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2017 was not a good year for Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD), as the company announced weak sales of core hepatitis C drugs Harvoni, Sovaldi and Epclusa. These drugs are under pressure amid pricing problems and competition. Gilead also recently posted fourth quarter results that were not up to the expectations. Total HCV franchise revenue for the fourth quarter declined to $1.5 billion from $3.2 billion in the prior-year period. The company had to suffer a big loss amid a $5.5 billion provision for income taxes related to the recent U.S. tax reform legislation. However, it is important to note that this was a one-time hit, and the company will benefit from lower tax rates in the future.
Analysts were also disappointed from Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD) estimates for 2018. The company expects net product sales to fall in between $20 billion and $21 billion, slightly lower than estimates. However, bullish analysts believe that Gilead has always been conservative with its outlooks, and tends to beat projections every time. For full-year 2017, the company had projected revenue of $24.5 billion and $25.5 billion, but actual revenue in the year totaled $25.7 billion.
Analysts are bullish on the company acquisition of Kite Pharma, a specialty cancer immunotherapy drug developer. In 2017, Kite Pharma increased its sales by a whopping 100% annually to reach $35 million. The company has already started integrating its services with Gilead’s inorganic R&D facilities.
Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD) pipeline is healthy and has several growth catalysts. The pipeline includes drugs for HIV/AIDS, liver disease, hematology/oncology and inflammation/respiratory. The biggest catalyst for Gilead stock is the company’s HIV franchise. In the fourth quarter, Genvoya revenue increased by 88% year over year to $1.06 billion, while sales of Descovey jumped 145% year over year to $365 million. TAF-based HIV drug Odefsey more than doubled year over year.
Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD) stock reversed its declines after FDA approved the company’s new HIV drug, a combination of bictegravir, emtricitabine, and tenofovir alafenamide. Analysts believe that the new drug’s sales could reach $1 billion in 2018 alone. Annual sales for Bictarvy are expected to reach $5 billion by 2024.
The company is also in talks to acquire Crispr Therapeutics, a leading gene-editing company to treat cancers and rare genetic diseases.
J.P. Morgan analyst Cory Kasimov recently said in a report that Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD) HCV is declining and as a result, the company is focusing on HIV and M&A, which is very positive. RBC Capital Markets analyst Brian Abrahams also thinks that Gilead’s pipeline is “maturing” and the company is working on potential blockbusters acquisitions.


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The revamped, customizable Start menu on Windows 10.
The end is near for Windows 7 users: After 10 years, Microsoft will stop supporting the OS on Jan. 14, 2020, which means it's time to upgrade to Windows 10 to keep your PC running smoothly and securely. (Extended support for Windows 8.1 users ends in January 2023.)
Some users have been hesitant to make the switch, as the rollout of Windows 10 saw several issues, including a series of bugs that led Microsoft to pull its October 2018 Update days after its release. In April, however, Microsoft laid out several changes to its update approach starting with the May 2019 release, including slower rollouts with additional testing, more options for pausing updates and more disclosure of known issues.
Many of the issues are due to the fact that updates are happening more frequently, said Gartner Research analyst Steve Kleynhans. "But overall most users seem pretty happy with the OS and like the experience it brings, especially on newer devices," he added.
Here are the three main reasons why you need to upgrade your personal PC to Windows 10 ASAP.
The need to upgrade to Windows 10 is "primarily a security issue," said Forrester Research analyst Andrew Hewitt. If you are still using Windows 7 or earlier versions come January, Microsoft will not provide security updates or fixes, or technical support for any issues -- leaving your computer at greater risk from viruses and malware.
Windows 10 includes the built-in Windows Defender Antivirus to protect against malware and spyware across email, apps, the cloud and the web. Windows Hello offers a password-free sign in option to unlock your devices with your face or a fingerprint reader. And a Find My Device service can lock and erase your Windows device remotely, or map the location of your device.
Read more: 6 simple security changes all Windows 10 users need to make
Windows 10 offers a better user experience thanks to a number of features, Kleynhans said. One is the Your Phone app, which allows you to access texts, notifications and apps on your phone using your PC -- similar to Apple's Continuity features. A feature called Calls allows you to place and answer Android calls on your PC as well (and you can connect your iPhone to your Windows PC as well). A dictation feature lets you easily record ideas.
Microsoft's digital assistant Cortana is also available on Windows 10 PCs. The OS also integrates better with Microsoft OneDrive and other cloud tools, Kleynhans said.
The most recent Windows 10 November 2019 update includes some new features such as changes to notifications that will make them easier to configure and manage from an app or website, and the ability to create events directly from the Calendar flyout on the Taskbar, instead of opening the app.
Unlike previous versions, Windows 10 offers automatic updates by default, to keep systems more secure. (You can turn these off if you want to, by going to Windows Update Settings > Advanced Options and changing from Automatic to another option in the drop-down menu.)
"While some users might actually think that getting no more annoying updates is a blessing, it actually would pretty quickly expose the user to all sorts of potential malware attacks," Kleynhans said. "The good news is that for the most part Windows 10 is a pretty smooth upgrade for the vast majority of users."
You can expect updates to happen fairly frequently, Hewitt said, "almost as if you're using an Android or an iOS device and getting prompts to continuously update the operating system."
You can download Windows 10 via Microsoft's website. While Microsoft technically ended its free Windows 10 upgrade program in July 2016, our sister site ZDNet reported that at least as of September, the free update was still available for Windows 7, 8, and 8.1 users.B:
2007年什么生肖最破财“【你】【是】【什】【么】【人】？” 【白】【石】【站】【在】【凉】【亭】【外】，【看】【着】【停】【顿】【在】【了】【半】【空】【中】【的】【王】【硕】，【手】【上】【不】【知】【不】【自】【觉】，【已】【经】【出】【现】【了】【一】【柄】【血】【色】【的】【利】【刃】。 “【我】【是】【谁】【不】【重】【要】，【重】【要】【的】【是】……【我】【来】【要】【个】【人】。”【王】【硕】【声】【音】【也】【很】【平】【静】，【就】【这】【么】【看】【着】【这】【些】【人】，【眼】【中】【没】【有】【波】【澜】。 “【要】【个】【人】？” 【白】【石】【笑】【了】，【还】【是】【第】【一】【次】，【有】【人】【敢】【用】【这】【种】【口】【气】，【跟】【他】【说】【话】。
【次】【日】【凌】【晨】，【天】【还】【没】【有】【彻】【底】【发】【亮】，【一】【阵】【阵】【微】【风】【轻】【柔】【的】【吹】【动】，【抚】【摸】【着】【大】【地】。 【舟】【山】【红】【警】**，【经】【过】【一】【夜】【的】【征】【召】，【动】【员】【兵】【的】【数】【量】【大】【增】，**【后】【方】，【一】【排】【排】【的】【二】【层】【小】【楼】【整】【齐】【的】【竖】【立】【在】【了】【那】【里】，【那】【是】【士】【兵】【休】【息】【的】【场】【所】，【往】【后】【慢】【慢】【的】【会】【随】【着】【人】【数】【增】【加】【而】【加】【高】。 【一】【声】【哨】【响】，【响】【彻】【天】【空】，【打】【破】【了】【寂】【静】，【灭】【灯】【了】【的】【一】【排】【排】【住】【所】【几】【乎】【同】【时】
【到】【了】【现】【在】，【这】【个】【项】【目】【的】【研】【究】【已】【经】【不】【再】【是】【她】【一】【个】【人】【的】【问】【题】，【如】【果】【现】【在】【放】【弃】，【前】【期】【的】【投】【入】【只】【能】【换】【成】【世】【俗】【货】【币】，【那】【可】【就】【彻】【底】【把】【现】【在】【剩】【下】【的】【那】【六】【个】【共】【同】【经】【历】【风】【风】【雨】【雨】【的】【老】【朋】【友】【给】【坑】【了】【啊】。 【到】【了】【今】【天】，【可】【以】【说】【她】【现】【在】【所】【有】【的】【希】【望】【都】【压】【在】【了】【李】【杨】【的】【身】【上】。 【李】【杨】【听】【完】【盛】【莉】【莉】【的】【讲】【述】，【不】【由】【笑】【了】【起】【来】。 “【我】【喜】【欢】【你】【的】【真】【诚】，【别】
“【嗯】。【怎】【么】【了】？” 【叶】【仪】【放】【下】【手】【上】【的】【作】【业】，【给】【夏】【瑾】【侯】【回】【了】【话】。 “【明】【天】【出】【来】【吗】？” 【明】【天】？【叶】【仪】【觉】【得】【有】【点】【突】【然】【的】【感】【觉】。【转】【眼】【看】【了】【一】【眼】【才】【发】【现】【明】【天】【就】【是】【周】【日】【了】。【莞】【尔】【一】【笑】“【好】！【老】【地】【方】？” “【好】。【你】【现】【在】【在】【干】【嘛】？” “【写】【作】【业】，【好】【难】【啊】！”【叶】【仪】【看】【着】【手】【中】【明】【显】【超】【纲】【的】【作】【业】，【心】【里】【十】【分】【难】【受】，【但】【是】【却】【也】【无】【能】【为】2007年什么生肖最破财【这】【天】【晚】【上】，【段】【云】【喝】【了】【不】【少】【酒】，【心】【情】【却】【格】【外】【的】【舒】【畅】。 【完】【成】【了】【这】【次】【支】【援】【兄】【弟】【单】【位】【的】【任】【务】，【段】【云】【不】【光】【赢】【得】【了】【局】【长】【瑞】【阳】【的】【信】【任】，【而】【且】【还】【和】【省】【局】，【部】【里】【的】【几】【个】【领】【导】【混】【了】【个】【脸】【熟】。 【而】【段】【云】【现】【在】【最】【为】【高】【兴】【的】【是】，【他】【终】【于】【可】【以】【回】【家】【了】。 【自】【从】【元】【旦】【放】【假】【结】【束】【后】，【段】【云】【就】【接】【到】【通】【知】【来】【汽】【车】【厂】【帮】【忙】，【如】【今】【已】【经】【整】【整】【过】【了】【一】【个】【月】【的】【时】【间】
【洛】【霜】【站】【起】【身】【来】，【手】【中】【还】【握】【有】【五】【枚】【白】【子】，【面】【带】【怒】【色】【的】【看】【着】【刘】【琦】。 “【很】【好】！【很】【好】！【看】【来】【我】【等】【久】【未】【在】【这】【世】【间】【活】【动】，【随】【便】【什】【么】【蝼】【蚁】【都】【敢】【来】【挑】【衅】【了】。” 【洛】【霜】【说】【完】，【将】【手】【中】【五】【枚】【白】【子】【往】【空】【中】【一】【撒】，【五】【枚】【棋】【子】【悬】【浮】【在】【天】【空】，【五】【枚】【棋】【子】【相】【互】【之】【间】【出】【现】【一】【条】【白】【线】【相】【连】，【最】【后】【形】【成】【了】【一】【个】【正】【五】【边】【形】，【最】【后】，【这】【五】【边】【形】【又】【不】【断】【的】【变】【化】，【最】
【半】【场】【结】【束】。 【双】【方】【战】【成】【一】【比】【一】【平】。 【这】【个】【结】【果】【让】【圈】【里】【的】【人】【和】【球】【迷】【们】【都】【有】【些】【意】【外】。 【难】【不】【成】【格】【拉】【纳】【达】【队】【真】【的】【能】【狙】【击】【巴】【萨】【成】【功】，【帮】【助】【西】【班】【牙】【人】【队】【登】【顶】？ 【中】【国】【的】【这】【个】【暴】【发】【户】【是】【想】【统】【治】【西】【甲】、【甚】【至】【欧】【洲】【足】【坛】【吗】？ 【下】【半】【场】【开】【始】。 【巴】【萨】【的】【球】【员】【们】【通】【过】【某】【些】【渠】【道】……【有】【可】【能】【是】【对】【方】【的】【故】【意】【透】【露】，【差】【不】【多】【了】【解】【到】【了】【格】【拉】

