Latest news with #DTM
New Straits Times
a day ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
TNB deploys smart tech to combat electricity theft
KUALA LUMPUR: Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) is monitoring technical data through its Distribution Transformer Meter (DTM) Pilot Project to detect abnormal energy consumption patterns and uncover possible electricity theft. Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said smart meters have also been installed to enable real-time monitoring of energy usage, allowing for quick detection of any tampering or interference. "Technical monitoring is conducted through the Distribution Transformer Meter (DTM) Pilot Project at distribution substations to detect abnormal energy consumption patterns, identify energy gaps, and uncover possible electricity theft. "Smart meters are also installed to enable real-time monitoring of energy usage, allowing for the efficient and swift detection of any interference or tampering with meters. To date, more than 4.5 million smart meters have been installed," he said in his winding-up speech for the 13th Malaysia Plan. Fadillah explained that the DTM records the total energy distributed from substations, which is then compared with consumer meter readings to identify discrepancies. "Such gaps may indicate energy losses caused by both technical and non-technical factors, including electricity theft, and help identify illegal connections by bitcoin mining syndicates. "Therefore, the DTM serves as a more specific and effective tool for theft detection at the distribution level," he said. He added that TNB has also created a database containing the details of owners and tenants of premises suspected to be involved in electricity theft linked to cryptocurrency mining. He said this database plays a vital role as an internal reference to identify and monitor suspicious premises, serving as the basis for operational inspection actions. "Joint operations are consistently carried out by the Energy Commission and TNB together with various agencies, including the police, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), the National Anti-Financial Crime Centre (NFCC), and local authorities, to curb and eradicate cases of electricity theft involving illegal bitcoin or cryptocurrency mining activities," he said.
Yahoo
11-08-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
How BMW's "scary" performance led to DTM Nurburgring 1-2
BMW dominated the second Nurburgring DTM race with Rene Rast taking victory ahead of Schubert team-mate Marco Wittmann, as its rivals had no answer to its performance: 'It was a bit scary with the top speed machines I had around me,' smiled third-placed Landgraf Mercedes driver Lucas Auer. The DTM leader started from second but had to admit defeat to Rast after just four laps: 'I saw Rene, he was closing in so quickly. So, I defended once and then the second time he basically just overtook me fair and square.' Read Also: DTM Nurburgring: Rene Rast bolts to victory, Lucas Auer regains points lead Rast and BMW's overall performance took most by surprise – including the driver himself. 'I don't know [where the performance came from], to be honest. If I knew, we would do the same every race,' Rast said. 'But I could already feel in the formation lap that the car was connected like it has never been before on this track this weekend. 'So I went for the attack. I passed five cars in the first couple of laps and still pulled away, which was even surprising to me. I was hoping for a podium, but I wasn't expecting a victory - and such a dominant one as well.' However, Wittmann was unsure why he was not able to make equally-strong progress in the first stint: 'Somehow I struggled with tyre performance and couldn't really keep up with the leading group.' Marco Wittmann, Schubert Motorsport BMW M4 GT3 But team boss Torsten Schubert had an explanation. 'It was simply due to his position, because Marco was stuck in traffic. He always had cars in front of him, and when you can't drive freely, you naturally have a problem,' he told sister website 'Otherwise, they were already doing well in terms of pace, and Marco also said that he had a great car. It depends on the situation. When you're stuck behind someone for a few laps and have to try to fight your way past, it's not that easy.' 'That was also the main reason why we decided to stop early to put on the second set [of tyres],' added Wittmann, alluding to his strategy, as he undercut several drivers and moved up to third, directly behind Auer. 'In the end, the gap was slightly too big, because once I was close to him [Auer], his tyres were warm already. So I knew there was only a chance maybe at the second pitstop, although he opened up the gap.' But the BMW driver was gifted second place when Auer got held up in his second pitstop due to a problem with his Mercedes. Out in front, Rast had already built up a lead of almost 10 seconds, which was not only due to the favorable Balance of Performance, but also down to an incident on Saturday. In the accident that caused the first race to be red-flagged, Rast had damaged both front rims in a collision with Mirko Bortolotti's Abt Lamborghini. Watch: 2025 DTM - Round 5 - Nürburgring: Race 1 highlights 'We had several broken rims yesterday and were allowed to take the set of tyres from free practice during the red flag,' team boss Schubert explained. 'The regulations allow this set to be used in such cases. We were able to save the tyres, only the rims were damaged.' Read Also: DTM Nurburgring: Jack Aitken wins red-flagged race to take points lead It meant that the two undamaged front tyres, which Rast was allowed to change during Saturday's interruption, were remounted on intact rims overnight and available again to be used on Sunday. 'That was certainly an advantage for the race today. It meant we could put a very good set of tyres on Rene's car. And you could see that Gounon and Engel also had new tyres from yesterday, but when you're stuck in traffic, there's nothing you can do,' Schubert concluded. To read more articles visit our website.
