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APTN nominated for International Emmy Awards
LONDON: International video news agency APTN figured as one of the four international finalists nominated for the International Emmy awards for its coverage of Gulf War II.
The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences presented its News and Documentary Awards – dubbed the Emmys – in New York on 3 September 2003. The award went to ITN for Channel 4 News for their piece on the fall of Saddam Hussein.
More than a billion viewers saw APTN footage supplied via 500 broadcaster and online portals. The agency sent 120 people to the region, equipped with the latest video and satellite technology in what was the largest deployment in television news agency history.
APTN is the international television arm of The Associated Press – the world’s oldest and largest news gathering organisation. It has over 80 bureaux in 67 countries linked by a network of global satellites. APTN also supplies video news, entertainment, and sports content to more than 500 broadcast newsrooms, portals, Internet, broadband and mobile products worldwide.
APTN covered the bombing of Baghdad live and reported the capture of its international airport by US troops. The agency’s live images of the toppling of Saddam Hussein’s statue in a Baghdad square were amongst the most memorable of the war.
APTN scored a world exclusive when an American pilot used a small APTN digital camera to capture the air to ground bombing of Iraq. APTN also used cutting-edge satellite tracking antennas and videophone technology to transmit live pictures from the deck of the American aircraft carrier USS Constellation during bombing raids.
It mounted full broadcast quality satellite dishes onto specially adapted four-wheel drive vehicles to give viewers a unique perspective of the unfolding conflict in the Iraqi desert and in Northern Iraq.
This latest accolade, which is an agency first, follows recognition from the Royal Television Society in the UK whose Special Judges’ Award was given to APTN for coverage of the 11 September World Trade Centre attacks.
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.
