Latest news with #CIO
Morocco World
3 days ago
- Science
- Morocco World
ANDZOA Provincial Director Urges Need to Protect Morocco's Oases
Rabat — Morocco's oasis ecosystems face severe threats from climate change, requiring urgent scientific intervention to ensure their survival, according to a National Agency for the Development of Oasis and Argan Zones (ANDZOA) official. Bounhar El Habib, ANDZOA's provincial director in the eastern Moroccan town of Figuig, spoke to Morocco World News (MWN) during the second International Congress on Oases and Date Palm (CIO) held May 22-23 in Ouarzazate. The event brought together researchers from Morocco, Africa, the Arab world, and Europe to address mounting challenges facing these fragile desert environments. El Habib said the congress sought 'to preserve, develop, sustain, and ensure the longevity of our oases — which are in a vulnerable situation,' adding that 'it is very important to encourage and bring together scientists to identify and address problems emerging from the field.' Research focus on three key areas Speaking of the congress' contribution to the development and preservation of oases against climate change, El Habib said it organized its work around three critical themes. Researchers examined the physical environment of oases, plant biology, and socioeconomic factors affecting territorial development. The Ministry of Agriculture departments, ANDZOA, the National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA), and other partners collaborated to organize the event. ANDZOA presided over the organizing committee and handled logistics. 'This year, the event is organized by departments of the Ministry of Agriculture, ANDZOA, INRA, and other partners committed to ensuring the success of the congress,' El Habib explained. Read also: New Farming Method Saves Bees While Boosting Income in Morocco's Oases Climate pressures mount El Habib, who oversees Figuig province, one of Morocco's largest by area, which houses renowned oases including Figuig, Bouanane, Ain Chair, and Ain Chouater, shared that these areas produce unique date varieties like the endemic 'Aziza of Figuig.' The official described how climate change threatens these ecosystems through 'recurring years of drought, water shortages, disease, fires, and severe flooding that threaten and damage these oases.' ANDZOA presided over the congress organizing committee alongside the Ministry of Agriculture, the National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA), and other partners. Researchers focused on three key areas: the physical environment of oases, plant biology, and socioeconomic development. Regional cooperation essential Most Moroccan oases sit near the Algerian border, creating opportunities for cross-border collaboration, El Habib noted, pointing out that the congress provided a platform for regional dialogue. 'Most of the oases are situated near the border with our Algerian neighbors. So, this is an opportunity to meet, discuss major challenges, and draw on scientific research to find pathways that will improve conditions,' he said. El Habib stressed that these oases 'act as barriers against desertification and are located along the border of the Sahara,' making their preservation crucial for Morocco's environmental security. The congress aimed to support both traditional oases and expansion efforts while finding practical solutions to ensure the sustainability of these vital ecosystems. Tags: ADZOAclimate changeMoroccan oasesOases in Morocco
CNA
4 days ago
- Business
- CNA
USD on a weaker trajectory through the second half of this year: Investment strategist
Thomas Rupf, Chief Investment Officer, Asia at VP Bank Singapore, explains why he expects more funds to switch out of the greenback and into the Euro.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
CIO 3.0: The rise of the tech-strategist CEO
As the enterprise technology landscape undergoes a period of quick transformation, the role of the Chief Information Officer is evolving from a traditional IT steward to a strategic business leader. The 7th edition of the ETCIO Annual Conclave, scheduled from May 29 to June 1, 2025, at the Grand Hyatt in Goa, aims to explore this evolution under the theme 'CIO 3.0: Transforming Innovation into Business Reality'.Masterclass Spotlight: Dr. Ram Charan on the CIO-to-CEO JourneyA highlight of this year's conclave is the exclusive masterclass by globally acclaimed business strategist Dr. Ram Charan. With over five decades of experience advising Fortune 500 companies, Dr. Charan will delve into 'How Tech Leaders Can Become a CEO,' offering insights into the strategic mindset required for CIOs aspiring to ascend to the CEO role. Celebrity Speakers Bringing Fresh Perspectives The conclave features a diverse lineup of celebrity speakers who will share unique insights: Leander Paes: The tennis legend will discuss the parallels between sports leadership and corporate strategy. Anupam Mittal: Founder & CEO, People Group & Angel Investor, Mittal will share his entrepreneurial journey and the role of technology in scaling businesses. Milind Soman: Indian actor, model, and fitness enthusiast, Soman will emphasize the importance of wellness and resilience in leadership. Irfan Pathan: Former Indian cricketer, Pathan will draw lessons from sportsmanship applicable to corporate leadership. Ameen Haque: Founder of Storywallahs, Haque will highlight the power of storytelling in driving organizational change. CIOs in the Spotlight: Architects of India's Digital Future As digital acceleration becomes synonymous with business survival, the ETCIO Annual Conclave 2025 brings together a handpicked cohort of technology leaders who are not just adapting to change—they're defining it. Here are some of the most influential CIOs whose presence at the conclave signals the direction enterprise tech is headed: Dr. Satya Ramaswamy, CDTO, Air IndiaManish Gupta, Group CIO, Aditya Birla GroupSanjeev Rastogi, CEO, Adani Group - GCCHilal Khan, CIO, Honda Cars IndiaMahesh Ramamoorthy, CIO, YES BankKrishna Guha Roy, Director IT[CIO], South Asia Region, NestleRucha Nanavati, CDTO, Mahindra & Mahindra, Automotive and Farm Equipment BusinessVrijesh Nagathan, CIDTO, Marico Beyond the Sessions: Networking and Innovation The conclave offers more than just sessions: Innovation Booths: Over 80 booths showcasing cutting-edge tech Zone: Interactive demos and hands-on experiences with emerging Opportunities: Curated sessions providing over 1000 minutes of networking with industry peers. Stay Connected For updates, key takeaways, and post-event coverage, stay tuned to Join the conversation and be part of the transformation shaping the future of enterprise technology leadership.
