Microsoft is laying off ‘thousands’ of staff in a major global reorganization

Microsoft is poised to layoff thousands of employees worldwide in a move to reorganize its salesforce.

A source with knowledge of the planned downsizing told TechCrunch that the U.S. firm would lay off “thousands” of staff across the world. The restructuring is set to include an organizational merger that involves its enterprise customer unit and one or more of its SME-focused divisions. The changes are set to be announced this coming week, we understand.

Microsoft declined to comment.

Earlier this weekend, the Puget Sound Business Journal, Bloomberg and The Seattle Times all reported ‘major’ layoffs related to a move to increase the emphasis on cloud services within Microsoft’s sales teams worldwide. Bloomberg said the redundancies would be “some of the most significant in the sales force in years.”

The reorganization looks to be a result of a change of leadership this past year. Executives Judson Althoff and Jean-Philippe Courtois took charge of Microsoft’s sales and marketing divisions following the exit of long-serving COO Kevin Turner last summer. Althoff, for one, has been public in his criticism of previous sales approaches, and he is keen to make Azure a central part of the focus.

Source: Microsoft is laying off ‘thousands’ of staff in a major global sales reorganization | TechCrunch

Child thrown from ‘The Wave’ water park slide on opening day

DUBLIN >> The much-anticipated debut of the $43 million water park “The Wave” took a scary turn Saturday when a boy was launched from a three-story water slide, landing on the concrete exit next to the ride.

The 10-year-old boy was “just shaken up” with a scratched shoulder that was treated by first aid, a park spokeswoman said shortly after the incident witnessed and recorded by a Bay Area News Group photographer covering the Dublin park’s grand opening. The photographer saw scratches on the boy’s back, before he walked away on his own power and was helped by a lifeguard and city employee shortly after noon Saturday. The ride had only been operating for 90 minutes…

• Video: Child launched out of three-story water park slide

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Pentagon pledges investigation into nude photo scandal

The US Marine Corps calls on more women to come forward as the scandal spreads to other branches.

The Pentagon has pledged a full investigation into a nude photo scandal hitting the American armed forces.

Defence Secretary James Mattis said “all appropriate action” was being taken in all branches of the armed forces.

The scandal began when nude photos of female Marines were published online by male colleagues.

But fewer than 10 female Marines have come forward to make a formal complaint, a top Marine official said.

General Robert Neller said he hoped more women would come forward to help the investigation.

The scandal initially broke when current and former members of the US Marines were discovered sharing naked photos of female servicewomen on Facebook, in a group called “Marines United”.

more: Pentagon pledges investigation into nude photo scandal – BBC News

‘The final curtain for Dreamworld?’ Four tragic deaths, gate takings down 50%, ride malfunctions and now six left hanging mid-air