Asus, TP-Link, Tenda, and Cudy are among South Africa's most popular router brands, with Asus and TP-Link maintaining a strong presence in the local market for years. This is according to feedback from Wootware sales head Dimitri Mackor, who noted that the popularity of Tenda and Cudy routers shows a significant shift in customer preference in recent years. Mackor explained that the most popular models from TP-Link and Asus offer mesh network technology, such as Asus's AiMesh routers and TP-Link's Deco series. "Routers are typically long-term investments, and customers don't often upgrade annually," said Mackor. "However, advancements like mesh systems, which address coverage gaps in homes, and the rising demand for higher internet speeds have kept router sales consistently strong." "Asus offers an excellent range of AiMesh routers, including models from their TUF series with AX capabilities. Similarly, TP-Link's Deco series, particularly those featuring the latest Wi-Fi 7 technology, have gained popularity," he added. MyBroadband also asked Dreamware Tech and Titan-Ice for feedback, but they hadn't answered our questions by publication. In August 2024, two of the country's most prominent ICT distributors — Nology and Pinnacle — told MyBroadband that brands like TP-Link, D-Link, Huawei, Zyxel,... Myles IllidgeInternational Mountain Day, celebrated on December 11, focuses in 2024 on sustainable solutions for mountain regions, emphasizing innovation, climate adaptation, and youth participation to address the challenges faced by mountain communities. For centuries, mountain communities have developed strategies to adapt to harsh conditions while protecting and restoring biodiversity. In 2024, International Mountain Day highlights three key priorities: innovation, climate adaptation, and youth engagement. Innovations are essential to solve the complex challenges in mountain areas, combining technological advances with creative approaches like climate-smart agriculture. Climate change continues to threaten mountain ecosystems, making adaptation strategies critical to reduce vulnerability and improve resilience. These strategies include disaster risk reduction tailored to specific ecosystems and leveraging indigenous knowledge. Youth participation plays a key role in ensuring long-term sustainability. The 2024 theme calls for providing opportunities such as decent jobs, accessible education, and entrepreneurial initiatives to enable youth to contribute to the sustainable management of mountain resources. Mountains are vital ecosystems, supporting 15% of the global population and hosting half of the world's biodiversity hotspots. They are also a crucial source of water, food, and energy for nearly half of humanity. However, mountains are increasingly threatened by climate change, land degradation, natural disasters, and overexploitation. Rising global temperatures have accelerated the melting of mountain glaciers, endangering freshwater supplies for millions of people. Land degradation affects over 311 million people in mountainous areas of developing countries, with 178 million facing food insecurity. International Mountain Day was established in 1992 following the adoption of Agenda 21 at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development. The day was first observed in 2003 after the UN declared 2002 as the International Year of Mountains. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) leads the global coordination for the preparation and implementation of the event. International Mountain Day continues to raise awareness about the significance of mountain regions, calling for global action to safeguard these natural treasures. On International Mountain Day, the Ambassador of the Kyrgyz Republic to Iran, Turdakun Sydykov, highlighted Kyrgyzstan’s initiatives to promote sustainable development in mountain regions, addressing climate challenges and international cooperation. Here is the full text of his statement about the international initiatives of the Kyrgyz Republic on promoting sustainable development of mountain regions: 1. Mountain agenda Climate change poses a serious threat to the most important aspects of life in mountain countries. These include an increase in natural disasters, threats to food security, growing hungry populations, the most vulnerable of whom are women and girls, slower economic growth, water scarcity and growing tensions between countries. In the 21st century, mountain countries will face many challenges and problems. In this regard, it is necessary to build in advance a system of joint actions of mountain countries to prevent and mitigate them. The first thing that should be done to achieve this goal is to unite their efforts. Only joint efforts can stop the processes of gradual degradation of mountain regions in the light of climate change. Kyrgyzstan, as a mountainous country, deeply realizes its responsibility to ensure the well-being of mountain regions and their sustainable development. Kyrgyzstan is taking consistent steps within the framework of the UN to gradually build up the global agenda for sustainable mountain development. Since the early 2000s, Kyrgyzstan has been actively working to attract the attention of the world community to mountain issues, in particular, by the initiative of the Kyrgyz Republic the following events were held: 1. Declaring 2002 as the International Year of Mountains; 2. Holding the first Bishkek Global Mountain Summit in Bishkek in 2002; 3. Establishment of December 11 as the International Mountain Day at the 57th session of the UN General Assembly; 4. Adoption from 1998 to 2019 by the UN General Assembly (UNGA) of the 13th International Day of Mountains. Adoption by the UN General Assembly (GA) of 13 resolutions on mountain countries (A/RES/53/24, A/RES/55/189, A/RES/57/245, A/RES/58/216, A/RES/59/238, A/RES/60/198, A/RES/62/196, A/RES/64/205, A/RES/66/205, A/RES/68/217, A/71/463/Add.10, A/74/209, A/RES/77/172); 5. Formation of the Group of Friends of Mountain Countries on 29 August 2019, comprising 26 States (Afghanistan, Andorra, Kyrgyzstan, Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Bolivia, Canada, Georgia, Greece, Ireland, Japan, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Morocco, Nepal, Norway, Peru, Romania, Rwanda, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkey and Switzerland); 6. At the initiative of the Kyrgyz Republic, the 76th session of the UNGA adopted a resolution to declare 2022 the International Year of Sustainable Mountain Development. 