Grog dopeys So, the thrashing meted out by Ireland to the Flying Fijians last weekend was the referee’s fault! Again. Any wins by the Flying Fijians are never the referee’s fault. How much of a Third World mentality and pathetic are the grog dopeys of Fiji? When will Fijians stop blaming everyone else? I guess wrecking the RFNS Puamau was also the referee’s fault and the fact that the people and government in the country are useless is also the referee’s fault. JAN NISSAR, Sydney, Australia. FNPF contributions Can the Government please reconsider the re-entry of people that had no options but to withdraw totally. On the first occasion I withdrew to help my parents pay for my wedding. On the second occasion I had to withdraw for my mother’s medical expenses. For the past 16 years I have been working but despite making several requests I have been told I cannot rejoin. My reasons were genuine. Please can I rejoin for the rest of my working life which could be anything between 6-10years? TAI SMITH, Nasinu Secondary School Rd, Kinoya, Nasinu Family reunions It has always been my policy to refrain from engaging in debate with overseas correspondents, like me, who are not resident in Fiji. Fiji Times readers, I feel are more interested in domestic affairs instead of slanging matches between offshore letter writers. Yesterday’s letter (FT 25/11) from Jan Nissar though, screams for a response. He asks: “Why was there such great pomp, ceremony and celebration? Is there something wrong with living in Fiji?”, when writing of the departure of PALM workers family members. All of this above a tag line of J.N. Sydney, Australia! After years of separation while striving to increase their family life style, these families now look forward to a better future. Yes Jan, they have won the lottery. They are coming to join you. Who did you vote for? TERRY HULME, Australia Milky water, stench Who is responsible for the enforcement of regulations for the very milky water and the unbearable stench present in the Yarawa Rd creek in the Raiwasa area in Suva? The Suva City Council, Ministry of Environment, and the Water Authority of Fiji have been approached and responded but the problem is still there. Who should we approach now? ASISH VINAY PRASAD, Park Rd, Raiwasa, Suva Transport payment The truck/carrier operators on Ovalau are infuriated regarding the much delayed RSL Education Transport Payment. Such an issue was not experienced during the term of the previous government. If there was a delay, it would take only a few days for the MOE to effect payments, unlike now. Payments are long outstanding, not for weeks but months and numerous calls to those responsible at MOE have proven futile. One wonders, were the payment funds diverted to cater for the 50-plus COP29 group expenses or to cater for Government’s weekly globetrotting or for their soqo and kalavata? A service has been provided and payment is long overdue. What’s happening? Who’s responsible for such a “botched up mess?” ANTHONY SAHAI, Levuka, Ovalau RFNS Timo I hope our Fiji Navy sailors don’t have the misconception that the new RFNS Timo is a landing craft and try crossing over a reef. Sobo! WISE MUAVONO, Balawa, Lautoka FNPF pensions Although I am grateful that Parmesh Chand has publicly acknowledged that what was done to us FNPF pensioners in 2012 was wrong while under his chairmanship of the FNPF Board, I am very disappointed that he took all this time to come out and acknowledge this. Shame on you Mr Chand. ROBERT MANOA, Nasinu 16 Days of Activism! As I flipped through the World Health Organization’s page, my attention was drawn to the wealth of information presented on the global 16 Days of Activism Against Violence Against Women, which is a key international moment to call for an end to violence against women and girls. It runs from 25th November (the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) until 10th December (Human Rights Day). WHO shared that violence against women happens in every country and culture, causing harm to millions of women and girls. WHO added that around the world today, prolonged and intense conflicts have resulted in a continuous rise in of all forms of gender-based violence. I salute WHO for playing an active role in strengthening health systems and for calling all parties to respect their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law to protect women and girls from gender-based violence and ensure access to essential health services. Activists marched in Labasa town on Monday during the launch of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence. They were in high spirits, making every effort to end violence against girls and women. Our ‘iron-lady’ Shamima Ali is spearheading this campaign, and alongside her, women and girls need our support! RAJNESH ISHWAR LINGAM, Nadawa, Nasinu. Drunkards in town West Police SP Lakobo Vaisewa’s stern warning of arresting disorderly drunkards has had negligible effect as groups of unruly people continue to consume alcoholic beverages in plain view of the public. Police patrols are rare whenever there is a drinking assembly within the city boundaries, despite the Lautoka Police Station located just metres away from all the drinking hotspots. Just last week, while on my usual early morning walk, I observed a lone police officer armed with a police baton nonchalantly approaching a drinking party consisting of rowdy teens at the Pacific Energy Service Station premises (a very common drinking base) situated across the Vomo St junction. Assuming that the lawman would dutifully confront and detain these hooligans for public drinking and disturbing the peace, I was shocked to see this officer informally conversing with these drunkards and shaking hands with them. After the pleasantries were exchanged followed by a kaila, the police officer casually strolled away, leaving the drunks to continue their alcohol binge. I wonder if the situation would have been any different if the