MoI Makes its UAE-MOI Smartphone Application Available in 16 Languages

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates - Wednesday, January 27th 2016 [ME NewsWire]

The Smart Government Program at the Ministry of Interior announced that the UAE MOI smart phone application is now available in 16 languages for all types of smart phone operating systems: IOS, Android, Blackberry and Windows. The multilingualism contributes to increasing the usage ratio and enables a larger segment of customers from various backgrounds to browse the application and review its services easily.

This step is part of the Smart Government Program’s strategy to enhance the experience of customers of various nationalities residing in the country. The goal is to facilitate using the application so that satisfaction with the ministry’s services increases.

Lt. Colonel Faisal Mohammed Al Shimmari, Executive Director of the MoI’s Smart Government Program, explained that the list of languages included within the MoI’s application includes German, French, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Chinese, Hindi, Urdu, Korean, Japanese, Portuguese, Bengali, Bahasa "Indonesian," and Tagalog "Filipino," in addition to the main copy in Arabic and English. The initiative endeavors to bridge the language barrier and facilitate use of the ministry’s smart application, regardless of educational or cultural background, he explained.

Moreover, he stressed the program’s desire to excel in the field of smart services by making them available to the largest segment of customers. He also pointed out that the multilingualism of the UAE MOI application results from the cultural pluralism and internationalism of the UAE, and illustrates the Ministry of Interior’s commitment to smart government initiatives which are accessible 24/7 to anyone.

He added, “The Smart Government Program at the Ministry of Interior continues to develop and implement smart services in line with international best practices. The program supports the government's goal of becoming one of the best governments in the world by 2021, in conjunction with its Golden Jubilee 50th anniversary celebrations of the founding of the UAE.”

He also noted that the Smart Government Program at the Ministry of Interior aims, through this step, to bridge the language barrier and facilitate the application’s use for all users, regardless of background. This will contribute to achieving a leading customer experience.

The UAE is one of the leading countries regionally in the field of e-transformation, having been ranked 7th globally in e-government services. The launch of the “Smart Government” initiative in 2013 is considered a turning point in government work. The shift towards more comprehensive and developed concepts of Smart Government, where services are provided from anywhere via smart tools to serve the customer efficiently, is in line with the ambitious goals of the UAE’s Vision 2021 initiative.

 For more information about:

The Ministry of Interior, please click HERE

Abu Dhabi Police, please click HERE

Follow us and check our Social Media feeds on: YouTube, Facebook, Google +, Instagram and Twitter

The Arabic-language text of this announcement is the official, authoritative version. Translations are provided as an accommodation only, and should be cross-referenced with the Arabic-language text, which is the only version of the text intended to have legal effect.

Contacts

The UAE Minister of Interior's General Secretariat, Tactical Affairs and Security Media Department

Abu Dhabi Police GHQ - Security Media

Chris Cron +971-(0)-50-666-4891

E-mail: cron.media@hotmail.com









Permalink: http://me-newswire.net/news/16876/en

(The College Reads): An Educational Initiative Launched by the Police College

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates - Thursday, January 28th 2016 [ME NewsWire]

The Police College recently launched an initiative titled “The College Reads”, in response to the directives of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, who declared ‘2016, as ‘the Year of Reading’. This initiative aims at instilling the culture of reading and knowledge diversity and at encouraging extra-curricular reading amongst the College’s students.

Major General Dr. Nasser Lakhrebani Al Nuaimi, Secretary General of the Office of HH Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Police College, said that these initiatives come in response to the directives of Lt. General HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior. His Highness has called for supporting the existing national efforts implemented by federal and local governmental authorities in establishing a strategy that encourages reading in all fields in line with the initiative’s objectives.

For his part, Colonel Waleed Salem Al Shamesi, Director General of the Police College, indicated that this initiative is an effort to develop college students’ intellectual and cultural abilities, contribute to boosting their academic and professional skills, and help them utilize their leisure time in education.

Colonel Al Shamesi added: “A diverse cultural program has been established as a part of the initiative, and includes tours by the ‘mobile library’ to the various departments and student clubs within the college with a wide array of books”. He also explained that approximately 30 books were proposed as reading material. Students are required to read at least one book per week and submit a short summary, to be reviewed and discussed during the cultural seminars organized for the college’s members. The program also includes reading forums in coordination with partners. These forums will be carried out by competent lecturers from the college, who will be giving cultural conferences and lectures about a number of books and publications, in a bid to spread knowledge and to benefit all sides”.

Lt. Colonel Mohammed Butti Al Shamesi, Chief of Relations and Guidance Section at the College, said that distinguished lecturers and students from the college will be selected to be the College’s ‘Year of Reading’ ambassadors, and will be representing the College at book fairs, schools, and cultural activities throughout this year.

For more information about:

The Ministry of Interior, please click HERE

Abu Dhabi Police, please click HERE

Follow us and check our Social Media feeds on: YouTube, Facebook, Google +, Instagram and Twitter

The Arabic-language text of this announcement is the official, authoritative version. Translations are provided as an accommodation only, and should be cross-referenced with the Arabic-language text, which is the only version of the text intended to have legal effect.

Contacts

The UAE Minister of Interior's General Secretariat, Tactical Affairs and Security Media Department

Abu Dhabi Police GHQ - Security Media

Chris Cron +971-(0)-50-666-4891

E-mail: cron.media@hotmail.com









Permalink: http://me-newswire.net/news/16883/en

General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) Launches Outreach Campaign on Light Air Sports

In collaboration with MoI

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates - Saturday, January 30th 2016 [ME NewsWire]

The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) will be launching as of Sunday a nationwide outreach campaign about light air sports. This campaign will be held in cooperation with the Air Support Department at the Directorate General of Security Support, the General Secretariat of the Office of H.H Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior.

H.E Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Director General of GCAA pointed out that the Authority endeavors to promote light air sports in cooperation with strategic partners. “This is achieved within the framework of national legislations and laws, which ensure aviation safety and the safety of air sports lovers,” he said.

Additionally, he noted that “light air sports legislations entered into force as of October last year. They include light sports aircrafts; remote controlled aircrafts and aviation clubs. They cover all related activities, which include organizing the movement of light aircrafts that weigh less than 650 kilograms and remote controlled aircrafts of all weights.”

On the same note, Al Suwaidi praised the Ministry of Interior’s initiatives on the various security and police fields. “The initiatives aim at protecting all the segments of the UAE community, strengthening security and stability and participating in various community and popular events to raise awareness of the public,” noted the Director General of GCAA.

For his part, Colonel Saeed Hussein Al Khajah, Head of Air Support Department at the Directorate General of Security Support, emphasized that raising awareness about light air sports is a part of the Security Support initiatives. “These initiatives fall in line with the Ministry of Interior’s initiatives, aimed at keeping abreast of developments and providing diverse services in all fields”. Furthermore, he indicated that the Air Support Department plays a vital role in police support and endeavors to provide leading and sophisticated police services.

Colonel Al Khajah emphasized that the campaign aims to disseminate and promote awareness about safety laws and rules among the largest number of air sports’ enthusiasts, according to the legal and security controls and conditions.

Captain Mubarak Al Mansouri, Media Campaigns Branch Manager, the Security Media Department at the Directorate General of Security Support, pointed out that the campaign will feature continuous awareness messages aimed at promoting community awareness about the requirements and laws related to this sport. “These messages will be disseminated via the ministry’s social networking sites, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google Plus and YouTube,” noted Captain Al Mansouri. He called upon the public, especially sports fans, to stay abreast of all updates and news published by the Security Media Department and to interact with the campaign first-hand.

For more information about:

The Ministry of Interior, please click HERE

Abu Dhabi Police, please click HERE

Follow us and check our Social Media feeds on: YouTube, Facebook, Google +, Instagram and Twitter             

The Arabic-language text of this announcement is the official, authoritative version. Translations are provided as an accommodation only, and should be cross-referenced with the Arabic-language text, which is the only version of the text intended to have legal effect.

Contacts

The UAE Minister of Interior's General Secretariat, Tactical Affairs and Security Media Department

Abu Dhabi Police GHQ - Security Media

Chris Cron +971-(0)-50-666-4891

E-mail: cron.media@hotmail.com









Permalink: http://www.me-newswire.net/news/16898/en

Everybody Dresses as Sharply as David Beckham in the New Modern Essentials Campaign for H&M

NEW YORK - Saturday, January 30th 2016 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Style icon David Beckham has shot his latest H&M campaign for the launch of the spring 2016 Modern Essentials selected by David Beckham collection. The commercial was shot on the streets of Lisbon, where David realizes that everyone wants to dress just like him. The new Modern Essentials selected by David Beckham collection will be available in select stores and online at hm.com beginning February 18th.

It’s the second time David has worked with director Fredrik Bond, taking on the theme of their last commercial where comedian Kevin Hart dressed exactly like David. In this new film, David leaves his hotel to discover that everyone around him is wearing the same outfit as him, including skateboarding kids, a baby, a grandma, and everyone in the city. The film will be accompanied by a print campaign shot by Mario Sorrenti.

The campaign highlights David’s role as a style leader to millions of men around the world. For David, it’s about mixing the traditions of menswear with fresh ideas that move menswear forward. The pieces he wears in the film, all selected by David from the Modern Essentials collection, are the perfect example of his timeless style.

“I always have the best time shooting H&M campaigns. They really understand my style and my sense of humour. It was great to wear such sharp pieces from the Modern Essentials range while having such a good time,” says David Beckham.

