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( MENAFN - The Rio Times) Ecuador's Political landscape just became more complex. A judge reinstated Vice President Verónica Abad on December 23, 2024, after ruling her five-month suspension unconstitutional. This ruling interrupts President Daniel Noboa's plans to campaign for re-election, which begins next month. Abad's suspension stemmed from accusations of neglecting her duties as a peace envoy in Israel. The Ministry of labor claimed she failed to relocate to Turkey on time amid rising tensions in the Middle East. Abad countered that the government violated her rights and described the suspension as a political maneuver to undermine her influence. Noboa and Abad, elected together in late 2023, have faced ongoing conflicts. Noboa distanced Abad by appointing her as ambassador to Israel shortly after taking office. His decision aimed to limit her role in domestic politics, but it backfired, leading to legal battles and public disputes. With elections approaching on February 9, 2025, Noboa must decide whether to take an unpaid leave of absence for his campaign. If he does, Abad would temporarily assume presidential duties-an outcome Noboa likely wants to avoid due to their strained relationship. The judge's ruling not only reinstates Abad but also requires the Ministry of Labor to apologize publicly and compensate her for lost wages. This situation highlights the fragile nature of Ecuador 's political alliances and raises questions about governance as the country prepares for a crucial election. In short, the power struggle between Noboa and Abad could significantly impact Ecuador's future stability and democratic integrity. MENAFN23122024007421016031ID1109025244 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.As the world embraces the era of energy transition, Pakistan stands at a critical juncture where adopting a Just Energy Transition mechanism is not just a choice but an imperative to safeguard the environment. Among the technologies driving this change, photovoltaic (PV) solar energy has emerged as a disruptive force, offering the promise of greener and more affordable energy. However, this rapid shift is not without challenges, as it has triggered what some experts term the “utility death spiral.” Contrary to popular belief, the grid remains indispensable, even in an age dominated by renewable energy sources. While solar energy is transformative, the grid plays a crucial role in interconnecting diverse generation technologies; such as hydropower, nuclear, wind, solar, and thermal—to complement each other for grid stability while serving an entire eco-system of consumers while the distributed energy resources (DER) serve only a handful. The notion that we can fully replace the grid is premature; rather, its evolution is essential to sustain the energy transition. While PV solar energy is a game-changer it is not without limitations. It struggles to support base load demand and lacks the attributes of a dispatchable resource, which are critical for ensuring a stable and reliable power supply. Technologies that provide frequency and voltage regulation, as well as the capacity to absorb the starting current of heavy equipment, are vital to complement solar energy’s intermittent nature. Grid-forming technologies, such as grid forming inverters and battery energy storage systems (BESS), hold significant promise for enhancing grid stability. However, in Pakistan, the absence of a comprehensive BESS policy keeps this solution out of reach for the foreseeable future. Until these policies are implemented, the full potential of renewable energy integration will remain untapped. Research highlights a pressing concern: the rapid pace of solar penetration during daylight hours, driven by falling solar prices, is accelerating Pakistan’s central grid toward the Duck Curve phenomenon. This phenomenon refers to the mismatch between peak solar generation during the day and peak electricity demand in the evening, creating a “duck-shaped” graph of energy demand versus supply. The resulting surplus energy during the day and steep ramp-up in evening demand strain the grid, jeopardizing its stability. The challenges become particularly pronounced during Pakistan’s foggy and smog-filled winters, when flexibility in the grid is crucial to maintain stability. Without adaptive measures these seasonal challenges could intensify. In this context, Pakistan must act swiftly to develop policies and technologies that ensure a balanced and resilient energy ecosystem. Only by embracing a multi-faceted approach that includes renewable energy, grid enhancements, and innovative storage solutions can the nation navigate the complexities of energy transition effectively. Globally, many countries have encountered the challenges posed by the Duck Curve and have adjusted their energy policies to address this phenomenon. The Duck Curve, characterized by a surplus of solar generation during the day and a sharp ramp-up in demand as the sun sets, has driven policy innovations worldwide. However, the realities of energy demand remain