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Escaped capybara ‘probably living her best life’

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Escaped capybara 'probably living her best life'
Hoo Zoo and Dinosaur World Two capybaras cuddle together on a floor of hayHoo Zoo and Dinosaur World

Cinnamon and her brother Churro are popular animals at Hoo Zoo in Telford

The search for an escaped capybara which fled a zoo four days ago is continuing “around the clock”.

Cinnamon fled her habitat at Hoo Zoo and Dinosaur World in Telford on Friday and entered woodlands within the zoo grounds.

The last sighting of her was on Saturday, after she managed to get beyond the perimeter fence.

Zoo owner Will Dorrell said he believes Cinnamon has made it to the Humber Brook river, near the attraction’s northern boundary, where “she’s probably living her best life”.

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Hoo Zoo and Dinosaur World A young capybara standing on the groundHoo Zoo and Dinosaur World

A younger Cinnamon, who lives at Hoo Zoo with her parents and brother

He said Cinnamon was not at imminent risk but they wanted to know where she was so they could bring her back to the zoo and reunite her with her family.

“Right opposite us there’s loads of marshland and riverways, that’s why we strongly suspect that she’s there,” he said.

“In the wild they’re fantastic swimmers and they’ll live on river banks, then whenever they feel threatened they just run into the water and can stay in there for hours at a time.”

“We’re working round the clock at the moment trying to find her,” he said.

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Hoo Zoo and Dinosaur World Two baby capybaras and an adult capybara in a pool, surrounded by sloping rockHoo Zoo and Dinosaur World

Baby Cinnamon and Churro in the pool with their mother

Capybaras are native to South America and are the largest living rodents in the world.

Cinnamon was born at the zoo alongside brother Churro, and is now around one year old.

Mr Dorrell said the pair “stuck together” but that Churro was doing fine as their parents still live with them.

“But obviously it would be nice to reunite them,” he said.

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Hoo Zoo and Dinosaur World An adult capybara lies on grass next to a fence, with her two babies sat unde her neckHoo Zoo and Dinosaur World

Baby Cinnamon and Churro with their mother at the family-owned zoo

Cinnamon has not been spotted since Saturday, where she was seen on Humber Lane.

She was also spotted on Friday night via the zoo’s trail cameras and almost went back to her enclosure, but was not close enough for keepers to do anything.

Drone search imminent

The public have been urged to report sightings to the zoo, but not to approach her in fear of scaring her and driving her further way.

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“She’s very very tame, she wouldn’t hurt anyone, she’s just very likely to be timid,” Mr Dorrell said.

“If it goes on [much] longer, she’s not at imminent risk. She can very comfortably survive the weather, even though they prefer it a bit warmer, and locally there’s loads of food and habitat.”

Mr Dorrell also thanked people for their support and said a volunteer was bringing out a thermal drone on Tuesday to help with the search.

“Hopefully we’ll be able to get a bit of an idea then,” he said.

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Amsterdam Schiphol unveils Lounge 1 expansion

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Amsterdam Schiphol unveils Lounge 1 expansion

Existing areas including a car park have been converted into 5,000 sqm of additional passenger space

Continue reading Amsterdam Schiphol unveils Lounge 1 expansion at Business Traveller.

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Money

Exact amount DWP payments for parents will rise next year including child benefit and tax credits

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Full list of DWP benefits and free cash you can claim with PIP

PARENTS who get benefits should see payments rise by 1.7% from next April, helping them to manage the increasing cost of living.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves, confirmed in the Budget that all working age benefits would be going up in line with the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation rate.

Benefit payments will increase next year for millions of claimants

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Benefit payments will increase next year for millions of claimantsCredit: Alamy

That means that everything from Universal Credit to Child Benefit will increase by this amount.

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For parents specifically, the child specific elements of various benefits will also increase by 1.7%.

However, working-age people may feel hard done by compared to pensioners, because the State Pension is protected by something called the triple-lock.

This means that the State Pension will rise by 4.1% compared to the lower than 2% rise that everyone else will receive.

We’ve crunched the numbers on the benefits aimed specifically at parents, to see how much they’ll increase by. Here’s what you need to know.

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Universal Credit

Universal Credit is the standard benefit for working-age people in the UK, replacing several legacy benefits.

The government has slowly been moving people across to this benefit since its introduction in 2013, with a view to stopping benefits such as child tax credit, housing benefit, income support, jobseeker’s allowance, employment and support allowance, and working tax credits.

Almost all new benefit claimants are enrolled under Universal Credit, and the aim is for everyone on legacy benefits to be moved across by the end of next year.

Like most benefits, Universal Credit will increase by 1.7%, which the government says will see around 5.7 million families gain £150 on average over the next tax year.

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Understanding the Two-Child Benefits Cap

Exactly how much you’ll get depends on how your family is made up and which elements you receive, but for joint claimants where one or both are 25 or over, the standard allowance will rise from £617.60 to £628.099.