The campaign is the latest for the Modern Essentials selected by David Beckham range. Each season sees David select his favorite pieces from the Modern Essentials menswear collection at H&M, creating a wardrobe of updated staples and new classics that men can rely on throughout the entire season.

For campaign film click here
For campaign images click here
For still life images click here

___________________________________________________________________

H & M Hennes & Mauritz AB (publ) was founded in Sweden in 1947 and is quoted on Nasdaq Stockholm. H&M’s business idea is to offer fashion and quality at the best price in a sustainable way. In addition to H&M, the group includes the brands & Other Stories, Cheap Monday, COS, Monki and Weekday as well as H&M Home. The H&M Group has more than 3,800 stores in 61 markets including franchise markets. In 2014, sales including VAT were SEK 177 billion and the number of employees is more than 132,000. For further information, visit hm.com.

Contacts

H&M

Marybeth Schmitt,

212-564-9922

Mediarelations.US@hm.com



Paul Wilmot Communications

Nicolette Ficchi,

212-206-7447

NFicchi@paulwilmot.com







Permalink: http://www.me-newswire.net/news/16895/en

‘Reading for All’ at ADP Vehicles and Drivers Licensing Department

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates - Saturday, January 30th 2016 [ME NewsWire]

The Vehicles and Drivers Licensing Department at Abu Dhabi Police has set up a reading library at the Customer Service Center, at the Department’s main building. The library was established as per the “Reading Library for All”, in cooperation with the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority, and within the framework of the “2016 Year of Reading” initiative in the UAE.

The Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority provided the library with a diverse collection of books, with the aim of spreading culture and knowledge amongst community members.

Brigadier Mohamed Mayouf Al Ketbi, Head of the Vehicles and Drivers Licensing Department at Abu Dhabi Police, revealed that the “Reading Library for All” contributes to promoting community partnership between the Abu Dhabi Police and society and with public and private institutions. “This partnership provides valuable opportunities for mutual cooperation, which is evident in the initiative with the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority, which offered a set of publications for the benefit of the Department’s staff members and customers,” he said.

Brigadier Al Ketbi revealed the department’s determination to implement the initiative across all of its service centers in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and the Western Region. He noted that the library allows customers to read while waiting at the center, in a bid to expand their knowledge base, and help them acquire the valuable information included in the publications.

Brigadier Al Ketbi expressed his heartfelt appreciation for the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority for its kind support for the initiative, which aims to encourage community members to read, by enriching the library with a wide array of valuable publications.

For his part, Abdullah Majid Al Ali, Head of the Libraries Department at the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority, said in this regard: “Our decision to bring a diverse set of publications issued by the Authority in support of the ‘Reading Library for All’ initiative reflects our keenness to reach out to all society segments with valuable books. This approach stems from our firm belief that reading is an essential component to ensure the progress and development of humans, to promote building, order and modernization. Reading boosts knowledge and innovation and transfers others’ experiences, which in turn allows openness to world cultures, in order to closely examine their literary, cultural and scientific work. This would help us reach the desired creativity in all fields of knowledge.”

For more information about:

The Ministry of Interior, please click HERE

Abu Dhabi Police, please click HERE

Follow us and check our Social Media feeds on: YouTube, Facebook, Google +, Instagram and Twitter          

The Arabic-language text of this announcement is the official, authoritative version. Translations are provided as an accommodation only, and should be cross-referenced with the Arabic-language text, which is the only version of the text intended to have legal effect.

Contacts

The UAE Minister of Interior's General Secretariat, Tactical Affairs and Security Media Department

Abu Dhabi Police GHQ - Security Media

Chris Cron +971-(0)-50-666-4891

E-mail: cron.media@hotmail.com









Permalink: http://www.me-newswire.net/news/16897/en

Security Media Launches #MoI_Selfie

To Introduce the MoI’s Services

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates - Wednesday, January 27th 2016 [ME NewsWire]

The Social Media and TV Branch, representing the Security Media Department at the Directorate General of Security Support, the General Secretariat of the Office of H.H Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Interior, launched an introductory initiative with the hashtag (#MoI_Selfie). The initiative was launched via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+, and YouTube in order to introduce the various customer service departments at the Ministry of Interior (MoI).

First Lieutenant Fatima Al Shehhi, Director of the Social Media Center at the Security Media Department, noted that the Center uses the hashtag (#MoI_Selfie) to post video selfies prepared in collaboration with the TV Branch at the Department. The initiative aims to acquaint community members with the different customer service departments and sectors at the Ministry of Interior, which are in direct contact with the public. The 15-second videos also acquaint the public with the valuable tasks and responsibilities carried out by the Ministry of Interior.

It is worth mentioning that the Social Media Center at the Security Media Department operates the Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Google+ platforms. It provides timely coverage of all news related to the Ministry of Interior and Police General Headquarters across the UAE with accuracy and speed. It also communicates awareness messages and campaigns and introduces the MoI’s services. The center’s operators give top priority to interaction with the public and endeavor to promptly answer their inquiries 24/7. The Ministry of Interior’s social media platforms have a large number of followers and represent a vital link between the MoI and the public. They also contributed to fostering security and social awareness via different media material that have received great acclaim and interaction from the various segments of the public.

The TV Branch at the Security Media Department works in close coordination with TV channels in the country to broadcast news reports that shed light on the Ministry of Interior and Abu Dhabi Police’s strategy, as well as promote security awareness amongst the public. The TV Branch also provides TV coverage for all campaigns organized or sponsored by the MoI and the necessary documentation for TV programs and reports. It also endeavors to enhance the TV techniques used to highlight the efforts of both, the Ministry of Interior and the Abu Dhabi Police; to activate communication channels; reinforce cooperation with TV channels; upload content on the TV contributions website, and posting it via the MoI’s social media platforms.

For more information about:

The Ministry of Interior, please click HERE

Abu Dhabi Police, please click HERE

Follow us and check our Social Media feeds on: YouTube, Facebook, Google +, Instagram and Twitter

The Arabic-language text of this announcement is the official, authoritative version. Translations are provided as an accommodation only, and should be cross-referenced with the Arabic-language text, which is the only version of the text intended to have legal effect.



Contacts

The UAE Minister of Interior's General Secretariat, Tactical Affairs and Security Media Department

Abu Dhabi Police GHQ - Security Media

Chris Cron +971-(0)-50-666-4891

E-mail: cron.media@hotmail.com









Permalink: http://me-newswire.net/news/16877/en

Installing 25 New Radars on Al Wagan and Truck Roads in Al Ain

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates - Thursday, January 28th 2016 [ME NewsWire]

The Traffic and Patrols Directorate at Abu Dhabi Police announced the activation of 25 new radars on the Razeen-Al Wagan Road and Truck Road in Al Ain. This step is part of the strategic priority of making the roads a safer place. It is also part of the traffic safety plan of limiting driving with high speeds on the roads and intensifying traffic control by installing radars on main roads in order to improve traffic safety.

Lieutenant Colonel Dr. Badr Ahmed Al Harithi, Head of the Traffic and Road Safety Engineering in the Traffic and Patrols Directorate at Abu Dhabi Police, noted that the radar speed on Razeen-Al Wagan Road has been set at 120 kph, while on Truck Road it was set at 81 kph. He also asserted that the main goal of installing the radars is to improve traffic safety and increase commitment to the designated speed limits.

He also called upon drivers to pay attention, reduce speed, and commit to the law in order to maintain their own and others’ safety. He highlighted the positive achievement of the reduction of road fatalities in the emirate of Abu Dhabi last year.

He also asserted that radars have a positive effect in enhancing traffic safety levels in many locations by reducing speeding violations, which are one of the violations that most endanger road users’ lives.

For more information about:

The Ministry of Interior, please click HERE

Abu Dhabi Police, please click HERE

Follow us and check our Social Media feeds on: YouTube, Facebook, Google +, Instagram and Twitter

The Arabic-language text of this announcement is the official, authoritative version. Translations are provided as an accommodation only, and should be cross-referenced with the Arabic-language text, which is the only version of the text intended to have legal effect.

Contacts

The UAE Minister of Interior's General Secretariat, Tactical Affairs and Security Media Department

Abu Dhabi Police GHQ - Security Media

Chris Cron +971-(0)-50-666-4891

E-mail: cron.media@hotmail.com





 

Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd. Provides Annual Investor Update Presentation

AMSTERDAM - Friday, January 29th 2016 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd. (ticker: PSH:NA) posted today its Annual Investor Update Presentation on its website, www.pershingsquareholdings.com. The presentation includes a performance review, an update of the fund’s portfolio and an organizational update.

About Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd.

Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd. (PSH:NA) is an investment holding company structured as a closed end fund that makes concentrated investments principally in North American companies.

View this news release online at:
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160128006547/en    

Contacts

MEDIA:

Maitland

James Devas, +44 20 7379 5151

Media-pershingsquareholdings@maitland.co.uk









Permalink: http://me-newswire.net/news/16890/en

GSMA Provides Update for Mobile World Congress Shanghai 2016

GSMA Signs Partnership for New Co-Located Event, Launches GSMA Asia Mobile Awards

HONG KONG - Thursday, January 28th 2016 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The GSMA today provided further details for the 2016 GSMA Mobile World Congress Shanghai, which will be held 29 June – 1 July 2016 at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC). The GSMA announced several updates, including a partnership that will bring the International Smart City Expo – Shanghai Pudong to Mobile World Congress Shanghai, as well as the launch of the new GSMA Asia Mobile Awards.

