mustafa – H-N-N

Meloni has a crucial advantage with Trump.

The EU is in the dark about the reasons behind Trump’s trade policy. Now Brussels is relying on Meloni. During her trip to Brussels, Italy’s Prime Minister is expected to find out what the US President aims to achieve. And Meloni has an ace up her sleeve.

Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and US President Donald Trump get along famously. This is a crucial advantage as Meloni travels to Washington today to smooth things over between Europeans and the US. Apparently, Ursula von der Leyen had a similar idea. The President of the European Commission is said to have spoken with Meloni several times before the trip. For Brussels, the Italian Prime Minister is expected to explore the negotiating space in the trade dispute with the White House.

Meloni and Trump share some common memories. She had visited Trump’s golf club in Mar-a-Lago before he moved into the White House. Subsequently, Meloni was invited to Trump’s inauguration – as the only European head of government. A few weeks later, she spoke at the CPAC conference, a meeting of American right-wing populists. Trump’s supporters cheered her on as she railed against the “virus of cancel culture and woke ideology.”

Trump’s praise for Meloni so far is no surprise. He called Meloni a “fantastic person.” In another instance, Trump referred to her as “a real bundle of energy” and someone he could work with “to make the world a little bit better.” When the two flatter each other, apparently there is no insincerity, but rather genuine conviction.

No Success for EU Trade Commissioner in Washington

While Trump declared a 90-day ceasefire in the trade war with Europeans, he only temporarily lifted some tariffs. The base tariff of 10 percent on all goods from the EU remains, as do additional import restrictions on aluminum, steel, and cars. Now Trump is also considering imposing tariffs on semiconductors, pharmaceutical products, and rare earths. Faced with this threat, the EU emphasized that its retaliatory tariffs against the US would only be suspended when Trump shows readiness to negotiate.

The prospects for a solution may not be bad: Recession fears and economic turmoil in the US, triggered by his chaotic trade policy, have cornered the US President. However, Trump has so far lacked concrete offers to his trading partners. Even in Brussels, nobody knows what Trump actually aims to achieve.

On Monday, the attempt by EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefcovic to reach an agreement with US Trade Minister Howard Lutnick in Washington failed. Šefcovic reportedly left the meeting after two hours feeling powerless and struggled to define the goals of the American side, as reported by Bloomberg.

Trump Targets China

According to media reports, Trump now has a plan. He will make a tougher stance towards China a condition for negotiations with his trading partners, as reported by the “Wall Street Journal.” The US government intends to persuade countries to ban the transport of goods through their territory to China. Washington also plans to prohibit Chinese companies from establishing a presence in these countries to circumvent US tariffs and prevent the entry of cheaper Chinese industrial goods to the market.

Meloni presents herself as an ideal interlocutor for Trump in this regard. In the EU, she not only advocated maintaining transatlantic relations despite all disagreements but also opposed Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who, in light of the trade conflict with the US, had called for closer ties between the EU and China during a visit to Beijing.

Initially, France warned against Meloni acting alone, suspecting that the Italian Prime Minister might be solely focused on her own advantage. However, even in Paris, the fear seems to gradually be giving way to hope that Meloni could reach Trump. Trump’s statement that he ultimately wants to negotiate on trade policy with the EU as a bloc likely contributed to calming concerns. Previously, there was concern that the anti-EU provocateur Trump might seriously attempt to divide the European Union and only engage with the governments of individual member states.

JD Vance Visits Meloni in Rome

Although the worst-case scenario is temporarily off the table, Europeans still do not know Trump’s motives. Is Trump truly aiming for a tougher EU stance towards Beijing? If the US President trusts someone from Europe, it is likely only a Prime Minister who shares his right-wing populist ideology. Another proof of their good relationship is the visit of Trump’s US Vice President JD Vance to Rome – just one day after Meloni’s return from Washington. Meloni also has a close relationship with Trump’s advisor for government efficiency, Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Meloni has met with Musk several times and described him as a “brilliant man.”

For Meloni, the conversation with Trump, despite all the flattery, will be a tightrope walk. Economically and politically, Italy is dependent on both the EU and the US. Rome heavily relies on Washington when it comes to defense and trade. Both aspects could backfire on Meloni in the Oval Office. After all, Trump has stated that he hates nothing more than “European freeloaders” who have a trade deficit with the US and, in his view, do not contribute enough money to the NATO budget.

Italy does not even invest 1.5 percent of its GDP in defense. This falls far short of Trump’s demands, who now requires NATO partners to allocate 5 percent of their GDP to defense. With a trade surplus of nearly 40 billion euros in goods with the US, Italy ranks as the third largest among EU countries – after Germany and Ireland.