Yahoo
10-08-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
DTM Nurburgring: Jack Aitken wins red-flagged race to take points lead
Emil Frey Ferrari driver Jack Aitken has taken a commanding victory in the DTM's first Nurburgring race to become the 2025 championship's new leader. Aitken converted pole into the lead at the start of the race, as an incident between Rene Rast and Mirko Bortolotti caused the latter's retirement, while the former had to change his front tyres. Chaos ensued in the following corners with Maro Engel and Thierry Vermeulen colliding; the Dutchman was spun around and dropped to the back of the field, and Engel got three penalty laps. Another incident involved Morris Schuring and his team-mate Ayhancan Guven on lap 2, with Guven spinning out of the race – which was red-flagged due to debris, as well as coolant from Bortolotti's car. Aitken kept the lead from Luca Engstler, Ben Green and Lucas Auer as the race restarted behind the safety car. A small mistake from Engstler allowed Green through, with the two Emil Frey Ferrari drivers creating a two-second gap at the front. They also waited the longest for pitstops, and Green was overcut by Ricardo Feller, who was 11th on the grid, and Marco Wittmann. Feller even attacked Aitken; he overtook the Briton around the outside, made a mistake, then passed him again. Meanwhile, Green forcefully took third place away from Wittmann, which earned him a warning. Ricardo Feller, Land Motorsport Audi R8 LMS GT3 Feller struggled with oversteer endured late-race pressure from both Aitken and Green, who easily passed him, as well as Wittmann and Jordan Pepper, whose battle saved the Swiss driver's podium finish; Pepper prevailed for fourth. 'It was a very enjoyable battle, one I honestly didn't expect,' Aitken told when asked about his duel with Feller. 'We came out of the pits, had a stop that was okay – not the best – and then I saw Ricci in my mirrors. At that moment I thought: 'Oh man, this is going to be really tough'. We had a great fight.' Auer came sixth ahead of Rast, Engstler, Ben Doerr and Thomas Preining. Aitken now leads the DTM standings with a 10-point advantage over Auer, with Pepper in third. The second race of the Nurburgring weekend will start at 1:30pm local time on Sunday. DTM Nurburgring Race 1 results To read more articles visit our website.
