Category: Life & Style

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has presented the world’s first large-scale, 24/7 renewable energy project in Abu Dhabi, which combines a 5.2GW solar photovoltaic (PV) plant with a 19GWh battery energy storage system (BESS). This unique initiative generates 1GW of continuous baseload power every day, assuring a steady supply of clean energy around the clock and setting a global standard for renewable energy solutions.

Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Masdar Chairman, remarked that this initiative addresses the long-standing issue of renewable energy intermittency, transforming it into a reliable baseload energy source. He commended President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s innovative leadership for achieving this milestone.

The project is in line with the UAE Energy Strategy 2050, promoting advances in new technologies and advancing global climate pledges set at COP28. Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Masdar’s CEO, stated that the plan will generate 10,000 jobs, increase innovation, and drive economic growth.

This program improves grid reliability and stability by seamlessly integrating solar and battery storage, highlighting the UAE’s leadership in sustainable energy innovation. It underscores the country’s commitment to the renewable energy revolution and meeting global climate targets.

On Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025, India’s largest mobility exhibition, which is slated to showcase over 100 debuts in autos, components, and technologies. The five-day festival (January 17-22) takes place at three locations: Bharat Mandapam, Yashobhoomi in Delhi, and India Expo Centre in Greater Noida.

The launch was attended by Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari, Piyush Goyal, and Hardeep Singh Puri, as well as automobile industry heavyweights. The expo brings together the full mobility value chain, including manufacturers, component suppliers, energy storage companies, and recyclers.

The event’s theme, “Beyond Boundaries: Co-creating Future Automotive Value Chain,” emphasises sustainable innovation, with nine concurrent exhibits, 20+ seminars, and state sessions highlighting policies and cooperation. The exhibition, sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and industry bodies such as SIAM, ACMA, and IESA, is expected to attract over 5,100 global participants and 5 lakh visitors.

Maruti Suzuki (eVITARA), Hyundai (Creta EV), and Mercedes-Benz (EQS Maybach) have all launched electric vehicles. BMW will show off its electrified i7 and X3 cars. The components display at Yashobhoomi will feature 1,000 exhibitors from seven nations, including Japan, Germany, and South Korea, as well as over 60 product premieres.

Thailand is to start a new carbon credits market this year to address the sector’s weak demand and low prices. According to Pornanong Budsaratragoon, secretary-general of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the platform would be managed by the Stock Exchange of Thailand, with the goal of leveraging its trading knowledge and expanding the investor base.

“We need a more dynamic carbon credit market,” Ms Pornanong said, emphasising the platform’s importance in achieving success. This initiative complements Thaksin Shinawatra’s recent call for a special trading arena for carbon credits, which will help to revitalise Thailand’s stock market.

Oversupply has hampered domestic commerce, with only 3.5 million tonnes of credits acquired between 2016 and October 2023, compared to 20.5 million tonnes created, according to BloombergNEF. Thailand is capitalising on country-to-country carbon credit trading agreements and, along with Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam, has tremendous potential to meet expanding global demand.

The purpose of the new platform is to position Thailand as a significant player in the growing market for carbon credits by resolving the obstacles that are now being faced. This will allow Thailand to proceed with its economic and environmental goals.

The Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) will host the third World Local Production Forum in the United Arab Emirates from April 7–9, 2025, with the theme “Advancing Local Production for Health Equality, Global Health Security, and Sustainable Development.” The occasion demonstrates the UAE’s dedication to promoting sustainability and innovation in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries.

In front of Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zayoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade and Chairman of the Board of Emirates Drug Establishment (EDE), a Host Country Agreement was signed during a press conference. The deal, which was signed by WHO Assistant Director-General Dr. Yukiko Nakatani and EDE Director-General Dr. Fatima Al Kaabi, enhances UAE-WHO cooperation on global health objectives.

More than 4,000 people, including ministers, public servants, business executives, and international specialists, will attend the event. Strategies to improve access to high-quality health products, knowledge transfer, and sustainable local production will be the main topics of discussion. The agenda seeks to provide practical suggestions for global health security, economic resilience, and egalitarian healthcare.

By organising this meeting, the UAE strengthens its position as a leader in global health innovation and fosters collaborations to tackle present and upcoming health issues.

The UAE has opened the “first” renewable energy facility in the world, offering large-scale, continuous clean power. “Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s clean energy company, will combine 5GW of solar power with 19GWh of battery storage to produce 1GW of continuous power,” said UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology Dr. Sultan Al Jaber.

This $6 billion project will be operational by 2027 and cover 90 square kilometres in Abu Dhabi in collaboration with the Emirates Water and Electricity Company. It is a transformational program that makes renewable energy a dependable baseload supply, according to Dr. Al Jaber. Abdulaziz Alobaidli, COO of Masdar, described it as the company’s most ambitious project yet.

In order to meet the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C threshold, the project supports worldwide targets to double energy efficiency and quadruple renewable energy capacity by 2030. With renewable capacity needing to increase from 3.9 TW to 11.2 TW by 2030, there are still large gaps in worldwide targets despite record spending of $570 billion on renewables in 2023.

Under its Energy Strategy 2050, the UAE has doubled its renewable capacity in just two years and aims to invest $40–54 billion by 2030.

