Writers Edition

Renowned poet Bhawani Shankar Nial, known for his innovative approach to poetry, has recently launched two English poetry books titled ‘Lockdown’ and ‘An Encounter with Death.’ The book launch took place in Bhavanipatna, and the event was inaugurated by His Excellency the Governor of Odisha, Prof Ganeshi Lal, at the Raj Bhawan in Bhubaneswar. Dr. Nial, the esteemed poet himself, was present during the occasion.

The Governor commended the exceptional quality of the books and wished Dr. Nial a fulfilling and creative journey ahead. Throughout the period of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Nial has dedicatedly written poems that delve into the depths of human consciousness and contemplate the theme of death. His work has garnered an incredible readership and appreciation.

Dr. Nial is the author of several acclaimed poetry books and serves as the editor of the esteemed magazine ‘Mahuri.’ His poems have been translated into 20 languages worldwide, contributing to his reputation as an international literary figure hailing from Odisha. Over the years, he has received numerous international honors and awards, solidifying his position in the global literary arena.

The launch of his latest book at Raj Bhavan Odisha has been celebrated by the literary community of Kalahandi, with congratulations pouring in for Dr. Nial. His contribution to literature and his ability to connect with readers on a profound level have further enhanced his status as a prominent literary figure. The launch event marks another significant milestone in his illustrious career.

The poetry books ‘Lockdown’ and ‘An Encounter with Death’ are expected to captivate readers with their unique perspectives and thought-provoking themes. Dr. Nial’s literary achievements continue to inspire aspiring poets and foster a love for poetry among readers worldwide. As the poet’s influence expands beyond borders, his works are anticipated to resonate with diverse audiences and contribute to the rich tapestry of international literature.

The Writer’s Capital Foundation announced the Panorama Golden Book Awards today. The awards are presented to the best entries received during the Panorama international literature festival that was held from 1-31 January 2023. The foundation congratulated all participants of the festival and the awardees who exhibited the highest standards in their literary works.

The Golden Book Awards went to Sunil Sharma from Canada, Christos Sanos from Greece, Joan Josep Barcelo from Spain, Sotiria Kyrmanidou from Greece, Xenia Yerolemidou from Spain, Saiyid Zaidi from India, and Konstantina Kontomari from Greece. The Panorama International Book Awards were presented to Elena Magiati-Karabi, Pantelis Hatzis, Dr Ramakrishna Perugu, Giorgos Sardelis, Marianella Salapatas, Prof. Sreemati Mukherjee from India, Jenny Sakorafa, Katerina Erakleous, Smaragdi Mitropoulou, Arun Bhaskar from India, Gloria Castaño de Martinez from Colombia, Alejandra Brañes Araya from Chile, Prof. Sreemati Mukherjee from India, Lauren Clark from Thailand, and Ivis Campos from the USA.

The Special Jury Awards were presented to Minti Gogoi from India, Dhanonjoy Saha from the USA, Md Mizanur Rahman from India, Christian A. Chávez Tejada from Peru, Isabella Sordi from Italy, Maria Retali, Dimitrios Karousis, and Manos Melissourgakis from Greece.

Preeth Nambiar, the president and CEO of the foundation, stated that the awards were indicators of the set guidelines and were decided by a jury consisting of eminent writers and academicians. The award certificates are being processed now, and the awardees will be communicated separately in the coming days, according to Writers Capital Foundation Secretary General Irene Doura Kavadia. The foundation’s Chief Operating Officer Johanna Devadayavu reminded the importance of more books to spread humanitarian values and congratulated the awardees.

The festival aims to foster humanitarian values through the media of arts and literature and to help cultural exchange between nations to promote global peace and harmony. The Panorama International Literature Festival is an annual, multilingual literary festival founded in 2020 by Preeth Nambiar, an English poet and humanitarian, under the Writers Capital Foundation, an international non-profit, non-political, and non-religious literary organization for writers and creators across the world.

The festival aims at inspiring writers to spread humanitarian values through their literary works. Prominent writers from across the world are a part of the festival in which themes that are relevant to the concept of one world are being celebrated.

 

The results of the Writer’s Capital Foundation’s Panorama International Literature Festival Awards were announced today, recognizing outstanding literary works from the festival held from 1-31 January 2023.

