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The Ford Fiesta could be discontinued as early as next year because it won't get an electric successor, a report has claimed. The supermini has fallen out of favour with the British public in recent years, with buyers flocking to the rival Vauxhall Corsa – the UK’s best-selling car in 2021 – and the Ford Puma crossover. The Puma is the third-best-selling model in the UK so far this year, trailing only the Nissan Qashqai and the Corsa. Meanwhile, the Fiesta doesn't feature in the top 10 best-sellers to date, despite a recent facelift. It was speculated earlier this year that Ford earns more from Lego licensing deals than the hatchback. This trend is mirrored in Europe: according to data from Jato Dynamics, Fiesta sales by the end of August were down 45% compared with 2021 levels, at 38,911 units. Meanwhile, Puma sales were down 14% compared with the same point in 2021, at 90,893 units. In August alone, the Puma placed 12th for European sales, with 9891 examples leaving showrooms. The Fiesta failed to place in the top 50, at just 2735 units. The Fiesta could be axed as early as 2023, The Sun has reported, likely to make way for the Puma EV launching in 2024. This would bring to an end a 46-year history spanning eight generations. Autocar understands that an official announcement regarding the Fiesta’s future is imminent. Ford said in a statement: “We are accelerating our efforts to go all-in on electrification and therefore review our vehicle portfolio in line with our business strategy. We do not comment on speculation and will share more information in the coming months.” This follows June’s news that production of the larger Ford Focus will come to an end in 2025, without a direct successor tipped for production. It's instead expected to be replaced by an electric crossover – one of four new EVs due by 2024 – to sit between the Puma EV and the existing Ford Mustang Mach-E. Arriving in 2023, this model may be based on the Volkswagen ID 4 and be built at Ford’s new state-of-the-art EV manufacturing centre in Cologne, Germany. A similar model, expected to be a coupé-bodied sports SUV based on the Volkswagen ID 5, will follow the year after. Ford of Europe boss Stuart Rowley said in March: “Let me assure you these products will absolutely look like Fords, drive like Fords and the experiences that we provide will give customers unique purchase and ownership experiences.” The company expects to sell some 600,000 EVs annually by 2026 under its Ford Model E division, which operates separately from its ICE car and commercial vehicle divisions (Ford Blue and Ford Pro, respectively). Ford previously stated that it will sell only EVs in Europe from 2030. https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/ford-fiesta-production-set-end-next-year

Five Palestinians, reportedly all gunmen, have been killed in a major Israeli raid against a militant group in the occupied West Bank. A sixth Palestinian was shot dead by Israeli troops who were attacked with stones in a protest against the raid, Palestinian medical sources say. The operation in the northern city of Nablus targeted the recently formed Lion's Den group. The group killed an Israeli soldier in a shooting earlier this month. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had locked down Nablus for the past two weeks amid an intensive search for the killer of 21-year-old Staff Sergeant Ido Baruch. Sgt Baruch was shot dead in an ambush near an Israeli settlement about five miles (8km) away. There has been an intensification of violence between Israel and Palestinians in the West Bank in recent weeks amid an ongoing Israeli operation to root out militants following a wave of deadly attacks against Israelis earlier this year. The Lion's Den group was formed following near daily arrest raids by Israeli forces targeting militants, concentrated in the northern West Bank. It is believed to number a few dozen members and has carried out attacks and attempted attacks around the Nablus area and as far afield as Tel Aviv, according to the Israeli military. The group had recently defied calls from the Palestinian Authority (PA), which governs Nablus, to give up its weapons in return for becoming part of the official Palestinian security forces. The IDF said security forces raided an apartment in the casbah in Nablus, which it said was used as a bomb-making factory and headquarters of the group. Palestinians called via loudspeakers for locals to come out and defend the city, as young men poured into the streets. A fierce gun battle erupted between Israeli forces and Palestinians in which five were killed. At least three who died have been identified as