April 1, 2022
UNESCO awards India the "Certificate of Inscription of Durga Puja in Kolkata to the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity"
Photos: Paris, France. The UNESCO Director-General handed over the “Certificate of inscription of Durga Puja in Kolkata to the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage” to the Permanent Representative of India to UNESCO. Images provided by & Copyright © UNESCO/Lily CHAVANCE.
Paris, March 31, 2021 — UNESCO presented India the Certificate of inscription of “Durga Puja in Kolkata” to the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list.
Earlier, the Intergovernmental Committee of UNESCO’s Convention on Safeguarding the Intangible Cultural Heritage inscribed ‘Durga Puja in Kolkata’ on the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity during its 16th session in Paris, France, from 13th to 18th December 2021.
Durga Puja celebrates feminine divinity and a consummate expression of dance, music, crafts, rituals, practices, culinary and cultural aspects. The festival transcends the boundaries of caste, creed, and economic classes and joins the people together in its celebration.
India is a signatory of the 2003 UNESCO Convention for Safeguarding the Intangible Heritage and traditions and living expression. Intangible cultural heritage means the practices, representations, words, knowledge, skills, instruments, objects, artifacts, and cultural spaces that communities and groups recognize as a part of their cultural inheritance.
Source: UNESCO
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Edited & Posted by the Editor | 4:11 AM | View the original post
March 28, 2022
Academy announces Oscars 2022 Winners.
Photo: Jennifer Garner arrives on the red carpet of the 94th Oscars at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles, CA, on Sunday, March 27, 2022. Image Credit: Michael Baker / © A.M.P.A.S.
Photo: Jake Gyllenhaal arrives on the red carpet of the 94th Oscars at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles, CA, on Sunday, March 27, 2022. Image Credit: Michael Baker / © A.M.P.A.S.
Photo: Maddie Ziegler arrives on the red carpet of the 94th Oscars at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles, CA, on Sunday, March 27, 2022. Image Credit: Michael Baker / © A.M.P.A.S.
Photo: Ben Proudfoot poses backstage with the Oscar for Documentary Short Subject during the live A.B.C. telecast of the 94th Oscars at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles, CA, on Sunday, March 27, 2022. Image Credit: Michael Baker / © A.M.P.A.S.
LOS ANGELES, CA, March 27. 2022 — The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the Oscar Winners on Sunday, March 27, 2022, via an event held at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland in Hollywood. The pageant was televised live on A.B.C. and in more than 200 territories worldwide.
• Following are the Nominees and WINNERS of the 94th Academy Awards:
• Performance by an actor in a leading role
- Javier Bardem in “Being the Ricardos”
- Benedict Cumberbatch in “The Power of the Dog”
- Andrew Garfield in “tick, tick…BOOM!”
- Will Smith in “King Richard” — WINNER
- Denzel Washington in “The Tragedy of Macbeth”
• Performance by an actor in a supporting role
- Ciarán Hinds in “Belfast”
- Troy Kotsur in “CODA” — WINNER
- Jesse Plemons in “The Power of the Dog”
- J.K. Simmons in “Being the Ricardos”
- Kodi Smit-McPhee in “The Power of the Dog”
• Performance by an actress in a leading role
- Jessica Chastain in “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” — WINNER
- Olivia Colman in “The Lost Daughter”
- Penélope Cruz in “Parallel Mothers”
- Nicole Kidman in “Being the Ricardos”
- Kristen Stewart in “Spencer”
• Performance by an actress in a supporting role
- Jessie Buckley in “The Lost Daughter”
- Ariana DeBose in “West Side Story” — WINNER
- Judi Dench in “Belfast”
- Kirsten Dunst in “The Power of the Dog”
- Aunjanue Ellis in “King Richard”
• Best animated feature film of the year
- “Encanto” Jared Bush, Byron Howard, Yvett Merino and Clark Spencer — WINNER
- “Flee” Jonas Poher Rasmussen, Monica Hellström, Signe Byrge Sørensen and Charlotte De La Gournerie
- “Luca” Enrico Casarosa and Andrea Warren
- “The Mitchells vs. the Machines” Mike Rianda, Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, and Kurt Albrecht
- “Raya and the Last Dragon” Don Hall, Carlos López Estrada, Osnat Shurer and Peter Del Vecho
• Achievement in cinematography
- “Dune” Greig Fraser — WINNER
- “Nightmare Alley” Dan Laustsen
- “The Power of the Dog” Ari Wegner
- “The Tragedy of Macbeth” Bruno Delbonnel
- “West Side Story” Janusz Kaminski
• Achievement in costume design
- “Cruella” Jenny Beavan — WINNER
- “Cyrano” Massimo Cantini Parrini and Jacqueline Durran
- “Dune” Jacqueline West and Robert Morgan
- “Nightmare Alley” Luis Sequeira
- “West Side Story” Paul Tazewell
• Achievement in directing
- “Belfast” Kenneth Branagh
- “Drive My Car” Ryusuke Hamaguchi
- “Licorice Pizza” Paul Thomas Anderson
- “The Power of the Dog” Jane Campion — WINNER
- “West Side Story” Steven Spielberg
• Best documentary feature
- “Ascension” Jessica Kingdon, Kira Simon-Kennedy, and Nathan Truesdell
- “Attica” Stanley Nelson and Traci A. Curry
- “Flee” Jonas Poher Rasmussen, Monica Hellström, Signe Byrge Sørensen and Charlotte De La Gournerie
- “Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)” Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, Joseph Patel, Robert Fyvolent and David Dinerstein — WINNER
- “Writing with Fire” Rintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh
• Best documentary short subject
- “Audible” Matt Ogens and Geoff McLean
- “Lead Me Home” Pedro Kos and Jon Shenk
- “The Queen of Basketball” Ben Proudfoot — WINNER
- “Three Songs for Benazir” Elizabeth Mirzaei and Gulistan Mirzaei
- “When We Were Bullies” Jay Rosenblatt
• Achievement in film editing
- “Don’t Look Up” Hank Corwin
- “Dune” Joe Walker — WINNER
- “King Richard” Pamela Martin
- “The Power of the Dog” Peter Sciberras
- “tick, tick…BOOM!” Myron Kerstein and Andrew Weisblum
• Best international feature film of the year
- “Drive My Car” Japan — WINNER
- “Flee” Denmark
- “The Hand of God” Italy
- “Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom” Bhutan
- “The Worst Person in the World” Norway
• Achievement in makeup and hairstyling
- ” Coming 2 America” Mike Marino, Stacey Morris, and Carla Farmer
- “Cruella” Nadia Stacey, Naomi Donne, and Julia Vernon
- “Dune” Donald Mowat, Love Larson, and Eva von Bahr
- “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” Linda Dowds, Stephanie Ingram, and Justin Raleigh — WINNER
- “House of Gucci” Göran Lundström, Anna Carin Lock and Frederic Aspiras
• Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)
- “Don’t Look Up” Nicholas Britell
- “Dune” Hans Zimmer — WINNER
- “Encanto” Germaine Franco
- “Parallel Mothers” Alberto Iglesias
- “The Power of the Dog” Jonny Greenwood
• Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)
- “Be Alive” from “King Richard”
- Music and Lyric by D.I.X.S.O.N. and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter
- “Dos Oruguitas” from “Encanto”
- Music and Lyric by Lin-Manuel Miranda
- “Down To Joy” from “Belfast”
- Music and Lyric by Van Morrison
- “No Time To Die” from “No Time to Die” — WINNER
- Music and Lyric by Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell
- “Somehow You Do” from “Four Good Days”
- Music and Lyric by Diane Warren
• Best motion picture of the year
- “Belfast” Laura Berwick, Kenneth Branagh, Becca Kovacik and Tamar Thomas, Producers
- “CODA” Philippe Rousselet, Fabrice Gianfermi and Patrick Wachsberger, Producers — WINNER
- “Don’t Look Up” Adam McKay and Kevin Messick, Producers
- “Drive My Car” Teruhisa Yamamoto, Producer
- “Dune” Mary Parent, Denis Villeneuve, and Cale Boyter, Producers
- “King Richard” Tim White, Trevor White, and Will Smith, Producers
- “Licorice Pizza” Sara Murphy, Adam Somner, and Paul Thomas Anderson, Producers
- “Nightmare Alley” Guillermo del Toro, J. Miles Dale, and Bradley Cooper, Producers
- “The Power of the Dog” Jane Campion, Tanya Seghatchian, Emile Sherman, Iain Canning, and Roger Frappier, Producers
