Latest news with #Kenneth
Scotsman
13 hours ago
- Health
- Scotsman
Devolution reformer and academic Sir Kenneth Calman dies aged 83
Sir Kenneth Calman famously led a review on devolution in Scotland Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Doctor and academic Sir Kenneth Calman has died at the age of 83. His daughter, comedian Susan Calman, announced the news in a post on Instagram, sharing a photograph of her parents on their wedding day 58 years ago. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Sir Kenneth served as chief medical officer for both Scotland and England, and was elected Chancellor of the University of Glasgow in 2006. In 2009, he led the Calman Commission review on devolution in Scotland. His report made 24 recommendations on extending the powers of the Scottish Parliament, including greater tax-raising powers and more control over elections and the national speed limit. Susan Calman announced that her dad had died earlier this week | Getty Images Ms Calman wrote: 'It's a horrific time but I'm lucky to have supportive family, friends and a wonderful partner to hold me up. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Thanks to the incredible staff at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Glasgow for treating him with such kindness and dignity and for the compassion they showed us.' Sir Kenneth was born in Glasgow in 1941 and educated at the University of Glasgow. He was Chair of the Board of Trustees of the National Trust for Scotland between 2010 to 2015, and he later became chair of the Board of National Library of Scotland. His daughter Susan is a Scottish comedian and presenter, and was a contestant on BBC's Strictly Come Dancing in 2018. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Tributes for Sir Kenneth were shared online, with the Bedellus at Glasgow University saying he was 'saddened beyond words' to hear about his death. His post on X read: 'One of the most exceptionally brilliant and yet, most humblest of men Sir Kenneth served his @UofGlasgow with distinction right up until the very end.
Scotsman
13 hours ago
- Health
- Scotsman
Devolution reformer and academic Sir Kenneth Calman dies aged 83
Sir Kenneth Calman famously led a review on devolution in Scotland Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Doctor and academic Sir Kenneth Calman has died at the age of 83. His daughter, comedian Susan Calman, announced the news in a post on Instagram, sharing a photograph of her parents on their wedding day 58 years ago. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Sir Kenneth served as chief medical officer for both Scotland and England, and was elected Chancellor of the University of Glasgow in 2006. In 2009, he led the Calman Commission review on devolution in Scotland. His report made 24 recommendations on extending the powers of the Scottish Parliament, including greater tax-raising powers and more control over elections and the national speed limit. Susan Calman announced that her dad had died earlier this week | Getty Images Ms Calman wrote: 'It's a horrific time but I'm lucky to have supportive family, friends and a wonderful partner to hold me up. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Thanks to the incredible staff at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Glasgow for treating him with such kindness and dignity and for the compassion they showed us.' Sir Kenneth was born in Glasgow in 1941 and educated at the University of Glasgow. He was Chair of the Board of Trustees of the National Trust for Scotland between 2010 to 2015, and he later became chair of the Board of National Library of Scotland. His daughter Susan is a Scottish comedian and presenter, and was a contestant on BBC's Strictly Come Dancing in 2018. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Tributes for Sir Kenneth were shared online, with the Bedellus at Glasgow University saying he was 'saddened beyond words' to hear about his death. His post on X read: 'One of the most exceptionally brilliant and yet, most humblest of men Sir Kenneth served his @UofGlasgow with distinction right up until the very end.
