Stuck in eternal drought, UAE turns to AI to make it rain
saceditor
IN the marbled halls of a luxury hotel, leading experts are discussing a new approach to an age-old problem: how to make it rain in the UAE, the wealthy Gulf state that lies in one of the world’s biggest deserts. Decades of work and millions of dollars have been ploughed into easing endless drought in the oil-rich UAE, whose mainly expatriate population is soaring undeterred by a dry, hostile climate and hairdryer summer heat. Despite the United Arab Emirates’ best efforts, rainfall remains rare. But at last month’s International Rain Enhancement Forum in Abu Dhabi officials held out a new hope: harnessing artificial intelligence to wring more moisture out of often cloudless skies. Among the initiatives is an AI system to improve cloud seeding, the practice of using planes to fire salt or other chemicals into clouds to increase rain. “It’s pretty much finished,” said Luca Delle Monache, deputy director of the Centre for Western Weather and Water Extremes at the University of California San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography. “We’re doing the final touches.” However, Delle Monache conceded that AI was not a “silver bullet” for the UAE, which like other countries has pursued cloud seeding for decades. Cloud seeding works by increasing the size of droplets, which then fall as rain. It’s estimated to increase rainfall by 10-15 per cent, Delle Monache said. But it only works with certain types of puffy, cumulus clouds, and can even suppress rainfall if not done properly. “You’ve got to do it in the right place at the right time. That’s why we use artificial intelligence,” he added. Prayers, applause The three-year project, funded with $1.5 million from the UAE’s rain enhancement programme, feeds satellite, radar and weather data into an algorithm that predicts where seedable clouds will form in the next six hours. It promises to advance the current method where cloud-seeding flights are directed by experts studying satellite images. Hundreds of such flights occur annually in the UAE.
KEY POINTS:
An AI system predicts seedable clouds, aiming to improve the precision of cloud-seeding flights.
Experts caution that AI is not a perfect solution, as data limitations and the need for human judgment remain critical.
Rain, a rare occurrence, even artificial rain, is considered a novelty, and when it does occur, it can cause significant flooding.
The UAE’s substantial investment in rain enhancement reflects its commitment to overcoming water scarcity.
Renewable energy plays a key role in the journey to net zero carbon emissions, helping to reduce the demand for fossil fuels by providing cleaner sources of energy.But as the world derives an increasing amount of its electricity from these renewable energy sources, there’s a growing need for technologies that can capture and store it.Why does renewable energy need to be stored?Renewable energy generation mainly relies on naturally-occurring factors – hydroelectric power is dependent on seasonal river flows, solar power on the amount of daylight, wind power on the consistency of the wind – meaning that the amounts being generated will be intermittent.Similarly, the demand for energy isn’t constant either, as people generally tend to use different amounts of energy at different times of the day and the year.How would storing renewable energy help to reach net zero?Unlike fossil fuels, renewable energy creates clean power without producing greenhouse gases (GHGs) as a waste product. By storing and using renewable energy, the system as a whole can rely less on energy sourced from the more greenhouse-gas emitting fuels like coal, natural gas or oil.What are other benefits of storing renewable energy?A key benefit of being able to store this energy is that it helps to prevent renewable resources from going to waste.There are times when the amount of electricity being generated by renewables can exceed the amount that’s needed at the time. When this happens, some renewable generators may need to curtail their outputs in order to help the system remain ‘balanced’ – i.e. when electricity supply meets demand – meaning that an opportunity to generate clean electricity has essentially gone to waste. What technologies are used for renewable energy storage?Energy storage technologies work by converting renewable energy to and from another form of energy.These are some of the different technologies used to store electrical energy that’s produced from renewable sources: 1. Pumped hydroelectricity energy storagePumped hydroelectric energy storage, or pumped hydro, stores energy in the form of gravitational potential energy of water. When demand is low, surplus electricity from the grid is used to pump water up into an elevated reservoir. When demand increases, the water is released to flow down through turbines to a lower reservoir, producing hydroelectric power for the grid as it does so. 2. Electrochemical battery energy storageElectrochemical batteries store energy by separating positive and negative charges in rechargeable cells. Different types of electrochemical battery storage technology include:Lithium-ion battery storageGovernment and developers are investing substantially in the creation of huge lithium-ion batteries to store energy for times when supply outstrips demand. Lithium battery technologies are diverse to address custom needs for