- “West Side Story” Steven Spielberg and Kristie Macosko Krieger, Producers
• Achievement in production design
- “Dune” Production Design: Patrice Vermette; Set Decoration: Zsuzsanna Sipos — WINNER
- “Nightmare Alley” Production Design: Tamara Deverell; Set Decoration: Shane Vieau
- “The Power of the Dog” Production Design: Grant Major; Set Decoration: Amber Richards
- “The Tragedy of Macbeth” Production Design: Stefan Dechant; Set Decoration: Nancy Haigh
- “West Side Story” Production Design: Adam Stockhausen; Set Decoration: Rena DeAngelo
• Best animated short film
- “Affairs of the Art” Joanna Quinn and Les Mills
- “Bestia” Hugo Covarrubias and Tevo Díaz
- “Boxballet” Anton Dyakov
- “Robin Robin” Dan Ojari and Mikey Please
- “The Windshield Wiper” Alberto Mielgo and Leo Sanchez — WINNER
• Best live-action short film
- “Ala Kachuu - Take and Run” Maria Brendle and Nadine Lüchinger
- “The Dress” Tadeusz Łysiak and Maciej Ślesicki
- “The Long Goodbye” Aneil Karia and Riz Ahmed — WINNER
- “On My Mind” Martin Strange-Hansen and Kim Magnusson
- “Please Hold” K.D. Dávila and Levin Menekse
• Achievement in sound
- “Belfast” Denise Yarde, Simon Chase, James Mather, and Niv Adiri
- “Dune” Mac Ruth, Mark Mangini, Theo Green, Doug Hemphill, and Ron Bartlett — WINNER
- “No Time to Die” Simon Hayes, Oliver Tarney, James Harrison, Paul Massey, and Mark Taylor
- “The Power of the Dog” Richard Flynn, Robert Mackenzie, and Tara Webb
- “West Side Story” Tod A. Maitland, Gary Rydstrom, Brian Chumney, Andy Nelson, and Shawn Murphy
• Achievement in visual effects
- “Dune” Paul Lambert, Tristan Myles, Brian Connor, and Gerd Nefzer — WINNER
- “Free Guy” Swen Gillberg, Bryan Grill, Nikos Kalaitzidis and Dan Sudick
- “No Time to Die” Charlie Noble, Joel Green, Jonathan Fawkner, and Chris Corbould
- “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” Christopher Townsend, Joe Farrell, Sean Noel Walker, and Dan Oliver
- “Spider-Man: No Way Home” Kelly Port, Chris Waegner, Scott Edelstein and Dan Sudick
• Adapted screenplay
- “CODA” Screenplay by Siân Heder — WINNER
- “Drive My Car” Screenplay by Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Takamasa Oe
- “Dune” Screenplay by Jon Spaihts and Denis Villeneuve, and Eric Roth
- “The Lost Daughter” Written by Maggie Gyllenhaal
- “The Power of the Dog” Written by Jane Campion
• Original screenplay
- “Belfast” Written by Kenneth Branagh — WINNER
- “Don’t Look Up” Screenplay by Adam McKay; Story by Adam McKay & David Sirota
- “King Richard” Written by Zach Baylin
- “Licorice Pizza” Written by Paul Thomas Anderson
- “The Worst Person in the World” Written by Eskil Vogt, Joachim Trier
Source: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
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Edited & Posted by the Editor | 10:37 AM | View the original post
March 24, 2022
Lakmé Fashion Week and Fashion Design Council of India announce Designers And Partners for the New Delhi Show, March 23 to 27, 2022
Photo: Masoom Minawala as the show stopper for Lakme Salon and Varun Bahl Couture presentation “QUINTESSENTIAL” at FDCI X Lakmé Fashion Week, New Delhi, March 23, 2022. Image Credit: FDCIxLFW.
The line-up begins with the Opening Show jointly presented by the FDCI and Lakmé Fashion Week on March 22 and culminates with the Lakmé Absolute Grand Finale on the 27th.
Celebrated designers from across the country form part of the schedule with marquee showcases by Pankaj & Nidhi, Samant Chauhan, Ranna Gill, Vaishali S, Reynu Taandon, Pawan Sachdeva, Siddartha Tytler, and Outhouse.
The Manish Malhotra brand will be launching a new category; DIFFUSE, ease to couture.
Lakmé Lumi Cream presents Alpana Neeraj #LitWithLumi.
FDCI to showcase Ashish N Soni and present a Khadi curation comprising French-Malian designer Mossi Traoré and leading Indian designers Abhishek Gupta Benares, Anavila, Anju Modi, Charu Parashar, and Rina Dhaka.
Several longstanding partners will return to the platform to collaborate with leading designers, including NEXA x Tarun Tahiliani, Bata x Suneet Varma, Lakmé Salon x Varun Bahl, TENCEL™ LUXE x JJ Valaya, boAt x HUEMN, and Natural Diamond Council x Rimzim Dadu.
New brands “realme” and John Jacobs will be partnering with ace designers Shantnu and Nikhil and Shivan & Narresh, respectively. Likewise, Adidas Originals will partner with Khanijo and Antar Agni for their showcase.
Key showcases on Sustainable Fashion Day include R|Elan™ x Satya Paul by Rajesh Pratap Singh; Bemberg™ x Payal Pratap; FDCI KHADI Show; and RISE Worldwide X Fashion For Good. Additional showcases include Innovation for Circularity - Nitin Bal Chauhan, Divyam Mehta, and Ka-Sha and the return of the coveted Circular Design Challenge - an initiative of R|Elan™ in partnership with FDCI X Lakmé Fashion Week and UN in India & United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
Ajio Luxe continues as the preferred partner for showcasing and sales of all the outstanding collections showcased on the ramp.
In continuation with the collaboration with NBA (National Basketball Association), the winning designer Ananya Modi Jain will be showcasing her NBA 75 collection.
“aLL” - The Plus Size Store will return to the platform to host a plus-size show. There will also be showcases by 6degree v Prestigious talent discovery programs such as INIFD GenNext, NEXA presents The Spotlight, INIFD Launchpad, FDCI x Pearl Academy FirstCut will introduce new and emerging talent.
ReshaWeaves, by ReshaMandi, will be debuting at the Showroom to present exclusive and sustainable natural fiber products.
New Delhi, March 24, 2022: After two years of digital showcases due to the pandemic, the powerhouses of fashion and beauty in India- Lakmé Fashion Week (jointly organized by Lakmé & RISE Worldwide) and the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) together are hosting a fully on-ground, season-fluid edition in New Delhi, from 23rd-27th March 2022.
The schedule comprises one of the strongest curations of designers from across India. FDCI X Lakmé Fashion Week. It commences with the Opening Show on March 22 and will culminate with the Lakmé Absolute Grand Finale on March 27.
Sunil Sethi, Chairman FDCI, commented, “Energies are at an all-time high as we curate a diverse range of pathbreaking showcases and initiatives. This edition is exceptional as we make a full physical comeback after two years of adapting to the digital environment. Our audiences can expect the best designers and talent at this edition of FDCI X Lakmé Fashion Week with an extremely intense and power-packed schedule.”
Participating designers at this season-fluid edition include Alpana Neeraj, Alpona Designs, Ashish N Soni, Aisha Rao, Antar-Agni, Anju Modi, Anavila, Aartivijay Gupta, Ananya Modi Jain, Abhishek Sharma, Abhishek Gupta Benares, Charu Parashar, Countrymade, Diksha Khanna, Divyam Mehta, Eshaa Amiin, HUEMN, JJ Valaya, JAJAABOR, Kiniho, Khanijo, KAVERI, Ka-Sha, Label Rahul Dasgupta, Manish Malhotra, Mossi Traoré, Mynah’s Reynu Taandon + Nikhita, Nikhita Mhaisalkar, Nitin Bal Chauhan, Nirmooha, Outhouse, Pramaa by Pratima Pandey, Payal Pratap, Pawan Sachdeva, Pankaj & Nidhi, Punit Balana, RARA Avis by Sonal Verma, Rahul Singh, Rimzim Dadu, Rina Dhaka, Rajdeep Ranawat, Ranna Gill, Satya Paul by Rajesh Pratap Singh, Suneet Varma, Samant Chauhan, Shantnu and Nikhil, Shivan & Narresh, Shriya Khanna, Swatti Kapoor, Siddhartha Bansal, Siddartha Tytler, Shruti Sancheti, Tarun Tahiliani, Two Point Two, Varun Bahl, and Vaishali S.
Source: Fashion Design Council of India
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Lakmé Salon and Varun Bahl Couture present “QUINTESSENTIAL”
at FDCI X Lakmé Fashion Week on Wednesday, March 23, 2022.







Edited & Posted by the Editor | 1:24 PM | View the original post
U.S. Postal Service Issues Sunflower Bouquet and Tulips Flowers Stamps
• Stamps Designed for Invitations, Oversize Cards, and Small Gifts.
Photo: U.S. Postal Service Issues Sunflower Bouquet Stamp.
Photo: U.S. Postal Service Issues 2022 Tulips Forever Stamp.
LAWRENCE, Kan. and MOUNT VERNON, Wash., March 24, 2022 — The U.S. Postal Service has issued a beautiful sunflower bouquet stamp and a Tulips Forever stamp.
