MBA-Renewables Distance Learning Master Degree Has Been Awarded Official International Accreditation

BERLIN - Wednesday, April 23rd 2014 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The MBA-Renewables Distance Learning Master degree conducted since 2011 by the German Beuth University of Applied Sciences in Berlin jointly with the Renewables Academy (RENAC) has received the official accreditation of the Foundation for International Business Administration Accreditation (FIBAA).

Accreditation is an internationally procedure of quality assurance in higher education. FIBAA’s mission is to promote quality and transparency in education by awarding quality labels to programmes and training providers in the areas of higher and continuing education. Thanks to this certification, the Beuth University of Applied Sciences in Berlin and RENAC guarantee their students the international recognition of the MBA Renewables and ensure the high quality of the academic portfolio.

Until now, MBA Renewables is the only Distance Learning Master of Business Administration with a focus on renewable energy (RE) and energy efficiency (EE). This degree combines economic, technical, legal, political and organisational knowledge tailored to the specific needs of the RE and EE markets. In addition, students gain an overview of various RE and EE-technologies as well as an understanding of international energy policies, supporting mechanisms and their application in the industry. “To ensure a comparative equivalence between technicians and non-technicians, students start this module with a group work assignment in which each group comprises at least one engineer and at least one student with a business background”, FIBAA underlines. “The students can learn from each other”.

Among other aspects, FIBAA has highlighted that “the content of the programme and the reachable learning outcomes are such that the students achieve employability above average”. The RE and EE markets are very dynamic. Therefore, RENAC and the core of professors act as link with the industry, updating with the Beuth University the academic offer to the latest trends and needs of a sector in constant evolution.

"The online feature enabled me to continue my job without interference”, says Monica Harting, Engineer at juwi and one the first MBA Renewables students. “Most of my fellow students are people actually working in renewables - a very valuable network!". Moreover, the two-week face-to-face phase in Berlin with field trips offers an excellent opportunity for networking and getting an insight into the green energy industry.

Beuth University of Applied Sciences in Berlin offers a wide range of accredited and innovative courses in applied engineering, applied sciences and applied economics. It counts with more than 30 years of recognised experience in conducting Distance Learning programmes. The high quality of the courses is reflected in the numerous prizes awarded for excellent degree results.

RENAC, a globally operating expert on training for renewable energies and energy efficiency, delivers major input to the MBA-Renewable programme and serves as bridge between students and the industry.

Interested people can apply until the 1st of September 2014 to start on the 1st of October 2014.


Contacts

Renewables Academy AG (RENAC)
Elena Cantos
Project Manager
Phone: +49-30526895894
E-mail: cantos@renac.de
Web: www.mba-renewables.de









Permalink: http://www.me-newswire.net/news/10761/en

BearingPoint: Regulatory Requirements Advance in the Emirates

United Arab Emirates’ banks and regulators meet to discuss the impact and implementation of new banking regulations


DUBAI, United Arab Emirates. - Tuesday, April 22nd 2014 [ME NewsWire]
(BUSINESS WIRE) The financial services sector is gearing up for the “regulatory tsunami” that is due to hit the Middle East’s after sweeping across Europe. Banks and regulators from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) met last month in Dubai at an event hosted by management and technology consultancy BearingPoint to discuss the impacts and implementations of Basel II, Basel III and FATCA, and to share implementation experience from Europe.
“Regulatory compliance and prudential reporting have become a critical success factor for financial institutions globally. Banks in the UAE and the gulf region will face increasing requirements from international regulatory standards”, said Robert Wagner, Partner and firm-wide Financial Services leader at BearingPoint.
The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) and the Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) will be adopted soon in the UAE and the local adaption of Basel III is emerging and financial institutions need to react quickly. Short implementation deadlines and the complexity of these regulations require investments in technology as well as in processes.
“Banks in Europe are somewhat ahead in time with the implementation of proven technology solutions in the fields of regulatory and tax compliance, however, the UAE are not that far behind”, said Robert Wagner. Given this, solutions and best practices from Europe could be easily adapted in the UAE to enable an efficient application of the new standards.
About BearingPoint
BearingPoint consultants understand that the world of business changes constantly and that the resulting complexities demand intelligent and adaptive solutions. Our clients, whether in commercial or financial industries or in government, experience real results when they work with us. We combine industry, operational and technology skills with relevant proprietary and other assets in order to tailor solutions for each client’s individual challenges. This adaptive approach is at the heart of our culture and has led to long-standing relationships with many of the world’s leading companies and organizations. Our global consulting network of 9200 people serves clients in more than 70 countries and engages with them for measurable results and long-lasting success.
For more information, please visit: www.bearingpoint.com
Contacts
BearingPoint
Alexander Bock
Manager Communications
Tel. +49 89 540338029
Mailto: alexander.bock@bearingpoint.com
Twitter: @BearingPoint




