News Headline
Emmy Awards’ semi-finals in Jordan next month
NEW YORK: The International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences has announced that it will host the semifinal round of its Asian/African Arts Programming category for the 2003 International Emmy Awards in Jordan next month.
The judging will take place in Amman, Jordan on 2 September. The overall event will be organized by the Middle East Center for Culture and Development from 1 to 6 September.
A company release quoted the academy’s executive director Georges Leclere, as saying, “We are grateful to our board member Bassam Hajjawi, in partnership with IMZ’s Franz Patay and Henk van der Meulen, who have arranged for the judging to take place for the first time ever in Jordan. We hope to encourage even more participation for the International Emmy Awards from this region.”
The International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, which is a division of the National Television Academy, is the largest organization of global broadcasters, with representatives from over 50 countries on its board.
The preliminary judging round of the International Emmy Awards took place in April and May and was presided by over 200 judges, who were experts in the TV industry.
Eight programme categories were judged — Arts Programming, Children and Young People, Documentary, Drama Series, News Coverage, Popular Arts Scripted, Popular Arts Non-Scripted, and TV Movies/Mini-series. The first semifinals event took place in Montreux, Switzerland on 13 and 14 May.
Other semifinal judging took place between May and August in Montreux, Switzerland; Monte Carlo, Monaco; Moscow, Russia; London, England; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Toronto and Montreal, Canada; Almaty, Kazakhstan; Madrid, Spain; Hilversum, the Netherlands; Bangkok, Thailand; Miami, US; Guayaquil, Ecuador; and Mexico City, Mexico.
The release states that the finals judging will be late in September and nominees will be announced at MIPCOM on 10 October. All nominated programmes will be screened at the 5th iEmmys festival on 23 November and the winners will be announced at the 31st International Emmy Awards Gala in New York City on 24 November.
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.
