L'Oreal family feud has led to series of investigations concerning political donations, tax evasion and money launderingFrench police visited President Nicolas Sarkozy's party headquarters this week in an investigation into political donations and the financial affairs of Europe's richest woman, a police spok....(more) (full story...)

A tax officer with 10 years experience, tells Today how HM Revenue and Customs is "at melting point" (full story...)

Government policies to prop up the housing market not only have failed to fix the problem, they are prolonging the agonyA sure sign of a dysfunctional market economy is the persistence of unemployment. In the United States today, one out of six workers who would like a full-time job can't find one. It is an economy with huge unmet needs and yet....(more) (full story...)

Lack of public debate makes Arab societies less compliant to new laws – and explains the heavy-handed state enforcementThere is a popular assumption – especially in the west – that because Arab regimes tend to be autocratic and authoritarian, the state in Arab countries is also strong.Yesterday on Cif, Ahmed Moor wrote about the problem of disbandi....(more) (full story...)

HM Revenue & Customs says it is impossible to tell how many taxpayers may have to pay interest as a result of tax errors. (full story...)

Major world economies may be slowing faster than thought – although OECD says another downturn 'unlikely'The global recovery may be slowing faster than previously thought, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development warned today as it cut its growth forecasts for the second half of the year. The Paris-based organisation also ....(more) (full story...)

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama stood firm on Thursday in opposition to a Republican push to extend Bush-era tax cuts for the rich but stopped short of threatening to veto such a measure if passed by Congress. (full story...)

BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) -- "Abracadabra, we'll turn all of you into toads!"... (full story...)

President Obama should push harder for medium-term deficit reduction and comprehensive tax reform, an economist writes. (full story...)

Chen Guangcheng, who is blind, released after four years in prison, but locked down by authoritiesA blind, self-taught lawyer and activist who documented forced abortions and other abuses was released from a Chinese prison today and promptly locked down in his rural village with no access to communication, a relative said.Chen Guangcheng, 39, is a ....(more) (full story...)