The prestigious Panorama Golden Award 2023 was presented to Raymond N Whitaker Jr. from the United States, for his exceptional literary contribution. The Alfredo Pasolino Memorial Panorama International Literary Awards 2023 were awarded to sixteen other writers, including Hamid Larbi from France, Arena Lucia from Italy, Angeliki Stratidaki from Greece, and Raúl Hernández Correa from the USA/Cuba.

The Panorama International Youth Award was given to nine young writers, including Montzerrat Lincona from Mexico, Jay Rose Ana from the UK, and Alexandra Koligioti from Greece. The Panorama Special Jury Award recognized the exceptional writing skills of Antonietta Micali from Italy, Chaitali Sengupta from the Netherlands, and Manosi Saha from Canada.

The Panorama Wordsmith’s Prize (Fiction) was awarded to Chrisa Charlampidou and Ioanna Lazarou from Greece, and Olga Alanis from Mexico. The Panorama Prodigy Award recognized the exceptional literary talent of Karnav Rastogi from India, Despotidis Dimosthenis from Greece, and Austin Ajit, Aadya Shanmukhi Palaparthi, and Nairithi from India.

Congratulating all delegates and awardees, Preeth Nambiar, the president and CEO of the foundation, reminded them that awards do not define the caliber of a writer but are just a perspective of the jury. He urged all poets to continue contributing to literature that brings positive changes to the world.

Writers Capital Foundation Secretary General Irene Doura Kavadia congratulated the awardees, highlighting the tough competition and the difficult task the jury faced in determining the winners. Foundation Chief Operating Officer Johanna Devadayavu emphasized that the judging process considered not just the writer’s caliber, but also their contributions to humanitarian values.

The Panorama International Literature Festival is an annual, multilingual literary festival to inspire writers to spread humanitarian values through their literary works and promotes cultural exchange between nations to foster global peace and harmony. The festival celebrates themes that are relevant to the concept of one world and encourages prominent writers from across the world to participate.

Panorama Golden Award 2023

Raymond N Whitaker Jr, USA

Alfredo Pasolino Memorial Panorama International Literary Awards 2023

• Hamid Larbi, France
• Arena Lucia, Italy
• Angeliki Stratidaki, Greece
• Raúl Hernández Correa, USA/Cuba
• Hamid Larbi, France
• Dora Muñoz, Spain
• Athanasia Katsigianni, Greece
• Gloria Castaño, Colombia
• Maruzzella Parodi Royo, Chile
• Leo Acosta, Nicaragua
• Kostas Katehis, USA
• Gabriella Paci, Italy
• Norma Marina Solis Zavala, Peru
• Pedro Peglez, Cuba
• Aneek Chatterjee, India
• Paromita Mukherjee Ojha, India

Panorama International Youth Award

• Montzerrat Lincona, Mexico
• Jay Rose Ana, UK
• Alexandra Koligioti, Greece
• Ingrid Caro Tobias, Colombia/Italy
• Shehla Ashkar, India
• Riccardo Gaffuri, Italy
• Mariela Cordero García, Venezuela
• Fer de la Cruz, USA
• Manuela Cecchetti, Italy
• Srishti Sharma, Canada

Panorama Special Jury Award

• Antonietta Micali, Italy
• Chaitali Sengupta, Netherlands
• Manosi Saha, Canada
• Suja Jayaprakash Menon, Bahrain
• Rajeev Moothedath, India

Panorama Wordsmith’s Prize (Fiction)

• Chrisa Charalampidou, Greece
• Ioanna Lazarou, Greece
• Olga Alanis, Mexico

Panorama Prodigy Award

• Karnav Rastogi, India
• Despotidis Dimosthenis, Greece
• Austin Ajit, India
• Aadya Shanmukhi Palaparthi, India
• Nairithi, India

 

Actress Kareena Kapoor Khan has set tongues wagging with a recent Instagram post that has many people speculating about the possibility of a sequel to the 2009 blockbuster movie, 3 Idiots. In the post, Kareena shared a picture of Aamir Khan, Sharman Joshi, and R Madhavan from an alleged press conference, wondering if they were planning a sequel to the film.

“I think they are coming for a sequel. But only these three, without me? I don’t think even Boman knows about this. Calling Boman right now to check aakhir chal kya raha hai yaar. This smells like a sequel for sure,” Kareena said in the video.

