Blackfire

The ray tracing effects my RTX 30-series GPU has managed so far are neat, but I think it is fair to say that the dream of proper real-time full path traced lighting in videogames has not been delivered yet. Which is why I was super excited to hear about Cyberpunk 2077(opens in new tab)'s new Overdrive RT graphics mode(opens in new tab), which enables full-on path tracing in the game. Available now in patch 1.62, Overdrive mode arguably delivers the proper ray tracing experience with more rays, more reflections, and more of everything that makes lighting realistic. But my excitement was soon tempered when I read the official patch release notes, which stated The technology preview of Ray Tracing: Overdrive Mode is currently recommended on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 40 Series (4070 Ti and up) graphics cards. Also, on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 (1080p, 30 fps). As this is a cutting-edge feature, it requires the highest-performing hardware available to run it properly." an owner of an Nvidia RTX 3090 Ti, I thought this meant that Overdrive mode was basically dead to me before it was even released. This is because I run an ultrawide curved gaming monitor(opens in new tab) with a resolution of 5120x1440, which sits between 1440p and 4K gaming. And, well, was I going to drop down to 1080p and 30 fps to game with Overdrive mode turned on? There's a better chance of Valve making Half-Life 3. Out of morbid curiosity though, I thought I'd still try and see how the game looked and ran on my rig, expecting an—admittedly well-lit—slide-show. However, after patching Cyberpunk 2077, turning on Overdrive mode and then running the in-game benchmark and playing the game, I've come away pleasantly surprised. Here are some videos that show why. As you can see, despite the fact that I ran the game at maximum settings, and turned the Overdrive path tracing mode to on, I still managed to post an average frame rate of 36 fps in the really rather punishing Cyberpunk 2077 benchmark. As you can see from the rest of my system, it's strong but firmly mid-tier, with a AMD Ryzen 7 5700X 8-core CPU paired with 32GB of DDR4 RAM. The game-changer setting here is DLSS, which I set to Performance. I could push that frame rate even higher if I dropped the DLSS quality to Ultra Performance, but then I found the trade-off in sharpness was too much. These settings translated into a completely playable in-game experience, too, and one that was great to look at. Check the video out below for a sample of the Overdrive running on my rig. Would I like more frames? Of course. I'm a guy that prefers a locked 60-120fps frame rate or higher over, say, a strict 4K resolution. Resolution for me is nowhere near as important as frame rate as I feel the benefits to the latter in terms of immersion and actual gameplay far outweigh it. But I am a sucker for fancy new graphics tech and am willing to make some trade-offs to enjoy it. Right here, thanks to the magic of DLSS, and not even the frame generation-packing 3.0 version of it that is exclusive to Nvidia 40-series GPUs, I can manage to run Cyberpunk 2077 with Overdrive turned on while maintaining my ultrawide resolution and a completely playable (if not ideal) frame rate. And, sheesh, these videos probably don't do justice in terms of just how much of an impressive improvement this more full path-traced lighting is. Everything looks and feels more realistic as lighting sources don't have to be faked. People, objects, buildings and even atmospheric effects like smoke are lit consistently and accurately to the time of day and the surrounding light sources. Considering this Overdrive is still really only a work-in-progress "technical preview", it sure is bloody impressive and to me immediately feels like a game-changer. Overall, then, I think what I'm trying to say here is that there is absolutely hope for non-Nvidia 40-series graphics card owners when it comes to Cyberpunk 2077 and its Overdrive mode. Indeed, just yesterday did Nvidia reach out to confirm that Overdrive mode will run on any GPU with hardware ray tracing, with that even stretching back to Nvidia 20-series cards. You might just have to get quite aggressive with your DLSS quality settings and resolution to make it happen. [https://www.pcgamer.com/i-tried-cyberpunk-2077s-new-rt-overdrive-mode-on-my-30-series-nvidia-gpu-and-i-was-pleasantly-surprised/]

A couple whose garden was being vandalised at night have uncovered the surprising culprit - a wild beaver. The rodent was discovered by couple who noticed trees going missing and machete-like damage in a field next to their Pembrokeshire house. Curious about the cause, they bought a "stealth camera" which captured footage of the creature swimming in their pond and felling their trees. The couple said they "love watching the beaver go about his business at night". The dam-building rodent had started to build itself a lodge under the family's pond deck at their rural property. The origins of the beaver are unexplained, but the landowners believe it may have come from an unsanctioned release by over-zealous rewilding enthusiasts. Nicknamed Anthony by the family - after military historian Antony Beevor - the herbivore has become as "fat as a pig" spending as much as six hours a night chewing tree trunks and dragging branches around. The discovery marks only the fourth time a beaver has been found living wild in Britain after they were hunted to extinction in Britain 400 years ago. The landowners, who wished to remain anonymous to protect the location of the animal, were "astonished" to discover the herbivore was living behind their house. They said: "Some of our trees began to go missing overnight and others were simply being mauled. "It looked like someone was hitting them with a machete... we couldn't work out what was causing the damage. "The only clue were some teeth marks left in the bark." Two weeks after first noticing the damage, the couple bought a £100 stealth camera and left it out overnight to try and catch the vandal in action. When they reviewed the footage a week later, they spotted the creature. The closest official colony of beavers to Pembrokeshire is in the Dyfi Estuary - 50 miles away in mid Wales, where no escapes have been reported. Since their reintroduction to the UK in Argyll in 2009, beaver numbers have been increasing through enclosed colonies set up by wildlife trusts. But this is only the fourth time a beaver has been found living wild in Britain. Other wild po[CENSORED]tions were discovered in Scotland's Tay-Forth catchment area, in east Devon's River Otter and on the Avon near Bristol. Beavers are protected in law in England, But in Wales, where environmental law-making is up to the Welsh government, no protection exists. Their presence is a cause of concern for some farmers who feel their livelihoods are being threatened because beaver dams can flood valuable farmland. But rewilders highlight the positive effects of wetland creation, providing habitat for animals like otters, water voles, toads, frogs and wildfowl. There are no plans to reintroduce beavers to Pembrokeshire, but the Welsh Beaver Project is aiming to submit a licence application to Natural Resources Wales this year to release them in the Dyfi catchment. [https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-65265928]

