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MG has been busily overhauling its model range, and the next cab off the rank is the ZS SUV. It’s arguably the brand’s most important vehicle launch this year, too, as the ZS is its best seller. Not only that, it’s Australia’s best-selling small SUV. Unusually, MG is launching the ZS as a hybrid first. While the outgoing model was offered with hybrid power overseas, wearing the VS nameplate, this is the first time such a powertrain has been offered in the car locally. The 2025 MG ZS Hybrid+, as it’s known, is due in showrooms this month. MG says petrol-powered models will follow during the first quarter of 2025. It hasn’t detailed their powertrains, but says the ZS will offer two separate petrol engines. The current ZS EV will be replaced by an unrelated model that wears the ES5 nameplate in China, and which rides on the MG 4’s dedicated electric vehicle (EV) platform. This is due during the second quarter of 2025. The new petrol and hybrid ZS use the same platform as the latest MG 3 , which was launched earlier this year. The Hybrid+ system is also borrowed from the light hatch. The new ZS wears the brand’s latest corporate face, as seen on the latest MG 3 and HS . It’s a meaner mug than that of the outgoing ZS and ZST , but otherwise the design is more evolutionary than revolutionary. There are defined side creases and hip lines like the outgoing car, but the belt line doesn’t have as sharp an uptick behind the rear doors. The tail lights don’t have the cool ‘piano key’ look of the outgoing ZST, either. The result is a design that ultimately doesn’t look much different and, where it does, appears more conservative. If you parked a new ZS against the old ZST, you could definitely tell the difference, but a layperson mightn’t be able to tell which one is newer. In a segment with some bold designs like the Hyundai Kona and Chery Omoda 5 , the ZS looks rather... generic. Where it looks better than Chinese rivals like the Omoda 5 and the GWM Haval Jolion is in its stance. Those models both have an awkward, narrow-track look, like their bodies are too big for their chassis. No problem here with the ZS. The ZS also has a particularly handsome interior, but more on that later. The MG ZS is joining a growing contingent of small hybrid SUVs, which includes the Toyota Corolla Cross and its more stylish C-HR cousin; the Hyundai Kona; and another Chinese crossover in the GWM Haval Jolion. MG is launching it with promotional pricing which will remain in effect for an unspecified period of time. It sees the ZS Hybrid+ Excite, priced at $33,990 before on-road costs, wear a sticker of $33,990 drive-away. Likewise, the top-spec Essence is priced at $36,990 before on-road costs and, for an unspecified period of time, $36,990 drive-away. In terms of pricing, its closest rival is the GWM Haval Jolion Hybrid which is currently being offered for $31,990 drive-away in Premium guise, $34,990 drive-away as a Lux, and $37,990 drive-away as an Ultra. To see how the MG ZS lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool The exterior mightn’t look radically different from the old ZS and ZST, but the interior is a major step forward in terms of useability and modernity. There’s a distinctive (and large!) new gear shifter, as well as hexagonal air vents and even hexagonal cupholders. It all looks very modern. The 8.0-inch touchscreen of the old car is gone, replaced by a larger 12.3-inch unit running the brand’s latest generation of infotainment system. There are still no physical buttons for the climate control apart from an on/off button and switches for the front and rear demisters, but it’s now much easier to adjust climate settings. The home screen has a climate control widget where you can easily tap the screen to adjust the fan speed or temperature without diving into another menu. This sits next to widgets for smartphone mirroring, media and navigation. Not only this, but you can also program one of the rectangular toggles on the steering wheel to adjust climate control settings. Few cars let you adjust these settings with a steering wheel switch, and it helps make up for the lack of physical dials and buttons on the dash. The infotainment system is more responsive and attractive than the old car’s, while the physical switches underneath the touchscreen are nicely damped and allow you to easily jump to the home screen or adjust the volume. Smartphone mirroring does require a cable, and this must be plugged into a USB-A outlet; there’s a USB-C outlet next to it, but it’s only for charging. The ZS also has a USB outlet behind the rear-view mirror. Oddly, there appear to be two obvious spots on the centre console for a wireless charging pad, and yet this feature isn’t available on any Australian-market ZS. There’s a 12.3-inch instrument cluster, which contains a 7.0-inch central screen flanked by a pair of digital readouts. It’s attractive, although there are some usability issues when you’re on the go. Having the speed readout on the left of the cluster means you often can’t see it behind your hand, while