Morocco World
5 days ago
- Science
- Morocco World
AI Offers Hope for Morocco's Groundwater Crisis in Oases
Rabat — A group of Moroccan researchers has developed an artificial intelligence system that could help solve critical water shortages in oases, offering new hope for communities facing severe groundwater depletion. Adil Moumane, a researcher at Ibn Tofail university in Kenitra, presented the study at the second edition of the International Congress on Oases and Date Palm (CIO), held May 22-23 in Ouarzazate. This year's edition focused on the resilience and adaptation of oases ecosystems to global changes, particularly climate change. The research combines machine learning with geographic technology to identify optimal locations for water collection infrastructure in arid regions. In an interview with Morocco World News (MWN), Moumane said: 'We use Geo AI to identify areas where we can build construction that can collect the rainwater.' 'We observed that in the area of Zagora, for example, there is a big decrease of the groundwater table.' The research focused on Morocco's Middle Draa Valley, a region facing severe aquifer stress. Moumane's team developed a system that analyzes ten environmental factors, including soil conditions, rainfall patterns, elevation, and vegetation coverage, to identify where water collection structures would work best. Read also: Morocco's ANDZOA Chief Calls for Urgent Action to Protect Argan, Oases Ecosystems The AI system tested six machine learning approaches and found that LightGBM, a gradient boosting framework that uses tree-based learning algorithms, performed best, achieving 90% accuracy in predicting optimal groundwater recharge zones. The system identified soil permeability, elevation, and proximity to streams as the most important factors for successful water collection. Morocco's oasis regions face mounting pressure from climate change and population migration. Traditional communities that have depended on these water sources for generations now struggle as water tables drop to dangerous levels. 'The Oases area is under pressure of climate change and also under the pressure of different other global changes like migration of local people,' Moumane noted. The researcher's framework offers a data-driven solution using satellite imagery and advanced algorithms. Local authorities can make informed decisions about water infrastructure investments before building expensive projects. 'Recent extreme rainfall during the 2024-2025 season in southeastern Morocco highlighted both challenges and opportunities these regions face,' he told MWN, explaining that 'while sudden floods cause damage, they also represent precious water that could be captured with proper infrastructure placement. 'This research pioneers the application of machine learning and deep learning on geospatial data for groundwater mapping in data-limited contexts,' Moumane explained. The framework's modular design allows adaptation for arid regions worldwide, potentially helping millions facing similar water challenges. Conferences like CIO provide a platform for innovations like Moumane group's AI system to offer practical solutions to preserve ancient oasis ecosystems for future generations, particularly in the backdrop of climate change pressing challenges. Read also: Morocco-UAE Partnership Strengthens Date Palm Industry Development Tags: AI and agricultureMoroccoOases and climate changeOases and date palme
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
America could be scaring itself into a self-inflicted recession, CIO says
The US risks scaring itself into a recession, Doug Ramsay says. The Leuthold Group CIO pointed to deteriorating consumer sentiment readings in recent months. "It's an outcome that would not merely be self-fulfilling, but self-inflicted as well," Ramsey wrote. Americans' nervousness about the economy could inadvertently push the US closer to a full-blown recession, according to a chief investment officer. Doug Ramsey, CIO of The Leuthold Group, said he believed that the risk of a "self-fulfilling confidence collapse" was elevated in the US. That's largely due to declining consumer sentiment, which could pose a major risk to the recession outlook, he said in a recent note to clients. Ramsey pointed to a handful of sentiment indicators he's watching: Consumer expectations. The Conference Board's Expectations Index, a gauge for how Americans feel about the economy, labor market, and business climate, dropped to a level of 54.4 in April. That's the gloomiest outlook among consumers since 2011. It's also well below a key threshold of 80, which tends to be associated with recessions, the Conference Board said. 1-year inflation expectations. The median consumer expectation for inflation 12 months from now is 5%, per the University of Michigan's latest survey. That's up from a low of 2.6% in November. 1-year expected change in unemployment. The percentage of consumers who expected unemployment to rise over the next year rose for the fifth-straight month in April to 67%, per University of Michigan survey data. That's more than double the percentage of consumers who believed unemployment would rise for the next year in November 2024. Consumer expectations make up a big chunk of the economic outlook and could weigh on GDP if consumers pull back from spending. Excluding other factors, the decline in Consumer Expectations alone in recent months could cause real GDP growth to fall from around 3% currently to "essentially zero," Ramsey estimated. "It's an outcome that would not merely be self-fulfilling, but self-inflicted as well," Ramsey wrote. GDP contracted 0.3% in the first quarter, according to advanced estimates from the Commerce Department. It would take just one more quarter of negative growth for the economy to slip into a technical recession. Forecasters, though, generally say the economy remains on solid footing overall. GDP is expected to expand 2.4% over the current quarter, according to estimates from the Atlanta Fed. The unemployment rate also remained at 4.2% in April, near historically low levels. Read the original article on Business Insider Sign in to access your portfolio
