Archive for the ‘Business News’ Category.
January 21, 2012, 10:26 pm
HOUSTON (AP) — Texas financier R. Allen Stanford lied to investors and stole their hard-earned savings so he could live the lavish lifestyle of a billionaire, a prosecutor said Tuesday at his fraud trial.
Prosecutor Gregg Costa told jurors in Houston federal court that Stanford used investors’ money to buy homes and yachts and fund cricket matches.
“He treated depositors’ savings like it was his own personal piggy bank,” Costa said.
The prosecution says Stanford’s business empire was built on smoke and mirrors and he bilked investors out of more than $7 billion over 20 years as part of a massive Ponzi scheme centered on sales of certificates of deposit from an Antiguan bank he owned.
Stanford, who denies the claims and says his businesses were legitimate, is charged with 14 counts, including wire and mail fraud. H
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January 14, 2012, 11:35 am
A conservative think tank that holds shares in Apple is asking the company to investigate whether board member Al Gore violated the company’s business policies by advocating for actions that would be benefit him personally, but not necessarily benefit the company.
The National Center for Public Policy Research (NCPPR) has filed the proposal in Apple’s Proxy Statement for the 2012 meeting of shareholders, which will take place in February. Entitled the “Conflict of Interest Report,” NCPPR has requested that Apple’s board of directors look into “board compliance with Apple’s Business Conduct Policy.”
The report, NCPPR wrote, should specifically, “Disclose the investment of board members that could reasonably be viewed as a financial conflict of interest; describe the role board members play in the development of the company’s policies and the process by which Apple determines if board member participation violates its Business Conduct Policy; disclose policies that could financially benefit board members.”
The target of this request, in particular, is former Vice President Gore, and what role he might have played in Apple’s decision to resign its membership from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in
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January 4, 2012, 6:18 am
A NUMBER of households have already paid the new 100 charge which will eventually be replaced by a property tax, new figures show.
According to the Household Charge Project Board, 2,390 people have agreed to make the payment, the majority of which are doing so with a credit or debit card.
A further 400 have set up direct debits.
An online system householdcharge.ie has been established so households can register to make the controversial payment.
But the charge can be paid by postal order, cheque or at local authority offices.
Meanwhile, the campaign against the charge, which includes a number of politicians, has said it will step up its campaign against it.
It added it is confident that as many as half of households will not register for the charge.
The deadline for payment is March 31 and late penalties and fines will arise after that date.
Some people are exempt from the payment including those in local authority housing and ghost estates.
Download our iPhone App Now Comments that are judged to be defamatory, abusive or tasteless will not be approved and contributors who consistently fall below these criteria will be permanently blacklisted. Read full article…
December 15, 2011, 9:14 am
A YORK accountancy firm has launched an app for smart phones and tablets to help clients calculate their tax.
HPH Chartered Accountants, based on Bootham, launched the app as part of a £50,000 investment to maintain its use of technology, including computer software, networks and file servers, as part of its growth and client-service strategy.
Robert Woolley, the firm’s marketing and business development partner, said: “We are launching this mobile app service to demonstrate that while we are among the longest-established accountancy practices in York and North Yorkshire, we are also one of the most modern in our application of the latest technology.
“This initiative demonstrates to clients that we are always looking for ways to improve the speed, efficiency and quality of our services to them and it will mean that we are constantly in their thoughts when they access the service even outside working hours.”
As well as providing details of tax-saving schemes and eight tax calculators to provide different projections at the touch of a button, the app includes live financial and current affairs news feeds from MoneySavingExpert.com and Reuters.
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December 8, 2011, 10:28 pm
Idaho Aquarium
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BOISE — For years developers of a local aquarium have been pre-selling season passes and asking supporters to sponsor animals, all while promising buyers the attraction would open soon. After years of waiting season pass holders are getting their first look at the Idaho Aquarium today. Some of these season pass holders have been waiting three and a half years. While some were excited by what they saw, others we talked to weren’t so sure. Several sites were considered for the aquarium before those behind the project settled on a 10,000 square foot warehouse at the corner of Cole and Franklin roads in Boise. Although the space is large, exhibits only fill a small portion of the aquarium. Ammon Covino with the Idaho Aquarium says exhibits are being built as funds become available. “There’s a few animals that aren’t in,” said Covino. “The big octopus is not in yet and he comes in next week. The eel tanks and lion fish are not in yet. But there are a handful of exhibits that aren’t in and ready but they will be soon.” Friday evening those who purchased a season pass got their first glimpse of the aquarium before it opens to the public next week. Some, like Wendy Griffith who purchased a family pass back in May 2008, were expecting a bit more, while others loved what they saw. “We were expecting to see shark tanks, puffins,” said Griffith. “On their website they had more exhibits listed.” “I can’t wait to see the shark exhibit and the sea otter exhibit and the seal, but you know for what it’s worth they are doing a great job,” said Gina Johnson. Covino says larger exhibits like a shark tank and otter exhibit are still in the works. The Idaho Aquarium officially opens its doors to the public on Dec. 16.
December 5, 2011, 11:23 am
When the house is spotless, you painted the walls and cleaned the carpets, the really hard part comes. You need to find a tenant who will pay the rent in time and not cause you some terrible problems. Also if you rent an apartment and have to move out because of some emergency circumstances then you need to find a tenant who can take over your lease. A good tenant find service can be very helpful in a number of situations.
If you want to run business on your own, the most difficult, scary part of the rental of your home is to choose a tenant. The good resident can make next years go quickly and cost effectively. The bad resident may be a nightmare. Here are some tips to help reduce your chances of such a nightmare.
You should hire a reliable letting agency or tenant find service. Read full article…
