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Jaguar's Classic division is marking the 60th anniversary of the seminal E-Type sports car with an ultra-exclusive run of launch-specification restored cars. The E-Type 60 Collection comprises a pair of restored Series 1 models - a coupé and a convertible - based on the two cars that were used for the E-Type's famous public debut at the 1961 Geneva motor show. Named the 9600 HP and the 77 RW in reference to the numberplates of the two cars driven overnight from Coventry to Switzerland ahead of the first press drives 60 years ago, the cars have been faithfully restored, largely to factory specification but with a few subtle concessions to modernity. The 3.8-litre straight-six engine remains, for example, but features an uprated cooling system and electronic ignition and sends its 265bhp reserves to the rear axle through a new, bespoke five-speed manual gearbox with a synchromesh on each ratio and helically cut gears for smoother changes. Jaguar Classic has also fitted a stainless-steel exhaust system in place of the original mild-steel item; this gives a “deeper tone” and should last longer. Visually, the cars are all but identical to their historical counterparts, down to their unique Flat Out Grey and Drop Everything Green paintwork - tones named in reference to the high-speed overnight journeys to Switzerland by Jaguar PR manager Bob Berry and legendary mechanic Norman Dewis. Subtle touches, however, including a modern Jaguar infotainment system, bespoke badging and a hand-finished route map engraving on the centre console set them out from standard E-Types. For the coupé, the route map is accompanied by Jaguar founder Sir William Lyons’ famous words to Berry upon his arrival in Geneva: “I thought you’d never get here”. In the convertible, this phrase is swapped for “Drop everything and come now,” which is what Lyons told Dewis over the phone when he realised that he needed a second press car in Geneva. Just six pairs of restored cars will be sold, with interested parties invited to contact Jaguar Classic directly to place an order. Next summer, owners will be invited to take part in “the ultimate E-Type pilgrimage, retracing Berry's and Dewis’ route from Coventry to Geneva “to create their own E-Type memories”. Prices have not been publicised, but given that Jaguar Classic's Reborn 3.8-litre E-Type comes with a price tag of around £315,000, the exclusive pair can be expected to cost around £650,000.

At the Girl Up Leadership Summit on July 14, 2020, Meghan Markle gave a powerful speech on the need to fight racism and the importance of gender equality. Speaking remotely, the Duchess of Sussex said, “The moment we are living through right now asks all of us to do more. It’s a moment where your voices, and your action, have never been more urgently needed,” she said. “The path to get there will take all of us: girls and women, men and boys. It will take those that are Black and those that are white collectively tackling the inequities and structural problems that we know exist,” she continued. “All of you…. are setting the tone for equitable humanity. Not figuratively, literally. This is a humanity that desperately needs you. To push it, to push us, forcefully in a more inclusive, more just, and more empathetic direction,” she stated “To not only frame the debate, but be in charge of the debate — on racial justice, gender, climate change, mental health and wellbeing, on civic engagement, on public service, on so much more. That’s the work you’re already out there doing.” She went to speak empathetically on the need to overcome fear and be brave, in spite of the circumstances. “Often, it’s fear that paralyses us and stops us from being brave and being bold. But don’t underestimate that you have some of the answers. Don’t underestimate your ability to push through the fear. You have, rooted in your convictions, the ability to craft a world that you know is just and kind. Your gut will tell you what’s right and what’s wrong; what’s fair and unfair. The hardest part—and it was the hardest part for me — is to chase your convictions with action.” In 2010 Girl Up was created by the UN Foundation to lend support to those UN agencies which help adolescent girls.

The Review Committee of the International football association FIFA approved on Tuesday, January 26, the candidacy of Fouzi Lekjaa, the president of Morocco’s Royal Football Federation (FRMF), to become a FIFA Council member. The committee, meanwhile, rejected a similar candidacy from Kheireddine Zetchi, the president of the Algerian Football Federation (FAF). “The Review Committee has decided that the following candidates are not eligible […]: Mr Kheireddine Zetchi because of failing to report sanctions imposed by [the Confederation of African Football] CAF and the Professional Football League of Algeria,” a statement from the committee said. Algeria’s football chief was one of only three candidates who saw their candidacy rejected by the FIFA Review Committee. The other rejected candidates were Ahmad Ahmad and Constant Omari Selemani, who are undergoing investigations by the FIFA Ethics Committee. The FRMF president submitted his candidacy to become a member of the FIFA Council on November 11, 2020. Lekjaa is the first Moroccan to ever apply for the position. The FIFA Council is the main decision-making body in the world of football. It sets a global vision for FIFA and football around the world, then supervises its implementation. If he earns enough votes in the upcoming 71st FIFA Congress, Lekjaa could become one of the most influential decision makers in global football. Since he became FRMF president in 2014, Lekjaa has launched a series of reforms seeking to improve the governance and economic conditions of Moroccan clubs. Under his leadership, Moroccan clubs have won several continental titles and the national team has shown signs of improvement as well. Lekjaa also serves as CAF vice-president and member of the FIFA Governance Committee. His recent candidacy shows that, despite his extensive list of responsibilities, Lekjaa hopes to further contribute to the development of football.

