Latest news with #SimonTurner
Scoop
26-06-2025
- Automotive
- Scoop
Kiwi Lineage At The Forefront For The 'Jean Machine'
It's just as well Jean Kento Turner enjoys flying. This year he'll be making at least 10 return trips from his home in Osaka to various European race circuits, and a trip to New Zealand in 2026 is not out of the question. Jean – as in the 'Jean Machine' – is a busy 16-year-old Japanese schoolboy, contesting the Japanese Suzuka stock 600 series, as well as the European-based FIM Yamaha Blu Cru R3 World Cup and the Italian CIV Moto3 Championship with Team POS Corse. The Japanese national, who was born in Hiroshima, the middle of three children, also holds dual nationality through his Kiwi passport via his father Simon Turner. And for those wondering, yes, Jean's father is the Simon Turner who raced in New Zealand back in the 1980s and 90s. Jean, who turns 17 in September, has emerged this year as a rising talent, drawing on his years of European racing experience as he graduates to the bigger classes. He is equally at home in all three categories, father Simon says, though a recent growth spurt would suggest his immediate future lies in Moto2 or World Supersport. 'He's at the crossover phase.' 'He's now too tall for NSF250 Talent cup bikes/format and too young for full Moto2, so he's just enjoying exploring these three different categories and gaining new skills every time he gets on a bike.' The CIV series also suits Jean, where the bikes are slightly bigger than regular Moto3, running Yamaha 450cc engines. 'But, yes, a big bike is probably where Jean needs to be heading soon, Moto2 ideally.' This is Jean's first year racing on Japan's full-size circuits and in April he made his stock 600 debut on a Honda at Suzuka. 'He was most impressive on his 600 debut, in my eyes,' says Simon. 'He's still kind of unknown here in Japan, though Suzuka results have made people take notice.' Jean, riding for and under the guidance of former HRC rider and tester and Suzuka Eight-Hour pole-sitter Shinya Takieshi, finished second in his debut race at the famed Japanese track. He backed that up at the recent second round with a win. Takeishi san comments: 'Kento recently joined my team with the initial goal of using the Japanese domestic races at Suzuka on the 600cc as a training platform for his overseas efforts. 'However, it was clear from watching him at the first test that he had exceptional adaptability and natural speed, enough that I could see he would be a title contender right away. 'His curiosity and ability to absorb instructions then immediately convert them into action, even during a race situation, is unique. 'Feedback is precise and accurate, which makes my job very thrilling and rewarding. In the first two races of the season, he has achieved a second place and a win with the fastest laps on both occasions, much exceeding our expectations. 'We are looking forward to nurturing his considerable future potential.' It was also a new experience for Jean on the Yamaha. He had never ridden an R3before the first round of the R3 World Cup at Portimao. He learned quickly, and in just the second round at Misano earlier in June, Jean claimed a second-place finish – the first World Series podium in Europe by a member of the Turner family since uncle Keith 54 years ago. Jean currently sits seventh overall in the Yamaha R3 World Cup, with four rounds – 8 races – remaining. Jean's route to the world stage has been an interesting one, starting with Japanese pocket bike series until age 10, before moving on to 100cc minibikes and flat-tracking. At the age of 13, Jean made the big step to Premoto3 in the Italian Championship. After showing promise, he was picked up by Paulo Oliviera (Miguel Oliveira's father) to do the ultra-competitive 2023 ESBK Spanish Championship in Premoto3. Again, consistent improvements saw him running towards the pointy end of the field by year's end. However, 2024 was a frustrating year, a growing Jean no longer fitting comfortably on the NSF250 Talent Cup bikes and picked up an injury. Come 2025, and it was time to rethink bike choices and strategy, says Simon. 'Originally, I was planning on doing the Asia Pacific Yamaha R3 series,' Jeansays. 'But during the application process, Yamaha Japan intervened, and I was invited to go straight into the world series. 'It was a big leap into the unknown for me, but as it turns out Yamaha's judgment was the correct one.' Like so many teenage racers, Jean's family is funding his race programme. 'Yes, it's coming out of our pockets, and sustaining it for four years in Europe is certainly a huge family commitment so far,' says Simon, who runs an inkjet technology supply business based in Osaka. No decision has yet been made regarding the path Jean will take in 2026. 'We have an open mind, and several teams have seats available for him in FIMJuniorGP both Moto3 and Moto2, although funding is always a vital consideration,' says Simon. 'Certainly, Jean's podium and real pace at Misano was a big result and has already opened some new doors.' As for making a debut New Zealand race appearance, Jean says 'never say never'. 'Maybe if a nice summer race package came up . . . who knows.' Regardless, Jean is very proud of his New Zealand heritage and points to his helmet design by Starline – who create designs for MotoGP stars, including JorgeMartin, Pecco Bagnia and Joan Mir – 'Southern Cross and the silver ferns'.