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RENO — Here’s a new word for your cannabis lexicon, one that will serve you well if you’re a gambler, skier or business traveler seeking medical cannabis in Nevada:
In woo-woo terms, reciprocity is an exchange of mutual benefit. In potspeak, reciprocity means people from California and 26 other states and the District of Columbia can easily obtain and use medical cannabis in Nevada. At least for now.
While dispensaries and the state attorney general haggle over the exact documentation California residents must provide, Nevada offers reciprocity to qualified medical cannabis patients from any state where medical cannabis is legal.
Medical cannabis users no longer need to transport their stash across state lines. They can buy it Nevada.
“It’s a legal protection,” said Eli Scislowicz, general manager of NuLeaf Incline Village, a dispensary which opened in July in partnership with Berkeley Patients Group. “I’d feel a lot safer coming here.”
Nevada is the only state in America to offer such reciprocity. The program, authorized in the state’s 2014 medical cannabis law, launched when Nevada’s first dispensary opened in July 2015. Six other states offer a limited form: protection of the law to possess but not purchase.
“Reciprocity is a misnomer because no other states are saying, ‘Hey, Nevada, thanks for taking our patients; we’ll take your patients and swap databases too,” said Pam Graber, spokesperson for Nevada’s Medical Marijuana Program. “But it’s very popular.”
Graber said internal monthly reports of dispensary sales show out-of-state customers, primarily from California, can account for up to 50 percent of some Las Vegas dispensaries’ business. In Reno, Graber said, it’s about 10 or 15 percent.
“We’ve been expecting out-of-state patients since we opened a year ago,” said Bobbie Macfarlane, general manager of Sierra Wellness Connection in Reno. “We deliver to the downtown hotels and the Grand Sierra Resort. Fridays and Saturdays are huge for us. I would say that’s because of tourists, mostly from California.”
Reciprocity, however, comes with a catch for Californians and others. Responding to a proliferation of cannabis tour companies providing California clients online medical cannabis recommendations from inside Las Vegas limousines, Nevada Attorney General Adam Laxalt issued an opinion this summer: Dispensaries can only accept government-issued medical cannabis cards.
That’s no issue for medical cannabis patients in most medical cannabis jurisdictions, where government-issued medical cannabis cards are mandatory to obtain and use medical cannabis.
But it’s an issue for people from California, Maine, Maryland and Washington because enrollment in these states’ medical cannabis identification card programs is voluntary. In California, most people enter dispensaries with letters or cards printed at doctors’ offices.
According to the California Department of Public Health, 6,667 California Medical Marijuana Identification Cards were issued in fiscal year 2015-2016. The Marijuana Policy Project estimates there are 758,000 medical cannabis consumers in California, or 19.4 percent of the state’s 39 million population.
“They quickly heard from us in the dispensary community,” said Jeff Grossman, assistant manager at The Dispensary in Reno, which, he said, serves many Californians visiting two nearby destinations, the Peppermill casino and Atlantis resort. “We said, ‘That’s ridiculous.’ As long as they have a valid recommendation that works in the state of California and we can verify online the same way you would in California, why can’t people from California buy Nevada bud?”
That question has been thrown back to the Nevada Legislature, which convenes in February.
“The Department of Health said, ‘We will accept recommendations for now.’ But that could change,” said NuLeaf Incline Village’s Scislowicz, who said he forecasts a surge in California clientele this ski season.
“We’re trying to figure out the best way to move forward,” said Graber of the Nevada Medical Marijuana Program. “We’re just going to try to do the best thing we can to honor the integrity of the program and take care of patients who may be in Nevada on holiday or on business and who just want to play by the rules and not transport marijuana across the state line and buy their medicine when they get here.”
Until the Nevada Legislature sorts it out or until a critical mass of Californians get state-issued medical cannabis cards, Nevada dispensaries will ask Californians for the same documents they are accustomed to presenting at California dispensaries — original letters or verifiable cards from their doctors, plus valid government-issued photo ID.
“As long as they have original paperwork from their doctor where I can feel the embossed state seal and their identification matches, that’s all I need to let them in,” said Macfarlane of Sierra Wellness Connection.
Pointing to a plastic card issued to a California journalist from a doctor on San Francisco’s Haight Street, she said, “And with these ones, I let them in if I can verify the information online.”
In Nevada and most other medical cannabis states, state-issued cannabis cards cost $100. In California, prices vary by county — from $70 in Del Norte to $279 in Mariposa.
“It’s a very small percentage,” Graber said of Californians who possess state medical cannabis cards. “We can’t just say to Californians, ‘Hey, just go get a card. That’s the way it is.’ I don’t know if that’s in anybody’s best interest. That’s the mess we’re trying to muddle through.”
While possession and use of cannabis is recreationally legal as of Jan. 1, retail sales will not begin until at least this summer. Retail sales will be taxed at 15 percent versus 2 percent for medical cannabis, prompting some in the industry to predict that some customers may continue buying medical rather than retail.
Reciprocity and the out-of-state consumers it brings is one reason Scott Dunseath and his partners in Mynt, a dispensary that will open Feb. 15, purchased land and a building in downtown Reno directly across from Harrah’s hotel and casino and a short fly ball away from the Reno Aces Triple-A baseball stadium.
“We know that people fly into Reno and stay at the resorts and hotels,” said Dunseath, who is also president of the Reno Riverwalk Merchants Association. “We wanted people to be able to access their medicine within walking distance.”
Ed Murrieta is a Northern California journalist.


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The Motorola Fire will go on sale in late September at the fairly reasonable UK price of around £200, according to one retailer.
We're as confused as you over this whole naming-different-phones-the-same-thing scenario, and we've got a call in to Motorola to ask them to sort it out – or at least clarify what's going on.
Unfortunately, the company is staying tight-lipped as it hasn't officially announced any release dates or pricing for either handset yet, but we're fairly confident that the Motorola Pro will now launch as the Motorola Fire.
So forget the other one for a minute, this Motorola Fire comes with a physical QWERTY keyboard in a power-bar form, with 2.8-inch touchscreen and Android 2.3.
It also offers a 3MP camera, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3G and a 1GHz processor, which is not a bad selection of specs for the money.
Clove (opens in new tab), the retailer that unveiled the upcoming release date, doesn't think it will be stocking the full-touch version – that's the Motorola Fire XT531 that was unveiled last week – but it's possible that other UK retailers will.


