Family-focused the CX-5 is hugely popular and it sits above the compact CX-30 and below its larger siblings the CX-60 and CX-80.

In this instalment of Drive Time, John tries out the brand new Mazda CX-5 – the company’s most important model globally and in the UK – and examines the new Design version of the Skoda Karoq.

The next few months are going to be hugely important for Mazda with no fewer than three new models being launched by the Japanese brand.

In the summer the all-electric 6e saloon/hatch will arrive followed in the autumn by the company’s first electric SUV the CX-6e but the most important model to launch is the new CX-5, the company’s global best seller.

It has sold over five million units since it went on sale back in 2012 and it is by far Mazda’s most successful car so it is crucial to the brand.

Family-focused the CX-5 is hugely popular and it sits above the compact CX-30 and below its larger siblings the CX-60 and CX-80.

Priced from £31,550 the new CX-5 which is now on sale, undercuts the starting price of its predecessor and is available in four trim levels named Prime-Line, Centre-Line, Exclusive-Line and the top Homura grade.

The newcomer will only be offered with one powerplant – an optimised version of the 2.5-litre Skyactiv G petrol engine, mated with 24V M Hybrid technology.

This replaces the former 2.0-litre petrol unit and there is no longer a diesel option.

It produces 141ps and 238Nm of torque and gives the front-wheel drive version an acceleration time of 0-62mph in 10.5 seconds.

The top two models offer a choice of two or four-wheel drive and every model in the range comes with a six-speed automatic gearbox as standard.

As the CX-5 is so popular Mazda has not messed too much with the car’s stylish looks.

It is a tad longer, taller and wider than its predecessor but it is still instantly recognisable as a CX-5 and the longer wheelbase results in a welcome increase in head, leg and shoulder space for rear passengers.

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Boot space has increased to 583 litres, 61 litres more than the outgoing car, and when you fold the rear seats this goes up to 2019 litres – better than any of its main rivals.

The rear seats can also be split 40:20:40 to provide extra versatility.

While the exterior Kodo Soul of Motion design has not changed much, it is a different story in the cabin.

Sadly, the popular rotary control has been ditched but that leaves more space in the new centre console and the top two trims get a panoramic sunroof.

The Homura grade gets ambient lighting and the choice of black or tan leather, while Exclusive-Line customers can opt for black and white artificial leather.

A large touchscreen dominates the dash -12.9-inch on most grades and a larger 15.6-inch version on the Homura.

There is also a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and the centre display covers all the smartphone interaction with lots of menus which will take time to master.

For the first time the CX-5 gets Google built-in and all that it offers.

Mazda opted to launch the new car in Scotland with a testing 250-mile drive starting in Edinburgh and travelling through the lovely scenery of the Borders.

I sampled both two and four-wheel drive versions and found them both to be ideal on the twisting country roads and faster straight stretches.

The cars handled well with little roll and the suspension soaked up most bumps without fuss.

The steering is accurate with lots of feedback and all-round visibility is good.from the comfortable seats.

Certainly the new CX-5 is not the fastest in its class and it could be rather noisy if pushed too hard but it will have enough pace for most customers who won’t drive it as hard as journalists do on a launch.

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As I mentioned last week, the cars used in the launch were filled with biofuel and there was no difference in the performance.

The new CX-5 is as stylish and attractive as the model it replaces and offers even more space and practicality and is sure to be a winner.

It comes with all the latest safety and driver aids and has already been awarded a five-star NCAP rating.

My only gripes are the loss of the rotary control and letters replacing the neat Mazda logo on the wheel and rump.

In further fresh developments, Skoda is to broaden the appeal of its best-selling Karoq with a new Design Edition featuring a striking exterior design package along with a high standard specification to give buyers even better value for money.

The new Design Edition sits between the existing SE Edition and SE L Edition models in the revised model range.

Priced from £31,610, the new Design Edition is £650 more than the SE Edition, yet comes with a host of additional equipment.

The Karoq Design Edition is distinguished by its dynamic exterior styling which features a host of elements designed to give it a strikingly dynamic look.

In addition to new 18-inch black alloy wheels, the Design Edition also features black door mirrors and radiator grille, black roof rails, extended rear spoiler and black Skoda and Karoq lettering on the tailgate.

Inside, the Design Edition features a Lodge interior design selection with black fabric upholstery, along with all the technology features buyers have come to expect from Skoda.

The new trim grade also comes with drive mode select with ECO function as standard.

In terms of other equipment, the Design Edition features an Amundsen touchscreen satellite navigation system with eight-inch screen, along with an eight-speaker sound system and a 10.25-inch Virtual cockpit driver display.

Heated front seats, a two-spoke heated leather multifunction steering wheel (with paddles for DSG), rear view camera and a keyless entry and start/stop system are also included as part of the Design Edition’s standard specification.

Customers ordering the new Karoq Design Edition can choose from two powertrain options: a 1.0 TSI 116ps or a 1.5 TSI 150ps unit.

Both are equipped with a six-speed manual gearbox with the 1.5 TSI 150ps additionally available with a seven-speed DSG transmission.

Prices for the new Karoq Design Edition range from £31,610 OTR for the 1.0 TSI 116ps manual variant to £34,235 OTR for the 1.5 TSI 150ps DSG variant.

First deliveries are expected at the end of July.

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Nearly three months after President Donald Trump took a hammer to Americans’ disposable income by launching an air war against Iran, it appears the Middle East nation has figured out the best way to handle the threats and intermittent bouts of bluster from Trump’s social-media-based diplomacy: Ignore it.

Trump was set to convene top advisers in the White House Situation Room Tuesday to discuss options for a return to the bombing campaign he has spent months claiming as a “total victory” over Tehran before he announced Monday on Truth Social that he’d be postponing renewed attacks at the request of Qatari, Saudi and Emirati leaders, who he claimed are involved in “serious negotiations” towards “a deal which will be very acceptable to the United States of America, as well as all Countries in the Middle East, and beyond.”

“Based on my respect for the above mentioned Leaders, I have instructed Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, The Chairman of The Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Daniel Caine, and The United States Military, that we will NOT be doing the scheduled attack of Iran tomorrow, but have further instructed them to be prepared to go forward with a full, large scale assault of Iran, on a moment’s notice, in the event that an acceptable Deal is not reached,” he said.

Trump’s latest eleventh-hour reversal comes a day after he told Axios that he believes Iranian leaders still want to come to some manner of agreement and warned that Tehran is “going to get hit much harder” if they don’t capitulate to his demands.

The president also cautioned that “there won’t be anything left of them” if they fail to rush through a deal to end the war, writing on Truth Social that “the clock is ticking” for Iran.

“They better get moving, FAST, or there won’t be anything left of them. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE!

At the same time, the president remains fixated on demonizing news reporting on how the “total victory” he has been boasting of since mid-March isn’t nearly as “total” as he has claimed.

In the midst of a days-long stream of Truth Social posts about upcoming House and Senate primaries interspersed with AI-generated slop content showing him with captured aliens, among other things, Trump lashed out at the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and CNN for reporting about the war’s depletion of American munitions stockpiles that defense experts say will take years to rebuild as well as how Iran’s own capabilities remain largely intact despite Trump’s insistence that their forces have been “decimated.”

Meanwhile, Tehran is carrying on with its efforts to inflict as much economic pain on the global economy as possible without regard for anything Trump tells journalists or thumbs into his social media account. Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz leading to a spike in gas prices across the globe.

On Monday, Iranian officials created an X account for what the regime is calling the “Persian Gulf Strait Authority” — as prosaic and anodyne-sounding an organization as, say, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

A post announcing the establishment of the new agency described it as the “legal entity and representative authority of the Islamic Republic of Iran for managing the passage and transit through the Strait of Hormuz.”

It appeared to be a giant middle finger raised defiantly in Trump’s direction ahead of his reported war council session and came on the same day that Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei warned that his country is “fully prepared for every scenario” and “will not be subdued by contradictory behavior and threats” from the U.S. side of the conflict .