Newsweek
29-05-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
Nearly 25% of Gen Z and Millennials Plan to Quit Their Jobs This Year
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Nearly a quarter of Gen Z and millennial employees plan to quit their jobs within the next 12 months to pursue entrepreneurship, according to a new survey. The survey from found young employees are seeking more autonomy and meaning in their work, spurring a significant generational shift in workforce priorities. Why It Matters This generational shift toward entrepreneurship has the potential to reshape the United States' labor market, upending the traditional 9-to-5 model and influencing everything from skills development to employer-employee dynamics. As Gen Z was poised to outnumber baby boomers in the workforce for the first time in 2024, this trend could accelerate changes in workplace culture and the rise of the creator economy. The implications of this trend are being closely watched by employers, educators, and policymakers. What To Know reported that 79 percent of employed Americans showed interest in leaving their jobs to start their own businesses, with Gen Z and millennials driving the momentum. Data from their April 2025 survey indicated that 13 percent of Gen Z and 11 percent of millennials planned to quit their jobs within the next year, rates higher than those among baby boomers and Gen X. More than half of Gen Z respondents cited the pursuit of higher income as a primary motivator for leaving corporate work, compared to 49 percent of millennials and 45 percent of Gen X respondents. In addition, 46 percent of Gen Z reported seeking more purpose or autonomy, surpassing both Gen X (43 percent) and millennials (35 percent). Stock image of people working in an office. Stock image of people working in an office. Simon Turner/Construction Photography/Avalon/Getty Images "This kind of leap, this kind of risk, is easier to take when you're young, child-free, and have some cushion, whether that's savings, a partner's income, or just fewer bills," HR consultant Bryan Driscoll told Newsweek. "That's not an option for everyone. So when we see this trend, it's not just about ambition: it's also about who can afford to opt out of a broken system and who gets trapped in it." Data from Upwork's Freelance Forward Report showed that 70 percent of Gen Z workers worldwide were already freelancing or planned to do so, suggesting broad alignment with the entrepreneurial mindset. Another motivator was a lack of support in their careers, with just 21 percent of employed Americans saying they felt fully supported by their employers. Gen Z was the most likely to say that better mentorship or career development could encourage them to stay, with one in four indicating that such support would make them reconsider quitting. Concerns about financial instability (71 percent), fear of failure (53 percent), and the need for health insurance (41 percent) were the top reasons many hesitated to fully commit to entrepreneurship. What People Are Saying Drew Powers, the founder of Illinois-based Powers Financial Group, told Newsweek: "Especially post-pandemic, employees are looking for more in their work lives—more money, more meaning, more flexibility—all of which may be found in running their own business. Of course, what they may not realize is that it takes years of grinding to accomplish all three of those 'mores.' As the saying goes, 'business owners toil for decades to become an overnight success.'" Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek: "We've seen side hustles and part-time work that produces more income become increasingly popular with Millennials and Gen Z, and for good reason. These jobs can produce additional income to assist with rising expenses. For some, these side hustles become businesses of their own and have grown to be aspirational for many in both generations. "It's no surprise many are now attempting to make the jump from their current occupation to a self-sustaining business they can call their own." HR consultant Bryan Driscoll told Newsweek: "Gen Z and Millennials aren't running toward entrepreneurship because they all want to be the next Zuck, though I'm sure some think they will be. They're running away from toxic jobs and bosses, low pay, and employers who will discard them as soon as enough labor has been extracted. When work doesn't offer dignity, flexibility, or a livable wage, people find their own way. And increasingly, we're seeing that means building their own job." Kevin Thompson, the CEO of 9i Capital Group and the host of the 9innings podcast, told Newsweek: "First, they watched their parents grind through long careers with little freedom and, in some cases, not much to show for it. Secondly, they have time on their side. They can afford to take a shot at building something they actually care about. "Especially for Gen Z, it's not just about building another business. It's about building something meaningful. They want to make an impact. Profit matters, but purpose matters more." What Happens Next The movement of Gen Z and millennials into entrepreneurship is expected to intensify over the coming year, with further implications for the United States workforce composition and employer retention strategies. Ongoing labor market trends and generational dynamics will continue to shape how companies attract, develop, and retain talent as the entrepreneurial shift intensifies. "If the traditional employer-employee model keeps shifting, companies will have to pay more and offer more," Thompson said. "Gen Z and even Gen Alpha aren't afraid of work. They're just not willing to work for something that doesn't align with their values. They want purpose. They want flexibility, and they're not afraid to leave if they don't get it."