Permalink: http://me-newswire.net/news/10745/en

Schlumberger Announces First-Quarter 2014 Results

PARIS. - Tuesday, April 22nd 2014 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE) Schlumberger Limited (NYSE:SLB) today reported first-quarter 2014 revenue from continuing operations of $11.24 billion versus $11.91 billion in the fourth quarter of 2013, and $10.57 billion in the first quarter of 2013.

Income from continuing operations attributable to Schlumberger, excluding charges and credits, was $1.59 billion—a decrease of 11% sequentially but an increase of 23% year-on-year. Diluted earnings-per-share from continuing operations, excluding charges and credits, was $1.21 versus $1.35 in the previous quarter, and $0.97 in the first quarter of 2013.

Schlumberger recorded charges of $0.09 per share in the fourth quarter of 2013 and of $0.07 per share in the first quarter of 2013. Schlumberger did not record any charges or credits in the first quarter of 2014.

Oilfield Services revenue of $11.24 billion decreased 6% sequentially, but increased 6% year-on-year. Oilfield Services pretax operating income of $2.37 billion decreased 9% sequentially, but increased 21% year-on-year.

Schlumberger CEO Paal Kibsgaard commented, “Growing new technology sales and expanding integration activity drove our first-quarter results despite the severe winter weather that impacted operations in Russia, China and North America. While the sequential results displayed the usual drop in product, software and multiclient license sales following strong year-end figures, our solid year-on-year growth rates were led by the Middle East & Asia and North America Areas although all geographies benefitted from an increasing focus on operational excellence and efficiency.

Internationally, performance was led by further growth in key markets in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and the deepwaters of Australia, as well as by strength in sub-Saharan Africa, project work in Ecuador and shale-related activity in Argentina. Land activity in North America was robust on the back of increased service intensity, market share gains and new technology uptake, in spite of winter weather headwinds and pressure pumping competitive pricing. North America offshore declined slightly on operational delays and extended workover activities.

In terms of pricing, we saw little change in general trends, but new technology at premium pricing continued to penetrate the market and contributed to operating margin results, particularly when combined with the best-in-class service quality. Our overall performance in this area was further supported by our engineering, manufacturing and sustaining organization that continues to deliver new and innovative products to our field operations, with strong ‘out-of-box’ performance.

The fundamentals of the global economic recovery remain intact in spite of the unusually harsh winter weather in parts of the Northern Hemisphere, some signs of a slowdown in growth in China, and the unsettled situation in Ukraine. These factors, however, are likely temporary in nature and the oil markets continue to be tighter than once anticipated, driven by strong demand trends, lower spare capacity figures and a fall in OECD stocks. Supply continues to grow in North America, while other areas are struggling to meet their production targets. In the US, natural gas trends were boosted by winter temperatures, but supply and demand is expected to normalize over the coming months.

As a result, we continue to believe that our customers’ well-related spend will increase north of 6% in 2014, and that the spend growth rates will be relatively evenly split between the international and North American markets, driven by the independent and national oil companies. We therefore remain positive on the year to come, with our broad geographical footprint, balanced technology portfolio and agile organization providing both protection from potential market disturbances, and the ability to capitalize on market opportunities.”

To view the full release including the tables, please click here

Contacts

Schlumberger Limited

Simon Farrant – Vice President Investor Relations

Joy V. Domingo – Manager of Investor Relations

Office +1 (713) 375-3535

investor-relations@slb.com









Permalink: http://www.me-newswire.net/news/10756/en

Bank of America Reports First-quarter 2014 Net Loss of $276 Million, or $0.05 per Diluted Share, on Revenue of $22.8 Billion(A)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Tuesday, April 22nd 2014 [ME NewsWire]

Results Include Litigation Expense of $6.0 Billion (Pretax) or Approximately $0.40 per Share (After Tax)

Previously Announced Capital Actions Include Common Stock Dividend Increase to $0.05 Per Share in Q2-14 and a New $4 Billion Common Stock Repurchase Program