flexibility, modularity, and size, as well as being relatively inexpensive. However these batteries do degrade over time and present unique fire management challenges.The world’s largest battery energy storage system so far is Moss Landing Energy Storage Facility in California. The first 300-megawatt lithium-ion battery – comprising 4,500 stacked battery racks – became operational at the facility in January 2021. Flow battery storageFlow batteries’ cells consist of two charged liquids separated by a membrane. Surplus electrical energy is used to ‘reduce’ the liquid charge state of one and ‘oxidise’ that of the other to efficiently store energy. The process is then reversed to recover electricity with low loss.This flowing reduction-oxidation operation – known as ‘redox flow’ – allows the batteries to store large amounts of energy for long durations and be cycled many times without degradation. However, they do have a relatively large project footprint. 3. Thermal and Phase Transition energy storageWhile not limited to renewable energy, storing excess energy as heat for the longer term is a huge opportunity for industry, where most of the process heat that’s used in food and drink, textiles or pharmaceuticals comes from the burning of fossil fuels.Liquifying rock or superheating sand and water mixtures can be used to store thermal energy. Thermal energy storage technologies include:Liquid-to-air transition energy storageSurplus grid electricity is used to chill ambient air to the point that it liquifies. This ‘liquid air’ is then turned back into gas by exposing it to ambient air or using waste heat to harvest electricity from the system. The expanding gas can then be used to power turbines, creating electricity as needed. Thermal sand batteriesFinnish researchers have developed and installed the world’s first fully working ‘sand battery’, which can store power for months at a time. Using low-grade sand, the device is charged up with heat made from cheap electricity from solar or wind. The sand stores the heat at around 500°C, which can then warm homes in winter when energy is more expensive. 4. Mechanical energy storageThis type of energy storage converts the potential energy of highly compressed gases, elevated heavy masses or rapidly rotating kinetic equipment.Different types of mechanical energy storage technology include:Compressed air energy storageCompressed air energy storage has been around since the 1870s as an option to deliver energy to cities and industries on demand. The process involves using surplus electricity to compress air, which can then be decompressed and passed through a turbine to generate electricity when needed. Gravity storageA ‘gravity battery’ works by using excess electrical energy from the grid to raise a mass, such as a block of concrete, generating gravitational potential energy. When electrical energy is required, the mass is lowered, converting this potential energy into power through an electric generator.Pumped-storage hydroelectricity is a type of gravity storage, since the water is released from a higher elevation to produce energy. Flywheel energy storageFlywheel energy storage devices turn surplus electrical energy into kinetic energy in the form of heavy high-velocity spinning wheels. To avoid energy losses, the wheels are kept in a frictionless vacuum by a magnetic field, allowing the spinning to be managed in a way that creates electricity when required. Pumped heat electrical storagePumped heat storage uses surplus electricity to power a heat pump that transports heat from a ‘cold store’ to a ‘hot store’ - similar to how a refrigerator works. The heat pump can then be switched to recover the energy, taking it from the hot store and placing it in the cold store. This produces mechanical work, which is used to power a generator. 5. Hydrogen electrolysisHydrogen electrolysis produces hydrogen gas by passing surplus electrical current through a chemical solution. This hydrogen gas is then compressed to be stored in underground tanks. When needed, this process can be reversed to produce electricity from the stored hydrogen.Hydrogen can be physically stored as either a gas or liquid and even adhered directly to solids. As a gas, hydrogen storage requires high-pressure tanks, while liquid hydrogen requires storage at cryogenic temperatures to prevent it boiling back into a gas. Hydrogen may also be stored on the surface of solid materials (known as adsorption), or within them (known as absorption).Ref : National Grid
NATURAL disasters, such as earthquakes, strike without warning, leaving behind devastation, loss, and trauma. Homes are destroyed, families are displaced, and lives are changed forever. In such difficult times, it becomes our moral responsibility to stand together in compassion, unity, and action.Supporting earthquake-affected communities is not just an act of kindness, it is a duty of humanity.When an earthquake occurs, the immediate needs are clear: food, water, shelter, and medical care. But beyond the initial rescue and relief, long-term support is essential. Rebuilding homes, schools, hospitals, and communities takes time and resources. Survivors also need emotional healing and mental health support as they cope with the trauma and loss.We may not all be able to go to the affected areas, but we can help in many ways.Donating to trusted organizations, volunteering, spreading awareness, and advocating for disaster preparedness can all make a difference. Even small contributions, when multiplied by the efforts of many, can bring real hope and change.Let us remember that those affected are not just statistics, they are people with dreams, families, and futures. By extending our care and support, we show them that they are not alone. In their darkest hour, our compassion can be a light.Together, we can help rebuild not just houses but lives.Let’s care, let’s support, and let’s stand in solidarity with all communities affected by earthquakes. A stronger, kinder world begins with us.Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar
INSIDE a smart greenhouse in Chengdu, the capital of southwest China’s Sichuan Province, two robots, swiftly zipping through ridges between fields, were taking patrol training. With their high-definition cameras, these robots can snap real-time shots of crops’ growth and send images straight to the cloud.“After integrating with the DeepSeek large model, our team trained the robots through tens of thousands of images to improve their pest identification accuracy, which has exceeded 80 per cent,” said Wu Yuanqing, the robots’ developer.Once the accuracy is improved, these robots can help farmers increase their decision-making precision in planting and efficiency of agricultural production, Wu added.The rise of AI-powered agriculture in China highlights the government’s continued efforts to modernize its agricultural sector to accelerate rural revitalization, which profoundly impacts the lives of over 460 million people in rural areas.The Chinese government has introduced multiple policies to promote smart agriculture development for years. In this document for 2025, Chinese policymakers have, for the first time, identified the development of “new quality productive forces in agriculture” as a top priority.The document underscores the need to increase support for smart agriculture and calls for expanding the use of technologies such as AI, big data and low-altitude systems in agricultural production.Maoming, a well-known lychee-growing city in south China’s Guangdong Province, is a premium example of how age-old practices meet with cutting-edge technologies to create a smarter, more efficient, precision-driven local industry.In February, the city completed deploying the DeepSeek model into its local AI assistant platform, integrating more than five million data points, including a lychee disease prevention database and detailed local meteorological records.So far, 69 sets of 5G-powered Internet of Things sensors have been installed across 20 lychee-growing towns in Maoming, according to Xu Hong, an official with Maoming’s agricultural and rural affairs bureau. These facilities monitor everything from soil moisture to air temperature, generating real-time insights that allow farmers to anticipate and mitigate risks before adverse weather takes a toll.Farmers in Maoming also dived into learning and applying AI technologies in lychee cultivation. Zhang Xianfeng, a local farmer, has recently turned to an AI-powered assistant for guidance as persistent wet and chilly weather threatened Zhang’s lychee. Within seconds, the system provided a tailored management plan for her.“In the past, we relied entirely on experience to determine the flowering period of crops. Fertilizers were applied by instinct, and we often reacted too late to disease outbreaks,” Zhang said. “Now, solutions provided by AI help us tackle these challenges immediately and accurately.” — XinhuaSource: The Global New Light of Myanmar
Russia and Myanmar closely cooperate in the energy area and they are addressing expansion of this partnership, through projects in the sector of renewable energy among other things, Russian President Vladimir Putin said following talks with Prime Minister of Myanmar Min Aung Hlaing."Energy is a strategic area of bilateral cooperation. Russia reliably provides required energy resources to the republic. Last year more than 90% of oil was supplied to the market of Myanmar from Russia. We are developing possibilities to cooperate in the energy sector in other areas as well, including in the use of renewable resources of energy," Putin said.The new joint statement confirms the key principles of the partnership between the two countries, the president stressed. "The issue is about further deepening of cooperation in the area of trade and investment. Last year trade turnover added around 40% and roughly amounted to $2 bln. We are ready to address expansion of mutually beneficial trade," he added.Source: TASS
The Russia-Myanmar Business Forum, jointly organized by the Myanmar Embassy to the Russian Federation, the Republic of the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry-UMFCCI and Myanmar Airways International (MAI), Roscongress Foundation, Fund RC-Investments, Russia-ASEAN Business Council and Russia-Myanmar Business Council, took place at the Business Hall of Radisson Collection Hotel in Moscow yesterday morning.It was attended by Myanmar’s Union Minister for Investment and Foreign Economic Relations Dr Kan Zaw, Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation Mr Maxim Gennadyevich Reshetnikov, UMFCCI President U Aye Win, business people from the Russian Federation and guests.The Union Minister for Investment and Foreign Economic Relations and the Russian Minister of Economic Development delivered opening speeches.The UMFCCI President