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World News | Significant Milestones in Life and Career of Jimmy CarterNEW YORK , Dec. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Report on how AI is driving market transformation - The global building automation and control systems market size is estimated to grow by USD 31.12 billion from 2024-2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 8.71% during the forecast period. Demand for energy efficiency is driving market growth, with a trend towards increase in use of personnel assistant in residential buildings. However, high installation cost poses a challenge. Key market players include ABB Ltd., Bajaj Electricals Ltd., BuildingLogiX, Emerson Electric Co., Evon Technologies Pvt. Ltd., FORESCOUT, Honeywell International Inc., IoEnergy Inc., Itron Inc., Johnson Controls International Plc., KMC Controls Inc., Legrand, Lutron Electronics Co. Inc., Mode Green Integrated Building Technology, OptergyA, PointGrab Inc., Robert Bosch GmbH, Rockwell Automation Inc., Schneider Electric SE, and Siemens AG. Key insights into market evolution with AI-powered analysis. Explore trends, segmentation, and growth drivers- View Free Sample PDF Market Driver The Building Automation and Control Systems (BACS) market in the residential sector is experiencing significant growth due to the increasing trend of transforming homes into smart residences. Amazon's Alexa and Google Home are leading the way with their personnel assistant devices, enabling users to connect and control various smart home appliances via the internet and voice commands. These devices function as controllers for lighting systems and thermostats, while also offering additional features such as setting alarms and taking notes. The market is projected to expand at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 11.61% during the forecast period, driven by the popularity of smart homes. The Building Automation and Control Systems market is thriving, driven by the increasing use of sensors, detectors, relays, and smart electronics in office buildings, shopping centers, public transportation hubs, airports, and train stations. Core competencies include HVAC Control, Lighting Control, and Security Access Control. Material types and industry verticals, such as Residential, Hospitality, and Energy consumption, are key factors. Technology growth is fueled by integrated systems, real estate assets, semiconductor chips, and construction sector. Remote monitoring, energy efficiency, interconnected systems, and international energy agency are shaping the future of this industry. Smart appliances, urbanization, energy management systems, and monitoring are also trends to watch. The market is expected to grow significantly due to the need for cost savings and energy efficiency. Request Sample of our comprehensive report now to stay ahead in the AI-driven market evolution! Market Challenges The Building Automation and Control Systems Market growth may be impeded due to the high cost of installation and the variability of solutions. End-users often hesitate to invest in these systems due to the lengthy recovery period. This economic constraint could impact vendors' revenue during the forecast period. Despite these challenges, the market continues to offer significant benefits, such as energy efficiency and improved operational control, making it an attractive investment for businesses seeking to optimize their facilities. Building Automation and Control Systems Market: Overcoming Challenges for Smarter, Safer, and Sustainable Buildings The Building Automation and Control Systems (BACS) market is growing rapidly due to the increasing demand for energy-efficient, comfortable, and secure buildings. However, the market faces several challenges that need to be addressed for continued growth. Cyberattacks and malware attacks pose significant risks to BACS, threatening data security and system reliability. Sanitization systems and security protocols are essential to mitigate these risks. Operations in HVAC and energy systems require seamless integration of hardware and software, including electronic devices, lighting, and safety systems. In the residential, commercial, and industrial segments, facility management is crucial to ensure building sustainability and meet carbon-neutral goals. Supply chain disruptions and manufacturing company challenges can impact the availability of hardware and software components. Real-time monitoring and condition-based maintenance are essential to minimize downtime and ensure optimal performance. 5G technology offers opportunities for faster and more reliable communication between devices, enabling energy-efficient buildings, de-carbonization, and building sustainability. Safety systems, including safety alarms and access management, are essential for ensuring occupant safety and health. The commercial industry's focus on energy-efficient building design and green building concepts presents significant business opportunities for BACS providers. The BACS market's challenges include addressing cybersecurity risks, integrating hardware and software components, ensuring supply chain reliability, and providing cost-effective solutions for maintenance, repair, and construction activities. Technology innovation and collaboration between stakeholders are key to overcoming these challenges and driving market growth. Discover how AI is revolutionizing market trends- Get your access now! Segment Overview This building automation and control systems market report extensively covers market segmentation by 1.1 Commercial buildings 1.2 Residential buildings 1.3 Government buildings 1.4 Other buildings 2.1 Integration 2.2 Services 3.1 Europe 3.2 North America 3.3 APAC 3.4 Middle East and Africa 3.5 South America 1.1 Commercial buildings- Download a Sample of our comprehensive report today to discover how AI-driven innovations are reshaping competitive dynamics Research Analysis The Building Automation and Control Systems (BACS) market is experiencing significant growth due to the increasing focus on energy efficiency and sustainability in both commercial and residential buildings. With the rising energy consumption and operating costs, integrated systems that manage HVAC, lighting, safety, and security are becoming essential for real estate assets. The market is driven by the adoption of electronic devices and software, as well as the integration of hardware components such as sensors and actuators. Technology advancements, including 5G technology and energy-efficient buildings, are key factors fueling market growth. Core competencies of BACS include HVAC Control, Lighting Control, and Security Access Control. Material types and industry verticals, such as residential and hospitality, are also important considerations. Safety systems, air conditioning, and lighting are critical components of BACS, with