分类： business

A bipartisan coalition of state governors joined Trump administration officials in a unified push on Friday, demanding urgent action from the nation’s largest grid operator to expand electricity generation capacity. The extraordinary pressure campaign targets PJM Interconnection, which manages the mid-Atlantic power network serving 13 states and Washington D.C., amid growing concerns that artificial intelligence development could trigger widespread blackouts while dramatically increasing consumer electricity costs.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum framed the situation as a national security imperative, stating that winning the AI race against China requires massive power infrastructure investments. “We know that with the demands of AI and the productivity that comes with that, it’s going to transform every job and every company,” Burgum told reporters at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. “But we need to be able to power that in the race we are in against China.”

The proposed solution involves creating a specialized power auction allowing technology companies to directly bid on contracts for new power plant construction. This market-based approach would shift the financial burden of data center energy needs from residential consumers to the tech corporations driving demand. Additionally, officials want PJM to extend wholesale electricity price caps implemented last year that limit consumer cost increases through mid-2028.

Governors Glenn Youngkin (Virginia), Wes Moore (Maryland), and Josh Shapiro (Pennsylvania) expressed mounting frustration with PJM’s response to the crisis. Moore emphasized that “we need for PJM to take action, we need for PJM to take it seriously,” while Youngkin characterized the situation as a “massive, massive crisis.”

The urgency stems from alarming trends: analysts warn that data centers are consuming increasingly enormous power resources, with mid-Atlantic ratepayers already covering billions in infrastructure costs for facilities that haven’t been built. Meanwhile, electricity bills are rising faster than inflation nationwide, with many Americans falling behind on payments.

Industry representatives from the Edison Electric Institute support the innovative bidding concept, though energy market experts question its feasibility within existing regulatory frameworks. Rob Gramlich of Grid Strategies LLC noted that PJM faces unique challenges, including longer permitting processes than states like Texas and complications from energy deregulation that left utilities without long-term power contracts.

The standoff highlights the complex balance between technological advancement, consumer protection, and infrastructure development as America’s power grid faces unprecedented demands from the digital economy.

A comprehensive survey conducted by the American Chamber of Commerce in China indicates that U.S. corporations operating in China now perceive the nation’s economic deceleration as a more pressing concern than bilateral trade disputes. The report, published Friday, reveals that 64% of the 368 responding companies identify China’s slowing growth as their primary challenge, while 58% cite ongoing U.S.-China trade tensions as a significant obstacle.

This shifting priority reflects the substantial footprint of American businesses within China’s domestic market, which serves approximately 1.4 billion consumers. Many of these enterprises maintain operations focused exclusively on Chinese market consumption rather than export-oriented models.

Economic projections suggest China’s expansion will continue moderating this year following an approximate 5% growth rate in 2025. Last year’s export performance exceeded import growth, resulting in a record trade surplus nearing $1.2 trillion.

Despite these challenges, business sentiment has demonstrated improvement compared to previous years. Over half of surveyed companies reported profitability in 2025, marking a significant increase from the previous year’s figures. This optimism persists even as overall foreign direct investment in China declined by 7.5% year-over-year during the first eleven months of 2025, totaling 693 billion yuan ($99 billion).

The current trade truce between Washington and Beijing, established after President Trump’s reinstatement of tariffs reaching 145% on Chinese imports, has provided some operational stability. Anticipated diplomatic exchanges, including Trump’s potential April visit to Beijing and reciprocal travel by Chinese leader Xi Jinping to the United States, may further influence commercial relations.

AmCham China President Michael Hart emphasized during a media briefing that while companies acknowledge political realities, their focus remains on capitalizing on business opportunities. He noted perceived Chinese government interest in maintaining foreign investment channels, particularly from American enterprises.

The survey conducted between October 22 and November 20, 2023, coincided with the extension of the U.S.-China trade truce agreement during the leaders’ meeting in South Korea.

VLCC International has officially reopened its transformed Al Ain Clinic, marking a significant expansion of its integrative health and aesthetics services in the United Arab Emirates. The newly enhanced facility now features specialized dermatology and laser departments alongside advanced weight management and non-surgical body contouring technologies.

The reopening ceremony was attended by senior VLCC leadership including Founder Vandana Luthra, Managing Director and Group CEO Vikas Gupta, and Chief Business Officer Roshan Sharma, alongside distinguished guests from the Al Ain community.

Founder Vandana Luthra emphasized the company’s evolution over three decades: ‘What began as a focused approach to weight loss has grown into an integrated ecosystem addressing preventive, personalised, and science-backed care. Today’s consumer seeks long-term wellbeing rather than quick fixes, and VLCC continues to pioneer this shift by combining expertise, innovation, and trust at scale.’

Vikas Gupta highlighted the strategic importance of the Al Ain market, noting the clinic’s upgrades reflect VLCC’s philosophy of ‘Beautiful You, Delivered by Science.’ The facility now offers expanded capabilities with advanced medical and aesthetic services while maintaining the core values trusted by clients for years.

The Middle East and GCC region represent a critical component of VLCC’s growth strategy, supported by a medical team of over 20 senior doctors across markets. This expert-led approach has driven substantial momentum, with the company recording over 40% year-on-year growth in its dermatology business.

Looking forward, Roshan Sharma revealed expansion plans including advanced hair treatments, surgical solutions, and a dedicated men’s category within their integrative model. The VLCC Subscribe program offers customers unlimited access to weight management, beauty, laser, and dermatology services without session limitations, while initiatives like the Orange Day Sale provide exclusive offers while maintaining high care standards.

