Mariah Carey returns to Perth to headline Fridayz Live this October
Mariah Carey returns to Perth to headline Fridayz Live this October
Mariah Carey fans, get ready to feel all the emotions because the superstar singer is finally returning to play her first Perth show in 11 years.
The multiple Grammy Award winner will headline Fridayz Live at Langley Park on October 24 as part of the RnB festival’s four-date national tour.
The pop diva, who is currently on tour in Asia in celebration of the 20th anniversary of her album The Emancipation of Mimi, said she is excited to be returning to our shores.
“I missed you terribly, certainly the fans and the people, the beautiful land and the animals, you know, it’s Australia, c’mon!” Carey said.
Camera IconThe pop diva said she is excited to be returning to our shores. Credit: Monica Schipper/Getty Images
The global megastar released her debut self-titled album in 1990 and has gone on to sell more than 200 million albums worldwide.
Her current setlist features all her biggest hits including her 1990 breakthrough chart-topper Vision of Love, Emotions, Fantasy, Dreamlover, Hero, Always Be My Baby, Obsessed and We Belong Together.
The 56-year-old last performed in Perth at Sandalford Estate in 2014, delivering a 13-song hit-laden set. Her only other visit was in 1998 when she played Burswood Dome.
The Fridayz Live line-up also features American rapper Pitbull, also known as Mr Worldwide, who is currently trending on TikTok thanks to fans posting videos of audiences wearing bald caps to his concerts. Wiz Khalifa, Lil John, Eve, Tinnie Tempah and Jordin Sparks will also perform.
Presale tickets are available from May 26, register at fridayz.co/register
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A former Florida Republican congressional candidate gets 3 years for threatening primary opponent
A former Florida Republican congressional candidate gets 3 years for threatening primary opponent
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — A former Florida Republican congressional candidate accused of stalking and plotting to have his primary opponent murdered by a purported foreign hit squad was sentenced Wednesday to three years in federal prison.
William Robert Braddock III, 41, of St. Petersburg was sentenced in Tampa federal court, according to court records. He pleaded guilty in February to sending an interstate transmission of a threat to injure.
In 2021, Braddock and U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna were both candidates in the primary election to represent the 13th Congressional District of Florida in the U.S. House of Representatives. Luna eventually won the primary and later the general election. She was re-elected last year.
Braddock spent months disparaging Luna and attempting to inject himself into her life, investigators said. During a June 2021 telephone call with Luna’s friend, GOP activist Erin Olszewski, Braddock threatened to have Luna murdered by a “Russian-Ukrainian hit squad” if she continued to poll well in the race for the 13th District.
There was no evidence that Braddock, a former Marine, had such contacts in foreign organized crime or took any steps to carry out a ******* plot.
Later that year, Braddock flew to Thailand and eventually settled in the Philippines, officials said. He remained there until surrendering to authorities in Manila in 2023. He was taken back to the U.S. last fall to face trial.
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3 best NBA player props, Knicks vs. Pacers odds for Game 1: Use Siakam, Towns in 2025 NBA Playoff picks – CBS Sports
3 best NBA player props, Knicks vs. Pacers odds for Game 1: Use Siakam, Towns in 2025 NBA Playoff picks – CBS Sports
3 best NBA player props, Knicks vs. Pacers odds for Game 1: Use Siakam, Towns in 2025 NBA Playoff picks CBS SportsNBA playoffs: What to expect in Knicks-Pacers series NBA2025 NBA Playoffs: Live updates, highlights from Pacers-Knicks Game 1 ESPNKnicks vs. Pacers Eastern Conference finals Game 1 betting odds and our prediction Bergen RecordKnicks-Pacers Is Back. Can the Reboot Top the Original? The Ringer
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Inside the Oval Office Meeting With South Africa’s President
Inside the Oval Office Meeting With South Africa’s President
John Eligon, Johannesburg bureau chief, recounts what he witnessed in the Oval Office when President Trump confronted the visiting President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa with an elaborate presentation attempting to falsely prove a “genocide” against white Afrikaners.
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Detectives charge 64-year-old former teacher with sex offences over alleged relationship with student in Perth
Detectives charge 64-year-old former teacher with sex offences over alleged relationship with student in Perth
A former high school teacher has been charged with historical sex offences after he allegedly had a relationship with a student in the 1990s.
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Some Afrikaners say Trump is being lied to about a “White genocide” in South Africa: “It’s not happening”
Some Afrikaners say Trump is being lied to about a “White genocide” in South Africa: “It’s not happening”
Refugee admissions to the United States have all but ground to a halt — except for one group, or a “small subset,” as Secretary of State Marco Rubio called them on Tuesday: Afrikaners. They are members of the White ethnic ********* that once led South Africa’s brutal, four-decade apartheid regime, which ended in 1994 with the election of Nelson Mandela as president.
The Trump administration has already welcomed the first group of Afrikaner asylum applicants, who were given expedited refugee status after claiming they were the victims of violence and discrimination in South Africa.
Other Afrikaners are waiting, keen to take advantage of the offer of special treatment from the Trump administration to gain protected status and the right to live and work in the U.S.
Those hopefuls have been meeting to share information on the process, including Dolf Grobler, who has already applied. The professional hunter told CBS News he has $2.5 million to help make America great again.
“I’m worried that the genocide, which is currently mainly focused on White farmers, is going to spread,” he said. The claim of a White genocide is one that President Trump’s adviser Elon Musk, whose family are Afrikaners, has backed.
Musk joined Mr. Trump at the White House on Wednesday as the U.S. leader hosted South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa for an official visit. The Afrikaner refugee program was a topic of discussion, along with trade and other matters. In the Oval Office meeting, Ramaphosa pushed back against Mr. Trump’s repeated claims of Whites being targeted.
“Those people in many cases, are being executed, being executed, and they happen to be White, and most happen to be farmers,” Mr. Trump said, calling the situation “sort of the opposite of apartheid.”
“People who do get killed, unfortunately, through criminal activity, are not only White people. Majority of them are ****** people,” Ramaphosa said.
According to South African police, in the last three months of 2024, 12 people were murdered on farms there; one was a White farmer, while the others were ****** laborers or security workers. Asked if he believed life for him and his family was better under apartheid — an overtly racist *********-rule system that denied equal rights to South Africa’s vast majority ****** population — Grobler didn’t hesitate.
“Yes,” he told CBS News. “I can’t say in my heart that we are better off now.” Although he did concede apartheid was wrong.
Claims of a White genocide are often circulated by right-wing groups, but the view is not held widely within the Afrikaner community.
Afrikaner commentator Piet Croucamp, an academic at North-West University in South Africa, says the claims are simply untrue.
“There’s no sign of it, never has been. In fact, Whites are economically the strongest group” in South Africa, Croucamp told CBS News. “64% of all boardrooms in South Africa are still White. The average incomes of White South Africans are vastly higher than ****** South Africans … they have better schools, they have better education, private health care. This is the land of milk and honey if you’re White.”
Croucamp suspects the South African government’s strong stance against Israel’s actions in Gaza, and its relations with China, could have played some part in Mr. Trump’s decision to embrace the controversial amnesty program for Afrikaners, but he believes there’s more to it.
“In South Africa, right-wing groups, so-called civil society groups, we know that they have access to the Trump administration because they claim that. And just over the last few days, they have, several times, they said that they will speak to the American government, as if they have access to them. And if you listen to what Trump has said, it corresponds exactly with the genocide narrative that they sell and that they market,” Croucamp said. “So, I’m afraid I have to believe them when they say they have direct access to the Trump administration, and we see what Trump has been doing.”
Grilled about the refugee program Tuesday on Capitol Hill, in a testy exchange with Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia, Secretary of State Rubio insisted that U.S. foreign policy “doesn’t require even-handedness, it involves prioritizing the interests of the United States. … The United States has a right to pick and choose who they allow into the United States.”
White South Africans make up only about 7% of the country’s population, but they still own more than half of all its farmland. And while the country has a staggeringly high crime rate, racial motives are not generally a factor, according to Afrikaner cattle farmer Nick Serfontein.
He acknowledged that violent attacks on farmers do occur, especially in agricultural land near big cities, where there are often large, impoverished populations, but he said overall, “I feel safe. I sleep with my doors open here on the farm.”