persistent; no country has enough rooftop solar or battery storage to completely eliminate grid dependency, particularly for nighttime energy needs. Our research highlights a significant shift in Pakistan’s grid dynamics. Two years ago, the peak demand occurred between 4:00 PM and 5:00 PM, but it has now shifted near midnight, coinciding with the end of peak hours at 11:00 PM or later. This shift necessitates re-evaluation of Time-of-Use (TOU) policies and rate designs. Pakistan must implement policies that address these changes both technically and economically, such as leveraging Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) for grid stability, peak shaving, and integrating them with slow-ramping central power plants during nighttime demand surges. To navigate these challenges, Pakistan urgently needs robust rules and regulations for DERs. This includes revisiting Distribution Code to ensure all DERs—particularly behind-the-meter solar installations—are controllable and do not compromise grid stability. Issues such as reactive power support and higher voltage levels must be managed to avoid potential grid collapse. Properly regulating DERs will ensure they complement rather than disrupt the grid. The need for energy equity The rapid adoption of PV solar as a disruptive technology has raised critical questions about energy equity. While rooftop solar and net-metering systems provide substantial benefits, such as lower electricity bills and energy independence, they also create disparities. Customers without rooftop solar, particularly those in underserved or rural areas, continue to rely solely on grid power and may face higher costs due to the shifting burden of grid maintenance onto non-net-metered consumers. Moreover, higher buyback rates for solar energy have compounded these inequities. For instance, as more consumers adopt distributed solar systems, grid-fixed costs are increasingly borne by fewer, often less-privileged, consumers. This dynamic raises serious concerns about fairness and accessibility, particularly in regions that already endure poor power quality and extended load shedding. Energy equity is a multidimensional challenge, requiring a balance between innovation and inclusivity. It is structured around four foundational pillars: Distributional equity: Ensuring the fair allocation of benefits and costs across all demographics; Procedural equity: Involving all stakeholders in decision-making processes; Recognitional equity: Acknowledging and addressing the unique needs of marginalized groups; Restorative equity: Rectifying past injustices in energy access and resource allocation. For Pakistan, achieving comprehensive energy equity demands systemic reforms that address these pillars. Policies must ensure the benefits of cleaner and more resilient energy systems reach all communities, including rural and underserved populations. Without proactive measures, the energy transition risks exacerbating existing social inequities. As Pakistan continues to transition its energy systems, it is essential to prioritize both technical innovation and inclusivity, ensuring that all citizens benefit from a cleaner, more sustainable energy future. A Distributional Equity Assessment (DEA) is a critical tool for advancing fairness in the energy transition, with a primary focus on distributional equity, ensuring that the benefits and burdens of the energy system are shared equitably among various customer groups. While DEA emphasizes distributional aspects, it often intersects with other equity dimensions to provide a holistic perspective. The DEA framework evaluates how costs and benefits are distributed across customers with differing characteristics, offering insights that complement benefit-cost analyses for utility investments in DERs. It addresses pivotal questions, such as: should a new DER programme be initiated or funded? Is an existing programme viable, or does it need adjustments? How should investments be prioritized across multiple DER initiatives to maximize equity and impact? By providing a structured approach, DEA helps utilities and policymakers design programmes that balance customer needs with systemic equity considerations, ensuring that investments in DERs do not exacerbate existing disparities but instead foster inclusive growth and access to sustainable energy. As Pakistan navigates its energy transition, embracing frameworks like DEA and implementing robust policies for DERs and grid stability are essential to achieving both sustainability and equity. By prioritizing inclusivity and proactive planning, Pakistan can ensure that the journey towards a greener future benefits every segment of society, leaving no one behind. Copyright Business Recorder, 2024car racing online game 。

