News Headline
Vietnam targets 2008 for launch of first satellite
MUMBAI: The launch of Vietnam’s first telecom satellite Vinasat has been put on hold till 2008 instead of the original time in 2005 due to unfinished orbit negotiations.
Media reports indicate that Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications (VNPT) is responsible for the launching of the satellite. Total costs are estimated to be $179.9 million, 20 per cent of which will be covered by VNPT. Credit institutions will supply the rest.
The main ground station will be located in the northern province of Ha Tay and the standby ground station in the southern province of Binh Duong.
The country’s Prime Minister Phan Van Khai has formally asked authorities to reopen an international tender for the construction of the country’s first satellite after months of standstill, sources said.
The premier said the satellite carrying up to 20 communication modules would have to be launched before the second quarter of 2008. Earlier this month he had sent written instructions asking VNPT to go ahead with the bidding for the “Vinasat satellite.
The geo-stationary satellite Vinasat will be of average size, weighing 2,200kg and including 25-30 transponders, each of which corresponds to nearly 500 telephone circuits or four to six television channels.
Vinasat could last 15 years or more and save Vietnam some $10 million each year from leasing telecoms channels of foreign satellites such as Asiasat, Thaicom and Miasat. The satellite will cover Vietnam and other Southeast Asian countries as well as parts of China and Japan.
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.