On Monday, the world’s biggest gathering of people will begin at Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, in India, for the six-week Maha Kumbh Mela. Over 400 million visitors are anticipated to take a holy dip at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers, which devout Hindus believe cleanses sins and frees them from the cycle of life and death.

The event, based on Hindu mythology, commemorates the god Vishnu’s victory over demons in obtaining the nectar of immortality. Four droplets fall on Earth in Prayagraj, Haridwar, Ujjain, and Nashik. These cities host the Kumbh Mela in rotation, with the Maha Kumbh occurring once every 12 years, which is considered the most auspicious.

Authorities have turned 4,000 hectares of riverbanks into a temporary metropolis, housing pilgrims in 150,000 tents, 145,000 lavatories, 3,000 kitchens, and 99 parking lots. The event requires 450,000 electricity connections, which exceeds the power usage of 100,000 metropolitan apartments. Indian Railways has launched 98 special trains to handle the inflow.

Security precautions include 40,000 police officers, AI-powered monitoring, and emergency response units with road, river, and air ambulances. “Hosting this auspicious event is an honor for our state,” said CM Yogi Adityanath.

Morocco’s tourism industry has reached a significant milestone, with 17.4 million visitors in 2024—two years ahead of plan and above its 2026 target. With almost three million more tourists than in 2023, the Ministry of Tourism reported a 20% increase in visitor numbers.

8.8 million foreign visitors and 8.6 million Moroccans living overseas are part of the upswing, highlighting the nation’s attraction to various demographics. Additionally, this accomplishment marks a 35% rise over 2019 pre-pandemic numbers.

Tourism Minister Fatim-Zahra Ammor mentioned that the economic growth was supported by investments in cooperation with public entities and private stakeholders at the direction of King Mohammed VI.” This exceptional performance bears testimony to the progress this country is making,” Ammor notes, featuring partnerships with airlines and travel agencies to enhance Morocco’s international allure further.

Tourism continues to be the backbone of the country’s economy, given that it is highly promoted under the Ministry of Tourism’s and Moroccan National Tourism Office’s ONMT initiatives. With an ambitious target of 26 million tourists by 2030, Morocco is poised for even greater success as it co-hosts the 2030 FIFA World Cup with Spain and Portugal—a significant step in cementing its global leadership in tourism.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi opened the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) conference in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, on January 9, 2025, underlining India’s willingness to meet the global demand for skilled labour. He addressed a gathering of Indian diaspora members from over 50 nations, emphasizing India’s rapid success in all sectors and its potential to remain the world’s youngest and most skilled workforce for decades.

PM Modi emphasized the global acknowledgement of Indian expertise, citing experts who contribute considerably to the growth of large global companies. He emphasized the government’s commitment to ongoing skilling, reskilling, and upskilling measures to prepare Indian youth for global possibilities.

Reflecting on India’s economic progress, he stated that the country had lifted 250 million people out of poverty in just ten years, rising to the world’s fifth-largest economy, with aspirations to become third shortly. India’s progress in renewable energy, aviation, electric mobility, and metro networks got special recognition.

Under the subject “Diaspora’s Contribution to a Viksit Bharat,” PM Modi emphasized the significance of Indian expats in strengthening global ties. He also opened exhibitions celebrating Odisha’s heritage and launched the Pravasi Bharatiya Express, a special tourist train for the diaspora.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will preside over the ambassadors’ round-table conference in New Delhi on January 10, which is a critical milestone in the preparations for the 15th edition of Aero India. Aero India, Asia’s greatest aerospace and defence exhibition, is scheduled to take place from February 10 to 14, 2025, at the Air Force Station in Yelahanka, Bengaluru. 

The summit will emphasize important event highlights, showcasing India’s superior defence and aerospace capabilities while also building strategic connections with global players.

The round table, which will include envoys from over 150 countries, will provide a comprehensive assessment of Aero India’s agenda. The event will feature air shows, exhibitions, the Defense Ministers’ Conclave, a CEO roundtable, and the iDEX start-up expo. 

Furthermore, the India Pavilion and an international trade exhibition will bring together major aerospace companies, providing opportunities for collaboration and knowledge sharing.

With the theme “The Runway to a Billion Opportunities,” Aero India hopes to promote cutting-edge technology and innovation. The first three days are intended for businesses to network and discuss trends, while the final two days will feature public exhibitions showcasing technical developments.

The Indian government is considering two more lithium exploration areas in the federally administered region of J&K, according to government officials with direct knowledge of the situation. The estimated reserves in the two blocks will be known by October, according to the officials, who declined to be identified since the information is not public.

This initiative is part of India’s increased efforts to secure domestic lithium supplies, following the finding of 5.9 million metric tonnes of lithium in the Reasi district in February 2023. This was India’s first large discovery of the essential mineral for electric vehicle batteries and renewable energy technology.

The government announced in August 2024 a nearly $50 million investment in research institutes that will provide technical competence for mining and processing lithium and other essential minerals. Financial incentives are also being considered to entice private participants to the area.

The discovery of two new lithium blocks in J&K demonstrates the region’s growing relevance as a potential hub for vital minerals. As India pursues its renewable energy ambitions and attempts to lessen reliance on imports, exploring these blocks has the potential to transform the country’s energy security and economic development.