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Sprint to Unveil "One Up" Early Upgrade Plan on September 20
September 16, 2013 9:47 AM
comment(s) - last by
It will cost about half of a phone's retail price for a year before trading it in for something else
Three of the four major U.S. carriers have already introduced
early upgrade plans
, so the straggler (Sprint) has decided to offer one too.
will launch its early upgrade plan -- called "One Up" -- on September 20, and it looks to be a better offer than that of its competitors.
One Up will allow both smartphone and tablet Sprint subscribers to enjoy some perks, such as no down payment, no extra monthly fee and a discount on the monthly plan cost. It allows subscribers to upgrade after 12 months.
reports that One Up will cost about half of a phone's retail price for a year before trading it in for something else.
Sprint's new One Up plan is an attempt to follow the other three major U.S. carriers, who've already released early upgrade plans of their own.
was the first to announce its
in early July. Its early upgrade plan lets customers upgrade every six months for an extra $10 fee each month on top of their regular, monthly wireless charges. It applies to smartphones only (no tablets).
unveiled its early upgrade plan called
which lets customers trade in their smartphones and tablets every 12 months on a post-paid basis -- meaning they pay a monthly fee on top of their regular AT&T plan based on a 20-month cycle. It doesn't lay any extra fees on the customer other than the retail price divided by 20, but customers will be forced to pay the remaining months’ fees.
"Verizon Edge" plan, where the full retail price of smartphones and basic phones is split into 24 monthly payments, and added to the usual monthly bill. After six months, with at least 50 percent of the phone’s price paid off, the subscriber can upgrade.
This article is over a month old, voting and posting comments is disabled
RE: Sprint Has Done This For Years?
Dr of crap
Dr of crap
9/16/2013 12:20:47 PM
Exactly. This is for those that have to "get out" of their 2 year plan to get the new phone. WHY? Do they like to pay to much for a phone that will be replaced in 6 months?? Keep that phone for the normal 2 years and save your cash.
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2018 Ford 7.0 V8 - Rumor confirmed: 7.3l gas v8 coming ford, September 4, 2018. rumors have been swirling about a new engine from ford to replace the aging 6.2-liter v8 and the 6.8-liter v10, and now an inside source has confirmed to tfltruck that it will. 2018 shelby gt500: rumored 7.0l v8? - drivezing, 2018 shelby gt500: rumored 7.0l v8? july 17, 2017 by travis noonan. with competition heating up over the hellcat and demon spawned in mopar’s 8th circle of hell and the new zl1 pumping out more than 650 horses in chevy’s secret labs, ford decided to crank up the heat with the 2018 shelby gt500.. 2019 ford 7.0 v8 specs - car specs 2019 - giskin.org, 2019 ford 7.0 v8 specs | encouraged in order to the weblog, on this period i’m going to demonstrate in relation to 2019 ford 7.0 v8 specs. and today, here is the 1st impression: 2018 ford raptor specs new 70l dohc v8 motor youtube inside 2019 ford 7.0 v8 specs | 1280 x 720 what. 2018 ford 7.0 v8 - ford-2020., 2018 ford 7.0 v8 - ford-2020.com. 2019 ford raptor 7 0 v8 price, release date, engine | 2018, 2019 ford raptor 7 0 v8 price, release date, engine - the impending 2019 ford raptor is definitely a sophisticated edition of your typical f-150 product. the concept of raptor is developing a superior off-road pickup truck through fantastic shows along with design. when f-150 obtained considerable upgrades, the brand new raptor comes after. 2018 ford 7.0 v8 | 2020fordcars.xyz, 2020fordcars.com provides the latest news about 2018 ford 7.0 v8 and other newest ford cars. read more about 2018 ford 7.0 v8 as well as other information about ford. subscribe to get updates on 2018 ford 7.0 v8 and other ford automobile.. 2019 ford -150 raptor 7.0l v8 engine, release date, According to official reports, it is confirmed that next year we can expect the new 2019 ford f-150 raptor with a much stronger engine, and it will be 7.0l v8. ford’s windsor, ontario engine assembly plant is a place where a new engine will be produced.. What' 2020 ford super duty? 7.0l v8, 10, Ford has recently updated the power ratings on their 6.7l power stroker turbo-diesel v8 for the 2018 model year. we are currently testing this truck. the diesel power and torque wars remain heated. Ask tfl: ford f150 engine choose? 5.0l v8 2, 2016 ford f-150 5.0l v8 now, on the 5.0. i think it’s safe to say that a naturally aspirated engine is a little less complicated and therefore has a few less parts that can fail..
Rumor confirmed a new 7.3l gas v8 is coming to the ford → 2018 shelby gt500 rumored 7.0l v8? drivezing → 2019 ford 7.0 v8 specs car specs 2019 giskin → 2018 ford 7.0 v8 ford2020 → 2019 ford raptor 7 0 v8 price, release date, engine 2018 → 2018 ford 7.0 v8 2020fordcars.xyz → 2019 ford f150 raptor new 7.0l v8 engine, release date → What's next for the 2020 ford super duty? 7.0l v8, 10 → Ask tfl which ford f150 engine do i choose? 5.0l v8 or 2 →

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After launching a $20/month 300MB data plan in the mid-Atlantic region last week, Verizon intends to take the plan nationwide just in time for major smartphone releases like the iPhone 5, according to a report by 9to5Google.
Verizon did not immediately respond to our request for comment.
The report says Verizon sees the new plan as a value alternative to its $30/month 2GB plan. The company also hopes customers will think the plan is a better deal than AT&T’s competing $15/month 200MB plan, as they would get another 100MB for $5 extra each month.
Both Verizon and AT&T require a data plan with the purchase of a smartphone, so these plans are targeting value shoppers, customers who don’t use much data and parents buying their children smartphones.
Verizon’s test run of the $20 data plan in the mid-Atlantic region—which covers Washington DC, Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina—began Aug. 18 and ends Sept. 30. Ideally, the company could roll out the plan as a nationwide option after the test period ends.
The Apple iPhone 5 is currently rumored for a launch in “early October”, so the new data plan going into effect at that time rings true. On top of the iPhone 5, powerful data-hungry Android phones like the Motorola Droid Bionic and Droid HD will also likely land on the carrier this holiday season.
VentureBeat's mission is to be a digital town square for technical decision-makers to gain knowledge about transformative enterprise technology and transact. Discover our Briefings.


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derived from the group offer preferential offer, takeaway, travel, ticketing, sharing of economic business, is inevitable. Buy is no longer just a single promotion form, but from the discovery to comment to the transaction to the CRM to the full closed loop. However, although these changes can be changed to do a single action to buy the structural problems, whether it can improve the gross margin, the ability to form a continuous value and stickiness, is still a big question mark.
Groupon invented the group purchase mode, will soon be quickly copied Chinese, after thousands of war, experienced in 2012 2013 public comment, where to go, Baidu and other giants of rolling live independent group purchase website has is one of the few: beauty, rice, handle etc.. Starting in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 the outbreak of winter 2014 silent shuffle, after several stages of 2015 group purchase website is entering a transition season, although to the United States delegation led by the group purchase is the banner of bigwigs recent huge financing and listing a lot, but from all indications now has to not transition moment.
The "original sin" will let
industry group purchase market disruption
U.S. mission network
has become the de facto leader group 8009 group purchase, monthly report shows that U.S. market share has reached 6, the hotel industry strength is as high as 7, in a large city ranked first, in fact has become the king of the group purchase. However, not profit, always burn Beauty Group recently suffered embarrassment, this Monday media group completed $700 million D round of financing, valuation of $5 billion, lead investor Sequoia Capital, then participated in the U.S. group round of investment Sequoia Capital denied the U.S. group that did not know. In the eyes of the reader, this story a little dog".
coincidentally, the same loss of Jingdong in the last round before the IPO round of financing for D, the same size of about $700 million, valued at more than $7 billion. 2013 New Year’s Eve to submit IPO applications to complete the listing this year, raising $1 billion 780 million. Another fact in the second half of the public comment in the F round of financing, the final strategic investment by the Tencent, into the embrace of giants. The two case also appears to be the final outcome that the United States Mission: for the business to profitability in the short term, the last (or) beating IPO, or were sold to the giant after several rounds of financing, from the perspective of historical data, the E wheel is a ridge, to the F round, G round continues. It is a miracle.
and $700 million in financing is accompanied by rumors, the U.S. mission network before 2017 does not consider listing, but this year the industry also rumors that the United States mission is planning to hold stocks of the window period, walk the road there are rumors about the Jingdong, said the group is not listed as soon as possible, but not likely in the short term market, one of the most important the reason is the group purchase industry unspoken rule. Recently, group purchase industry more and more unspoken rule was revealed, which is considered to be the industry group purchase of "original sin" gray zone can not be the capital market.