There have also been allegations that White farmers are the victims of land expropriation, with the government seizing farms without providing compensation. In January, Ramaphosa signed into law measures to expropriate mostly unused land for public use, which his government said was necessary to address the consequences of decades of apartheid. While the law provides for fair compensation in most cases, it also allows for expropriation without compensation under limited circumstances. And any measures can be challenged in court.
Mr. Trump has argued that it unfairly targets White landowners, though the law does not mention the race of anyone who could be affected under the legislation.
And more importantly, there hasn’t been a single case of expropriation without compensation documented in the 31 years since apartheid ended.
Serfontein argues the problem isn’t a deliberate effort by the government to seize White-owned land without compensation, but rather “because of a dysfunctional government. The model is wrong.”
He said that for decades, land has been handed over to a ****** population with compensation for former owners under established rules, but without any support for the new owners. So, almost a decade ago, Serfontein helped to launch a project aimed at training new ****** farmers to work the land.
To date, he says he’s personally helped train more than 700 young ****** farmers — the country’s next generation of agricultural workers.
“I’m extremely positive, and so are the young people, the young farmers, they are positive,” he said.
As for a white genocide, he agreed with Croucamp, saying bluntly: “It’s not happening.”
Serfontein said he didn’t know the histories of the Afrikaners who had already left for the U.S., and he didn’t doubt they “probably had some unhappy experiences in South Africa, about a number of things. But let me tell you that if you went to NAMPO last week — NAMPO is the biggest agricultural show in the Southern Hemisphere — you would have found a vibe there between the farmers, young farmers, old farmers, ****** farmers, White farmers, that you’ve never experienced before. They are so excited about the future of South Africa.”
They want to farm in a country, Serfontein says, where most people understand that the land must be shared by both ****** and White.
Debora Patta
Debora Patta is a CBS News foreign correspondent based in Johannesburg. Since joining CBS News in 2013, she has reported on major stories across Africa, the Middle East and Europe. Edward R. Murrow and Scripps Howard awards are among the many accolades Patta has received for her work.
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Video shows student sprinting across stage with baby to receive diploma as police chases
Video shows student sprinting across stage with baby to receive diploma as police chases
A graduating student at the University at Buffalo in New York caused quite a stir as he sprinted across the stage with his baby son to accept his diploma, all while being chased by the police.
University at Buffalo’s College of Arts and Sciences commencement ceremony livestream captured the graduate, Paul Al Arab, as he ran onto the stage holding his son with a police officer chasing after him.
Upon reaching the stage, Al Arab shook hands with those onstage and collected his diploma before pumping his fist in the air as the audience cheered him on. The police officer, meanwhile, could be seen walking behind him. Both the father and son were dressed in matching blue caps and gowns.
Why police chasing Al Arab?
Al Arab, who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in criminology, according to WGRZ, also posted the clip of the incident on TikTok and shared what went down behind the scenes.
“I’m a full-time student, working two jobs—one of them overnight—and taking care of my son during the day until his mom gets home from work,” Al Arab said in the caption of the video, which played a snippet from Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” performance during the 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show in the background. “And here I am, graduating, with my boy by my side. WE DID IT!”
Shortly after the video started gaining traction on social media, Al Arab added a note explaining what went down on the May 19 ceremony.
“Hey, I just want to explain what happened since a lot of people have been asking,” Al Arab wrote. “During a prep class for commencement, I asked if I could walk with my baby and they told me it was fine. But when the time came, they tried to stop me and even called the police. They tried to ******* me out, but honestly, the only reason they let me go was because of all of you who cheered and supported me — so thank you.”
University at Buffalo says Al Arab’s son didn’t earn ‘enough credits to receive a diploma’
University at Buffalo, in a statement, addressed the incident, saying the “graduating senior ignored multiple directives from university event staff and UB Police, ran away from officers, and broke commencement rules by bringing an infant onto the commencement stage at Alumni Arena.”
“While the situation created a light-hearted moment for the thousands in attendance who cheered on as the graduate took to the stage with the infant in his arms, the graduate’s actions were a violation of commencement rules which clearly state that ‘only graduating students may participate in the graduation ceremony, including walking in the processional and crossing the stage’,” the statement continued.
The university said the graduate, in an email, apologized for the disruption and that the university will not be penalizing him, adding that commencement rules are in place for the safety of all those in attendance.
“The graduate who broke the rules on Sunday will not be penalized and will still receive his degree from the university,” the statement said.
“The infant, despite crossing the stage in a cap and gown, has not yet earned enough credits to receive a diploma,” the college added. “We hope to see him back on stage in about 20 years so he can follow in his dad’s footsteps.”
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Al Arab creates GoFundMe to support student parents
Following the incident, Al Arab is using his virality to spotlight student parents and help those struggling to complete their education while fulfilling their parental duties by setting up a GoFundMe with an aim to raise $10,000.
“Balancing two jobs, being a full-time dad, and pursuing my education has been challenging, but I promised my son that I would walk that stage with him,” Al Arab said in the fundraiser’s description. “It symbolized every sacrifice and sleepless night.”
Al Arab maintained he was allowed to walk onto the stage with a baby.
“No one objected, so I didn’t see a reason to double-check,” Al Arab said. “I’ve seen others walk with their babies at graduations before, so it didn’t seem like a big deal. That’s why I was surprised when they tried to stop me and involved campus police.”
Thanking his professors and audience members for their support, Al Arab said he did not mean to “cause a scene” and that he has “a lot of respect for UB and my professors.”
“I was just a proud dad, keeping a promise,” he said. “It’s time we normalize seeing fathers in these moments. Being active, present, and proud shouldn’t be surprising. It should be celebrated just like we do for moms.”
Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at *****@*****.tld and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Police chases University at Buffalo student running to receive degree
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New Orleans jail worker thought he was unclogging a toilet, not helping 10 escape, lawyer says – AP News
New Orleans jail worker thought he was unclogging a toilet, not helping 10 escape, lawyer says – AP News
New Orleans jail worker thought he was unclogging a toilet, not helping 10 escape, lawyer says AP NewsHow the New Orleans jailbreak unfolded, sparking a massive manhunt YahooNew video obtained by WDSU shows three escaped inmates walking in the CBD WDSUTwo charged with helping inmates who escaped New Orleans jail The Washington Post
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2025 Mercedes-AMG E53 Hybrid review
2025 Mercedes-AMG E53 Hybrid review
If you like the latest Mercedes-Benz E-Class but want a lot more performance – courtesy of a ******* electrified six-cylinder powerplant – the Mercedes-AMG E53 might well be your ideal ride.
Camera Icon2025 Mercedes-AMG E53 Hybrid Credit: CarExpert
Take the already attractive and luxurious presentation of the latest sixth-generation E-Class sedan first revealed in 2023, then combine it with Mercedes-AMG’s tradition of amping up engine and chassis performance to make everything move as fast as it can, and you get the new E53 Hybrid.
The key talking point here is the beefed-up plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain, which is new for the latest W214-series large ******* executive sedan. With more than 100kW of power and nearly 500Nm of torque on tap, the electric motor alone is capable of convincing you this is a reasonably fast four-door.
But it’s paired with the real beating heart of the E53: a turbocharged 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder petrol engine, which – when everything’s charged and working harmoniously – can propel the E53 from zero to 100km/h in a claimed 3.8 seconds, which not hanging around by any measure, let alone for a big luxury sedan.
It’s also blisteringly quick for a car that’s as heavy as this is, but there’s also a lot going on under the sheet metal to make sure the car can handle it, including adaptive suspension and even adaptive engine mounts.
Camera Icon2025 Mercedes-AMG E53 Hybrid Credit: CarExpert
The E53 is undoubtedly a niche car, however, with minimal direct rivals let alone those with a PHEV powertrain. Lines could be drawn between the BMW M5 and the larger Porsche Panamera E-Hybrid, but they’re both more expensive and likely to attract a different audience.
We’re still waiting for Mercedes-AMG’s new E63, a model that’s long been the arch-enemy of the M5. In the meantime, the E53’s closest rival is therefore the Audi S6, but unlike its toned-down A6 counterpart it hasn’t been revealed with PHEV power just yet.
The S6’s twin-turbo petrol V6 is capable of pushing it from zero to 100km/h in 4.5 seconds, but the Ingolstadt brand’s large sports sedan is also significantly cheaper than the E53. A more tantalising comparison would almost certainly come with an S6 PHEV.
Is the E53 Hybrid capable of wearing the many hats AMG has thrown at it, or has it missed the mark? We tested the Stuttgart brand’s big new electrified performance sedan at its local media launch in Victoria to find out.
How much does the Mercedes-AMG E53 cost?
There’s only one variant of the new Mercedes-AMG E53 sedan, and it’s priced at $199,900 before on-road costs.
Camera Icon2025 Mercedes-AMG E53 Hybrid Credit: CarExpert
That makes it roughly $30,000 pricier than its most direct rival in the Audi S6 quattro, priced at $168,015 before on-road costs.
There’s also a ******* connection with the M5 and the Panamera E-Hybrid, which are both large luxury PHEV sedans. The M5 is quicker and sharper without being significantly more expensive at $259,900 before on-roads, while the Panamera E-Hybrid is larger and starts at $268,100 before on-roads.
Even more distant rivals could include fully electric ******* four-doors like the Audi e-tron GT for around $200,000 depending on the variant, and the BMW i4 M50 for roughly $130,000 before on-roads, neither of which are leagues away in terms of size.
Mercedes-AMG is also offering an Edition One variant of the E53 at launch, adding a claimed $29,900 worth of extra accessories.
To see how the Mercedes-AMG E53 stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool
What is the Mercedes-AMG E53 like on the inside?
Unbelievably screen-heavy, even by modern standards.
Camera Icon2025 Mercedes-AMG E53 Hybrid Credit: CarExpert
In case you somehow missed it, the E53’s drawcard is that colossal full-width digital panel on the dashboard. It’s shared with the standard E-Class, and dubbed the MBUX Superscreen by Mercedes-Benz.
It combines two 12.3-inch screens – a driver’s instrument cluster and a front passenger display – with a third, 14.4-inch unit in the middle for infotainment and vehicle settings.
Visually, it’s hardly complicated and reminiscent of similar setups in some other Mercedes models, but it is different from the MBUX Hyperscreen found in the EQE because it isn’t recessed into the dashboard. Moving from left to right, the passenger’s screen allows for functions like music and video playback, and also supports Bluetooth headphone connectivity.
It’s invisible to the driver when in Reverse or Drive too, thanks to light-directing tech designed to minimise distraction. A bonus for all passengers is Mercedes’ so-called ‘4D audio’, which incorporates a high-end Burmester sound system linked to seats that vibrate bass frequencies – with varying intensity.
Camera Icon2025 Mercedes-AMG E53 Hybrid Credit: CarExpertCamera Icon2025 Mercedes-AMG E53 Hybrid Credit: CarExpert
In the middle is the multimedia heart of the E-Class interior. Here you’ll find basic apps like satellite navigation, and it’s also where you operate Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring – both of which via wired and wireless connectivity.
Diving through here will also reveal vehicle settings to adjust all sorts of items, including but not limited to interior ambient lighting, specific suspension and power tunes, and climate control. Unfortunately, there are no physical buttons for the latter, which is instead operated via the ‘always-on’ ribbon at the bottom of the screen.
It’s not an ideal setup and can be finicky to work with on the move. Pressing a function like temperature will open a dedicated climate menu, which can also overwhelm you with the amount of controls you’re then presented with.
There’s plenty more to be found here with some time spent flicking and pressing. The same can be said for the instrument display, which also offers a plethora of information and customisation options.
Camera Icon2025 Mercedes-AMG E53 Hybrid Credit: CarExpert
The buttons on the right-hand side of the steering wheel allow the driver to flick through various displays and themes on not only the instrument cluster, but also the head-up display above.
Both of these displays are crisp and relatively easy to decipher, and of course the instrument screen can show all sorts of vehicle info like temperatures and levels. We did find that a few of the head-up display interfaces were obnoxiously large and blocked a lot of the view ahead, particularly the motorsport-esque ones with a big rev counter.
Between the driver and the instrument cluster is a chunky, leather-wrapped steering wheel. It’s practically identical to the tillers in most modern Benzes, but its large diameter seems appropriate for a car of this stature.
The material it’s finished in is also high-quality, and it’s nice to hold. But we don’t love the use of haptic controls on its horizontal spokes, as some of our directional swipes sometimes went astray.
Camera Icon2025 Mercedes-AMG E53 Hybrid Credit: CarExpert
We also found the positioning of the instrument display and steering wheel awkward in the context of the rest of the dash, particularly because the main Superscreen panel is sleek while the driver systems jut out haphazardly.
Ergonomically it all works, however, and the electric adjustment for both the steering wheel and seats helps with this. Our testers were fitted with optional AMG Performance Seats (borderline sports buckets), which are heavility bolstered but incredibly firm.
While these seats make sense for the car’s performance applications, they’re far too firm to be comfortable on long drives. This was especially evident when jumping out of the front seats and straight into the back, where the rear bench gets the same soft cushioning as the E53’s standard front seats.
We at least appreciated the level of adjustment here, as you have electric lumbar support and side bolstering control. Going for these seats means you do miss out on some creature comforts like a massage function, but we don’t expect that to be a dealbreaker for many.
Camera Icon2025 Mercedes-AMG E53 Hybrid Credit: CarExpertCamera Icon2025 Mercedes-AMG E53 Hybrid Credit: CarExpert
Elsewhere up front, most of the switchgear works with a solid action, especially those two circular selectors on the steering wheel.
You also get two cupholders, two USB-C ports and a wireless charging pad under the central sliding panel, along with another USB-C port and a generous amount of storage in the centre console bin.
Moving to the back reveals a space that’s more compromised than you’d expect, as is the case with the standard E-Class. This is disappointing given the exterior proportions of the car, and it just feels a touch too closed-in.
Headroom is fine as the E-Class’ roof height remains relatively high towards the rear of the car, but it’s legroom that isn’t quite at the level we’d like. Those sitting behind tall drivers will feel cramped, while foot space across the floor is hindered by a sizeable driveline tunnel.
Camera Icon2025 Mercedes-AMG E53 Hybrid Credit: CarExpertCamera Icon2025 Mercedes-AMG E53 Hybrid Credit: CarExpert
Still, the rear seats themselves are comfortable enough, especially in the context of the front AMG seats as mentioned.
You also get a dedicated climate control panel on the back of the centre console, which features more of those haptic controls as up front. It’s nice to have – even if it’s just about non-negotiable in a car that costs this much – but it will quickly attract smudges and fingerprints. Like many cars of its ilk, it’s the same with the glossy surfaces up front.
Other rear-seat niceties seem sparse at first, with no obvious cupholders for a start.
There is a fold-down centre armrest that’s well-padded, which features a dull ****** plastic strip along the front. Pressing this will pop out a temporary-looking cupholder arrangement, which isn’t all that dissimilar to something you’d find up front in a Ford Ranger ute, which isn’t quite we’d expect for $200,000.
Camera Icon2025 Mercedes-AMG E53 Hybrid Credit: CarExpert
That’s another theme with the interior of the E-Class, as it’s just a little too plasticky – particularly with its steering wheel stalks. Build quality wasn’t quite up to scratch in the car we drove either, as there was a strange buzzing in the front of the cabin that we couldn’t quite pinpoint.
Sure, there are nicer elements like the leather steering wheel trim and woodgrain finish up front – or carbon-fibre if you opt for that – but the E53 cabin feels somewhat let down by the copious glossy surfaces and other less inviting items like those rear cupholders.
Mercedes-Benz quotes a boot capacity of 370 litres, which isn’t massive for a sedan this size. But you do get a generous opening and a floor that seems to stretch forward forever, and while you’ll have to lift items up and over the boot sill, at least it’s comfortably low.
On either side of the cargo compartment are two switches to drop the rear seatbacks, which gives you a bit more space for longer items. You can also drop only the centre seat if you still need to use the outboard pews.
To see how the Mercedes-AMG E53 stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool
What’s under the bonnet?
For the E53, AMG ditched the 2.0-litre four-cylinder mild-hybrid turbo-petrol engine in the E200 and E300, and instead crammed in a lusty turbocharged 3.0-litre straight-six petrol engine, plus a powerful electric motor.
Camera Icon2025 Mercedes-AMG E53 Hybrid Credit: CarExpert
Though our drive route didn’t provide an extended real-world demonstration of the E53’s everyday capabilities, we saw a fuel economy of roughly 5.5L/100km after driving through Melbourne’s south-east suburbs and up to the foothills of the Victorian High Country.
We also had the opportunity to cycle through the multitude of drive modes, including the electric-only setting.
To see how the Mercedes-AMG E53 stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool
How does the Mercedes-AMG E53 drive?
Like an E-Class on steroids, but not quite with the level of brutality AMG is best known for.
Camera Icon2025 Mercedes-AMG E53 Hybrid Credit: CarExpert
And that’s exactly what you’d want for a car that isn’t necessarily touted as a giant-killing high-performance super sedan.
It makes even more sense when you consider the E53 costs ‘just’ $70,000 more than the E300 sedan, which offers two fewer cylinders, one less litre of displacement, a decent-sized battery and plug-in capability. The difference in power output alone could well be more than enough justification for some.
A 50 per cent larger engine in a full-blown PHEV powertrain are nothing to sneeze at, and the E53 benefits greatly as a result. It also gets a sizeable battery and a solid electric-only range, along with a series of other goodies to keep you interested.
Let’s start in electric-only mode, as we did on the local launch. Like a typical electric vehicle (EV), the big E53 will start up with little more than a few clicks and whirrs as everything gears up to go, after which you’ll be able to set off in complete silence.
Camera Icon2025 Mercedes-AMG E53 Hybrid Credit: CarExpert
Unlike EV modes in other hybrids, the E53 can travel as an EV at speeds of up to a whopping 140km/h – though it won’t get there nearly as fast as it will when also using the combustion engine. But the electric motor’s 480Nm of torque alone still rewards lead-footed drivers with a sturdy shove in the back.
In this mode, the combustion engine will only fire up if you plant the throttle, or if the battery charge is low. If so, the dashboard will throw up a warning and you’ll be prevented from driving in zero-emissions mode.
You can also charge the car’s battery on the move, and the same steering wheel paddles that change gears in Sport mode can also be used to adjust regenerative braking intensity – but there’s still no full one-pedal driving capability. This is only available when either battery-hold or EV-only mode is selected.
Fortunately, having the hybrid assistance mitigates the complaints we had with the E300 and its transmission’s somewhat clunky low-speed behaviour.
Camera Icon2025 Mercedes-AMG E53 Hybrid Credit: CarExpert
Still, prioritising EV driving will drain the battery quickly. In fact, upon getting into another E53 halfway through our drive, we found the battery was completely empty after about 75km – 25km short of Mercedes’ NEDC claim.
Comfort mode is the most ‘normal’ setting for the E53, and likely the one owners will spend most time in. This balances between petrol and electric power to give you the smoothest drive possible without too many frills.
Sport mode sharpens things up by prioritising the engine with some electrical assistance, while also stiffening up the car’s adaptive shocks. You’ll also notice a significant pickup in throttle response, while the transmission is also adjusted to provide snappier shifts.
Sport+ is where everything gets thrown at the wall, with full power from both the engine and the electric motor. The suspension is at its stiffest here, while AMG’s unique adaptive engine mounts also become more rigid, prioritising chassis performance over refinement.
Camera Icon2025 Mercedes-AMG E53 Hybrid Credit: CarExpert
In practice there’s a slight difference there, but not to the point where every interior fitting shakes loose. It’s these fine touches that give AMG’s influence on the E-Class life and energy, not so much the interior.
As expected, the low-profile tyres, large alloy wheels, and stiff suspension result in a fair bit of road noise inside the cabin, particularly on coarse-chip surfaces. This is worse in cars fitted with the optional 21-inch alloys.
It’s forgivable as the E53 is a luxury sports sedan first and foremost, not a long-distance cruiser. But that does raise the question of exactly who it’s aimed at, given the standard E-Class is arguably better suited to long-haul commuting or road-tripping.
In Australia, where road quality is questionable in many areas and speed limits too low where the roads are good, this car really can’t stretch its legs. Because of how planted it feels, we’d expect the E53 to be perfectly suited to the speed limitless freeways of its home country.
Camera Icon2025 Mercedes-AMG E53 Hybrid Credit: CarExpert
Regardless, it’d almost certainly be easier to live with when equipped with the softer standard seats. The combination of the hard AMG Performance Seats and the firm adaptive suspension – even in comfort mode – will probably be a little much for many.
Where this car shines is in the twisties, which is probably what AMG had in mind for non-******* markets, even if that’s a fairly niche use case. And the E-Class chassis provides a strong foundation for AMG to build upon.
Crank the dial up to Sport+ and everything comes alive. You’ll notice a fair bit more engine noise, though most of it is fake and played through the speakers. Look closely at the car’s rear and you’ll see the exhaust outlets aren’t quite real.
What isn’t fake is the E53’s handling dynamics, despite weighing well over two tonnes. It can rotate on a dime at low speeds thanks to its rear-wheel steering, although taking sharper turns too fast will induce some understeer.
Camera Icon2025 Mercedes-AMG E53 Hybrid Credit: CarExpert
There’s just enough feedback through the seat and steering wheel to know exactly what the car is doing under you, and you’ll struggle to break rear-end traction in any meaningful way thanks to its 4Matic+ all-wheel drive system – even if it is rear-biased.
You will notice some tyre squeal as the fronts grapple to keep the E53 in check around those tight bends, but for the most part it feels glued to the road. Also solid are the car’s upgraded brakes, which take a moment to get up to temperature but bite aggressively once there.
That’s a good thing for a car like this, as managing weight was a big part of what AMG needed to accomplish in order to make it feel enjoyable and not unwieldy. It still feels heavy under hard cornering though, and not quite as nimble as we’d like during quick direction changes.
It’s on the open road where the E53’s high-speed stability and road holding really comes into its own. Australia just doesn’t have the roads to fully exploit this.
Camera Icon2025 Mercedes-AMG E53 Hybrid Credit: CarExpert
And there’s no question about this big sedan’s powertrain performance. Planting the throttle away from an intersection can activate the stability control to minimise wheelspin. That’s seriously impressive for an all-wheel drive car, and speaks to the mountain of torque on tap here.
There’s very little torque steer when doing so too, which is evidence of the AWD system’s rearward bias and more proof this car isn’t geared towards comfort, which is where its Benz-branded siblings have the edge.
As with the regular E-Class, the E53 is loaded with tech. The screens are one thing, but there’s a strong suite of assistance systems that make the car easy to drive in normal traffic.
On the highway you can make use of its adaptive cruise and lane-centring systems, which work well when the road is dominated by sweeping bends and predictable movements. You can also use this on rural roads to an extent, though the car is hesitant to crank on significant steering lock on its own.
Camera Icon2025 Mercedes-AMG E53 Hybrid Credit: CarExpert
This is where rivals like the 5 Series have it beat, as the big Beemer can confidently steer itself around tighter bends at speed, as can many Audis. We were impressed by the E53’s ability to stay centred on straight roads with no edge markings though.
There’s speed sign recognition, but the car won’t beep at you for exceeding the posted limit by a kilometre or two. It will beep if you’re indicating in the direction of a car alongside, which is annoying if you’re turning across a multi-lane intersection in parallel.
As mentioned, the four-wheel steering helps with manoeuverability at low speed, while the array of sensors and cameras helps to position the car in tight spots despite its long bonnet.
Visibility out of the cabin is good too, with a decently sized rear window and good sight lines over the shoulder for quick head checks when necessary.
All up, AMG’s E-Class chassis and powertrain upgrades significantly improve the E53’s handling and acceleration performance, for a price that seems justifiable. But its real advances are only fully realised at higher speed, so it all seems a bit of waste in a country like Australia.
To see how the Mercedes-AMG E53 stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool
What do you get?
There’s only one version of the Mercedes-AMG E53 available.