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Due to circumstances beyond our control, the HighLifeStyle Show needs to be postponed … reason is below.
Last week the Cannabis Control Commission met and determined that a path to have legal consumption at events was now on their agenda. Previously our event had been planned on the laws that stood, meaning that a private event on private property could be held without negative impact from the MA government as long as we complied with all laws, which we and the exhibitors have always intended to do, but could not be publicly advertised (not like music and camping festivals which hide under the radar).
The proper path to consumer recreational use of cannabis is still being identified and settled by the MA Cannabis Control Commission, who are progressing towards meeting more needs of consumers and cannabis business people in the state, which is what our CraftBud Alliance is all about anyway.
We believe that the CCC could be looking at our event, and other similar events, potentially as a “public” event whereas anyone from the public could “join” and attend, and are looking at a “license” that will need to be applied for and granted. The laws do not currently exist, but the CCC state that they are in that process now and we are concerned that it could happen and negatively impact us.
We are still confident that we would be currently operating completely legally under the law, but fear that the CCC may choose to institute a new license required by law for events like ours that may be enacted between now and our event date, which could negatively impact us should it contain a “license” that we cannot get.
We could attempt to go forward as planned, and be hopeful that nothing will happen, but the reality is, we are trying to produce an event that is different and better that the stuffy “business” events and more fulfilling to entrepreneurs than just another music festival or camping event (also being scrutinized).
The HighLifeStyle Show will be the official trade show for the CraftBud Alliance and we will work hard for our constituents to provide a quality community with entertaining and engaging events, destined to assist the growers and consumers to level the cannabis playing field for entrepreneurs.


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Activision announced during their Q4 earnings call today that Diablo III, which was initially slated for an early 2012 release, has been pushed back to 2012 Q2 (April – June). This is umpteenth delay of the game. Much like the announcement of a new CoD title, this doesn’t come as a shock, but it does come as a disappointment.
No reason for the delay was given.
They also announced that either Starcraft II: Heart of the Swarm or World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria will be released with Diablo III in Q2.
Stay tuned to GamingBolt, we’ll keep you updated.


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All five Green Car of Year finalists have a plug
Corrections and Clarifications: An earlier version of this story misstated the electric-only range of the Toyota Prius Prime.
Plugs are"in" when it comes to the five candidates for Green Car of the Year.
Five cars that are either plug-ins or come with the option, including one minivan, will compete for the coveted award, which goes to the car deemed the best at moving the world a little closer to environmental friendliness.
The finalists "clearly represent the momentum that electrification is experiencing in the auto industry," said Ron Cogan, publisher of Green Car Journal in a statement. "Electrification is now considered by most automakers an essential technology for current and future high-efficiency models."
With the winner due to be announced at the press preview of the Los Angeles Auto Show next week, here's how the Green Car Journal describes the five contenders:
•BMW 330e iPerformance. BMW's 3 Series sedan now comes in a plug-in hybrid version. While it has an electric-only range of 14 miles on a charge — which would still pay off in daily commuting — it still has performance credentials. It can go from zero to 60 miles per hour in 5.9 seconds. And because it has a backup gas engine, it has a long total range.
•Chevrolet Bolt. Not to be confused with the Volt plug-in hybrid, the Bolt will be a modern long-range electric car from a big Detroit maker. It is rated as being capable of 238 miles of electric-only range.
•Chrysler Pacifica. The brand's new minivan will have a plug-in option that will go 30 miles on a charge, yet with its gas engine, will have a total range of 530 miles. It can be recharged in as little as two hours.
•Toyota Prius Prime. The 25 miles of electric-only driving from this plug-in is nearly double the range of the previous version. It has the extra capability, yet looks almost like the standard version of the nation's leading hybrid car.
•Kia Optima. The midsize sedan has a plug-in option that goes right along with its 2-liter, four-cylinder gas engine. The batteries will give it 27 miles of electric-only driving before it reverts back to being a hybrid.


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Mar 25, 2014 (LBO) – Payments through mobile phones have topped 700 million rupees a month, Sri Lanka’s Dialog Axiata said as Etisalat, a competitor tied up to use the service, in what officials said was the world first such partnership. Dialog group chief executive Hans Wijayasuriya said all operators in Sri Lanka had been invited to share its platform and so far only Etisalat had taken up the offer.
But the Dialog system allowed any operators to be ‘plugged in’.
Etisalat acting chief executive Wail Salman said the process and time for getting approvals and setting up their own network was a key factor in the decision to share a payments network.
Cader said eZcash had a network of about 16,000 participants made up of telecom shops, supermarkets where payment could be made and collected as well as schools, utilities and insurance companies and state agencies that accepted mobile money.
Sharing networks avoided the use of multiple point of sale machinery and simplified the work of merchants in the system, they said. Fariq Cader, head of mobile money and payments systems at Dialog said during 2013, 6 billion rupees of deals had taken place though its mobile payment platform and monthly transactions had now topped 700 mi


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A smart new business for Hextable was officially opened by Michael Fallon MP at a ribbon cutting ceremony which was attended by local councillors, senior representatives from Barclays Bank, suppliers and customers.
They were there to celebrate the arrival of AK Barbers which opened in early June. The new barber’s shop is run by Kevin Reid who has worked in hairdressing for 20 years most recently at a Turkish barbers in Dartford.
Kevin said: ‘I have been looking for the right premises to start my business for some time and when this site in Hextable came up I knew it was right.
“I have always loved Hextable and it’s a great opportunity to work in a close-knit community.”
Michael said: ‘Kevin has shown great commitment and determination in realising his business ambition. Hextable residents will welcome his talent and experience. The new shop is a great addition to the village and will help the local economy.”


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Are people starting to unlike Meta?
Facebook’s owner, Meta Platforms, saw its stock market value slump by more than $230 billion on Thursday, February 3, in a record daily loss for the USA-based social media giant. Conversely, the top five metaverse cryptocurrency tokens ranked on the market cap have seen noticeable price surges in the last seven days. The upward trend appears as the price of BTC closed at $40,500 on Friday, February 4, indicating a more positive movement on the horizon.
The price drop came for META upon announcing that the number of daily active users to the Facebook platform fell to 1.92 billion in the three months to the end of December 2021, compared to 1.93 billion in the previous quarter. Despite such a slight decrease, It was the first time in the company’s 18 year lifespan that this measure of activity had gone into reverse. Investors and stakeholders reacted by sending the price of META from $323 on February 2 to $237 on February 3, effectively wiping around $230 billion in value of the social media behemoth.
At the same time, top metaverse platform tokens have been surging as BTC took an upward trajectory last week, closing above $40,500 on Friday, signaling positivity in the market. DeFi Kingdoms and Axie Infinity saw their tokens surge over 20%, while Decentraland showed the most impressive run shooting up over 30% in the last seven days. The Sandbox and Enjin also put up respectable numbers, growing 18% and 14%, respectively.
The figure that caused the damage to META was a metric widely used in apps. The daily active users (DAU) metric is used to assess the growth or decline of a platform’s audience. Dapps use something called Unique Active Wallets (UAW). Instead of devices interacting with apps, its users sign into dapps with a blockchain wallet. To gauge the converse price action observed, we can investigate how user growth on several top metaverse platforms listed above has been going.
The number of active wallets connected to Decentraland has increased more than 10% in the last seven days, to 372. While over in DeFi Kingdoms users have increased more than 8% during the previous 24 hours, pushing trading volume more than 75% to over $29 million.
While these UAW figures are practically insignificant compared to Facebook’s billions of users, it shows that user growth is heavily tied to valuation in traditional share markets and cryptocurrency markets. Additionally, it further shows the tangible use of DappRadar to discover market opportunities.
Metaverse tokens get help
Arguably, while decentralized metaverse platforms see a rise in popularity and participation, the once global social media leader looks to seriously decline. Meta was intended to save the company, but now it seems like it may be the straw that breaks the camel’s back as waves of commentators pile into condemn and blast Mark Zuckerberg’s centralized metaverse vision. With some key voices stating the platform doesn’t hold relevance right now at all.
Moreover, as observed in November 2021, shortly after Facebook announced the initial Meta, blockchain-based metaverse platforms are once more benefiting from Meta’s massive marketing spend and a general increase in global awareness. While these blockchain-based platforms step into the light and are discovered for the first time, Meta is warning stakeholders about slowing revenue growth in the face of rising competition.
More bad news came for Meta last year when Apple launched its App Tracking Transparency policy, letting people choose whether or not they want to be tracked all over the internet by companies like Meta. That is a massive problem for Facebook because finding information about its users and selling it to advertisers is how it makes money. Its quarterly results showed advertising income falling, mainly for this reason.
Couple this negative outlook with new feelings about how data is managed and stored by centralized organizations like Meta in a post Brexit, Trump world. It’s not very hard to see why people have doubts about Meta’s true vision and are perhaps more in favor of giving the new boys a chance to impress them.
The above does not constitute investment advice. The information given here is purely for informational purposes only. Please exercise due diligence and do your research. The writer holds ETH, BTC, AGIX, HEX, LINK, GRT, CRO, OMI, IMMUTABLE X, GALA, AVASTR, GMEE, CUBE, RADAR, FLOW, FTM, BNB, SPS, WRLD, ATOM, and ADA.


