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The Secret US-Russia Deal’s Global Impact

The Secret US-Russia Deal’s Global Impact

The post The Secret US-Russia Deal’s Global Impact appeared on BitcoinEthereumNews.com. Backstairs meetings between the two leaders’ proxies got leaked by European intelligence services (Photo by JIM WATSON and EMMANUEL DUNAND / AFP) (Photo by JIM WATSON,EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP via Getty Images) AFP via Getty Images The recent Wall Street Journal article about the background business incentives for a peace deal over Ukraine has the world abuzz. Published on November 28 and titled “Make Money Not War: Trump’s Real Plan For Peace in Ukraine” carries the subhead ‘The Kremlin pitched the White House on peace through business. To Europe’s dismay, the President and his envoy are on board’. The headlines are rather (but not entirely) off-center, as headlines often are, by suggesting that the chief issue is Europe. Yet much of the noise has come from domestic US outrage. This column’s remit has always been global geopolitics and it will be this time. But a quick outline of context is exigent. Briefly, the long article asserts that discreet meetings over several months between top US and Russian officials shaped out an agreement where, in exchange for the two sides effecting peace in Ukraine, US companies got exclusive rights to energy, raw materials, and strategic metals mining across Russia and in the Arctic. US companies would lead the investment in reconstruction there and in Ukraine to become the “commercial guarantors of peace”. Frozen Russian assets in European banks play a big role – they help fund the ventures. The article covers various political flashpoints such as conflicts of interest, sanctioned Russians entering the US for meetings – many others conducted rather secretly abroad through businessmen. European and British intelligence conduits, it seems, leaked the otherwise closely held information on the process. The article also points out that the overarching idea is consistent with President Trump’s world view, burying old hatreds via profits for…
European firms brace for higher costs as China tightens export controls

European firms brace for higher costs as China tightens export controls

The post European firms brace for higher costs as China tightens export controls appeared on BitcoinEthereumNews.com. European businesses are dealing with mounting expenses and uncertainty due to China’s export restrictions, with some companies facing costs that could top hundreds of millions of dollars, a new survey shows. The European Union Chamber of Commerce in China released findings Monday showing one company estimates it will face more than €250 million ($290 million) in extra costs. Another business said the restrictions will add costs equal to about 20% of what it makes worldwide in 2025. The survey was done between Nov. 6 and Nov. 24. Around one-third of European businesses operating in China said they now plan to find suppliers in other countries because of these policies. The results show how much European companies depend on China for essential materials and technology, and what happens when that flow gets interrupted. Retaliation over trade war restrictions China put these controls in place to hit back at tariffs and other limits the US placed on Chinese goods during their trade fight. The restrictions cover resources like rare earths, which are hard to find elsewhere. China recently put a pause on some wider rules that would have blocked exports containing even small amounts of certain rare earths. This happened as part of a deal to ease tensions with the US. But both countries are still working out the details for general licenses that would make trade easier. They already missed their target to finish these talks before Thanksgiving. Stefan Bernhart, who serves as vice president of the European Chamber, said getting a general licensing system in place soon would help a lot. “Introducing a general licensing mechanism in the near future would provide much needed stability and predictability, and could put a floor under the deterioration of business confidence caused by these export controls,” he said. China’s export controls go beyond…
Deutsche Telekom and Schwarz Group in Advanced Talks for EU AI Gigafactory

Deutsche Telekom and Schwarz Group in Advanced Talks for EU AI Gigafactory

The post Deutsche Telekom and Schwarz Group in Advanced Talks for EU AI Gigafactory appeared on BitcoinEthereumNews.com. Deutsche Telekom and the Schwarz Group are advancing plans to build an AI gigafactory in Germany, targeting EU funding of up to €20 billion for large-scale data centers. This collaboration aims to bolster Europe’s AI infrastructure against competition from the US and China, with each facility housing over 100,000 AI chips. Advanced discussions: Telekom and Schwarz are in late-stage talks for a joint bid on EU AI gigafactory funding. Potential financier involvement: Canadian investor Brookfield may support the project to accelerate Europe’s AI capabilities. Strategic scale: Facilities require €3-5 billion investments each, enabling training of advanced AI models and enhancing digital sovereignty, with EU planning 3-5 such sites. Deutsche Telekom and Schwarz Group plan AI gigafactory in EU push for tech independence. Discover how this €20B initiative counters US-China dominance and boosts Europe’s AI race. Explore funding details and impacts today. What is the Deutsche Telekom and Schwarz Group AI Gigafactory Project? Deutsche Telekom and the Schwarz Group AI gigafactory project involves a strategic partnership to develop large-scale AI data centers in Europe, funded by the European Union’s €20 billion initiative. The two German giants, a leading telecom provider and a major retailer, are in advanced discussions to submit a joint application for one of these facilities, aiming to position Germany as a leader in AI infrastructure. This effort addresses Europe’s lag in computational power for AI training compared to global competitors. The project stems from a need to create sovereign AI capabilities, reducing reliance on foreign data centers. Telekom’s expertise in networks and Schwarz’s digital ventures, including its subsidiary Schwarz Digits, complement each other to build energy-efficient, high-capacity sites. According to reports from German newspaper Handelsblatt, initiated by CEOs Timotheus Höttges and Gerd Chrzanowski, this collaboration could attract additional investors like Brookfield to fund the multi-billion euro endeavor. Each…
China Slams the Door on Crypto

China Slams the Door on Crypto

The post China Slams the Door on Crypto appeared on BitcoinEthereumNews.com. Regulations China has drawn a sharper line than ever between its regulated financial system and the world of crypto. Key Takeaways: China rejects crypto and stablecoins as money. Businesses enabling crypto trades risk legal action. Stablecoins flagged for compliance and money-flow risks. In its latest communication to the public and financial sector, the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) made it clear that digital tokens — no matter how widely used internationally — cannot function as money inside the Chinese economy. Authorities explained that virtual assets do not have the legal privileges associated with the renminbi. Even if a token is pegged to fiat value, it cannot be treated as legal tender or used as a method of payment for goods, services, or day-to-day transactions. Any attempt to introduce crypto into real-economy payments will be viewed as a challenge to national monetary protections. Crypto Businesses Under the Microscope Alongside warnings to consumers, regulators also addressed the corporate side of the digital asset sector. Platforms and companies offering the ability to buy, sell, exchange, or intermediate crypto transactions risk crossing into “unauthorized financial services,” a category that carries stiff penalties under Chinese law. The message suggests that the government will no longer tolerate operations that operate in regulatory blind spots or position themselves as technology companies while effectively running financial infrastructure. On Nov. 28, China’s central bank (PBOC) convened a coordination meeting and reiterated that: Virtual assets do not have the same legal status as fiat, are not legal tender, and must not be used as currency in market circulation; related business activities constitute illegal… — Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) November 29, 2025 Intensified Scrutiny of Stablecoins A surprising focus of the announcement was the stablecoin market — digital assets that are promoted as predictable and steady because they track fiat value. Regulators…