The UK economy saw no growth in February after being hit by the effects of strikes by public sector workers. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said that a rise in construction activity had been offset by walkouts by teachers and civil servants. It follows a surprise 0.4% jump in economic growth in January. Despite February's flat performance the chancellor said the economic outlook was "brighter than expected" and the UK was "set to avoid recession". Jeremy Hunt noted that GDP - the measure of economic growth - had grown by 0.1% in the three months to February. Revisions to previous data also means that the ONS now estimates monthly GDP to be 0.3% above its pre-Covid levels of February 2020. The previous estimate in January had put it 0.2% below that point. Labour said the UK was "lagging behind on the global stage with growth on the floor". "The reality of growth inching along is families worse off, high streets in decline and a weaker economy that leaves us vulnerable to shocks," said shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves. Darren Morgan, ONS director of economic statistics, said the UK construction sector had grown strongly in February after a poor January, with more repair work taking place. There was also a boost from retailing, with many shops having "a buoyant month". But he added: "These were offset by the effects of civil service and teachers' strike action, which impacted the public sector, and unseasonably mild weather led to falls in the use of electricity and gas." Walkouts by teachers nationwide on 1 February and in some regions of England on 28 February had been the biggest drag on growth, the ONS said. When schools close or only have a skeleton staff because of strike action, this is deemed to decrease the output of the education sector, as the ONS measures it, in terms of its contribution to GDP. Strikes by many civil servants on 1 February also affected output. Economic growth figures can vary wildly from month to month, and economists warn against reading too much into a single set of figures. But the big picture, according to Mr Morgan, is that the economy has been "pretty much flat" since last spring. High energy prices and rising interest rates to control inflation are taking their toll, and industrial action in several sectors is also having an impact. On Wednesday, the International Monetary Fund warned the UK is set to be one of the worst performing major economies in the world this year, shrinking by 0.3% in 2023. The UK's inflation rate was 10.4% in the year to February, remaining near a 40-year high. However, many economists expect inflation - the rate at which prices rise - to ease later this year as energy and food prices fall, and recent forecasts suggest the economic situation is not as bleak as it looked a few months ago. But for many consumers and businesses, price rises are leading to a daily struggle to pay bills and buy food. Bees is an Asian bridal jewellery store in Upton Park, East London. The shop is busy at the moment because of Ramadan but thing are still "really tough" for the business, said manager Sushil Raniga. "From a consumer point of view, we're definitely seeing that [the cost of living] has impacted the way that they spend," he told the BBC. "We're also seeing an increase in the cost of our raw materials and transport costs, things like brass and aluminium, those things have gone up quite significantly. That's obviously impacting our bottom line." Yael Selfin, chief economist at KPMG UK, said the economy was "likely to escape recession but a period of stagnation awaits". "Economic activity will remain subdued in the near term as households continue to be squeezed by elevated prices and the cumulative impact of past interest rate increases," she said. Capital Economics agreed the UK had "probably avoided recession" but said more interest rate rises were likely as the Bank of England fights to get inflation under control. The Bank has raised rates steadily since December 2021, most recently from 4% to 4.25% in March. [https://www.bbc.com/news/business-65250170]

Japanese officials have approved controversial plans to build the country's first gambling resort. The complex will open in the western city of Osaka in 2029. Casinos have long been illegal in Japan. But a law was passed in 2018 providing exceptions to games, such as poker or baccarat, to create jobs and boost tourism. Public opinion has been split, with some concerned about a rise in crime and gambling addiction. Besides the casino, the 5.3 million square-foot (49ha) complex will include a hotel, conference centre, shopping mall and museum. "We hope (the casino) will become a tourism base that promotes Japan's charms to the world," according to Prime Minster Fumio Kishida. The project has an initial investment of 1.8tn yen ($13.5bn, £10.7bn) with US-based casino operator MGM and Japan's Orix Group each owning a 40% stake in the company. The other 20% will be owned by local companies such as West Japan Rail, Kansai Electric Power and Osaka-based Panasonic. Officials expect the resort to attract around 20 million visitors annually and bring in roughly 1tn yen in annual economic benefits to the region, according to a Japanese news service. The project was proposed years ago, but it was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic and a corruption scandal involving a ruling-party lawmaker who was accused of accepting bribes while in charge of casino policy. Japan is seen a promising market for gambling. It is the world's third largest economy with a po[CENSORED]tion of roughly 126 million. It also has close proximity to wealthy Asian gamblers, particularly from China. Macau is the only Chinese city where casino gambling is legal. A similar plan has been submitted by the Nagasaki prefecture to build a casino at Huis Ten Bosch, a Dutch-themed theme park. [https://www.bbc.com/news/business-65271857]

V2 had many strengths that made it stand out, such as its catchy melody, powerful lyrics, and skillful instrumentation. Music is a personal experience, and it's clear that V2 resonated with me in a way that V1 did not. My vote goes for V2.

