Organizations Section

December 31, 2016

New York Times Square 2017 New Year Eve Celebrations: One Billion People Expected to Watch the Countdown Extravaganza on TOSHIBA VISION

Photo: New Delhi New Year’s Countdown at Times Square on December 31, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by TOSHIBA CORPORATION/Getty Images for TOSHIBA CORPORATION. © 2016 Getty Images.)

Photo: New Delhi New Year’s Countdown at Times Square on December 31, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by TOSHIBA CORPORATION/Getty Images for TOSHIBA CORPORATION. © 2016 Getty Images.)

Photo: Times Square Alliance and Countdown Entertainment, co-organizers of Times Square New Year’s Eve, along with presenting sponsor, Planet Fitness, throw handfuls of confetti from the Hard Rock Cafe marquee as part of the annual confetti test. The colorful event is held in preparation for the release of one ton of confetti at midnight on New Year Eve.

As the clock strikes one minute before midnight on December 31st, all eyes will be on TOSHIBA VISION as it screens the 60-second light and sound countdown extravaganza. One billion viewers are expected to watch the countdown from all around the globe via television and online broadcast.

The countdown party itself will include live music performances by superstar celebrities, such as Mariah Carey, Thomas Rhett, DNCE and Rachel Platten. Also, Bill Nye “the Science Guy” will take to the stage to commemorate the 25th anniversary of ExploraVision, an educational science and technology competition held in North America by Toshiba Corp. and the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA).

During the day, TOSHIBA VISION will showcase international countdowns for major cities in different time zones as follows (all times in EST):

• 10.00am: Tokyo, Japan

• 11.00am: Beijing, China / Singapore / Manila, Philippines

• 12.00pm: Jakarta, Indonesia / Hanoi, Vietnam / Bangkok, Thailand

• 1.00pm: Dhaka, Bangladesh

• 1.30pm: New Delhi, India

• 3.00pm: Dubai, UAE

• 4.00pm: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia / Moscow, Russia

• 5.00pm: Cairo, Egypt / Athens, Greece / Istanbul, Turkey

The hourly countdown for New York will begin at 5.59pm.

Toshiba has been the sponsor for the New York Times Square’s New Year’s Eve celebrations since the 2010 countdown.

|GlobalGiants.Com|

Edited & Posted by Editor | 10:05 AM | Link to this Post

December 22, 2016

Airbus Shortlists 50 University Teams for Fifth Fly Your Ideas Global Student Competition

Photo: The first A350-900 for Lufthansa, which performed its maiden flight in November 2016, is part of a 25-aircraft order placed by the German flag carrier. Image provided by & copyright © AIRBUS.

Photo: Team Retrolley from University of Sao Paulo, Brazil, Runners-up of Airbus Fly Your Ideas 2015. From left: Fausto Mascia, Academic mentor University of Sao Paulo, Denise Ikuno, Lucas Otsuka, Tadeu Omae, Maki Shintate, Lucas Neumann. Image provided by & copyright © AIRBUS.

TOULOUSE, France, Dec. 20, 2016 — A record 5,499 students from around the world registered to participate in the fifth edition of Airbus’ Fly Your Ideas, the global student challenge organised in partnership with UNESCO.

A group of 60 Airbus experts and innovators assessed the ideas submitted by 356 teams from 89 countries. The rigorous evaluation process took place at four different Airbus locations in France, Germany, Spain and the UK, with 50 student teams selected to reach Round Two of the competition, starting in January 2017.

The competition is led by teams registered in the Asia-Pacific region. The 50 teams comprise 202 students representing 38 different nationalities. With 52% of teams mixing male and female students, two thirds of all teams are diverse in some way, for example with members coming from different countries or studying different subjects.

Innovative ideas from the 50 chosen teams include robotic luggage trolleys, passenger seats which can be boarded outside the aircraft, new solutions for energy harvesting and virtual reality applications.

“Fly Your Ideas is unique and we are proud of the company-wide engagement of Airbus employees who support the competition, either as assessors, mentors or experts”, says Charles Champion, Airbus Executive Vice President Engineering. “We are offering students the rare opportunity to interact directly with senior specialists from across the business. In turn, these experts will benefit from their direct interaction with talents from across the globe, all sharing the same passion for one of the world’s most exciting industries.”

Each of the teams has 100 days to refine and develop their ideas. The top five teams to make it through to Round Three will spend a week at the “ProtoSpace” based at the Airbus HQ in Toulouse to prototype, test and visualise their ideas using state-of-the art equipment with personalised guidance from Airbus. The winning team will receive a €30,000 prize and the runner up team will receive €15,000 at a live prize giving event in May 2017.

Key figures Fly Your Ideas 2017:

• Number of ideas submitted: 356

• Number of countries involved: 89
• Number of universities involved: 348
• Top 5 countries: India - 64 teams, China & HK - 44 teams, Spain - 29 teams, Indonesia - 24 teams, United Kingdom - 20 teams

• Number of ideas chosen: 50

• Number of countries involved: 41
• Number of universities involved: 57
• Top 5 countries: China & HK - 9 teams, Singapore - 5 teams, United Kingdon - 4 teams, Australia - 3 teams, Indonesia - 3 teams

|GlobalGiants.Com|

#Airbus and #UNESCO: The Fly Your Ideas Partnership. #HigherEd #Universities @Airbus @UNESCO https://t.co/jRaoi9awqu

— GlobalGiants.Com (@GlobalGiants) December 23, 2016

Watch as the #A350-1000 performs its maiden flight - Thanks to all who joined us yesterday for this industry milestone! #A350FF pic.twitter.com/nQZrxqRT6l

— Airbus (@Airbus) November 25, 2016

Edited & Posted by Editor | 4:33 AM | Link to this Post

December 5, 2016

Circular Economy Principles could help India realise $624bn

Photo: UNCTAD 10th Debt Management Conference. Over 350 participants from over 100 countries, regional institutions and from the civil society participated in the 10th UNCTAD Debt Management Conference. Image provided by & copyright © UNCTAD.

Photo: UNCTAD 14 - 1st hearing with civil society. The hearing with civil society, held on 6 April 2016, provided a platform for organizations to contribute to discussions on what UNCTAD’s work priorities should be for the next four years. Image provided by & copyright © UNCTAD.

