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_ Linas Jegelevicius. Riga, 7 August 2018.
The Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) is launching a pilot project to create an online system that would allow member states to share information about goods that pose a serious risk to the health and safety of consumers. This is expected to include notifications of hazardous chemicals in articles.
It will be based on international schemes, including the EU’s Rapid Alert System (Rapex) for dangerous non-food products.
Once identified by the system, the product will be removed from the markets of EEU member states Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia.
It will incorporate EEU‘s technical regulations on the safety of products, including those on: chemical products; and toys.
The Eurasian Economic Commission – the governing body of the EEU – is developing a transitional order that will define the project requirements for interaction between member state competent authorities.
The pilot is slated to begin later this year.
In May last year, environmental NGO Greenpeace said it found high concentrations of phthalates in toys marketed in the EEU. It had previously campaigned for a ban on the substances in toys sold in the region.
The Union has stepped up chemicals-related controls in the last few years. In March, it aligned its regulation on the restriction of the use of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment with the EU RoHS legislation.
It has also taken measures on detergents and disinfectants, as well as cosmetics. Additionally, it notified the WTO of draft amendments to the technical regulation of the Customs Union on oils, lubricants and special liquids, which sets requirements on the content of methanol in coolants
And after a delay of almost three years, in March last year the EEU adopted a technical regulation on the safety of chemical products. Expected to come into force by June 2021, it will also set single rules and assessment criteria for identification, terminology, labelling and use of substances.


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Nearly 200 passengers and crew have contracted norovirus on the Celebrity Summit cruise ship, experts are warning tourists of a summer outbreak on cruises.
According to Insider, 177 people contracted norovirus during a cruise on the Celebrity Summit liner, sailing to Bermuda from the US city of Bayonne. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has warned travelers of the high risk of a virus outbreak on cruises.
Since tourists are in a limited space close to each other on a cruise ship, the virus spreads very quickly. In total, 7 percent of passengers and more than 2 percent of crew members fell ill on board the cruise ship. The Celebrity Summit incident was the 12th gastrointestinal outbreak on a cruise ship since the beginning of this year. For comparison, for the whole of 2019, only 10 of them were registered.
Doctors inform that norovirus spreads rapidly through infected particles that fall on a variety of surfaces, food, and water. It can be contracted by touching contaminated surfaces, consuming food or water, and having close contact with an infected person. Symptoms of norovirus appear within 1-2 days after infection. An infected person carries billions of virus particles that cannot be seen without a microscope. At the same time, only a couple of particles are enough to infect other people.
Symptoms of a nasty gastrointestinal virus include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and high fever. Experts recommend that tourists traveling on a cruise report unwellness before boarding so that the company can offer alternative trips and dates. If symptoms appear already on the ship, you should report this to the first-aid post, the source advises.

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Letshego Group, a leading retail finance organisation in Africa, launched its ‘LetsGo digital’ campaign through LetsGo, its digital financial technology platform. This, according to the company, is an enabler to deepen financial inclusion across African. From spoken word poetry to dance, our myriad of cultures and languages, cuisines and passions, we are Africans building a better Africa and such is Letshego’s expressive view on Africa.
Letshego Group has its footprint in 11 African markets with a-22-year history of improving lives through inclusive financial solutions in Africa.
According to the Group, Letshego has chosen two budding markets, Nigeria and Botswana, as the first two countries in which the ‘LetsGo digital’ will be rolled out. Through LetsGo, Nigerians have the power to be and the power to do, beginning with Government employees and civil servants under the brand’s established deduction from source model.
Through the LetsGo App (Android launched, iOS to follow), Letshego customers have access to simple financial beyond banking services on the go, to enhance their lifestyles.
Andrew Fening Okai, Letshego’s Group Chief Executive said, “Having just celebrated Africa Day, and as we navigate through a global pandemic, there is no better time for us to encourage our fellow citizens of Africa to work together in overcoming our challenges, and Rise Up! Letshego remains committed to improving lives by extending access to appropriate financial solutions, progressing towards our ambition to be a world class retail financial organisation. Digital is no longer a revolution; digital is life!”
This narrative and the richness of the Group’s regional footprint in Africa are expertly narrated in the proudly African television campaign that kicked off on Nigeria TV screens on 24 June 2021.
The campaign is the work of renowned Nigerian music video director, Sesan Ogunro, who brings dynamism, boldness and creativity to his work and runs a multi-award winning video production company based in Lagos, Nigeria, serving all of Africa.
The campaign also includes representation from creatives across each of Letshego’s markets, to immortalise key iconic scenes and elements of Africa’s landscape.
LetsGo solutions enable Letshego customers to achieve their aspirations, empowering a progressive generation of cultural change in this new normal. With simple digital financial and beyond banking solutions that are tailored to support life goals and help improve the lives of our customers, bringing tangible spin-off benefits for our local communities, Letshego remains resolute in changing the landscape of inclusive financial services in Africa.
LetsGo gives customers Digital Power through an omni-channel digital experience with Letshego continuing its journey in evolving its LetsGo platform and products to further catalyse its Strategic Transformation.
Initially the LetsGo platform – accessible via mobile phone and web – will unlock digital access to account information, loans and top-ups for existing and new deduction at source customers in Botswana and Nigeria. The Group’s remaining 9 markets will enjoy the same digital platform benefits by the end of this year. With the brand’s phased rollout of increasing depth in capability, access and products, ‘LetsGo’ is set to catapult Letshego towards its vision to become a world-class retail financial institution, improving the lives of customers across sub-Saharan Africa.
Tolu Opayinka, Letshego Nigeria CEO added, “We continue to expand our reach by diversifying our product offering, enhancing access via our digital platforms and leveraging strategic partnerships. These value-adding efforts will help us to improve customers’ access to our services, provide the much-needed financial support for our customers and support our financial inclusion imperative.
“As we build on this further, soon all Nigerians, and Letshego customers across the breadth of Africa footprint, will also have this digital power, indeed with growing and expanding capabilities to enjoy in the palms of their hands. Our success will be measured by our ability to improve lives through our customer experience and our investments in our people, digital technologies, processes and access channels, ultimately underpinning our purpose to Improve Lives for our customers and communities,” he said.


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CPSC ignores public, selects nuclear option against Zen Magnets
In a continued uphill war against the sale of rare-earth magnets, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has launched it's second adminstrative complaint lawsuit of the past decade against Zen Magnets LLC on August 6, 2012.
Aug. 10, 2012 - PRLog -- In a continued uphill war against the sale of rare-earth magnets, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has launched it's second adminstrative complaint lawsuit of the past decade against Zen Magnets LLC on August 6, 2012. The first was issued on July 25 against Maxfield & Oberton, the distributor of Buckyballs, the leading brand of magnet spheres on the market. Zen Magnets are reputed as the high-end brand in the industry of magnet spheres that are typically used for sculpting and manipulation. The complaint against Zen Magnets also marks the very first time the CPSC is attempting to ban a product through litigation, prior to record of injury. The complaint seeks an order that the firm stop selling Zen Magnets and recall their product.
The CPSC says 11/13 firms have agreed to stop selling magnet spheres, but is quiet about the fact that the 11 hold a minority marketshare in the magnet sphere industry. Maxfield & Oberton (Buckyballs)
This aggressive administrative complaint served by the CPSC follows the viral statement that Zen Magnets founder Shihan Qu made, publicly refusing the CPSC's voluntary recall request on http://ZenMagnets.com. The statement gained an audience of fifty thousand in merely twenty four hours on reddit.com. In a forum of over six hundred (http://goo.gl/
However, public opinion continues to fall on deaf ears at the CPSC despite the most severe negative public reaction in the organization's history. Commissioner Adler mentioned in a CPSC webcast on Aug 9 that he has recieved over one thousand emails from people asking why magnets are being targeted instead of higher risk products such as balloons. The consumer watchdog group, which rarely recieves public backlash, also faces a petition with over two thousand signatures at http://savemagnets.com; signers hopes to pressure the CPSC into pulling the administrative complaints against Buckyballs and Zen Magnets and retract stop-sale requests sent to manufacturers and retailers. Over forty letters have also been published on the ZenMagnets.com website, written by supporters. Additionally, Congressman Charles B. Rangel has sent a letter (http://goo.gl/
If the Consumer Product Safety Commission succeeds in the Administrative Complaints against Zen Magnets and Buckyballs, rare earth magnet spheres will be more difficult to purchase than live ammunition in the US.


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Facebook & Google Vie For Skype
As if taking on Groupon and LivingSocial weren't enough for these big hitters, it looks like they're next venture might be...
As if taking on Groupon and LivingSocial weren't enough for these big hitters, it looks like they're next venture might be Skype. A source supposedly in the know recently reported to Routers that Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg is interested in buying the company for $3 - $4 billion. Another source stated that that Google is also extremely interested in making an offer.
Skype has been valued recently at $1 billion as it has spent much of this year putting together plans for an IPO. Both sources stated that is still a very likely option.
With the money and clout that both Facebook and Google hold, I wouldn't be surprised if either of them end up buying Skype outright. Each could easily integrate it within their existing applications and sites with ease. Surely something will happen and I imagine pretty quickly.
There has been no official word from any of them but we'll inform you as soon as something comes through.


