With Treyarch in high gear in the development of the seventh Call of Duty installment, it does not surprise the gaming community that they called for an early announcement about the much-awaited sequel of the post Modern Warfare series. Just a week ago, Treyrach PR guys invited a pool of journalists to attend their pre-E3 event held in a rented studio complex London, where they showcased the first 2 levels of the game.

While Modern Warfare 1 and 2 dwell on the current world events in an ever escalating terror campaign, COD: Black Ops has a Vietnam-vintage setting, for a change. There had been several outstanding Vietnam War-era games in the past such as Battlefield Vietnam and Vietcong series but they were not designed for console games. Way back in 2004 when Battlefield Vietnam was still a hit for historically-inclined dudes like me, sleep was scarce and school was like your regular visit to the dentist that you wanted to avoid if possible. That time, sleep means a couple of hours of eye rest, nothing more. Eyebags due to sleep deprivation were common in those days. Looking at the trailer and the other photorealistic features of COD, Black Ops created a stir of anxiety. I’m afraid I may have another episode of those raccoon attacks again. Well-laid plots are significant historical references and characters are always the good recipe of excellent games. The story revolves around the secretive CIA and their black ops operatives during the Cold War. It can never be better than this.

As mentioned earlier, Treyarch presented a two-level teaser to a bunch of journalists. With expected stunning visuals and sounds, the two sets did not disappoint from the start. The first level, named WMD, opened with an exhilarating ride in an SR-71 over an isolated Russian base in the middle of a frozen wasteland. Then there was a shift of perspective showing a squad of black ops operatives sneaking inside the base. Another shift of perspective and the onlookers were immersed in the sight of a grunt on the ground ready to infiltrate the compound. The squad then rappelled down on the side of a mountain, smashing the window of an observation room in full CoD style. From that vantage point the squad started picking off the opposing soldiers with one sweet shot after another. A new weapon is introduced here in the form of a mutated crossbow–a scoped weapon perfect for stealth infiltration just like this mission. The main objective in this level is to neutralize the satellite communications capability of the enemy. After that successful hit, the squad exfiltrated through the mountain while an avalanche closely in tow. One can immediately remember the first level of Modern Warfare I when Captain Price and his SAS squad nearly kissed the bottom of the Bering Sea after they assaulted the a cargo ship laden with a nuclear device.

The second level was set in Hue, a Vietnamese-city- turned- battleground during the Tet offensive. The player’s squad is sort of a reaction force to some besieged unit in the city. While rappelling down, the players chopper was hit by an RPG sending it to an erratic spin. The player was thrown on the upper floor of bombed out building. From that point, the player encounters relentless firefights, giving opportunities to call in gunship and artillery support. The player is using an SPAS-12 shotgun loaded with dragon shells that can pulverize an enemy up close. Persistent Viet Cong units provide juicy targets while the player skips and go around obstacles, every time under intense fire. A hell of a firefight alright, and truly Call of Duty.

Treyarch throws in military heavyweights in this game to make combat situations as hellish and brutal as possible. They consulted Sonny Puzikas, a one-time Spetsnaz operative, and Major John Plaster of the former Studies and Observation Group in Vietnam. Both of them provided more than helpful feedbacks and suggestions to improve the photoreality of the game.

This game can potentially become first to introduce several significant innovations in the series and in its genre. One excellent example will be the ability of the player to give his character his own voice, although this feature may not directly influence the plot or the outcome of the campaign. No hint was given though if this feature is available in multiplayer. Another innovation, the first in this series, will be the ability to capture all the performance including the movements, voices, and facial expressions of the players. However, the most radical improvement that Treyarch is hinting at so far is the full weapon customization feature. While it was not explicitly shown, Treyarch explained that since the game was inspired by CIA black operations, where each operative can assemble his weapon for greater adaptability to a specific mission, it is just logical for them to accommodate this in the game as well. Basing on this hint, it can be deduced that a player may be given a choice not only to assemble his own weapons but can also select his supporting elements such as choppers, gunships, and transports. Now that can really get anyone going anytime.

Critics and fans of MW2 would contend that this game should be the yardstick for future shooter games, but they may have to accept that CoD: Black Ops deserves the same honor. Great graphics and sounds, historical touch, and simply raw battlefield scenarios–all the best there are–put this game, and the CoD series, yet in the hot seat again, for a good reason.