The latest Windows 11 update (KB5025239) is now out, and is coming to all PCs – whether you like it or not. That’s because this is an important update that’s mandatory – so you can either manually install it by opening up Windows Update and downloading it from there, or directly downloading it from Microsoft’s website If you don’t manually install it, Windows 11 will eventually download and install it automatically, to ensure that your PC gets the benefit of the latest bug fixes and features. However, while many of the new features including in this update are welcome, there’s one addition which is proving to be very controversial. If you want to know what Microsoft is adding to your PC with Windows 11’s KB5025239 update, read on for my three favorite new features – and one I absolutely hate. Windows 11 KB5025239 brings a few subtle changes to the taskbar which help improve its overall look. The biggest change is that when you have set Windows 11 to dark mode in Settings > Personalization > Colors, and apps to light mode, the search box will appear lighter – making it easier to see and use. Some users will also get a new button the lets them open up the new ChatGPT-powered Bing AI chat mode direct from the search box in the taskbar. Annoyingly (but not a surprise), Bing chat opens up in Microsoft Edge, regardless of the web browser you’ve set as default. Microsoft has done an admirable job when it comes to adding accessibility features to its products, including both software and hardware, and while Windows 11 KB5025239 doesn’t bring new accessibility features, it fixes and improves several existing ones. An important fix addresses a frustrating bug which caused PowerPoint, Microsoft’s presentation software, to crash when using accessibility tools. The update also allows Microsoft Narrator, which is a text-to-speech tool, to read out dropdown lists in Microsoft Excel. 3. Windows LAPS The addition of Windows LAPS (Local Administrator Password Solution) is a bit of a niche feature, but it’s actually a much-requested one from system administrators in IT departments. It allows admins to manage the passwords of local accounts on Windows devices and backs them up to the cloud. It also allows for password encryption and automatic password rotation for enhanced security, and it’s now integrated natively into Windows 11, making it much easier to set up and use. If you have no interest in Windows LAPS(opens in new tab) then this may not seem like a big deal, but for people who do use it, this is a fantastic update that’s already been warmly welcomed. [https://www.techradar.com/news/New-Windows-11-update-is-out-here-are-3-new-features-I-love-and-one-I-hate]

The US government believes the UN Secretary General is too willing to accommodate Russian interests, according to fresh revelations in classified documents leaked online. The files suggest Washington has been closely monitoring Antonio Guterres. Several documents describe private communications involving Mr Guterres and his deputy. It is the latest from a leak of secret documents, which US officials are scrambling to get to the bottom of. The documents contain candid observations from Mr Guterres about the war in Ukraine and a number of African leaders. One leaked document focuses on the Black Sea grain deal, brokered by the UN and Turkey in July following fears of a global food crisis. It suggests that Mr Guterres was so keen to preserve the deal that he was willing to accommodate Russia's interests. "Guterres emphasised his efforts to improve Russia's ability to export," the document says, "even if that involves sanctioned Russian entities or individuals." His actions in February, according to the assessment, were "undermining broader efforts to hold Moscow accountable for its actions in Ukraine." UN officials bristled at the suggestion that the world's top diplomat was being soft on Moscow. Saying he wouldn't comment on leaked documents, one senior official said the UN was "driven by the need to mitigate the impact of the war on the world's poorest." "That means doing what we can to drive down the price of food," he added, "and to ensure that fertiliser is accessible to those countries that need it the most." Russia has frequently complained that its own exports of grain and fertiliser are being adversely affected by international sanctions, and has threatened at least twice to suspend cooperation with BSGI unless its concerns are addressed. Russian grain and fertilizer are not subject to international sanctions, but Russia says it has experienced difficulties with securing shipping and insurance. UN officials are clearly unhappy with America's interpretation of Mr Guterres' efforts. And they say that Mr Guterres has made his opposition to Russia's war very clear. Another document from mid-February describes a frank conversation between Mr Guterres and his deputy, Amina Mohammed. In it, Mr Guterres expresses "dismay" at a call from the EU Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, for Europe to produce more weapons and ammunition as a result of the war in Ukraine. The two also talk about a recent summit of African leaders. Amina Mohammed says that Kenya's president, William Ruto, is "ruthless" and that she "doesn't trust him." It's well known that America is among a number of nations which routinely spy on the UN - but when the products of that espionage come to light, it's highly embarrassing and, for the world's leading diplomat, potentially damaging. The first screenshots of the documents the BBC has been able to verify appeared on Discord - a social media platform po[CENSORED]r with gamers - and were shared on several discussion channels. Discord said on Wednesday that it was cooperating with law enforcement in its investigation into the leak. US national security spokesperson John Kirby told the BBC that the US government was scrambling to get to the bottom of the leaks. "This was a series of dangerous leaks. We don't know who's responsible, we don't know why. And we are assessing the national security implications, and right now there is also a criminal investigation," he said during President Joe Biden's trip to Belfast on Wednesday. "We want to get to the bottom of this, we want to find out who did this and why." Washington was "reaching out actively" to allies to answer questions they have about the leaks, so they know "how seriously we are taking this", he added. Mr Kirby said that while the authenticity of some of the documents had yet to be established, they "certainly appear to have come from various source of intelligence across the government". [https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-65257957]