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Within days since the title update 14 landed on Minecraft Xbox 360 edition, the developers of the update 4J Studios has already revealed their interest to roll out another update very soon.
Compared to the time that it took between title update 13 and title update 14, this is really surprising. Moreover, usually it will be the fans who keep asking questions on when new features will land while it is a tradition for developers to keep calm about them. 4J Studios has taken an entirely different approach to it and they have always been different.
TU15 in Talks
Unlike other game developers who usually reveal the release date of their titles months or even a year earlier, 4J makes it public only a week earlier or a couple of days before they release it. They will most probably follow this style even for Minecraft Xbox One version as well. During the Twitter conversation that took place during TU14 release date, they answered a fan who questioned about the next gen version in a positive manner. The company said that they still have a lot to work on but they are definitely getting there. The company has been efficiently handling the work on all platforms at the same time and it comes as a relief that they didn’t lose focus completely on older generation consoles. There is no confirmation but the tweet ends on a positive note.
Talking about the list of bugs found in Minecraft Xbox 360 and PS3 edition, 4J Studios tweeted that they have been notified of 15 important bugs that need an immediate fix. They provided a link where players are encouraged to submit the issues they come across. After talking about the bug fix, they added that after fixing them we will roll out another update for Xbox 360 and PS3. It strongly refers to Title Update 15 without a doubt and it will be bringing another new batch of updates that are already available on the PC version of the game.
15 Bugs to Be Fixed
The studio didn’t reveal any specific date or the features that can be expected with it but based on their voluntary statement, it is confirmed that TU15 is getting ready. The process will be similar to the older ones where 4J will get it ready, list the features in the official forums and submit it for certificate testing. Microsoft will be responsible for bringing it out as soon as possible once the submission is made. There are also talks about revealing an Xbox One version during E3 2014 but it is pure speculation at the moment and there is no official confirmation related to the same. For now, players can check out the list of features found on PCs and start anticipating the list that will make it to the console versions with TU15 release.
Compared to the time it took for TU14 to find its way to the console, it should be relatively less this time around as the studio sounds like they are more organized and prepared to roll out bug fixes as well as updates in a timely fashion. Stay tuned for more about the upcoming TU15 for Minecraft Xbox 360.
Related ItemsMinecraft Xbox 360


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According to the Associated Press, farmers hope the dairy legislation will be included in the year-end fiscal package that will be set before Congress. Without a fiscal agreement reached by January 1, and without the farm bill part of any package, farmers "could face the prospect of returning to an antiquated system for pricing milk that would bring big price increases for consumers."
This "antiquated system" is the Agricultural Act of 1949, which is reverted to each time a new bill fails to pass. In that post-World War II pricing mechanism, the farmers would sell their diary products to the government, which could price milk at double the current rate. Politico reports that this would mean the Agriculture Department would pay producers $38.53 per hundredweight versus the current payment of $16.22, effectively doubling the consumer prices. It won't just be milk prices that would skyrocket — the entire dairy industry would be affected, from cheese to ice cream.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said at a press conference, "It's fair to say milk prices will increase and that's an unfortunate circumstance." Politicians are speculating that there will be an extension but hope that there will be specific language that will address the dairy industry. White House Agriculture Chairman Frank Lucas told Politico, "Neither I nor the committee has been asked for specific language. You have to believe that leadership can't write a farm bill by themselves, they can't write an extension by themselves. They will need information."
The farm bill was stalled earlier this year due to disagreements over the food stamp program, reports the Associated Press. The National Milk Producers Federation along with other farm groups are hoping Congress will review the legislation and take action rather than leave the issues unresolved and thus revert to the former legislation.
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NEW YORK, June 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Nautica®, a leading global lifestyle brand, and Oceana, an ocean conservation organization dedicated to protecting the world's oceans, will join forces to raise awareness for "World Oceans Day" on June 8, 2011. World Oceans Day pays homage to the world's oceans and the important role the oceans play in our lives. As an official holiday, it aims to engage more people in the fight to reverse the declining health of marine ecosystems.
To celebrate this official United Nations holiday, Nautica will show its commitment to water and to the mission of Oceana through a variety of activities taking place throughout the day in New York City and Washington, DC. In New York, the activities will include a clean up in the Hudson River and in DC, the cleanup will be around the Potomac River. Nautica will be rolling out a consumer education program in 20 Nautica outlet stores across the US to raise awareness for World Oceans Day and Oceana's vision to restore the precious ocean ecosystems and to identify practical solutions to save the world's oceans. Nautica will also introduce its new World Oceans Day t-shirt, "A Deeper Understanding," which incorporates a coral reef theme, sold on Nautica.com.
Another component of the World Oceans Day celebration is the Ocean Hero contest. The Ocean Hero Award was created by Oceana in 2009 to recognize an exceptional personal commitment to ocean conservation. Each year since the contest was created, Oceana searches for an adult and youth contributor who are making a difference every day in the world's oceans. This contest began in March 2011 and the winners will be announced on World Oceans Day.
"The public doesn't often see it, but the key to saving our oceans is amassing policy victories, one by one, country by country, that lead to tremendous outcomes like ending shark finning in the U.S. or safeguarding millions of square miles of ocean floor from destructive fishing," says Oceana CEO Andrew Sharpless. "So World Oceans Day presents this wonderful opportunity to shed light on those triumphs and inform the public about ways they can get involved. We're incredibly grateful to Nautica for helping spread this message, which we hope will help us earn more and more victories for our oceans."
Starting at 9:00 am, Nautica and Oceana employees will embark on an all day clean up of the Hudson and Potomac Rivers using nets to pick up and skim debris from the water. Last year over 60 employees came out and collected over 300 lbs of trash in New York City.
Founded in 1983, Nautica® is a leading global lifestyle brand ranging from men's, women's and children's apparel and accessories to a complete home collection. Nautica® products are refined casual classics inspired and energized by the water that are always crisp, clean and distinct. Today Nautica® is available in more than 60 countries with more than 200 Nautica® branded stores worldwide. In 2003, the Company was acquired by VF Corporation, a global leader in branded lifestyle apparel with more than 30 brands, including Wrangler, The North Face, Lee, Vans, Nautica, 7 For All Mankind, Eagle Creek, Eastpak, Ella Moss, JanSport, lucy, John Varvatos, Kipling, Majestic, Napapijri, Red Kap, Reef, Riders and Splendid. For additional information, please go to www.nautica.com and www.vfc.com.
Oceana is the largest international advocacy group working solely to protect the world's oceans. Oceana wins policy victories for the oceans using science-based campaigns. Since 2001, we have protected over 1.2 million square miles of ocean and innumerable sea turtles, sharks, dolphins and other sea creatures. More than 500,000 supporters have already joined Oceana. Global in scope, Oceana has offices in North, South and Central America and Europe. To learn more, please visit www.oceana.org.


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Jakarta: Stage is set for Indonesia Modest Fashion Week (IMFW) 2017 event to be held on October 12-15, 2017 at the Jakarta Convention Center in Jakarta by Indonesia Modest Fashion Designers (IMFD) and supported by the Tourism ministry.
“This event is part of our efforts to encourage private companies, industries and associations to achieve the goal of becoming the Muslim fashion capital in the world,” the ministry’s archipelago tourism marketing development deputy, Esthy Reko Astuti is quoted as saying by Jakarta Post.
A total of 150 booths and 60 works from local and international designers will feature at the IMFW 2017.
Esthy considered fashion and tourism important to the creative industry. As a Muslim-majority country, Indonesia has a huge potential in developing its Muslim fashion industry. Moreover, fashion contributes a lot to the tourism sector, other than culinary and souvenirs.
“Tourists mostly spend their money on these three things apart from hotel and transportation,” Esthy added.
She also encouraged Muslim fashion designers to incorporate local material into their design.
“There should be a local touch because it’s who we are. We have tenun, batik, pearls and gemstones,” she said.
“The creativity of Indonesian designers have allowed them to compete in the global stage; local material gives a competitive edge for these designers and it’s also an effective promotional tool for Indonesia,” added IMFW 2017 project director Jeny Tjahyawati.
Prior to becoming Indonesia Modest Fashion Week 2017, the event was named Indonesia Islamic Fashion and Product (IIFP) for the past two years.