guilty party belonged to a different ethnicity, since the two-tier law and justice system is quite dominant in our communities. Law enforcement officers are generally expected to maintain the law, especially in cases of public disturbances or recurring issues like public drinking. When officers appear to be lenient or indifferent to such behaviour, it destabilises the rule of law and often leads to a loss of confidence in the police force. With such lack of commitment to enforcing the law, no wonder the Men in Blue continually gets a bad rapport. NISHANT SINGH,Lautoka Suffering in Baku I believe that the way the Assistant Minister for Women has described the suffering of the Fiji delegation to COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan one would have thought they travelled there on the back of camels in a caravan through an unforgiving desert in the year 1524 (not 2024) without food, water and medicines to reach Baku. It appears they are the only delegation who have stayed away from their families, missed meals and the usual comforts of life at home, suffered from cold and wet, flu and blisters. We all know that people living in Fiji never miss a meal. No other delegates have suffered these things. I have always known that Fijians are resilient and hardworking people who seem to have been allocated tents in Baku while all the other delegates from the developed world travelled by modern jetliners and are staying in luxury hotels and have a lot of money and help. I do not know about anyone else, but I feel for the suffering of the Fiji delegation and the sacrifices they are making for us, for a better Fiji and a better world! I am genuinely concerned about their treacherous camel ride back to Fiji. Are they strong enough to make it back safely? We all should appreciate the hard work they are doing and not be sceptical or critical. I do not for a second believe that the Assistant Minister is being a drama queen. JAN NISSAR, Sydney, Australia The ban IF the Tui Namosi has decided to ban land owners or the people of Namosi caught for their involvement in drugs, then perhaps it will be even-handed for him to also banish thieves, sex perpetrators, domestic abuses etc., from the province. Anyway, I wonder if Ratu Matanitobua was literally better advised or has sought guidance from a legal counsel before giving out his command? Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission, I hope you have not looked away from the issue! AREKI DAWAI, Suva. GCC use by date Like Nishant Singh of Lautoka (F/T Nov22) and other writers to this column the GCC has already expired their “use by date” and should be abolished. Former prime minister Bainimarama did the right thing by banishing them under that famous mango tree. They should have been left alone to continue to enjoy themselves under the tree. What good has the GCC ever done for Fiji? ROBERT MANOA, Nasinu Our schoolies Our local schoolies where do they go? Not to a hotel on an island overseas, but usually to an island home, across our seas. EDWARD BLAKELOCK, Admiral Circle, Pacific Harbour Social media ban It’s the parents who should be banned from using social media, not the children. Children copy what their parents do. If the parents stop wasting family time on social media then so will their children. AREN NUNNINK, Hooper St, Savusavu Failure! A failure on every front: Pacific climate advocates decry COP 29 outcomes (RNZ/ FT 26/11/24). The biggest Pacific Island country Papua New Guinea anticipated well and decided not to send any delegation to COP29 saying it’s a waste of time. Fiji sent a bloated delegation of 56 to what has turned out to be “A failure on every front”. But the people of Fiji remain truly blessed with such profound political leadership. RAJEND NAIDU, Sydney, Australia Optimistic The Coalition Government in New Zealand are optimistic after completing the first year. Can the same be said of our Government? DAN URAI, Lautoka Drugs and coconuts The Fiji Times news on drug in coconuts (FT25/11) will affect the sale to some extent. Travellers stop to quench their thirst by drinking this safe natural drink. We are well blessed in our tropical climate. Such publications may affect Fiji tourism. As I stopped for a green coconut drink the vendor said: “This natural drink is good for health.” TAHIR ALI, Hamilton, New Zealand Pool saga THAT swimming pool, is it still in the pipeline? Oh, I see time to review the pipeline. Mmm! NAVNEET RAM (TD), LautokaFormer Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh has died at the age of 92. Singh was one of India’s longest-serving prime ministers and he was considered the architect of key liberalising economic reforms, as premier from 2004-2014 and before that as finance minister. He had been admitted to a hospital in the capital Delhi after his health condition deteriorated, reports say. Among those who paid tribute to Singh on Thursday were Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who wrote on social media that “India mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished leaders”. Modi said that Singh’s “wisdom and humility were always visible” during their interactions and that he had “made extensive efforts to improve people’s lives” during his time as prime minister. Priyanka Gandhi, the daughter of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi and a Congress party member, said that Singh was “genuinely egalitarian, wise, strong-willed and courageous until the end”. Her brother Rahul, who leads Congress, said he had “lost a mentor and guide”. Singh was the first Indian leader since Jawaharlal Nehru to be re-elected after serving a full first term, and the first Sikh to hold the country’s top post. He made a public apology in parliament for the 1984 riots in which some 3,000 Sikhs were killed. But his second term in office was marred by a string of corruption allegations that dogged his administration. The scandals, many say, were partially responsible