members of Lion's Den, including a senior commander and founder of the group. Israeli media say all five belonged to it. More than 20 Palestinians were wounded in the clashes, the Palestinian health ministry said. There are no reports of Israeli casualties. Israeli troops blew the apartment up during the operation. Local reports say an anti-tank missile was fired at the building. A Palestinian was also shot dead in the town of Nabi Saleh further south when youths threw stones at Israeli soldiers in protest at the Nablus raid, reports say. The raid came amid a broader, ongoing operation launched by the IDF named Break the Wave after 17 Israelis and two Ukrainians were killed by Palestinians and Israeli Arab attackers earlier this year. On the Palestinian side, more than 100, including militants, attackers and civilians, have been killed in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since January amid the upsurge in violence, making this year one of the deadliest for Palestinians since 2015. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-63383854

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Music Title: ZEDK - D.M.T [ Clip Officiel ] Signer: - Release Date: 25/10/22 Official Youtube Link: Informations About The Signer:- Your Opinion About The Track (Music Video):10/10

the murder of two Army non-commissioned officers, in the middle of the week, in clashes with the FARC dissidents in Arauca, is not the only scene of violence that seems to be weakening the optimistic start of the Gustavo government's "total peace" policy Petro. (We invite you to read: These are the axes of Gustavo Petro's 'total peace' that heat up the discussion) The Peace Commissioner, Danilo Rueda, assures that there is a clear de-escalation of the war in some areas: Buenaventura completes 41 days without gang confrontation. But the dissidents of 'Iván Mordisco' maintain combats with the Army, and his front 28 imposed a curfew in Tame and Puerto Rondón, where the bodies of the two soldiers were collected. Two high-ranking government sources told EL TIEMPO that there is another threat that could become an obstacle, at least temporarily, for negotiating with guerrillas and subjugating criminal gangs, such as the "Gulf clan." (Also read: Audios: drug that kills in the US is 'cooked' in luxurious condominiums in Bogotá) President Petro himself spoke of this factor with international media after his speech at the United Nations Assembly 20 days ago in New York. https://www.eltiempo.com/unidad-investigativa/mafia-mexicana-la-jugada-que-preparan-capos-de-cara-a-la-paz-total-711810

At least 550,000 years old, prehistoric Homo heidelbergensis inhabited Central Europe and already used tools. 550 thousand years ago, the climate in present-day Central Europe was hostile. Because of the dizzying changes in the environment, early humans had to adapt to the new climatic conditions. And fast. Only few survived. Among them was Homo heidelbergensis. This prehistoric primate is considered to be the oldest known species of prehistoric human. In fact, it is considered the last common ancestor between Neanderthals and Homo sapiens. Recently, a team of scientists from the University of Warsaw found remains of these primates in a cave in Poland. Along with the bones, this is what they found. We suggest: 'Mom' and 'Dad' were among the common words used by humans in the Stone Age, study reveals Early humans were small, stocky hunters Homo heidelbergensis was characterized by adapting its body to the severe frosts of Central Europe. Therefore, they had small and robust bodies, which allowed them to conserve heat in their natural habitat. Despite this, it is known that they were the first humans to routinely hunt large animals. Physically, the institution explains, they were distinguished by their broad foreheads and pronounced jaws: “THIS EARLY HUMAN SPECIES HAD A VERY LARGE SUPERCILIARY ARCH, A LARGER SKULL CASE, AND A FLATTER FACE THAN EARLIEST PRIMITIVE HUMAN SPECIES,” DOCUMENTS THE SMITHSONIAN NATIONAL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY. There is evidence that Homo heidelbergensis could control fire in primitive fireplaces, approximately 790 thousand years ago. Time and climatic conditions degraded much of their fossil remains, so it has been difficult to learn more about their diet, customs and cultural development. weapon designers Therefore, scientists from the University of Warsaw were surprised to find remains of this species in the mythical Tunel Wielki cave in Poland. Along with the bones, the researchers found tools that are at least 450,000 years old. This suggests that Homo heidelbergensis was not only capable of designing them from scratch and using