FT News Briefing

Hiring has fallen more sharply in the UK than in other big economies over the past year, Vanguard will break its advisory business into a separate unit, and Israel has taken more Syrian territory. Plus, we take a look inside Japan’s audacious bid to become a semiconductor superpower. Mentioned in this podcast:Hiring falling more sharply in UK than in other major economies Israel draws furious reaction from Egypt after taking more Syrian territory Vanguard to accelerate wealth management drive in restructuring Japan’s audacious bid to become a semiconductor superpower Christie’s has brought the dinosaur auction show to London The FT News Briefing is produced by Niamh Rowe, Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian and Marc Filippino. Additional help from Josh Gabert-Doyon, Breen Turner, Sam Giovinco, Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. Our engineer is Joseph Salcedo. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has resigned and fled the country and South Korean prosecutors have opened an investigation into the country’s president, Yoon Suk Yeol, on charges of treason and abuse of power. The EU and four South American countries have struck a blockbuster trade deal, and a US appeals court upheld a law requiring TikTok’s owner ByteDance to sell the platform or face a ban next year. Mentioned in this podcast:Assad flees Syria as rebels seize Damascus Syrian rebels seize Damascus and topple Assad dynastySouth Korean president to be investigated for treason after failed coupEU strikes blockbuster trade deal with Mercosur TikTok fails to halt law that could lead to US ban Credit: AP, ReutersThe FT News Briefing is produced by Niamh Rowe, Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian and Marc Filippino. Additional help from Breen Turner, Sam Giovinco, Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. Our engineer is Joseph Salcedo. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The next superpower will be a tech superpower, and to be that superpower you need to have some control over the semiconductor industry which is driving the AI revolution. But almost all advanced semiconductors are made in Taiwan — and it is under constant threat of a Chinese invasion. President Joe Biden’s Chips Act promises lavish subsidies to companies working to bring semiconductor manufacturing back to US soil. Will those subsidies survive once Donald Trump, the president-elect, is in the White House? In a new season of Tech Tonic the FT’s James Kynge, is in Phoenix, Arizona, the former heartland of American chip manufacturing. He speaks to those trying to revive the US chipmaking industry.Presented by James Kynge. Edwin Lane is the senior producer. The producer is Josh Gabert-Doyon. Executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design by Breen Turner and Samantha Giovinco, with original music from Metaphor Music. The FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Special thanks to Tim Bradshaw. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donald Trump once called cryptocurrencies a “scam”. He’s long since changed his tune, and now, crypto enthusiasts are hoping he’ll catapult the industry into the financial mainstream. The FT’s digital markets correspondent Nikou Asgari and US legal and enforcement correspondent Stefania Palma join this week’s Swamp Notes to discuss what the industry could look like under a second Trump administration. Mentioned in this podcast:Crypto advocate Paul Atkins picked as SEC chair by Donald TrumpBitcoin hits $100,000 as Trump era hopes growTrump picks Musk ally David Sacks as crypto and AI tsarThe grim ghost of crypto futureSign up for the FT’s Swamp Notes newsletter hereSwamp Notes is produced by Ethan Plotkin, Sonja Hutson, Lauren Fedor and Marc Filippino. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson. CREDIT: Washington Post, Bitcoin MagazineRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.