Geneva, Switzerland — 5 December 2016 - India could save $624 billion a year by 2050 if it adopts circular economy principles rather than following a conventional but more wasteful development path, according to a new report on India produced by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation in association with UNCTAD.

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation, an economic research and innovation think tank, promotes the concept of a “circular economy”, which is restorative and regenerative by design, and which aims to keep products, components and materials at their highest utility and value at all times.

“Today’s linear ‘take, make, dispose’ economic model which relies on large quantities of cheap, easily accessible materials and energy, is increasingly challenged in the long term. A circular economy is an attractive and viable alternative that businesses are already exploring,” the Ellen MacArthur Foundation said.

Pilot projects have already shown these practices contributing towards cost savings of hundreds of millions dollars per year.

“Increasing circularity can help unlock efficiencies, opening up urgent investment opportunities and delivering environmental, economic and social gains,” Guillermo Valles, Director for International Trade in Goods, Services and Commodities, UNCTAD said. “Lessons from this work in India serve as an important example for other developing countries seeking to meet both the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and commitments in the Paris Agreement.”

India’s ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Ajit Kumar, said: “India is earnestly working towards finding ways to improve the living standards of its citizens, compatible with its resources. Sectors such as mobility, agriculture and construction will play a crucial role in the future growth of India. The suggestions contained in the report are therefore, noteworthy and timely.”

Dame Ellen MacArthur, founder of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, said: “This report builds on the Foundation’s previous analysis of the circular economy opportunity for Europe, by exploring for the first time the potential of applying the circular framework in a fast-growing market context. With its existing circular mindset and strong digital backbone, India can reap significant economic and societal benefits, embarking on a positive development path as it focuses on regenerative practices.”

The report says that better product design and innovative business models could generate cost savings and increase profits for businesses, in parallel with the shift to digitally enabled platforms for asset sharing, such as Zipcar, in which procuring services replaces owning goods.

A shift from selling cars to providing vehicles as a service could create new revenue streams for India’s car industry. Only about 2% of the Indian population currently owns a car, but the demand for mobility is increasing, the report says.

Using data from UNCTAD, the report estimates that India could save costs amounting 11% of its current GDP in 2030 and 30% of GDP in 2050 if proven circular approaches were adopted by the public and private sectors. Greenhouse gas emissions could be cut by 44%.

The report was launched in New Delhi, India, on 5 December, and an international briefing will be held in Geneva, Switzerland, on 12 December.

|GlobalGiants.Com|

.@UNCTAD ambassador Guillermo Valles starting the briefing on our #circulareconomy in #India report @circulareconomy @jossbleriot pic.twitter.com/UU0TapXv0X

— Sven Herrmann (@svenherrmann_) December 12, 2016

In Geneva for a briefing on our latest research - what would a #circulareconomy mean for #India? @UNCTAD https://t.co/wP1POVn8T4 pic.twitter.com/E6tDRzvo0w

— Ellen MacArthur Fdn. (@circulareconomy) December 12, 2016

@circulareconomy @UNCTAD
Thanks for your tweet on #circulareconomy in #India. https://t.co/n1C7XL9Cc9

— GlobalGiants.Com (@GlobalGiants) December 12, 2016

Edited & Posted by Editor | 2:19 PM | Link to this Post

December 2, 2016

China and India Lead in the Times Higher Education BRICS & Emerging Economies University Rankings 2017

Photo: Entrance to the Science Building, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China. Image Credit: Milan Tvrdy.

London — India has increased its share of the top universities in the Times Higher Education BRICS & Emerging Economies University Rankings 2017, but China still has the highest density of leading institutions in the developing world.

The Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, breaks into the top 15 for the first time this year, in 14th place, thanks to an improved teaching environment and greater research influence.

Panjab University, Chandigarh, which had topped in India at No. 13 in 2014, and had later slipped to No. 39 in 2015 and to No. 121 in 2016, has, however, further slipped and is now placed at No. 135.

Meanwhile, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay has reached its highest position after climbing three places to 26th, boosted by improved scores across all the five pillars underlying the methodology.

Overall, the country has 27 universities in the top 300 ranking, 19 of which make the top 200 (up from 16 last year), making it the second most-represented nation in the table.

Anurag Kumar, director of the Indian Institute of Science, said that increased government science funding in recent years has enabled the university to enhance grants for new hires, invest in state-of-the-art infrastructure and encourage interdisciplinary research. The institution is working hard to attract more scientists from other countries, he added.

“This growing talent pool augurs well for the country,” he said. “The government is doing its part by enhancing its education and research budget across the board.”

However, Richard Everitt, director of education at British Council India, warns that “reform is slow in India”, and although the country has one of the biggest higher education systems in the world and “some good institutions”, it still “doesn’t perform well on a global platform”.

Despite India’s gains, however, China still dominates the list, taking 52 - or more than one in six - places in the top 300. Six of these make the elite top 10, including Fudan University, which rose 11 places to reach sixth place this year, and Peking and Tsinghua universities, which hold on to the top two spots for the fourth year running.

While the two Asian giants have improved their showing, the performance of the other BRICS nations is waning, largely because of increased competition as a result of expanding the list to rank 300 universities from 41 countries, up from 200 institutions in 35 nations last year.

Brazil no longer has a university in the top 10, as the University of Sao Paulo slips four places to 13th, its lowest ever position, while half of South Africa’s eight universities have fallen.

Russia’s performance is more mixed; while 10 of its 24 universities have dropped places, Lomonosov Moscow State University holds on to third place amid increasing competition from China, and the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology climbs 81 places to 12th, thanks to an improved performance across teaching, research, knowledge transfer and international outlook.

The THE BRICS & Emerging Economies University Rankings use the same 13 performance indicators as the flagship World University Rankings but are re-calibrated to reflect the development priorities of universities in emerging economies.