LAGOS – The federal government, on Tuesday in Lagos, disclosed that ongoing efforts and activities of partner agencies to reduce the Out-Of-School-Children in Nigeria has impacted a total of two million beneficiaries. Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, the Honorable Minister Of Education, disclosed this at the opening ceremonies of the ongoing three-day summit of the Basic Education In Nigeria Bootcamp (Ben-B) summit held in Lagos with the theme: “Improving Access to Inclusive Quality Education for All Children in Nigeria: Addressing the Challenges of Out-of-School Children”. The Minister in his message delivered by Dr (Mrs) Folake Olatunji-David, Director of Basic Education in the Federal Ministry of Education said the implementation of policies through the activities of four of its agencies and bilateral development partners supported by the take-off of the Almajiri and Out-of-School Commission is making positive impacts as part of the system-wide policy with a huge impact on Out-of-­School Children. He said, “The Federal Ministry of Education is set for and indeed has commenced the implementation of key policies distilled with system-wide outcomes and their deep practical effects in the life of this Administration.” He said the policies captured by the Data Repository, Out-of-School Children Education, Teacher Training & Development, and Skills Development and Acquisition (DOTS) when implemented, will succeed in connecting the dots for the improvement of the overall education system in Nigeria. Emphasising the importance of data at the summit organised by the Federal Ministry of Education (FMoE), the Minister lamented the uncoordinated data repository in the country, saying unverifiable data has resulted in the citing of different figures for Out-Of-School-Children by governments and various bilateral partners. He acknowledged the place of quality teachers as pivotal in achieving policies on quality education and skilling, saying extant policies on teacher’s welfare, support and development would be reviewed for a more effective implementation. He added, “As we strive to ensure unfettered access to nine (9) years of formal basic education, we recognize the importance of free, Universal Basic Education for every Nigerian child of school-going age. Our collective efforts aim to reduce drastically the incidence of drop-out from the formal school system, through improved relevance, quality and efficiency.” Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, in a keynote address, said the place of education at all levels of the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu will create a befitting future for children and, in effect, have a positive impact on the nation’s social, economic, technology and political advancement. The Governor, represented by Hon. Jamiu Alli-Balogun, the Commissioner For Primary and Basic Education, said the outcomes will include sustainable plans, policies, and regulations that are visible, accessible, practical-oriented and cost-effective. He stressed the commitment of the state government to education and technology as one of the core THEME+ agenda of Lagos State, saying it has created and leveraged better education performance with a technology-driven approach. “The state had committed more resources in the establishment of new schools, skills acquisition centres, continuous rehabilitation of schools, restructuring of school plants, recruitment of professionally qualified teachers, provision of teaching materials, deployment of technology, teachers’ capacity building and motivation across the board. “In Lagos State, we have come up with various strategies to combat out-of-school children through aggressive enrollment drives and project zero, which reduces learning poverty and equally returning children found on the street to school,” he said. He urged stakeholders in the education sector to change the current approaches to build a world where every child survives, thrives, and has the power to shape their future. Prof Pai Obanya of the Institute of Education at the University of Ibadan (UI), the lead paper presenter, urged stakeholders to change the current notion about the profession, saying “Teaching is not as simply telling, but mainly as guiding, continuous assessment in place of continual testing, support tools from local and other sources,” he advocated. Delivering a paper titled: “Improving Access to Inclusive Quality Education for all Children in Nigeria: Addressing the Challenge of Out-Of-School-Children”, Prof Obanya called for disaggregated data and enhanced inter-agency synergy, the institution of systematic monitoring and targeted funding as part of measures to put the nation’s education back on track and tackle the Out-Of-School-Children menace. He urged the managers of the education sector to revisit and be guided by the implementation guidelines on Universal Basic Education (UBE),1999, UBE Roadmap, 2015 and the National Teacher Education Policy to reset the sector for sustainable growth amd development. Purpose Of the Summit Dr. Olatunji-David, represented by Mrs Joy Onoja, Director, Public asic Education Education said the main objectives of the Bootcamp are to: Assemble Basic Education stakeholders to deliberate on Policy, practice and implementation gaps facing the sub-sector. Ensure responsiveness of state ministries of Education (SMoEs) in compliance with National Education Policy decisions and programmes. Harmonize and coordinate