U.S. Postal Service said that the sunflower stamp features five sunflowers as part of a bright and beautiful bouquet. The stamp forms a natural pair with the Tulips Forever stamp. In addition to regular correspondence, the two stamps are perfect for party invitations, thank-you notes, and important announcements.
The sunflower stamp’s art comprises a still-life image of several orange-and-yellow sunflowers intermingled with irises, dahlias, and coneflowers. In addition, the stamp shows other small red, purple, white, and pink flowers against a white background.
Long treasured for bringing cheer to a summer landscape or garden, sunflowers grow in various sizes and colors, making them popular in bouquets of cut flowers. When combined with other flowers, bouquets like the one on this stamp convey a fond announcement of friendship and love.
The Tulips Forever stamp features a colorful, eye-catching array of red, orange, yellow, purple, and white tulips against a bright white background. The result is a luminous, almost ethereal, assortment of overlapping tulips in a profusion of color.
Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamps with digital photography by Harold Davis.
Source: U.S. Postal Service
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Edited & Posted by the Editor | 10:59 AM | View the original post
March 22, 2022
IQAir World Air Quality Report finds that 97 Percent of Global Cities did not meet Latest WHO Air Quality Guidelines.
Photo: Lisbon (Portugal) Landscape. Image credit: Franklin Ferreira.
GOLDACH, Switzerland, March 22, 2022 — The 2021 World Air Quality Report finds that only three percent of cities and not even one country met the latest World Health Organization’s (WHO) PM2.5 annual air quality guideline. The report analyzes PM2.5 air pollution measurements from air monitoring stations in 6,475 cities in 117 countries, regions, and territories.
IQAir’s 2021 World Air Quality Report is the first major global air quality report based on the updated annual WHO air quality guideline for PM2.5. The new procedure was released in September 2021 and cut the existing annual PM2.5 guideline value from 10 µg/m3 to 5 µg/m3.
Fine particle pollution, known as PM2.5, is commonly accepted as the most harmful, widely monitored air pollutant and is a major contributing factor to health effects such as asthma, stroke, heart and lung diseases. In addition, PM2.5 leads to millions of premature deaths every year.
Key findings:
No country met the latest WHO air quality guideline for PM2.5 in 2021. Only the territories of New Caledonia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico met updated WHO PM2.5 air quality guidelines.
Only 222 out of 6,475 global cities covered in the report met the updated WHO PM2.5 guideline.
Ninety-three cities in the report had annual PM2.5 concentrations exceeding ten times the WHO PM2.5 guideline.
Of 174 Latin America and the Caribbean cities, only 12 (7 percent) met the WHO PM2.5 guideline.
Of 65 African cities, only one (1.5 percent) met the updated annual WHO PM2.5 guideline.
Of 1,887 Asian cities, only four (0.2 percent) met the updated WHO PM2.5 guideline.
Of the 1,588 cities in Europe, only 55 (3 percent) met the WHO PM2.5 guideline.
The report covered 2,406 cities in the United States and found that average PM2.5 concentrations rose from 9.6 µg/m3 to 10.3 µg/m3 in 2021 compared to 2020.
Of the major cities in the United States, Los Angeles was the most polluted. However, the city of angels saw an overall decrease in PM2.5 pollution of 6 percent compared to 2020.
The top five most polluted countries in 2021 were:
- Bangladesh
- Chad
- Pakistan
- Tajikistan
- India
New Delhi (India) is the world’s most polluted capital city for the second consecutive year, followed by Dhaka (Bangladesh), N’Djamena (Chad), Dushanbe (Tajikistan), and Muscat (Oman).
Air quality in China continued to improve in 2021. More than half of the cities in China included in the report saw lower levels of air pollution when compared to the previous year. Pollution levels within the capital city of Beijing continued a nine-year trend of improved air quality, driven by emission control and reduction of coal power plant activity and other high emission industries.
Central and South Asia had some of the world’s worst air quality in 2021 and was home to 47 of the world’s 50 most polluted cities. The only two cities that met the updated WHO PM2.5 guideline were Zhezqazghan and Chu (Kazakhstan).
Air quality monitoring remains sparse in Africa, South America, and the Middle East. However, progress has been made by low-cost air quality sensors often operated by non-profit organizations and citizen scientists.
“Shockingly, no major city or country provides safe and healthy air to their citizens according to the latest World Health Organization air quality guideline,” said Frank Hammes, CEO of IQAir. “This report underscores just how much work remains to be done to ensure that everyone has safe, clean, and healthy air to breathe. The time for action is now.”
“We understand better than ever before how air pollution damages our health and economies. This report is a wake-up call, revealing how people are denied access to clean air. Particulate matter air pollution is produced by burning coal, oil, and fossil gas, unsustainable development, and agricultural activities. Addressing the air pollution crisis requires developing renewable energy resources and clean-powered, accessible public transport. Moreover, solutions to air pollution are also solutions to the climate crisis. Breathing clean air should be a basic human right, not a privilege,” said Greenpeace India Campaign manager Avinash Chanchal.
The 2021 World Air Quality Report is based on PM2.5 air pollution data from ground-based air quality monitoring stations in 6,475 cities in 117 countries, regions, and territories. Of the air quality monitoring stations included in this report, 44 percent were operated by governmental agencies.
IQAir is a Swiss-based air quality technology company that empowers individuals, organizations, and communities to breathe cleaner air through information, collaboration, and technology solutions. IQAir provides affordable air quality monitoring and data solutions to governments, NGOs, educational institutions, corporations, and individuals in over 100 countries.
Source: IQAir
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Edited & Posted by the Editor | 2:33 PM | View the original post
March 15, 2022
Beautiful Mountain Flowers Featured on New U.S. Postal Service Stamps
ALPINE, Wyo., March 14, 2022 — With spring approaching, the U.S. Postal Service has issued new Forever stamps featuring mountain flora. These flowers will soon be springing up in a riot of beautiful blooms across their respective habitats, while the four new stamps will appear in Post Offices nationwide in the USA.
Each stamp features a different flower:
- A purple pasqueflower
- An orange-red wood lily
- A bright yellow alpine buttercup
- A dark pink Woods’ rose
The artist’s hand-drawn illustrations are refined digitally to create a block-print aesthetic.
An essential part of the natural world, wildflower habitats support species such as butterflies, bees, birds, and foraging mammals. Wildflowers grow in varied environments, including bogs and swamps, forests and woodlands, alpine meadows, mountain slopes, coastal bluffs, and deserts. As a result, some wildflowers are widely distributed across the United States, while others are specific to just a tiny area.
Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamps with original art by Lili Arnold.
Source: U.S. Postal Service
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Edited & Posted by the Editor | 3:06 PM | View the original post
March 12, 2022
"Writing with Fire" — National Press Club Washington DC hosts a documentary screening on a women-run news network in India.
Photo: 94th Oscars nominee Rintu Thomas, Director of “Writing with Fire” Documentary, arrives at the Oscar Nominee Luncheon held at the Fairmont Century Plaza on Monday, March 7, 2022. The 94th Oscars will air on Sunday, March 27, 2022, live on ABC. Image credit: Phil McCarten / © A.M.P.A.S.
Photo: 94th Oscars nominee Sushmit Ghosh, Director of “Writing with Fire” Documentary, arrives at the Oscar Nominee Luncheon held at the Fairmont Century Plaza on Monday, March 7, 2022. The 94th Oscars will air on Sunday, March 27, 2022, live on ABC. Image credit: Phil McCarten / © A.M.P.A.S.
Washington, DC, March 11, 2022 — The National Press Club will host a special screening of the Oscar-nominated film “Writing with Fire” at 6:30 p.m. Monday, March 14.
The documentary tells the story of Khabar Lahariya, the only news network in India run by women. The fierce band of Dalit (low caste) women serves as an anchor for truth and justice and a pillar of democracy. They defy the bounds of gender and caste and redefine what it means to be influential in their homes and the world with wit and grace.
The event, which is open to Club members and their guests, begins at 6:30 p.m. with a conversation with the film’s directors, Rintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh. The screening starts at 7:30 p.m.
The film won the Audience Award at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival.
View the trailer.
• Writing With Fire (Official Trailer)
In a cluttered news landscape dominated by men emerges a newspaper run by Dalit women. Armed with smartphones, Chief Reporter Meera and her journalists break traditions, be it on the frontlines of India’s most significant issues or within the confines of their homes, redefining what it means to be powerful.
Directed and Produced by: Rintu Thomas & Sushmit Ghosh
Source: National Press Club
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— The Editor is a Member of the National Press Club.







Edited & Posted by the Editor | 8:42 AM | View the original post
March 11, 2022
World's Largest Hot Air Balloon Glow Show
Saudi Arabia, March 10, 2022 — AlUla Moments, in association with SAHAB (Saudi Arabian Ballooning Federation), has broken the Guinness World Records title for the World’s Largest Hot Air Balloon Glow Show.