“As we look ahead to welcoming more than 50,000 people to Mobile World Congress Shanghai in June, we’re introducing new events, experiences and activities that will address the varied interests of our attendees, whether they are from the mobile ecosystem and adjacent industry sectors, or major consumer brands and their mobile-savvy customers,” said Michael O’Hara, Chief Marketing Officer, GSMA. “We’re pleased to be extending our collaboration with the Pudong New Area government to offer our attendees the International Smart City Expo – Shanghai Pudong, in addition to the Shanghai Digital Information Festival which is returning for a second year to Shanghai. We are also very excited to launch the Asia Mobile Awards, which will honour innovation and excellence in the Asia mobile industry.”

Partnership with the International Smart City Expo – Shanghai Pudong

The GSMA signed an agreement with The People’s Republic of China Shanghai Pudong New Area Commission of Commerce and the Pudong New Area Commission of Economy and Informatization to co-locate the “The International Smart City Expo – Shanghai Pudong” with Mobile World Congress Shanghai. The International Smart City Expo will be held alongside Mobile World Congress Shanghai 29 June – 1 July in Hall E6 at the SNIEC, with attendees having access to both events.

Jian Danian, Deputy Governor of Pudong New Area government commented, “Pudong New Area is pleased to be expanding its cooperation with the GSMA. With Pudong’s strength in free trade zone and technology innovation, we are actively promoting the integration of information and exhibition into tourism, commerce and culture. We look forward to working with the GSMA to promote Pudong New Area’s developments in areas such as smart exhibition, smart tourism and smart cities.”

GSMA Launches 2016 Asia Mobile Awards

The GSMA today announced the return of the Asia Mobile Awards (the AMO Awards) for 2016 at Mobile World Congress Shanghai. The AMO Awards recognise everything from game-changing mobile devices and technologies to applications and services developed or available in all Asian markets, showcasing the ever-growing value that mobility brings to users, businesses, industries, communities and economies across the region. Judged by a panel of leading independent experts who report on, assess and research mobile services and products, the AMO Awards will include 12 awards across four categories: “Best Mobile Apps”, “Connected Lifestyle”, “Best Mobile Devices” and “Outstanding Achievement”.

The AMO Awards 2016 will be open to companies across the entire mobile ecosystem and may be entered online from 18 February 2016. Entries for the AMO Awards will close on Friday, 22 April 2016 and the GSMA will announce the shortlist of nominations in early June. Winners will be announced on Wednesday, 29 June at Mobile World Congress Shanghai. Further details, as well as information on sponsorship of the AMO Awards, can be found at www.asiamobileawards.com.

Additional Exhibitors Confirmed for Mobile World Congress Shanghai

The GSMA announced additional companies that will be participating in the Mobile World Congress Shanghai exhibition, showcasing the leading products, services and technologies that are shaping the future of mobile, from handsets and devices to network infrastructure, software and services and much more. Newly confirmed exhibitors include CGI, Cisco Systems, ENEA, LongSys, Mobi Antenna, PortaOne, Qualcomm, Shanghai MobVoi, Skymizer, Sun Cupid, SunFly, WinWinWin and Xiamen Meitu, as well as a regional pavilion from Romania. They will be among 400 participating companies at Mobile World Congress Shanghai, including previously announced exhibitors such as Datang Telecom Technology & Industry Group, Empirix, Hewlett Packard, Huawei, LeTV, MediaTek, Oberthur, Sandisk, SAP, SK Telecom, Snail Mobile, Sony Imaging, Visa and ZTE, among others. For more information, visit www.mwcshanghai.com/exhibition.

New Partner Programmes at Mobile World Congress Shanghai

Mobile World Congress Shanghai hosts a range of Partner Programmes, developed and presented by organisations across the mobile ecosystem, to help attendees amplify their knowledge about the mobile industry. The GSMA today announced the first Partner Programmes taking place in Shanghai: China Unicom will hold its International Partners Conference prior to Mobile World Congress on Tuesday, 28 June and GTI will host the GTI SUMMIT 2016 Shanghai on Wednesday, 29 June.

Conference to Explore Latest Trends and Topics in Mobile

The conference at Mobile World Congress Shanghai will feature two days of keynotes and track sessions exploring topics such as 5G, automotive, cyber security, digital commerce, gaming, the Internet of Things (IoT), hardware innovation, mobile media and content, mobile identity and personalisation, and smart cities. The Call for Papers for Mobile World Congress Shanghai has been extended and prospective speakers can submit proposals through Friday, 11 March 2016. For more information on the conference, visit www.mwcshanghai.com/conference.

Get Involved at Mobile World Congress Shanghai 2016

For more information on the 2016 Mobile World Congress Shanghai, including how to attend, exhibit, partner or sponsor, visit www.mwcshanghai.com. Follow developments and updates on Mobile World Congress Shanghai through our social media channels – follow us on Twitter at @GSMA and use #MWCS16, get regular updates through our LinkedIn Showcase Page at www.linkedin.com/company/mobile-world-congress-shanghai, and follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mwcshanghai. In China, you can follow us on Sina Weibo http://weibo.com/mwcshanghai or on the GSMA account on WeChat. For additional information on GSMA social channels, visit www.mwcshanghai.com/register-plan/networking/social-media/.

-ENDS-

About the GSMA

The GSMA represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide, uniting nearly 800 operators with more than 250 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem, including handset and device makers, software companies, equipment providers and internet companies, as well as organisations in adjacent industry sectors. The GSMA also produces industry-leading events such as Mobile World Congress, Mobile World Congress Shanghai and the Mobile 360 Series conferences.

For more information, please visit the GSMA corporate website at www.gsma.com. Follow the GSMA on Twitter: @GSMA.





View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160128005381/en/

Contacts

For the GSMA

Ava Lau

+852-2533 9928

alau@webershandwick.com



or

Charlie Meredith-Hardy

+44 7917 298428

CMeredith-Hardy@webershandwick.com



or

GSMA Press Office

pressoffice@gsma.com





Permalink: http://me-newswire.net/news/16880/en

Pivot3 to Acquire NexGen Storage to Shift the Hyper-Converged Market toward More Dynamic Solutions

 Combined company uniquely addresses software-defined data center challenges with broad portfolio that includes HCI, high-performance storage and QoS

AUSTIN, Texas - Thursday, January 28th 2016 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Pivot3, a pioneer and innovator in the development of hyper-converged infrastructure (HCI), today announced that it will acquire NexGen Storage, a privately held leading provider of hybrid storage appliances, dynamic all-flash arrays and Quality of Service (QoS) capabilities. By adding NexGen’s portfolio of products, Pivot3 will deliver the industry's most complete set of dynamic hyper-converged solutions. For the first time ever, enterprise and mid-market companies will have access to a suite of solutions that will allow them to apply the right infrastructure and priority to each workload, application or business service according to business value.

By adding NexGen’s strengths in accelerated all-flash and hybrid storage, Pivot3 is uniquely expanding the traditional notion of hyper-convergence. Now, customers have complete implementation flexibility and QoS management, so IT no longer has to overprovision for peak workloads, but instead can use just-in-time dynamic provisioning of resources and scale as the business grows. Pivot3 intends to market and enhance all current and planned NexGen products.

“Everyone talks about the need for agility in terms of business needs, but in hyper-convergence, workload utilization and performance have been gating factors to expansion beyond the usual initial use cases,” said Ron Nash, CEO of Pivot3. “With the addition of NexGen’s capabilities, Pivot3 is now the only company in the market that broadly and deeply addresses this central data center challenge with a solution that allows IT to prioritize application performance based on business priority. We believe this agility is critical as customers move from legacy data centers to a software-defined data center that effortlessly handles a heterogeneous set of workloads. We welcome the NexGen customers, partners and team to Pivot3.”

Unlike other storage arrays and hyper-converged systems that treat all data the same, NexGen’s dynamic QoS governs performance targets, input/output (I/O) prioritization and data placement, allowing customers to meet business service-level agreements. For example, an organization serving the healthcare market can prioritize mission-critical hospital system applications over the internal Microsoft Exchange server, preventing a surge in employee email downloads from interrupting life-or-death health care system operations.

“We categorize all of our applications as mission-critical, business-critical or non-critical,” said Michael Frank, manager IT services group, NCS Credit. “We need our systems to be able to recognize that not all applications are created equal and to process them appropriately and differentially.”

“Not all data should be treated the same; the growing momentum of the Internet of Things (IoT), together with ever-increasing user-expectations and application-demands, means there is a pressing need for HCI platforms that are optimally built to manage the onslaught of disparate data,” said Mark Peters, practice director and senior analyst at Enterprise Strategy Group (ESG). “Pivot3’s new approach offers precisely this with its hyper-converged solution-suite; it includes compelling differentiations which enable it to support more extensive and expansive use cases by delivering increased and optimized value from the data it manages.”

Dynamic hyper-convergence provides enterprises with a practical and proven path to extend the economics and simplicity of HCI to all business services, effectively enabling the first generation of software-defined data centers. Pivot3 provides HCI, hybrid and all-flash storage in appliance and blade form factors. Their patented Scalar Erasure Coding gives their HCI technology the ability to yield up to 94 percent usable storage, and their all-flash HCI appliances are specifically designed to provide maximum input/output operations per second (IOPS) for high-performance applications. Combined with NexGen’s proven QoS and dynamic provisioning capabilities, high-performance hybrid storage and all-flash form factors, Pivot3 now provides the most extensive suite of HCI solutions available in the market.

“We’re proud of our rich history and our reputation as a leader in new technology storage products, and we see enormous synergies in bringing together these two innovative businesses,” said John Spiers, founder and CEO of NexGen. “The pedigrees of our teams in the storage and high-performance computing markets are unparalleled in the industry. Combining these powerful teams and innovative solutions gives our customers and partners an incredible advantage in their respective markets.”

