Author: Business Enquirer
In a move aligning with its strategic push on critical minerals, the U.S. federal government has announced significant investment in mining projects in British Columbia. The move underscores North America’s push to secure supply chains for battery metals amid global competition and geopolitical uncertainty. What’s Changing in B.C. The investment targets two key mining companies with operations (or planned developments) in British Columbia: Trilogy Metals Inc. and Lithium Americas Corp. Through funding and support mechanisms, the U.S. is positioning itself as a pivotal backer in the region’s mining growth. In particular: The joint move sends a signal of confidence not…
In a major leap for its energy ambitions, Iran has announced a significant discovery within the Pazan (or Paznan) onshore field in southern Iran, revealing both natural gas and crude oil deposits that could reshape its production profile. What’s been Discovered? Exploration teams have identified: Why It Matters This isn’t just another exploration win — it comes after years in which Iran’s upstream development has been constrained by sanctions, limited investment, and infrastructure challenges. The Pazan discovery could: Challenges & What Comes Next The Bigger Picture Iran already ranks among the world’s richest in natural gas reserves, but much of…
OpenAI’s sweeping investment strategy is turning heads — and not always in admiration. As the company inks billion-dollar deals and commits to petawatt-scale compute, critics are increasingly asking: how sustainable is this growth? The Scale Behind the Hype With its newly announced AMD agreement and other commitments, OpenAI’s trajectory speaks of ambition without restraint. The firm is reportedly generating around $12 billion in annualized revenue, yet is operating at a loss nearing $8 billion. That gap raises questions about the financial plumbing required to keep advancing such a capital-intensive business model. Analysts caution that to honor OpenAI’s compute promises, it…
Step into the new season of modern beauty — where craftsmanship meets innovation, and luxury is defined not by excess, but by detail. This month, the world of beauty celebrates creativity, performance and a quiet sophistication that elevates everyday rituals into art. From nourishing lip oils to statement palettes, each creation blends science and sensibility, proving that true beauty lies in the experience as much as the result. CHANEL Sublimage L’Extrait Huile Lèvres A masterpiece in lip care, CHANEL’s Sublimage L’Extrait Huile Lèvres brings couture-level attention to every drop. Infused with Vanilla Planifolia, Swertia from Bhutan and a fortifying peptide…
Procurement has come a long way. Once thought of as a back-office cost center, it’s now at the strategic heart of companies confronting intense volatility, supply chain disruption, and sustainability expectations. As risk layers deepen, procurement teams are evolving fast — pivoting from reactive responders to forward-looking stewards of resilience and value. Seeing Through the Fog: Visibility First The foundation of effective response is visibility. Many organizations struggle with fragmented data, legacy systems, and siloed purchasing. Procurement leaders now insist on unified platforms that bring spend, supplier, and contract data together under one lens. This clarity enables them to spot…
Coupa, a leader in spend management technology, has unleashed a major update: more than 100 AI-powered features across its procurement, finance, and supply chain suite. The platform’s goal? To shift organizations from reactive spending practices to a smarter, more autonomous future. The Vision: AI as the New System Core At the heart of Coupa’s update is Coupa Navi, a portfolio of AI agents designed to transform how procurement teams work. Rather than replacing workflows, these agents work within existing systems—enabling users to talk, query, and act through AI-enhanced interaction instead of clicks and menu navigation. Salvatore Lombardo, Coupa’s Chief Product…
In a twist of elegant simplicity, some architects and engineers are embracing ice batteries as a key tool to cut energy use and carbon emissions in large buildings. The concept sounds cold — literally — but it’s gaining traction as a clever way to shift the electricity burden of air conditioning into off-peak hours, lightening the load when demand is highest. What Is an Ice Battery? An ice battery works by freezing water during off-peak hours (often at night), storing “cooling energy” that can then be used during the heat of the day to chill air or water loops in…
In its recent trading update, energy major Shell signaled a renewed strength in its gas and energy trading business—a development that could prove to be a key profit lever as the company navigates headwinds elsewhere. The Trading Turnaround Shell’s update highlighted that its integrated gas division—which includes gas trading and liquefied natural gas (LNG) operations—is expected to deliver “significantly higher” trading results in the third quarter compared to prior periods. That’s a marked shift from recent quarters, when volatility and margin pressure weighed on its trading and optimization segments. At the same time, Shell adjusted its refining margin outlook upward,…
In a move aligned with its ongoing portfolio reshaping, Barrick Mining has announced its intention to sell its interests in the Tongon gold mine and associated exploration assets in Côte d’Ivoire, in a transaction valued at up to US$305 million. What’s in the Deal Why Barrick Is Divesting This sale is part of Barrick’s broader strategy to exit non-core assets, freeing up capital and focus for its portfolio of high-margin, long-life operations. Tongon, having exceeded its originally anticipated life through exploration success, is now being monetized at a stage when its production and reserve outlook are maturing. The company is…
Eli Lilly has announced plans to invest more than $1 billion to strengthen its contract manufacturing presence in India, signalling one of the company’s largest regional expansions to date. The move underscores Lilly’s long-term strategy to build a more resilient and globally distributed pharmaceutical supply chain amid surging demand for its key therapies. Expanding Through Partnership Rather than constructing wholly owned facilities, Lilly will channel funding into contract manufacturing agreements with leading Indian pharmaceutical producers. The strategy allows the company to scale quickly while leveraging India’s mature infrastructure, technical expertise, and highly skilled workforce. Part of the investment will also…