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Top-Selling Drugs in 2018: Biosimilar Competition is FDA Approved but Not Marketed
Posted 06 March 2018 | By
Critics of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have long pointed fingers at the agency's complex and arcane approval process as one of the main reasons for a lack of competition, and consequently, higher drug prices and costs.
But a look at EvaluatePharma's predictions for the top 10 best-selling drugs for 2018 turns that theory on its head (at least for the best sellers) as it shows that FDA is no longer as big of a road block as patents and litigation.
Take, for example, Abbvie's Humira (adalimumab), the expected frontrunner in 2018 and undisputed champ of sales in 2017 and 2016. FDA has already approved two biosimilar competitors - Boehringer Ingelheim's Cyltezo (adalimumab-adbm) and Amgen's Amjevita (adalimumab-atto) – both of which would already be marketed in the US if all the companies needed was FDA approval.
Instead, neither are likely to hit the US market anytime soon, and Amgen has agreed to delay its biosimilar's launch in the US until 31 January 2023.
And though Humira might seem like an outlier (since it's second only to Pfizer's cholesterol behemoth Lipitor in all-time sales), FDA has already approved competition for Enbrel (3rd on the list) with Erelzi (etanercept-szzs), which has yet to hit the US market and has patent protection through 2029; for Avastin (5th on the list) with Mvasi (bevacizumab-awwb), which may not come to market in the US until early 2019; and for Herceptin (7th on the list) with Ogivri (trastuzumab-dkst), which was just approved in December 2017, though the launch date remains unknown.
Remicade (8th on Evaluate's list), meanwhile, also has two biosimilar competitors approved by FDA, both of which have launched, but uptake has been modest, barely scraping 5% of the market. The only other biosimilar to launch is Zarxio (filgrastim-sndz), which was approved in 2015.
So were these delays between FDA approval and marketing to be expected when the US biosimilar approval pathway was created by the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act (BPCIA)?
Elaine Blais, head of the litigation department in Goodwin Procter's Boston office, told Focus: “I do think some delay was anticipated when the BPCIA was written. Though there is no 30 month stay for biosimilars, like we have with generics, the risk of a large damages award causes many biosimilars companies to wait for patent resolution before launching their products. This may be a problem that works itself out over time as patents are litigated during the 12 year regulatory exclusivity period thus allowing for a risk-free (or less risky) launch upon approval.”
In contrast to the US, the EU biosimilars market seems to be seeing speedier launches and faster uptake of biosimilars for competition in the top 10 list.
Remicade biosimilars now have 53% of EU market share when compared with their reference products, while Enbrel biosimilars see 29% market share and Rituxan (rituximab) biosimilars, which have yet to be approved in the US but are coming, have gained 13% of market share, according to Bernstein biotech analyst Ronny Gal.
Editor's note: Article updated 3/6/18 with a link to Evaluate's report and to reflect that both Remicade biosimilars and Zarxio are the only biosimilars to launch in the US.


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After many years of treading water, or worse, sinking, Apple is finally ready to make a collective push into India.
Tough Chauhan for The Motley Fool:
Apple’s fortunes in India – the world’s second largest smartphone market – have reversed despite the negative impact of the new coronavirus pandemic on the country’s economic situation.
The iPhone maker recorded a 5% increase in shipments in India in the second quarter of 2020 as the overall market plunged – an impressive feat considering the premium price of Apple devices in the Indian context. Now the smartphone giant seems to be making further inroads in this market …
Apple has been selling its devices in India for more than a decade through retailers, but it was not until September this year that the company finally launched an online store in the country. This makes India the 38th country with an online Apple store that allows users to purchase the company’s products and other services directly.
This move could not have come at a better time. The California company’s decision to launch an entry-level device in the form of the new iPhone SE has worked well for it in price-sensitive markets such as India. In fact, strong sales of the iPhone SE are seen as the reason for Apple’s shipping growth in India last year.
MacDailyNews Take: Because the Indian government is working to stimulate smartphone production in India, new local production can help Apple reduce the price of iPhones in India by as much as 30% by eliminating import duties. This, along with the new online store and physical stores coming next year, finally brightens Apple’s future in India!


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NEW YORK (CBS.MW) -- Despite an estimated 5 cent per share hit from Argentina's currency devaluation and economic crisis, global cosmetics retailer Avon Products reaffirmed Tuesday that it expects to achieve double-digit earnings growth in fiscal 2002.
Avon AVP said its expects the impact to be offset by continued strength in currencies in other markets and savings from its business restructuring.
"Overall, we feel good about the state of our business, and assuming that significant currency weakness does not spread to other Latin markets, we continue to target double-digit earnings growth in 2002," said Chairman and CEO Andrea Jung in a company statement.
Even if the Argentine peso devalues to 2 to the dollar, Jung said, it appears other Latin currencies will be stronger in 2002 than the rates Avon has already assumed in its business plan.
Jung added that Argentina represents about 5 percent of Avon sales and the company calculates that U.S. sales grew 10 percent in the fourth quarter of 2001.
Avon has also factored in benefits from "aggressive' expense-saving measures, said Jung, adding the company will record a charge in the fourth quarter primarily for severance costs and facilities consolidation.
Analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial/First Call are forecasting 2002 earnings of $2.31, on average, an 11 percent increase over 2001 estimates of $2.09 per share.
Avon shares were boosted $1.59, or 4 percent to close at $45.70.
New York-based Avon is the world's largest direct seller of beauty products.


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Batteries have come a long way in the last century, with advancements in lithium batteries giving us smaller, thinner and lighter batteries with thousands of charging cycles, and all the new things happening with AGM batteries, it's exciting to think what lays ahead.
Here are some exciting new advancements in battery technology to look out for in the next few years.
Graphene is an up and coming battery technology that could potentially displace lithium. Graphene has the potential to give us an EV battery with a range of 800km on a single charge, and a charge time of only a few minutes, talk about convenience! These batteries don’t use a chemical reaction, but instead, use superconductors that store the energy in an electrical field. This means that graphene batteries won’t degrade they lithium batteries do, giving you a longer lasting, more durable power source.
Another exiting technology that has been tested and proven in Korea, this flexible battery is like a tough paper that’s waterproof. In testing, it has been folded over 200,000 times without loosing any of its performance ability.
This will come in handy with foldable phones and tablets starting to enter the market, not to mention wearables.
A new way of storing energy generated by the sun as heat, thermal storage could potentially be used to power homes on a large scale. There is currently a thermal solar plant in the Mojave Desert in California, which had been generating energy for nearly 5 years, and there is one proposed in Port Augusta right here in Australia.
Thermal energy storage used molten salt to store the heat generated by the sun, and convert it into energy for later use.
There’s nothing worse than having to wait to leave the house because your phone still at 20 percent.
The Ultra-fast-charging-battery by StoreDot has been gaining traction, and BP announced a $20 million investment into the company this year! The battery allegedly maintains a goof energy density while being able to charge at an insanely fast rate.
If this comes to fruition, this will be great for EV owners who need to get places quickly.
Apple and Samsung have already normalized wireless charging in recent years, and it’s pretty cool!
The next step is charging through the air, imagine being able to walk around with your phone in your pocket as it charges.
This is achievable by using an electromagnetic field to transfer the energy through induction. This has many benefits including, no corrosion, less wear and tear on the socket, makes it easier to charge EV's and no tangled wires getting in the way.
This may be beneficial for the progression of lightweight batteries. This battery is made of copper foam and consists of 98 percent air.
With faster charging rates, higher capacity, and potentially lower cost, this 3D battery could change everything.


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Super PAC: Illinois in Play for Trump but Gov. Rauner Trying to Stop Him
Contact: Amy Olson, 773-809-5106
CHICAGO, Sept. 27, 2016 /Christian Newswire/ -- This press release has been removed for failure to pay.
Christian Newswire extended credit for the distribution of this press release but was not paid for services rendered.


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The Honorary Consul of the Russian Federation and Director of the Russian House in Thiruvananthapuram, Mr Ratheesh Nair, presided over the meeting.
The seminar was organised jointly by the Honorary Consulate of the Russian Federation, Russian House in Trivandrum, and the Trivandrum Chamber of Commerce and Industries. Mr S. Adikesavan, former Chief General Manager of the State Bank of India, inaugurated the seminar. In his address, Mr Adikesavan said that the Indian businessmen should make use of the present situation in Europe to strengthen trade with Russia. "Indo- Russian trade has shown an increase after the sanction imposed on Russia. In my personal opinion trade in Ruble and Rupee will help India to reduce the dependency on US dollars. Russian banks in India should open vostro accounts to catalise the Ruble - Rupee trade," said Mr Adikesavan.
In his address, Mr Raghuchandran Nair, President of the Trivandrum Chamber of Commerce and Industries, said that both countries should use the Ruble- Rupee transaction to strengthen bilateral tourism. "Though both countries enjoy time-tested friendship, tourism between us still needs to be strengthened, and the transaction between the business communities in the local currencies will go a long way in cementing this ties," said Mr Raghuchandran Nair.
Mr Nikita Zhavchkin, Head of Corporate and Financial Institutions, SBER Bank in India, and Mr Abhinav Grover, senior client relations manager of the Bank in India, explained the details of the services offered by the bank in India.
Mr Ratheesh C Nair, Honorary Consul of the Russian Federation and Director of the Russian House in Trivandrum, said that the entrepreneurs from the tourism industry in Kerala would be able to open accounts with SBER BANK during the upcoming Indo- Russian Travel and Tourism Fair.
Mr Baby Mathew, president of the Kerala Travel Mart and Chairman and Managing Director of Somatheeram group of companies, handed over the documents to Mr Zhavchkin to open the first account on behalf of the business communities in Kerala.