On March 1, 2022 near Hegra, the first UNESCO World Heritage Site in Saudi Arabia, s total of 142 brightly-lit balloons were streamlined together in a show over the ancient site that brightened the skies and illuminated the rock-strewn desert landscape. The site is famous for more than 100 carved Nabataean tombs, which feature more than 2000 years of remarkably well-preserved inscriptions and symbols on the sandstone mountains.
A total of 142 brightly-lit balloons were streamlined together in the show over the ancient site that brightened the skies and illuminated the rock-strewn desert landscape.
The previous record was also achieved in AlUla - during its arts and cultural festival, Winter at Tantora, in 2019 - that time it was with 100 balloons.
The World’s Largest Hot Air Balloon Glow Show on March 1, 2022, was part of AlUla Skies, a new festival in the AlUla Moments event calendar. The celebration included sunrise and sunset balloon experiences, with around 150 balloons each morning floating serenely over the stunning ancient site.
AlUla Moments’ winter events calendar offers engaging arts, music, and cultural experiences running until the end of March 2022.
Source: AlUla Moments
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AlUla Hot Air Balloons 2022







Edited & Posted by the Editor | 8:58 AM | View the original post
March 4, 2022
Woman Power! U.S. Postal Service Celebrates the 50th Anniversary of Title IX
Photo: Woman Power! U.S. Postal Service celebrates the 50th anniversary of Title IX with four new stamps.
WASHINGTON, March 3, 2022 — Just five days before International Women’s Day, the U.S. Postal Service commemorated legislation that leveled the playing field, literally, for women and girls nationwide in the USA with the dedication of four Title IX Forever stamps.
The U.S. Congress enacted Title IX, and President Richard Nixon signed it in 1972. The act prohibits sex discrimination in any educational program or activity receiving federal financial aid.
Title IX states: No person in the United States shall, based on sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.
“Title IX created pathways for enriching women’s programs, allowing for a broader range of competitive offerings, more robust physical education regimens, and equivalent resources,” said Amber McReynolds, member of the USPS Board of Governors. Amber McReynolds was the dedicating official during the related U.S. Department of Education ceremony in Washington, DC. “I can personally attest to the positive impacts of Title IX. I have seen my daughter excel with the increased opportunities available to her. I am thankful she can grow up knowing these rights are not only deserved but expected.”
Also participating in the event were Cindy Marten, deputy secretary, Department of Education; Catherine Lhamon, assistant secretary, Office of Civil Rights, Department of Education; Sheila Johnson, president and managing partner, Washington Mystics; Donna de Varona, double Olympic gold medalist and first president of the Women’s Sports Foundation and Melinda Beck, stamp designer and artist.
Four different stamps feature dark blue silhouettes of one of four female athletes: a runner, a swimmer, a gymnast, and a soccer player. Yellow laurel branches, symbolic of victory, rest in their hair and on the swimmer’s cap. The four Forever stamps are in a pane of 20. The art director was Derry Noyes.
Source: U.S. Postal Service
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Edited & Posted by the Editor | 2:25 AM | View the original post
February 19, 2022
Mumbai, India, elected to host the IOC Session in 2023
Photo: Mumbai, India, elected to host the IOC Session in 2023. Beijing, China, February 19, 2022. Image provided by & copyright © IOC / Greg Martin.
Photo: IOC President Thomas Bach holds a Press Conference at the MMC during BEIJING 2022, the XXIV IOC Olympic Winter Games. Beijing, China, February 18, 2022. Image provided by & copyright © IOC / Greg Martin.
BEIJING, CHINA — February 19, 2022 - Mumbai, India, will host the IOC Session in 2023. This decision was taken by the IOC Members today during the 139th Session in Beijing. The IOC Session will go back to India 40 years after its 86th edition, in New Delhi in 1983.
The Indian delegation made a remote presentation to the IOC Members. The Indian panel included IOC Member Mrs. Nita Ambani, Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President Dr. Narinder Batra, Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Mr. Anurag Singh Thakur, and India’s first individual Olympic gold medallist (Beijing 2008, shooting), Mr. Abhinav Bindra.
The 139th IOC Session elected Mumbai to become the host of the IOC Session in May-June 2023 (exact dates to be confirmed) by 75 yes votes of the 76 valid votes cast.
The decision by the IOC Session, meeting in Beijing for the Olympic Winter Games 2022, follows the proposal of the IOC Executive Board (EB) made in March 2020, upon the recommendation of the IOC Session Evaluation Commission.
The Commission had visited Mumbai in October 2019 to study the feasibility of hosting the IOC Session in the city. It praised the quality of the facilities at the Jio World Centre, which will be the venue for the IOC Session.
The Commission was also impressed by the potential of India as a country, which is the world’s sixth-largest economy and has a population of 1.3 billion people.
IOC President Thomas Bach said: “We have chosen India because it is the second-most populous nation globally, with a very young population and a huge potential for Olympic sport. We want to encourage and support the National Olympic Committee of India and all the National Federations to promote and strengthen Olympic sport in the country.”
Hosting the IOC Session in India will highlight the role of sport in the country and celebrate the contribution of India to the Olympic Movement.
Mr. Bindra pledged that Mumbai will “step up in every way, with its resilient spirit, as sport helps the world return to normality,” and spoke about the “excitement at the potential to inspire 1.3 billion people to the spirit of sport and Olympic values.”
Mrs. Ambani added: “Since we last had the honor of welcoming the Olympic family, we have made consistent strides and grown into a more prosperous, more self-confident India.”
To coincide with the IOC Session in 2023, Mrs. Ambani proposed to launch a series of elite sports development programs for young people across deprived communities. “I believe this is only the beginning, and it is time to elevate our partnership with the Olympic Movement to greater heights,” she said, referring to the country’s ambition to host the Olympic Games in the future.
Mr. Batra explained that: “In recent years, India as a nation has embraced sports and fitness. There is a strong belief that sports can provide fundamental shifts in our society. Amongst our first steps in showcasing new India’s sports capabilities to the world is our proposal to host the IOC Session in Mumbai 2023.”
Finally, Mr. Singh Thakur spoke about the Indian government’s vision of India becoming one of the world’s leading sporting nations. “It is my firm belief that the Olympic Movement can help accelerate our vibrant nation in the right direction. Hosting the IOC Session in 2023 will demonstrate our ambition and elevate the potential of our partnership.”
The year 2023 will be significant for India as it coincides with the 75th anniversary of its independence. Hosting the IOC Session in Mumbai will put the Olympic Movement at the heart of those celebrations.
Source: International Olympic Committee (IOC)
|GlobalGiants.Com|







Edited & Posted by the Editor | 3:53 PM | View the original post
'Get Noticed': A digital Grooming School from Miss India Organization to power the aspirants personality.
- Bringing the legacy, the tradition, the experience, now making it easily accessible. Seven subjects, Seven celebrity mentors, and one life-changing school — The Grooming School from the House of Miss India
Photo: Renowned industry experts Savio John Pereira (Haircare), Alesia Raut (Ramp Walk), Sanjeev Dutta (Personality Development), Bharat Gupta (Fashion & Styling), Nitibha Kaul (Social Media Etiquette), Ayesha Seth (Makeup), Zara Dadi (Skincare) along with Nehal Chudasama have designed the training modules of The Grooming School.
MUMBAI, India, Feb. 18, 2022 — The Miss India Organisation has decided to leverage its vast experience and expertise in transforming women into confident, booming winners in life by launching The Grooming School. It is a suite of ‘Do-It-Yourself’ video tutorials conducted by acknowledged and acclaimed experts who have been behind many successful Miss India winners and aims to bring this knowledge to the larger Indian audience and not just pageant participants.
The Grooming School is aimed at young women who would like to sharpen their personality and technical skills to stand out from the crowd and succeed. These modules aim to touch all the elements of one’s personality that help build confidence and appeal. The world is moving more and more into a networked society, and the need to hold their own with a strong personality is becoming imperative.
The Grooming Masterclass six modules include Skincare, Hair Care & Styling, Make-up, Personality Development, Fashion Styling, and Social Media Etiquettes and involve self-paced learning.
In addition to the modules for the larger audience, The Miss India Organisation is also launching the ‘Ace Your Pageant - A Miss India Masterclass’ as a marquee offering specifically for pageant aspirants who wish to participate in Miss India or Miss Diva. This course elevates learning to prepare one for a pageant. It is for those who want to compete for the coveted crown by acing their poise, presence, communication, beauty, body language, body structure, attitude, and discipline. The additional modules focus on ramp walking, fitness, and other expert sessions and hacks on personality development and life skills.