energy efficiency and building sustainability being key priorities. De-carbonization is also a significant trend, as the industry seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote a more sustainable future. Overall, the BACS market is poised for continued growth as the demand for energy-efficient and intelligent building solutions increases. Market Research Overview Building Automation and Control Systems (BACS) market is witnessing significant growth due to the increasing focus on energy consumption and operating costs reduction in various industry verticals. Technology growth in integrated systems, real estate assets, and urbanization is driving the demand for energy efficiency and interconnected systems. The International Energy Agency reports that energy consumption in buildings accounts for nearly 40% of global energy usage. Semiconductor chips and smart appliances are integral components of BACS, enabling remote monitoring and energy management systems. The construction sector is adopting BACS for safety systems, HVAC systems, and lighting control in energy-efficient buildings. The commercial and industrial segments are investing in BACS for facility management, access management, and condition-based maintenance of electrical appliances. The green building concept and carbon-neutral goals are further boosting the market growth. However, cyberattacks and malware attacks pose a significant threat to the operations of BACS. The manufacturing companies are focusing on real-time monitoring, 5G technology, and supply chain disruptions to mitigate risks and seize business opportunities. The market offers significant potential for growth in various construction activities, including office buildings, shopping centers, public transportation hubs, airports, and train stations. The core competencies of BACS include HVAC Control, Lighting Control, and Security Access Control. The material type and industry vertical, such as Residential, Hospitality, and others, also influence the market dynamics. Safety, comfort, and security are the primary concerns for building automation and control systems in various industry verticals. Table of Contents: 1 Executive Summary 2 Market Landscape 3 Market Sizing 4 Historic Market Size 5 Five Forces Analysis 6 Market Segmentation End-user Commercial Buildings Residential Buildings Government Buildings Other Buildings Type Integration Services Geography Europe North America APAC Middle East And Africa South America 7 Customer Landscape 8 Geographic Landscape 9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends 10 Company Landscape 11 Company Analysis 12 Appendix About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contacts Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.technavio.com/ SOURCE TechnavioBerry Petroleum stock hits 52-week low at $3.87

The country’s citizens are lucky, with uninterrupted electrical power supply met from large and small hydro power plants, thermal power stations owned by Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) and private, also to a lesser degree with bio-energy, solar and wind power. The situation could be improved with moving over to more solar and wind power. Electricity generated from hydro-power, wind, solar and bio-energy are referred to as renewable energy. The country’s hydro power sources are almost exhausted. Wind and solar power have enormous potential, initial investments are slightly higher then thermal, but running costs are low, without imports. Solar is only during the day with intensity reducing with clouds, wind throughout the day and night, but wavering over the time and months. The country’s highest electricity demand is from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Thus solar could only contribute towards meeting the day time demand with hydro contributing throughout. Today, balance is met with thermally generated power. Recently pumped water storage is proposed, using excessive solar power during the day time to pump water to higher levels and using the same to generate electricity during the peak hours (more later). Biomass projects generate power by burning tree branch cuttings or paddy husk under controlled conditions. Branch cuttings of plants (mostly grilicedia) are collected from rural farmers and paddy husk produced during milling of paddy, that are normally disposed by burning. Gliricedia plant roots known for its nitrogen fixing abilities and improve soil fertility, whose leaves are generally used as animal feed, rots easily is an excellent manure. Most dendro-power plants located in the dry rural sector, provide employment and income opportunities to growers and transporters. Wind and solar power are highly acclaimed throughout the world, with energy produced causing least pollution and free, neither available uniformly nor throughout the day. Solar power is popular in Arab countries with massive investments. Technologies and equipment for solar and wind are imported from developed countries and are expensive, but with low running costs. Currently, Hambantota wind farm owned by CEB has a production capacity of 3 MW and the Puttalam farm with a capacity of 10 MW. A wind farm consisting of 30 towers generating 100 MW (Phase 1 – Thambapawani) was established on the southern coast of Mannar Island in 2021, with financial assistance from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The Buruthakanda Solar Park in Hambantota by Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority (SLSEA), first commercial scale solar power station completed in 2012, producing 737 KW in the first stage and 500 KW in the second stage. The Ambassador of the Republic of Korea, officially handed over Sri Lanka’s first-ever floating solar photovoltaic power plant located at Chandrika Wewa and Kiriibban Wewa reservoirs. The $ 5 million project, with floating solar photovoltaic power plant capable of generating 1MW, uses the reservoir surface, conserving land resources while reducing environmental impact. A World Bank report of August 2007 identified nearly 5,000 sq. km with good-to-excellent wind resource potential of 24,000 MW. About 4,100 sq. km of land and 700 sq. km in lagoons, largely concentrated in the north western coast from Kalpitiya Peninsula north to Mannar Island, Jaffna Peninsula, also central highlands. A strong stream of wind passes through the Strait of Mannar. The high speed winds moving from south to north and vice versa between central mountains of Sri Lanka and South Indian mountains through Strait of Mannar, allows generation of electricity power. Using the same, State of Tamil Nadu has installed six wind power projects, with a capacity of 7,450 MW becoming the leader in India. The largest is the Muppandal Wind Farm with a capacity of 1,500 MW, making it the world’s forth largest onshore wind farm. CEB installed a 103 MW wind power plant in Mannar Island with ADB assistance, costing $ 135 million and commissioned on 18 May 2021, named “Thambapavani”. The plant with 30 wind turbine generators located along the southern coast of Mannar Island. The produced electricity generated by the wind plant cost less than 4 US Cents a kWHr. But the proposed project located on the narrow ‘movement corridor’ where millions of migratory birds moving from north to south and back are severely objected by the environmentalists. CEB’s Long Term Generation Expansion Plans (LTGEP) prepared for 2023-2042 proposes: In addition, the plan allows pumped storage of 300 MW each for years 2029 and 2030, also are 1,400 MW Pumped Hydro Storage development by 2032 and 3,365 MW Battery Energy Storage development by 2042, requiring an average annual investment of $ 1.4 billion for generation and storage capacity additions. As per CEB generation statistics on 21 November, the combined output from the Laxapana, Mahaweli, and Samanala hydro complexes, along with CEB and Small Power Producer (SPP), wind energy and SPP solar, biomass, and mini-hydro sources, amounted to 27.22 GWh. Considering total energy generated was 47.47 Gwh, renewable energy amounts approximately to 57.35% of total energy generation. Thus achieving 70% target by 2030, Sri Lanka needs to increase its RE contribution by 27% within the next five years. Up to now, CEB showed reluctance to connect small and medium renewable plants, claiming the connection will destabilise their distribution system. But, recently, ADB agreed to provide a loan of $ 200 million to Sri Lanka to upgrade the power sector infrastructure, enhancing the reliability of transmission and distribution facilities of renewable energy, which will enable CEB to connect the renewable systems. The Phase II of the Mannar Wind Energy Park of capacity 200 MW, similar to Phase I with a 5 km 132 kV transmission line. The proposed turbines located 2 km away from the existing wind turbines and production costs would be similar. In 2022, the billionaire Indian businessman Gautham Adani visited Sri Lanka and met the President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and visited the proposed wind power project site. Subsequently, the Ministry of Power and Energy, received an unsolicited proposal for the construction and operation of the Mannar Wind Power Project (Phase-II), as Build, Own and Operate project for a 25-year period with an investment of $ 500 million. But with a lawsuit filed in New York court, by the Securities and Exchange Commission, Adani family are facing serious allegations of bribing personnel in implementing projects. Thus offering a project to Adani family would no longer feasible. Sri Lanka being close to the equator, receives an abundant supply of solar radiation year around without a marked seasonal variation. Roof-top solar is possible throughout the country except in higher elevations. Solar-parks are possible in the western coastal belt from Kalpitiya to Jaffna, Northern Province, also Hambantota and Monaragala districts due to flat dry terrain and low rain. In addition, parts of lagoons, lakes and reservoirs could host solar-parks. Thus the country’s solar and wind production capacity is beyond imagination, only needs implementation. SLSEA introduced rooftop solar power units in 2010 which became a success, and led to Surya Bala Sangramaya or the battle for solar energy in 2016. New program targets adding 1,450 MW by 2025. Currently 20,000 solar systems supply 215 MW to national grid, dominated by small roof-top solar installations. Thus rooftop solar needs to be promoted vehemently. Under the current system, rooftop solar producers up to 500 KWs are paid a Rs. 37 flat rate for 20 years, while systems above 50 KWs are paid Rs. 34.50 per unit. Sri Lanka’s first and the largest power station implemented as a joint venture by CEB with aid from EXIM Bank of China. It was constructed by China Machinery Engineering Corporation at a cost of $ 1.35 billion. The contract was signed in 2006 and the first phase of 300 MW was commissioned in 2011, including the construction of 115 km transmission line connecting the plant to the national grid through the Veyangoda substation. The Norochcholai Coal Power Plant located in Puttalam District, on the West Coast of the Kalpitiya Peninsula. The power plant proposed as 3 phases, each phase adding 300 MW, making the total power generated as 900 MW. A 300 MW unit of the Norochcholai plant would use between 650,000 to 700,000 tonnes of coal a year. There are large number of small and medium scale industries, who are occupied during daytime (when the sun is shining) with large roofs. Also are large number of supermarkets, all with large roofs. These roofs could be utilised effectively by installing solar power systems. Solar panels on the roof will reduce the sun-light on the roof, reducing the air-conditioning load below. Some Supermarkets already have solar panels on their roofs, others too could follow and owners cannot claim to be short of funds. I have installed a 14 kW solar system on my roof-top, costing Rs. 2.1 million, the system consisting of 34 solar panels. I have paid all requirements to CEB and am awaiting them to connect the solar power system. Now that Adani’s wind power proposal is no longer acceptable, the Governments need to call for expression of interest world-wide for future installation wind power systems in Mannar, Jaffna regions as well as up on the hills. In the hilly areas, most grounds are Government owned and there would be no objection for the locals. A pumped storage hydro-electric plant generally consists of two water reservoirs at different levels, connected with each other. During low electricity demand, excess generation capacity (excessive solar power) is used to pump water into the upper reservoir. With the high demand in peak hours, water is released back into the lower reservoir through a turbine (usually a Francis turbine), generating electricity. Pumped storage plants, usually use reversible turbine/generator assemblies, acting both pump and as a turbine generator at variable speed operation, further optimising the efficiency in pumped hydro storage tanks. For pumping of water, also for power generation, the same pump is used by changing rotational direction and speed. Pumped storage power plants (PSPPs) have been identified as a viable solution for power generation for Sri Lanka. Wewatenna was identified in the Electricity Sector Master Plan Study of Sri Lanka conducted in 2018 as a suitable site. This study develops the basic design configuration and calculates the peaking energy of the proposed PSPP at Wewathenna using the methodologies employed in previous studies conducted in 2015. The proposed Wewathenna project uses existing Victoria reservoir as the lower pond. The catchment area of the existing “Victoria” is 6.64 km2 and to construct an artificial dam on the eastern side of Victoria Lake