Chinese manufacturer BYD has confirmed that it will bring a new small electric car to the UK this year. At 4290mm long, the new BYD Dolphin sits in between the Peugeot e-208 and Volkswagen ID 3 in size. Based on the same E-Platform 3.0 as the BYD Atto 3 family hatchback with which the brand launched its UK offensive earlier this year, the electric-only Dolphin will arrive with a 60kWh lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) ‘Blade’ battery capable of delivering an official combined WLTP range of up to 265 miles. Power will be sent to the front-wheels via a 201bhp electric motor that’s good for a 0-62mph time of 7.1sec. Rapid charging rates peak at 88kW. UK prices are yet to be confirmed, but will likely start from around £32,000. A smaller-battery version of the Dolphin will follow, and while specifics haven’t been confirmed it's probable that it will use the 44kWh pack already used in the Chinese market version of the Dolphin. The interior of the Dolphin is a more conventional-looking affair than the wildly styled interior of the Atto 3, but the Dolphin still gets some aquatic-themed details including what one company source describes as “dolphin-shaped interior door handles that will bring a joyful twist". The Dolphin will be offered in four trim levels and with a variety of different finishes. A rotating, 12.3in touchscreen interface is standard across the range, as is a heat pump. There will be a wide range of exterior finishes to choose from, including optional dual-tone paint and a panoramic glass roof, in keeping with the brand’s efforts to pitch itself as a semi-premium offering on a par with the likes of Kia and Hyundai. A comparably spacious three-person rear bench and a 345-litre boot also make the BYD Dolphin an interesting small family car option, straddling the traditional B- and C-segment hatchback classes. Thanks to a tie-up with Shell Recharge, BYD Dolphin drivers will also get a discounted charging rate at Shell charging stations, and early takers will also get over 1000 miles of free public charging. As with the BYD Atto 3, the Dolphin will be sold through a number of established dealers including Arnold Clark, Pendragon, Lookers and LSH Auto. Orders will open in the UK for the BYD Dolphin this summer, with deliveries expected in the autumn. [https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/new-byd-dolphin-265-mile-electric-hatchback-uk]

Police in Kentucky have released audio of panicked emergency calls during a mass shooting that left five people dead at a bank, including from the gunman's own mother. She is heard telling a 911 dispatcher her son "currently has a gun" and is heading for the bank in Louisville, but "he's a really good kid". The callers included a woman who hid in a closet during the attack. Eight people, including two policemen, were also wounded in Monday's shooting. The 25-year-old attacker, who worked at the Old National Bank, was fatally shot by police in the building's lobby. In about 30 minutes of 911 calls released by Louisville police on Wednesday, the woman identifying herself as the suspect's mother says her son is "non-violent" and "doesn't own any guns". "He's never hurt anyone," she says, adding: "Please don't punish him." She adds that she received a tip-off from his roommate, who was "very concerned". "We don't even own guns," she says. "I don't know where he would have gotten a gun." The gunman's mother asks if she can go to the bank, but the dispatcher advises her to stay away because police are already responding to a "dangerous" situation there. What we know of the Kentucky bank shooting victims In a separate 911 call, another woman is heard quietly telling the dispatcher that she is "in a closet hiding". "He works with us," she whispers about the gunman. Gunshots can be heard in the background. Asked by the dispatcher about injuries, she says: "I just saw a lot of blood." The fatalities were Thomas Elliott, 63, James Tutt, 64, Joshua Barrick, 40, Julianna Farmer, 45, and Deana Eckert, 57. On Tuesday, authorities released bodycam footage showing police officers arriving at the scene within three minutes and engaging in a shoot-out with the gunman. The gunman, Connor Sturgeon, used a legally purchased AR-15 semi-automatic rifle to kill five colleagues, while live-streaming the attack on Instagram. His family released a statement late on Tuesday saying they had been addressing his mental health challenges, but there were no warning signs he could commit such an act. "No words can express our sorrow, anguish, and horror at the unthinkable harm our son Connor inflicted on innocent people, their families, and the entire Louisville community," they said. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-65258107

Voted

Name of the game: Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® II Price: 45.49$ Link Store:Press here Offer ends up after X hours: Offer ends 25 April Requirements: MINIMUM: Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system OS: Windows® 10 64 Bit (latest update) Processor: Intel® Core™ i3-6100 / Core™ i5-2500K or AMD Ryzen™ 3 1200 Memory: 8 GB RAM Graphics: NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 960 or AMD Radeon™ RX 470 - DirectX 12.0 compatible system DirectX: Version 12 Network: Broadband Internet connection Storage: 125 GB available space RECOMMENDED: Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system OS: Windows® 10 64 Bit (latest update) or Windows® 11 64 Bit (latest update) Processor: Intel® Core™ i5-6600K / Core™ i7-4770 or AMD Ryzen™ 5 1400 Memory: 12 GB RAM Graphics: NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1060 or AMD Radeon™ RX 580 - DirectX 12.0 compatible system DirectX: Version 12 Network: Broadband Internet connection Storage: 125 GB available space

Some Microsoft Outlook users will soon be able to utilize the platform not just to read their messages, but also to capture and upload video. The email client has announced it is working on a new feature that will allow users of the Outlook Mobile app to capture a video from their smartphone, before "seamlessly" uploading it to their email. The launch will see Microsoft looking to remove a time-consuming and frustrating step when users attempt to attach or include video footage in an Outlook email by hopefully making the process a lot smoother. The company says that the function will utilize Microsoft's enterprise-focused cloud storage system OneDrive for Business, with its larger capacity and increased capabilities allowing for all kinds of video to be uploaded. Uploading the video will leverage OneDrive for Business, allowing users to benefit from increased storage space and large limits for video size and length," the entry(opens in new tab) in the official Microsoft 365 roadmap reads. The service will only be available to Android users to begin with, but if it proves a success, we expect it to expand to iOS users as well. The update is currently listed as "in development", but Microsoft says a preview should be available this month, with a full rollout set to follow soon after. The launch is the latest boost to Microsoft Outlook in recent months as the company looks to stay relevant and useful for its users. Recently, it introduced reactions to Outlook, allowing users to “thumbs up, laugh, heart, celebrate, or shed a tear in reaction to emails”, giving them the chance to add a little more personality to their messages. The company's video conferencing service Microsoft Teams is also working on a feature that will bring Teams chat into Outlook, allowing participants to send a quick message, or review a chat, without having to open up Microsoft Teams separately, meaning users won't need to switch between the applications. [ https://www.techradar.com/news/Microsoft-Outlook-is-finally-solving-one-of-its-biggest-email-headaches]

