Latest news with #InformationandCommunicationTechnology
Business Insider
6 days ago
- Science
- Business Insider
Namibia is set to draft a new space bill
Namibia's Cabinet has authorized the drafting of a historic Space Science and Technology Bill, marking a major step forward in the country's scientific and innovative future. Namibia's Cabinet approved the drafting of a Space Science and Technology Bill to establish a legislative framework for the space sector. The bill aligns space-related activities with the country's socioeconomic growth programs, focusing on research, education, and sustainability. It builds on Namibia's 2021 Space Science and Technology Policy and outlines objectives for using space technology in various sectors. The bill is intended to create a well-organized legislative framework that will govern and direct the nation's space industry aspirations. Unveiled by Namibia's Minister of Information and Communication Technology Emma Theofelus, the bill also aims to match the country's space science programs with more general objectives for socioeconomic growth. It seeks to guarantee that space-related endeavors, such as research, education, innovation, and environmental sustainability, significantly advance the nation's goal. The Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts, and Culture is set to prepare the bill before it is formally approved by Cabinet. Once approved, it will provide the nation's expanding interest in space technology a legislative foundation. This legislative action is not happening independently; it expands on Namibia's Space Science and Technology Policy, which was issued in June 2021 and outlined a strategic vision for the country's space future. This strategy outlined national objectives for exploiting space-based technology in key sectors such as education, research, and environmental, as reported by Space in Africa. Furthermore, in March 2024, the National Commission for Research, Science, and Technology formed the second National Space Science Council to act as a technical and consultative council. Professionals with backgrounds in astronomy, law, electrical engineering, information and communication technology, and geographic information systems make up the council. The council will serve until March 2027. Building upon the previously approved strategy, the proposed law aims to establish Namibia as a major player in the international space sector.
IOL News
31-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Public Works makes strides in reducing rental payments owed to landlords
Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson says his department has put in controls that were monitored daily and were aimed to improve the functioning of their payment systems. Image: Henk Kruger / Independent Newspapers Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson said his department has managed to reduce to R20 million outstanding rentals owed to landlords that dated back three months ago. Macpherson said the department has put controls that are monitored daily and is looking at systems to improve the functioning of its payment systems. 'As at 6 June 2025, the outstanding rental amount is R2,540,382.42 (0.5%) and R19,897,707.26 (4.1%) for April and May, respectively,' he said. Macpherson was responding to parliamentary questions from Build One South African leader Mmusi Maimane, who enquired about the Information and Communication Technology outages that affected the ability of the Property Management Trading Entity to process rental payments to landlords in April. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Maimane enquired about the current status of rental payments, the total number of landlords that remained, the total monetary value of outstanding rental payments, and steps his department has taken to ensure that such delays do not recur. Macpherson said there were 1,991 leases for 1,274 landlords valued at R484,425,687.62 in the lease administration system and the payment system for April rental payments as of June 6. 'Forty-four leases (2.2%) affecting 26 landlords (2%) amounting to R2,540,382.42 (0.5%) failed Central Supplier Database (CSD) verification and therefore were not paid.' He also said there had been 1,995 leases for 1,269 landlords valued at R483,952,863.48 for May. At least 89 leases (4.5%) affecting 75 landlords (5.9%), amounting to R19,897,707.26 (4.1%) were not verified and were not paid. Macpherson said the payment system was still processing the June rental payments. 'The outstanding rental payments for April 2025 are 44 leases (2.2%) affecting 26 landlords (2%). The outstanding lease payments for May are 89 leases (4.5%) affecting 75 landlords (5.9%),' he said. 'It must be noted that the non-payment of transactions submitted on the payment system is primarily due to landlords not being compliant with CSD. In addition, 33 CSD non-compliant landlords from April are included in the May figure.' Meanwhile, the Independent Development Trust (IDT) has collected R882 million in payments in just three months from 15 departments that owed for infrastructure projects it implemented on their behalf. 'The IDT has been able to collect R882,374,561 between 01 April 2025 and 30 June 2025,' Macpherson said. The entity has paid a total of 1,366 service providers to the tune of R648,167,277. 'As at 30 June 2025, 790 service providers remained unpaid an amount of R1,394,036,545. The variance in the amount is due to additional invoices that would have been received between 01 April 2025 and 30 June 2025,' he said. Macpherson was responding to ActionSA MP Malebo Patricia Kobe, who enquired about the department's obligation to pay contractors after receiving money due from client departments. The IDT had informed the portfolio committee in June that it was owed R1.2 billion by client departments. It informed Parliament four months ago that it had been unable to pay service providers due to delays in payment by client departments. The entity has incurred R47m in total expenditure on legal costs and owed creditors for more than 12,000 invoices that could not be paid within the 30-day deadline as of the end of March last year.