serving as the upper pond of capacity 0.33 km2. The net head and maximum discharge are planned as 686 m and 240 m3/s respectively, with a potential capacity of 1,400 MW. However, due to various restrictions, Wewatenna was based on 500 MW. But adhering to manufacturing limit of pump-turbines, the unit capacity was set at 350 MW. The regulator PUCSL requested CEB a revised plan for tariff reduction starting 1 January 2025, and set a deadline for submission by 6 December 2024. But CEB refused any reductions of rates, claiming excess water in reservoir need to be saved to cater till April, end of dry period. Failure will require power generation through oil and coal. Former PUCSL Chairman Janaka Ratnayake added that the generation cost of electricity has decreased from Rs. 50 to Rs. 28, and electricity tariffs should be reduced by at least 30% passing relief to the public. The consumers have noted that recent heavy rains have significantly boosted hydropower generation and would allow reduction of electricity charges. Meanwhile, CEB unions called for bonuses, highlighting that the CEB recorded a profit of Rs. 43 billion in 2023 and Rs. 161 billion in 2024. But CEB rejected the demand for bonus. Also no reduction in electricity prices during the next six months, due to lack of low cost energy sources. The country has almost exhausted its cheapest power hydro-electricity. Only possibility is major movement towards solar power, especially by small and medium scale industries and house owners. Most convenient new solar users would be factories and offices, who normally work during day-light hours. Also, most schools have fans in the classrooms. They could install solar panels on the roofs, eliminating electricity bills. The parents who installed the fans in classrooms could also install solar panels. Meanwhile, it was reported that Orion City, the nation’s premier IT and business park has invested in a 700 kW solar power at its Colombo 9 complex, ensuring 24/7 uninterrupted power supply to its customers, would be an example to others. Thus, the Government needs to submit a plan to encourage installation of solar power by individual homes and the industry, with reduced interest loans from commercial banks. Recently, delegates from Japan and Qatar met the President and have offered assistance for renewable energy. Also, a number of European countries have offered low interest loans for renewable power. If the Government takes initiative to get their assistance, new solar investors could be offered low interest loans, will be a great support to the new investors, and will improve the solar power industry and the country.Published 21:42 IST, November 30th 2024 Congress's 'Delhi Nyay Yatra', which is slated to cover 70 assembly constituencies, targets Arvind Kejriwal with ‘Sheesh Mahal’ tableau. New Delhi: The Congress party, on Saturday, carried out the ‘Delhi Nyay Yatra’ with a tableau featuring a ‘Sheesh Mahal (Referred to Delhi CM residence), a gold-plated toilet seat and liquor bottle, alleging unprecedented corruption by former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. As the Congress launched an attack on the ruling AAP government, the ‘Sheesh Mahal’ tableau drew attention across the national capital. While unveiling the tableau in Delhi Hari Nagar, Delhi Congress President Devender Yadav that it symbolises unprecedented corruption by Kejriwal. Yadav said, “Kejriwal, who hailed from a humble background, lived in a small flat, drove a Wagon-R, and with a perpetual cough for company, and who had said that he would not accept any official bungalow, car or security, built a Rs 175 crore “Sheesh Mahal” illegally for himself, with a gold-plated commode, and travelled in luxury vehicles with security to flaunt his power, but did nothing for the people or for the development of the city, which he allowed to deteriorate with air and water pollution causing serious health hazards to the people.” He said that Kejriwal, who also spent lakhs to cure his cough at a resort in Bangalore, neglected Delhi and its residents to drive them into total misery, yet he was swearing by the name of “Aam Aadmi”. Addressing a gathering in Hari Nagar, Devender Yadav said that the float was to expose the corruption and misuse of power by Arvind Kejriwal, who betrayed the people with false promises. He said, “In the name of freebies, Kejriwal served people with dirty water, inflated power bills and an obsolete public transport system. The people of Delhi elected Kejriwal thrice to power, expecting a clean and transparent government by an honest man, but what they got in return was corruption, destruction of the city and a most corrupt chief minister, who became inaccessible to people after getting power.” Taking a veiled dig at Kejriwal calling him ‘Kattar Imandar’, the Delhi Congress president alleged that the former CM destroyed youths of the city by opening liquor vends all over, including non-confirming areas like unauthorised colonies and rural areas, in a liquor scam which eventually landed him in jail. Delhi CM's Residence Was Reportedly Renovated at Around Rs 45 Crore Pertinently, former CM Arvind Kejriwal had promised before his first Delhi assembly elections that he would live an austere life as a chief minister. However, later, it came to light that he spent crores on the renovation of his official residence in Delhi’s Civil Lines. It was claimed that Kejriwal spent a whopping Rs 45 crore on renovation of his official home at 6, Flagstaff Road, Civil Lines in Delhi. The huge expenditure triggered a political row, with the opposition parties demanding his resignation. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) released documents that claimed Rs 44.78 crore were spent on "addition/alteration" at the chief minister’s government residence between September 2020 and June 2022. This included Rs 11.30 crore for interior decoration, Rs 6.02 crore on flooring, and Rs 1 crore on curtains along with crores on appliances and other fixtures. Get Current Updates on India News , Entertainment News along with Latest News and Top Headlines from India and around the world. Updated 21:42 IST, November 30th 2024

