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Wales considers tax on disused land to boost housing development
According to a minister in the Welsh government, the primary objective of the plans is to increase the number of houses being constructed, rather than generating revenue.
Government ministers in Wales believe that introducing a tax on unused land could spur the development of disused sites and increase house building in the region.

A joint consultation between the UK and Welsh governments is planned to discuss the devolution of powers to Wales, enabling the country to implement a tax on vacant land.
The Welsh government aims to deter the practice of "land banking," where land is purchased with the intention of selling it at a higher price, without any plans for development.
According to Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens, the proposed tax would have a "positive and tangible" impact on Wales, although a specific timeline has not been provided, with a consultation expected to be published soon.
It is understood that the consultation will not take place before the upcoming Senedd election in May, as reported by BBC Wales.
Both governments have been asked to provide estimates on the potential revenue generated by the new tax.
Research commissioned by the Welsh government in 2020 identified 456 stalled sites in Wales, with 376 of these designated for residential use.
Welsh Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford emphasized that the proposed tax is intended to encourage development, rather than generate revenue, stating that the goal is to "change behavior and get more houses built."
Labour MP Jo Stevens expressed her concern about "pockets of land" being held indefinitely, stating that it is essential to bring these areas back into use.
Stevens noted that previous requests for devolved powers had been rejected by the Conservative UK government.
She highlighted that the current Labour government has strengthened devolution in ways that will positively impact Wales, with the proposed tax being one such example.
Mark Drakeford stated that the timing of the consultation is dependent on the UK government's Treasury, but he hopes for a swift progression to the next stage of the process.
Drakeford believes that the devolution of the tax will benefit Welsh communities.
He explained that a tax on undeveloped land could encourage landowners to develop their properties within the expected timeframe.
The primary objective of the tax, according to Drakeford, is to change behavior and increase the number of houses built, rather than generating revenue.
Opposition parties have been invited to comment on the proposal.
The Welsh government hopes that the devolved powers will encourage development, regeneration, and prevent dereliction in the region.
The announcement comes at a time when Welsh Labour is facing a significant challenge to maintain its power in the upcoming Senedd election in May.

Welsh First Minister Eluned Morgan previously stated that Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer would be welcome to campaign in Wales if he brings "goodies," such as improved funding or devolution of powers.
The Welsh government is currently unable to introduce the tax without the UK government's agreement to devolve the necessary powers.
The tax would require approval from both the UK Parliament and the Welsh Senedd before it can be implemented.
Mark Drakeford was involved in the initial proposal for the tax in 2018, which was submitted to the UK government.
A formal submission was made two years later, but the then-finance secretary, Rebecca Evans, accused the Treasury of changing the requirements, leading to an impasse in discussions.
Plaid Cymru MP Ann Davies expressed her delight at the decision to consult on the tax proposal.
However, she emphasized the need to consider the devolution of other areas, including rail infrastructure, youth justice, and the Crown Estate, which she believes are essential for Wales.
Davies sought the first minister's thoughts on these matters.
Jo Stevens, however, disagreed with the Welsh government on the devolution of the Crown Estate, citing concerns about market fragmentation and damage to investor confidence.
Stevens explained that the current system is working effectively and that introducing a new entity could complicate existing processes and delay development.
The Conservative shadow finance secretary in the Senedd, Sam Rowlands, expressed skepticism about the tax proposal.
Rowlands called for the government to provide clear data, impact assessments, and a timeline, rather than relying on "warm words" about swift progression.
He emphasized the need for concrete plans and transparent communication with the Welsh public.
A Green Party spokesperson argued that the taxation system for land and property in Wales requires a comprehensive overhaul, including the replacement of council tax and business rates with a land value tax.
The spokesperson welcomed the potential for new financial powers but stressed that the decision on the type of tax to implement should be made in Wales.
News
Serie A to air on BBC with live coverage of Scottish matches
A new multi-game rights deal has enabled the BBC to broadcast live coverage of matches featuring several Scotland internationals, including Scott McTominay, Billy Gilmour, Lewis Ferguson, Che Adams, Lennon Miller, Kieron Bowie, and Josh Doig, starting this Sunday.
A number of Scottish players, including Che Adams, Scott McTominay, Billy Gilmour, Lennon Miller, and Lewis Ferguson, are currently competing in Italy's top division, Serie A.
The upcoming Serie A match between Torino and Bologna will be a notable fixture, featuring several Scottish players.
