Brands
Transhuman Collective, TransSpace join hands for immersive virtual concert to support Covid2019 warriors
NEW DELHI: The ongoing Covid2019 crisis has stressed the world economy, healthcare facilities, and human movement across the globe. One of the worst-hit countries, India, has been dealing with several challenges of its own to keep the public spirits up as it treats a growing number of patients daily. The frontline workers at this time have been the most dedicated despite being at the highest risk of getting infections. They are demanding massive respect and support from all over the country.
And now, to contribute their own bit towards the safety of these medical health workers, Transhuman Collective, along with few friends from the alternative music and arts community, is organising a vibrant virtual music festival called UNRATED, with the aim to raise Rs 1 million in order to provide PPE Kits to them. The show will deliver a live cinematic and immersive experience using augmented reality, 3D projection, sound-reactive lights, etc in real-time. They have collaborated with GiveIndia for the virtual charity show. TransSpace is helping with the technical aspects of the show.
Transhuman Collective co-founder Soham Sarcar told Indiantelevision.com, “As we believe each and everyone needs to do their bit, we at Transhuman Collective along with our group of friends from the alternative music and arts community have come together to host UNRATED. The event is open to all across the globe in a hope of raising Rs 1 million to provide PPE kits for our medical health workers. Our ambition is to get this message out loud and far.”
TransSpace co-founder Sidhraj Shah added, “Covid2019 is probably one such pandemic where we’ve seen calamities on multiple fronts and scale, almost feels like living in a Stephen King meets Zombieland movie. I am personally inspired by the unity and spirit of some of the companies and the common public. Many of them have come together to face this adversity with positive hope. It is essential to stand strong and win against the battle of Covid2019. Almost all major brands not only from the tech service but also across sectors have provided large donations in the form of cash and kind to support our farmers, migrants, poverty-stricken etc. We, with our event UNRATED look forward to achieving our Mission Million.”
The event is not being organised with the aim to monetise is and is free for all viewers across the globe. However, the organisers are urging the viewers to donate to their Mission Million cause.
Shah quipped, “Our aim is not to monetise, but to encourage our audience to donate any amount they wish towards Mission Million which is directly managed by GiveIndia to purchase and provide PPE Kits to our Covid2019 warriors. We are fortunate enough to have the support of our artists’ friends and artist management agencies who were quite prompt in agreeing to collaborate with us for the event – UNRATED I Mission Million.”
The immersive event is going to be a technical extravaganza with Realtime 3D technology, sound-reactive lights, augmented reality, holographic, projection mapping et al, being used to create a magnificent experience for the viewers.
Sarcar believes that the virtual events business is only going to pick up from here and is excited to host this exciting event, that too for a good cause. He said, “Covid2019 has accelerated technological growth at possibly 10x across most walks of life. We are observing that the school kids are now having their lectures online. Similarly, for the event industry to function in this nationwide lockdown, it becomes crucial for us to adopt technologies and opt for virtual events. This is the only option left where we could survive in the prevailing circumstances. I personally believe this is the best method to adopt for the years to come.”
Follow Tellychakkar for the consumer facing news & entertainment
Brands
Trump announces $300bn Texas oil refinery with Reliance, calls it the biggest in US history
First new US refinery in 50 years planned at Brownsville port with Reliance
WASHINGTON: The United States may soon see the first brand-new oil refinery built on its soil in half a century.
Donald Trump announced a proposed $300 billion refinery project in Texas, calling it a landmark moment for American energy production and jobs.
Posting on Truth Social on 10 March, Trump said the facility would be built at the Port of Brownsville and developed by a company called America First Refining, with major investment from India’s Reliance Industries.
The announcement frames the project as a centrepiece of the administration’s push for “energy dominance”, with Trump claiming it would deliver thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in economic activity to South Texas.
If realised, the plant would mark the first all-new major refinery constructed in the United States since the 1970s. In recent decades, oil companies have largely chosen to expand existing facilities rather than build new ones, citing high costs, regulatory hurdles and environmental scrutiny.
Trump described the proposed investment as the “biggest in US history”, positioning it as proof that policy changes such as streamlined permits and lower taxes are drawing large-scale energy investments back into the country.
The refinery is planned for the Port of Brownsville, a strategic Gulf Coast location that provides easy access to shipping routes and export markets.
A key partner in the project is Reliance Industries, controlled by billionaire industrialist Mukesh Ambani. The company already runs the world’s largest refining complex in Jamnagar, India, making it one of the most experienced operators in large-scale petroleum processing.
The Texas venture would mark a significant step for the group into America’s domestic refining sector, potentially strengthening industrial ties between the US and India.
The proposed refinery is being promoted as a next-generation facility capable of processing American shale oil while maintaining high environmental standards. Trump said it would be “the cleanest refinery in the world”, although the specific technologies behind that claim have not yet been detailed.
Industry observers also note that the $300 billion figure is unusually large for a refinery project, and analysts are waiting for more clarity on whether the number reflects total construction costs, long-term infrastructure investment, or broader economic impact estimates.
As of 11 March, Reliance Industries had not publicly confirmed the investment size or the structure of its involvement.
For now, the announcement has sparked equal parts excitement and curiosity in energy markets. If the plan moves from promise to pouring concrete, the refinery could reshape the Gulf Coast energy landscape, and reopen a chapter in American refining that has been quiet for nearly fifty years.
