#continentsandregions

[theusanewsday]

Lost crypto wallet finder tool $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[theusanewsday]

Astros Pitcher Faces the Minimum in No-Hitter Against Cleveland

Framber Valdez of the Houston Astros threw the second solo no-hitter of the season on Tuesday, shutting down the Cleveland Guardians in a 2-0 win Tuesday night.

Astros Pitcher Faces the Minimum in No-Hitter Against Cleveland Valdez needed only 93 pitches to carve through the Cleveland lineup, striking out seven. He faced the minimum 27 batters because the Astros turned a double play after the lone baserunner he allowed, a walk to Oscar Gonzalez to lead off the top of the fifth inning. According to Baseball Reference, it was only the 34th time in Major League Baseball’s modern era in which a pitcher faced the minimum number of hitters in a nine-inning no-hitter. In a Houston franchise with a storied pitching history — Nolan Ryan, J.R. Richard, Gerrit Cole and the Cy Young Award winners Mike Scott, Roger Clemens and Justin Verlander — Valdez threw the 16th Astros no-hitter. He stands alone, however, as the only left-hander within that group. He completed the performance by inducing a soft lineout from Guardians catcher Cam Gallagher to shortstop Jeremy Peña. Valdez’s no-hitter came just hours after the passage of M.L.B.’s trading deadline, with several teams, including his Astros, making moves to better position themselves for the stretch run. Houston on Tuesday reacquired Verlander, who had signed with the Mets in the off-season. Last week, Houston traded with the Chicago White Sox to land the right-handed reliever Kendall Graveman, who helped the team reach the 2021 World Series. The Astros have become regulars in the American League Championship Series and are hoping to make a third consecutive World Series appearance, but first they have to chase down the Texas Rangers in the A.L. West. Houston trails by only a half game, but Texas bolstered its roster ahead of the deadline, too, making a deal with the Mets for the right-handed starter Max Scherzer and shoring up its catching depth by adding Austin Hedges. Read the full article

[theusanewsday]

Co-Host New Zealand Is Out; Colombia Stuns Germany

New Zealand had the high of a win in their opening game, but were eliminated on Sunday with a draw against Switzerland.Credit...Lars Baron/Getty Images Co-Host New Zealand Is Out; Colombia Stuns Germany The story of New Zealand’s journey in the Women’s World Cup, and of its exit on Sunday night, will be a familiar one to the team and its fans: not enough goals for New Zealand, and too many for everyone else. For New Zealand, a co-host of the tournament with Australia, the ride had begun on a high. The team had earned its first-ever World Cup victory in the event’s opening match, leading a rugby-mad country to stir, if only momentarily, for women’s soccer. For a few days, even bigger achievements seemed possible. But the opening victory had been narrow — the Football Ferns, as the team is known, had scored a single goal — and perhaps that was a sign. New Zealand never scores much, and it never scored again at the World Cup, eliminated quietly on Sunday in Dunedin after a 0-0 tie with Switzerland that was the home team’s ninth goalless outing in 12 games this year. “Obviously we talked and we were proud of ourselves and what we’ve been able to accomplish, but at the end of the day we wanted to get out of this group stage and we just didn’t,” New Zealand midfielder Malia Steinmetz said. “It’s just black and white.” In Auckland, meanwhile, Norway was raining goals on the Philippines, winning by 6-0 to save what had looked to be a star-crossed campaign. When the whistles blew to end both games, the math was unforgiving for the host nation: Switzerland and Norway were moving on, and New Zealand was out. With that elimination, New Zealand became the first host ever eliminated in the group stage, a fate that Australia will try not to match in its own must-win game against Canada on Monday. Not even company will ease the sting for the Ferns, though. Norway, on the other hand, will feel resurrected after a chilly night in Auckland. It had not particularly enjoyed the view from last place over the past week, not when it lost to New Zealand in its opener, not when its star Caroline Graham Hansen publicly challenged her coach to restore her to the lineup and then apologized for her outburst, not when the striker Ada Hegerberg sat out again with an injury. Norway got on a roll.Credit...Abbie Parr/Associated Press Faced with the humiliation of going out at the hands of the Philippines, though, something stirred in the Norwegians. Forward Sophie Roman Haug scored on a one-time volley after only six minutes, then doubled her total with a header after only 17. Graham Hansen made it 3-0 before the half, then sent in the cross that was turned in for a Philippines own goal three minutes after halftime. That silenced a profoundly pro-Philippines crowd of more than 34,000, and allowed Norway to set aside a week of grumbling and whispers of locker room discontent. “We felt it was us against the world today and we performed from the very start, delivering when we really had to,” Norway Coach Hege Riise said. “This was the best response we could have given the Norwegian people and ourselves.” Guro Reiten’s penalty made it five and then Roman Haug added her third, and Norway’s sixth, in injury time and that was that. But by then everyone knew it was over anyway, and the only outcome that mattered was the one in Dunedin, where New Zealand pressed and pressed for the goal that never came, the chance to change a scoreline the Ferns knew absolutely wouldn’t suffice. When it didn’t arrive, when the whistle blew for full time, the players’ stunned faces told the story of a tournament that started brightly and, for them, is now over far too soon. Read the full article

[theusanewsday]

Sweden Clinches Group: France and Jamaica Endanger Brazil

THEUSANEWS - For one night only, the combined interest of the World Cup co-hosts Australia and New Zealand coalesced on Australia’s most hallowed sporting arena, the Melbourne Cricket Ground. But the game on Saturday night was not soccer. It was a much-celebrated rugby classic played at the same time.