the central screen’s insistence on switching to a screen depicting the car and other surrounding vehicles is frustrating. Yes, I know there’s a car ahead of me to the left – I can see it out the windscreen! While everything looks different from the old ZS and ZST, some things feel the same. The Essence’s leatherette-upholstered front seats are very soft and squishy in Chinese car fashion, just like the old ZST. Also soft is the trim used for the top and front of the dash, as well as the inserts of the door cards. This is much like the previous-generation vehicle. It’s a shame the tops of the doors are finished in hard plastic though, while the slope of the door cards means you can’t easily rest your arm. In the Excite, the dash features grey cloth inserts that are quite handsome and tie in with the seats; in the Essence, this trim is leatherette. The Essence can also be had with an optional pale interior colourway which looks quite modern, though may not be ideal if you’re using the ZS as a family vehicle. The Excite’s interior has a cheaper headliner and halogen lighting up front, while the Essence upgrades to a nicer ceiling and LED lighting. In terms of storage, there’s a small open shelf on the dashboard, a decently large glove compartment, a not-so-large centre console bin, and bottle holders in the doors. Those hexagonal cupholders may prove awkward for certain receptacles, however. Step into the back and you’ll find a spacious place to sit. At 180cm tall I could sit behind my seating position with plenty of headroom and legroom. The battery and hybrid control unit sit under the rear bench, but don’t impact back-seat space. Amenities include air vents, a single USB-A outlet and, in the Essence, map pockets. Boot space is good. There’s 443L of cargo volume – more than the Kona and Haval Jolion – expanding to 1457L with the rear seats folded. However, there’s no spare wheel under the boot floor, just a tyre repair kit. To see how the MG ZS lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool At launch just one powertrain will be offered: a petrol-electric hybrid shared with the MG 3 hatchback. To see how the MG ZS lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool The MG ZS’s hybrid system is impressive. The ZS can run on pure electric power until around 30km/h, when the petrol engine kicks in. This in turn charges the battery, while at higher speeds the electric motor and petrol engine work in parallel. There are three drive modes – Eco, Normal and Sport – as well as three separate levels of energy recuperation, adjustable via the infotainment touchscreen. None of that sounds especially unique in the context of hybrid systems, and yet what does stand out with the ZS is how smoothly it shifts from electric to petrol power. Even when you overtake and the petrol engine fires up, noise suppression is good; likewise, at 110km/h the engine is sitting at 2600rpm and making barely a peep. When you do hear the petrol engine, it has an appealing, thrummy sound. While it never felt hot hatch fast, I was never left wanting for more power. You do occasionally get a bit of tyre chirp if you’re heavy on the throttle while going around a corner, though. The powertrain may be quiet, but unfortunately a bit of other noise leaks into the cabin despite MG’s claims of noise, vibration and harshness reduction. Tyre roar can be quite loud on coarse-chip surfaces and there’s a bit of wind and road noise at highway speeds. More annoyingly, both ZS examples I tested had an annoying whistling noise that I couldn’t seem to place. The Essence I drove was particularly bad, with a whistle that would appear at speeds of above 50km/h and prove remarkably persistent; the Excite I drove also had a whistling noise, but it was more sporadic. Then there’s the irritating overspeed alert that defaults to on. If you turn this off, you lose the speed sign recognition function. MG may make some sporty cars still, but it’s not like the old days under British ownership when the whole lineup was sport-focused. Despite a somewhat firm – if generally quite comfortable – ride, the ZS isn’t particularly engaging to drive, at least not in the way that, say, a Suzuki Vitara or Volkswagen T-Roc is. The centre of gravity feels high, and the ZS’ default is understeer. It won’t be your small SUV of choice for a winding road. But then MG isn’t marketing this as a sporty SUV, and for the typical ZS buyer we imagine it’ll be just fine. The steering that lacks in feel has a nice weighting that avoids being feather-light but makes the ZS easy to twirl around a carpark; the squared-off, leather-wrapped wheel in the Essence is also delightful. The steering only gets annoying when you turn on the Intelligent Cruise Assist. As we’ve experienced in the MG 4, the lane centring function makes the steering squirm and make lots of small corrections. It doesn’t feel natural. Fortunately, you can just use regular adaptive cruise control. You can also toggle the lane systems between emergency lane-keep assist, regular lane-keep assist, or a simple lane-departure warning function, while alert sensitivity can be toggled between low, medium and high. We didn’t have any other issues with the active safety technology apart from the forward collision warning being set off once on a highway on-ramp. Fortunately, the autonomous emergency braking didn’t activate. To see how the MG ZS lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool For now, the new-generation ZS range consists of just two variants, both with hybrid power. ZS Hybrid+ Excite highlights: ZS Hybrid+ Essence adds: Both ZS models come with 12 months’ complimentary access to iSmart connectivity. This allows you to use a smartphone app to check the vehicle’s fuel level and location, and remotely control the locks and climate settings, among other connected services. To see how the MG ZS lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool MG says the new ZS is currently going through Euro NCAP testing, although it’s unclear when this will be completed and when ANCAP will award its rating. Standard safety equipment includes: To see how the MG ZS lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool MG covers its range with a lengthy 10-year, 250,000-kilometre warranty in Australia. To see how the MG ZS lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool We don’t yet know how the petrol-powered MG ZS models will drive, but the new-generation small SUV has made a good first impression with its hybrid powertrain. We’ll need to see how good fuel economy is in the daily commute, but over our drive route we found a good mix of economy and performance and impressive refinement – at least from the engine, with a bit too much road and wind noise getting into the cabin. The ZS isn’t particularly fun to drive, but it should prove a comfortable commuter. The cabin is a nice place to sit, with slicker technology than the old car and some nice materials. Throw in a long list of standard safety equipment and a price that undercuts rivals from Hyundai and Toyota, and the ZS is a compelling new addition to Australia’s hybrid SUV menagerie. Interested in buying an MG ZS? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here MORE: Everything MG ZSBEIRUT (AP) — Thousands of Syrian insurgents took over most of Aleppo on Saturday, establishing positions in the country's largest city and controlling its airport before expanding their shock offensive to a nearby province. They faced little to no resistance from government troops, according to fighters and activists. A war monitor, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said the insurgents led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham seized control of Aleppo International airport, the first international airport to be controlled by insurgents. The fighters claimed they seized the airport and postefd pictures from there. Thousands of fighters also moved on, facing almost no defense from government forces, to seize towns and villages in northern Hama, a province where they had a presence before being expelled by government troops in 2016. They claimed Saturday evening to have entered Hama city. The swift and surprise offensive is a huge embarrassment for Syria's President Bashar Assad and raised questions about his armed forces' preparedness. The insurgent offensive launched from their stronghold in the country's northwest appeared to have been planned for years. It also comes at a time when Assad's allies were preoccupied with their own conflicts. Turkey, a main backer of Syrian opposition groups, said its diplomatic efforts had failed to stop government attacks on opposition-held areas in recent weeks, which were in violation of a de-escalation agreement sponsored by Russia, Iran and Ankara. Turkish security officials said a limited offensive by the rebels was planned to stop government attacks and allow civilians to return, but the offensive expanded as Syrian government forces began to retreat from their positions. The insurgents, led by the Salafi jihadi group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and including Turkey-backed fighters, launched their shock offensive on Wednesday. They first staged a two-pronged attack in Aleppo and the Idlib countryside, entering Aleppo two days later and securing a strategic town that lies on the highway that links Syria's largest city to the capital and the coast. By Saturday evening, they seized at least four towns in the central Hama province and claimed to have entered the provincial capital. The insurgents staged an attempt to reclaim areas they controlled in Hama in 2017 but failed. Syria’s armed forces said in a statement Saturday that to absorb the large attack on Aleppo and save lives, it redeployed troops and equipment and was preparing a counterattack. The statement acknowledged that insurgents entered large parts of the city but said they have not established bases or checkpoints. Later on Saturday, the armed forces sought to dispel what it said were lies in reference to reports about its forces retreating or defecting, saying the general command was carrying out its duties in “combatting terrorist organizations.” The return of the insurgents to Aleppo was their first since 2016, following a grueling military campaign in which Assad's forces were backed by Russia, Iran and its allied groups. The 2016 battle for Aleppo was a turning point in the war between Syrian government forces and rebel fighters after 2011 protests against Assad’s rule turned into an all-out war. After appearing to be losing control of the country to the rebels, the Aleppo battle secured Assad’s hold on strategic areas of Syria, with opposition factions and their foreign backers controlling areas on the periphery. The lightning offensive threatened to reignite the country's civil war, which had been largely in a stalemate for years. Late on Friday, witnesses said two airstrikes hit the edge of Aleppo city, targeting insurgent reinforcements and falling near residential areas. The Observatory said 20 fighters were killed. Insurgents were filmed outside police headquarters, in the city center, and outside the Aleppo citadel, the medieval palace in the old city center, and one of the largest in the world. They tore down posters of Assad, stepping on some and burning others. The push into Aleppo followed weeks of simmering low-level violence, including government attacks on opposition-held areas. The offensive came as Iran-linked groups, primarily Lebanon’s Hezbollah, which has backed Syrian government forces since 2015, have been preoccupied with their own battles at home. A ceasefire in Hezbollah’s two-month war with Israel took effect Wednesday, the same day that Syrian opposition factions announced their offensive. Israel has also escalated its attacks against Hezbollah and Iran-linked targets in Syria during the last 70 days. Speaking from the heart of the city in Saadallah Aljabri square, opposition fighter Mohammad Al Abdo said it was his first time back in Aleppo in 13 years, when his older brother was killed at the start of the war. “God willing, the rest of Aleppo province will be liberated" from government forces, he said. There was light traffic in the city center on Saturday. Opposition fighters fired in the air in celebration but there was no sign of clashes or government troops present. Journalists in the city filmed soldiers captured by the insurgents and the bodies of others killed in battle. Abdulkafi Alhamdo, a teacher who fled Aleppo in 2016 and returned Friday night after hearing the insurgents were inside, described “mixed feelings of pain, sadness and old memories." “As I entered Aleppo, I kept telling myself this is impossible. How did this happen?” Alhamdo said he strolled through the city at night visiting the Aleppo citadel, where the insurgents raised their flags, a major square and the university of Aleppo, as well as the last spot he was in before he was forced to leave for the countryside. “I walked in (the empty) streets of Aleppo, shouting, ‘People, people of Aleppo. We are your sons,’” he told The Associated Press in a series of messages. Aleppo residents reported hearing clashes and gunfire but most stayed indoors. Some fled the fighting. Schools and government offices were closed Saturday as most people stayed indoors, according to Sham FM radio, a pro-government station. Bakeries were open. Witnesses said the insurgents deployed security forces around the city to prevent any acts of violence or looting. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said Friday Aleppo's two key public hospitals were reportedly full of patients while many private facilities closed. In social media posts, the insurgents were pictured outside of the citadel, the medieval palace in the old city center, and one of the largest in the world. In cellphone videos, they recorded themselves having conversations with residents they visited at home, seeking to reassure them they will cause no harm. The Syrian Kurdish-led administration in the country's east said nearly 3,000 people, most of them students, had arrived in their region after fleeing the fighting in Aleppo, which has a sizeable Kurdish population. State media reported that a number of “terrorists," including sleeper cells, infiltrated parts of the city. Government troops chased them and arrested a number who posed for pictures near city landmarks, they said. On a state TV morning show Saturday, commentators said army reinforcements and Russia’s assistance would repel the “terrorist groups,” blaming Turkey for supporting the insurgents’ push into Aleppo and Idlib provinces. Russia’s state news agency Tass quoted Oleg Ignasyuk, a Russian Defense Ministry official coordinating in Syria, as saying that Russian warplanes targeted and killed 200 militants who had launched the offensive in the northwest on Friday. It provided no further details. Associated Press writer Albert Aji in Damascus contributed to this report.
Technology and TV writer Sign up to our weekly newsletter , sent on Wednesdays Did you know with an ad-lite subscription to Harborough Mail, you get 70% fewer ads while viewing the news that matters to you. It was musical week on Strictly Come Dancing. The judges gave out plenty of high scores after some cracking performances. But one couple struggled and was left adrift at the bottom of the leaderboard. The leaderboard for this week’s episode of Strictly Come Dancing has taken shape after the judges' votes. It was musical week as the stars took on classic tracks from the West End. Performances included dances to songs from Wicked and West Side Story as well as newer favourites like Six and The Color Purple. Just six couples remain in the show as we near the final. Advertisement Advertisement Fans will now have a chance to vote for their favourite couples after the performances. The judges handed out their scores - with plenty of tens being thrown around. Stay up-to-date with the latest UK news and culture with our free UK Today newsletter. What songs did the celebs dance to on Strictly tonight? The first couple up was Sarah and Vito, who performed Popular from Wicked - doing the Charleston. Next was Montell & Johannes who did a Rumba to I’m Here from The Color Purple. Tasha & Aljaz did the Argentine Tango to Ex-wives from Six (a musical based on the wives of Henry VIII). The fourth couple to go was Chris & Dianne who did a Quickstep to You’re the top from Anything Goes. Advertisement Advertisement Pete and Jowita were next and did a performance of Somewhere from West Side Story, doing a Waltz. Finishing the night was JB and Lauren who did a Viennese Waltz to Let's Go Fly a Kite from Mary Poppins. Read More What time is Strictly Come Dancing on tonight? BBC schedule and theme for week 11 The Traitors release date: when does season three release - BBC confirms return date I’m a Celebrity 2024: who was eliminated last night from the hit ITV show? What were the judges scores on Strictly Come Dancing? The judge gave out plenty of high scores on Saturday night. It meant the top of the leaderboard was very tight. JB and Lauren - 39 Sarah and Vito - 38 Tasha and Aljaz - 38 Montell and Joannes - 32 Chris and Diane - 32 Pete and Jowita - 25 Can you vote? The voting is now open for Strictly Come Dancing this week. You have multiple options for backing your favourite performances from musical week. You can vote by calling or texting the number that was shown onscreen during the episode - with the correct ending for your favourite couple. But you can also go to the Strictly website to vote . Advertisement Advertisement When is the Strictly results show? The BBC show will be back on Sunday evening - see my guide here for the exact time. It will be for the results show, which will see the professionals do a performance from the musical Hamilton. The bottom two couples will battle it out for their place in the semi-final tomorrow. You still have time to vote. What did you think of the performances on Strictly Come Dancing tonight? Let me know by emailing me: [email protected] . National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.
Michigan, Ohio State fight broken up with police pepper spray after Wolverines stun Buckeyes 13-10 COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A fight broke out at midfield after Michigan stunned No. 2 Ohio State 13-10 as Wolverines players attempted to plant their flag and were met by Buckeyes who confronted them. Police had to use pepper spray to break up the players, who threw punches and shoves in the melee that overshadowed the rivalry game on Saturday. Ohio State police said in a statement “multiple officers representing Ohio and Michigan deployed pepper spray.” Ohio State police will investigate the fight. Ohio State coach Ryan Day said he understood the actions of his players. Michigan coach Sherrone Moore said everybody needs to do better. Sellers' 20-yard TD run with 1:08 to go lifts No. 16 South Carolina to 17-14 win over No. 12 Clemson CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — LaNorris Sellers' 20-yard TD run with 1:08 to play lifted No. 16 South Carolina to a 17-14 victory over No. 12 Clemson. The Gamecocks won their sixth straight game, including four over ranked opponents, and may have played themselves into the College Football Playoff's 12-team field. They wouldn't have done it without Sellers, who spun away from a defender in the backfield, broke through the line and cut left on his way to the winning score. Sellers rushed for 166 yards and threw for 164 in South Carolina's second straight win at Clemson. Gus Malzahn is leaving UCF to become Florida State's offensive coordinator, AP source says Gus Malzahn is resigning as Central Florida’s head coach to become Florida State’s offensive coordinator. That's according to a person familiar with the hire who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Saturday because the Seminoles have not confirmed Malzahn’s move, which is pending a background check. The Knights made official that Malzahn is leaving in a statement released a day after UCF concluded its season with a 28-14 loss to Utah. Malzahn finished with a 28-24 mark in four years at UCF, the last two ending with losing records. He coached at Auburn for eight seasons before being fired in 2020. Mikaela Shiffrin suffers abrasion on hip during crash on final run of World Cup giant slalom