Latest news with #Raia
NZ Herald
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
Musical triumph: Whanganui band shines in regional music competition
The Tangata Beats event started in 1998 as the Urban Beats Award but over time became its own competition. The Lights Go Out members, Alijah Ngaronga, Jeremiah Herewini, Poppy Brooks-Mann, Mason Maraku, Manaia Takiari, Rangitaumata Hayward, Amelia Muir, Arne Leiva-Benegas, Moata Leiva-Benegas and Gio Maraku, met through Te Kura Waenga o Rutherford although some have gone on to secondary school at Cullinane College and Whanganui High School. 'They're still all with our music teacher [Jordan Maraku] and he makes a band every year and most of the years it's been the same people,' keyboardist Amelia Muir said. A previous band, Reckless, containing multiple of Lights Out's current members, made the Tangata Beats national final in 2023 and came third. Reckless only competed in Tangata Beats in previous years, making this the first attempt at Smokefreerockquest. 'We thought we would give both competitions a shot this year and we're glad we did,' trombone player Arne Leiva-Benegas said. 'We were really surprised we won.' For their first-place wins, the band received $500 of musical equipment from the Rockshop. Lights Go Out consists of three brass instruments, three keyboards, two vocalists, a drummer and a bassist. Coming up to the competition, the band practised together for more than 10 hours a week. At the competition, Lights Go Out performed original songs Alive and Light Path. Muir said the songwriting process was collaborative, with each instrument group writing their own parts. Raia (Waihīrere Fifield-Taylor), from Te Aho o Te Kura, came first in the Whanganui Smokefreerockquest's solo/duo category. Muir and Leiva-Benegas said the band was musically inspired by reggae music and New Zealand bands L.A.B., Six60 and House of Shem. A4, from Rangitīkei College, placed second behind Lights Go Out for Smokefreerockquest. Missing Comma, from Whanganui High School, were third. In the solo-duo Smokefreerockquest category, Raia (Waihīrere Fifield-Taylor), from Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu, was first and Sophie Toyne, from Whanganui High School, second. Nisi (Denise Pio), from Rangitīkei College, won the solo-duo for Smokefree Tangata Beats. Alongside Raia and Sophie Toyne, Lights Go Out can submit a video of their original material for selection as one of the top 15 finalists to play at Smokefreerockquest nationals in September. Along with Nisi, they can also apply for the national final of Smokefree Tangata Beats on September 13 at Auckland's ASB Theatre. Olivia Reid is a multimedia journalist based in Whanganui.
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Equinor to sell 60% interest in Peregrino field to PRIO for $3.5bn
Equinor Brasil Energia, a subsidiary of Equinor, has signed agreements to sell its 60% interest in the Peregrino field in Brazil to PRIO Tigris, a subsidiary of PRIO, for $3.5bn (Nkr36.35bn). The deal is structured in two parts, with the first involving the acquisition of a 40% stake and operatorship, and the second involving the acquisition of the remaining 20%. The 40% stake includes a payment of $2.233bn, with an additional payment of $166m contingent upon the completion of the second part. The remaining 20% stake has a value of $951m. PRIO will pay Equinor a total consideration of up to $3.5bn, including a maximum interest payment of $150m. The final cash payment will account for adjustments based on the asset's performance since 1 January 2024. Equinor will continue to manage the Peregrino field until the transaction is finalised, after which PRIO will assume control. Equinor executive vice-president for exploration and production international Philippe Mathieu said: 'With this transaction we realise value from a long-standing asset in our Brazil portfolio. Brazil will continue to be a core country for Equinor, as we focus on starting up the Bacalhau field and continue progressing the Raia gas project. With these two operated projects and our partnership in Roncador our equity production in Brazil will be close to 200,000 barrels per day [bpd] by 2030. 'This deal is part of Equinor's ongoing effort to high-grade its international portfolio through asset divestments and acquisitions. We continue to see growth potential and opportunities to extend the longevity of our international oil and gas portfolio, also in Brazil.' Since commencing operations in 2009, the Peregrino field has produced approximately 300 million barrels of oil. Situated in the Campos Basin, Peregrino is a heavy oil field that includes a floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) unit and three fixed platforms. Equinor's share of production from Peregrino was around 55,000bpd in the first quarter of 2025. The acquisition follows PRIO's previous purchase of Sinochem's 40% interest in the Peregrino field last year. The completion of this transaction is contingent upon regulatory and legal approvals, with the payment to be made in two instalments. Equinor Brazil senior vice-president and country manager Veronica Coelho said: 'PRIO has been a valued partner since joining the Peregrino licence last year, and we look forward to a smooth hand-over with them. 'We are very proud of the work that has been done by our team over the past 20 years on the Peregrino field. This asset has been the cornerstone of Equinor's history in Brazil. Our journey in Brazil continues with full momentum, building on the legacy of those that have worked on Peregrino. We are preparing for operations on Bacalhau, as well as the start-up of the Serra da Babilonia renewable hybrid project by our subsidiary Rio Energy and we are progressing the Raia gas project.' "Equinor to sell 60% interest in Peregrino field to PRIO for $3.5bn" was originally created and published by Offshore Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
Time of India
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Oppn flags tender process amid row over Raia works
Margao: A day after a row erupted between the Raia sarpanch and the panchayat secretary over delayed developmental works, opposition members rejected claims of political interference and alleged irregularities in the tender process. Former sarpanch Xavier Fernandes , leading the opposition, said on Saturday that the slowdown in developmental works stemmed from procedural lapses rather than political motivations. 'There are serious discrepancies in the tender process that warrant thorough verification. The allegations of political interference are unfounded,' Fernandes said. The opposition alleged several irregularities in the tendering process, including suspicious patterns in contractors' quotations. 'Almost all contractors quoted nearly identical amounts for specified works, raising red flags about possible manipulation of tender documents,' Fernandes said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo He also alleged violations of tender-opening procedures, saying that 'only one or two persons were present during the opening of quotations, which clearly violates established rules'. The controversy extends to works undertaken under the finance commission, with the opposition alleging non-compliance with prescribed regulations. This follows Friday's protest led by sarpanch Mario Souza, who accused the newly appointed panchayat secretary of deliberately obstructing developmental projects. 'If the sarpanch feels aggrieved, he should approach the director of panchayats instead of pressuring the panchayat secretary,' Fernandes said. Panchayat secretary Amrit Sakhalkar defended his actions, citing the need to address procedural violations in the existing system. The various developmental projects affected include road repairs, hotmixing works, and pre-monsoon preparations. Payments to daily wage workers maintaining the panchayat playground were also affected.
