In The News

Liam Fox's Atlantic Bridge Linked Top Tories and Tea Party Activists

Jamie Doward October 18, 2011
It’s a nation’s worst nightmare – secret foreign meddling in national politics. A British investigation of the charity Atlantic Bridge has led to the resignation of the British defense secretary. Atlantic Bridge, a charity, was also a networking group for conservatives to defend common interests in a globalized economy, linking corporate interests with British cabinet members, US senators and...

With Growing Confidence, India Pursues Mergers Abroad

Vikas Bajaj October 6, 2011
With India removing protectionist shackles, its businesses are no longer content with large market shares in the country and now seek a global reach, reports Vikas Bajaj in a blog for the New York Times. In the last year and a half, Indian companies have spent more money on outbound mergers and acquisitions than foreign companies have spent on Indian deals, according to one accounting firm....

Chinese Policies Put Squeeze on the Banks

Steven M. Davidoff October 5, 2011
Whether US investment banks and private-equity firms can continue global financial domination depends on their success in Asia, particularly China, contends Steven M. Davidoff in the New York Times. Globalization was historically good for Wall Street’s financial firms, but now to prosper they must pursue business in Asia. He identifies a major shortcoming for US firms – not competing “at all for...

China’s Diversified Energy Strategy

S. Kumar October 3, 2011
China, the world’s biggest consumer of energy, “faces challenges in the area of energy security” due to its contentious political relationships and dependence on supply routes. In this opinion piece for Al Jazeera, S. Kumar describes diversified energy strategy that China is employing with both foreign governments and companies. For example, China is “actively trying to attract investments from...

SEC Seeks Offshore Cash Disclosure

Helen Thomas September 26, 2011
The US Securities and Exchange Commission is “pushing” companies to disclose to investors their offshore cash holdings, reports Helen Thomas for the Financial Times. Such disclosures could “be relevant and material to understanding a company’s liquidity,” Thomas adds. US regulations require companies to pay taxes of up to 35 percent on income earned overseas and repatriated to the US, providing...

Apple Attacked Over Pollution in China

Leslie Hook, Kathrin Hille September 13, 2011
Large multinational corporations are often accused of taking advantage of lax environmental laws in developing countries to reduce costs. But China is signaling a new willingness to reject environmental degradation in exchange for jobs and economic growth. A report published by five Chinese non-governmental organizations alleges that technological behemoth Apple has used suppliers with public...

The Fall of the House of Murdoch

Jonathan Schell July 11, 2011
A scandal at the News of the World – particularly a report that the newspaper oversaw hacking and erasing phone messages of a 13-year-old abduction victim, later found murdered – has outraged Britons. The Guardian uncovered that the News of the World, before closure, targeted 4000 voicemail accounts of celebrities, crime victims and soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, reports researcher...