TikTok was removed from the US App Store and Google Play Store on January 18 after a national security law. Apple published a rare support document detailing the removals, but has since deleted it. TikTok started restoring services to existing users on January 19, but Apple and Google kept the app out of their stores until February 14.

Turo, the online car-sharing network, has withdrawn its IPO plans after a three-year wait. The company cited decelerated growth and changed market conditions as the reason for the decision. Turo's growth had slowed down since it publicly filed for an IPO in January 2022.

Reliance-owned Viacom18 and Star India have merged JioCinema with Disney's Hotstar platform to create JioHotstar, the largest streaming service in india. The merged app features a vast library of content, including local shows, movies, and international programming.

A consortium of 14 publishers has filed a lawsuit against Cohere AI firm accusing it of engaging in massive, systematic copyright infringement. The complaint alleges that the AI startup used at least 4,000 copyrighted works to train its AI models and displayed large portions of articles for users, harming the publishers' referral traffic.

The merger talks between Japanese automakers Honda and Nissan have ended, with the two companies unable to agree on terms. The deal would have created the world's third-largest automaker.

Elon Musk has made a massive bid of $97 billion to acquire OpenAI, an artificial intelligence startup. The offer contradicts Musk's legal claims that the startup's assets can't be transferred away for private gain. OpenAI suggested the offer isn't serious but 'an improper bid to undermine a competitor'.

The UK government has announced a shift in its AI strategy, renaming the AI Safety Institute to focus on cybersecurity. The new institute will work closely with Anthropic and other organizations to strengthen national security and crime protections.

Helsing, a German defense tech startup backed by Spotify's Daniel Ek, is producing 6,000 HX-2 strike drones in addition to the 4,000 HF-1 strike drones financed by Germany. The company is scaling up production of HX-2 in response to additional orders from Ukraine.

The European Union's Code of Practice on Disinformation, which Elon Musk pulled Twitter out of in 2023, is getting a reboot. The code provides a template for platforms to commit to actions such as cutting financial incentives for purveyors of disinformation and supporting fact-checking. The Commission and other DSA regulators have moved closer to formally integrating the Code into the DSA's legally binding framework.

TechCrunch's Startup Battlefield 200 is a high-stakes pitch competition where innovative early-stage startups can showcase their groundbreaking ideas. With over 1,500 alumni, this is the platform to gain exposure on a global stage, get feedback from top investors, and win $100,000 in equity-free funding.

Alibaba confirmed a recent report about its partnership with Apple to bring AI features to iPhones sold in China. The deal aims to boost iPhone sales, which have been declining in the country. This partnership marks an important milestone for both companies as they work together to enhance their offerings and strengthen their presence in the Chinese market.

Valve removed PirateFi, a survival game with a 9/10 store rating, from its Steam platform after discovering it contained malware. Affected users were advised to consider fully reformatting their operating system.

The tech layoff wave continued through 2024. Warehousing and logistics startup Flexe cut 38% of its staff, followed by Nuscale with 28% layoffs, Trigo with 15% job cuts, Invision's shutdown after 12 years, Videoamp's 20% workforce reduction, Orca Security's 15% layoffs, and Frontdesk's mass layoff.

Seagate has announced its intent to acquire Intevac, a hard drive equipment producer, in an all-cash deal worth $119 million. The acquisition is expected to strengthen Seagate's hard drive disk business and support the company's efforts to produce HAMR-based drives.

OpenAI, the artificial intelligence company, has removed a page on its website that previously expressed its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The new page focuses on building dynamic teams, emphasizing the importance of different backgrounds and experiences.