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WWE opens 2007 with strong ratings in US
MUMBAI: World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) has announced that its TV ratings in the US started off this year in a positive manner. It achieved its highest household deliveries of the current season on both Monday Night Raw on USA Network and Friday Night SmackDown on The CW.
On 1 January, Raw’s feature of John Cena versus Kevin Federline delivered 3,564,000 TV households, its highest performance of the season, and the largest household delivery since August 21, 2006. Raw it says was the number one primetime cable programme during the first week of the year among households, total viewers, Male Teens (M12-17) and Men 18-34. Raw also posted season high ratings among Males 6-11, Persons 6-11, Adults 18-49 and Adults 25-54.
SmackDown on 5 January, 2007, delivered 3,371,000 TV households, its highest performance in nearly a year and the highest since joining the CW network. SmackDown WWE says was the number one primetime program on television Friday night among Male Teens (M12-17) and Total Teens (P12-17), and the top rated broadcast program among Males 6-11. SmackDown made CW the number one broadcast network among Males 6-11, Males 12-17, Males 12-34, Males 18-24, Males 18-34, Persons 6-11, Persons 12-17 and Persons 12-34.
SmackDown posted its highest rating among total teens (persons 12-17) since June 23, 2005 and highest among female teens (females 12-17) since November 13, 2003. SmackDown also achieved its highest delivery of the season among Persons 12-34.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
