A two-week capacity building programme focused on project and risk management in public works has begun for Tanzanian officials at the National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG) in Mussoorie. The programme, running from May 6th to 17th 2024, is being delivered by the NCGG in partnership with India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). 39 participants from Tanzania’s public sector are attending, representing various organisations including the National Roads Agency, Ministry of Energy, and the Tanzania Railway Corporation. The NCGG, an Indian government agency, aims to share best practices and knowledge in governance. This programme will provide insights into how India plans and executes public works projects, while also fostering closer ties between the two nations. Officials will gain expertise in areas like project selection, risk management, and public-private partnerships. The programme also includes visits to key infrastructure projects in India, such as dams, highways, and the Delhi Metro. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Shri V. Srinivas, Director General of the NCGG, highlighted the importance of collaboration and knowledge exchange. He emphasised the role of technology in improving governance and public service delivery. Mr. George Nsavike Ndatta, Head of the Tanzanian delegation, expressed gratitude for the opportunity and believes the programme…
The Wellhead Pressure Management Project (WPMP) at the Tengiz oil field has begun operations, marking a significant step forward for Tengizchevroil (TCO). However, challenges remain as TCO pushes towards full project completion. The key hurdle lies in managing the existing oil production while implementing the WPMP. This involves lowering pressure at wellheads and subsequently boosting it to maintain capacity at existing processing plants, a complex process requiring ongoing adjustments. While the WPMP startup is a milestone, the complete expansion relies on the successful execution of the Future Growth Project (FGP). This final stage, targeted for completion in mid-2025, will determine the ultimate production increase of 12 million tons per annum. TCO acknowledges the crucial role of partnerships and stakeholder engagement. Their success hinges on continued support from the Kazakh government, existing partners, contractors, local communities, and their skilled workforce. A significant achievement is the upskilling of 4,000 Kazakhstani employees through specialized training for the PBF project. This focus on local workforce development highlights TCO’s commitment to the region. TCO’s focus remains on collaborating with partners and the Kazakh government to ensure the safe and successful completion of the entire FGP-WPMP project. Despite the WPMP startup, there’s still work to be…
The Thanjavur Municipal Corporation has been selected to implement an integrated solid waste management project under the City Investments to Innovate, Integrate and Sustain (CITIIS) 2.0 programme of the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs at an estimated cost of ₹135 crore. According to civic body sources, the Union Ministry invited proposals from 100 cities/towns across the country where the Smart City project was implemented for taking up integrated solid waste management programme. Thanjavur is one of the 18 cities/towns out of 100 that were selected for implementing the CITIIS 2.0 programme, which aims to address climate change, including achieving net-zero emissions by 2070. The CITIIS 2.0 programme has been jointly proposed by the Union Ministry in collaboration with the French Development Agency, KfW Development Bank, the European Union, and the National Institute of Urban Affairs, which aims to drive investments into urban climate action through competitively selected projects promoting a circular economy with a focus on integrated waste management, to foster climate-sensitive planning, and action through evidence-driven approaches, and to build an institutional mechanism.
Sony Music Japan is officially shutting down its Prism Project “virtual talent management agency” less than two years after holding related auditions. The Sony Music Entertainment division revealed the quick-approaching Prism shutdown via a formal release. Founded by a company called Anotherball in 2021 and brought into the Sony Music fold during 2022, Prism was at the time of the mentioned auditions aiming to “push the boundaries of the virtual talent space.” “VTubers are a character, a talent, but at the same time, also a talented human being,” Sony Music Japan and Prism spelled out in August of 2022, with “VTuber” referring specifically to individuals who create and release YouTube content via virtual avatars. Now, with the non-fungible token space and presumably the adjacent virtual-artist sphere having cooled, Prism is set to cease operating at March’s end, Sony Music Japan relayed. At that point, the rights behind the 18 digital entities on Prism’s roster will revert to their creators, fueling “independent talent activities” on the same YouTube and social accounts moving forward.