In an age where women are increasingly seeking to be independent and take control of their lives, they need to possess self-esteem, be confident and poised, be well-versed in social etiquette and self-grooming. While many urban educated women mind their ‘P’s and ‘Q’s and keep abreast of other social norms, there are a whole lot of Indian women who haven’t had that kind of an early grounding. While it doesn’t dampen their dreams or aspirations, easy and affordable access to contemporary lessons in physical, emotional, and social grooming will go a long way in helping them realize their dreams.
The Miss India Organisation, over the past six decades, has been the most robust platform for young women to empower themselves and realize their life dreams. It has witnessed Indian women struggling to break out of a male-dominated society and make space for themselves. Many winners over the years have used this platform to create positive change towards women’s empowerment and the community at large. The Miss India Organisation has been a pioneer in triggering this evolution.
It is the ideal starter program for all pageant aspirants. Earning a certificate in the ‘Ace your Pageant’ course gives the candidate an immense benefit of ‘Cutting the Queue’ if applying for these two pageants. As thousands of applicants get screened for auditions, many don’t even get a chance to present themselves and make a pitch. But with this certificate, they will be able to enter the auditions without going through the screening process and get a chance to present themselves to the talent-spotting team of Miss India Organisation.
Eight renowned fashion, beauty, fitness, personality development, and social media experts from the industry have meticulously prepared these tutorials, sharing secrets, tricks, and hacks they’ve acquired during their years in the trade. They include Savio John Pereira (Haircare), Alesia Raut (Ramp Walk), Sanjeev Dutta (Personality Development), Nehal Chudasama (Fitness), Nitibha Kaul (Social Media Etiquette), Bharat Gupta (Fashion & Styling), Zara Dadi (Skincare), and Ayesha Seth (Makeup).
The program is open to applicants from all walks of life above 16 years of age who ardently wish to uncover their true potential and achieve big things in life. The Grooming School - from the House of Miss India has a special early bird offer with a discount of over 25 percent for all enrolments during the inaugural year. In addition, the applicants will receive certificates from ‘The Miss India Organisation’ on completing the course.
Miss India Organisation, a household name and a powerful aspirational brand, has reigned for decades with its legacy of creating icons for the social, glamour, and fashion industry. In addition, the organization is host to the country’s most coveted and sensational beauty pageants, namely, Miss India, Miss Diva, and Mr. India.
Miss India Organisation’s global Hall of Fame features the likes of Rita Faria, Zeenat Aman, Juhi Chawla, Sushmita Sen, Aishwarya Rai, Diana Hayden, Yukta Mookhey, Gul Panag, Priyanka Chopra, Lara Dutta, Dia Mirza, Celine Jaitley, Neha Dhupia, Parvathy Omnakuttan, Pooja Chopra, Nicole Faria, Srishti Rana, Asha Bhat, Ruhi Singh, Urvashi Rautela, Vartika Singh, Srinidhi Shetty, Lopamudra Raut, Manushi Chhillar, Meenakshi Chaudhary, Suman Rao, Adline Castelino, and Harnaaz Sandhu.
Source: The Miss India Organisation
|GlobalGiants.Com|







Edited & Posted by the Editor | 12:28 PM | View the original post
February 18, 2022
David Yurman unveils its new Campaign "Come Closer," featuring Scarlett Johansson and Henry Golding.
NEW YORK, Feb. 17, 2022 — David Yurman, one of America’s foremost luxury jewelry brands, has announced its first brand campaign under the leadership of newly ascended company president Evan Yurman. The 2022 campaign marks another milestone for the house, as it features David Yurman’s first-ever celebrity brand ambassador duo - Scarlett Johansson and Henry Golding.
The campaign, aptly titled “Come Closer,” celebrates the joy of closeness and connection in challenging times, featuring images of two of the world’s most recognizable celebrities against the backdrop of David Yurman’s perennial inspiration and home of New York City.
“After years of separation for many - much longer than any of us could have anticipated - we are all craving connection,” said Evan Yurman. “‘Come Closer’ is a call to all of us to delight in every day, where simple moments with family and friends are unexpected and beautiful.”
• Scarlett Johansson for David Yurman 2022 “Come Closer” Campaign
When envisioning the campaign, there was only one choice for Evan Yurman when it came to its female star.
“Scarlett is the embodiment of the David Yurman woman. A native New Yorker at the top of her craft, Scarlett is a woman who forges her path. She doesn’t take no for an answer and isn’t afraid to stand up for herself and what’s right,” said Evan Yurman. “To have the opportunity to work with a force like Scarlett to create such honest images, profound in their lack of pretense and artifice, is an honor.”
For “Come Closer,” mother, founder, Tony winner, and two-time Academy Award-nominated actress Johansson was photographed by renowned fashion photographer Lachlan Bailey and styled by Anastasia Barbieri.
“Growing up in New York, I always felt connected to David Yurman - I would see their beautiful black and white ads in all my favorite fashion magazines,” said Johansson. “The Yurmans and their designs always embodied New York for me - bold, fresh, and just a bit of edge. So when Evan approached me with this opportunity and shared his vision for the campaign, I already felt so linked to the brand that it was a natural fit.”
• Henry Golding for David Yurman 2022 “Come Closer” Campaign
With the decision to introduce the brand’s first-ever male ambassador, Henry Golding shined. Already exhibiting the enigmatic qualities of the David Yurman man, Golding’s New York story is one of perseverance and identity.
“Henry embodies the passion and grit of the David Yurman man. He’s extremely talented, conscientious, and well-traveled, but of all the amazing places he’s visited, and after all that he’s achieved, it is the spirit of New York City that keeps calling him back,” said Evan Yurman. “We are thrilled to welcome Henry into the David Yurman family and to introduce him as the face of the Men’s category, debuting in our new campaign that shares the sometimes-quiet ways that only New York City can draw you back.”
For “Come Closer,” renowned fashion photographer Lachlan Bailey photographed father, advocate, and globally celebrated actor Henry Golding.
“There is a magnetism to New York City and a tenacity among New Yorkers that is difficult to describe but contagious just the same. I’ve been fortunate enough to visit the city many times for both personal and professional reasons, and each time I feel more and more a sense of belonging,” said Golding. “David Yurman is a testament to the city’s heritage and values, and I’m honored to be the face of a brand whose timeless works of self-expression continue to connect us all.”
Source: David Yurman
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Come Closer with Scarlett Johansson | David Yurman
Introducing new campaign “Come Closer” with Scarlett Johansson, a born-and-bred New Yorker.
Come Closer with Henry Golding | David Yurman
Introducing new campaign “Come Closer” with Henry Golding, father, advocate, and actor.







Edited & Posted by the Editor | 7:15 AM | View the original post
February 13, 2022
Making the most of the Olympic experience at Beijing 2022
Photos: Making the most of the Olympic experience at Beijing 2022.
While competing at the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, athletes can benefit from a range of services available either in person at the Olympic Village or digitally through Athlete365.
By signing up to Athlete365, the IOC’s official platform for the global athlete community, Beijing 2022 athletes gain access to a range of exclusive Olympian services geared towards helping them make the most of their Olympic experience.
These include innovative tools designed to bring fans, friends, and family closer to the action to experience the Games with the athletes.
• Connecting with families and friends, plus fans around the world
Athlete Moment, which proved so popular when piloted at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, is being rolled out by Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS) across all winter sports at Beijing 2022, enabling athletes to connect with loved ones back home immediately after their competition. All they need to do is fill in a simple online form specifying who from their entourage they want on the other end of the screen, and the Athlete365 team takes care of the logistics.
Meanwhile, Athlete365 Connect allows athletes to receive free, high-resolution Getty Images of themselves competing on the field of play at Beijing 2022 and behind the scenes, ready to instantly share to their social media channels, potentially reaching new followers. They will continue to have access to the images after the Games, too, so that they can celebrate Beijing 2022 and grow their brand in the weeks following the Closing Ceremony.
Athletes can also sign up for the Airbnb500 Travel Grant when they have finished competing. Delivered in partnership with TOP Partner Airbnb, each Beijing 2022 Olympian and Paralympian who signs up through the online form will receive an Airbnb credit worth USD 500 to spend on unwinding after the Games or going after their next goal - or both.
• Olympic Village services
“The Beijing Olympic Village is the largest non-competition venue of the Games that best meets the needs of the competing athletes,” said SHEN Qianfan, Director-General of the Beijing 2022 Olympic Village. “With its comfortable apartments and 2,300 beds, 2200 square meters dining hall operating 24 hours, and fitness and entertainment areas, the Village provides all the necessary services. In addition, it includes medical and psychological assistance to all athletes to perform at their best and enjoy their time in Beijing”.
There is a Galaxy Athlete Lounge in each Olympic Village. In addition, athletes can pick up their complimentary, limited-edition Beijing 2022 mobile phone from TOP Partner Samsung to help them share their Olympic experiences with the world.
