Latest news with #Sprinter
Perth Now
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Is this Perth's youngest rap music fan?
He might only be eight years old, but Yokine's Noah Gianotti was as passionate as any rap music fan lining up to meet British performer Central Cee at Perth Airport on Tuesday evening ahead of the star's RAC Arena show tonight. One of forty or fifty dedicated locals attempting to greet the star, Noah was overcome with emotion after the drill rapper stopped to say hello, posed for a photo, and signed a cover of his 2025 album Can't Rush Greatness. 'I actually started crying after, because I'm a big fan of him,' Noah told PerthNow, with the youngster's parents on hand to capture the pair's encounter. Rapper Central Cee stops for an autograph for Noah Gianotti on Tuesday at Perth Airport. Credit: Nick Gianotti But it wasn't enough to simply meet his hero, with the youngster compelled to take his fandom a step further. 'I actually did one of his rap verses back to him,' he added. If you'd like to view this content, please adjust your . To find out more about how we use cookies, please see our Cookie Guide. While the touring artist's music is crafted for adult ears, the RAC Arena show is billed as an all-ages event. Sure to play Noah's favourite tracks Sprinter and BAND4BAND — cracking 900 million and 400 million listens on Spotify respectively, the youngster will not be attending the star's last Aussie show. For him, the tangible nature of a face-to-face meeting with his musical heroes means more than simply cheering them on from a distance. Yokine's Noah Gianotti poses with his signed Central Cee album cover. Credit: Nick Gianotti 'I just like having the memories of waiting for them and just seeing if they'll come and say hi, and sign an autograph,' he said. Noah's parents Nick Gianotti and Prue Earl have influenced his taste in music, and have been playing hip hop around the house for his entire life. As patient as he is passionate, Noah has waited hours to meet the likes of Drake, Post Malone, and Blink-182's Travis Barker upon their trips to Perth in recent times. His parents manage an Instagram account which shares all of his celebrity encounters.
Motor Trend
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Motor Trend
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter AWD Yearlong Review Verdict: Should Your Next Pickup Be a Van?
If you've been keeping up with our Mercedes Sprinter van saga, you know the backstory: My family's pet roster includes a couple of mules, and for years we've owned a pickup truck expressly for equine chores. In 2023, we tested a Nissan Frontier to see if a midsize could sub for our heavy Chevy. This time around we decided to go continental and use the wheeled tool favored by European equestrians, the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van. We outfitted it like we would a pickup, with all-wheel drive, back seats (crew cab, meet crew van ), and the biggest box possible. Now, with 12 months and over 16,000 miles behind us, it's time to evaluate whether a van is a viable replacement for a pickup truck. Over a yearlong test, the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 AWD van impressed as a pickup alternative with its hauling capacity, fuel economy, and driving comfort. However, it struggled with towing and build quality issues. Despite these, we are convinced a van could replace their pickup in the future. This summary was generated by AI using content from this MotorTrend article Read Next Flexible Hauling, Sure. Towing? Not So Much. Our primary truck chore is hauling hay and feed, and for this job the score is vans 1, pickups 0. Hay bales weigh about 100 pounds apiece, and the quantity that can be hauled in a vehicle is limited not just by weight but also by the volume of the bed. Even with our Chevy's 8-foot box, anything more than 10 or 12 bales requires some skilled Tetrising. Not so with the Sprinter, which has 11 cubic feet space behind its rear bench and a 2,988-pound payload, which is well into heavy-duty pickup capacity. No Tetris skills needed here; any clod with a forklift can get 30 bales in the back with room to spare. We tend to stock up on hay about every three weeks, and with the Sprinter, we could have saved a ton of money on fuel by going for hay every three months; the only problem is that our hay shed isn't big enough, and stacking the bales more than three high would require us to have a forklift