Sydney is one of the largest and the biggest cosmopolitan city in Australia. It is a city which has a harbor and is called by visitors as one of the most beautiful and livable cities in the world. Sydney is a city which has a history of art and culture and its location allows it to acquire miles of ocean and coastline with beautiful beaches. Sydney has two of the most iconic landmarks in the world; namely the Sydney Harbor Bridge and Sydney Opera House.

Inside The City
The city is a major international hub of trade and communication in the Asia Pacific and it also was the host city to the Olympics which speaks volumes about its importance to the world. Sydney is a huge city with various districts. It is also surrounded by many sprawling park and gardens. The city has six main districts namely the city centre which houses the financial buildings and many fine restaurants and shopping malls. Then we have the Rocks, which is a cosmopolitan centre of the city, it also has the Sydney Harbor Bridge. The Darling Harbor is another district which has places of entertainment. It houses many museums and restaurants. The city south area has various markets most notably Haymarket, Chinatown and Central Station. The city east has various parks like the Kings Cross, Surry Hills and Moore Park; it has a vibrant night life and various cafes. Finally, the city west district is where the fish markets and the Star City Casino are located.

Climate
The climate of the city is moderate with hot days in the summer. The maximum temperature in summer can reach around 40 degrees while the winters are cool. Minimum temperatures hover around to 10 degree mark in December and January.

Moving Around
You can reach the city by plane, cruise ships, cars and buses. Nearly all the international carriers fly to and from Sydney to other major international destinations. The Sydney airport is one of the busiest and entry point to other destinations in Australia. Getting around a big city can be difficult but Sydney has a very efficient public transport system that would get you to the various parts of the city with no difficulty. You can either use the Sydney city buses or the suburban rail network which runs along the various districts.

Major Attractions
Sydney has numerous landmark buildings which is a must see for anyone who visits Australia. First up is the Sydney Harbor Bridge, which takes you from the rocks to north Sydney. Then is the iconic Sydney Opera House, which is one of the most famous architectural landmarks ever built. The Sydney Olympic park built around the Olympics houses the sporting facilities. The darling harbor houses are some of the most famous eating out places in the city. Finally, you can also visit the Sydney Tower which is the tallest building in the city and houses many restaurants.

Food
Eating out in the city can be fun, as the city accommodates many different communities from the world. The food here is diverse and you can find many different types of foods very easily. There are many multicultural restaurants around, which cater to the different customers from all around the world.

Vietnam Cement Industry 1H10
 
 Vietnam: Cement covers the industry overview, production, manufacturing process, consumption, distribution of firms, mergers and acquisitions, foreign trade, characteristics of the cement industry and valuations. ( http://www.bharatbook.com/detail.asp?id=147019&rt=Vietnam-Cement-Industry-1H10.html )
 
 It also covers the market trends and outlook for the industry, clinker exports, cement prices, and overheating cement industry, plus comparative matrix and SWOT for the industry local and foreign leading players: Bim Son Cement JSC, Ha Tien 1 Cement JSC, But Son Cement JSC, Da Nang Construction Building Materials and Cement JSC, and Hoang Mai Cement JSC.
 
 Executive Summary
 
 VN Cement includes an overview of the Vietnamese cement industry, one of the oldest and most important industries in the country’s developing economy. Part 1 of the report also contains Vietnam’s cement production and its standing in the world, as well as the country’s cement consumption and growth in consumption. It also covers information on the distribution of firms in Vietnam, current mergers and acquisitions along with some of the characteristics of the cement industry.
 
 The second part of the report includes current trends and issues in the Vietnam cement industry, including clinker exports for the first time in history, rising cement prices and the overheating cement industry. It also includes an outlook on the industry.
 
 A ranking of the major in the industry would also be provided in the third part of the report. Current leading players in the market include Bim Son, Ha Tien 1, But Son, Da Nang and Hoang Mai. This part also includes a comparative matrix of the financial highlights of the companies. A SWOT analysis of the companies can also be found in this part of the report.
 
 For more information kindly visit : http://www.bharatbook.com/detail.asp?id=147019&rt=Vietnam-Cement-Industry-1H10.html                          
 
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Legend says Ha Long Bay was formed by a Mother Dragon and her children, sent by the Jade Emperor to protect the Viet from foreign invaders. The dragons flocked from Heaven, spitting out pearls which formed small islands and stopped the invaders and destroyed their ships. Mother Dragon and her children didn’t return to Heaven after the battle, but settled into the bay; the Mother Dragon forming Ha Long Bay and the children forming Bai Tu Long.

Exploring the islands of Ha Long Bay almost makes this incredible story seem true. Weaving through the almost 2000 islands while sitting atop jade-green water is surreal to say the least; spiritual at most.