resources and activities in the Basic Education sub-sector towards the achievement of national goals and aspirations. Monitor the progress of states and ensure reporting to the Federal Ministry of Education for proper coordination. The summit will review the implementation status, that is assess the extent to which recommendations have been implemented, identify best practices, share successful strategies and experience, address implementation gaps, refine strategies, foster collaboration, inform policy decisions, monitor progress and identify resource gaps.A team of scientists at UNSW Chemistry have successfully developed an organic material that is able to store protons—and they have used it to create a rechargeable proton battery in the lab. By leveraging hydrogen ions—protons—instead of traditional lithium, these batteries hold promise for addressing some of the critical challenges in modern energy storage, including resource scarcity, environmental impact, safety and cost. The latest findings, recently in the journal , highlight the battery's ability to store energy quickly, last longer, and perform well under sub-zero conditions. The material—tetraamino-benzoquinone (TABQ)—developed by Ph.D. candidate Sicheng Wu and Professor Chuan Zhao, in collaboration with UNSW Engineering and ANSTO, has been shown to support rapid proton movement using hydrogen-bond networks. "We have developed a novel, high-capacity small-molecule material for proton storage," says Prof. Zhao. "Using this material, we successfully built an all-organic proton battery that is effective at both room temperature and sub-zero freezing temperatures." Battery basics Batteries store and convert it to electrical energy through reactions between two electrodes—the anode and cathode. Charge-carrying particles, known as ions, are transferred via the middle component of the battery, known as an electrolyte. The most common type of batteries used in are . These batteries, which create an by transferring lithium ions between the anode and cathode, are the most widespread portable energy storage solutions. Lithium-ion batteries power everyday products such as mobile phones, laptops and smart wearables, as well as newer e-mobility products such as electric cars, e-bikes and e-scooters. However, they are very difficult to recycle and require huge amounts of water and energy to produce. "Lithium-ion batteries are already becoming a dominant product in energy storage applications, but they have a lot of limitations," says Mr. Sicheng Wu, a Ph.D. candidate from the School of Chemistry. "Lithium is a finite resource that is not evenly distributed on earth, so some countries may not have access to low cost lithium sources. Lithium batteries also have very big challenges regarding fast-charging applications, safety, and they have low efficiency in cold temperature." Alternatives to lithium-ion batteries Although we currently rely very heavily on lithium-ion batteries, a growing number of alternatives are emerging. Proton batteries are gaining attention as an innovative and sustainable alternative in the energy field, and have been hailed as one of the potential solutions to next-generation energy storage devices. Protons have the smallest ionic radius and mass of all elements, which allows them to diffuse quickly. Using protons results in batteries with high energy and power density, plus, protons are relatively inexpensive, produce zero carbon emissions and are fast charging. "There are many benefits to proton batteries," says Mr. Wu. "But the current electrode materials used for proton batteries, some of which are made from organic materials, and others from metals, are heavy and still very high cost." While a few organic electrode materials already exist, they also suffer from limited voltage range, and further research is required to make them viable batteries. Creating an anode material Redox potential is a fundamental parameter in electrochemistry. It's related to the flow of electricity, which is important for designing batteries. The range of redox potentials in a battery is important because it affects the battery's performance. Usually, the redox potentials of cathode materials need to locate in a high range and that of anodes needs to locate in a low range to ensure a desirable battery voltage output. To create their electrode material, the research team started with a small molecule, called Tetrachloro-benzoquinone (TCBQ), which includes four chlorine groups. Although TCBQ has been used previously to design electrode materials, the redox potential range of this compound is mediocre—neither low enough to be used as anode nor high enough as cathode. So, to start, the team set out to modify TCBQ to increase its performance as an anode material. After multiple rounds of modifications of the compound, the researchers settled on replacing the four chloro groups with four amino groups, making it a tetraamino-benzaquinone (TABQ) molecule. By adding amino groups, the researchers significantly improved the material's ability to store protons and lower its redox potential range. "If you just look