In the opening months of 2021, the entry-level member of the Mustang family is no longer a sleek, slightly agro-looking two- door coupé with a heavily boosted four-pot motor at its nose. Instead, it’s this: an electric four-door SUV that Ford calls the Mustang Mach-E Standard Range RWD. Bit of a mouthful, that; and an extremely vivid sign of the times. You’ll have formed your own opinion by now on Ford’s decision to slap that fabled pony badge and nameplate on the Mach-E, so we won’t delve into that aspect in any great detail here. But if it means that we’ll live in a world where the full-fat, big-daddy V8 Mustang is around for a few more years, then I’m on board with that call. This particular version of the new electric Mustang is priced from £40,350, or £37,350 once you deduct the government’s plug-in grant. Unlike the dual-motor Extended Range AWD model that we reviewed a couple of months back, this rear- driven version makes use of a single electric motor. It’s mounted at the back of the car and develops 266bhp and 317lb ft – enough to help this 1.9-tonne car accelerate from a standing start to 62mph in 6.9sec. Power comes from a 68kWh (net capacity) lithium ion battery that is housed beneath the car’s floor and is good for a WLTP-certified range of 273 miles. That’s about 60 miles less than the range-topper, and 40 miles less than the new Volkswagen ID 4 First Edition – but still no bad showing. DC fast charging is possible up to a maximum of 115kW. But enough stats. On to the driving experience. The cabin is typically Ford: plain, slightly unambitious visually and finished in materials that won’t ever really be distinguished for their tactility or premium appeal. But it’s spacious and the massive portrait touchscreen looks cool, even if it can be a faff to use on the move. Of all the new-generation EVs that have emerged at the more ‘attainable’ end of the spectrum, the Mach-E RWD is up there with the very best for the way that it drives. For starters, it feels considerably quicker than its 0-62mph time suggests. At least, it does between 20mph and 50mph. Pin the throttle and it takes off with fairly startling urgency, which tails off but still feels powerful as you home in on the national speed limit. The one-pedal drive mode works really well, too. That’s good because the brake pedal itself takes some getting used to. It bites quite hard and very early on in its travel, which isn’t ideal around town or when you’re pushing things a little harder along a good road. You’ll want to push it hard, too. Ford knows a thing or two about driver engagement and the Mustang Mach-E doesn’t come up short. True, it won’t mask its mass and size quite as effortlessly as, say, a Porsche Taycan does, but we’d never expect it to anyway. Its ride can also feel slightly lumpen at times, but it’s by no means uncomfortable and the way it handles makes up for any shortcomings here. It steers and changes direction quite quickly, with appreciable energy and decent enough body control. Grip is good, although if you switch the traction control off, it’s possible to coax a degree of liveliness out of the rear end on the exit of a corner. This car is more fun than I thought it would be, even if you do need to warm up to it a bit. Over the course of our 100-mile test route, which mixed a bit of town and motorway action with plenty of fast country roads, the Mach-E averaged 3.3mpkWh. That makes for a true real- world range of about 225 miles. In fact, I’d be inclined to say that this entry-level Mustang Mach-E is probably the pick of the range. I think it would handle in a more entertaining fashion than the heavier dual-motor car, and although the Extended Range RWD model might be able to travel further on a charge, it’s nearly £10,000 more. This is by no means my favourite Mustang (that would still be the V8, obviously), but I can certainly see the appeal. It’s an affordable family EV for the keen driver, for sure.

Bella Gwada picks purple-tipped tea leaves at a farm in central Kenya early on a Saturday morning before moving to process, brew and taste the produce that had been harvested earlier. Gwada, who travelled 42 kilometres from Nairobi for the experience, is one of a rapidly growing base of consumers in the East African nation who is flocking to speciality teas, including purple tea, due to their health benefits. “You don’t even need to add sugar. Its easily digestible, milder than black tea,” she said. Kenya is the world’s biggest exporter of black tea and the crop is one of the country’s top hard currency earners, along with tourism and cash sent home by citizens living abroad. Purple tea, which was developed by Kenyan researchers and released to farmers in 2011, is part of a slew of new varieties, which the government says have the potential to cushion farmers from an oversupply of black tea and low prices. “Purple tea is twice the price of (regular) tea,” said Karanja Kinyanjui, the owner of the farm, which has 20 acres of purple tea alongside 100 acres of the regular variety. Unlike black tea, purple tea is not fermented in processing and contains anthocyanin and other substances which experts say have health benefits, such as helping with weight loss. “(It has) very strong anti-inflammatory effects,” said Samson Kamunya, director of the state-owned Kenya Tea Research Foundation. Total production figures for speciality teas were not immediately available but the leading producer, KTDA, said in September it was setting up a specialised factory for the production of Japanese sencha green tea.

Rabat – As Morocco is heading towards an increasingly green future, the country has, reportedly, shown interest in a new generation of hydrogen-powered trains produced by Alstom. The revolutionary new mode of transport uses carbon-free technology, producing the electricity on-board using a hydrogen-powered fuel tank. The new technology could be one of the means to help Morocco pivot towards a carbon-free economy. The French daily Le Monde quoted director-general of Alstom Morocco, Brahim Soua, who noted that “potential customers have come forward in the United Kingdom, in the Netherlands, in Belgium, in Denmark, in Spain, [and] in Morocco.” Not only can the trains produce their own electricity on-board, but they also have “dual-mode” trainsets which would also allow the train to connect to electrified railway lines. Morocco is one of the French company’s major clients. Alstom supplied the North African country with high-speed trains, as well as tram trains for the biggest cities like Rabat and Casablanca. The company has provided 66 trams to Rabat, 124 trams to Casablanca, and 12 Avelia Euroduplex trains for the high-speed line between Tangier and Casablanca. Furthermore, in Morocco Alstom also produces railway cables and electrical boxes which are sent to its European factories, and then mounted on trains to be sold worldwide. Earlier in the year, Moroccan Minister of Energy, Mines, and Environment Aziz Rabbah celebrated Morocco’s efforts in the field of green energy during a virtual ministerial meeting. Rabbah underlined a series of government initiatives in the field of renewable energy and green hydrogen. Among them was the creation in 2019 of a National Hydrogen Commission and the development of a national roadmap for hydrogen energy. In June 2020, Morocco and Germany signed a joint agreement that will enable Morocco to build Africa’s first plant for the production of green gas. The bilateral partnership aims to set up necessary structures and to advance scientific research in the production of green hydrogen.

