BASF's workforce by 25, 000 over the past six years, to 103, 000, chopping off weak limbs such as the firm's loss-making audio-tape division and adding new operations, such as the importation of Russian gas.

ECONOMIST: The chemicals business

Giles Martin said that for him, the project all started with a demo tape he put together, adding percussion to Here Comes the Sun and I Am the Walrus.

NPR: Something in the Way You Remix