Camera Icon2025 Mercedes-AMG E53 Hybrid Credit: CarExpertCamera Icon2025 Mercedes-AMG E53 Hybrid Credit: CarExpertCamera Icon2025 Mercedes-AMG E53 Hybrid Credit: CarExpertCamera Icon2025 Mercedes-AMG E53 Hybrid Credit: CarExpert
2025 Mercedes-AMG E53 equipment highlights:
20-inch AMG light-alloy wheelsAMG electronic rear limited-slip differentialActive rear-axle steeringAMG high-performance compound brake systemDynamic AMG engine mountsSemi-autonomous parking assistRed brake calipersIlluminated grilleLED headlightsPanoramic sunroofPrivacy glassKeyless entry and startPower-folding exterior mirrorsAMG Performance steering wheel in Nappa leatherHead-up displayMBUX SuperscreenWireless Apple CarPlay and Android AutoAugmented reality satellite navigationDigital radio17-speaker Burmester surround sound systemWireless phone chargerPower-adjustable, heated and ventilated front seatsNappa leather upholsteryFour-zone climate control with Digital Vent ControlAmbient lightingIlluminated front door sillsArtico, piano ****** and open-pore ****** ash wood trimMBUX Interior AssistantOptionsCamera Icon2025 Mercedes-AMG E53 Hybrid Credit: CarExpertCamera Icon2025 Mercedes-AMG E53 Hybrid Credit: CarExpert
The Night Package ($3000) includes:
High-gloss ****** front splitter, mirror housingsBlack chrome radiator shell, door handles, tailpipe trims20-inch matte ****** alloy wheels
The AMG Carbon Fibre Package ($6000) includes:
Carbon-fibre mirror caps, spoiler lipsCarbon-fibre centre console trimMicrofibre/carbon-fibre steering wheel
The AMG Performance Seat Package ($5000) includes:
The Energizing Package Plus ($5300) includes:
Multicontour front seatsComfort front head restraintsHeated front armrestsHeated outboard rear seatsAir Balance package with interior fragrance, ionisation
To see how the Mercedes-AMG E53 stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool
Is the Mercedes-AMG E53 safe?
The Mercedes-AMG E53 doesn’t currently have a safety rating from ANCAP, though the Mercedes-Benz E-Class on which it’s based has a five-star rating from sister organisation Euro NCAP.
Camera Icon2025 Mercedes-AMG E53 Hybrid Credit: CarExpert
Standard safety equipment highlights:
10 airbagsAutonomous emergency braking (AEB)Adaptive cruise control with stop/goBlind-spot assistDriver attention monitoringLane-keep assistActive Steering AssistSurround-view cameraTraffic sign recognitionTyre pressure monitoringFront airbags, including centre and driver’s knee airbagSide and curtain airbags for both rows
To see how the Mercedes-AMG E53 stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool
How much does the Mercedes-AMG E53 cost to run?
Mercedes-Benz Australia backs the AMG E53 with its standard five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, and an eight-year, 160,000km high-voltage battery warranty. Servicing is required every 12 months or 25,000km, whichever comes first.
Camera Icon2025 Mercedes-AMG E53 Hybrid Credit: CarExpert
For context, service plans for the standard Mercedes-Benz E-Class cost $3395 for three years, $4675 for four years, and $6945 for five years.
To see how the Mercedes-AMG E53 stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool
CarExpert’s Take on the Mercedes-AMG E53 Hybrid
The AMG-developed E53 Hybrid marks a significant evolution of E-Class formula, and presents a strong albeit niche new option in the realm of ******* performance-luxury motoring.
Camera Icon2025 Mercedes-AMG E53 Hybrid Credit: CarExpert
The addition of a beefy PHEV powertrain adds substantial performance and keeps the E53 up-to-date with BMW and Porsche. And even if it doesn’t have the same ‘wow’ factor or outright performance as the M5, it’s hard to argue AMG hasn’t struck a good powertrain balance here.
It’s easy to drive around town, supremely confident on the highway, and opens right up when it’s time to go fast – especially in the context of its only direct competitor in the petrol-only Audi S6.
On top of all that, you can commute long and regularly in EV mode. The generous battery and strong regen braking will allow many to employ only the battery to get them to and from work, and the average E53 could probably spend most of its driving life with its engine switched off by being charged each night.
Of course, however, you wouldn’t buy a $200,000 Mercedes-AMG and let half of its powertrain go to waste, and we’re pretty sure many owners will drive their E53 in a mode that maximises engine performance.
Camera Icon2025 Mercedes-AMG E53 Hybrid Credit: CarExpert
In typical ******* fashion, this straight-six is exceptionally smooth but always ready to show you what it can do. TheV6-powered S6 isn’t too dissimilar, and a PHEV version of the Audi would likely give the E53 a run for its money.
But we can’t help but think the Merc’s interior doesn’t quite do its engineering prowess justice, given it’s practically identical to the standard E-Class. The Superscreen is a little much and lacks the class of the outgoing W213-generation’s cabin.
The E53’s sheer weight is also difficult to ignore, especially for something pitched as a performance car. It’s not that far off the notoriously weighty but much more powerful M5, which means it can’t mitigate its mass in the same way.
Still, it presents a relatively good value option for buyers who doesn’t want to jump all the way to the more extreme M5 or Audi RS6, or a larger Panamera, even if it’s much pricier than the S6.
But if a big, high-performance super sedan wearing the three-pointed star emblem is what you’re after, we suggest biding your time for the next E63.
Camera Icon2025 Mercedes-AMG E53 Hybrid Credit: CarExpert
Interested in buying a Mercedes-AMG E53? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here
MORE: Everything Mercedes-AMG E53
ProsTantalising taste-test for an E63 PHEVStrong PHEV powertrain with solid EV capabilityEffortless performanceConsInterior still a little plastickyToo much screenRide is a touch too firm
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Josh Hawley blasts Allstate CEO for making $26M last year — while company can’t ‘afford’ to pay out claims
Josh Hawley blasts Allstate CEO for making $26M last year — while company can’t ‘afford’ to pay out claims
Most homeowners believe their insurance policies will protect them when disaster strikes. But that illusion shattered for Natalia Migal.
Testifying before the U.S. Senate, she recalled how Hurricane Helene ravaged her Georgia home, only for her insurer Allstate to offer a mere $46,000 for repairs, despite independent assessments putting the damage closer to $500,000.
Digging into Allstate’s recent financial statements, Senator Josh Hawley questioned the company’s decision to reward the C-suite after boosting revenue and profits while policyholders like Migal struggled to get compensated for their losses.
“CEO Tom Wilson was paid $26 million,” he said during the hearing.
“Ms.Miguel can’t get her claim paid out but Tom, whoever he is, gets $26 million. Why is his salary a priority but Ms.Miguel isn’t?”
Unfortunately, Migal’s case isn’t an outlier. As evidence from policymakers and industry insiders piles up, lawmakers are ramping up their scrutiny of the $1 trillion property insurance industry.
It wasn’t just policyholders who testified before Congress on May 13 but also claims adjusters, industry professionals who assess damages and estimate losses. Two of these adjusters testified that they faced pressure to lower their initial estimates, which alarmed the committee.
“We’ve just heard testimony here, sworn testimony from multiple adjusters, that your company ordered them to delete or alter damage estimates to reduce payouts and to make you profits,” Hawley told Michael Fiato, Allstate executive vice-president and chief claims officer, during the hearing.
“It sounds to me like you’re running a system of institutionalized fraud.”
Fiato pushed back on this accusation by highlighting the fact that insurance companies like Allstate were handling more claims because of changing weather patterns and higher frequency of natural disasters in recent years.
However, Hawley pointed out that this added risk wasn’t being reflected in the company’s financials.
“I have to notice that your profits have never been better, they’re really quite extraordinary,” he said. “Fiscal year ’24, Allstate had $64 billion in revenue; that’s 12% above the previous year.”
Story Continues
This growth spurt isn’t limited to Allstate. Property and casualty insurers pulled in a record $169 billion in profit in 2024, according to AM Best — a staggering 90% jump from the year before and more than quadruple their 2022 earnings.
This windfall came even as insurers hiked premiums and lobbied for laws to limit payouts, all while insisting the industry was under financial strain, according to a report by the American Association for Justice.
With this pattern in mind, homeowners and policyholders should prepare for dealing with claim denials in the event of a natural disaster.
Read more: You’re probably already overpaying for this 1 ‘must-have’ expense — and thanks to Trump’s tariffs, your monthly bill could soar even higher. Here’s how 2 minutes can protect your wallet right now
Picking up the pieces after a natural disaster is hard enough, but facing a denied insurance claim can turn a difficult situation into a financial nightmare.
To improve your chances, take the time to review your policy thoroughly and reach out to your insurer to get all the details. If you face damages, make sure you document it all and collect photographs that can be submitted to the insurance company.
If your claim is denied, National Debt Relief recommends asking for a written explanation for the denial. You can also hire a public adjuster for a second opinion and fair assessment of your property’s damages and hire a legal professional to help you appeal the denial in court if necessary.
Until insurers are held to higher standards with tighter regulations, homeowners and ordinary families must prepare for unpleasant holes in their safety net.
This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
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Emerging markets are the next ‘bull market’ says market watchers
Emerging markets are the next ‘bull market’ says market watchers
Traffic outside the Central Bank of Brazil headquarters in Brasilia, Brazil, on Monday, June 17, 2024.
Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Emerging markets stocks are in the spotlight again as the “sell U.S.” narrative gained fresh momentum, following Moody’s recent downgrade of the U.S. credit rating.
The Bank of America heralded emerging markets as “the next bull market” recently.
“Weaker U.S. dollar, U.S. bond yield top, China economic recovery…nothing will work better than emerging market stocks,” Bank of America’s team, led by investment strategist Michael Hartnett, said in a note.
Similarly, JPMorgan upgraded emerging market equities from neutral to overweight on Monday, citing thawing U.S.-China trade tensions and attractive valuations.
A dented confidence in U.S. assets, which kicked into high gear last month marked by a selloff in U.S. Treasurys, equities and greenback, has fueled the bullishness for emerging markets.
The MSCI Emerging Markets Index, which tracks large and mid-cap representation across 24 EM countries, is up 8.55% year-to-date. This compares against a 1% climb by the U.S. benchmark S&P 500 across the same *******.
A dented confidence in U.S. assets, which kicked into high gear last month marked by a selloff in U.S. Treasurys, equities and greenback, has fueled the bullishness for emerging markets.
LSEG Datastream
The difference was more stark in the weeks after April 2, when U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled “reciprocal” tariffs on friends and foes alike.
While most benchmarks fell across the board in the immediate days after April 2, the week that followed showed a divergence between emerging market equities and U.S. stocks. Between April 9 to 21, the S&P 500 declined over 5%, while the MSCI Emerging Markets Index rose 7%.
Even though U.S. equities and Treasurys rebounded slightly since, the recent Moody’s downgrade has reignited traders’ concerns. On Monday, the U.S. 30-year Treasury yield briefly grazed above 5% to hit levels not seen since November 2023, while U.S. equities also snapped a six-day winning streak on Tuesday.
Start of a new rotation?
The events that unfolded recently have reinforced the need for more diverse geographical exposure, said Malcolm Dorson, head of the active investment team at Global X ETFs.
“After underperforming the S&P over the past decade, EM equities are uniquely positioned to outperform over the next cycle,” he added.
“This possible perfect storm stems from a potentially weaker U.S. dollar, extremely low investor positioning, and outsized growth at discounted valuations,” he told CNBC.
According to data provided by Dorson, in terms of positioning, many U.S. investors have just 3% to 5% in emerging markets, compared to the 10.5% in the MSCI Global Index, which captures the performance of large and mid-cap companies across 23 developed markets.
Emerging markets are also trading at 12 times forward earnings “and at a ******* than typical discount” compared to developed markets, statistics from JPMorgan showed.
Among emerging markets, Dorson believes India offers the best long-term growth play and spotlighted Argentina’s cheap valuation. Sovereign upgrades in countries like Greece and Brazil also helped to make them more attractive, he added.
“We could be at the start of a new rotation,” said Mohit Mirpuri, equity fund manager at SGMC Capital.
“After years of U.S. outperformance, global investors are beginning to look elsewhere for diversification and long-term returns, and emerging markets are firmly back in the conversation,” Mirpuri said.
A weakening U.S. dollar — pressured by fiscal concerns and rising debt — has historically supported EM flows and FX stability, said a portfolio manager at VanEck, Ola El-Shawarby.
But what could set the current optimism apart from previous emerging market rallies that fizzled out?
“We’ve seen EM rallies before that ultimately lost steam, often because they were driven by short-term macro catalysts,” said El-Shawarby.
This current cycle could be different because of the combination of deeply discounted valuations, historically low investor positioning, and more durable structural progress across key markets, she said, citing India’s long-term growth story anchored in domestic demand.
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Europa League final: Spurs 1 Man Utd 0 – Tottenham’s 17-year wait for a trophy ends in Bilbao – The New York Times
Europa League final: Spurs 1 Man Utd 0 – Tottenham’s 17-year wait for a trophy ends in Bilbao – The New York Times
Europa League final: Spurs 1 Man Utd 0 – Tottenham’s 17-year wait for a trophy ends in Bilbao The New York TimesSpurs prevail with Mourinho blueprint and ultra pragmatism in baffling final | Jonathan Wilson The GuardianEuropa League final player ratings – who was ‘heroic’ and who was ‘gobbled up’? BBCTottenham Hotspur 1-0 Manchester United: GLORY GLORY TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR Cartilage Free CaptainCome-from-behind FC The New York Times
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I tried Google’s new AI try-on feature, and it’s given me some new fashion ideas
I tried Google’s new AI try-on feature, and it’s given me some new fashion ideas
Google has rolled out a new AI-powered shopping feature to help you figure out what the clothes you are interested in buying might look like when you wear them. It’s dubbed “try it on” and it’s available right now in the US through Google Search Labs.
To get started, you just need to switch it on in the lab. Then, you upload a full-length photo of yourself and start looking for clothes in the Google Shopping tab.
When you click on an image of some outfit from the search results, you’ll see a little “try it on” button in the middle of the enlarged version of the outfit in the right-hand panel. One click and about ten seconds later, you’ll see yourself wearing the outfit. It may not always be a perfect illusion, but you’ll at least get a sense of what it would look like on you.
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Google claims the whole thing runs on a model trained to see the relationship between your body and clothing. The AI can, therefore, realistically drape, stretch, and bunch material across a variety of body types.
The feature doesn’t work with every piece of clothing you might see, or even every type of outfit. The clothing retailer has to opt into the program, and Google said it only works for shirts, pants, dresses, and skirts.
I did notice that costumes and swimwear both had no usable images, but I could put shorts on myself, and costumes that looked enough like regular clothes were usable. The AI also didn’t seem to have an issue with jackets and coats as categories.
Elvis looks
(Image credit: Photo/Google AI)
For instance, on Google Shopping, I found replicas of the outfits Elvis wore for his 1966 comeback and one of his jumpsuits from the 1970s. With a couple of clicks, I could imagine myself dressed as the King in different eras.
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It even changed my shoes in the all-****** suit. I’d always wondered if I could pull off either look. The images are shareable, and you can save or send them to others from the Google mobile app and see how much of an Elvis your friends think you are.
Super summer
(Image credit: Photo/Google AI)
The details that the AI changes to make the photos work are impressive. I used the AI to try on a fun summer look and the closest to a superhero costume I could try. The original photo is me in a suit and jacket with a bowtie and ****** dress shoes. But the shoes and socks on both AI-generated images not only match what was in the search result, but they’re shaped to my stance and size.
Plus, despite wearing long sleeves and pants, the AI found a way to show some of my arms and legs. The color matches reality, but its imperfections are noticeable to me. My legs look too skinny in both, like the AI thinks I skipped leg day, and my legs in the shorts have not been that hairless since I turned 13.
Imperfections aside, it does feel like this will be a major part of the next era of e-commerce. The awkward guessing of whether a color or cut works for your skin tone and build might be easier to resolve.
I wouldn’t say it can make up for trying them on in real life, especially when it comes to sizing and comfort, but as a digital version of holding an outfit up against you while you look in a mirror, it’s pretty good.
Ending unnecessary returns
(Image credit: Photo/Google AI)
Uncanny as some of the resulting images are, I think this will be a popular feature for Google Shopping. I’d expect it to be heavily imitated by rivals in AI development and online retail, where it isn’t already.
I particularly like how the AI lets you see how you’d look in more outlandish or bold looks you might hesitate to try on at a store. For example, the paisley jacket and striped pants on the left or the swallowtail jacket and waistcoat with Victorian trousers on the right. I’d hesitate to order either look and would almost certainly plan on returning one or both of them even before they arrive.