Many of the usual Olympic Village activities are in place to keep athletes relaxed and entertained, with table tennis already proving extremely popular in Beijing. The conditions in the Villages have drawn praise from athletes.
Source: International Olympic Committee
|GlobalGiants.Com|
• Anna Shcherbakova wins Women’s Gold! | Figure Skating Beijing 2022 | Free Skate highlights
ROC (Russian Olympic Committee) skater Anna Shcherbakova became Olympic champion after her free skate saw her score a massive personal best.
• Figure Skating Beijing 2022 | Team Event Women’s Short Highlights
Stunning performance by Kamila Valieva.
Kamila Valieva moved ROC (Russian Olympic Committee) to the top of the team event standings with a stunning performance in the women’s short program at the Beijing 2022 Olympics.







Edited & Posted by the Editor | 2:42 PM | View the original post
February 10, 2022
Sony invites fans to the new brand campaign "Set The Stage" with The Kid LAROI.
- Tate McRae and BIA collaborate with Sony to bring top hits to life through fan-created artwork.
TOKYO, February 9, 2022 — Sony Group Corporation has announced a new brand campaign, “Set The Stage,” — an opportunity for music fans to help co-create content with some of their favorite Sony Music Entertainment artists. The artists include The Kid LAROI, the Australian artist behind the chart-toppers “Stay” and “Without You,” multi-platinum-certified, Boston-born artist BIA (“Whole Lotta Money”) and Canadian singer/ songwriter /dancer Tate McRae (“you broke me first”).
Streaming live from a studio in Los Angeles, Tate McRae will begin a string of live performance videos on February 24 with a live set featuring her new single “she’s all I wanna be,” released on February 4. BIA will follow with a performance video on March 3, with “Set The Stage” culminating in an upcoming grand finale performance from The Kid LAROI*.
To bring fans even closer to the Sony Music artists they love, The Kid LAROI, Tate McRae, and BIA will each invite their followers to participate in the “Set The Stage” challenge. Fans in the United States will submit artwork of the artist’s song lyrics that will then be turned into dynamic, visual works that the artists will perform within during their “Set The Stage” live video performance.
“I’m beyond excited to partner with Sony and bring my fans in on the fun,” said Sony Music Artist The Kid LAROI. “My fans have quite literally changed my life, and I want to connect with them in new ways. With my first global tour coming up, I wanted to take this opportunity to share this experience with my fans, putting their voices at the center of my work.”
“Providing fans with a deeper connection to their favorite artists and their music through technology is the cornerstone of Set The Stage,” said Shiro Kambe, Senior Executive Vice President, Corporate Executive Officer of Sony Group Corporation. “We are creating exciting new content by pairing talented artists and innovative technology to deliver an experience that only Sony can provide.”
On Thursday, February 24, the action kicks off when viewers can tune in to watch Tate McRae’s live “Set The Stage” performance on Sony’s global YouTube channel.
Source: Sony Group Corporation
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Tate McRae - you broke me first.
(An Immersive 3D Version Made For Spatial Reality Display)







Edited & Posted by the Editor | 8:36 AM | View the original post
February 9, 2022
World Photography Organisation and Sony World Photography announces National Awards 2022
Photo: Polar Bear Cub. Photographer: Jenny Zhao. Year: 2022. Country: USA. A polar bear cub is staring wistfully into the distance. Shot in Canada in November 2021. Copyright © Jenny Zhao, United States of America. Winner, National Awards, Natural World & Wildlife, 2022 Sony World Photography Awards.
London, February 09, 2022 — The World Photography Organisation and the Sony United States have announced Jenny Zhao as the United States National Award winner for the Sony World Photography Awards 2022.
The National Awards program is an initiative set up by the World Photography Organisation and Sony to support local photographic communities worldwide, with 61 countries taking part this year.
Photographers from 211 territories submitted over 340,000 images to the Sony World Photography Awards 2022. Over 170,000 photos made entry to the Open competition for the National Awards.
Jenny Zhao was anonymously selected by judges for her photograph Polar Bear Cub, entered into the Natural World & Wildlife category of the Open competition. The image depicts a polar bear cub staring wistfully into the distance, shot in Canada in November 2021.
Jenny Zhao is an Amateur wildlife photographer based in Boston, Massachusetts. Her striking images of nature feature in leading international wildlife publications.
Commenting on her win Zhao said: It is such an honor for my photo of a polar bear cub in Hudson Bay, Canada, shortlisted for the National Award in Sony World Photography Awards 2022.
As the United States’ National Award winner, Jenny Zhao receives Sony digital imaging equipment and gets included in the Sony World Photography Awards exhibition and book.
• This year’s National Award Winners are:
- Austria - Sonja Ivancsics
- Bangladesh - Kazi Arifuzzaman
- Belgium - Mathis Vandermeeren
- Bulgaria - Minko Mihaylov
- Cambodia - Sean Channal
- Croatia - Majda Pavlekovic
- Czech Republic - Martina Dimunova
- Denmark - Sussi Charlotte Alminde
- Egypt - Sherif Salem
- Estonia - Raido Nurk
- Finland - Damon Beckford
- France - Patrick Bosc
- Germany - Frank Loddenkemper
- Greece - Foteini Zaglara
- Hungary - Edina Csoboth
- Iceland - Viktor Einar Vilhelmsson
- India - Haider Khan
- Indonesia - Metha Meiryna
- Italy - Antonino Pellicano
- Japan - Kaoru Sugiyama, Winner
- Japan - Yasuhiro Takachi, 2nd Place
- Japan - Mituhiro Okabe, 3rd Place
- Kuwait - Mohammad Mirza
- Republic of Korea -Wonyoung Choi, Winner
- Republic of Korea - Wookeun Choi, 2nd Place
- Republic of Korea - Jung Woon Park, 3rd Place
- Latvia - Viktors Rimarevs
- Lithuania - Virginija Mureikienė
- Malaysia - Yih Chang Chew
- Myanmar - Swe Tun
- Nepal - Dikpal Thapa
- Netherlands - Harrie Coehorst
- Nigeria - Samakinwa Emmanuel Temitope
- Norway - Hans Kristian Strand
- Pakistan - Yawar Abbas
- Philippines - Mariah Zamora
- Poland - Marcin Giba
- Portugal - Jose Pessoa Neto
- Qatar - Amal Prasad
- Romania - Teodor Toma
- Russian Federation - Marianna Smolina
- Saudi Arabia - Mazin Alhassan
- Serbia - Vladimir Zivojinovic
- Singapore - Chin Leong Teo
- Slovakia - Filip Hrebenda
- Slovenia - Matjaž Šimic
- South Africa - Tshabalala Bongani
- Spain- Mariano Belmar Torrecilla
- Sweden - Peter Angvarson
- Switzerland - Tinu Müller
- Taiwan - Chihao Wang
- Thailand - Kunuch Chutmongkolporn
- Turkey - Cigdem Ayyildiz
- United Arab Emirates - Salem Alsawafi
- United States - Jenny Zhao
- Vietnam - Thanh Nguyen Phuc
Source: World Photography Organisation
|GlobalGiants.Com|







Edited & Posted by the Editor | 8:36 AM | View the original post
February 8, 2022
Academy announces Oscar Nominations.
- The Oscars are set to air live on March 27 on ABC.
Photo: Salma Hayek arrives on the red carpet of The 90th Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, CA, on Sunday, March 4, 2018. Image provided by & copyright © Scott Diussa / A.M.P.A.S. [File Photo]
LOS ANGELES, CA - Actor-comedian Leslie Jordan and actor, CEO, and producer Tracee Ellis Ross announced the 94th Oscars nominations today (February 8) via a global live stream on Oscar.com, Oscars.org, the Academy’s digital platforms, an international satellite feed, and broadcast media.
Jordan, Ross, and several special guests announced the nominees in all 23 categories at 5:18 a.m. PST, live from Los Angeles, Times Square in New York City, Howard University in Washington, D.C., Beaumont Hospital in Detroit, MI, and Thaddeus M. Bullard Academy in Tampa, FL.
Academy members from each of the 17 branches vote to determine the nominees in their respective categories - actors nominate actors, film editors nominate film editors, and others. In addition, multi-branch screening committees select nominees by a vote in the Animated Feature Film and International Feature Film categories. Finally, all voting members are eligible to choose the Best Picture nominees. This year, the Academy saw its highest-ever voter participation in its history, with members submitting ballots from 82 countries.
Active members of the Academy are eligible to vote for the winners in all 23 categories beginning Thursday, March 17, through Tuesday, March 22.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is a global community of the most accomplished artists, filmmakers, and executives working in film. In addition to celebrating and recognizing excellence in filmmaking through the Oscars, the Academy supports a wide range of initiatives to promote the art and science of the movies, including public programming, educational outreach, and the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.