Otago Daily Times
28-07-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Desperate Aussie companies trying to lure Kiwi workers
By Bella Craig of RNZ Australian companies say they are not trying to poach NZ's workforce, but anybody who does fancy upping sticks for 'Straya's Northern Territory is being fair dinkum promised a chunk a' change that would make your Kiwi colleagues mad as a cut snake. Northern Territory industry leaders were at an Auckland job expo over the weekend to extol the virtues of the vast region of Australia. There were stalls looking to recruit police and corrections officers, hospitality workers, health professionals, tourism operators and construction and infrastructure workers. A number of Kiwis visiting the expo told Checkpoint the better pay and better work opportunities were tempting. But what will it mean for New Zealand's already declining workforce if they take up the offer? For Kiwis across the motu, it can be a dispiriting daily grind: apply for jobs, often receive no reply and when they do land an interview, queues of people are lining up for the same job. It can take hundreds of applications, and often many months, before something finally comes through. The unemployment rate in New Zealand is at a four-year high at 5.1 percent, so it is very competitive out there. But in Australia's Northern Territory, they are desperate for people to join their workforce and they have got Kiwis in their sights. On Saturday morning at Auckland's Manukau Due Drop events centre, the expo was bustling with hundreds of students, job hunters and people just looking for a change. They told Checkpoint finding a job in Aotearoa has become increasingly difficult. "I'm looking for other work at the moment and there's literally nothing out there, thousands of people applying for jobs that I wouldn't usually apply for. "A lot of people have applied for jobs - you see 150 people have applied, 200 people and you'll still be waiting for an answer." The Northern Territory's allure lies in its higher salaries, more job opportunities and the possibility of buying a home there. "I'm renting a two-bedroom house here for $550. At the same time when I see my sister she's in Alice Springs, she's renting a two-bedroom house for $350. "I feel really bad going into a job that pays so little, and I've studied so hard, where there's like a $20,000 difference if I start here or if I start there." Damien Charles from the Northern Territory Information and Communication Technology and Digital Services industry said there was a wider range of opportunities in the sector. A $30-40,000 pay bump also did not hurt. "Having listened to a number of people come through they're quite downcast about ICT and digital sector here in New Zealand, it's quite hard to get into the market even for people with existing skills and experience." Andrew Craven from the Northern Territory Police said they were looking for new recruits to join the police and experienced police who might want a change in scenery. First-year constables earn a salary of $111,000 compared to $83,000 here. After five years in the force that increases to $121,000 in Northern Territory, compared with $91,000 here. There is also a housing allowance of up to $34,000 for officers jumping the ditch. Craven said there were many similarities between the Northern Territory and New Zealand police forces. "We speak to the New Zealand Police a lot because we interview experienced police, particularly in the Northern Island, I think they have very similar problems." Dr Tanzil Rahman - Member of the Parliament of the Northern Territory for Fong Lim in Darwin's east - made the trip to New Zealand to help snag some Kiwi workers. He said the Northen Territory offered a different lifestyle, better pay, a higher-quality housing market and a warmer climate. "We know that New Zealanders are keen on Australia and do move to Australia and if you're looking for meaningful work opportunities that are well remunerated than again the north of Australia is a really good option." But for some Kiwis, the grass was not greener. "Australia's way too hot and there's too much drama there," said one. "People don't realise that in New Zealand we look after our retirees a lot better than they do in Australia." "I was offered about 1.7 times about what I would earn here in New Zealand. But what I love here about people in New Zealand is the people and the culture. We moved here when I was young from South Africa, so I call New Zealand my home and I'll stay," said another "We've got the most beautiful scenery in the world, great people and a wonderful future. I'd stay here," said a third. The Northern Territory job expos were held in Christchurch and Auckland over the past two weekends hosting jobs and information sessions for Kiwis keen to get a glimpse on life and work.
