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The Future of Playstation Needs Uncharted 5 but It’s Hard to Beat Amy Hennig’s Blueprint The Future of Playstation Needs Uncharted 5 but It’s Hard to Beat Amy Hennig’s Blueprint If you’re a fan of the Uncharted series by Naughty Dog, then you have surely asked this one question before. Should the studio and Neil Druckmann make another game? Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End had a near-perfect conclusion to Nathan Drake’s story, so the debate is not just about the if, but also the how. Uncharted is one of the most celebrated franchises in gaming. | Image Credit: Naughty Dog The PlayStation 5 has had a lot of successful games but there has been a noticeable drop in exclusive games which means the console hasn’t sold as much. There has also been a gap in the action-adventure genre for a game like Uncharted to shine with strong adventure and story beats. What incentive does Naughty Dog have to make a new Uncharted game? Uncharted 4 has a perfect ending, so why touch it? | Image Credit: Naughty Dog The ending of Uncharted 4 is one of the best in the history of gaming. When the game first came out in 2016, it was praised for its emotionally satisfying conclusion. And it still is today, which is why the debate about whether we a new entry in the franchise is so fierce. Comment byu/shawnnathan4 from discussion inuncharted The game’s epilogue takes us to the perspective of Nate and Elena’s daughter Cassie, and it gave us a heartfelt goodbye. Cassie’s discovery of her parents’ adventurous past mirrored the players’ journey, offering one last chance to explore, reflect, and connect. Instead of a tragedy, we got a touching exploration of family and legacy. And with everything set and done, there’s just the fact that even if there was an Uncharted 5, it couldn’t live up to the franchise’s previous success. Why? Because Naughty Dog doesn’t have Amy Hennig anymore. Amy Hennig’s influence on Uncharted is undeniable. As the creative director and writer for the first three installments, she built the foundation for Nathan Drake’s world. Nobody deserves more credit for the #Uncharted series than @amy_hennig. You created stories that people wanted to experience and wanted to be engrossed in and characters that fans all around the world loved. You inspired cosplayers and creators. You inspired us. pic.twitter.com/erVAOx5rip — Naughty Dog World (@NaughtyDogWorld) January 29, 2023 Hennig eventually left the studio during the development of Uncharted 4, and the cracks were visible. Under Neil Druckmann and Bruce Straley, Uncharted 4 was still a big success. However, the absence of Hennig’s hand was felt in some corners, particularly in characters like Sam Drake, whose dynamic with Nathan differed from Hennig’s original vision. Naughty Dog has its focus set on the future The studio is making an action-adventure game in space. | Image Credit: Naughty Dog Well, the developers at Naughty Dog are in no rush because the studio has indicated that it is “moving on” from the franchise. Co-president Neil Druckmann has previously stated in an interview that the studio feels no pressure to revisit its past projects unless there’s a big and compelling reason to. In the current state of the industry, the PlayStation brand could benefit from Uncharted 5. Fans of PlayStation have grown up with Uncharted and a new game would be a big help to the PS5’s lineup with the kind of experience that fans want. The studio is currently working on Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet but fans aren’t super excited from its first trailer. Theoretically though, if Uncharted were to return, it might be best if Nathan Drake was out of the story entirely. The studio has created and explored new characters and perspectives. Imagine a game where we explore Chloe and Nadine’s adventures or introduce a new protagonist, such as Cassie Drake, exploring her parents’ legacy. Source link #Future #Playstation #Uncharted #Hard #Beat #Amy #Hennigs #Blueprint Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Amazon, Broadcom are buys on DeepSeek sell-off, Hightower’s Stephanie Link says Amazon, Broadcom are buys on DeepSeek sell-off, Hightower’s Stephanie Link says The DeepSeek sell-off could soon mean a buying opportunity in Amazon and Broadcom , according to Hightower’s Stephanie Link. Stock futures are tumbling Monday after ******** startup DeepSeek debuted a potentially competitive artificial intelligence model at a lower cost than OpenAI, spurring investor fears of an impending burst in the AI bubble. The S & P 500 soared more than 20% both in 2024 and 2023 in large part because of bets that AI would unlock large markets for the “Magnificent Seven” stocks. Regardless, Link, chief investment strategist at Hightower Advisors, said the tech rout could create an opportunity for investors looking to snap up AI names, especially in companies that have diversified businesses insulated from the DeepSeek headlines. “I’m thinking you want to look for opportunity, Amazon would be the one I would look for,” Link told CNBC’s “Squawk Box” Monday. “I wouldn’t be running out today, but it’s more than an AI story. It’s an e-commerce story, operating profit story.” “Broadcom is a little bit more diversified. They do have an AI bent to them, for sure, but they also have a software component with VMware. And they also have their non-AI businesses, their cyclical businesses that are troughing,” Link continued. “So that would also be one that on a pullback I would look at.” Amazon is down nearly 3% in trading Monday. Broadcom shares dropped more than 12%. AMZN 1D mountain Amazon She reiterated that the data center buildout will continue and expressed confidence in the expansion of the AI market over the next several years. “Today, I get the reactions,” Link said. “Let it settle, and you pick your spots.” Source link #Amazon #Broadcom #buys #DeepSeek #selloff #Hightowers #Stephanie #Link Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Liberal and former Uber boss Tom White launches campaign to win back seat of Curtin Liberal and former Uber boss Tom White launches campaign to win back seat of Curtin Liberal Tom White admits he’s the underdog to win back the plum seat of Curtin from the teals. Source link #Liberal #Uber #boss #Tom #White #launches #campaign #win #seat #Curtin Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap Review – Gamer Social Club Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap Review – Gamer Social Club Christopher|51d ago |Trailer|0| ▼ Info Add Alt Source The Orcs are back, and therefore, they must die! Robot Entertainment’s anarchic tower defence game returns, featuring four-player co-op, brand new playable characters, and the deadliest array of traps yet. Commerce Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap PC PC Gaming Show Xbox Series X youtube.com Read Full Story >> [Hidden Content] youtube.com Source link #Orcs #Die #Deathtrap #Review #Gamer #Social #Club Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Holocaust Memorial Day: King to visit Auschwitz concentration camp – BBC.com Holocaust Memorial Day: King to visit Auschwitz concentration camp – BBC.com Holocaust Memorial Day: King to visit Auschwitz concentration camp BBC.comThe difficult question about Auschwitz that remains unanswered BBC.comHungarian Jews remember Holocaust tragedy 80 years after liberation of Auschwitz Yahoo! Voices‘Nothing will be easy about returning:’ Survivors mark 80th anniversary of Auschwitz liberation CNNAt Auschwitz, a Solemn Ceremony at a Time of Rising Nationalism The New York Times Source link #Holocaust #Memorial #Day #King #visit #Auschwitz #concentration #camp #BBC.com Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter Review | TheXboxHub Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter Review | TheXboxHub “The US-based indie games publisher United Label and Manchester-based (the ***) indie games developer Odd Bug Studio, are today very happy and excited to announce that their adventure-RPG “Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter”, is coming to PC (via Steam) and consoles (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and the Nintendo Switch) in February next year (2025).” – Jonas Ek, TGG. Source link #Tails #Iron #Whiskers #Winter #Review #TheXboxHub Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Is DeepSeek already down? ChatGPT rival and App Store king struggling to cope with demand Is DeepSeek already down? ChatGPT rival and App Store king struggling to cope with demand DeepSeek is now the most popular free app in the US and *** Stores But the ChatGPT rival appears to be struggling to cope with demand The ******** start-up is experiencing server outages and login issues DeepSeek is the most popular app in the world right now and the AI chatbot might be struggling to meet demand. The new ChatGPT competitor created by a ******** start-up is experiencing service outages and the company’s status page claims it is investigating possible causes. The AI chatbot has gained worldwide acclaim over the last week or so for its incredible reasoning model that’s completely free and on par with OpenAI’s o1 model. According to the company’s status page, there’s an issue that is preventing users from signing up and accessing DeepSeek and its DeepThink R1 AI model. While I’ve not experienced any issues with the app or website on my iPhone, I did encounter issues on my Pixel 8a when writing a DeepSeek vs ChatGPT comparison earlier today. It appears that creating new accounts is causing DeepSeek issues, often showing errors when a user attempts to send a prompt. The latest incident appears to be resolved as of 9:32pm ******** local time (8.32am ET / 1.32pm GMT). But considering the huge influx of users, there could be further issues throughout Monday and the rest of the week. Teething issues (Image credit: Future) DeepSeek has taken the world by storm by offering an AI chatbot that’s as good, if not better, than OpenAI’s class-leading ChatGPT. While that’s excellent for people looking to get their hands on a free AI with immense capability, it could lead to issues and outages more frequently as the servers struggle to cope with demand. Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. We’ll be monitoring this outage and potential future ones closely, so stay tuned to TechRadar for all your DeepSeek news. You may also like Source link #DeepSeek #ChatGPT #rival #App #Store #king #struggling #cope #demand Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Premier League transfers: January spend higher than last year with one week left Premier League transfers: January spend higher than last year with one week left Manchester City’s surprisingly poor defence of the Premier League title has led to Pep Guardiola making three big-money signings – with the potential of more to come. City have signed Eintracht Frankfurt forward Omar Marmoush (£59m), Palmeiras defender Vitor Reis (£29.6m) and Lens centre-back Abdukodir Khusanov (£33.6m). They had not previously made a significant January signing since £57m Aymeric Laporte in 2018. Paul MacDonald of FootballTransfers.com said: “In January 2023, £815m was spent and this represented 28.4% of all transfer fees spent in that season – the highest of any year in the past decade. “But there were a few mitigating factors. Chelsea alone were responsible for £286m of that. We also witnessed a sense of desperation in sides threatened with relegation – Leeds, Southampton, Leicester, who would all ultimately go down – and Bournemouth spent over £200m between them to attempt to avoid the drop. “But 2024 saw a complete reset – £96m was spent, just 3.9% of the total outlay for the season, as teams appeared happy with their lot and, crucially, were acutely aware of emerging PSR restrictions and opted to retain any spending power for the summer window.” Profit and sustainability rules have hindered clubs – with Everton and Nottingham Forest receiving points deductions last season for breaking the Premier League’s spending rules. No clubs have fallen foul of the rules this year. McDonald added: “2025 is shaping up to be a more active window than last year, with Manchester City extremely active. “But they have the headroom after amassing a very strong PSR position courtesy of their quiet summer business and others, like Manchester United, probably aren’t as fortunate. “Liverpool probably do have the PSR headroom, too, but their focus is likely to be on renewals rather than acquisitions, as Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah’s remain very much up for grabs. “And Chelsea are still trying to find equilibrium by offloading some of the mass of players they brought in – but again, they may see the summer window as a better place to extract value for those deemed surplus to requirements.” Source link #Premier #League #transfers #January #spend #higher #year #week #left Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Motion Game Console BodyLink Funded With 1,900% of (Modest) Kickstarter Goal Motion Game Console BodyLink Funded With 1,900% of (Modest) Kickstarter Goal Welcome to Developer_Direct 2025, a behind the scenes look at new gameplay, features, and the latest info for some of the biggest games coming to Xbox in 2025. You’ll hear straight from the game creators at id Software, Compulsion Games, Sandfall Interactive, and a surprise studio for a game that we’re excited to unveil. Source link #Motion #Game #Console #BodyLink #Funded #Modest #Kickstarter #Goal Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trainer Chris Willis lands Pinjarra double with Mavis Myrtle and Tallangatta both leading throughout Trainer Chris Willis lands Pinjarra double with Mavis Myrtle and Tallangatta both leading throughout Experienced trainer Chris Willis celebrated the Australia Day public holiday in style, taking two runners to Pinjarra and landing a double with Mavis Myrtle and Tallangatta. Mavis Myrtle was sent to the front by rider Laqdar Ramoly and completely suffocated the tempo of the third event, crawling along through the first 800m until the pace lifted 600m from the judge. Fleetingly, debutante Mississippi Dawn ($5), daughter of Perth Cup winner Mississippi Delta, appeared a chance at the 200m but Willis’ front-runner had gotten away with too much and held on by a half-neck. The victory pulled off a betting coup with the winner $6.50 into $3.70 and just under two hours later in the sixth, the same tactics were employed on Tallangatta, who too was $11 down to $4.80. When Ramoly got serious inside the last 200m, the seven-year-old Americain gelding shifted up to meet favourite Antique Star ($2.50) but was safely holding and even extending a half-length margin at the end of the 1400m journey. Ironically, Tallangatta’s last win came at Pinjarra on April 10 last year when Willis took just he and Beau Talk to the track, with both emerging successful. “I thought he was a bit unlucky first-up. I made a blue the other day – I forgot to tell Austin (Galati) that he can lay in a little bit under pressure – and just when he went to pull him off the heels last week, he couldn’t quite get him off in time,” Willis said. “But he hit the line super, and I thought today down on the minimum (weight) in a class five race, he’s a Saturday horse all day and I thought he was pretty close to a good thing. “I think his best trip is somewhere between 16 and 1800m but he’s very adept at 1400m, whichever you choose really.” After Geraldton’s race meeting was postponed from last week and clashed with the Pinjarra programme, Ramoly picked up the rides from Galati who was forced to choose between the two cards. Galati finished in the top four in the last six races on the seven-event fixture but was not rewarded with a winner. “I have to thank Austin – he does a lot of work for Chris Willis, and he told me these two would go really good,” Ramoly said. “When he knew he wanted to go to Geraldton, I was the first option for him because he’s a good mate of mine, so thanks for him. “From the 600m, I knew he would give me heaps when I started asking and he fought hard and won the race. Camera IconTallangatta wins at Pinjarra for jockey Laqdar Ramoly Credit: Natasha Rawluk/Natasha Rawluk/Western Racepix “I still had a half-tank underneath me. Credit to the trainer; the horse was fit.” + Hit The Jackpot completed a double for hoop Brad Parnham in the final contest, ending up on the inside rail after spending most of the journey on the outside fence down the 1000m straight. Source link #Trainer #Chris #Willis #lands #Pinjarra #double #Mavis #Myrtle #Tallangatta #leading Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Tokyo Xtreme Racer is a blast from the past (for better or worse) | Traxion Tokyo Xtreme Racer is a blast from the past (for better or worse) | Traxion Tokyo Xtreme Racer is BACK after a nearly 20-year hiatus. And the results are mostly positive. Fans of the old games will be delighted, but more contemporary features would be welcome. Source link #Tokyo #Xtreme #Racer #blast #worse #Traxion Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Tesla joins court challenges to EU tariffs on ******** EVs Tesla joins court challenges to EU tariffs on ******** EVs STORY: Tesla is the latest big automaker to challenge the EU overs its tariffs on China-made electric vehicles. It joins BMW and ******** producers in filing a challenge at a top European court. The move was revealed Monday (Jan 27) in a filing on the website for the Court of Justice of the European Union. The challenge will open a new front in Brussels’ conflict with Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Earlier this month, the EU stepped up its probe into Musk’s social media platform X over content moderation. The EU imposed tariffs on China-made EVs at the end of October after an anti-subsidy investigation. The rate for Tesla was set at 7.8%, lower than any of its competitors. The court document showed the U.S. automaker lodged its complaint last week. ******** EV giants BYD, Geely and SAIC have also challenged the tariffs at the court. Source link #Tesla #joins #court #challenges #tariffs #******** #EVs Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Just Like Skyrim, The Witcher 3 Has Successfully Held Onto It’s Popularity Even 10 Years After Release Just Like Skyrim, The Witcher 3 Has Successfully Held Onto It’s Popularity Even 10 Years After Release It feels like The Witcher 3 was released yesterday, but the reality is that in just a few months from now, the game will complete its 10th anniversary. The game, which made our childhoods brighter is about to complete its decade-long dominance, and it makes us realize that we are getting old and our childhood is over. The Witcher 3 was released on May 18, 2025. | Credit: CD Projekt Red. Now, the interesting fact is that just like The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim, the CD Projekt Red action RPG is still more than relevant in today’s gaming world, as the game has successfully managed to hold its popularity since its launch. But what is the reason behind this longevity despite being