Tributes are being paid to the actor Geoffrey Hinsliff, best known for playing Don Brennan in Coronation Street, who has died at the age of 86.
Hinsliff, who was born in Leeds, first found fame in the ITV soap in 1987 with his cobbles career lasting a decade.
His role as Don Brennan saw the actor play many storylines which included relationships, affairs, attempted murder and kidnapping.
Hinsliff, who also had parts in Doctor Who, Brass, A Bridge Too Far and Heartbeat, was just short of his 87th birthday when he died, his family said.
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A statement from his wife, Judith, who he married in 1967, and daughters, Gaby and Sophie, said: “He was restless, curious, adventurous and funny; he loved nothing better than setting the world to rights around the dinner table.
“But it was family and home that ultimately mattered to him most.”
Helen Worth, who plays Gail Platt in the soap, said: “Geoff was a lovely, quiet man who will be sadly missed by us all.”
ITV added: “His partnership with Lynne Perrie [who played Ivy], was something rather special and they gave the viewers huge pleasure for many years.”
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Hinsliff, who graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (Rada) in 1960, had previously played other characters in the same programme, in 1963 and 1977.
His family said: “Geoff was a working-class boy from a family of five, who left school in Leeds aged 15 with no qualifications, yet went on to study at Rada with a scholarship and to join the Royal Shakespeare Company.
“It was an English teacher who encouraged him to act, and all his life he fervently believed in the power of education.
“He was restless, curious, adventurous and funny; he loved nothing better than setting the world to rights around the dinner table.”
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He went on to appear in crime shows The Professionals and Z-Cars, before taking to the cobbles as a main character in 1987.
Hinsliff featured in storylines documenting Don’s stormy relationship with his wife Ivy, who had issues getting over the death of her son, as well as his flings including with Denise Osbourne (Denise Black).
Perrie, who died in 2006, was last seen on the street in 1994 when she announced she was going to live in a convent, and viewers were later told she had died from a stroke.
‘Going out in style’
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Hinsliff’s character died in 1997 when his car burst into flames in a crash off a viaduct when he became involved in kidnap and attempted murder after struggling with a gambling problem, and having a rivalry with businessman Mike Baldwin (Johnny Briggs).
When he left the soap, Hinsliff said: “I am going out in style.
“I really have to go. Don’s too far down that road now. He’s virtually a complete mental case and there’s no going back.”
Also known for his theatre work, he worked with director Peter Brook in the English-language production of the play Marat/Sade, in the rugby play The Changing Room at the Royal Court and in the comedy film O Lucky Man with Lindsay Anderson in the 1970s.
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“He also thoroughly enjoyed playing the forelock-tugging George Fairchild in the cult ITV satire Brass, a pastiche of gritty northern dramas which said so much, and so cleverly, about class divides and the north of his childhood,” his family’s statement also said.
Hinsliff is survived by his wife and daughters along with his four grandchildren.
SpiceJet announced it will launch seaplane services across the country from next year. The destinations will include places like Lakshadweep, Shillong, Guwahati, Hyderabad etc.
The seaplane service seems aimed at boosting tourism and connectivity to remote and picturesque locations. The airline already has the rights to operate seaplanes on 20 routes. “Seaplanes have the potential to transform India’s regional connectivity, opening up access to some of the most stunning, yet remote, parts of the country,” said SpiceJet chairman & MD Ajay Singh. “We are taking concrete steps to bring seaplane operations to life in India once again. We are excited to help drive this initiative forward, partnering closely with the government and civil aviation authorities to ensure these services become a reality and a success.”
Avani Singh, CEO, Spice Shuttle (right) and Ajay Singh, CMD, SpiceJet with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu
SpiceJet has partnered in seaplane trials across multiple locations, providing crucial engineering, technical, and logistical support. “Our journey in regional connectivity has been a purposeful one, rooted in the belief that everyone, no matter how remote, deserves access to affordable and efficient air travel,” said Avani, Ajay Singh’s daughter who previously led SpiceHealth, is now spearheading SpiceJet’s seaplane project.
