Wednesday, March 1, 2017

New Study Assesses the Utility of Masimo PVi® Monitoring During Colorectal Surgery

NEUCHATEL, Switzerland-Wednesday, March 1st 2017 [ ME NewsWire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Masimo (NASDAQ: MASI) announced today the findings of a recent study conducted on low-risk patients undergoing colorectal surgery, in which researchers assessed the utility of noninvasive and continuous Masimo PVi® (Pleth Variability Index) monitoring to guide fluid management, as compared to esophageal Doppler, an invasive method. The researchers found no significant difference between the two technologies in mean total fluid administered and concluded that “PVi offers an entirely noninvasive alternative for goal-directed therapy in this group of patients.”1

In the study, Dr. Warnakulasuriya and colleagues at York Teaching Hospital in York, United Kingdom, evaluated the performance of Masimo PVi monitoring in guiding fluid management, as compared to that of an established technology, esophageal Doppler. Forty low-risk patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery were enrolled in the study. The patients were randomly assigned to two groups, with each group having fluid therapy directed by one of the two technologies. The researchers measured the absolute volume of fluid given intraoperatively and fluid volume at 24 hours. The researchers found “no significant difference between PVi and esophageal Doppler groups in mean total fluid administered (1286 vs 1520 ml, p=.300) or mean intraoperative fluid balance (+839 v + 1145 mL, p=.150).”

The researchers concluded that “amongst fit patients undergoing major colorectal surgery there was no significant difference in the volume of fluid administered when targeted by noninvasive PVi technology compared to a stroke volume maximization technique using esophageal Doppler. There was no significant difference in postoperative outcomes between the groups. Therefore, PVi offers a noninvasive, consumable free alternative for intraoperative fluid optimization in fit patients undergoing major colorectal surgery, where intraoperative goal-directed therapy is deemed a standard of care but there is no requirement for arterial cannulation.”

PVi is a measure of the dynamic changes in perfusion index (PI) that occur during the respiratory cycle. In other clinical studies, PVi has been shown to provide benefits in the monitoring of mechanically-ventilated patients under general anesthesia during surgery,2,3,4,5 in the ICU in both adults and children,6,7 and in septic patients in the early stages of shock in the emergency department.8 Another study used PVi as part of goal-directed therapy for patients in an enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) program who underwent colorectal surgery; the program led to significant reductions in lengths of stay, costs, surgical site infections, fluid administered, as well as improvement in patient satisfaction.9 In a study in which PVi was used in conjunction with Masimo SpHb® (noninvasive hemoglobin measurement), the technologies were shown to reduce mortality at 30 and 90 days.10

“Clinical evidence for the utility of Masimo PVi continues to amass,” said Joe Kiani, Founder and CEO of Masimo. “Dr. Warnakulasuriya’s study provides additional information about the benefits of PVi. We are grateful for the opportunity we have to continue to improve patient outcomes and reduce cost of care with our innovative noninvasive monitoring.”

@MasimoInnovates | #Masimo

References

1. Warnakulasuriya S et al. Comparison of esophageal Doppler and plethysmographic variability index to guide intraoperative fluid therapy for low-risk patients undergoing colorectal surgery. Journal of Clinical Anesthesia. (2016)34,600-608.

2. Cannesson M et al. Pleth Variability Index to Monitor the Respiratory Variations in the Pulse Oximeter Plethysmographic Waveform Amplitude and Predict Fluid Responsiveness in the Operating Theatre. Br J Anaesth. 2008;101(2):200-6.

3. Zimmermann M et al. Accuracy of Stroke Volume Variation Compared with Pleth Variability Index to Predict Fluid Responsiveness in Mechanically Ventilated Patients Undergoing Major Surgery. Eur J Anaesthesiol. 2010 Jun;27(6):555-61.

4. Fu Q et al. Stoke Volume Variation and Pleth Variability Index to Predict Fluid Responsiveness During Resection of Primary Retroperitoneal Tumors in Han Chinese. Biosci Trends. 2012 Feb;6(1):38-43.

5. Haas S et al. Prediction of Volume Responsiveness using Pleth Variability Index in Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery after Cardiopulmonary Bypass. J Anesth. 2012 Oct;26(5):696-701.

6. Loupec T et al. Pleth Variability Index Predicts Fluid Responsiveness in Critically Ill Patients. Crit Care Med. 2011;39(2):294-299.