In the competitive landscape of luxury fashion, Praana Paris emerges as a distinctive UAE-based brand with an extraordinary origin story rooted in the romantic journey of its founders. Pradeep and Anastasia, whose union defied conventional boundaries of culture, faith, and age, have channeled their personal narrative into the very essence of their luxury leather goods company.

The brand’s nomenclature itself represents this fusion—’Pra’ derived from Pradeep and ‘Ana’ from Anastasia—while simultaneously evoking ‘Prana,’ the Sanskrit concept denoting life force energy. This symbolic naming reflects the philosophical foundation upon which the enterprise is built.

Drawing inspiration from Parisian romance and architectural elegance, while grounded in Emirati resilience, Praana Paris creates leather accessories characterized by exceptional balance, sophisticated form, and meticulous artisanal craftsmanship. Each piece embodies the founders’ shared values: an uncompromising commitment to detail, superior quality standards, and a philosophy of timeless elegance that transcends seasonal trends.

The United Arab Emirates served as both backdrop and catalyst for this venture, providing the environment where diverse cultural perspectives could converge and flourish. The founders acknowledge the Emirates’ role in fostering the confidence necessary to pursue their vision despite societal complexities and challenges.

This February marks a significant milestone as Praana Paris inaugurates its flagship boutique at Abu Dhabi’s Marina Mall. The space is designed to offer clients an immersive experience of the brand’s ethos—from the tactile sensation of premium leather to the visual appreciation of precision craftsmanship. The boutique represents not merely a retail environment but a physical manifestation of the founders’ journey, inviting customers to engage with products that blend emotional resonance with luxury design.

The emergence of Praana Paris illustrates how personal narratives can transform into compelling brand identities within the luxury sector, demonstrating that authentic stories can become powerful differentiators in markets saturated with conventional heritage narratives.

India has launched an ambitious 73-billion-rupee ($800 million) strategic initiative to establish domestic production of rare earth magnets, aiming to reduce its critical dependence on Chinese supplies in this vital segment of the global supply chain. Approved in November 2025, this comprehensive scheme represents India’s calculated response to vulnerabilities exposed during recent trade tensions with China, which temporarily disrupted supplies to automotive and electronics manufacturers.

These powerful permanent magnets serve as essential components across multiple high-tech industries, including electric vehicles, wind turbines, smartphones, medical imaging equipment, and defense systems. Rather than attempting to develop a complete rare earth ecosystem—an enormously complex and capital-intensive undertaking—India is strategically focusing on magnet production as the most efficient path toward achieving meaningful self-reliance.

The program offers capital investment and sales-linked incentives to selected manufacturers targeting annual production of 6,000 tonnes within seven years. This production target aligns with projected domestic demand, which government officials anticipate will double within the next five years. Currently, India imports 80-90% of its magnets and related materials from China, which maintains overwhelming dominance with over 90% of global rare earth processing capacity. Official data reveals India imported approximately $221 million worth of these critical components in 2025 alone.

Despite substantial financial commitment, industry experts emphasize that monetary investment alone cannot guarantee success. India faces significant technological hurdles, as countries like Japan, South Korea, and Germany have spent decades refining their magnet production capabilities. Neha Mukherjee of Benchmark Mineral Intelligence notes: “This initiative represents a positive directional step, but merely a beginning. India will require strategic international partnerships to import technology, develop workforce expertise, and ultimately build indigenous capabilities.”

Raw material availability presents another formidable challenge. Although India possesses the world’s third-largest rare earth reserves (approximately 8% of global total), it accounts for less than 1% of worldwide mining output. Most reserves exist in coastal sands across Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat. Currently, only one operational mine exists in Andhra Pradesh, whose output was predominantly exported to Japan until recent government intervention to prioritize domestic needs.

Furthermore, India’s mineral profile complicates production ambitions. While the nation has surpluses of lighter rare earth elements like neodymium, it lacks extractable quantities of heavier elements including dysprosium and terbium—critical components for high-performance magnets. This imbalance raises fundamental questions about whether domestically manufactured magnets might still rely on Chinese raw materials.

Competitive pricing represents another crucial consideration. Chinese magnets benefit from established economies of scale and lower production costs. Unless Indian manufacturers can achieve comparable pricing through government support and efficiency gains, imported magnets may continue dominating the market. Some experts suggest extending incentives to magnet purchasers alongside manufacturers to stimulate domestic adoption.

India joins a growing global movement seeking alternatives to Chinese rare earth dominance. The European Union, Australia, and other nations have launched similar initiatives following supply disruptions. As EY India specialist Rajnish Gupta observes: “The timing of China’s export controls surprised many nations, highlighting shared vulnerabilities in critical supply chains.”

Despite the multifaceted challenges, the program signifies India’s serious commitment to developing strategic autonomy in this crucial technological domain. As Dr. PV Sunder Raju of the National Geophysical Research Institute emphasizes: “Strong research and development foundations are essential—simply allocating funds cannot guarantee viable production.” Research facilities including a recently inaugurated unit at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and public-private partnerships aiming for 5,000-tonne annual production by 2030 demonstrate progress, though neither has yet reported commercial output.

The initiative’s success will ultimately depend on India’s ability to simultaneously master complex technologies, secure reliable material inputs, achieve competitive scale, and develop entire supply chain ecosystems. While the path forward remains challenging, as Mukherjee concludes: “If capacity scaling doesn’t occur, dependency persists. China continues expanding production—India must match this growth trajectory to achieve meaningful independence.”