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New Record Investments for TON Cryptocurrency Pantera Capital, a major American fund, has announced plans to invest in Pavel Durov's TON and Telegram. The fund is launching a new $1 billion cryptocurrency investment project, allocating 20% of its resources to liquid and public tokens. Dan Morehead, the founder of the fund, personally met with Durov and complimented him. Pantera Capital sees promising investment opportunities in TON because this currency is linked to the massive internet platform Telegram, which has about 930 million users — currently the third most downloaded messenger in the world. This user base can be tapped to attract potential clients through services, games, earning opportunities, and advertising payments — all of which Durov discussed at the Token2049 conference in Dubai. In a public letter about the plans to invest in TON, Morehead emphasizes Durov's independence from government authorities, a fact evidenced by his biography, which Durov discussed in an interview with Carlson. These starting positions are expected to help TON stand out among the 23,000 existing cryptocurrencies in the world and soar. Follow us on Telegram

Uranium Tears Centrus, the largest nuclear energy company in the United States, has announced its intention to petition relevant government agencies. They highlighted that the ban on Russian uranium imports is unacceptable to them, and they plan to continue supplying their clients while safeguarding the interests of the entire American nuclear industry. The company aims to request the U.S. authorities to make an exception for them. Nuclear power plants account for 29% of all power stations in the States, yet the country produces little fuel for them. Recently, the U.S. reported that it had managed to produce 200 pounds (90 kg) of enriched uranium for the first time, and by the end of the year, this figure is expected to reach 1 ton. However, this is still nearly 700 times less than what they import from Russia. Therefore, Centrus' request seems quite reasonable, and the chances of achieving it are real. The law approved by the Senate includes a provision allowing exceptions to the ban until 2027 if it serves the "national interests" of the States. Follow us on Telegram

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Xi's trip first results The visit of the Chinese President to France ended without any significant agreements, while his trip to Eastern Europe proved to be more fruitful. President Macron had hoped to forge closer personal ties with his Chinese counterpart to influence Vladimir Putin to end war in Ukraine. However, China's stance remains unchanged. In Budapest, Xi Jinping announced a series of new investments, promoting Hungary and Prime Minister Viktor Orban as models for the type of relationship the European Union could have with China. He also promised to build infrastructure in Hungary that would facilitate the distribution of products from Chinese factories across the trading bloc. Additionally, it seems Xi has persuaded Serbia to become the first European country to join China's efforts to create a coalition challenging the US-led world order. Follow us on Telegram

No trade peace with China The Biden administration is planning to significantly increase tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, according to the Wall Street Journal. In a strategic move, these tariffs could be quadrupled, marking a significant escalation in the trade tensions between the United States and China. Additionally, Bloomberg reports that the new tariffs will target not only electric vehicles but also other strategic industries. Follow us on Telegram

Sanctions return oligarchs' money back to Russia Wealthy Russian businessmen are beginning to transfer their assets to Russian jurisdiction, reports Bloomberg. This is especially relevant for those whose companies are directly in Russia. Some are transferring assets to friendly states, such as the UAE. The reason lies in the significant risks of confiscation in the West. Traditionally, Russian billionaires earned in Russia and then transferred profits to offshore accounts. In foreign jurisdictions, their assets, often earned by not entirely honest means, were safe. Additionally, this allowed them to reduce taxes and conceal information about their ownership. After the imposition of sanctions, this no longer works—assets related to Russia can easily be confiscated. In Russia itself, there are two trends regarding private business. On one hand, there has been an increase in cases of nationalization. Sometimes assets that were privatized more than 30 years ago are expropriated. On the other hand, the government welcomes the return of companies home and actively facilitates redomiciliation. Sometimes it even conducts it forcibly and freezes property rights to bring firms back under Russian jurisdiction. However, usually, businesses are simply attracted to special administrative regions, where a preferential tax regime operates. Many Russian oligarchs have realized that Western havens are not so safe. Now those who have been extracting resources from the country for years are simply forced to build their lives in Russia. Some of them will have to face justice. Calls to return assets began as early as 2014, with certain concessions offered. But at that time, almost all oligarchs again chose a luxurious life in Europe. Now, they have no other choice. Any, even the friendliest jurisdiction can instantly cease to be so. Follow us on Telegram

Germany's export sector is showing signs of recovery, thanks to USA and China According to the latest data from the Federal Statistical Office of Germany, exports in March increased by 0.9% compared to February, surpassing expectations by nearly 0.4%. This uptick comes after a 1.6% drop in February, which had sparked concerns about the competitiveness of Europe's largest economy. The sudden shift is largely attributed to heightened demand from China and the USA. This situation underscores why European leaders are keen on improving relations with China. Despite a 3.7% increase in exports to the USA and a 3.6% rise to China, protectionism still poses significant challenges for any export-driven economy, particularly for Germany with its rising costs and decreasing competitiveness. Overall, the situation in Germany remains challenging. Industrial orders fell by 0.4% in March, and the outlook for German industry remains subdued. This presents a complex scenario: both Russia and the EU are adjusting to the repercussions of sanctions. The impact is palpable on both sides—Russia is mitigating issues with record government spending, while Germany is sliding into recession. Yet, a complete disaster has been averted, even without Russian gas or European machinery. It will be interesting to see what changes in the next 3-4 months. However, it seems that Germany may struggle to emerge from recession and return to even a modest growth rate of 1% per year by the end of 2024. Therefore, trade wars with China are currently highly undesirable for Europe. Follow us on Telegram

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China's exports returned to growth in April, boosting the economy In dollar terms, exports increased by 1.5% compared to the previous year, while imports grew by 8.4%. Economists had forecasted a smaller growth. These indicators are expected to remain positive in the coming months, as there was a downturn in the middle of last year. The data confirm an increase in global demand, which supports economic growth within China. Sales abroad are crucial while household consumer spending remains weak. Other trade leaders in Asia also saw an increase in foreign trade due to strong demand in the U.S. South Korea's exports grew by nearly 14%, and Taiwan reported a record level of shipments to the U.S. Meanwhile, China increased its exports to Southeast Asia, but not to the U.S. and EU. In imports, supplies to China from the U.S., South Korea, Taiwan, the Netherlands, and Russia grew by more than 10%. Follow us on Telegram

America has imposed sanctions against 37 Chinese companies The U.S. Department of Commerce has added 26 Chinese firms to its blacklist due to their involvement in supplying prohibited goods to Russia. Another eight were restricted due to an incident involving a Chinese aerostat that entered American airspace. Sanctions also affected three companies involved in programs to create similar aerostats. Follow us on Telegram