BRICS & Emerging Economies University Rankings 2017

TOP 10

1. Peking University — China
2. Tsinghua University — China
3. Lomonosov Moscow State University — Russian Federation
4. University of Cape Town — South Africa
5. University of Science and Technology of China — China
6. Fudan University — China
7. Shanghai Jiao Tong University — China
8. University of the Witwatersrand — South Africa
9. Zhejiang University — China
10. National Taiwan University — Taiwan

BRICS & Emerging Economies University Rankings 2017

INDIA

BRICS RANK — UNIVERSITY

• 14 — Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore
• 26 — Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay
• =32 — Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi
• =32 — Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur
• 35 — Indian Institute of Technology, Madras
• =62 Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee
• 71 — Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
• 99 — Jadavpur University
• 106 — Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati
• =107 — Tata Institute of Fundamental Research
• =109 — University of Delhi
• 135 — Panjab University, Chandigarh
• 140 — Tezpur University
• =143 — Savitribai Phule Pune University
• =157 — Aligarh Muslim University
• 179 — University of Calcutta
• =186 — Sri Venkateswara University
• 195 — National Institute of Technology Rourkela
• =196 — Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani
• 201-250 — Acharya Nagarjuna University
• 201-250 — Amrita University
• 201-250 — Andhra University
• 201-250 — Osmania University
• 251-300 — Amity University
• 251-300 — Cochin University of Science and Technology
• 251-300 — Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda
• 251-300 — Manipal University

|GlobalGiants.Com|

BRICS & Emerging Economies Rankings 2017: should emerging economies nurture world-class universities? https://t.co/4AsD9wigQQ #thebrics

— TimesHigherEducation (@timeshighered) December 1, 2016

Universities from 41 countries make our fourth annual #THEBRICS ranking. 2017 results out in just TWO HOURS! (30 Nov, 9pm GMT) pic.twitter.com/I7wmY3ftKA

— World Uni Rankings (@THEworldunirank) November 30, 2016

Edited & Posted by Editor | 12:38 PM | Link to this Post

December 1, 2016

United Nations Secretary-General at New York Society for Ethical Culture

Photo: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (at podium) speaks at Ethics in Action: “The UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals” at New York Society for Ethical Culture. 29 November 2016. New York, USA. UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe.

Photo: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon speaks at Ethics in Action: “The UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals” at the New York Society for Ethical Culture. 29 November 2016. New York, USA. UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe.

Photo: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (right) attends Ethics in Action: “The UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals” at New York Society for Ethical Culture. On the left is Jeffrey Sachs, Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). 29 November 2016. New York, USA. UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe.

|GlobalGiants.Com|

“There are many statues of men slaying lions, but if only the lions were sculptors there might be quite a different set of statues.”

― Aesop (621 - 564 BC).

“He’s mad that trusts in the tameness of a wolf, a horse’s health, a boy’s love, or a whore’s oath.”

― William Shakespeare, King Lear (III, vi, 19-21).

Edited & Posted by Editor | 10:02 AM | Link to this Post

November 24, 2016

UN Secretary-General Addresses Disarmament Event at NYU

Photo: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon delivers a keynote address on “The Future of Multilateral Disarmament” at an event hosted by the Centre for Global Affairs (CGA) of New York University (NYU). The UN Secretary-General also took part in a Q&A session moderated by Edith Lederer, chief UN correspondent for the Associated Press. 22 November 2016. New York, United States. UN Photo/Rick Bajornas.

Photo: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon delivered a keynote address on “The Future of Multilateral Disarmament” at an event hosted by the Centre for Global Affairs (CGA) of New York University (NYU). The UN Secretary-General (right) with NYU President Andrew Hamilton on the occasion. 22 November 2016. UN Photo/Rick Bajornas.

|GlobalGiants.Com|

“There is one thing stronger than all the armies in the world, and that is an idea whose time as come.”

— Victor Hugo.

“Victory belongs to the most persevering.”

— Napoleon Bonaparte.

“If they want peace, nations should avoid the pin-pricks that precede cannon shots.”

— Napoleon Bonaparte.

Edited & Posted by Editor | 3:17 PM | Link to this Post

November 19, 2016

UNESCO names filmmaker & music producer Deeyah Khan as its Goodwill Ambassador for Artistic Freedom and Creativity

Photo: Music producer, composer, documentary film director, and human rights activist, Deeyah Khan, at Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland. Photo by Violaine Martin. Image provided by & copyright © United Nations Office at Geneva.

Paris, France - November 18, 2016 — UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova will designate the Norwegian film director of Punjabi (Pakistani) and Pashtun (Afghan) origin Deeyah Khan a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Artistic Freedom and Creativity. The ceremony will take place on Monday, 21 November at 1:00 pm at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris.

According to UNESCO, Deeyah Khan is being appointed in recognition of her commitment to promote art as a universal language and a force for development, dialogue and social cohesion, for her contribution to the improvement of fairer and freer societies through her work as a film director, and for her commitment in favour of the Organization’s ideals.

As a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, Deeyah Khan will promote freedom of creation for artists and the creative industries in developing countries in line with the principles of UNESCO’s 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions.

The UNESCO Goodwill Ambassadors are an outstanding group of celebrity advocates who spread its ideals.

|GlobalGiants.Com|

Edited & Posted by Editor | 1:09 AM | Link to this Post

October 29, 2016

GlobalGiants.Com wishes you a Happy Diwali

Dear GlobalGiants.Com Viewer,

Happy Diwali from GlobalGiants.Com. May the festival of lights brighten up your days and bring you happiness, success, and good health.

|GlobalGiants.Com|

• We have received numerous responses. Thank you, all of you. — Editor

Happy #Diwali from https://t.co/3agFTB5RLh. May the festival of lights brighten up your days.#HappyDiwali#HappyDeepavali pic.twitter.com/R18nxK9cu2

— GlobalGiants.Com (@GlobalGiants) October 29, 2016

.@GlobalGiants I wish the same for you! : )

— LindaScarlett (@ZotBakingCo) October 29, 2016

@GlobalGiants @USPS धन्यवाद. दिवाली कि शुभ कामनाये.