While fans were excited about the possibility of a 3 Idiots sequel, some were less than pleased, stating that a sequel might not work as well as the original. Released in December 2009, 3 Idiots was directed by Rajkumari Hirani and starred Aamir Khan, Sharman Joshi, R Madhavan, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Boman Irani, and Mona Singh, among others in key roles. The film was widely loved by all and earned nearly Rs 400 crore worldwide.

Whether or not a 3 Idiots sequel is in the works remains to be seen, but fans of the film will undoubtedly be eagerly anticipating any news about a potential follow-up.

On Thursday, police in Paris and across France clashed with violent black-clad anarchists firing tear gas at protestors who were marching against President Emmanuel Macron’s plan to raise the pension age. It was the ninth day of nationwide protests, mostly peaceful, that disrupted train and air travel. The demonstrations were generally peaceful in central Paris, but groups of “Black Bloc” anarchists smashed shop windows, demolished street furniture and ransacked a McDonald’s restaurant. The clashes ensued as riot police drove back the anarchists with tear gas and stun grenades.

According to Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, 149 police officers were injured, and 172 people were arrested across the country. Dozens of protestors were also injured, including a woman who lost a thumb in the Normandy town of Rouen. Small groups continued to clash with police in Paris late into the night, lighting fires throughout the city center and playing cat-and-mouse with security forces.

Labour unions fear protests could turn more violent if the government does not heed mounting popular anger over pension curbs. “This is a response to the falsehoods expressed by the president and his incomprehensible stubbornness,” Marylise Leon, deputy secretary general of the CFDT union, said. “The responsibility of this explosive situation lies not with the unions but with the government.”

The main entrance of the Bordeaux town hall was set ablaze on Thursday, days before the monarch was due to walk through on his visit to the southwestern city. On Wednesday, Macron broke weeks of silence on the new policy, insisting the law would come into force by year-end. He compared protests to the Jan. 6, 2021, storming of the U.S. Capitol.

Opinion polls have long shown a majority of voters oppose the pension legislation. Anger mounted last week when the government rammed the changes through the lower house of parliament without a vote. The French Interior Ministry said 1.089 million protested across the country, including 119,000 in the capital which was a record since protests started in January. The CGT union said 3.5 million people marched in the country, equalling a previous high on March 7.

“I came here because I oppose this reform, and I really oppose the fact that democracy no longer means anything,” Sophie Mendy, an administrative medical worker, told Reuters at the Paris rally. “We’re not being represented, and so we’re fed up.”

The unions called for regional action over the weekend and new nationwide strikes and protests on March 28, the day Britain’s King Charles is due to travel to Bordeaux from Paris by train.

The Writers Capital Foundation is proud to announce the winners of its International Women’s Awards 2023, which recognize and celebrate the outstanding accomplishments of women in various fields, including science, arts, education, business, and social activism.

The awards are given as part of the International Women’s Day celebrations, which aim to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment around the world. After receiving numerous nominations from across the globe, the foundation is thrilled to announce the following winners:

1. Aggeliki Kompocholi, Greece
2. Antonietta Micali, Italy
3. Bozena Helena Mazur Novak, Poland
4. Cristina Pizarro, Spain
5. Elham Hamedi, Iran
6. Elisa Mascia, Italy
7. Eralieva Umutkan Polotovna, Kyrgyzstan
8. Harinder Cheema, India
9. Irma Bacci, Italy
10. Kasturika Mishra, India
11. María Margarita Salirrosas Sánchez, Peru
12. Mou Modhubontee, Canada
13. Panagiota Zaloni, Greece
14. Patricia Magdalena Soto Vieyra, Mexico
15. Pipina D. Elles, Australia
16. Shalini Yadav, India
17. Stella Sorotou, Australia
18. Tanya Ivanova, Bulgaria
19. Vicky Papageorgopoulou, Greece
20. Zoe Valaoriti, Greece

The foundation extends its warmest congratulations to all the winners and recognizes the hard work, dedication, and achievements that have earned them prestigious recognition.

“We are honoured to recognize these outstanding women who have made significant contributions in their respective fields. Their accomplishments serve as a source of inspiration and motivation for women around the world, and we hope that their success encourages more women to pursue their dreams and make a positive impact,” said the spokesperson of the Writers Capital Foundation.

The Writers Capital Foundation acknowledges the significance of women’s contributions in various sectors and believes that it is imperative to acknowledge and appreciate the same.

