World Briefing

On Inauguration Day, the world watches Donald Trump, back in the White House under his “America First” agenda, deliver a speech expected to reshape global trade, economics, and geopolitics. He has already claimed credit for the Gaza ceasefire and insists he can end the Russia-Ukraine war “in the first 100 days,” though his stance on China may be most critical for global security and commerce.

President Joe Biden’s farewell warning of an American slide into “oligarchy” looms large as Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Jeff Bezos—collectively worth nearly $1trn—converge at the inauguration. They’ll stand alongside the CEOs of OpenAI and TikTok (banned in the U.S. under legislation Trump opposes), whose rapid advances in AI and other transformative technologies promise to reshape industries, daily life, and the balance of power between government and the private sector.

Robert Fox, has worked as a journalist and broadcaster since 1967, and is defence correspondent for…