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BBC Magazines to launch Disney Explorer next month
MUMBAI: BBC Magazines will add another title to its pre-teen range on 25 September with the launch of Disney’s Explorer, a publication containing facts, photographic spreads, unique features, fun experiments and competitions.
Disney Explorer will feature Disney characters such as Lilo and Stitch, with boys and girls aged 7-10 as the targeted readership. It joins pre-teen titles Disney’s Comic and Disney Girl which were launched by BBC Magazines in April, and Disney’s Big Time, which got transferred to BBC Magazines in January. Disney’s Explorer is aimed at children with a passion for exploration and discovery, who love animals and are interested in nature and the environment, and who are fascinated by the weird and wonderful. The launch of the 36-page magazine will be supported by a range of in-store activity and sampling in 1,000 schools in the UK, says an official release.
BBC Magazines – a division of BBC Worldwide: the main commercial arm of the BBC claims to be the UK’s biggest publisher of children’s magazines. As well as its range of Disney titles BBC Magazines publishes pre-teen titles Girl Talk and Blue Peter. BBC Magazines also works with several rights holders in producing pre-school children’s titles such as Bob the Builder (Hit Entertainment) and Teletubbies (Ragdoll). Disney Publishing Worldwide (DPW) claims to be the largest children’s publisher in the world, with 275 children’s magazines and 120 million children’s books sold each year. DPW publishes books, magazines and continuity programmes in 55 languages in 74 countries, reaching more than 100 million readers each month.
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.