“In the event of any reckless action we will respond with full strength, and I assure you that our armed forces will definitely have new ‘surprises’ for the enemy,” he said.

There was a time when Trump’s Twitter tantrums could be said to have garnered at least some results.

His threats of “fire and fury” against North Korea and talk of a “nuclear button” arguably brought about a lull in Pyongyang’s provocations against South Korea and Japan during his first term, even as a pair of summits with North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Un failed to bring about anything remotely resembling progress towards the longstanding goal of denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula.

Not anymore.

By now, Iranian leaders can see Trump’s appetite for more war falling just as fast as his approval rating — or as fast as gas prices continue to rise while they choke off the world’s access to a fifth of its oil supply by seizing control of the Strait.

They know that Trump hasn’t had the fortitude to order American naval forces to reopen what is supposed to be an international waterway and clear any mines Tehran has laid. And because he’s alienated most of America’s allies — including those who could assist in mine-clearing or escorting civilian ships — they know they effectively control the strait and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.

They can also read the same newspapers and polls that Trump and his aides can.

They see the American public is widely set against the war and disapproves of Trump’s handling of the entire matter.

And because they have managed to keep much of their own capabilities in reserve by hiding missile infrastructure and other military materiel deep underground, they can keep up a defense that will make Trump’s continued boasts of “total victory” look ever more ridiculous, even in the face of what could be a punishing renewed air campaign.

So long as they can hold the strait, to borrow a phrase from Trump, they “hold all the cards.”

Through no fault of its own, the beefsteak tomato may have the most unfortunate name of the summer.

Beef and tomato prices are soaring, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ April inflation report, likely leaving many consumers wondering if burgers with all the fixings are the best choice for summer barbecues.

The inflation report provides price movements for certain grocery and everyday items based on month-to-month and year-on-year comparisons.

And while beef prices have risen by double digits year on year, they aren’t even close to the increase tomatoes have seen.

Beef gets bougie

Beef prices are 14.8 percent higher year-on-year. Ground beef is 14.5 percent higher – it’s $6.90 per pound, on average, according to the Federal Reserve.

One year ago, a pound of ground beef was $5.80.

While the Iran war has contributed to higher prices – the diesel fuel needed to transport beef is around 48 percent higher than it was last year, Yahoo Finance reported – other factors are involved.

Limited supply has led to pricier beef. In February, the U.S. cattle supply reached its lowest point since the early 1950s, Texas-based bulk beef producer Circle J Meat Co. wrote.

The re-emergence of a dangerous pest, the New World screwworm, has contributed to higher prices, too. The worm threatens cattle populations across the globe, according to data from the federal Farm Bureau. The U.S. had to order a one-day stop to cattle imports from Mexico because of the screwworm threat.

Barbecue alternatives for beef

While there’s nothing that quite replaces the flavor and texture of beef, there are alternatives that can cut down on the cost of a backyard burger bash, said Christine Pittman, CEO of recipe site COOKtheSTORY.

Pittman recommends cutting beef with other ingredients. For example, ground beef can be cut with sautéed mushrooms. A half-and-half mix is surprisingly good, Pittman said.

“They have a lot of umami and great meaty flavor and texture, sometimes you can’t even really tell they’re in there, so you use half as much sautéed mushrooms as ground beef,” she told The Independent in an email.

Towering tomato prices

Month-on-month, tomatoes cost 15 percent more in April than they did in March, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Tomato prices have jumped 40 percent since April 2025, transforming it from an affordable option for salads and burgers to a far pricier addition in those dishes.

A pound of field-grown tomatoes cost an average of $2.89 in April, according to the Federal Reserve – $1.10 more than a year earlier.

Tomato prices have risen because of supply issues. Freezing temperatures in Florida, disease, and heavy rains in Mexico, and darker-than-normal winter months in Canada have diminished the tomato harvest, according to the fresh produce industry publication The Packer. The estimated losses in Florida alone as high as 80 percent.

High diesel prices due to the war in Iran are also contributing to the skyrocketing costs.

