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Huge leap in Web traffic following assault on Iraq
MUMBAI: The US-led invasion of Iraq has led to a jump in traffic on the Internet, which is expected to become the major source of information on the conflict for many people.
The Internet has increasingly emerged as a key source for news, communication and comfort during major events, especially after the 11 September attacks on the United States. Just as important is the fact that happens to offer the greatest variety of opinion among all media vehicles.
The conflict with Iraq will be the biggest war involving the United States since the Internet became a major medium. Which is the biggest difference from what was the situation in 1991, where the Internet was in very early stages of development. and the cable networks were the dominant source for breaking news for many people.
The immediate fallout of the US-led attacks on the Internet of course have been that it has blown away sex as the most popular search term.
“War was our top search term today (Thursday), taking over from perennial favourites – sex, Britney and travel,” Nadia Schofield, a spokeswoman for Freeserve, Britain’s largest Internet service provider, was quoted as saying in a Reuters report.
An indicator of just the kind of dynamics that is driving Web traffic in these troubled times is the fact that “Iraq” knocked female country music group “Dixie Chicks” out of the top spot among on Yahoo’s Buzz Index (http://buzz.yahoo.com/) of popular search terms among US Internet users.
The Dixie Chicks sank to number three on the Yahoo index behind Iraq and rising rap singing star “50 Cent”.
Dixie Chicks have had their chart-topping songs, including current number one single “Travelin’ Soldier”, pulled from many US radio playlists after they criticised Bush’s war plans in Iraq.
The Texas trio have been lambasted in events around the United States where their CDs have been burned and smashed by angry fans. Conversely that has only fuelled interest among Web users in the group.
And for those who see this in terms of business opportunities, Reuters reports that the share value of major listed online firms have gone up. Shares in online auctioneer eBay Inc., Internet bookseller Amazon.com Inc. and travel Web site Expedia Inc. hit 52-week highs on Thursday as investors looked for safe havens as the US-led invasion on Iraq intensified.
The shares are at their highest level since April 2000. They remain about 30 per cent under their split-adjusted, all-time high of $127.50 reached in March 2000, just before the Internet bubble burst.
Re-$ exchange rate: US$1 = Rs 47.68
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.
