∆VERON∆™

Google is developing a version of its search engine that will conform to China's censorship laws, reports say. The company shut down the engine in 2010, complaining that free speech was being limited. But online news site The Intercept says Google has being working on a project code-named Dragonfly that will block terms like human rights and religion, a move sure to anger activists. One state-owned newspaper in China, Securities Daily, dismissed the report. What has The Intercept said? Citing internal Google documents and inside sources, it said that Dragonfly was begun back in the spring of 2017 and accelerated in December after Google's CEO Sundar Pichai met a Chinese government official. It said an Android app with versions called Maotai and Longfei had been developed and could be launched within nine months if Chinese government approval was won. Both Reuters and Agence France-Presse said separate sources had confirmed the report to the news agencies. How would the engine work? The search app would "blacklist sensitive queries", The Intercept says, identifying and filtering websites currently blocked by China's so-called Great Firewall. According to documents it had seen, a search via the app would result in a list with banned websites removed and a disclaimer saying that "some results may have been removed due to statutory requirements". It said the BBC News website and Wikipedia would be among those blocked. What has been the reaction inside Google? Google has not officially commented on The Intercept report. Spokesman Taj Meadows told AFP: "We don't comment on speculation about future plans." One worker who spoke to Reuters said he had transferred himself out of his unit to avoid being involved in the project. Another source who spoke to AFP said: "There's a lot of angst internally. Some people are very mad we're doing it." And from activists? Amnesty International said Google should not proceed with the programme. Patrick Poon, a China researcher for Amnesty, said in a statement: "It will be a dark day for internet freedom if Google has acquiesced to China's extreme censorship rules to gain market access. "In putting profits before human rights, Google would be setting a chilling precedent and handing the Chinese government a victory." What has China said? Not a great deal. However, the state-owned Securities Daily cited "relevant departments" as saying reports of the return of Google to the Chinese market were not true. Reuters quoted a Chinese official as saying that Google had been in contact with Chinese authorities on the matter, but there was no approval for the programme as yet. Why would Google want back in? Quite simply, China is the biggest internet market in the world. Despite its main search engine and YouTube video platform being blocked, Google still has 700 employees in China and has been developing alternative projects. Its Google Translate app for smartphones was approved in China last year. It also invested in Chinese live-stream game platform Chushou in January and has launched an artificial intelligence game on the social media app WeChat. What does China block? There's strict censorship of po[CENSORED]r Western sites, including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Certain topics like the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989 are completely blocked. References to political opposition, dissidents and anti-communist activity are also banned as are those of free speech and sex. China has in the past two years imposed increasingly strict rules on foreign companies, including new censorship restrictions.

A plane has crashed in the capital of Mexico's Durango state, television images show, with the state governor confirming nobody was killed. Governor José Aispuro tweeted that there were no deaths among the 101 aboard, although around 85 were injured - two critically. Aeroméxico flight AM2431 was flying from Guadalupe Victoria International Airport to Mexico City. The plane crashed close to the airport just moments after take-off. Authorities said that of the 97 passengers and four crew on board, 37 were hospitalised after the crash and two were in a critical condition. The names and nationalities of those on board are currently unknown. The airport operator, Grupo Aeroportuario Centro Norte, said early data suggests bad weather was the cause, with the plane taking off during a heavy hailstorm before being forced to make an emergency landing. Governor Aispuro said witnesses told him there was a "bang", before the almost full Embraer 190 fell to the ground without warning at around 16:00 local time (21:00 GMT). One passenger told a local television network it felt like a strong air current hit the aircraft. Civil defence spokesperson Alejandro Cardoza said a fire which started after the crash was put out, and there were no burn victims. "Many managed to leave the plane on foot," Mr Cardoza said. All health care bodies in the state were on alert to take care of the injured, the governor said. Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto tweeted that he had also instructed federal agencies to help. Guadalupe Victoria airport was closed after the crash. In a statement, Aeroméxico said they "deeply regret" the accident, while Brazilian plane company Embraer said they had sent a team to the crash site.

@#FIGHTER. Accepted this Battle , So Lets Start Voting ! V1- V2 -

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AMD's Ryzen 2000 CPUs (like the Ryzen 7 2700X) might be old news by now, but AMD's new budget-focused B450 chipset comes out of the gate ready to inject more value into the AMD AM4 platform. Our success with the X470 Aorus Gaming 7 WIFI gives us high hopes for the lesser B450 Aorus Pro board, but Gigabyte does hold back on some features that could have made this board spectacular. Regardless, the B450 chipset is a sweet spot for builders and gamers who don’t need X470’s added feature set, and Gigabyte delivers a great product with the B450 Aorus Pro WIFI, at a surprisingly affordable $120 MSRP. For those of you not keeping up with chipset changes, AMD’s increment from the 300 series to 400 series primarily includes improvements for board physical specifications to formally support XFR2 (an update of AMD's extended frequency range feature) and Precision Boost Override for what AMD calls its 2nd Generation Ryzen chips (Ryzen 2000 series). AMD provides specifications for layer counts and supported memory speeds, regulator design requirements, and other sti[CENSORED]tions for these refreshed boards. Between X470 and B450, the same IO support dynamic that was found with last year's X370/B350 remains. In other words, B series boards support fewer USB3.0 Gen1, PCIe Gen3 x16 slots, and PCIe Gen2 lanes than their more expensive brothers. For more details, you can check the chart above. On the surface, fewer slots and port support sounds like an instant “con,” but honestly the majority of builders don’t support for a second graphics card, larger SATA RAID configurations, or a plethora of 5Gbps USB. Also, with that same mindset, manufacturers don’t need to provide fully enabled lower-end boards that directly compete with their higher-tiered offerings. From there, it really is a thought experiment as to which chipset truly is “better,” and hopefully we’ll shine some light on that throughout the article. Enter the Gigabyte B450 Aorus Pro WIFI. Gigabyte has traditionally kept its Aorus brand relegated to premium offerings, but for B450 they couldn’t resist unleashing the falcon that we have appreciate from previous reviews. Bringing a well-respected brand to a lower tier might appear to be a marketing gimmick, but it turns out this board is on-par with similar offerings from X470. From an aesthetics perspective, the B450 Aorus Pro WIFI looks shockingly similar to the X470 Aorus 5, with the omission of LED lit DIMM and PCIe slots. Comparing the B450 board against the X470 Aorus Ultra, the inclusion of Wi-Fi in the B450 Pro might be enough for some to negate the X470’s improved connectivity elsewhere. The B450 Pro WIFI comes equipped with ample RGB lights, RGB power switches, and an addressable LED interface that helps mitigate these deficiencies for future upgrades for builders. For a budget board, we don’t expect the contents of the box to be substantial and Gigabyte doesn't overwhelm with accessories and extra parts. The company includes their badge sticker along with documentation, a couple SATA cables, and a Wi-Fi antenna for connecting the SMA plugs on the back panel. The I/O panel reflects the B450 chipset’s decreased IO, with access to only four USB3.1 Gen1, two USB3.1 Gen2, HDMI 2.0, DVI-D, Gigabit Ethernet, five analog audio and one digital audio jack, and two Wi-Fi antenna ports. The integrated back panel is a nice aesthetic inclusion that's usually only found on pricier enthusiast-chipset boards. Builders with APUs like the Ryzen 5 2600 are primed for upgrading from older chipsets thanks to the video ports. And the lack of USB 2 means we aren’t left questioning which ports are high speed when reaching around behind the PC. Audio coverage on the B450 Aorus Pro is provided through the Realtek ALC1220-VB codec boasting improved audio signal-to-noise ratios and impedance detection for use with different strength drivers on various grades of “head-worn audio devices.” As for wired networking, the tried and true Intel I2AT controller is used here and Gigabyte includes its cFosSpeed Internet Accelerator for prioritizing network traffic through the Ethernet port. We don’t have performance results with this tool, but it appears that more vendors are implementing features that mimic Rivet Network’s Killer-brand, which prioritizes packets for improved network performance. One benefit we like with this boardt is the inclusion of the 802.11ac controller, even if it is a 1x1 design using Intel’s AC3168. Even if you're planning to use wired Ethernet, Wi-Fi can be handy in a pinch when you're building, troubleshooting, or upgrading your PC and your work bench/kitchen table is nowhere near an Ethernet jack. As we look along the outer edge of the board, we see two USB2.0 headers, one USB3.1 Gen1, and various front-panel headers on the bottom edge. RGB connectors are located in the bottom-left and top-right quadrants of the board, also accompanied by three of the board’s five 4-pin fan headers. The right edge hosts four angled SATA3 headers and the 2 vertical SATA headers which look lonely on this B450 chipset board. System power is provided through the standard 24-pin ATX header next to the four dual-latch DIMM slots, and an 8-pin EPS 12V plug is crammed next to a fan header in the top-left quadrant of the board. Lastly, a single 4-pin fan header is directly below the Vreg heatsink, for use with fans directly above the IO shield. As simple as the PCIe configuration looks, there are some interesting things to keep in mind when picking parts. First, the M.2 slots are wired out for PCIe Gen3 x4 and x2 respectively, which is a pleasant departure from the Gen2 variants on other boards. However, the x16 slots are misleading, with only the top slot being wired out for PCIe Gen3 x16. The middle x16 and bottom x16 share bandwidth with the x1 slot, and the middle slot only works at x4 when neither of the others is po[CENSORED]ted. Otherwise, it runs at x2 mode. Having looked at a few higher-end boards with X470, building with the B450 shows its limitations: The target audience steers component choices and our nitpicks. The fan header by the 8-pin EPS header really needs to be in a different location to be considered useful, and it would have been nice to have the 2 vertical SATA headers converted to angled headers and moved closer to the chipset. As for component recommendations, we suggest a dedicated GPU and either running a capture card or other device in the top or bottom slots. If extra bandwidth is needed, you can po[CENSORED]te the x4 slot. But if you do, we see the risk of blocking the GPU’s airflow. We do not recommend running more than two IO cards in this motherboard.