7. Byon HJ et al. Prediction of Fluid Responsiveness in Mechanically Ventilated Children Undergoing Neurosurgery. Br J Anaesth. 2013 Apr;110(4):586-91.

8. Feissel M et al. Plethysmographic Variation Index Predicts Fluid Responsiveness in Ventilated Patients in the Early Phase of Septic Shock in the Emergency Department: A Pilot Study. J Crit Care. 2013 May 14:634-639.

9. Thiele et al. Standardization of Care: Impact of an Enhanced Recovery Protocol on Length of Stay, Complications, and Direct Costs after Colorectal Surgery. Journal of the American College of Surgeons (2015). doi: 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2014.12.042.

10. Nathan N et al. Impact of Continuous Perioperative SpHb Monitoring. Proceedings from the 2016 ASA Annual Meeting, Chicago. Abstract #A1103.

About Masimo

Masimo (NASDAQ: MASI) is a global leader in innovative noninvasive monitoring technologies. Our mission is to improve patient outcomes and reduce the cost of care by taking noninvasive monitoring to new sites and applications. In 1995, the company debuted Masimo SET® Measure-through Motion and Low Perfusion™ pulse oximetry, which has been shown in multiple studies to significantly reduce false alarms and accurately monitor for true alarms. Masimo SET® has also been shown to helps clinicians reduce severe retinopathy of prematurity in neonates,1 improve CCHD screening in newborns,2 and, when used for continuous monitoring in post-surgical wards, reduce rapid response activations and costs.3,4,5 Masimo SET® is estimated to be used on more than 100 million patients in leading hospitals and other healthcare settings around the world. In 2005, Masimo introduced rainbow® Pulse CO-Oximetry technology, allowing noninvasive and continuous monitoring of blood constituents that previously could only be measured invasively, including total hemoglobin (SpHb®), oxygen content (SpOC™), carboxyhemoglobin (SpCO®), methemoglobin (SpMet®), and more recently, Pleth Variability Index (PVi®) and Oxygen Reserve Index (ORi™), in addition to SpO2, pulse rate, and perfusion index (PI). Studies with SpHb have shown reductions in unnecessary blood transfusion*,6,7 and when used with PVi, reductions in length of hospital stay8 and 30- and 90-day mortality.9 In 2014, Masimo introduced Root®, an intuitive patient monitoring and connectivity platform with the Masimo Open Connect™ (MOC-9™) interface, enabling other companies to augment Root with new features and measurement capabilities. Masimo is also taking an active leadership role in mHealth with products such as the Radius-7™ wearable patient monitor, iSpO2® pulse oximeter for smartphones, and the MightySat™ fingertip pulse oximeter. Additional information about Masimo and its products may be found at www.masimo.com. Published clinical studies on Masimo products can be found at http://www.masimo.com/cpub/clinical-evidence.htm.

*Clinical decisions regarding red blood cell transfusions should be based on the clinician’s judgment considering, among other factors: patient condition, continuous SpHb monitoring, and laboratory diagnostic tests using blood samples.

References

1. Castillo A et al. Prevention of Retinopathy of Prematurity in Preterm Infants through Changes in Clinical Practice and SpO2 Technology. Acta Paediatr. 2011 Feb;100(2):188-92.

2. de-Wahl Granelli A et al. Impact of pulse oximetry screening on the detection of duct dependent congenital heart disease: a Swedish prospective screening study in 39,821 newborns. BMJ. 2009;338.

3. Taenzer AH et al. Impact of Pulse Oximetry Surveillance on Rescue Events and Intensive Care Unit Transfers: A Before-And-After Concurrence Study. Anesthesiology. 2010; 112(2):282-287.

4. Taenzer AH et al. Postoperative Monitoring – The Dartmouth Experience. Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation Newsletter. Spring-Summer 2012.

5. McGrath SP et al. Surveillance Monitoring Management for General Care Units: Strategy, Design, and Implementation. The Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety. 2016 Jul;42(7):293-302.

6. Ehrenfeld JM et al. Continuous Non-invasive Hemoglobin Monitoring during Orthopedia Surgery: A Randomized Trial. J Blood Disorders Transf. 2014. 5:9. 2.

7. Awada WN et al. Continuous and noninvasive hemoglobin monitoring reduces red blood cell transfusion during neurosurgery: a prospective cohort study. J Clin Monit Comput. 2015 Feb 4.