Halong bay, Vietnam

Islands
Ha Long Bay is dominated by Cat Ba Island. The local inhabitants are concentrated toward the southern end at Cat Ba village. These people generally make their living from the sea but tourism has seen a boom in the last ten years and hotels have sprung up to meet this demand. Nearly half of the island was designated a national park in 1986 and protects the island’s incredibly diverse ecosystem. Subtropical evergreen forests, freshwater swamps, and coastal mangrove forests, along with small freshwater lakes and offshore coral reefs, are all included under national park protection. With very few roads built on the island, visitors have an excellent opportunity to hike along trails weaving through these ecosystems to explore either the numerous waterfalls and grottoes carved in the limestone hills or the rocky coastline searching for elusive beaches.

Tuan Chau Island is a 2.2 square miles schist island located north of Cat Ba Island with a thick forest and warm white beaches. A road connects this island with the mainland, making it easy to stay here without taking a boat ride. Tuan Chau Island has been slowly turning into a tourist resort with villas by the sea and attractions including dolphin and seal performances, golf courses, and a market among others. As a contrast to these modern tourist attractions, Tuan Chau has a variety of archaeological sites dating back 3,000-5,000 years as well as a shrine to President Ho Chi Minh.

Ngoc Vung “Gem” Island lies south of the city of Cam Pha on the mainland and southeast of Ha Long City near Phuong Hoàng “Phoenix” Island. This island is rich in mother-of-pearl and has long been famed for its white sand used in making high quality glass. Rising from the center of the island is Van Xuan Mountain which recently revealed an ancient village letting archaeologists dig into Ha Long’s past civilizations.

On the southeast side of Ha Long Bay lies Cong Do Island, an island that displays numerous lagoons and a coral reef on its southwest side. This reef is more than 700 meters long and 300 meters wide and is nearly undamaged after preservation in the World Heritage program. Plans are underway to make a part of this reef a zone for scuba-diving. Vestiges of a city were found as well on the southwest side of the island. These confirmed the existence of Van Dong, an ancient commercial port important in foreign trade.

Ti Top Island, named after an astronaut from the former Soviet Union, welcomes travelers to its large, crescent-shaped beach and white sands. Various tourist services are available on this island including hotels, kayaking, and scuba-diving opportunities.

Dau Be Island, off the southeastern tip of Cat Ba Island, is home to the famous Ba Ham Lake. This lake is made of three pits joined by narrow caves at the water’s level. Travelers can journey from outside the island through all three lakes by these caves. Schools of fish and shrimp can be seen swimming through under the water while stalactites and other rock formations hang from the ceilings above.

Grottoes
Dau Go “Wooden Stakes Cave” lies just southeast of Tuan Chau Island, easy reach for a day trip from Tuan Chau. Dau Go is made of three connected caves; the largest is able to hold three to four thousand people and sports the most stalactites and stalagmites of the three. The middle chamber has a large crystal that refracts light into rainbows against the cave walls. The last chamber is famous for its multicolored stalactites and freshwater springs. This grotto is one of the most famous in Ha Long Bay and has long been visited by dignitaries from Vietnam and other countries. Inscribed next to the cave’s entrance are words of appreciation from King Khai Dinh, the last of the Nguyen dynasty.

Kim Quy “Golden Tortoise Grotto” is named after the story of a golden tortoise that helped Emperor Le Loi defeat his enemies. After Le Loi was done the golden tortoise left back across the sea, but encountered numerous evil spirits. The tortoise fought these spirits and won, but was tired from the battle. He found this grotto to rest in and turned to stone once inside. A large rock inside this grotto is said to be the golden tortoise. There is also a spring that flows from this grotto year-round under the delicate snow-white stalactites. This grotto can be found just off the north side of Cat Ba Island.

Toad Islet rightly gains its name because it looks like an 8 meter tall toad waiting for rain. It is located east of Cat Ba Island.

One of the more famous islets, But “Pen” Islet is a large pillar of rock balanced on a narrow neck barely extending out of the water. 30 minutes away from Con Coc Islet, there is a small beach available for visitors to rest.

These are just a few of the many sights available in a trip through Ha Long Bay. Scattered throughout the thousands of islets are natural wonders, hidden beaches, and fantastic shapes needing only and imagination to recognize them.