— Swati Save (@SwatiSave) October 11, 2016

Happy Diwali 2016 from the University of Oxford! pic.twitter.com/stjX3Y1jHS

— Oxford University (@UniofOxford) October 30, 2016

@UniofOxford Thanks much. Happy #Diwali from https://t.co/3agFTB5RLh. pic.twitter.com/S43J7gtOo5

— GlobalGiants.Com (@GlobalGiants) October 30, 2016

Edited & Posted by Editor | 6:29 AM | Link to this Post

October 26, 2016

Ending Modern Slavery

Photo: U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry, takes a selfie with an outstanding individual who is fighting to end human trafficking at the Annual Meeting of the U.S. President’s Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (PITF) at the White House in Washington, D.C., on October 24, 2016. (State Department Photo).

|GlobalGiants.Com|

Edited & Posted by Editor | 2:02 PM | Link to this Post

October 18, 2016

UN Secretary-General Attends Opening of Habitat III in Quito, Ecuador

Photo: QUITO, ECUADOR — UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon (left), attends opening of the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development, HABITAT III. Rafael Correa, President of Ecuador, is seated on the right. 16 October 2016. Quito, Ecuador. UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe.

|GlobalGiants.Com|

UN Secretary-General Attends Opening of Habitat III in Quito, Ecuador #Habitat3 #NewUrbanAgenda @UN @Habitat3UN https://t.co/yAXXzgKWDl pic.twitter.com/JxNqPpY8DW

— GlobalGiants.Com (@GlobalGiants) October 18, 2016

@GlobalGiants Enjoyed your tweets on #Habitat3 and #NewUrbanAgenda..see insights from our #researchbeacons minds at https://t.co/QLdSKCE8Ry

— Global Dev Institute (@GlobalDevInst) October 21, 2016

The University of Manchester - Global Development Institute @GlobalDevInst — Thanks for your tweet to us! #Habitat3 https://t.co/SoEZ0nb0a2

— GlobalGiants.Com (@GlobalGiants) October 24, 2016

The University of Manchester @OfficialUoM @GlobalDevInst Addressing Global Inequalities #H3Citizens #NewUrbanAgenda https://t.co/Y68OrUC6gh

— GlobalGiants.Com (@GlobalGiants) October 24, 2016

Edited & Posted by Editor | 3:13 PM | Link to this Post

October 12, 2016

85 COUNTRIES IN COMPETITION FOR 2016 FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM OSCAR

Photo: Poster of “Son of Saul”, winner of the 88th Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Image Credit: © A.M.P.A.S.

Photo: Actor Danny Trejo (left) and Moderator Christopher Nolan prior to a screening of “Heat” presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, on Wednesday, September 7, 2016. Image Credit: Todd Wawrychuk / © A.M.P.A.S.

Photo: Actress Amy Brenneman and Academy CEO Dawn Hudson following a screening of “Heat” presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, on Wednesday, September 7, 2016. Image Credit: Richard Harbaugh / © A.M.P.A.S.

LOS ANGELES, CA - Eighty-five countries have submitted films for consideration in the Foreign Language Film category for the 89th Academy Awards. Yemen is a first-time entrant.

The 2016 submissions are:

• Albania, “Chromium,” Bujar Alimani, director;
• Algeria, “The Well,” Lotfi Bouchouchi, director;
• Argentina, “The Distinguished Citizen,” Mariano Cohn, Gastón Duprat, directors;
• Australia, “Tanna,” Bentley Dean, Martin Butler, directors;
• Austria, “Stefan Zweig: Farewell to Europe,” Maria Schrader, director;
• Bangladesh, “The Unnamed,” Tauquir Ahmed, director;
• Belgium, “The Ardennes,” Robin Pront, director;
• Bolivia, “Sealed Cargo,” Julia Vargas Weise, director;
• Bosnia and Herzegovina, “Death in Sarajevo,” Danis Tanovic, director;
• Brazil, “Little Secret,” David Schurmann, director;
• Bulgaria, “Losers,” Ivaylo Hristov, director;
• Cambodia, “Before the Fall,” Ian White, director;
• Canada, “It’s Only the End of the World,” Xavier Dolan, director;
• Chile, “Neruda,” Pablo Larraín, director;
• China, “Xuan Zang,” Huo Jianqi, director;
• Colombia, “Alias Maria,” Jose Luis Rugeles, director;
• Costa Rica, “About Us,” Hernán Jiménez, director;
• Croatia, “On the Other Side,” Zrinko Ogresta, director;
• Cuba, “The Companion,” Pavel Giroud, director;
• Czech Republic, “Lost in Munich,” Petr Zelenka, director;
• Denmark, “Land of Mine,” Martin Zandvliet, director;
• Dominican Republic, “Sugar Fields,” Fernando Baez, director;
• Ecuador, “Such Is Life in the Tropics,” Sebastián Cordero, director;
• Egypt, “Clash,” Mohamed Diab, director;
• Estonia, “Mother,” Kadri Kousaar, director;
• Finland, “The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Mäki,” Juho Kuosmanen, director;
• France, “Elle,” Paul Verhoeven, director;
• Georgia, “House of Others,” Rusudan Glurjidze, director;
• Germany, “Toni Erdmann,” Maren Ade, director;
• Greece, “Chevalier,” Athina Rachel Tsangari, director;
• Hong Kong, “Port of Call,” Philip Yung, director;
• Hungary, “Kills on Wheels,” Attila Till, director;
• Iceland, “Sparrows,” Runar Runarsson, director;
• India, “Interrogation,” Vetri Maaran, director;
• Indonesia, “Letters from Prague,” Angga Dwimas Sasongko, director;
• Iran, “The Salesman,” Asghar Farhadi, director;
• Iraq, “El Clásico,” Halkawt Mustafa, director;
• Israel, “Sand Storm,” Elite Zexer, director;
• Italy, “Fire at Sea,” Gianfranco Rosi, director;
• Japan, “Nagasaki: Memories of My Son,” Yoji Yamada, director;
• Jordan, “3000 Nights,” Mai Masri, director;
• Kazakhstan, “Amanat,” Satybaldy Narymbetov, director;
• Kosovo, “Home Sweet Home,” Faton Bajraktari, director;
• Kyrgyzstan, “A Father’s Will,” Bakyt Mukul, Dastan Zhapar Uulu, directors;
• Latvia, “Dawn,” Laila Pakalnina, director;
• Lebanon, “Very Big Shot,” Mir-Jean Bou Chaaya, director;
• Lithuania, “Seneca’s Day,” Kristijonas Vildziunas, director;
• Luxembourg, “Voices from Chernobyl,” Pol Cruchten, director;
• Macedonia, “The Liberation of Skopje,” Rade Serbedzija, Danilo Serbedzija, directors;
• Malaysia, “Beautiful Pain,” Tunku Mona Riza, director;
• Mexico, “Desierto,” Jonas Cuaron, director;
• Montenegro, “The Black Pin,” Ivan Marinovic, director;
• Morocco, “A Mile in My Shoes,” Said Khallaf, director;
• Nepal, “The Black Hen,” Min Bahadur Bham, director;
• Netherlands, “Tonio,” Paula van der Oest, director;
• New Zealand, “A Flickering Truth,” Pietra Brettkelly, director;
• Norway, “The King’s Choice,” Erik Poppe, director;
• Pakistan, “Mah-e-Mir,” Anjum Shahzad, director;
• Palestine, “The Idol,” Hany Abu-Assad, director;
• Panama, “Salsipuedes,” Ricardo Aguilar Navarro, Manolito Rodríguez, directors;
• Peru, “Videophilia (and Other Viral Syndromes),” Juan Daniel F. Molero, director;
• Philippines, “Ma’ Rosa,” Brillante Ma Mendoza, director;
• Poland, “Afterimage,” Andrzej Wajda, director;
• Portugal, “Letters from War,” Ivo M. Ferreira, director;
• Romania, “Sieranevada,” Cristi Puiu, director;
• Russia, “Paradise,” Andrei Konchalovsky, director;
• Saudi Arabia, “Barakah Meets Barakah,” Mahmoud Sabbagh, director;
• Serbia, “Train Driver’s Diary,” Milos Radovic, director;
• Singapore, “Apprentice,” Boo Junfeng, director;
• Slovakia, “Eva Nova,” Marko Skop, director;
• Slovenia, “Houston, We Have a Problem!” Ziga Virc, director;
• South Africa, “Call Me Thief,” Daryne Joshua, director;
• South Korea, “The Age of Shadows,” Kim Jee-woon, director;
• Spain, “Julieta,” Pedro Almodóvar, director;
• Sweden, “A Man Called Ove,” Hannes Holm, director;
• Switzerland, “My Life as a Zucchini,” Claude Barras, director;
• Taiwan, “Hang in There, Kids!” Laha Mebow, director;
• Thailand, “Karma,” Kanittha Kwunyoo, director;
• Turkey, “Cold of Kalandar,” Mustafa Kara, director;
• Ukraine, “Ukrainian Sheriffs,” Roman Bondarchuk, director;
• United Kingdom, “Under the Shadow,” Babak Anvari, director;
• Uruguay, “Breadcrumbs,” Manane Rodríguez, director;
• Venezuela, “From Afar,” Lorenzo Vigas, director;
• Vietnam, “Yellow Flowers on the Green Grass,” Victor Vu, director;
• Yemen, “I Am Nojoom, Age 10 and Divorced,” Khadija Al-Salami, director.