What with all Jaguar’s well-publicised recent struggles and CEO Thierry Bolloré’s ‘Reimagine’ strategy, it’s sometimes easy to forget the cars themselves. Because with vehicles like this F-Pace PHEV, the British brand is quietly getting into a position of having a heavily updated model range that, it hopes, will be able to challenge for class honours. The F-Pace has been facelifted across the spectrum - we drove a P400 version here and the bonkers SVR here - but this plug-in hybrid is potentially the most interesting of the lot. At least it is if you pay for your own fuel and taxes. At its heart is a 2.0-litre petrol Ingenium engine, coupled with a rear-mounted 17.1kWh battery and 141bhp electric motor. It’s good for 33 miles of electric-only running and a charge time of 1hr 40min from a 7kW wallbox. For company car buyers, the CO2 is 49g/km, with 12% benefit-in-kind tax band, a handy 7g/km and 1% under the Mercedes GLC 300e. Speed? With 398bhp and 472lb ft, it’ll do 0-62mph in 5.3sec - again just edging out the Merc, despite having 44lb ft less than the German. The new F-Pace rides on the same D7a platform as before, but Jag has tweaked the dampers, springs and anti-roll bars. One slight snag: because this platform was only ever designed to take a space-saver spare, there isn’t as much room under the boot floor. This means the rear-mounted battery intrudes into the boot space, which is 98 litres smaller than the non-PHEV cars. Inside, the main thing to notice is the new Pivi Pro infotainment system, hosted in a new, curved touchscreen that sits proud of the dashboard. Jaguar also claims better-quality materials throughout, and there are rotary climate control dials and a stubby gearlever. Let’s deal with the interior first, because this is dramatically different and much the better for it. The Pivi Pro is a revelation - quick to fire up and easy to use, for a touchscreen, thanks to its three vertical ‘home’ sections covering nav, EV and media. It’s also an elegant-looking addition: some rivals have touchscreens that sit proud of the dash and look like afterthoughts, but this one is smart and a welcome upgrade from the F-Pace's previous set-up. The use of leather on the doors and dash, along with the general quality of the switchgear and satin-finish plastics, brings the F-Pace much closer to rivals. It’s a welcome change. Set off down the road in electric mode and the 1141bhp motor makes a decent stab of accelerating quickly up to 30mph. It tails off a bit after that, but no more so than rivals. This is a two-tonne machine, after all. And even when the electric power does fall away, it’s only a problem if you’re really pressing on. For a school run journey, the amount of power and torque available is perfectly adequate. If you do want more shove, it’s possible to simply stab the accelerator harder to engage the hybrid mode, or scroll through the selector button by the gearlever. The transition to the petrol engine is seamless. The four-cylinder Ingenium lump is so smooth and quiet that you struggle to tell whether it’s running or not. Despite being a four-cylinder, it never feels harsh, even when stretched. The cabin isolation is impressive - if only Jaguar could have applied a similarly rigorous touch to the road noise, which intrudes a bit too much. Maybe it’s because the powertrain is so quiet. In hybrid mode, there’s a decent amount of power on offer: not too much to make the car feel unsettled, but enough to make light work of overtaking on B-roads and easily enough for motorways. The F-Pace will run in electric only at 70mph, but you have to be gentle getting to that speed to keep it in EV mode. Our car came on 21i wheels but it never felt unsettled over sharper bumps in the road. It also rides quietly, with minimal suspension noise intruding into the cabin when the big wheels thwack through a pothole. Where the F-Pace doesn’t feel as settled is over a particular type of longer undulation. If the car doesn’t hit them straight on, it almost lollops across them. It’s a strange feeling, especially when the rest of the suspension feels so well tied down. Still, the steering is direct and the body control through a corner is impressive. The steering and suspension sync together nicely, so it’s easy to thread the F-Pace through a series of corners. The way the nose tucks in sharply helps. This is a car where it’s easy to forget that you’re meant to be in the eco version. It would be nice to think that Jaguar has got a winner on its hands here, a car that, if not a sales rival to the dominant Germans, can at least hold its own against them in critical terms. The interior is much better now - it needed to be - and the addition of the PHEV tech makes the F-Pace feel like it has the technical hardware to survive the next couple of years in this ever-changing world of electrification. At £58,975, it’s not cheap, but it is good.

Rabat – Former Brazilian President Fernando Collor De Mello sent a letter to US President Joe Biden, calling on him to support US recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara. The former president expressed his sincere satisfaction with Trump’s decision to recognize the full sovereignty of Morocco over Western Sahara. Former President Donald Trump made his decision on December 10, just a few weeks before leaving the White House. The decision received applause from the international community, with many countries reiterating support for Morocco’s territorial integrity. De Mello said the US recognition came at an important time as the “political process aimed at resolving the regional dispute requires a new dynamic.” He also warned against Polisario’s maneuvers in the region, describing them as “acts of destabilization.” “I also welcome the decision to recognize the autonomy initiative as the sole basis for solving the regional dispute over the Sahara,” he said. De Maello, who is also a current senator, hopes for the Biden administration to advance the Western Sahara conflict towards a “just and lasting solution, thanks to its continued support for the Moroccan Autonomy Initiative.” De Maello is not the first public figure to submit a letter to Biden. Many other foreign dignitaries, including former heads of states, diplomats, and MPs have urged the new US administration to support Trump’s recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over the region. Earlier his month, a number of Canadian public figures addressed a similar letter to Biden. In it, they emphasized the importance of US-Morocco ties. The signatories of the letter included Jacques Saada, president of the Unified Sephardic Community of Quebec, Avraham Elarar, president of the Sephardic Federation of Canada, Katherine Tokes, and CEO of Tokes Consulting Montreal. “The US recognition is the culmination not of a few years or of a few decades, but of 300 years, which made such an act of just friendship natural,” said the letter. In a related development late last month, the Moroccan community in the US also sent the US Senate a letter to correct fallacies about Western Sahara contained in a letter from 27 senators. The 27 senators, led by outspoken Polisario supporter Senator James Inhofe, had called on Biden’s administration to reverse the US’ recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara. However, the Moroccan community responded to the hostile demand by exposing the senators’ letter inaccuracies. As well as providing historical evidence in support of the Moroccanness of the region, the Moroccan community showed that promoting separatism in Western Sahara could create profound instability in the region. Most recently, a group of 250 political leaders from across the world signed a separate letter to call on Biden to express support for Trump’s recognition. “We, former heads of government, former ministers, elected officials, members of parliament, are honored to express satisfaction with regards to the United States’ sovereign decision to recognize the full sovereignty of Morocco on the Sahara Provinces,” the letter said.

