Australia, U.K. to Join on Multinationals Tax Avoidance Efforts

Australia and the U.K. will collaborate on ways to stop multinational companies diverting profits and avoiding taxes, according to Australian Treasurer Joe Hockey.

European commission to probe Amazon’s tax status in Luxembourg

The European commission has widened its investigation into the tax treatment of multinationals, opening a formal investigation into whether online retailer Amazon’s complex tax arrangements in Luxembourg are so generous as to amount to state aid for the $146bn (£90bn) group.

EU to accuse Apple of taking illegal tax aid from Ireland, reports say

The European Union will accuse Apple of taking illegal aid from the Irish state through sweetheart tax deals over two decades, the Financial Times reported on Monday.

Cisco cleared in rights case, as tech sector watches

Washington (AFP) - A US court has cleared Cisco Systems over liability for human rights abuses in China, in a case closely watched by the global technology sector and activists.

Nokia defends former chief Stephen Elop's golden handshake

Nokia chairman Risto Siilasmaa on Thursday defended an 18.8 million euro ($25.4 million) payoff to former chief executive Stephen Elop as part of Microsoft's takeover of its mobile phone unit.

Ireland considering reform of corporate tax system: paper

DUBLIN (Reuters) - The Irish government is examining options to close a loophole in its tax system that has allowed multinational companies to significantly reduce taxes they pay on profits, the Sunday Business Post newspaper reported.

Firms rush to relocate in low-tax Britain

More than 40 multinational companies have inquired about relocating their headquarters to the UK because of the cuts in corporation tax.

'Buddy' scheme to give more multinationals access to ministers

The government is expanding a controversial scheme which pairs dozens of multinational companies with a ministerial "buddy", giving them privileged access to the heart of government, the Guardian has learned.

Europe takes on tech giants like Google, Amazon and their tax havens

PARIS: A storm is brewing in Europe as nations try to force Internet powerhouses like Google and Amazon to pay more in taxes.

Investing in the Emerging-Market Consumer

With much of the eurozone mired in a recession and the recovery in the United States progressing at an almost glacial pace, it's not surprising that investors are increasingly turning to emerging markets to augment portfolio returns.

Looking beyond the Wal-Mart bribery case

In a case that continues to reverberate across borders, Wal-Mart Stores, the world’s largest retailer, announced recently it has started its own probe into allegations that executives at its Mexican operations made hundreds of illegal payments — worth more than $24 million — to help expedite the opening of new stores.

International hunger program relies on private sector

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama vowed Friday to accelerate efforts to relieve hunger and malnutrition in Africa and unveiled as part of his plan a $3 billion commitment from multinational companies to make it easier for small farmers to grow their own food.

Gingerly, Foreign Investment in Europe Starts Anew

PARIS — Last summer, as the mounting European debt crisis was forcing many businesses in the region to scale back, the multinational Dow Chemical made a seemingly contrarian move: rather than hunker down, it doubled down.

Online payments firm PayPal expanding in Ireland

DUBLIN: Online payments company PayPal announced on Tuesday it is expanding its operations in jobs-hungry Ireland in a government-sponsored deal praised by Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny.

China-Based Hacking of 760 Companies Shows Global Cyber War

Dec. 14 (Bloomberg) -- Google Inc. and Intel Corp. were logical targets for China-based hackers, given the solid-gold intellectual property data stored in their computers.

Multinational firms placing less importance on China -survey

Dec 7 (Reuters) - Multinational companies operating in China are placing less importance on the world's second-biggest economy amid rising local competition and concern over intellectual property (IP) rights, a survey showed on Wednesday.

'Ethical’ charity has to sack staff after the Prince of Wales resigns

While the Prince of Wales has the power to attract attention to causes close to his heart, the withdrawal of his patronage can be devastating.

Mandrake hears that a charity from which the heir to the throne resigned as president is struggling to survive.

This week, staff at the Prince of Wales International Business Leaders Forum were told they may lose their jobs.

China Foreign Stocks Board ‘Very Close,’ Shanghai’s Fang Says

China is “very close” to starting a board for the listing of overseas companies in Shanghai and global manufacturers will have priority, according to the head of Shanghai’s financial services office.

The so-called international board will be a success because of pent-up demand for “high-quality” companies, Fang Xinghai, director general of the office, said in an interview today at Bloomberg’s Shanghai office. Coca-Cola Co., the world’s largest soft-drink maker, said this week it’s in talks to list shares in Shanghai, while HSBC Holdings Plc, Europe’s biggest bank, said in June 2010 it aims to raise a “significant amount” of funds.

Baxter Canada closes Sherbrooke, Que., plant and lays off 135 workers

Medical device company Baxter Canada will close its Sherbrooke, Que., plant on Dec. 9, putting 135 people out of work.

The company plans to relocate production to other plants in the United States, Costa Rica and Singapore that are already making its products.

Companies warned over bribery precautions

Overzealous cuts to compliance departments after the financial crisis have left multinational companies exposed to fraud prosecutions, according to data released on Wednesday.

Compared with 2009, twice as many employees of multinationals surveyed by Ernst & Young reported that their company had no anti-fraud measures in place, even as the Bribery Act is due to take effect this summer.