August 18, 2021

JW Player Appoints Digital Video Veteran David LaPalomento as Chief Technology Officer

David’s deep digital video technology background will help scale JW Player’s engineering team and product development to service the growing Digital Video Economy.

NEW YORK, Aug. 18, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — JW Player, the leading video software and data insights platform, today announced it has appointed David LaPalomento as Chief Technology Officer, effective immediately. The strategic hire will accelerate JW Player’s product innovation to meet the needs of a rapidly growing Digital Video Economy, leveraging the recent infusion of $100M in Series E funding from LLR Partners.

“David has proven himself to be a visionary leader in both developing and scaling innovative video delivery products,” said Dave Otten, CEO and co-founder of JW Player. “I have no doubt that his expertise will strengthen our position as a leading force for innovation in the digital video industry. With his leadership, we will scale our engineering teams and bring new products to market that further empower customers with independence and control in the Digital Video Economy. We could not be more excited to have him on our team.”

During his decade-long tenure at Brightcove, David built a world-class engineering team to modernize its video delivery platform. He led the overhaul of the company’s legacy data center-based architecture, replacing it with a scalable, cloud-native architecture and migrating thousands of customers to the new platform. His leadership helped triple revenue, launch new products, and integrate acquisitions to address new market segments. His experience will be invaluable as JW Player rises to meet the explosive growth in demand for digital video since the pandemic began.

“I’m thrilled to start the next chapter of my career with JW Player,” said David. “We’ve reached an inflection point where every company with a digital presence now depends on video to engage its audience and monetize its offering. JW Player has built the most comprehensive platform for success in this digital video ecosystem, with unmatched consumption and contextual data insights, cutting-edge monetization and engagement features, and world-class video experiences on any screen. I look forward to building on this platform to bring new innovations to market.”

According to JW Player’s data from over 12,000 publishers and broadcasters, video consumption has continued to surge in the wake of the pandemic, up nearly 50% since 2020 and 28.6% since January 2021. The growing demand has made it an imperative for organizations of all stripes, including fitness, e-commerce, sports and e-learning businesses, to develop a robust video strategy to engage their audience on the screen of their choice: web, mobile or connected TV.

JW Player’s API-driven video platform empowers hundreds of thousands of customers to independently control and operate their mobile, OTT and web video applications at a global scale. Importantly, JW Player delivers unique data-driven insights that empower customers to more effectively grow, engage, and monetize their audiences. In the last year alone, the company’s video streaming grew by nearly 200%, with live streaming increasing by over 400%.

About JW Player
JW Player is the leading video software and data insights platform that gives customers independence and control in today’s Digital Video Economy. Started in 2008 as a hugely popular open source video player, JW Player’s technology platform now powers digital video for hundreds of thousands of businesses, including half of the comScore top 50 sites in the US, leading broadcasters across EMEA, APAC and Latin America. Each month 1 billion viewers, or one third of all people on the Internet, consume video on JW Player’s technology across 2.7 billion devices, creating an unmatched and powerful consumption and contextual data graph that helps customers grow audiences and generate incremental video from digital video. The company is headquartered in New York, with offices in London and Eindhoven, visit http://www.jwplayer.com.

Media Contacts:
Fatimah Nouilati
Scratch Marketing + Media for JW Player
fatimah@scratchmm.com

August 18, 2021

Casio to Release Two-Tone, Purple and Blue Metal G-SHOCK

Two-tone ion plating and metal finish evoke the beauty of Tokyo twilight

TOKYO, Aug. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Casio Computer Co., Ltd. announced today the latest addition to its G-SHOCK line of shock-resistant watches. The new GMW-B5000PB is part of the 5000 line of full metal watches with the square face design of the very first G-SHOCK, and it features purple and blue-gray ion plating (IP).

