The United States government has allocated $17.5 billion to boost the construction of five new nuclear power plants, each featuring two reactors. This investment aims to meet growing energy demand, especially from data centers, which already account for 5% of national electricity consumption and may require three times that volume starting in 2028.
It is notable that in the last twenty years, the US has built only two reactors, and the total cost of this project reached $31 billion.
The revitalization of nuclear energy is intrinsically linked to the expansion of Artificial Intelligence, although it may benefit other sectors as well. The Walmart network signed an agreement with Constellation Energy, an operator of a plant located in Illinois, to acquire 176 megawatts. This amount is equivalent to the consumption of 150,000 residences and will be supplied over the next fifteen years. With this, the Walmart network aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040, given that nuclear energy does not generate carbon dioxide.
The United States possesses the largest stock of nuclear waste, totaling 100,000 tons of used uranium that remains highly radioactive. Currently, this material is stored at the power plants themselves or in temporary locations. The country's plan includes building a permanent repository, which would be excavated in the Yucca Mountain, located in the state of Nevada. However, the implementation of this project is being hindered by opposition from local politicians who oppose the installation of the repository.
Ant International has successfully closed a Series A funding round, raising $1.2 billion. These funds will be used to accelerate the company's global scaling and develop its technological solutions.
The demand for seamless cross-border payments continues to grow rapidly worldwide. Since separating into an independent operating unit in 2024, the company has become a key element of international commerce and cross-border payment processing.
Cross-border trade has long presented significant technical and financial obstacles for both small businesses and large online retailers. Ant International is eliminating these complexities by creating direct links between disparate digital payment markets.
Today, the platform connects over 150 million merchants to an extensive network of more than two billion user accounts across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America. By collaborating with regional financial institutions, card networks, and mobile wallet providers, the company optimizes currency conversion and purchase processes.
The new Series A capital will allow this transactional infrastructure base to grow significantly faster. This enables local shop owners to easily accept localized digital payments from international travelers and buyers from other countries, avoiding high operational costs.
Ant International's global service network operates through four specialized operating business units. Each of these verticals addresses a specific problem in cross-border trade and financial accessibility:
Collectively, these four core platforms connect over 150 million online and offline merchants with approximately two billion active user accounts in global markets.
Artificial intelligence is a central element of the new investment round. Ant International is moving beyond traditional payment systems by actively investing in agent AI capabilities for modern commerce. These autonomous algorithms take on the management of complex financial tasks.
The company is exploring the application of agent AI to optimize exchange rates, forecast cash flow surges, and automate real-time seller risk assessment. Cybersecurity remains a critical priority as Ant International refines its proprietary AI tools to protect digital transactions from sophisticated deepfake fraud and cyber threats.
Through smart automation, the company provides small businesses with sophisticated tools that were previously only available to a few of the world's largest corporations.
Although emerging economies are the fastest-growing sector of global e-commerce, millions of micro-entrepreneurs still face a lack of access to credit. Ant International aims to bridge this gap with its digital ecosystem. By combining local mobile payment connections with AI-based predictive credit scoring, the firm helps small sellers build verifiable financial histories and quickly access working capital loans.
The Series A funding strengthens Ant International's position as an indispensable catalyst for international digital commerce, confirming the company's commitment to building an open and accessible payment architecture that allows merchants of any size to easily conduct business and grow abroad.
Amid concerns in the US regarding artificial cybersecurity and limited access to AI models, China is also preparing for major actions (China Big Plan) that could provoke serious global upheaval. According to available information, China is considering imposing bans on the export of AI technologies and semiconductor chips.
If China adopts such measures, it could create a significant crisis for industries including defense manufacturing, automotive, data centers, and electronics. According to a Business Today report, based on Financial Times materials, China is preparing to tighten rules concerning the export of chips and AI technologies.
China aims to keep the most advanced AI technologies exclusively within its borders, viewing them as a strategic national asset. Negotiations are underway with major sector companies such as Alibaba, ByteDance, and Bytedance as part of this process. The Chinese Ministry of Commerce is reportedly discussing security measures with Chinese AI and semiconductor companies. Furthermore, the possibility of prohibiting the transfer of training data outside the country and preventing foreign users from uploading AI models is being discussed. In China's view, this will help reduce the risk of its AI technologies being used or copied by other nations.
Moreover, China may introduce new regulations to prevent foreign chip manufacturers, such as Qualcomm and TSMC, from using Chinese designs when creating chips based on Chinese designs. Thus, the country intends to control its chip developments and keep them domestic.
Although AI export restrictions have not yet been approved, they are expected to be included in China's official list of technologies subject to export bans or limitations. However, it should be noted that China is not the largest player in the production of the most advanced semiconductor chips; leaders in this field are Taiwan, South Korea, and the US. China's main specialization lies in chip packaging and certain specific categories of chips.
It is worth recalling that last week, amid geopolitical tensions, China announced a ban on helium exports (China Helium Export Ban), which shocked the world. China exports 80% of the world's helium, and following this ban, the chip sector was also put at risk. Helium is considered essential for semiconductor factories, and if these restrictions persist, chip manufacturers will face increased costs and supply risks, potentially leading to higher prices for electronics and chip-using goods.
The Competition Committee of Uzbekistan reminded state bodies about the requirements for advertising in accordance with national legislation. This reminder followed discussions on social media regarding commercial advertising on the official websites of state structures and organizations established by them.
The Committee emphasized that providing preferential coverage to the goods or services of one company on online resources associated with state bodies can lead to an unjustified competitive advantage over other market participants.
In this matter, the Committee referred to the Law of Uzbekistan 'On Advertising,' which regulates the process of preparing, placing, and distributing advertising materials. Specifically, Article 32 of this law prohibits the placement of internal advertising in buildings of state bodies, local self-government bodies, preschool educational institutions, as well as general secondary and vocational educational institutions.
According to the Committee, placing commercial advertising inside government buildings can create the impression among visitors that the advertised goods or services are reliable or officially approved. A similar effect, the Committee stated, can occur when such advertising is placed on the official websites of state bodies.
This can create a false impression that the advertised product has received approval or recommendation from state institutions, attracting it disproportionately more attention compared to similar products offered by other companies. Based on legal requirements concerning internal advertising, as well as the prohibition against claiming in advertising that a product is approved by state bodies or their officials, the Committee considers the placement of commercial advertising on official state websites inappropriate.
The Committee noted that information presented in state information systems, public services, and social advertising is exempt from this restriction. The Competition Committee urged state bodies and organizations to strictly comply with advertising legislation and warned that legal measures will be applied if violations are found during monitoring.