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APRIL 1984 - VOLUME 5 - NUMBER 4
New Bill Links Imports With Labor Rights
by Tim Shorrock
In 1980, an American company searching for oil off the coast of southern California imported two drilling platforms from Malaysia rather than buying them in the U.S. The company saved $1.5 million on the price of the platforms because Malaysia is given special consideration under the General System of Preferences (GSP). Adopted by the U.S. in 1976, the GSP is a set of tariffs which reduce or eliminate duties on imports from developing countries to make their products more competitive in world markets.
On the surface, that story may sound like a typical case of an American company losing out to foreign competition. But it has a twist that raised the hackles of the U.S. Iron Workers Union and the AFL-CIO: the manufacturer of the platform was Brown and Root, a Houstonbased multinational corporation, and the platform itself was put together in Japan by a Brown and Root partner, Nippon Kokkan, Japan's second largest steel maker.
To gain the GSP benefit of a 9.5 percent duty reduction, Brown and Root had towed the rig to Malaysia, where painting and minor repairs were done by Malaysian workers, and then towed it three thousand miles across the Pacific Ocean to the Santa Barbara channel.
"We were just outraged," says Bill Lawbaugh, Director of International Trade of the Iron Workers Union, which brought the case to the attention of the U.S. government's trade representative. The GSP, he concludes, "has loopholes big enough to drive trucks through. That costs American jobs."
Though oil platforms have now been excluded from the GSP, the incident illustrates some of the inequities in the GSP program, and why many unions and domestic manufacturers want the system either scrapped or drastically changed.
A bill was introduced into the House of Representatives last month to discourage multinationals like Brown and Root from using the GSP to avoid employing higher paid or unionized American workers, and to foster more broad-based development in the Third World. Sponsored by Congressman Don J. Pease (D-Ohio), and supported by a number of church, human rights, and development groups, the bill is the first piece of trade legislation to address the issue of labor rights as a factor in foreign competition.
"The lack of basic rights for workers in [developing countries] is a very important inducement for the capital flight and overseas production by U.S. industries," says Pease. "My bill would curb the trend of American-based multinational corporations to transfer, or threaten to transfer, domestic production from the U.S. to countries in which there are no labor rights."
The Pease bill would renew the GSPwhich expires in January, 1985-for another six years, but with three important provisions: the first would make GSP eligibility contingent on the beneficiary country ensuring respect for "internationally recognized rights of workers," and would deny eligibility to any product produced under conditions exempted from minimum labor standards in that country, such as in free trade zones. This provision could bar goods from such flagrant labor violators as South Korea, the Philippines, and Chile.
The second provision directs appropriate U.S. agencies to assure that agricultural goods exported under GSP do not reduce land used for growing food for consumption. A third provision provides a framework for graduating developing countries from the GSP program by taking into account their annual per capita GNP.
Under the bill, independent partiessuch as human rights groups-would, for the first time, be allowed to testify before the U.S. Trade Representative about possible labor violations of the GSP guidelines.
Groups who have worked with Pease in formulating the bill believe the new GSP legislation will help both developing countries and workers in the U.S. "This bill is a giant step forward in distributing the benefits of trade in the developing countries," says Steve Coates, legislative analyst for Bread for the World, a churchbased group in Washington that concentrates on development issues in the Third World. "It will ensure that GSP benefits don't result in cash cropping to the detriment of local food consumption, and will hopefully stop the pitting of workers in this country against workers overseas."
"This bill begins the process of recognizing in U.S. law that international labor rights are an important part of human rights," says Pharis Harvey, Executive Director of the North American Coalition for Human Rights in Korea. "It's really a fair trade bill."
The concept of the General System of Preferences was first discussed at the first U.N. Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in 1964, and grew out of a need to compensate developing countries for the disadvantages inherent in the international trading system. Its purpose was to give developing countries greater access to the U.S., European, and Japanese markets and thereby stimulate employment, economic growth, and industrialization in those countries.
The U.S. GSP program offers duty free treatment to 114 countries and territories, and 2,800 products. OPEC members, socialist countries, and countries that have nationalized or expropriated U.S. property without compensation are not allowed to participate, while a number of products considered "import sensitive" in the U.S., such as shoes, textiles, clothing, and electronic products, are excluded.
In 1982, duty free imports to the U.S. under the GSP program amounted to $8.4 billion, or 3.4 percent of total imports of $244 billion. Products ranged from corned beef and engines from Brazil to sugar from Fiji; lead ores from Honduras to copper from Chile; and jewelry from Israel to tequila from Mexico.
The most common criticism of GSP is that only a handful of countries benefit from the program. In 1981, for example, the top five countries in the program -Taiwan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Brazil, and Mexico-accounted for 60 percent of the goods brought in under GSP.
As the Brown and Root story illustrates, multinational corporations can often benefit from GSP treatment. For certain agribusiness or manufacturing corporations, the availability of duty-free entry into the U.S. means that they can reduce costs by producing goods overseas and importing them to the U.S. According to U.N. studies, roughly threefourths of the $8.4 billion of GSP imports are marketed by multinationals, including large commodity traders (Cargill and Dreyfus), the Japanese general trading companies (Mitsui and Mitsubishi), trading subsidiaries of industrial multinationals (General Electric, General Motors), and trading arms of retailers (Sears and K-Mart).
The Pease bill includes language aimed at reducing the use of GSP by multinationals. It will also gradually reduce imports from newly industrialized countries, such as South Korea or Brazil, and focus benefits on the small developing countries that need them most. Taken together, the provisions of the bill address the issue of whether export-led industrialization strategies in the Third World are conducive to equitable growth and development. "Congress must consider who really benefits from preferential access to the U.S. market and whether broad-based economic development rather than exploitation of cheap labor is being encouraged in [developing countries by the GSP]," says Pease.
The AFL-CIO, joined by many domestic manufacturing companies, has lobbied to scrap the entire GSP program; short of that, they want to specifically exclude Hong Kong, Taiwan, and South Korea, the three countries that took more than 50 percent of GSP trade in 1982. "These countries are truly competent in world trade," says Mark Anderson of the AFL-CIO research department. "Their participation is totally at odds with what the GSP should do." Although Anderson says the labor organization is "supportive of the labor rights provision" in the Pease bill, he feels there has to be "significant changes" in GSP in order for the AFLCIO to support renewal.
Discussion about excluding countries like South Korea and Taiwan from GSP -whether on labor or other grounds has frightened businessmen and governments from those countries. Last month, a delegation of 83 industrialists and government officials from South Korea toured the U.S. on a mission designed to placate Americans worried about Korean imports, and to retain South Korea's position in the GSP. Last year, South Korea sold $1.5 billion worth of goods to the U.S. under the system, and stands to lose $300 million worth of exports without GSP protection.
Unions like the United Auto Workers (UAW) have grown increasingly worried about the threat from Korean industry. During the last month, General Motors announced plans to import small cars from its Korean subsidiary, Daewoo Motors, while Ford has publicly discussed the possibility of importing cars from Hyundai Motors, South Korea's largest auto maker.
"We have grown uncomfortably aware that our country is considered by some in the United States as one of the newly industrialized countries that threaten U.S. industry," the Korean minister of commerce told a Washington, D.C. press conference on March 7. The minister also announced that the mission had authorized the purchase of $2.4 billion worth of U.S. goods on the trip.
Most countries, corporations, and trade groups lobbying for renewal of the GSP system are supporting a Reagan Administration bill introduced in the Senate last August. Sponsored by Senator Danforth (R-Missouri), the Reagan bill would increase the president's sole authority to decide if certain products are causing harm to domestic industry, which countries to "graduate" from GSP, and would allow the U.S. to use GSP benefits as leverage to force developing countries to liberalize their domestic markets.
Supporters of the Reagan bill oppose any language that would restrict the president's power to decide about GSP eligibility. The president must have "the flexibility to take action, depending on the interest of the U.S.," says Henry Parsons, a General Electric executive who is chairman of the GSP committee of the American Association of Exporters and Importers. "If [any GSP] bill contains rigid criteria, then the association is against it." Other groups who have endorsed the Reagan bill include representatives from the Toy Manufacturers of America, sporting goods associations, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
The Pease bill is the only GSP legislation to be introduced in the House so far, and supporters expect a number of amendments to be added as the bill moves through the Ways and Means Committee to the House floor, and eventually on to the Senate. But even if the bill loses some of its teeth-a likely possibility, given the conservative makeup of the Congress-supporters of the Pease initiative see it as a good way to air the issue of labor rights overseas.
"We very much welcome the attention to labor rights," says Lee Price, international economist with the UAW Washington office. Although the UAW has not endorsed the legislation, Price says, "This bill could give the UAW the opportunity to talk about Korean labor conditions, and make foreign governments think twice about repression."


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Vietnam has long become an emerging economy in Southeast Asia, since a lot of improvements and achievements in diplomatic relations in integration policies. Moreover, Vietnam’s economic performance is strong and stable over the years, and it has been an attractive magnet for Singaporean investors. Furthermore, Singapore’s business community has listed Vietnam as its top market of interest, and Singapore is investing there for various sectors, from manufacturing, real estate, energy, retail and construction, arts, tourism, and entertainment. But, you may be curious about the most popular Vietnam FDI sectors in Vietnam that Singapore would want to venture into. This article provides you the information about the most popular FDI trends in Vietnam. Let’s keep reading!
Overview of Vietnam FDI Sectors
Since the beginning of this year, the total FDI capital poured into Vietnam accounted for 84.5% of that in the same period last year. However, foreseeable investment inflows to Vietnam will be affected due to COVID-19, but high economic growth will provide a buffer for the country.
According to Nguyen Bich Lam, general director of the General Statistics Office (GSO), Vietnam is in a favourable position to attract more foreign investments, including the relocation plans of foreign investments in China to evade the US-China trade war and many free trade agreements (FTA) that Vietnam has signed.
In January this year, there is $5.3 billion of FDI landed in Vietnam, a surge of 179.5% year-on-year. It is an opportunity to attract foreign investors to invest in Vietnam even during this pandemic, also to continue improving the investment and business environment, amending policies and strategies to attract the quality of foreign investments.
Moreover, investors have poured money into 18 fields and sectors, such as manufacturing and processing with a capital of nearly US$6 billion, accounting for 48.4% of the registered tally. The electricity production and supply came second with US$3.9 billion, or 31.9% of the total, followed by wholesale and retail with US$776 million, real estate with US$665 million. The data shows that out of 93 countries and territories investing in Vietnam in the first months of 2020, Singapore took the lead with US$5.07 billion.
This year, the praises have showered on Vietnam as it is successful in fighting against the pandemic. As a result, it has created a positive influence on foreign investors’ decisions.
A report of VNDirect Securities released recently cited that foreign sources show that Google and Microsoft are relocating some production lines from China to Vietnam. For instance, the two giant technology firms are considering selling Pixel4A, Pixel5, and Surface computers in Vietnam.
No surprise to us, Vietnam’s technology sector has been gaining power recently as the country is now moving from low-tech manufacturing to a service-oriented economy. But, what are the technology sectors that Singaporean investors have an eye to invest in? Let’s take a look closer!
The Popular Technology Sectors in Vietnam That Singaporean Investors Venture Into
When it comes to investing in Vietnam, foreign investors will have drastic growth due to Vietnam’s recent adoption of Industry 4.0 across every industry. Furthermore, the Vietnamese government also prioritizes advanced technology projects of the trend 4.0 revolution, projects with modern management, and the connection between production chains and global supply.
This year The Politburo of Vietnam issued Resolution No. 50-NQ / TW on the orientation to attract FDI in the future and also paying special attention to attract FDI projects that consisted of advanced and high technology.
Additionally, the technology sectors in Vietnam are mostly funded by foreign investors, with projects focused on building electronic components. Data has shown, more than 86% of total Information Technology (IT) revenues came from hardware in 2017.
Recently, Samsung from South Korea has decided to set up an R&D center and eight factories in Vietnam and Intel Corporation has also built a testing facility and assembly companies in Ho Chi Minh City.
There are the top three technology sectors that have great potential for Singaporean investors to venture into Vietnam. Let’s take a look!
Based on the Vietnam E-Commerce Association (VECOM), the e-commerce sector is forecasted to reach a value of $23 billion in 2025. VECOM also reported that Vietnam’s e-commerce market grew at an average annual rate of 30% from 2015 to 2019.
Most of Vietnam’s e-commerce activities are in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. The sales contribute to 70% of the country’s total e-commerce sales. The internet economy in Vietnam has brought more than US$1 billion in funding in the past four years.
The other reason that Singaporean investors should invest in this sector is that 30% of Vietnamese will shop online, and with a current population of 96 million people, the rapid increasing number of smartphones and internet users will make the country become a successful e-commerce business.
Vietnam’s fintech industry gained pace in 2019. Also, in 2019, Vietnam ranked second in ASEAN in terms of fintech funding with 36%, second only to Singapore with 56%. The sharp increase in funding was attributed to two large deals going to payment companies VNPay with US$300 million and MoMo with US$500 million.
Furthermore, there are at least 120 fintech-related companies in Vietnam, starting from digital payment until wealth management, blockchain, and cryptocurrency.
Over 66% of Vietnamese fintech companies are involved in digital payment services via online payment apps, and they have taken over 87% of the fintech market share.
The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) issued licenses to 27 intermediary payment service providers, and most of them are e-wallet service providers. These signs that digital payment fintech companies are on the rise.
3. Education Technology
In 2018, Vietnam gained investments worth US$55 million for Vietnam’s Education Technology (Edtech). It’s because the Edtech Centers are able to build a gap between traditional education environments and learning needs which is inspired by the private sector.
Most recently, a Hong Kong-based equity firm has poured US$4 million to a Vietnamese startup called Everest Education. Organizations like Everest Education offer tech-enabled personal learning through a network of centers and partner schools.
There are other successful Edtech firms in Vietnam, such as Violet.vn, Hocmai.vn, and Topical. It is surely an enticement to attract foreign investors from Singapore for venturing into Edtech in Vietnam.
The popular FDI sectors in Vietnam have long been attractive for Singaporean investors, and yet they are promising to be successful in the future. In conclusion, Vietnam’s technology sectors are expected to remain intact growing approximately 30% a year. That means, there are a lot of opportunities for Singaporean investors to expand their businesses in the country!