explained a brief on doing business in Myanmar whereas delegates from both countries submitted their topics.They all watched a video clip on the use of Russian MIR cards in Myanmar. In the afternoon session, the Senior General delivered a supplementary speech at the forum. He said: Myanmar successfully hosted the 5th Myanmar-Russia government to government trade and economic cooperation commission’s retreat, the plenary meeting and signing the agreements as well as the business forum this month.As meeting result of the commission meeting, cooperation could be raised in legal frameworks, trade and investment, energy, transport, construction, infrastructural development, banking service and monetary, information, communication, technology, tourism, education, science and healthcare services sectors.Especially, the Senior General expressed his satisfaction with cooperation as a new stride with the Russian Federation to upgrade the Dawei Special Economic Zone to be a strategic outlet to the sea.Myanmar has adopted a strong legal framework and expects to sign the agreement to raise investment and protection between the two countries as a result of this ceremony soon thanks to the efforts of relevant departments and coordination.To link maritime trade with inland trade, Russian businesspersons will be invited to invest in many opportunities in necessary transport infrastructures along the economic corridors in Myanmar.At today’s meeting with businesspersons on investment and trade measures, not only governments of both countries but businesspersons can expand the communication networks in various sectors with opportunities for cooperation. Especially, although Myanmar and Russia are located a far distance between, it is believed that they can promote cooperation in trade and investment for all business arenas through today’s forum.At present, it is a pleasure that investments were initially put in the agriculture sector of Myanmar. The forum emphasized cooperation in the transfer of agriculture and livestock-based modern technology through investment in the agriculture, industrial and service sectors.Moreover, it can be seen that projects in the industrial and energy sectors are being implemented with investment and new technology. With regards to the infrastructure sector, Myanmar wishes to soon join hands with Russian business counterparts in renewable energy without ecological impact, especially wind power, solar power and hydropower along hilly regions and coastal areas.As both countries have initiated payment ways as part of a cooperation measure, trade will be smoother than in the past. Russia is one of the top 10 of the world in digital development. Hence, Myanmar wishes to cooperate with Russia in the information and digital infrastructure sector. In this regard, Myanmar is keen to further promote healthcare services and pharmaceutical production with Russia. Myanmar has to primarily initiate to create job opportunities for the people to enhance human resources through human resource development.The Senior General expressed special thanks to Russia for the enhancement of the capacity of the human resources of Myanmar to work in energy, information and technology, service and health sectors which the Russian Federation shows its special interest in.The Senior General reaffirmed that Myanmar will provide aid for proper opportunities and jobs for private businesses to be implemented through the government-to-government coordination between the two countries. He noted that in the future, both countries have to strive together to implement the ways which can contribute to bilateral cooperation between the two countries to initiate common interests.The first point is that Russia and Myanmar are trustworthy and close-friendly nations. Russia is a great power stretching extensively from the East to the West, from Asia to Europe. It is a strategically significant country with global interest and influence. No matter how much Russia’s achievements are challenged, its wealth and technological advancements cannot be suppressed. Therefore, I want to bring your wealth and technology to the Asian region for expansion and collaboration. Myanmar offers this opportunity to you. That is why I invite you to invest in Myanmar with confidence. Before investing, come and see the situation in Myanmar for yourself. The delegations coming from Myanmar represent our country, and if you visit Myanmar, you will gain a deeper understanding of the real conditions of its people.When doing business, you must consider the market. Myanmar has a population of only 51 million. However, the countries surrounding Myanmar have a combined population of around two to three billion. In addition to the 10 ASEAN countries, Myanmar shares borders with major economies such as China, India, and the densely populated Bangladesh.If you think about how to find a market for your products in these countries, it would be even more beneficial. One potential approach is to produce high-value products based on Myanmar’s natural resources. Another approach is for businesses to directly invest in Myanmar, utilizing their technology and resources to manufacture products locally. If either of these business models is implemented in Myanmar, I can confidently say that it will yield significant benefits.Yesterday, I met His Excellency, Mr President. We had extensive discussions and reached several agreements regarding