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Ajax Sun is Shining in Bob Marley Jersey
Bob Marley's 'Three Little Birds' is fixture at Ajax games
Bob Marley was a soccer enthusiast. Now the Late reggae legend and his music are now memorialized on a soccer jersey.
Netherlands club Ajax and adidas, in collaboration with the Marley family, released a jersey for the 2021-2022 season that pays tribute to Ajax fans and their appreciation of Marley. The Jamaican legend’s song “Three Little Birds” has become a mainstay of Ajax games and with fans of the Amsterdam-based team since 2008.
The jersey is the team’s third jersey. It is black with red, yellow and green details. Three little birds in red, yellow and green are on the back of the jersey and sit on the St. Andrew’s Crosses, which are on the city of Amsterdam’s flag.
Predictably, the Marley-themed soccer shirt is incredibly popular.
More than Bob Marley jersey
The jersey just one piece of the team’s Marley-inspired collection, which includes a full tracksuit, sweater, T-shirt and a pair of limited edition iconic Samba sneakers.
Marley’s son Ky-Mani has made a few trips to watch Ajax play. Three years ago he attended Ajax’s Eredivisie match against Emmen at Johan Cruyff Arena.
The sports and music world collaborating on uniforms is something that we hope to see more of in the future. Teams sell their gear in all sorts of colors and themes. Why not have a popular artist try their hand at influencing a uniform, even on a limited basis?
Take for example the game jerseys used at this year’s Major League Baseball All-Star Game last month at Coors Field. They reflected very little about the game being played in Denver. I would recommend to MLB that they use some local Los Angeles artists to help design next year’s All-Star game jerseys.
I suggest Jonas Never, the artist behind many of the city’s sport-themed murals. Never also designed one of the coolest baseball cards we can remember, the Joe Kelly Mariachi jacket card. I bet he could come up with some sharp threads for the All-Star game.
Last week, the public learned that MLB and the MLB Players’ Association will enter into an exclusive trading cards agreement with online sports-merchandise retailer Fanatics Inc. Currently the MLBPA’s agreement with Topps runs until the end of the 2023 season while MLB’s ends in 2025.
Fanatics, Inc. is currently not in the trading card space. They will have some time to work on creating and marketing their product. The possibilities are endless for Fanatics, as they can create their own company that produces and market cards or purchase an existing company such as Upper Deck, Leaf or even Topps.
This is a huge blow for Topps and their ownership group led by former Disney CEO Michael Eisner. They had plans to make Topps a publicly traded company. Topps has since ceased plans to go public and will still remain a privately- held company.
It’s still early, but the oft-ignored part of the discussion surrounding the Topps- MLB divorce is what Fanatics will do to help MLB and the MLBPA grow the sport and promote the game’s biggest stars through trading cards.
The industry has to be careful to not saturate a market nor make it inaccessible to fans. Speculators seem to dominate the market for cards, thus impacting the price of items. Trading cards can be a wonderful learning tool for young people to learn about the game. I hope that this is a point of discussion at Fanatics as they proceed forward.
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Domestic Tourism Boost Philadelphia’s Center City Retail Scene
Retailers in Philadelphia are getting a major boost from the recovery of domestic tourism back to its pre-pandemic levels, but lagging international travel is dampening a further surge, writes Jack Rogers for Globest.com.
A new report from JLL on prime urban retail corridors found that domestic tourism is currently above the pre-pandemic levels in six major US markets, including Philadelphia.
In September 2022, the City of Brotherly Love recorded 108 percent of domestic travel level compared to September 2019.
“While this has offered a needed boost to tourist-dependent retailers, foot traffic in these corridors will likely remain partially depressed until international tourists return,” stated the report.
Nationwide, international travel is still 66 percent lower than its pre-pandemic levels even with the easing of restrictions for international tourists from a year ago. Additionally the continuation of work from home is continuing to slow down the retail recovery.
“Prime corridors that draw from existing residential populations have recovered faster than those located near central business districts, which are still awaiting the full return of office workers and international tourists,” said the report.
Read more about tourism in Philadelphia at Globest.com.
Beginning at the Art Museum, Maria Clara lets her viewers in on her three day trip to Philadelphia.
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Global demand for EVs is increasing; According to estimates, the market opportunity for electric cars in India is valued at around USD 206 billion by 2030. Despite accounting for less than 1% of total car sales in the country, electric vehicle sales are increasing, with over 50,000 new registrations each month. This gives rise to the EV supply chain in India.
With 100% FDI allowed, new production centers and an enhanced drive to improve charging infrastructure, India’s electric car sector is picking up speed. Other development factors for the Indian EV sector include government subsidies and policies supporting larger discounts for Indian-made electric two-wheelers, as well as a boost for localized ACC battery storage manufacture. Furthermore, in September 2021, Cabinet authorized a production-linked incentive plan for the automotive sector to stimulate the manufacture of electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. In 2021, India announced sales of over 3 Lac EV vehicles.
The Indian automobile sector is the fifth largest in the world, with a goal of being the third-largest by 2030. Relying on traditional means of fuel-intensive mobility to serve a large domestic market will not be sustainable. To solve this, government authorities are proposing a mobility choice that is “Shared, Connected, and Electric,” with the goal of reaching 100% electrification by 2030.
With its INR 10K Cr FAME – Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles Scheme, the Indian government has given EVs a boost. Large-scale investments have already been planned by M&M, Maruti, Tata Motors, Hero Electric, Toyota, and others, with governmental support through E-mobility manufacturing incentives to industry and purchase incentives to users through new EV policies of at least 10 State Governments, FAME I & FAME II, PLI schemes, scrappage policy, enhancement of e charging infrastructure, and reduction of GST on purchase of EVs.
EVs were subjected to extra constraints under the FAME-II scheme to be eligible for subsidies. OEMs must now ensure that buses have at least 40% localization (at ex-factory prices) and other categories have at least 50% localization. Benefits for lead-acid batteries were phased out in favor of Li-ion batteries. Import tariffs on Completely Built Units (CBUs), Semi Knocked Downs (SKDs), and Completely Knocked Downs (CKDs) have also been increased by 5% to 25%, effective April 2020. Duty rates for Li-ion cells and battery packs, on the other hand, are expected to rise from 5% to 10% and 15%, respectively. Before moving to a high tax regime on Li-ion cells, it would be sensible to provide large-scale incentives for the development of Giga factories in India, so that India can establish the requisite ecosystem to manufacture them.
A few modifications to the automotive supply chain will not be enough to accelerate the transition to electrified vehicles. It will need a lot more. Electric automobiles require completely different components than their predecessors, such as busbars, heat sinks, and insulated-gate bipolar transistors. Though traditional automobile components are still in demand, electronics account for a major portion of completed electric vehicles, implying that the high commoditization of these parts is the way of the future. As a result, it’s no surprise that the electric car supply chain isn’t nearly as developed as the typical automotive supply chain.
Yes, there are obstacles, but there are also solutions. A strong, supporting supply chain with a validated supplier network can help control risks at the same time. The Indian car market’s thirst for electric vehicles is growing, but the question of the EV supply chain’s reliability persists. The misalignment of demand and supply has the potential to destabilize market sentiment and consumer confidence.
Schemes like Atma Nirbhar Bharat and Make in India encourage supply chain localization, which could help the EV industry reduce its dependency on imports.
Battery Cells, Chassis & Body, Motor, BMS, Power Electronics, and other EV components can be divided into 5–6 groups. Battery cells, motors, and power electronics account for over half of the total EV cost. The fact that the above-mentioned components have the lowest level of localization is a sobering reality. Batteries are still the most significant component of supply chain management, whether it’s for electric two-wheelers or three-wheelers.
Some of the biggest difficulties afflicting the EV supply chain include the lack of lithium, poor R&D and technology intervention, rare earth magnets for motors, and power electronics. As a result, it would be beneficial if the Indian EV supply chain ecosystem took steps such as increased investment in battery research and development. ISRO and DRDO, for example, have recently been conducting groundbreaking research at their laboratories.
Today, a calibrated strategy to resolve supply chain difficulties in the Indian market is required, with the participation of all players.
- Anil Dahari Ram Yadav


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By Ryan Kamauff
Here are the top mobile news and stories of the day.
- Testing shows voice-over-LTE power drain is improving, but it’s still no 2G – “Mobile network tester Spirent found that VoLTE 4G calling technology has made some big improvements in power efficiency since its last round of tests, but it still has far to go before it can match 2G voice.” While LTE is great for speeds, it is a total battery killer (on any device). HSPA+ makes LTE only necessary for tethering, but still something needs to change. CDMA devices are the ones in greatest need for LTE speeds, yet using the 2G CDMA voice kills your ability to receive data. Eventually, we’ll figure out how to make LTE not ruin battery life, but until then, I’m sticking to GSM and HSPA+ devices. Via GigaOM, more here.
- IDC: Android tablets will overtake the iPad in 2013 – the standard bearing 7″ Android tablet runs $199, the iOS equivalent? $329. Likewise, the best 10″ Android device is $399, while its iOS counterpart is $499. IDC sees this as the fundamental reason that Android tablet market share is skyrocketing up, and may even surpass Apple’s share in 2013. These numbers may make sense if they are tablets sold in 2013, because there is no way for Android to make up the incumbent number of iPads sold (over 100M). Via Android Community, more here.
- Google reveals Glass apps: New York Times, Evernote, Gmail, and Path – Google Glass is something I can’t wait for, and I know I’ll be one of those people stumbling around town with my Glass on. But the details here are that Google Glass will be delivering images much like Google Now “Timeline Cards,” so developers will just have to plug in to that API to provide the unified experience Google is looking for. Via The Verge, more here.
- With Mobile Apps And Hardware, YC-Backed Automatic Launches To Help You Get More Out Of Your Car – Automatic is a new app and capability that plugs into your car and allows you monitor how your car is performing. The app will also provide you with a driving score, monitoring “hard brakes” and time over 70mph. Detailed fuel efficiency data will also be available, which many people will enjoy. Via TechCrunch, more here.
- Verizon’s Getting a Thinner, Lighter, Aluminum Nokia Lumia 928 in April – Verizon is currently bereft of many Windows Mobile offerings, but Nokia aims to change that in April. The Lumia 928 will be offered with ”an aluminum body, a xenon and LED flash for the 8MP PureView camera” and an overall thinner and lighter form factor. Via Gizmodo, more here.
- HTC delays One shipments to late March, early April for some markets – HTC was hoping to use their One smartphone to get some of Samsung’s marketshare back in the Android race. Their last flagship phone, the One X, did not sell very well and without a win here, it could be fatal for the manufacturer. The One will be released before Samsung’s Galaxy S IV, but many may wait for the Sammy device. Via The Verge, more here.
- T-Mobile-MetroPCS sails through FCC without even a vote – I’m entirely sure what the benefit of a T-Mobile-MetroPCS merger is, for either firm, because of the different spectrums and technologies they use to deliver connectivity. These are the fourth and fifth largest carriers in the US. Via GigaOM, more here.
- Study: One in four teens access the internet primarily through mobile – The most recent Pew Research Center report states that one in four teenagers access the internet primarily through mobile devices. I’ll be honest, I am surprised it is not higher. Adult smartphone adoption in the US is at 50%, while teenager adoption is at 40%. I think the availability of low-cost carriers will drive the second rate faster than the first. Via GigaOM, more here.
- Is Google Now Coming to iOS? – It appears that Google Now could be headed to the iOS landscape. This would be a big win for Google, because it would increase their capabilities and data they pull down. Via Gizmodo, more here.