them, but that they passed that knowledge down from generation to generation: “[WITH THESE REMAINS] WE CAN EXAMINE THE LIMITS OF HOMO HEIDELBERGENSIS' POSSIBILITIES OF SURVIVAL, AND THEREFORE OBSERVE HOW IT ADAPTED TO THESE ADVERSE CONDITIONS,” ARCHEOLOGIST MAŁGORZATA KOT EXPLAINS TO SCIENCE IN POLAND. Findings at Tunel Wielki shed new light on the creative and problem-solving abilities of this ancient human species. Researchers were surprised, Science Alert reports, that Homo heidelbergensis used the caves for shelter, because they weren't the best place to camp. However, it seems that the fires promoted these cold and damp places to become comfortable homes for them. From the blows on the tools, it is known that it was a technique shared among other species of primitive humans, more than half a million years ago. https://www.ngenespanol.com/animales/como-era-el-homo-heidelbergensis/

Our first drive of the facelifted BMW X7 in August centred on the M60i. This time we're in the xDrive40i, a model with noticeably less performance but a price that's a good £22,000 below that of its range-topping sibling, at £82,450. The visual changes over the original X7 launched in 2019 are quite comprehensive, especially up front, where the big BMW SUV adopts a split-headlight treatment similar to the recently unveiled fifth-generation 7 Series. Instead of single assemblies on each side, there are two separate units: thin daytime running lights, then larger LED main beams with optional 'Laser Light' functionality below. They're set within a newly designed bumper that also includes a reworked kidney grille with optional illumination. It is a successful mid-life remake, if the aim was to make the X7 more distinctive-looking than before. It no longer looks like a beefed-up X5, that’s for sure. Buyers can also option wheels up to 23in in diameter, although the standard wheels are 21in. However, the updated X7 also has some significant interior upgrades, including a newly styled dashboard featuring a curved display panel similar in style to the iX's. It combines a 12.3in instrument display and a 14.9in central display for the infotainment functions, and runs BMW’s new ID8 operating system. The new, lower-mounted dashboard receives revised air vents as well as a light band within the trim element with X7 graphics. The analogue ventilation controls of the older model, meanwhile, are replaced by a rather complex set of digital controls in the central display. Broad front seats with firm support and generous adjustment make the X7 xDrive40i a terrifically comfortable car to drive. A high seating position and a large expanse of glass, including an optional full-length panorama sunroof, provide excellent vision. Outright roominess also continues to be one of the X7’s biggest draws, and there’s the choice of a five-, six- or seven-seat layout. It is agreeably versatile and, as you might expect given it counts the Audi Q7, Mercedes-Benz GLS and Range Rover among its rivals, suitably luxurious. In five-seat form, there’s a generous 750 litres of luggage space. With the rearmost seats in use, though, the capacity shrinks to just 326 litres. Central among the changes to the X7’s engine line-up is the introduction of a new mild-hybrid version of BMW’s turbocharged 3.0-litre straight-six petrol engine – codenamed the B58 – in the xDrive40i driven here. It adopts a crankshaft-mounted starter-generator integrated into the front section of the standard eight-speed ZF-produced automatic gearbox, endowing it with electric boosting for added performance and engine-off coasting functionality for efficiency improvements. Power and torque are up by 47bhp and 51lb ft, taking the reserves to 375bhp and 398lb ft. The starter-generator alone is capable of delivering 12bhp and up to 147lb ft. On the road, the X7 xDrive40i’s revised engine is smooth, very flexible and quite punchy. It may lack the vigorous step-off and overall performance of the X7 M60i’s twin-turbocharged 4.4-litre V8, but with mild-hybrid properties bringing a good deal more power and torque than before, the reworked six-cylinder is nevertheless determined and arguably even more entertaining now, revving freely and eagerly up to 6800rpm. The standard eight-speed automatic gearbox, meanwhile, is excellent, with a quick and resolute shift action no matter how hard the engine is working. New here for the X7 xDrive40i is launch control and a sprint function that bypasses gears to automatically select the lowest possible gear and higher performance drive modes when the left shift paddle is held. Altogether, there are four driving modes: Personal, Sport, Eco and Individual. An official time of 5.8sec makes the facelifted model 0.3sec