With Nvidia's RTX 4070 expected to launch any day now, the leaks are coming thick and fast. We've already had Nvidia listing the unannounced graphics card in its own marketing materials(opens in new tab). Now comes what appears to be a full suite of leaked benchmarks showing the RTX 4070 matching the old RTX 3080 for overall performance. The benchmark slides posted by Videocardz(opens in new tab) are formatted in the usual Nvidia style and seem to be marketing materials or part of a review guide for journalists. Either way, they show the upcoming GPU matching the old RTX 3080(opens in new tab) at 1440p with DLSS and ray tracing enabled. So that's the same performance at $100 lower MSRP. Oh yeah, the slides also confirm the rumoured $599 pricing for the RTX 4070. Compared to the 3070 Ti(opens in new tab), the slides show a 20% improvement, while the boost over the RTX 3070(opens in new tab) is 30%. The 'leaked' performance numbers also indicate much bigger improvements with frame generation switched on, which is a given since the old RTX 30-series GPUs don't support that feature A second slide has a game-by-game break down comparing the new RTX 4070 with the RTX 3070 Ti and RTX 2070 Super. Most of the results show huge gains courtesy of frame generation, but a more limited tranche of games is also included showing smaller gains in games that don't support the feature. If you're wondering, in this leak at least there are no pure raster results without DLSS and ray tracing enabled. Given that all RTX 40-series GPUs have enhancements for ray-tracing performance versus older RTX 30 boards, you might expect the performance boost for plain old raster games to be a bit smaller. In other words, if these benchmarks are genuine they imply a generational gain over the RTX 3070 for pure raster performance of less than 30%. YOUR NEXT UPGRADE Overall, these numbers look plausible and are likely to be the real deal and also match up with another leak from a week ago or so(opens in new tab). If so, the RTX 4070 will offer only a small improvement in performance per dollar unless you consider frame rates with frame generation enabled. While it is a very useful feature, however, that is a stretch. Frame generation doesn't help where you need it most—at times when you simply can't achieve a playable frame rate because it adds latency just when you don't want it. What it's great for is making gameplay smoother where your frame rates are playable but not quite as smooth as you'd like. Anyway, by all accounts we'll know soon enough exactly how the RTX 4070 stacks up. Watch this space. [https://www.pcgamer.com/nvidias-rtx-4070-matches-rtx-3080-in-leaked-benchmarks/]

A 17-year-old girl has spoken about her love of delivering lambs in a bid to inspire more youngsters to take up farming. Libby Lawrence has been helping a local farmer near Earls Colne, Essex, during the lambing season for the past three years. She is currently on a gap year ahead of enrolling on a veterinary nurse course. "I couldn't be sat all day in front of a desk or at school - I love it, it's the best thing ever," she said. I like just being with animals - I'm not a huge people person and I'd quite happily spend all day by myself either with my horses or sheep. I love being up here - it's calm. "I've surrounded myself with a good group of mates - I go to Young Farmers, so everyone's got the same interests. Libby said she got an immense amount of satisfaction from working with the 500-strong flock, and while the job was not for the "faint-hearted", she would recommend it. She said although it could be physically demanding, it was fulfilling to deliver healthy lambs and assist them with feeding from their mother straight away. "You see them all out in the field - that's the nicest feeling. When you're all done, they're out in the field and they're all growing," she said. Her mother Hannah Lawrence, 48, who works in marketing, said while her daughter's love of farming had been unexpected, she was impressed by how she had taken on such a responsible role. "She's very dedicated - she's loved to learn... up at the farm and I think it's really important to get youngsters in farming," said Ms Lawrence. "It's a business that needs a boost from kids coming through to take over and not just leaving [it to] the older generation. "She's working hard, 12-hour days - she doesn't always do the night-time shifts but she's in all day, every day - keeping an eye on her flock and making sure everyone is safe." Ms Lawrence added Libby had been fortunate to live in an area surrounded by farms and had easily found work. Libby's boss, farmer Robert Prestney, 73, said his protege's reliability and enthusiasm made her a perfect fit on the farm. "I am proud - it's nice to see youngsters doing well and enjoying what they're doing because farming's mainly old people really, like me. "You do need younger ones coming in, with new ideas, and she has." For now, Libby's experience on the farm has cemented both her love of animals and her future ambitions. "I would love to have my own sheep, cows and pigs - a bit of a smallholding," she said. [https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-essex-65190601]