From Queen Salome to the late RBG, from Moses to Sandy Koufax, Tel Aviv’s newly revamped Museum of the Jewish People attempts the ambitious undertaking of bringing almost 3,000 years of Jewish history and tradition under a single roof. The museum — formerly known as Beit Hatfutsot and newly branded as ANU, Hebrew for “We” — reopened to visitors this week after more than a decade of renovations costing $100 million. Its exhibition space has tripled, making it the largest Jewish museum in the world, officials say. Its old galleries with dioramas and models from when it first opened in 1978 have given way to cutting-edge exhibits with interactive touchscreens and original artwork. Close to a third of the renovation was financed by the Nadav Foundation of Russian-Israeli Leonid Nevzlin, a former oil magnate. Another USD 52 million came from other U.S.-based philanthropists and foundations, and $18 million from the Israeli government. Nevzlin’s daughter Irina, the wife of Israeli Health Minister Yuli Edelstein, serves as chair of the museum’s board of directors. The refurbished museum adopts a fresh approach to telling the story of the Jewish people, said chief curator Orit Shaham-Gover. It focuses on the diversity of Jewish culture and the accomplishments of the Jewish people, not just its tragedies, she said. “Everyone walking in here needs to see themselves regardless of gender, denomination, ethnic background,” said Dan Tadmor, the museum’s CEO. “This is our story and you need to feel part of it.” Scattered through 72,000 square feet (6,690 square meters) of galleries are historical artifacts and mementos: a jawza — a type of stringed instrument — belonging to 20th-century Iraqi musicians known as the Al-Kuwaity brothers, one of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s signature collars, a Book of Esther scroll from pre-Inquisition Spain, and a monumental carved stone from a first-century A.D. synagogue on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. A major draw is the original artwork highlighting lesser-known historical figures such as Ottoman Jewish philanthropist Dona Gracia Mendes Nasi and the legendary Ethiopian warrior queen Yodit. Visitors can use a digital bracelet to capture memorable elements — from literary quotations, to recipes and family trees — and take them home by email. Shaham-Gover, the curator, said the open-space gallery of contemporary Jews is “a celebration of life and culture and lights and colors.” “The museum is not a muted temple,” she said. “It’s about life. So you come here, you have sounds, you have light and colors. It’s part of you.” Its grand opening comes as the fundamental issue of who is a Jew has resurfaced in Israeli politics ahead of this month’s fourth parliamentary election in two years. The Supreme Court recently ruled that people who had undergone Reform and Conservative conversions to Judaism in Israel would qualify as Jews when applying for citizenship under Israel’s Law of Return. The decision has outraged Israel’s powerful ultra-Orthodox religious establishment, which has long held a monopoly over conversions, along with members of the ruling Likud party. Upon entering the main gallery, visitors encounter life-sized projections of Jews from a kaleidoscope of different affiliations and lifestyles — from Reform to ultra-Orthodox and everything in between — explaining how they define their Jewish identity. Anat Lieberman, a museum visitor from the town of Ramat Gan, said the presentation of people from “all colors of the rainbow” was moving, and showed that it was a museum “for the entire Jewish people.” Tadmor avoided touching on the politics of the issue and insisted the institution does not take a stance on the question of who is a Jew. “We’re nonpolitical. We don’t favor any denomination. We’re floating 20,000 feet above all of that,” he insisted. “We just want to make sure that everyone is represented and you don’t come out feeling like I’m transparent.'”

The Q4 E-tron will join the E-tron, E-tron Sportback and E-tron GT in UK dealerships from this autumn as Audi continues to swell its electric car ranks. The new mid-sized SUV is based on the Volkswagen Group’s versatile MEB electric car platform, so it shares its drivetrain, lithium ion battery, charging system and chassis with the Volkswagen ID 3 and ID 4, alongside which it will be produced at Volkswagen’s factory in Zwickau, Germany. Prices are expected to start at around £40,000, with the range-topping model pitched closer to £50,000, when the Q4 E-tron goes on sale April. The car has progressed into an advanced stage of development, with very few stylistic changes over the 2019 concept. Its proportions are familiar from its ID 4 and Skoda Enyaq iV siblings, but key differentiators include a new interpretation of Audi’s single-frame grille, distinctive vertically stacked front air ducts, angular LED headlights, a short bonnet and a heavily raked windscreen. Further back, prominent side feature lines sit above large wheelhouses, helping to add structure to the flanks, while a sizeable spoiler above the angled tailgate helps to smooth airflow across the gently sloping roof. Wheels vary in diameter from a standard 19in to 21in on top-rung variants. At 4590mm long, 1865mm wide and 1613mm tall, the Q4 E-tron was conceived as an electric equivalent to the po[CENSORED]r Q3, but its comparatively short overhangs and cab-forward silhouette means interior space is more on a par with the larger Q5. The rear bench is positioned 70mm higher than the front seats and offers impressive leg, head and shoulder room for all three passengers. The boot extends from 520 to 1490 litres with the 40:20:40-split rear seat folded down, while compartments around the cabin together give an extra 25 litres of stowage. The driving environment is a departure from that of conventionally powered Audis, with a unique dashboard, new steering wheel with touch-sensitive controls, a 10.25in digital instrument display with unique graphics and a standard 10.1in (or optional 11.6in) MMI infotainment touchscreen. Buyers will be able to choose from three display set-ups: Standard, Virtual and Virtual Plus. Voice control is an option. The Q4 E-tron is also the first Audi to offer an optional augmented-reality headup display, which projects dynamic sat-nav commands onto the windscreen with varying depth of field. The elevated driving position provides quite a commanding view of the road, but the Q4 E-tron’s high beltline makes its cabin feel less exposed than that of similarly sized SUVs. A broad expanse of dashboard means the front passengers sit well back from the base of the windscreen, but the controls and high-set infotainment touchscreen remain within easy reach. There will be a range of Q4 E-tron variants in single-motor, rear-wheel-drive and dual-motor, four-wheel-drive configurations, along with either a 52kWh or 77kWh lithium-ion battery pack and a charging system capable of supporting up to 11kW of AC and 125kW of DC charging. We expect a maximum WLTP range of around 310 miles. Driving the Q4 E-tron We recently drove in Germany a prototype of the range-topping Q4 E-tron 50. It uses a synchronous electric motor on the front axle and an asynchronous electric motor on the rear to send a combined 295bhp and 339lb ft to both axles through a single-speed gearbox. You select your drive direction using a slider-type shifter mounted on the centre console, and once underway, the Q4 E-tron gives the sort of instant response that we’ve come to expect from high-output electric powertrains. Audi puts the 0-62mph time at 6.2sec, which is 0.6sec faster than that claimed for the rival BMW iX3. And while increasing aerodynamic drag and rolling resistance dent the acceleration at higher speeds, there’s still enough punch for a top speed limited to 112mph. Paddles behind the steering wheel adjust the level of regenerative braking in three stages. The lowest level simulates the braking force of a combustion engine, while the highest setting provides retardation of up to 0.6g for maximum energy-harvesting on a trailing throttle. At a cruise, there’s a faint whine to the operation of the motors under load and some wind buffeting around the door mirrors, but these complaints could be addressed on the production version, which we will drive in the coming months. Generous space within the front wheel houses makes for a tight (10.2-metre) turning circle and excellent manoeuvrability during parking and city driving. The steering is light at low speeds but weights up nicely as you drive faster, providing a precise action but without much in the way of feedback. With its battery mounted low and evenly balanced weight distribution, the Q4 E-tron’s handling is well controlled, with responsive turn-in and little body roll, as well as strong grip and excellent traction in tighter corners. The sports suspension, as fitted to our prototype, brings a 15mm drop in ride height. It can be ordered with adaptive damping control in combination with a drive select programme offering four different modes: Efficiency, Comfort, Dynamic and Individual, which the driver can configure. With optional 20in tyres of 235/50 profile at the front and 255/45 at the rear, the Q4 E-tron’s ride remains fairly compliant on most surfaces in Comfort mode, although its hefty kerb weight does occasionally conspire to upset the experience over rougher roads.