a single-player title? The voice actor of the game’s main protagonist has the answer. The voice behind the main protagonist of The Witcher 3 knows why the game has this longevity As we step into the 10th anniversary of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt in May, players are wondering what kept the game’s popularity intact after this long time *******. However, this doesn’t surprise Doug Cockle, the voice behind the game’s main protagonist, Geralt. Here’s what he stated in an interview with GamesRadar about the longevity of that game: It was a milestone in game development for all kinds of reasons: the quality of the animation; the quality of the gameplay; the visuals; the sound design; the storytelling; the writing. All of it was so amazing when it first came out, and it continues to be amazing. Cockle gives the credit mainly to the “level of the immersive storytelling” of the game. As per him, there have been a lot of games released since 2015, but very few of them have been able to stay in the race like The Witcher 3 has done so far. Cockle also believes the game’s insane popularity has helped the original novels garner so much love from fans around the world and that is how “this whole wonderful new fantasy world became available to people who had no idea it existed before.” A lot of credit goes to Cockle himself too. His deep and bold voice has helped Geralt become the face of the game for so many times. However, Cockle this time has to take a step backward as the upcoming The Witcher title will have a new protagonist, and the OG voice actor isn’t hesitant to support that choice by CDPR. Still, we are going to immerse ourselves in the voice of the American actor as he will again fill in the shoes of Geralt in Netlfilx’s upcoming anime movie, The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep. Is Skyrim still worth playing in 2025 and why is the answer “yes”? Millions of people are still playing, talking about, writing articles, and creating videos about Bethesda’s unstoppable fantasy role-playing game ten years after it was first released. Something about Skyrim draws players in year after year, and it has had a cultural impact that most video games could only hope for. Even those who have no interest in video games are likely to have some vague knowledge of Skyrim. But what is the reason behind this success? Skyrim was launched four years before The Witcher 3. | Credit: Bethesda. Even after hundreds of hours and having explored every inch of the map, the freedom of Skyrim is thrilling. RPGs don’t get much more thrilling than creating a new character, emerging from that cave, and seeing the entire world unfold before you. The idea of being able to go anywhere, do anything, and be anyone is enticing. This is the key to the absurdly high replayability of the game. No two playthroughs are ever the same because of the world’s dynamic, unpredictable nature and this liberating freedom. The simulation that powers Skyrim is another factor that makes it so replayable. Skyrim is a collection of games, whereas most role-playing games are essentially one type of game. Without completing quests, following the plot, or even brandishing your sword, you can still play and have fun. You can simply hike, fish, cut wood, and wander the wilderness if you so choose. It could be a hunting simulation or a survival game. You can build and decorate homes with your time, go for a romantic relationship, and even employ people to defend you. The thing is wild in its breadth. Are you still into The Witcher 3 and Skyrim? Share your thoughts about these two masterpieces in the comment section. Source link #Skyrim #Witcher #Successfully #Held #Popularity #Years #Release Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Kollyva: The Christian Memorial Service Super Food From Ancient Greece Kollyva: The Christian Memorial Service Super Food From Ancient Greece There is Christian symbolism in the ingredients that make kollyva, the food served in memorials. Credit: Pinterest Kollyva, the boiled wheat-based sweet offered at Greek Orthodox memorial services for the repose of the souls of the dead is a superfood that has its roots in ancient Greece. The ritual food passed from the ancient Greeks to early Christianity in Byzantium and later spread to the entire Orthodox world with added symbolism. The word “kollyva” has its roots in the ancient Greek word “kollyvos” (singular) (Greek: κόλλυβος), meaning a coin of small numismatic value. The first documented mention of the word is in the play Eirini (Peace), by Aristophanes in 421 BC. Kollyva symbolizes the association between life and death, between that which is planted in the earth and that which emerges from the earth and is embedded in the making and eating of kollyva. It is served during memorial services three, nine, or forty days after the ******** and in the first and third annual anniversaries of the death. They are also offered on All Souls Day. During the memorial service (mnemosynon), the kollyva is placed in front of the memorial table or an icon of Christ. Afterwards, it is blessed by the priest who sprinkles it with holy water. The kollyva is then taken to the refectory and is served to all those who attended the service. Greek Orthodox Christian Symbolism The wheat in kollyva is the symbol of the human body because man is nourished and grows by eating foods made of wheat. Jesus Christ likened His divine body to a grain of wheat, thus saying in the twelfth chapter of the Gospel according to John: “The grain of wheat, if it falls to the ground and does not die, stays there and does not multiply. But if it dies, it bears plenty of fruit.” Hence, the wheat symbolizes the death, burial, and resurrection of the bodies. Our dead will dissolve “into what they were composed of” and will rise again with the power of God in the Second Coming with an indestructible body like the grain of wheat. Therefore, to commemorate our dead, we take the kollyva to the church at the memorial services and on All Souls’ Day and share them with the participants. At the end of the memorial, the faithful say: “Eternal the memory, eternal the memory, eternal the memory.” This is the prayer so that the memorial will be eternally effective after tens, hundreds, or thousands of years until the Second Coming. It is very important that kollyva be made using nine specific ingredients, each symbolizing a religious concept: Wheat: Symbolizes the earth and the body of the deceased Sugar: The ********** of Heaven and everlasting life Raisins: The vine, Jesus Christ Parsley: To rest “in a field of green” Almonds: Fertility, perpetual life (walnuts can be used as well) Pomegranate: The riches of Heaven, the splendor Grated rusk or sesame: Let the dirt (earth) that covers the dead be light Hard white candy: The bones that remain intact after the body disintegrates Cinnamon: The fragrances, the myrrh that was put on the body of Jesus Christ Roots in ancient Greece Kollyva, the sweet made and offered in memory of the dead, has ancient origins. Ancient Greeks used the word “kollyvos,” which originally referred to a coin of small value that was placed on the grave of the deceased and given to the participants. Therefore, today’s kollyva, the sweet made and offered to commemorate the dead, has ancient origins. Small vessel for wine, would have been given as a gift to a young boy during Anthesteria, celebrating the new wine. Such vessels depict children at play, often imitating adults. Here, a chubby Eros runs, pulling a child’s toy cart behind him. Credit: Public Domain This memorial custom is connected to the ancient agricultural custom of panspermia, a mixture of wheat, nuts, and various fruits, which was prepared and offered on the last day of the feast of the Anthesteria, the celebration of spring. The third day of the Anthesteria was the day in honor of the dead. As nature is dormant during the winter and is reborn in the spring, that day was in honor of the dead whose souls are eternal. On that day, ancient Greeks boiled wheat and various grains in large clay pots symbolizing the souls of the dead and dedicated them to Chthonius Hermes, god of fertility. The Greeks, since ancient times, associated the commemoration of the dead with rebirth, as happens with the fruits of the earth. Persephone, the wife of Hades, was the daughter of the goddess of harvest, Demeter. Hence, to offer to the living in memory of the dead the ********** of wheat, nuts, raisins, pomegranate, sugar, and parsley is something that connects us to our origin, our history, but also to earth, the soil, and the beginning and end of everything. Source link #Kollyva #Christian #Memorial #Service #Super #Food #Ancient #Greece Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump Wins Deportation Battle, Tough Tone Convinces Colombian President to Cave Trump Wins Deportation Battle, Tough Tone Convinces Colombian President to Cave The White House is claiming victory over Colombia in a showdown over flights of deported Colombian migrants who were in the U.S. illegally. After Colombian President Petro blocked two U.S. military planes with deportees from landing in the South American nation, President Trump ordered 25% tariffs on imported goods from Colombia including crude oil, coffee, and bananas. Columbia’s President blinked first, and the U.S. planes will be allowed. It comes as Border Czar Tom Homan joined ICE and DEA agents in Chicago where officials conducted “targeted operations.” Homan said, “It’s sending a strong signal to the world, our border is closed.” Immigration officials say they arrested almost 2,000 people across the country over the weekend. Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott praised Trump’s swift action on the border, telling Fox News, “I don’t think there’s ever been a more sudden and swift change in any government operation than under President Trump.” Even Illinois Democratic Governor JB Pritzker told CNN he is in favor of ICE’s apprehension of ******** migrants with criminal records in his state. “If they show up with warrants to take people away, then we’re going to hand them over,” Pritzker told CNN. “We’re going to follow the law in Illinois and federal law too. We expect them to do the same. I’m very afraid that they will not follow the law.” Birthright Citizenship Court Battle Meanwhile, President Trump says he’ll appeal a federal judge’s ruling blocking his executive order ending birthright citizenship. Regent University law professor Brad Jacob told CBN’s Faith Nation that Trump’s chance of winning in court would be a long shot. “There’s never been a court decision on someone who entered the country without legal process,” Jacobs said regarding birthright citizenship. “Mr. Trump’s team is making the ********* argument, but it’s not a crazy argument.” Ending DOJ ‘Weaponization’ As part of Trump’s promise to end the ‘weaponization’ of the federal government against conservatives, the Justice Department said Friday it will scale back efforts by the Biden administration to prosecute pro-life demonstrators near abortion clinics under the FACE act. Confirming Trump’s Nominees Meanwhile, two more members of Trump’s cabinet received Senate confirmation. Former South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem will now head the Department of Homeland Security. And Pete Hegseth, the president’s choice to lead the Department of Defense, was also sworn in over the weekend. This week the Senate will hold additional confirmation hearings for three more of Trump’s cabinet picks, including Tulsi Gabbard for Director of National Intelligence, RFK Jr. for Health and Human Services, and Kash Patel for FBI director. ***Please sign up for CBN Newsletters and download the CBN News app to ensure you receive the latest news updates from a Christian perspective.*** Source link #Trump #Wins #Deportation #Battle #Tough #Tone #Convinces #Colombian #President #Cave Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Three months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate costs only $34 right now Three months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate costs only $34 right now Life can be really hard and sometimes all we want is to sink onto the couch, turn our brains off and play game after game. That’s part of the reason we’re such big fans of the Xbox Ultimate Game Pass, which offers access to hundreds of Xbox and PC games all for one monthly price. Well, right now, you can get a three-month Xbox Ultimate Game Pass for just $34, down from $50. The 32 percent discount means it’s a few dollars shy of its December deal, but it’s still a great offer. You can shop the ***** at Woot for the next two days or until it sells out. Xbox Speaking of deals, Woot is also running a ***** on lots of gaming items, such as the 8Bitdo Retro Mechanical Keyboard — down to $60 from $100 — and the 8Bitdo Ultimate 3-mode Controller for Xbox — down to $40 from $70. Then there’s games like Animal Crossing: New Horizons, which is down to $40 from $60, and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, which is available for $45, down from $70. Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice. Source link #months #Xbox #Game #Pass #Ultimate #costs Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Redmi A5 Chipset Details Surface Online; Said to Launch in Select Markets as Poco C71 Redmi A5 Chipset Details Surface Online; Said to Launch in Select Markets as Poco C71 Redmi A5 may soon arrive as a successor to the Redmi A4 5G, which was launched in India in November 2024. The purported handset was recently spotted on the IMEI database suggesting an imminent launch. A new report has suggested the expected chipset details of the rumoured smartphone and stated that it could launch in select global markets as the Poco C71. The phone was previously seen on the FCC site suggesting its connectivity, operating system, RAM and storage options. Redmi A5 and Poco C71 Chipset Features (Expected) A XiaomiTime report says that the Redmi A5 and Poco C71 will likely be powered by the Unisoc T615 chipset. The handsets reportedly carry the model number C3Z. In select global markets outside of India, the Redmi A5 is tipped to launch as Poco C71. The report notes that the “Mi code” shows “C3Z = UMS9230E,” which suggests that the phones will carry the Unisoc T615 chipset. The Unisoc T615 SoC includes two ARM Cortex-A75 cores, six Cortex-A55 cores, and an ARM Mali-G57 MP1 GPU. It supports LPDDR4x memory as well as both eMMC5.1 and UFS2.2 storage. It is the same processor that the Tecno Spark Go 1 launched with, in August 2024. Notably, the preceding Redmi A4 5G is equipped with a Snapdragon 4s Gen 2 chipset from Qualcomm paired with 4GB of RAM. According to the aforementioned report, the rumoured Redmi A5 was previously spotted on the FCC website with the codename 25028RN03L. It was also spotted with a similar codename 25028RN03Y on the IMEI database. The “L” and “Y” likely signify regional variants of the handset. The FCC listing for the Redmi A5 suggested that the phone will likely run on Android 15-based HyperOS 2.0 skin on top. It is expected to be offered in RAM and storage configurations of 3GB + 64GB, 4GB + 64GB and 6GB + 128GB. Connectivity options are said to include 5G, dual-band Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth. For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who’sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube. Google Reportedly Wants to Educate Professionals and Regulators on AI Brazil Suspends Sam Altman’s Iris-Scanning World Project, ANPD Issues Notice to Parent Firm Source link #Redmi #Chipset #Details #Surface #Online #Launch #Select #Markets #Poco #C71 Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

T Tauri’s Great Dimming: Astronomers Study Young Star’s Potential Disappearance T Tauri’s Great Dimming: Astronomers Study Young Star’s Potential Disappearance The bright protostar T Tauri, situated 471 light-years away in the Taurus constellation, is expected to vanish from view for decades. This dimming phenomenon, triggered by a thick disk of gas and dust surrounding its companion stars, could last up to a century. Astronomers have been observing this system, comprising three growing stars, for decades due to its unpredictable brightness variations and significant role in understanding protostellar evolution. Great Dimming Expected in the T Tauri System According to research accepted by The Astronomical Journal, the disk encircling T Tauri South A and B is moving into a position where it will obscure T Tauri North, the only visible star of the trio. T Tauri North’s light has already dimmed significantly since 2016, with brightness levels dropping to magnitude 12 by 2022–2023. Dr Tracy Beck from the Space Telescope Science Institute stated in an American Astronomical Society press conference that this dimming could continue for approximately 100 years due to the stars’ relative motion. Unique Opportunity for Planetary Formation Studies As reported by space.com, the dimming will allow astronomers to study the composition of the disk through the absorption of T Tauri North’s light at specific wavelengths. Molecules within the disk will leave distinct signatures, enabling researchers to analyse the chemical environment where planets are forming. T Tauri North’s own planet-forming disk, visible at a 28-degree tilt, offers additional insights into planetary systems similar to the Kuiper Belt in our solar system. Amateur Astronomers Play a Key Role Amateur astronomers, supported by the American Association of Variable Star Observers, have contributed extensively to monitoring the star’s brightness over time. As professional telescopes are often unavailable for long-term observation, these efforts will be instrumental in tracking the ongoing dimming of T Tauri North. Scientists have encouraged enthusiasts to participate in this rare astronomical event. For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who’sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube. Perplexity Assistant for Android With Image Analysis and Web Search Introduced Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 GPU Benchmarks Reveal Up to 46 Percent Performance Improvement: Report Source link #Tauris #Great #Dimming #Astronomers #Study #Young #Stars #Potential #Disappearance Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

A young local power couple have taken up key roles at Imperials Football Club, aiming for greater inclusivity A young local power couple have taken up key roles at Imperials Football Club, aiming for greater inclusivity The Imperials Football Club in Manjimup is entering a new era with a young local couple, Matt Seymour and Sesha Dalton, at the helm Source link #young #local #power #couple #key #roles #Imperials #Football #Club #aiming #greater #inclusivity Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

OpTic Texas Secures Top Seed For CDL Major I in Madrid OpTic Texas Secures Top Seed For CDL Major I in Madrid This coming weekend, the Call of Duty League’s first European Major will unfold in Madrid, Spain. This monumental event is sure to be a hit with fans across Europe, who have been starved of a CDL event for more than five years. In recent days, OpTic Texas secured the top seed ahead of the event, landing a 6 – 1 record through the qualifying stage and ending with a slick win over Toronto Ultra. Major I will be one heck of an event – and I’ll be there live and on the ground reporting the latest COD esports news, just for you. OpTic On Top OpTic Texas, last year’s COD Championship victor, sits in the top spot in this season’s standings. In second place is Atlanta FaZe, which clawed its way up the board following a paltry start to the season. It helped massively that the team was able to win the first CDL Minor recently, giving the squad a much-needed injection of CDL points. The other end of the scale is occupied by the Vegas Falcons, one of the newest teams to enter the CDL. Presently, the team has yet to secure a single win this season, and the 14% map win record is one of the lowest we’ve ever seen. OpTic Texas has had a blinding few weeks, going from strength to strength since winning the CDL Championship last year on home turf. The brief drama involving Pred and his disappearance from the team has all but dissipated, and the squad (with Huke, who stepped in for Pred) is fixing up to win big at Major I. At the Major in Madrid, OpTic Texas will first need to contend with the Miami Heretics. This match-up hasn’t been seen since Major IV of the Modern Warfare 3 season, and it has been more than six months since these teams last did battle. With a 25% win record so far this year, the Heretics aren’t presenting too much of an issue, but the team will go into the Major with a home team buff. Whatever the result, this weekend will be a huge event for the Call of Duty League. Thousands of fans will be in attendance at the venue in Madrid, and many more will tune in from all around the world. I’ll be there, backstage, securing the latest news and interviews for Insider Gaming Esports. For more esports news, check out why these former pro players don’t recommend you play COD SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #OpTic #Texas #Secures #Top #Seed #CDL #Major #Madrid Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

DeepSeek is the new AI chatbot that has the world talking – I pitted it against ChatGPT to see which is best DeepSeek is the new AI chatbot that has the world talking – I pitted it against ChatGPT to see which is best DeepSeek is the new AI chatbot on everybody’s lips and is currently sitting at the top of Apple’s App Store in the US and the ***. A completely free AI model built by a ******** start-up, DeepSeek wants to make AI even more accessible to the masses by offering a competitor to OpenAI’s ChatGPT o1 reasoning model without a fee. New AI apps appear on the App Store almost daily, and there’s often hype around a new model launch as people look for the next alternative to ChatGPT. Whether you’re an avid user of OpenAI’s software or you prefer to use Google Gemini, there’s an AI tool for everyone, and DeepSeek wants to be the next icon on your home screen. After seeing DeepSeek all over my newsfeed, I knew I had to give the brand-new AI a go and see if it was as good as people who made it out to be online. I pitted DeepSeek V3 and DeepThink R1 against ChatGPT 4o and o1 to see just how good the new king of the App Store really is. AI life hacks (Image credit: Future / Apple) In this test, I wanted to get a full feel for everything DeepThink offers compared to ChatGPT, so I only thought it was fair to use the AI chatbot the same way I would use AI in my daily life. Recently, I’ve been wanting to get help from AI to create a daily schedule that fits my needs as a person who works from home and needs to look after a dog. Up until recently, my partner also worked from home, so it was much easier to split tasks, but she is now working from an office, and I need to find a way to juggle life, work, and my French Bulldog Kermit. I asked ChatGPT o4 and DeepSeek V3 to create a daily schedule with some information on when I wake up, my dog’s potty routine, and a brief breakdown of my workflow. Both created excellent schedules that I could genuinely see myself using daily. However, ChatGPT’s memory feature made OpenAI’s schedule even more coherent. I had previously told ChatGPT that I like to review AI news and trends at 9 am, and 4o implemented that information from a previous chat into my morning routine. DeepSeek, on the other hand, can only remember information from the same chat and couldn’t bring back information from previous chats to help with its answer. Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. (ELI5) Explain like I’m 5 (Image credit: Future / Apple) Next, I wanted to ask both AI chatbots about the NFL Playoffs, considering we now know the two teams that will face each other at Super Bowl LIX. I asked DeepSeek and ChatGPT to give me a 200-word rundown of the NFL playoffs and how it works. Both provided excellent information that gave me a full understanding of how the seeding system works and the journey a team needs to take to make it to the Super Bowl. ChatGPT opted for a 200-word paragraph, while DeepSeek broke information down into bullet points. I did notice that ChatGPT gave me more context on how teams become a Wild Card, but the difference between the results is fairly minimal and you’ll like one better than the other purely based on personal preference. Problem solver (Image credit: Future) Now that we’ve covered some simple AI prompts, it’s time to get down to the nitty gritty and try out DeepThink R1, the AI model that has everyone talking. People online are saying DeepSeek’s free reasoning model is as good as ChatGPT’s o1, which is free in small doses but requires a paid subscription to access regularly. To test the AI chatbots’ reasoning capabilities, I looked for some of the hardest problems I could find, and I’m shocked by some of the results: Question 1: Find the missing word: Apple, Red, Coal This isn’t a particularly hard question, especially considering the source material was multiple-choice with different color options. I opted to avoid giving R1 and o1 multiple-choice answers and instead just wrote the question and hit enter. ChatGPT o1 took 1 minute and 29 seconds to determine the answer, and it found links between the words and the fairytale Snow White. The model decided to answer based on this quote, “her lips were red as blood, her hair was ****** as coal, and her skin was white as snow.” Based on this quote o1 chose Snow as the missing word answer. While its thought process was clever, it wasn’t the answer I was looking for. DeepThink R1, on the other hand, took 1 minute and 14 seconds to answer, and it managed to guess the right word: ******. Apple is red; coal is ******. Impressive, to say the least. Question 2: 1. Finish the sequence: 1, 2, 4, 8, ? 2. Finish the sequence: house, Saturn, dog, burger, ? These two sequences are completely unrelated, but I thought it would be interesting to ask back-to-back questions to see what happens. While the first sequence is very easy, the second is impossible (they are just three random words). Would ChatGPT o1 or DeepThink R1 be able to notice the trap? Well, no. Both reasoning models attempted to find an answer and gave me a completely different one. DeepThink R1 answered “yellow” because it thought the words were related to their color (white house, yellow Saturn, brown dog, yellow burger). ChatGPT o1, on the other hand, answered “car” because it found the sequence almost impossible but decided to offer answers based on “a common puzzle approach.” The approach it chose to offer up was linking each item into the ******* category it belongs to (house = building, Saturn = planet, dog = animal, burger = food, and car = vehicle). Ultimately, both reasoning models were wrong, and neither responded by saying there were too many variables to give an accurate answer. Question 3: Hummingbirds within Apodiformes uniquely have a bilaterally paired oval bone, a sesamoid embedded in the caudolateral portion of the expanded, cruciate aponeurosis of insertion of m. depressor caudae. How many paired tendons are supported by this sesamoid bone? Answer with a number. For the final question, I decided to ask ChatGPT o1 and DeepThink R1 a question from Humanity’s Last Exam, the hardest AI benchmark out there. To a mere mortal like myself with no knowledge of hummingbird anatomy, this question is genuinely impossible; these reasoning models, however, seem to be up for the challenge. O1 answered four, while DeepThink R1 answered two. Unfortunately, the correct answer isn’t available online to prevent AI chatbots from scraping the internet to find the correct response. That said, from some research, I believe DeepThink might be right here, while o1 is just off the mark. DeepSeek vs ChatGPT? (Image credit: Apple/OpenAI/DeepSeek) So, I’ve run multiple prompts and used both chatbots for an extensive amount of time, but what is the better option? According to the answers I received from prompts, DeepThink R1 is an excellent free reasoning model that makes you question whether it’s worth paying to access o1 regularly. DeepSeek is only available on the web, iOS App Store, and Play Store, so if you want to use a standalone Mac app or iPad app, you’ll need to wait for the company to release one. According to Humanity’s Last Exam, DeepThink R1 outperforms ChatGPT o1 with a 9.4% accuracy rate compared to OpenAI’s 9.1%; it’s a marginal difference, but considering one is completely free, it may sway you towards using the new kid on the block. Personally, I’ll be sticking with ChatGPT because I don’t have enormous requirements for reasoning models, and I rely heavily on the memories feature, which allows the AI chatbot to reference previous conversations. I also like the fact that ChatGPT has a standalone Mac and iPad app, as well as the ability to generate images with one of the best AI image generators, DALL-E. DeepSeek is purely text-based and lacks multi-modal capabilities, but considering how new it is, this is an incredibly promising start to a genuine challenger for OpenAI’s AI crown. You may also like Source link #DeepSeek #chatbot #world #talking #pitted #ChatGPT Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