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HMV Managing Director Neil Taylor announced he will quit the entertainment retail specialist at the end of September.
There is a tough year-on-year comparison, not least because of The Greatest Showman, but home entertainment buyers are generally optimistic about the likely impact of Q2 arrivals including Mary Poppins Returns, Aquaman and The Lego Movie 2, writes Christopher Barrett.
HMV owed trade creditors more than £53 million when it entered administration, according to an initial report from administrator KPMG, which revealed that new owner Sunrise Records paid £883,000 to acquire the retailer and its assets.
After Cue identified on Friday that Canada’s Sunrise Records was circling the UK business of HMV, the retailer led by Doug Putman has been revealed as the new owner after a marathon all-night negotiation.
Ampere Analysis Director of Research Richard Cooper builds on his recent presentation to MESA Europe to provide a broad picture of the UK home entertainment market and some forecasts for the next couple of years.


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EarthLink on Thursday will announce plans to begin promoting its narrowband Internet service in 550 stores in Best Buy's retail chain. The deal expands on an agreement between the companies struck in November for EarthLink to promote its broadband service in 400 Best Buy stores.
EarthLink, the nation's second largest ISP, has been trying to boost subscriptions in the face of a saturating market for dial-up Internet access. On Monday, the company introducedfor $28.95, which lets pages load five times faster than regular connections. However, the product has no effect on downloading files or e-mail.


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The company says that after a successful construction and ramp-up phase, it is set to achieve a cost competitive position through the entire value chain from polysilicon to modules.
It goes on to say that by the fourth quarter of next year, it is targeting a full cost position of 97 euro cents per watt, based on the cost of manufacturing fluidized bed reactor (FBR) in the U.S. and wafers, cells and modules in Singapore.
This cost target, explains REC, includes cost of sales and general administration, corporate overhead, research and development, as well as depreciation. Excluding depreciation the cash cost target, it says, is an industry leading 74 euro cents per watt.
Reuters additionally reported that the company's Singapore plant employed new technology that would drive down production costs to 1.05 euros per watt in the fourth quarter of 2011 from 1.86 euros per watt in the second quarter of this year.
Furthermore, the company states its plans to further leverage investments in infrastructure at the Singapore site to increase module production to 800 megawatts (MW) by 2012, exceeding the nameplate capacity by approximately 35 percent.
"I am impressed by the performance demonstrated by the Singapore organization during construction and ramp-up of the new facility. This achievement gives me confidence in the organization's ability to continue to improve and further strengthen REC's competitive position," comments CEO Mr. Ole Enger.
According to Reuters, the company has also set its 2011 polysilicon production target at 16,000 tons, up from 13,000 tons in 2010. Silane gas sales are set to reach 2,150 tons next year, compared with 1,850 in 2010, while module production is set to reach 750 MW versus 490 this year.
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The 105th-mile camp trading post, which comprises checkpoints and other government offices, lies near the town of Muse in northern Shan State just across the border from Ruili in China’s Yunnan province. Observers including political analysts and traders said it could last longer than the 10-day suspension when the 105-camp trading post was attacked. Insurgents from the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, the Ta’ang National Liberation Army and the Arakan Army (AA) under the umbrella of the Northern Alliance launched coordinated attacks on a military academy in Pyin Oo Lwin on the Mandalay-Muse trade route as well as a toll gate and the Gote Twin police post on the Nawngcho trade route on August 15, which also saw the Gote Twin bridge blown up. Insurgents also destroyed or damaged several other bridges at Chin Shwe Haw southeast of Muse along the border with China on August 17. Trading activities along the border has also been disrupted. As of August 21, … [Read more...] about Border trade disruption could last a while
Myanmar china trade
Cars for exports are seen at the Laem Chabang port in Chon Buri province. Declining auto exports were a reason behind the 5.8% decline in export value in May. (File photo by Patipat Janthong) Exports in May fell 5.8% year-on-year to US$21 billion on the US-China trade war, economic slowdown and strong baht, bringing the decline over the first five months of this year to 2.7% year-on-year.In May, imports dropped 0.64% to $20.8 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of $181.5 million, according to the Commerce Ministry, which released the figures on Friday. In the first five months of this year, exports amounted to $101.6 billion while imports stood at $100.8 billion, down 0.99%, representing a trade surplus of $730 million. In May the value of agricultural and agro-industrial exports dropped by 1.4%, driven by significant declines in sugar, rice, natural rubber and canned tuna. Industrial exports fell 5.8%, resulting mainly from declines in gold, oil-related products, cars … [Read more...] about May exports down 5.8% on trade war, baht
BANGKOK -- Southeast Asian leaders will dissect the impact of the US-China tariff war this weekend at a Bangkok summit, with Beijing determined to drive forward a trade pact sweeping in 40 percent of global commerce -- but excluding America. Disputes in the flashpoint South China Sea and Myanmar's treatment of Rohingya Muslims are also likely to make the agenda at the two-day Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meeting starting Saturday in the Thai capital. But commerce will dominate, with the trade war between the world's two biggest economies pushing some major manufacturers to flee China to Southeast Asia and casting doubts over the future of free trade. US President Donald Trump has imposed tariffs on $200 billion of Chinese goods, from sneakers and socks to washing machines and furniture, prompting Beijing to hit back with levies on $60 billion of American imports. "One of the biggest beneficiaries is ASEAN," said Drew Thompson, a research fellow at the Lee … [Read more...] about Trade disputes to dominate as ASEAN meets in Bangkok
THE US-CHINA TRADE IMPASSE The deadlock is not about to be resolved any time soon. We have not heard all that much from the Chinese government directly but editorials from Chinese media are now giving us a sense of the way Beijing is viewing the current impasse. The People’s Daily wrote that “at no time will China forfeit the country's respect” while The Global Times said “the perception that China cannot bear it (a trade war) is a fantasy and misjudgment”. So what? That the debate is now being framed, not in purely economic terms, but in terms of respect and dignity will make a deal that much harder to reach. There is very little room when one is negotiating with dignity on the line. Trade talks have come back from the brink before, but given the perception of Beijing in Washington is worsening, and vice versa, few are predicting a rapid end to the trade war. What if talks fail: Expect a significant fallout that will impact the global economy. The … [Read more...] about Asian Insider May 13: What if trade talks fail?
The most important of these is that our competitors claim to support free trade, but are often “gaming the system” by extolling a level playing field that is actually tilted in their favour. Myanmar has not been good at recognising that in some sectors it is playing by one set of rules whilst its competitors are playing by rules that conveniently suit them and disadvantage Myanmar. One of the clearest examples is the steel industry. Steel is a vital product, especially for a country like Myanmar whose construction and infrastructure sectors need to expand rapidly if its economy is going to take off. Steel is a vital strategic industry, not an optional extra. And this is why countries around the world do not let the normal rules of free trade apply to their steel industries. In ignoring this reality, Myanmar is not joining the world community, but standing apart from it. Our decision to expose ourselves fully whilst demanding no reciprocity of openness … [Read more...] about How policy, not price or quality, is destroying Myanmar’s steel industry