Seychelles, a beautiful country in East Africa, has announced that it will welcome tourists from India and some other countries beginning March 25. The archipelagic island country in the Indian Ocean is home to many stunning beaches, coral reefs, rare animals, etc., and is touted as a honeymoon destination, or some place where you can relax and unwind. The Seychelles Islands official website has issued a travel advisory and if you are thinking of visiting the country, here are some things you ought to know about. Read on. * Visitors — from any part of the world — who have been vaccinated, and are able to show proof they have taken the complete dose (two doses), and that two weeks have elapsed after the second dose, will be allowed to enter Seychelles. * Keep in mind that visitors will need to provide an “authentic certificate of vaccination” and must also have a negative PCR test taken less than 72 hours prior to travel. They will also be allowed free movement during their stay in Seychelles. * Visitors who have not been vaccinated, coming from certain permitted countries will also be allowed entry. Permitted countries have been divided into two categories: low and medium risk. * Visitors, including infants and children may not be required to be vaccinated. They will, however, need to have a negative COVID-19 PCR certificate taken not less than 72 hours before travel. * Health Travel Authorisation (HTA) is required. Visitors must submit their certificate of vaccination and negative PCR test results, flight and accommodation details before departure at: https://seychelles.govtas.com/. This can be done two weeks after they have received their complete doses of vaccination, and after they have received their negative PCR test results. * Upon check in, all travellers must show approved HTA to their respective airline companies for verification. * Visitors must ensure that accommodation bookings are made only at licensed establishments or liveaboards that have been certified by the Public Health Authority. Refer to the list available on the website: http://www.tourism.gov.sc. * All visitors will undergo temperature checks and health screening, and anyone who has fever with respiratory symptoms like cough, runny nose or shortness of breath, will be isolated from other travellers and subjected to further assessment. Transfer * Transfer of visitors from the airport to the place of accommodation will be done by authorised transport. * Visitors will not be authorised to use public buses. * Visitors with connecting domestic flights to other islands should remain on the airport premises until departure of their flight. In case the connecting flight is on the following day, accommodation must be booked for the overnight stay in a health-certified tourism accommodation establishment. Accommodation * Visitors may only stay in establishments or liveaboards that have been certified by the Public Health Authority. Vaccinated visitors will be allowed free movement and are not restricted to the number of certified establishments or duration of stay in an establishment, but they must follow all health protocols. * Vaccinated visitors will not be subjected to surveillance PCR test once in Seychelles, except if their airlines or countries of origin are requesting for an exit/departure negative PCR test certificate. * All visitors are required to adhere to all guidelines in place at the accommodation establishments/liveboards including wearing of face masks in common areas. They should avoid interaction with other visitors not in their travel group. * To ensure the safety of staff and visitors, all persons at tourism establishments are monitored daily for signs of illness by the Health and Safety Officer or designated person. Any visitors, regardless of their vaccination status, who develop symptoms compatible with COVID-19 during their stay, may be subject to further assessment. * Regardless of their vaccination status, visitors must continue to observe all health measures such as consistent use of face-masks, maintaining social distancing and practise respiratory and hand hygiene, throughout their travel and stay in Seychelles. * During their stay in the country, visitors must avoid close prolonged interactions with the local community, avoid any gatherings or meetings and avoid crowded places, including markets. * PCR testing is not required to depart Seychelles. Your airline or final destination may, however, require it. PCR test facilities are available on the three main islands: Mahe, Praslin and La Digue to visitors prior to departure.

