Judge Halts Trump’s Last-Minute Spending Freeze

In an unexpected turn of events, a federal judge blocked a last-minute attempt by the Trump administration to freeze federal spending just hours before the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden. The decision came after a day of chaos as government departments scrambled to determine the impact of the directive.

Microsoft and TikTok Enter Negotiations for Acquisition Amid Uncertainty

Microsoft has entered talks with ByteDance, the Chinese company that owns the popular social media platform TikTok, about acquiring the app’s operations in the United States and other markets. With the future of TikTok unclear, a deal could benefit both parties: ByteDance may alleviate concerns over potential US government restrictions, while Microsoft could further expand its global presence and capabilities.