FT News Briefing

The French government will face a no-confidence vote on Wednesday, South Korea’s president said he will lift his martial law order, and cryptocurrency ‘memecoins’ are having a moment. Plus, deaths in Africa’s Sahel region have risen since military juntas took over pledging to bring security in face of jihadi violence.Mentioned in this podcast:Michel Barnier ‘method’ at risk in raucous French parliament South Korea’s Yoon says he will lift martial law order Military juntas in Africa’s ‘coup belt’ fail to contain extremist violence Squirrels, dogs and pygmy hippos: crypto’s multibillion-dollar ‘memecoin’ boom The 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.

Chief executives at Intel and Stellantis stepped down, OpenAI is considering including advertising in its artificial intelligence products and the US unveiled new export controls in an effort to curtail China’s semiconductor industry. Plus, how Shanghai’s ambition to be the ‘future of finance’ fell apart.Mentioned in this podcast:Intel chief Pat Gelsinger quits with US chipmaker in crisisWhy Stellantis’ chief executive Carlos Tavares was axedOpenAI explores advertising as it steps up revenue driveUS hits China’s chip industry with new export controls How Shanghai’s ambition to be the ‘future of finance’ fell apartThe 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.

US government lawyers are clamouring for jobs at corporate law firms ahead of Donald Trump taking office, and Hizbollah declares victory against Israel despite undergoing the most devastating battering in its history. Russian and Syrian warplanes intensify attacks on rebels, and Airbus struggles to capitalise on rival Boeing’s difficulties. Plus, in Ireland, the incumbent Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael appear on track to form a fresh coalition. Mentioned in this podcast:Government lawyers flock to corporate jobs as Trump threatens mass layoffs What's next for Hezbollah? Lebanon’s displaced return to find ‘scorched earth’ after Israeli offensive Russian and Syrian warplanes seek to blunt rebel advance from Aleppo Airbus struggles to capitalise on rival Boeing’s difficulties Early election tallies suggest Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael set for fresh Irish coalition 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.

Trump is returning to office with many of the same policies that characterised his last term. And for economists, none looms larger than the prospect of significant new tariffs. But are tariffs really as destructive as feared? After all, the Biden administration maintained most of them and the economy has remained strong. Today on the show, we put the question to Kimberly Clausing, a professor at UCLA, and formerly lead economist in the Biden administration's Office for Tax Policy.Soumaya Keynes writes a column each week for the Financial Times. You can find it hereSubscribe to Soumaya's show on Apple, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you listen.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.