In the papers today - Wednesday 27 August

...It has already been decried as unnecessary, unsafe, unsuited to disabled people and, above all, too contemporary. The final insult was heaped on yesterday - The Guardian

Virgin Atlantic and British Airways traded verbal blows over the botched launch of Heathrow's Terminal 5 yesterday as BA's rival claimed a 38% rise in pre-tax profits. The carrier founded by Sir Richard Branson reignited its feud with BA by claiming it enjoyed a strong start to the financial year thanks to "ongoing" problems at T5 - The Guardian

Rio Tinto yesterday shrugged off talk of an impending collapse in the commodities market, pointing to recent research that suggested China will build up to 50,000 skyscrapers in the next 20 years, the equivalent of 10 New Yorks, creating sustained long-term demand for steel and other raw materials. The mining group reported half-year profits of $5.5bn (£3bn), a 55% increase on the same period a year earlier, providing the company with ammunition in its battle to see off a hostile bid by BHP Billiton valued at about £70bn - The Guardian

Poor sales figures from Bovis Homes dashed the fragile recovery in sentiment in the housebuilding sector yesterday, though the gloom was soon lifted by rumours of a debt lifeline for larger rival Taylor Wimpey. Shares throughout the sector fell yesterday morning as Bovis, one of Britain's leading developers, revealed it has sold only 92 homes since June 30 - or fewer than two pers day - barely a third of the figure in 2007 - The Financial Times

Hurricane Gustav hit Haiti last night, causing a landslide that killed a man in Benet. The extreme weather comes less than two weeks after Tropical Storm Fay battered the Carribean, leaving dozens dead - The Times

Energy companies could escape a windfall tax on their huge profits if they do more to help people struggling to pay their fuel bills.Ministers will tell gas and electricity bosses that they want them to take further action to combat fuel poverty. Although they deny threatening a windfall tax, ministers say the firms' response to their call will be taken into account when they consider growing demands by Labour MPs for a one-off raid to fund measures to help poor families meet their bills - Independent

High fuel prices and the growing economic crisis is leading to a drop in road congestion, as more motorists leave their cars at home. Those who do take to the roads are slowing down to save fuel, according to figures compiled by the RAC Foundation and Trafficmaster - The Daily Telegraph

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