Source: BootsAll World Adventure

To have more information about Halong bay, Vietnam, enter www.indochinasails.com

Volumes have been said and printed about Vietnam’s bitter past, a scar that will continue a scalding reminder from the struggles and hardship they long endured. The Vietnamese core family values and also the spirit to take proper care of one’s family, one’s relative, and the relative’s kin, sum up the collective resolve of a country, battered and beaten to a pulp, but stood up again; this occasion internationally economic stage. Vietnam is standing proudly. It may be the political and economic progress of this nation of 83 million inhabitants during the last ten years that catapulted this nation into a onset of tiger economy, a long way from its initial political and economic isolation inside the aftermath of the Vietnam war and properly into the 80’s.

Vietnam is the place to find two Globe Organic Heritage sites namely Halong Bay and Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in addition to scenic normal landscapes such as the PhuQuoc island and also the historic villages along the Mekong River. Vietnamese cuisine is fast gaining popularity and recognition for its elegant simplicity and healthful preparation characterized by utilizing hardly any oil and a mix of vegetables. The Vietnamese coastal regions abound with popular and world-class beaches and scenic boat rides. But nothing strikes on spot the essence of Vietnam as a striking view of large expanse of rice fields using the harvesters, clad in their native Ao’Dai and wearing their familiar conical hats to protect them from the heat.

Now that the Tiger has finally roused from his deep slumber, progress is seen all around, flowing, like the lots of motorbikes, massing and gushing forward in a sea of headlights and honkers around the streets of Hanoi. International acceptance of Vietnam’s fresh- discovered status is very much apparent in the booming tourism industry. And it would hurt a bit if you finally give it a try for Vietnam.

Enjoy traveling around the world? If you love to travel, check out famouswonders.com to see the most famous places around the world and also have a look at things to do in Vietnam.

Only citizens of certain countries can visit Vietnam without Vietnam entry visa. Those countries include: most citizens of ASEAN countries are no need Vietnam visa for visit Vietnam within 30 days; citizens of Korea, Japan & Scandinavians (Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Finland passport holders) are no need Vietnam visa for visit Vietnam within 15 days. All other citizens are required to get Vietnam entry visa before departure (Vietnam visa issued prior to departure by Vietnamese consulates or embassies) or a pre-approved Vietnam entry visa (visa is issued on arrival at Vietnam’s International Airports) supplied before arrival in Vietnam.

Hereafter Vietnam Visa exemption information you should know :

- No Vietnam entry visa required for travel less than 30 days: Citizens of Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Myanmar, Cambodia, Brunei and Laos.

- No Vietnam entry visa required for travel less than 15 days: Citizens of Japan, South Korea, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland.

- No visa required for travel less than 90 days or several visits within 6 months: Citizens of France holding valid diplomatic or official passports.

- No Vietnam entry visa required for travel less than 60 days: Citizens of Chile holding valid diplomatic or official passports.

- No Vietnam entry visa required for travel less than 60 days: APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) Holders from Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) member economies

- No Vietnam entry visa for traveling to Phu Quoc Island – Vietnam : Foreigners and Vietnamese nationals bearing foreign passports who enter Vietnam through an international border gate and then travel to Phu Quoc Island and stay in Phu Quoc less than 15 days will also be exempt from Vietnam visa application. Passports must be valid for at least 45 days. After arriving in Phu Quoc Island, if visitors want to travel other localities or stay in the island for more than 15 days, the immigration department will be responsible for issuing visas right on the spot.

- No visa required for Vietnamese overseas less than 90days staying if holding Vietnam visa exemption certificate.

That’s some information on Vietnam exemption we would inform you know.

Vietnam Insurance Industry 1H10
 
 Vietnam: Insurance covers the Asia Pacific insurance, transformation of insurance sector in Vietnam, Vietnam insurance law, performance of insurance industry in Vietnam and regulatory issues. It also covers the market trends and outlook, Prudential regulatory and protection fund, bankassurance, the rural challenge, demographics and population, and consumer expenditure and purchasing power parity, plus the SWOT analysis of the industry leading players: Prudential Vietnam Assurance Private Limited, Vietnam Insurance Company (Bao Viet), Manulife (Vietnam) Limited, and Petrovietnam Insurance Corporation (PVI). ( http://www.bharatbook.com/detail.asp?id=146991&rt=Vietnam-Insurance-Industry-1H10.html )
 
 Executive Summary
 
 VN Insurance provides an insight of the Insurance sector of Vietnam through the performance and the ranking of leading players in the industry. In 2009, despite the slowdown, the Vietnamese insurance market’s total premiums revenue rose 20% year-on-year, with 50 insurers in the country. In life insurance segment, Prudential Vietnam takes the lead with 31% of the market share, followed by Bao Viet at 28% and Manulife at 10% respectively. Life insurance sector is expected to see annual growth of 8% to 10% through 2010.
 
