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Iraqi TV channels sign deal with online TV network JumpTV
MUMBAI: As the eyes of the world continue
to focus on the rebuilding efforts in Iraq, an independent media marketplace is emerging for the first time in the country’s history.
Five Iraqi channels have announced a partnership with online television network JumpTV.
The stations carried by JumpTV are Al Baghdadia, Al Fayhaa, Alsumaria, Beladi TV and AldiyarSat. This channel is broadcasting coverage of the trial of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.
For a monthly subscription of between $9.95 and $19.95, subscribers to JumpTV can watch any of the Iraqi stations, anytime, via any Internet-enabled device.
Al Fayhaa production manager Inam Abdul Majeed says, “Independent television channels sprung up quickly after the fall of Saddam Hussein and the Baath party, responding directly to the thirst for independent and credible sources of news and information.”
“Not only do the people living in Iraq want timely and accurate information, but the millions of Iraqis and Arabs living outside the country crave access to Iraqi content as seen through the eyes of their countrymen. With JumpTV and a high-speed Internet connection, those citizens now have entree to affordable, real-time TV from their home country and region,” adds Majeed.
JumpTV’s global distribution network broadcasts television signals from over 100 channels from nearly 50 countries via its website.
JumpTV president Kaleil Isaza Tuzman says, “JumpTV is committed to broadcasting the best television content possible and providing every expatriate around the world access to television from home via the Internet. This bundle of stations gives viewers their choice of the latest in political, cultural and entertainment programming from Iraq. We anticipate that anyone interested in Iraq will turn to JumpTV for access to unfiltered information broadcast from the source.”
JumpTV regional director Middle East and North Africa Amir Hegazi says, “This is the first country-specific channel-package we are bringing to market, and we plan on rolling out many more country and regional packages in the near future.”
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.