8. Thiele RH et al. Standardization of Care: Impact of an Enhanced Recovery Protocol on Length of Stay, Complications, and Direct Costs after Colorectal Surgery. JACS (2015). doi: 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2014.12.042.

9. Nathan N et al. Impact of Continuous Perioperative SpHb Monitoring. Proceedings from the 2016 ASA Annual Meeting, Chicago. Abstract #A1103.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, in connection with the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, among others, statements regarding the potential effectiveness of Masimo PVi®. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations about future events affecting us and are subject to risks and uncertainties, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control and could cause our actual results to differ materially and adversely from those expressed in our forward-looking statements as a result of various risk factors, including, but not limited to: risks related to our assumptions regarding the repeatability of clinical results; risks related to our belief that Masimo's unique noninvasive measurement technologies, including Masimo PVi, contribute to positive clinical outcomes and patient safety; as well as other factors discussed in the "Risk Factors" section of our most recent reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), which may be obtained for free at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in our forward-looking statements are reasonable, we do not know whether our expectations will prove correct. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing cautionary statements. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of today's date. We do not undertake any obligation to update, amend or clarify these statements or the "Risk Factors" contained in our most recent reports filed with the SEC, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under the applicable securities laws.



View this news release online at:
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170227005457/en


Contacts

Masimo
Evan Lamb, 949-396-3376
elamb@masimo.com


Permalink : http://me-newswire.net/news/3457/en

Philip Morris International Recognized as a Global Top Employer

LAUSANNE, Switzerland -Wednesday, March 1st 2017 [ ME NewsWire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Philip Morris International Inc. (PMI) (NYSE/Euronext Paris: PM) today is recognized for the first time as a Global Top Employer. Since 2014, PMI has received regional and national certification as a Top Employer in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America and Canada, and today’s global status honors the company’s worldwide commitment to its teams. This year, certification from the Top Employer Institute was awarded to PMI teams in 34 countries, a testament to the company’s consistency and excellence in offering an enriching working environment and exceptional development opportunities for employees across the globe.

“Our success as a company relies on the men and women who come to work every day with a passion to achieve, and a willingness to learn, grow, and take on new challenges,” said Charles Bendotti, PMI Senior Vice President, Human Resources. “At a time when our company is dedicated to a bold new mission of designing a smoke-free future, ensuring that our workplace is vibrant, inclusive, and innovative is more important than ever. We are honored to receive the Global Top Employer status and maintain our commitment to being a rewarding and truly diverse place to work.”

PMI employs more than 82,000 people worldwide. The company offers strong reward and recognition programs, robust training and development programs, as well as challenging career opportunities in a global work environment. In 2016 alone, nearly 1,400 of PMI’s employees worked outside their home country on an international assignment in different function areas of the company.

Top Employer certification

The Top Employer certification is awarded by the Top Employer Institute following a robust assessment, validated by the auditing company Grant Thornton, of the companies’ practices in several areas, including compensation and employee benefits, career development, working conditions and training and development.

Philip Morris International Inc.

PMI is the world’s leading international tobacco company, with six of the world's top 15 international brands and products sold in more than 180 markets. In addition to the manufacture and sale of cigarettes, including Marlboro, the number one global cigarette brand, and other tobacco products, PMI is engaged in the development and commercialization of Reduced-Risk Products (“RRPs”). RRPs is the term PMI uses to refer to products that present, are likely to present, or have the potential to present less risk of harm to smokers who switch to these products versus continued smoking. Through multidisciplinary capabilities in product development, state-of-the-art facilities, and industry-leading scientific substantiation, PMI aims to provide an RRP portfolio that meets a broad spectrum of adult smoker preferences and rigorous regulatory requirements. For more information, see www.pmi.com and www.pmiscience.com.

Contacts

Media enquiries
Philip Morris International media office
T: +41 (0)58 242 4500
E: media@pmi.com


















Permalink : http://www.me-newswire.net/news/3470/en

Juffali Technical Equipment Company (JTECO) inaugurates the first KÄRCHER Showroom in Saudi Arabia



Jeddah, Saudi Arabia-Wednesday, March 1st 2017 [ ME NewsWire ]

The Ebrahim A. Juffali and Brothers Technical Equipment Company (JTECO), exclusive Kärcher Cleaning Equipment representation in the Saudi market, recently celebrated the inauguration of a new Kärcher Center Showroom for the sales and promotion of Kärcher Cleaning Equipment for Domestic and Industrial Product Lines.