quicker from 0-62mph than its predecessor, reflecting the added urgency brought by the electrification measures. Punchy, then. But it is also more refined, with truly hushed qualities during constant throttle running in automatic mode on the motorway. Fuel consumption has also improved. BMW claims a WLTP average of up to 30.7mpg in Eco mode. This betters the 29.4mpg of the old model. Given its outright size and weight, the facelifted X7 xDrive40i is not the sort of SUV you’d expect to excel when driven briskly. Like its predecessor, however, it is pleasingly agile and composed when extended on challenging canyon roads like those we experienced at its launch in Palm Springs. The basis to the impressive dynamic character is the latest version of BMW’s dual-axle air suspension with adaptive damping and an automatic self-levelling system. It all brings outstanding stability, excellent rolling comfort and an ability to smooth out undulating sections of bitumen. The steering, light but precise in the context of these cars, serves to build confidence. It is supported by optional Integral Active Steering, which comes as part of a Dynamic Handling Package. This enables between 3.0deg and 4.0deg of steering angle for the rear wheels, depending on the speed, and gives the big BMW sharp and immediate turn-in. With the quick-acting latest evolution of BMW’s xDrive four-wheel drive system, there is also an abundance of grip and impressive levels of traction. Lean is very well controlled during sudden changes of direction, too. Overall, the X7 is a class dynamic act. There are clear limits to how much speed you can carry into corners, though. Even with active anti-roll stabilisation, the handling of X7 xDrive40i is ultimately dictated by the car’s body movements, which despite their progressive nature do eventually elicit heady levels of weight transfer that can build quite dramatically when you are pushing hard. Around town, meanwhile, the light steering and optional rear steering make the new X7 surprisingly manoeuvrable, although there’s no escaping its size, which will continue to prove challenging in smaller UK towns. But that much is obvious with anything of the X7’s size. Sophisticated, roomy, comfortable and, by SUV standards, appealing to drive, the X7 xDrive40i remains a compelling proposition and, despite stiff premium brand competition, should continue to prove po[CENSORED]r. The changes brought to the 2023 model give it a more upmarket air with a greater feeling of luxuriousness than before, without taking anything away from its impressively smooth and determined dynamic traits. With its mild-hybrid tech bringing added fuel economy, it is also now a more attractive choice next to the X7 xDrive40d, which has traditionally proven to be the best-seller in the line-up https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/bmw/x7/first-drives/bmw-x7-xdrive40i-2022-first-drive

China's leader Xi Jinping has moved into a historic third term in power, as he revealed a new leadership team stacked with loyalists. On Sunday the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) unveiled its Politburo Standing Committee, with Mr Xi re-elected as general secretary. Observers say the line-up, handpicked by Mr Xi, shows he prizes loyalty over expertise and experience. The unveiling came after a week-long party congress in the capital. More than 2,300 delegates elected various leadership groups and gave Mr Xi a new mandate over the party, in a break from decades-long tradition. No other party leader besides CCP founder Mao Zedong has ever served a third term. Leaders of China's allies - Russia's Vladimir Putin and North Korea's Kim Jong-un - were among the first to send their congratulations. On Sunday, a day after the congress closed, Mr Xi strode onto a stage in Beijing's Great Hall of the People trailed by the six other men of the Politburo Standing Committee. The group sits at the very top of the CCP and is the Chinese equivalent of the presidential cabinet. After introducing the team, he gave a short speech thanking the party for their trust in them, vowing to achieve the "great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts". Apart from two men - anti-corruption chief Zhao Leji and political theorist Wang Huning - the rest are new to the team. Premier Li Keqiang, the country's number two leader, was not seen - he is among four men who have retired from the committee. Significant reshuffles of the standing committee after a term are common. But observers have noted that by getting rid of Li Keqiang and others, Mr Xi has ensured he is now surrounded by a group where nobody with a different perspective to him has been included. "He felt no need to assign a spot to an alternative faction, which shows his priority is projecting dominance over magnanimity, when he is facing international pushback," said Wen-ti Sung, a lecturer at the Australian National University. Who are the men that rule China now? The mysterious exit of China's former leader Observers say the line-up shows that loyalty to Mr Xi trumps ability and experience, flying in the face of the Communist Party's credo that it is a meritocracy. The official titles of the standing committee members will only be confirmed at next year's parliamentary National People's Congress meeting, where Mr Xi will be confirmed as president again. But many believe that Li Qiang - who walked out right behind Mr Xi during the highly-choreographed ceremony - will become Premier and therefore the one to manage China's economy. Li Qiang is currently the party secretary of Shanghai and oversaw the city's controversial lockdown where tens of millions experienced significant food shortages. Some believe that by making him premier, this sends a signal that Mr Xi does not prioritise economic activity. "This promotion alone is significant for us to reconsider the power structure of China under Xi's third term," said Professor Yang Zhang of the American University, pointing out that Li Qiang is the first official to be promoted without any working experience in central government. Another standing committee appointment that has raised eyebrows is Cai Qi, the mayor of Beijing. He was seen to have performed well when the capital successfully hosted the Winter Olympics earlier this year during the pandemic. But he also attracted controversy when he launched a plan in 2017 to reduce Beijing's po[CENSORED]tion that ultimately forced out many low-income earners from the city. "Cai was not even among the Communist Party's top 370 leaders before the last party congress. Now he is the fifth most powerful person in China," said Neil Thomas, senior China analyst of the Eurasia Group. Others have also noted that once again no woman has made it to the standing committee - likely to be a disappointment to China's feminists but not a surprise. Indeed the lone female member of the 25-member Politburo, Sun Chunlan, has retired so that grouping is also without any female participation. "This is a very sad and shocking arrangement," Prof Yang said. How one man on a bridge marred Xi's big moment Xi's path to a historic third term, explained How Xi Jinping made himself unchallengeable On the streets of Beijing, residents were not surprised by the line-up. "All of them belong to the same faction. It's expected," one person told the BBC. "It's okay that Xi continues with his third term as long as people can get food. We can feed ourselves but it's still difficult. Many businesses are going through particularly difficult times," said another resident. Many ordinary Chinese have been watching the party congress closely to see whether authorities will relax Covid measures afterwards. Patience in Mr Xi's stringent zero-Covid policy is thinning, and days before the congress opened a man staged a rare public protest in Beijing, calling for an end to the policy and Mr Xi's removal. But Mr Xi has made it clear there will be no immediate loosening of measures. On China's heavily censored social media platforms, the reaction has been muted. Tens of millions of Chinese watched Sunday's proceedings on state media livestreams - but all comment sections were disabled. On Weibo, only official media outlets were allowed to post news about the line-up. The comments were scrubbed, leaving only a few posts singing praises for the new leadership. However, Chinese users of other platforms such as Twitter - which is banned in China but can be accessed by virtual private networks - were much more more critical. "Xi's Army lives up to its name, and the whole country welcomes the return of the empire," said one Twitter user sarcastically. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-63362548

Live Performance Title: Mc Pissco Ft Phobia Isaac - Ma3toub [Bassboosted] Signer Name:- Live Performance Location: - Official YouTube Link: Your Opinion About the Track (Music Video):

Music Title: Muslim - SERREK | مسلم ـ سرك [Bassboosted] Signer: - Release Date: 23/10/22 Official Youtube Link: Informations About The Signer:- Your Opinion About The Track (Music Video):10/10

