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AOL has creative challenges for Harry Potter fans
NEW YORK: As moviegoers across the world count the days until favourite boy wizard returns to movie screens in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, America Online announces two new creative challenges that reward and recognise the most devoted Harry Potter fans.
AOL members can enter the Be a Red Carpet VIP Contest by submitting a video of themselves as an entertainment show host. The winner will receive a trip to New York to co-host AOL’s broadcast of the Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets red carpet premiere on 10 November and see the movie with the stars five days before its release in the US. America Online will determine the top five finalist videos, which will be judged by creativity, presentation, quality of questions and personality. The final five will be broadcast online, and members will vote for their favourite to select the winner.
AOL has also launched a Wizard of the Week feature, a weekly opportunity for members to demonstrate their creativity and enthusiasm for Harry Potter’s world, and be a “star” on AOL’s “Wizard of the Week” fan page. Each week, America Online will announce a new task for members seeking Wizard of the Week status. Creative entries may include fan photos, homemade fan pages, Harry Potter-inspired poems, themed desktop designs and more. AOL will select one member as its Wizard of the Week who will receive a personal spotlight on the AOL service at AOL Keyword: Wizard of the Week and AOL Keyword: Harry Potter, which includes their photo, bio, their favorite movie character and a link to their submission.
Video submissions for the Be a Red Carpet VIP Contest must be received by 18 October . Voting by AOL members of the five finalists will take place between 28-31 October. Parental consent is required for children’s submissions. . The film will be released in North America and the U.K. on 15 November by Warner Bros. Pictures, an AOL Time Warner Company.
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.