Neal Maupay: Whenever I’m having a bad day I check Everton score and smileDES MOINES — Iowa K-12 students would be barred from having their cellphones in the classroom under a proposal that Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds plans to present to state lawmakers. Reynolds mentioned her proposal Thursday during an interview with the Gray TV stations’ Washington, D.C. bureau. “Gov. Reynolds believes Iowa students deserve the opportunity to learn free from the distraction of personal electronic devices. Iowa kids should have the freedom to focus and be fully engaged in their education,” Reynolds’ spokesman, Mason Mauro, said in an email Friday night. Proponents of such bans say they prevent students from being distracted during school instruction time and also help address concerns about students’ mental health. Eight states had banned cellphones in classrooms as of Nov. 4, according to KFF, a nonprofit health care news and advocacy organization. The states with statewide bans on phones in the classroom are Minnesota, Florida, Indiana, Ohio, Virginia, South Carolina, Louisiana and California, according to KFF. Another 12 states — including Iowa — have introduced legislation that would ban or restrict cellphone use in classrooms, and education departments in nine more states have recommended policies or pilot programs designed to ban or restrict cellphones in schools, according to KFF. It is unclear whether state lawmakers would support a ban on cellphones in the classroom, even with Reynolds’ fellow Republicans holding majorities in both chambers of the Iowa Legislature. State Sen. Ken Rozenboom, a Republican from Pella who chairs the Senate’s Education Committee, said he has not considered introducing a ban on cellphones in classrooms, nor has anyone contacted him about the issue. “I believe cellphone usage is a very significant problem in our schools, but I’m not convinced that this is something that should be governed by the state,” Rozenboom said. A spokeswoman for Iowa House Republicans pointed to legislation considered in that chamber during the 2024 session that would have required school districts to adopt a policy that restricts the use of cellphones during classroom instruction, but did not ban phones from the classroom. That bill did not advance far enough to be passed into law. Melissa Saitz, the spokeswoman for Iowa House Republicans, said she believes the topic will come up during the 2025 legislative session, and that House Republicans will be seeking feedback from Iowans on the topic. She said it is too early to say whether House Republicans will support a full ban on phones in the classroom, but it will “definitely be a discussion” during the session. “We have heard from so many teachers that cellphones are a huge distraction preventing kids from learning,” Saitz said. A spokeswoman for the Iowa State Education Association, the statewide union that represents public schoolteachers, said the union will not comment at this time since there is not yet a “specific proposal.” The 2025 session of the Iowa Legislature begins Jan. 13. Gov. Kim Reynolds likely will give her annual Condition of the State address on Jan. 14. Many Eastern Iowa schools are exploring policies about cellphones in the classroom, mirroring a national trend of school districts and states restricting students’ cellphone use in schools. Hillcrest Academy, a private school in Kalona, is one of the first Iowa districts to become phone-free this academic year to reduce distractions in the classroom and out of concerns for students’ mental health. Grace King of The Gazette contributed to this report. We all know that staring at screens constantly is bad for our health. So here are some easy ways to reduce screen time. At Bullard High School in Fresno, California, it's easy to see the benefits of banning students' cellphones. Bullying is down and socialization is up, principal Armen Torigian said. Enforcing the smartphone restrictions? That's been harder. Instead of putting their devices in magnetically locked pouches, like they're supposed to, some kids will stick something else in there instead, like a disused old phone, a calculator, a glue bottle or just the phone case. Others attack the pouch, pulling at stitches, cutting the bottom, or defacing it so it looks closed when it's really open. Most students comply, but those who don't create disproportionate chaos. "You should see how bad it is," Torigian said. "It's great to say no phones, but I don't think people realize the addiction of the phones and what students will go to to tell you 'No, you're not taking my phone.'" Bullard, which began restricting phones two years ago, is a step ahead of other schools around the state that have moved recently to prohibit cellphones in classrooms, CalMatters reports. Bullard and other pioneering schools offer a preview of how such bans might play out as they become more common. Educators who have enacted the smartphone restrictions said they help bolster student participation and reduce bullying but also raise challenges, like how to effectively keep phones locked up against determined students and how to identify and treat kids truly addicted to their devices. Citing Bullard as an example, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Aug. 13, urged school districts statewide to "act now" and adopt similar restrictions on smartphone use, reminding them that a 2019 law gives them the authority to do so. Los Angeles Unified, the nation's second-largest school district, recently approved plans to ban phones in January. One bill before the state legislature would impose similar limits statewide while another would ban the use of social media at school . Another would prevent social media companies from sending notifications during school hours as part of a broader set of regulations intended to disrupt social media addiction. Calls to limit how students use smartphones are driven in part by concerned educators. A Pew Research Center survey released in June found that one in three middle school teachers and nearly three in four high school teachers call smartphones a major problem. During school hours in a single day, the average student receives 60 notifications and spends 43 minutes — roughly the length of a classroom period — on their phone, according to a 2023 study by Common Sense Media. There is growing pressure to protect young people from excessive screen time generally: The moves to limit smartphone use in California put it near the forefront of an increasingly national trend. In New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul has reportedly been mulling a statewide school smartphone ban for several months . Florida, Ohio and Indiana have all imposed some degree of statewide restrictions on phones in schools, and several other states have introduced similar legislation. Education Week in June said 11 states either restrict or encourage school districts to restrict student phone use. Teachers have had classroom phone policies for years; what's new at schools like Bullard are that their bans are blanket, campuswide restrictions. Many of the schools that moved early to adopt such bans are smaller and charter schools, like Soar Academy, a TK-8 charter school with 430 mostly low-income students in San Bernardino, California. Like Bullard, it also found enforcement of its ban was tough. Suspending students wasn't an option. Neither was yanking phones from students' hands. That left an honor system, which relied on students' willingness to accept that smartphones and social media are harmful to their mental health and a distraction from learning. "The