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News : Digital and Financial Services Centre Launched in Accra
May 2, 2014 -- A Digital and Financial Advisory Centre in West Africa, which will enable Ecobank’s tech-savvy customers to benefit from the convenience of real-time digital banking transactions, has been launched in Accra.
Dubbed "Ecobank Direct", the Centre, located in Labone in Accra, is complete with both an advanced technology software and hardware which makes it a self-service facility that gives customers control over their banking transactions.
In an address at the launch on Wednesday, the Vice President His Excellency Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur, commended the board and management for the bold step and expressed the hope that the Centre would be replicated beyond Labone.
Mr Amissah-Arthur underscored the importance of software maintenance in order to keep the Centre running 24-hours as expected, adding that the launch of the Centre was only a promise of service delivery and that the success of the initiative lay in results.
The Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr Henry Kofi Akpenamawu Wampah, urged Ecobank Ghana to sustain the standards set and maintain the momentum.
Dr Wampah warned of challenges in control over service provision and also over data and processing facilities and urged the board and management to regulate these activities in order to minimise losses and mitigate risks.
He stressed the need for attention to service infrastructure, capacity-building in ICT and uninterrupted power supply.
The Group Chief Executive, Mr Albert Essien, reiterated the mission of the bank to contribute to the economic and financial integration and development of the African continent.
Mr Essien said it was that ambition that had enabled the bank to continually challenge and change the landscape of banking locally and in the sub-region, and to operate at a level that rivalled the best of global markets.
The Managing Director of Ecobank Ghana, Mr Amuel Ashietey Adjei, said with the launch of the Centre, Ecobank Ghana was poised to change the landscape of banking in Ghana as it would offer customers more choice and more financial freedom.
"We strive to do better for our customers in everything we do. From excelling in managing risk and driving confidence in the business to constantly developing new and relevant products, we are able to provide the services our customers demand," Mr Adjei said.
Posted by Veronica Silva Cusi, news correspondent
Today's Tip of the Day - Keep Cost In Perspective
Published: Monday, May 5, 2014
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Co Founder and Director of Bravura Foods, Karl Morris, has been awarded Director of the Year award with the Institute of Directors in the category of Innovation. The IOD Wales awards was attended The Rt Hon Liam Fox MP, Trade Secretary Liam Fox and The Rt Hon Alun Cairns MP, Secretary of State for Wales.
Bravura Foods has also just been awarded for the second year running Best Vegan Distributor in the SME News UK enterprise awards. Now into its eighth year of trading, Bravura Foods distributes brands that include Panda Liquorice, Freedom mallows, Captain Kombucha, Oh My Gutness, Little Miracles and Vegan Bakery. The business also owns the brands Free From Fellows, Peanut Hottie and Lestrin.
Karl commented, “I was naturally delighted to be shortlisted as a finalist but winning the award was beyond special, especially in the innovation category, as this recognised the efforts of the team at Bravura for taking great ideas and turning them into reality and successes in the market. I am extremely proud that we have grown to be the UKs leading vegan and vegetarian sales, marketing and distribution business with growth of 48% last year along with a 45% increase in headcount.”
“Winning the innovation award goes to prove how much importance we place on creative product development, the likes of can be seen with our Free From Fellows brand (sugar free, gelatine free, gluten free confectionery) which has grown 279% in the last year with some solid listings including Holland and Barrett, Sainsbury’s, Boots, WHSmith and Wholefoods to name just a few. The team have been working tirelessly on our brand building activities and this award is testament to that. We are now looking forward to another explosive year as we continue to innovate and offer unique products to the vegan consumer.”


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Shares of Camping World Holdings (CWH -3.52%), the RV retailer, traded up more than 10% on Friday afternoon and are attempting to rebound from all-time lows set in the aftermath of a disappointing earnings report. It's nice to see the stock bouncing off its lows, but this company still has a long journey ahead to get back to where it once was.
Friday's gains reversed a Thursday sell-off that came after Northcoast Research, one of the few remaining Wall Street firms still bullish on the company, lowered its rating to neutral from buy. A number of analysts have downgraded the shares in the week since Camping World reported second-quarter earnings that came in $0.20 per share below expectations and warned that full-year earnings were likely to be short of consensus, as well.
Camping World has faced some company-specific issues, including shareholder lawsuits questioning the company's health, but its broader issue is the result of weakness in the overall RV market. Sales of new vehicles in the quarter were down 6.3% to about 22,900 units, and average selling prices were basically flat.
Investors are now grappling with the growing evidence that there will not be a quick turnaround. CEO Marcus A. Lemonis, a private-equity veteran who is best known as host of CNBC's The Profit, said that a combination of margin compression and increased selling expenses would weigh on future-quarter results.
"As a management team, we've spent considerable time looking at multiple scenarios and have concluded that for purposes for full year 2019 guidance, we must assume that the current market conditions and uncertainties will continue," Lemonis said during a post-earnings call with investors.
After Thursday's sell-off, shares of Camping World had lost nearly 70% of their value over the last year. There may not be a quick and easy turnaround here, but given that all the bad news is priced into the stock, there's at least reason to hope the shares might have bottomed out.
Even if the company has bottomed, there isn't a quick and easy path for Camping World to quickly recover, short of a rapid change in consumer preferences back toward buying RVs. Existing holders with a good deal of patience might want to stay on board for the ride, but there isn't a lot of reason to jump on board a Camping World rally right now.


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Facebook Bigwig Sheryl Sandberg wants us all to know that, targeted advertising or no, the Zuckerbergians are hovering over our private data like an anxious mother bird protecting her fluffy nestlings from voracious advertising raptors.
Anyway, that’s the gist of what Sandberg said when BBC Breakfast asked the chief operating officer whether Facebook might lose users who don’t like the “Big Brother” element of targeted advertising:
Privacy is of the utmost concern and importance to Facebook, and it's important to us that the people who use our service know that we are very protective of them. It is their data, they have control of it, they share it. When we are able to personalize ads, we are doing that without sharing their private data with any advertisers.
Facebook just marked its 10th anniversary, which we commemorated with an overview of 10 years of security and privacy thrills & chills.
During that time, it’s worth noting, Facebook hasn’t always protected us like fluffy fledglings. We’ve often felt more like hors d’ouevres. But I digress.
Sandberg’s comments came after she spoke at the company’s first European “SME client council”, at the company’s international headquarters in Dublin.
The council was set up to help Facebook executives and small businesses cooperate in improving links with social media and advertising.
Speaking to business executives from the UK and Ireland, Sandberg said that the missions of Facebook and small and medium-sized businesses are “inextricably tied” – easy to see, given how many companies communicate with their customers via Facebook.
From her BBC Breakfast interview:
We have 25 million small- to medium-sized businesses around the world that use our free products to set up a page and use it to reach their customers. So just as I can share with you if we're friends on Facebook, small businesses can reach their customers.
Sandberg also predicted a fast-approaching future in which the word “online” is going to seem rather quaint. We’re getting to the point where we’re always going to be online, she said.
Is that because Facebook plans to implant neural tubes?
No, not yet. Rather, it’s because mobile phones are keeping us constantly plugged in, she said:
We're in the middle of the fastest adoption of disruptive technology we've ever seen, and that's the adoption of the mobile phone.
The word 'online' is getting to be an old-fashioned word. We're all going to be connected all the time.
This is a good thing, she said.
Being active on Facebook means people have a good chance of having stronger personal relationships, because they’re able to use technology “for something that matters to them.”
And here is where we hand over the megaphone – well, OK, the comments section – to our many readers who won’t touch Facebook with a 10-foot pole.
Do you lack strong personal relationships because of your lack of Facebook? Do you feel that you still manage to use technology in a meaningful way?
We’d love to hear your thoughts.
Also, for those of you who are on Facebook, we say Lean In – to security! If you like Naked Security’s Facebook page you’ll be able to share information on threats and discuss the latest security news, be it malware, privacy or targeted ads.
We don’t target you for advertising – just for security news!