Irish Independent
17-07-2025
- Health
- Irish Independent
Wexford dairy farmer to run four marathons in four days
After previously fundraising for national charities by taking on Dublin and Waterford Marathons, Ferns resident Kenneth was motivated to select a local concern this year after learning about the vital work undertaken by Arklow-based East Coast Samaritans from his mother-in-law Olive, a long-serving volunteer with the charity. The Sliabh Buidhe Rovers Athletic Club member had already been plotting a grand adventure for 2025, and had set his sights on the ultra-challenging Quadrathon, a test of endurance that will see Kenneth run a separate route every day, completing a single 105-mile loop over four days, through hills, mountains and along coastal roads around Inishowen and the Wild Atlantic Way. Diligently preparing for the challenge, Kenneth said he feels an immense sense of pride to be raising funds for a local cause that is so close to his heart, adding that seeing donations come in will give him all the fuel he needs to push through the pain barrier. 'My mother-in-law, Olive, does volunteer work for East Coast Samaritans, answering calls at night, and after speaking to her and learning that they are the only Samaritans branch in the country who have to pay rent, I knew I had to fundraise for them,' Kenneth began. 'I usually raise money for the big, national charities, but when Olive told me about the great work that East Coast Samaritans do, and the fact that it's local, helping local people that are going through a bad time with their mental health, that clinched it for me. 'I suppose, like a lot of other people, you get into running for your mental health. It has helped me so much. So, for me to actually help raise money for a mental health charity, and maybe inspire others to take up running, exercise or getting outdoors for their mental health, that's massive for me. 'I've had a good few donations already, with some from friends and some from people I wouldn't even know, and I'll be giving updates every day during the Quadrathon – hopefully the donations will keep coming in,' he added. 'I know, when I'm up there running in the hills, just thinking about donations coming in and the difference that might make to someone's life will keep me going.' Unlike flat marathon courses, extreme north races require a little more endurance, with runners flocking to Donegal on August 14 encouraged to allow an extra 10pc on their normal marathon time to account for elevation and back-to-back runs. Having recently recovered from a lower back injury that cause bad sciatica, Kenneth has kicked into overdrive to prepare his body for the rigors of the challenge, ascending peaks like Sliabh Buí and seeking out mountainous terrain wherever he can find it as part of his pre-Quadrathon training regime. 'I am always up for a challenge, and I usually do the Dublin Marathon, and I was trying to get a sub-three-hour time, which I was delighted to get in Amsterdam,' Kenneth said. 'I came across the Quadrathon after I was scrolling through Facebook and saw that someone from the Wexford Marathon Club had done four marathons. So, I started researching it, and thought I'd love to do that. 'I applied for it, but then got unlucky when I got injured and had very bad sciatica. I was trying to work and couldn't really train, so I just did a bit of gym instead. I kept working at it, and I started back cycling. 'Now I'm back running, and things are going well. 'I've been doing a good few races just to get up to speed, and a lot of my long runs are hilly, because the marathons I'll be doing in Donegal are not like Waterford or Dublin,' he continued. 'They're up in the hills along the Atlantic Way and you could be climbing for two miles, so you have to prepare the body for that. 'I did the Glendalough Lap of the Gap Marathon last year, which was a challenging one because it's very hilly, but it was good practice. 'You're running four marathons, so you need to be able for that high mileage and basically get the body used to being under pressure and running on tired legs. Even if I was going for a recovery run, I'll find a few hills to go up, just to keep the body under pressure. 'It's nice to have something to work towards, and it's a challenge for me, which I love – so it's a win-win.' You can support Kenneth via
The Star
14-07-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Facing the storm alone
Eyes wide open: Jun Hao is bracing for a baptism of fire from the start in Tokyo, as he takes on defending champion and world No. 8 Alex Lanier of France. PETALING JAYA: Fire is the test of gold, and adversity, of strong men. This age-old saying rings true for national singles shuttler Leong Jun Hao, who is set to face a tough run of tournaments – the Japan and China Opens ahead of his debut in the World Championships from Aug 25-31 in Paris. The Japan Open starts today in Tokyo, followed by the China Open next week in Changzhou where most of the world's top 10 players will be competing. World No. 24 Jun Hao is Malaysia's sole representative in the men's singles following Lee Zii Jia's withdrawal, and the road ahead is anything but easy. Jun Hao will face a baptism of fire from the start in Tokyo, as he takes on defending champion and world No. 8 Alex Lanier of France in the opening round of the Japan Open. The 24-year-old will need to dig deep for a timely boost before the world meet and prove that he belongs on badminton's biggest stage. Singles coaching director Kenneth Jonassen believes that the two Opens would be good preparation for Jun Hao for the world meet as he will face a similar challenge in Paris. 'I think the Japan and China Opens are quite important in our preparations for the World Championships,' said Kenneth. 'It will give us the best indication of what we need to go back and prepare for the remaining three weeks before the world meet. 'For me, the the world meet is the big event. Of course we want to do well in Japan and China but I'm there to gather more information on how to approach the world meet.' Jun Hao, who turned 26 on Sunday, has had a difficult first half of the year but Kenneth has seen positives in his charge's last two tournaments - the Singapore and Indonesian Opens - and hopes he can build on his showings. The 2017 Asian junior champion reached the quarter-finals in Singapore and second round in Indonesia. 'I have been trying to evaluate what has been working for Jun Hao recently. ''The court conditions in Japan are different from what we encountered in Singapore and Indonesia, so it's a slightly different approach we need to focus on,' said Kenneth. 'For me, it's basically to understand his own game and shot selection throughout like when to take the initiative and when to allow the opponent to try to open up his game. 'If we are too aggressive all the time, we kind of leave the court a little bit too open but I feel in both Singapore and Indonesia, he managed it really well. 'We've seen it a couple of times when he gets the shot selection correctly, he is a very tricky opponent for anybody to play against,' added Kenneth. Hopes are high that Jun Hao will come through the tests with flying colours.