The competitive Foreign Language Film category was introduced in 1956 for the 29th Academy Awards. In celebration of its 60th anniversary, the Academy has created a complete playlist of acceptance speeches and a poster gallery of all the Foreign Language Film Oscar winners.

The 89th Oscars will be held on Sunday, February 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood, and will be televised live on the ABC Television Network at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. The Oscars also will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.

|GlobalGiants.Com|

Edited & Posted by Editor | 6:02 AM | Link to this Post

October 6, 2016

U.S. Postal Service Commemorates Festival of Diwali with a Forever Stamp

New York City — October 5, 2016 — The U.S. Postal Service commemorated the joyous Hindu festival of Diwali by dedicating the Diwali Forever stamp. The first-day-of-issue dedication ceremony took place at the Consulate General of India in New York City.

“The Postal Service is honored to issue this Forever stamp that celebrates the Festival of Diwali,” said U.S. Postal Service Vice President of Mail Entry and Payment Technology Pritha Mehra. “We hope these stamps will light up millions of cards and letters as they make their journey through the mailstream.”

Joining Mehra in the dedication ceremony were: Ambassador Riva Ganguly Das, Consul General of India; Diwali Stamp Project Chair Ranju Batra; India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations and Member of the United Nations Security Council (Ret.) Ambassador Hardeep Singh Puri; Sand Hill Group Managing Director M. R. Rangaswami; and Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY).

“While this journey may have taken years, the Postal Service has issued a Diwali stamp that will continue to resonate forever,” said Ranju Batra. “Now for the first time there is a stamp that celebrates Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists as Americans forever. Our heartfelt thanks to all of those who have supported this stamp. The Diwali stamp will be a matter of pride for generations to come.”

The stamp design is a photograph featuring a traditional diya oil lamp beautifully lit, sitting on a sparkling gold background. Diya lamps are usually made from clay with cotton wicks dipped in a clarified butter known as “ghee” or in vegetable oils.

Also known as Deepavali, Diwali celebrates the triumph of good over evil. Spanning five days each autumn, Diwali is considered by some to be the start of the new year.

On the Hindu calendar, Diwali falls on the eve of, or on, the new moon that occurs between mid-October and mid-November. In 2016, the main day of the festival will be celebrated Oct. 29 for South Indians and Oct 30 for North Indians.

Diwali is a shortened version of the Sanskrit word Deepavali, which roughly translates as “a necklace of lights.” During Diwali, the flickering oil-wick diyas sprinkle the homes of observers around the world.

Before the festival, many Hindus traditionally go shopping, clean their homes, open their doors and windows, create intricate rangoli — a vibrant floor pattern traditionally made from materials such as rice powder, colored sand and flower petals — and light diyas with hopes that Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity, will visit.

In some regions of India, people play games, just as Hindu lore says that the god Shiva did. On the festive main day of the holiday, families pray for Lakshmi, dress up in their best clothes, enjoy lavish feasts and sweets, exchange gifts and light fireworks. Diwali also marks the new year for people in Gujarat and a few other states of India. Diwali also is celebrated as a major holiday by followers of the Jain and Sikh faiths.