 This report also includes the breakdown of the components in non life market and in Vietnam; approximately 70% of its premiums were contributed by motor insurance. The non-life segment is expected to grow at a CAGR of around 24.5% between 2009 and 2013. Total insurance premiums of Vietnam in 2009 stood at VND 29769.5 billions. This is made up by life premiums of VND 16290.24 billions and non life premiums of VND 13479.27 billions. In 2010, the corresponding figures are forecasted at VND 22056.07 billion and VND 15969.01 billion respectively.
 
 The better- performed insurance market was driven by various factors such merger and acquisition (M&A), Bancassurance activities, demand of micro insurance and etc. The driving forces would increase both life and non life density to USD 12.23 and USD 8.85 per capita respectively. In addition to that, financial highlights of the country’s major companies in insurance industry are also included, namely Prudential Vietnam Assurance Private Limited, Vietnam Insurance Company (Bao Viet), Manulife (Vietnam) Limited, Petrovietnam Insurance Corporation (PVI).
 
 For more information kindly visit : http://www.bharatbook.com/detail.asp?id=146991&rt=Vietnam-Insurance-Industry-1H10.html                         
 
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 Business Trends: Global Insurance Technology Trends, (Customer Focus)
 http://www.bharatbook.com/detail.asp?id=78222&rt=Business-Trends-Global-Insurance-Technology-Trends-Customer-Focus.html
 
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Strategic Mining (Pink Sheets:SMNG ) announced today that it has recently completed a geological report for its East Canyon gold property located in both Nevada and Utah. Due to the presence of both gold and silver, further geological mapping, geochemical and geophysical surveys are required to develop new or refined exploration targets for both gold and silver.

Hassan Alief, the company’s geological consultant, reviewed geochemical and field reports from historic and recent exploration to evaluate the property and write a report. Pending further investigation, Strategic Mining has plans for the further acquisition of adjacent properties.

President, Todd Sterck commented: “We are fortunate to have our gold property located in pro-mining states. Our goal is to establish ourselves in this region that has a long and proven track record for successful gold production.”The company intends to expand by acquiring mineral rights to more key properties and initiating strategic joint ventures.

The company has entered into negotiations with interested parties for the initial financing of $5 million required to develop at least one of its properties and begin gold production. These negotiations are in the early stages and SMC will update its shareholders on the progress as it develops.

Strategic Mining Corporation is engaged in the exploration and development of gold properties in Vietnam, the U.S. (Nevada/Utah) and Africa. The company intends to expand by acquiring mineral rights to more key properties and initiating strategic joint ventures.

For more information visit   http://www.worldmarketmedia.com/779/section.aspx/2246/post/strategic-mining-pink-sheetssmng-completed-geological-report

WorldMarketMedia.com

Pasta and Noodles in Vietnam to 2013

This databook provides key data and information on the dried/pasta noodles market in Vietnam. This report is a comprehensive resource for market and segment level data including value, volume, distribution share and company & brand share. This report also provides expenditure and consumption data for the historic and forecast periods.

Scope of this research

* Contains information on the category: dried pasta/noodles
* Category and segment level information on value, volume, and expenditure & consumption, with historic (2003-2008) and forecast (2009-2013) data
* Category level company and brand share as well as distribution share information for 2007 and 2008

Research and analysis highlights

The market for dried/pasta noodles in Vietnam increased at a compound annual growth rate of 6.4% between 2003 and 2008.

Leading players in Vietnamese dried/pasta noodles market include Acecook Co. Ltd, Miliket Food and Foodstuffs Enterprise and Vietnam Foods Industries Co.

Key reasons to purchase this research

* Develop business strategies by understanding the quantitative trends within the dried/pasta noodles market in Vietnam
* Design effective marketing and sales strategies by identifying key market categories and segments
* Identify key players within the market to plan lucrative M&A, partnerships and agreements

To know more and to buy a copy of your report feel free to visit :
http://www.bharatbook.com/detail.asp?id=75467&rt=Pasta-and-Noodles-in-Vietnam-to-2013.html

Related Reports :

Pasta and Noodles in Taiwan to 2013
http://www.bharatbook.com/detail.asp?id=30353&rt=Pasta-and-Noodles-in-Taiwan-to-2013.html

Pasta and Noodles in Russia to 2013
http://www.bharatbook.com/detail.asp?id=75407&rt=Pasta-and-Noodles-in-Russia-to-2013.html

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