Month: August 2022

Samsung’s Odyssey Neo G8: An Upgraded, Immersive Gaming Experience for All Types of Gameplay

Post author By mangakiko
Post date August 2, 2022
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Samsung Electronics released its Odyssey Neo G8, the world’s first 240Hz 4K gaming monitor. At CES 2022, it was awarded the Best of Innovation Award in the Gaming category, receiving recognition for its technological excellence. To explore the features of the world’s first and fastest gaming monitor, Samsung Newsroom takes you through an unboxing of the Odyssey Neo G8.

Samsung’s Odyssey Neo G8 Offers Enhanced Convenience With Matte Display, Ergonomic Stand and More

When you first open the box, the assorted parts, including the monitor, stand neck, stand base and power cable are the first things you see.¹

Installing the monitor is very simple.^two First, connect the stand base to the back of the product and fasten it with a screw. Then, connect the stand base to the stand neck and fasten the screw on the bottom. Then, put on the back cover and turn it clockwise. The monitor is now ready to be used.

Once assembled, the 32-inch curved shape of the monitor is eye-catching. The monitor has a 1000R curved VA panel, which is a curvature most similar to a human’s field of vision. This curvature intensifies immersion while gaming, making you feel as if you are really inside the world of the game.

The Odyssey Neo G8’s Matte Display was also verified as ‘Glare-Free’ by global safety certification company UL (Underwriters Laboratories), meaning its panel reduces light reflection. The display absorbs surrounding light so the user can enjoy an immersive gaming experience without being hindered by external elements, such as sunlight from windows.

Consoles and other gaming accessories can also be easily connected to the monitor. When the Odyssey Neo G8 is turned on, its Auto Source Switch+ feature automatically detects other devices and switches the screen to the source of those devices.

Plus, the monitor offers a Height Adjustable Stand (HAS), as well as Swivel and Tilt functionality for ergonomic efficiency and Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) compliant mounting.

Unrivaled Speed With 0.001 Second Response Time and 240Hz Refresh Rate

The Odyssey Neo G8 boasts a fast response time of 1ms (0.001 second) (GtG),³ giving users a more vivid gaming experience when playing games that require fast response times. Games such as first-person shooters (FPS) and racing games change screens rapidly, and lag or slow response times could affect the outcome of the game. Luckily, the Odyssey Neo G8 keeps up with the pace and gives gamers the best chance to win the game.

Refresh rate, which measures how many times per second the display is able to show a new image, is also very important to gamers. The Odyssey Neo G8’s refresh rate of 240Hz provides a stable and smooth viewing experience.

The monitor also comes with Low Input Lag to enhance response time. Input Lag is an indicator that measures how long it takes for input from a keyboard or mouse to be shown on screen. The lower the input lag, the shorter the input time and the faster the response time. The Odyssey Neo G8 has a low input lag of 1ms, helping gamers play more accurately in games where every second matters.

The tearing effect is another factor that can determine the outcome of a game. This is when the screen lags and the display becomes choppy due to a communication issue between the PC and the monitor. The Odyssey Neo G8 supports AMD FreeSync Premium Pro which minimizes screen tearing and lag when playing CPU-intensive games, allowing users to enjoy smooth visuals when playing games.

An Upgraded Vivid Gaming Environment With Quantum Matrix, HDR 2000 and Amazing UHD Picture Quality

As the Odyssey Neo G8 is the world’s fastest 4K gaming monitor, it boasts a UHD resolution of 3,840 x 2,160. The UHD resolution enlivens the game by providing vivid graphics, making it seem as if the world of the game is right in front of your eyes.

The Odyssey Neo G8 also features Quantum Matrix Technology, which is Samsung’s proprietary technology that controls picture quality. Quantum Matrix uses Quantum Mini LEDs, which are 1/40 the height of conventional LEDs, as a light source for even more precise control of contrast. This technology clearly displays the contrast between the darkest shadows and brightest objects in scenes that utilize a wide spectrum of colors, such as explosion scenes, creating a more vivid gaming experience. It also prevents the halo effect, in which the light from a bright area on the screen bleeds into darker areas surrounding it.

