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WWE Superstars to bring Christmas cheer to Iraq, Kuwait
MUMBAI: World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) superstars will be visiting the troops bringing with them holiday greetings and United States Organisations (USO) care packages.
The visit will be shown on a special edition of WWE SmackDown. In the US this will air on Christmas Day on Viacom’s cable network UPN. In India WWE action airs on Ten Sports and Indians can catch the special sometime in January.
WWE is helping to promote the ‘Operation USO Care Package’ this month. Shortly after that the WWE superstars travel to Iraq and Kuwait in a tour organised by the US Department of Defense, Armed Forces Entertainment office.
WWE is promoting the USO initiative within its television programming and on its web site, wwe.com. WWE has a microsite troops.wwe.com where people can sponsor a care package, and it also will be posting holiday messages to the troops from its viewers. People who want to send greetings to the troops for posting on the website can email them to Troops@WWE.com.
WWE chairman Vince McMahon will be among those attending the holiday tour. Other stars include Big Show, Torrie Wilson, the Canadian grappler Chris Benoit, Mexican Eddie Guerrero .
As part of the promotion for a donation of $25, individuals can send a USO Care Package containing an assortment of daily sundries that the military have specifically requested, such as prepaid international calling cards, disposable cameras, toiletries, and sunscreen. They also include greetings from the American public, transferred onto official “Operation USO Care Package” post cards.
McMahon added, “We are looking forward to visiting the troops and providing them with the most unusual, entertaining live event ever produced for the holidays. We plan on carrying as many care packages as we can to deliver to the troops, along with greetings from the American public”.
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.
