News
01-04-2008
Protests at empty building tax
The property industry is to make a last-ditch effort to persuade the government to reverse its £1.3bn ($2.6bn) tax on empty commercial buildings, claiming it could stymie development and lead to urban wastelands. The industry-wide attempt has been pre-empted by government threats of legislation, should there be any evasion of the tax, however. Introduced on Tuesday, the tax sees property owners pay rates on all unoccupied buildings for the first time, after a limited grace period. By Daniel Thomas, Property Correspondent Published: April 1 2008 04:03 | Last updated: April 1 2008 04:03 ... Read more31-03-2008
BA to cancel more flights this week
British Airways expects to cancel hundreds more flights at Heathrow airport this week as it battles to overcome operating problems at its showpiece £4.3bn Terminal 5. The airline is struggling to deal with a mountain of more than 15,000 misplaced bags, which has been growing since last Thursday's calamitous opening of the new terminal. By Kevin Done, Aerospace Correspondent Published: March 30 2008 21:44 | Last updated: March 30 2008 21:44 ... Read more28-03-2008
A CHARITY boss who stole £150,000 from his organisation was jailed for two years and nine months yesterday.
Greedy John Cunningham, 35, spent it on fast cars, flying lessons, and a swanky flat in Sandbanks, Dorset — one of the world's dearest places. Judge John Beashel told the dad of two at Bournemouth Crown Court: "People trusted you and you betrayed such trust by stealing money that was donated for charitable purposes." Finance manager Cunningham nicked the money from cerebral palsy charity Scope. THE SUN ... Read more26-03-2008
Third of online shops undermine consumer rights, says OFT
Third of online shops undermine consumer rights, says OFTOUT-LAW News, 12/03/2008 Nearly a third of retail websites surveyed by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) are breaking laws designed to protect shoppers. The OFT analysed over 500 UK shopping websites to see if they complied with consumer protection laws by, for example, including physical addresses on sites, telling shoppers of their rights and being transparent about pricing. It found that nearly a third of sites failed in one key regard. It said that 31% of sites appeared not to refund the full cost of returned goods, an integral... ... Read more17-03-2008