of our own. After a few half-ton loads, we settled down to our usual six- to eight-bale runs. All in all, the Sprinter shifted nearly six tons of hay and feed, and even with pickup-size loads, the Sprinter diesel's 20.2-mpg average still saved us money over the 12-mpg Chevy (and the 16.4 mpg Frontier). A diesel-powered 2020 Ram 2500 HD we had in our yearlong review fleet returned 17.5 mpg. We also use our pickup to tow our two-horse trailer, and here the Sprinter disappointed us. We had difficulty getting a brake controller installed, though that's no fault of the nifty RedArc Tow Pro we used, which was an easy (and stealthy) install. No, the problem was the powertrain: Although the Sprinter's 5,000-pound tow rating is (just) enough for our loaded trailer, even with a single mule aboard the engine struggled in the hills, and the lack of an engine brake meant we had to rely on the wheel brakes way more than we wanted to. We decided we'd tow the horses with the Sprinter in a pinch, and in January 2025, a pinch came up. We were well clear of most of the fires that hit Los Angeles, but the Hurst fire could have changed directions and headed for the ranch, so we outfitted the Sprinter as our bug-out (or should we say mule-out) vehicle. We hooked up the trailer, loaded hay and supplies, set up a queen-size air mattress, and camped in the Sprinter, literally waiting to see which way the wind blew. No way we could have done that with a pickup truck. When the danger had passed, we put the Sprinter to work running supplies and donations around for our fellow Angelinos who weren't as lucky as we were. Better to Live With Than a Pickup Truck? One thing I was curious about was the creature comforts I'd give up by opting for a van rather than a pickup truck. Pickups have become common as daily drivers, so automakers have trimmed them out accordingly, but vans still seem to be regarded as commercial-grade vehicles. Ram kindly let us borrow a 2500 HD pickup similar in price and equipment to the Sprinter. No question, the interior of the Ram was a great deal nicer, with soft-touch materials where the Sprinter uses industrial plastics. (They did wear well, as did the wooden panels protecting the cargo floor and walls.) The Ram's stereo sounded better, as well. I discovered early on that the Sprinter's size is a huge inconvenience, but with its cruise-ship-size turning circle, the Ram 2500 had its own set of compromises. In terms of driving qualities, this was more of a toss-up than I expected. The truck had a lot more power, largely because it's meant to tow more than three times as much as the Sprinter. The van is pretty poky—10.7 seconds is its 0–60-mph time, though we managed to reduce that to 10.3 by running the right type of diesel fuel—but that was never much of an issue in daily driving. Still, the pickup got to 60 in seven seconds flat and was able to pass with authority on two-lane roads, something I rarely felt safe doing in the Sprinter. Surprisingly, the truck's fuel economy penalty was very slight considering the truck had two more cylinders and more than three times the displacement compared to the Sprinter's engine. The van was a nicer-driving vehicle than I expected, with responsive steering and surprisingly good directional stability—better than the Ram 2500, in fact. But crosswinds were the van's kryptonite. On a day when a pickup might get blown about a bit, the van was a real handful, to the point that a healthy gust could trigger stability control. Scary. One can blame the pickup's wandering steering on its off-road tires, but it turns out the van was pretty capable off-road, as well. We took it on an outing with a Jeep Wagoneer, and the Sprinter went everywhere the SUV did. Its automatic all-wheel-drive system made off-roading simple; just turn off traction control and feed in power until it figures things out and starts moving. The Sprinter's secret weapon is its massive ground clearance, though that also made getting in and out of it a pain, but truth be told the pickup wasn't much easier. The van's driving position was brilliant, and the short hood meant we could see into the cars ahead. (If a Sprinter van honks at you when the light turns green, it's because they can see you're on your phone.) I was rather surprised by the Sprinter's build quality, and not in a good way. Shortly after the van's arrival, I saw steam coming from under the hood, which turned out to be an improperly fit coolant pipe, which was fixed under warranty. When the parking brake stopped holding, the dealer diagnosed leaky rear axle seals that had allowed oil to seep into the mechanism (a drum setup separate from the rear service brakes) and contaminate the shoes. The fix involved replacing not just the parking brake but also most of the rear axle's components. Just before that trip to the dealer, the Sprinter threw a check engine light, which turned out to be from an improperly routed wire that had chafed and shorted. The passenger door was misaligned, but having it corrected would have required a trip to the body shop, and having been without the Sprinter for well over a week, I couldn't spare it any longer—after all, the mules need their hay. I left the door as-is. My primary reason for visiting the dealer was to troubleshoot our trailer brake controller installation. Turns out the van needed a software update to accommodate trailers with LED lights, which draw less power than incandescent bulbs and, in the case of the Sprinter, not enough for the van to detect the trailer. Trailers have been using LED bulbs for, what, 15 years? 20? You'd think this software would be standard by now. The one reason we didn't visit the dealer was for routine maintenance, because we only ran the van up to 16,358 miles, well short of the Sprinter's 20,000-mile oil change interval. Credit the Sprinter's commercial focus; a van can't make money when it's in the shop, so the goal is to keep it away. The Sprinter's engine holds 10.6 quarts of oil, so there's plenty of capacity for dirt. Even so, the Sprinter did ask for a quart of oil at around 12,000 miles. Yes, it asked; the Sprinter's engine has no dipstick. You check the oil through the dash display, and it lets you know when it's down a quart. We called a couple of dealerships to ask about the cost of the 20,000-mile 'A' service, which includes an oil and filter change, fuel filter change, DEF top-off, and general inspection. One dealer quoted $850, another said 'anywhere between $300 and $1,400' depending on what the van needed. The only other fluid we added was diesel exhaust fluid, a total of 12.5 gallons, which cost us $133.75. That averages out to 1,132 miles per gallon of DEF, just over half the consumption of our 2024 Chevrolet Silverado ZR2 diesel, which used a gallon of DEF every 579 miles. (That said, DEF usage does go up with higher loads, and we did more towing with the Silverado.) Like oil, the Sprinter asks for DEF when it needs it, starting when the underhood tank is 2.5 gallons low. DEF is sold in 2.5-gallon jugs, so that worked out perfectly. So Can a Van Replace a Pickup Truck, or What? A year of using the Mercedes Sprinter as my pickup truck has made me a van convert. With the notable exception of towing, everything our pickup can do, our Sprinter van did as well or better, including hauling, daily-driving, and off-roading. Yes, I would have liked a more upscale interior, and a year without drive-throughs did not have the intended effect on my waistline I was hoping for. A little more acceleration would have been nice, too. Of course, towing is a critical part of the equation for my own use case, and if we owned a Sprinter, we'd have to invest in a lighter-weight European-style horse trailer. (Most North American trailers have a tack and storage room at the front. European trailers dispense with the tack room, because if you're towing with a Sprinter van, you already have a storage room—the van. It's worth nothing that even with a 5,000-pound trailer, the Sprinter maintains most of its payload capacity.) Still, there are other vans that can tow more. Properly equipped, a Ford Transit can tow up to 7,500 pounds, and the aging Chevrolet Express can tow a trucklike 10,000 pounds. So my one major complaint about our van can be solved. Would I actually invest my own money in a van? Our old Chevy pickup still has plenty of life left in it, but come the day it needs to be put out to pasture, don't be surprised if you see a van parked in its place. For More on Our Long-Term 2024 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter: Our New Pickup Truck Is... A Van? Off-Roading in the Sprinter—There Is No Turning Back This Van Is a Pretty Great Pickup Truck Our AWD Sprinter is Kind of a Pain in the Ass A Mission From Dog Trial by Fire Towing with the Sprinter: It's No Mule Can Different Fuel Make a Sprinter Van Faster? Would You Rather Daily Drive a Huge Pickup or a Sprinter Van?
Metro
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Who is at Jeff Bezos's $10,000,000 wedding as A-list guests 'descend on Venice
Some of the biggest names in Hollywood have jetted out to Venice this week to celebrate the severely swanky wedding of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his fiancée, Lauren Sanchez. The billionaire businessman, 61, and the former journalist, 55, went public with their relationship in 2019, and announced their engagement in 2023, after four years of dating. Details have remained under wraps over their nuptials but plans haven't gone down well with locals who have launched protests – hanging banners, stickers, posters and signs around the area condemning the celebrations. Kim Kardashian and momager Kris Jenner have made the journey to Italy, having celebrated the bride's hen do in Paris last month. Orlando Bloom, Leonardo DiCaprio and Bill Gates have also been spotted in the area. As the couple prepare to walk down the aisle, here are the biggest names hitting the streets of Venice, their net worths and how they amassed their fortunes. Although a full, finalized guest list has not been shared, the outlet reports that a string of famous faces received invites to support the happy couple on their big day. Around 200 people were personally invited, with suggesting that they were spending roughly $50,000 per person – racking up a rumored $10million bill. It's hard to remember a time when Kim Kardashian and her family weren't across billboards, magazine covers, catwalks and our TVs and phone screens. The Kardashians shot to superstardom thanks to their popular reality series, Keeping Up With The Kardashians, in 2007 and have barely looked back – with their current show, the Kardashians, breaking records on Hulu. The budding lawyer, who shares children North, Saint, Chicago and Psalm with ex-husband Kanye West, used her fame to set up a string of businesses including cosmetics brand, KKW. In 2019, she founded shapewear company Skims, which has been wildly successful – and launched collaborations withFendi, the NBA, the WNBA and Dolce & Gabbana. Khloe followed in her sister's footsteps by getting into the fashion industry by launching denim brand Good American alongside Emma Grede in 2016. The mom-of-two recently introduced protein popcorn company Khloud, and podcast Khloe in Wonder Land, while also serving as an executive producer on the Kardashians. Kylie Jenner may not have an EP title on the Kardashians but that hasn't stopped her from making serious money alongside her famous family, having starred on their shows from the young age of nine years old. At 18, she stepped into the business world by launching Kylie Lip Kits in 2015, and eventually sold a 51% stake to Coty of $600m in 2019. Last year, the reality star – who shares two children with rapper Travis Scott – joined Kim and Khloe in the fashion world by introducing clothing line Khy, as well as canned cocktail drink Sprinter. There's a reason that fans regularly use the phrase, 'The devil works hard but Kris Jenner works harder'. The momager is the mastermind behind the huge success of her family. Not only does she serve as the manager for her six children, but she also gets a percentage of their deals, has a starring role – and EP credit – in the Kardashians – all while sipping on martinis. Kendall Jenner's rise to becoming America's biggest supermodel was captured by cameras on KUWTK, meaning viewers got to go on the ride from her first ever catwalk and photoshoot as a teenager– to being named the highest paid model in the world. She has posed in designs for Marc Jacobs, Chanel, Gucci, Vera Wang, Versace and countless others over the years, and graced the cover of fashion magazines all over the world, including Vogue, LOVE, W, Vanity Fair and Harper's Bazaar. Kendall collaborated on her sister's brands, before launching her own company, 818 Tequila, in 2021. Orlando Bloom shot to superstardom thanks to his role as Legolas in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, in 2001, and has gone on to lead the way in huge movies ever since – including the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise and Gran Turismo. His most recent role came as Marlon in Amazon Prime Video hit, Deep Cover, which was released this month. He is rumored to have split from fiancée Katy Perry shortly before the nuptials, and is attending the ceremony solo as the singer is currently on tour in Australia. Tom Brady has gone down as a sporting legend after spending 23 years playing in the NFL – and is regarded as the best quarterback of all time. He won seven Super Bowl championships in his career – including six with the New England Patriots, where he played for 20 seasons before moving to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020, and remained there until his retirement in 2023. The athlete is father to three children – welcoming son Jack with ex-girlfriend Bridget Moynahan, he also shares Benjamin and Vivian with ex-wife Gisele