for his Congress party’s crushing defeat in the 2014 general election. Singh was born on 26 September 1932, in a desolate village in the Punjab province of undivided India, which lacked both water and electricity. After attending Panjab University he took a master’s degree at the University of Cambridge and then a DPhil at Oxford. While studying at Cambridge, the lack of funds bothered Singh, his daughter, Daman Singh, wrote in a book on her parents. “His tuition and living expenses came to about £600 a year. The Panjab University scholarship gave him about £160. For the rest he had to depend on his father. Manmohan was careful to live very stingily. Subsidised meals in the dining hall were relatively cheap at two shillings sixpence.” Daman Singh remembered her father as “completely helpless about the house and could neither boil an egg, nor switch on the television”. Singh rose to political prominence as India’s finance minister in 1991, taking over as the country was plunging into bankruptcy. His unexpected appointment capped a long and illustrious career as an academic and civil servant – he served as an economic adviser to the government, and became the governor of India’s central bank. In his maiden speech as finance minister he famously quoted Victor Hugo, saying that “no power on Earth can stop an idea whose time has come”. That served as a launchpad for an ambitious and unprecedented economic reform programme: he cut taxes, devalued the rupee, privatised state-run companies and encouraged foreign investment. The economy revived, industry picked up, inflation was checked and growth rates remained consistently high in the 1990s. Manmohan Singh was a man acutely aware of his lack of a political base. “It is nice to be a statesman, but in order to be a statesman in a democracy you first have to win elections,” he once said. When he tried to win election to India’s lower house in 1999, he was defeated. He sat instead in the upper house, chosen by his own Congress party. The same happened in 2004, when Singh was first appointed prime minister after Congress president Sonia Gandhi turned down the post – apparently to protect the party from damaging attacks over her Italian origins. Critics however alleged that Sonia Gandhi was the real source of power while he was prime minister, and that he was never truly in charge. The biggest triumph during his first five-year term was to bring India out of nuclear isolation by signing a landmark deal securing access to American nuclear technology. But the deal came at a price – the government’s Communist allies withdrew support after protesting against it, and Congress had to make up lost numbers by enlisting the support of another party amid charges of vote-buying. A consensus builder, Singh presided over a coalition of sometimes difficult, assertive and potentially unruly regional coalition allies and supporters. Although he earned respect for his integrity and intelligence, he also had a reputation for being soft and indecisive. Some critics claimed that the pace of reform slowed and he failed to achieve the same momentum he had while finance minister. (BBC News) Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.
NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks rose to records Tuesday after Donald Trump’s created only some ripples on Wall Street, even if they could were they to take effect. The S&P 500 climbed 0.6% to top the it set a couple weeks ago. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 123 points, or 0.3%, to set the day before, while the Nasdaq composite gained 0.6% as Microsoft and Big Tech led the way. Stock markets abroad mostly fell after said he on Mexico, Canada and once he takes office. But the movements were mostly modest. Stock indexes were down 0.1% in Shanghai and nearly flat in Hong Kong, while Canada’s main index edged down by less than 0.1%. Trump has often praised the , but investors are weighing whether his latest threat will actually become policy or is just an opening point for negotiations. For now, the market seems to be taking it more as the latter. The consequences otherwise for markets and the global economy could be painful. Unless the United States can prepare alternatives for the autos, energy products and other goods that come from Mexico, Canada and China, such tariffs would raise the price of imported items all at once and make households poorer, according to Carl Weinberg and Rubeela Farooqi, economists at High Frequency Economics. They would also hurt profit margins for U.S. companies, while raising the threat of retaliatory tariffs by other countries. And unlike tariffs in Trump’s first term, his latest proposal would affect products across the board. General Motors sank 9%, and Ford Motor fell 2.6% because both import automobiles from Mexico. Constellation Brands, which sells Modelo and other Mexican beer brands in the United States, dropped 3.3%. The value of the Mexican peso fell 1.8% against the U.S. dollar. Beyond the pain such tariffs would cause U.S. households and businesses, they could also push the Federal Reserve to slow or even halt its cuts to interest rates. The Fed had just begun from a two-decade high a couple months ago to offer support for the . While lower interest rates can boost the economy, they can also offer more fuel for inflation. “Many” officials at the Fed’s earlier this month said they should lower rates gradually, according to released Tuesday afternoon. The talk about tariffs overshadowed another mixed set of profit reports from U.S. retailers that answered few questions about how much more shoppers can keep spending. They’ll need to stay resilient after helping the economy avoid a recession, despite the high interest rates imposed by the Fed to get inflation under control. A report on Tuesday from the Conference Board said improved in November, but not by as much as economists expected. tumbled 17% after its results for the latest quarter fell short of analysts’ expectations. CEO Tom Kingsbury said sales remain soft for apparel and footwear. A day earlier, Kingsbury said he plans to step down as CEO in January. Ashley Buchanan, CEO of Michaels and a retail veteran, will replace him. fell 4.9% after likewise falling short of analysts’ expectations. Dick’s Sporting Goods topped forecasts for the latest quarter thanks to a strong back-to-school season, but its stock lost an early gain to fall 1.4%. Still, more stocks rose in the S&P 500 than fell. J.M. Smucker had one of the biggest gains and climbed 5.7% after topping analysts’ expectations for the latest quarter. CEO Mark Smucker credited strength for its Uncrustables, Meow Mix, Café Bustelo and Jif brands. also helped prop up U.S. indexes. Gains of 3.2% for Amazon and 2.2% for Microsoft were the two strongest forces lifting the S&P 500. All told, the S&P 500 rose 34.26 points to 6,021.63. The Dow gained 123.74 to 44,860.31, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 119.46 to 19,174.30. In the bond market, Treasury yields held relatively steady following their big drop from a day before driven by relief following Trump’s pick for Treasury secretary. The yield on the 10-year Treasury inched up to 4.29% from 4.28% late Monday, but it’s still well below the 4.41% level where it ended last week. In the crypto market, bitcoin continued to pull back after late last week. It’s since dipped back toward $91,000, according to CoinDesk. It’s a sharp turnaround from the following Trump’s election. That boom had also appeared to have spilled into some corners of the stock market. Strategists at Barclays Capital pointed to stocks of unprofitable companies, along with other areas that can be caught up in bursts of optimism by smaller-pocketed “retail” investors. AP Business Writer Elaine Kurtenbach contributed.
Ruud van Nistelrooy ‘disappointed’ and ‘hurt’ after cutting ties with Man UtdBest Buy ( BBY ) is preparing for President-elect Donald Trump's plans to implement new tariffs. On Monday, Trump posted on Truth Social that his administration plans to impose an additional 10% tariff on imports from China and a 25% tariff on imports from Mexico and Canada on Jan. 20, his first day in office. But American shoppers are likely to suffer higher prices as a result. "I absolutely can see a world where there's more consumer impact because the cost of those tariffs ends up flowing through to the consumer," Best Buy CEO Corie Barry told reporters on a media call. She noted that vendors have "very, very small margins in this industry, which means the vast majority of that tariff will probably be passed on to the consumer as a price increase." Roughly 60% of Best Buy's products come from China, and Mexico is its second-largest supplier, as many companies have moved production of larger items to the country in the last five years. Items produced there include appliances, desktop computers, and large TVs. The business doesn't import anything from Canada. Read more: How do tariffs work, and who really pays them? Other electronics that could be affected include tablets, phones, and some TVs. The news comes as Best Buy is struggling to woo shoppers. On Tuesday, the retailer posted negative same-store sales growth for the 12th consecutive quarter. Best Buy did not specify what sort of price increase would go into effect. Potential mitigation tactics the company and its vendors are looking into include importing products ahead of tariffs going into effect, making decisions around which products it offers, changing supply sources, and seeking to diversify to other countries that might offer viable alternatives. SharkNinja ( SN ), which sells its products at Best Buy, said the company has been diversifying its supply chain for the last five years. "The majority of that product is able to be made today outside of China," SharkNinja CEO Mark Barrocas told Yahoo Finance at Goldman Sachs' Global Retailing conference in September. "We intend to have all of our US production made outside of China by the end of 2025." Best Buy stock is under pressure, falling more than 7% on Tuesday. Year to date, shares are up nearly 17%, compared to a 27% gain for the S&P 500 ( ^GSPC ). Tariffs are a headwind for all general merchandise retailers that sell categories like apparel, furnishings, and electronics . During Trump's first term, companies dealt with Chinese tariffs by eating the costs or passing them on, Scott Lincicome of Stiefel Trade Policy Center told Yahoo Finance. Goldman Sachs managing director Kate McShane told Yahoo Finance that if Trump's tariffs from 2018 to 2019 were an indication, companies are likely to raise prices if more tariffs are added. "If there were to be tariffs, I think it would be inflationary for most retailers. In the past, what we've seen from tariffs is that prices go up," she said earlier this year. Walmart ( WMT ) CFO John David Rainey told Yahoo Finance's Morning Brief earlier this month that the company is "very accustomed" to "living in a tariff environment" over the past seven years. He added, "We're always going to look to work with our suppliers or use our own private brand assortment to try to bring down prices for customers ... we'll have to navigate that environment. Tariffs are inflationary for customers, but we want to work to bring down prices." Nearly two-thirds of Walmart's annual product spend is on items that are made, grown, or assembled in the US. "It's pretty drastic how it will impact earnings," TD Cowen analyst Oliver Chen told Yahoo Finance. "But I think this is all a starting point for negotiation. ... Overall earnings per share hits could be mid-single to high-single [digits], if not more, and the pass-through of the pricing" is what matters. He said retailers such as Walmart, Target ( TGT ), and Costco ( COST ) "have a lot of experience with supply chain," but "customers are probably not willing to accept price increases" after years of high inflation. “Effective trade policies will increase America’s competitive advantages in research, development, and innovation and will protect strategically critical infrastructure," National Retail Federation CEO Matthew Shay told Yahoo Finance. "However, the adoption of across-the-board tariffs on consumer goods and other non-strategic imports amounts to a tax on American families," Shay added. "It will drive inflation and price increases and will result in job losses." Barry said that won't be the case. "I do not see a world right now where we're laying off employees or closing stores as a result of tariffs," she said. — Brooke DiPalma is a senior reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on X at @ BrookeDiPalma or email her at bdipalma@yahoofinance.com. Click here for all of the latest retail stock news and events to better inform your investing strategy