The Quantum HDR 2000 utilized in the Odyssey Neo G8 delivers maximum brightness for a rich HDR experience. Specifically, it provides 4,096 steps for screen brightness adjustments and supports a high static contrast ratio of a million-to-one. Furthermore, the local dimming zone displays the color black more precisely. By capturing the reflected light of an enemy’s movement, the user can easily discover where the enemy is hiding and also notice the details hidden behind the shadows.

Superior Backlighting That Changes According to the Display Color

The lighting on the back of the monitor makes your gaming experience feel more futuristic. The Odyssey Neo G8 comes with the CoreSync lighting feature, in which the monitor automatically detects the color at the center of the display and syncs it to the color of the lighting on the back of the monitor. The monitor can display five different light colors, enabling gamers to enjoy a modern, sleek vibe while gaming.

When gaming in a dark place, the CoreSync feature can blur the line between reality and the game, fully immersing the player in the experience.

Odyssey Neo G8 Leads the Premium Gaming Monitor Market

The monitor’s fast response time and vivid picture quality maximize the immersive experience users can feel while playing a game. These modern features also help gamers be successful during gameplay, making the Odyssey Neo G8 the ideal choice for gamers.

The Odyssey Neo G8 has received positive reviews and is being called the “Best Gaming Monitor” by global media outlets. Techaeris and Trusted Review have raved about the Odyssey Neo G8, stating that it “offers up a fantastic picture and a high refresh rate,” and provides a “stunning, immersive gaming experience.”

The gaming monitor industry has gone beyond simply providing nice screens for game-playing. Products offering highly advanced features, such as fast speed, high picture quality and more, are becoming increasingly more important as they help gamers perform their best. The Odyssey Neo G8 is the top monitor for serious gamers who want to be immersed in the game while experiencing the best in picture quality during gameplay.

¹ Accessories may vary by country or region.

^two Needs to be installed according to the instructions in the manual. Placing the curved panel alone on a desk or floor can cause damage to the product.

³ Gray to Gray. A unit of measurement of pixel speed. Used to measure the response time of gaming monitors.

Entertainment

Final three pairs announced after challenge that tests what they’ve learned

Post author By mangakiko
Post date August 2, 2022
No Comments on Final three pairs announced after challenge that tests what they’ve learned

Our Geeks wake up brimming with confidence with their brand new looks following their mega makeovers. It’s set to be a huge day.

with the Beauty and the Geek competition nearing an end, they have their final exam ahead of them. Here the Geeks enter the Beauties’ world and go speed dating while the Beauties become trivia masters.

Catch up on the latest episodes of Beauty and the Geek on 9Now.

Teams will put everything they’ve learned from the experience to the ultimate test before the top three pairs are announced.

“You’ll need to draw on everything you’ve learned about each others’ worlds to thrive in this challenge. You’ll be competing as a couple, but working separately,” Sophie tells the contestants.

For the Geeks, Sophie has staged a real-life speed dating event. The top performing Geeks will be those that best impress the single ladies. While the Beauties need to tap into their inner Geek and host their own trivia night. Here they have to write their own questions based on their partner’s passion.

Contestants face their toughest challenge yet on Beauty and the Geek 2022. — Beauties and Geeks face their toughest challenge yet. (Nine)

The winning team will be safe from elimination and go straight through to the Grand Finale.

The first Geek to try his hand at speed dating is Aaron. It’s a big moment for the Geek who is feeling the pressure about making small talk.

But going into the situation armed with Karly’s advice, Aaron walks into his first date confidently and strikes up a conversation.

There’s one lady in particular who takes him by surprise.

“It actually did feel like I was lost at the moment,” he says.

The really pair hit it off as Aaron re-enacts a scene from titanica with her.

“The old me would have never had the confidence, but it’s now time for the new me to carry on forever,” he beams.