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The announcement was made on Saturday during a demonstration seaplane flight from Prakasam Barrage in Vijayawada to Srisailam Dam, both in Andhra Pradesh, attended by Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and Union Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu.
SpiceJet started India’s first scheduled seaplane service in October 2020 linking the Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad to the Statue of Unity in Kevadia, Gujarat. But the service had to be discontinued soon. The budget airline is planning to restart seaplane services under the UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) scheme of the union government which offers subsidies and a cap on airfares.
However, hope is not lost for buyers who are willing to be flexible on location.
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In the seaside town of Hartlepool, County Durham, homes can go for as cheap as £25,000, making it £275,000 less than the national average.
Meanwhile, a 55-minute train ride can take you to Newcastle city centre for just £2.20.
Take a look at the cheapest houses in this area…
Two-bed end terrace house – Hartlepool – £25,000
This two-bed end terrace is up for sale in Hartlepool, County Durham for £25,000.
It has two bedrooms, one bathroom, and one reception alongside a kitchen.
The street is within walking distance to a number of schools, and a seven-minute drive to Hartlepool train station.
This home would require a bit of work to bring it up to standards but that is always worth factoring in when looking at an affordable property.
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You might be able to get a mortgage for this house with a 10% deposit of £2,500.
If you got accepted for a 25-year loan with 5% interest, you would be expected to pay back £131 per month.
Best schemes for first-time buyers
Two-bed terrace – Bishop Auckland – £29,999
This two-bed terrace is up for sale for £29,999 in nearby Bishop Auckland, County Durham.
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This town is just an hour and 13 minutes train journey to Newcastle and a 41-minute journey to the city centre in Durham.
Again, this home would require some work to bring it up to scratch, but it is just a two-minute drive to the nearest train station – something that often adds value to a property.
You might be able to get a mortgage for this house with a 10% deposit of just £3,000.
If you got accepted for a 25-year loan with 5% interest, you would be expected to pay back £157 per month.
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Two-bed terrace – £36,000
This two-bedroom home is priced at £36,000 and is located slightly inland from Hartlepool in nearby Shildon, County Durham.
It comes with two bedrooms, one reception, a bathroom and a kitchen.
The property is just a short four-minute drive to the nearest train station and is also just a short walk to a number of local primary schools.
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This home would require a fresh lick of paint and some money to refurbish the bedrooms and kitchens, so that is worth bearing in mind.
You might be able to get a mortgage for this house with a 10% deposit of £3,600.
If you got accepted for a 25-year loan with 5% interest, you would be expected to pay back £189 per month.
How to save for your first home
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HAVE you ever wondered how first-time buyers manage to go from savers to homeowners?
Getting a foot on the property ladder might seem like a daunting task, but The Sun’s My First Home feature allows you to find out exactly what it takes to finally get the keys to your own place.
Leanne Gem managed to buy her £456,000 four-bed house with an “underrated scheme”.
At the UN COP29 climate talks in Baku negotiators gear up to agree a new finance target. Plus: prospects for a carbon market framework; what Trump win means for Biden’s green bill; China’s cleantech boom; EU faces backlash; loss and damage funding
The Kerala bench of the GST Authority for Advance Ruling (AAR) ruled that the concessionaire agreement between the AAI (Airport Authority of India) and Adani Thiruvananthapuram International Airport Ltd is liable to GST since it is not a “transfer of business” but supply of services.
This ruling is in direct conflict with rulings passed by the Appellate Authority for Advance Ruling (AAAR) in Rajasthan and Gujarat regarding the transfers of Jaipur and Ahmedabad airports, respectively. These state bodies exempted GST on almost identical transfers.
Back in March 2023, the Rajasthan bench of AAR said that the considerations received from the transfer of running business of whole airport operations are a “tax neutral supply”, which could persuade similar transfers in other locations in India. However, the almost identical agreement between Adani’s airport arm and AAI is now treated differently.