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Quang Nam Province plans to spend VND4 billion (US$235,000) to promote tourism following a sharp drop in local and foreign arrivals recently.
|Hoi An ancient town|
Many international tourists have canceled tours to the central province, travel firms said.
Quang Nam also announced a slew of activities meant to attract visitors, especially to Hoi An.
It includes encouraging hotels and transport and tour companies to offer discounts of 10-40 percent during cultural festivals, especially the fourth Heritage Route Festival scheduled next June.
Visitors would be provided free transport from Hoi An to the My Son sanctuary during this festival.
Authorities will honor travel companies getting the largest number of tourists to the province.
The Department of Culture, Sport and Tourism is set to focus on markets like Asean, Northern Europe, Russia, and Korea.


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Lippert Components has announced a complete rebranding of its core businesses, including the new name: “Lippert.” The parent company will continue to be “LCI Industries.”
The company’s rebranding initiative is driven by in-depth research, and third-party customer survey results that indicate the public already widely recognizes the company as Lippert. Lippert will now represent all of the company’s core line of RV and commercial products formerly branded as Lippert Components. Taylor Made, CURT, Lewmar, and all of Lippert’s other sub brands will be endorsed by Lippert to reinforce its role as a leading global manufacturer, the company said.
The first public unveiling of Lippert’s reimagined identity will be on display at the NTP-STAG Expo 2021 in Orlando, Fla., this week. Along with the change, Lippert is introducing a refreshed brand identity – including an updated logo, color scheme, design, and messaging that incorporates the all-new brand promise, “Whenever, wherever, we make your experience better,” a statement heavily influenced by the company’s core values, social impact initiatives, renowned workplace culture, and determination to better the customer experience.
According to the company, the new look and feel is not only aimed to inspire consumers but also to reinvigorate Lippert team members with a more cohesive identity that creates a sense of unity and solidarity for everybody, no matter what division, department, or state they work in.
“For the past decade, we have been on an intense journey to become more than just a single market component manufacturer,” said Jason Lippert, CEO and president of Lippert. “After the great recession, we turned our strategic focus toward leveraging our acquisition capabilities, our great people, manufacturing expertise, and geographies to become a more diverse manufacturing and engineering solutions company across multiple industries. We have succeeded in that effort, and early last year, we set out to redefine our brand strategy which better fits our business today. As we drive toward $3 billion in sales with a significant global presence, the time is right to fine-tune our branding strategy.”
Working closely with Element Three, an Indianapolis-based marketing consultancy, Lippert leveraged survey results from dealers and end-users in both the RV and marine segments. These results reinforced how the company is perceived and also indicated brand strengths within each of the channels Lippert is currently serving.
“Our customers have almost always referred to us as ‘Lippert’, and with millions of components in the field that will be touched by the consumer, it was time to trim down the hundreds of brands we’ve developed and acquired over the years, and simplify it for the consumer,” commented Jason Lippert. “A simpler and cleaner branding strategy going forward for all of our component solutions and services will make it easier to communicate with the millions of consumers that are touching our products in the RV, marine, and towing spaces each and every day.”
Throughout 2020, Lippert launched several consumer experience initiatives, such as the Lippert Scouts program, the Lippert Scouts Community, and the Campground Project as well as being involved with multiple RV influencers, timed to enhance and accelerate the new brand launch. Lippert said these programs will “help instantly cascade the new brand throughout the RV community to associate an elevated and inspired customer experience with the new brand.” Holding true to the new brand promise, Lippert is utilizing the user-generated feedback and recommendations provided within these programs to enhance its products and services in order to further enrich the consumer experience.
Starting this month, Lippert will begin implementing the new brand through packaging, website updates, marketing collateral, social media channels, signage, and more.
“We reach over 40,000 end-users a week through email campaigns, social media platforms, ads, and other marketing and sales assets,” said Chief Marketing Officer, Joe Thompson. “This rebrand is more than a new logo and color scheme, it’s about creating an identity that can help us better relate to and serve our customers. Every decision we make as a company rests on whether or not we’re improving the lives of our team members, our customers, and our communities; now we have an identity and brand strategy that’s fully aligned with that mission.”


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Samsung Announces 12Gb LPDDR4 DRAM For Mobile Devicesby Brandon Chester on September 8, 2015 7:00 PM EST
Today Samsung Electronics announced that they have begun mass production of the memory industry's first 12Gb LPDDR4 DRAM on their 20nm manufacturing process. These new chips offer 50% greater density than Samsung's existing 8Gb chips.
The production of 12Gb chips opens up the possibility of smartphones and tablets with 6GB of RAM using a four 12Gb chip DRAM package, as well as 3GB using just two chips in a package. A 6GB package would also only take up the same amount of space as existing 3GB packages which use 6Gb chips. The new 12Gb chips also end up being very slightly more than 30% faster than their 8Gb chips, with a per-pin speed of 4266Mbps which would give 34Gbps of bandwidth over a 64bit bus. With Samsung beginning mass production of this new memory it's only a matter of time before we start to see more devices move from 2GB to 3GB and from 4GB to 6GB of RAM.


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Super Clean Alpine Equalizer 11 Band Model 3331 Subwoofer Control Old School on 2040-parts.com
West Babylon, New York, United States
SUPER CLEAN Alpine Equalizer 11 band Model 3331 SUBWOOFER CONTROL OLD SCHOOL ,FACE IS PERFECT NO SCRATCHES OR WARE ON FRONT FACE,SLIDERS SLIDE FREE,LIGHTS ARE BRIGHT,ALL BUTTONS FUNCTION,NO WARE ON KNOB,ALL FRONT WHITE LETTERING IS PERFECT NO FADE OR WARE,REAR RCA INPUTS ARE CLEAN ,WIRING IS COMPLETE,SOME WARE ON OUTER METAL SHELL,I COLLECT OLD SCHOOL EQUALIZERS AND THIS WAS ONE I WANTED TO KEEP BECAUSE HOW CLEAN THE FRONT WAS BUT HOLIDAYS HERE AND TIME TO THIN THE COLLECTION FREE SHIPPING 30 DAY RETURNS ON ALL MY ITEMS
Equalizers Only for Sale
Fri, 29 Aug 2014 00:00:00 -0700
Parents of youngsters aged 16-25 are more worried about them being in a car crash than anything else – above becoming drug addicts or being unable to find a job. A poll by the Association of British Insurers (ABI) found that 62% of parents were worried about their kids being involved in a car accident. Less than a third, however, were worried about them taking illegal drugs or taking up smoking.
Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800
It's hardly kept it a secret, but now Renault has officially announced that it will be putting its electric car range into production come 2011. You can read the full story on Renault's electric vehicle range in CAR’s December 2009 issue out on 18 November, in which Chris Chilton drives the mad concept cars. Yes.
Tue, 09 Oct 2012 00:00:00 -0700
General Motors has appointed its chief lobbyist to the newly created post of global Cadillac chief, a step aimed at transforming the American luxury brand into a strong worldwide player. Robert Ferguson, 53, who has been GM's vice president of global public policy, becomes vice president of global Cadillac. He reports directly to GM CEO Dan Akerson, the company said today.


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Danone Waters UK & Ireland has invested in a Volvic Touch of Fruit brand relaunch following significant growth in the flavoured water category, which recently saw a 64% increase in value sales (IRI Market Place, Total Coverage L4W Value Sales, 18/04/21).
With health and wellness a key priority for consumers, the relaunch positions Touch of Fruit as a delicious way to keep hydrated, highlighting the brand’s nutritional claims, specifically it being low in sugar or sugar free, and using only natural flavours. As consumers look to make more mindful food and drink choices, flavoured water has a key role to play in offering a refreshing alternative, which does not compromise on taste. While the recipe remains unchanged, the new look provides greater differentiation between the Original and Sugar Free range, enabling shoppers to choose the product which best suits their needs and drinking occasion.
The packaging material itself will remain as the current 100% recyclable bottle, in line with the brand’s wider sustainability commitments, which most recently include its carbon neutral certification. These credentials will be more more clearly communicated on pack with the inclusion of the B Corp logo demonstrating Volvic’s commitment as a force for good within the industry.
The new packaging will be rolling out nationwide across all Volvic Touch of Fruit formats between now and August. This summer will also see the launch of a consumer campaign aimed at changing perceptions consumers have around Volvic Touch of Fruit.
The announcement follows the recent launch of Volvic Touch of Fruit’s first added vitamin flavour, Pineapple & Orange Vitality.
Elen Gyulnazaryan, senior brand manager at Danone Waters UK & Ireland said: “We’re so excited to be relaunching Volvic Touch of Fruit, bringing our refreshing and tasty flavours to consumers with a new bolder and more contemporary look, reflective of the brand’s vibrant personality. As consumers’ needs continue to broaden when it comes to their drink choices, we’re seeing a real opportunity for retailers in the flavoured water category as it caters to consumer’s changing tastes. As the #1 flavoured water brand in the UK, we’re committed to continually innovating to bring the most refreshing and tasty options to our consumers. As part of this, we conducted rigorous consumer testing for the relaunch, which clearly established a stronger purchase intent with the new design.”