The opening of the new JTECO Kärcher Showroom, located at Kilo 14, Madina Road in Jeddah, marks the 19-year anniversary of JTECO’s exclusive representation of Kärcher Cleaning Equipment in KSA.

Kärcher’s domestic cleaning machines are displayed at the new showroom, in addition to a wide range of industrial and commercial cleaning equipment.

The ribbon cutting ceremony was performed by Sheikh Amin Juffali, JTECO Chairman; Mr. Hartmut Jenner, CEO & Chairman of the Management Board of the Kärcher Group; and H.E. Mr. Holger Ziegeler, Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany, in the presence of Kärcher representatives who came from Germany to witness the special event. Sheikh Hatem Juffali, Chairman & Managing Partner of Juffali Group; Sheikh Khaled Juffali, Vice Chairman & Managing Partner of Juffali Group; Mr. Amin Al Afifi, CEO of Juffali Group; and Mr. Husni Rifai, General Manager of JTECO were also present at the ceremony, along with a large number of key business partners, General Managers and key personnel of E.A. Juffali & Brothers and affiliate companies.

Mr. Hartmut Jenner congratulated the Juffali Group on the occasion, stressing that the new showroom, located at a premium location on Madina Road in Jeddah, reflects a positive image of both Juffali & Kärcher. “The opening of such a prestigious establishment will significantly boost sales for many years to come. Partnering with Juffali Group in serving the Saudi market embodies Kärcher’s goal to get closer than ever to our wide individual and institutional customer base, to communicate with them and provide them with advice on the most suitable equipment to cater to their particular needs,” he continued.

Mr. Husni Rifai, General Manager of JTECO, thanked Mr. Jenner and commended Kärcher’s unrelenting and ongoing support over the years. He invited attendees on a tour of the new showroom to take a closer look on Kärcher’s vast range of cleaning equipment.

In his address during the ceremony, Mr. Rifai said: “Being part of the Juffali Group, JTECO shares the ambitious long-term Saudi Vision 2030, announced by His Royal Highness, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman Bin Abdulaziz. This vision will further grow the Saudi economy, driven by Saudi Arabia’s efforts to encourage Private Sector Investments to enhance non-oil revenues and reduce pressure on government subsidies.”

Adding further, Mr. Rifai said: “Juffali takes pride in being the exclusive representative of Kärcher Cleaning Equipment in KSA. Kärcher is the biggest cleaning equipment manufacturer in the world, and this new Kärcher showroom will further position us at the forefront of competition.”

Following the ribbon cutting ceremony and the new Kärcher showroom walk-through, a dinner banquet was held at JTECO premises, and typical Saudi Hijazi cuisine was served in honor of the prestigious guests.



Contacts
Headline Communication
Jawhara ALshawish, +966 551808891
jalshawish@headlineme.com
http://www.juffali.com/

Permalink : http://me-newswire.net/news/3467/en

Latest GSMA Report Highlights Success of Mobile Money with over Half a Billion Accounts Worldwide

277 Live Mobile Money Services Available in 92 Countries; GSMA Launches Mobile Money Developer Portal



BARCELONA, Spain-Wednesday, March 1st 2017 [ ME NewsWire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The GSMA today unveiled its sixth ‘State of the Industry Report on Mobile Money’, offering a current snapshot of the mobile money landscape and highlighting the impact of mobile money on lives, economies and innovation over the past 10 years. The report provides the only comprehensive picture of mobile money around the globe. This edition looks back across the decade since the pioneering launch of M-Pesa in Kenya, which first demonstrated the potential of mobile technology to transform access to financial services. Today there are more than half a billion registered mobile money accounts across 92 countries.

“Giving underserved people access to digital payments has expanded financial inclusion to hundreds of millions of people in developing countries and has enabled them to be more secure, more empowered and more active contributors to local communities,” said Mats Granryd, Director General, GSMA. “Mobile operators have been at the centre of this success story. The reach and impact of their services provides a clear example of how important the mobile industry is to ensuring achievement of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.”

Mobile Money Drives Economic Growth

Mobile money is a key driver of economic growth in emerging markets, particularly through formalising payments, increasing transparency and boosting GDP. Mobile money providers are at the forefront of payment services in many emerging market economies. In December 2016 alone, the industry processed 1.3 billion transactions, averaging around 30,000 transactions a minute.

