馃嚜馃嚬EthiopiaEast Africa
Belt and Road countries express interest in China's AI weather forecasting project
via The Reporter Ethiopia2 min read
Countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative have shown significant interest in a new meteorology project launched by China. This initiative utilizes artificial intelligence to enhance weather forecasting, which is particularly relevant given the increasing frequency of extreme weather events globally. The project, funded by China's Ministry of Science and Technology and led by the Centre for Earth System Modelling and Prediction of the China Meteorological Administration, aims to strengthen early warning systems and improve responses to extreme weather. It builds upon China's MAZU early warning system, an open-source meteorological service platform already in use in countries like Ethiopia and Pakistan for real-time weather monitoring and disaster alerts. Kouam Magloire, head of the data processing office of meteorological services in Cameroon, highlighted the project's potential to bolster his country's early warning capabilities. Leta Bekele Gudina, an expert from the Ethiopian Meteorological Institute, noted China's leadership in meteorological forecasting and AI development, expressing Ethiopia's hope to access advanced technologies, train local professionals, and address gaps in nowcasting and early warning services. The China Meteorological Administration indicated that many Belt and Road countries face rising risks from extreme weather, with meteorological disasters causing an average of $214.7 billion in direct economic losses annually between 1980 and 202
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by The Reporter Ethiopia.
The National Bank of Ethiopia NBE has reconfirmed its prohibition on the use, trading, and transfer of virtual assets, including cryptocurrencies, unless explicitly authorized by the NBE. The central bank issued a public notice defining virtual assets as digital representations of value that can be electronically traded, transferred, exchanged, or used for payments, investment, or similar purposes. The ban covers the purchase, sale, exchange, transfer, trading, settlement, and facilitation of transactions involving these assets without specific approval under Ethiopia's legal framework. The NBE clarified that the prohibition extends beyond just cryptocurrencies to all virtual assets. Prohibited activities include exchanging virtual assets for fiat currencies or other virtual assets, transferring them, providing custody or administrative services, and offering financial services related to their issuance or sale. The NBE warned the public against engaging in such transactions due to legal and financial risks, including fraud, scams, cyberattacks, market manipulation, and significant financial losses. This statement reiterates existing legal restrictions and does not announce new regulations or enforcement measures.
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