News Headline
Sony Corp 3Q net profit up 10 %
MUMBAI: Japanese media conglomerate Sony has posted a 17.5 per cent increase in third quarter net profit, to $1.4 billion, on revenues of $20.1 billion. This marks a 10.2 per cent increase for the October to December 2005 period.
Sony’s management, led by the CEO Howard Stringer had cut a number of product lines in a bid to restore profits, which have been hammered by competition from lower-cost producers in Asia
The company also reversed its fiscal year forecast to a profit from a loss. Sony revised its earnings forecast for the year ending 31 March, 2006, to $608 million profit on $64.3 billion sales. It had earlier expected a loss of $86.9 million on $63 billion sales.
The electronics division was the main reason for Sony’s strong performance. Operating profit increased by 56 per cent to $668 million. Sony’s move to work with rival Samsung on developing LCD’s is paying off. Sony also decided to stop making Plasma screens. The gaming division saw profits up by 52.1 per cent to $575 million). However the movie division did not fare so well. Sony Pictures posted a loss of $3 million after the disappointing performances of films like Zathura.
Sony executive VP and CFO Nobuyuki Oneda was quoted in media reports saying that the results were boosted in part by a weaker yen and the stock market’s rally, and it is still uncertain whether this favourable business situation will continue. A weaker yen helps lift Sony’s earnings overseas, while its financial service operations benefit when stocks rise.
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.