Tomato alternatives

While there’s no spot-on match for tomatoes, Jessica Randhawa, founder of family-friendly recipe site The Forked Spoon, said red peppers can be a solid alternative.

“Red bell peppers can add a similar sweetness and body to tomatoes in soups, sauces and stews,” she told The Independent in an email.

Bell peppers are missing the acidity that tomatoes provide – a splash of lemon juice or vinegar can suffice, Randhawa recommended.

Milk madness

The price of milk rose 1.6 percent from March to April, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. A gallon of whole milk was up 2.9 percent month-on-month – it averaged $4.14 in April, up around six cents compared to a year before, according to the Federal Reserve.

The average price of whole milk reached $4.01 in April 2022, marking the first time it had surged past $4 a gallon in the 39-year history of the Fed tracking its price.

The dynamics behind milk’s high prices are complicated. Milk production has been booming over the past two years, which normally means prices go down since supply is plentiful.

However, foreign demand for U.S. milk and a consumer push to buy protein-heavy foods like yogurt have boosted demand and, in part, raised prices, noted the industry publication Dairy Herd Management.

Eggs are an exception

For the longest time during the pandemic, eggs were the poster child of inflation. Their price rose from $1.53 per dozen of large Grade A eggs in March 2020 to a record $6.23 in March 2025 – that’s more than a 400 percent increase.

While inflation played a part in eggs becoming so expensive, disease was the driver – a strain of bird flu killed some 20 million egg-laying chickens in 2024, according to the University of Nebraska’s Global Center for Health Security department.

Yet since reaching their highest point just over a year ago, egg prices have plummeted to $2.25 in April, thanks, in part, to fewer chickens dying from bird flu, the Farm Bureau noted.

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said: “At around 11.50am today (Monday, May 18), three fire engines from across Greater Manchester attended an incident at Royal Bolton Hospital, Farnworth.

“Crews arrived quickly to a suspected lightning strike with reports of multiple electrical failures in the building.

“Four members of hospital staff presented themselves to A&E for suspected electric shock and one person was rescued from a lift by onsite engineers.

“Crews assisted in making the area safe before departing after roughly an hour in attendance.”

The incident has since been scaled down following the attendance of emergency services.

Rae Wheatcroft, Chief Operating Officer at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust said: “We can confirm that earlier today a lightning strike at Royal Bolton Hospital caused some electrical issues across the site.

“These have now been largely resolved, with the exception of some communication equipment, for which backup systems are in place.

“A small number of staff affected by the incident are being assessed as a precaution.”

It is hoped the new initiative will provide a boost to local tourism and nightlife

Key Belfast stakeholders have backed a new public engagement initiative to highlight Translink’s late night Metro services.

Running throughout 2026, the Late Night Services pilot programme operates across Belfast on Friday and Saturday nights across key Metro routes with departures between midnight and 2am.

Partners across Belfast’s business, cultural and political sectors have shown their support for a new initiative designed to enhance awareness of the extended services ahead of a busy summer of activity for the city.

Launched at City Hall, a custom-built, interactive mobile Metro bus installation will appear at key locations and high footfall areas throughout Belfast, offering the public an engaging way to learn more about late night travel options and the benefits of using public transport.

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With its eye-catching pink livery, the portable bus installation will also feature at major events and festivals in the city’s calendar, including Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in August. The transportation provider believes it will help connect people with safe and reliable transport during some of Belfast’s busiest nights.

Ian Campbell, Director of Service Operations at Translink said: “Strong collective support for extended late night public transport on Friday and Saturday nights is key to the success of this pilot. We’re delighted to have key partners help us launch our new interactive Metro installation, encouraging people to use the service at key events and venues across the city and giving people a simple and engaging way to see how it can help make Belfast better connected after dark.

“We’re also grateful for the support of the Northern Ireland Executive, Belfast City Council and our city partners in helping us deliver this year-long pilot.”

Deputy Lord Mayor Paul Doherty said: “We’re delighted to back this initiative to increase more awareness of Translink’s late night services programme over the summer. Having longer public transport hours on Friday and Saturday nights is fantastic news for our residents and visitors to key events in the city like Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in August.