Aaron impresses his date with a reenactment of a famous Titanic scene on Beauty and the Geek 2022. — Aaron impresses his date with a re-enactment of a famous Titanic scene. (Nine)

Next up is Chris, and the Yu-Gi-Oh! fanatic comfortably makes small talk with the women at the event. He gets complimented on him for his great eye-contact, which is something he struggled with in the past.

He even builds up the courage to get one of their numbers for a second date.

“That’s something I would have never considered or risked doing once upon a time,” he says.

The final Geek to try his hand at speed dating is Michael, and he has the challenge of dealing with being hit on by some of the women.

The compliments are flowing for the Geek who looks visibly uncomfortable with the situation after recently making his relationship with Tara official. But he handles it like a gentleman and tells the woman that he’s taken.

Over at the Beauties’ trivia night, the girls are judged on their knowledge and if they can pass as convincing trivia nerds.

Karly hosts train-themed trivia and does really well at impressing the crowd. While Tara asks a bunch of questions based on superheroes and does well at keeping her cool.

Tegan has written some questions on Harry Potter, and despite some minor microphone issues, she transcends the room into a wizarding world of magic.

Sophie announces the best performing couple is Aaron and Karly, which means they are safe from elimination and straight through to the Grand Finale.

But before we find out who the bottom two couples are, the contestants head out on their final dates.

In Pictures

Bri Beauty and the Geek

The cutest date moments so far on Beauty and the Geek

Bri breaks down over a past relationship.

ViewGallery

It’s a particularly important moment for Michael, who wants to put his heart on the line and confesses his feelings to Tara.

He organizes a romantic picnic in the park and feels like it’s the perfect opportunity to drop the L-bomb on the Beauty.

“I have definitely fallen for you and I can see myself falling in love with you,” he tells her.

Michael tells Tara he is falling for her on Beauty and the Geek 2022. — Michael confesses his feelings to Tara during a romantic picnic. (Nine)

Without any hesitation, Tara confesses she feels the same way before the pair share a kiss.

“He is very easy to fall in love with. I didn’t think I could ever meet someone that could actually make me believe in love again,” Tara tells the camera.

For Bri and Chris, the Beauty opens up about how much the Geek has helped her grow during the experience.

“He’s made me feel safe, he’s opened his ears when I needed him to listen to me and I feel like he’s really helping me get my zest for life back,” she reveals.

The Beauty gets emotional while opening up about her past relationship and going through hardships, before admitting she feels like he’s helped her get the “old Bri back”.

But the time has come for another elimination and Sophie reveals that Michael and Tara and Tegan and Anthony will battle it out for the remaining Grand Finale spot.

It’s the most nail-biting elimination challenge yet, but in the final round of the quiz Anthony and Tegan manage to take the win, sending Michael and Tara home.

While it is an emotional farewell, the couple are excited to take their relationship out into the real world.

“I definitely feel like I’ve won in so many ways, I’ve had such an amazing time and losing now doesn’t take any of it away,” Michael says.

“I think we have so many more amazing experiences to come, and now we get to go live them,” Tara adds.

And just like that our final three couples are revealed, with just one challenge left until the winner of Beauty and the Geek 2022 is crowned.

Beauty and the Geek continues tomorrow at 7.30pm on Channel 9 and 9Now. Catch up on the latest episodes of Beauty and the Geek on 9Now.

Australia

Greens leader Adam Bandt to call on government to make childcare and dental free in National Press Club address

Post author By mangakiko
Post date August 2, 2022
No Comments on Greens leader Adam Bandt to call on government to make childcare and dental free in National Press Club address

Adam Bandt holds out his arm while speaking in the House of Representatives

As the cost of living continues to bite, the Greens Party is increasing pressure on the government to introduce new measures to further help households.

In an address to the National Press Club today, Greens Leader Adam Bandt will call on the government to make childcare and dental healthcare free, arguing it would provide thousands of dollars in long-term support for families who are struggling to pay bills.

