on Twitter and Instagram and cut her advertising with Meta and Google out of frustration. “It’s TikTok or nothing for me,” she said. Read more: OpenAI, Retro Biosciences working to extend ‘human lifespan’ She thinks lawmakers unfairly punished TikTok for succeeding alongside its profitable competitors. And they played “political football” with an app that millions of small businesses rely on to survive, she said. “I spoke to small businesses in the last three days that have sobbed on my livestreams, afraid they’ll have to lay their employees off tomorrow morning,” Cianci said. “They are so afraid because they have other people’s lives in their hands.” Beauty creator shifts to YouTube Tiffany Watson, a 20-year-old beauty content creator, had been making videos since the days of Musical.ly, and was just starting to figure out the kind of content she was passionate about when TikTok went dark. “The community on TikTok is like nothing else, so it’s weird to not have that anymore,” she said. With spare time on her hands, Watson plans to focus on bolstering her presence on Instagram and YouTube. She also wants to devote more time to school as the psychology major and criminal justice minor prepares to graduate from Wingate University in North Carolina and enter “the real world." But being a content creator remains her “main dream," she said. If Trump lifts the ban, Watson plans to return to TikTok, but said she will “probably be more tuned into my YouTube since this ban has kinda spooked me.”