Von der Leyen will likely be the first to find out how far Meloni has progressed in Washington. According to media reports, the Commission President will speak with the Italian Prime Minister again after her return. For Meloni, this is a significant opportunity: she could prove in Brussels to be the only true Trump whisperer among European heads of government. Or she may return empty-handed.

New Morgan Supersport – Time Travel with Turbo

The British car manufacturer Morgan remains true to its iconic design, combining craftsmanship with high-tech in its new model Supersport. It will hit the market this spring.

Even 90 years after the introduction of the 4/4 Roadster, the British car manufacturer Morgan continues to adhere to the classic vintage style. The latest model from the traditional brand, the Supersport, will be launched in the spring and features the brand’s characteristic elongated front, long curved fenders, and a rear-set passenger compartment with a flat windshield. Yet, the two-seater gives the impression of a modern car.

The successor to the recently discontinued Plus Six, now introduced, is based on Morgan’s CVX aluminum platform introduced shortly before the pandemic. This platform is covered by a wooden structure clad with smooth aluminum sheets. Aerodynamic elements such as front splitters, rear diffusers, and LED light elements integrated into the round headlights give the exterior a modern touch.

In the interior of the 4.11-meter-long English car, space remains tight. The luggage compartment also remains compact, which is why Morgan offers a luggage rack as an accessory solution for the Supersport. Protection is provided by a fabric roof that can be folded away or replaced with a carbon hardtop.

BMW Controls

The cockpit combines classic round elements with a digital instrument cluster. Morgan uses wood, aluminum, and leather for the materials. Controls such as the gear lever of the automatic transmission or the airbag steering wheel come from BMW.

Also from BMW is the force-fed three-liter in-line six-cylinder engine, which, in combination with the indispensable eight-speed automatic transmission, accelerates the 1.2-ton car from a standstill to 100 km/h in under four seconds. The 246 kW/335 hp engine allows a maximum speed of 267 km/h. The modern chassis with optional wheels of up to 19 inches with mixed tires can be equipped with fully adjustable dampers for an additional cost.

Of course, this comes at an extra cost. Starting from the base price, one must dig deep into their pockets. Including German VAT, the new Morgan Supersport is expected to start at around 120,000 euros.

Trump invites controversial MMA fighter to the White House

The two men are not only connected by their love for combat sports: On the occasion of St. Patrick’s Day, US President Trump welcomed mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor to the White House. McGregor immediately used the big stage to criticize his country’s migration policy.

US President Donald Trump hosted controversial Irish martial artist Conor McGregor at the White House for St. Patrick’s Day. The mixed martial arts fighter met with Trump, his National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, and spoke to reporters in the government headquarters press room.

St. Patrick’s Day is a holiday honoring the Irish patron saint, Saint Patrick. Irish immigrants brought the celebrations in honor of their national saint to the USA. Last week, Trump had already welcomed Ireland’s Prime Minister Micheál Martin to the White House in anticipation of the holiday. By hosting McGregor on St. Patrick’s Day, the combat sports fan Trump made a controversial statement – the Irish government distanced itself from McGregor.

The Irish mixed martial arts fighter is considered a big star in the scene, but his most recent fight dates back a bit. Last year, a court in Dublin ruled in a civil case that the fighter must pay around 250,000 euros in damages to a woman who accuses him of rape. The plaintiff accused McGregor of raping and assaulting her in a hotel room in December 2018. McGregor testified at the time that the sex was consensual and announced plans to appeal.

Backlash from Irish Prime Minister

Before his return to the White House, Trump was also ordered to pay damages in a civil case for sexual abuse. A New York jury found that Trump had attacked, sexually abused, and later defamed US author E. Jean Carroll in a New York luxury department store in 1996. Trump also denied the allegations and filed an appeal.

During his visit to Washington, McGregor criticized the Irish government for its migration policy. He said that Ireland is on the verge of possibly “losing its Irishness.” Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin responded by saying that McGregor’s remarks were incorrect and did not reflect the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day, which globally revolves around community, humanity, and friendship.

“President Trump can invite whoever he wants to his home, and he has the right to do as he pleases when inviting someone to the White House,” Deputy Prime Minister Simon Harris also stated. “But let me be clear: Conor McGregor is not in the US to represent Ireland or the Irish people.”

Mitsubishi ASX gives little work to the TÜV inspectors.

Old vehicles in the used car market are not always convincing. There can be problems with quality and durability. The Mitsubishi ASX, however, shows that it can be different: it performs well in the TÜV main inspections.