When it comes to buying security cameras for your home, there is a lot to consider. How big is your home, how many cameras do you need, is your Wi-Fi strong enough for multiple cameras, and just how much is it all going to cost? There's also the question of whether to hire a professional to install your cameras or to take the DIY route. While 44% of consumers hire a pro, according to Consumer Affairs , most people go it alone. That's not necessarily a bad thing, especially if it saves you money. However, research turns out to be the most important step to avoid making some common security camera installation mistakes. From the small print in the product description to the laws that apply to your neighborhood and property, things can go sideways if you click "add to cart" without thinking ahead. Home security cameras are more affordable and ubiquitous than ever, with around 10.8 million U.S. households employing a DIY security system. Still, they're not always simple, even though the drop in burglary incidents since 2011 may have something to do with the rise in residential security camera usage. Choosing between Ring and Blink is an important decision, but it's not the only consideration while planning for home security cameras. You might be making one of these common mistakes — or multiple — during installation. One of the main reasons many people buy security cameras is to deter potential crime. For homeowners, the motivation could be anything from high local crime rates to a history of holiday package thefts in the neighborhood. The few statistics you can find on home security cameras seem to suggest that cameras do help prevent burglaries and other crimes. Some professionals in the security camera industry propose that homes equipped with security cameras are 300% less likely to be burglarized than homes without them. xRiver Run Law points out that camera footage has to be relevant, authenticated, and not violate privacy laws to be admissible in court. State laws vary on security camera recordings, and privacy regulations also come into play. For example, in Georgia, surveillance cameras are allowed in public spaces if they're in plain sight, while in Hawaii, consent is required to film people. California law specifies that confidential communications cannot be filmed, and the presence of such communications in crime footage can complicate legal matters. While cameras can add a layer of security to your home, it's not ideal to rely on them entirely for peace of mind or legal action. Thus, you still need to lock your doors, keep an eye out for suspicious behavior, stow away valuables, and ensure compliance with state laws on the admissibility of camera footage in court. Plenty of people use security cameras inside their homes for everything from monitoring pets while they're away to checking on kids when the babysitter is over. Even inside your own home, however, there are laws governing the use of security cameras. The same laws that apply to cameras outside often extend to inside the house as well. For example, security cameras are generally legal in common areas like your living room, where there's no reasonable expectation of privacy as there would be in a bathroom or even inside a closet. Recording audio can also become a legal issue, especially if you live in a state where all parties must consent to being recorded. Even if you're not using audio and video recordings for legal purposes, having that footage could create liability if it's shared publicly. In California, for example, each person featured in an audio recording must consent. In Arkansas, however, only one person involved in the communication (e.g., the person recording) must consent for the recording to be legal. Hidden cameras are also subject to different rules than ones you can easily spot, whether they record audio or both audio and video. Even if you suspect someone of a crime inside your home, placing a hidden camera in their bedroom is likely illegal. On a similar note, you also can't have a camera pointing into your neighbor's private areas — more on that later. For most people who own property, there aren't too many limits on where and how you can use your security cameras. For example, laws govern the use of public spaces, but privacy is not part of the use of a public space. The general lack of expectation of privacy is the reason why people are allowed to film (for social media or any other reason) in places like parks and on public transportation with no repercussions — or consent forms from their subjects. Still, if you rent a home or live in a community with a Homeowners Association (HOA), there might be shared spaces where cameras aren't allowed. HOAs often have their own governing documents that include specific rules, which you'll need to follow even if they don't apply elsewhere. Plus, while it's usually legal to position cameras facing the street, over sidewalks, or even looking over your fence, that doesn't mean it won't upset the neighbors. Other rules also apply when you share space with other people. If you have roommates, for example, it's prudent to let them know where you