Latest news with #Watts
Scoop
11 hours ago
- Business
- Scoop
PM's Intervention To Kill Simon Watts' Ute Tax 2.0 Welcomed By Taxpayers
The Taxpayers' Union is welcoming the Prime Minister's intervention to rule out the Inland Revenue Department's proposal to apply Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) to all utes worth $80,000 or more and other work vehicles — a plan directed by Climate Change and Revenue Minister Simon Watts. In response to media comment issued by the Prime Minister's Office last night, Taxpayers' Union Executive Director Jordan Williams said: 'Simon Watts was pushing a new Ute Tax, without his Cabinet colleagues or the public even knowing. Had it gone ahead, farmers and tradies would have been slammed with thousands of dollars in additional tax each year – not just once like Labour's Ute Tax, but every year.' 'The documents are crystal clear. IRD was instructed by Minister Watts to proceed with and consult with the tax industry on the implementation of a new FBT regime that would capture work vehicles, regardless of how they're actually used. This was a massive tax hike by stealth.' "As far as we can tell, the Revenue Minister didn't consult with any taxpayer, business, or farming groups, despite work having been done on this for nearly a year. Had he bothered to engage, the unfairness and political risk would have been obvious. That lapse saw the Government facing backlash because it was tax boffins who blew the whistle and it took everyone by surprise. Minister Watts should learn the lesson." 'Within hours of our campaign launch yesterday, the National Party was in damage control. Within six hours, the PM's team overruled Watts and confirmed the policy would not proceed.' The Taxpayers' Union yesterday revealed documents showing that IRD had been working on changes to remove the logbook exemption for work vehicles and impose FBT on the assumed private use of double cab utes. According to IRD's own estimates, the tax grab would have cost farmers, tradies and other ute owners $100 million per year. 'We give credit to the Prime Minister and his office for stepping in quickly and pulling the handbreak.' says Mr Williams. 'This is a clear win for taxpayers and proof that grassroots pressure works. We thank the thousands of Kiwis who used our online tool to email National MPs and demand the Ute Tax 2.0 be scrapped."
USA Today
16 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
NFL.com names 'ballhawking' Falcons safety to 2025 All-Rookie Team
names 'ballhawking' Falcons safety to 2025 All-Rookie Team Xavier Watts was the lone Falcons draft pick to make All-Rookie Team Over the last two years, the Atlanta Falcons have struggled to find an ideal complement for Pro Bowl safety Jessie Bates III. Richie Grant started next to Bates in 2023, then Justin Simmons replaced him last season. The Falcons did not bring Simmons back as a free agent, instead signing veteran Jordan Fuller and selecting Xavier Watts in the third round of the 2025 NFL draft. Atlanta also added versatile defensive back Billy Bowman in the fourth round. Watts was considered one of the draft's biggest Day 2 steals. The Fighting Irish standout recorded six interceptions for an elite defense last season. He was ranked as the 36th player in the class by Pro Football Focus and has a realistic chance to start for Atlanta in 2025. The Falcons committed considerable resources to upgrade their two biggest defensive weaknesses in the draft. The team took Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker and Tennessee edge James Pearce Jr. in the first round, both of whom are expected to start. released its projected 2025 All-Rookie Team, but neither Walker nor Pearce made the cut. Watts was the lone Falcons rookie on the team, with Gennaro Filice praising the young safety's "ballhawking" ability. "Atlanta's defense basically has been an annual disappointment since the team's last playoff appearance in 2017," wrote Filice. "But over the past couple seasons, the unit has rostered one undeniable star in Jessie Bates III. What's better than one ballhawking safety? Two of 'em! Watts, who began his college career as a wide receiver, logged an astounding 13 interceptions over the past two seasons." The Falcons are rightfully high on Watts, which is why they traded up to get him in the third round. General manager Terry Fontenot is clearly feeling the pressure to win as he enters his fifth season with the team. This is likely what compelled him to trade a future first-round pick to move up for Pearce just 11 picks after taking Walker. If you look at the bigger picture, though, Atlanta has limited time to maximize its current talent. The team still has key players, like Drake London, Bijan Robinson and Matthew Bergeron, playing on rookie contracts. On top of that, the Falcons have 26 players set to enter free agency when the 2025 season ends. The team will kick off the season at home against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on September 7. Players arrive for training camp on July 23.
