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Under protective coverings, piles of snow can be stored for a surprisingly long time, allowing ski resorts to mitigate some of the lack of snowfall caused by climate change.

Economists used AI to analyze millions of yearbook photos. They discovered ties are no longer cool…and also a new frontier for economic analysis.

Several important refinance rates are trending down. Refinancing makes sense if you can get a lower interest rate on your home loan.

A couple of major mortgage rates are falling. Here's what to know if you're in the market for a home loan.

This Mac hack is perfect for busy multitaskers.

The next iPhone and Apple Watch will be unveiled during a splashy event on September 9. Here's how to tune in.

Former LA Mayor Eric Garcetti denies he knew about a top adviser's alleged abuse at City Hall. An NPR investigation raises new questions about whether the now U.S. ambassador to India lied under oath.

(Image credit: Patrick T. Fallon)

The campaign known as “Spamouflage” includes accounts claiming to be American voters and U.S. soldiers posting about hot-button topics including abortion, Israel and Ukraine.

(Image credit: Ezra Acayan/Getty Images)

If you own one or more of the iOS ports of recent Resident Evil titles, then you might just want to avoid updating them again. Developer Capcom has added an online check-in requirement to these apps, meaning they now require an internet connection to play.

The news, spotted by Eurogamer, was initially posted as a PSA to the r/iosgaming subreddit. The post is accompanied by an image showing that Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, Resident Evil Village, and Resident Evil 4's iOS ports are ready for an update. For all three, the update details state: "Due to changes to the startup process, an internet connection is now required when starting this app."

Quite understandably, the news has not gone down well with players on the subreddit, with many expressing a desire to seek a refund from Apple. However, some note that the backlash likely won't be too severe following the poor sales of these Resident Evil iOS ports.

You might argue that because an internet connection is only required on startup, this update isn't that big of a deal. But that's kind of missing the forest for the trees. Surely, the entire point of having mobile ports of these games is to offer the option of playing them on the go without restriction. Depending on where in the world folks are, an internet connection isn't always a guarantee, even if it's just for a few seconds at startup.

It remains to be seen whether or not Capcom will revert to this requirement following the backlash. But as stated earlier, given the lackluster sales of these iOS ports, it seems more likely that the change is here to stay. Which, honestly, makes the requirement that much more baffling in the first place.

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Who is The Stranger in The Rings of Power? It's one of the biggest, if not the biggest, questions that's been on viewers' minds since his introduction in season 1.

Well, if you were hoping that the arrival of fan-favorite Lord of the Rings character Tom Bombadil would provide some long overdue answers, you'll want to check your expectations. With the pair set to cross paths soon, I suspect audiences were expecting Rory Kinnear's enigmatic 'Old Tom' to help us solve the mystery concerning The Stranger's identity.

That won't be the case, though. Speaking to TechRadar ahead of The Rings of Power season 2's first three episodes dropped on August 29, Daniel Weyman, who plays The Stranger, suggested 'Old Tom' isn't willing to simply hand over that information. Indeed, in typical Tom Bombadil fashion, his penchant for riddles and apparent moral neutrality means that the latter will find answers hard to come by in the hit Prime Video show's sophomore season.

Tom Bombadil is an enigmatic mentor figure for The Stranger (Image credit: Ross Ferguson/Prime Video)

"There's a huge amount of guilt and fear," Weyman said when I asked him about The Stranger's ongoing inability to control his powers; the latest incident leading to him being separated from Nori and Poppy in season 2 episode 3. "Everything he's seen, heard, or learned has come from his interactions with the Harfoots, so all the things he's picked up are directly linked to these friends who he might have lost. He literally hasn't been alone [since his season 1 introduction], either, which is deeply unsettling for him.

"As he stumbles through the desert and finally interacts with Tom, he's ripe to be toyed with because he's so vulnerable. The Stranger has existed in this small sphere of awareness with the Harfoot community but, as he moves further through this adventure, there's an expansion of his reality and his place in this world. Tom's fear isn't just about Middle-earth; it's universal. He goes backwards and forwards through time simultaneously as well. As The Stranger moves through that aura, what does that do to a being who also has that power in his DNA, but doesn't fully understand it? Ultimately, I think The Stranger is hoping for some answers from Tom, and it seems to me he doesn't give them up easily."

Tom Bombadil makes The Stranger question his own morality in season 2 (Image credit: Prime Video)

Fair enough, but surely Tom will provide some clues about The Stranger's name, where he's come from, how to channel his powers for the greater good, and/or act as a magical guide that helps The Stranger works these out for himself, right? Just as in The Lord of the Rings novels, things aren't so straightforward in Amazon's TV adaptation, too.

"I think The Stranger finds it deeply frustrating," Weyman added, "and Tom feels like he's got this very malleable thing to work with, so things get pretty dramatic between them. In season 1, we saw The Stranger treading this tightrope with his powers and not knowing who he is. But, through his interactions with Nori, banishing the Mystics in the season 1 finale, and then knowing where he has to go, he finally has a path to walk.

He's ripe to be toyed with because he's so vulnerable

Daniel Weyman

"But, because he defeated the Mystics and then uses his powers to find food for him and Nori this season, he thinks he's got a handle on his abilities. That leads to a bit of pride and, certainly with the sandstorm [in season 2 episode 3], he gets caught up in his own brilliance and bravado, which is when disaster strikes [with Nori and Poppy being blown away].

"Now he's back at square one, what does that do to a character? What happens when, no matter what turn you take or you think you're doing your best, it ends in the same result? It can cause choice paralysis and I think what Tom forces The Stranger to ask himself is 'do you have the courage to go back inside yourself and sort yourself out, or is he going to keep dithering while Middle-earth starts to burn?"

Want another Tom Bombadil-focused exclusive? Find out whether Kinnear's performance will include the character's famous sing-talking in season 2. Or, if you haven't watched its three-episode premiere yet, read my spoiler-light review of The Rings of Power season 2 to see what you're missing. And stick with TechRadar over the next few weeks for even more exclusives in and around each new episode.

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• 'There has to be a cost': The Rings of Power season 2 stars tease how Khazad-dum's storyline will 'shift and change' after the dwarven rings' creation

APYs are falling fast. Here's where you can still snag one up to 5.25%.

A provisional assessment showed that 24 inmates were shot dead by “warning” gunshots as they tried to escape from the overcrowded Makala Central Prison in Kinshasa early Monday, the government said.

(Image credit: AP)

The longer you wait to open a high-yield savings account, the less interest you'll earn.

All Things Considered co-host Juana Summers.'/>

In a new interview with NPR, Ketanji Brown Jackson talks about ethics in the Supreme Court, as well as stories about family, marriage and parenthood.

(Image credit: Zayrha Rodriguez)

Small family farmers are often “land rich, cash poor," and nursing homes and other types of long-term care are expensive. Many worry about sacrificing their land to pay for care at the end of life.

(Image credit: Tim Evans)

Miami Beach is tired of a community of live-aboard boaters anchored just offshore. It's adopted policies limiting their access, including making it illegal to tie up dinghies at a city boat launch.

(Image credit: Greg Allen)

From how to read the polls to big moments yet to come for Vice President Harris and former President Donald Trump, here are five themes and questions to think about this fall.

(Image credit: Justin Merriman)

KitchenAid has just revealed a new range of coffee makers that can brew 50 different hot and cold drinks, all without waking up your sleeping partner. Some coffee machines can reach 70 decibels (dB) during grinding and brewing (the same as a washing machine), but all models in the KitchenAid Espresso Collection are Quiet Mark certified for their low noise levels.

According to Quiet Mark, although coffee machines generally give your ears a break between different parts of the brewing process, grinding beans and pulling espresso shots can still be an uncomfortably loud affair.

"It is because of this reason that isolating louder components, such as the grinding blades, is especially important," says the organization. "Furthermore, liquid sounds are to be minimized outside the coffee pouring process, as they create a sense of leakage where the user may be forced to stop the machine and check for cracks."

The KitchenAid KF8 coffee maker has a special mode for frothing non-dairy milks like oat, almond, and soya (Image credit: KitchenAid) No dairy? No problem

The new KitchenAid Espresso Collection includes three models. The KF6 can brew up to 15 different coffee drinks, and has a 24in color touchscreen display so you can easily pick your preferred beverage. The KF7 has a 3.5in display and offers 20 different coffee options. Finally, the KF8 (above) has a huge 5in screen and can make over 40 different drinks, with six customizable favorites.

Each bean-to-cup machine has an integrated conical stainless steel burr grinder, and a 9.5oz / 270g removable bean hopper. Interestingly, if you want to brew something other than your usual beans, you can use a separate chute to bypass the grinder and brew pre-ground coffee instead. That could be particularly useful if you want to make an occasional cup of decaf, or have a friend who prefers a different roast to you.

All three machines have an automatic milk frothing and heating system for drinks like cappuccinos and lattes, and the KF8 has a dedicated mode for plant-based milks like almond, oat, and soy that conventional automatic coffee makers tend to struggle with.

The new coffee makers will be available to order direct from KitchenAid today (September 3) in the UK. At the time of writing, prices for the three machines are yet to be announced, but we'll update this article as soon as we have more information. International release dates have yet to be confirmed.

If you're thinking about upgrading your coffee machine but don't know where to start, our roundup of the best coffee makers will help you make the right choice.

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• How to clean a coffee maker

The suspect initially escaped from the scene, but was later found through Chicago Transit Authority surveillance video. Police now have the person in custody and seized a firearm in their possession.

(Image credit: Pat Nabong)

The pope's arrival in Indonesia launches an 11-day voyage zigzagging across time zones that will also take him to Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Singapore.

(Image credit: Achmad Ibrahim/AP)