Parents will also see an uplift in the monthly child element:

  • For those with a first child born before April 6, 2017, the extra amount will go up from £333.33 to £338.99
  • For those with a child born on or after April 6, 2017, or a second child, the extra amount will go up from £287.92 to £292.81
  • For those with a disabled child, the lower rate additional payment will rise from £156.11 to £158.76 and the higher rate from £487.58 to £495.86

Child Benefit

Child Benefit is designed to help with the cost of raising a family in the UK.

It’s paid every four weeks and currently worth £1,331.20 for the eldest eligible child and £881.40 for all subsequent eligible children.

From April 6, 2025 this will increase to £26.04 for the eldest and £17.24 for each extra child.

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You can claim child benefit for any child aged under 16.

If your child stays in approved education (such as doing A-levels or Scottish Highers), you can keep claiming until your child is 20.

If they leave approved education, for instance to go to university, you stop getting the money.

While anyone can claim the benefit, if you or your partner earns £60,000 or more, you start having to pay some of the money back.

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Once either of you earns over £80,000 (individually) you have to pay all of it back.

Despite that, it’s often worth claiming because it also gives you national insurance credits if you have a child under 12.

These are really important if one parent is either a stay-at-home parent, working part time, or on a low income, because it helps build up State Pension entitlement.

Child Tax Credit

Child tax credits are due to stop from April next year, so the amount you get won’t increase. However, you may be able to claim Universal Credit, and get the child elements outlined above, which are rising by 1.7%.

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Housing Benefit

Housing benefit is stopping for most people by the end of 2024, however the government says that it will continue to pay it for people who live in supported or temporary accommodation.

There are different rules for people who are above state pension age, who may continue to get the benefit.

If you get Housing Benefit, you should receive something called a managed migration notice that explains about your switch to Universal Credit.

It’s really important to respond to this, because otherwise your benefits might stop and you’ll miss out on important transitional protections.

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Carer’s Allowance

You can claim Carer’s Allowance if you care for someone at least 35 hours a week and they get certain benefits.

These include:

  • Personal Independence Payment – daily living component
  • Disability Living Allowance – the middle or highest care rate
  • Attendance Allowance
  • Pension Age Disability Payment
  • Constant Attendance Allowance at or above the normal maximum rate with an Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
  • Constant Attendance Allowance at the basic (full day) rate with a War Disablement Pension
  • Armed Forces Independence Payment
  • Child Disability Payment – the middle or highest care rate
  • Adult Disability Payment – daily living component at the standard or enhanced rate

The rate will go up from £81.90 to £83.29 a week.

The threshold at which you become ineligible for carer’s allowance – known as the “cliff edge” will also rise from April.

Maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental pay

If you’re pregnant or hoping to be next year, then you might be thinking about maternity, paternity, or adoption leave.

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While many employers are more generous, for a lot of people this means looking at the statutory rates, which are typically 90% of average weekly earnings or £184.03 – whichever is lower.

All of these benefits will also increase by 1.7% from the beginning of next April from £184.03 a week to £187.16.

Maternity Allowance

New mums who don’t qualify for standard maternity pay could still get a payment adding up to thousands of pounds from Maternity Allowance.

This will also rise from £184.03 a week to £187.16 from April 2024.

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Child benefit

Everything to know about child benefit:

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.

Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories

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SpiceJet conducts seaplane trials; to offer services across India soon- The Week

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Chandrababu Naidu seaplane trials

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.”

Chandrababu Naidu seaplane trials

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.

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Seaside town less than one hour from major cities where you can buy a home for under £30k – and there’s no catch

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Seaside town less than one hour from major cities where you can buy a home for under £30k - and there’s no catch

PROSPECTIVE buyers may be shocked to learn about a well-connected seaside town in the UK where you can buy a home for just £35k.

House prices have been on the rise, with the average buyers forking out close to £300k to make their dreams of ownership come true.

These houses are up for grabs at a fraction of the national asking price

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These houses are up for grabs at a fraction of the national asking price

This, coupled with upcoming changes to Stamp Duty, means hopeful homeowners could end up forking out more than they had a few years ago.

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Under current rules, if a property is more expensive, buyers only pay tax at 5% on the portion above £425,000 and up to £625,000.

The lower limit for the first-time buyer stamp duty exemption was temporarily increased in 2022.

But now it is scheduled to revert to £300,000 in April 2025.

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 house is £275,000 below the national average

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This house is £275,000 below the national average

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 would also require some work

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This two-bed terrace would also require some work

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 home is located in Cheapside, Shildon

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This home is located in Cheapside, Shildon

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”.

Karis Jacobs and her husband George used the 50/50 method to buy their first home just two years after losing their jobs.

Parents Chae and Cem used a “DIY Help to Buy scheme” to buy their £466,000 first home.

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Anupam and his wife Shrabanti lost £6,000 free cash when buying their first home – here’s how you can avoid it.

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Managing Climate Change

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Managing Climate Change

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

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Kerala GST body slaps taxes on Adani’s Thiruvananthapuram airport pact, goes against Rajasthan and Gujarat appellate authority rulings- The Week

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Kerala GST body slaps taxes on Adani’s Thiruvananthapuram airport pact, goes against Rajasthan and Gujarat appellate authority rulings- The Week

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.

ALSO READ | GST Collection: Which Indian states collected the most tax in the festival month of October?

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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”.

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