“These would be long-lasting changes that would deliver real relief to everyday people battling with high inflation and low wages and incomes,” he is expected to say.

“Better than a short-lived cut to fuel excise that can be wiped out by a profiteering petroleum corporation, these measures would mean people were better off not just right now, but next month and next year, year after year.”

The federal government has promised to reduce childcare costs from July next year, estimating 96 per cent of families will be better off.

Under the proposal, the childcare subsidy rate will be lifted to 90 per cent for the first child and the means taper will be less steep than the current system.

For example, a family earning $75,000 will be eligible for a 90 per cent subsidy, while a family earning $120,000 will receive an 82 per cent subsidy.

Families with a combined income of up to $530,000 will receive some level of support.

Mr Bandt will today declare the July start date is too far away and instead call on the government to go one step further and make child care free for all in the October budget.

The government also plans to ask the Productivity Commission to review the child care sector, with the aim to provide 90 per cent subsidies for all families in the future.

Mr Bandt will argue there is no need for a review and the government should move quickly towards free child care for all and not a heavily subsidized program.

“Make child care free and support the workforce,” he is expected to say.

“We don’t need to wait for another review to tell us that child care is in crisis.”

Dental support would save hundreds

The Greens have long called for universal access to free dental care and Mr Bandt will again ramp up the party’s calls for the government to consider the measure.

Medicare does not subsidize dental check-ups for all Australians. About $9.5 billion was spent on dental services in 2019-20, with the majority paid in out-of-pocket costs.

Tags adam bandt, child care, dental, emissions, national press club

Biden Administration Sues Idaho Over Its Abortion Restrictions

Post author By mangakiko
Post date August 2, 2022
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WASHINGTON — The Biden administration sued Idaho on Tuesday over a strict state abortion law set to take effect this month that the Justice Department said would inhibit emergency room doctors from performing abortions that are necessary to stabilize the health of women facing medical emergencies.

The lawsuit, announced by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, is the first Biden administration has filed to protect access to abortion since the Supreme Court ruling in late June that ended the constitutional right to terminate pregnancies.

Since then, Mr. Garland noted at a news conference on Tuesday, “there have been widespread reports of delays and denials of treatment to pregnant women experiencing emergencies.” The lawsuit argues that a federal law, the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, bars states from imposing restrictions that would prevent emergency room doctors from treating those women.

“If a patient comes into the emergency room with a medical emergency jeopardizing the patient’s life or health, the hospital must provide the treatment necessary to stabilize that patient,” Mr. Garland said. “This includes abortion when that is the necessary treatment.”

The litigation came as voters in Kansas went to the polls to decide whether to overturn a 2019 ruling by the state’s Supreme Court interpreting the state’s Constitution as protecting abortion rights. The ballot initiative is the first referendum on abortion rights since the US Supreme Court’s decision in late June.

Last month, after the federal Department of Health and Human Services put out guidance to ensure access to abortion in certain emergency situations at hospitals that take Medicare funding, Attorney General Ken Paxton of Texas filed a lawsuit challenging the rules.

The new case raises similar legal issues about the scope of federal law to protect emergency room doctors who decide abortions are necessary to treat dangerous pregnancy complications that fall short of a direct threat to the life of a patient. This time, however, the federal government is the plaintiff, not the defendant.

The Justice Department is also seeking an injunction barring Idaho from enforcing its strict abortion law on emergency room doctors, nurses and lab technicians who assist with abortions in emergency situations — including instances in which women face conditions like ectopic pregnancies, severe pre-eclampsia or pregnancy complications threatening septic infections or hemorrhages.

Idaho’s near-total ban on abortion contained a trigger that would allow it to take effect shortly after any ruling by the US Supreme Court overturning its Roe v. Wade abortion rights precedent. Because the court issued such a ruling earlier this summer, the Idaho law is set to take effect in about three weeks.

The legislation bans abortion except when necessary to save the life of a pregnant woman — but not to protect her health — or in cases of rape or incest that were previously reported to the authorities.