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|Back to Home||Feature Article - June 14, 2012|
Limestone Creamery – 45 years in the makingby Jeff Green
Photo: Olivia & Kathy Groenewegen.
Farmers are, by necessity, a patient lot. There are so many factors - the health and temperament of the animals, the amount of rain, the price of grain and electricity, changes in markets, etc. that are out of their control. Anyone who can survive the long hours and uncertain pay of farming has got to develop a pretty good ability to wait for things to happen.
However, I could sense a hint of frustration from Kathy Groenewegen as she explained late last month how the small milk processing plant and dairy store her family has been dreaming about for so long are almost ready. A few niggling details remain, including one piece of equipment that seems to be taking forever to arrive.
“My husband Francis says they must be sending it from China, on a slow boat, but all I know is it isn’t here yet, although we did order it over a year ago.”
The Groenewegens, Kathy and Francis and their children Patrick and Olivia, are very close to opening a dairy that goes well beyond the 100 mile food cycle concept.
They will be selling pasteurized milk, cream, butter and yoghurt within sight of the pasture land where their 32 Jersey and Holstein milk cows and the rest of the herd spend much of their time.
In 1967, Kathy’s parent’s Gerry and Lilliane Groome bought the farm, which is located in Storrington District of South Frontenac not far north of Elginburg on Sydenham Road. Gerry and Lilliane grew up in downtown Montreal and although Gerry had a good job with Bell, he wanted to farm. So after he took a number of agricultural courses at McDonald College, the entire family headed off to South Frontenac, to a piece of Class A farmland within a short distance of the city of Kingston.
In 1989 Kathy and her then new husband Francis Groenewegen, who came from a dairy farming family from Harrowsmith, took over the farm.
The path that led the Groenewegens to opening Limestone Creamery really started to gather steam in 1998, when they made the decision to transition the farm to a certified organic operation. That took four years but since then the milk has been pooled with milk from about 100 other organic milk farms in the province and sold under the Organic Meadow label.
Their efforts at organic farming have enabled them to feed their cattle without having to bring anything in from off the property. They produce all they need to fertilise the pasture and hay fields on site, and while the cattle are 90% grass fed, all the grain they require is grown on the farm as well.
The next step began to take shape a couple of years ago. With assistance from the Ontario Ministry of Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), the Frontenac CFDC, National Farmers Union Local 316 and other partners, Limestone Creamery became one of a small number of pilot projects under the OMAFRA "Project Origin" label.
Of the five pilots, Limestone Creamery is one of only two that will be selling locally produced milk on site. The other three are cheese making operations.
Last October construction began on the building that holds not only the shop, but also a shiny new state of the art small scale milk processing plant, complete with a pasteurisation and homogenisation unit, cleaning and testing capabilities, a stainless steel electric butter churn, loading dock, storage tanks and more. A water recycling system has been built in to minimise both water needs and runoff from the operation.
Crews have been working for months getting all the equipment in place, while the animals in the field across the fence have carried on their daily pattern, unconcerned with the jumble of activity that has taken place.
“We wouldn’t have been able to try this if we weren’t located so close to Kingston,” said Kathie, "but there are lots of people who commute to work every day on this road, so we think we will have a good demand for our products.”
The Groenewegens' son Patrick has taken courses in pasteurisation and cream grading and he will manage the plant, while daughter Olivia, a recent agriculture graduate from Guelph, will manage the store. Francis and Kathy will continue to run the farm and oversee the entire operation, as they have for 23 years.
In addition to their own milk, which will be sold for $2.99 a litre, the creamery will have a number of locally sourced, organic products available, including Slickers Ice Cream from Prince Edward County, honey and maple syrup, their own beef and pork, and more.
Milk will also be available for delivery locally and across Kingston, and in Sydenham at Trousdale’s Foodland and Desert Lake Gardens, Local Family Farms in Verona and Kudrinkos in Westport, and at locations in the City of Kingston.
"There are so many benefits to selling directly: to preserve the family farm, to preserve farmland, to rebuild the local food system and contribute to food security,” said Kathie Groenewegen. “We are just itching to open the doors and welcome people in to our creamery.”
Sometime soon, hopefully by the end of this month, Limestone Creamery will be able to open its doors and it’s a safe bet that Frontenac County and Kingston residents alike will beat a path to it
It is destined to be another major piece in the ongoing establishment of local food initiatives that are becoming a major force in the region.


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Russian anti-gay activists say they will picket PepsiCo because there’s a gay-ass rainbow on their milk carton.
The milk brand is called Vesyoly Molochnik, which translates as Gay Milkman, though in Russian the word vesyoly does not suggest homosexuality. The group said that it was objecting to the rainbow, which it saw as the international symbol for the gay movement. The group said on Friday that it has asked prosecutors to take action because the packaging violated the law passed in St. Petersburg in February, which makes it illegal to spread “propaganda” that could “damage the health, moral and spiritual development of the underaged”. The offence carries a fine of up to 500,000 roubles ($16,100).


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"This year, we want to do even more, to help more children, and just make the holidays a more magical time for those stuck in a hospital," said SML President Matt McCollum. “
BEDFORD, TEXAS (PRWEB) December 08, 2014
Make Christmas magical for a sick child – and possibly earn some stocking stuffers for yourself and your loved ones – by participating in SML’s second annual 25-Day Giveaway holiday fundraiser.
The leader in nationwide moving labor, Simple Moving Labor will donate $2 to the Children’s Miracle Network for every Facebook page “like,” making it as simple as a click to brighten a child’s holiday experience. Plus, by sharing your email address, you have the opportunity to win daily, weekly and a grand prize of a $250 Target gift card.
“Last year, we raised more than $2,500 for the Children’s Miracle Network, and, honestly, it was one of the best moments of the holiday for me” said SML President Matt McCollum. “This year, we want to do even more, to help more children, and just make the holidays a more magical time for those stuck in a hospital.”
Children’s Miracle Network uses each donation to help local sick and injured kids. Through its year-round efforts, the group has raised more than $4 billion since 1983. However, its depends on community donations, even as every year the need increases.
Here is how it works:
- Earn an opportunity to win daily or weekly prizes or the grand prize by filling out an entry form, located here.
- Donate two dollars by “liking” our Facebook page
- Earn additional entries by:
- Sharing a 25-Day Giveaway social media post
- Having a friend enter the 25-Day Giveaway
Winners will be contacted via Facebook or email. Each day, someone will win a free Redbox rental. Each week, a winner will be selected to win a $50 Target card. Right before Christmas – but not before the stores close – we will announce the grand prize winner.


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While achieving speed to market is crucial in a highly competitive and fast-paced industry, businesses can go down the drain if they rush blindly into electronic commerce.
E-commerce contributed at least 20 percent of Singapore's gross domestic product last year, said Na Boon Chong, Asia-Pacific content leader for corporate restructuring and change, at management consulting firm Hewitt Associates LLC.
And demand for infocomm workers here will see a growth rate of between 10 and 20 percent a year until 2002, Na said, and noted that the Ministry of Manpower predicts that 35 percent of the local workforce will be Internet-savvy by 2003. This number is projected to increase to 75 percent in 2010, he added.
Driven by the need to compete in a fast-paced e-enabled industry, companies need to be quick on their feet, said Ross Zimmerman, head of e-commerce consulting at Hewitt Associates.
However, they should not bulldoze their way into e-commerce without first establishing a clear view on their future plans, Zimmerman said. There is little room for mistakes and "there's no trial period", he noted.
"It's about speed and about doing it right. If you're just going for speed, speed is going to kill you," he warned. "It's about being quick, first and right."
The situation is further worsened by the current lack of skilled workforce, where "the talent war has never been this intense", and organizations are scurrying to grab the best employees, he said.
Companies need to take a step back from all the "warfare", and ask themselves if they have lost sight of their strategy, and whether "they're doing it right", Zimmerman said. "And e-commerce is not a synonym for IPO (Initial Public Offering)," he stressed. "So many companies are rushing for the goldmine when the rules of the market are not defined yet."
"Only 5 in 100 make it to IPO and those that make it to IPO -- many trade below the offering price a year later, where roughly 50 percent of last year's IPOs are now underwater," he noted. "However, it is true that the opportunities are there."
Last year, Asia registered an IPO volume amounting to US$9.5 billion, and the first half of 2000 saw a figure of $6.8 billion, he said.
Companies with a sound gameplan and are willing to evolve will be the ones to succeed, Zimmerman said.
"The Asian investment community requires a compelling story to generate IPO enthusiasm, where first movers with clear business case will reap greatest reward," he said.


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So we've all had the weekend to calm down from the excitement of the Tesla Cybertruck launch. After the windows shattered from the metal balls lobbed at them (thrown both hard and softly, just FYI), the Tesla Armour glass has now been swept up and opinions about the eccentric design are rolling in. What do people really think of the design that's straight out of a retro-futuristic piece of artwork (like the ones in our pixel art post)?
Well, it's a divisive issue. There has been accusations of copycat design and an avalanche of mocking, but more importantly, there have been over 200,000 preorders (according to Elon Musk on Twitter). At $100 per deposit, that's a tidy $20 million in the bank already for Tesla. Clearly there are a lot of people not overly worried about being shot at with giant metal balls.


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Glossier’s growth has been blisteringly fast: revenues grew 600% from 2015 to 2016 and the active customer count tripled in the last year. Glossier’s team is highly capable but small, with no resources dedicated solely to generating fulfillment metrics. Noted Sarah Hague, Executive Director of Logistics for Glossier, “We’ve expanded our team just to be able to deal with the sheer scale of fulfillment and manage it in a first-class way.” The team needed to get timely, reliable quality and productivity measures in order to help scale the business effectively – and to do so without adding any additional personnel.
Adding to the challenge was the need to deal with data from a range of carriers and a 3PL partner using a mostly manual process of analysis. While the company had reasonable access to data from warehouse management systems and from their carriers, “answering questions took a lot of work in Excel,” said Hague. Developing and publishing metrics for key quality and productivity measures was taking dozens of hours of the team’s time every week. In addition to being needed to guide operations, this information was critical for preventing any negative impact on customer experience.
Hague also noted that in addition to answering “what is?” questions about current operations, the company wanted to be able to answer “what if?” questions. Said Hague, “We wanted ways not only to look at what happened, but also to look at our options and where there are opportunities to drive down cost and increase efficiency.”