The GMW-B5000PB is based on the GMW-B5000D, which reproduces the shape of the very first G-SHOCK, but in a metal case. The purple and blue-gray IP finish, a new approach to CMF design,* is inspired by the beauty of Tokyo at twilight when light and darkness interplay. The bezel and band feature a new purple IP hue achieved by tuning the chroma and luminance, along with a deep and sophisticated blue-gray IP. Combined with muted chroma and hairline finish, the watch evokes the image of twilight Tokyo in an integrated total design. The watch face is adorned with splashes of orange and light blue reminiscent of city lights illuminating as the sun sets. The bezel and band are hairline and mirror-finished, which enhances the texture of the metal while emphasizing the interplay of multi-spectrum light.

* CMF design integrates color, material, and finish

The GMW-B5000PB not only receives radio wave time-calibration signals; it is also equipped with Mobile Link functions that pair via Bluetooth® to a smartphone to access Internet time servers and ensure accurate time. Features like alarms and World Time can be easily set from a paired smartphone, and the helpful reminders and phone finder function make for a very useful watch.

The Bluetooth^® word mark and logos are registered trademarks owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of such marks by Casio Computer Co., Ltd. is under license.

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August 18, 2021

Casio to Release Second Rui Hachimura Signature Model

Design Inspired by the National Flag of Benin, Hachimura’s Ancestral Home

TOKYO, Aug. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Casio Computer Co., Ltd. announced today the release of the GM-110RH, a new addition to the G-SHOCK brand of shock-resistant watches. The GM-110RH is the second signature model designed in collaboration with NBA pro Rui Hachimura.

Hachimura is the first Japanese national ever to be taken in the first round of the NBA draft (2019). This season, Hachimura continues to be a centerpiece of his team, and his impact is expected to grow in the future. Casio signed a global partnership agreement with Hachimura in November 2019 to support him in tackling the tough challenges that lie ahead.

The new GM-110RH is a signature model designed in collaboration with Hachimura, who has been a G-SHOCK fan since he was in school. The GM-110RH is based on the GM-110, which features a metal bezel and a stylish design. The watch face and band loop on the GM-110RH feature yellow, red, and green accents inspired by the colors of the national flag of Benin, Hachimura’s ancestral home. The yellow hour hand, red minute hand, green inset dial, and Y-shaped bridge are laid out for optimum visibility.

The new watch not only comes with a basic black urethane band, but also a urethane band with a West African kente-cloth motif inspired by the traditional clothing of the region — and it is easy to switch between them. Hachimura’s signature “Black Samurai” logo is engraved on the back plate, band loop and special packaging. The symbol (hachi in Japanese, meaning “eight”) represents both his name and jersey number.

Hachimura had this to say about the new model: “The watch draws inspiration from my roots in Benin and Africa, which are very important to me. The band design and watch face evoke elements of Beninese culture and I am delighted at how Casio brought my ideas to life.”

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August 18, 2021

Casio annonce une montre G-SHOCK bicolore en métal violet et bleu

La finition métallique et le placage ionique bicolore évoquent la beauté du crépuscule à Tokyo

TOKYO, 18 août 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Casio Computer Co., Ltd. a annoncé aujourd’hui la dernière nouveauté de sa gamme de montres antichocs G-SHOCK. La nouvelle montre GMW-B5000PB fait partie de la ligne 5000 de montres entièrement en métal au cadran carré inspirées de la toute première G-SHOCK. Elle présente également un placage ionique (IP) violet et bleu-gris.

Le modèle GMW-B5000PB est basé sur la montre GMW-B5000D, qui reproduit la forme de la toute première G-SHOCK, à la différence qu’elle est en métal. La finition IP violette et bleu-gris, une nouvelle approche des concepts CMF*, s’inspire de la beauté de Tokyo au crépuscule, lorsque la lumière rencontre l’obscurité. La lunette et le bracelet présentent une nouvelle teinte de plaçage inionique violette obtenue en accordant la saturation et la luminance, ainsi qu’un plaçage ionique bleu-gris profond et sophistiqué. Avec à une saturation douce et une finition de type hairline, la montre évoque l’image de crépuscule à Tokyo dans une conception totalement intégrée. Le cadran de la montre est orné d’éclats orange et bleu clair qui rappellent les lumières de la ville qui s’illuminent au coucher du soleil. La lunette et le bracelet ont une finition miroir, qui met en valeur la texture du métal tout en soulignant l’interaction de la lumière multispectrale.