The research further shows:

    More than half a billion registered mobile money accounts globally, as of the end of 2016;
    Nearly 174 million accounts that are active (on a 90 day basis);
    There are 35 mobile money services with over 1 million active accounts;
    More than 4.3 million mobile money agent outlets, with 30 countries now having 10 times more active mobile money agents than bank branches; and
    The average cost of sending international remittances using mobile money is less than half the cost of doing so via a global money transfer operator.

A Decade of Reaching Scale

This edition of the annual report charts the story of mobile money over the last decade, from the emergence of mobile money to the rapid advancement of financial inclusion. It looks at lessons learned in areas such as business models, enabling regulation and interoperability, and assesses the impact of mobile money on people’s lives, as well as the broader economic benefits delivered. The report also looks to the future by examining the emerging trends that promise to take mobile money to new heights in its second decade.

With 277 live services in 92 countries, mobile money is now available in 66 per cent of low- and middle-income markets. A stellar decade of achievements that include:

    The extension of affordable and commercially sustainable financial services to hundreds of millions of underserved people;
    The use of mobile money in a growing range of applications, such as school fees, pay-as-you-go solar systems, and international remittances;
    The positive macro-economic impact of mobile money, such as increased productivity and job creation, as well as greater transparency to reduce leakage; and
    Beyond its significant contributions to universal financial access goals, including the World Bank’s initiative to enable a billion transaction accounts by 2020, mobile money is a key enabler of broader economic development and empowerment.

Granryd added, “In just ten years, mobile money has made amazing strides. With two billion people still excluded from financial services, mobile money’s potential for the future is greater still. Over the next decade, the industry needs to work together to place the transformational power of mobile money in the hands of those who need it most.”

Launch of Mobile Money Developer Portal

As the industry looks to new growth opportunities, the emergence of harmonised application programme interfaces (APIs) could unlock a wave of innovation and further extend the reach of mobile money services. To this end, the GSMA today launched a developer portal for platform vendors and the technical community, which will help ensure compatibility with GSMA industry-standard Mobile Money APIs.

This approach can ensure interoperability across the ecosystem, seamless deployment and access to the latest standard APIs, through which developers can build mobile money products and services. The developer portal is free and will allow users to access a real, production-ready test environment. The portal offers an open and accessible way to work technically with the APIs and will be supported by the majority of vendors throughout the mobile money industry, with the aim to accelerate further industry growth.

The 2017 State of the Industry Report on Mobile Money, as well as further information on the GSMA’s Mobile Money Programme, is available at: www.gsma.com/mobilemoney.

-ENDS-

Note to editors:

The State of the Industry Report on Mobile Money draws on the results of the annual GSMA Global Adoption Survey of Mobile Financial Services and data from the GSMA Mobile Money Deployment Tracker, and provides insights on mobile money performance from the GSMA’s engagement with the industry.

About the GSMA

The GSMA represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide, uniting nearly 800 operators with almost 300 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, Mobile World Congress Americas and the Mobile 360 Series of conferences.

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

Contacts

For the GSMA
Sophie Waterfield
+44 77 7945 9923
Sophie.Waterfield@webershandwick.com
or
Pau Guerrero
+34 607 348 364
PGuerrero@webershandwick.com
or
GSMA Press Office
pressoffice@gsma.com

Permalink : http://www.me-newswire.net/news/3460/en

GSMA Launches Inaugural Humanitarian Connectivity Charter Annual Report

 UNHCR Becomes Latest Supporter of the Humanitarian Connectivity Charter, Joining 108 Mobile Operators and Six Humanitarian and Technical Partners



BARCELONA, Spain-Wednesday, March 1st 2017 [ ME NewsWire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The GSMA today launched the first Humanitarian Connectivity Charter Annual Report, highlighting efforts by mobile network operator (MNO) signatories to support disaster preparedness and response activities around the world during 2016. This annual report maps the progress made under the Humanitarian Connectivity Charter, capturing global efforts to address humanitarian emergencies ranging from the ongoing refugee crisis in Europe to reducing the impact of natural disasters. It highlights the critical role of the mobile industry in supporting resilience and serves as a baseline against which to measure progress in the coming years. The GSMA also announced a new humanitarian supporter of the Charter, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), which joins 108 MNO members and six endorsing humanitarian and technical partners, with the potential to reach more than 1.3 billion people.