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Anduo Games is Making Third Crisis
An indie game development team is working on Third Crisis, a turn-based tactics RPG.
Pharmacist’s Memory Now Available on DLsite
Circle FoxMafura has released Pharmacist’s Memory, a new indie hentai game, which joins elements of many genres into a wholly unique sex adventure.
Utawarerumono Remake Receives New Trailer And Cast Showcase
Aquaplus's upcoming remake of the first Utawarerumono game, Utawarerumono: Chiriyuku Mono e no Komoriuta, has received a new trailer.
Venus Blood -Chimera- Full Fan Translation Released
Fan translation group HYBRID Translations has released a full translation patch for Ninetails strategy nukige Venus Blood -Chimera-.
Rogue Games Opens Kimochi Campaign to Fund Cosmic Shock League
Rogue Games' Cosmic Shock League, a PvP/PvE match-3 battle puzzler, is being funded on Kimochi.
MangaGamer Kicks Off Their XXXmas Sale
Western erotic game publisher MangaGamer has started a new big XXXmas sale discounting a plethora of their published titles by a huge margin.
Lewd Jam 2017 Entries Are In
Multiple erotic game developers have come together to contribute to this year's eroge development jam, Lewd Jam 2017.
Omega Quintet Releasing On Steam December 15th
Omega Quintet, a JRPG developed by Galapagos RPG and published by Idea Factory, will be released December 15th on Steam.
Save Up to 50% During MangaGamer's Thanksgiving Sale
MangaGamer is currently offering up to 50% off hard copy editions of its games during its Thanksgiving sale. Read more on LewdGamer.com.


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Plant-based meat producer Vivera has announced it will be introducing its Veggie Quarter Pounder into selected Sainsbury’s stores.
The 100% plant-based hamburger has been created by Vivera and is the latest addition to the Dutch-based manufacturer’s wide range of plant-based meat options.
The move follows Vivera’s successful roll-out of its 100% plant-based steaks into Tesco stores earlier this year, with its first delivery of 40,000 steaks selling out within days.
According to Vivera, the burger, which mimics an Aberdeen Angus beef burger, is indistinguishable from its meaty counterpart.
“The smell, taste and bite can hardly be distinguished from an Aberdeen Angus beef burger. We are convinced that this product will meet a large need. For a growing group of consumers, the benefits of eating less meat is key,” said Vivera’s commercial director Gert Jan Gombert.
Frying the plant-based patty, which is high in protein, fibre, iron and vitamin B12, helps it to achieve ‘a perfect sizzling exterior whilst staying tender in the middle’.
Vivera is expecting “large market potential” for the 100% plant-based hamburger and is scaling up its production to meet the predicted demand for the product across the UK.
The Veggie Quarter Pounder will be stocked in selected Sainsbury’s stores from 6 October.


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ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — Rochester is about to be lit, quite lit-erally, this week with multiple holiday events happening in and around town.
This time of year is busy for many of us, but with so many tree lightings and celebrations happening in the coming days, there are plenty of opportunities to join the community for some holiday fun — and all of these events are free to attend.
Genesee Keg Tree lighting
A Rochester tradition unlike any other — and it has grown in the past six years, from some 50 people for its first event and more than 6,000 in 2018.
Join in on the fun from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. this Friday at the Genesee Brewery and behold the majesty of 530 kegs, standing 27 feet tall, lit up with more than 25,000 lights. The event will feature food trucks, heaters and fire pits, plus the return of the Keg Tree Ale.
The brewery also reminds people to bring coats and gloves, as the brewery is helping out the Mayor with the “Bring Christmas Downtown Coat Drive.” The official lighting will happen at 6: 30 p.m.
ROC Holiday Village kickoff
Holiday celebrates will continue at Dr. MLK Jr. Park in downtown Rochester where a Christmas tree lighting will kick off the second season for the ROC Holiday Village.
There you can enjoy a Santa Land, free ice skating, with free skate rentals, local artisans selling unique gift and crafts, food and drink, rotating casts of pop-up restaurants and bars, multiple photo opportunities, and free kid crafts.
Liberty Pole lighting
Join Santa, Rudolph, Eleves, and local sports team mascots as they greet kids at 5 p.m. Saturday at the Liberty Pole in advance of the 5:30 lighting ceremony — and enjoy some free coffee and hot chocolate while you’re there!
It’s only the first week of December, but the holiday season is in full swing in Rochester.


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The online home furnishings company Wayfair hopes to raise over $300 million when it goes ahead with its IPO. The company’s intention to do so was made public last month, though the Boston-based firm had filed with the SEC under the JOBS Act before that. Wayfair has raised over $358 million from the private markets, from backers such as Spark Capital, Battery Ventures, and T. Rowe Price, and posted a $51.4 million loss in the first half of this fiscal year. Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, Citigroup, and Allen & Co. have been charged with leading the offering.
Yodlee, an Accel Partners-backed financial application services company with over 17 million individual users of its services, will offer 6.3 million shares in the $11-13 price range with the hopes of raising $75 million in its upcoming public offering. Bank of America, which will be leading the process alongside Goldman Sachs, Credit Suisse, and BofA Merrill Lynch, was responsible for 14% of Yodlee’s revenue in the first six months of this year. Yodlee was founded in 1999 and is based in Redwood City, Calif.
CyberArk Software, an IT security solutions provider with headquarters in both Israel and Newton, Mass., began trading on Wednesday at $16 per share, and reached as high as $23. The company ended up raising $98.6 million. Jerusalem Venture Partners owns 38% of shares, while Goldman Sachs owns 19%.
A Malaysian online payment company called MOL Global Inc. hopes to raise over $260 million by selling 19.5 million shares for between $12.50 and $14.50. It is planning on pricing the week of October 6. When it does, it will become the first Malaysian company to list on an American stock exchange in over ten years, according to Renaissance Capital.
Travelport, a travel booking platform acquired by Blackstone in 2006, went public on Thursday, selling 30 million shares at $16 each to raise $480 million at a $2 billion valuation. Travelport was a significant investment for Blackstone, which poured $800 million into the company and weathered the company’s contraction through the recession. According to Bloomberg, Blackstone’s remaining stake is $137.6 million based on the pre-IPO price.
Hubspot, a sales and marketing SaaS company based out of Boston, will sell 5 million shares for between $19 and $21. The company is backed by General Catalyst Partners (27.1% pre-IPO equity stake), Matrix Partners (17.1%), Sequoia Capital (10.3%), Scale Veture Partners (6.8%), and Charles River Ventures (5%).
Vista Equity Partners and Thoma Bravo are reportedly in talks to buy Tibco Software. Tibco has a current market cap of $3.1 billion. Tibco’s founder and CEO is Vivek Ranadive, who in 2013 bought the Sacramento Kings.


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It might look like the XR-750 that we've all seen Evel Knievel jumping, but aside from the tail section, fuel tank and seat, it's all Sportster. That isn't a bad thing necessarily, but it won't bring as much as the XR-750 race bikes that helped make Knievel legendary.
This Evel Knievel movie Harley-Davidson is genuine...but it’s not quite what it appears to be
'Viva Knievel' movie bike jumps to auction
December 21, 2015
One of the Harley-Davidson XL1000 Sportsters used in the feature film “Viva Knievel” will be at the Bonhams auction this January. Producers of the film went to Bud Ekins to build this bike, along with the somewhat more recognizable eagle-head fairing equipped Stratocycle Sportster, and make it look similar to Knievel's normal steed -- the Harley-Davidson XR-750.
Though this Sportster features cosmetic modifications to make it look like the XR-750s Knievel jumped, such as a different tail section, gas tank and seat, it's otherwise stock. So while this AMF-era Harley might lack the provenance and performance of Knievel’s off-screen jump bikes, it does fall into an interesting part of Knievel legend. Plus, the motorcycle was recently restored to screen-time quality.
Because this could be easily faked, this Sportster comes with a letter of authenticity by Dick Hutchins -- the original retailer.
Bonhams projects that the motorcycle will go for $80-100K, but as we learned with the apparently no-sale Stratocycle earlier this year, those figures could be a little optimistic. In part, this is because, to serious motorcycle collectors, these are more akin to movie props than pieces of motorcycle history. Considering the current NADA value for a museum-quality 1976 XLCH is around $8,000, is this piece of Knievel memorabilia going to hit the low estimate? We’ll find out Jan. 7, as Lot 140 rolls across the auction block at Bally’s Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
Other big ticket sales at the Bonhams auction will be Ed LeBelle's 1952 Vincent racer, Larry David's 1970 Harley-Davidson XRTT and an ultra-rare Chinese Red Vincent C-Series White Shadow.
If you're a motorcycle enthusiast, or a really rich guy, there might not be a better place than Bally's Hotel this January.


