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Berlusconi gets breather for TV channel with decree
MUMBAI: Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has got a reprieve. Italy’s government approved an emergency measure yesterday. This will save one of his TV channels from being forced off free TV and onto satellite. The move would have drastically cut earnings from advertising.
A BBC News report stated that the station, Rete 4, is one of three owned by Berlusconi’s Mediaset group. It fell foul of a court ruling that is aimed at ensuring wide ownership of media services and preventing monopolies. Critics have said the proposed media law would have allowed Berlusconi to strengthen his grip on Italy’s media.
If the Italian Parliament passes it unchanged for a second time, the President would be obliged to sign it into law. The country’s President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi had ordered the media bill to be reconsidered by Parliament fearing concentration of media in the hands of one individual..
The media bill contains a number of different provisions, including the creation of multi-channel digital broadcasting. It also lifts the ban on cross-ownership of broadcast and print media in 2009 and increases the amount of advertising that one single company can have. Crucially for Berlusconi, the bill removes a previous restriction on one person owning more than two national broadcasting stations.
Berlusconi is Italy’s richest man. His other two television channels are Italia 1 and Canale 5. An AP report adds that the decree also blocked the state-run RAI 3 channel from having to eliminate all advertising. A few days ago Berlusconi defended the proposed media bill saying that it was necessary to modernise the country’s media.
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.
