The proportion of first-time buyers in England and Northern Ireland who will need to pay stamp duty is set to double in April, rising from 21% to 42%, according to Zoopla analysis. Existing homeowners will also see a significant increase, with those liable for stamp duty expected to jump from 49% to 83%. These changes are driven by reductions in stamp duty discounts, with the “nil rate” band decreasing from £425,000 to £300,000 for first-time buyers and from £250,000 to £125,000 for other homebuyers. This could potentially add an extra £1.1 billion annually to government tax revenue, according to Zoopla’s estimates.
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Another 23 women say they were raped by a Chinese PhD student feared to be one of Britain’s most prolific sexual predators
University College London PhD student Zhenhao Zou has been found guilty of raping 10 women and filming the attacks with hidden cameras, leading to an appeal for other victims to come forward. Zou, described as a "dangerous and predatory" offender, targeted young Chinese women by drugging and assaulting them in his flat. More than 20 women have since reported being raped by Zou, with police investigating if they can be identified among the 50 unidentified...
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