The 2021 handover of the Thiruvananthapuram airport was met with strong political opposition from both the ruling left LDF and opposing UDF alliances. However, it garnered local support in Thiruvananthapuram when social media groups, including IT professionals and residents, actively lobbied for better amenities, which, according to them, were allegedly absent in the capital city airport when compared to the PPP facilities at Cochin International Airport.
According to GST law, the transfer of a business as a going concern, as a whole or an independent part thereof, is considered a service, and such supplies are exempt from the goods and services tax. The Rajasthan AAR ruled in 2023 that the 2021 Jaipur Airport pact was a transfer of going concern and, therefore, GST exempt.
Did Thiruvananthapuram get the short end of the stick?
In 2021 and 2022, both Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh benches of AAR also ruled that business arrangements between AAI and airport proceeds in a similar manner were covered under transfer of going concern.
However, the invoice raised by AAI for reimbursement of salary and staff cost on Adani Jaipur International Airport Ltd fell under “supply of services” and hence taxable at 18% under GST, as per the Rajasthan AAR ruling.
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In contrast, the Kerala ruling for Thiruvananthapuram International Airport by the state AAR said that the deal did not constitute “a transfer of business” and, therefore, will not be treated as “a transfer as going concern”. It also noted that “assets have not been transferred”, and GST is payable on the amounts received as a consideration for leasing or supply of assets to the concessionaire, that is, Adani Thiruvananthapuram International Airport Ltd. These leased assets include critical aeronautical items required to operate the airport.
The Kerala AAR bench went even further and slapped GST on the annual concession fees charged by AAI from Thiruvananthapuram International Airport Ltd as well.
Will the Kerala GST ruling hamper the development of Thiruvananthapuram International Airport?
Last month, Adani Airport Holdings Ltd (AAHL) announced a Rs 1,300 crore investment into the expansion of Thiruvananthapuram International Airport under the name “Project Anantha”.
With an aim to do a significant overhaul of the infrastructure by 2027, the expansion includes an extended renewal of the terminal, with a focus on Kerala’s culture and heritage. It remains to be seen what will happen to the plan now that there are tax implications in the mix.
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AMRG & Associates Senior Partner Rajat Mohan noted Kerala AAR’s contrasting stance, saying, “this discrepancy highlights the need for clearer guidance at a national level to ensure uniformity, as businesses navigating such transactions could face inconsistent tax treatment.” The only similarity with the GST body’s treatment of the identical Jaipur deal was the 18 per cent GST levied on the invoices raised by AAI for reimbursement of salary and staff cost since they come under “supply of services”.
The way smart energy meters work in northern England and Scotland is causing issues for customers, BBC Panorama has been told.
The body that represents energy companies, Energy UK, has confirmed for the first time there is a regional divide – because of the way meters send usage data back to suppliers.
The technology used in the north can affect whether smart meters work properly – and could leave customers having to submit manual readings and receiving estimated bills.
The issues have also been confirmed by meter engineers who have spoken to the BBC.
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In the Midlands, Wales and southern England, all meters use wireless cellular technology – similar to mobile phones – to send data to energy providers. If a signal is not strong enough, it can be boosted by an aerial.
But in northern England and Scotland, meters instead rely on radio frequencies and no such fix is available.
It is a legal requirement, the government says, for suppliers to make sure smart meters are working and it expects suppliers to “resolve all issues at a much faster pace”.
The mass roll-out of smart meters began 12 years ago, with the goal of helping people save money on their bills, while lowering carbon emissions as part of the government’s net zero plan.
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By showing how much energy households are using, and how much it is costing, meters are intended to encourage people to use more energy at times of day when it is cheaper – because there is a surplus while most are in bed and factories are closed.
As more energy comes from renewable sources, smart meters will form a vital part of a “smart grid”, allowing consumers’ demand for energy to match the available supply, minute-by-minute.