at the TABQ material that we have designed, it's not necessarily cheap to produce at the moment," says Prof. Zhao. "But because it's made of abundant light elements, it will be easy and affordable to eventually scale up." Putting the prototype to the test When the researchers tested the proton battery, the results were extremely promising. Combined with a TCBQ cathode, the all-organic battery offers long cycle life (3,500 cycles of fully charging, and then fully draining the battery), high capacity, and good performance in cold conditions, making it a promising step for renewable energy storage. "The electrolyte in a lithium-ion battery is made of lithium salt, a solvent which is flammable and therefore is a big concern," says Prof. Zhao. "In our case, we have both electrodes made of organic molecules, and in between we have the water solution, making our prototype battery lightweight, safe and affordable." Future implications "At the moment, we don't have any suitable solutions to grid-scale energy storage, because we can't use tons of lithium batteries to do that job, due to the price and lack of safety," says Mr. Wu. Given the low cost, high safety and the fast charging performance of the proton battery designed through this collaboration, it has the potential to be used in a variety of situations, including grid-scale energy storage. "To enhance the usage of renewable energies, we have to develop some more efficient energy integration technologies and our proton battery design is a promising trial," says Mr. Wu. While the potential applications are vast, the researchers are determined to refine and perfect their proton battery. "We have designed a very good anode material, and future work will move to the cathode side. We will continue designing new organic materials that have higher redox potential range to increase the output voltage," says Mr. Wu. Prof. Zhao also notes that what he is most excited about is the unique mechanism of proton transport they have identified. "Proton transport is one of the most fundamental processes in nature, from the human body, to plants," he says. "We can actually study how this type of organic molecule can be used for a broad range of applications, such as for hydrogen storage. "Molecular hydrogen (H ) is very reactive and therefore difficult to store and transport. This is currently a bottleneck for the hydrogen industry. However, hydrogen also exits in a stable form: proton (H )." The development of materials to store protons, means hydrogen can easily be shipped around the world, and then extracted when and where it is needed. "Our discovery has made this concept a possible reality," he adds. This research was part of a collaboration with A/Prof Junming Ho's team at UNSW School of Chemistry, Dr. Chen Han, a former Ph.D. student at UNSW Engineering and Dr. Jitraporn Vongsvivut, from ASNTO.

Southern California jumped to No. 4 in The Associated Press women's college basketball poll on Monday after edging UConn. The Trojans moved up three spots in the AP Top 25 after beating the then-No. 4 Huskies 72-70 on Saturday night in a rematch of last season's Elite Eight game that UConn won. "It feels great to get the dub always," USC star JuJu Watkins said after the victory. "I think it hit a little different knowing the history of last year and how they sent us home." This was the Trojans' first win ever over UConn. "This is a really significant win, and it's a really significant win because of the stature of UConn's program and what Geno Auriemma has done for our sport," USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb said. "It doesn't matter to me that they haven't won a championship in a couple years. There's still a way that they prepare, a way that they play, that makes you better, and it made us better." UCLA, South Carolina and Notre Dame remained the top three teams. The Bruins received 30 of the 32 first-place votes from a national media panel. The Gamecocks and the Fighting Irish each got one first-place vote. UConn fell to seventh behind Texas and LSU. Maryland, Oklahoma and Ohio State rounded out the top 10 teams. Duke dropped five spots to No. 14 after losing to South Florida on Saturday. The Blue Devils' other two losses this season were to Maryland and South Carolina. The Bulls are 7-6 on the season, with four of those losses coming against ranked opponents (UConn, Louisville, TCU and South Carolina). Alabama jumped back into the poll at No. 20 two weeks after falling out. The Crimson Tide had an impressive 82-67 victory over Michigan State, handing the Spartans their first loss of the season. It was Alabama's first victory over a ranked opponent this year. The Southeastern Conference has eight teams in the poll this week with Alabama's return. The Big Ten is next with seven. The ACC has six while the Big 12 has three and the Big East one. No. 23 Michigan at No. 4 USC, Sunday. The Wolverines start Big Ten play with a trip to Los Angeles to face the Trojans on Sunday and then the Bruins a few days later. Coach Kim Barnes Arico's young team is off to a 10-2 start. Get local news delivered to your inbox!