• The Diwali stamp is being issued as a Forever stamp. This Forever stamp is always equal to the value of the current First Class Mail — 1 Ounce price.

|GlobalGiants.Com|

Edited & Posted by Editor | 4:38 PM | Link to this Post

October 5, 2016

L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Awards 2017 Announced

Photo: Prof. Emmanuelle Charpentier, 2016 Laureate, L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science. Image Credit: Thierry Bouët for L’Oréal Foundation. Image provided by & Copyright © L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science.

Photo: A trainee at the 2016 L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Rising Talents Training Session, Paris. Image Credit: Stéphane Cardinale for L’Oréal Foundation. Image provided by & Copyright © L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science.

Photos: France L’Oréal-UNESCO 2016 Awards Ceremony. Images provided by & Copyright © Fondation L’Oréal.

The L’Oréal Foundation and UNESCO today announced the laureates of the 2017 L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Awards in the physical sciences. They will receive their awards at a ceremony in Paris on 23 March 2017.

Proposed by an international community of more than 2,000 leading scientists, the five laureates were selected by an independent international jury of 12 renowned scientists presided this year by Professor Christian Amatore, of the French Académie des sciences.

Each laureate will receive a prize of €100,000 as reward for her contribution to science.

Laureates are as under:

CONTINENT
Name of the Laureate
Nationality
Designation
Field

• AFRICA AND THE ARAB STATES

Professor Niveen KHASHAB
Lebanese
Associate Professor of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), SAUDI ARABIA

Analytical Chemistry
“For her contributions to innovative smart hybrid materials aimed at drug delivery and for developing new techniques to monitor intracellular antioxidant activity.”

• ASIA PACIFIC

Professor Michelle SIMMONS
Australian
Professor, Centre of Excellence for Quantum Computation and Communication Technology - University of New South Wales, AUSTRALIA

Quantum Physics
“For her pioneering contributions to quantum and atomic electronics, constructing atomic transistors en route to quantum computers.”

• EUROPE

Professor Nicola SPALDIN
British
Professor and Chair of Materials Theory, ETH Zürich, SWITZERLAND

Solid State Physics
“For her groundbreaking multidisciplinary work predicting, describing and creating new materials that have switchable magnetic and ferroelectric properties.”

• NORTH AMERICA

Professor Zhenan BAO
USA
Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, USA

Material Chemistry
“For her outstanding contribution to and mastery of the development of novel functional polymers for consumer electronics, energy storage and biomedical applications.”

• LATIN AMERICA

Professor Maria Teresa RUIZ
Chilean
Professor, Department of Astronomy, Dept. / Universidad de Chile, CHILE

Astrophysics
“For her discovery of the first brown dwarf and her seminal work on understanding the faintest stars, including stars at the final stages of their evolution (white dwarfs).”

Through its “For Women in Science” programme, a worldwide partnership with UNESCO, the L’Oréal Foundation motivates girls in High School to pursue scientific careers, supports women researchers and rewards excellence in a field where women remain underrepresented.

|GlobalGiants.Com|

Edited & Posted by Editor | 2:09 PM | Link to this Post

September 25, 2016

General Debate of the UN General Assembly’s Seventy-First Session

Photo: A view of the General Assembly Hall as Barack Obama, President of the United States of America, addresses the general debate of the Assembly’s seventy-first session. 20 September 2016. United Nations, New York. UN Photo/Cia Pak.

Photo: Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon hosted a luncheon in honour of world leaders attending the general debate of the seventy-first session of the General Assembly.

Mr. Ban (right) exchanges a toast with United States President Barack Obama. 20 September 2016. United Nations, New York. UN Photo/Manuel Elias.

Photo: United States Secretary of State John Kerry with Samantha Power, US Permanent Representative to the UN, during the general debate of the General Assembly’s seventy-first session. 20 September 2016. United Nations, New York. UN Photo/JC McIlwaine.

Photo: The Security Council adopted resolution 2310 (2016) urging all States that have either not signed or not ratified the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) to do so without further delay. The Council also called upon all States to refrain from conducting any nuclear-weapon test explosion or any other nuclear explosion and to maintain their moratoria in this regard. The resolution was adopted with a vote of 14 in favour, and one abstention (Egypt).

A view of the Security Council Chamber as the representative of Egypt signals his country’s abstention in the vote. 23 September 2016. United Nations, New York. UN Photo/Manuel Elias.

Photo: Documentation for use of delegations at the high-level peacebuilding fund pledging conference entitled “Invest in Sustaining Peace”, co-organized by the Permanent Missions of Kenya, Mexico, the Netherlands, the Republic of Korea, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sweden and the United Kingdom. 21 September 2016. United Nations, New York. UN Photo/JC McIlwaine.

Photo: Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (centre) addresses the commemoration event for the 30th anniversary of Declaration on Right to Development. 22 September 2016. United Nations, New York. UN Photo/Kim Haughton.

Photo: A view of the dignitaries’ gallery at the opening of the general debate of the seventy-first session of the General Assembly. Those pictured include (front row, from right): Yoo Soon-taek, wife of the UN Secretary-General; Michelle Obama, First Lady of the United States; Jill Biden, Second Lady of the United States. 20 September 2016. United Nations, New York. UN Photo/Kim Haughton.

Photo: Irina Bokova, Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), speaks to journalists at a press conference where the first-ever IMPACT 10x10x10 University Parity Report was unveiled. 20 September 2016. United Nations, New York. UN Photo/Laura Jarriel.

Photo: Sushma Swaraj, Minister for External Affairs of India, addresses the General Debate of the General Assembly’s seventy-first session. 26 September 2016. United Nations, New York. UN Photo/Cia Pak.

|GlobalGiants.Com|

Edited & Posted by Editor | 2:13 PM | Link to this Post

September 18, 2016

Peace Bell Ceremony in Observance of International Peace Day

Photos: Students carrying Members States’ flags during the annual Peace Bell Ceremony held at UN headquarters in observance of the International Day of Peace (21 September). 16 September 2016. United Nations, New York. UN Photos/Laura Jarriel.

|GlobalGiants.Com|

“You do not get peace by shouting: Peace. Peace is a meaningless word; what we need is a glorious peace.”