Qatar Tribune
09-08-2025
- Business
- Qatar Tribune
District 116 Toastmasters kicks off 2025-2026 with empowering leadership, PR initiatives
Darlene Regis District 116 Toastmasters has launched its new program year with a series of impactful events focused on leadership, Public Relations (PR) skills, and district-wide collaboration. Notably, the organization is proudly led by Filipino Toastmasters, whose vision and dedication continue to inspire and drive the district's success. From the PR Bootcamp to leadership and planning sessions, these initiatives highlight the organization's dedication to empowering members and clubs for continued success. Here's a look at the key highlights that are shaping the district's dynamic year ahead. First Executive Meeting On June 20, 2025, District 116 Toastmasters held its first District Executive Committee Meeting (DECM1), uniting District Headtable, Division Directors, Area Directors to align goals, strategies, and responsibilities for the year. Held at Embassy Suites Doha Old Town, the meeting laid a strong foundation, with District Director Alar Mel Mangai, DTM, opening with a message of unity: 'When leaders are aligned with purpose, the impact ripples across every club and member.' Key agenda points included success plans, budgets, strategic priorities, and division targets. Leaders emphasized training, mentorship, club growth, and PR initiatives. The meeting gave Division and Area Directors a chance to share insights and plans. Program Quality Director Sherwin Olimpo, DTM stressed training and mentorship, Club Growth Director Eman Salameh, DTM outlined club-building initiatives, and PR Manager Leo Ortega, DTM shared a roadmap for storytelling and brand visibility. PR Bootcamp District 116 Toastmasters successfully concluded its Ultimate Next-Level PR Bootcamp on July 25, 2025, a hands-on event that united PR Officers, Club Leaders, and PR enthusiasts for a day of learning and collaboration. Featuring expert sessions on branding, social media, design, and campaign analytics by trainers Kumaran CS, Diana May Tangente-Ortega, and Fritz O'niel Cabunilas, Jr., the bootcamp provided hands-on experience through interactive booths and a PR kit for participants. Club Officers Training 1 District 116 successfully hosted Club Officers Training 1 on June 13, 2025, at DPS Monarch International School, preparing leaders to empower members for the 2025–2026 year. Over 300 club leaders attended practical sessions on leadership, club management, membership, and member experience, led by experienced District Officers and Distinguished Toastmasters. COT1 also offered a networking platform for leaders to share best practices and ideas. The event ended with a call to lead with purpose. The organization looks forward to COT2, continuing to empower leaders. About Toastmasters International Toastmasters International is a non-profit educational organization that builds confidence and public speaking skills through a global network of clubs. Members practice speeches, impromptu speaking, and feedback in supportive environments to reach personal and professional goals. Founded in 1924 and based in Colorado, it has over 270,000 members in 14,000+ clubs across 150 countries.
Telegraph
04-08-2025
- Automotive
- Telegraph
Just the thing for summer: A chance encounter with the world's fastest open-top car
When hypercar maker Bugatti's media team invited me to visit the factory to 'look at the history of Bugatti and some historic cars', it soon crossed my mind that I might simply end up writing about a historic marque that has been chronicled to exhaustion. Then… 'Oh, by the way, we'll organise a drive in the Mistral for you.' The five seconds of silence at my end – about the same time it takes for a 1,641bhp, 282mph, €5 million Bugatti Mistral to reach 100mph from standstill – allowed my brain ample time to compute: I would be among the first (and only) handful of journalists to drive one of the sold-out, 99-cars-only run. 'Yes, that would be nice,' I heard myself say. But it wasn't the last understatement. There was no way would Bugatti let me loose solo in the car around its base at Molsheim, Alsace, France. 'Bruno', a local chap, would accompany me, demonstrating the car and its controls before swapping seats. Intelligent, smiley and fun, Bruno Spengler, 41, is Bugatti's pilote officiel. He had done some racing, one of my hosts said. That was understatement number two. A few miles into the drive I asked him about his racing career; what was his best result? 'Oh, I won a championship.' 'Which one?' I asked. 'DTM,' he said. The Europe-wide Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters series is one of the premier motorsport championships in the world, featuring heavily modified production cars. It's where Formula 1 teams go looking for future talent. Faster than a racing car 'Is the Mistral faster than the fastest racing car you've ever driven?' I asked. 