Pivot3 executed a definitive agreement to acquire NexGen following the unanimous approval of the Boards of Directors of Pivot3 and NexGen. The transaction is expected to close in February 2016.

About Pivot3

Pivot3 is the world’s leading provider of dynamic hyper-converged solutions. Pivot3’s patented solutions dramatically improve data center simplicity and economics by increasing scale-out performance, driving down complexity and cost, saving an extraordinary amount of disk and physical space and ensuring fault tolerance. With Pivot3’s unique Quality of Service and Virtualization Management capabilities, customers are able to prioritize data and application performance based on business value. Today, Pivot3 has more than 2,000 customers around the world deploying more than 16,000 globally hyper-converged infrastructures in multiple industries such as video surveillance, healthcare, government, transportation, entertainment, education, gaming and retail. Join us on LinkedIn, follow us on Facebook or Twitter (@Pivot3Inc) or visit us at http://pivot3.com. The company has won numerous awards and was most recently featured by CRN in their top 50 Virtualization list. To learn more about Pivot3, visit http://www.pivot3.com.    

View this news release online at:
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160127005545/en

Contacts

Pivot3

Allison Francis, 972-235-3439

afrancis@ideagrove.com





 

The Estée Lauder Companies Promotes Three Executives

NEW YORK - Thursday, January 28th 2016 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Today The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (NYSE:EL) announced three Executive Leadership Team promotions, effective January 1, 2016:

    Stephane de la Faverie has been promoted to Global Brand President, Origins and Darphin. He will continue to report to Jane Hertzmark Hudis, Group President, The Estée Lauder Companies.
    Beth DiNardo has been promoted to Global Brand President, Smashbox. She will continue to report to John Demsey, Executive Group President, The Estée Lauder Companies.
    Daniel Rachmanis has been promoted to President, Latin America. He will continue to report to Cedric Prouvé, Group President, International, The Estée Lauder Companies.

“At The Estée Lauder Companies, we are proud to recognize the growth of our outstanding leaders and provide them with high-potential opportunities to further grow their careers and our business,” said Fabrizio Freda, President and Chief Executive Officer, The Estée Lauder Companies. “Stephane, Beth and Daniel have been integral in advancing the Company’s strategic initiatives across fast-growing markets, demographics and categories. Their well-deserved promotions reflect their diverse talents and strong abilities to continue leading their areas of business into the future.”

Stephane de la Faverie previously held the role of Senior Vice President/General Manager, Origins and Darphin, an appointment he assumed in April 2014. Mr. de la Faverie is widely recognized for his acumen in channel diversity, leading innovative retail and digital concepts for Origins that strategically expanded the brand’s reach with millennial consumers. Also known as a leader in skin care, Mr. de la Faverie has launched many coveted franchises and products, such as Origins Original Skin and Darphin 8-Flower Nectar Oil Cream, with great success. Under Mr. de la Faverie’s leadership since 2014, Darphin has accelerated and expanded global distribution and launched a new counter design in Asia/Pacific markets. Mr. de la Faverie has expanded Origins’ global reach by accelerating growth in China, opening varied retail models throughout Southeast Asia, Europe and Latin America, and fueling the specialty-retail business in North America. Mr. de la Faverie has been with The Estée Lauder Companies since 2011, when he joined the Company as Senior Vice President, Global General Manager, Aramis and Designer Fragrances.

Beth DiNardo was appointed Senior Vice President/Global General Manager, Smashbox following The Estée Lauder Companies’ acquisition of the brand in 2010. With Ms. DiNardo at the helm, Smashbox, the premiere L.A. photo studio-based makeup brand, has had impressive global growth, and now has a presence in 40 markets worldwide. Ms. DiNardo has strengthened Smashbox’s core equity with a focus on hero products, while spearheading new launches, trend leadership, and significantly growing the color business. Ms. DiNardo is a leader in merchandising and digital, and along with her team, has led Smashbox to receive multiple awards in the digital space. Additionally, Ms. DiNardo re-launched the legendary Smashbox Photo Studios, resulting in a state-of-the-art renovation and experience that support the brand’s DNA of creativity, community and collaboration. Before joining Smashbox, Ms. DiNardo held various global marketing leadership positions at the Company for brands such as Clinique and Darphin since 1997.

Daniel Rachmanis has led the Company’s expansion in Latin America since 2009, when he was named Senior Vice President, General Manger, Latin America and International Business Development. Mr. Rachmanis’ keen understanding of the diverse consumer base and retail dynamics has helped the Company triple sales in Latin America over the last five years to become the number one prestige beauty company in Latin America. Under his leadership, the Company’s growth in Latin America has included a shift to a retail distribution model, the launch of seven new brands and expansion into more than 30 key second-tier cities across 17 markets. Mr. Rachmanis joined The Estée Lauder Companies in 2007 as Senior Vice President, International Development/General Manager, BeautyBank.

“The long-term success of The Estée Lauder Companies is rooted in great brands and great people,” said William P. Lauder, Executive Chairman, The Estée Lauder Companies. “Stephane, Beth and Daniel have each demonstrated exemplary leadership throughout their respective distinguished careers and reflect the world-class talent and expertise that drive our Company’s sustainable growth.”

About The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.

The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. is one of the world’s leading manufacturers and marketers of quality skin care, makeup, fragrance and hair care products. The Company’s products are sold in over 150 countries and territories under brand names including: Estée Lauder, Aramis, Clinique, Prescriptives, Lab Series, Origins, Tommy Hilfiger, M•A•C, Kiton, La Mer, Bobbi Brown, Donna Karan New York, DKNY, Aveda, Jo Malone London, Bumble and bumble, Michael Kors, Darphin, Tom Ford, Smashbox, Ermenegildo Zegna, AERIN, Marni, Tory Burch, RODIN olio lusso, Le Labo, Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle and GLAMGLOW.    

View this news release online at: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160128005730/en


Contacts

The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.

Media Relations:

Alexandra Trower, (212) 572-4430



or

Investor Relations:

Dennis D’Andrea, (212) 572-4384    







Permalink: http://www.me-newswire.net/news/16881/en

Hilton Worldwide and Atlantica Hotels Sign Deal to Develop Hilton Garden Inn Brand in Brazil

SÃO PAULO - Friday, January 29th 2016 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Hilton Worldwide (NYSE: HLT) and Atlantica Hotels announced today the signing of an exclusive management license agreement for Atlantica to develop and manage Hilton Garden Inn hotels in Brazil. The announcement underscores the continued momentum of the award-winning upper midscale Hilton Garden Inn brand into new markets and tourism destinations throughout the region, including recently opened hotels in Montevideo, Uruguay and Cusco, Peru.    

“Brazil is the largest economy in South America and provides great potential for growth. We are excited to introduce the Hilton Garden Inn brand to this booming market,” said Ted Middleton, senior vice president, development, Latin America, Hilton Worldwide. “The partnership with Atlantica represents a great milestone for Hilton as their experienced and knowledgeable team will help drive our growth efforts throughout the country.”

“It is an honor for Atlantica to partner with Hilton Worldwide, one of the largest hospitality companies in the world, to develop the Hilton Garden Inn brand in Brazil,” said Paul J. Sistare, founder and CEO of Atlantica Hotels. “This partnership will allow us to expand our portfolio in all Brazilian regions, as we plan to develop at least ten Hilton Garden Inn hotels in the main capitals, as well as the biggest secondary cities, offering quality services to our guests, linked to the brand’s values.”

The Hilton Garden Inn brand will join Atlantica’s portfolio of more than 12 brands represented by 85 hotels in Brazil and a sales force of more than 150 executives. The company has been in the hospitality industry since 1996, and established itself as a leader through innovation and strategic alliances.

“Atlantica’s expertise and the Hilton Garden Inn brand’s market positioning provide an attractive option for local investors,” said Sistare. “The entrance of the new brand will support Atlantica in accomplishing its plan to reach 100 hotels in the first semester of 2016.”

As part of the Hilton Worldwide portfolio of brands, all Hilton Garden Inn hotels participate in Hilton HHonors, the only hotel loyalty program that allows members to earn Points & Miles® on the same stay and No Blackout Dates on reward stays. HHonors members always get the lowest price with the Best Price Guarantee, along with HHonors Points, digital check-in and no booking fees only when they book directly through Hilton.

Hilton Worldwide currently has a portfolio of more than 80 hotels and resorts open and welcoming travelers in Latin America and more than 4,500 hotels open in 100 countries and territories globally. The company is actively pursuing additional Latin American growth opportunities and currently has a robust pipeline of more than 50 hotels throughout the region.

For more Information about the award-winning Hilton Garden Inn brand, please visit www.hiltongardeninn.com or www.news.hgi.com.

About Hilton Garden Inn

Hilton Garden Inn is the award-recognized, peaceful and energizing hotel brand that continually strives to ensure today’s busy travelers are appreciated and have everything they need to be most productive on the road. Hilton Garden Inn offers the amenities and services for travelers to sleep deep, stay fit, eat well and work smart during their stay. Approachable and professional team members operating at more than 650 hotels around the world are committed to providing a welcoming and dependable hotel experience for every guest, every time which is reflected in the satisfaction promise to do whatever it takes to ensure every guest is satisfied, or they don’t pay. You can count on us. Guaranteed™. Hilton HHonors members who book directly through preferred Hilton channels have access to benefits including free standard Wi-Fi, as well as digital amenities that are available exclusively through the industry-leading Hilton HHonors app, where HHonors members can check-in, choose their room, and access their room using a Digital Key. Visit, www.hgi.com or news.hgi.com for more information about our locations.