cooperation with Myanmar. Please don’t be too concerned about some of the current challenges we are facing – these are just temporary. I believe that through our joint efforts, we can overcome these difficulties together. What truly matters is the determination and commitment to take action. That is why I would like to extend a warm welcome to our Russian friends, citizens, and businesspeople. If necessary, I will personally meet you again in Myanmar. Thank you.After the ceremony, the Senior General cordially greeted attendees. After the forum, State Administration Council Information Team Leader Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun replied to queries raised by Russian media. He said: During this visit to Russia, not only we met Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin but also the Secretary of Russia’s Security Council, the Chairman of the Federation Council, the Chairman of the State Duma, and the Minister of Defence, along with other Russian leaders. In summary, Myanmar-Russia cooperation will be enhanced in all aspects, including economic, political, social, and defence sectors. When we met President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, we were able to establish a strong partnership and alliance between Myanmar and Russia. We discussed ways to enhance cooperation in various sectors, including economy, politics, and social affairs. Today, we are attending the Myanmar-Russian Business Forum in Russia, which serves as a platform for fostering business connections. Russia is a reliable and everlasting friend of Myanmar. We deeply appreciate Russia’s support for Myanmar on both global and domestic issues.With Russia’s assistance, we will construct a 110-megawatt nuclear power plant. Additionally, we will collaborate with Russia on the Dawei Deep-Sea Port, which will play a crucial role in Southeast Asia’s economic infrastructure. This is a major project. By utilizing the Dawei Deep-Sea Port and land borders, we can establish a new trade route to Da Nang Port in Vietnam and other ports without passing through the Malacca Strait. Why is this deep-sea port important? The Dawei Deep-Sea Port is located in southern Myanmar, just above the Malacca Strait, which connects the South China Sea to the Indian Ocean. This project will create a significant alternative trade route.In Saint Petersburg, we will open a new Myanmar Consulate-General to strengthen diplomaticties after holding a meeting between Myanmar and Russia. Afterwards, we will visit Belarus.After returning, we will visit Vladivostok, Russia, where we will also open another new consulate-general. What I want to emphasize is that starting today, Myanmar-Russia relations will become even stronger and more stable. We are opening a new historical chapter in our bilateral relations, and I am delighted to share this message. — MNA/TTASource: The Global New Light of Myanmar
IN the marbled halls of a luxury hotel, leading experts are discussing a new approach to an age-old problem: how to make it rain in the UAE, the wealthy Gulf state that lies in one of the world’s biggest deserts.Decades of work and millions of dollars have been ploughed into easing endless drought in the oil-rich UAE, whose mainly expatriate population is soaring undeterred by a dry, hostile climate and hairdryer summer heat.Despite the United Arab Emirates’ best efforts, rainfall remains rare.But at last month’s International Rain Enhancement Forum in Abu Dhabi officials held out a new hope: harnessing artificial intelligence to wring more moisture out of often cloudless skies.Among the initiatives is an AI system to improve cloud seeding, the practice of using planes to fire salt or other chemicals into clouds to increase rain.“It’s pretty much finished,” said Luca Delle Monache, deputy director of the Centre for Western Weather and Water Extremes at the University of California San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography.“We’re doing the final touches.” However, Delle Monache conceded that AI was not a “silver bullet” for the UAE, which like other countries has pursued cloud seeding for decades.Cloud seeding works by increasing the size of droplets, which then fall as rain. It’s estimated to increase rainfall by 10-15 per cent, Delle Monache said.But it only works with certain types of puffy, cumulus clouds, and can even suppress rainfall if not done properly.“You’ve got to do it in the right place at the right time. That’s why we use artificial intelligence,” he added.Prayers, applause The three-year project, funded with $1.5 million from the UAE’s rain enhancement programme, feeds satellite, radar and weather data into an algorithm that predicts where seedable clouds will form in the next six hours.It promises to advance the current method where cloud-seeding flights are directed by experts studying satellite images. Hundreds of such flights occur annually in the UAE.KEY POINTS:An AI system predicts seedable clouds, aiming to improve the precision of cloud-seeding flights.Experts caution that AI is not a perfect solution, as data limitations and the need for human judgment remain critical.Rain, a rare occurrence, even artificial rain, is considered a novelty, and when it does occur, it can cause significant flooding.The UAE’s substantial investment in rain enhancement reflects its commitment to overcoming water scarcity.Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar