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While United States authorities carry out a kind of consultancy to prevent the maximum security prison of La Picota from continuing to be the scene of bacchanals, excesses and corruption, local authorities evaluate the conditions in which the majority of convicts of that prison center find themselves. (We invite you to read: The managers of the singers of the party in La Picota speak) For several hours, the director of Inpec, Colonel Daniel Gutiérrez, and the director of that prison listened to spokesmen for the prisoners, who proposed a particular formula so that hundreds of prisoners are released almost immediately. https://www.eltiempo.com/unidad-investigativa/la-picota-revelan-plan-legal-para-dejar-libres-a-cientos-de-presos-711430

An adult man, a teenage girl and other close relatives have been fossilized in a cave in Russia. It could be the oldest family in history. Before they died, a group of Neanderthals sat down to share a bison feast. This is revealed by his remains, found in a cave in northern Russia. From the way their remains were fossilized, and from the tools found around the remains, researchers suspect they were closely related. In fact, it could be the oldest family in history. Neanderthals already hunted large animals. In fact, they followed a long tradition of hominids that faced prey of considerable dimensions in an organized way. It appears that this family of Neanderthals did as well, as did other species of ancient humans throughout Eurasia. This revealed his bones. We suggest: They find a new species of prehistoric human in a cave in Poland Inside Chagyrskaya From the dating carried out, the researchers estimate that the oldest family in history lived 54,000 years ago in present-day Russia. In total, it was a set of 11 Neanderthals: a father, a teenage girl and several cousins. These conclusions were derived from the analysis of genetic remains found on the cave floor. According to Swedish geneticist Svante Pääbo, who has spent more than two decades researching this hominid species, the team was surprised by the close blood relationship between the man and the teenager: “I WOULD NOT HAVE THOUGHT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO DETECT A FATHER AND DAUGHTER FROM BONE FRAGMENTS, OR NEANDERTHAL DNA IN CAVE SEDIMENTS, OR ANY OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE NOW BECOMING ALMOST ROUTINE,” DR. PÄÄBO, DIRECTOR OF THE MAX PLANCK INSTITUTE FOR EVOLUTIONARY ANTHROPOLOGY IN LEIPZIG, GERMANY. "IT'S BEEN AN INCREDIBLE JOURNEY." It seems that this group of Neanderthals lived in Chagyrskaya, a cave in Siberia, where they possibly cooked, ate and slept together. From their DNA remains, researchers think that there were several po[CENSORED]tions of ancient hominids, of different species, in this region. Therefore, the genetic information collected provides "detailed documentation of the social organization of a Neanderthal community," the authors write in Nature. Especially, in the easternmost region of Siberia, where "its known range" is found. Thanks to these studies, Pääbo was awarded a Nobel Prize in 2022. Together with his research team, they managed to sequence the entire Neanderthal genome. The oldest family in history was one of the findings stemming from these research efforts. https://www.ngenespanol.com/animales/asi-fue-la-familia-mas-antigua-de-la-historia/

The automotive world has changed a huge amount in the past two decades, especially when it comes to affordable sports cars. It’s a shock to realise that it’s now 20 years since the Nissan 350Z was introduced, especially for those of us old enough to have have attended the original media presentation in California. Yet the new Nissan Z, which we’ve also met in the US, is only two generations removed from that car and much more similar than it is different. Back in 2002, the 350Z felt like a renaissance car for Nissan, an affordable two-seat sports coupé that combined punchy V6 power with rear-wheel drive and a handsome exterior, this styled by a young designer from Leicester called Ajay Panchal. The driving experience lacked high levels of finesse of finesse, but the 350Z’s combination of strong performance and fun, tail-happy handling won it fans around the world. But as times and tastes changed, the Nissan didn’t. The 370Z arrived in 2009, and although it was wider and had a slightly plusher cabin, the basics remained as before: a naturally aspirated V6 up front sending drive to the back. It sold well enough for Nissan to keep making it, and indeed to facelift it and create a hardcore Nismo variant, but never in volumes that would allow any significant investment in a substantial update. It lasted 12 years, with its retirement marking the end of the Z-car line in Europe. Not in North America, though, where Nissan has opted to throw the dice one more time. The general fall in coupé sales meant the company wasn’t prepared to stump up for an all-new model, so beneath the Z’s retro bodywork is much of the 370Z’s structure. The