Otago Daily Times
19 hours ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
City firm giving global sports teams the edge
What do the All Blacks, the Springboks and the British and Irish Lions have in common — aside from all being rugby teams? The answer is Dunedin tech business Axon Perform, which is providing literally game-changing insights to give global sports teams the edge. The company has seen a rapid uptake of its integrated intelligence platform and, as the international rugby season approaches, there has been a flurry of new signings. Chief executive and founder Jon Foote started specialist data and analytics consultancy Flock Consulting more than six years ago. He always had a vision of building something that helped smaller organisations that could not build big data platforms, and making it easier for them to access. He was doing that in the health space and also supporting New Zealand Rugby, which is where he got to know Andy Watts, then an analyst with the Highlanders who has also held roles at the Japan Rugby Football Union and Cardiff Rugby. Mr Watts joined the business and that was the impetus to start building a platform for professional sports teams that was both scaleable and easy for teams to use. They have gone from looking solely after New Zealand Rugby to turning it into a global solution. Mr Watts, who is product lead, said high-performance teams had access to a multitude of high-performance insights, across numerous streams, and everyone was looking for improvements. "By analysing the performance information recorded during team training and games, we can provide performance staff with the link between what's happening on the field and what a team does next, all in one platform," he said. Mr Foote is now stepping away from the Flock Consulting leadership team to focus fully on its sister company, Axon Perform, while Mr Watts — who is originally from the United Kingdom — is heading back there to launch a UK office from next month. Mr Foote acknowledged growth of the business had happened quickly. He started building a platform five years ago that morphed into Reportabl., which is a health and sport platform. At the end of last year, the decision was made to focus on sport and a rebrand to Axon Perform was launched about two months ago. Clients now include teams from across New Zealand, Australia, Japan, South Africa and Europe and include the Sydney Roosters, British and Irish Lions, Springboks and English men's and women's rugby teams. There was interest from a German field hockey team as any sports team could use parts of the solution, Mr Foote said. Axon was working hard on a solution specific to football, a sport which made up quarter of the global spend on data and analytics in the global sport market. Basketball was not far behind at just under a quarter. The company started with game analytics and then started expanding into performance analytics and its platform was way more advanced, usable and customisable than its competitors, Mr Foote said. Asked what it was like to be involved in global sport, Mr Foote said the "little kid" in him got excited when it was decided to focus solely on sport. He had always been sporty and he loved watching sport. Data had been his world for the past 20 years and now there was an opportunity to bring the two interests together. He acknowledged the potential of Axon was "pretty significant". ' "We are chasing a big number — that's why we are here. There's a lot of work in front of us but it's working pretty good at the start."
Edmonton Journal
2 days ago
- Health
- Edmonton Journal
Experts call on Alberta to make shingles vaccine more easily accessible for seniors
Article content As Alberta's senior population continues to grow, experts are asking the province to lower the barrier to receive shingles vaccinations. 'It's a kick-you-while-you're-down disease,' said Anjli Acharya, a pharmacist who specializes in vaccines and immunizations. Shingles is a viral infection that can cause painful rashes with blisters on an area of the body. It is caused by the same virus as the chicken pox, which can lie dormant inside anybody who contracted it in the past. Article content The dormant virus can reactivate when someone's immune system becomes compromised due to age, stress, or illness. 'The shingles virus can reactivate because it is sitting on the nerve ending of any of us that have had chicken pox in the past,' Acharya said. One in four people will likely contract the virus once they reach 50. By the age of 80, the risk increases to a one-in-two chance. This inflammatory infection can also exacerbate conditions including diabetes, kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, and heart disease. Shingles vaccinations like Shingrix help prevent complications that stem from contracting the virus. This includes post-hepatic neuralgia, a nerve condition that can occur following a shingles infection. In Alberta, the vaccine is not covered for seniors. Two doses of Shingrix in Alberta would cost $360 for the full series of treatment separated over six months. Article content Acharya has never heard why the provincial government will not cover the vaccine, which is often a challenge for the subset of individuals who cannot afford it. 'From a socioeconomic perspective, a vaccine at this cost will often put individuals that have other determinants of health at higher risk,' she said. 'From a clinical perspective, I would really prefer that everyone have shingles vaccine coverage because those patients, who are more vulnerable, higher risk, have chronic disease, or are living on a fixed income are less likely to afford the shingles vaccine.' President of CanAge, Laura Tamblyn Watts, said with increased costs of living and many seniors on fixed living, the cost of Shingrix is more than what people can afford. 'We know the single biggest deterrent for getting a vaccine like Shingrix is simply the cost,' Watts said. Article content If the shingles vaccine becomes easily available in the province, Watts said this can prevent seniors from making trips to the hospital due to the virus. Currently, it is estimated around 60 per cent of Alberta's senior population has not been inoculated. 'Across the country, we're having more older people, so even if that percentage stayed the same, the real number of people we have to treat with shingles is going to rise,' Watts said. From working with seniors, community groups, and health-care organizations, Watts said the people need to convey their need for the vaccine to elected officials. 'It is important that you write to your local representative, and it's important that you tell the premier, that this is a priority,' she said. The shingles vaccine is funded in Alberta for adults who are pre- or post-solid organ transplant or post-stem cell transplant, since they are at higher risk for complications. Article content 'Alberta Primary and Preventative Health Services considers several factors when determining vaccine funding, including a disease's epidemiology, vaccine effectiveness for specific age groups, cost, and the resources needed for an immunization program,' Maddison McKee of the office of the Minister of Primary and Preventative Health Services. While the vaccine is safe and effective, shingles itself is not highly contagious like measles or influenza, as it does not spread from person to person. 'Most provinces do not cover it at present; a few cover it for specific age groups or others. Instead, many jurisdictions focus on funding the vaccine for high-risk populations,' McKee said. More information on the shingles vaccine can be found online by visiting Latest National Stories
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Jaden Watts found, in custody, police say
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — Wichita police and U.S. Marshals have taken Jaden Watts into custody in connection with a March homicide. Watts, 18, was taken into custody near the 700 block of South Hunter and booked into the Sedgwick County Jail, according to the Wichita Police Department. He was wanted in connection with the shooting death of 24-year-old Demarc Burgess, who was killed during a disturbance at a home near East 143rd Street and Kellogg on March 22. Watts has been charged with second-degree murder. The case is now being handled by the Sedgwick County District Attorney's Office. For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news by downloading our mobile app and signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track 3 Weather app by clicking here. To watch our shows live on our website, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
