Dubai, United Arab Emirates - Wednesday, June 18th 2014 [ME NewsWire]

As of 1st July 2014 all air carriers operating into the European Union from any Third Country Airport (ACC3s) must comply with the ‘EU ACC3 programme’ for inbound cargo and mail. This means that the EU requires by law that an EU aviation security validation of its cargo and mail operations has been carried out by an approved EU aviation security validator.  ACC3s must ensure that all cargo and mail carried to the EU is physically screened, or comes from a secure supply chain which is EU aviation security validated.

At first glance this may seem like a regulation that only those in the EU need to be concerned about, but in reality the impact is global. Any carrier, whether they are based in Asia, the Middle East or Africa, which transports cargo into the EU, has to meet the regulations. Ultimately, if carriers want to continue flying cargo or mail into the EU from non EU airports th ... Read more »

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates - Tuesday, June 17th 2014 [ME NewsWire]

The Vehicles and Drivers Licensing Department at the Abu Dhabi Police has identified three centers for issuing international driving licenses and Carnet de Passage en Douane (CPD) at the Vehicle Test Center at “Al Salama” main building in Abu Dhabi; “ADNOC” Technical Inspection Center in Falaj Hazza, Al Ain; and the main building in Tarif, the Western Region.

Colonel Mohamed Mayouf Al Kutbi, Head of Vehicles and Drivers Licensing Department at Abu Dhabi Police said: “All individuals wishing to issue round trip admission certificates for vehicles are required to obtain Carnet de Passage en Douane (CPD) before issuing the certificate from the Automobile and Touring Club – UAE; which provides its services at the three centers determined by the Department in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and the Western Region”.

He also indicated that all private vehicles registe ... Read more »

Commending the MOFA efforts and international community trust

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - Wednesday, June 18th 2014 [ME NewsWire]

Lt. General HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, attended on Wednesday, the official inauguration of the Regional Secretariat of the Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Centers of Excellence (CoE) Risk Mitigation initiative in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. The inauguration ceremony, which was held at the Etihad Towers' hotel in Abu Dhabi, was attended by Sheikh Khalid bin Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Amidst a festive atmosphere HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan addressed the big crowd who came to express their happiness and congratulations to the nation’s capital, Abu Dhabi, for winning this prestigious bid to host one of the regional locations of the CoE. He said: “Choosing the United Arab Emirate to host the Regional Secretariat of the Chemical, ... Read more »

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates - Friday, June 20th 2014 [ME NewsWire]

The Abu Dhabi Police Traffic and Patrols Directorate, represented by the Al Ain Traffic Section, reiterated its keenness to participate in different social events, in line with Abu Dhabi Police’s strategy to promote communication and partnership with different society sectors.

Major Salah Abdullah Al Hemairi, Acting Head of Al Ain Traffic Section at the ADP Traffic and Patrols Directorate, recently met in his office the Chief Operating Officer of ProVita International Medical Center who came to honor the section for its participation in the educational traffic and social awareness event held last week and for its interaction with the hospital's inpatients and employees.

Major Salah Abdullah Al Hemairi said that the section's participation in the event stems out of its social and humanitarian responsibility, as per Abu Dhabi Police General Headquarters' strategy, which cal ... Read more »

Dubai, United Arab Emirates - Tuesday, June 17th 2014 [ME NewsWire]

Look forward to this summer with special summer rates from Holiday Inn Express Dubai, offering comfort and convenience with super savings.

Holiday Inn Express Dubai marks this summer season with special rates starting from AED 299, with AED 75 back for every night paid. The AED 75 can be used against other spend in the hotel including food and beverage, laundry and telephone. The rates are inclusive of breakfast and internet, and also free stay for up to 2 kids under 12 years old in the same room. With such great value, how will you spend the savings? Bring the family for a sleepover at Holiday Inn Express Jumeirah, Internet City, Dubai Airport or Safa Park, located in different prime locations and explore the variety of entertainment options in Dubai.

“Although it’s hot, summer in Dubai is the perfect chance to unwind from your hectic daily schedule, and spend time with your fami ... Read more »

NEW YORK - Friday, June 20th 2014 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Moody’s Corporation (NYSE:MCO) announced today that it has secured a majority equity ownership stake in ICRA Ltd., a leading provider of credit ratings and research in India, increasing its stake from 28.5% to over 50.0%.

“The successful conclusion of our offer for a majority stake in ICRA will allow us to extend our strong ties as we work together to serve the growing domestic debt market in India and across the region,” said Raymond McDaniel, President and Chief Executive Officer of Moody’s.

Based on current exchange rates, the total value of the transaction is approximately $86 million, or INR 5.17 billion. Moody’s will fund the offer from international cash on hand. The transaction is expected to close on or by June 30, 2014.