It allows law enforcement officials to arrest and indict a doctor whenever an abortion has been performed, regardless of the circumstances; it is up to the doctor, as a defense at trial, to prove that one of the narrow exceptions to the ban applied. As a result, critics of the law say that doctors will be afraid to perform abortions under any circumstances.

The Justice Department’s lawsuit seeks a declaration from a court that Idaho’s law is invalid if applied to situations covered by the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act because the US Constitution makes federal law supreme over state law where the two conflicts.

“Even in dire situations that might qualify for the Idaho law’s limited ‘necessary to prevent the death of the pregnant woman’ affirmative defense, some providers could withhold care based on a well-founded fear of criminal prosecution,” the department’s complaint said.

It continued: “Idaho’s abortion law will therefore prevent doctors from performing abortions even when a doctor determines that abortion is the medically necessary treatment to prevent severe risk to the patient’s health and even in cases where denial of care will likely result in death for the pregnant patient.”

Appearing alongside Mr. Garland, Vanita Gupta, the associate attorney general and the head of a Justice Department task force on reproductive rights, said that her working group had been studying the “fast-changing landscape” of state legal restrictions on abortion since the Supreme Court’s ruling. She suggested that more lawsuits were likely to follow.

“We know that these are frighting and uncertain times for pregnant women and their providers,” she said. “The Justice Department, through the work of its task force, is committed to doing everything we can to ensure continued, lawful access to reproductive services.”

Technology

Samsung teams with iFixit to launch self-repair program for Galaxy devices

Post author By mangakiko
Post date August 2, 2022
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What just happened? Samsung is now allowing select Galaxy device owners to repair their devices through a partnership with teardown specialist iFixit. The new self-repair program will allow DIYers to purchase genuine repair parts and easy-to-use tools from iFixit, Samsung retail and service locations and at Samsung 837, the company’s flagship store in New York City.

The program encompasses the Galaxy S20 and S21 family of products, as well as the Galaxy Tab S7+. These users will be able to replace their phone screen, back glass and charging ports. Newer flagships like the Galaxy S22 and Samsung’s line of foldables aren’t included.

New display kits will come with a return label to ship discarded components back to Samsung for recycling at no cost to the consumer.

Users will also have free access to iFixit’s extensive library of online repair guides that provide both visual and written step-by-step instructions. Should you run into a question, just hop over to the iFixit community forum to ask for help.

“Samsung Self-Repair is another way for customers to prolong the life of their devices, before they are recycled,” said Mark Williams, VP of customer care at Samsung Electronics America.

iFixit has been investing heavily in the DIY repair sector lately. Late last year, iFixit teamed with Microsoft to make it easier for consumers to repair Surface devices and in April, Google signed on to offer genuine repair parts for its Pixel phones. iFixit also sells replacement Steam Deck components including batteries, fans, thumbsticks and replacement displays.

Those who would rather let someone else do the dirty work can take their devices to more than 2,000 repair centers across the country where a typical job takes two hours or less. Samsung also has over 550 “We Come To You” vans that offer in-person service within a 30-60 minute drive. There’s even a mail-in service option should you want to send your device directly to Samsung for repair.

Sammy is further experimenting with a new feature called “repair mode” that protects sensitive data from nosy repair technicians. Given how useful this feature could be, we’re amazed but it doesn’t already come baked in at the OS level.

Sports

Rugby News: Samu Kerevi injury stunner

Post author By mangakiko
Post date August 2, 2022
No Comments on Rugby News: Samu Kerevi injury stunner

Samu Kerevi’s decision to go to the Commonwealth Games sevens tournament has had a shocking impact, with the Wallabies star weapon reportedly suffering an ACL injury and likely to miss the rest of 2022.

The extent of Kerevi’s injury was revealed by foxsports.com.au on Tuesday afternoon and it will come as a devastating blow to luckless Wallabies coach Dave Rennie, whose series against England was derailed by injury in his backline including Kerevi’s fellow Japan-based international Quade Cooper.