key was that we needed 100% buy-in from teachers. There couldn't be a weak link," said Soar principal Trisha Lancaster. "It was scary, because we weren't sure it was going to work. But we were determined to try." Lancaster said it also helped not to give parents or students a choice in the matter. The school simply presented the new policy, alongside ample research on the harmful effects of cellphones and social media on young people, and made it clear what the punishments would be. For the first violation, staff would keep a student's phone for the day and call their parents. Punishments would escalate until the sixth offense, when a student would have to meet with the school board, whose members might suggest the student enroll elsewhere. At Soar, the idea originated at the end of the 2022-2023 school year, when teachers said they were fed up with distracted students and an overall dispiriting school climate. Students, Lancaster said, "had lost their social skills." So the staff decided to ban phones during class, at recess, at lunch and after school — essentially, all times except when in a special area where parents or others can pick them up from school. Students must keep phones off and in backpacks when they are not permitted. The first year of the ban went smoother than expected, Lancaster said. Some students and parents protested, but most understood the policy was in students' best interests. Test scores didn't budge much, but at the end of the school year, a survey of teachers showed much higher job satisfaction than they recorded previously. And walking across campus, the improvements are obvious, Lancaster said. "Everyone on campus is so much happier. You see kids actually socializing, problem-solving, enjoying themselves," Lancaster said, choking up as she described the school atmosphere. "It's true, it's one more thing to enforce. But education matters, and now kids are learning. That's the No. 1 reason we did this." Soar's experience has been mirrored on a larger scale in the San Mateo-Foster City School District, which serves 10,000 students at 21 TK-8 schools south of San Francisco. After a full-time return to campus in 2022, teachers in the district found many students were "interacting intensely with cellphones in a way we didn't see before the pandemic," said superintendent Diego Ochoa, and so the school district adopted a smartphone ban for four middle schools in 2022. Administrators were convinced to do so following a trip to a nearby high school with a smartphone ban. There, they saw students speaking to each other and looking at one another during break time instead of their phones. Ochoa said the benefits of locking smartphones away is evident from improved test scores and an anonymous annual student survey that found a decline in depression, bullying and fights in the 2023-2024 school year relative to prior years. But saying the smartphone ban led to those benefits is tricky because they could have also been caused by other policy changes that happened at the same time, including a "restorative" approach to discipline that relied less on detention and suspension and more on support from counselors. Still, when students were surveyed specifically about the policy and the biggest difference in their education since it was put into place, they said that they pay more attention in class. Ron Dyste also implemented a smartphone ban and, like Ochoa, recommends them. Dyste is principal at Urban Discovery Academy, a TK-12 charter school in San Diego, which banned cellphones during the 2023-2024 academic year amid an uptick in bullying, harassment and anxiety among students, staff told CalMatters. Nearly 90% of discipline cases, across Urban Discovery Academy and a school where he worked previously, could be traced to misuse of phones or social media, including students filming fights, spreading nude photos of classmates and encouraging students to kill themselves. "I may never get some of those images out of my head. It's horrible, what kids can do to each other," Dyste said. "The damage to our kids and our communities is real." Dyste got the idea to ban phones when he and his wife went to a Dave Chapelle performance where audience members were required to secure their phones in locked pouches. "My wife said, why don't we do this in schools?" he said. "We knew we had to do something." Over last summer, the school sent out notices to families about the new policy, explaining the rationale. Some students complained, but parents were thrilled, Dyste said. And the improvements in campus climate were almost immediate. Instead of "hiding away with their screens," said Jenni Owen, the school's chief operations officer, students spent their breaks talking, dancing, playing volleyball and having fun. They developed empathy and a sense of community, she said. At the end of the academic year, the school logged zero fights. The previous year, the school's suspension rate was 13.5%, almost four times the state average. "For schools that are wondering if they should take this on, I think the answer is, we have to," Dyste said. "If we don't educate kids on how and when to use this technology, we're going to continue seeing a rise in suicide, sexual harassment and anxiety." State legislators have recognized the importance of healthier technology use among children. California students are supposed to learn about "appropriate, responsible and healthy behavior... related to current technology" under a media literacy law passed in October . To enforce smartphone bans, some schools rely on smartphone lockers or locked pouches like the kind Dyste saw in use at the Dave Chappelle show. He tried using locked pouches from the Los Angeles-based company Yondr, but encountered numerous issues. Some kids were breaking and smashing the pouches to open them, or they'd listen to music all day by connecting their earbuds to their locked-away phones using Bluetooth. "We had to return what was left of the equipment," he said. Instead of going with Yondr, which wanted $6,000 to cover 110 kids, Dyste found clear, plastic phone lockers on Amazon that cost $50 each and put one in each classroom. Yondr told CalMatters: "Our pouches are designed to withstand heavy-duty usage, and we are continuously working to improve the durability of our solution. However, there will always be students who try to push boundaries, especially when policies are initially rolled out. For this reason, it is critical that our team works directly with districts and administrators in rolling out the Yondr Program, to ensure that the most effective policies and procedures are implemented for successful schoolwide adoption. Without adherence to strong policies, schools may struggle with student compliance." Soar Academy also considered purchasing Yondr phone pouches, but was discouraged by the $19,000 price tag. The San Mateo-Foster City School District paid $50,000 to obtain Yondr pouches for roughly 3,000 students. To use them, staff hand out pouches at school entryways each morning, then students swipe the pouch over a demagnetizer to unlock the pouch at the end of the day. Kids who want an exception to the rule — for a family emergency for example — must come to the school front office and ask for permission. Yondr pouches come with a hefty price tag, Ochoa said, but he thinks it's worth it to improve student focus. "Call up five random superintendents, I don't care where they're at and ask them, 'How much would you spend to have your students pay more attention?' It's worth millions," he said. Whether phones get locked in a clear box or a silver pouch, Oakland High School senior Leah West said she finds it punitive to require students to lock their phones away before they have broken any rules with the devices. While California's Oakland High School does not have a blanket smartphone ban, West's former English teacher sometimes locked student phones in Yondr pouches. "We should be given a chance to prove ourselves," she said, adding that such an approach can motivate a rebellious streak in students like her who like freedom and don't like when she isn't trusted to make a responsible decision. Louisa Perry-Picciotto, who graduated from high school in Alameda, California, in June, said students with jobs rely on their phones for work updates and all teens use their phones to communicate with their friends. Still, she's grateful her parents didn't get her a smartphone until she was in eighth grade. "I get distracted easily, and without a phone I was a lot more connected to the world," she said. Edamevoh Ajayi, who is a junior at Oakland Technical High School, said there's no question some students don't pay attention in class because they're busy texting or playing games. Those students would definitely benefit from rules surrounding cellphone use like the kind being implemented at her school this year. But she feels like she has a strong sense of self-control and a desire to learn, and doesn't need a phone ban. "When they take away my belongings, I feel like I'm being treated like a child," she said. At her school, policies vary by classroom. In general, students are free to use their phones between classes and at lunch. When students use their phones in class it can be frustrating for everyone else, said Fremont High School science teacher Chris Jackson. It puts teachers in a tough position: Either ignore that student and carry on for the sake of the students who are listening or disrupt learning for all students and confront them. In the long run, Jackson said he's worried that students of color, who have historically faced higher rates of punishment than other students , will again bear the brunt of disciplinary actions related to smartphone bans. Rather than punishment, Jackson would prefer to see solutions that address root issues, like addiction, that lead students to use their devices in violation of the rules. So no matter what policy school districts adopt, he wants the focus to remain on teaching students digital literacy and how social media can be a risk to their health. Some schools who helped pioneer smartphone bans have reassessed their initial approach. This year, Bullard is changing its policy to allow students to access their smartphones at lunch time. Torigian said school administrators wanted to make room for important communications, for example by allowing students who pick up younger siblings to text with their parents. They also hoped the looser rules would encourage more students to comply with the ban. If kids don't comply, teachers call parents, and if they still refuse, they're sent to what the school calls the re-engagement center. Starting last month, California began prohibiting suspensions for "willful defiance ." Torigian believes that schools need an exemption from the policy in order to enforce smartphone restrictions. He wants it back because he said he needs a way to hold kids accountable. "That's why the governor's got to give us some leeway on this willful defiance; you can't do one [smartphone restrictions] without the other." Ochoa said if he had to do it over again in San Mateo-Foster City he would devote more time to explaining to students why they adopted such a policy before putting it into place. Getting a smartphone is a big deal for middle school students, a milestone for adolescents that represents more freedom and autonomy, and it's counterproductive for the school environment if they feel punished or something they value is taken away with little explanation. "Our teenagers told us, 'You forgot to explain why we're doing this,'" he said, adding that even if a small percentage of kids violate the policy it can be really harmful academically and to school culture. "Even with your conviction to implement a policy like this, spend the time developing the language around the policy and explaining it to your students." Common Sense Media CEO Jim Steyer, whose nonprofit is focused on how children use media and technology, agreed that it works best to explain to kids why a rule to limit smartphone access at school is necessary. Parents and teachers need the same explanation so that they can help enforce some restrictions in order to keep kids safe and healthy. "Any even remotely engaged parent is going to want their kid to do well in school, and is going to want them to understand why phones and social media platforms get in the way of learning and can be really distracting and can affect your mental health," he said. This story was produced by CalMatters and reviewed and distributed by Stacker Media. Get local news delivered to your inbox!None

Maupay also had a dig at Everton when he departed on loan to Marseille in the summer and his latest taunt has further angered the Premier League club’s supporters. The 28-year-old said on X after Sean Dyche’s side had lost 2-0 to Nottingham Forest at Goodison Park on Sunday: “Whenever I’m having a bad day I just check the Everton score and smile.” Whenever I’m having a bad day I just check the Everton score and smile 🙂 — Neal Maupay (@nealmaupay_) December 29, 2024 Former boxer Tony Bellew was among the Toffees’ supporters who responded to Maupay, with the ex-world cruiserweight champion replying on X with: “P****!” Maupay endured a miserable spell at Everton, scoring just one league goal in 29 appearances after being signed by the Merseysiders for an undisclosed fee in 2022. He departed on a season-long loan to his former club Brentford for the 2023-24 season and left Goodison for a second time in August when Marseille signed him on loan with an obligation to make the deal permanent. After leaving Everton in the summer, Maupay outraged their fans by posting on social media a scene from the film Shawshank Redemption, famous for depicting the main character’s long fight for freedom.