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An 8-Year-Development Gone to Dust. 10 Reasons Why Cyberpunk 2077 Wasn’t a Success
It took CD Projekt (Polish videogame publisher), a staggering number of years to come out with Cyberpunk 2077. A lot of expectations and hype was building up in the fans through those eight years. Which asked for some mind-blowing appeasement. The creators had after all come up with a raging success like The Witcher games, and fans would settle for no less. Unfortunately, the long-awaited launch finally occurring in December 2020, most certainly missed the mark.
Preceding the launch had been eight years of promotional hype created by the company. There were teasers which revealed the phenomenal Keanu Reeves lending his face and voice to one of the characters. Fans were going insane and even those who did not know about the game previously were hooked from there.
Everything from a steady trickle of ads and hints to merchandise and exclusive items like Cyberpunk 2077 Samurai Jacket was preparing the stage for the release. However, the finished project seemed like a botched incomplete job that disappointed its buyers. Let us look at some of the reasons which made Cyberpunk such a huge source of dissatisfaction.
Playability issues on older consoles
For users of fully geared gaming, PC Cyberpunk 2077 has delivered almost as much as it promised. Therefore, they might not have many complaints. But the story is different where older game consoles are concerned. The game proved such a hassle to play on Xbox One and PlayStation 4 that consumers were outraged. The situation was so dire that companies were forced to offer refunds to their angry customer. As an extreme step to pacify their buyers, the game was taken down from Sony’s online store. CD Projekt itself had to offer an apology along with refunds.
Allegations of misleading the buyers
CD Projekt was already on walking on a tight rope after the release of the game. With both Microsoft and Sony pulling the game off their stores their reputation was in shambles.
The investors were frustrated over this failure as much as the consumers. But the company quickly tried to do damage control with offering refunds. They further promised to work on bringing the game back in Playstation stores.
A considerable blow came when OpenCritic, a game ranking website accused the game of being deliberately misrepresented to buyers. They said that prior to its release only PC versions were available for the reviewers to play. The game was being played on high-end computer systems which showed no bugs.
The visuals are like Nintendo 64 game
Gamer Patrick Swift eagerly bought a copy of Cyberpunk 2077 to play on his Xbox. In his review to Radio 1, Newsbeat Swift commented on how his excitement was dampened. The first thing he noticed was that it looked like a Nintendo 64 game. This came as a shock which was quickly followed by an even greater one. As the game crashed ten minutes into play. Patrick Swift was one among many players who had an extremely underwhelming experience with the game.
Future promises look bleak
CD Projekt Red has tried to make up for the anguish it caused fans by apologizing. They have further commented that they should have given more attention to making it playable for PlayStation4 and Xbox One.
An announcement is made for two patches being released in January and February 2021. But what is most discouraging is that they don’t even seem too hopeful. CD Projekt clarifies ahead that the game will still not be up to the same standards for last-gen consoles. All they can assure us that the experience will be closer to what it is on high-end systems. And there will still be players who wouldn’t get the gameplay they have been expecting.
Bugs and crashes
Although the experience has been varied for players from platform to platform, the bugs are a prominent issue. 26-year-old gamer John Perry has been playing the game on PS5 and claims it a buggy mess. The game crashed 30 times while playing which had him return to the gray screen. The only solution he could think of was to ask a refund.
The game’s release was pressuring
Game developers who are said to work for 100 hours a week on completing Cyberpunk received a lot of backlashes. The disappointing release created toxicity among the fans who invested their time and money in the game. Not to mention the eight-year-long wait. Consumers who pre-ordered the gap during that period were frustrated about the delay. There was pressure to live up to the hype and deliver more than the customer’s expectations. This can be one of the causes which made the launch so chaotic.
Bringing out big games is complex
Cyberpunk has proven that creating games with such a huge number of elements involved is very difficult. The rewards are great if it turns out successful, but it is a majorly risky business. There is more than one aspect which they need to excel in for rising up to the set standards.
It takes an insane amount of work and talent
To ensure a great gaming experience, it takes much creative instinct and talent. Not to mention time. Time to set up the game for multiple platforms and get reviews and feedback as there are positive reviews of cyberpunk 2077 denim jackets over different platforms. Games with expansive interactive worlds need creativity from various categories. Artists, composers, designers, and software engineers all come together to create an impressive open-world game. However, it is not easy to always come up with the best of these skills.
Being a new franchise
In the gaming industry, competing against the franchises that are already tried and tested is extremely tough. Especially with such a bumpy launch. It was probably a major risk that the publishers took. Which cost them hundreds of millions of dollars. Even if the bugs are somehow fixed in the future, the initial release hitches have given it a bad name.
Sometimes its better to delay
The game was being delayed for quite a long time, but it still wasn’t ready for a release even yet. Cyberpunk can be taken as a lesson by both developers and fans. That patience is needed sometimes to achieve the best results. It is evident with more time and detailed attention the game would have been far more satisfactory than now.


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IRVINE, Calif., April 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Karma Automotive, a Southern California-dependent luxurious electric powered automaker, and Manhattan Motorcars, an award-successful retailer of luxurious and overall performance cars, have partnered to showcase Karma’s latest vehicle at the New York Worldwide Vehicle Exhibit, from April 15th to April 24th, 2022.
The 2022 Karma GS-6, a luxurious electric motor vehicle will be showcased in Manhattan Motorcars’ booth at the Jacob Javits Centre. Together with the Karma GS-6, Manhattan Motorcars will also showcase other luxury brand names, these types of as Bentley, Lamborghini, Rolls-Royce, Porsche, and GTO Engineering.
“We have an fantastic partnership with Karma, who provide a exceptional luxury electric vehicle knowledge,” states Paul Dumont, The standard supervisor of Manhattan Motorcars. “There has in no way been a improved time to get an electric auto in the condition of New York.”
“It is terrific to be a portion of the New York Intercontinental Vehicle Clearly show once more, especially with a partner like Manhattan Motorcars,” says William Monroe, Senior Vice President of International Product sales, Internet marketing, and Client Knowledge at Karma Automotive. “This auto clearly show has been a person of the biggest publicly attended buyer functions, which is great for showcasing our vehicle’s hottest technology.”
The 2022 Karma GS-6 can be seasoned at Manhattan Motorcars’s booth in the Jacob Javitz Middle, situated on Degree 3, Booth #900.
ABOUT KARMA AUTOMOTIVE
Karma Automotive, established in 2014, is a southern California based producer of luxurious electric powered vehicles. Headquartered in Irvine, California with a production facility found in Moreno Valley, Karma sells cars through its vendor community in North The united states, Europe, South The usa and the Middle East. Karma’s Innovation and Customization Centre, which opened in 2017 presents world-class engineering, style and design, customization, and production products and services along with electrification platforms.
Karma Released its Revero® and Revero® GT in 2017 and 2019. The two vehicles were being named Green Vehicle Journal‘s Luxurious Environmentally friendly Car or truck of the Year™ award. In 2021 Karma announced the GS-6 Collection which was honored with Inexperienced Car or truck Journal’s 2022 Eco-friendly Auto Product of Excellence™ award. Karma GS-6 is an electric powered vehicle powered by dual electric powered motors that embodies Karma’s objective of presenting primary technology with a luxurious practical experience. Each individual Karma motor vehicle is created with unparalleled specific care and craftsmanship.
For additional data, take a look at www.karmaautomotive.com, or www.karmanewsroom.com.
Watch unique material to obtain multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/information-releases/karma-automotive-showcases-gs-6-collection-at-the-new-york-worldwide-car-demonstrate-301526145.html
Source Karma Automotive


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From V. Sudhakshina
Mumbai, August 12 2017: The smartphone market right now is a crowded place with many manufacturers offering a range of products. So, whenever a newbie makes an entry, all eyes are set to see what’s new or different they have to offer. Ziox Mobile recently made a formal entry by announcing the launch of a device for the affordable segment, the DuoPix.
The smartphone is first from their series of dual lens camera phones. It comes with two 8 + 2 megapixels wide angle front camera and an 8 megapixels rear camera. Another interesting feature is the dual 4G SIM slots. The 5 inch device features HD IPS display. It runs on Android Nougat 7.0 with a 2GB RAM. The 2500mAh battery includes fast charging capability. The internal memory is 16 GB.
During an interaction with IndiaTechOnline at their launch event, Deepak Kabu, CEO, Ziox Mobile said, “Right now we want to cater to audiences in the affordable segment. We also have plans to grow to the mid and higher range market in future, but that will happen as the demand from our consumers grow.”
Keeping in mind the trend of mobile manufactures’ brand engagement with bollywood actors, Ziox also announced Sushant Singh Rajput as their brand ambassador.
The company also announced its future plan to set up two new manufacturing units in Sikkim and Noida and R&D facilities apart from the existing New Delhi unit, with a holding capacity of around 1 million units per month. Ziox also has a manufacturing plant in China. Apart from smartphones, they have plans to enter the mobile accessories and consumer electronics segment.
Started in 2015, Ziox has been offering budget smart-phones as well as feature phones. The company confirmed that their newly launched device, the DuoPix will be priced below Rs. 8,000 and will be available soon in the market.