What Trump’s first week means for climate, science, health and energy What Trump’s first week means for climate, science, health and energy The incoming president signed a suite of executive orders last week YURI GRIPAS/POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock In the first week of his second term, US President Donald Trump has thrown the country’s scientific apparatus into chaos, while at the same time anointing a new tech oligarchy. With a blitz of executive orders, he’s set the US on a path that will derail climate goals, biomedical research and pandemic readiness. On 20 January, the first day of his presidency, Trump declared a “national energy emergency” and proposed expanding fossil fuel production on federal land, including a controversial move to open Alaska’s Arctic National… Source link #Trumps #week #means #climate #science #health #energy Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

My sister and her boyfriend live in my ‘granny flat’ for 50% less than market rent — is it bad to now ask for more? My sister and her boyfriend live in my ‘granny flat’ for 50% less than market rent — is it bad to now ask for more? My sister and her boyfriend live in my ‘granny flat’ for 50% less than market rent — is it bad to now ask for more? Lori and her husband started renting out their “granny flat” to Lori’s sister, Jo, after she got a divorce and needed a place to stay. Jo is raising three kids and, at least initially, struggled to pay her bills, since her ex isn’t always forthcoming with child support payments — so Lori gave her a break on the rent, charging her 50% less than market value. It’s been a few years now, and Lori and her husband just had a baby. They could really use some extra cash, but the rent they’re collecting from the granny flat is barely covering the increase in their mortgage, utilities and living costs. Plus, Jo has a new boyfriend who’s moved into the flat and works full-time. Lori wants to increase Jo’s rent, but doesn’t know how to broach the subject with her sister — after all, the cheap rent was just meant to help her get on her feet again. But Lori is wondering if she’s being selfish and if it’s wrong to ask her sister for more rent (or even legal). The rising cost of living in the U.S. can add fuel to household tensions. The average rent in the U.S. is $1,748 (as of November 2024), though this varies by city and region. And nearly half of renter households are “cost-burdened,” according to the United States Census Bureau. Being cost-burdened means you’re spending more than 30% of your income on rent; in 2023, that was the case for more than 21 million renter households. That’s nearly half (49.7%) of renter households in the census data. The good news is that rental markets are cooling. “Rent growth has almost completely stopped, following historically high rent increases in both 2021 and 2022,” according to America’s Rental Housing 2024 report by the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University. Those historic highs were due to several factors, including inflation, low inventory and barriers to homeownership. The bad news? “The extended ******* of rising rents during the pandemic propelled cost burdens to new heights,” says the report. Read more: Are you rich enough to join the top 1%? Here’s the net worth you need to rank among America’s wealthiest — plus 2 ways to build that first-class portfolio Story Continues At the same time, rent prices have outpaced wage growth for the past two decades. Median rents have increased “nearly continuously since 2001 in inflation-adjusted terms and are 21% higher as of 2022. Meanwhile, renters’ incomes have risen just 2% during the same *******.” To put that into perspective, the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) comes out with an annual “housing wage,” which is an estimate of the hourly wage you’d need to afford rent without spending more than 30% of your income. For 2024, the national housing wage is $32.11 per hour for a modest two-bedroom rental and $26.74 for a modest one-bedroom rental, according to Out of Reach 2024: The High Cost of Housing. Of 20 common occupations, 14 of those pay lower median wages than the one-bedroom housing wage, according to the NLIHC, accounting for more than 64 million workers. Some relief could be on the horizon. Economists from Redfin — a real estate brokerage — predict that rental housing affordability will improve in 2025 because of a projected increase in supply. Many construction projects put on hold during the height of the pandemic will come to fruition this year, increasing availability and helping to balance supply and demand. It also means renters could have more (and better) options to choose from. In Lori’s situation, it would be preferable if she had a written lease agreement with her sister. For tenants with a long-term lease — say, one or two years — the state typically mandates when a landlord needs to provide written notice of a rent increase (typically between 30 to 90 days before the end of the lease). For month-to-month tenants, renewal happens monthly. States and municipalities may have rent control restrictions and tenant protection acts, so if Lori doesn’t have a written lease agreement with her sister, she can use state and municipal regulations as a guideline (which, for example, could restrict how often a landlord raises rent and by what percentage). Of course, when it comes to family, there’s a lot of emotion involved — which wouldn’t necessarily be an issue if Lori was renting the granny flat to a complete stranger. On one hand, with Jo’s boyfriend moving in, the two have enough to pay fair market value for the granny flat. On the other hand, Jo’s boyfriend shouldn’t really be part of the conversation, unless the lease agreement stipulates how many adults can live in the unit. A lease agreement can, in fact, set occupancy limits (often based on the size of the unit), so long as it complies with local regulations. If the rent from the granny flat doesn’t cover Lori’s mortgage and taxes, then Lori is in effect subsidizing Jo’s rent, and they’ll need to have a conversation about how to cover those costs, especially if it’s hurting Lori financially. They could also come up with a deadline for a rent increase or discuss other options (say, Jo takes on additional household responsibilities). If Lori doesn’t have a written lease agreement, she should create one. But it should be based on local regulations and fair market value — not because Jo’s boyfriend has moved in. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. Source link #sister #boyfriend #live #granny #flat #market #rent #bad Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Review – Blade Chimera (Switch) | WayTooManyGames Review – Blade Chimera (Switch) | WayTooManyGames WTMG’s Oliver Shellding: “Fans of the genre should absolutely dive into Blade Chimera. Tight, brutal and engaging, I could spend another two thousand words singing the praises of the combat, the items and the overall world building. But I think seeing is believing, and you won’t believe what you see. PCor Switch, you should go ahead and gear up: Blade Chimera is ready for you, even if you’re not remotely prepared.” Source link #Review #Blade #Chimera #Switch #WayTooManyGames Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

2025 Cupra Ateca V review 2025 Cupra Ateca V review Cupra is set to launch updated versions of its Leon hatchback and Formentor crossover soon, but it has also introduced a new entry-level version of the oldest model it currently offers in Australia, the Cupra Ateca mid-sized SUV. Camera Icon2025 Cupra Ateca V Credit: CarExpert The Ateca helped launch the sporty Volkswagen Group-owned brand Down Under in 2022, pre-dating other nameplates in the current range such as the Formentor and Born. The Ateca V was released locally late last year and it’s the Spanish counterpart to the likes of the Audi Q2 40 TFSI, Skoda Karoq Sportline 4×4 and Volkswagen T-Roc R-Line. All of these vehicles are powered by the same Volkswagen Group 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol EA888 engine, producing 140kW of power and 320Nm of torque. While the Ateca V launched at $49,888 drive-away, this pricing offer lapsed on December 31, 2024, and it’s now priced from $51,990 drive-away. Camera Icon2025 Cupra Ateca V Credit: CarExpert Cupra Australia has confirmed the Ateca, which dates back to 2016 in SEAT form and 2018 in Cupra form, will be indirectly replaced by the Volkswagen Tiguan-sized Terramar, which is set to arrive in Australia later in 2025. But the Ateca will continue to be available alongside Terramar until at least the end of this year. In the meantime, does this new entry-level Ateca V have enough Spanish flair to make it stand out from the crowd? Read along to find out. How much does the Cupra Ateca cost? The base Cupra