Sweden Clinches Group

In front of a crowd of almost 84,000 fans, the men’s rugby teams of Australia and New Zealand renewed their rivalry by competing in the latest installment of two-game, home-and-home series that dates back more than 90 years. That the game took place during the Women’s World Cup, simultaneously with matches in other cities — including a showdown between two of the top teams, Brazil and France — and two days before Australia’s must-win match against Canada, highlighted the competition that women’s soccer faces to attract interest and audience in the two sports-mad countries hosting soccer’s biggest showcase. There were attempts to entice the rugby crowd, the biggest to watch the game in Australia in two decades, to attend local World Cup games, which were being held in an arena just yards away from where they were sitting on Saturday night. Digital advertising boards periodically flagged the dates of the World Cup and a link to where tickets could be purchased. But it was the Melbourne Cricket Ground that staked its claim for the most eyeballs. Stadium operators predicted that more than 220,000 people would pass through its doors across three days as part of a run of games that started with its hosting what is considered to be the biggest rivalry in Australian domestic sports, a meeting between the Australian rules football teams Carlton and Collingwood on Friday night, and that will end on Sunday with a third spectacle, another Australian Football League game. The rugby crowd, made up of not only Australians but also thousands of New Zealanders, a mix of expatriates and tour groups, skewed older than the fans that have been attending World Cup games. Soccer, though popular as a participatory sport, languishes well behind sports played with an oval ball, a legacy of the past and migration patterns, according to one expert on Australian sports. “Given that it was colonized by the British you’d have thought soccer would be the dominant code, but it’s not,” David Rowe, a professor for culture and society at Western Sydney University. On Saturday, Melbourne’s airport was bustling with fans arriving from other parts of Australia and overseas visitors to witness the first installment of the yearly rivalry in which New Zealand’s team, known as the All Blacks, arrived as the overwhelming favorite to retain the title it has held for two decades. New Zealand left with the trophy for a 21st time following a comprehensive dismantling of an Australian team that its new coach, Eddie Jones, is attempting to rebuild. The gulf in experience and class was evident once the All Blacks pegged back an early Australian score and eventually ran away with the win, 38-7. They even got to hold aloft the Bledisloe Cup before the second game of the series takes place next week across the Tasman Sea in Dunedin, on New Zealand’s South Island. The stadium is likely to be packed, while some World Cup matches there have struggled to fill the stands. New Zealand’s women’s soccer team, at risk of being eliminated from the World Cup, was scheduled to play its critical third game on Sunday against Switzerland in Dunedin. Decisions over the World Cup’s television coverage in Australia have been questioned already, and they are likely to face scrutiny again on Saturday night as one of the tournament’s most anticipated group games, an encounter between France and Brazil, kicked off 15 minutes after the start of the clash between the All Blacks and the Wallabies. Only one of those games was being broadcast on a free-to-air network in Australia. The answer will not have pleased soccer fans. But such is the interest in the fate of the Australian women’s team that even its rugby coach, Jones, talked about the injury to its star striker, Sam Kerr, after the rugby game. Kerr, who is dealing with a calf injury, has missed two games. On Saturday she declared herself ready but said the status of participation would go “to the wire.” Jones, recalling a similar injury to one of his players, described calf injuries as difficult to predict. But he was clear about what he would do if he was in the position of Tony Gustavsson, the coach of the Australian women’s soccer team. “They’ve got to win,” Jones said, adding that Kerr’s talent meant there was no option but to play her. “Strap her up,” he said.   Read the full article

[theusanewsday]

Mitch McConnell Experiences an Episode at the Legislative center, Freezing Midsentence

The 81-year-old Senate conservative pioneer, who had a serious fall recently, was briefly unfit to talk during a news gathering, bringing up issues about his wellbeing and future.

Mitch McConnell Experiences an Episode at the Legislative center, Freezing Midsentence WASHINGTON — Senate Minority Pioneer Mitch McConnell out of nowhere quit talking during a week after week conservative initiative news meeting Wednesday evening, seeming to freeze, and afterward went quiet and was left. McConnell, R-Ky., had been offering his initial comments about a yearly guard strategy bill when he quieted down. He was quiet for 19 seconds. His conservative partners found out if he was alright, and a top McConnell representative, Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming, a doctor, accompanied McConnell, 81, away from the cameras and correspondents. Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa made a hand motion that at first seemed to look like the indication of the cross. Her office later explained that she was motioning for Senate Minority Whip John Thune of South Dakota. https://twitter.com/frankthorp/status/1684262402664038405?ref_src=twsrctfwtwcamptweetembedtwterm1684262402664038405twgr330271528ce780c55832038a159a0ffae5c3aed8twcons1_c10&ref_url=httpsiframe.nbcnews.comgDWcHCn_showcaptiontrueapp1 A couple of moments later, McConnell strolled back to the news gathering without anyone else. Gotten some information about his wellbeing, he said he was fine. Found out if he is completely ready to go about his business, he said, "Definitely." Gotten some information about the episode, a helper highlighted McConnell's colloquialism, "I'm fine," however the associate added that McConnell "felt discombobulated and ventured away briefly." "He returned to deal with back and forth discussion, which as everybody noticed was sharp," the helper said. McConnell addressed journalists momentarily Wednesday night as he left the Legislative hall and said, "The president called to keep an eye on me." "I let him know I got barricaded," he kidded. A White House official and a representative for the congressperson affirmed that President Joe Biden and McConnell talked by telephone Wednesday. Read the full article

