South Korean authorities have made history by arresting impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol on charges of insurrection, marking the first time an incumbent leader has been detained in the country.

Yoon, who has been embroiled in controversy following his suspension after declaring martial law on December 3, claimed he reluctantly agreed to comply with what he called an unlawful investigation to avoid violence.

The arrest came after a dramatic standoff, with more than 3,000 police officers converging on Yoon’s hillside residence early on Wednesday to carry out the arrest.

Despite his earlier defiance, which included a personal security team blocking a previous attempt, Yoon chose to surrender to the authorities, stating that his decision was made to prevent bloodshed.

“I decided to cooperate with the CIO’s investigation, even though it is illegal, to avoid unnecessary violence,” Yoon said, referring to the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials, the body leading the probe.

As of January 14, 2025, TikTok, the popular video-sharing app owned by China’s ByteDance, is facing a potential ban in the United States due to national security concerns.

The U.S. Supreme Court appears inclined to uphold a law requiring ByteDance to divest its U.S. operations by January 19, 2025, or face a ban.

Legislative Actions and Deadlines

The Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act mandates that ByteDance must sell TikTok’s U.S. assets by January 19.

Failure to comply would result in a prohibition of the app in the U.S. Two Democratic lawmakers, Senator Edward Markey and Representative Ro Khanna, have urged President Joe Biden to extend this deadline, showing concerns over free speech and the livelihoods of content creators.

Senator Markey has proposed legislation to extend the deadline by 270 days, emphasizing the potential disruption to TikTok’s cultural ecosystem and the millions who rely on the platform for social connections and income.

Potential Outcomes and Alternatives

If the ban proceeds, TikTok, which boasts 170 million American users, would become inaccessible. In anticipation, users are migrating to alternative platforms.

Notably, Xiaohongshu, known unofficially in English as “Red Note” or “the Chinese version of Instagram,” has become the most downloaded app in the U.S.

Despite its primarily Chinese interface, American users are joining the platform. Other platforms like Lemon8, another ByteDance app, are also experiencing increased downloads.

Corporate Negotiations and Speculations

In response to the impending ban, discussions have emerged about potential buyers for TikTok’s U.S. operations.

Chinese officials are reportedly considering allowing Elon Musk, known for his positive connections with China and ownership of the social media app X, to invest in or take over TikTok’s U.S. operations.

Implications for Users and the Tech Industry

A ban on TikTok would have significant implications for its users and the broader tech industry. Users would lose access to a platform integral to social interaction, entertainment, and commerce.

Competing platforms like Instagram’s Reels, YouTube Shorts, and Snapchat may benefit by attracting TikTok’s user base and advertisers.

As the January 19 deadline approaches, the future of TikTok in the U.S. remains uncertain. The outcome will depend on legislative decisions, potential corporate negotiations, and the broader geopolitical context.

Users and stakeholders are advised to stay informed about developments in this evolving situation.

A recent report by former Special Counsel Jack Smith, released by U.S. media on Tuesday, reveals that U.S. President-elect Donald Trump would likely have been convicted for his alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election results if he hadn’t been re-elected.

According to the report, if Trump had not won the 2024 election and was not set to return to office, the Special Counsel’s office believed there was enough admissible evidence to secure a conviction in court.

The document specifically mentioned that Trump faced serious allegations of conspiracy to defraud the United States and conspiracy to obstruct the certification of President Joe Biden’s election win.

These charges stemmed from the violent attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, when a mob of Trump’s supporters stormed the building in a bid to halt the certification process.