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After appearing to gain momentum in April, recreational boat sales were mixed in May in 27 early-reporting states, a disappointing result for the industry as it tries to climb out of an early-spring slump and repeat the summer gains it achieved in 2013.
Statistical Surveys said sales in the main powerboat segments fell 2.6 percent, or 339 boats, to 12,658, from the previous May in states that account for 63 percent of the U.S. market. Industrywide sales rose 5.1 percent, or 1,054, to 21,674, largely on the strength of double-digit percentage increases in personal watercraft and ski-boat sales. PWC sales rose by more than 1,300.
Sales of 11- to 40-foot fiberglass outboard boats rose 6.2 percent, or 223, to 3,792, but sales declined in the other high-volume categories in the main segments.
Sales of aluminum pontoons and fishing boats, which have been industry leaders since the Great Recession ended, were lower. Pontoon sales fell 6.2 percent, or 288 boats, to 4,363, and fishing boat sales were off 1.5 percent, or 43, at 2,875.
Statistical Surveys national marine sales manager Ryan Kloppe attributed the slow sales to the lingering effects of the harsh winter that much of the country endured.
“I think what you’re still seeing is the remnants of that winter,” Kloppe said. “We didn’t have a good boating day in Michigan until Memorial Day weekend.”
As states that had a particularly hard winter shake off its aftereffects, “you’ll see some of the [expected] uptick in sales,” he said.
Although pontoon sales have slowed this year, Kloppe believes it would be premature to say the segment is losing momentum. He said Minnesota and Wisconsin, two strong states for pontoon sales, were not among those reporting early in May. He expects sales to grow in those states and others during the warm-weather months.
Florida, as usual, was the sales leader among the early-reporting states. Sales there rose by 588 boats, to 2,857. In an encouraging development, Michigan emerged from the frigid winter to rank second with sales of 2,692 boats, although the number was virtually flat — up just 27 from May 2013.
Other states in the top five were Texas (2,524, up 265), New York (1,666, down 190) and North Carolina (1,312, up 176).
Rounding out the top 10 were Georgia (898, down 63), Tennessee (887, up 262), New Jersey (768, up 123), Arkansas (744, up 143) and Ohio (730, down 186).
More boats were sold in seven of the top 10 states this May than in the same month last year.
Sales of 14-to 30-foot sterndrive and inboard fiberglass boats have been slumping, and that category’s struggles continued. Sales for the month in the early-reporting states totaled 1,379 — 6.2 percent, or 288 boats fewer than a year earlier.
Sales of PWC, which rose 31.8 percent, or 1,311 units, to 5,439, buoyed the market, as did the ski-boat category, where sales rose 13 percent, or 84, to 732. Sales of jetboats were 3 percent lower, off 11 boats, at 354.
This article originally appeared in the August 2014 issue.


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In one of the toughest operating environments faced by retailers for decades, the department stores group saw like-for-like sales down 0.9%.
Debenhams has been moving away from its old-fashioned image by selling clothes from new designers such as Ted Baker and Pearce Fionda.
Chief executive Rob Templeman claims this strategy is paying dividends and that a store refurbishment programme is also helping.
"Trading in August showed a marked improvement over July but the UK retail sector continues to be adversely affected by wider economic concerns," said Templeman.
He says the store is grabbing market share from rivals.
Debenhams reports profit numbers for the year on
21 October. It said today they should be in line with City expectations — some relief for beleagured shareholders.
The shares have tumbled from a year high of 115p to 42¾p today.Reuse content


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Moving beyond its base as a traditional toolmaker, PME Cos. has expanded into injection molding at its South Carolina facility and added product design at its Michigan headquarters.
The company, based in Center Line, Mich., just completed an expansion at its 6-year-old plant in Anderson, S.C., and reorganized the facility, said Vice President Tom Ruczynski.
Formerly concentrating solely on injection toolmaking for PME's automotive customers, the plant now will be split equally between mold making and injection molding.
``It complements our customers, and we see a lot of our growth coming from injection molding,'' Ruczynski said in a May 15 telephone interview. ``Our Tier 1 customers want us to take more responsibility for managing the process and the project. This allows us to assist our customers even more with their molding programs.''
The company plans to mold interior, exterior and functional components for automotive suppliers, Ruczynski said. Those smaller parts will be added to larger systems assembled by PME's customers, including production of instrument panels and bumper fascia.
PME has added 12,000 square feet to its 44,000-square-foot Autegra/PME unit. Eight injection presses, with clamping forces of 50-700 tons, were shipped to the plant, after being tested at a temporary molding facility in Warren, Mich., for the past 11/2 years, Ruczynski said.
The facility has room to expand, primarily in injection molding, to close to double its current size, he said. The company would like to add more presses fairly quickly and expand its 35-person work force in Anderson, he said.
Another growth area for PME is in product design and contract services. In Warren, the company just merged its prototyping and tool design and engineering unit with its new product design operations. The new unit is known as Pinnacle Design + Development, a change from its former Pinnacle Technologies name.
The unit works from a 3-year-old, 31,500-square-foot facility, which includes private design studios and rapid-prototyping operations.
The shift to product design, where PME engineers will work directly with auto suppliers on new vehicle programs, is rare for toolmakers, Ruczynski said. While many Detroit-area tool shops are involved on the tool design side, it is more unusual to work directly with carmakers and suppliers on completed parts, he said.
``We definitely see that need,'' he said. ``When we assist customers with product design, we can better manage costs between part design and tooling.''
Other automotive toolmakers also are taking a better-rounded approach to customers. Delta Tooling Co. in Auburn Hills, Mich., is working with its customers on new specialty vehicles, while Paragon Die & Engineering Co. of Grand Rapids, Mich., has launched both compression molding and a customer-driven prototyping tooling service.
PME started as Proper Mold and Engineering, a full-service maker of automotive injection molds. Now, Warren-based Proper Mold is one of three divisions, with the other two being Pinnacle Design and its Autegra/PME operation in South Carolina.


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This global survey analyzes the extent to which companies connect the physical and digital worlds to drive innovation through real-time guidance, data-powered environments and collaborative mobile workflows.
Their “Intelligent Enterprise” Index scores are calculated using 11 criteria that include Internet of Things (IoT) vision, adoption, data management, intelligent analysis and more.
Based on these criteria and driven by an overwhelming pressure to improve the customer experience, retail organizations have gained the most momentum in the last 12 months, graduating from the bottom of the 2018 vertical Index rankings to nearly the top of the 2019 list, second only to Healthcare.
The number of companies defined as truly “intelligent enterprises” by achieving a score of 75 points or greater on the Index has also risen year over year. 17% of organizations with at least 250 employees crossed this threshold in 2019 versus only eleven percent in 2018. Interestingly, 37% of surveyed small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) with 50-249 employees scored 75 points or greater on the Index, indicating SMBs with an IoT vision are in many cases more “intelligent” than large enterprises.
“When we launched the Intelligent Enterprise Index three years ago, many enterprises were trying to understand where and how IoT solutions could be best applied within their unique business environments,” said Drew Ehlers, global futurist, Zebra Technologies. “We now see more urgency to improve operational visibility and facilitate the delivery of actionable intelligence all the way to the edge of the enterprise. I believe that is why enterprises are now demonstrating a much greater commitment to executing their IoT plans and why we’ll likely see a surge in investments over the next few years.”


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No longer is China simply the second largest cosmetics market in the world. It is now a leading center of the health and beauty industry, most demonstrably in the Fengxian District south of Shanghai’s central business district in the heart of the Yangtze River Delta. In recent years, dozens of global cosmetics manufacturers have established manufacturing, testing and research centers in Fengxian, earning it the moniker “Oriental Beauty Valley” — a distinctive industrial cluster of health and beauty operations. Besides cosmetics, the Oriental Beauty Valley supports biomedicine, health-care products, sports and leisure products and their upstream and downstream industries.
The Oriental Beauty Valley has been certified as the Capital of China’s Cosmetics Industry by the China National Light Industry Council and the China Association of Fragrance Flavour and Cosmetic Industries. Fengxian is the only region in China with this status. The Fengxian District is building a series of platforms for the Oriental Beauty Valley, including 100 subsidiary business parks and other infrastructure designed to express on the outside the beauty-related development and production of products inside the new facilities.
Builders of Beauty
In 2017, Cosmax Inc., a South Korean cosmetics material developer and original design manufacturer (ODM), opened up its third factory in Fengxian, increasing its annual output capacity in China to 550 million cosmetic products. The new 37,750-square-meter facility alone is capable of turning out 200 million beauty products a year. Cosmax became the first among ODMs to make a foray into the Chinese beauty market in 2004. Its Chinese operation has been growing at an average rate of 40 percent ever since. Its strategy to separate production of skincare and makeup products in Shanghai and Guangzhou has worked. Over 85 percent of its total shipments go to consumers in China.
Other companies taking advantage of the Oriental Beauty Valley’s cosmetics industry ecosystem include Nu Skin, JALA, Pechoin and Interfila, Estée Lauder, L’Oréal and Yingteli. Biomedical companies include Kaibao Pharmaceutical, Hutchinson MediPharma and Leiyunshang Pharmaceutical.
In 2016, Shanghai Pechoin Daily Chemicals Co Ltd announced plans to install 16 production lines valued at 300 million yuan (US$44.38 million) in its 33,300-square-meter Fengxian factory in space with an annual output value of over 3 billion yuan (US$443 million), including 200 million yuan in tax. Shanghai Hutchison Pharmaceuticals has put a new factory nearby into operation at about the same time. The factory is making a popular Chinese medicine She Xiang Bao Xin Pills for coronary heart diseases. Pechoin and Hutchison are among a number of companies operating in Shanghai Comprehensive Industrial Park in Fengxian. The park is in the core area of the Oriental Beauty Valley.
Fengxian District makes available several incentive programs for investing companies. These include real estate subsidies for workers with master’s and doctorate degrees, subsidies for large corporations establishing regional headquarters in Fengxian, funding for research and development, and substantial financial subsidies for companies registered in the Shanghai Securities Regulatory Bureau.
This Investment Profile was prepared under the auspices of the Investment Promotion Bureau of Fengxian District, Shanghai. For more information, visit www.fengxian.gov.cn/shfx/subtzfx/.