The UK is set to be one of the worst performing major economies in the world this year, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). It says the UK economy's performance in 2023 will be the worst among the 20 biggest economies, known as the G20, which includes sanctions-hit Russia. The IMF predicts the UK economy will shrink this year, although this is a small upgrade from its last forecast. It also warned of a "rocky road" for the global financial system. It follows the collapse of two US banks last month, closely followed by a rushed takeover of Swiss banking giant Credit Suisse by its rival UBS, which sparked fears of another financial crisis. The IMF had already forecast that the UK would experience a downturn this year and be bottom of the pile of the G7 - a group of the world's seven largest so-called "advanced" economies, which dominate global trade and the international financial system. The UK topped the group in 2022 during the pandemic rebound. It now expects the UK economy to shrink by 0.3% in 2023 and then grow by 1% next year. Although the UK is forecast to have the worst economic performance this year, the IMF's latest prediction is slightly better than its previous expectation of a 0.6% contraction, made in January. IMF researchers have previously pointed to Britain's exposure to high gas prices, rising interest rates and a sluggish trade performance as reasons for its weak economic performance. Forecasts are made to give a guide to what is most likely to happen in the future, but they are not always right. For example, previous IMF forecasts picked up fewer than 10% of recessions a year ahead of time, according to an analysis it conducted of recessions around the world between 1992 and 2014. Responding to the latest IMF's predictions, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said: "Our IMF growth forecasts have been upgraded by more than any other G7 country. "The IMF now say we are on the right track for economic growth. By sticking to the plan we will more than halve inflation this year, easing the pressure on everyone." But Rachel Reeves, Labour's shadow chancellor, said the estimates showed "just how far we continue to lag behind on the global stage". "This matters not just because 13 years of low growth under the Tories are weakening our economy, but because it's why families are worse off, facing a Tory mortgage penalty and seeing living standards falling at their fastest rate since records began," she added. Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesperson Sarah Olney said the forecast was "another damning indictment of this Conservative government's record on the economy". A number of forecasters think the chances of a recession in the UK this year are declining. An economy is usually said to be in recession if it shrinks for two consecutive three-month periods. The independent Office for Budget Responsibility now expects the economy to contract by 0.2% this year but avoid a recession. Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey also said recently that he was "much more hopeful" for the economy, and it was no longer heading into an immediate recession. The new forecasts come against the backdrop of a world economy that continues to recover from both the pandemic and the Ukraine war energy shock. But the IMF said there were concerns about the wider impact of recent fragility in global banking markets. The IMF now expects global growth to fall from 3.4% in 2022 to 2.8% in 2023, before rising slowly and settling at 3% in five years' time. But it warned that if there is more stress in the financial sector, global growth could weaken further this year. Interest rates predicted to fall Separately, the IMF said it expects real interest rates - which take into account inflation - in major economies to fall to pre-pandemic levels because of low productivity and ageing po[CENSORED]tions. Central banks in the UK, the US, Europe and other nations have been increasing interest rates to combat the rate of price rises, otherwise known as inflation. In the UK, inflation is at its highest for nearly 40 years because of rising energy prices and soaring food costs. In response, the Bank of England has been raising interest rates, and last month increased them to 4.25%. However, in a blog the IMF said that "recent increases in real interest rates are likely to be temporary". [https://www.bbc.com/news/business-65240749]

The legally purchased AR-15-style rifle used in a deadly workplace shooting at a bank in Louisville will probably be auctioned to the public, officials say. At a news conference one day after five people were killed, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg called for a change in the way confiscated guns are handled. Four people - including a police officer - remain in hospital. The semi-automatic weapon had been purchased by the killer, a junior bank employee, on 4 April. Mayor Greenberg, who nearly died in a shooting at his campaign office last year, has previously criticised Kentucky's policy for guns seized by police. Under current state law, guns confiscated by local police - including those used in homicides - are returned to state police and then made available for purchase at auction. In February, the mayor ordered local police to temporarily disable seized weapons and affix warning labels before handing them over to state police for resale. The labels, which bear some resemblance to the health warnings on cigarette packages, say: "Deadly weapons like this one caused 146 homicides by gunshot wound in Louisville in 2022. Fourteen of those deaths were children." "Under current Kentucky law, the assault rifle that was used to murder five of our neighbours and shoot at rescuing police officers will one day be auctioned off," Mr Greenberg said at Tuesday's news conference. "Think about that. That murder weapon will be back on the streets." Meanwhile, police confirmed that bodycam footage captured by first responders who attended the scene at Old National Bank in downtown Louisville will be released later. A police officer who graduated into the force last month was struck in the head on Monday and remains in critical condition at Louisville hospital, officials said. He is identified as Louisville Metro officer Nickolas Wilt, 26. Three more survivors are still at the University of Louisville Hospital in fair but stable condition, the hospital said. The victims killed in the shooting have all been identified: Thomas Elliott, 63 James Tutt, 64 Joshua Barrick, 40 Julianna Farmer, 45 Deana Eckert, 57 Data compiled by the Gun Violence Archive shows there have been at least 147 mass shootings - defined as those in which at least four people were shot - so far in 2023, including at least 16 since the start of April. Mr Greenberg said 40 people in the city of about 628,000 have died from gun violence this year. Jason Smith, chief medical officer at University of Louisville Health, who has led care for those injured, became emotional as he told reporters: "When you hear someone screaming mommy or daddy, it just becomes too hard to come in day in and day out and do that. "Sooner or later it catches up to everybody." What we know about the Kentucky bank shooting victims How many US mass shootings have there been in 2023 Police say the 25-year-old suspect used an AR-15-style semi-automatic rifle during the incident and was broadcasting the shooting online. He bought the gun from a local store, Louisville Metro Police Department interim chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel told Tuesday's news conference. [https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-65234314]