Every two minutes, a woman dies during pregnancy or childbirth, according to a report released by United Nations agencies on Wednesday. The report titled “Trends in maternal mortality” showed alarming setbacks for women’s health over recent years, as maternal deaths either increased or stagnated in nearly all regions of the world.

While pregnancy should be a time of hope and a positive experience for all women, it is still a shockingly dangerous experience for millions around the world who lack access to high-quality, respectful healthcare,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO). “These new statistics reveal the urgent need to ensure every woman and girl has access to critical health services before, during and after childbirth, and that they can fully exercise their reproductive rights.”

The report tracked maternal deaths nationally, regionally, and globally from 2000 to 2020 and shows that there were an estimated 287,000 maternal deaths worldwide in 2020. This marks only a slight decrease from 309,000 in 2016 when the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) came into effect. While the report presents some significant progress in reducing maternal deaths between 2000 and 2015, gains largely stalled or in some cases, even reversed, after this point.

In two of the eight UN regions, maternal mortality rates increased from 2016 to 2020. Europe and Northern America and Latin America and the Caribbean recorded increases by 17% and 15% respectively. Elsewhere, the rate stagnated. The report notes, however, that progress is possible. For example, Australia and New Zealand and Central and Southern Asia experienced significant declines (by 35% and 16% respectively) in their maternal mortality rates during the same period, as did 31 countries across the world.

The report further revealed that maternal deaths continue to be largely concentrated in the poorest parts of the world and in countries affected by conflict. In 2020, about 70% of all maternal deaths were in sub-Saharan Africa. In nine countries facing severe humanitarian crises, maternal mortality rates were more than double the world average (551 maternal deaths per 100 000 live births, compared to 223 globally).

Severe bleeding, high blood pressure, pregnancy-related infections, complications from unsafe abortion, and underlying conditions that can be aggravated by pregnancy (such as HIV/AIDS and malaria) are the leading causes of maternal deaths. These are all largely preventable and treatable with access to high-quality and respectful healthcare.

“With immediate action, more investments in primary health care, and stronger, more resilient health systems, we can save lives, improve health and well-being, and advance the rights of and opportunities for women and adolescents,” said Juan Pablo Uribe, Global Director for Health, Nutrition and Population at the World Bank, and Director of the Global Financing Facility.

COVID-19 may have further held back progress on maternal health, and more data will be needed to show the true impacts of the pandemic on maternal deaths. However, COVID-19 infections can increase risks during pregnancy, so countries should take action to ensure pregnant women and those planning pregnancies have access to COVID-19 vaccines and effective antenatal care.

The report reveals that the world must double down on the commitment to women and adolescent health. Providing universal access to quality maternal healthcare requires sustained national and international efforts and unwavering commitments, particularly for the most vulnerable populations. It is the collective responsibility of everyone to ensure that every mother, everywhere, survives childbirth, so that she and her children can thrive.

Palma de Mallorca, Spain: The Panorama International Literature Festival (PILF) 2023 will take place on March 4, 2023, at 11:30 a.m. at Llibreria Lluna in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. The event coordinated by the Writers Capital Foundation Chief Advisor Joan Josep Barcelo and Creative Director Filippo Papa is set to be broadcast live via Zoom, and it will feature a variety of writers, poets, and special guests.

The event will start with a brief address by Maria Barceló, owner and director of Llibreria Lluna. Then, Joan Josep Barceló, Chief Advisor, and Coordinator of Spain, will offer greetings and introduce the Secretary General of WCIF, Irene Doura-Kavadia, who will present the Panorama International Literature Festival and the work done by WCIF in the field of culture.

The event will also feature special guests, including Cati Palou, an integrative health expert from Spain, and Nermin Goenenc, a singer from Germany. They will perform music and share their experiences with attendees.

Moreover, the festival will showcase several poets and writers, such as Aldo Gallina, Cristina Pizarro, and Dora Muñoz, who will read their literary works and receive certificates of participation. The event will conclude with a few words of thanks from Joan Josep Barceló and Filippo Papa, a member of the working committee from Italy, followed by Irene Doura-Kavadia’s concluding remarks.

The festival is organized by the Writers Capital International Foundation (WCIF), a non-profit organization that promotes cultural exchange and cooperation among writers, poets, and literary enthusiasts around the world. The WCIF is dedicated to advancing literary and cultural exchange and creating a platform for literary and cultural dialogue and cooperation.