Returns are a plague on online retailers and waste tons of packaging and other resources. But if Google shows us how we’d look in clothes before we buy them, it could chip away at return rates; retailers will race to sign up for the program.
It could also open the door to more personalized style advice from AI. You could soon have an AI personal dresser, ready to give you a virtual fit check and suggest your next look, even if it isn’t something Elvis would have worn.
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Deliver At All Costs (PS5) Review – CGMagazine
Deliver At All Costs (PS5) Review – CGMagazine
Deliver At All Costs is a thrilling action game where destruction, absurdity and intrigue collide from Far Out Games and Konami.
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How a joke about rice cost a Japan cabinet minister his job
How a joke about rice cost a Japan cabinet minister his job
Mariko Oi
Business reporter
Getty Images
Rice, a Japanese staple, has caused political upsets before
When Japan’s farm minister declared that he never had to buy rice because his supporters give him “plenty” of it as gifts, he hoped to draw laughs.
Instead Taku Eto drew outrage – and enough of it to force him to resign.
Japan is facing its first cost-of-living crisis in decades, which is hitting a beloved staple: rice. The price has more than doubled in the last year, and imported varieties are few and far between.
Eto apologised, saying he had gone “too far” with his comments on Sunday at a local fundraiser. He resigned after opposition parties threatened a no-confidence motion against him.
His ousting deals a fresh blow to Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s ********* government, which was already struggling with falling public support.
Rice can be a powerful trigger in Japan, where shortages have caused political upsets before. Riots over the soaring cost of rice even toppled a government in 1918.
So it’s not that surprising that rice prices have a role in Ishiba’s plummeting approval ratings.
“Politicians don’t go to supermarkets to do their grocery shopping so they don’t understand,” 31-year-old Memori Higuchi tells the BBC from her home in Yokohama.
Ms Higuchi is a first-time mother of a seven-month-old. Good food for her postnatal recovery has been crucial, and her daughter will soon start eating solid food.
“I want her to eat well so if prices keep going up, we may have to reduce the amount of rice my husband and I eat.”
A costly error?
It’s a simple issue of supply and demand, agricultural economist Kunio Nishikawa of Ibaraki University says.
But he believes it was caused by a government miscalculation.
Until 1995, the government controlled the amount of rice farmers produced by working closely with agricultural cooperatives. The law was abolished that year but the agriculture ministry continues to publish demand estimates so farmers can avoid producing a glut of rice.
But, Prof Nishikawa says, they got it wrong in 2023 and 2024. They estimated the demand to be 6.8m tonnes, while the actual demand, he adds, was 7.05m tonnes.
Demand for rice went up because of more tourists visiting Japan and a rise in people eating out after the pandemic.
Getty Images
Many stores are asking customers to buy only one bag per person or family to avoid empty shelves
But actual production was even lower than the estimate: 6.61m tonnes, Prof Nishikawa says.
“It is true that the demand for rice jumped, due to several factors – including the fact that rice was relatively affordable compared to other food items and a rise in the number of overseas visitors,” a spokesperson for the agriculture ministry told the BBC.
“The quality of rice wasn’t great due to unusually high temperatures which also resulted in lower rice production.”
Growing rice is no longer profitable
Rice farmers have been unable to make enough money for many years, says 59-year-old Kosuke Kasahara, whose family have been in farming for generations.
He explains that it costs approximately 18,500 yen ($125.70; £94.60) to produce 60kg of rice but the cooperative in his area of Niigata on the west coast of Japan offered to buy it last year at 19,000 yen.
“Until three or four years ago, the government would even offer financial incentives to municipalities that agreed to reduce rice production,” he adds.
The ministry spokesperson confirms that the government has offered subsidies to those choosing to produce wheat or soybeans instead of rice.
Meanwhile, younger farmers have been choosing to produce different types of rice that are used for sake, rice crackers or fed to livestock because demand for rice in Japan had been falling until last year.
“I got tired of fighting retailers or restaurants that wanted me to sell rice cheaply for many years,” says Shinya Tabuchi.
But that’s been flipped on its head, with the going rate for 60kg of rice today at 40,000 to 50,000 yen.
While higher prices are bad news for shoppers, it means many struggling farmers will finally be able to make money.
But as the public grew angry with the surge, the government auctioned some of its emergency reserves of rice in March to try to bring prices down.
Getty Images
The government has recently doubled the supply of stockpiled rice to make up for the shortfall
Many countries have strategic reserves – stockpiles of vital goods – of crude oil or natural gas to prepare for exceptional circumstances. In Asia, many governments also have stockpiles of rice.
In recent years, Japan’s rice stockpile had only been tapped in the wake of natural disasters.
“The government has always told us that they would not release its emergency rice stocks to control the price so we felt betrayed,” Mr Tabuchi says.
Despite the government’s rare decision to release rice, prices have continued to rise.
Tackling soaring prices
The cost of rice is also soaring in South East Asia, which accounts for almost 30% of global rice production – economic, political and climate pressures have resulted in shortages in recent years.
In Japan though the issue has become so serious that the country has begun importing rice from South Korea for the first time in a quarter of a century, even though consumers prefer homegrown varieties.
PM Ishiba has also hinted at expanding imports of US rice as his government continues to negotiate a trade deal with Washington.
But shoppers like Ms Higuchi say they are unlikely to buy non-Japanese rice.
“We’ve been saying local production for local consumption for a long time,” she says. “There has to be a way for Japanese farmers to be profitable and consumers to feel safe by being able to afford home-grown produce.”
Memori Higuchi
First time mother Memori Higuchi says she hesitates to buy non-Japanese rice
This divides opinion among farmers.
“You may hear that the industry is ageing and shrinking but that is not necessarily true,” says Mr Tabuchi, who believes the sector has been too protected by the government.
“Many elderly farmers can afford to sell rice cheaply because they have pensions and assets but the younger generation has to be able to make money. Instead of guaranteeing the income of all the farmers and distorting the market, the government should let unprofitable farmers fail.”
Mr Kasahara disagrees: “Farming in rural areas like ours is about being part of a community. If we let those farmers fail, our areas will be in ruins.”
He argues the government should set a guaranteed buying price of 32,000 to 36,000 yen per 60kg of rice which is lower than today’s price but still allows farmers to be profitable.
And given what happened to Eto, it is also a sensitive topic for politicians.
The country is due to hold a key national election this summer so pleasing both consumers and farmers – especially the elderly in both camps who tend to vote more – is crucial.
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#joke #rice #cost #Japan #cabinet #minister #job
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Hardcore sim racer Rennsport gets September release window for consoles
Hardcore sim racer Rennsport gets September release window for consoles
C-H-E-F75d ago (Edited 75d ago )
Should only allow consoles to race one another PC gamers are always cheating and on racing games make it so unpleasant. Atleast make it an option to include PC or not.
Edit: and before anyone says anything I’ve been on PC for over 15 years and PlayStation since 1994.
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#Hardcore #sim #racer #Rennsport #September #release #window #consoles
Pelican News
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Erin Patterson trial: Judge delivers warning to jurors in mushroom ******* trial about websites
Erin Patterson trial: Judge delivers warning to jurors in mushroom ******* trial about websites
Jurors in Erin Patterson’s triple-******* trial were delivered a firm warning on Wednesday afternoon after a question and answer exchange between the prosecution and a digital forensics officer.
Ms Patterson has pleaded not guilty to three counts of ******* and one count of attempted ******* stemming from an deadly beef Wellington lunch she hosted on July 29, 2023, with members of her husband’s family.
On Wednesday, Victoria Police senor digital forensic officer Shamen Fox-Henry was the sole witness called to give evidence and is expected to return to the stand when the trial resumes at 11.30am on Thursday.
Camera IconSenior digital forensics officer Shamen Fox-Henry will return to court on Thursday. NewsWire/Ian Currie Credit: News Corp Australia
Mr Fox-Henry told the court he was tasked with generating a report about the contents of a Cooler Master computer seized from Ms Patterson’s home following the lunch.
He took the jury through a series of records that captured online activity on the device in the evening of March 28, 2022.
One of the records captured a visit to a specific page on the citizen science website iNaturalist at 7.23pm.
“Deathcap from Melbourne, Vic, Australia on May 18 2022 … Bricker Reserve, Moorabbin – iNaturalist,” the headline for the page read.