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There is a very strong argument to be made for the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D being the best gaming CPU around right now. It's certainly the best gaming chip that AMD has ever made, but it's also capably outperforming Intel's top CPU when it comes to gaming frame rates, and is doing so for a lot less cash. Ryzen 9 7950X3D(opens in new tab) was the first of the new 3D V-Cache chips to hit our test bench, and it offers a mix of high-end gaming performance and a full 16-cores of Zen 4 processing. But its hybrid design, which offered one eight-core chiplet (or CCD) with the extra 64MB of L3 cache fused on top of it and another CCD without, demanded some extra hoops for the operating system to jump through, and also sacrificed some of a standard 16-core chip's raw multithreaded performance. The Ryzen 7 7800X3D, however, is as straightforward as AMD's 3D V-Cache gets. There's one eight-core chiplet with extra cache, and no messing around with provisioning or applications scratching their heads to figure out which of the big CPU's CCDs it ought to be using at any one time. So, does that make it a better dedicated gaming chip? Well, it's not necessarily faster—which highlights how well AMD actually delivered on the 7950X3D's hybrid design—but it makes far more sense as the CPU at the heart of your next gaming PC. Simply put, if you want the absolute highest gaming frame rates, and care not a jot for the CPU-intensive distractions of rendering or encoding, then AMD's latest chip is the processor for you. It wears its gaming predilections on its sleeve, and delivers performance that could make a Core i9 blush. No jack of all trades, but certainly a master of one, and that's gaming. It's seriously efficient, too, and that combination of gaming power and low electrical power makes this new 3D V-Cache processor a tantalising choice for your gaming rig. Now that AMD's AM5 platform has matured we're finding more affordable motherboard options every day, and DDR5 memory, and PCIe 4.0 SSDs seem to be constantly dropping in price as well. The value argument for Intel's Raptor Lake platform is starting to look ever thinner when you can build an impressively future-proof PC from AMD's affordable options. At $450 it's more expensive than the more versatile Core i5 13400F(opens in new tab), but until Intel can get a handle on its chips' power demands AMD's best gaming CPU is by far the most elegant. The Ryzen 7 7800X3D is no jack of all trades, but it is certainly a master of one, and that's gaming. The Zen 4 architecture(opens in new tab) inside the new 7800X3D is a known quantity by now. It's mostly a derivative spec of the old Zen 3 design, but here built on the TSMC 5nm process for the CCD and 6nm for the I/O die. The bigger news at launch was the addition of PCIe 5.0 and DDR5 support from the get-go, that and a new socket with a funky new heatsink design. There's a little more L2 cache in the Zen 4 CPU make-up, giving 1MB of L2 for each core, and some front end optimisations, which along with the higher clock speeds of the main range has delivered a welcome bump in Ryzen processor performance. Even if the core counts have remained the same. But the 7800X3D goes further in one way, while taking a step back in the other. This is a resolutely eight-core CPU in the same vein as the Ryzen 7 7700(opens in new tab) and Ryzen 7 7700X(opens in new tab), so this 16-thread design alone is not new for a Zen 4 chip. But the extra 64MB L3 cache mounted on top of the eight-core CCD is. The compromise is—as with the Ryzen 7 5800X3D(opens in new tab) which kicked this whole cache-heavy enterprise off—about clock speeds. Where the 7700X can deliver up to 5.4GHz and the 7950X(opens in new tab) up to 5.7GHz, the 7800X3D is resolutely stuck at just 5GHz. Yeah, we're at a point where I can say 'just' about hitting 5GHz regularly out of the box. The Ryzen 7 7800X3D is still a 120W chip, however, which puts it in a higher bracket than the 105W 7700X. Though, having run through all my testing now, that TDP number is starting to feel a little delusive considering just how efficient the chip is in operation. Even while delivering effectively the highest gaming performance of any chip we've tested. [https://www.pcgamer.com/amd-ryzen-7-7800x3d-review-benchmarks-performance/]

Making the most of virtual backgrounds in Microsoft Teams might actually get easier and more intuitive thanks to a new release from the company. The video conferencing service announced in March 2023 that it would be bringing green screen technology to help boost the detail and accuracy of virtual backgrounds and blur effects without the need for any additional software or hardware. Now, the company has revealed more details on exactly how the new tool will work, and how it belives green screens can take your Microsoft Teams calls to the next level. a Microsoft Tech Community blog post(opens in new tab), company expert Jan Steberl outlined how the green screen feature, which is now in public preview, can provide, "an enhanced virtual background effect". He noted how, "green screen improves the sharpness and definition of the virtual background effect around your face, head, ears, and hair. It also allows you to show a prop or other object in your hand to be more visible to other meeting participants." Users will need to ensure they have a solid color screen or a background wall behind them to use the feature, which must be flat without any stains or other irregularities. They will also need to carefully select the backdrop color in order to ensure the background or blur effect is applied correctly and looks high-quality. Rteberl reminded users that they will need to apply a background effect in Teams meeting before enabling the green screen effect, which can be done after joining the call by clicking the “More” icon in the meeting toolbar, then selecting Video effects > Green Screen Settings in the Backgrounds section, and toggling the option under Teams settings -> Devices -> Green screen. He did warn that activating a green screen will automatically disable background blur and Together Mode, although it is compatible with several Presenter mode options, including Standout, Side-by-Side and Reporter, PowerPoint Live Standout, and background replacement (JPEG/PNG). Green screen on Microsoft Teams is currently only supported on Windows and macOS devices with Intel and AMD chips - Apple Macs with M1/M2 hardware are not able to enjoy the feature just yet. [https://www.techradar.com/news/microsoft-teams-wants-to-make-its-lamest-feature-actually-worth-using]

