News Broadcasting
Al-Jazeera site hacker sentenced to community service
LOS ANGELES: This is a major boost in the fight against cybercrime. On 24 March a temporary version of broadcaster Al Jazeera’s English site went online to cover the Iraq war. However it was brought down by hackers within a day.
Now the man behind the crime web designer John William Racine II has been ordered to perform 1000 hours of community service.
Racine also has to pay $2,000. As per reports US District Judge A. Howard Metz said during the sentencing hearing that he believed Racine immediately recognised how much terrible havoc was caused by the hacking.
As reported earlier by indiantelevision.com it was in June that Racine had pleaded guilty to felony charges of wire fraud and unlawful interception of an electronic communication. Racine had admitted that he intercepted e-mails and content from Al-Jazeera and rerouted users to another site showing the American flag and the phrase ‘Let Freedom Ring’. He had allegedly captured about 300 Al-Jazeera e-mail messages, got the password by posing as a networking contact and communicating with Network Solutions.
The Qatar-based broadcaster has said that it believes that more than one person was responsible for hacking their site during the Iraq invasion.
News Broadcasting
Kamlesh Singh receives Haldi Ghati Award from MMCF
India Today Group editor honoured for three decades of journalism at Udaipur ceremony.
MUMBAI- Kamlesh Singh just turned a lifetime of sharp words into a shiny shield because when journalism wakes up a society, even the Maharana of Mewar wants to pin a medal on it.
The Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation (MMCF) conferred its prestigious Haldi Ghati Award on Kamlesh Singh, a senior editor at the India Today Group, during a ceremony in Udaipur on 15 March 2026. The national award, instituted in 1981-82, recognises “work of permanent value that initiates an awakening in society through the medium of journalism.”
Singh, who leads several editorial initiatives including Aaj Tak Radio, the Teen Taal community and The Lallantop, was presented the honour by Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, Managing Trustee of MMCF. The citation highlighted his three decades of contributions to Indian media, innovations in digital journalism, mentoring young reporters, and his popular podcast persona “Tau” on Teen Taal, which fosters thoughtful public discourse.
The Haldi Ghati Award, named after the historic Battle of Haldighati symbolising valour and resilience, is one of four national awards given annually by MMCF. Past recipients include Tavleen Singh, Piyush Pandey and Raj Chengappa.
Other honourees this year included Padma Vibhushan Pt Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Vedamurti Devvrat Rekhe, Treeman of India Marimuthu Yoganathan, Vir Chakra Capt Rizwan Malik, and US-based researcher Molly Emma Aitken, who received the Colonel James Tod Award for contributions to understanding Mewar’s spirit and values.
In an era where headlines often shout louder than substance, the MMCF quietly reminded everyone that real journalism isn’t about noise, it’s about the quiet, persistent work that stirs society awake, one thoughtful story at a time.