Kerevi, one of three overseas-based players allowed to feature against England, committed to the sevens program after he appeared at the Tokyo Olympics. He limped off with a right knee injury during a tense 7-5 win over Kenya as Australia finished fourth at the Comm Games.

Later Kerevi told reporters he felt ‘alright’ and added “I’m always confident [to be fit to play] but I’ll get a doc on it and see. It was just a big bang but then once it settled down it was fine.” He didn’t feature again after that pool match.

Kerevi is the most damaging No.12 in world rugby and there were always simmering doubts over the call to allow him to play at the Commonwealth Games with Australia facing another 11 Tests this season, starting with the Rugby Championship this weekend.

Tom Wright making a run for the Wallabies

Putin’s reported girlfriend Alina Kabaeva hit with US sanctions | Vladimir Putin

Post author By mangakiko
Post date August 2, 2022
No Comments on Putin’s reported girlfriend Alina Kabaeva hit with US sanctions | Vladimir Putin

Vladimir Putin’s purported lover has been hit with sanctions from the US government’s treasury department over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Alina Kabaeva, 39, landed on the latest update to the federal Office of Foreign Assets Control’s specially designated nationals list, freezing any of her assets in the US and generally prohibiting Americans from dealing with her.

The move came a little more than three months after the White House said Kabaeva, a famed former rhythmic gymnast, nor anyone else was safe from sanctions, even after her last-minute removal from a round of such penalties in April.

United Kingdom officials had similarly sanctioned Kabaeva – who is now chairperson of Russia’s New Media Group, the country’s largest private media company – in May.

Western countries have levied economic penalties at associates and loved ones of Putin to punish the Russian president, 69, for his decision to invade Ukraine in February. The US has avoided a direct confrontation with Russia over the invasion, though it has provided billions of dollars in weapons and other resources to help Ukraine.

The Kremlin has long denied that Putin, who is divorced, is romantically involved with Kabaeva, but various published reports suggest that she is the mother of at least some of his children. A Moscow newspaper which, in 2008, reported that Putin and Kabaeva were involved despite his still being married at the time was shut down soon after for unclear reasons.

Kabaeva, who is originally from Uzbekistan, won gold in the 2004 Olympics in Athens. She later spent more than six years as a lawmaker in Putin’s United Russia party before taking over the National Media Group in 2014, with her only prior experience in the company’s industry being her hosting of a TV talkshow.

Technology

Yoshi Commits Tax Fraud 64 Is an Insanely Detailed Mario 64 Mod

Post author By mangakiko
Post date August 2, 2022
No Comments on Yoshi Commits Tax Fraud 64 Is an Insanely Detailed Mario 64 Mod

News

Yoshi Commits Tax Fraud 64 final trailer and release date.

Published on August 1, 2022
Chuy Forest

Home ” News » Yoshi Commits Tax Fraud 64 Is an Insanely Detailed Mario 64 Mod

We’ve all heard the rumors of Yoshi’s criminal nature. Well, the truth has finally surfaced with the upcoming mod turned full game, titled Yoshi Commits Tax Fraud 64.

As you can see below, the final trailer from game designer and modder, Cheezepin, shows off the latest iteration of their Super Mario 64 mod featuring Yoshi and tax evasion, showing off a whole lot of unique platforming, new worlds, and gambling.

The trailer highlights the gameplay for Yoshi Commits Tax Fraud 64. You’ll work a minimum wage job, spend your hard-earned money any way you please, and go to court after avoiding your tax payments. As a modded version of Super Mario 64, it will feature similar movement and mechanics with a healthy amount of unique twists and new levels.

Cheezepin has a history of creating mods for Super Mario 64 and has even won SimpleFlips ROM Hacking competitions, proving that there seems to be no limit to what the ROM hacking community is capable of, especially when it comes to this classic title. In the past, modders have allowed you to play as that nightmare-fueled killer piano in Big Boo’s Haunt, as well as adding Thwomp’s Fortress to Breath of the Wild.