Since they hit the mainstream in the early 2000s, dual-clutch transmissions (DCTs) have travelled a long a curious curve of driver acceptance. Initial joy that they were so much more compelling than the torque-converter slushers and automated manuals they replaced eventually gave way to a yearning for manuals as the novelty wore off. However, it’s hard to imagine Lamborghini’s new LB744 plug-in hybrid hypercar being fitted with anything else Sant’Agata but doubtless drawing on the wider Volkswagen Group’s huge experience with DCT technology, Lamborghini’s eight-speed “double-clutch” transmission (so many different names for the same thing) is completely new and developed especially for the LB744. Breaking with Lamborghini’s tradition of mainly longitudinal engines and forward-facing gearboxes, the LB744 is powered by what might be described as a T-drive, with a longitudinal engine coupled to a transverse gearbox behind it. What would’ve been the transmission tunnel ahead of the battery is occupied by a small (3.8kWh) drive battery. All DCTs work on the principle of splitting gear ratios between separate shafts within the gearbox. Longitudinal gearboxes might have two shafts, whereas those designed to fit in the compact spaces of front-wheel-drive cars, like Volkswagen’s DSG ’boxes, might have three. Despite the transverse mounting of Lamborghini’s unit, the design is able to stick to two, no doubt because of the car’s width. The gears are arranged with the even numbers on one shaft and odd numbers on the other, each set being controlled by one clutch. As with all DCTs, the idea is that when the car is accelerating through upshifts, the gearbox preselects the next ratio but the clutch controlling it remains open. When the driver calls for a shift, the clutches simultaneously opens and closes, taking the previous ratio out of drive while introducing the higher ratio at exactly the same time. In this case, a feature called continuous downshifting (activated if you hold down the left paddle) drops the DCT through multiple gears under braking to give you a greater sense of control. At 193kg, Lamborghini’s new eight-speed DCT weighs notably less than the Huracán’s seven-speeder. It’s faster-shifting, too. The gearbox’s role as part of a drive system is more complete than usual in that it forms part of the hybrid strategy. Of the LB744’s three electric drive motors, one is located above the gearbox while the other two are axial flux (pancake-style), one on each wheel. The rear motor also acts as the starter and in generator mode powers the front motors via the battery. An uncoupling mechanism with a dedicated synchroniser connects the motor to the gearbox, allowing it to be connected to the engine or independently to the wheels. In that way, it can either feed power to the engine or be driven by the engine to generate electricity. When it’s uncoupled from the engine and driving the wheels alone, the LB744 becomes a 4WD EV. Another clever touch is the use of the front motors for reversing, removing the need for a reverse gear in the gearbox and thereby helping weight reduction. Porsche has begun producing engine crankcases for older 1960s and 1970s Porsche 911s again but using the latest production techniques. Starting with computer-aided design data, moulds are made from sand bonded with a resin. Once freed from the moulds, the castings are machined by five-axis computer numerical control machines and checked for accuracy using 3D-measuring probes. [https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/technology/under-skin-genius-lamborghini-revueltos-gearbox]

A leak of classified US Defence Department documents is a "very serious" risk to national security, the Pentagon has said. The documents appear to include sensitive information regarding the war in Ukraine, as well as on China and US allies. Officials say the files are in a format similar to documents issued to senior leaders. An investigation has been opened to determine the source of the leak. The documents - some of which officials say may have been altered - first appeared on online platforms such as Twitter, 4chan and Telegram, as well as on a Discord server for the video game "Minecraft". In addition to highly detailed information about the war in Ukraine, some of the leaked documents are said to cast light on sensitive briefing materials relating to US allies. Other documents reportedly focus on defence and security issues in the Middle East as well as in the Indo-Pacific region. What does the huge leak of Ukraine war documents tell us? Speaking to reporters on Monday, a high-ranking Pentagon official said the documents were "a very serious risk to national security and have the potential to spread disinformation". "We're still investigating how this happened, as well as the scope of the issue," said Chris Meagher, the assistant to the secretary of defence for public affairs. "There have been steps to take a closer look at how this type of information is distributed and to whom." Mr Meagher declined to answer when asked if the Pentagon believes the documents to be genuine, although he said that some "appear to have been altered". The Justice Department is now investigating the leak, alongside officials from the Pentagon, White House and elsewhere in the US government. The format of the documents is similar to that "used to provide daily updates to our senior leaders on Ukraine and Russia-related operations, as well as other intelligence updates," Mr Meagher added. The Pentagon first became aware of the document leak last week, with Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin first briefed on the matter on 6 April, he said. Mr Meagher said that the document leak has prompted US officials to reassure its allies "of our commitment to safeguarding intelligence and fidelity to our security partnerships". At a separate briefing, national security spokesman John Kirby said that US President Joe Biden was first briefed about the leak last week. When asked whether the leak has so far been contained and whether other documents have yet to be released, Mr Kirby said "I don't know". BBC News has so far reviewed more than 20 of the documents, many of which appear to detail the deployment and state of Ukrainian and Russian forces ahead of a long-awaited spring offensive by Ukrainian forces. Some documents, for example, appear to outline US training and equipment being provided to Ukraine ahead of the offensive, as well as when various Ukrainian units will be ready and the anticipated delivery time of military supplies. While Mr Meagher declined to comment on the potential impact that the documents could have on the front lines in Ukraine, he said that "the Ukrainians have demonstrated their capability and competence in this war". "The president and secretary [of defence] have both made clear that the United States is going to be with them for as long as it takes," he said [https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-65235121]