7. The 77th session of the UNGA adopted a resolution to declare 2023-2027 as the “Five Years of Action for Development”. “Five Years of Action for the Development of Mountain Regions“ (”the Five Years"). The Resolution was adopted unanimously without a vote. 109 UN Member States co-sponsored it. On our initiative and with the broad support of our mountain partners, the “Five-Year Action Plan for the Development of Mountain Regions for the period from 2023 to 2027” is currently being implemented. We have taken a systematic approach to its implementation: at the national level we are implementing the Roadmap, at the international level - the Global Action Plan, which in 2023 and 2024 were presented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic at the UN headquarters in New York. It is important for us to ensure access to health care and education, economic and social systems for the inhabitants of mountainous areas. In addition, Kyrgyzstan is initiating the creation of a Global Mountain University, the purpose of which is to create an educational platform for solving current problems facing mountain regions, training personnel, and improving the level of knowledge and qualifications of specialists who contribute to sustainable mountain development. In turn, Kyrgyzstan does not stand aside, in this year we decided to make a modest voluntary contribution to the budget of the Secretariat of the Mountain Partnership in Rome. Mountain initiatives of the Kyrgyz Republic were reflected in the final reports of the 28th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Thanks to the efforts of many mountain countries, the mountain agenda was included in the final document and includes five references to mountains and contains a formal request for a dialog on mountains and climate change. Also, as a result of the forum on the role of mountains under the Nairobi Work Program of the UNFCCC, “Mountains, high latitudes and the cryosphere” was declared a priority thematic area for 2024. The key event to promote the mountain agenda on a global scale was the participation of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic H.E. Mr. Sadyr Zhaparov in the UN Climate Change Conference - COP29 World Leaders Summit in Baku, which demonstrated the commitment of Kyrgyzstan to address climate issues within the framework of membership in the UNFCCC and the goals of the Paris Agreement, readiness to participate in international climate processes and consistent focus in promoting the mountain agenda at the global level. Kyrgyzstan organized its national pavilion for the first time and an extensive program of side events was held on thematic days. On the margins of the COP29 on November 13 this year in Baku with the participation of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic H.E. Mr. Sadyr Zhaparov a High-Level Meeting/Dialogue on Mountains and Climate was held. This High-level event was co-organized by Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia and Azerbaijan, and it was also attended by the Presidents of Mongolia and Nepal. 33 countries supported the initiative of the Kyrgyz Republic on the “Call to Action to consolidate the Mountains and Climate Dialogue in the annual calendar of the UNFCCC”. The Kyrgyz side initiated the “Declaration on Climate Change, Mountains and Glaciers”, presented on the margins of the COP29 in Baku, which was supported by 15 countries as the Final Document of the High-Level Dialogue. Kyrgyzstan actively promotes the mountain agenda at three international platforms: the UN in New York, the FAO Mountain Partnership in Rome and the UNFCCC, a group of friends to promote mountain initiatives: the Group of Friends of Mountain Countries of the UN in New York (29 countries), at the invitation of Kyrgyzstan in this year Lesotho joined the group. Member countries of the Mountain Partnership under the chairmanship of the Mountain Partnership Secretariat in Rome (65 countries). In this year, work was carried out to expand the Negotiating Group of the UNFCCC Mountain Partnership, established in December 2023, which initially had Kyrgyzstan and Andorra as members. Also, this year Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Armenia and Mongolia joined this group. Nepal, Italy, Bhutan, Zimbabwe have expressed their willingness to join thi8s group. The Second Global Bishkek Mountain Summit “Bishkek+25” to be held in Bishkek in 2027 was announced by the President of the Kyrgyz Republic H.E. Mr. Sadyr Zhaparov at the General debates of the 78th and 79th session of the UNGA in New York. The Kyrgyz Republic is actively announcing the holding of the Second Mountain Summit among foreign partners. Active work is being carried out to attract investments from international partners. We count on the support of the UN member states and other international and regional organizations in providing practical assistance in holding the Mountain Summit in 2027. The Kyrgyz Republic invites all countries, including, of course, the friendly Islamic Republic of Iran, to participate in the Mountain Summit at a high level. Climate finance We, the UN Member States, meet regularly to discuss climate issues and find solutions. No country remains indifferent and indifferent. But not all of us have equal conditions and opportunities to solve them and realize our climate commitments, including those undertaken within the framework of the UN Convention on Climate Change. In this context, Kyrgyzstan fully supports the position of the esteemed UN Secretary-General on the need to reform the international financial architecture and reduce the debt burden on developing and vulnerable states.