What started out as a silly joke on the Internet has become a point of research for some. Via Twitter, Supper Mario Broth found a single piece of evidence that Yoshi does not pay his taxes, as it turns out that Yoshi asks to be exempt from paying taxes in the Wii game, Fortune Street. This joke has been the inspiration for Yoshi Commits Tax Fraud 64.

There exists one piece of in-game evidence in favor of the widespread Internet joke that Yoshi does not pay his taxes: in Fortune Street, Yoshi is the only one out of 26 characters that requests to be exempt from paying taxes when the player builds a new tax office. pic.twitter.com/VmaPeNlQhf

— Supper Mario Broth (@MarioBrothBlog) January 15, 2019

When Does Yoshi Commit Tax Fraud 64 Come Out?

Cheezepin has confirmed that the project has not been canceled and that the game is nearly ready. After a few years in development, Yoshi Commits Tax Fraud 64 has finally been set to release on Dec. 31, 2022. Be on the lookout for more news regarding Super Mario 64 mods.

Sports

Black Sticks suffer defeat to Australia but Commonwealth Games defense still alive

Post author By mangakiko
Post date August 2, 2022
No Comments on Black Sticks suffer defeat to Australia but Commonwealth Games defense still alive

Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

Kaitlin Nobbs celebrates Australia’s opening goal with her teammates.

At University of Birmingham: Australia 1 (Kaitlin Nobbs) Black Sticks 0. Q1: 1–0 Q2: 1–0, Q3: 1–0

Defending Commonwealth Games champions the Black Sticks have suffered yet another defeat to Australia.

The gold medal winners from the Gold Coast 2018 have now not beaten the Aussies in 15 attempts since September 2019, after going down 1–0 in their Pool B clash at the University of Birmingham on Tuesday night (NZ time).

All is not lost though, thanks to a 16–0 thrashing of Kenya and a 1-0 victory over Scotland, the Black Sticks only need a victory over the winless South Africa – in their final pool match – to guarantee a spot in the semi-finals against one of the Pool A heavyweights India or England.

The unbeaten Australia’s victory over the Black Sticks cements them top spot in Pool B.

But the Kiwis’ attack will need to improve drastically on what they showed against Australia.

It’s understandable both teams didn’t want to show their full hand early in the tournament but the most significant game in Pool B was hardly a spectacle for the ages.

New Zealand's Megan Hull looks for support from her Black Sticks teammates. — Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

New Zealand’s Megan Hull looks for support from her Black Sticks teammates.

The tight nature of the scoreline was an unfair reflection of the gap between the two teams. Australia always seemed the better side but never really left cruise control in a game that finished with a 50-50 possession split.

Australian captain Kaitlin Nobbs opened the scoring midway through the first quarter when the Black Sticks gave away a stroke when defending a penalty corner.

Black Sticks goalkeeper Grace O’Hanlon’s lightning-quick reflexes saw her get contact on the strike, but she was unable to stop it.

Soon after, Alex Lukin left the turf after taking a nasty blow to the neck region when the ball bounced off her upper arm, but she was able to return in the third quarter.

Australia had four shots on goal to New Zealand’s two in the opening quarter as the Black Sticks struggled to penetrate through the midfield – a theme that would continue throughout the match.

Australia's Grace Stewart is defended by Stephanie Dickins. — Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

Australia’s Grace Stewart is defended by Stephanie Dickins.

Black Sticks co-captain Olivia Merry had the best opportunity in the second quarter but a shocker of a bounce saw the ball sail over her stick for an air swing.

New Zealand’s attack may have been a little sloppy and at times bland but the Black Sticks defense was full of enthusiasm, repealing numerous Australian attacks.

But at half-time, it was Australia who was in control.

A scoreless third quarter – that lacked fluency from both sides – only came about after Australia’s Shanea Tonkin hit the post after some spectacular lead-up work.

The Black Sticks defense again held strong in the final quarter but they never seriously threatened Australia’s goal.