plan to install the cameras and what they can see. Even if you live alone on a ton of property, it's smart to check your local regulations on where cameras can be placed and what they can monitor. [Featured image by Alex Knight via Wikimedia Commons | Cropped and scaled | CC BY-SA 3.0 ] Overlooking a neighbor's property is one of the worst places to install a security camera . It's a bad idea not just because of the potential for conflict with your neighbors but also because it could escalate tensions if you're already having problems with them. Additionally, pointing cameras off your property can be illegal, especially if you have a clear view of private areas. Even if your cameras aren't aimed into your neighbor's windows (which is definitely illegal in California, for example), you still need to be careful about what you're recording. Cameras that point into your neighbor's backyard are also a legal no-no because that's your neighbor's private space. The same laws that make it okay to record inside your home or your backyard also make it illegal to do so in your neighbors' private spaces. You can also get in trouble if you live in a highly commercial area. Cameras that are perceived as monitoring nearby businesses could cause issues, even if you're putting them up to address criminal activity. The potential for retaliation is also very real, unfortunately, which is something many people don't think of when installing security cameras. [Featured image by WrS.tm.pl via Wikimedia Commons | Cropped and scaled | CC BY-SA 3.0 ] Depending on what type of security camera system you buy, backup power might be an important consideration. One of the biggest mistakes involved with security camera installation is not thinking about how you'll maintain power to your system. Wired cameras may be the most convenient most of the time, as they stay powered when your home has electricity. However, installing the wiring can be a challenge for many homeowners. Plus, if your power goes out, so do your cameras. Battery-powered cameras are another option, which is what I have at my house. We do go through a lot of batteries in our motion-detecting Blink cameras , but likely not as many as we would with continuously recording cameras. One complicating factor with battery-powered cameras, however, is that they may require a bridge to connect to your Wi-Fi. Blink cameras use a sync module (their term for a bridge) as a receiver for all the cameras, and the receiver then "talks" to your app over the Wi-Fi. When our power goes out, so does the sync module that's plugged in inside the house, so backup power comes into play again. Solar-powered security cameras can solve some of these issues — albeit not always the sync module one — and only rely on a few hours of sunlight to charge up. Most solar-powered cameras also remain plugged in all the time, so there's almost constant charging happening. Even if your cameras continuously record, this might be an energy-efficient way to keep them running. Reading the fine print is a must with any major purchase, and even if they're inexpensive, home security cameras are definitely a major purchase. There are so many things to consider, but if you're in a hurry to get cameras up, you might overlook things like compatibility, storage solutions, and how your footage is protected. Compatibility is important whether you're looking to connect your cameras to a smart home system (like Alexa, Siri, or Google) or planning to operate them from your smartphone. Some cameras are only compatible with specific voice assistants, so this is an important thing to check before buying. That doesn't mean you always have to choose a smart home-branded camera, though; there are third-party cameras that work with Google Home , for example. Storage is another essential consideration, especially because some brands (like Ring) charge a monthly subscription fee for video storage. A Basic Ring plan for $5 a month doesn't seem like much, but it does add up over time. There are also some potential security concerns with Ring cameras based on reports from consumers. For example, one case revealed that a Ring employee was spying on consumers via their video footage. No matter which camera system you go with, it's important to make sure your smart camera footage is secure , and reading the fine print is part of that. Local storage is one way to lock things down, but dual-factor authentication is another feature to look for. Most cameras don't record continuously, something that I quickly found out while shopping around for cameras a few years ago. While technology has definitely improved since then, it's still hard to find affordable cameras that continuously record. Battery usage is another concern if you're not wiring the cameras. Continuous recording might be the best way to ensure your home remains secure, but it takes a lot of energy and disk space. In my experience, motion-detecting cameras that record one clip at a time are pretty good at turning on when something passes by. I have plenty of footage of leaves blowing around my driveway, deer stopping to stare, and even spiders crawling across the camera lens. Yet these cameras weren't sensitive enough to pick up eggs flying through the air, let alone people a few dozen feet away slinging them over my fence. Continuous recording might have shed more light, but those cameras were massively expensive at the time. Even without continuous recording, I have hundreds of video clips to sort through (or just mass delete) daily. On top of expecting every camera system to offer continuous recording, another mistake is assuming you need to save all that footage in case you need it later. Do you really need hours upon hours of footage from your cameras — and are you paying to store it? If you have a large house or a lot of property, plotting your camera setup is an important preparatory step. As advanced as modern security cameras are, there is such a thing as being