India has published a list which effectively strips about four million people in the north-eastern state of Assam of their citizenship. The National Register of Citizens (NRC) is a list of people who can prove they came to the state by 24 March 1971, a day before neighbouring Bangladesh declared independence. India says the process is needed to identify illegal Bangladeshi migrants. But it has sparked fears of a witch hunt against Assam's ethnic minorities. Fearing violence, officials say that no-one will face immediate deportation. They say that a lengthy appeal process will be available to all - even if it means millions of families will live in limbo until they get a final decision on their legal status. Who is affected? Millions of people fled to neighbouring India after Bangladesh declared itself an independent country from Pakistan on 26 March 1971, sparking a bitter war. Many of the refugees settled in Assam. Under the Assam Accord, an agreement signed by then PM Rajiv Gandhi in 1985, all those who cannot prove that they came to the north-eastern state before 24 March 1971 will be deleted from electoral rolls and expelled as they are not considered legitimate citizens. More than 32 million people submitted documents to the NRC to prove they were citizens, but four million of them have been excluded from the published list. Many Bengalis - a linguistic minority in Assam - are worried they will be deported en masse. Hasitun Nissa, who spoke to the BBC's Joe Miller days before the list was published, said she had never known a home outside the state's floodplains. It is where the 47-year-old schoolteacher spent her childhood, where she studied, where she got married and where she had her four children. She said her family arrived in India before 1971 but she expected to be stripped of her Indian citizenship and feared her land rights, voting rights and freedom would be in peril. Are Bengalis being targeted? Activists say the NRC is now being used as a pretext for a two-pronged attack - by Hindu nationalists and Assamese hardliners - on the state's Bengali community, a large portion of whom are Muslims. Like Hasitun, many Bengalis live in the wetlands dotted along the Bramaputra river, moving around when water levels rise. Their paperwork, if it exists, is often inaccurate. Officials claim illegal Bangladeshis are enmeshed in the Bengali po[CENSORED]tion, often hiding in plain sight with forged papers - and a thorough examination of all documents is the only way to find them. But Bengali campaigner Nazrul Ali Ahmed is adamant that the NRC is serving another agenda entirely. "It is nothing but a conspiracy to commit atrocities," he told the BBC. "They are openly threatening to get rid of Muslims, and what happened to the Rohingya in Myanmar, could happen to us here." Such alarming comparisons are dismissed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government, which emphasises that the NRC is an apolitical task, overseen by the country's secular Supreme Court. What next for the 'stateless'? Soutik Biswas, BBC News, Delhi The latest move to make millions of people stateless overnight has sparked fears of violence in what is already a tinderbox state. Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which rules the state, has insisted in the past that illegal Muslim immigrants will be deported. But neighbouring Bangladesh will definitely not accede to such a request. Chances are India will end up creating the newest cohort of stateless people, raising the spectre of a homegrown crisis that will echo the Rohingya people who fled Myanmar for Bangladesh. After human rights organisations began to express concern, the civil servant in charge of the NRC, Prateek Hajela, released a statement stressing that the law required him to make "no differentiation on the basis of religion or language" in determining citizenship. But correspondents say the prime minister has never been shy of expressing his preference for Hindu Bangladeshi migrants, whom he says should be embraced by India. Other "infiltrators", Mr Modi told a crowd in 2014, would be deported. His Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is considering a bill that would enshrine the rights of Hindu migrants in law. Indeed, a promotional song posted on Facebook by the NRC itself does little to calm the nerves of those worried about a Hindu nationalist witch hunt. "A new revolution, to defeat the alien enemy, is beckoning," a young woman sings, "bravely let us shield our motherland." Will there definitely be deportations? Siddhartha Bhattacharya, Assam's law minister and a member of the BJP, is in no doubt about the fate of those who have been rejected. "Everyone will be given a right to prove their citizenship," he told the BBC. "But if they fail to do so, well, the legal system will take its own course." That, Mr Bhattacharya clarified, would mean expulsion from India. At present, correspondents say, that seems little more than a threat aimed at whipping up Hindu support for the BJP ahead of elections. No deportation procedures have been put in place, and Bangladesh, already burdened by the Rohingya crisis, has shown no sign of being open to accepting a raft of new refugees. Nonetheless, campaigners like Samujjal Bhattacharyya say something must be done. His organisation, the All Assam Students' Union, has been agitating for the expulsion of illegal Bangladeshis - regardless of their religion - for decades. If deportations don't happen, he says, "the illegal foreigner will intrude upon the corridor of power. We are not prepared to be second-class citizens". Hasitun Nissa takes such rhetoric seriously. "We have never harmed Hindus. We can live peacefully side-by-side," she says. "But I fear bad news will come."

