Dubai, United Arab Emirates.-Thursday, March 22nd 2018 [ AETOS Wire ] Cambridge Assessment English is now an approved English language proficiency qualification in the Emirate of Dubai following a decision made by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) in Dubai. Two Cambridge English Qualifications - B2 First and C1 Advanced are now recognised as proof of English Language proficiency for teachers in Dubai. The effort is part of KHDA's bigger plan to ensure educational leaders, at all levels of responsibility, can demonstrate professional competencies that align with the aspirations of the UAE Vision 2021 and international best practices. Ramiz Haddadin from Cambridge Assessment English explained “Our mission is to help people to learn English and prove their skills to the world, and we are very pleased that KHDA is taking measures to improve the level of English in the country. We hope that this step will help Emirate to ensure that teachers and educational leaders can ... Read more »

Enters 2018 with 7000+ customers in 53 countries; the SaaS company sees accelerated global growth SAN FRANCISCO & CHENNAI, India-Wednesday, March 21st 2018 [ AETOS Wire ] (BUSINESS WIRE)-- Chargebee, a SaaS subscription management and recurring billing solution, has secured $18 Million in growth capital, led by New York-based Insight Venture Partners. The Series C investment also saw participation from previous investors, Accel Partners and Tiger Global Management. With this round of funding, the total investment stands at $24.7 Million. This capital will be used for increased investment in product R&D, sales, marketing and growth, to expand aggressively into newer markets and segments. Chargebee offers a payment gateway agnostic subscription billing solution, complementing gateways like Stripe, Braintree, PayPal, Adyen and many others. Chargebee powers the recurring revenue engines of B2B and B2C services across various industry verticals like SaaS, Digital Media, eCommerce, and I ... Read more »

Al Rayyan promises investors an ‘affordable luxury’ with the opportunity to live, work, shop or play in its premises as an assurance of 'distinction delivered'. SHARJAH, United Arab Emirates -Wednesday, March 21st 2018 [ AETOS Wire ] Al Rayyan, the first ready-to-move mixed-use freehold development located in Sharjah’s Al Nahda district, turns to be the key attraction at the Acres 2018 Real Estate Investment Exhibition taking place at the Expo Centre Sharjah from March 21 to 23, 2018. Al Rayyan International Real Estate Investments and Development brings a range of new freehold and leasehold luxury apartments that cater to individuals and families who are looking for the ideal home in Sharjah. The development is set to be a landmark destination within the booming property sector that has developed in the Emirate over the past years. Commenting on the project, a spokesperson of Al Rayyan, said, “We are proud to present the prestigious Al Rayyan freehold property at the ACRES exhibi ... Read more »

Quarterly net revenue of $57.9 million, up 24% year over year Full fiscal year net revenue of $212.6 million, up 33% year over year Full fiscal year gross profit of 61%, up from 58% in 2016 Full fiscal year operating income of $22.0 million, up 58% year over year 1,566 active clients at fiscal year-end, up 28% year over year LAS VEGAS-Saturday, March 17th 2018 [ AETOS Wire ] (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Rimini Street, Inc. (Nasdaq:RMNI), a global provider of enterprise software products and services, and the leading third-party support provider for Oracle and SAP software products, today announced results for its fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2017. “The fourth quarter was another record quarter for revenue and the 48th consecutive quarter of revenue growth for Rimini Street,” stated Seth A. Ravin, Rimini Street co-founder and CEO. “We continue to see a growing global demand for our enterprise software support products and services, and our current offerings cover an add ... Read more »

• Agreements deepen further the strategic and economic relationships between UAE and the world’s second largest economy • CNPC awarded 10% interest in Umm Shaif and Nasr concession and 10% interest in Lower Zakum concession • Concession entry fees valued at AED 4.3 billion • Expanded partnership with CNPC will enhance ADNOC’s ability to generate greater returns from its offshore fields as it accelerates delivery of its 2030 growth strategy Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.-Wednesday, March 21st 2018 [ AETOS Wire ] The China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), the world’s third largest oil company, has been awarded stakes in two of Abu Dhabi’s offshore concession areas following the signing of agreements with the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) today. Under the terms of the agreements, CNPC, through its majority-owned listed subsidiary PetroChina, has been granted a 10% interest in the Umm Shaif and Nasr concession and a 10% interest in the Lower Zakum concession. ... Read more »