Rabat – Today, Morocco’s Ambassador to the US, Princess Lalla Joumala Alaoui, delivered a speech on International Women’s Day during a Webinar event. The Moroccan diplomat highlighted the persistent challenges women continue to face, around the world, in achieving gender equality. Advancement of women, a top priority in Morocco The Moroccan ambassador pointed out that the advancement of women in Morocco has been a priority for King Mohammed VI, as well as his father King Hassan II and his grandfather King Mohammed V. “I am indeed proud to represent a country where, for decades, the advancement of the status of women has been a priority of His Majesty and His forefathers, and where the Constitution enshrines gender equality,” she said. Taking pride in representing Morocco to the United States, she said she does not see herself as a pioneer, but as “merely and humbly perpetuating the tradition of a very long line of trailblazing Moroccan women.” She mentioned many Moroccan women who have shone in Morocco and elsewhere throughout history, such as Fatima Al Fihriya, founder of Al Qarawiyine university, the world’s oldest university, as well as Princess Lalla Aicha, who became the first Arab woman to serve as Ambassador, representing Morocco in the United Kingdom in the 1960s. Princess Lalla Joumala went on to add that women “have always been, and continue to be, a force of positive change in Morocco.” Bittersweet occasion Lalla Joumala said the women empowerment challenge depends on the support of all of “society’s stakeholders,– both male and female.” She described the event as a “bittersweet occasion,” recalling that March the 8th is a great opportunity to celebrate women’s rights and their achievements but also an event that emphasizes the issues women face across the region. For Lalla Joumala, the date allows us to focus on the “persistent challenges we continue to face around the world, in achieving gender parity.” COVID-19 impacts on gender equality The COVID-19 pandemic is among the crises that have contributed to the widening of the gender gap and among marginalized groups, including women, the ambassador emphasized. Several reports highlighted the situation of women in Morocco during the pandemic, listing the challenges amid the COVID-19 crisis.. The High Commission for Planning (HCP) acknowledged that the financial situation for women in Morocco significantly deteriorated during the COVID-19 crisis. Data shows that approximately 72.2% of women working in commerce lost their entire income during the pandemic. Meanwhile, 45.8% of men working in the sector were no longer able to maintain their livelihood. The study showed that COVID-19 affected women more than men across all sectors, including industry, services, and agriculture. Joumala voiced the challenges that all women face, describing the region as not “an easy” one for women. “Let us be honest, our region is not an easy one, and like everywhere in the world, women are often the biggest victims of conflict and instability,” she said. The challenges highlight the need for women’s voices to be heard and listened to. “While the role of women in peacebuilding is key to any form of sustainable peace, the formal place they are granted is too often minimal,” she argued. She said that women stand firm against any form of marginalization and diminishment, recalling that in the Middle East and elsewhere, “you will see women find alternative and creative ways, outside the official realms of power, to exert influence.” Lalla Joumala stressed the importance of including women in decision-making processes. Feminists and activists across the country have been calling on the Moroccan government to ensure women are represented in high-ranking positions and to make progress towards gender parity. The current government allocated only 11.8% of high-ranking positions to women, equating to 137 positions out of 1,160 senior appointments. In its latest report released in January, the Democratic Association of Moroccan Women (ADFM) criticized the exclusion of women in senior positions and decision-making positions. “Our challenge then becomes to translate the leverage gained from this grassroots approach and ensure that it leads to the meaningful participation of women in decision-making processes,” the Moroccan ambassador to the US said. Including women in the Abraham Accords Lalla Joumala also called for the inclusion of women to ensure the success of the Abraham Accords between Arab countries and Israel. “As our countries seek to deepen their partnerships across all sectors, the contribution of women must be encouraged. For if the breakthroughs brought about by these agreements are to be long-lasting, they must be inclusive,” Lalla Joumala said. She said women are fully involved in the implementation of the Joint Declaration between the US, Morocco, and Israel. The three countries signed the declaration on December 22, just a week after Morocco announced its decision to establish ties with Israel. “For the Moroccan women supporting this dynamic, it is not only about seizing political, social and economic opportunities. It is also about honoring a common history and shared identity by reconnecting with the thousands of Israeli women of Moroccan heritage who share a language and so many cultural traditions,” the ambassador emphasized. Several diplomats participated in the event, including the ambassador of Israel to US, UNGilad Erdan, Shaima Gardash, deputy chief of mission Embassy of the UAE to the US, and Rose Saqr, Trade Representative at the Embassy of Bahrain in the US.

Aston Martin will build an electric SUV and an electric sports car at its UK production facilities from 2025, according to the Financial Times. Speaking to the newspaper at the company's Gaydon headquarters, chairman Lawrence Stroll confirmed: "The SUV will be built in Wales and the sports cars will be built here," rather than by 20% stakeholder Mercedes-Benz in Germany. However, the duo could still use batteries and motors supplied by the German firm, which already has a pair of electric series-production cars on sale, while Aston Martin has yet to market a bespoke EV drivetrain. Stroll told the FT: "We are way ahead of our rivals, and all because of our partnership with Mercedes." His comments follow Aston Martin CEO Tobias Moers' recent claim that the firm can obtain electric, hybrid and combustion powertrain components from Mercedes at "a reasonable cost situation". The brand's first electrified production vehicle will be a hybrid version of the new DBX SUV, due later this year, which can be expected to use a plug-in hybrid version of its 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8, in line with upcoming PHEV versions of Mercedes-AMG's GT 4dr Coupé and S-Class performance saloons. Aston Martin's mid-engined Valhalla supercar will also use hybrid technology but is now highly likely to forego the bespoke electrified V6 used by the 2019 concept in favour of an AMG-supplied unit. A reworked version of the Ferrari SF90 Stradale rival will be shown in the coming months ahead of a market launch in 2023. Some customers, Aston Martin has confirmed, have already placed orders. Little is known of the electric models mentioned by Stroll, although he did confirm that the sports car will be a "front-engine version of a DB11/Vantage" and will be sold alongside "an SUV higher four-wheel-drive one". The designs haven't yet been finalised, he told the FT, and there remain question marks over whether electric Aston Martin models will use the 70-year-old DB name prefix. Giving clues as to how electric Aston Martins will be differentiated from the competition (and potentially their mechanically related Mercedes siblings), Stroll told the FT that they will have "our beautiful body, our suspension, our vehicle dynamics [and] our bespoke interiors”.