Name of the oponent: @#FIGHTER. Theme of work: Type of work (signature, banner, avatar, Userbar, logo, Large Piece): Avatar Size: 150x250 *Text: CSBLACKDEVIL Watermark: - Stop votes ( min. 4 - max. 8 ? 8 Working time: 2 days !

The Tesoro Gram XS is not your average gaming keyboard. It differentiates itself from the competition with low-profile mechanical switches and chiclet-style keycaps. But what really stands out is its stylish, slim design and colorful lighting effects that glow beneath a fresh white paint job. Design quirks and overly simplistic software are definite shortcomings, but the Tesoro Gram XS remains a decent option for anyone looking to game on the go — and turn some heads while doing it. Design Mechanical keyboards don't need to be hulking beasts to accommodate a marathon gaming session. The Tesoro Gram XS is a shining example. At 17.7 x 5 x 0.9 inches, the Gram XS is one of the sleekest gaming keyboards we've reviewed, and it's even thinner than the ultra-compact Logitech G Pro (14.2 x 6.0 x 1.4 inches). In fact, the Tesoro looks so unlike other mechanical keyboards that you wouldn't guess it to be one at all when the rainbow lights are turned off. The Tesoro Gram XS has a plastic body and metal top plate, and while it's extremely slim, the full-sized keyboard isn't very compact due to its large, well-spaced keys and numpad. That said, there is no wasted space on the elegant chassis. The keys stretch out to its edges and it lacks discrete media controls and a wrist wrest. There is, however, a block of keys for controlling backlight brightness, recording instant macros, and disabling the Windows key button. Next to those are LED indicators for num lock, caps lock and default settings. If it's not already evident, I'm a fan of the Tesoro XS's appearance. I was especially happy to have reviewed the white version (there's also a black version that doesn't look as interesting). While I worry about how it will hold up without constant cleaning, the unique finish looks great, and there's something about the way it contrasts with the bright colorful lights underneath that reminds me of paint splattered on a white canvas. My main complaint with the Tesoro Gram XS's design is that it sits low, and while the rubber feet elevate it a bit, there is no height adjustment mechanism. Because of this, the Tesoro isn't very ergonomic, and it can become uncomfortable after hours of typing. I also came across some small build quality issues that would nag discerning mechanical keyboard enthusiasts. Most concerning is the loose USB that connects to the top panel of the keyboard, which disconnected a few times as I was shifting things around my desk (on the bright side, it has a detachable USB cable, something most keyboards lack). I also found the thin plastic keys to be a bit wobbly and the backlighting was inconsistent. Keys The flat chiclet-style keys on the Tesoro are clicky and easy to press. There is a nice tactile feel to them that offers rewarding feedback when you register a key press. Available in both red and blue, the low-profile custom switches on the Gram XS should accommodate the preferences of most gamers. My review unit came with clicky blue switches that provided pleasant tactile feedback, but they were loud. I wouldn't hesitate bringing the keyboard to a LAN party where everyone wears headphones, but you should avoid unleashing it in the office if your coworkers are easily bothered (many of us have clicky keyboards of our own, so it’s not a problem here). Features With a key travel of 2.7 millimeters and an actuation force of 52 grams, the blue switches on the Gram XS don't require much effort to press. For comparison, authentic Cherry MX blue switches require closer to 60 grams of actuation force and a total key travel of 3.3mm. The differences were apparent between the Tesoro Gram XS switches and the MX Blues on my Corsair K70. The Corsair keys sunk lower and felt weightier while the Gram XS were much snappier and shallow in comparison. Once I got used to the Gram XS's wide