Reports: Rangers G Igor Shesterkin agrees to record $92M dealWalmart Inc WMT.N, Amazon.com AMZN.O and fast-growing e-commerce sites Shein and PDD Holding's PDD.O Temu saw record-breaking sales on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, according to spending data, suggesting that they may finish the holiday season on a much stronger note than Target TGT.N and Best Buy BBY.N, which struggled. Holiday shoppers largely browsed at brick-and-mortar stores, making more online purchases at some retailers, snapping up such items as pre-owned Rolex watches, Pokemon cards and singer Sabrina Carpenter's perfumes at Walmart, and Fire TV streaming devices and Shark vacuums at Amazon during the deal-heavy week, which at Amazon began on Nov. 21, according to company statements. Americans spent roughly $10.8 billion online on Black Friday this year, up 10.2% from the previous year, then followed that up by spending $13.3 billion on Cyber Monday, 7.3% more compared to Cyber Monday in 2023, according to Adobe. Among major retailers, Amazon saw the strongest growth on Black Friday, with sales rising 6% compared to Black Friday a year earlier, according to data firm Facteus, which tracks online and in-store spending in the United States analyzing data from banks, credit unions, payment processors and fintech companies. Its figures are not inflation-adjusted. Rival Walmart saw 3% more spending compared to the year-earlier period, while big-box chain Target and consumer electronics chain Best Buy saw declines versus a year earlier, Facteus said. Earn rewards on your spending: Best credit cards for shopping Among top performers on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, were low-cost China rivals Temu and Shein, clocking double-digit percentage growth sales, albeit from a lower sales base, Facteus said. Similarly, on Cyber Monday, the Monday following Thanksgiving, Amazon, Walmart, Temu and privately held Shein saw an increase in sales compared to Cyber Monday 2023, while Best Buy's declined versus a year earlier. Target saw a modest increase. Walmart earnings: Retailer projects fruitful holiday shopping season, stock jumps again At Target, the muted sales performance came despite exclusive merchandise partnerships with singer Taylor Swift and the Broadway show turned Hollywood movie, "Wicked," which were expected to give it a boost. According to research firm Circana, Target's exclusively available Taylor Swift "Eras Tour Book" sold 814,000 print units in just two days of launch, making it the second-highest adult non-fiction release behind Barack Obama's "A Promised Land." At Best Buy, which has struggled due to shoppers pulling back on items like TVs and laptops, sales were 2% lower on Black Friday and 4% lower on Cyber Monday compared to the year-ago periods. Still, its shares are up 2% since Thanksgiving on Nov. 28, suggesting that investors expect a better performance ahead. During the same seven-day period Walmart and Amazon's shares have risen between 3% and 7%, while Target's and PDD's have stayed flat. Walmart offered four times as many deals between Black Friday and Cyber Monday on its Walmart.com marketplace, resulting in its highest single sales day ever between Nov. 25 and Dec. 2, the company said in a blog post. Holiday shopping: Walmart is seeing growth in higher income shoppers, retailer says While the retailer did not specify which day was its sales peak, it said top products included pre-owned Rolex watches, refurbished Dyson vacuums, Pokemon cards, vintage LEGO items, and beauty products from T3, BabylissPRO, Paul Mitchell and Victoria's Secret. Singer Sabrina Carpenter's Sweet Tooth was the most coveted fragrance, it said. Amazon said that the 12-day shopping period ending on Cyber Monday resulted in record sales compared to the same period in prior years, which Facteus confirmed. Top sellers included Medicube devices, FireTV sticks, Samsung TVs, Barbie, Play-Doh, Shark vacuums and air purifiers. Shoppers bought a record number of items, generating its highest-ever sales during a 12-day period. Temu generated $53.3 million in sales on Black Friday and $55.1 million on Cyber Monday, which were both records, Facteus said. Temu told Reuters in an email that toys, especially kids' instruments and cameras, were popular. Similarly, Shein, also hit new highs, with sales of $34.2 million on Black Friday and $38.9 million on Cyber Monday, the data firm said. Reporting by Siddharth Cavale in New York; Editing by Noel Randewich in Oakland, California, and Mark Porter

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