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Bayer sheds some brands to focus on pharma and fight pesticide claims

Nov 29, 2018
The giant multinational corporation Bayer is selling off the Dr. Scholl’s and Coppertone brands acquired four years ago when the company bought Merck. Now Bayer is looking to expand its cancer drug research and development and the agribusinesses it’s been growing since buying Monsanto earlier this year. Sounds good, but there’s a lingering problem that […]

For Ireland, multinational companies are a blessing and a curse

Jun 20, 2018
The government welcomes foreign firms, but its tax regime draws criticism.
Google's European headquarters in Dublin in 2010.
PETER MUHLY/AFP/Getty Images

China moves to tighten control of the internet

Mar 12, 2018
In China, the internet is censored. You can’t get access to Google, or Facebook or Twitter unless you have a workaround known as a virtual private network. VPN technology lets users jump over the so-called Great Firewall of China. But now those jumping days could be ending. By month’s end, Beijing plans to block all VPN […]

GE reckons with a large debt from an old business

Jan 16, 2018
General Electric CEO John Flannery said in an earnings call today that he was “deeply disappointed” in big liabilities found over on the company’s insurance side. GE actually sold off this business – insurance for long-term care – years ago. But turns out it’s still liable for billions of dollars’ worth of policies. Click the […]

Pity the tax bills of America’s multinationals

Jan 5, 2018
During the next few weeks we’ll be hearing from some of the world’s largest companies about big, one-time write-downs against their financial results. Many are expected to warn that their profits will be hurt by the huge bills they have to pay to the IRS. It’s part of the new tax law. But those write-downs […]

A billion-dollar Nigerian oil bribe equals the nation’s entire health budget

Dec 20, 2017
In Italy a judge declared that two multinational oil giants — and executives — will go on trial for a major bribery case involving Nigeria. At its core, it alleges Shell and the Italian oil giant Eni paid more than a billion dollars for oil-drilling rights that were actually bribes. Click the audio player above […]

There’s more to America’s global competitiveness than the tax rate

Dec 5, 2017
Tax savings could go to shareholders, not new technology, jobs or other investments.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican from Kentucky, speaks to reporters about the Senate's version of the tax reform bill today at the Capitol.
Mark Wilson/Getty Images

For public good, not for profit.

That whole Panama Papers scandal? The U.S. also needs to take a look at itself

May 19, 2017
Similar tactics to hide money are taking place in states like Delaware.
Public trust in government is at a historic low, according to a recent Pew survey.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images