closeness of the relationship is borne out by the fact both share an identical wheelbase. The big change comes under the bonnet, with the arrival of a turbocharged 3.0-litre V6, this sourced from sister brand Infiniti’s Q50 and making an impressively bristly 400bhp but adding about 80kg compared with the old V6. Buyers can choose either a six-speed manual or a nine-speed automatic gearbox, with the senior Performance trim also adding a limited-slip differential at the back. The crisp lines of the retro exterior design work well, although the strangely large fuel-filler cap at the back is further evidence of the need to bend new metalwork around the 370Z that continues to lurk underneath. Being a child of the eighties, I really like the Z32 300ZX-style rear lights, too. But the anachronistic impression persists when you get into the cabin. The Z has plenty of modern touches, including digital instruments and the mandatory touchscreen in the centre of the dashboard, but the core architecture seems barely changed from that of the 370Z. That means awkward, hard-to-see rotary heating controls tucked low down and a trio of supplementary analogue dials on the dashtop, turned towards the driver. The seat-adjustment controls are still awkwardly positioned between the seat base and the transmission tunnel. A mechanical handbrake lever and high/off/low rocker switches for the heated seats add to the dated vibe. Performance has definitely improved, though. The 370Z always had to be worked hard to give its best, whereas the Z’s new turbocharged engine has much more low-down muscle. The 350lb ft torque peak is fully present from just 1500rpm, and although there is some predictable lag at basement revs, enthusiasm builds rapidly and the engine gains a muscular voice as the rev counter heads towards the red. Peak power comes at 6400rpm, but the engine will happily go to its 7100rpm limiter. The shift action for the manual gearbox is light and a little lacking in feel but accurate once the knack is gained, and the Z has a switchable rev-matching function to smooth your downshifts. The chassis starts out well, too – certainly under gentle use. The Z’s steering has been switched to electric power assistance, the 370Z having used a hydraulic rack until the end. The new system has nice weight and delivers progressive, linear front-end responses. Grip from the Bridgestone S007 tyres initially feels promising, and the Z is keen to change direction and to hold onto an intended line. Traction is also good:the car can be launched hard without drama. But upping the pace and moving onto rougher roads soon proves that the new Z’s dynamic polish doesn’t go very deep. Bumps make the chassis feel underdamped and bring the more worrying sensation of vibration in the car’s structure. The tyres’ enthusiasm fades quickly as loading increases, with the Z surrendering to understeer surprisingly early in tighter turns. It feels much more nose-heavy than I remember the 370Z being. Adhesion levels at the back are equally limited, and it’s predictably easy to deliberately overpower the rear tyres with the stability control switched off. My test car was an LSD-equipped Performance, and it did feel stable and progressive when oversteering, but results in the open-diffed Sport model would probably be less elegant. The continued ability to indulge in low-speed hoonery makes the new Z feel like a close relation of both the 370Z and the 350Z. The problem is that so does everything else. The new engine is definitely a step forwards in terms of both punch and drivability, and the Z now feels up to 2022 standards in terms of interior technology; but beyond that, I’m really struggling to nominate any areas in which it feels like a significant step forwards from its predecessors, and in several areas, it actually feels like a regression. The Z has the odd distinction of feeling old even when it’s introduced, being well off the standards of the far more advanced Toyota GR Supra. At least it’s a disparity that Nissan implicitly acknowledges with some very attractive pricing. The kick-off in the US for the Z Sport is $41,015 – $2525 less than Toyota wants for the considerably less powerful four-cylinder Supra. At $51,015, the Z Performance also looks like good value when compared with the Supra or the base Porsche 718 Cayman, although that does make it $10,000 more than the entry point for the V8-powered Ford Mustang. Yet the Z feels like a car that’s cheaper than its peers with good reason, lacking the dynamic finesse that normally comes as standard in this part of the market. Leaving aside the negative effect that importing it would doubtless have had on Nissan’s fleet-average CO2 emissions figures on this side of the Atlantic, Nissan is probably right to keep it away from Europe. https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/nissan/z

