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Infront TV deal brings World Cup telecast to North Korea
MUMBAI: Switzerland based sports marketing company Infront Sports & Media has inked a broadcast agreement with the Korean Broadcasting Commission of South Korea (KBC) for Fifa World Cup for the territory of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea).
KBC has acquired the broadcasting rights on behalf and for North Korean’s national broadcaster, Korean Radio and Television (KRT), and agreed to support KRT with the broadcast of all 64 matches of the 2006 FIFA World Cup via satellite transmission, according to an official release.
KRT is planning to transmit the matches of South Korea’s national team as often as possible.
For the first time in history of the FIFA World Cup there will be licensed coverage of the world’s single biggest sport event in the closed Communist country.
“The power of the Fifa World Cup is able to bring down barriers of all kinds. The fans in North Korea are now able to enjoy world-class football and experience first hand how the Fifa World Cup brings nations together,” said Infront executive director Oliver Seibert.
Infront is exclusively responsible for the worldwide marketing and sales of the broadcast rights to the 2006 Fifa World Cup. The company has made the event more widely available than ever before. The release also add that there will be the highest number of broadcasters (more than 500) in the history of the Fifa World Cup and coverage provided in virtually every country of the world.
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.