The cost of installing smart meters across Great Britain is estimated to be £13.5bn, according to the government. There are 36 million such devices in England, Wales and Scotland – but recent government figures show 3.5 million of them are not working properly.
As a rule of thumb, smart meters in the northern region designed to connect to the radio signal have two small indicator lights on the communications hub, fitted to the top of the smart meter. The hubs fitted to smart meters in central and southern regions, receiving the cellular signal, usually have five of these indicator lights.
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Northern Ireland’s energy market is separate with its own rules and regulator – and a consultation on a proposed smart meter roll-out is taking place.
Hartesh Battu, a doctor from Glasgow, has had six different smart meters, fitted by two energy suppliers, none of which have worked. “I just think it’s astonishingly bad in terms of the technology,” he told us. “I do feel like, ‘how could billions of pounds be spent on something so bad?’”
He told the BBC he had wanted a smart meter so he could save energy on his bills and take advantage of a night-time rate that would make it cheaper to charge his electric car.
His current energy supplier, Octopus Energy, told him the problem was down to signal issues in the area and may be because he lived “far up north” – reasoning that left him feeling deeply unimpressed. “I just thought that was a bit bonkers because I live in Glasgow, I’m hardly up in Shetland, I’m not rural at all.”
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When the mass roll-out started, the decision to use radio signals across northern England and Scotland – rather than the mobile technology further south – was because it was thought the signals would be able to travel far across the hills and mountains, reaching more rural communities more easily.
But Energy UK admits there are problems regarding how the radio signals transmit. “There are issues in the north,” chief executive Dhara Vyas told us.
She said there were “live conversations” within the industry about increasing the network range in the north of England and Scotland.
This technological divide has been experienced by smart meter engineers who have spoken anonymously to Panorama.
One engineer, “Ahmed” told us there were more problems in northern England and Scotland on average, adding that the technology further south was more up to date.
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“You can end up going to someone’s house at the bottom of a mountain in the north and the radio frequency can’t get through. But there could be a good 3G signal nearby and that could get through – the customer doesn’t know that,” he said.
Another engineer, “Steve” working for a major energy supplier in Merseyside, who has experience of installing meters in homes on both sides of the regional divide, told us it was “far easier to complete a successful installation” in the south and Midlands where he could use the cellular network.
Smart meters are supposed to make paying our energy bills easier and cheaper. But is that the whole story?
Watch now on BBC iPlayer– or on BBC One on Monday 11 November at 20:00 (20:30 in Wales and Northern Ireland).
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The original roll-out of smart meters is a “textbook example of a project failure”, Sir Dieter Helm, a former government advisor on energy policy, told Panorama.
He believes the Coalition government made several mistakes that led to the roll-out taking too long and costing too much money. The decision to divide the communications network in two was one such error, he says, which meant there “were bound to be problems and right from the word go”.
Energy suppliers do not have direct control over the communication network – in both the north and south. Instead it is run by an organisation known as the Data Communications Company (DCC) and is operated by outsourcing company, Capita.
Panorama contacted Dr Battu’s energy supplier, Octopus Energy, about the problems he was having with his meter. The company said the situation was “frustrating” because government regulations dictated it must use the radio-wave technology to provide a signal to Dr Battu’s meter – and that it was not permitted to access the local 3G signal instead.
However, in what they described as “a highly unusual move”, Octopus told us that it had in fact decided to break the rules and fix his meter by connecting it to the mobile network. It added that “regulation has not moved with technology”.
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Meter engineer, “Alan”, agrees with Octopus that the rules are too rigid. When he encounters problems in the north with radio-wave technology, especially in built up areas, he says he wishes he could access the cellular network.
“It shouldn’t be an either-or. We should be able to use both.”
Capita told the BBC it advised energy suppliers against using alternative technological solutions, because that would mean there was no contractual or consumer protection for the meter user to ensure service was maintained or problems addressed.