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Samsung Group has announced that it will launch a global campaign to raise awareness about environmental protection celebrating Earth Day (Apr. 22). The campaign is in line with the group’s efforts to seek sustainability management by enhancing not only economic values but also social and environmental values.
A total of 13 Samsung affiliates including Samsung Electronics, Samsung C&T, Samsung Heavy Industries, and Samsung Life Insurance will start the six-week-long campaign to collect outdated cell phones across 37 places of business on Monday, according to industry watchers Sunday. The campaign was first introduced in 2015 to collect some 27,000 old cell phones until last year.
The group will expand the drive to overseas places including those in the United States, Russia, and Spain. The collected phones will be disassembled by a specialized company so that components such as gold, silver, copper, and cobalt can be reused.
Samsung Electronics will also carry out the campaign for customers visiting its customers service centers in 25 countries around the world.
The company said that it is organizing various activities for the recycling of resource, adding that customers who purchase new products will be able to have their outdated appliances collected at home, and a collection box for e-waste will be also installed at service centers.
Dong-Jun Heo email@example.com


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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — For those in the public following the 'Safer at Home' order, it's inevitable. Eventually, they will have to leave to pick up more supplies from the grocery store.
But how does one do that and maintain a low risk of contracting COVID-19?
Doctors at Vanderbilt had a few suggestions for such a scenario. Infectious disease expert Dr. David Aronoff said right now it's known the virus can be contracted from people touching their face after getting it on their hands. So, hand washing is still the most important way to be safe.
Inside of a grocery store can be more tricky. Dr. Aronoff suggests staying six feet away from everyone else.
"If possible, bring sanitizer or sanitizing wipes with you to the grocery store," said Dr. Aronoff. "I found that a lot of grocery stores are providing sanitary wipes and use that to wipe them handle of the cart before entering the store and doing your shopping."
Dr. Aronoff said COVID-19 can't survive long on surfaces. So, it's important to just let products sit for at least 24 hours before handling them once you get home.
“The main way that the coronavirus could get from an inanimate object like a produce product or a box of cereal or a can of soup into our mouth would be directly handling that and then touching our face. And so, it’s prudent to then put away your groceries,” he said.
If the items need to be used immediately, then they can be washed using soap and water, or the outside of a container can be wiped down using common household cleaner.
“I think people need to realize that with some very safe common sense measures, particularly hand hygiene and making sure your plates and silverware and cups and glasses have been washed, that that’s really fine and there’s no reason to panic about going to get essential food,” said Aronoff.
He also stressed the most important method to stopping the spread is to just not be around other people. So, making as few runs to the store as possible is the best route.
MORE TENNESSEE COVID-19 COVERAGE
- Mask mandate, capacity restrictions lifted in Nashville; what you need to know
- Tennessee, Metro to offer COVID-19 vaccine to children 12-15 years old
- Nashville's COVID-19 testing centers to adjust operating hours
- Walmart pharmacies in Tennessee now offering COVID-19 vaccines
- Donate to the COVID-19 Middle Tennessee Emergency Response Fund
See all our coronavirus coverage here
COUNTY-BY-COUNTY CASES IN TENNESSEE
What is COVID-19 (a.k.a. the new coronavirus?)
According to the World Health Organization, coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases. Examples include the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV)and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). A novel coronavirus (nCoV) is a new strain that has not been previously identified in humans. COVID-19 stands for "Coronavirus disease 2019," which is when this strain of the coronavirus was discovered.
What are the symptoms?
The CDC says patients confirmed to have the 2019-nCoV reportedly had mild to severe respiratory illness with:
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Or at least two of the following symptoms:
- Repeated shaking with chills
- Muscle pain
- Sore throat
- New loss of taste or smell
At this time, the CDC believes symptoms could appear as soon as two days after exposure, or as long as 14 days.
The CDC is recommending "common sense" measures such as:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around others.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.


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Chinese Wine Romance Grows
In 2015 alone, some 131.9 million cases of red wine were consumed in China making it the fifth largest wine market in the world. Experts suggest currently there are some 38 million drinkers in the country, however this is believed to be growing substantially. The major buyers fueling the industry are the younger middle-class generation who are well-educated and enjoy the taste of imported wines. For a Chinese consumer, imported wines are not just about the quality. They carry a sense of ‘pride and prejudice’, reassuring the drinker they have not only good taste but are drinking a superior drop – particularly when they wear CWSA Medals. Sun Jian, Deputy General Manager at Changyu Pioneer, says the growing demand for wine has prompted the company to increase their annual imports from 3 million bottles per year to 20 million over the next three to five years By 2020, it’s estimated approximately 60 percent of the world’s post-1990 generation with a disposable income of an estimated $200 billion will call Asia home. As the appreciation for imported foreign wines continue to grow rapidly, it’s a great opportunity to cement your place in China’s thriving wine market.


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As the world shifts towards a multipolar order, Iran and India have a pivotal role to play in shaping the trade and connectivity patterns across Eurasia, given their historical friendly relations. However, their economic ties have been affected by geopolitical developments, particularly the re-imposition of US sanctions on Iran. Nonetheless, both nations are making efforts to enhance their trade and investment ties, which can have a significant impact on the regional economic landscape.
Iran and India have historically maintained friendly and cooperative relations, and as the world moves towards a multipolar order, these two countries are poised to play a crucial role in shaping the new trade and connectivity patterns across Eurasia.
However, geopolitical developments in the region, such as the re-imposition of US sanctions on Iran, have had a significant impact on their economic ties. Despite these challenges, both nations are actively exploring ways to boost their trade and investment relations, which could have a significant impact on the economic landscape of the region.
Trends in India-Iran bilateral trade
In 2021, India exported goods worth US$1.28 billion to Iran, primarily consisting of rice (US$662 million), tea (US$96.8 million), and bananas (US$46.1 million). Iran, on the other hand, exported goods worth US$379 million to India, with the major items being nuts (US$100 million), ammonia (US$58.2 million), and apples and pears (US$48.3 million). Additionally, Iran also exported small quantities of products such as methanol, toluene, pistachios, dates, almonds, crude oil, liquified butane and propane, bitumen and mineral base oil, stone and mineral salts such as marble and clinker cement.
Between 1995 and 2021, Iran’s exports to India have been on a declining trend, with an average annual decrease of 1.08 percent from US$502 million to US$379 million during the period. Indian exports to Iran have also been on a similar declining trend, with a decrease in value from INR 10.57 billion in January 2023 to INR 7.88 billion in February 2023.
The decreasing trend in trade between Iran and India has had a negative impact on their bilateral commerce. In FY 2022, India-Iran bilateral trade amounted to US$1.91 billion, registering a drop of around nine percent compared to total trade value of US$2.10 billion in FY 2021. Furthermore, a closer analysis of long-term trade trends reveals an even more significant decline, as bilateral trade between Iran and India had reached US$18 billion before the US withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). However, the re-imposition of US sanctions on Iran led to India prioritizing its relationship with the US, causing economic and investment ties with Iran to stagnate.
Addressing the decline in Iran-India trade relations: Challenges and opportunities
What are the primary obstacles to India-Iran economic cooperation?
External factors have had a significant impact on India-Iran relations, resulting in several geopolitical setbacks. India halted the purchase of Iranian oil following the US withdrawal from the JCPOA, and the Chabahar port and railway project’s long-term investment agreement faced significant delays.
India is apprehensive about the growing strategic partnership between Iran and China, particularly after the signing of a 25-year agreement. Beijing’s plan to expand its maritime trade network and gain access to shipping routes has created a clash with India’s aspirations.
US sanctions on Iran have curtailed Iran’s ambitions to become a significant energy supplier to India. Since the sanctions were reimposed, Arab products have replaced Iranian goods such as oil and petrochemicals. India is likely to maintain its policy of avoiding sanctions violations due to the fear of economic repercussions. For example, when an Indian company purchased oil from Iran in September 2022, the US imposed sanctions. This will continue to be a major constraint on the expansion of investment ties and economic relations between Iran and India.
India’s relations with Iran’s rivals, Israel and the United States, pose another complication for bilateral ties. Despite efforts by New Delhi and Tehran to separate their relationship from US and Israeli factors, this strategy has not been successful. Israel is critical to India because it is one of India’s largest military suppliers. India also values its ties with the US, which it considers a counterweight to China’s Indo-Pacific ambitions, despite occasional tensions
Exploring solutions for improving Iran-India trade relations amid US sanctions
To address the decline in trade, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) – India’s central bank – announced in July 2022 that it will use the rupee payment mechanism to facilitate business transactions with countries, including Iran and Russia, that are under economic sanctions. The RBI has also established a mechanism that allows for instant payment options to facilitate international trade in rupees.
Another way to enhance bilateral commercial ties is to lower India’s high tariff on Iranian agricultural goods. This could be achieved through special economic mechanisms like signing preferential trade agreements between New Delhi and Tehran. An alternative could be to establish an agreement similar to the 25-year investment deal signed between China and Iran. India has expressed interest in such an agreement, but concrete steps have not been taken yet.
Iranian and Indian officials and experts concur that the most effective means to enhance their relationship is by promoting mutual investment, reducing tariffs, and expanding cooperation in the pharmaceutical and production sectors. They propose cooperation in areas such as the production of herbal medicines, Indian investment in Iranian oil downstream projects, and petrochemicals aimed at the Indian market. Unfortunately, much of this is impeded by the primary geopolitical obstacle of US sanctions on Iran, which were reinstated by Donald Trump in 2018.
Aligning India-Iran economic and geopolitical interests through Chabahar Port and INSTC
India and Iran are not considered geopolitical rivals, despite occasional challenges in their bilateral relations. In fact, their economic and geopolitical interests align in many areas, particularly in transit, energy, and commerce. As a member state of BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), India is critical to Iran not only in terms of trade, investment, and security, but also in Tehran’s broader vision of advancing a multipolar world order with its pivot to the East.
Iran and India are jointly working on the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), which is a 7,200-kilometer network of sea, rail, and road routes connecting Mumbai in India to northern Europe through Iran, Azerbaijan, and Russia. The Chabahar port in southern Iran plays a crucial role in aligning India’s interests with Iran’s, as it provides India with access to the markets of Russia, Central Asia, and potentially Europe.
Although the cooperation agreement between Iran and India for the management and development of Chabahar port was signed in 2003, it gained momentum in 2016 when a memorandum of understanding was signed, and India committed to investing US$85 million in the port’s infrastructure. However, due to various challenges, including the US sanctions, the full operation of Chabahar port could not be completed by the end of 2019. Out of the US$85 million of India’s investment, US$25 million has been allocated, and progress has been slower than anticipated, according to the Iranian side.
While India was exempt from US sanctions amid the work in the Iranian port, completing the Chabahar project has been challenging due to various constraints. India has, however, continued to invest in the project and doubled the amount of money allocated to Chabahar port in FY 2022, demonstrating its commitment to the project’s success.
While US sanctions have presented challenges to the development of Chabahar port, there are other geopolitical factors that could benefit the project. The conflict in Ukraine has pushed Russia to explore alternative trade routes, and the INSTC presents an attractive option. This could inadvertently lead to increased trade between India and Iran and bring Russia and India closer in implementing long-standing Eurasian projects. However, there is still room for improvement in the diversity and quality of Iran-India trade. At present, the majority of trade is centered around fruits and raw resources, and addressing this issue will require overcoming structural hurdles and waiting for a more favorable geopolitical climate, such as the renewal of the JCPOA.
Emil Avdaliani is a professor of international relations at the European University in Tbilisi, Georgia, and a scholar of the Silk Road.
India Briefing is produced by Dezan Shira & Associates. The firm assists foreign investors throughout Asia from offices across the world, including in Delhi and Mumbai. Readers may write to firstname.lastname@example.org for more support on doing business in in India.
We also maintain offices or have alliance partners assisting foreign investors in Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Italy, Germany, and the United States, in addition to practices in Bangladesh and Russia.