Moody’s offer price of Rs 2,400 per equity share of ICRA represented a premium of 51.1% to the closing stock price of ICRA ... Read more »

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates - Thursday, June 19th 2014 [ME NewsWire]

Lt. General HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, urged the Naturalization, Residency and Ports Affairs Sector to unify procedures, implement advanced international best practices and continue to develop and provide quality services to customers, in pursuance of the ministry’s strategy 2014-2016.   His Highness Sheikh Saif chaired the Naturalization, Residency and Ports Affairs council meeting at the Abu Dhabi Police GHQ.

During the meeting, the attendees discussed the sector’s policies and strategies, in accordance with the future vision of the Ministry of Interior’s overall strategy.   The meeting was attended by Major General Khalifa Hareb Al Khaili, Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry of the Interior for the Naturalization, Residency and Ports Affairs; Advisor Rashid Salem Lakhrebani Al Nuaimi, Secretari ... Read more »

ESTONIA. - Thursday, June 19th 2014 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE) Smartmatic, world leader in the automation of elections, and Cybernetica, the Estonian R&D lab that built the original Internet voting system used in Estonia, have created a first-of-a-kind Centre for Excellence to study and develop Internet voting on a global scale.

It’s called the Smartmatic-Cybernetica Centre for Excellence for Internet Voting and has been created as a multidisciplinary centre of research and development. Its goal will be to study and develop the process of voting over the Internet from all angles: social, political, organisational, procedural and technological.

“Estonia has been at the leading edge of Internet voting for years and is widely acknowledged as pioneers in the field. They are the only country in the world where all voters can choose to vote over the Internet securely. When we were looking at investing in the future of Internet voting, it made a l ... Read more »

ME NewsWire/ Business Wire

INGELHEIM, Germany - Friday, June 20th 2014

    Annually more than 200,000 atrial fibrillation (AF) patients undergo ablation globally, a procedure to normalise their heart rhythm1,2,3
    Blood thinning treatments that prevent stroke and blood clots are crucial during ablation, as the procedure increases risk of blood clots4
    New RE-CIRCUIT™ trial will assess the safety and efficacy of uninterrupted treatment with the blood thinner Pradaxa® during ablation5

For media outside of the U.S., the UK & Canada only

Boehringer Ingelheim today announces a new study of Pradaxa® (dabigatran etexilate) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). The RE-CIRCUIT™ study will investigate the safety and efficacy of uninterrupted anticoagulant treatment with Pradaxa® in patients with AF who undergo ablation.5 Results of the study are expected in 2016.

Optimizes Sales and Marketing Efforts on Behalf of Quintiles’ Customers

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. & BINGHAMTON, N.Y. - Thursday, June 19th 2014 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Quintiles and Modern Marketing Concepts (MMC, Inc.) today announced the launch of a new marketing analytics platform that enables Quintiles to optimize sales and marketing efforts on behalf of its U.S. commercialization customers. Through this collaboration, Quintiles and MMC combine proprietary channel preference data with the innovative Next Action Marketing platform to create optimized physician communication strategies that align with their preferences and behaviors.

“As physicians and the healthcare industry evolve, we need real-time data analytics to maximize our outreach efforts and ensure we are utilizing the most effective ways to reach physicians,” said Daryl Gaugler, senior vice president, Commercial Solutions at Quintiles. “By weighing channel ... Read more »

ME NewsWire

INGELHEIM, Germany - Friday, June 20th 2014

    Annually more than 200,000 atrial fibrillation (AF) patients undergo ablation globally, a procedure to normalise their heart rhythm1,2,3
    Blood thinning treatments that prevent stroke and blood clots are crucial during ablation, as the procedure increases risk of blood clots4
    New RE-CIRCUIT™ trial will assess the safety and efficacy of uninterrupted treatment with the blood thinner Pradaxa® during ablation5

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- For media outside of the U.S., the UK & Canada only

Boehringer Ingelheim today announces a new study of Pradaxa® (dabigatran etexilate) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). The RE-CIRCUIT™ study will investigate the safety and efficacy of uninterrupted anticoagulant treatment with Pradaxa® in patients with AF who undergo ablation.5 Results of the study are expected in 2016. ... Read more »

LONDON - Friday, June 20th 2014 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- A.M. Best has assigned a financial strength rating of B++ (Good) and an issuer credit rating of “bbb” to Solidarity General Takaful BSC (c) (SGT) (Bahrain). The outlook assigned to both ratings is stable.

The ratings of SGT reflect its sound level of risk-adjusted capitalisation and niche market profile as a takaful operator in Bahrain. The ratings benefit from the financial strength of its parent company; Solidarity Group Holding BSC (c) (SGH), given SGT’s strategic importance to the group. An offsetting factor is the company’s marginal underwriting performance.

Risk-adjusted capitalisation is measured on a combined basis (integrating both shareholders’ and policyholders’ funds) given the strength of regulation in Bahrain and the protection provided to policyholders. SGT’s risk-adjusted capitalisation remains at a sound level and is sufficient to support ... Read more »