Bundchen. Oprah has been a staple of the Forbes rich list for years, and is currently 13th on the charts of America's richest self-made women. As a talk show host, she has secured huge interviews with Michael Jackson, Meghan Markle, Tom Cruise, Barack Obama and many more. After helming her series for 25 years, she turned her brand into a huge media empire – launching her cable channel OWN and serving as the CEO and chairwoman of Harpo Productions, working on Selma, the Water Man and the Color Purple among others. Acclaimed journalist Gayle King has been in the spotlight for decades, and began her career as a news anchor in the 80s, before appearing as a special correspondent on the Oprah Winfrey Show with her best friend. She went on to land her own talk show and, in 2011, moved over to CBS to anchor CBS Mornings. Gayle may have a closer relationship to the couple than most, having traveled to space with the bride earlier this year. The former model is President Donald Trump's eldest daughter and regularly appears alongside her father for public events. During his first term, she joined the White House as a senior adviser, having previously served as an executive vice president at the Trump Organization. She married husband Jared Kushner in 2009 after two years of dating, and they share children Arabella, Joseph and Theodore together. Businessman Jared was among Trump's closest advisors during his first stint, and officially served as a senior advisor in his administration. In 2021, he formed investment firm Affinity Partners – according to Forbes, he also runs a $3 billion private equity fund. Diane von Fustenberg is one of the most fashionable women in the world, founding her eponymous fashion house in 1972 – she grew to huge fame after debuting her signature wrap dress two years later. She relaunched her company in the 90s, and her clothes have been worn by some of the biggest names in the world, including Michelle Obama, Kate Middleton, Gwyneth Paltrow, Madonna and Whitney Houston. Like Diane' Domenico's surname is among the most known in the world of fashion – in the 80s, he partnered with Stefano Gabbana to launch Dolce & Gabbana, and the pair are still working hard today. They have dressed Madonna, Angelina Jolie, Kylie Minogue and more, and recently collaborated with Kim Kardashian and SKIMS on a popular collection. Forbes reports that both Domenico and Stefano still share ownership and both design for D&G to this day. Leonardo DiCaprio is one of the biggest names in Hollywood, having started his career as a young actor in the 90s. His filmography boasts a string of acclaimed, hit moves, including Titanic, Catch Me If You Can, Blood Diamon, Shutter Island, Inception, Django Unchained and Romeo + Juliet. He earned his first Oscar nomination at 19 for his efforts in 1993 flick What's Eating Gilbert, and he went on to earn five more nods before finally taking home the coveted statue in 2016 for the Revenant. Chicago-born model Karlie was discovered in 2005 and made her debut in an editorial spread the following year – over the years, she has risen to become one of the biggest faces in the industry. She has covered fashion bibles British Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, W Magazine and countless others, while also appearing in campaigns for Chanel, Nike, Jean Paul Gaultier, Victoria's Secret and Coach. She replaced Heidi Klum as host of Project Runway, while also launching her own Kode with Klossy initiative for young girls interested in coding and computer science. Harvard graduate Josha founded venture capital firm Thrive Capital in 2010, and co-created health insurance start-up Oscar Health. Forbes reports that he achieved billionaire status in 2022, and has a net worth of $3.8bn. In 2018, he married Karlie and they went on to welcome two sons together – in March, the couple announced that they have a third child on the way. Bill Gates was previously the most wealthiest man in the world, having co-founded Microsoft in 1975 – his power in the company was 'slowly handed over from 2006 onwards', so that he could focus on his philanthropy. He eventually stepped down from the board in 2020, and is said to have donated shares worth billions to the Gates Foundation. It is estimated that he has handed over $59bn to good causes over the years. Jeff and Lauren were first linked at the beginning of 2019, amid reports that they had been spending time together. Shortly after, the mogul announced his divorce from ex-wife MacKenzie Scott – who he shares four children with – officially bringing their 25-year marriage to an end. The ex-Good Day LA host also separated from her husband – Endeavour agency chairman Patrick, after welcoming two children together. She is also mom to a son with NFL star Tony. It is unclear how the lovebirds met, but reports claim that they grew close while working on several projects together. Lauren has remained by Jeff's side ever since, and has publicly supported him at his space missions in 2021. They took things to the next level two years ago, and announced their engagement after a trip to the South of France. Unpacking the romantic moment with Vogue, she recalled: 'When he opened the box, I think I blacked out a bit.' She also confirmed that she would be changing her name when they tie the knot, adding: 'Uh, yes, one hundred percent. I am looking forward to being Mrs Bezos.' Last January, Lauren shared a glimpse into their relationship with a sweet post on Instagram, to mark her beau's milestone 60th birthday. More Trending 'Today is another day where your laughter fills our home, and that smile of yours lights up every room,' she penned, beside a string of snaps. 