“We launched the Humanitarian Connectivity Charter two years ago and since that time, mobile has played an important role in how the global community responds to crises, facilitating advancements in early warning systems, reuniting loved ones, and connecting affected populations to information and assistance,” said Mats Granryd, Director General, GSMA. “The Charter has been an important platform for supporting our industry’s commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, whether addressing natural disasters or the effects of war and conflict. We thank the many organisations supporting the Charter over the past two years and look forward to expanding its impact in the years to come.”

The Charter, launched by the GSMA at Mobile World Congress 2015, leverages mobile connectivity to improve access to communication and information for those affected by crisis, reduce the loss of life, and positively contribute to humanitarian response. The increase in displaced communities and sudden onset of natural disasters, such as earthquakes and floods, continue to impact communities globally. Innovation by Charter signatories demonstrates how mobile can play a role in mitigation, early warning, response and recovery, and the newly published report highlights some of the actions undertaken by signatories:

Displaced Communities:

MNOs have worked with the wider ecosystem to provide support to displaced communities. In 2016, Turkcell launched an app called Merhaba Umut (‘Hello Hope’) to help facilitate the integration of Syrian refugees living in Turkey, while Asiacell (Ooredoo Group) worked with Ericsson to implement ‘Connect to Learn’ programmes for children in refugee camps in Iraq, providing ICTs and connectivity to schools to enhance learning. In June 2016, Zain partnered with the MIT Enterprise Forum1 to launch the ‘Innovate for Refugees’ Initiative, a competition intended to promote innovative entrepreneurial businesses, providing tech-driven solutions that cater to the needs of refugees.

Earthquakes:

Following a 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Ecuador on 16 April 2016, Movistar Ecuador (Telefónica Group) mobilised 190 technicians and sent out 40 vehicles equipped with satellite phones, enabling more than 82,000 people to call relatives and friends. In addition, MNOs Claro, CNT and Movistar Ecuador provided free voice minutes and SMS to customers in affected areas. After the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes in Japan, NTT DOCOMO provided free Wi-Fi service, constructed an emergency IP network and deployed ‘base stations on wheels’ to restore network coverage. During the period of earthquake activity, Japan’s Meteorological Agency issued 19 earthquake early warning alerts and it is estimated that over 1 million customers received these messages from their operator.

Flooding:

Customers of Ncell (Axiata Group) living in areas at high risk of floods and landslides in Nepal are now receiving early warning alerts thanks to an innovative partnership between Ncell and the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM), implemented in July 2016. SMS alerts are sent when water levels are dangerously high or when severe weather conditions are forecast, enabling citizens to take necessary precautions.

In recognition that partnerships are essential to meet the growing humanitarian needs globally, in addition to the MNO signatories, the Humanitarian Connectivity Charter is supported by a number of organisations and agencies. Key supporting organisations include the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA), the UN Emergency Telecommunications Cluster (ETC), the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Ericsson and Nokia are technical partners of the Charter.

A full copy of the report is available at: www.gsma.com/mobilefordevelopment/programme/disaster-response/hcc-annual-report and further detail on the Humanitarian Connectivity Charter is available at: www.gsma.com/mobilefordevelopment/programmes/disaster-response/humanitarian-connectivity-charter.

-ENDS-

Editors Notes

1http://www.mitefarab.org/en

About the GSMA

The GSMA represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide, uniting nearly 800 operators with almost 300 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, Mobile World Congress Americas and the Mobile 360 Series of conferences.

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

Contacts

For the GSMA
Sophie Waterfield
+44 77 7945 9923
Sophie.Waterfield@webershandwick.com
or
Pau Guerrero
+34 607 348 364
PGuerrero@webershandwick.com
or
GSMA Press Office
pressoffice@gsma.com


Permalink : http://www.me-newswire.net/news/3459/en 

Toshiba Storage & Electronic Devices Solutions Company Publishes English Edition of Environmental Report 2016



TOKYO -Tuesday, February 28th 2017 [ ME NewsWire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Toshiba Corporation (TOKYO:6502) today announced the release of the English edition of “Toshiba Storage & Electronic Devices Solutions Company Environmental Report 2016,” its annual review of environmental policy, measures and activities.

The 2016 report covers activities in fiscal 2015, including efforts to reduce environmental impacts and greenhouse gas emissions in production processes and to develop semiconductor and storage devices that advance energy conservation. The report also covers the proactive environmental communications carried out at manufacturing sites.