spacing and large keys, I was able to fly through the 10fastfingers.com typing test, achieving 112 words per minute with an accuracy of 95 percent. That's higher than my 109 wpm average and right around my typically accuracy rate. Despite the high marks, the Gram XS was far from the most comfortable keyboard I've typed on because of its low profile and lack of height adjustment. It almost felt like I was typing on the desk below me. This won't be an issue for some, but I prefer a raised keyboard that's angled toward me. Gaming Experience I tested the Tesoro Gram XS on Middle Earth: Shadow of War and Rise of the Tomb Raider. Once I got used to the flat keys, I had no issues dealing with hordes of Orcs — jumping, rolling, and diving around them in a desperate plea to avoid getting a sword plunged through my armor. The Tesoro Gram XS similarly helped me navigated through a disorienting cave in Rise of the Tomb Raider. While they won't convert me from authentic Cherry MX switches, the custom blues responded quickly to my erratic taps. I didn't feel any discomfort after my 15 minute session despite the flimsy feel of some keys. Features The Gram XS's "360" software matches its hardware in simplicity. The Windows-only program is very easy to setup and use, though there's certainly room for improvement. You're given two methods for changing lighting effects and setting key assignments: Quick Start or Advanced. In Quick Start, you can choose between nine colors and nine different lighting effects, including star shining, spiral, cycling, trigger and firework. No, there aren't tons of choices, but what is available looks great. I was able to set it so only a small batch of neighboring keys would burst with color after I registered a stroke. When I wasn't using the keyboard, I adjusted the settings to send a rainbow of color cascading across it — an entrancing distraction for nearby coworkers indeed. You can also set three different lighting profiles and switch between them using dedicated keys. There is an "Advanced" custom lighting menu for more tinkering, but it was frustrating to use and I eventually gave up on it The Tesoro 360 software gives you the option to set hotkey assignments. It's not the most comprehensive feature, but getting it to work was relatively stress free. You simply have to select individual keys from an on-screen virtual keyboard and use a drop-down menu to reassign them. You can set macros or make keys launch programs, adjust media controls or perform mouse functions. I was able to map the "-" key to open an image I had saved on File Explorer. While I admit that's an impractical use of the key assignment tool, it did work surprisingly well. With little effort I was also able to macro the Q key to register a double mouse click every time I pressed it. The Gram XS supports n-key and 6-key rollover, which means the keyboard will recognize individual presses regardless of how many other keys are being pressed or held down at the same time. It will also register up to six simultaneous key presses. Bottom Line The ultra-thin Tesoro Gram XS is one of the most stunning mechanical keyboards I've ever laid eyes on. Its custom blue switches are a pleasure to type on and the RGB backlighting looks fantastic against a unique white chassis. It does have some shortcomings. There desperately needs to be a way to adjust its height and the accompanying software is somewhat crude. Ultimately, the Gram XS is a good option for those who are looking for mechanical chiclet-style keys in a slim frame. For everyone else, there are simply too many other excellent keyboards in the price range to recommend ahead of the Gram XS. For example, the Logitech G Pro is a similarly-priced compact mechanical keyboard that comes with the company's Romer G switches and a built-in angle adjuster. If you can splurge, the $160 Corsair K70 RGB Mk.2 is the best gaming keyboard we've ever tested. While it's nowhere near as compact, the K70 Mk.2 has a beautiful design and a wealth of authentic Cherry MX switch options.