Continued Business Momentum

    Total Period-end Deposit Balances up $38 Billion From Q1-13 to a Record $1.13 Trillion
    Funding of $10.8 Billion in Residential Home Loans and Home Equity Loans in Q1-14 Helped More Than 36,000 Homeowners Purchase a Home or Refinance a Mortgage
    More Than 1 Million New Credit Cards Issued in Q1-14
    Global Wealth and Investment Management Reports Record Asset Management Fees of $1.9 Billion; Pretax Margin of 25.6 Percent
    Global Banking Average Loan Balances up 11 Percent From Q1-13 to $271 Billion
    Bank of America Merrill Lynch Maintained a Leadership Position in Investment Banking with Total Firmwide Fees of $1.5 Billion in Q1-14
    Noninterest Expense, Excluding Litigation, Down 6 Percent From Q1-13
    Credit Quality Continued to Improve With Net Charge-offs Down 45 Percent From Q1-13

Capital and Liquidity Remain Strong

    Estimated Common Equity Tier 1 Ratio Under Basel 3 (Standardized Approach, Fully Phased-in) Increased to 9.3 Percent in Q1-14; Advanced Approaches Remains Strong at 9.9 Percent(D)
    Estimated Supplementary Leverage Ratios Above Required Minimums(E)
    Long-term Debt Down $25 Billion From Year-ago Quarter, Driven by Maturities and Liability Management Actions
    Record Global Excess Liquidity Sources of $427 Billion, up $55 Billion From Q1-13; Time-to-required Funding at 35 Months

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Bank of America Corporation today reported a net loss of $276 million, or $0.05 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2014, compared to net income of $1.5 billion, or $0.10 per diluted share, in the year-ago period.

Revenue, net of interest expense, on an FTE basis(A) declined 3 percent from the first quarter of 2013 to $22.8 billion. Excluding the impact of net debit valuation adjustments (DVA) in both periods, revenue was down 4 percent from the year-ago quarter to $22.7 billion(B).

The results for the first quarter of 2014 include $6.0 billion in litigation expense related to the previously announced settlement with the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), and additional reserves primarily for previously disclosed legacy mortgage-related matters.

"The cost of resolving more of our mortgage issues hurt our earnings this quarter,” said Chief Executive Officer Brian Moynihan. “But the earnings power of our business and customer strategy generated solid results and we continued to return excess capital to our shareholders."

"During the quarter, our Basel 3 standardized capital ratios and our liquidity improved to record levels and credit quality also improved," said Chief Financial Officer Bruce Thompson. "In addition, expenses in our legacy mortgage servicing business, excluding litigation, declined by $1 billion from the year-ago quarter."

To view the full report and tables please click here.

Contacts

Investors May Contact:

Anne Walker, Bank of America, 1.646.855.3644

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/10755/en

Coca-Cola Releases ‘The World is Ours’ by Aloe Blacc X David Correy for Brand’s 2014 FIFA World CupTM Campaign

Track Marks the Culmination of ‘The World Is Ours’ Journey Around the World Including 24 Local Versions Covering 175 Markets

ATLANTA. - Tuesday, April 22nd 2014 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE) Coca-Cola has joined forces with internationally acclaimed singer-songwriter Aloe Blacc, to launch ‘The World is Ours’ – a mash up of a newly written and recorded Aloe Blacc song combined with lyrics and sounds from the original version of ‘The World Is Ours’ by David Correy and Monobloco.

The beat for ‘The World is Ours’ by Aloe Blacc x David Correy captures the spirit and excitement of the 2014 FIFA World Cup™ and host country, Brazil, while the lyrics express messages of inclusivity, celebration and happiness as told through the Coca-Cola 2014 FIFA World Cup™ campaign, The World’s Cup. ‘The World is Ours’ by Aloe Blacc x David Correy is available on iTunes here and on Spotify here.

Aloe Blacc said, “The passion behind my music comes from a desire to make people dance, smile and sing. I take inspiration from all genres of music and my style is pretty diverse. Working on this anthem has given me the opportunity to fuse the sounds of Brazil with different musical influences. ‘The World is Ours’ captures everything that music should be – inclusive, exciting and uplifting.”

Director of Global Entertainment Marketing at The Coca-Cola Company, Joe Belliotti, said, “’The World is Ours’ started as a Brazilian song with the beats and sounds of Brazil and then travelled around the world where artists and remixers added local languages, sounds and instruments. We were looking for a global artist that would bring another perspective, with integrity and authenticity, and that is exactly what Aloe did.

“We’re delighted to be partnering with Aloe Blacc to help us bring the story of The World’s Cup to life through music.”