BBC News
27-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Green light for Herefordshire garden centre's riverside cafe
A Herefordshire garden centre can now install a riverside cafe after being granted planning Mills in Island Terrace, Kington, adjoins the River Arrow and applied to build a cafe, replacing a "falling down" chicken shed on an islet in the 100-year-old timber-framed cafe will open up new areas to customers while being wheelchair-accessible and including a disabled toilet and baby-changing facilities, the centre Council officers objected over changes to the local landscape and concerns about the conservation area, but Kington Town Council considered it would be "an asset to the town" and residents were supportive. The centre installed a shop and car park in 2019 and the cafe will be open alongside the firm's director Simon Turner said: "We are now hoping to break ground over the summer."It's a beautiful spot and we think people will really like sitting out in it." This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations. Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Earth's First Crust May Have Looked Surprisingly Like The One We Have Today
Geologists have made certain assumptions about how the crust making up our planet's earliest surface formed, but a new study has found that Earth's very first protocrust was surprisingly similar to the shell of solid rock in place today. It may mean a complete rethink of how Earth's coat transitioned from a skin of boiling magma to the shifting armor of tectonic plates we now live on, according to the international team of researchers behind the study. "Scientists have long thought that tectonic plates needed to dive beneath each other to create the chemical fingerprint we see in continents," says geochemist Simon Turner, from Macquarie University in Australia. "Our research shows this fingerprint existed in Earth's very first crust, the protocrust – meaning those theories need to be reconsidered." The chemical fingerprint Turner and his colleagues were looking for was a lack of the element niobium. This is one way of identifying rocks at subduction zones, where one plate slides under another – it's thought that the magma forming these rocks loses niobium as the element gets trapped further down. Find the first evidence of low levels of niobium in the geological record, it was thought, and you find the point when continental plates first appeared and started slamming into each other. However, this hypothesis of a differing early crust composition has been called into question before. Here the researchers took a fresh approach. They used mathematical models to figure out the composition of Earth's earliest covering of hard rock, some 4 to 4.5 billion years ago (the Hadean eon). The modeling showed that niobium would be attracted to Earth's core, with no plate tectonics required. It means continental crust formation may have been a part of the original process of layer formation on Earth, not something that came after. The idea is backed up by the behavior of other siderophile elements in the model – elements attracted to iron, such as the iron in Earth's core as it took shape. "I realized there might be a connection between early core formation, high siderophile element patterns, and the infamous negative niobium anomaly observed in continental crust," says Turner. In the many millennia since, it seems continental crust has retained that original chemical signature, less affected by the heavy bombardment of meteorites that changed the composition of Earth's mantle, and ended around 3.8 billion years ago. All of this needs further investigation, of course, but it's an intriguing alternative take on how Earth first became the planet we recognize today, and how that might apply to other planets. It also answers some of the most baffling questions in geological history. "This discovery completely changes our understanding of Earth's earliest geological processes," says Turner. "It also gives us a new way to think about how continents might form on other rocky planets across the Universe." The research has been published in Nature. Did Dire Wolves Just Come Back From Extinction? Here's The Truth. How Do Dogs Perceive The World? It All Starts With The Nose One Brain Receptor Explains Why 'Virgin' Male Worms Take More Risks