A powerful earthquake has struck a po[CENSORED]r tourist destination in Indonesia, killing at least 14 people. The 6.4 magnitude quake hit the central island of Lombok just before 07:00 local time (00:00 GMT) on Sunday. The island attracts tourists from around the world due to its beaches and hiking trails, and is located about 40km (25 miles) east of Bali. More than 160 people are injured and thousands of homes are damaged, officials say. A Malaysian tourist who was on a hiking trip to Mount Rinjani is among those killed. The US Geological Survey said the epicentre of the earthquake was 50km (31 miles) north-east of the city of Mataram, in northern Lombok. It was followed by more than 60 smaller earthquakes, with the largest recorded at a magnitude of 5.7. Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, a spokesman for the country's disaster agency, said that most casualties occurred when victims were hit by debris and falling blocks of concrete. "The main focus now is evacuation and rescue. Some of the injured are still being treated at clinics," he said. He also posted images showing collapsed buildings and streets littered with rubble. "The quake felt so strong... tourists were panicked and frightened and escaped from hotels," Lalu Muhammad Iqbal, a citizen protection director at the foreign ministry, told BBC Indonesian. BBC Marathi journalist Vinayak Gaikwad was on Gili Trawangan island, about 7km from Lombok, at the time of the earthquake. "The tremors were strong - I noticed waves in the hotel pool," he said. "A group of us ran out of the hotel. "Thirty minutes later there was the first strong aftershock. The locals were worried because many of their structures are made from wood and bamboo, but the tourists were the most scared." UK tourists Katherine and Alexis Bouvier, who are on honeymoon in Lombok, told the BBC: "We were woken by the earthquake at approximately 06:45 - it was pretty terrifying." Landslides had cut off the water supply and electricity for some houses, they said. "We passed multiple water trucks as we were travelling south. A lot of hikers were stranded. They told us about cement falling from ceilings and cracks in the buildings." Mount Rinjani National Park, a po[CENSORED]r destination for trekkers, has been closed due to landslides. Climber Khairul Azi told the New Straits Times he and a group of hikers were "unable to get out of the area because many roads have been cut off". "The situation here is hectic and we're still trying to make contact with the other Malaysian climbers," he added. Indonesia is prone to earthquakes because it lies on the Ring of Fire - the line of frequent quakes and volcanic eruptions that circles virtually the entire Pacific rim. More than half of the world's active volcanoes above sea level are part of the ring. A magnitude 6.5 quake struck off the north-east coast of Sumatra island in 2016, killing dozens of people and displacing more than 40,000.

The US economy grew at its fastest pace in nearly four years in the second quarter, expanding at an annualised rate of 4.1%, official figures show. The gains were driven by strong consumer spending, business investment and a surge in exports as firms rushed to beat new trade tariffs. US President Donald Trump described the acceleration as "amazing", claiming it as proof his policies are working. But many analysts cautioned that growth could cool in coming months. "In one line: Looks great; won't last," wrote Ian Shepherdson, chief economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics. 'Historic proportions' The US economy expanded at an average annual growth rate of 2.2% between 2012 and 2017. President Trump has predicted that will rise to 3% or more as a result of his policies, which include tax cuts, increased government spending and an effort to re-write trade relationships. Friday's report from the Commerce Department showed exports grew by more than 9%, the fastest rate since the fourth quarter of 2013, boosted in part by companies seeking to avoid new trade tariffs. Consumer spending also rose by 4% in the second quarter, up from the 0.5% rate seen in the previous three months. The annualised growth rate for the first quarter of the year was also revised up to 2.2% from 2.0%. "We've accomplished an economic turnaround of historic proportions," President Trump said on Friday, adding that the gains would be sustained. "This isn't a one time shot," he said. Inflation on target While Friday's report showed the US economy accelerating, the gains were in line with expectations - and were not out of proportion with previous years. In 2014, US GDP increased by 5.1% in the second quarter and by 4.9% in the third quarter. Compared with the second quarter of 2017, the economy grew by 2.8%. PNC Bank said it expects US economic growth to hit 3.1% in 2018, assuming that trade tensions dissipate. "If the US and its partners do implement substantial tariffs and other trade barriers, US economic growth is likely to be much weaker than this baseline forecast," chief economist Gus Faucher wrote. The report also showed that inflation, which has been lacklustre in recent years, rose by 2% according to the Fed's preferred measure, which is tied to consumer spending, except on food and energy. That is the second quarter in a row the measure, known as core PCE, has hit or exceeded the Fed's 2% target, and is likely to keep the central bank on track with its plans to raise interest rates gradually. Donald Trump tweeted earlier this week that the US has "the best financial numbers on the Planet". That's not quite the case and it should be said that these first estimates of economic growth are based on skimpy data. But today's economic data is certainly good, and the president can take some of the credit. His large package of tax cuts has boosted growth. Perversely, so did the threat of various trade rows. Just before Beijing's retaliatory tariffs against the US started at the beginning of July, US soybean exports to China skyrocketed. This is the first time since the 2016 election that US growth has hit the 4% target President Trump set himself during the campaign. The latest growth number is twice what it was in the first quarter. But economists warn it's unlikely to last. There are worries that America's numerous trade spats are now hitting economic growth. So what helped the economy in the first half of the year may well hurt it in the second half.

