The US is trying to broker an end to the war between Israel and Hamas. Ceasefire talks begin and end and begin again. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has traveled to the region 10 times in the past year.
And that's not the only war the US hopes to end. Russia and Ukraine have been fighting since 2014 when Russia first attacked. It launched a full-scale invasion in February 2022, more than two and a half years ago.
The US and NATO have been supporting Ukraine's efforts to hold off Russia in a hope to preserve broader security and stability in Western Europe.
The next occupant of the White House looks certain to inherit two major conflicts.
Why are these wars lasting so long with no end in sight?
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California’s lawsuit alleges that ExxonMobil has known for decades that recycling would not effectively stem the flow of plastic waste.
(Image credit: Mark Humphrey)
MSI has quietly launched the Prestige 13 AI+ Evo A2VM, a super-lightweight laptop aimed at business professionals and creatives alike.
First unveiled at IFA 2024, the device is powered by up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 288V processor (offering up to 48 NPU TOPS and a total of 120 AI TOPS), paired with Intel Arc 140V graphics.
The device, available in Stellar Gray, comes equipped with 32GB of LPDDR5x-8533 memory. As with all Intel Lunar Lake processors, the RAM is packaged together with the processor and so can't be upgraded, unfortunately. The 1TB PCIe Gen4 SSD can be upgraded however, which is great news for users needing more storage.
MSI AI EngineMeasuring 299 x 210 x 16.9 mm and weighing just 0.99 kg (around 2.18 lbs), the Prestige 13 AI+ Evo features a magnesium-aluminum alloy chassis built using Advanced Thixomolding Technology, which MSI claims delivers both durability and portability. It has a 13.3-inch 2.8K (2880x1800) OLED display.
The Prestige 13 AI+ Evo comes with a 75Whr battery and offers a decent selection of ports, including two Thunderbolt 4 (with DisplayPort and Power Delivery 3.0), a USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A port, an HDMI 2.1 port (supporting 8K at 60Hz and 4K at 120Hz), a 3.5mm audio jack, and a microSD card reader. Wireless connectivity comes in the form of Intel Killer BE Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4.
MSI says its AI Engine will automatically detect user scenarios and adjust hardware settings to optimize performance across various tasks. The laptop’s IR 5MP webcam (30fps@1944p) with a physical shutter incorporates 3D Noise Reduction+ (3DNR+) and AI Noise Cancellation Pro technology. Audio is powered by 2x 2W speakers.
EXcaliberPC is currently offering the Prestige 13 AI+ Evo A2VMG, featuring the Intel Ultra 7-258V processor, 32GB RAM, and 1TB SSD, for $1,399, with shipping expected to begin on September 24, 2024. Other configurations with the more powerful Ultra 9 processor are likely to arrive by the end of the year.
More from TechRadar ProWhen octopuses and fish hunt in groups in the Red Sea, the leadership roles are more dynamic than researchers knew — as are some ways the animals enforce cooperation.
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School's out for Pretty Little Liars: Summer School as Max has canceled the show after two seasons.
One of the best streaming services has decided not to renew the series three months after it ended on Max. The reboot is a horror twist on the original 2010 hit mystery drama series Pretty Little Liars and was originally called Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin (2022) before being renamed to Pretty Little Liars: Summer School in the second season.
It's usually rare to see a reboot series receive higher critical praise than its predecessor, but that's exactly the case for this show. Pretty Little Liars: Summer School has 90% on Rotten Tomatoes, while the original series has 81%. Looking at this achievement, I'm at a loss on why one of the best Max shows was canceled, and can only think that it was possibly due to low viewership figures.
Similarly to AMC Networks canceling Orphan Black: Echoes, one factor could also be that it's because Pretty Little Liars: Summer School failed to gather a dedicated fanbase like the original series, with TechRadar's editorial associate Rowan Davies saying: "The last thing we needed was another Pretty Little Liars series." So maybe I can't trust that 90% Rotten Tomatoes score after all!
What is Pretty Little Liars: Summer School about?Set in the town of Millwood, the reboot follows five teenage girls who are being terrorised by a mysterious person wanting revenge for their mothers' sins.
After revealing the villain who had been tormenting the group, the season two finale ended on a cliff-hanger as it teased a new threat with a group of girls wearing masks resembling the 'Liars' walking the corridors of the high school. Now, their identities will remain a mystery.
Max said in a statement to Decider: “While Max will not be moving forward with a third season of Pretty Little Liars[Summer School], we are so grateful to our co-creators, Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and Lindsay Calhoon Bring, as well as the team at Warner Bros. Television, for reintroducing fans to this new iteration of liars who band together to fight the latest creepy villain terrifying Millwood. Their unique and modern creative vision – combined with the immense talent of our cast and crew – gave the series a fun, horror-filled point of view that paid tribute to its original Rosewood roots."
The series featured Bailee Madison, Chandler Kinney, Zaria, Malia Pyles, and Maia Reficco as the next iteration of Pretty Little Liars.
You might also likeSony has confirmed that the next State of Play presentation will happen tomorrow, Tuesday, September 24, and will provide "news and updates on more than 20 upcoming PS5 and PS VR2 games from studios around the world".
The announcement, which was made on X / Twitter, was accompanied by a new PlayStation blog post also confirming it will be a and will be a "30+ minute" show. Beyond the above, both are pretty lean on actual information about what to expect, though we know to tune in tomorrow, September 24, at 3pm PDT / 6pm EDT / 11PM BST to catch the show. It also confirms that you will be able to watch the stream via the PlayStation YouTube channel as well as Twitch.
With the PlayStation 5 Pro announcement under our belts - PS5 Pro pre-orders start this week too, remember - this State of Play must surely be about the games and what Sony has planned for the next year.
We're still waiting for, and hoping for, updates on long-rumored Marvel's Spider-Man 2 DLC, any news on Marvel's Wolverine from Insomniac Games, and more details on Hideo Kojima's next game Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, for example.
Fans have also been pining for more information on what the heck Naughty Dog is up to after The Last of Us Part II Remastered came out earlier this year, and what Suckerpunch might be working on - Ghost of Tsushima 2 details this week, anyone?
In fact, there's a whole host of information on blockbuster games and high-profile studios that we want to hear more on or about but we'll just have to wait and see.
With the 30th Anniversary of PlayStation on the horizon too, we might well see some more information on those celebrations - beyond the already-announced limited edition hardware and collectible products.
You might also like...Kim Yeji, whose cool style and demeanor made her a "main character" of the Summer Olympics, has landed an acting gig and work with fashion brands. She says her athletic career remains her priority.
(Image credit: Charles McQuillan)