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Seed selling company, Seedco, has urged its stakeholders to plan their businesses beyond Affordable farm Input Programme (AIP).
Seedco Sales and Marketing Manager Dennis Mdzalimbo said this on Friday in Blantyre when the company engaged agro-dealers and transporters in “feedback session” in preparation for the forthcoming farming season.
Mdzalimbo said businesses in farming supply chain must get prepared that government would at some point phase out AIP hence need to plan beyond the programme.
“As Seedco, we want our stakeholders to improve their businesses by planning beyond government programmes.
“Statistics shows that Malawi has over 4.5 million farming families and government targets about half of this number in its AIP planning, hence the need for us in the farming supply chain to plan beyond AIP,” he said.
Commenting on the matter, one of the agro-dealers, Charles Gogoda, described the session as an eye opener.
Gogoda, who is based in Mulanje, also hailed Seedco for letting its stakeholders to buy seeds on lay-by basis.
“Last farming season had a number of challenges, which we strongly feel would be surmounted by the agreement we have with Seedco which is allowing us to purchase seeds on lay-by basis,” said Gogoda.
The session gathered agro-dealers and transporters from the Southern Region.


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By Eric Myers
Capital News Service
ANNAPOLIS — Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot (D) on Wednesday announced the agency’s largest tobacco bust ever, resulting in over $450,000 worth of seized contraband tobacco products.
The raid, which took place on Nov. 5, recovered 521 packs of untaxed cigarettes, 1,246 untaxed premium cigars and 7,866 packages of untaxed loose and hookah tobacco products. Combined, those products represent a tax loss of over $286,000 for the state.
“This is not only illegal, unregulated activity going on out there in the state, but they’re not paying money that they need to, under our tax laws,” Franchot said. “These are funds that should be used for things like public safety, education, health care, protecting our kids, protecting our citizens.”
The comptroller’s Field Enforcement Division led the investigation and raid that resulted in the arrests of two individuals.
Agents arrested Mehboob Chowdhury, 37, of Capitol Heights, and Monzurul Islam, 29, of Columbia. Both individuals are charged with purchasing tobacco products from sources other than a wholesaler—and could face other charges, Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy said.
Field Enforcement Division agents believe Chowdhury and Islam smuggled the untaxed tobacco products into Maryland from another state where the tobacco tax is less or even non-existent, said the division’s director, Jeff Kelly.
Upon smuggling the products into the state, agents believe the pair stored the stash in a large storage facility in Capitol Heights, and distributed the items to retail tobacco stores.
Kelly said the investigation began about a year and a half ago when the division noticed “commonalities in ownership and management” in Prince George’s County.
As the investigation was in its beginning stages, Sen. Joanne Benson (D-Prince George’s County) called the comptroller’s office asking if it could look into a group of tobacco stores that were clustered in Prince George’s County.
“There was emergence of tobacco stores. In one block, there were four. We even had a tobacco store in a laundromat,” Benson said. “We found that to be very interesting. And so with that, we began to talk with the county executive, we talked with the comptroller’s office to ask them to please investigate to see whether or not the practice of these stores were legal.”
After identifying a lead suspect and tracking activity, the Field Enforcement Division’s investigation culminated with the Nov. 5 raid, serving warrants at three Prince George’s County tobacco stores, a storage facility and for Chowdhury’s residence and vehicle. The division also conducted inspections at two other Prince George’s County tobacco retail stores, and another in Baltimore.
Following the Baltimore inspection, agents cited store clerk Abdul Karim Rubel, 18, of Baltimore. Rubel faces three misdemeanor charges relating to the sale and possession of untaxed tobacco products and cigarettes.
In Maryland, packs of cigarettes and other tobacco products must be stamped to show that the state’s tobacco tax rates have been paid.
“Other tobacco products” is the designation for products excluding cigarettes, such as any product made primarily of tobacco for the purpose of consumption by means of smoking, chewing or as snuff, or a cigar or roll for smoking that’s made entirely or in part of tobacco.
The state’s tax rate for a pack of cigarettes is $2 for each pack that contains at least 11 and no more than 20 cigarettes.
The tax for other tobacco products varies. The tax for premium cigars and pipe tobacco is 15 percent of the wholesale price, mass-marketed and multi-packaged cigars carry a tax of 70 percent of the cost, and all other tobacco products are taxed at a 30 percent clip, Kelly said.


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The long-awaited and highly anticipated Ghost Greens has been made available today, and through all of the original lifestyle brand’s online stores. Fans in Australia can already purchase the packed out superfood supplement with those in the US and Europe gaining access through ghostlifestyle.com in just a few hours at precisely 1PM Eastern Time.
According to Ghost, the regular price on Ghost Greens in the US is $44.99 for a full 30 serving tub, in either of its Original and Lime flavor options. Alongside the Earth Day launch of the product, the brand has dropped a new collection of clothing in support of the environment with tees and long sleeves featuring floral logo design and a ‘Legends Recycle” graphic.
Another detail that’s well worth mentioning about Ghost Greens that ties in with its fitting arrival on Earth Day is that for every tub of the product sold, the brand is planting one tree. Ghost has teamed up with the non-profit organization One Tree Planted for the environmental initiative, who you can find out more about and what it does through its website.


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The Labour party has hit out against the government’s handling of the winter economy, claiming businesses face a “black hole” worth billions this festive season.
New research by the opposition party showed that the “visitor economy” — driven by tourism and foreign visitors — took a £3bn ($4bn) hit this winter.
The amount spent by overseas visitors to the UK has plunged by 80%, the party said. Last November and December, visitors spent £4.2bn in the UK.
That means businesses particularly reliant on booming spend from tourists will have seen their income dented above and beyond other businesses in the UK, including 23,500 hotels, B&Bs, camping grounds and hostels; 39,000 pubs and bars; 2,200 zoos, amusement parks and historical sites; 35,500 restaurants; and hundreds of thousands of shops.
Watch: Should I book a holiday in 2021?
Former Labour leader and shadow business secretary, Ed Miliband, said: “Businesses across the UK are facing a black hole this winter with billions wiped from their incomes during the crucial Christmas period.
“Those businesses in our visitor economy are facing not only the effects of restrictions here, but the huge loss of spend from tourism to the UK. Our hotels, hospitality and high streets will be especially hard hit.
“Unless ministers change tack a winter wipe-out of these usually vibrant businesses is a real possibility. They must do the right thing and see them through to the end of this crisis.”
The Labour party has called for the more than £2bn returned to the Treasury by supermarkets in unneeded business rates relief to boost support for those businesses that do need it, as well as for those who have fallen through the cracks in government support.
Jo Stevens, Labour’s shadow culture secretary said: “This has been a devastating year but it is within the gift of the government to support our vital tourism sector so that it can be there to welcome back visitors, both from the UK and abroad, when it’s safe to do so.
“Labour has consistently called for sector specific support and reallocating this public money from businesses that have returned it is an obvious solution.”
The calls follow data from retail intelligence agency Springboard, which analyses customer activity in stores, that showed Boxing Day sales fell by more than a quarter compared to a year ago. COVID-19 restrictions knocked footfall 60%.
The agency said Boxing Day footfall in the UK up to 10am was down 57% compared with figures from 2019.
Watch: Why can’t governments just print more money?


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That’s a common sentiment among business owners on Jamaica Avenue, and they came out to express those feelings at a meeting last week sponsored by the Woodhaven Business Improvement District in collaboration with Small Business Services and Department of Buildings.
If you recall, early last year businesses along Jamaica Avenue began frantically taking down their awnings and signs after word spread about several of them being hit with heavy fines for signs that ran afoul of the laws on the books.
Some of these signs had been up for years with no complaint, but all of a sudden a rash of businesses began to get inspected and fined. And these were no small fines; these were crippling fines in the thousands of dollars.
“The impact has been unfavorable for Jamaica Avenue,” Raquel Olivares, executive director of the Woodhaven Business Improvement District told me. “Some businesses took down their awnings. Some of these signs were up for more than 40 years.
“Taking down awnings leaves a big black hole on the wall that damages the view and character of Jamaica Avenue,” she continued. “It also puts them at a disadvantage when advertising their services.”
The city passed a moratorium on the fines which bought some time, but the clock has been ticking and it seems there are still no clear answers to some of the questions the business owners have.”
“The majority of these businesses can’t afford to pay for fines or for new awnings,” Olivares said. “Either way, they’ll be saddled with even more debt.”
Over 25 business owners attended the meeting, many of them concerned about what will happen to them on February 9, 2021, when the moratorium expires.
“It’s a very complicated issue, and we are working hand in hand with SBS to provide businesses with one-on-one consultations to provide extra support on the matter,” Olivares said. “So far, six consultations have been scheduled."
Personally, I think you have to be crazy to open a business in this city. It’s like going to a casino where you know the deck is stacked against you, and the dealer can change the rules at any time.
But our business owners are really special people. Think of what our avenue would look like if they decided that it wasn’t worth the cost or aggravation.
Instead, these business owners double-down and invest their money and risk their own financial well-being. How many of you would risk nearly everything on a business?
The business owners of Jamaica Avenue are investing in Woodhaven. And this meeting was a fresh reminder of just how important it is we support those who invest in our community.
The easiest way to do that is to shop locally. Buy your cold cuts at one of our delis. Get your groceries at one of our supermarkets. Get your bread and cakes from one of our bakeries.
Hit one of our hardware stores instead of Home Depot when you can. And when you’re looking for a place to eat, there are no doubt a dozen restaurants on the avenue you’ve never tried.
Again, think of how the avenue looked when all the signs and awnings were ripped down.
Now think about how our avenue would look if we started seeing shuttered storefronts because hardworking business owners couldn’t afford to pay fines for simply not adhering to some fairly arbitrary rules.
And as Olivares noted at the meeting, think about how many potential new businesses would be discouraged from investing here in the future.
“We will continue working with Small Business Services and all of our elected officials,” Olivares said. “The businesses will have our support.”
As residents, we can show our support by shopping locally and investing in those who invest in us.