The song has been travelling as part of the FIFA World Cup™ Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola, gathering the vocals of local artists from all around the globe. As the song visited each market, local artists were able to put their own spin on the track, creating duet versions featuring lyrics sung in their native language. With twenty-four local versions, covering over 175 markets, ‘The World is Ours’ is the anthem for the Coca-Cola 2014 FIFA World Cup™ campaign.

On the global collaboration, Belliotti said, “This song has more stamps in its passport than any other song out there. Our ambition for ‘The World Is Ours’ has always been to bring the sounds of Brazil to the world and in return, the sounds of the world back to Brazil. We wanted to capture the spirit of the 2014 FIFA World Cup™ in this music – this is everyone’s cup, wherever you are, whoever you support.”

‘The World is Ours’ by Aloe Blacc x David Correy is included on “One Love, One Rhythm: The Official 2014 FIFA World Cup™ Album” to be released by Sony Music Entertainment globally on May 13th. Behind the vocals of Brazilian-American artist David Correy, the song was penned by world-class songwriting/producer team Rock Mafia, co-produced by Brazilian-born, legendary collaborator Mario Caldato Jr. and features the rhythmic samba, baile funk and technobgrega beats of Brazilian percussion band Monobloco. This cultural mix captures the inclusive spirit of The World’s Cup campaign.

Correy, the voice behind ‘The World is Ours’, was born into poverty in Recife, Brazil. Adopted at the age of two, Correy discovered a talent for music that has helped him overcome his early challenges. After a difficult start to life, his adoptive parents encouraged his passion for music. Having ventured on a musical journey of his own, Correy has since gained a dedicated fan base with his voice, inspiring story and relentless optimism.

On his partnership with Coca-Cola, Correy said, “Teaming up with Coca-Cola on this inspiring piece of music for the FIFA World Cup™ album is an unbelievable turn of events. My upbringing has brought me so much diversity and music has allowed me to express my challenges and successes in a positive way. Through this incredible journey with Coca-Cola and ‘The World is Ours’, we have shared a message of hope and passion with the world.”

Aloe Blacc and David Correy performed ‘The World is Ours’ by Aloe Blacc x David Correy live for the first time at the FIFA World Cup™ Trophy Tour concert in Los Angeles on April 19th. They were joined on stage by Puerto Rican musician Wisin, who also contributed to the local version of the anthem in Mexico.

Aloe Blacc’s latest album “Lift Your Spirit” is available for purchase on iTunes here featuring his single “The Man”.

About The Coca-Cola Company

The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is the world's largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still brands. Led by Coca-Cola, one of the world's most valuable and recognizable brands, our Company's portfolio features 17 billion-dollar brands including Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Coca-Cola Zero, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply, Georgia and Del Valle. Globally, we are the No. 1 provider of sparkling beverages, ready-to-drink coffees, and juices and juice drinks. Through the world's largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy our beverages at a rate of 1.9 billion servings a day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, our Company is focused on initiatives that reduce our environmental footprint, support active, healthy living, create a safe, inclusive work environment for our associates, and enhance the economic development of the communities where we operate. Together with our bottling partners, we rank among the world's top 10 private employers with more than 700,000 system associates. For more information, visit Coca-Cola Journey at www.coca-colacompany.com, follow us on Twitter attwitter.com/CocaColaCo, visit our blog, Coca-Cola Unbottled, at www.coca-colablog.com or find us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/the-coca-cola-company.

About Aloe Blacc

Aloe Blacc released his major-label debut album Lift Your Spirit March 11th on XIX Recordings/Interscope Records where is debuted at #4 on the Billboard Top 200 chart. The set follows up Blacc’s collaboration as vocalist and co-writer on well-known DJ/producer Avicii’s track “Wake Me Up,” a song that topped charts in more than 100 countries. Blacc’s five-track Wake Me Up EP came out last September and included an acoustic version of the title track. Blacc’s current single “The Man” is quickly climbing to the top of the charts with more than 1.8 million singles sold. Blacc began writing rap lyrics at age nine, put out his first hip-hop mixtape in 1996 and released his soul/R&B-laced debut album Shine Through in 2006. Soon after, Blacc began work on the record that would change his life and career: Good Things, an album certified gold in the UK, France, Germany, and Australia, among other countries. Along with “I Need a Dollar” (the platinum-selling single that was selected as the theme song to HBO’s How To Make it In America), Good Things included the singles “Loving You Is Killing Me” and “Green Lights.” Blacc will tour the U.S. this summer with Bruno Mars. To learn more about Aloe Blacc, visitwww.aloeblacc.com and follow him on Twitter (@aloeblacc).