'Oh yes,' he replied. And he has raced everything from Formula 3 to the Le Mans 24 Hours. You probably need Formula 1 experience to benchmark the Mistral's performance. Alongside the rev-counter is a measure of how much engine power you're calling upon at any given moment. At one point it showed my right foot had unleashed just over 1,000bhp – leaving more than 600bhp untroubled. Spengler had earlier given me a taste of the full 1,641bhp being deployed. 'Pinned in your seat' is oft a claim made: this was the real deal. As for the noise? Like nothing I've ever heard. The 8.0-litre W16 is like rumbling thunder at idle, then under acceleration the bellow of a monster, before whooshing and popping as two then four turbochargers kick in then out. But it also happily cruised through sleepy villages barely turning a head. Bugatti's claim that some owners use their cars every day is entirely credible. Returning to Bugatti HQ after my drive, I also received Premier League footballer treatment – hanging around at the gate was a small crowd of car nuts snapping photos and recording videos. 'That happens a lot,' said Spengler. Earlier we had had to pull over when two junior football teams stopped their game and ran after us, Spengler taking one of their phones and snapping pictures of them with the Mistral. Two decades of hypercars Bugatti arguably created the 'hypercar' segment two decades ago with the Veyron, setting a barely believable high bar with its 250mph-plus runs. But like all elite luxury car brands, Bugatti is a way broader proposition than simply a producer of cars, and I got to experience what it's like to get the billionaire treatment. Arriving at the entrance – which, if you didn't know it was there, you would drive past, thinking it was a small industrial estate, albeit surrounding Bugatti's HQ château – first comes the security check, with polite but no-nonsense guards taking and keeping my passport. Ah. Then there's the friendly request that I check with the accompanying media team before taking photos, although even then there are areas where photography is banned and I am prevented from reporting what I've seen or heard. Billionaires like that security, secrecy and discretion. And exclusivity. They can have pretty well anything they want in their Bugatti within the bounds of science and legality. It's believed around 85 cars are delivered annually – the V12 Chiron current (£2.5-2.75m plus taxes), the Tourbillon hybrid (£3.2m plus taxes) imminent, although also sold out – each with between €600,000 and €1m-worth of 'personalisation' on top of the list price. While the Mistral did a great deal of the talking, members of Bugatti management opened up, on a no-names condition, for the bigger picture. Customer tastes 'Customers can specify any exterior or interior colour scheme, although we have a range of paint and interior finish samples as a guide, which we always show outside in natural light,' I was told. 'And we test all materials in all sorts of environments. 'Customers often come here with samples of, say, a favourite nail polish as a colour they want. One customer's daughter is a 'Swifty' and the car will be Taylor Swift's favourite colour,' I'm told, as a lilac-coloured £400,000 Rolls-Royce with impenetrable privacy glass glides by and parks. A married couple ordered a pair of Bugattis, each in the other's favourite colour; another customer specified a piece of artwork be incorporated in the exterior design. 'We couldn't just lacquer over it, because it might yellow, so we had to come up with a new way of painting it,' added a Bugatti manager. 'After all, our customers are among the '1 per cent'.' Ages range from early 20s to the mid 80s. Designs are worked up in Bugatti's 'atelier', a swish and stylish Mediterranean villa-feel space with a huge screen on one wall linking to a computer program, enabling clients to sit with designers to come up with their perfect car, often as part of Bugatti's ' Sur Mesure ' (roughly translated as tailor-made) programme. 'Perhaps 80 per cent of customers come here with a very clear idea of what they want, some sit with one of our designers to talk through and develop their design,' I'm told. But it's apparent that cultural and geographical background play a big part in those designs: Europeans are generally pretty conservative, Middle Eastern buyers like their Bugattis to have a 'colourful' presence, while North Americans are described as being 'even more adventurous' than most. Car deliveries are roughly a third each to Europe, the US, and the Middle East and Far East combined, Bugatti commission slots selling out within weeks of a new car being announced. As with the very best carmakers, there's an authenticity to Bugatti: their 'normal' is everybody else's 'jaw dropping'. Exaggerating simply wouldn't get close to the reality of what they achieve.