• Nominations for the 94th Academy Awards
• Performance by an actor in a leading role
- Javier Bardem in “Being the Ricardos”
- Benedict Cumberbatch in “The Power of the Dog”
- Andrew Garfield in “tick, tick…BOOM!”
- Will Smith in “King Richard”
- Denzel Washington in “The Tragedy of Macbeth”
• Performance by an actor in a supporting role
- Ciarán Hinds in “Belfast”
- Troy Kotsur in “CODA”
- Jesse Plemons in “The Power of the Dog”
- J.K. Simmons in “Being the Ricardos”
- Kodi Smit-McPhee in “The Power of the Dog”
• Performance by an actress in a leading role
- Jessica Chastain in “The Eyes of Tammy Faye”
- Olivia Colman in “The Lost Daughter”
- Penélope Cruz in “Parallel Mothers”
- Nicole Kidman in “Being the Ricardos”
- Kristen Stewart in “Spencer”
• Performance by an actress in a supporting role
- Jessie Buckley in “The Lost Daughter”
- Ariana DeBose in “West Side Story”
- Judi Dench in “Belfast”
- Kirsten Dunst in “The Power of the Dog”
- Aunjanue Ellis in “King Richard”
• Best animated feature film of the year
- “Encanto” Jared Bush, Byron Howard, Yvett Merino and Clark Spencer
- “Flee” Jonas Poher Rasmussen, Monica Hellström, Signe Byrge Sørensen and Charlotte De La Gournerie
- “Luca” Enrico Casarosa and Andrea Warren
- “The Mitchells vs. the Machines” Mike Rianda, Phil Lord, Christopher Miller and Kurt Albrecht
- “Raya and the Last Dragon” Don Hall, Carlos López Estrada, Osnat Shurer and Peter Del Vecho
• Achievement in cinematography
- “Dune” Greig Fraser
- “Nightmare Alley” Dan Laustsen
- “The Power of the Dog” Ari Wegner
- “The Tragedy of Macbeth” Bruno Delbonnel
- “West Side Story” Janusz Kaminski
• Achievement in costume design
- “Cruella” Jenny Beavan
- “Cyrano” Massimo Cantini Parrini and Jacqueline Durran
- “Dune” Jacqueline West and Robert Morgan
- “Nightmare Alley” Luis Sequeira
- “West Side Story” Paul Tazewell
• Achievement in directing
- “Belfast” Kenneth Branagh
- “Drive My Car” Ryusuke Hamaguchi
- “Licorice Pizza” Paul Thomas Anderson
- “The Power of the Dog” Jane Campion
- “West Side Story” Steven Spielberg
• Best documentary feature
- “Ascension” Jessica Kingdon, Kira Simon-Kennedy, and Nathan Truesdell
- “Attica” Stanley Nelson and Traci A. Curry
- “Flee” Jonas Poher Rasmussen, Monica Hellström, Signe Byrge Sørensen and Charlotte De La Gournerie
- “Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)” Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, Joseph Patel, Robert Fyvolent and David Dinerstein
- “Writing with Fire” Rintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh
• Best documentary short subject
- “Audible” Matt Ogens and Geoff McLean
- “Lead Me Home” Pedro Kos and Jon Shenk
- “The Queen of Basketball” Ben Proudfoot
- “Three Songs for Benazir” Elizabeth Mirzaei and Gulistan Mirzaei
- “When We Were Bullies” Jay Rosenblatt
• Achievement in film editing
- “Don’t Look Up” Hank Corwin
- “Dune” Joe Walker
- “King Richard” Pamela Martin
- “The Power of the Dog” Peter Sciberras
- “tick, tick…BOOM!” Myron Kerstein and Andrew Weisblum
• Best international feature film of the year
- “Drive My Car” Japan
- “Flee” Denmark
- “The Hand of God” Italy
- “Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom” Bhutan
- “The Worst Person in the World” Norway
• Achievement in makeup and hairstyling
- ” Coming 2 America” Mike Marino, Stacey Morris, and Carla Farmer
- “Cruella” Nadia Stacey, Naomi Donne, and Julia Vernon
- “Dune” Donald Mowat, Love Larson and Eva von Bahr
- “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” Linda Dowds, Stephanie Ingram and Justin Raleigh
- “House of Gucci” Göran Lundström, Anna Carin Lock and Frederic Aspiras
• Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)
- “Don’t Look Up” Nicholas Britell
- “Dune” Hans Zimmer
- “Encanto” Germaine Franco
- “Parallel Mothers” Alberto Iglesias
- “The Power of the Dog” Jonny Greenwood
• Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)
- “Be Alive” from “King Richard”
- Music and Lyric by DIXSON and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter
- “Dos Oruguitas” from “Encanto”
- Music and Lyric by Lin-Manuel Miranda
- “Down To Joy” from “Belfast”
- Music and Lyric by Van Morrison
- “No Time To Die” from “No Time to Die”
- Music and Lyric by Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell
- “Somehow You Do” from “Four Good Days”
- Music and Lyric by Diane Warren
• Best motion picture of the year
- “Belfast” Laura Berwick, Kenneth Branagh, Becca Kovacik and Tamar Thomas, Producers
- “CODA” Philippe Rousselet, Fabrice Gianfermi and Patrick Wachsberger, Producers
- “Don’t Look Up” Adam McKay and Kevin Messick, Producers
- “Drive My Car” Teruhisa Yamamoto, Producer
- “Dune” Mary Parent, Denis Villeneuve and Cale Boyter, Producers
- “King Richard” Tim White, Trevor White, and Will Smith, Producers
- “Licorice Pizza” Sara Murphy, Adam Somner and Paul Thomas Anderson, Producers
- “Nightmare Alley” Guillermo del Toro, J. Miles Dale and Bradley Cooper, Producers
- “The Power of the Dog” Jane Campion, Tanya Seghatchian, Emile Sherman, Iain Canning and Roger Frappier, Producers
- “West Side Story” Steven Spielberg and Kristie Macosko Krieger, Producers
• Achievement in production design
- “Dune” Production Design: Patrice Vermette; Set Decoration: Zsuzsanna Sipos
- “Nightmare Alley” Production Design: Tamara Deverell; Set Decoration: Shane Vieau
- “The Power of the Dog” Production Design: Grant Major; Set Decoration: Amber Richards
- “The Tragedy of Macbeth” Production Design: Stefan Dechant; Set Decoration: Nancy Haigh
- “West Side Story” Production Design: Adam Stockhausen; Set Decoration: Rena DeAngelo
• Best animated short film
- “Affairs of the Art” Joanna Quinn and Les Mills
- “Bestia” Hugo Covarrubias and Tevo Díaz
- “Boxballet” Anton Dyakov
- “Robin Robin” Dan Ojari and Mikey Please
- “The Windshield Wiper” Alberto Mielgo and Leo Sanchez
• Best live-action short film
- “Ala Kachuu - Take and Run” Maria Brendle and Nadine Lüchinger
- “The Dress” Tadeusz Łysiak and Maciej Ślesicki
- “The Long Goodbye” Aneil Karia and Riz Ahmed
- “On My Mind” Martin Strange-Hansen and Kim Magnusson
- “Please Hold” K.D. Dávila and Levin Menekse
• Achievement in sound
- “Belfast” Denise Yarde, Simon Chase, James Mather and Niv Adiri
- “Dune” Mac Ruth, Mark Mangini, Theo Green, Doug Hemphill, and Ron Bartlett
- “No Time to Die” Simon Hayes, Oliver Tarney, James Harrison, Paul Massey, and Mark Taylor
- “The Power of the Dog” Richard Flynn, Robert Mackenzie, and Tara Webb
- “West Side Story” Tod A. Maitland, Gary Rydstrom, Brian Chumney, Andy Nelson, and Shawn Murphy
• Achievement in visual effects
- “Dune” Paul Lambert, Tristan Myles, Brian Connor, and Gerd Nefzer
- “Free Guy” Swen Gillberg, Bryan Grill, Nikos Kalaitzidis and Dan Sudick
- “No Time to Die” Charlie Noble, Joel Green, Jonathan Fawkner, and Chris Corbould
- “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” Christopher Townsend, Joe Farrell, Sean Noel Walker, and Dan Oliver
- “Spider-Man: No Way Home” Kelly Port, Chris Waegner, Scott Edelstein and Dan Sudick
• Adapted screenplay
- “CODA” Screenplay by Siân Heder
- “Drive My Car” Screenplay by Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Takamasa Oe
- “Dune” Screenplay by Jon Spaihts and Denis Villeneuve and Eric Roth
- “The Lost Daughter” Written by Maggie Gyllenhaal
- “The Power of the Dog” Written by Jane Campion
• Original screenplay
- “Belfast” Written by Kenneth Branagh
- “Don’t Look Up” Screenplay by Adam McKay; Story by Adam McKay & David Sirota
- “King Richard” Written by Zach Baylin
- “Licorice Pizza” Written by Paul Thomas Anderson
- “The Worst Person in the World” Written by Eskil Vogt, Joachim Trier
The 94th Oscars will be held on Sunday, March 27, 2022, at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland in Hollywood and will be televised live on ABC at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. P.T. and in more than 200 territories worldwide.