NOTE TO EDITORS:

Link to images from the event at Wireimage.com: http://www.wireimage.com/search/#events?q=[485363915]&ep=1/60/1&s=3

Link to Web Video uploaded and live on Coca-Cola Brand YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4rmvoZIuik


Contacts

The Coca-Cola Company
Ali Brubaker, +01 404.676.2683
abrubaker@coca-cola.com









Permalink: http://www.me-newswire.net/news/10752/en

Glimmerglass Announces MicroSweep Solution for Threat Identification

HAYWARD, Calif. - Tuesday, April 22nd 2014 [ME NewsWire]

ISS Europe 2014

(BUSINESS WIRE) Glimmerglass Cyber Solutions, a leader in developing and marketing solutions for a safer and more reliable cyberspace, today announced the general availability of the MicroSweep™, designed to provide insight into threats on private networks.

Leveraging capture and analysis capabilities from the full CyberSweep™ solution, the MicroSweep is configured for portable and rapid deployment. Pre-configured with little additional set-up required, the MicroSweep is compact, powerful and capable of monitoring signals up to 10Gbps. The MicroSweep boasts the intuitive Sapience™ Instant Insight analytics software, allowing analysts to identify and analyze threats.

“The MicroSweep provides a portable, rapid deployment solution for identifying cyber threats in direct response to our international customers in national security and public safety,” said Robert Lundy, President and CEO.

Glimmerglass will demonstrate the MicroSweep at ISS Europe 2014 taking place in the Clarion Congress hotel in Prague from June 3-5.

About Glimmerglass Cyber Solutions

Glimmerglass provides situational awareness through real-time advanced threat insights. Our solutions enable tailored responses to targeted attacks on high-speed Enterprise and critical infrastructure networks. Our scalable, high-performance solutions are used within the Intelligence Community worldwide.

Contacts

Glimmerglass Cyber Solutions
Joon Choi, +1-510-723-1900
choi@glimmerglass.com









Permalink: http://me-newswire.net/news/10749/en

Satcom Direct signs up as a Thuraya Service Partner

Satcom Direct to serve customers across its Enterprise, Government, Maritime, Media and Relief sectors with Thuraya’s range of innovative mobile satellite products and services

ME NewsWire

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - Tuesday, April 22nd 2014

 Thuraya Telecommunications Company, a leading Mobile Satellite Services operator, today announced its partnership with Satcom Direct, a US-based provider of voice and data communication services. The agreement will see Satcom Direct expand its portfolio of mobile satellite services for its Enterprise, Government, Maritime, Media and Relief customers.

“Thuraya’s distribution agreement with Satcom Direct strengthens our commitment to expand and diversify our customer base in the United States. Satcom Direct’s strong background in providing mobile satellite solutions for land data, maritime and aero customers accelerates our growth strategy and enables us to reach more customers in these growing sectors across our satellite footprint,” said Bilal El Hamoui, Vice President of Distribution at Thuraya.

David Greenhill, President of Satcom Direct said, “We are excited to work with Thuraya in expanding our reach into new markets. Despite budgets getting tighter, our customers still demand high-quality innovative products with affordable price packages. This partnership with Thuraya allows us to meet our customer’s stringent needs with direct access to a highly reliable network and a diversified mobile satellite solution portfolio which includes the Thuraya IP+, Maritime Broadband, SatSleeve and XT.”                                                 

About Satcom Direct

Satcom Direct is the leading provider of satellite voice and broadband data solutions for flight deck and cabin communications serving business, military, government, and heads of state aircraft. Satcom Direct continues to advance its services through mobile applications and value adds – from flight deck datalink to cabin communications – making Satcom Direct the leader in aeronautical satcom service. Visit www.satcomdirect.com.

About Thuraya Telecommunications Company

Thuraya Telecommunications Company is an industry leading MSS operator and a global telecommunication provider offering innovative communications solutions to a variety of sectors including energy, broadcast media, maritime, military and humanitarian NGO. Thuraya’s superior network enables clear communications and uninterrupted coverage across two thirds of the globe by satellite and across the whole planet through its unique GSM roaming capabilities. Visit: www.thuraya.com

Contacts

Thuraya

Shereen Hanafi, Director of Communications

+ 971-4-4488-888

corporatecomms@thuraya.com



Business Marketing Lead

Catherine Rost, +1-321-525-4634

crost@satcomdirect.com  







Permalink: http://www.me-newswire.net/news/10744/en