out of range of either your W-iFi or the sync module the cameras require. Plus, some cameras, like Roku's less expensive outdoor option , require wired power, which might be more difficult to coordinate. With Blink cameras, there are also some specific requirements with the sync module's distance from both your Wi-Fi system and the cameras themselves. Blink says the sync module "should be able to communicate" with your cameras as long as they are within 100 feet in any direction. However, Blink also notes that "unusually dense construction materials" can cut that distance down. Thus, if you have a two-story home or unconventional building materials, the functional distance might be shorter. I've had my cameras spaced less than 100 feet from the module and used trial and error to find a spot where the module could connect to both the Wi-Fi and all three cameras in our system. It was annoying, but knowing what to expect ahead of time can help make the process easier. My best advice is to plot out your cameras ahead of time — even measuring 100 feet by hand — and then turn them on to check the connection before calling the project done. Alternatively, shop for cameras with a longer range instead. You might think that security cameras should cover every square inch of your home to deter criminals. Or, you might think that lesser-noticed entry points need extra security because, after all, what criminal waltzes in the front door? But as it turns out, most criminals enter through easier points of entry like front doors/windows, says security company ADT, so you might be wasting your time installing tons of cameras at every vantage point. ADT's research suggests that 34% of criminals don't even break in; they check the doorknob and walk into the house. Another 23% of burglars use windows for entry, and not the second story, either. First-floor windows are seemingly the most susceptible; only 2% of criminals head to the second story for access. Nearly as many burglars use the back door as they do windows (22%), while garage doors (9%) and basements (4%) are lesser-used modes of entry. Your main takeaway from that data might be simply to lock your front and back doors and put locks on your windows. The secondary takeaway is that you might not need a dozen cameras monitoring each corner of your property, especially when a highly visible camera by the main entries could help deter a would-be criminal. That's not to say you shouldn't use more cameras if you have them, but in the interest of saving money and effort, start with the main locations and consider the basement and garage door as afterthoughts. [Featured image by cogdogblog via Wikimedia Commons | Cropped and scaled | CC BY-SA 3.0 ] Most security cameras are rated for outdoor use, and you wouldn't buy an indoor-only camera to put outside. Yet not all security cameras can handle all weather conditions, and over time, they might begin to break down. My Blink security cameras have withstood temperatures of up to around 105 degrees Fahrenheit, but not in direct sunlight. They've also managed to continue functioning at below-freezing temperatures, albeit with a coat of ice over the lens. However, we do place them with some cover from rain, wind, heat, and cold, which might have made all the difference — and kept them running over five years. Before installing your cameras, observe how the weather impacts the areas where you want to place them. For example, note whether there's enough shade under the eaves to cover your camera while still getting a good view of the front door and sidewalk. If you need to install cameras on trees, like I have, check out how well they withstand wind, or you might get hours of footage of branches swaying. Also consider the advice of the manufacturer when it comes to temperature and weather expectations. Direct sunlight can make surfaces far hotter than the ambient temperature, meaning your camera's housing might get hotter than the 113-degree limit Blink states for its devices. This advice also applies to any accessories — particularly after-market ones — for installing or charging your cameras. Security cameras might help deter thieves, and they may offer peace of mind and some level of convenience when you're away from home. However, as ADT's data on break-ins proves, cameras aren't everything, especially if you don't lock your doors. Using other security features — locks being the primary tool in your arsenal — can help protect your home even further and offer more peace of mind. You can find technology like alarms and window sensors at Home Depot to round out your security setup, and many devices are compatible with your smart home system. Arming your home can be as simple as telling Alexa that it's bedtime, at which point your connected devices will power up and start recording video and audio, flipping on floodlights when movement is detected outside, and locking the doors plus windows in every room and on every floor. Installing security cameras is a great way to complement your smart home equipment, and I admit it helps alleviate some of my security anxiety. Even though we don't live in the city anymore, I still have my cameras up to monitor our home and keep an eye on wildlife that doesn't always behave. Of course, I also lock my home and car doors, use sensors to detect motion, and have floodlights to scare away the skunks — and possible intruders.