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Apple® is hosting a special holiday shopping event tonight, Friday, November 29 at all of its retail store locations from 6:00 p.m. to midnight. Customers who attend the event will receive free stocking-stuffers, special values and a chance to win a new 15-inch iMac*.
Tonight, Friday, November 29 from 6:00 p.m. to midnight
All Apple retail stores in the U.S. For locations, see www.apple.com/retail.
Accredited journalists may RSVP by calling (408) 974-9950 to attend.
Every Apple store offers hot holiday gift ideas including the iPod™ digital music player for Mac® and Windows, iMac®, digital cameras, digital camcorders and software for the Mac. In addition, this holiday season visitors to the Apple stores can choose from two holiday wrapping paper designs created exclusively for Apple by San Francisco artist Rex Ray.
Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Apple is committed to bringing the best personal computing experience to students, educators, creative professionals and consumers around the world through its innovative hardware, software and Internet offerings.
* One winner per store. No purchase necessary. Available only at Apple retail locations. Offer and gifts good while supplies last.
Apple, the Apple logo, Mac, Mac OS, Macintosh iPod and iMac are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Apple. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.


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++ Mindblowing sex robots ++
Jet-setters will flock to the bot brothels at sex robot holiday resorts similar to popular health spas.
It is no surprise Amsterdam, crowned the "city of sin", is predicted to be the first place to offer glamorous cyborg brothels.
And there is no doubt sex tourist hotspots including Philippines, Thailand and Mexico will follow, will be putting themselves on the robot romping map.
Tourists will gain a diverse sensual experience at the different destinations as each place may offer particular models of the cyborgs with "lifelike warm skin".
Sexologist Michelle Mars, from Sydney, who co-authored "Robots, Men and Sex Tourism" with futurologist Ian Yeoman, from New Zealand, has said sex robot brothels – similar to Channel 4's Humans – will be popular because they will offer a "novelty value".
Speaking exclusively to Daily Star Online, she said: "I think the nature of brothels will change.
"We will see a visit to a brothel in much the same way we see a visit to a health spa. A massage, a facial, an orgasm."
Hot androids "with a pulse" are also set to take the sex scenes in Brazil, Costa Rica, Cuba, Columbia, Indonesia and Cambodia by storm.
++ Sex robot CLONES ++
The bot brothels will be an escape from the "ordinary and mundane" for fellas across the globe – with the experience set to change the tourists forever.
Dr Mars also told Daily Star Online: "Sex tourism is all about liminal experience.
"Transporting us from the ordinary and mundane into a new environment, the unknown, where anything is possible. Afterwards we go back to our usual lives but we are forever changed by the experience.
"It is possible that markets for particular kinds of experiences or particular 'models' of android will be available at different destinations.
"It is probable that the available experiences rather than the destinations will change.”
Cyborg developer Matt McMullen – who is pioneering the first sex robot set to hit the market on April 15 – also believes bot brothels will open up across the world.
He previously told Daily Star Online the androids will open up a whole new world of possibilities.


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Restaurant chains like Buffalo Wild Wings and Applebee's are killing themselves.
On LinkedIn, I recently commented on an article I had shared titled "Millennials are killing chains like Buffalo Wild Wings and Applebee's." Apparently, the article hit a nerve with readers because it instantly received over 260 responses and almost 1,000 likes. Most people agreed with my comment that these restaurants need to make a change and offer more convenience through technology, but several individuals disagreed with me and said they didn't want more technology -- they wanted better service and food quality.
Their comments left me a little perplexed because if it's the quality of food they want and not the technology, then why are McDonald’s and Domino’s riding the top of the charts of restaurant chains? McDonald’s stock recently hit an all-time high after the company reported its first-quarter earnings. Furthermore, McDonald’s started taking cues from its primary competitors such as Panera Bread, Chipotle and Starbucks and is now offering higher-quality food options and an easier way to make purchases by rolling out a mobile-ordering service that will allow customers to preorder its food for pick-up. You can even get McDonald’s delivered through UberEATS.
Sure, people (including millennials) want higher food quality, healthier options and better customer service, but it's really the convenience and an increase in competition that is driving the change. Restaurants now have to compete with more delivery options, pre-made meals from grocery stores and specialized caterers that prepare ready-to-heat meals. And technology is allowing this change to occur.
The convenience that millennials love may contribute to the stereotype that they are lazy, but it's really about spending their time doing things they love. People are busy -- they want to rest after a (physically or mentally) busy day at work, not fight traffic, and they want to spend more time with their family and friends. Pick-up orders and pre-made meals are one way they get their time back. But it’s not just millennials demanding this lifestyle change. More and more people are demanding convenience along with lower costs, healthier options and better customer service. In other words: We want it all.
One way to create convenience at a dine-in restaurant is to allow people to order food through a kiosk or mobile app. Most people want to be more efficient and receive a better dining experience by placing their order with technology instead of relying on a waitress or waiter who is underpaid, overworked and still expecting a 20% tip. It gives the customer more control and a feeling of productivity by not wasting time waiting for someone to take their order. Furthermore, when people go out for lunch, they don't have the time to sit there and wait for someone to serve them. Nor do they always want to be helped. They have an hour and need to get in and out.
Furthermore, allowing people to place their own orders can reduce negative experiences for the staff. Customers can't complain about employees not taking their orders or messing them up. It’s a win-win situation. You remove the negativity, which in return provides a better experience. Of course, the caveat of switching from people to technology is that you need to invest in technology that is reliable and easy to use. You don’t want to switch from an average experience to a negative one.
As the world becomes more and more global, restaurants like McDonald’s are catering to customers who don’t speak the same language and are doing it through technology. In its restaurants across Europe, you can either order at the counter or use a kiosk where you select your language and then order your meal. The kiosk offers a no-stress ordering solution. It allows customers to take their time and order in a language they are comfortable in.
Restaurants also need to keep it simple. People don't have time to sit down and think about what they're going to order. It's too frustrating. Every day we are bombarded with information and decisions. Make it easier for customers by giving them fewer choices. Less choice and more customization can lead to happier customers. Restaurants think they have to provide something life changing all the time, but many people would prefer a chicken breast with fresh-steamed veggies. Keep it simple. Maybe it's time to bring artificial intelligence into the mix and help us narrow down our selections.
In reality, there are more restaurants for people to choose from. That's a good thing. Competition allows people to drive the market instead of companies. Today’s market demands convenience with better food quality, healthier options and better customer service. To meet this demand, restaurants may need to create environments where people want to spend their time, buy from local farmers and focus on more interactive styles. So let’s quit blaming millennials and embrace the convenience technology brings.


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BERLIN--European car sales grew for the fifth month in a row in January, rising 5.5% from a year earlier to 935,640 vehicles, according to the latest data from the Association of European Automobile Manufacturers.
Volkswagen AG (VLKAY, VOW.XE), Europe's largest car maker by sales, sold 237,538 cars in January, up 8.9% from a year earlier. PSA Group, which makes the Peugot and Citroen brands, sold 109,257 vehicles, up 7.4%. Renault group sales jumped 13.4% to 86,452 cars in January.
Among the major non-European manufacturers, General Motors (GM, GMM.U.T) car sales fell 5.3% to 64,687 vehicles in January despite a 9.1% rise in sales of GM's Chevrolet brand. Toyota Motor Co. (TM, 7203.TO) sales rose 16.8% to 44,321 cars.
Daimler AG (DAI.XE, DDAIY), whose passenger cars include the Mercedes-Benz and Smart brands, sold 48,931 cars in January, down 0.6%, weighed down by a 11% decline in Smart sales. Mercedes car sales rose 0.7% from a year earlier. Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (MBW, XE), which makes the BMW and Mini brands, sold 55,316 cars in January, an increase of 0.5%. Audi, a part of the Volkswagen group, outpaced its rivals Mercedes and BMW with January sales of 52,691 cars, a 9.5% increase from a year earlier.
Mazda Motor Corp. (7261.TO ) was the fastest-growing car maker in Europe in January, with sales surging 34.9% to 13,417 vehicles.
Write to William Boston at email@example.com


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Why The Vitamin Shoppe is launching 800 Instagram accounts
The Vitamin Shoppe is launching 800 Instagram accounts, one for each of its U.S. stores, to localize more of its marketing. Since starting the effort in January, the chain is up to 400 active accounts, with the rest expected to be activated in the next couple of months, said Lisa Chudnofsky, head of content and customer engagement at The Vitamin Shoppe.
The idea is for the stores’ employees to use the accounts to promote store events and their expertise on products while showing off their personalities. The Vitamin Shoppe has been promoting its employees as influencers, with weekly Facebook Live videos featuring employees hosting workout sessions, health classes and taste tests in an effort to position the company as an authority on health and wellness.
“We felt like there was a real hole in our Instagram strategy,” said Chudnofsky. “Our employees are really knowledgeable. We consider them our secret weapon in the stores, but they didn’t have much of a virtual or digital presence.”
The Vitamin Shoppe lets store managers post what they want; occasionally, the company will provide photos and videos for them to post to support company campaigns. Unlike its official Instagram account @vitaminshoppe, with 195,000 followers, the others will not be verified. Chudnofsky pointed to the @vitaminshoppe_eastrutherford account, with about 430 followers, as an example of what the company wants these accounts to look like. The account is filled with photos and videos of employees calling out their favorite products and promoting upcoming events.
Beyond that, The Vitamin Shoppe has one community manager overseeing all the accounts as part of her job to look out for the company’s presence on social media, including its Facebook groups.
Other retailers have multiple, store-specific Instagram accounts, but The Vitamin Shoppe has taken this approach to the next level. Josh Kelly, managing partner and chief strategist at design agency Fine, has seen this approach at Whole Foods, which has more than 100 accounts; and Kimpton Hotels, with around 70 accounts. While having multiple local accounts can support a local focus, he said, “Once you get past a handful of accounts, the challenge of scale seems to become the same. You’ll be reliant on a core team to empower a larger network and find a way to create the right balance of consistency and uniqueness across accounts.”
Christopher Motta, vp of digital at communications and marketing firm HL Group, questioned the need for so many accounts at a company like The Vitamin Shoppe. Motta pointed to Starbucks and McDonald’s as companies that started with store-specific Instagram accounts, but have since moved to a singular account representing their global brand.
“It can be a good idea if the local environment is inspiring the content, but not for a major brand or store that is selling the same thing across all stores,” he said. “That’s why brands aren’t doing this.”
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The Virtually Cloudy, Ever Growing, Ever Greening Data Center
Data centers are going through a rash of significant changes as operators, whether individual businesses or service providers, look to take advantage of new technologies to mitigate the impact of ever-changing workloads.
Customers want their data centers to do more numerous and more complicated operations, but they don't want to spend more money to do it. So that means 2012 will see a lot more virtualized resources, more clouds, and more new equipment, even as operators look for ways to use less power and less cooling equipment.
2012 will bring the whole concept of the data center into a new light. Continue on, and see some of the ways this will happen in the coming year.