On the surface, the Asus TUF X470-Plus Gaming looks to be a low-end board with Asus branding slapped onto it. Fortunately, the frugal facade is misleading, as this TUF motherboard performs quite well in all but one metric, making it a good overall product and a great foundation for an AMD-based TUF Alliance gaming build. It’s not every day you see companies joining together to make a combined brand. G-Sync is Nvidia’s baby; XMP is Intel’s specification; and let’s not even mention the case manufacturers’ attempt at unifying RGB software. However, several household technology brands have managed to create ecosystems and cross-company brands, and Asus hopes to do the same with the TUF Gamming Alliance, which the company officially unveiled at Computex 2018. Being the focal point to the alliance (and the original home of the TUF branding), Asus is, in some ways, putting its reputation on the line with the TUF brand. But the company still has its better-known (and higher-end) PC enthusiast / gaming Strix and Republic of Gamers lineups held more tightly under its own umbrella. With TUF, Asus is hoping broaden brand recognition while stealing some thunder from other value-oriented component vendors on e-tailer shelves. The TUF X470-Plus Gaming (referred to as TUF going forward) motherboard is a stark deviation from the red and black and/or aggressive style you might be used to from other Asus boards. Here, things shift to a more heads-up-display-like scheme, reminiscent of either Doom 3 or, ironically, recent Gigabyte UEFI screens. For the most part, the aesthetic of this board works but we think that the TUF badge could have been a little more angular to help blend with the other visual design choices. Another element that helps fuse the board and other TUF Alliance components together is the use of digital camo graphics. In our initial build, that included graphics across the board itself, as well as the glass side panel of Cooler Master's MasterBox MB500 TUF Gaming case. The Tom's Hardware fashion police will now shift our gaze from the graphics-emblazoned PCB itself to the board's lighting effects. The color scheme of choice for this brand is a mix of yellow and grey. So make sure to program Asus's Aura Sync software to flash colors that match. LEDs are focused across the underside of the board, on the right side, which helps provide an ambiance as well as a targeted emphasis on the “TUF Gaming” logo at the bottom right and the angled highlights by the memory slots. As for lighting expandability, the TUF board only sports one additional RGB header, so use it wisely. This is a great opportunity to implement some of the other TUF Alliance components. Cooler Master's MasterAir MA410M TUF Gaming Edition air cooler includes an RGB splitter, helping to amplify the RGB experience. Now, back to our standard physical overview. The back panel of the TUF board is efficient--to put it nicely. Asus has gone out of its way to cut off excess connections, and includes only three analogue audio ports, two USB 2.0, three USB 3.1 Gen1, two USB3.1 Gen2, gigabit, and a PS/2 port. Unfortunately, the USB 3.1 Gen1 ports consist of two Type-A and one Type-C. Ideally, since USB-C is a future-looking port, the Type-C port should be of the faster USB 3.1 Gen2 variety. Then again, there's very little that would take useful advantage of the faster port today. For builders with Ryzen APUs who won't be plugging in a graphics card, DVI-D and HDMI 1.4b connectors are available for plugging in displays. If your monitor is DisplayPort only, you'll need an adapter. Asus introduces its own twist on the X470 chipset with this board, by changing up the PCIe wiring. The TUF board employs a single PCIe Gen3 slot running at a flat x16 mode, which is atypical. Beyond Gen3 PCIe, the second x16 slot is PCIe Gen2, and wired for x4 mode. The three x1 connectors enable lower-bandwidth devices. This helps eliminate any confusion as to what devices are enabled, and all ports can be used concurrently in this system. While this is less flexible than many other boards, it also simplifies the process of choosing parts and building. Storage wise, this X470 motherboard places a 42/60/80/110mm M.2 NVMe slot above the primary TUF PCIe connector and a secondary 42/60/80mm M.2 port wired for two lanes of PCIe 3.0 below the chipset. The standard six SATA3 ports are scattered across the bottom-right quadrant of the board. There are four vertical ports and two horizontal ports. The latter are routed out in the unique notch in the board, below the 24-pin ATX power connector. Here’s our obligatory placement nitpick: six angled headers in the notched section of the board would have been stellar, and could have allowed for something else to be placed on the lower bottom-right section of the board. But we do like the idea of having angled, notched SATA connectors for the sake of hiding cables. The TUF board's audio design implements a Realtek ALC 887 codec, with the inclusion of DTS Custom hardware for headphone/headset output, which is added beyond most other boards with this codec. Five four-pin fan headers are found in crucial spots of the board, which allows for AIOs and modest custom-loop builds when coupled with lower fan-count cases. A fact we'll look at in more depth later is the support for DDR4 speeds of up to 2666 MT/s, which is a couple steps lower than many competing X470 products. But overall, the board's exterior delivers a well-rounded experience that cuts just enough corners to keep the cost down, without the TUF board feeling like a purely value-focused product.