Mr Fox-Henry was quizzed by prosecutor Jane Warren about the specific URL listed and, if it remained available online, if one copied the URL into a browser the web page would load.
He confirmed that it would.
Camera IconErin Patterson has pleaded not guilty, with her defence arguing the deaths were a tragic accident. Brooke Grebert-Craig. Credit: Supplied
The exchange prompted a warning from Justice Christoper Beale that the jury should not test this out themselves.
“Don’t be tempted to put these URL searches into Google and conduct your own investigations overnight,” he said.
The warning echos Justice Beale’s direction to jurors at the start of the trial that the must decide the case only on the evidence adduced in court.
“When you retire to consider your verdict, you will have heard or received in court all the information that you need to make your decision,” he said.
“You must not conduct your own research into the case or discuss the case with others who are not on the jury.”
Camera IconErin Patterson and her estranged husband Simon Patterson. NewsWire Credit: NewsWire
Ms Patterson is facing trial accused of murdering her husband Simon Patterson’s parents, Don and Gail Patterson, and his aunt Heather Wilkinson.
Ms Wilkinson’s husband, Korumburra ******** Church pastor Ian Wilkinson, fell gravely ill but recovered.
Prosecutors allege Ms Patterson deliberately spiked the lunch with “murderous intent”, while her defence argues the case is a “tragic accident”.
The trial continues.
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#Erin #Patterson #trial #Judge #delivers #warning #jurors #mushroom #******* #trial #websites
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Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny Review – Old-School ******-Slaying | TNS
Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny Review – Old-School ******-Slaying | TNS
TNS: Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny 2 is an excellent remaster with many QoL features and new additions, but it still carries that old-school jank.
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#Onimusha #Samurai039s #Destiny #Review #OldSchool #DemonSlaying #TNS
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“Would Be Nice If He Spoke To Putin That Way” — The Internet Is Rolling Its Eyes After Donald Trump Insulted This Reporter
“Would Be Nice If He Spoke To Putin That Way” — The Internet Is Rolling Its Eyes After Donald Trump Insulted This Reporter
Editor’s Note: While we can’t endorse what X has become, we can bring you the newsworthy moments that still exist there, curated and free of the surrounding chaos.
Donald Trump’s second term is known for a lot of things, one of them being random outbursts in front of news cameras.
SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images
After visiting the Capitol on Tuesday to gain support for his “big, beautiful bill,” Trump went viral for insulting a reporter who asked him a pretty standard question. The video has 11 million views on X.
Newsmax / Via Twitter: @atrupar
“[Representative] Andy Harris said that you didn’t adequately convince enough people to vote for the bill,” the reporter said. Trump asked him, “You mean after this speech?”
“Well, why don’t we see how the vote is. I think it was a great, great talk. It wasn’t a speech, we talked — and uh, who do you work for?” Trump asked the reporter.
“NOTUS,” they responded. “Who?” Trump asked. “NOTUS,” they asserted.
“I don’t even know what the hell that is,” Trump said. You can hear laughter in the background. “Get yourself a real job,” he said, before other reporters started shouting questions.
In response to the video, people expressed their frustration with Trump’s response in the comments. “he gets so insecure when someone asks him a real question,” this person pointed out.
X: @MattThomas2021 / Via x.com
BuzzFeed
“A reporter finally spoke the truth to Trump! ALL REPORTERS SHOULD DO THE SAME!” this person pleaded.
X: @teachermom19681 / Via x.com
“Would be nice if he spoke to putin that way,” this person suggested.
X: @ManiamAkash / Via x.com
“He called it a speech and then said it wasn’t a speech. Sure, he’s fine,” this person said.
X: @MichelleCalkas / Via x.com
“Presidency has never been this low. Fact,” this person said.
X: @pureshimon / Via x.com
And others took it upon themselves to explain what NOTUS is. “NOTUS is a new journalism organization that covers Washington with a nonpartisan and honest perspective,” this person shared.
What do you think about the situation? Let us know in the comments.
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#Nice #Spoke #Putin #Internet #Rolling #Eyes #Donald #Trump #Insulted #Reporter
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JDM: Japanese Drift Master Review: Not Quite Complete – Traxion
JDM: Japanese Drift Master Review: Not Quite Complete – Traxion
WTMG’s Leo Faria: “I would have legitimately given JDM: Japanese Drift Master an even higher score if it wasn’t for the somewhat lacklustre amount of content it offers as of now. The foundation for a truly spectacular love letter to Need for Speed Underground 2 can be clearly seen when you’re cruising around Japan with your ******* out ride. It’s an amazing game technically-speaking, it just needs more meat, some extra cars and modes. It actually feels original, and you can obviously notice the amount of love and effort put into every single corner of its map. Just add more sushi to this platter and it will become one hell of a feast.”
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#JDM #Japanese #Drift #Master #Review #Complete #Traxion
Pelican News
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FAA extends Newark flight limits over construction, safety concerns – The Washington Post
FAA extends Newark flight limits over construction, safety concerns – The Washington Post
FAA extends Newark flight limits over construction, safety concerns The Washington PostView Full Coverage on Google News
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#FAA #extends #Newark #flight #limits #construction #safety #concerns #Washington #Post
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*** to sign Chagos deal with Mauritius
*** to sign Chagos deal with Mauritius
Sir Keir Starmer is due to sign a deal handing the Chagos Islands to Mauritius on Thursday.
Under the terms of the deal Mauritius would gain sovereignty of the islands from the ***, but allow the US and *** to continue operating a strategically important military base on one of the islands for an initial ******* of 99 years in exchange for a multi-billion pound payment.
As first reported in The Telegraph newspaper, the prime minister will attend a virtual signing ceremony with representatives from the Mauritian government on Thursday.
The deal previously appeared to have stalled after a change in government in both Mauritius and the US – where aides to Donald Trump were given time to examine the plan.
The plan to hand over control of the Chagos Islands, officially known as the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT), was announced last October following negotiations with then-Mauritian leader Pravind Jugnauth.
However, following elections, he was replaced by current PM Navin Ramgoolam, who expressed concerns about the deal.
Progress on the deal was also delayed after the election of Trump because negotiators wanted to give the new US administration time to examine the details of the plan.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was one of a chorus of high-profile Republicans who said the deal posed a “serious threat” to US national security, due to Mauritius’ relationship with China.
However, last month Trump indicated he would back the deal.
Under the terms of the deal, Britain is expected to give up sovereignty of the island territory to Mauritius, and lease back a crucial military base on the archipelago for 99 years.
The government is yet to spell out the estimated cost of payments the British taxpayer will make under the deal, but it is expected to run into the billions.
The Chagos Archipelago was separated from Mauritius in 1965, when Mauritius was still a British colony.
Britain purchased the islands for £3m, but Mauritius has argued that it was illegally forced to give away the Chagos Islands as part of a deal to get independence from Britain in 1968.
The *** has come under increasing international pressure to hand over control of the archipelago after various United Nations bodies sided with Mauritian sovereignty claims in recent years.
The last Conservative government opened negotiations over the legal status in late 2022, but has since criticised the Labour government for being willing to hand over the islands.
Reform *** has been strongly critical too.
Labour has argued that the best way to guarantee the future of the military base was to do a deal with Mauritius – and that that was in the interests of *** national security too, given the importance of the base.
Following the signing ceremony, MPs will be updated on the terms of the deal in the House of Commons, which could include scope for a 40-year extension to the lease of the military base, the Telegraph said.
Speaking in the House of Commons just this week, Defence Secretary John Healey insisted the base on Diego Garcia was “essential to our security”, and the ***’s security relationship with the US.
“We’ve had to act, as the previous government started to do, to deal with that jeopardy, we’re completing those arrangements and we’ll report to the House when we can,” he added.
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#sign #Chagos #deal #Mauritius
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Housemarque Reveals It Has No Plans For Live Service Or Free-To-Play Title
Housemarque Reveals It Has No Plans For Live Service Or Free-To-Play Title
Ilari Kuittinen and Gregory Louden of Returnal developer Housemarque have revealed during an interview with Eurogamer at the studios 30th anniversary event last week that it has no plans to develop live-service or free-to-play games, as long as people are buying premium games.
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#Housemarque #Reveals #Plans #Live #Service #FreeToPlay #Title
Pelican News
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