Source: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
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Edited & Posted by the Editor | 12:21 PM | View the original post
February 2, 2022
The Royal Canadian Mint pays tribute to Great Inventor Alexander Graham Bell with a Fine Silver Collector Coin.
Photo: The Royal Canadian Mint’s 2022 Proof Silver Dollar marks the 175th anniversary of the birth of famed inventor Alexander Graham Bell. Alexander Graham Bell was a Scottish-born inventor, scientist, and engineer credited with inventing and patenting the first practical telephone.
OTTAWA, ON, Feb. 2, 2022 — Stories of outstanding achievement often find their way on Royal Canadian Mint coins. To mark the 175th anniversary of the birth of famed inventor Alexander Graham Bell, the Mint is dedicating its 2022 Proof Silver Dollar to his legacy of innovation and life-long commitment to science.
Born in Scotland, Bell settled with his family in Brantford, Ontario, where he developed a passion for problem-solving early, which sparked his interest in science. After inventing the telephone in 1876, he later built an estate near Baddeck on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. There, he collaborated on more innovations, such as the Silver Dart, Canada’s first powered airplane, and futuristic hydrofoil marine craft that blazed the waters of Bras D’Or Lake.
This year’s Proof Silver Dollar features a word-art profile of Bell speaking into his breakthrough invention that forever changed global communications. The creative assortment of words that describe aspects of his personal life and character, as well as his many innovations, create a revealing portrait of one of the world’s greatest inventors. This exceptional coin, along with the 2022 Fine Silver Proof Set featuring the exact artistic rendition of Bell, can be ordered from the Mint today.
The Royal Canadian Mint is the Crown corporation responsible for minting and distributing Canada’s circulation coins. The Mint is one of the largest and most versatile mints globally, offering a wide range of specialized, high-quality coinage products and related services internationally.
Source: Royal Canadian Mint
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Edited & Posted by the Editor | 2:35 PM | View the original post
February 1, 2022
Flipboard Joins Forces With Communities for its Photography Destination: Zenfolio, History Club, PhotowalksTV
Photo: Flipboard kicks off a new partnership with Zenfolio, an online community of 500,000 professional photographers. Zenfolio brings its quality content for photographers to Flipboard while offering its members new ways to broaden the reach of their portfolios. It is the latest in a string of community-focused collaborations Flipboard is engaging in to bolster its destination for photography enthusiasts, including History Club and PhotowalksTV.
REDWOOD CITY, Calif., January 31, 2022 — Today, Flipboard kicks off a new partnership with Zenfolio, an online community of 500,000 professional photographers that showcase their commercial work to sell their photos and services. Zenfolio brings its vast library of quality content for photographers to Flipboard while offering its members new ways to broaden the reach of their portfolios. It is the latest in a string of community-focused collaborations Flipboard is engaging in to bolster its destination for photography enthusiasts.
Flipboard also joined efforts with History Club, Jason Steinhauer’s famous club on Clubhouse, for a new cross-platform conversation series about history and photography. Clubhouse provides the audio experience, and Flipboard houses companion collections, curated by Steinhauer, that allow listeners to go deeper on each subject in their own time. The following conversation will take place on February 24 about civil rights photography, and the topic for March 24 is women’s suffrage photography.
Moreover, Flipboard is working with PhotowalksTV, a streaming travel photography series on YouTube hosted by former USA TODAY columnist Jefferson Graham. Besides sponsoring the third season of PhotowalksTV, Flipboard co-hosted an in-person photo walk for photo enthusiasts in San Francisco that got so many signups that Flipboard added a second session for the overflow. Participants shared their photos to a Group Magazine on Flipboard, creating a collection of images of each walk.
• Photography Community on Flipboard
Collaborations with community members are an essential part of the Photography destination on Flipboard, which 9.1 million people follow. For instance, Flipboard’s The Shot newsletter for photography enthusiasts has welcomed dozens of photographers and photography experts as guest curators, including Phil Penman, Tyler Stalman, and Marco Secchi. Anyone can sign up for this newsletter.
Furthermore, travel and portrait photographer Erin Douglas starts as Flipboard’s next Photographer in Residence tomorrow, contributing to curating industry news, gear reviews, tutorials, and photographs from creators worldwide. She’s following the footsteps of Ryan Mense and Anete Lusina, both PetaPixel writers who served as Flipboard’s first residents. Flipboard’s Residency Program is a paid, rotating position that brings experts in-house every three months to share their expertise with the community.
Flipboard is an award-winning curation platform where people stay informed and inspired. On Flipboard, quality articles, videos, podcasts, and products are curated every day for millions of people worldwide. It is a platform that lets people spend time on their interests, develop a more profound understanding of issues, and share the best ideas with others by collecting them into their own Flipboard Magazines and Storyboards.
Source: Flipboard
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Edited & Posted by the Editor | 1:19 PM | View the original post
January 30, 2022
India Republic Day Celebrations: ‘Beating Retreat’ ceremony in New Delhi
Photos: Band performing at the ‘Beating Retreat’ ceremony, at Vijay Chowk, in New Delhi on January 29, 2022.
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Edited & Posted by the Editor | 1:46 PM | View the original post
January 28, 2022
Las Vegas Man Sells USA's First Silver Dollar for $12 Million to GreatCollections
- California buyer sets record for the world’s most valuable silver coin and the second-highest price ever paid for any rare coin.
Photo: Believed by many rare coin researchers to be the first silver dollar struck by the United States Mint, this 1794-dated dollar has been purchased for a record $12 million by GreatCollections Coin Auctions of Irvine, California from Las Vegas, Nevada collector Bruce Morelan. Image credit: GreatCollections Coin Auctions.
IRVINE, Calif., Jan. 28, 2022 — A Las Vegas, Nevada resident has sold his prized possession, a superb condition silver dollar made in 1794. Many rare coin experts believe it is the first silver dollar ever struck by the United States Mint. It has been purchased for a record $12 million by GreatCollections Coin Auctions of Irvine, California.
- George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and Thomas Jefferson may have seen it.
Vegas business executive Bruce Morelan paid $10,016,875 for the acclaimed rare coin in 2013, a record at the time, and exhibited it across the country and in Europe. One of the coin’s previous owners was Amon G. Carter Sr. (1879-1955) of Texas, a former Fort Worth Star-Telegram newspaper publisher.
Ian Russell, president of GreatCollections, said, “Because of its sharpness of detail, researchers believe this coin was especially struck, perhaps as a presentation of the country’s first dollar coin. President George Washington, Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton, and then-Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson, who oversaw the young United States Mint, may have seen this coin because of its significance. Without question, this is America’s most coveted silver dollar, a national numismatic treasure. It gave me chills closing the transaction for this piece of history.”
Intended to help replace Spanish, English, Dutch, and French coins commonly in circulation in the USA’s post-Colonial era, the United States Mint delivered a total of 1,758 silver dollars made in Philadelphia on a hand-turned coining press to government officials in October 1794.
“Only about 140 still survive, and this 1794 silver dollar is the only known specimen-striking, substantially better than the examples in the Smithsonian Institution’s National Numismatic Collection and the American Numismatic Association museum,” said Russell.
The front of the dollar depicts 1794 with a symbolic female representation of liberty and the word LIBERTY. The design on the back is an eagle surrounded by a wreath and the words, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
Experts authenticated the coin at Professional Coin Grading Service and designated it as a specially-made specimen strike. They graded it as a great, mint state 66 on the numismatic grading scale of 1 to 70. John Albanese, founder of Certified Acceptance Corporation in Far Hills, New Jersey, negotiated the sale transaction with GreatCollections on behalf of Morelan.
Morelan, 60, began collecting at the age of six. “Coins are in my blood, and the 1794 dollar was a lifelong dream,” he stated. “I’m truly blessed to have owned it and hope the new owner has as much joy, pride, and satisfaction as I did.”
“This 1794 silver dollar was the world’s most valuable rare coin for nearly a decade after Morelan purchased it for $10 million in 2013. At its latest sale price of $12 million, it is the world’s most valuable silver coin and now the second most valuable rare coin of any kind. Last year’s $18.9 million sales of the 1933 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle (U.S. $20 denomination) gold coin set the new record,” explained Russell. He exhibited that gold piece at the 2021 Chicago World’s Fair of Money on behalf of its anonymous new owner.
GreatCollections is an auction house for certified coins and banknotes, handling both private transactions and public auctions from start to finish. Since its founding in 2010, GreatCollections has successfully auctioned over 995,000 certified coins, making it one of the leading accredited coin companies in the United States, with annual sales in 2021 exceeding $235 million.
Source: GreatCollections
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Edited & Posted by the Editor | 2:16 PM | View the original post