KILLINGTON, Vt. (AP) — American skier Mikaela Shiffrin says she suffered an abrasion on her left hip when crashing during her second run of a World Cup giant slalom race. Shiffrin was going for her 100th World Cup win when she crashed, did a flip and slid into the protective fencing. The 29-year-old was taken off the hill on a sled and waved to the cheering crowd before going to a clinic for evaluation. She said later in a video posted on social media that there wasn't “too much cause for concern at this point.” She plans to skip the slalom race Sunday, writing on Instagram she will be “cheering from the sideline.” Andrew Luck returns to Stanford as the GM of the football program STANFORD, Calif. (AP) — Andrew Luck is returning to Stanford in hopes of turning around a struggling football program that he once helped become a national power. Athletic director Bernard Muir announced that Luck has been hired as the general manager of the Stanford football team and tasked with overseeing all aspects of the program that just finished its fourth straight 3-9 season. Luck will work with coach Troy Taylor on recruiting and roster management, and with athletic department and university leadership on fundraising, alumni relations, sponsorships, student-athlete support and stadium experience. Luck has kept a low profile since his surprise retirement from the NFL at age 29 in 2019. Saka stars in Arsenal rout at West Ham as Van Nistelrooy watches new team Leicester lose Arsenal was inspired by Bukayo Saka in scoring five goals in a wild first half before settling for a 5-2 win over West Ham that lifted the team into second place in the Premier League. Arsenal is attempting to chase down Liverpool and is now six points behind the leader. Saka was one of five different scorers for Arsenal at the Olympic Stadium and also had a hand in three goals, by Gabriel, Leandro Trossard and Martin Odegaard. Ruud van Nistelrooy witnessed at first hand the scale of his task to keep Leicester in the league. Leicester was beaten at Brentford 4-1 in front of Van Nistelrooy, who watched from the stands after being hired on Friday. Michigan upsets No. 2 Ohio State 13-10 for Wolverines' 4th straight win over bitter rival COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Dominic Zvada kicked a 21-yard field goal with 45 seconds left and Michigan stunned No. 2 Ohio State 13-10, likely ending the Buckeyes’ hopes of returning to the Big Ten title game next week. Late in the game, Kalel Mullings broke away for a 27-yard run, setting up the Wolverines at Ohio State’s 17-yard line with two minutes remaining. The drive stalled at the 3, and Zvada came on for the chip shot. Ohio State got the ball back but couldn’t move it, with Will Howard throwing incomplete on fourth down to seal the Wolverines’ fourth straight win over their bitter rival. US and England women draw 0-0 in Emma Hayes' homecoming LONDON (AP) — Emma Hayes witnessed a dominant display from her players at a packed Wembley stadium, but the U.S. coach could not taste victory on her return to England. Hayes, who led the U.S. women team to the Olympic gold medal this summer after winning 14 major trophies at Chelsea, came back to her home country on Saturday for a friendly against England. The U.S had the best chances but the game ended in a goalless draw. Jared Porter acknowledges he sent inappropriate text message to reporter, leading Mets to fire him Jared Porter acknowledged he sent an inappropriate text message to a reporter while he was a Chicago Cubs executive in 2016, which led to the New York Mets firing him as general manager in 2021 after just 38 days. Porter made his first public comments on his firing during an episode of the “Baseball Isn’t Boring” podcast released Friday. Porter was hired by the Mets on Dec. 13, 2020, and fired on Jan. 19, 2021, about nine hours after an ESPN report detailing that he sent sexually explicit, uninvited text messages and images to a female reporter. Norris defies orders to help Piastri and Verstappen loses the Qatar pole to Russell LUSAIL, Qatar (AP) — Lando Norris ignored team orders as he handed his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri the win the sprint race at the Qatar Grand Prix in a one-two finish for the team. Norris started on pole position and kept the lead at the start as Piastri squeezed past the Mercedes of George Russell for second. Norris gave the lead to Piastri with the finish line in sight, paying back Piastri for gifting him a win in a sprint race in Brazil when Norris was still fighting Max Verstappen for the drivers’ title. Champion Max Verstappen was fastest in qualifying but was penalized, elevating Russell to first on the grid.
Hurley scores 23, Vermont downs Northeastern 68-64Dreama Centre and MoSDF celebrate World Children’s Day with innovative artwork at HIA