Time Business News
19-07-2025
- Business
- Time Business News
Ranadheer Reddy Charabuddi IFGICT Fellow: AI-Powered Financial Automation
In a significant recognition of his groundbreaking contributions to the field of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Ranadheer Reddy Charabuddi, a renowned SAP OpenText VIM Lead and an expert in AI-powered financial automation, has been awarded the prestigious IFGICT Fellow status by the International Federation of Global Information and Communication Technology (IFGICT), widely recognized as the world's largest ICT federation. This esteemed accolade underscores Charabuddi's remarkable professional journey, marked by transformative contributions across global organizations and his relentless pursuit of innovation in digital finance. Ranadheer Reddy Charabuddi's career is a testament to his exceptional blend of technical expertise and strategic vision in enterprise financial automation. His profound impact at leading organizations such as Nutrien, Signet Jewelers, Performance Food Group, Ram Tool, Ortho Clinical Diagnostics, Altria, Crestron Electronics, Xcel Energy, and Arthrex highlights his ability to drive digital transformation and deliver measurable value. At the core of his achievements lies a deep understanding of SAP OpenText VIM architecture, a critical component in streamlining financial operations. Charabuddi has consistently demonstrated an unparalleled ability to conceptualize, design, and implement solutions that not only optimize processes but also set new benchmarks for efficiency and accuracy. One of Charabuddi's most significant contributions has been his pioneering work in integrating AI and machine learning into financial workflows. He spearheaded the transition from manual OCR (Optical Character Recognition) training processes to sophisticated AI-powered machine learning OCR solutions. This strategic shift at companies like Nutrien dramatically improved data extraction accuracy, significantly reducing the need for constant human intervention and saving thousands of administrative dollars. His self-learning AI models adapt to new invoice structures, continuously enhancing recognition accuracy. Beyond OCR, Ranadheer revolutionized invoice approval workflows. He transitioned static, manually maintained approval hierarchies to dynamic, HR-based automatic approval processes. This innovation not only streamlined operations but also ensured greater agility and responsiveness in financial decision-making. Furthermore, he implemented enhanced validation mechanisms, virtually eliminating duplicate vendor payments through comprehensive integration of validation systems. Charabuddi's expertise extends to designing bespoke solutions for complex financial scenarios. At Nutrien and Xcel Energy, he designed and implemented service-based PO invoice approval workflows specifically tailored for situations where no goods receipt existed, thereby eliminating manual errors and improving payment accuracy. He also streamlined planned and unplanned freight cost automation, ensuring efficient and accurate approval processes, particularly when unplanned freight amounts exceeded predefined tolerance limits. His ability to integrate diverse systems is another hallmark of his professional impact. At Signet Jewelers, he successfully integrated and automated 40 different interfaces within VIM applications, creating seamless and highly efficient ecosystems that revolutionized invoice processing automation across the organization. This included developing custom VIM dashboards in SAP Fiori, providing real-time visibility into invoice processing status, aging, bottlenecks, and key AP performance indicators (KPIs). Ranadheer's project portfolio showcases a breadth of expertise across various facets of financial technology: SAP Financial Supply Chain Management (FSCM) Implementation: At Ram Tool, he completed a comprehensive SAP FSCM implementation, optimizing billing and dispute resolution processes. This led to faster dispute resolution, improved cash flow, and strengthened vendor relationships. At Ram Tool, he completed a comprehensive SAP FSCM implementation, optimizing billing and dispute resolution processes. This led to faster dispute resolution, improved cash flow, and strengthened vendor relationships. OpenText ECM Transformation: His work at Ortho Clinical Diagnostics involved a transformative OpenText Enterprise Content Management (ECM) implementation. This project revolutionized document management, ensured compliance automation, and optimized financial workflows with AI-powered document classification and tagging, enabling automated metadata assignment and faster retrieval. His work at Ortho Clinical Diagnostics involved a transformative OpenText Enterprise Content Management (ECM) implementation. This project revolutionized document management, ensured compliance automation, and optimized financial workflows with AI-powered document classification and tagging, enabling automated metadata assignment and faster retrieval. Enterprise Content Management at Altria: At Altria, he focused on integrating OpenText Content Server for document management and records lifecycle automation. This initiative consolidated decentralized document storage systems, automated records management processes, and significantly strengthened compliance and audit readiness through automated data privacy frameworks, ensuring adherence to regulations like GDPR and HIPAA with PII detection and document retention policies. At Altria, he focused on integrating OpenText Content Server for document management and records lifecycle automation. This initiative consolidated decentralized document storage systems, automated records management processes, and significantly strengthened compliance and audit readiness through automated data privacy frameworks, ensuring adherence to regulations