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The long term CMR The game series started out slowly, but over time she grew into one of the best rally racers. CMR 8 saw a huge leap in performance from developer Kylotonn Games, with significantly improved handling, a revamped career mode, and improved graphics. Last years CMR 9 has continued this progress, and now the tenth installment in the series is released on September 2, 2021.
It’s fair to say that the latest game is shaping up to be the best yet, and possibly some of the best rally games of recent years. CMRmain competitor of, the DiRT Rally series, has not released a new title since 2019 and so there is a real chance for CMR 10 to sweep out there and claim the title of best rally game right now. Let’s take a look at some of the biggest changes coming to this year’s installment and see what’s on offer for players.
The full calendar of 2021 rallies
As an officially licensed game of the World Rally Championship, it’s no surprise that every round of the 2021 season is available to play in. CMR 10. This year has seen a particularly exciting lineup of events, from old favorites to brand new venues.
These towers are all playable through the newly enhanced Career mode, which makes changes to the crew management system and skill trees. Career mode in the CMR The series has long been considered one of the best of all racing games, so it will be exciting to see what awesome milestones Kylotonn has in store for players this year.
Four new rallies
The 2021 rally season features four brand new rallies that have never been seen before, and CMR 10 has them all. Players will be able to take on the fast gravel stages of Rally Estonia, which featured in the playable demo of the game that has been released a few months ago.
There’s also the flat tarmac of Belgium, the bumpy roads of Croatia and the hard gravel of the Spanish Rally of Catalonia. This creates a more varied set of surfaces than ever before, meaning players will need to focus on strategies like choosing tires as much as they need to focus on speed.
A review of the history of the WRC
Another novelty of the latest game is Story Mode, which celebrates 50 years of the World Rally Championship. Players will have the chance to experience classic rallies from years past and compete in a variety of iconic cars from each era of the championship.
These cars were divided into five main eras: Early Years, Group B, Group A, WRC and Modern WRC. There will be a series of challenges to complete depending on each era, which should appeal to successful hunters and enthusiasts alike.
52 official teams available
As well as having more rally choices than ever before, players will also have more choices as to who they would like to compete with. CMR 10 showcases the 52 teams competing in the 2021 World Rally Championship season, from entry-level junior WRC teams to top-tier WRC factory outfits.
WRC2 and WRC3 teams are also included, so players will be able to improve their abilities by starting as a rookie and progressing through each level of the championship. Whether they’re a Ford fanatic or a Toyota aficionado, players can rest assured that their favorite team will be waiting for them to sign them.
New livery editor
Don’t feel like running for an existing team? Its good, CMR 10 has that covered too. New for this year, there is now a livery editor included in the game so players can design and build their own squad to take control of the championship.
Players can choose their own color schemes, create custom designs using the selection of vinyl stickers, and even add their own custom branding to their cars. The editor will be available on all contemporary cars, so fans can build their rally team early in their careers.
PS5 and Xbox Series X / S enhancements
CMR 10 is the first installment in the series to be released natively on the next generation of consoles, and that’s why Kylotonn has stepped up his game in the graphics department. Judging from the demo, the new game will look better than ever, and there would also be a new vegetation system for more realistic foliage around the scenes.
Other small details around each environment have also been improved thanks to the processing power of the new consoles, although most of the time gamers won’t notice. After all, it’s a little tricky to look at the graphic details of each stage as you fly over it at 70 mph! Still, it will make a better picture for those very important action plans.
Improved handling and physique
One of the main talking points of last year’s game was the quality of its handling model, as it managed to be realistic but still accessible for those who play with a controller. It’s a very difficult balance to strike that many racing games have failed over the years.
Kylotonn assured fans that CMR 10 will have even more improvements over the old business model, but really minor tweaks are all that is needed. The demo seems to show a very similar handling and physics pattern to the previous game, but in this case, that’s a good thing.
A wider selection of cars than ever
A car-free rally game is like a gun-less shooter, so it’s good to see that the developers have included more models than ever before in CMR 10. In addition to the current manufacturers competing in this year’s championship, there are also classic WRC fan favorites such as Lancia, CitroÃ«n and Subaru.
Most of these cars also come with a whole new set of sounds, which is great news as this was an area where the previous game was lacking. Overall, these new changes make it a brilliant sounding game that will no doubt appeal to longtime fans and newcomers to the series.
Japanese automakers have built some of the most iconic rally cars of all time, dominating rally competitions around the world.
About the Author


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UK: Tesco RFID plan held up by regulations
Plans by Tesco to roll out the UK's largest radio frequency identification project are being held up by red tape surrounding ultra high-frequency tag technology, according to Computer Weekly.
The supermarket chain plans to equip 4,000 sites across the UK with RFID tags, the magazine said. When completed, the system will be one of the most advanced RFID deployments in the world.
Tesco is using RFID readers from ADT and middleware from Oat systems. The UHF technology is based on the EN302208 specification from the European Telecoms Standards Institute.
Simon Palinkas, Tesco programme manager responsible for the roll-out, said, "The performance of RFID is not what I want it to be due to regulations."
He said EU regulations regarding the use of the 865MHz to 868MHz radio spectrum have affected the project. "EN302208 is a difficult standard. It is difficult to get kit and you require a site licence," he said.
The potentially huge cost of obtaining licences from the regulator Ofcom is holding back deployment of the technology, Palinkas said.
He believes EN302 208 is an inferior standard to its US equivalent. "There are problems getting 70 to 100 readers working at the same time," he said.
A spokesman for Ofcom said the regulator was aware of the potential benefits of RFID and "was minded to exempt the use of this equipment from licensing."
But to do so Ofcom must first hold a consultation, which is not likely to begin before the end of the year.
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[Marxism] Hammer versus sickle?
ok.president+marxmail at gmail.com
Fri Dec 29 09:26:16 MST 2006
On 12/29/06, Louis Proyect <lnp3 at panix.com> wrote:
NY Times, December 29, 2006
> Razing Farms for Factory Creates Battleground in India
> By SOMINI SENGUPTA
> CALCUTTA, Dec. 22 — Just beyond the city limits,
> a patch of land where an auto factory is planned
> amid a sprawl of potato fields and rice paddies
> has become the battleground for the world's
> longest-running democratically elected Communist government.
> This government, of West Bengal State, plans to
> turn over 997 acres of fertile farmland to one of
> the country's largest industrial conglomerates,
> The Tata Group, for a factory that will produce a
> fleet of small, low-cost cars for India's growing middle class.
A documentary about this controversy is available at Google video,
More information about the Marxism


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It’s been a long haul without gathering with family and friends over the past year and a half.
Since the pandemic began, household gatherings have been put on hold, and outdoor visits were extremely limited, to avoid the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
During today’s press conference, BC health officials announced a four-step ‘return to normal life’, outlining different phases that are a part of a gradual restart, including gatherings.
With more than 60% of adults vaccinated with their first dose and COVID-19 case counts and hospitalizations steadily declining, the province is moving forward with the first step of their plan for a careful and safe restart.
This includes the reopening of indoor dining today which has also been extended to up to 6 people per table – those at your table do not have to be within your household bubble.
“British Columbians have sacrificed so much over the last 15 months to help keep people and our communities safe,” said Premier John Horgan.
“We have made tremendous strides with our vaccination program, and we are now in a position where we can move forward with a plan to slowly bring us back together.”
Beginning today, May 25th, the following gatherings will be permitted:
- Maximum of 5 visitors or one household allowed for indoor personal gatherings
- Maximum of 10 people for outdoor personal gatherings
- Maximum of 10 people for seated indoor organized gatherings with safety
- Maximum of 50 people for seated outdoor organized gatherings with safety
As of June 15th, Step 2 of the proposed plan, the following is expected to be permitted:
- Maximum of 50 people for outdoor social gatherings
- Maximum of 50 people for seated indoor organized gatherings (banquet halls,
movie theatres, live theatre) with safety protocols
- Spectators for outdoor sports (50 maximum)
As of July 1st, Step 3 of the proposed plan, the following is expected to be permitted:
- Returning to usual for indoor and outdoor personal gatherings
- Increased capacity for indoor and outdoor organized gatherings, with safety plans
The fourth and last phase of the ‘return to normal life’ expected to happen in early September, will see the following:
- Returning to normal social contact
- Increased capacity at larger organized gatherings
- No limits on indoor and outdoor spectators at sports
Although the stages have been announced, it is important to remain patient and follow the guidelines and restrictions in place. Follow mask guidance, stay home and get tested when you’re sick and consider others in your decisions.