News.com.au
14-07-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
‘No one speak to me': Aussies cop brutal ATO debts after completing tax returns
Every year around tax time social media becomes flooded with videos and posts of people complaining about their measly tax return, with many also being hit with debts. It has been less than two weeks since Aussies have been able to submit their tax returns to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), and it seems that many who have chosen to get in early this year have been less than thrilled with the outcome. A quick scroll on TikTok will show dozens of videos of young people lamenting after their dreams of a healthy tax refund were dashed, instead being replaced by a bill. One user, Kenneth, said he spent '5 hours, 47 tabs, 3 breakdowns doing (my) tax return, just to find out I owe $4000 to the ATO'. In the caption of the video he added: 'The only return I got was emotional damage.' Another young worker shared an image showing she owes almost $5800 to the ATO, asking 'wtf is this' and 'no one speak to me'. A nurse made a video revealing his $3404 debt, while another TikToker, Elaya, was hit with a $1733 bill. Another user revealed they owed close to $9000, writing, 'Any accountants wanna help me?' previously spoke to 21-year-old Queensland woman, Kristy, after she was hit with a whopping $32,459 tax bill. She works in the event management and promotional marketing space and, while she wasn't surprised to receive a debt, she wasn't expecting it to be so high. 'I make a decent amount of money so wasn't too shocked to see the bill. I usually have a tax bill but it hasn't been this large,' Kristy said. 'I end up making pretty much the same net income as years where I was working less so it feels like a bit of a lose-lose situation.' Belinda Raso, tax agent and director at Tax Invest Accounting, told there are a few main reasons she is seeing people copping tax debts when submitting their returns this year. One of the key culprits is the rise in people taking on multiple jobs, with Ms Raso noting our payroll systems aren't set up in a way that accommodates this. Australian residents can only claim the $18,200 tax-free threshold for one job. For any other jobs they must inform their employer they will not be claiming the threshold. However, the accountant warned this is often not enough to avoid being hit with a tax bill at the end of the financial year. 'If your main job is earning $45,000 or more per year, when you tell that employer at your second job that you don't want to claim the tax free threshold, you go to that first tax rate, which is sitting at 16% plus Medicare levy, that automatically defaults to that,' Ms Raso explained. 'So the employee has done the right thing, the employer has done the right thing, but if you're earning $45,000 or above in that main job, you're already sitting at 30 per cent tax rate, plus 2 per cent Medicare levy, so straight up, you've got a 14 per cent difference.' Ms Raso said another common issue is to do with HECS-HELP debt. The repayment income threshold is currently sitting at $56,156. But, if you are earning under the threshold for both jobs, then neither employer will be withholding those repayments. However, the ATO looks at your total taxable income, so, if your combined income is above the threshold and you haven't been making repayments, you are going to be hit with a debt. 'So in your mind, you're telling all employers, but again, it's not adding up, and you end up with a debt,' she said. Another situation she sees revolves around salary sacrifice, novated leasing and reportable fringe benefits. Ms Raso said many people don't realise that those reportable fringe benefits get grossed up by 1.88 times, which is going to impact how your HECS-HELP repayments are calculated, with them being repaid at a higher rate. 'Now, I do stress to people that you're not actually paying more tax, so you're paying the same amount as tax as your colleague, but if you've got a HELP debt, you're repaying that HELP debt earlier,' she said. She said those are the three main reasons she sees every year, with Ms Raso warning people who cop a debt this year are likely to find themselves in the same situation next year, unless they figure out why. 'If it's not addressed, the same thing is going to happen next year. And if you're one of the people that go may not have had a tax debt this year, but have gotten a second job, you'll end up in that situation next year,' she said.