Another step towards its vision to provide all men and women who smoke with better alternatives LAUSANNE, Switzerland -Wednesday, March 21st 2018 [ AETOS Wire ] (BUSINESS WIRE)-- Philip Morris International Inc. (PMI) (NYSE: PM) announced today that the factory of its Greek affiliate (Papastratos) in Aspropyrgos, has ceased cigarette production and is now exclusively producing HEETS, the tobacco units used with IQOS, the company’s most advanced smoke-free product. This first full conversion of a cigarette factory is a landmark step in our vision of a smoke-free future where people who smoke switch from the most harmful form of nicotine consumption – cigarettes – to scientifically substantiated smoke-free alternatives. The EUR 300 million investment included the construction of three new buildings and the replacement of cigarette production lines with high-tech facilities capable of producing 10,000 smoke-free tobacco units per minute. The conversion of the factory started in Augu ... Read more »

10-year Gas Sales Agreement signed between Pearl Petroleum and KRG Kurdistan, Iraq-Wednesday, March 21st 2018 [ AETOS Wire ] Pearl Petroleum, the company consortium led by Crescent Petroleum and Dana Gas of the UAE, has signed a 10 year Gas Sales Agreement (GSA) with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to supply and sell the additional quantities of gas that it plans to begin producing later this year in order to boost much needed local domestic electricity generation. The GSA was signed on 30th January 2018 by the KRG Minister of Natural Resources Dr. Ashti Hawrami, CEO of Crescent Petroleum Mr. Majid Jafar and CEO of Dana Gas Dr. Patrick Allman-Ward, to enable an increase in delivered gas production from the Khor Mor Field by an anticipated 80 million cubic feet of sales gas per day before the end of 2018, from the current level of 305 million cubic feet per day. All contractual conditions precedent for the agreement have since been satisfied and consequently the project work ... Read more »

MILAN-Wednesday, March 21st 2018 [ AETOS Wire ] (BUSINESS WIRE)-- Midea Group, the world leading home appliances manufacturer announced on March 14th that its All Easy Series R-290 residential split systems air conditioner recently became the first of its kind to obtain the Blue Angel Certification for its ultra-low global warming potential (GWP), high energy efficiency, low noise, and stringent material safety control, which provides a mass-producible, efficient and reliable solution for the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol. The Blue Angel Certification, owned by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety, represents the highest standards for energy efficiency, health and environment-friendliness of home appliances. As air-polluting and climate-warming gases pose threat to the earth, the air conditioner industry is facing higher requirements especially after the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol was enacted. To ... Read more »

Ahead of 2018 UAE National finals Dubai, United Arab Emirates.-Wednesday, March 21st 2018 [ AETOS Wire ] Grundfos, the multinational manufacturer of pumps and water application systems, announced that it will be sponsoring Team Bolt, one of the teams participating in the Formula Ethara Challenge 2018. The annual competition is an extension of the F1 in Schools program and aims at inspiring students of the future through Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Phase one of this year’s edition of the competition saw the participation of 25 UAE Primary Schools, 32 Individual Teams of 4 competing against one another ahead of 2018 UAE National finals race day in May 2018, which will take place at Yas Marina circuit, the only Grand Prix circuit to offer F1 in schools STEM education. As a part of the contest, which promotes team building and leadership skills, teams are challenged to develop their own businesses and in doing so, design, build and race scale model cars at ... Read more »

Survey Reveals Different Rituals, Demographics, and Smokers Perceptions Will Require Innovative Solutions Across Diverse Cultures and Economic Conditions NEW YORK-Wednesday, March 21st 2018 [ AETOS Wire ] (BUSINESS WIRE) -- The Foundation for a Smoke-Free World released findings today from a global survey to better understand smokers, their experiences, and challenges they face when they try to quit smoking. The survey also highlights their awareness regarding the harm caused by smoking and how their perceptions of cigarettes, alternative products, and nicotine influence their motivation to move away from smoking. The data will shape the development of research to determine the best solutions to accelerate the end of smoking across diverse cultures and economic conditions. The 2018 State of Smoking Survey included 17,421 current smokers, ex-smokers, and non-smokers from 13 countries: Brazil, France, Greece, India, Israel, Japan, Lebanon, Malawi, New Zealand, Russia, South Africa, Un ... Read more »