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The world is on the brink of a global recession once again. Every day, we hear news about another company folding, another country going into debt or another market crash.
If you’re worried about what this means for your future and how you’ll stay afloat in a struggling economy, don’t worry – you’re not alone. This article will discuss some tips for getting through the tough times ahead.
The Aftermath of The Great Recession
You might think that the economy would bounce back quickly after such a long and deep recession. And while it eventually recovered, the period following the Great Recession was unusually slow.
Part of the reason for this slow recovery was the debt overhang from the housing market crash. When prices crashed, many homeowners owed more on their mortgages than their homes were worth. As a result, they cut back on spending and saved more, dragging economic growth.
Another factor that contributed to the slow recovery was the damage to the banking system. The financial crisis led to strict regulations on banks, which made it harder for them to lend money and finance investments.
Finally, businesses and consumers were shell-shocked from the Great Recession experience and became much more cautious about spending.
All of these factors together made for a long and slow recovery from one of the worst economic downturns in history.
Rise and Fall of the Housing Market in the Current Global Recession
It’s hard to miss the effects of the recession when you walk down any street in America. For sale signs dot the landscape, and many homes sit empty and unoccupied.
The housing market has been hit hard by the current economic downturn, and foreclosures are at an all-time high. However, it’s important to remember that the housing market is cyclical, and there will eventually be a rebound.
Prices will rise again, and people will again be interested in buying homes. In the meantime, staying patient and waiting for the market to recover is important.
Effects on the Financial Sector
The global recession has had a profound effect on the financial sector. In developed countries, banks have been forced to write down billions of dollars in bad loans, and many have been forced to close their doors.
In developing countries, the effects have been even more severe. With less access to capital, businesses have been forced to lay off workers, and consumers have been forced to cut back on spending.
As a result, the global economy has slowed to a crawl, and the financial sector has borne the brunt of the damage. In order to revive the global economy, it is essential that the financial sector be reformed. Only then can we hope to see a return to growth.
Effects on the Broader Economy
The current global recession has had a ripple effect on the broader economy. As consumers reduce their spending, businesses are forced to cut back on production.
This, in turn, leads to layoffs and further reductions in spending. The result is a downward spiral that can be difficult to break out of. In addition to the direct effects on businesses and consumers, the current recession has also decreased government tax revenue.
This, combined with the need to assist those who have lost their jobs or homes, has put a strain on government budgets. As the recession continues, we will likely see even more secondary effects on the economy as a whole.
Effects on Financial Regulation
The current global recession has had a profound effect on financial regulation. In the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, there was a widespread call for tighter regulation of the financial sector.
However, many countries have been slow to enact meaningful reform in the years since then. Meanwhile, the economic downturn has put pressure on governments to reduce spending, which has led to cuts in funding for financial regulators.
As a result, financial regulators are struggling to keep up with the ever-changing landscape of the financial sector. The situation is made worse because many banks and other financial institutions are now operating in multiple countries, making it even more difficult to regulate them effectively.
It is clear that the current global recession has had a major impact on financial regulation, and it is likely that this will continue to be a challenge in the years to come.
How To Stay Afloat in a Struggling Economy?
In these troubled economic times, being mindful of your finances is more important than ever. While it may be tempting to spend freely when things are going well, it’s important to remember that a recession can happen at any time. Here are some tips to help you stay afloat in a struggling economy:
1. Live below your means – This is perhaps the most important tip of all. If you’re spending more than you’re earning, you’re setting yourself up for financial trouble. Live within your means and put away money each month, giving you a cushion in tough times.
2. Invest in yourself – A recession is a perfect time to invest in yourself and your career. Take courses, learn new skills, and position yourself for future success.
3. Stay diversified – Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. When it comes to investments, diversification is key. By spreading your money across different asset classes, you’ll minimize your risk and maximize your chances of weathering a recession.
4. Be prepared for the worst – No one likes to think about tough economic times, but it’s important to be prepared for them nonetheless. Make sure you have an emergency fund in place to cover unexpected expenses if the need arises.
By following these tips, you’ll be better positioned to weather a recession and come ahead when the economy eventually recovers.
Falcon Global Capital’s team of investment experts ensures portfolios are customised and built on long-term, constructive, and trusting relationships depending on their clients’ profiles, risk appetites, and investment plans.


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US-based household firm Kimberly-Clark has announced the acquisition of personal care manufacturer Softex Indonesia for $1.2 billion.
Present in Indonesia since 1976, Softex is described as a producer of hygiene products for children, woman, and adults, with nappies being its most important category.
According to Kimberly-Clark, the acquisition of Softex will allow the company to “boost its presence in the lucrative South East Asia market”.
Mike Hsu, chairman and CEO of Kimberly-Clark, said: “This acquisition represents a compelling strategic fit and demonstrates our commitment to accelerate growth in developing and emerging markets. Moreover, adding Softex Indonesia and its brands to Kimberly-Clark will enhance our company’s underlying growth prospects and help us create even more long-term shareholder value”.
The transaction is expected to be closed by the last quarter of 2020.


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However, those donning their golf shoes for a round on the course have been reminded to protect their skin during the hot summer weather.
Bevis Man of the British Skin Foundation said people should prevent themselves from being sunburnt.
Wearing the correct golf clothing is crucial to remain safe on the course and reduce the risk of sunburn which could lead to further complications.
Sunburn is a sign of skin damage and also increases the risk of skin cancer later in life so golfers have been urged to slap on the sunscreen and the correct golf clothing when they hit the fairways this summer.
The British Skin Foundation recently revealed that the incidence rates of malignant melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, increased by over four times in the UK in the last 30 years.


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Coffee Fiends Live More Dangerously Than They Know
A new study of more than 400,000 people has found people with a heightened sensitivity to the bitter taste of caffeine are likely to consume more of the beverage.
It’s counter-intuitive, experts say: This heightened taste should put people off a morning cuppa(s), since bitterness is nature’s warning sign of poison. For instance, the same study found, people more sensitive to the bitter tastes of quinine and PROP (a synthetic flavor akin to the taste of cruciferous vegetables) drank less coffee, and people with high sensitivity to PROP also drank less red wine. It was only a heightened sensitivity specifically for the bitter taste of caffeine — a genetic quirk — that led people to drink more, rather than less, coffee.
“You’d expect that people who are particularly sensitive to the bitter taste of caffeine would drink less coffee,” says Marilyn Cornelis, an assistant professor of preventive medicine at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. “The opposite results of our study suggest coffee consumers acquire a taste, or an ability to detect caffeine, due to the learned positive reinforcement (i.e., stimulation) elicited by caffeine.”
In other words, the energy kick from coffee prompts people to seek out more of the bitter taste, in order to get another jolt of wakefulness. This may be true for tea, as well, which has a caffeine content similar to coffee, and thus, a bitter taste, but the researchers are uncertain; the study participants, all American, didn’t drink much tea, but that could just be because they were getting what they craved out of coffee, the researchers posit, which in the US is the more popular of the two caffeinated drinks, by a large margin.
The takeaway? If you’re a coffee fiend, you’re living more dangerously than you know. But don’t worry — your caffeinated alertness will protect you from poisoning, even if your taste buds won’t.


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Nando's has become one of the most popular eateries on the high-street in recent years.
The chicken chain is famous for its succulent meat and range of Nando's sauces.
But how can you bag a bargain at the restaurant? Nando's discounts tend to be quite rare, but Martin Lewis' team at moneysavingexpert.com have revealed how to get a free meal.
Writing on the website's blog, Jordon Cox explained how Nando's loyalty card holders can get a burger, wrap, pita or half chicken (worth £6.45-£7.45) for nothing.
Customers who spend £7+ and swipe their loyalty card before December 16 can then pick up another free meal between January 7 and January 25.
If you don't already have a loyalty card you can collect one from any Nando's chain and then register it online.
The savvy finance guru also revealed how to get £4.85 off a meal for two at the eatery.
If you are planning on ordering half a chicken, drinks and sides for two, Jordon explain that is it cheaper to get a platter.
Writing on the moneysavingexpert.com site, he said: "As an example, those ordering two lots of half a chicken with chips and drinks pay £25.30, however ordering the ‘meal platter’, which comes with a whole chicken, two regular sides and two bottomless drinks only costs £20.45 (saving £4.85)."
Want some more ways to save money over the festive period?
Martin Lewis' savvy team recently revealed how to get £41 worth of Boots No7 products for £12.
And the finance experts also revealed three easy ways to save money at Currys PC World this Christmas.
If your present fund is looking a little low, here are five easy ways to make money from home.