NoneEntrepreneur and political figure, Vivek Ramaswamy , recently addressed the reasons why top tech companies often hire foreign-born and first-generation engineers amid ongoing controversy surrounding immigration and high-skilled worker visas . Posting on his social media account on X, he also emphasised that the issue is not because of an IQ difference, but rather a cultural one. “Top tech companies often hire foreign-born & first-generation engineers over “native” Americans isn’t because of an innate American IQ deficit (a lazy & wrong explanation). A key part of it comes down to the c-word: culture. Tough questions demand tough answers & if we’re really serious about fixing the problem, we have to confront the TRUTH” Ramaswamy said that American culture has long celebrated mediocrity over excellence, a trend that dates back at least to the 90s, if not earlier. He also argued that this mindset doesn't begin in college but is instilled from a young age. “A culture that celebrates the prom queen over the math olympiad champ, or the jock over the valedictorian, will not produce the best engineers,” he stated. He further argued that a culture which favours characters like Cory from "Boy Meets World," Zach and Slater from "Saved by the Bell," or Stefan over Steve Urkel from "Family Matters" will not produce the best engineers. He mentioned that he knows several immigrant parents from the 90s who deliberately restricted how much TV their children could watch, as they believed shows promoting mediocrity hindered success. Their children, he pointed out, went on to become highly successful STEM graduates. “More movies like Whiplash, fewer reruns of “Friends.” More math tutoring, fewer sleepovers. More weekend science competitions, fewer Saturday morning cartoons. More books, less TV. More creating, less “chillin.” More extracurriculars, less “hanging out at the mall.” The Republican also stated that while most typical American parents view "those kinds of parents" with scepticism, if people grow up aiming for normalcy, that is what they will ultimately achieve. He also asked the public to compare the families that raised their kids according to different models. “Normalcy” doesn’t cut it in a hyper-competitive global market for technical talent. And if we pretend like it does, we’ll have our asses handed to us by China.” The Republican politician also said that under Trump’s presidency America can soar to its golden heights again provided that the culture “wakes up” and prioritizes achievement over normalcy, excellence over mediocrity, nerdiness over conformity and hard work over laziness. “That’s the work we have cut out for us, rather than wallowing in victimhood & just wishing (or legislating) alternative hiring practices into existence. I’m confident we can do it.” Ramaswamy is set to lead the newly established Department of Government Efficiency alongside billionaire Elon Musk during Trump’s second term. Born on August 9, 1985, in Cincinnati, Ohio, Vivek Ramaswamy is a biotech entrepreneur, author, and former Republican presidential candidate. He is best known for founding Roivant Sciences in 2014, where he built his wealth by acquiring and advancing underdeveloped pharmaceutical companies. Ramaswamy gained national attention for his outspoken views on corporate America's involvement in social issues and his criticism of environmental, social, and governance investing.By ALANNA DURKIN RICHER WASHINGTON (AP) — One year after the Jan. 6, 2021 , U.S. Capitol attack, Attorney General Merrick Garland said the Justice Department was committed to holding accountable all perpetrators “at any level” for “the assault on our democracy.” That bold declaration won’t apply to at least one person: Donald Trump. Special counsel Jack Smith’s move on Monday to abandon the federal election interference case against Trump means jurors will likely never decide whether the president-elect is criminally responsible for his attempts to cling to power after losing the 2020 campaign. The decision to walk away from the election charges and the separate classified documents case against Trump marks an abrupt end of the Justice Department’s unprecedented legal effort that once threatened his liberty but appears only to have galvanized his supporters. The abandonment of the cases accusing Trump of endangering American democracy and national security does away with the most serious legal threats he was facing as he returns to the White House. It was the culmination of a monthslong defense effort to delay the proceedings at every step and use the criminal allegations to Trump’s political advantage, putting the final word in the hands of voters instead of jurors. “We always knew that the rich and powerful had an advantage, but I don’t think we would have ever believed that somebody could walk away from everything,” said Stephen Saltzburg, a George Washington University law professor and former Justice Department official. “If there ever was a Teflon defendant, that’s Donald Trump.” While prosecutors left the door open to the possibility that federal charges could be re-filed against Trump after he leaves office, that seems unlikely. Meanwhile, Trump’s presidential victory has thrown into question the future of the two state criminal cases against him in New York and Georgia. Trump was supposed to be sentenced on Tuesday after his conviction