Ateca V now costs $2102 more than it did when it was released here in late 2024. Camera Icon2025 Cupra Ateca V Credit: CarExpert There’s no current deal on this model, but the top-spec Ateca VZx can be had for $61,750 drive-away until March 31. This is a discount of $7240. To see how the Cupra Ateca stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool What is the Cupra Ateca like on the inside? The Ateca’s cabin is refreshing old-school with plenty of physical hardware, especially in an age when numerous other carmakers, including Cupra itself, are integrating more functions into the touchscreen. Camera Icon2025 Cupra Ateca V Credit: CarExpert Like virtually all crossover SUVs, the Ateca is an easy vehicle to get in and out of thanks to its higher ride height. You can see why people with poor mobility are attracted to these kinds of vehicles because you don’t need to climb up or down, and can instead slide across into the seats. Once you’re in the driver’s seat, you sit up high and have a great view at the road ahead. It’s a commanding place to be and it brings a king-of-the-road feeling that’s common in a number of high-riding crossover SUVs. As standard, the base Ateca V comes with ****** leather upholstered seats that don’t look as cool or unique as the Petrol Blue ones in the top-spec VZx. Thankfully, they retain the sporty bucket-like design, so you have plenty of support. Something that always surprises me with Cupra seats is that although they look sporty, they’re also comfortable. The head restraint in particular, even though it’s fixed to the backrest and can’t be adjusted, is super-soft, almost like a Kia Carnival’s. The driver’s seat comes with electric adjustment as standard, which is a rarity in an entry-level vehicle, along with position memory. It adjusts in many different ways, and in particular I appreciate how much thigh support you can dial in. Camera Icon2025 Cupra Ateca V Credit: CarExpertCamera Icon2025 Cupra Ateca V Credit: CarExpert Ahead of the driver is one of my favourite steering wheels in a mainstream vehicle. It has a thin rim that fits nicely in hand, plus the leather wrapping feels sumptuous. The main reason I like this steering wheel, however, is the number of physical buttons it incorporates. They’re clearly labelled and have a squishy yet satisfying click when pressed. A strange omission, however, is the lack of a dedicated phone call answer and hang-up button, especially given there are buttons for virtually every other function, including the voice assist. What you have to do instead when you get a call is use in the right-hand side scroll wheel, which can sometimes be a faff because you need to scroll before pushing it in. Behind the steering wheel is a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster that’ll look familiar if you’ve driven any other Cupra vehicle before. Like many other Volkswagen Group vehicles, it’s top-notch for the segment. The display itself is crisp and bright, plus there are numerous layouts to choose from. One looks eerily similar to the Audi R8’s, which is my personal favourite. Camera Icon2025 Cupra Ateca V Credit: CarExpertCamera Icon2025 Cupra Ateca V Credit: CarExpert Moving across, the 9.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system is good, but it doesn’t look nearly as current as the larger, more tablet-like 12-inch touchscreen in the Formentor and Leon. Thankfully, it appears the Ateca and both those aforementioned Cupras share the same infotainment software, so despite the differing screen sizes, their menu interfaces look the same. Navigating around this system isn’t immediately clear and can take a bit of time to learn. For example, something that took me ages to find was the menu for adjusting the sound system’s equaliser. Unlike in the Formentor and Leon, there are touch-sensitive buttons beside the touchscreen for changing the volume, which is arguably a lot easier than using the touch slider in those cars. Another major difference is the Ateca comes with a proper physical climate control setup with dials and buttons, unlike other Cupras that have this integrated into the touchscreen, bar a couple of touch-sensitive sliders. Camera Icon2025 Cupra Ateca V Credit: CarExpertCamera Icon2025 Cupra Ateca V Credit: CarExpert This particular layout dates back to the Mk7 Golf, but that’s not a bad thing because it works perfectly and is incredibly easy to use and understand. As standard, the Ateca V comes with both wired and wireless forms of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. With my iPhone 15 Pro Max connected wirelessly, I didn’t experience any major issues, though on one particular trip the infotainment system refused to connect with my phone. There’s a wireless phone charger at the front of the centre console area, which is handy to have, but it’s not ventilated and tended to overheat my phone. If you need to keep your phone battery topped on longer trips, thankfully there are two USB-C ports, plus a 12V socket in the same location. Looking around the cabin, there are disappointingly a lot of hard, scratchy plastics. It’s clear Cupra has cut costs in certain areas so it can retain the fancy seats and steering wheel. Thankfully, the main areas that you touch, including the armrests, are soft and spongey. Speaking of the armrests, the centre unit both extends and ratchets up so you can find your perfect position. This is one of my favourite features in a number of Volkswagen Group cars, and I’m glad it’s present in the Ateca V. Camera Icon2025 Cupra Ateca V Credit: CarExpert Unlike the top-spec VZx, the V’s interior is a little drab and dark given everything is finished in ******. There is the odd copper lashing on the steering wheel and air vents, but they’re only minor highlights. Our tester was equipped with the optional glass panoramic sunroof, which thankfully makes the cabin a much airier space to be. It doesn’t feel quite as claustrophobic as some cars with all-****** interiors do. The centre console area in this car is traditional, and includes a large gear selector and a round dial for the drive modes. It’s a refreshing change from the unsatisfying gear shift nubs other Volkswagen Group vehicles have. In terms of storage up front there are two cupholders on the centre console, which are different sizes, plus decently sized door pockets that are unfortunately not felt-lined like they are in other Volkswagen Group vehicles. Hopping into the second row is just as easy as getting into the front. Once you’re back there, there’s a decent amount of room for adults to sit behind adults. Camera Icon2025 Cupra Ateca V Credit: CarExpert It’s actually a nice place to be, though frontward visibility is impeded slightly by the sporty bucket front seats. This may be a red flag for kiddies who are prone to carsickness. Two people will able to fit fine, though pushing it to three abreast gets squishy. The middle passenger will also have to contend with the chunky transmission tunnel hump, which is never fun. In terms of second-row amenities, there are air vents and USB-C ports on the back of the centre console, map pockets on both front seat backs, smallish door pockets, plus a fold-down armrest with cupholders. There are also the requisite ISOFIX child seat anchor points on the two outboard seats, plus top-tether points on all three rear seats. Around the back, the Ateca V comes standard with a power tailgate that opens quickly and quietly, just like any power tailgate should. It also has a hands-free function, which is handy if you’ve got your hands full. Camera Icon2025 Cupra Ateca V Credit: CarExpertCamera Icon2025 Cupra Ateca V Credit: CarExpert Once it’s open, the boot space on offer is generous. Cupra claims there’s 485L of boot space with the rear seats upright, which is a lot for the small SUV segment. In the boot is where you see the full effects of cost-cutting. There are barely any amenities apart from small nooks off to the side and tabs to fold down the 60/40-split rear seats. When you do fold the rear seats the cargo floor is disappointingly not flat. The difference between the boot height and seat height isn’t overly large, but it’s worth keeping in mind if you frequent IKEA. Lastly, the Ateca V comes with a space-saver spare wheel as standard. While this isn’t as handy as a proper full-size spare, it’s more reliable than a can of goo if you ever have a puncture and still need to make your way home. To see how the Cupra Ateca stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool What’s under the bonnet? The Cupra Ateca V is powered by a version of the Volkswagen Group’s venerable EA888 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder. This exact engine and tune is also offered in the Audi Q2 40 TFSI, Cupra Formentor V, Skoda Karoq Sportline 4×4, and Volkswagen T-Roc R-Line, among others. Camera Icon2025 Cupra Ateca V Credit: CarExpert To see how the Cupra Ateca stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool How does the Cupra Ateca drive? To start up the Cupra Ateca V, you press a button on the centre console, which isn’t revolutionary but it doesn’t feel quite as special as the VZx’s steering wheel-mounted starter. Camera Icon2025 Cupra Ateca V Credit: CarExpert When the turbo-petrol engine fires up there’s a sweet rev blip, which sounds nice inside the cabin. Once this subsides the engine settles into a quiet idle. Setting off, there’s decent acceleration that won’t blow your socks off unless you plant your foot hard. It’ll keep up with other traffic with no problems at all, and pull ahead from a standstill if