It said the network it runs provides 99.3% coverage across Great Britain, adding that it was “fully committed to resolving connection issues”.
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In a statement it added: “The DCC is actively working with government to provide a future-proof 4G technology solution for the whole of Britain.”
Most energy users pay a little bit extra on their bills towards the cost of installing and fixing smart meters. That is supposed to be offset by the savings they could make and the environmental benefits.
And the latest figures show that nine in 10 smart meters are working fine. But a recent survey by Citizens’ Advice suggests one in five households have had to regularly send manual meter readings because their smart meters haven’t worked properly.
Money Saving Expert founder Martin Lewis told the BBC he was supportive of the concept of smart meters, but the reality had not matched up.
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“I find it incredibly frustrating how bad the roll-out has been, it has taken far too long, it has cost billions. All our bills are higher because of it, and we haven’t yet reaped the benefit because it hasn’t been done right. Somebody needs to grab the bull by the horns and make the smart meter system finally work.”
The government told Panorama that “while over 90% of smart meters are operating normally’’ the number not working properly was “still too high” and, as a result, “many households are missing out on cheaper, flexible tariffs”.
It also said that a recent customer experience survey by Ofgem “found no statistically significant differences” in the proportion of customers reporting that their meter was not sending readings to their suppliers for areas in, or predominantly in, the north.
Most experts agree smart meters can help to deliver lower bills and lower carbon emissions. But if the tech problems continue, that could put people off having them and undermine the government’s goal of getting them into every home.
Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.
China’s markets fell on Monday after a fiscal stimulus package announced by authorities last week to help shore up its economy underwhelmed investors.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index declined 2.1 per cent, while mainland China’s CSI 300 edged lower. Brent crude, the international oil benchmark affected by the outlook for China demand, was trading 0.4 per cent lower at $73.50 a barrel.
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Chinese equities had climbed over the past week with expectations of more details on Beijing’s stimulus plan following a monetary policy blitz at the end of September. But investors were disappointed by the lack of measures targeting consumption, said analysts.
“Investors are unwinding bullish bets as they feel the major event is over and they are a bit let down,” said Jason Lui, head of Asia-Pacific equities and derivatives strategy at BNP Paribas. Lui noted that mainland markets were benefiting from increased retail participation and the central bank’s new lending facilities.
Traders in options markets sold down their Chinese equity positions in Hong Kong, implying they did not believe the fiscal stimulus would lead to any major market moves. Six-month at-the-money options for the Hang Seng China Enterprises index were down 8.5 per cent.
China’s rubber-stamp parliament, the National People’s Congress, on Friday announced a $1.4tn package to restructure local government debt. The long-awaited fiscal plan included authorising local governments to issue bonds to restructure much of a “hidden” debt pile worth about Rmb14tn ($2tn).
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Finance minister Lan Fo’an said the government was “studying” additional measures to recapitalise big banks and strengthen consumption but did not provide more details.
The country’s central bank on Monday fixed trading on the renminbi at its lowest level in a year, at Rmb7.18 a dollar, 0.5 per cent lower than Friday’s fix. The dollar strengthened by 0.1 per cent to $105.1 against of a basket of six currencies.
The weaker exchange rate suggests downward pressure on the renminbi from investment outflows and traders positioning for president-elect Donald Trump’s incoming administration and potential trade tensions with China.
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“With perceived emphasis on stabilisation rather than stimulus, and no measures to facilitate bank recapitalisation and/or boost consumption, we think this will come as a disappointment for stock investors,” wrote analysts at Nomura.
Investor focus has shifted to the Central Economic Work Conference, an agenda-setting economic meeting held by authorities in early December in Beijing, for more stimulus details.
“Constant delays and underwhelming stimulus might remind some investors of Green Day’s ‘Boulevard of Broken Dreams’ — a song that echoes the feeling of repeated disappointments,” added Nomura.
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