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The third annual Free State Fashion Week was launched at a stylish, lavish affair, held at the Windmill Conference Centre on Friday, 13 July 2018. The guest list included local fashion leaders and socialites like Nadine Barkhuizen, Tony Peng and Gerhardt Shebe. Representatives from a few government departments also showed face, with the executive mayor, Olly Mlamleli, delivering the key note address. The evening was MC’ed by TV anchor, Palesa Chubisi.
The evening started off with the Chief Executive Officer, Candy Smith, sharing her journey of how she was sponsored by an old couple in Welkom who saw her talent and potential, to go study fashion design as her parents could not afford the fees.
“My vision has always been to teach people the skill of fashion, the art of making money out of your talent because I was sick and tired of seeing fashion designers suffering like I did,” said Smith. This year she realised this dream even further with the opening of the Free State Fashion Hub, which is the only accredited fashion design school in the province.
“My dreaming went beyond fashion week, because you can have fashion week but at the end of the day, it’s not enough. Where do the designers end up? We have a nice fashion parade, then go home and forget about it. I then sat with Zoureka Smith who was running Victoria Toma. When she heard my plan she said, “Wow, I just want to lecture,” and she actually closed her school, and adopted my vision. She’s one of my lecturers now, together with Tshidi Ramanamane. We opened this year without funding,” added Smith.
The evening’s programme included a detailed description from Zoureka Smith about what the FS Fashion Hub has to offer. Two students, Rorisang Ratsiu and Melvin Jaftha, then shared their educational experience of the school with guests.
Fashion designers who had previously taken part in the fashion week shared how their lives had changed, and what fashion week did to catapult their careers. They included Charissa Williams, Motlalepule Motlolometsi, Tshepo Mareka as well as the 2017 Free State Fashion Week Designer of the Year title holder, Gerhardt Shebe.
The evening was concluded by a few encouraging words from the mayor, Olly Mlamleli, who said she respects designers for putting up with difficult customers, who often forget about the work they have to put in, but reiterated that she never forgets to pay for their service. “I’m therefore committing to paying the fees for five students for their full course so that we are proud to say this is what we have produced as a province,” said Mlamleli.
Fashion Week will be taking place on 20 until 22 September 2018, with all events taking place at Windmill Casino. To stay updated, follow the hashtag #FSFW18 on social media. – Seithati Semenokane


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A new AI-fuelled gadget has fallen foul of the tech world's expectations.
A former Tesla engineer is in a decade-long battle with the car company, owned by Elon Musk.
China's NetEase and games publisher Activision Blizzard end their feud which had angered fans.
People in the UK can also see the solar eclipse happening in the US next week
Magnets are central to much modern technology and firms are racing to make them more efficient.
The search giant is reported to be considering charging for premium features in a major business shake-up.
Noland Arbaugh, who is paralysed below the shoulders, received a chip implant in January.
Could a daring experiment help our planet or is it a dangerous distraction?
As Apple begins to allow other app stores on iPhones one entrepreneur criticises its behaviour.
Briana White talks about waiting for the world to react to your role in a pivotal rewrite of gaming history.


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Submitted by Antony Savvas on June 23, 2022
Automated cyber security vendor Forescout has appointed Exclusive Networks as its sole distributor for Western Europe, as it expands its presence in the EMEA region.
It has also appointed Matt Poulton as its general manager and VP of the EMEA region, and created two new support centres.
“There are more digital assets, greater threats and fewer skills available than ever,” said Poulton. “Forescout is the cyber security expert able to deal with this dynamic situation. This has driven our outstanding growth in the past year and the expansion of our technical and customer support services in-region will continue this momentum.”
Forescout is creating a European operations centre in Cork, Ireland, which will be led by Norma O’Callaghan, previously VP of European finance and operations at Trend Micro. She has been made VP of international revenue operations
And with a 40% increase in EMEA-based employees since the start of 2022, Forescout has also invested in a new central London EMEA HQ.
The location includes a customer briefing centre and houses a complete team dedicated to driving European customer projects. The site will work closely with Eindhoven, Netherlands-based Vedere Labs, Forescout’s research team.
“Automated cyber security is fast becoming a strategic imperative for security teams as they struggle in the face of rising attacks and an acute lack of cyber skills - quite simply, they are overwhelmed and under resourced,” said Denis Ferrand-Ajchenbaum, SVP of global business development and ecosystems at Exclusive Networks.
“This new agreement further strengthens our existing partnership, and we look forward to even greater success together as we help channel partners take advantage of this growing market opportunity,” said Ferrand-Ajchenbaum.


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Re:Does anyone know if Mundt's in Madison, IN is still operating?
My brother and I stopped by Mundt's on Friday afternoon.
There's a sign on the door saying the place "is not open at this time."
Looks like it hasn't been open for quite some time. There are still various candies on display in the window, but they look like they've calcified.
And Mundt's is not listed in the Madison giveaway brochure that lists restaurants, shops, etc. -- including another candy store and a fudge shop.
But that said -- the store is still there, with the signage for Mundt's.


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Large number of people in Jammu and Kashmir are connected with the woolen industry.
In order to focus on it, the J & K administration is trying to do a massive revamp across J&K to make it economically viable.
J&K Government is devising a viable framework to give a massive revamp to the Woolen industry across Jammu and Kashmir.
The reformative policies of the UT Government are providing economic growth opportunities to around 50,000 families associated with the woolen industry in J&K.
To give boost to this sector, a Showroom cum Interpretation Centre at Government Woolen Mill, Bemina was established under the World Bank funded Jhelum Tawi Flood Recovery Project (JTRFP) which was recently inaugurated by Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha. The showroom will provide a direct Market for 80,000 Kgs of locally produced wool annually, benefiting around 1600 sheep rearing families. The new Showroom cum Interpretation Centre will greatly impact the livelihood opportunities of people working in the mill, besides providing market opportunities for the thousands of wool-producing farmers of J&K.
Notably, J&K is the 2nd largest producer of wool in the country, producing approximately 70 lakh kgs of wool per annum.
J&K Industry has tie-up with e-commerce platform ‘Amazon’ through Silk Mark Organisation of India (SMOI) as an e-marketing channel. Registration on the GeM portal was completed and Professional catalogues and brochures were also developed. Reputed designers are being roped in to develop new product ranges in line with present market trends and fashions.


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NAIROBI, Kenya, May 13 – Digital Payment firm Visa has partnered with e-retaining pharmacy MYDAWA to enable customers purchase medication online.
In a statement, MYDAWA Managing Director Tony Wood said the partnership is part of a drive to encourage consumers to embrace cashless payments, a method that will help to flatten the curve of COVID-19 infections in the country.
Orders on the platform are delivered to the individuals’ home, office or convenient location in less than 4 hours and with no delivery fees within the Nairobi metropolitan area.
Users outside Nairobi can also order the products they need and will receive their delivery within 24 hours.
Customers can pay using mobile money, credit or debit card, and health insurance for medicine.


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We’re two weeks shy of October and for loyal followers of the Google brand, the tech giant is believed to be launching the two new Pixel phones. A video was published earlier, teasing us about the launch event and now it’s confirmed D-Day will be on October 4. It’s happening on a Wednesday but we find it more interesting the exact date is the same as last year. In a few weeks time, we’ll get to have a hold of the Pixel 2, Pixel XL 2, and possibly a new Chromebook Pixel and Google Home.
The upcoming Pixel phones are positioned to compete with the latest premium flagship phones introduced in the market like the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, LG V30, and the iPhone 8 and iPhone X. Google shared a link where you can sign-up to receive more information.
It’s possible that the October 4 event can also be for other Google products and services but the Pixel series is what we’ve been hearing about the past few weeks and months. So far, we know the Google Pixel smartphones will run the latest Snapdragon 836 processor. The Pixel 2 was recently sighted on FCC with Active Edge and Android 8.0.1
Press invites have been sent out so we’re adding the event to our calendar. While waiting for the said event, expect more information and photos to be leaked by other sources or teased by Google.