'Wishing you an abundance of simple joys and quiet moments of happiness. May this year be filled with everything you love, from peaceful mornings to joyous celebrations. 'I hope each day brings you countless reasons to smile, just like you give me a reason to smile every single day. Love you, and happy birthday, my love.' This article was first published on June 24. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: What £40,000,000 could pay for instead of fund Jeff Bezos' wedding in Venice MORE: Justin Bieber changes his name in bizarre move on Instagram MORE: Jeff Bezos's foam party proves all the money in the world can't buy taste
Time of India
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Who is Olivia Ponton? The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model making headlines alongside Joe Burrow
Joe Burrow and Sports Illustrated model Olivia Ponton have ignited dating rumors (Getty Images) In a story that quickly set social media ablaze, Cincinnati Bengals star quarterback Joe Burrow was recently seen walking side-by-side with Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model Olivia Ponton in New York City—at 3 a.m. , no less. The unexpected pairing reignited dating rumors that have been quietly simmering since the two were first spotted together during the F1 Miami Grand Prix weekend in May. Who is Olivia Ponton? Olivia Ponton is a rising American model and social media influencer best known for her work with top fashion brands and her viral presence online. Born in Naples, Florida, the 23-year-old signed with IMG Models and made her Sports Illustrated Swimsuit debut in 2022, returning again in 2023. She has modeled for major names including SKIMS, Ralph Lauren, Steve Madden, and Frankies Bikinis. Ponton is also a vocal advocate for LGBTQIA+ visibility. She came out as bisexual in Teen Vogue in 2021 and later clarified that she identifies as pansexual, emphasizing her belief that 'sexuality is a very fluid thing.' Proudly femme-presenting, she uses her platform to inspire younger audiences to embrace their identities. Recently, Ponton has been in the spotlight due to her rumored relationship with Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, further fueling interest in her career and personal life as photos of the pair together in NYC go viral. Bengals quarterback and SI model spark buzz after being spotted together at 3 a.m. Though neither party has confirmed a relationship, this latest outing has added considerable fuel to the fire. Joe Burrow and Olivia Ponton's 3 a.m. stroll comes after multiple low-key appearances together, including leaving New York's Carlyle Hotel around the time of the Met Gala. The quarterback attended the main event, while Ponton was rumored to have attended one of the ultra-exclusive after-parties. The intrigue began back in December, when Ponton called authorities during a burglary incident at Burrow's Cincinnati home. Reports claimed she identified herself as part of his staff, which sparked early speculation about the nature of their relationship. Since then, fans have noted their synchronized movements, like arriving at a Miami nightclub in the same Sprinter van—but deliberately leaving separately to avoid attention. Monday's 3 a.m. rendezvous, however, marks the boldest public moment yet, suggesting they're no longer hiding their connection. Fueling curiosity, Olivia Ponton posted an Instagram story just before her NYC outing with Burrow, showcasing her sleek outfit—an oversized white blouse with a deep V neckline and high-waisted black shorts. She followed that with a post captioned 'Running in Central Park,' adding a touch of mystery and subtle confirmation to fans eager for clues. Also Read: Aaron Rodgers flaunts wedding ring but still no sign of 'fake' wife amid growing marriage hoax rumors With this latest sighting, it's clear Burrow and Ponton are now squarely in the spotlight—whether they like it or not. For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here . Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
RNZ News
24-06-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Sports News for 25 June 2025
New Zealand sprinter Zoe Hobbs has set an Oceania record in the 100m at the latest World Athletics Continental Tour meet in the Czech Republich. Tags: To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