Italy's far-right leader Giorgia Meloni and her coalition allies have met President Sergio Mattarella and say they are ready to form a government "as quickly as possible". He is set to ask Ms Meloni in the coming hours to become prime minister. Veteran ex-Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi attended the brief talks, despite shaking the coalition's unity with leaked pro-Putin remarks. Ms Meloni has sought to assure Italy's Western allies nothing will change. The Brothers of Italy leader could be sworn in as early as this weekend as the country's first female prime minister - and first far-right leader since World War Two. She said her coalition of right-wing and far-right parties was unanimous that she should lead Italy. Ahead of Friday's 11-minute meeting, she said they were "ready to give Italy a government that confronts with awareness and competence the urgency and challenges of our time". Less than a month after Italians voted for a new Senate and Chamber of Deputies, she is set to replace Mario Draghi, who was due to return from an EU summit on Friday. Alongside Ms Meloni at the presidential palace were Matteo Salvini of the far-right League (Above R) and Mr Berlusconi (L) - the 86-year-old head of centre-right Forza Italia - who for days has been at the centre of a row surrounding two leaked recordings underlining his pro-Putin views. In the first audio leak, he was heard boasting that Russian President Vladimir Putin had sent him 20 bottles of vodka for his birthday and called him "number one among his five best friends". BERLUSCONI: Vodka and lovely letters from Putin Then, in a leaked speech to party colleagues, he backed Russia's pretext for its war, baselessly blaming Ukraine's president and the West for pushing the Kremlin into an invasion. He insists his remarks were taken out of context and that he backs the Italian and EU position on Ukraine. However, his pro-Putin comments are nothing new: last month he told Italian TV that Russia's leader had merely sought to replace Volodymyr Zelensky with a "government of decent people". The leaks piled pressure on Giorgia Meloni, 45. Her other far-right ally, League leader Matteo Salvini, has also long been seen as a Putin admirer, but Ms Meloni needs both men in her coalition to form a majority. Another key Berlusconi figure, Antonio Tajani, who hopes to become foreign minister in the new government, told centre-right counterparts in Brussels that his party and its leader were pro-Nato and against the "unacceptable Russian invasion of Ukraine". Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said on Twitter that while Mr Berlusconi was enjoying his Russian vodka, Giorgia Meloni was demonstrating what true principles were. Ms Meloni has already tussled over the main government jobs with Forza Italia and the League in the weeks since her nationalist, anti-immigration Brothers of Italy party won the September elections with 26% of the vote. The two smaller parties both won little more than 8%. Mr Berlusconi's party refused to support her pick for speaker of Italy's Senate, Ignazio La Russa, and the centre-right leader wrote a note describing Ms Meloni as over-bearing and arrogant. Although Ms Meloni has sought to come across as moderate, the new Senate speaker is a co-founder of her party who collects memorabilia of fascist dictator Benito Mussolini. Brothers of Italy's own roots date back to the country's post-war neo-fascist movement. Mr La Russa was first to meet the president on Thursday, followed by the new speaker of the lower house, Lorenzo Fontana. The Chamber of Deputies speaker hails from the far-right League and in 2018 praised Russia's leader as "a shining light even for us in the West". President Mattarella later met party leaders who will form Italy's opposition. Centre-left leader Enrico Letta said the views of both Mr Berlusconi and the new speaker Mr Fontana rang very serious alarm bells. Centrist leader Carlo Calenda also had deep concerns about the ex-prime minister's pro-Putin comments. Assuming Ms Meloni and her new government are sworn in over the weekend, a vote of confidence next week is seen as a formality, given the size of the right-wing majority in both the Chamber and the Senate. Her initial task will be to help Italians fund their energy costs. But she has also worried the LGBT community with attacks on the "LGBT lobby" and same-sex parenting, and she has called for a naval blockade of Libya to stop migrants crossing the Mediterranean. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-63327290