—Napoleon Bonaparte.

Edited & Posted by Editor | 9:09 AM | Link to this Post

September 17, 2016

Athens named UNESCO World Book Capital for 2018

Photo: Athens City, Greece. Image Credit & Coyright © Xiquinho Silva.

Photo: The Acropolis, Athens, Greece. Image Credit & Coyright © Xiquinho Silva.

Irina Bokova, the Director-General of UNESCO, has named Athens World Book Capital for 2018 on the recommendation of the programme’s Advisory Committee.

The city of Athens was chosen for the quality of its activities, supported by the entire book industry. The proposed programme includes meetings with writers, translators and illustrators, concerts, thematic exhibitions, poetry readings and workshops for publishing professionals. The aim of the programme is to make books accessible to the city’s entire population, including migrants and refugees. Members of the Advisory Committee also praised Athens’ cultural infrastructure and its expertise in organizing international events.

Cities designated as UNESCO World Book Capital undertake to promote books and reading and to organize activities over the year which starts with the celebration of World Book and Copyright Day (23 April).

The Advisory Committee brings together representatives of UNESCO, the International Publishers Associations (IPA) and the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA). It recently met in Paris, at UNESCO’s Headquarters, to examine a record number of candidacies for the title of World Book Capital.

Athens is the 18th city to become World Book Capital. It was preceded by Madrid (2001), Alexandria (2002), New Delhi (2003), Antwerp (2004), Montreal (2005), Turin (2006), Bogota (2007), Amsterdam (2008), Beirut (2009), Ljubljana (2010), Buenos Aires (2011), Yerevan (2012), Bangkok (2013), Port Harcourt (2014), Incheon (2015), Wroclaw (2016) and Conakry (2017).

|GlobalGiants.Com|

Edited & Posted by Editor | 7:35 AM | Link to this Post

August 23, 2016

2016 Olympic Games come to a Close as Rio Rocks to Carnival Charm

Olympic Nerd # 2 - Rio 2016. #Olympics General Knowledge Quiz #Rio2016. https://t.co/NEHoNRoLkQ

— Global Giants (@GlobalGiants) August 24, 2016

Rio 2016 — Aquecimento - Cerimônia de Encerramento (Closing Ceremony Warm Up) https://t.co/CVGCdU0aC7 via @YouTube

— Global Giants (@GlobalGiants) August 23, 2016

• All the World Records of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

• Korea’s Jin wins third consecutive Gold in Men’s 50m Pistol.

• Italy’s Rossetti wins Gold in Men’s Skeet Shooting.

Photo: 2016 Olympics, Rio de Janeiro. Men’s Marathon. Photographer: Alex Ferro. Image Credit & Copyright © Visit.Rio.

Photo: 2016 Olympics, Rio de Janeiro. Olympic Boulevard, Orla Conde, Rio de Janeiro. Photographer: Alexandre Macieira. Image Credit & Copyright © Visit.Rio.

Photo: 2016 Olympics, Rio de Janeiro. Canoe Slalom Whitewater Rapids competition. Photographer: Renato Sette Camara. Image Credit & Copyright © Visit.Rio.

Photo: 2016 Olympics, Rio de Janeiro. Sailing competition. Photographer: Renato Sette Camara. Image Credit & Copyright © Visit.Rio.

Photo: 2016 Olympics, Rio de Janeiro. A dancer entertains the crowd at Olympic Boulevard. Photographer: GAEL. Image Credit & Copyright © Visit.Rio.

Photo: 2016 Olympics, Rio de Janeiro. Artistic Gymnastics. Photographer: Renato Sette Camara. Image Credit & Copyright © Visit.Rio.

Photo: 2016 Olympics, Rio de Janeiro. Closing Ceremony. Photographer: JP Engelbrecht. Image Credit & Copyright © Visit.Rio.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, threw a spectacular party to celebrate the end of the 2016 Olympic Games. Closer in feel to a rock concert than a ceremony, the high-energy mix of music, dance and physical art neatly summed up the sense of joyful abandon that the city prides itself on.

Samba, frevo and choro - dances synonymous with Brazil’s rich musical heritage - all made a welcome bow with thousands of high-class athletes in attendance.

|GlobalGiants.Com|

Edited & Posted by Editor | 6:26 AM | Link to this Post

August 5, 2016

International Olympic Committee (IOC) Elects New Officers and Members

Photo: Ukraine shooter Denys Kushnirov prepares to take a shot to win the gold medal of the 10m Air Pistol Boys Final Competition of the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games. Photo: SPH-SYOGOC/Kent Chow. Image provided by & copyright © International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Photo: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon offers a toast at the dinner hosted by Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympics Committee (IOC), on the eve of the opening of the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 04 August 2016. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. UN Photo/Mark Garten.

Photo: On Target. Archery. Marcus D’almeida of Brazil competes during the Men’s Recurve Individual match of archery event at the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China, on Aug. 26, 2014. Image Credit: Xinhua/Purbu Zhaxi. Image provided by & copyright © International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Photo: IOC President Thomas Bach arrives in Rio De Janeiro to attend the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. President Bach went directly to the Olympic Village from the airport to meet athletes and view the facilities in the village. Photograph by Ian Jones. Image provided by & copyright © International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Photo: Rio 2016: Olympic Torch Relay: Olympic Museum 29.04.2016 Lausanne, Switzerland. Photograph by IOC/A. Meylan. Image provided by & copyright © International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Photo: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. August 4, 2016: IOC President, Thomas Bach alongside the newly elected IOC members, L to R, Karl Stoss, Tricia Smith, Anant Singh, Auvita Papilla, Luis Alberto Moreno, Ivo Ferriani, Sari Essayah, and Nita Ambani during the third day of the 129th IOC Session at the Windsor Oceanic Hotel in Rio De Janeiro ahead of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Photograph by IOC/Ian Jones. Image provided by & copyright © International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. August 4, 2016 — Two new IOC Vice-Presidents were elected along with seven new Members on the Executive Board at the 129th IOC Session ahead of the Olympic Games Rio 2016.