About Hilton Worldwide

Hilton Worldwide (NYSE: HLT) is a leading global hospitality company, spanning the lodging sector from luxury and full-service hotels and resorts to extended-stay suites and focused-service hotels. For 97 years, Hilton Worldwide has been dedicated to continuing its tradition of providing exceptional guest experiences. The company's portfolio of thirteen world-class global brands is comprised of more than 4,600 managed, franchised, owned and leased hotels and timeshare properties, with more than 758,000 rooms in 100 countries and territories, including Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Canopy by Hilton, Curio – A Collection by Hilton, DoubleTree by Hilton, Embassy Suites by Hilton, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton by Hilton, Tru by Hilton, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Home2 Suites by Hilton and Hilton Grand Vacations. The company also manages an award-winning customer loyalty program, Hilton HHonors®. Hilton HHonors members who book directly through preferred Hilton channels have access to benefits including free standard Wi-Fi, as well as digital amenities that are available exclusively through the industry-leading Hilton HHonors app, where HHonors members can check-in, choose their room, and access their room using a Digital Key. Visit news.hiltonworldwide.com for more information and connect with Hilton Worldwide at facebook.com/hiltonworldwide, twitter.com/hiltonworldwide, youtube.com/hiltonworldwide, flickr.com/hiltonworldwide, and linkedin.com/company/hilton-worldwide.

About Atlantica Hotels

Founded in 1996 by Paul J. Sistare, CEO, Atlantica Hotels, based in São Paulo, Brazil, is the largest privately held hotel management company in South America. Atlantica Hotels maintains exclusive strategic alliances with Choice Hotels (owner of Sleep Inn, Comfort, Comfort Suites, Quality and Clarion brands) and with Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group (owner of Radisson BLU, Radisson, Radisson RED and Park Inn by Radisson brands), including Atlantica proprietary flags – Go Inn and by Atlantica Hotels, for independent hotels. Atlantica with over 5,500 employees currently operates 87 hotels which total more than 14,500 rooms in 44 cities in Brazil and more than six thousands hotels around the world in its reservation portfolio.

Atlantica Hotels is also one of the largest supporters of Childhood Brasil committed to the prevention of child and adolescent sexual exploitation.





View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160128005980/en/

Contacts

Suzana Cardozo

Hilton Worldwide

+55 11 2845 0268

suzana.cardozo@hilton.com



or

Fábio Hyppolito

Atlantica Hotel

55 11 3531 4804

imprensa@atlanticahotels.com.br







Permalink: http://me-newswire.net/news/16888/en

MoI Council Calls for Teaching “Internet Risks” in School Curricula

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates - Friday, January 29th 2016 [ME NewsWire]

Participants in the Ministry of Interior’s Council hosted by UAE national Saeed Mohammed Khalaf Al Rumaithi at his residence in Al Ain under the theme “The Risks of Internet Use on the Youths’ Thought,” recommended including a topic on the risks of Internet use in school curricula, so as to raise awareness of young people. Moreover, they stressed the need to develop awareness-raising programs through the various media channels to provide solutions and proposals to combat the risks of the Internet.

The council is part of the awareness councils organized by the Law Respect Culture Bureau, in cooperation with the Security Media Department at the General Secretariat of the Office of H.H Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior. The council was moderated by media figure Ali Salem Al Shamesi.

In his address on this occasion, Colonel Dr. Jasim Al Antali, Professor of Criminal Law at the Police College, pointed out that the United Arab Emirates has become a leading model and achieved a quantum leap in the field of E-government services.

Additionally, Colonel Al Antali noted that protecting children from the dangers of using the Internet is an integrated family and social responsibility. “We should not underestimate the valuable role played by the family and school in protecting the youth and raising their awareness,” he underlined.

Participants in the Council indicated that the Internet is a double-edged sword. It is an important tool that offers many positive benefits in terms of science, culture, research and studies, but has many dangers and harmful effects. Furthermore, they urged parents to supervise their children’s internet use, by monitoring the programs and media viewed, as well as their interaction with others via social networks. Council participants also called for using dialogue to open discussions with children and increasing children’s confidence both in themselves and in their families.

For more information about:

The Ministry of Interior, please click HERE

Abu Dhabi Police, please click HERE

Follow us and check our Social Media feeds on: YouTube, Facebook, Google +, Instagram and Twitter

The Arabic-language text of this announcement is the official, authoritative version. Translations are provided as an accommodation only, and should be cross-referenced with the Arabic-language text, which is the only version of the text intended to have legal effect.



Contacts

The UAE Minister of Interior's General Secretariat, Tactical Affairs and Security Media Department

Abu Dhabi Police GHQ - Security Media

Chris Cron +971-(0)-50-666-4891

E-mail: cron.media@hotmail.com









Permalink: http://www.me-newswire.net/news/16891/en

HD+ Records 11.3 Percent Growth in Subscribers in 2015

LUXEMBOURG - Friday, January 29th 2016 [ME NewsWire]

· HD+ had 1.84 million subscribers in 2015, up from 1.65 million in 2014

· Growth of subscribers supported by strong backlog of over 1.1 million customers in free-trial period

· Strong growth driven by demand for high-quality TV content

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- SES S.A. (NYSE Paris:SESG) (LuxX:SESG) announced today that its German HD platform HD+ recorded an 11.3 percent increase in subscribers in 2015. HD+ had 1.84 million subscribers at year-end 2015, compared to 1.65 million at year-end 2014. In addition, HD+ had over 1.1 million customers in their six-month free-trial period.

Users of HD+ have access to more than 50 HD channels, comprised of 30 public channels and 21 channels delivered by the largest commercial broadcasters in Germany, as well as the Ultra HD (UHD) demo channel, UHD1 by Astra / HD+.

“TV screen sizes positively correlate to picture and sound quality; people who own big screens would like to watch TV content in better quality and are prepared to pay for this. The strong growth that we are seeing in HD+ is proof that our customers like what they see on HD+ and are willing to pay for it,” said Wilfried Urner, Chairman of the Management Board of HD PLUS GmbH.

“And it doesn’t stop there. With one million UHD screens sold in Germany in 2015, HD is now seen as a minimum requirement for these UHD TVs. It is clear that the desire for better picture quality has never been greater. Additionally, the introduction of our new demo UHD channel, UHD1 by Astra / HD+, has also allowed our HD+ customers to immerse themselves fully in the spectacular visual experience,” said Urner. “Satellite covers virtually 100% of households with broadcast video capability, delivering flawless HD and UHD content, and is the ideal infrastructure to offer the brilliant TV viewing experience that audiences are looking for.”

Follow us:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SES_Satellites

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SES.YourSatelliteCompany

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/SESVideoChannel

Blog:http://www.ses.com/blog

SES Pictures are available under https://extranet.ses.com/18706236/pictures

SES White Papers are available under http://www.ses.com/18681915/white-papers

About SES

SES (NYSE Paris:SESG) (LuxX:SESG) is the world-leading satellite operator with a fleet of more than 50 geostationary satellites. The company provides satellite communications services to broadcasters, content and internet service providers, mobile and fixed network operators and business and governmental organisations worldwide.

SES stands for long-lasting business relationships, high-quality service and excellence in the satellite industry. The culturally diverse regional teams of SES are located around the globe and work closely with customers to meet their specific satellite bandwidth and service requirements.

SES holds a participation in O3b Networks, a next generation satellite network combining the reach of satellite with the speed of fibre.

Further information available at: www.ses.com.    

View this news release and multimedia online at:
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160129005287/en

Contacts

SES

Markus Payer

Corporate Communications

Tel : +352 710 725 500

Markus.Payer@ses.com









Permalink: http://me-newswire.net/news/16893/en

Saif bin Zayed Offers Condolences to Al Nuaimi Family in Al Ain

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates - Thursday, January 28th 2016 [ME NewsWire]

Lt. General HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, expressed his deepest condolences and heartily sympathy to the Al Nuaimi family on the death of Moza Saif Mu’dad Lakhrebani Al Nuaimi.

His Highness visited on Wednesday evening the deceased’s home in the area of Al Zahir in Al Ain, to offer his condolences to the bereaved family. His Highness prayed to Allah Almighty to bestow his mercy upon the deceased and to rest her in eternal peace; and to provide patience and solace for the family.

The deceased’s family expressed their thanks and appreciation for HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior. They praised the kind humanitarian gesture and sympathy, which had a significant impact in alleviating their grief.

For more information about:

The Ministry of Interior, please click HERE

Abu Dhabi Police, please click HERE

Follow us and check our Social Media feeds on: YouTube, Facebook, Google +, Instagram and Twitter

The Arabic-language text of this announcement is the official, authoritative version. Translations are provided as an accommodation only, and should be cross-referenced with the Arabic-language text, which is the only version of the text intended to have legal effect.

Contacts

The UAE Minister of Interior's General Secretariat, Tactical Affairs and Security Media Department

Abu Dhabi Police GHQ - Security Media

Chris Cron +971-(0)-50-666-4891

E-mail: cron.media@hotmail.com









Permalink: http://www.me-newswire.net/news/16882/en

Bank of America Reports Q4-15 Net Income of $3.3B, EPS of $0.28

Full-Year 2015 Net Income of $15.9B, EPS of $1.31(1)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Wednesday, January 27th 2016 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Bank of America (NYSE: BAC):

To view the full report and tables please click here.

Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to current period presentation.

This information is preliminary and based on company data available at the time of the presentation.