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June 14, 2013
Charles and Nelda Hutchins have been making mayhaw jelly in their Grant Fruit Processing facility for 12 years. The couple buys mayhaw berries from growers in Louisiana and neighboring states, but they have never seen a mayhaw season this bad.
“Normally we buy 30,000 to 50,000 pounds. From this year’s crop we got almost 2,500 pounds.” Nelda Hutchins said.
In East Feliciana Parish, Don Lord has several mayhaw orchards. He sells his crop to the Hutchinses and says a late freeze wiped out his berries.
“The cold snaps are probably the biggest enemy we have, and the farther south you are, the more advantage you have,” Lord said.
Lord also is a distributor of the Hutchinses’ products and estimates he has “sold more mayhaw jelly than anyone in the universe.”
Despite the down year, there is still jelly to be had. Recently, the Hutchinses were making a batch of mayhaw jelly from the few berries they were able to get from Texas and Georgia.
They typically sell more jelly at Christmas than any other time of the year. However, with the short supply of mayhaws, they don’t expect to have any mayhaw jelly around by the end of the year.
Their Springhill Jelly brand also has muscadine, blueberry and other flavors, but mayhaw jelly is their best seller.
“Well, probably the Number One thing in the South is nostalgia,” Nelda Hutchins said. “They remember going into the woods and picking up mayhaws, and grandma or mama made them some jelly. And it was the best jelly in the world.”
Lord is often asked what mayhaw jelly tastes like. “I tell them that is the thing about the mayhaw: it’s unique and you can’t tell anybody what it tastes like.”
The mayhaw has a loyal following. Lord is one of about 100 growers. He and the Hutchinses are members of the Louisiana Mayhaw Association, a group dedicated to educating the public about mayhaws and helping mayhaw growers.
Lord is seeing interest in mayhaws rise. “Every year the demand for mayhaws increases, and it looks like next year will be a big year.”
This year could have been a big year. The Hutchinses received a record number of calls from people looking for mayhaw products.
“We also sell a lot of juice to the jelly makers that don’t have the facilities that we have,” Charles Hutchins said.
LSU AgCenter family and consumer science agent Quincy Cheek also gets a lot of calls from people looking for mayhaws and mayhaw products.
She says there is more to the berry than just jelly. “There are different things you can do with it. Some of the people do ice cream. They make syrup with it. They do mayhaw vinaigrette.”
The tart, red berry also can be used in baked goods.
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Supermodels unite! Blonde beauties Karolina Kurkova and Karlie Kloss put on their own show outside NY Fashion Week
Blonde beauties Karolina Kurkova and Karlie Kloss put on their own fashion show on Wednesday without a runway.
The 29-year-old Karolina and 21-year-old Karlie posed together outside the Michael Kors show.
The two models looked like they could be siblings with their identical lithe figures and long legs.
Tall beauties: Karlie Koss and Karolina Kurkova posed together on Wednesday outside the Michael Kors fashion show
Karolina opted for a long-sleeved black sweater that she teamed with a knee-length black-and-white skirt.
She had her golden blonde hair tied up and sported a pair of black ankle boots.
Karlie looked stunning in a little black dress that exposed her long and lean pins.
Good times: Karlie and Karolina joked around outside the show
Look like sisters: Karlie and Karolina could be sibling with their lithe frames and long legs
The Chicago native had her dirty blonde hair up also and wore a pair of white high-top Converse sneakers.
Karlie switched up later and went from black to white for the Betsey Johnson show at the Lincoln Center.
She wore a long white dress with cutouts that exposed her bare shoulders and parts of her mid-riff.
Sporty look: Karlie showed off her toned legs and slim figure in a little black dress
Runway looks: Karlie looked ready to model while strolling the streets of the Big Apple
Big week: Karlie and other models flocked to NY Fashion Week to check out the latest designs
Karlie had her shiny locks swept to the side, skipped the accessories and donned a pair of pointy white pumps for the Betsey Johnson show.
CBS announced earlier this week that it wil broadcast the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show on December 10 and Karlie made the cut along with Alessandra Ambrosio and Adriana Lima.
Karolina has a four-year-old son and earlier this summer said she wants to focus on building her brand in the next phase of her life.
On the go: Blonde beauty Karolina looked stunning in a black sweater teamed with a black-and-white skirt
Radiant in white: Karlie later hit up the Betsey Johnson show in a stunning dress with sexy cutouts
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Looker CEO Frank Bien says that his startup's taken off in a noisy market of business intelligence players for one simple reason: the state of data inside many companies is a a total mess. "Everyone's been talking about data for the past five or seven years, and there haven't been a lot of success stories," Bien says. "What Looker did differently was rebuild the whole thing."
A host of companies offer to package up a company's data into an eye-catching chart or table. Looker claims to be the only one handling information from the database in which its housed all the way to end uses like a prompt to pull up a report within chat tool Slack. The five-year-old startup now works with 40,000 users across more than 800 customers, about double its total a year ago, from startups like Casper and Giphy to IBM, Nordstrom's and Hearst.
To keep up its quick ascent in the business intelligence ranks, Looker's raised a hefty amount of capital to fuel expansion. The latest: a $81.5 million Series D funding round announced on Thursday, led by Google parent Alphabet's growth equity fund CapitalG and including Geodesic Capital, Goldman Sachs and previous investors including Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Meritech Capital Partners, Redpoint Ventures and Sapphire Ventures. The fundraise brings Looker's total funding to $177.5 million to date and values the company around $850 million, according to sources with knowledge of the deal.
Looker will use the money to expand internationally, building upon its recent launch of a European headquarters in Dublin to target Asia. New investor Geodesic can help the company break into the Japanese market, says Bien. The company also plans to keep adding tools to its product and invest more in sales and marketing to target larger-sized customers. "As we talk to more enterprise companies, it’s interesting how many have been sitting on the sidelines waiting for a product to emerge," says Looker's CEO. Despite visualization tools led by Tableau Software gaining popularity in recent years, many corporations have sat out the rush to wait for a more end-to-end product, Bien argues—making their use of products such as IBM's Cognos unit or SAP's BusinessObjects vulnerable to new competition.
Alphabet's growth equity fund CapitalG spent more than a year meeting all the startups in BI before throwing its lot behind Looker, says partner Gene Frantz. "Virtually all of them moved data around, took data from places, put data into graphs. Nothing that answered fundamental business questions," he says. CapitalG liked how Looker started at the bottom of a software stack in the database, meaning the company could query and organize data straight from the source instead of continuously pinging servers to access the information elsewhere.
That technical differentiation comes from a bet the company made at its start in 2012, says cofounder and CTO Lloyd Tabb. Companies had moved away from the database language SQL in favor of some flavor of the open-source framework Hadoop, triggering the rapid rise of startups who helped work with it such as Cloudera and Hortonworks. Looker's founders bet that the market would swing back the other way if SQL could be supported and a company's data structured at scale. "We decided to blow the whole stack up and build it the right way," says Tabb. Instead of extracting the data, Looker would live alongside it in the database.
Today Looker partners with companies such as Google and Amazon Web Services, integrates with the visualization tools like Tableau and can power reports and charts to update almost instantly on a company's website. The company offers any potential client a trial before they commit to the product, a tactic Bien says has helped it triple revenue across 2016. "We say, we will answer three questions you can’t get answered today," he says. "As soon as they use it, they feel the difference." The average large company using Looker has hundreds of employees interacting with the product now, from smaller data teams to marketing and operations teams making their decisions based on Looker's read of their internal data.
While Looker is now one of the most highly-funded of the BI startups, with its valuation in knocking distance of the billion-dollar ranks, Bien says the company's "old fashioned" in preferring to expand efficiently instead of adopting a cash-burning race for hyper-growth. "We'll do it one successful company at a time," he says.


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Packaging challenges could leave bottled water companies all wet
Bottled water is America's most popular beverage, dethroning carbonated soft drinks in 2016. Sales have soared in recent years because of consumer worries about tap water quality and concerns about sugary drinks. According to Beverage Marketing Corp., U.S. consumption of bottled water skyrocketed 284% between 1994 and 2017, reaching nearly 42 gallons per person each year.
Most of that growth comes from single-serve plastic bottles that make up about two-thirds of U.S. sales, The Wall Street Journal reported. But such packaging comes with big sustainability problems. According to the Ocean Conservancy, plastic beverage bottles are the third most common item washing up on beaches, right after cigarette butts and food wrappers. Also, producing plastic bottles takes three times the amount of water that’s contained inside them, and only about 30% of plastic bottles are recycled. Read Full Article - FoodDive, January 2, 2019


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China-based global ICT solutions provider Huawei Technologies has introduced three smartphone brands and a tablet PC into the Ghanaian communications market, to avail itself of the huge potentials presented by the country’s notable smartphone uptake.
Huawei Technologies presented products including Huawei Ascend P1, Huawei Honor, dual-SIM Huawei Ascend G302D, and a 7-inch tablet, Huawei MediaPad at a pre-launch interview held in the capital Accra.
Speaking at the event, Yang Fufu, the company’s head of devices, stated that despite the stiff competition with global brands such as BlackBerry, Samsung, Nokia and Tecno, Huawei Ghana is still confident it will be among Ghana’s top three smartphone market shareholders in the next three years. This, he said, is as a result of the quality of the company’s smartphones.
“Our smartphones are of the highest quality and comparable to any smartphone on the market but ours are affordable and so we are targeting that in the next three years we will become one of the top three brands on the market in Ghana,” he said.
Ascend P1 according to Fufu, is “the epitome of beauty colliding with brains.”
He said the smartphone exemplifies the assertion that technology and sleekness can go together. The device runs on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, and it features a dual-core 1.5GHz TI OMAP 4460 Cortext-A9 processor and measures 7.69mm thin and 64.8mm long, providing a very comfortable grip in addition to other features.
Huawei Technologies in a statement said the device will be sold at a retail price of GHC799. The company also presented Huawei Honor, yet another smartphone, at the event. The phone has a 1.4GHz processor and 8-megapixel high definition camera.
Huawei Honor is described as a perfect smartphone with a 1900 mAh big capacity battery lifespan. The brand is however cheaper than Ascend P1 given its GHC599 retail price.
While presenting its tablet product, the company’s spokesman stated that the competitive nature of the tablet market compelled Huawei to diligently perfect its tablet – The Media Pad which is fast, very slim, light and clear.
It is also the first tablet computer to support Android Ice Cream Sandwich and phone call function. It also comes with a 7-inch screen 1280 x 800 WXGA IPS, which is presently the clearest screen that gives an incredible 3D visual experience.
The Media Pad has a powerful processing capacity of 1.2GHz dual core CPU. It will retail at GHC899.
Despite the efforts the company has put into the manufacture of its products, Fufu stated that Huawei Ghana is not ignorant of the fact that all devices are prone to “some challenges” hence the company has assembled a local customer service team – an ensemble of professionals that are well trained to efficiently deal with any challenges that users may face.
All the devices presented come with 12 months warranty, according to Huawei Technologies.