Women in the armed forces have increased over the years, yet their numbers remain abysmal compared to men — 6.5 per cent (Navy), 1.08 per cent (Air Force) and 0.56 per cent (Army). Last year, this time, 31 women and 136 men officers were inducted into the Indian Army, after 11 months of rigorous training at Chennai’s Officers Training Academy (OTA). Among them was a 26-year-old senior lady cadet Ipupu Mena, who was made a Lieutenant. She is at the centre of Women of Honour: Destination Army, which will premiere on March 8, at 9 pm, on National Geographic, and later on Disney+ Hotstar. The 46-minute film follows her last days at the OTA, and her pushing junior cadets, like the timid 23-year-old Shruti Dubey, towards never giving up. Star cadet Mena leads by example. “It feels really tough at times, I feel stressed out, not getting time for myself, but you stand little bit above others, because you have it in you. So, in order to prove yourself, to give your best, to get trained well, you have to burn more than others,” she says in the film. Lt Mena is the first from the Idu Mishmi tribe and second lady cadet to come out of Arunachal Pradesh, after Lieutenant Colonel Ponung Doming. “We started inducting women into the Army in the early ’90s. Earlier there were apprehensions on whether they would be able to cope with the workload and demands of service life. Today, I can say with a lot of pride that they have performed all their tasks exceedingly well. We have come a long way and the day is not too far when a women officer will be a Commanding Officer of the unit, based purely on merit,” says General MM Naravane, Chief of Army Staff, in the film. The film “brings out the ethos of training and life in the armed forces, the camaraderie, the seniority aspect, the hard work and toil,” said Lieutenant General Dr Madhuri Kanitkar, AVSM, VSM, at the film’s launch event last week at Delhi Cantt’s NCC Auditorium. The seniormost woman officer in the Indian Army, working since the early 1980s, she became the third woman officer and first paediatrician to be promoted to the three-star rank in 2019. And, she and her husband retired Lt Gen Rajiv Kanitkar became the first couple in the Indian armed forces to achieve the high rank. At times of separate postings, and maintaining work-life balance, Lt Gen Dr Kanitkar said, “being married to an Army person made it easier because we understood each other.” Rising in ranks wasn’t easy. “The path is always uphill. It’s when you cross one hill, you see more hills ahead of you. But then that’s what makes you what you are. The organisation helped me become tougher and achieve newer heights. I’ve become physically and mentally stronger. At age 60-plus, I can still run 6-10 km, and take on a whole day’s work without getting exhausted,” added Lt Gen Dr Kanitkar. About allegations of sexism within the organisation, Lt Gen Dr Kanitkar said, “I don’t think we ever had any gender discrimination because much before other women came in and much before I joined, women were always there in the Army medical core. We trained together, we worked together, we didn’t really look at each other as men and women, we just looked at each other as medical professional colleagues and, in uniform, as officers.” While Lt Gen Dr Kanitkar was a topper at the Armed Forces Medical College, Pune, in her time, Shivani Soni, a young girl from Rajkot, nursed dreams of joining the AFMC but couldn’t clear the pre-medical entrance test by seven marks. Hailing from a conservative Gujarati family, Soni, 23, whose father retired as a non-commissioned officer from the Navy in 2010, was fascinated by the respect women in uniform commanded among her father’s colleagues. At the same time, she’d also observe how jawans would try to avoid saluting younger lady officers. Her father, however, was the wind beneath her wings. Soni graduated in pharmacy from Saurashtra University in 2018, and later, when she came across CDS (Combined Defence Services), SSB (Services Selection Board), and AFCAT (Air Force Common Admission Test) exams, her hopes of joining the forces were rekindled. She self-prepared and cleared the written tests four times but couldn’t crack the interview. She, however, decided to turn her failure into helping train others. With Sahil Kumar, she co-founded Defence Mania, a “pocket-friendly” e-learning platform for armed-forces aspirants. She’d charge Rs 44 per hour, and over 15 months, through e-books and “short, crisp, video lectures”, has assisted 1,000 students in preparing and clearing the written exams. Their app, on Android and iOS, has had 30,000 downloads, and YouTube channel has 53,600 subscribers. “If I had gotten in, I may have been one could-have-been officer, but by helping others, I’ll help produce many officers,” she says.

Rabat – Monday marks the International Women’s Day, a date when the world celebrates women and their achievements. Moroccan women continue to fascinate the world, reinforcing their positions in all fields, including higher education. Celebrating Moroccan women, Morocco’s representation at UNESCO has identified the North African country as “one of the countries closest to gender parity” in engineering fields. The representation pointed out women make up45% engineering graduates in Moroccan universities. Quoting data from the 2019 Gender Equality Report, the Moroccan representation noted that 46% of Moroccan graduates in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) are women. Every year, Morocco celebrates women of all ages, ethnicity, and education background. Moroccan NGOs and media often publish reports about the country’s most influential women. Despite making considerable progress in terms of gender equality, Morocco still faces an urgent task of doubling its efforts to address some enduring challenges limiting Moroccan women. Unemployment among women increased by 2.7 points to 16.2% for women in 2020, data from the High Commission for Planning (HCP) revealed in February. Unemployment in Morocco moved from 9.2% in 2019 to 11.9% in 2020. The same February report by the HCP shows that housework significantly impacted the ability of Moroccan female students to follow remote classes during the pandemic. According to the report, most Moroccans still consider housework a “female duty.” Such perceptions continue to negatively impact the study time for girls and young women in Morocco. In addition to obstacles in the field of education, violence against women continues to be among Morocco’s most pressing concerns. At least 5.3 million women in Morocco experienced violence, According to aSeptember 2020 report by HCP. Economic violence increased from 8% in 2009 to 15% in 2019, while sexual violence rose from 9% to 14% during the same period, the report found. In rural Morocco, physical violence against women increased from 9% to 13% between 2009 and 2019. Meanwhile, domestic violence perpetrated by family members or marital partners affected 52% of women and girls in 2019. Marital violence also increased by 46% between 2009 and 2019, with 5.3 million women aged between 15 and 74 experiencing violence from their partners. NGOs have long urged Morocco’s government to reinforce laws to hold gendered violence perpetrators accountable. Advoacy groups have notably requested legislations that would intensify punishments against people found guilty of marital, domestic violence and sexual harassment. Between 2009 and 2019, sexual violence from a third party against women aged 15-74 increased from 4.3% to 8.5% in Morocco. Report after report established that although Morocco made significant strides in terms of women’s rights, the country still needs to reinforce efforts to close the gender gap. The World Economic Forum’s 2020 Global Gender Gap Index ranked Morocco 143 out of 153, suggesting that the country still has a long road to travel.