View this news release online at:

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160119005701/en    

Contacts

Investors May Contact:

Lee McEntire, Bank of America, 1.980.388.6780

Jonathan Blum, Bank of America (Fixed Income), 1.212.449.3112



Reporters May Contact:

Jerry Dubrowski, Bank of America, 1.980.388.2840

jerome.f.dubrowski@bankofamerica.com







Permalink: http://me-newswire.net/news/16878/en

Four Areas every Oil and Gas Chief Needs to Master If They Want to Weather the Sector’s ‘Perfect Storm’

Dubai, United Arab Emirates - Sunday, January 24th 2016 [ME NewsWire]

A new report from ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) outlines the key things business leaders in the oil and gas sector need to master if they want to be successful in the most volatile and competitive era the sector has ever seen.

With oil prices plummeting to below $30 dollars a barrel today for the second time this week and further drops in price not out of the question, Faye Chua, head of futures at ACCA says:

“Right now, the risk of going under is a very real one for many oil and gas companies. Three major factors have combined to create a perfect storm in the sector. One – lower cash-flows due to depressed oil prices. Two - the existing debt overhang. And three - the so-called ‘great crew change’ as the impending retirement of senior expert professionals over the next five years leaves a talent vacuum in its wake.”

Business chiefs who can successfully steer their organisation through this challenging period will be set to prosper. So what should the successful leader consider as he or she negotiates these challenges?

According to Faye Chua, after analysing market conditions and taking the views of a range of key strategic players in the sector, four key areas of focus emerged.

“The key to navigating the choppy waters we are currently experiencing in the oil and gas sector is good management of growth, costs, funding and externalities. Get those four factors under control and you give your organisation the best chance of success.”

Growth Management

Identify and post-pone projects with a high degree of uncertainty. Be especially ruthless with any at the early stages of development which can be killed without much fuss.

Seek partners to share in the risk – and of course, reward, of projects. For example, through part-sale of operating interest in new discoveries.

If you can, explore opportunistic growth via acquisition in areas with room for consolidation, for example oilfield services. There is no reason that the current environment should lead toe a growth paralysis mindset. There could be valuable growth opportunities right now, for example via M&A or by continuing investment in nationally important, high-profile projects with longer-term value.

Cost Management

Do not throw out the baby with the bath-water. Concentrate your asset sales on those not central to long-term strategy as much as possible. Organisations with a strong core focus are always better prepared in times of extreme stress or volatility.

Where redundancies are inevitable, manage them carefully to account for skills-gap impact, and ensure readiness for future growth when the oil price rebounds.

Re-negotiate discounts with contractors to manage service costs and on-going expenditure. There could be room here as many suppliers may prefer lower margins to idle machinery in the challenging times we are currently experiencing.

Funding Management

In the near term it can often all be about survival but do not lose sight of a credible growth story for the longer-term. To give your organisation the best chance of attracting funding, ensure the security of your current income stream, even if it is reduced. That stability is key to ensuring there is a consistent stream if income.

It is important to model the impact of rising interest rates on sourcing bank and debt funding. Seek a realistic picture as oil prices cannot be modelled on a safe, upward trajectory to pay for higher rates with future income as they have been in the past.

As minimising risk and exposure becomes critical, explore non-debt options for funding. For example, with specialist equity investors who play exclusively in the oil and gas sector. In short, private equity funds are going to be your friends.

Managing externalities

Your organisation should aspire to a clear and respected voice on key sector issues such as the advocating role of government, whether via regulations and global transparency frameworks, or tax incentives to support reduced revenues.

On a similar note, the inevitable short-term fire-fighting should not come at the expense of the long view. You should also be looking at on-going evaluation of strategic issues such as climate change policy (COP 21), and its implications in the near and longer term.

- ends -

The full report can be downloaded at: http://www.accaglobal.com/content/dam/ACCA_Global/Technical/oil-gas/oil-and-gas-report-low-prices-high-expectations.pdf

Notes to Editors

About ACCA

ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) is the global body for professional accountants. It offers business-relevant, first-choice qualifications to people of application, ability and ambition around the world who seek a rewarding career in accountancy, finance and management.

ACCA supports its 178,000 members and 455,000 students in 181 countries, helping them to develop successful careers in accounting and business, with the skills required by employers. ACCA works through a network of 95 offices and centres and more than 7,110 Approved Employers worldwide, who provide high standards of employee learning and development. Through its public interest remit, ACCA promotes appropriate regulation of accounting and conducts relevant research to ensure accountancy continues to grow in reputation and influence.

Founded in 1904, ACCA has consistently held unique core values: opportunity, diversity, innovation, integrity and accountability. It believes that accountants bring value to economies in all stages of development and seek to develop capacity in the profession and encourage the adoption of global standards. ACCA’s core values are aligned to the needs of employers in all sectors and it ensures that through its range of qualifications, it prepares accountants for business. ACCA seeks to open up the profession to people of all backgrounds and remove artificial barriers, innovating its qualifications and delivery to meet the diverse needs of trainee professionals and their employers. More information is here: www.accaglobal.com

Contacts

Louis Clark, ACCA Newsroom

T: +44 (0)20 7059 5622

M: + 44 (0)7976 778 648

E: louis.clark@accaglobal.com

Twitter @ACCANews / @louisclarkPR









Permalink: http://me-newswire.net/news/16821/en

TSYS to Acquire TransFirst to Establish Leadership Position in Merchant Solutions

Transformative Acquisition Accelerates TSYS’ Growth Strategy Enhances Scale and Scope as a Payments Platform

COLUMBUS, Ga. - Thursday, January 28th 2016 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- TSYS® (NYSE: TSS), a leading global payment solutions provider, today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement with Vista Equity Partners to acquire TransFirst, a Vista portfolio company and leading U.S. merchant solutions provider, in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $2.35 billion.

TransFirst delivers merchant solutions to more than 235,000 small and medium-sized businesses in the U.S. through its proprietary technology, end-to-end customized and multi-channel products and superior customer service. The transaction enhances TSYS’ offering and position in the high-growth areas of integrated payments, e-commerce and omni-channel services. As a result of the transaction, TSYS will be the 6th largest U.S. acquirer based on net revenue, supporting more than 645,000 merchant outlets. TSYS expects the transaction to be accretive in the low double digits to adjusted EPS for the first twelve-month period following closing, excluding one-time acquisition-related fees and expenses.

TransFirst leads the market with its partner-centric distribution model supporting more than 1,300 integrated technology and referral partners in high-growth areas that include Integrated Software Vendors (ISVs), healthcare, not-for-profit, referral banks, associations and e-commerce. TransFirst has approximately 1,000 employees with offices throughout the U.S.

M. Troy Woods, chairman, president and chief executive officer of TSYS, said, “TransFirst significantly increases our scale and opportunity within the highly attractive merchant space, and particularly the profitable and fast-growing small and medium-sized business segment. With the added strength of TransFirst, TSYS will be uniquely positioned with significant scale and strength across issuer processing, merchant services and prepaid program management. I believe our ability to offer market-leading services through this distribution network and across the payments spectrum will be unmatched. I have every confidence that TransFirst’s strong leadership team, reputation and focus on outstanding customer service will further our pursuit to unlock opportunities in payments and deliver strong results for TSYS, our customers and shareholders over the long-term.”

John Shlonsky, TransFirst president and chief executive officer, said, “TransFirst is excited about this transaction and the opportunities it will create. We believe the combination of our two organizations will form an even stronger platform for us to grow new sales, provide more robust solutions for our partners and merchants, and expand an already outstanding service model. We also see a strong cultural fit with TSYS and share their philosophy that people are at the center of payments. Together I’m convinced we will be a strong leader in an increasingly competitive payments market.”

Click here to view video of Woods and Shlonsky discussing the transaction.

Robert F. Smith, founder, chairman and chief executive officer of Vista Equity Partners, said, "We are grateful to John and the TransFirst team for their strong partnership, during which time they created a true leader in payment solutions. We are proud of the company’s tremendous growth under our ownership and believe the combination with TSYS's merchant business will create a strong platform for accelerating TransFirst’s future growth trajectory."

Effective with the closing of the transaction, Mark Pyke, senior executive vice president and president of the TSYS Merchant segment, will be leaving TSYS after six years of service to pursue a new professional challenge in the payments industry. Mr. Shlonsky will assume Mark’s duties and responsibilities for the combined businesses at that time. Mr. Woods added, “During Mark’s tenure at TSYS, he has helped create a more focused strategy for our merchant business and developed a strong team with the expertise and passion to win. All of us at TSYS thank Mark for his contributions and we wish him the very best in his future pursuits.”

The Board of Directors of TSYS has approved the transaction, which is expected to close in Q2 2016, subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.

Bank of America Merrill Lynch and GCA Savvian Advisors, LLC are acting as financial advisors, First Annapolis Consulting is acting as strategic advisor and King & Spalding LLP is acting as legal advisor to TSYS. Credit Suisse, Goldman Sachs and J.P. Morgan are acting as financial advisors and Kirkland & Ellis is acting as legal advisor to TransFirst and Vista.

Conference Call

TSYS and TransFirst will hold a conference call at 5:00 p.m. ET today, January 26, 2016, to discuss the transaction. Shareholders and other interested persons may listen to this conference call via simultaneous internet broadcast at www.tsys.com by clicking on the link under "Webcasts" on the homepage. A slide presentation is available for download at www.tsys.com or in the Investor Relations section, at investors.tsys.com.

About TSYS

At TSYS® (NYSE: TSS), we believe payments should revolve around people, not the other way around. We call this belief People-Centered Payments®. By putting people at the center of every decision we make, TSYS supports financial institutions, businesses and governments in more than 80 countries. Through NetSpend®, A TSYS Company, we empower consumers with the convenience, security, and freedom to be self-banked. TSYS offers issuer services and merchant payment acceptance for credit, debit, prepaid, healthcare and business solutions.