Even yellow and green cards for Australia in the final quarter couldn’t get New Zealand into a genuine scoring position.

Katie Doar did get a late chance at an equalizer with two minutes remaining, but Australia’s defense stood strong.

Drone strike on al-Zawahiri confronts Taliban with nationalist backlash

Post author By mangakiko
Post date August 2, 2022
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Comment

KABUL — The US drone strike that killed al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri here early Sunday morning also struck a humiliating blow to the Taliban regime, which had secretly hosted the aging extremist in the heart of the Afghan capital for months but failed to keep him safe.

Just as the Taliban was preparing to celebrate its first year in power later this month, the attack has sparked a nationalistic backlash against the beleaguered regime at home and taunting comments on social media calling for revenge against the United States.

“If the martyrdom of Zawahiri is confirmed, then shame on you that we could not protect the true hero of Islam,” an Afghan named Ehsanullah tweeted in response to a statement early Tuesday by the chief Taliban spokesman that the al-Qaeda leader had been killed in a US drone strike.

The assassination of al-Zawahiri, a hero to Islamist militant groups but a long-wanted terrorist in the West, has also crystallized the ongoing struggle between moderate and hard-line factions within the Taliban regime. Several leaders of the hard-line Haqqani network, long denounced by US officials for directing high-profile terrorist attacks, hold powerful positions in the regime.

Now, some Afghan and American analysts said, the drone strike may harden Taliban attitudes and push the regime toward an open embrace of the extremist forces it pledged to renounce in its 2020 peace deal with the United States.

“The Taliban are in deep political trouble now, and they are going to face pressure to retaliate. The relationship they have with al-Qaeda and other jihadi groups remains very strong,” said Asfandyar Mir, an expert on Islamic extremism at the US Institute of Peace in Washington. “I think we should brace for impact.”

Mir noted that while Taliban officials have been hoping to gain international recognition and access to more than $9 billion in assets that were frozen by the Biden administration, the group’s supreme religious leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, declared flatly at a national conclave in May, “We are in a clash of civilizations with the West.”

US kills al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in drone strike in Kabul

There is deep-seated animosity here toward the United States, which intensified after US troops withdrew last year and the war economy collapsed, leaving millions of Afghans jobless. When Afghan officials belatedly confirmed that a US drone had killed the al-Qaeda leader, after first insisting the strike was a harmless rocket attack, many Afghans were infuriated.

“We have so many worries already. For a whole year, there have been no jobs, no business, no activity. But at least the fighting was over. The Taliban was in charge, and there was good security, ”said a resident of the Sherpur neighborhood, where the drone struck, who gave his name to him as Hakimullah. “Now, suddenly, this attack happens, and everyone is frightened again.”

Many Afghans seem to know little about al-Zawahiri or al-Qaeda. In part, this is because so many of them were born after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks that US officials said were masterminded by al-Zawahiri and his associates, and in part because the al-Qaeda fighters who joined forces with the Taliban are Middle Easterners whose presence in Afghanistan has always been low profile.

What Ayman al-Zawahiri’s killing means for al-Qaeda

Until now, people here were far more focused on the threat posed by a different Sunni Muslim extremist movement, known as the Islamic State-Khorasan or ISIS-K. The group has in the past repeatedly bombed mosques, schools and other sites in Kabul, especially during the Shiite Muslim festival of Muharram, which began this week.

Among those most dismayed by the turn of events are Afghan civilians who have tried to form working relationships with the new Taliban authorities, encouraging them to develop moderate and practical governing policies rather than focusing exclusively on religion.

Faiz Zaland, who teaches governance and political science at Kabul University, expressed frustration with the Taliban for failing to anticipate the risks of bringing al-Zawahiri to the capital and concern that the US attack had doomed chances for the moderate elements in the regime to compete. with the hard line religious figures at the top.

“The Taliban are stuck now, and it’s their own fault,” he said. “This is going to undercut the achievements of their first year, and people who care feel betrayed and scared.”

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