Author: Business Enquirer
Data centres, the unseen engines of the global digital economy, are facing an unprecedented rise in energy demand. As artificial intelligence, cloud computing and data-intensive services continue to expand, forecasts indicate that electricity consumption from data centres could increase by almost threefold by 2035. The projected rise presents a significant challenge, with implications for power grids, sustainability targets and the future of digital infrastructure worldwide. Why Energy Demand Is Rising So Fast The primary driver behind the surge is the explosive growth of artificial intelligence. AI training and inference workloads require vast computational power, significantly increasing electricity use compared with…
Kier Group has confirmed a major change at top finance level: its current Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Simon Kesterton, will step down on 31 December 2025, after six years in the role. From 1 January 2026, he will be replaced by Tom Hinton, currently interim chief executive of logistics firm Wincanton and previously its finance chief. Why the Change Matters Under Kesterton’s tenure, the company navigated a deep financial turnaround, strengthened its balance sheet, overhauled procurement and IT operations and put the group on a firmer footing. The board credits him with helping to restore investor confidence and stabilise the…
As global aviation continues to stabilise and expand, pilot demand remains high, placing renewed focus on salaries and working conditions. In 2025, a clear pay divide persists between commercial airline pilots in the United States and those flying for European carriers. While job roles are broadly similar, compensation models, earning potential and lifestyle trade-offs differ significantly. United States: Higher Pay and Accelerated Earning Potential In the United States, pilot salaries are among the highest in the world. Entry-level first officers at regional airlines typically earn between USD 55,000 and USD 85,000 per year, with rapid progression as experience builds. Ongoing…
Paris has an effortless way of making Christmas feel truly extraordinary. As winter settles in, the city reveals a softer, more romantic rhythm. Streets glow with festive lights, cafés become even more inviting, and the iconic skyline takes on a gentle sparkle that feels perfectly attuned to December. A City Dressed for the Season Few places embrace festive elegance quite like Paris. The city’s grand department stores play a starring role, with Galeries Lafayette and Le Bon Marché unveiling exquisitely crafted Christmas window displays and refined seasonal décor. These are not just decorations, but carefully curated works of art that…
Perched high above the capital, CÉ LA VI London is a rooftop destination that seamlessly fuses panoramic skyline views with refined dining and vibrant nightlife. Occupying the 17th and 18th floors of 1 Paddington Square, the venue brings its signature glamour to London, delivering a multi-layered experience defined by modern Asian cuisine, polished service and a distinctly cosmopolitan atmosphere. Elevated Dining with a View The 17th floor is home to the main restaurant and bar, where floor-to-ceiling windows and an expansive outdoor terrace frame sweeping views across the city. It’s an ideal setting for sunset dinners and late-evening cocktails, as…
A recent decision by the High Court has clarified how the automatic suspension mechanism under public-procurement law can be lifted — with potentially important consequences for future procurement challenges. What Was the Dispute? SCCL, which manages the national supply contract for the public health system, awarded a major logistics contract to a new supplier. Two unsuccessful bidders — Unipart (the incumbent) and DHL Supply Chain — challenged the procurement, alleging that the process was unfair. Central to their claim was a potential conflict of interest: a senior executive who had worked on the contract transformation while at SCCL had left…
A new regional assessment of the Mediterranean and Black Sea fisheries sector offers rare cause for cautious optimism. After decades of intense pressure, overfishing across the region has dropped to its lowest level in ten years, several key fish stocks are showing signs of recovery, and aquaculture is playing an increasingly important role in feeding growing populations. Yet despite these positive trends, sustainability challenges remain deeply embedded, and experts warn that the recovery is fragile. Signs of Progress Beneath the Surface Recent data shows that fishing pressure across the Mediterranean and Black Sea has declined significantly over the past decade.…
The UK government has announced it is withdrawing its roughly US$1.15 billion in backing for the Mozambique LNG project — a major reversal with ripple effects across the energy industry, geopolitics and environmental debate. Why the Withdrawal? Risk, Responsibility, Reputation Originally backed by the UK’s export-finance agency, the funding was pledged in 2020 for what was envisioned as a large-scale liquefied natural gas (LNG) project led by TotalEnergies. Over time, however, conditions around security, human-rights, and the UK’s own evolving energy-policy stance have altered the calculus. The UK government now argues that rising risks — particularly given renewed insurgent violence…
Barrick is exploring a potential initial public offering of its North American gold assets, a move that could mark one of the most significant strategic shifts in the company’s recent history. The proposal would see some of Barrick’s most stable and highly regarded gold operations carved out into a newly listed entity, while the parent group retains majority ownership. The move reflects growing pressure on global miners to simplify portfolios, unlock shareholder value and reduce exposure to geopolitical risk. What the Potential Spin-Off Would Include Under the proposed structure, the new company would house Barrick’s core gold assets located in…
Recent data from a private-sector survey in China has returned a troubling signal: manufacturing activity appears to be contracting again. The drop highlights persistent headwinds across demand, production and global trade — and raises new questions about the health of the world’s second-largest economy. What the Data Shows Broader Implications: Economy, Supply Chains, Global Markets For China’s EconomyIndustrial activity remains a central pillar of China’s growth model. A sustained slump in manufacturing signals risk to employment, investment, and income — especially in industrialised and export-oriented regions. Lower factory output may undermine efforts to support economic growth without aggressive stimulus. For…