News Headline
Lachlan Murdoch resigns from News Corp posts
MUMBAI: A shocker if ever there was one. In a move that was both unexpected and sudden, heir apparent to the $ 56 billion News Corp throne deputy chief operating officer Lachlan Murdoch, has resigned.
HEIR NO MORE: Rupert Murdoch & Lachlan
News Corp chairman and CEO Rupert Murdoch made the announcement today that his eldest son had decided to quit from his executive roles with the company, effective 31 August.
Lachlan Murdoch said: “I have today resigned my executive position at News Corporation. I will remain on the board and I am excited about my continued involvement with the company in a different role.
“I look forward to returning home to Australia with my wife, Sarah, and son, Kalan, in the very near future. I would like especially to thank my father for all he has taught me in business and in life. It is now time for me to apply those lessons to the next phase of my career.”
Rupert Murdoch said: “I am particularly saddened by my son’s decision and thank him for his terrific contribution to the company, and also his agreement to stay on the board and advise us in a number of areas. I have respected the professionalism and integrity that he has exhibited throughout his career at News Corporation.
“His achievements include driving all of his reporting divisions to record profits and the New York Post to its highest-ever circulation. I am grateful that I will continue to have the benefit of Lachlan’s counsel and wisdom in his continued role on the Company’s board.”
33-year-old Lachlan joined News Corp in 1994 and has served in various capacities, most recently as deputy COO of News Corp and publisher of the New York Post.
Lachlan’s departure potentially opens the door for News Corp president and COO Peter Chernin to some day take over from Murdoch as chairman, a possibility few took seriously till now. With Lachlan out, Rupert Murdoch remains the only family member on the executive board. What now remains to be seen is whether younger brother James will be inducted on to the board to replace Lachlan. James, 32, is CEO of UK-based BSkyB.
While some US-based media analysts have pointed to the possibility that the development “could solidify Chernin’s role”, indiantelevision.com is of the considered view that when push finally comes to shove, Murdoch is more likely to go with the dictum of blood being thicker than water.
And as was the case with BSkyB CEO Tony Ball who had to make way for James at the helm of UK’s most successful pay broadcaster, it looks difficult to visualise a similar scenario not unfolding when Murdoch’s youngest son is “good and ready”.
We would certainly not mind being proved wrong on this one though.
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.
