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Asia Boomtowns & Meta Boss's Personal Security Bill
US-China Tech War Fuels Asia Boomtowns Built on AI, Chips
The ongoing US-China tech rivalry has catalyzed growth in Southeast Asia, particularly in Malaysia and Vietnam, as these countries capitalize on shifts in the global semiconductor and AI supply chains. Companies are adopting a "China+1" strategy, relocating or expanding operations to Southeast Asia to reduce dependency on China and navigate US trade restrictions.
Malaysia's Semiconductor Boom Malaysia, especially in Penang, has established itself as a global semiconductor hub, accounting for 13% of the world's chip testing and packaging. Companies like Intel, Lam Research, and Micron Technology have heavily invested in advanced facilities here. For instance, Intel is building a $7 billion chip-packaging plant. This boom has been supported by Malaysia's pro-business policies, skilled labor, and low energy costs. The country is also turning former agricultural lands into solar farms to meet growing energy demands for data centers and AI-driven operations. The region benefits from spillover effects from Singapore's restrictions on new data centers and has attracted significant foreign investment.
Vietnam’s High-Tech Transformation Vietnam, meanwhile, has transformed into a semiconductor and electronics manufacturing powerhouse. Provinces like Bac Ninh host major facilities for Apple suppliers such as Foxconn and GoerTek. With $20 billion invested in Bac Ninh alone, Vietnam is becoming integral to the global tech supply chain. Companies like Intel and Infineon have established significant operations, leveraging Vietnam’s youthful workforce and strategic location.
Tech Bosses Who Poured $394M in the US Elections & how they compared to Elon Musk
New data from the US Federal Election Commission (FEC) highlights the growing influence of the tech industry in American politics. Cryptocurrency advocates played a prominent role, channeling funds into presidential campaigns and key congressional races to counter regulatory efforts. Major donors included leaders from top tech companies like Google, WhatsApp, LinkedIn, and Netflix, alongside wealthy venture capitalists who amassed fortunes through tech investments.
Trump overall received $273.2m in donations from some of tech’s biggest names, including:
$242.6m from Elon Musk, owner of Tesla, SpaceX and X (formerly Twitter) who has an estimated net worth of $350bn.
$5.5m from Marc Andreessen, the billionaire founder of venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, also known as a16z. Andreessen’s co-founder, Ben Horowitz, initially supported Trump but flipped to Harris.
$5.1m from Jan Koum, the founder of WhatsApp who made the bulk of his fortune when Facebook acquired the messaging app in 2014 for $19bn.
Kamala Harris received a total of $120.9m, including:
$51.1m from the Facebook co-founder Dustin Moskovitz, who left the social media company in 2008 to start the workflow software company Asana.
$17m from Reid Hoffman, the co-founder of LinkedIn.
$11.7m from Chris Larsen, the billionaire chair of Ripple, a cryptocurrency company.
Musk isn’t the only billionaire to shift allegiance to Trump after years of criticism. Marc Andreessen, a prominent supporter of Hillary Clinton in 2016 and a vocal critic of Trump’s anti-immigration policies, has now aligned with Trump. Similarly, Doug Leone, a Sequoia venture capitalist who condemned the January 6 insurrection as “horrific” and blamed Trump for it, donated $3.5 million to his campaign this year. These reversals reflect an ideological shift in Silicon Valley. Traditionally detached from politics, the tech industry is now heavily engaged, driven by shared interests in emerging fields like cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence, which remain largely unregulated.
This growing alignment with Trump has proven advantageous for industries seeking minimal regulation. For example, oil and gas executives, buoyed by Trump’s “drill, baby, drill” rhetoric, contributed millions to his campaign, highlighting the benefits of this political alliance. Also, Trump became the first presidential candidate to accept donations in bitcoin. Shortly after, the twins Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, the billionaire founders of the cryptocurrency exchange Gemini, donated a combined $2.5m, much of it in actual bitcoin, to Trump’s campaign.
Zuck’s Security Bill $23 Million
The murder of Brian Thompson, a top executive at UnitedHealthcare, has stunned the security industry and sparked widespread discussion about the state of America's healthcare system. The incident, which occurred in Midtown Manhattan ahead of the company's investor day, has led to an uptick in security concerns among major U.S. companies. Following the murder, security chiefs from numerous organizations convened to reassess safety protocols, with some considering sending armed guards to protect executives attending events.
This tragedy has prompted companies, including UnitedHealthcare, to reevaluate their safety measures. It's also highlighted the growing costs of executive protection, as companies increasingly invest in security for top leaders. A notable example is Meta, which spent $23 million on security for CEO Mark Zuckerberg, a figure that does not account for additional expenses during work-related travels. Similarly, Elon Musk's security firm, employed by Tesla, has received nearly $3 million since December 2023 to safeguard the CEO
Notre-Dame Cathedral’s Bell Rang for the First Time in 5 years
The event was attended by around 1,500 people, including about 40 heads of state, such as U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. A major highlight was the sound of Notre-Dame's bell, the bourdon, ringing for the first time in five years, symbolizing both the return of the cathedral to its full grandeur and the resilience of Paris and France. Check out Emmanuel Macron’s tweet welcoming Trump here
According to reports from France24 and AP News, the restoration of Notre Dame Cathedral, following the devastating 2019 fire, has been backed by an outpouring of global donations totaling nearly $1 billion, with a surplus of approximately €140 million ($148 million) earmarked for future preservation efforts.
