BIZ BRIEFS

Focus on migration

NEW YORK: India wants the United Nations to focus on promoting teamwork amongst nations to maximise the benefits of international migration while reducing its negative effects. “In the context of globalisation, there is need to recognise the inevitability of international migration,” Indian delegate Anil Basu said in a UN General Assembly committee debate on ‘Globalisation and Interdependence’ Thursday.— HNS

NBC to axe 7,000 jobs

LONDON: NBC Universal said it would cut 7,000 jobs and reduce spending on news and prime-time programming as the company wrestles with the changes in consumer habits convulsing all traditional media outlets. The group, which owns the NBC network, aims to save $750m a year from the overhaul, dubbed NBCU 2.0. The big networks that once dominated television in the US are facing falling audiences as viewers are swamped with choice from cable channels, video-on-demand and the internet. — The Guardian

Uphill task for Airbus

HAMBURG: Airbus will need to sell 420 of its new A380 super jumbo jets before the model breaks even due to soaring costs, the plane maker’s parent company, EADS said. Previously the project was forecast to break even when 270 of the double-decker planes, the world’s biggest airliners, had been sold. So far, Airbus has only booked 159 orders for the huge planes, the company said on Thursday.— DPA

Google doubles profit

NEW YORK: Internet giant Google Inc said it nearly doubled third-quarter profits on stronger advertising revenue and an increasing share of online searches. Earnings climbed to $733.4 million, up from $381.2 million. Revenue was up 70 percent to $2.69 billion. The Mountain View, California-based firm also increased its share of US searches to 44 per cent in August.— DPA

Eye on ‘Indian dream’

WASHINGTON: Wharton India Economic Forum 2006 (WIEF), the premier American student-run business forum focusing on India, will be held in Philadelphia Nov 11 with the theme ‘Realising the Indian Dream’. Established in 1996, this year marks the 11th year of the conference and also coincides with the 125th anniversary of The Wharton School. “Although the Indian Dream parallels the idea of the American Dream, we seek to further delve into what exactly constitutes India’s ideal for success,” a WIEF release said. — HNS