* Les concepts CMF intègrent la couleur, le matériau et la finition

Le modèle GMW-B5000PB ne se contente pas de recevoir des signaux d’étalonnage de l’heure par ondes radio ; il est également équipé de fonctions Mobile Link qui peuvent être jumelées via Bluetooth® à un smartphone pour accéder aux serveurs de temps Internet et garantir une heure exacte. Des fonctionnalités telles que les alarmes et l’heure universelle peuvent être facilement réglées à partir d’un smartphone jumelé. De plus, les rappels utiles et la fonction de recherche du téléphone en font une montre très utile.

Le nom et les logos Bluetooth^® sont des marques déposées de Bluetooth SIG, Inc. et toute utilisation de ces marques par Casio Computer Co., Ltd. est sous licence.

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August 18, 2021

Casio s’apprête à sortir un deuxième modèle signature Rui Hachimura

Le design s’inspire du drapeau national du Bénin, la patrie d’Hachimura

TOKYO, 18 août 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Casio Computer Co., Ltd. a annoncé aujourd’hui la sortie de la GM-110RH, une nouveauté de la marque de montres antichocs G-SHOCK. Le modèle GM-110RH est le deuxième modèle signature conçu en collaboration avec le joueur professionnel de la NBA Rui Hachimura.

Hachimura est le premier ressortissant japonais à être pris au premier tour de la draft NBA (2019). Cette saison, Hachimura continue d’être un élément central de son équipe, et son impact devrait s’accroître à l’avenir. Casio a signé un accord de partenariat global avec Hachimura en novembre 2019 pour l’aider à relever les défis complexes qui l’attendent.

La nouvelle montre GM-110RH est un modèle signature conçu en collaboration avec Hachimura, qui est un fan de G-SHOCK depuis qu’il est à l’école. La GM-110RH est inspirée de la GM-110, qui présente une lunette en métal et une conception élégante. Le cadran de la montre et la boucle du bracelet de la GM-110RH sont ornés d’accents de jaune, rouge et vert, qui reprennent les couleurs du drapeau national du Bénin, la terre ancestrale d’Hachimura. L’aiguille des heures jaune, l’aiguille des minutes rouge, le cadran incrusté de vert et le pont en Y sont disposés pour une visibilité optimale.

La nouvelle montre est proposée non seulement avec le bracelet en uréthane noir de base, mais aussi avec un bracelet en uréthane à motif de tissu kente ouest-africain inspiré des vêtements traditionnels de la région. Il est facile de passer de l’un à l’autre. Le logo « Black Samurai », signature d’Hachimura, est gravé sur la plaque arrière, la boucle du bracelet et l’emballage spécial. Le symbole hachi en japonais (qui signifie « huit ») représente à la fois son nom et son numéro de maillot.

Hachimura s’est exprimé sur le nouveau modèle : « La montre s’inspire de mes racines béninoises et africaines, qui sont très importantes pour moi. Le design du bracelet et le cadran de la montre évoquent des éléments de la culture béninoise et je suis ravi de voir comment Casio a donné vie à mes idées. »

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August 18, 2021

Biden Administration Official Congratulates Zambia’s President-Elect

The U.S. Agency for International Development Administrator Samantha Power congratulated Hakinde Hichilema Tuesday on his election as Zambia’s next president.

A statement released by the agency said Power and Hichilema discussed how the “vigilant oversight” of Zambian civil society of the electoral process ensured widespread confidence in the results, despite government forces blocking Hichilema from campaigning in several areas.