SEOUL (BERNAMA) – Earnings forecasts for South Korea’s two largest chipmakers, Samsung Electronics Co and SK hynix Inc, for the fourth quarter have been revised down largely due to a downturn in industry demand, an industry survey showed yesterday, according to Yonhap News Agency . According to the latest survey conducted by Yonhap Infomax , the financial arm of Yonhap News Agency , which polled 20 Korean brokerage houses, Samsung Electronics’ operating profit for the October-December period is estimated at KRW8.58 trillion (USD5.92 billion). While the latest forecast is sharply higher than the KRW2.82 trillion recorded in the fourth quarter of last year, it represents a drop of over KRW1 trillion compared with the previous estimate of KRW9.77 trillion made in October and November. Market observers said the deepening slump in demand for traditional information technology products, including smartphones and PCs, has contributed to prolonged weak profitability in Samsung’s core memory business. SK hynix, with its strength in next-generation AI high-bandwidth memory (HBM), is expected to post its highest quarter-on-quarter results for the fourth quarter. According to the latest Yonhap Infomax forecasts, SK hynix’s estimated operating profit for the cited period is KRW7.77 trillion, a 10.59-per cent increase compared with the previous quarter. However, the estimate is a 4.16-per cent drop compared with the KRW8.11-trillion consensus estimated in October and November. The observers said SK hynix has been defending its profitability with its high-value HBM products but has failed to avoid the impact of falling prices of general purpose memory.

China Telecom, HONOR and Bosch for a ubiquitous connectivity all-elements network quality assurance solutionCourt rejects request to sideline San Jose State volleyball player on grounds she's transgenderMicroStrategy Stock Declines Over 14% Amid Heightened Volatility Over S&P 500 Inclusion Concerns: Here's What Is HappeningLike the misconception that communists shouldn't participate in religious festivals just because they don't believe in god, there seems to be a fallacy that just because a believer holds the almighty to be, well, all mighty, he or she must believe that everything that god created - that is, every thing - belongs to god. As a gentleman devotee of Murugan visiting Arulmigu Kandaswamy Temple in Thiruporur near Chennai found to his chagrin, the mandir mandarins had a strict view of divine property rights. As is wont with the practice of keeping your smartphone inside your shirt pocket, it has a tendency to slip out when you bend. Which is exactly what happened, with the devotee's iPhone falling into the temple collection box. Using the finder's keeper's principle, temple officials politely refused to return the phone to its mortal owner - even as they equally politely allowed the man to retrieve data from it. Like Vegas, it seems that what goes in a hundi, stays in a hundi. India's IT Act 2000 certainly provides no avenue to explore any retrieval procedure of an Apple product from Lord Kartikeya's property. Unless Tim Cook nudges higher authorities in India and declares an IPR war. Luckily, the hundi belongs to a Hindu place of worship. In a country where most iPhone-owners belong to the majority community: believers in divine feudalism. ET Year-end Special Reads An Indian's guide to moving abroad as the world looks for 'better' immigrants The year of the HNIs: How India's rich splurged in 2024

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