The match is scheduled to take place on Sunday, 15 February, with a kick-off time of 17:00 GMT, at a venue that will be announced.
Fans can catch the live coverage of the match on BBC Alba, starting from 16:50.
A growing list of Scottish players, including Scott McTominay, Billy Gilmour, Lewis Ferguson, Che Adams, Lennon Miller, Josh Doig, and Kieron Bowie, are making a name for themselves in Serie A.
With a record number of Scots playing in Italy's top flight, the BBC is now providing live coverage of their matches, allowing fans to follow their favorite players.
As part of a new package, the BBC will broadcast eight live Serie A matches, showcasing the talents of Scottish players as they prepare for the upcoming World Cup.
The first match to be broadcast on BBC Alba will be the encounter between Torino, featuring striker Che Adams, and Bologna, featuring midfielder Lewis Ferguson, on Sunday, with a 17:00 GMT kick-off.
Bologna will be looking to bounce back from five consecutive domestic defeats, despite recent impressive results in the Europa League and against Celtic.
During their recent run, Bologna drew 2-2 with Celtic and secured a 3-0 win over Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Europa League.
Torino, on the other hand, has only managed one win in their last five outings but will be seeking to build on their recent 2-2 draw against Fiorentina.
Scotland's Nations League campaign is set to begin in Slovenia.
Clarke has confirmed that Barnes will not be making a switch to Scotland.
Scotland is scheduled to face Switzerland in the Nations League.
Future BBC Alba broadcasts will feature matches involving Napoli's Scottish duo, Scott McTominay and Billy Gilmour, who is nearing a return from injury, as well as Lennon Miller's Udinese, Josh Doig's Sassuolo, and Kieron Bowie's Hellas Verona.
The number of Scottish players in Serie A has reached a record high, with the likes of Liam Henderson, who has played for several Italian clubs, now competing in Serie B.
Further details of the Serie A matches to be broadcast on BBC Alba will be announced in the coming weeks.
Margaret Cameron, director of content at BBC Alba, expressed her excitement about the opportunity for Scottish fans to watch their favorite players in action, free-to-air, ahead of the World Cup.
Presenter Alex O'Henley is looking forward to hosting the coverage of what he describes as a "golden era" for Scottish players in Italy.
With the World Cup approaching, O'Henley believes it's an exciting time for Scottish fans to follow the fortunes of their players in Italy.
Kieron Bowie made his debut for Verona against Pisa.
Che Adams, who was born in Leicester, has established himself as a key player for Scotland, earning 45 caps and scoring 11 goals since switching allegiances in 2021.
This season, Adams has scored six goals in 26 appearances for Torino, who currently sit 13th in the Serie A table.
Kieron Bowie, who began his career with Raith Rovers, has risen to prominence with Hibernian, scoring nine goals in 30 appearances before joining Hellas Verona in January.
Bowie made his debut for Verona in a 0-0 draw against Pisa, earning his first start for the club.
Josh Doig, who started his career with Hibernian, has become a regular player in Serie A, first with Verona and now with Sassuolo, earning one cap for Scotland.
Doig has made 24 appearances, including 20 starts, for Sassuolo this season.
Lewis Ferguson, who began his career with Hamilton Academical, has become a key player for Bologna, earning 21 caps for Scotland and leading his team to a Coppa Italia final win over AC Milan.
Ferguson has made 29 appearances, including 21 starts, for Bologna this season, helping the team to eighth place in the table.
Billy Gilmour, who started his career with Rangers, has played for several clubs, including Chelsea and Norwich City, before joining Napoli in 2024, where he won his first league title.
Gilmour has been limited to 12 appearances, including six starts, this season due to injury, but is nearing a return to action.
Scott McTominay, who came through Manchester United's youth ranks, has become a key player for Napoli, earning 67 caps for Scotland and scoring 14 goals, including a notable overhead kick against Denmark.
McTominay has made 34 appearances for Napoli this season, scoring 10 goals and helping the team to a strong position in the table.
Lennon Miller, who began his career with Motherwell, has made a promising start to his career, earning four caps for Scotland and joining Udinese in August.
Miller has made 14 appearances, including six starts, for Udinese this season.
Fans can stay up-to-date with their favorite clubs through BBC Sport.
News
GB men’s curling team suffers upset defeat to Italy
At the 2026 Winter Olympics, Great Britain’s men’s curling team mounted a comeback against Italy following a disappointing beginning, ultimately falling short in their inaugural match.
Despite a valiant comeback, Team GB ultimately fell short as Italy held their composure to secure the win in the final end.
