News Headline
Riding on broadband, Disney connects to Spain
MUMBAI: Riding the broadband wave, Walt Disney’s Internet Group’s (WDIG) has tied up with Terra Lycos in Spain to offer free of charge, a portal with music, games, video and learning activities called the Disney Connection.
Disney Connection is an interactive online content service exclusively available through a broadband connection while Terra is the first Internet Service Provider in Europe to launch Disney Connection.
The programming, which is likely to revolve around both classic and new Disney characters, is slated to have four well-defined sections – Watch, Play, Learn and Listen. Apart from a host of free-of-charge limited services bundled with Terra’s broadband service, Disney also plans to offer paid premium services such as unlimited play on Internet-based games and downloadable music albums.
With broadband Internet drawing a loyal audience that’s multiplying by the day, Disney’s strategic move to capture the European market beginning with Spain couldn’t have been more timely. In fact, by year-end, Disney is all set to reach out to Terra subscribers in Latin countries of Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile and Peru.
India, too, has its fair share of active and prospective subscribers who value high speed and welcome the always-on feature of broadband. Perhaps then, it is time to start asking whether broadband entertainment and learning in India are finally being seen as a mass concept whose time has come. If yes, how deep a groove could it mark for conventional media that is offering similar content on television even if it is only meant to complement television programming?
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.
