News Headline
Disney’s Eisner on a ego boosting trip?
MUMBAI: Does the Walt Disney Company or rather its chairman and CEO Michael Eisner know what he wants? Is he waiting for a bid or not, and if he is, then the obvious question is why?
Eisner was recently quoted in a media report saying that the board was open to a “really spectacular” offer but nonetheless would not give away the company. Sounds more like ego boosting.
Disney which is facing a looming takeover bid from Comcast Corp. and is also under fire from dissident shareholders.
When Comcast made the unsolicited bid to Disney on 11 February, the company’s board turned down the offer as too low. According to a media report, Eisner who was interviewed by Larry King on cable channel CNN, declined to name a price for Disney. “Ah, please!” he said, adding that he would not give away sports channel ESPN and other premier brands. Eisner said that he believed he had the full support of the Disney board in the face of the Comcast bid and criticism from dissident shareholder Roy Disney.
Comcast is also a Disney customer and is negotiating a new contract with ESPN. A media report said that ESPN had cut deals on 19 February with Comcast rivals Cox Communications Inc. and Charter Communications Inc., and Eisner said he would like to charge Comcast more just because he “felt that way.”
On the other hand Disney dissident Roy Disney said that the Comcast offer too low for the company. Roy Disney and fellow former board member Stanley Gold said in a statement, “In the view of many, including us, the Comcast offer does not adequately reflect the true potential value of Disney’s assets.”
Roy Disney, nephew of Walt Disney, and Gold have been campaigning for the ouster of Eisner.
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.
