U.S. Senators Move Toward Deal to Strengthen Military Helicopter Safety Rules 
Venezuela Seeks UN Security Council Meeting Over U.S. Oil Tanker Blockade 
EU Expands Carbon Border Levy to Car Parts and Appliances, Tightening Climate Trade Rules 
Evercore Reaffirms Alphabet’s Search Dominance as AI Competition Intensifies 
SUPERFORTUNE Launches AI-Powered Mobile App, Expanding Beyond Web3 Into $392 Billion Metaphysics Market 
Belarus Frees 123 Political Prisoners in U.S.-Brokered Deal Over Sanctions 
NSW to Recall Parliament for Urgent Gun and Protest Law Reforms After Bondi Beach Shooting 
Ireland Limits Planned Trade Ban on Israeli Settlements to Goods Only 
Apple App Store Injunction Largely Upheld as Appeals Court Rules on Epic Games Case 
MetaX IPO Soars as China’s AI Chip Stocks Ignite Investor Frenzy 
Nvidia Weighs Expanding H200 AI Chip Production as China Demand Surges 
Apple Explores India for iPhone Chip Assembly as Manufacturing Push Accelerates 
SoftBank Shares Slide as Oracle’s AI Spending Plans Fuel Market Jitters 
Jared Isaacman Confirmed as NASA Administrator, Becomes 15th Leader of U.S. Space Agency 
Korea Zinc to Build $7.4 Billion Critical Minerals Refinery in Tennessee With U.S. Government Backing 
U.S. State Department Reverts to Times New Roman in Push for “Professionalism” 
In his farewell address, President Joe Biden cautioned against the rise of an American oligarchy led by tech billionaires wielding "dangerous concentrations of power." Echoing President Eisenhower’s 1961 warning about a "military-industrial complex," Biden highlighted the emergence of a "tech industrial complex" that threatens democracy and equality.
Biden did not name individuals but noted figures like Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, and Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg. Musk, the world’s richest man, played a pivotal role in Donald Trump’s presidential victory, reportedly contributing over $250 million. These tech moguls will attend Trump’s inauguration alongside key Republican leaders.
Biden expressed concern over the influence of tech giants, citing their role in spreading misinformation and weakening traditional media. The free press, he warned, is crumbling as platforms like Meta and Musk-owned X (formerly Twitter) reduce content moderation and fact-checking.
Wall Street analysts dubbed companies like Apple, Tesla, Nvidia, and Meta the "Magnificent Seven," whose combined market value surged 46% in the past year, far outpacing the S&P 500.
Biden also addressed artificial intelligence, calling it "the most consequential technology of our time." He emphasized the need for trustworthy AI development led by democratic principles, positioning the U.S. as a global leader over China.
The growing power of tech billionaires, Biden warned, parallels the unchecked influence Eisenhower cautioned against, urging Americans to safeguard democracy in the face of evolving challenges.