TSYS’ headquarters are located in Columbus, Ga., U.S.A., with local offices spread across the Americas, EMEA and Asia-Pacific. TSYS is a member of The Civic 50 and was named one of the 2015 World's Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere magazine. TSYS routinely posts all important information on its website. For more, please visit us at www.tsys.com.

About TransFirst

A leading provider of secure transaction processing services and payment enabling technologies, TransFirst offers innovative products and services designed with financial institution, independent sales organization, healthcare, e-commerce, integrated partners, government and merchant customers’ unique needs in mind. By collaborating with our customers and utilizing strong industry knowledge, TransFirst helps them grow their businesses. Founded in 1995, TransFirst continues to attain significant market share and world-class expertise in growing and profitable industry segments. Built on a platform of personal service, customer commitment and flexible pricing, TransFirst is headquartered in Hauppauge, New York, and has operations facilities in Aurora, Colorado; Broomfield, Colorado; Franklin, Tennessee; and Cypress, California. For additional information, visit TransFirst at www.transfirst.com.

About Vista Equity Partners

Vista Equity Partners is a U.S.-based investment firm with offices in Austin, Chicago and San Francisco, with more than $14 billion in cumulative capital commitments. It currently invests in software, data and technology-based organizations led by world-class management teams with long-term perspective. Vista is a value-added investor, contributing professional expertise and multi-level support that enables companies to realize their full potential. Vista’s investment approach is anchored by a sizable long-term capital base, experience in structuring technology-oriented transactions and proven management techniques that yield flexibility and opportunity in private equity investing. For more information, please visit www.vistaequitypartners.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” – that is, statements related to future, not past, events. Forward-looking statements often address our expected future business and financial performance and often contain words such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “believe,” “should,” “plan,” “potential,” “will,” “could,” and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, among others, statements about TSYS’ expected future operating results, the benefits of the proposed acquisition of TransFirst (including the expected impact of the acquisition on TSYS' Adjusted EPS and competitive position), the expected growth rate of the merchant solutions market, and the expected timing for closing the acquisition. These statements are based on the current beliefs and expectations of TSYS' and TransFirst's management, as applicable, and are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties. We believe these forward-looking statements are reasonable; however, undue reliance should not be placed on any forward-looking statements, which are based on current expectations. Actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by these forward-looking statements. A number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements, including our ability to achieve expected synergies and successfully complete the integration of TransFirst, events that could give rise to a termination of the stock purchase agreement for the acquisition or to the failure to receive any necessary approvals or financing for the acquisition, the outcome of any litigation related to the acquisition, the level of expenses and other charges related to the acquisition and related financing transactions, and the other risks and uncertainties discussed in TSYS’ filings with the SEC, including its 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K. There can be no assurance that the acquisition will be completed, or if it is completed, that it will be completed within the anticipated time period or that the expected benefits of the acquisition will be realized. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

Contacts

TSYS Media Relations

Cyle Mims, +1-706-644-3110

cylemims@tsys.com



or

TSYS Investor Relations

Shawn Roberts, +1-706-644-6081

shawnroberts@tsys.com







Permalink: http://www.me-newswire.net/news/16873/en

Murex Named a Leader in Gartner’s 2015 “Magic Quadrant for Trading Platforms”

PARIS - Wednesday, January 27th 2016 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Murex, the distinguished provider of capital markets and treasury solutions, is proud to announce that it has been named as a Leader in the 2015 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Trading Platforms (D.Furlonger, F.Chesini, December 2015). Murex has been positioned the furthest along the ability to execute axis.

“We are delighted that Murex is positioned in the Leaders Quadrant. We feel this result is a validation of our market understanding and our ability to leverage our vision, a vision of solutions that strive to support a wide range of financial of institutions as they redefine their technology infrastructure” says Stella Clarke, Murex, Chief Marketing Officer.

With 30 years of expertise and a steadfast dedication to the financial industry, Murex demonstrates a strong track record in helping institutions respond to evolving market conditions and convert constraints into business opportunities.

In the late 90s, Murex introduced the first front-to-back cross-asset platform. Building from this, Murex pursued the integration strategy of its platform model, leading to complete front-to-back-to-risk coverage. MX.3, Murex’s innovative third generation platform, ensures consistency of position and calculation at each step of the value chain and powerful real-time capabilities. In today’s environment, it is more and more critical for financial institutions to be able to adjust to intensified regulatory pressure and absorb swiftly waves of risk-related requirements. Murex provides the framework that allows them to adapt and thrive.

Years of investment and innovation in the MX.3 platform have led to the successful delivery of enterprise collateral and risk management solutions. These cutting-edge solutions are available in stand-alone or integrated mode, competing with best-of-breed solutions for market, credit and liquidity risk management. Murex’s latest release expertly supports banks in preparing for the Basel 3 capital charge requirements, notably enabling SA-CCR calculations and FRTB compliance.

“R&D is part of our DNA. As well as continuing to extend the functional richness of the MX.3 platform, we have also successfully transformed our architecture, with increased focus on service and components. The aim of this transformation is to adapt the delivery of our solutions to our clients’ ecosystem, whether by anchoring a client’s strategy in our integrated front-to-back-to-risk solutions or filling in the gap with our best-of-breed, stand-alone solutions” comments Stella Clarke, Murex, Chief Marketing Officer.

Murex’s ethos of constant innovation is visible in its solutions and has permeated the industry as a whole. Murex combines a deep understanding of its clients’ businesses, a strong R&D investment strategy and a unique support and delivery model.

Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner's research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

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About Murex

Since its creation in 1986, Murex has played a key role in proposing effective technology as a catalyst for growth and innovation in the treasury and capital markets industry, through the design and implementation of integrated trading, portfolio management, risk management, processing and post-trade platforms.
Driven by innovation, Murex’s MX.3 Front-to-Back-to-Risk platform leverages the firm’s collective experience and expertise, accumulated through its strategic client partnerships, to offer an unrivalled asset class coverage and best-of-breed business solutions at every step of the financial trade lifecycle.
Clients worldwide benefit from the MX.3 platform’s modular set of business solutions, specifically designed to solve the multi-faceted challenges of a transforming financial industry, while relying on the strength of 2,000 dedicated specialists.

To stay up-to-date with Murex Announcements, follow us on Linked In and Twitter @Murex_Group.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160126006279/en/

Contacts

Murex

Mireille Adebiyi, +33144053200

Murex Global Marketing Communications Manager

mireille.adebiyi@murex.com









Permalink: http://www.me-newswire.net/news/16872/en

Boehringer Ingelheim’s Giotrif® / Gilotrif® (afatinib) demonstrated superiority to Iressa® (gefitinib) in reducing the risk of disease progression and treatment failure in first-line treatment of...

INGELHEIM, Germany - Wednesday, January 27th 2016 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Boehringer Ingelheim’s Giotrif® / Gilotrif® (afatinib) demonstrated superiority to Iressa® (gefitinib) in reducing the risk of disease progression and treatment failure in first-line treatment of patients with EGFR mutation-positive advanced non-small cell lung cancer

    Results of global Phase IIb LUX-Lung 7 trial demonstrate afatinib superior in reducing the risk of lung cancer progression and the risk of treatment failure both by 27% compared to gefitinib
    More patients on afatinib were free of cancer growth 18 and 24 months after the start of treatment (27% vs 15% and 18% vs 8%, respectively)
    The overall frequency of patients experiencing serious adverse events and discontinuing treatment due to adverse events was similar in both arms

Boehringer Ingelheim announced today the results of the LUX-Lung 7 trial. Superiority in progression-free survival and time to treatment failure was demonstrated with second-generation EGFR-directed therapy afatinib, versus first-generation gefitinib in the first-line treatment of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with common EGFR mutations (del19 or L858R). The Phase IIb trial met two of its co-primary endpoints of progression-free survival (PFS) by independent review and time to treatment failure (a measure of time between start and discontinuation of treatment for any reason). The LUX-Lung 7 trial results will be presented today at the 14th Annual British Thoracic Oncology Group (BTOG) Conference in Dublin, Ireland. Data for the third co-primary endpoint, overall survival (OS), are not yet mature and will be presented in the future.

Results from the LUX-Lung 7 trial showed that afatinib significantly reduced the risk of lung cancer progression by 27% versus gefitinib. The improvement in PFS became more pronounced over time, with a significantly higher proportion of patients alive and progression-free at 18 months (27% vs 15%) and 24 months (18% vs 8%), showing a greater long-term benefit to using afatinib versus gefitinib. In addition to superior PFS, patients on afatinib had a significantly longer time on treatment: risk of treatment failure reduced by 27%, versus gefitinib. Significantly more patients had an objective tumour response (a clinically meaningful decrease in tumour size) with afatinib when compared to gefitinib (70% vs 56%), with a median duration of response of 10.1 months and 8.4 months, respectively. The improvement in PFS with afatinib was consistent across most pre-defined clinical subgroups, including gender, age, race and EGFR mutation type.

LUX-Lung 7 lead investigator Professor Keunchil Park, director of Innovative Cancer Medicine Institute (ICMI) at Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea commented, “LUX-Lung 7 is the first global trial directly comparing two EGFR-directed therapies and the results demonstrate the benefits of second-generation inhibitor afatinib, compared to first-generation drug, gefitinib, in first-line therapy. These results provide important guidance on the choice of first-line treatment for patients with EGFR mutation-positive lung cancer.”