The spokesperson said the two also discussed Hichilema’s plans “fighting corruption and strengthening democratic values, press freedom, and civil liberties.” Power and Hichilema pledged to work together to fight the COVID-19 pandemic “and accelerate Zambia’s economic recovery.”

Hichilema’s victory over incumbent President Edgar Lungu in the August 12 vote was fueled by widespread discontent with the collapse of Zambia’s economy, which has been saddled by falling prices of copper, its chief export, rising inflation and unemployment.

It became the first African nation during the COVID-19 pandemic to default on its sovereign debt last year.

Source: Voice of America

August 18, 2021

COVID Pandemic Exposes Somalia’s Weak Health Care System

Rights group Amnesty International says Somalia’s struggling health care system has been crippled by the coronavirus pandemic. The group released a report Wednesday titled ‘We Just Watched COVID-19 Patients Die.’ It calls for urgent investment in Somalia’s healthcare sector after years of neglect.

Amnesty International’s 27-page report on Somalia’s health care says the global pandemic has hit the struggling sector hard.

The Amnesty report quoted a senior Somali doctor saying in one ward on the same day four elderly men died within ten minutes because of lack of oxygen.

The rights group’s Somali researcher Abdullahi Hassan says health resources are so poor that medical workers too often could only stand by and watch their patients die.

“When COVID-19 pandemic came it laid bare how bad the situation was in Somalia. For example, the response by the government was wholly inadequate. There was only one hospital in Mogadishu that managed COVID-related cases and that one hospital lacked essential equipment. Health workers who worked in that hospital… they really struggled with patients. They did not have enough equipment; they did not have oxygen supply,” said Hassan.

Amnesty says the Somali government allocates only 2% of its budget to healthcare while security services got the largest share, with 31%.

Officially, Somalia has had more than 16,000 infections and almost 900 deaths from COVID.

But, the country’s chief medical officer, Dr. Mohamed Mohamud Ali, told Amnesty the death toll was certainly far higher.

Dr. Ali said only those who managed to get to health facilities and get tested were included in official data.

“The figure is just a tip of the iceberg,” Amnesty quoted him saying, “many more were infected and died at home,” he said.

Amnesty notes that only 15% of Somalia’s rural population have access to medical care and the country has only one surgeon for every one million people.

Abdiqadir Abdirahman Adan is the founder of the Amin ambulance service, the only such service for Mogadishu residents.

Adan says they have only two ambulances to serve people, the ambulance workers get exhausted, and it is challenging to get oxygen. Since they provide a free service to people, and the companies producing oxygen want money, he says, they have problems with oxygen supply. Adan says their ambulance workers are also not very well trained to handle some health issues.

The Amnesty report, based on interviews with 33 medical and aid workers, as well as officials and experts, calls on Somalia to use debt relief to invest more in healthcare.

In March 2020, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank reduced Somalia’s debt from $5.2 billion to $557 million over three years.

The debt relief aims to bring the Horn of African nation back into the global economy after 30 years of conflict and unstable governments.

Amnesty’s Hassan says the debt relief also offers an opportunity to improve Somali hospitals.

“All this money that is going to be received through debt relief should be managed in a manner that is transparent, that is accountable, and it should be used to improve the health sector in the country,” he said,

Ambulance service operator Adan says the health sector desperately needs more medical experts to revive it.

He said this sector requires knowledge. “The people leading the health sector and working on policies must be people who have a background in health and medicine. If you are going to have people in the health sector who are not familiar with the health system, then it’s difficult to improve the health system,” he said.

Amnesty notes only 0.6% of Somalis have been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus.

While a shortage of vaccines is partly to blame, Amnesty says that 19 of the 33 healthcare workers it interviewed in the report refused to take the vaccine, despite having it offered.

It blamed widespread vaccine hesitancy, in part, on lack of public information.

Source: Voice of America