Friday, December 27, 2024 China, the Philippines, India, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Bangladesh are rapidly emerging as pivotal markets for the global travel industry. These nations boast burgeoning middle classes, increasing disposable incomes, and a growing appetite for travel, both domestically and internationally. India and China lead the way with their vast populations and rapidly expanding economies, offering opportunities for airlines, hotels, and tour operators. The Philippines and Indonesia, with their stunning natural landscapes and vibrant cultures, are attracting adventure and leisure travelers. Vietnam and Bangladesh, with their rich histories and emerging infrastructures, are increasingly appealing to global tourists. As travel infrastructure develops and connectivity improves, these markets are becoming hotspots for inbound and outbound tourism. Travel brands are tailoring offerings to cater to their preferences, making Asia a powerhouse in shaping the future of the global travel landscape. These emerging markets represent immense growth potential for the global tourism industry. Fast-growing Asian nations are poised to double the size of the global economy in the next 15 years, according to the latest forecast by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR). The world’s gross domestic product is expected to reach $221 trillion by 2039, up from $100 trillion today, with emerging Asian markets playing a pivotal role in this transformation. For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TTW newsletter . Asia’s economies dominate the fastest risers in the CEBR’s World Economic League Table, with India leading the charge. India’s burgeoning middle class, structural reforms, and investments in infrastructure and green energy are driving its rapid growth. Currently the world’s fifth-largest economy, India is forecast to replace Japan as the fourth-largest by 2025 and surpass Germany by 2029 to become the third-largest economy globally. By 2039, India’s GDP is projected to reach $12.8 trillion. “India continues its ascent, driven by its growing middle class, structural reforms, and targeted investments in infrastructure and green energy,” said Pushpin Singh, senior economist at CEBR. Despite challenges like inflation and slowing consumption, India’s long-term outlook remains robust, solidifying its role as a cornerstone of global economic growth. Indonesia, the world’s fourth most populous nation, is another standout performer. Predicted to rise from the 16th-largest economy to the top 10 by 2039, Indonesia’s growth underscores the region’s economic dynamism. Bangladesh, too, is making remarkable progress, set to jump 16 places to 21st, fueled by a rapidly growing middle class and robust development strategies. Meanwhile, Vietnam and the Philippines are poised for significant economic advancements. Vietnam is expected to rise nine spots to rank 25th, while the Philippines climbs ten positions to 23rd, showcasing the region’s diverse growth engines. For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TTW newsletter . While many Asian economies soar, China’s trajectory appears less optimistic. Once predicted to overtake the United States as the world’s largest economy, China is now grappling with numerous challenges. “China’s economy is facing significant hurdles, including a slowdown in domestic activity, persistent deflationary pressures, and demographic shifts,” said Sam Miley, CEBR’s managing economist. China’s economic slowdown stems from a property crisis, subdued household and business confidence, and weakening domestic demand. While the World Bank recently revised its growth forecast for China’s GDP to 4.9% in 2024 and 4.5% in 2025, concerns remain over the sustainability of this growth. “Recent signals of forthcoming fiscal stimulus offer some optimism, but uncertainty surrounds their potential to counter the mainland’s economic challenges,” Mr. Miley added. The CEBR no longer predicts China will surpass the United States in GDP terms within the forecast horizon, marking a significant shift in global economic projections. The economic rise of nations like India, Indonesia, and Bangladesh signals a broader shift in global power dynamics. As these countries climb the ranks, they bring with them a host of opportunities for trade, investment, and innovation. This growth reflects a catch-up by less developed nations, enabling them to play a more prominent role in shaping the global economy. Asian economies’ advancements also highlight the importance of sustainable development. Investments in green energy, digital infrastructure, and education are key factors driving these nations’ long-term success. With a focus on inclusive growth, countries like India and Indonesia are setting examples for how emerging markets can balance rapid development with social and environmental responsibility. While Asia takes the lead, other emerging markets worldwide are contributing to global economic expansion. Africa and Latin America, in particular, are experiencing noteworthy growth, driven by urbanization, resource development, and technological adoption. However, Asia’s sheer scale and momentum make it the focal point of the global economy’s transformation. For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TTW newsletter . The rapid ascent of Asian economies opens new avenues for international trade and investment. Businesses worldwide are keen to tap into these growing markets, leveraging their expanding consumer bases and manufacturing capabilities. For example: The next 15 years will witness a dramatic reshaping of the global economic landscape, driven largely by the rapid growth of Asian nations. India’s rise as a global economic powerhouse, Indonesia’s steady ascent, and Vietnam’s and Bangladesh’s advancements highlight the region’s potential. While challenges remain, particularly for China, the overall outlook for Asia is one of optimism and opportunity. As the world’s GDP doubles to $221 trillion by 2039, the influence of these emerging markets will be undeniable. Their growth represents not only economic progress but also a rebalancing of global power dynamics, offering lessons and opportunities for the rest of the world. Read Travel Industry News in 104 different regional platforms Get our daily dose of news, by subscribing to our newsletters. Subscribe here . Watch Travel And Tour World Interviews here . Read more Travel News , Daily Travel Alert , and Travel Industry News on Travel And Tour World only.