Juan Antonio Samaranch (ESP) and Ugur Erdener (TUR) will replace outgoing Vice-Presidents Nawal El Moutawakel (MAR) and Sir Craig Reedie (GBR). Five new and returning Members will also be joining the Executive Board: Gian Franco Kasper (SUI), Angela Ruggiero (USA), Sergey Bubka (UKR), Ser Miang Ng (SIN), and Willi Kaltschmitt (GUA). Ching-Kuo Wu and Patrick Hickey are resuming their seats as representatives of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) and the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) respectively. The new Chair of the IOC Athletes’ Commission, Angela Ruggiero, replaces outgoing Chair Claudia Bokel, following the elections earlier this week. The newly composed EB will begin its work after the Olympic Games Rio 2016.

Following a proposal from the Executive Board, eight new IOC Members were elected at the 129th IOC Session ahead of the Olympic Games Rio 2016:

1. Nita Ambani (IND);
2. Sari Essayah (FIN);
3. Ivo Ferriani (ITA);
4. Luis Moreno (COL);
5. Auvita Rapilla (PNG);
6. Anant Singh (RSA);
7. Tricia Smith (CAN); and
8. Karl Stoss (AUT).

The newly-elected Members represent a cross-section of expertise from the worlds of sport, culture, medicine, sociology, business, law and management. Gender equality is guaranteed with four women and four men on the list.

Nita Ambani, from India, is the chairperson and founder of Reliance Foundation and a non-executive director of Reliance Industries. She is married to Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani. She is also owner of the Cricket Team — Mumbai Indians. She is the first indian woman to become member of IOC.

The addition of the new Members brings the total number of IOC Members to 98.

|GlobalGiants.Com|

Edited & Posted by Editor | 4:56 PM | Link to this Post

July 30, 2016

International Tiger Day

Photo: Tiger cubs in Mysore, India. 01 April 1987. Mysore, India. UN Photo/John Isaac.

Observed annually on 29 July, International Tiger Day - also known as Global Tiger Day - seeks to promote the protection and expansion of wild tiger habitats and to gain support through awareness for tiger conservation. Some 97 per cent of all wild tigers have been lost in just over 100 years. As few as 3,000 tigers live in the wild today, and a number of tiger species have already become extinct.

With only a few thousand of the species remaining in the wild, mainly in Asia, the UN is reiterating its call for zero tolerance for wildlife crime as part of its 2016 Wild for Life campaign, which aims to mobilize millions of people around the world to take personal action to end the illegal trade in wildlife.

|GlobalGiants.Com|

Edited & Posted by Editor | 1:08 PM | Link to this Post

July 29, 2016

Miss Teen USA 2016 Competition is Underway

Photo: Alexis Wynne, Miss Colorado Teen USA 2016, helps to build a backpack for The Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth at The Venetian on Thursday July 28th. Tune in to the 2016 MISS TEEN USA Competition at 5:00 PM PT / 8:00 PM ET live on Saturday, July 30, live from The Venetian Theatre at The Venetian Las Vegas to see who will become Miss Teen USA 2016. Image provided by and copyright © The Miss Universe Organization. Photographer: Darren Decker.

Photo: Karly Knaus, Miss Wisconsin Teen USA 2016, helps to build a backpack for The Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth at The Venetian on Thursday July 28th. Tune in to the 2016 MISS TEEN USA Competition at 5:00 PM PT / 8:00 PM ET live on Saturday, July 30, live from The Venetian Theatre at The Venetian Las Vegas to see who will become Miss Teen USA 2016. Image provided by and copyright © The Miss Universe Organization. Photographer: Darren Decker.

Photo: Kate Pekuri, Miss Idaho Teen USA 2016, helps to build a backpack for The Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth at The Venetian on Thursday July 28th. Tune in to the 2016 MISS TEEN USA Competition at 5:00 PM PT / 8:00 PM ET live on Saturday, July 30, live from The Venetian Theatre at The Venetian Las Vegas to see who will become Miss Teen USA 2016. Image provided by and copyright © The Miss Universe Organization. Photographer: Darren Decker.

Photo: Tammy Vujanovic, Miss Vermont Teen USA 2016, helps to build a backpack for The Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth at The Venetian on Thursday July 28th. Tune in to the 2016 MISS TEEN USA Competition at 5:00 PM PT / 8:00 PM ET live on Saturday, July 30, live from The Venetian Theatre at The Venetian Las Vegas to see who will become Miss Teen USA 2016. Image provided by and copyright © The Miss Universe Organization. Photographer: Darren Decker.

Photo: Miss Teen USA 2015, Katherine Haik, rehearses for the upcoming show at The Venetian on Thursday July 28th. Tune in to the 2016 MISS TEEN USA Competition at 5:00 PM PT / 8:00 PM ET live on Saturday, July 30, live from The Venetian Theatre at The Venetian Las Vegas to see who will become Miss Teen USA 2016. Image provided by and copyright © The Miss Universe Organization. Photographer: Darren Decker.

Photo: Abby Larson, Miss Utah Teen USA 2016, rehearses for the upcoming show at The Venetian on Thursday July 28th. Tune in to the 2016 MISS TEEN USA Competition at 5:00 PM PT / 8:00 PM ET live on Saturday, July 30, live from The Venetian Theatre at The Venetian Las Vegas to see who will become Miss Teen USA 2016. Image provided by and copyright © The Miss Universe Organization. Photographer: Darren Decker.

Photo: Miss Universe 2015, Pia Wurtzbach, walks the Red Carpet before the Miss Teen USA 2016 competition from The Venetian Theatre at The Venetian Las Vegas on Saturday, July 30. Image provided by and copyright © The Miss Universe Organization. Photographer: Eric Tiu.

Photo: Karlie Hay, Miss Texas Teen USA 2016, reacts to being crowned Miss Teen USA 2016 at the conclusion of the live competition from The Venetian Theatre at The Venetian Las Vegas on Saturday, July 30. The new winner will become a spokesperson for various charitable causes on behalf of The Miss Universe Organization. Image provided by and copyright © The Miss Universe Organization. Photographer: Darren Decker.

|GlobalGiants.Com|

Edited & Posted by Editor | 11:52 AM | Link to this Post