A dismal start to the match proved costly for Team GB's men, as they suffered their first defeat of the Winter Olympics at the hands of host nation Italy, despite a spirited fightback in the packed Cortina Curling Stadium.
Following victories in their first two matches, including a win over the Swedish rink that beat them in the gold-medal match four years ago, Team GB entered their second high-profile encounter in as many days in a confident position.
However, a disastrous opening end, in which Italy stole four points, left Team GB trailing and facing an uphill battle in front of a boisterous home crowd.
The British team, currently ranked number one in the world, gradually regained their footing and managed to level the score by the ninth end.
Ultimately, Italy maintained their composure in the final end to emerge victorious, winning 9-7 and adding Team GB to their list of scalps, which already included the Swedes.
"We had to dig deep and play some solid curling, but unfortunately, it wasn't enough to get us over the line," Team GB lead Hammy McMillan said in an interview with BBC Sport.
With seven wins from nine round-robin matches guaranteeing a spot in the semi-finals, Team GB remains in a strong position, although fewer wins may still be sufficient to advance.
The women's team is set to take to the ice next, facing South Korea in their second match at 13:05 GMT, while the men will return to action on Saturday against the Czech Republic at the same time.
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The looks of shock on the faces of Team GB's curlers told the story of a disastrous opening end.
With a stone in play, Mouat attempted a risky shot in an effort to claim two points, but it backfired, resulting in none of Team GB's stones in the house and four Italian stones in position.
However, the Scottish quartet, ranked number one in the world, quickly regained their composure and got back to their game.
The teams exchanged singles before a impressive final throw by Mouat, aided by a measurement to determine which stone was closest to the button, allowed Team GB to claim two points and narrow the gap to 5-3.
Another excellent team effort, which included a well-judged throw by Mouat, a solid sweep by Hammy McMillan and Bobby Lammie, and Grant Hardie's strategic expertise, forced Italy to concede a point in the fourth end, reducing the deficit to a single point at the break.
Italy blanked the sixth end and added two points in the seventh to rebuild their lead, but Team GB fought back with two points of their own, remarkably levelling the score with one end remaining after a steal.
The match came down to the final end, but Italy held their nerve to secure the win, prompting a deafening roar from the crowd.
"It's an incredible experience, and we need to get used to it," McMillan added, describing the electric atmosphere as "surreal" and "cool," more akin to a football match than a typical curling crowd.
News
Scotland Kicks Off Nations League Against Slovenia
Uefa has released the schedule for the Nations League, with Scotland set to begin their campaign on 26 September with an away match against Slovenia.
Uefa has released the schedule for the Nations League, with Scotland's campaign set to begin on 26 September with an away match against Slovenia.
The team's six group stage games will be played within a three-month period, culminating in a match against Switzerland on 16 November.
The fixture list was announced following Thursday's draw, which placed Scotland in a group with Switzerland, Slovenia, and North Macedonia.
Having been relegated from League A after a play-off loss to Greece last year, Scotland will compete in the second tier of the Nations League this year.
In response to the draw, head coach Steve Clarke noted that the teams in the group appear to be evenly matched.
Clarke reflected on the team's past experience in the competition, stating that it has been beneficial for Scotland.
He emphasized the importance of the Nations League, citing its role in helping the team qualify for Euro 2020, and anticipated a challenging set of matches.
A key matchup in the Nations League will see Scotland face off against Switzerland.
The group stage will determine the teams' fates, with the winner earning promotion, the runner-up entering a play-off, the third-placed team facing a relegation play-off, and the fourth-placed team being relegated directly.
The upcoming group games will mark a reunion for Scotland and Switzerland, who previously drew 1-1 in Cologne at Euro 2024.
Scotland's last encounter with Slovenia was during the 2018 World Cup qualification campaign, when they won 1-0 at home and drew 2-2 away.
The team has not played North Macedonia since the 2014 World Cup qualifiers, when they drew 1-1 at home and won 2-1 away, with goals from Ikechi Anya and Shaun Maloney.
The schedule for Scotland's Nations League campaign begins on 26 September with a match against Slovenia.
The team will then host Switzerland on 29 September, followed by a trip to face North Macedonia on 3 October.
Scotland will then play Slovenia at home on 6 October, before hosting North Macedonia on 11 November.
The final group stage match will see Scotland travel to face Switzerland on 16 November.
The team's home match against North Macedonia is set for 11 November.
The campaign will conclude with an away match against Switzerland on 16 November.
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