26/06/2013 World Business Report

BBC World News. Now for the latest financial news with World Business

Windows 8 - the sequel - Microsoft back peddles on its new-look

operating system. A property revolution? Andalusia

seizes hundreds of thousands of empty homes slated for repossession.

Welcome to World Business Report. Also in the programme - a fresh

round of spending cuts are expected to be announced in the UK. We'll

have the details. Its software powers millions of

computers around the world but, Microsoft's newest operating system

has not gone down well with users. Windows 8 with its new tablet-style

isn't compatible with much of the company's other software and many

customers say they preferred the more traditional layout of its

predecessor. In bid to draw a line under these problems Microsoft is

offering a free upgrade and will unveil version, 8.1, at its annual

developers' conference in San Francisco today. Recognised this?

It is the windows start button. Microsoft got rid of that feature

when they launched this. Windows eight - a complete redesign of the

operating system. Ballet to consumer demand, the Start button

is making a comeback. Windows eight has a look and feel of an operating

system you would see on a smartphone or target. Great for

mobile users, but a tough sell for people using desktop computers.

Microsoft hopes the new version will give consumers another view,

while still bring them in with the new. Windows XP is the bits that

make not supported any more. People need to upgrade. They are giving us

the way to do what in small enough steps that people get used to

bodies. There are a lot of things are really great and work a lot

better. We're role used to tapping on screens now. Despite we are all

used to. It may take a while to catch on, but some are already

casting doubt. One research firm is predicting four years from now,

Android will be the dominant operating system, Microsoft will be

second and Apple behind. With lusty's misstep, this is

Microsoft's second chance to get it right before consumers start tuning

them out. They say possession is nine tenths

of the law. The government of Spain's biggest region, Andalusia,

is set to seize thousands of homes. Andalusia says the empty properties

are, themselves, at risk of being seized by Spanish banks because the

owners have fallen behind with their mortgage payments. But the

government's decision to expropriate bank property may put

Spain on a head on collision with the European Commission. Tom

Burridge sends this report from Andalusia. This woman was due to be

evicted. They have started, she shuts down the phone. Then she

thinks the people blocking their front door. They are members of a

powerful protest movement. They are fighting to stop housing evictions

in Spain. After the property boom and bust here, record numbers of

people cannot pay their rent or mortgage. In the south of the

country, things are even worse. These men have been massive work

for two years. They are facing eviction because they cannot pay.

They need help now. We cannot go one, she says. There is no money.

Housing repossessions are high because unemployment in this region

is at 37%. The regional government estimates that there are hundreds

of thousands of empty properties in this part of Spain. A Hanover from

the construction boom. The regional government has come up with a

controversial new law, allowing it to temporarily seized properties

from Spanish banks if the family living there is due to be evicted

because they cannot pay their mortgage to the bank. The regional

government says it will then pay the bank rent for the property that

it has seized. TRANSLATION: These laws are going to create a problem

with the housing market. Everything will be done legally. We will

create a fair market. We will have the right liquidity to make sure

that everyone has access to their homes. Those protesting a his

depictions in Spain welcome the new law. Some experts worry about the

impact on some already fragile Spanish banks. I think it is crazy.

It is not efficient. It is a dangerous way of helping people

that may be legitimate be in need of some kind of relief. This relief

should not be achieved by expropriating houses from their

legal owners. In this city, Lucas is unpacking. Unable to pay his

mortgage, he had cleared out his house. He was ready for his

eviction. At the last minute, the courts intervened and he had a

reprieve. Spain's central government has made some

concessions to reduce the number of for closures. In the south, this

government was to go further, to stop many more homes being

repossessed. In other news: The UK Finance

minister George Osborne is set to unveil a fresh round of spending

cuts for 2015. He is expected to cut some budgets by nearly a third

in a bid to save �11.5 billion. Many expect more cuts to the police,

defence and transport spending. But, the coalition government has

promised to protect the budget for the National Health Service,

schools and state pensions in England. The European Union's

biggest farms stand to lose up to 40% of their government payouts as

part of a deal to reduce EU spending on agriculture. At the

moment, the EU pays 50 billion euros a year in subsidies to

farmers. After weeks of negotiations, ministers have now

agreed to give national governments the option to limit losses to 30%

for big farms. But, there are still disagreements about production

quotas for key crops like sugar. They say the only certainties in

life but death and collecting taxes. Collecting taxes is an uphill

battle for many governments. Taiwan has a unique way of getting people

to pay their taxes. It offers them a chance to win a National Lottery

for every receipt they send him. It is proving so popular that the

island is planning to improve the system and go pop -- paperless. Our

correspondent has more. Buying breakfast at a cafe. This may seem

like an ordinary transaction, but there is much more involved. Every

time it churns out a receipt, the son seen tells the government how

much the cafe has just earned, so we can accurately collect the taxes

it is due. What makes the system work is that practically every

customer wants a receipt. It has become an obsession for many

Taiwanese to collect them. Every two once, the ministry of finance

holds a lottery. If the numbers on the receipt match the price from,

they could be a chance to hit the jackpot. TRANSLATION: I get a

receipt for everything I buy. They give them to my favourite charity

because I want them to win a big prize. My son says his receipts for

himself because he wants to win some pocket money. Most Taiwanese

donate their receipts to charities, to help gen?I ? to help genAll

of the Taiwan there are boxes like this for people to staff receipts

in force of cash prizes range from $6 all the way up to $330,000. More

than 24 million prizes, worth a total of $245 million, were given

out in 2011. Officials say the system has helped increase tax

revenue by 59 to 75%. TRANSLATION: We implemented the system because

in the past some businesses were not pay taxes. We encourage the

public to get the seats. After they get receipts they can donate them.

despite despite its popularity, the system

does not cover the sizable cash economy. Small businesses making

less than $6,000 a month are not required to give a recedes. Around

20% of businesses here not covered by this system. They include

traditional markets, roadside venues auras businesses like this.

They either have to pay no tax, or 1% of their estimated earnings.

Soon, the lottery system will undergo a major makeover. They

could make recedes obsolete. People are being encouraged to register

their mobile phone numbers online. Their receipts will be

electronically credited to their accounts. Those who go paperless

will have a chance to win even more prizes. This could prove to be

another winner for the tax collectors. A look at the markets,

which are a little bit more positive than what we have seen. It

has been pretty volatile and there have been some heavy losses in

China. We are seeing a better session today. That is because we