on 34 felony counts in his New York hush money case , but it’s possible the sentencing could be delayed until after Trump leaves office, and the defense is pushing to dismiss the case altogether. Smith’s team stressed that their decision to abandon the federal cases was not a reflection of the merit of the charges, but an acknowledgement that they could not move forward under longstanding Justice Department policy that says sitting presidents cannot face criminal prosecution. Trump’s presidential victory set “at odds two fundamental and compelling national interests: On the one hand, the Constitution’s requirement that the President must not be unduly encumbered in fulfilling his weighty responsibilities . . . and on the other hand, the Nation’s commitment to the rule of law,” prosecutors wrote in court papers. The move just weeks after Trump’s victory over Vice President Kamala Harris underscores the immense personal stake Trump had in the campaign in which he turned his legal woes into a political rallying cry. Trump accused prosecutors of bringing the charges in a bid to keep him out of the White House, and he promised revenge on his perceived enemies if he won a second term. “If Donald J. Trump had lost an election, he may very well have spent the rest of his life in prison,” Vice President-elect JD Vance, wrote in a social media post on Monday. “These prosecutions were always political. Now it’s time to ensure what happened to President Trump never happens in this country again.” After the Jan. 6 attack by Trump supporters that left more than 100 police officers injured, Republican leader Mitch McConnell and several other Republicans who voted to acquit Trump during his Senate impeachment trial said it was up to the justice system to hold Trump accountable. The Jan. 6 case brought last year in Washington alleged an increasingly desperate criminal conspiracy to subvert the will of voters after Trump’s 2020 loss, accusing Trump of using the angry mob of supporters that attacked the Capitol as “a tool” in his campaign to pressure then-Vice President Mike Pence and obstruct the certification of Democrat Joe Biden’s victory. Hundreds of Jan. 6 rioters — many of whom have said they felt called to Washington by Trump — have pleaded guilty or been convicted by juries of federal charges at the same courthouse where Trump was supposed to stand trial last year. As the trial date neared, officials at the courthouse that sits within view of the Capitol were busy making plans for the crush of reporters expected to cover the historic case. But Trump’s argument that he enjoyed absolute immunity from prosecution quickly tied up the case in appeals all the way up to the Supreme Court. The high court ruled in July that former presidents have broad immunity from prosecution , and sent the case back to the trial court to decide which allegations could move forward. But the case was dismissed before the trial court could get a chance to do so. Related Articles National Politics | After delay, Trump signs agreement with Biden White House to begin formal transition handoff National Politics | Rudy Giuliani in a courtroom outburst accuses judge in assets case of being unfair, drawing a rebuke National Politics | Surveillance tech advances by Biden could aid in Trump’s promised crackdown on immigration National Politics | Expecting challenges, blue states vow to create ‘firewall’ of abortion protections National Politics | Washington power has shifted. Here’s how the ACA may shift, too The other indictment brought in Florida accused Trump of improperly storing at his Mar-a-Lago estate sensitive documents on nuclear capabilities, enlisting aides and lawyers to help him hide records demanded by investigators and cavalierly showing off a Pentagon “plan of attack” and classified map. But U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed the case in July on grounds that Smith was illegally appointed . Smith appealed to the Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, but abandoned that appeal on Monday. Smith’s team said it would continue its fight in the appeals court to revive charges against Trump’s two co-defendants because “no principle of temporary immunity applies to them.” In New York, jurors spent weeks last spring hearing evidence in a state case alleging a Trump scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through a hush money payment to a porn actor who said the two had sex. New York prosecutors recently expressed openness to delaying sentencing until after Trump’s second term, while Trump’s lawyers are fighting to have the conviction dismissed altogether. In Georgia, a trial while Trump is in office seems unlikely in a state case charging him and more than a dozen others with conspiring to overturn his 2020 election loss in the state. The case has been on hold since an appeals court agreed to review whether to remove Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis over her romantic relationship with the special prosecutor she had hired to lead the case. Associated Press reporter Lisa Mascaro in Washington contributed.