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As part of the localization, voice assistants, Apple is the undisputed leader. Thursday edition of Reuters published an article which refers to the effort made by the Cupertino company in that direction. In order to “train” voice assistant new languages, Apple is spending huge resources and it is the knowledge of many languages is the main advantage of Siri over the competition.
At first glance it seems that Apple has lost leadership in the field of virtual assistants, and Amazon, Google and Microsoft on the contrary has made good progress.
However, this only applies to the American market. A large share of smartphone sales still accounted for the European market, and that outside US, Siri outperforms Google Assistant and other assistants. Microsoft claims on the localization of Cortana running 29, Google and Amazon promise to add support for new languages “in the near future.” But Siri already supports 21 languages and localized in 36 countries. For comparison Cortana “knows” only 8 languages, Google Assistant – 4, Amazon Alexa — 2.
“Apple when introducing a new language attracts people for pronunciation of phrases in various dialects and accents, which then manually transcribed, with the result that the computer has a clear text for learning, says Alex Acero. Apple also captures a range of sounds. How to build a language model that attempts to predict the sequence of words. Then Apple rolls out a “dictation mode”, which translates text to speech in a new language. When users use dictation, Apple captures a small percentage of audio recordings anonymously. These records along with background noise and pronunciation shortcomings are transcribed by real people, which allows to improve recognition accuracy and to reduce by half the percentage of errors”.
After we gather the necessary amount of data, Apple starts recording Siri answers to the most common questions. Then a voice assistant continues to get updates every two weeks.
As stated by Charles Jolley, the Creator of the assistant Oslo, a limitation of Apple’s approach to developing a virtual assistant may be an insufficient number of employees. “You can’t hire enough workers to create a system for each language. Responses need to be synthesized. Otherwise it will take years.”
But it’s something to work in the company of Viv – the creators of the voice assistant Siri. “Viv was created specially to solve problems of scale intelligent assistants, – commented on the article Dag Kittlaus, CEO and co-founder of the Viv platform, which was purchased by Samsung last year. The only way to surpass the limited functionality of today’s assistants – to make the system open and allow people to learn”.
Viv is the technology that will underpin the Bixby, the new voice assistant Samsung. According to rumors, it will be submitted along with the Galaxy S8 at the end of March.


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New World is an upcoming massively multiplayer online role-playing game by Amazon Games set to be released on September 28, 2021. The game was previously scheduled to release in May 2020 and subsequently August 2021, but was delayed to its current date.
Amazon’s gaming division has recently announced that it will start its open beta for the company’s New World MMO and the news was announced during Opening Night Live. The game open beta is set to take place from September 9 to September 12. and according to the official announcement, this new beta will allow anyone to try New World out ahead of its eventual September 28 release.
For now, Amazon has not shared its exact details however it discussed the desired support of New World with post-launch content and updates.
During the announcement, Amazon stated that a common player request more supernatural weapons and elements, which will arrive in some form “shortly after launch.”
Amazon delayed the game by a month from its original date and now it will come in September. However, the games recently displayed closed beta has been a huge success on Steam.
The game’s previous closed beta was pretty successful and the reviews given out by many gamers were quite positive. Its high-level PvE zones also show real promise for its end-game, and so – fingers crossed – New World could be another MMO with a long life ahead of it.


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Nvidia made a surprising announcement at CES 2013 earlier today as the company, mostly known for its graphics cards, has revealed a handheld gaming console called Project Shield that can play both Android games as well as PC titles, which can be streamed to the device via Wi-Fi.
Nvidia has catered to gamers worldwide by providing not just graphics cards for PC and laptops, but also special mobile chipsets in the Tegra family for Android-powered mobile phones and tablets.
Now, the company has decided to properly blend these two aspects and has just revealed a handheld console called Project Shield.
As you can see above, the device is quite striking to look at, as it looks like a regular console controller with a display that flips out.
"Project Shield was created by Nvidia engineers who love to game and imagined a new way to play," said Jen-Hsun Huang, co-founder and CEO at Nvidia, in a statement.
"We were inspired by a vision that the rise of mobile and cloud technologies will free us from our boxes, letting us game anywhere, on any screen. We hope other gamers love Shield as much as we do."
The device is powered by Nvidia's latest Tegra 4 mobile processor, which makes games shine on the integrated 5-inch 720p HD multitouch display. No word yet on battery life but, thanks to special energy-saving mechanics, it can deliver "hours of gameplay on a single charge."
By far the best selling point, however, is that the portable device can not only work as an Android-based games console, like the Ouya, but it can also act, via wireless, as both a controller and a screen for PC games, provided the computer that's sending the footage is powered by an Nvidia GeForce GTX 650 GPU or higher.
"Created with the philosophy that gaming should be open and flexible, Project Shield flawlessly plays both Android and PC titles. As a pure Android device, it gives access to any game on Google Play. And as a wireless receiver and controller, it can stream games from a PC powered by Nvidia GeForce GTX GPUs, accessing titles on its Steam game library from anywhere in the home."
Nvidia has also offered feedback from various gaming companies that are excited about the device, ranging from high profile ones, like Ubisoft or Epic Games, to Android-focused studios, like Madfinger Games.


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Upcoming new KTM 490 Duke and KTM 490 Adventure to be manufactured in India by Bajaj Auto, and will be affordable bikes.
Made-in-India 500 cc motorcycle platformwill also have an adventure model like the KTM 390 Adventure
Austrian motorcycle brand KTM has confirmed that a brand new 500 cc engine platform is being worked on which will introduce both naked and adventure models. The new 500 cc bikes will be manufactured by production partner Bajaj Auto at its manufacturing facility in Chakan, on the outskirts of Pune. Bajaj also holds 48 per cent stake in KTM. Swedish motorcycle brand Husqvarna, which is owned by KTM parent company Pierer Mobility, will also use the same 500 cc platform for new models. Stefan Pierer, CEO of KTM AG revealed this in an interview with French magazine Le Repaire.
Also Read: KTM CEO Says Motorcycle Sales Going Up Due To Pandemic
Also Read: 2020 KTM 390 Duke First Ride Review
According to Pierer, the 500 cc range will be developed at Bajaj Auto’s R&D centre in Pune, but the design, development and testing of the new bikes will be carried out by KTM’s own R&D team. The new 500 cc range, expected to include a naked, adventure and also a full-faired variant, will be a parallel-twin, liquid-cooled motor, pointing to the possibility of an all-new chassis for the mid-size machines. The current frame of the KTM 390 range will likely be too narrow to accommodate a parallel-twin engine, while the chassis of the 790 Duke will be too large and heavy for a 500 cc machine. The new frame is likely to be a trellis frame, although with an all-new design and structure to accommodate the new engine.
Also Read: KTM 390 Adventure First Ride Review
Also likely is the similar nomenclature of current KTM motorcycles, so the new bikes will likely be called the KTM 490 Duke, KTM 490 Adventure and KTM RC 490. The first product from the platform is expected to be ready by 2022, and the 500 cc models will serve as options for existing KTM owners to upgrade from smaller machines to the mid-size segment. Considering the new bikes will be made in India, expect very competitive pricing, with the KTM 490 Duke likely to be priced around ? 4.5 lakh, and the KTM 490 Adventure priced under ? 5 lakh.
(Source: Le Repaire Des Motards)


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The California Mid-State Fair, as part of the Budweiser Concert Series, is pleased to announce legendary country band ALABAMA has been booked for the 2012 CMSF. The show will take place on Friday, July 20th at 7:30p in the Main Grandstand Arena
Tickets for the show will be $50, $65, $75, and $100 and will go on sale Friday, December 2nd at 10:00a. Tickets can be purchased online at www.midstatefair.com, by calling 1-800-909-FAIR or in person at the CMSF box office or any ValliTix outlet!
The 2012 California Mid-State Fair runs July 18, 2012, through July 29, 2012!
For more info, please visit midstatefair.com