The report’s introduction provides a visual overview of Toshiba Storage & Electronic Devices Solutions Company’s line-up of essential products and how they contribute to energy saving in today’s advanced social infrastructure.

This report is published in print and on-line versions, and the latter can be seen at:
http://toshiba.semicon-storage.com/ap-en/company/environmental-activities/documents.html

Toshiba Storage & Electronic Devices Solutions Company seeks to contribute to society’s safety and security, the creation of rich value and the reduction of environmental impacts, guided by Toshiba’s Environmental Vision 2050, which points the way to living richer lives in harmony with the earth.

About Toshiba

Founded in Tokyo in 1875, Toshiba Corporation is a Fortune Global 500 company that contributes to a better world and better lives with innovative technologies in Energy, Infrastructure and Storage. Guided by the philosophy of “Committed to People, Committed to the Future,” Toshiba promotes operations through a global network of 551 consolidated companies employing 188,000 people, with annual sales surpassing 5.6 trillion yen (US$50 billion; March 31, 2016).
Find out more about Toshiba at www.toshiba.co.jp/index.htm

Contacts

Toshiba Corporation
Storage & Electronic Devices Solutions Company
Koichi Tanaka / Kota Yamaji, +81-3-3457-3576
Public Relations & Investor Relations Group
Business Planning Division
semicon-NR-mailbox@ml.toshiba.co.jp

Permalink : http://me-newswire.net/news/3466/en

Moody’s Analytics Launches the PartnerAlliance Program

 New global partner program expands client delivery solutions



LONDON -Tuesday, February 28th 2017 [ ME NewsWire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Moody’s Analytics has today announced the launch of its new PartnerAlliance network. This program invites best of breed consultancies, system integrators, and technology vendors to bring Moody’s Analytics’ award-winning capabilities to common customers, creating world-class solutions for critical financial risk management problems.

Through PartnerAlliance, Moody’s Analytics recognizes and facilitates collaboration with its partners—third-party firms that attain competency in implementing or selling Moody’s Analytics’ solutions. Charter members of the program include a number of Moody’s Analytics’ long-standing partners, forming the core of an expert network that offers delivery and support options for Moody’s Analytics’ clients.

Upon joining the PartnerAlliance program, partners are offered online training and certification, access to a dedicated help desk, and PartnerAlliance branding. Coaching and support packages are available to help partners kick-start new projects and receive ongoing support. Partners that demonstrate consistent performance are rewarded with Premier and Elite levels of recognition, and through further training, gain advanced qualification for larger-scale projects and more extensive customer engagements. Premier and Elite Partners also enjoy access to exclusive product roadmap previews, dedicated relationship management with Moody’s Analytics, and invitations to the company’s proprietary events.

“Over the last few years, we have established a network of trusted partners to implement Moody’s award winning software and analytic solutions at banks and insurance companies around the globe,” said Steve Tulenko, Executive Director, Enterprise Risk Solutions at Moody’s Analytics. “With the PartnerAlliance program, we are substantially increasing our clients’ deployment options and accelerating the delivery of solutions to meet business, risk management, and regulatory compliance needs.”

For more information, please visit moodysanalytics.com/partneralliance.

About Moody’s Analytics

Moody’s Analytics helps capital markets and risk management professionals worldwide respond to an evolving marketplace with confidence. The company offers unique tools and best practices for measuring and managing risk through expertise and experience in credit analysis, economic research and financial risk management. By providing leading-edge software, advisory services, and research, including the proprietary analysis of Moody’s Investors Service, Moody’s Analytics integrates and customizes its offerings to address specific business challenges. Moody's Analytics is a subsidiary of Moody's Corporation (NYSE: MCO), which reported revenue of $3.6 billion in 2016, employs approximately 10,600 people worldwide and maintains a presence in 36 countries. Further information is available at www.moodysanalytics.com.



View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170228005013/en/

Contacts

LONDON
ISABELLE CORNELIS, 0044.207.772.5207
Assistant Vice-President, Corporate Communications
isabelle.cornelis@moodys.com
or
NEW YORK
KATERINA SOUMILOVA, 001.212.553.1177
Assistant Vice-President, Corporate Communications
katerina.soumilova@moodys.com
or
SYDNEY
HECTOR LIM, 0061.292.708.141
Vice President, Corporate Communications
hector.lim@moodys.com





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