Volkswagen's new Project Trinity will arrive in 2026 as a cutting-edge EV saloon, offering autonomous driving and introducing a ‘radical’ new business model, with most functions offered as downloadable services. The forthcoming flagship model has been described previously as a “highly efficient flat-seat concept with an iconic design,” and a teaser image shown as part of a Volkswagen presentation suggests that it will take the form of a swooping fastback similar to the Arteon. Volkswagen to launch at least one EV per year under new 'Accelerate' plan The saloon will be built on Wolfsburg's advanced new Project Trinity EV architecture , which will use elements from the MEB EV platform but with new powertrains and advanced software. That will enable it to offer substantially more advanced systems, both in terms of driving technology and connectivity. Volkswagen also plans for it to "set new standards" in terms of range and charging speed, with the ability to recharge as fast as a conventional fuel stop. Project Trinity will launch in 2026, offering Level 2+ advanced driver assistance systems, and Volkswagen CEO Ralf Brandstätter said that would likely be upgraded to Level 4 – allowing for full autonomous driving on certain roads – by 2030. Brandstätter described Project Trinity as “our software dream car”, saying it would introduce an entirely new business model for the firm, with a radically reduced number of variants. Buyers will be able to choose from only battery size, paint colour and wheel specification. Owners will then be able to turn activate and deactivate certain hardware functions when required, with other features offered as over-the-air software downloads. “We’re going to radically reduce the number of variants,” said Brandstätter. “With Trinity, the hardware is largely unified: you select battery capacity, colour and wheels and then order it on smartphone. The functions can be set as you go along: you can add features through your digital system.” Brandstätter said that offering such functions as upgrades means that “Trinity is going to become a time machine”. The autonomous systems will benefit from the new 'neural network' that Volkswagen is aiming to develop from its connected cars all sharing real-time data on roads, traffic and other systems. While no details of initial pricing have been set, Brandstätter said that Project Trinity is designed to “launch new technology in large volumes for the mainstream market”. He added: “With Trinity, Volkswagen is once again bringing the future to series-production cars.” The production version of Project Trinity will be produced at Volkswagen’s Wolfsburg base, with the German firm saying that it will also “reinvent production as we know it today”. It says that the reduction in hardware variants will dramatically increase production times by reducing complexity and that it will introduce new production technology. Back to top Fellow Volkswagen Group brand Audi is also developing an advanced new EV platform, dubbed Artemis, which will likely be used for future high-tech premium models from Audi, Bentley and Porsche. Brandstätter called the two projects were “complementary," suggesting that Project Trinity will be the key driver of software development within the group. It will be a key part of Volkswagen’s new Accelerate strategy, under which the firm is aiming to develop new business models, particularly through connected services and upgrades.

Through the cold winter months, Berlin’s museum directors have been custodians of silence. With doors closed to visitors due to the coronavirus pandemic artworks have languished hidden from view, but now curators are looking forward to reopening. Chancellor Angela Merkel and German state leaders have agreed to start easing restrictions. If coronavirus cases are below 100 per 100,000 people over seven days – as in Berlin with a rate of 67.8 – people should be able to visit museums from Monday (March 😎 after booking a slot. In the Egyptian Museum, the colourful bust of Queen Nefertiti crafted out of limestone and stucco in around 1340 BC has looked lonely of late. Museum director Friederike Seyfried said working in an empty space was depressing. “A museum is there to be open to people, to offer them something and to make art accessible to all and if we can’t fulfil this task of ours due to current circumstances, it’s understandable but also very painful,” she said. She said the museum had ensured people were socially distanced when it reopened after a lockdown last year and is convinced it can keep visitors safe. At the Pergamon Museum, the imposing blue Ishtar Gate, reconstructed using fragments of the original from Babylon, is normally a major tourist attraction but only those who work at the museum have been able to admire it recently. “The objects come to life by being in dialogue with the viewers so we’re really looking forward to finally being able to welcome visitors again,” said Barbara Helwing, who runs the Museum of Ancient Near East housed in the Pergamon Museum. Other treasures museum curators around Berlin can’t wait to show off again include the Market Gate of Miletus, a 17-metre-high marble gateway built around 100 AD; Edouard Manet’s painting “In the Conservatory”; and Sandro Botticelli’s “The Virgin and Child with Singing Angels”.

Rabat – Morocco’s General Directorate of Meteorology (DGM) on Saturday, March 6, has issued a warning to citizens regarding extreme weather expected over the weekend. Strong local thunderstorms and heavy rainfall of 60 to 80 millimeters is expected today in the provinces of Al Hoceima, Fahs-Anjra, Chefchaouen, Mdiq-Fnideq, and Tetouan. The expected rain will likely be even more intense in certain locations. The DGM has issued a similar weather alert, with an expected downpour of 35-60 millimeters expected from Saturday morning to Sunday afternoon in the provinces of Tangier-Assilah, Taounate, and Driouch. All of Saturday, heavy thunderstorms and rain (20 to 35 millimeters) is similarly expect to hit the provinces of Al Haouz, Azilal, Beni Mellal, Kelaat Sraghna, Fquih Ben Salah, Khenifra, Taza, Sefrou, Guercif, Boulemane, Essaouira, Chtouka-Ait-Baha, Tiznit, and Taroudant. The DGM’s weather alert warns that stormy weather in the region could combine with hailstorms, while more moderate rain could in some places become more intense. “Stormy showers” are expected in provinces situated on the Atlantic coast, with Rabat and El Jadida expected to see moderate showers with occasional heavy showers on Sunday. Exceptionally strong rainfall is expected “in the afternoon and at night on Sunday on the Gharb, the Saiss, Oulmès, the Middle Atlas, the east of the Rif, and the Mediterranean, as well as on the North of the Oriental.” The DGM’s weather alert also warns of 10-30 centimeters of snowfall over 24 hours in the provinces of Al Haouz, Azilal, Chichaoua, Midelt, Beni Mellal, Ifrane, Sefrou, Boulemane, Errachidia, Ouarzazate, Taroudant, and Tinghir. Some of the snowfall in these regions could continue into Monday. High-altitude regions in the Middle and High Atlas are similarly expected to see heavy snowfall. Additionally the DGM warns of strong 70 to 90 km/h winds on saturday in the provinces of Boulemane, Figuig, Jerada, Oujda-Angad, Guercif, and Taourirt.