The first-generation Mitsubishi ASX was available between 2010 and the end of 2022. Three facelifts kept the compact SUV fresh over the long period before it was retired by the second generation in spring 2023. The TÜV knows how this long-runner performs as a used vehicle.

Quality

The ASX gives TÜV inspectors little trouble during main inspections (HU). Across all age groups, this Japanese vehicle performs better in main inspections than the average of the vehicles inspected. Even in the 12- to 13-year-old age group, two-thirds of the test subjects pass the check without any defects, compared to an average of 56.4 percent.

However, TÜV inspectors are not entirely idle. From the third inspection onwards, the focus shifts to steering joints, as well as the function of the foot and parking brake. Some vehicles are occasionally noted for oil leaks.

Body and Interior

Measuring 4.30 meters in length, with pronounced wheel arches and short overhangs, the Mitsubishi ASX brought the typical characteristics of a compact SUV at its debut and stuck with them. Although the three facelifts (2012, 2016, and 2019) brought an increase in length, with the Japanese model growing to 4.37 meters towards the end of its production, it still falls within the compact segment.

The brand’s current design language is most evident in the front design. From the initially brand-typical jet fighter design to a more understated face in 2012, and back to a more distinctively styled grille in 2019, the ASX showcases various design facets.

Inside, the focus was on functionality, with a more robust rather than luxurious feel. The interior space is decent, as is the build quality. The trunk volume varies depending on the position of the rear seatbacks, ranging from 420 to 1220 liters.

Engines and Drivetrain

Mitsubishi offered four-cylinder gasoline and diesel engines. All-wheel drive was available optionally or from the factory. At launch, there was a 1.6-liter gasoline engine with 86 kW/117 hp and a 1.8-liter diesel with 110 kW/150 hp. The gasoline engine was only available with front-wheel drive, while buyers of the diesel could also opt for 4×4 drive. With the first facelift, another diesel was added to the engine lineup: a 2.2-liter with 150 hp, which came standard with all-wheel drive, with a six-speed automatic available as an option. Except for the base gasoline model, the other versions used manual six-speed transmissions.

In late 2018, Mitsubishi removed diesel engines from the lineup; since late 2019, a two-liter gasoline engine with 150 hp was the only option. Power was transmitted through a manual five-speed gearbox, with all-wheel drive available at an extra cost.

Equipment and Safety

At its market launch, the ASX was relatively sparsely equipped. For example, air conditioning was initially only included from the second trim level onwards. Stylish details like alloy wheels were also reserved for higher comfort levels. The definitions and number of equipment levels have changed over the years, so it is important to pay attention to which comfort features are included. In terms of safety, the compact SUV has improved over the years. While there were no assistants available at the beginning of its career, they were available towards the end.

Conclusion

The Mitsubishi ASX demonstrates that older used vehicles can perform well in TÜV main inspections. However, potential buyers should keep an eye on weak points such as steering to avoid unpleasant and costly surprises. Those who are not expecting the trendiest design can give this Japanese model a chance. Currently, around 500 used first-generation Mitsubishi ASX vehicles are offered on mobile.de, starting at around 4500 euros.

Selenskyj: New combat drone can target objectives in Siberia

In response to Russia’s bombardments, Ukraine regularly attacks Russian refineries with drones. Now President Zelensky is talking about testing a new combat drone with a range of thousands of kilometers. This could even target sites in distant Siberia.

According to Ukrainian sources, Ukraine has tested a combat drone with a range of 3000 kilometers. “We are developing this series of long-range means that will help ensure the security of our state,” said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a video message. He expressed gratitude to the developers and producers. With drones of this range, Kyiv could reach targets even in Siberia.

During a meeting with military leadership, he was also briefed on the use of the missile “Neptune”. The destruction caused was satisfactory. “But we need to produce more missiles, more drones, and this week we will discuss this with our partners,” said Zelensky.

According to the President, Ukrainian arms production, together with investments from partner countries, is intended to become a reliable foundation of the new security architecture in Europe. “There is no alternative to this,” said the head of state.

Zelensky himself reported on the test of a “Neptune” missile with a range of 1,000 kilometers last Saturday. Observers believe that this was used to attack an oil refinery in the southern Russian city of Tuapse on Friday. With the self-developed anti-ship missile R360 Neptune, Ukraine sank the Russian cruiser “Moskva” shortly after the start of the war in April 2022. Since then, the weapon has been continuously improved.

The Ukraine, under attack by Russia, relies on homemade weapons because it only receives Western weapons with longer ranges in small quantities. Often, these are also subject to restrictions on use. The Russian arsenal of missiles and cruise missiles is significantly larger.