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China to launch its first direct broadcasting satellite SinoSat-2
MUMBAI: China is slated to launch nine satellites including its first direct broadcasting satellite (DBS) satellite — SinoSat-2 satellite by the end of this year.
SinoSat-2 has been designed to serve the needs for television broadcasting, Direct PC and broadband multimedia systems in China as well as the neighbouring regions for 15 years.
SinoSat2 will be the new member to the SinoSat fleet. With 22 Ku-band transponders on board, SinoSat-2 will be the first spacecraft based on the new domestic high power satellite bus, known as DFH-4.
One of its features is that the satellite is the first anti-jamming
satellite in China. It meets the transmission security requirements and can effectively block illegal signals from abroad.
The launch of SinoSat 2, had been scheduled for the year 2005. But the launch had been put off. According to People’s China Daily Online, China State Information advisory committee member He Dongcai, “The nation must first launch relevant regulations on the receiving and watching of direct-broadcast satellite programmes”.
Developed by the Chinese Academy of Space Technology (CAST), SinoSat-2 marks China’s first satellite based on a public platform for a new-generation of large GEO communication satellites.
According to media reports, CAST president Zhang Qingwei said that the first one to launch is a scientific experimental satellite, which would blast off at the end of April.
Qingwei said that China will send into orbit a “seed satellite” specially designed for seed-breeding in space. It is scheduled for September.
Other satellites in the pipeline include a meteorological satellite and oceanic satellite that will monitor ocean colour and red tides.
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.