Adverse events (AEs) observed in the LUX-Lung 7 trial were consistent with the known safety profiles of both treatments. Treatment with both afatinib and gefitinib was generally tolerable, leading to an equally low rate of treatment-related discontinuation in both arms (6.3%). The overall frequency of serious AEs was similar for both (afatinib: 44.4% vs gefitinib: 37.1%); the most common grade ≥3 related AEs with afatinib were: diarrhoea (12.5%) and rash/acne (9.4%), and with gefitinib: aspartate aminotransferase (AST)/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) increase (8.8%) and rash/acne (3.1%). Drug-related interstitial lung disease was reported for four patients on gefitinib and no patients on afatinib.

“LUX-Lung 7 is the second positive head-to-head trial of afatinib versus first-generation EGFR TKIs in lung cancer, showing that first- and second-generation EGFR targeted agents are not the same,” said Dr Mehdi Shahidi, Medical Head, Solid Tumour Oncology, Boehringer Ingelheim. “Interestingly, the progression-free survival difference observed in the LUX-Lung 7 trial became more prominent over time so that by 24 months the rate of patients who were free of cancer growth was more than doubled with afatinib.”

About the LUX-Lung 7 trial

LUX-Lung 7 is the first global, head-to-head trial comparing second- and first-generation EGFR-directed therapies (afatinib and gefitinib respectively) for patients with EGFR mutation-positive NSCLC who received no prior treatment. The Phase IIb trial included 319 patients with advanced stage NSCLC harbouring common EGFR mutations (del19 or L858R). The trial’s co-primary endpoints were PFS by independent review, time to treatment failure and OS; and the secondary endpoints included objective response rate, disease control rate, tumour shrinkage, patient-reported outcomes and safety.

Results: compared to gefitinib, afatinib significantly improved:

    PFS (HR=0.73; 95% CI, 0.57‒0.95; p=0.0165; median: 11.0 months [afatinib] versus 10.9 months [gefitinib])
    Time to Treatment Failure (HR=0.73; 95% CI, 0.58‒0.92; p=0.0073; median: 13.7 months [afatinib] versus 11.5 months [gefitinib])
    Objective Response Rate (70% vs 56%, p=0.0083)

Afatinib is approved in more than 60 countries for the first-line treatment of distinct types of EGFR mutation-positive NSCLC (under the brand names: Giotrif® / Gilotrif®). Approval of afatinib in this indication was based on the primary endpoint of PFS from the LUX-Lung 3 clinical trial where afatinib significantly delayed tumour growth when compared to standard chemotherapy. In addition, afatinib is the first treatment to have shown an OS benefit for patients with specific types of EGFR mutation-positive NSCLC compared to chemotherapy. A significant OS benefit was demonstrated independently in the LUX-Lung 3 and 6 trials for patients with the most common EGFR mutation (exon 19 deletions; del19) compared to chemotherapy.

Intended audiences:

This press release is issued from our Corporate Headquarters in Ingelheim, Germany and is intended to provide information about our global business. Please be aware that information relating to the approval status and labels of approved products may vary from country to country, and a country-specific press release on this topic may have been issued in the countries where we do business.

For references and notes to editors, please visit:
http://www.boehringer-ingelheim.com/news/news_releases/press_releases/2016/27_january_2016_oncology.html

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For more information please visit www.boehringer-ingelheim.com

Further Media Channels

www.facebook.com/boehringeringelheim

www.twitter.com/Boehringer

www.youtube.com/user/boehringeringelheim



View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160127005065/en/

Contacts

Boehringer Ingelheim

Corporate Communications

Media + PR

Susanne Granold

Phone: +49 6132 – 77 93319

Fax: +49 6132 – 77 6601

Email: press@boehringer-ingelheim.com









Permalink: http://www.me-newswire.net/news/16875/en

ADP Arrest the “Electric Cables” Gang

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates - Friday, January 22nd 2016 [ME NewsWire]

The Abu Dhabi police managed to arrest an Asian gang composed of 6 Pakistani workers for stealing 1900 meters of copper electric cables in Al Faya region, Abu Dhabi, in order to illegally sell them as scrap parts. 

Officers from the Al Rahba Police Station at the Abu Dhabi Police proactively arrested the suspects red-handed, as they were attempting to cut and steal the cables belonging to a government installation and were arranging to load them on a four-wheel drive vehicle. All of the stolen items were recovered.

Major Mohammed Abdullah Al Hassani, Director of Al Rahba Police Station at the Peripheral Areas Police Directorate, indicated that security patrols were recently deployed and search and investigation teams were formed in response to confirmed information from a reliable source, about attempts to steal power cables in the areas of jurisdiction.

He added: “A deliberate security plan was developed, in coordination between Al Rahba and Suwaihan Police Stations in order to monitor the targeted areas and arrest the suspects involved in such practice, which is a cause of concern for residents and undermines the basic components of national economy.” He pointed out that the investigation patrols managed in a short period of time to arrest the gang, which was making plans to carry out their theft this month under cover of darkness.

Elaborating on the details of the incident, Major Al Hassani said: “A total of 6 suspects have been arrested in a surprise raid. The suspects attempted to flee the scene and resisted arrest, but the security personnel managed to control and apprehend them.”

“Upon arriving to the scene, the police teams found cables cut into pieces and arranged to be loaded onto the suspects’ vehicle. Preliminary inspection showed that the cables were cut using technical methods and traditional tools such as scissors, saws, and screwdrivers,” he noted.

Moreover, Major Al Hassani explained that the stolen items, which are 1900 meters of copper cables, belong to a government installation and include both low-pressure and high-pressure cables. He added that after examining the traces, the police staff members noted that the cables have been pulled by the gang members using a four-wheel drive vehicle belonging to one of the suspects.

Confronted with irrefutable evidence, the thieves, aged between 19 and 38 years, confessed to forming a gang and carrying out the thefts after to steal power cables and selling them to make illegal profits. The suspects have been referred along with the seized cables to the competent authorities to further investigate the circumstances of the case.

The Director of Al Rahba Police Station called upon both public and private sector enterprises to exercise caution and protect their properties by securing their premises headquarters properly, by installing surveillance cameras, adequate lighting and security methods. He also stressed the importance of reporting illegal infringements, which would contribute to quickly arrest suspects.

In conclusion, Major Al Hassani praised the efficiency of police staff members in arresting the gang members, after intensifying search and investigation despite the difficulties surrounding the operation and the extreme caution of the suspects. He also called upon individuals and institutions to join efforts in order to reduce similar crimes and confirmed the importance of establishing community partnership to provide maximum levels of safety and security to community members. This falls in line with the Abu Dhabi Police’s strategy, which has set forth a number of priorities, notably to prevent and reduce crime in order to protect the country’s security, stability, and resources.

For more information about:

The Ministry of Interior, please click HERE

Abu Dhabi Police, please click HERE

Follow us and check our Social Media feeds on: YouTube, Facebook, Google +, Instagram and Twitter

The Arabic-language text of this announcement is the official, authoritative version. Translations are provided as an accommodation only, and should be cross-referenced with the Arabic-language text, which is the only version of the text intended to have legal effect.



Contacts

The UAE Minister of Interior's General Secretariat, Tactical Affairs and Security Media Department

Abu Dhabi Police GHQ - Security Media

Chris Cron +971-(0)-50-666-4891

E-mail: cron.media@hotmail.com









Permalink: http://me-newswire.net/news/16856/en

Foremay Ships Full Disk Encryption SED SSD with Crypto Erase

 Incorporating advanced cryptographic erase technologies, Foremay’s self encrypting drives not only secure user information by implementing data encryption and file encryption on a full disk encryption basis, but also perform data self-destruction via automatic crypto erase at lightning speed when tampered or hacked.

PASADENA, Calif. - Tuesday, January 26th 2016 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Foremay, Inc., a leader of technology innovation in rugged solid state drives and one of the world’s Top SSD companies, today released its Self Encrypting Drive (SED) enabled SSD. It uses hardware encryption technologies to encrypt and decrypt every single bit of data during the write and read process so that data on it is secured. In addition, the Foremay SED SSD offers a crypto erase feature that can instantaneously render all data scrambled, scattered and useless.

“Information security on SSD drives has become increasingly important to all users, particularly in government, defense, financial and medical industries,” said Jack Winters, Foremay’s CTO and co-founder. “Foremay's SED SSD protects the drives and the data from unauthorized access by means of 256-bit AES hardware encryption that complies with TCG OPAL 2.0. Users can also preset a maximum number of failed access attempts that will automatically trigger crypto erase."

The crypto key for self encrypting drives can be set and kept outside a Foremay's SED SSD only, so that even if the drive is stolen, there is no way to hack the key, let alone access the drive. Furthermore, with optional OPAL 2.0 features harnessed with an enhanced authorization key and encryption key authentication and verification process, when a drive is removed from its designated host computer, the drive will not be recognized and cannot be accessed by another computer even if a user has the correct authorization key.

The unique advantage of crypto erase is its lightning speed - it takes only a second to crypto erase of an entire Foremay SED SSD. In addition, users can initiate a crypto erase by software or hardware method, locally or remotely.

About Foremay

Founded in the Silicon Valley in 2002, Foremay, Inc., is a leading organization dedicated to technological innovation in rugged and secured Solid State Drives (SSDs) for highly reliable mission-critical computing, industrial computing, and enterprise computing. Foremay is headquartered in Pasadena, California, USA. For more information, please visit www.foremay.net

Contacts

Foremay, Inc.

Jason Hoover, +1 408-228-3468

pr@foremay.net









Permalink: http://me-newswire.net/news/16869/en