like GDPR and HIPAA with PII detection and document retention policies. Fraud Prevention and Vendor Self-Service: At Crestron Electronics, he implemented advanced fraud prevention and duplicate payment detection mechanisms, leveraging intelligent algorithms to identify anomalies and prevent financial losses. He also developed vendor self-service portals, empowering vendors to track invoice statuses, submit invoices directly, and resolve payment inquiries without overburdening finance teams, leading to significant reductions in manual intervention and improved vendor relationships. At Crestron Electronics, he implemented advanced fraud prevention and duplicate payment detection mechanisms, leveraging intelligent algorithms to identify anomalies and prevent financial losses. He also developed vendor self-service portals, empowering vendors to track invoice statuses, submit invoices directly, and resolve payment inquiries without overburdening finance teams, leading to significant reductions in manual intervention and improved vendor relationships. Global VIM Implementations: At Performance Food Group, as an SAP OpenText VIM Specialist, he led large-scale OpenText Vendor Invoice Management implementations, transforming manual, error-prone invoice processing systems into automated, AI-driven workflows integrated with SAP S/4HANA. At Arthrex, he played pivotal roles in supporting global Vendor Invoice Management implementation projects, setting up and configuring OpenText VIM, integrating Optical Character Recognition applications for automated invoice data capture, and configuring Archive servers for secure invoice image storage. Ranadheer Reddy Charabuddi's exceptional skills and contributions are recognized through multiple prestigious certifications, including OpenText Certified Vendor Invoice Management Consultant, Certified Project Management Professional (PMP), AWS Certified AI Practitioner, Harvard FINTECH certification, and Microsoft Certified Azure AI Fundamentals. These certifications underscore his commitment to continuous learning and mastery of cutting-edge technologies. His reputation as a thought leader is further solidified by his active participation as a technical judge and reviewer for global technology evaluation platforms and his peer reviews for scholarly journals. Dr Kayyali Mohamed the president of IFGICT in USA mentioned that ' As an IFGICT Fellow, Ranadheer Reddy Charabuddi continues to shape the future of financial technology. His unwavering focus remains on integrating FinTech innovations with robust SAP enterprise solutions to drive organizational performance to new heights' . His proven track record in engineering next-generation financial workflows, leveraging AI, robotic process automation, and dynamic approval hierarchies, continues to create immense value across the financial technology landscape. The IFGICT Fellowship is a fitting recognition for a professional who has not only mastered complex technical domains but has also consistently translated that mastery into tangible, transformative results for global enterprises. Ranadheer Reddy Charabuddi's pioneering work in AI-powered financial automation continues to inspire and set new standards in the industry, marking him as a true visionary in the world of ICT. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Barnama
16-07-2025
- Barnama
Melaka Digital Village Project Enhances Service Delivery In Rural Areas
Head Assistant Director of the ICT Division, Melaka Chief Ministers Department, Mohd Hairul Shah Ismail, speaks during a talk session on the Kampung Digital Melaka initiative, held under the theme Local Addressing Model Kampung Digital Melaka (KDM), in conjunction with the National Address Conference 2025 at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur today. KUALA LUMPUR, July 16 (Bernama) – The Melaka Digital Village (KDM) project, introduced two years ago, is now being used as a reference model for the development of digital addressing systems in rural areas, said Assistant Director of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Division at the Melaka Chief Minister's Department, Mohd Hairul Shah Ismail. Speaking at the Melaka Digital Village Showcase held in conjunction with the 2025 National Addressing Conference today, he said the initiative aims to restructure traditional village addresses in Melaka into a standardised digital addressing system, complete with unique codes and QR codes. 'All home addresses in the villages are now digitally mapped in a dedicated database. Homeowners can share their locations more accurately using navigation apps like Google Maps and Oasis,' he said. He explained that the project, which is aligned with the implementation of the National Address System (NAS) by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), helps streamline welfare aid delivery and emergency response management in rural areas. 'This digital address system not only makes it easier for families to share their home locations, but also speeds up the dispatch of emergency assistance to precise locations,' said Mohd Hairul. He said that to date, more than 600 villages throughout Melaka have been listed to participate in the initiative, with letter and sticker distribution completed for 174 villages — making it one of the largest pilot projects in Malaysia. 'The Upgrading of ICT Infrastructure and Melaka Digital Village System Project is currently in the user needs assessment phase,' he said. He also explained that the upgrade involves integrating the Digital Village System with other systems such as MyIDENTITY (NRD), eVePermit (Veterinary Department), Melaka Aid Recipients Information System (eMPBM), eTanah, S-CHARMS, and others. As a key indicator of the project's success, Melaka aims to fully convert all old addresses to Digital Village addresses across the state within the next few years.