Japan has executed the remaining members of a cult behind the deadly 1995 Sarin attack on the Tokyo subway. The six men were the last members of the Aum Shinrikyo cult on death row, and were executed on Thursday, the justice ministry said. Seven others responsible for the attack, including leader Shoko Asahara, were put to death earlier this month. The Sarin attack, Japan's worst terror incident, killed 13 people and injured thousands more. The cult was accused of several other murders and an earlier Sarin gas attack in 1994 which killed eight and left 600 injured. "The pain and anguish of the people who were killed and their families as well as of the survivors left with disabilities, was unimaginable," said justice minister Yoko Kamikawa at a news conference. Those put to death on Thursday included a key Aum Shinrikyo recruiter and cult members who released the nerve gas in train carriages, reported Japanese broadcaster NHK. The execution of all 12 cult members involved in the attack as well as Asahara had been postponed until their final appeals were completed, which happened in January. What was the Tokyo attack? On 20 March 1995, cult members released Sarin on the subway in the Japanese capital. Witnesses described noticing packages leaking some liquid and feeling stinging fumes hitting their eyes soon afterwards. The toxin struck victims down in a matter of seconds, leaving them choking and vomiting, some blinded and paralysed. Thirteen people died. Aum Shinrikyo, often shortened to Aum, believed that the end of the world was coming and that those outside the cult would go to hell - unless they were killed by cult members. In the months after, members of the cult made several failed attempts to release hydrogen cyanide in various stations. What is Aum Shinrikyo? The cult, whose name means "supreme truth", began in the 1980s as a spiritual group mixing Hindu and Buddhist beliefs, later working in elements of apocalyptic Christian prophesies. Cult leader Shoko Asahara declared himself to be both Christ and the first "enlightened one" since Buddha. Aum Shinrikyo gained official status as a religious organisation in Japan in 1989 and picked up a sizeable global following. The group gradually became a paranoid doomsday cult, convinced the world was about to end in a global war and that only they would survive. The cult went underground after the 1995 attack, but did not disappear, renaming itself Aleph or Hikari no Wa. Aum Shinrikyo is designated a terrorist organisation in the US and many other countries, but Aleph and Hikari no Wa are both legal in Japan, although designated as "dangerous religions" subject to surveillance.

Rescuers are racing to find survivors after a dam in Laos collapsed late on Monday, flooding several villages and killing at least 20 people. At least 100 people are still missing, and thousands have lost their homes. The authorities in Attapeu province have been using helicopters and boats to try to evacuate stranded villagers. The dam that collapsed is part of the Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy hydroelectric power project, which involves Laotian, Thai and South Korean firms. Local authorities have appealed to government bodies and other communities to provide emergency aid such as clothing, food, drinking water and medicine. Footage of the disaster has shown survivors huddled on roof tops of their submerged homes, or wading through water, holding children and their belongings. One woman, seen in a video posted by ABC Laos news on Facebook, cried and prayed as she was evacuated on a boat, telling rescuers her mother was still stranded on a tree. The dam that collapsed is an auxiliary dam called "Saddle Dam D". It is part of a network of two main dams and five subsidiary dams in the Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy hydroelectric power project. The dam was 90% complete and had been set to start operating commercially next year. SK Engineering & Construction, a South Korean company with a stake in the project, said fractures were first discovered on the dam on Sunday, before it collapsed: Sunday 21:00 local time (14:00 GMT) - The dam is found to be partially damaged. The authorities are alerted and villagers near the dam start to be evacuated. A team is sent to repair the dam - but is hampered by heavy rain, which has also damaged many roads. Monday 03:00 - Water is discharged from one of the main dams (Xe-Namnoy dam) to try to lower water levels in the subsidiary dam. Monday 12:00 - The state government orders villagers downstream to evacuate after learning that there could be further damage to the dam. Monday 18:00 - More damage is confirmed at the dam. By Tuesday 01:30, a village near the subsidiary dam is flooded, and by 09:30 seven villages are flooded. Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding, the main Thai stakeholder, said in a statement that the dam "was fractured" after "continuous rainstorm" caused a "high volume of water to flow into the project's reservoir". As a result, water "leaked to the downstream area and down to Xe-Pian River" about 5km (three miles) away, it added. Laos has in recent years invested heavily in hydroelectric power - which makes up about 30% of its exports. The government plans to double current energy production by 2020 to become the "battery of South East Asia". But groups warn of the project's impact on the environment and the nations the river supports.