Almost halfway through the traditional month of detox seems a good time to examine the grey area of legal highs. That such things exist in the first place can be traced back to the Dangerous Drugs Act of 1920, which represented Britain's first formal drug legislation. Cocaine was banned, with cannabis added to the list in 1928. LSD was prohibited in 1966, and the substance that came to be known as Ecstasy was added a few years later.

It is possible that a 44-year-old Russian, whose body was found outside his house in Weybridge two weeks ago, died of natural causes. Such things happen. But this does not alter the fact that Alexander Perepilichnyy's death is mighty convenient. Who benefits? Other Russians whose nefarious activities stood to be exposed by his cooperation with Swiss banking investigators. Nor would they be just any other Russians, but state officials, police, tax officers and others implicated in the case of Sergei Magnitsky.

Mother’s relief as TVShack founder is told he won’t face trial for ‘internet piracy’

The chief executive of the London-based legal group Norton Rose has predicted the emergence of "15 or 20 truly global law firms" after announcing a merger with the US group Fulbright & Jaworski. Peter Martyr said that the combination will create the world's third biggest law firm.

Apple paid less than 2 per cent tax on its overseas profits after slashing the amount foreign taxmen receive.

First time bad weather has shut NY market for two consecutive days since 1888

Two "matchmakers" whose work has found practical applications in pairing pupils with schools and organs with transplant patients, yesterday won the Nobel Prize for economics.

Two "match-makers" whose work has found practical applications in pairing pupils with schools and organs with transplant patients, yesterday won the Nobel Prize for economics.

Gripping, shocking, admirably terse, this is the story of the bloody mess after the fast 2003 victory in Iraq.

The heating and plumbing giant Wolseley has said it does not plan to follow the advertising giant WPP and shift its tax base back to the UK.

All eyes will be on the US Federal Reserve chairman today as he decides whether the world's biggest economy needs more QE