you partake in traffic-light grands prix. While Cupra is a sporty brand, you sometimes need to force this engine to bring out its best performance characteristics. In normal ‘Comfort’ mode it prefers docile throttle inputs, resulting in easy, effortless driving. It also allows you to lean into the wealth of torque available from just above idle. As standard, there’s a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission which is up there as one of my favourites because it doesn’t hesitate or lurch like some others can. Volkswagen Group vehicles have been the benchmark for silky smooth dual-clutches for years now. In practice, the dual-clutch auto likes to shift up to second gear as quickly as possible to reduce fuel consumption. The car will even try to set off in second gear if possible, because first gear is very short. Camera Icon2025 Cupra Ateca V Credit: CarExpert Slotting into the ‘Sport’ drive mode is easy thanks to the tactile rotary dial. When you do this, the car’s character changes, hunkering down and preparing to attack – it’s no longer a house cat capable of catching a mouse, but now a feral cat that could rip your face off. The turbo-four feels more potent and, thanks to the all-wheel drive system, you can slingshot away from the lights and tight turns. It feels quick in isolation, but compared to the more powerful Ateca VZx it’s nowhere near as rapid. The Ateca V misses out the hi-po ‘Cupra’ drive mode that turns everything up to 11. This isn’t surprising, however, given it’s a base model. Around town the suspension is fantastically comfortable, which is surprising given the large 19-inch alloy wheels and low-profile tyres. It’s made better thanks to the adaptive dampers (aka Dynamic Chassis Control), which is apart of the $2950 Tech Pack, as they soak up almost all pimply urban road imperfections. Regardless of the drive mode there’s light and direct steering at low speeds, making the car feel more manoeuvrable, especially in tight carparks. Camera Icon2025 Cupra Ateca V Credit: CarExpert As standard there are front and rear parking sensors, and a reversing camera. You have to pay extra for a surround-view camera with decent quality, as part of the aforementioned Tech Pack. There’s also a standard parking assistant that, like in other Volkswagen Group vehicles, isn’t the most intelligent. To work properly, it requires two vehicles so the car can park between them. Disappointingly, the system isn’t capable of detecting parking spot lines. Building up pace in the Ateca V is easy and effortless. It’ll happily cruise along at highways speeds in top gear, and only drop down gears if really needed. It doesn’t feel like you need more power, though what the Ateca VZx offers is very appealing if you desire that extra punch. It’s certainly a want and not a need though. Regardless, this car stretches its legs on the highway, where it becomes a comfortable open-road tourer and fuel consumption also drops considerably. Camera Icon2025 Cupra Ateca V Credit: CarExpert At higher speeds the progressive steering system gains more weight, making it more rewarding to link up apexes on B-roads. In fact, this car is a super fun, dynamic car to drive on twisty roads. Its stellar chassis tuning makes it feel nimble not only in the bends, but even in your normal daily commute. You can tell this car wants to be driven hard at speed and is capable of doing so, but one of the few things holding it back is outright engine power when compared to the VZx. Like many European cars, there’s a lot of road and tyre noise at higher speeds, though this can be drowned out by turning up the cracking sound system. The optional nine-speaker Beats sound system in this car thankfully is a banger. On the safety front, the adaptive cruise control system is good at managing the distance between you and the car ahead. It also doesn’t slam on the brakes when a car travelling slightly faster cuts in front of you. An annoyance is the undertaking prevention feature of the adaptive cruise control system, as lane etiquette is occasionally forgotten in Australia. Thankfully, to override this all you need to is briefly prod the accelerator. Camera Icon2025 Cupra Ateca V Credit: CarExpert The lane-keep assist system is largely pretty good, though it can get confused on poorly marked roads and even freeway exits. In these moments the steering wheel vibrates and can sometimes jerk in the wrong direction. I appreciated the Travel Assist system, which pairs both adaptive cruise control and lane centring. It’s a handy feature on clearly marked highways and freeways as it reduces driver fatigue. Lastly, the Ateca V comes with bright LED *********** as standard, which are great when driving along dimly lit rural and outer-urban roads. It also offers automatic high-beam, which is nice to have, but it’s not quite as handy as proper adaptive or matrix high-beam. To see how the Cupra Ateca stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool What do you get? Quite a bit for a base model. Camera Icon2025 Cupra Ateca V Credit: CarExpertCamera Icon2025 Cupra Ateca V Credit: CarExpertCamera Icon2025 Cupra Ateca V Credit: CarExpertCamera Icon2025 Cupra Ateca V Credit: CarExpert 2025 Cupra Ateca V equipment highlights: 19-inch alloy wheels in ****** and silver18-inch temporary spareHidden exhaustHands-free power tailgateAutomatic LED headlightsAutomatic high-beamFog lights with cornering lightsRain-sensing wipersRear privacy glassHeated, power-folding side mirrors with memory10.25-inch Digital Cockpit9.2-inch touchscreen infotainment systemWireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlayDigital DAB+ radioWireless phone charging4 x USB-C outlets (2x front, 2x rear)8-speaker sound systemKeyless entry and startDual-zone climate controlAmbient lightingPaddle shiftersProgressive steeringLeather-wrapped steering wheel and shifterHeated steering wheelIlluminated sill platesAluminium pedalsBlack leather upholsteryPower driver’s seat with memoryHeated front seatsOptions The Cupra Ateca V is available with a suite of optional extras, and our tester was equipped with all of them. Camera Icon2025 Cupra Ateca V Credit: CarExpert Tech Pack: $2950 Surround-view cameraBeats 9-speaker sound systemDynamic Chassis control Other single options include: Electric panoramic sunroof: $1850Premium metallic paint: $490 To see how the Cupra Ateca stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool Is the Cupra Ateca safe? The Cupra Ateca is currently unrated by both ANCAP and its European counterpart, Euro NCAP. Camera Icon2025 Cupra Ateca V Credit: CarExpert Standard safety equipment includes: Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)Adaptive cruise controlTravel AssistFront assistPark assistBlind-spot monitoringLane keep assistDriver fatigue detectionSafe exit warningReversing cameraFront and rear parking sensors7 airbags VZx adds: Surround-view camera (also in Ateca V w/ Tech Pack) To see how the Cupra Ateca stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool How much does the Cupra Ateca cost to run? The Cupra Ateca is covered by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty. Camera Icon2025 Cupra Ateca V Credit: CarExpert To see how the Cupra Ateca stacks up against its rivals, use our comparison tool CarExpert’s Take on the Cupra Ateca V In isolation, the Cupra Ateca V is a fantastic medium SUV. It offers enough pep to feel sporty, plus you can tell it wants to be driven hard, even if the engine does have to be coaxed at times. Camera Icon2025 Cupra Ateca V Credit: CarExpert This is the perfect option for those wanting a warm SUV that has the character of a hot hatch, but the seating position of a larger SUV. The issue, however, is the existence of the more powerful Ateca VZx. It produces considerably more power, which certainly isn’t a need, but for many buyers it’s a want and it can be had without breaking the bank. Although the cabin is starting to look its age, I appreciate how old-school the interior feels, even if the large amount of harder plastic screams cost-cutting. In particular, I like how much physical switchgear there is for functions like the climate controls, among others. The interior doesn’t look as flash when compared to newer Cupras, especially with the bland ****** leather upholstery in this entry-level variant, but it’s very functional. You just can’t beat physical buttons, knobs and switches. Camera Icon2025 Cupra Ateca V Credit: CarExpert Lastly, the Ateca V has a lot of competition in Australia, and a considerable number of them are from competing Volkswagen Group brands. The Volkswagen T-Roc R-Line currently costs the same as the Ateca V, and with the options fitted to this tester it’s virtually like-for-like with the Skoda Karoq Sportline 4×4. Sure, there are plenty of options to choose from, but if a sporty character is high on the list for you, this car definitely shouldn’t be overlooked because once you take it for a spin you’ll be charmed. Camera Icon2025 Cupra Ateca V Credit: CarExpert Interested in buying a Cupra Ateca? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here MORE: Everything Cupra Ateca ProsStellar driving dynamicsBeautifully weighted steeringLots of physical buttons and knobsConsNot a big price hike to the more powerful VZxLots of similarly priced Volkswagen Group rivalsBlack interior looks bland, lots of hard plasticsTop Line SpecsPower: 140kWFuel Type: Premium Unleaded PetrolEconomy: 7.1L/100kmCO2 Emissions: 160g/kmANCAP Safety Rating: Untested Source link #Cupra #Ateca #review Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]