Newby scores 16, UNC Wilmington knocks off Appalachian State 76-61Wan Junaidi appointed as UTS’ second Chancellor

The ongoing Canada Post strike has reached the three-week mark as the two sides continue to trade proposals through a government-appointed mediator. The work stoppage centres around a variety of issues, including disputes over wages and weekend delivery. Here's a snapshot of the issues underpinning the standoff between the Crown corporation and union. Wage increases The Canadian Union of Postal Workers, which represents 55,000 Canada Post workers, said at the start of the strike that wage increases must be kept in line with inflation, with cost-of-living adjustment payments rolled into the basic wage rate. The union initially called for a cumulative wage hike of 24 per cent over four years. CUPW negotiator Jim Gallant said that figure has moved since the start of negotiations, but declined to comment on the union's latest proposal. "We have just lived through the worst cost of living crisis in a generation," the union's national president Jan Simpson said in a post on Tuesday. Canada Post says it has offered what it calls "competitive" wage increases totalling 11.5 per cent over four years and more paid leave. It notes labour costs rose by $242 million in 2023, or about 6.5 per cent, compared with 2022. The organization declined to comment on Thursday. Weekend delivery One of the main snags in negotiations has been a push to expand delivery to the weekend, but the two sides are at odds over how to staff the expansion. Canada Post has pitched seven-day-a-week delivery as a way to boost revenue and "secure the future of the company" as it struggles to compete with other delivery companies. The Crown corporation says it would staff weekend delivery shifts with a mix of new permanent part-time positions and some full-time, which would "create flexibility while not adding significant long-term fixed costs." But the union characterizes Canada Post's proposals as "attacks on full-time work," accusing the Crown corporation of wanting to increase the part-time mix to more than 50 per cent of the workforce. It says it is concerned some part-timers could be scheduled for as few as eight hours per week and wouldn’t be eligible for benefits until they reach 1,000 hours. "Canada Post has every ability today to deliver parcels on the weekend, inside our collective agreement at straight time," Gallant said in an interview. "We think it can be done with full-timers ... We're just saying, 'Instead of hiring 10 part-timers, you can hire three full time." Job security and retirement The union has highlighted a number of its demands for better job security, including a request for "improved protections against technological change." Gallant said Canada Post is "always looking for new technology" that could threaten workers' duties. "This loading and unloading of trucks by robots is one that they're really, really looking at (and) forklifts that drive themselves through a plant," he said. "We're always afraid." When it comes to retirement, CUPW says Canada Post wants new workers to accept a defined contribution pension plan, even though its defined benefit pension plan is overfunded by 140 per cent. "All workers deserve the right to retire with dignity, and for us, that means postal workers — present and future — maintain their defined benefit pension plan," Simpson said. Canada Post says its proposals are "focused on protecting and enhancing what’s important to current employees ... while protecting the defined benefit pension and their job security." Rural service The union has said it wants job security rights for rural and suburban mail carriers in line with those granted to urban postal workers. It has outlined a number of issues affecting its Rural Suburban Mail Carrier bargaining unit, saying it wants an hourly rate system with appropriate time values, union involvement and "safeguards against (Canada Post's) unilateral change." The union says Canada Post must maximize and maintain eight-hour routes for rural workers, grant improved rights for on-call relief employees, and uphold paid meal and rest period rights. It says the Crown corporation must also ensure the bargaining unit's involvement in service expansion projects. Earlier this week, Simpson called on Canada Post to commit to working with the union "to expand services at the post office including postal banking and electric vehicle charging stations." Safer working conditions The union has demanded the full elimination of Canada Post's "separate sort from delivery" system, which entails certain employees spending the entirety of their shifts sorting mail for letter carriers to go out and deliver — as opposed to carriers performing both tasks. It says this system overburdens carriers, who as a result spend more time outdoors and potentially exposed to extreme weather events. "Postal workers suffer the second highest rate of disabling injury among workers under federal jurisdiction, behind only the road transportation sector," Simpson said. "Growing neighbourhood mail volumes and changing work methods like separate sort-from-delivery are only making things worse." The union has also proposed increases to short-term disability program payments and injury on duty payments, along with more paid medical days. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 5, 2024. Sammy Hudes, The Canadian PressOhio secures 84-68 win against Robert MorrisU.S. President-elect Donald Trump speaks at a campaign town hall at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center & Fairgrounds, on Oct. 14, in Oaks, Pa., as moderator South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem listens. Alex Brandon/The Associated Press John Rapley is an author and academic who divides his time among London, Johannesburg and Ottawa. His books include Why Empires Fall (Yale University Press, 2023) and Twilight of the Money Gods (Simon and Schuster, 2017). In the short term, Canadians will fret that the incoming Trump administration will use the threat of tariffs to squeeze more from the country. With an economy that depends heavily on trade with our southern neighbour, and a surplus on that trade, Canada is both in the crosshairs and highly vulnerable. However, there are reasons to hope not only that president-elect Donald Trump won’t come down hard on Canada, but that the country might actually enjoy a windfall from his term. Mr. Trump plans to scrap the Biden administration’s transition to renewable energy and switch to what he calls energy dominance – relying on abundant supplies of oil and gas to drive down energy costs and thereby allow the country to out-compete its rivals on input prices. He has chosen an energy secretary who has declared “there is no climate crisis and we are not in the midst of an energy transition either.” But Mr. Trump’s pledges to deregulate and “drill, baby, drill” may not lead to to a big increase in American oil production. With output having already surged under Mr. Biden, given the strength of the economy, many oil executives are now prioritizing increasing returns over expanded production . That would make Mr. Trump even more dependent on Canadian oil, which makes up more than half of the U.S.’s total oil imports . It’s thus unlikely that any tariffs from Mr. Trump would include oil and gas. Were he to impose tariffs on Canadian oil and gas, his voters would feel it at the gas pumps, a prospect no American president relishes. So the odds are good that Canada might actually be able to look forward to a windfall from Trump 2.0, at least for as long as the American economy remains buoyant. Nevertheless, it would be a mistake to think that this oil windfall would last, to take it as a harbinger of things to come. It’s important to remember that Mr. Trump will have only one term in office, and Republicans are more likely than not to lose control of the House of Representatives in the 2026 midterms, making him a lame-duck president. And all the while, in the rest of the world, despite what Mr. Trump’s proposed energy secretary says, the energy transition is if anything picking up speed. Until recently, the prevailing assumption was that the switch to renewable energy would be mostly confined to the developed economies, since the cost of installing renewable capacity lay beyond the means of developing countries. Suddenly, though, that backdrop has changed, and Mr. Trump can’t do much about it. That’s because the energy transition in China has proceeded much quicker than anyone expected, because of a massive government program to stimulate investment in new industry. Not only has the technology advanced so quickly that renewable energy is now often the cheapest source available, but the rapid expansion in Chinese industrial capacity means the country is swamping world markets with cheap products. So when it comes to cars, for instance, EVs are now often the cheapest option available . And with BYD now producing a plug-in hybrid with a range of more than 2,000 kilometres , the need for charging infrastructure will soon become secondary. Thus, although EVs still account for a tiny sliver of the developing-world market, sales there have begun exploding, especially in some of the fastest-growing economies – up 70 per cent last year in India , 200 per cent in Malaysia, and more than 300 per cent in Thailand and Vietnam. With Mr. Trump just weeks away from returning to the White House, there’s an air of uncertainty about what comes next. The man’s mercurial nature and his reduced reliance on establishment Republicans to staff his administration mean that the U.S.’s policy framework will be governed largely by his whims – tough to predict at the best of times. But one thing is clear: The long-term outlook for oil, and the technologies fuelled by it, makes Canada’s prospects look very different 10 years out. If we get a Trump windfall, we’d do well to use it to develop new export industries, because the death knell for our old ones may ring sooner than we thought.