[legit-news247]

Israeli President invitations Netanyahu to shape govt | CNN Jerus... https://legitnews247.com/?p=21296&feed_id=2999

[ausark-media]

Iranian lawmakers demand 'no leniency' for protesters

CNN  —  Iranian lawmakers have urged the country’s judiciary to “show no leniency” to protesters in a letter cited by state-run Press TV on Sunday, as thousands of people continue to rally on the streets despite the threat of arrest. The Islamic Republic is facing one of the biggest and unprecedented shows of dissent following the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish Iranian woman detained by the morality police allegedly for not wearing her hijab properly. In an open letter signed by 227 of Iran’s 290 members of Parliament, Press TV reports the lawmakers calls for protesters to be taught a “good lesson” to deter others who threaten the authority of the Iranian government. “We, the representatives of this nation, ask all state officials, including the Judiciary, to treat those, who waged war (against the Islamic establishment) and attacked people’s life and property like the Daesh (terrorists), in a way that would serve as a good lesson in the shortest possible time,” the letter read according to state-run Press TV. Lawmakers added that such a punishment – the methods of which were not specified – would “prove to all that life, property, security and honor of our dear people is a red line for this (Islamic) establishment, and that it would show no leniency to anybody in this regard.” Iran has charged at least 1,000 people in Tehran province for their alleged involvement in the nationwide protests over Amini’s death, the largest such show of dissent in years, state news agency IRNA has reported. Their trials are public and have been underway for more than a week. Norway-based rights group Iran Human Rights (IHR) said in a report last Wednesday that dozens of protesters are facing charges including “enmity against God” and “corruption on earth,” which carry the death sentence. The letter from the members of Parliament also reiterates prior Iranian government claims that the ongoing protests – that it calls riots – were incited by the United States and other enemies of Iran. Iran’s government has provided no evidence to back up its claims of foreign involvement in the protest movement. Top United Nations official Javaid Rehman told the UN Security Council last week that as many as 14,000 people, including journalists, activists, lawyers and educators, had been arrested since protests erupted in Iran in mid-September. Rehman, special rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, said the “unabated violent response of security forces” had caused at least 277 deaths. CNN cannot independently verify the arrest figure or the death toll – precise figures are impossible for anyone outside the Iranian government to confirm – and different estimates have been given by opposition groups, international rights organizations and local journalists. This report is auto-generated from cnn news service. Ausark Media holds no responsibility for its content. Source Read the full article

[ausark-media]

Houston Astros win World Series over Philadelphia Phillies with Game 6 victory

CNN  —  The Houston Astros won the franchise’s second World Series title on Saturday after defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 4-1 in Game 6 at Minute Maid Park. Both starting pitchers were trading zeros through the first five innings. The Phillies got the scoring started in the top of the sixth inning with a Kyle Schwarber solo home run off Astros starting pitcher Framber Valdez, who was able to limit the damage before being pulled after the sixth. Valdez finished with nine strikeouts and only allowed two hits and a run. After allowing two baserunners, Phillies starter Zack Wheeler was pulled from the game with one out in the bottom of the sixth inning. Phillies relief pitcher Jose Alvarado gave up a three-run home run to Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez to give Houston the lead. Houston would tack on one more run on a Christian Vazquez single. Astros closer Ryan Pressly came in to close out the game and make sure the home crowd in Houston went home celebrating a World Series victory. After falling behind 2-1 through the first three games of the World Series, Houston evened up the series after throwing a combined no-hitter in Game 4. Game 5 saw Astros ace Justin Verlander collect his long-awaited first career World Series victory after pitching five innings with six strikeouts and giving up one run. The Astros win was the first time since 2013 that a team claimed the title at its home field. Houston has twice witnessed heartbreak since the team’s first title in 2017. The team appeared in the Fall Classic in 2019 against the Washington Nationals and 2021 versus the Atlanta Braves, both resulting in losses. The win in 2017 came with a lot of questions and controversy. Following the win, Astros owner and chairman Jim Crane fired then-manager AJ Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow after the MLB had suspended them both for a season without pay for a sign-stealing scandal. Major League Baseball found the club illegally created a system that decoded and communicated the opposing teams’ pitching signs during their 2017 championship season. The team forfeited its regular first- and second-round picks in the 2020 and 2021 drafts and paid a $5 million fine. The Astros kept their title – but, to many non-Houston fans, it remains shrouded in scandal. This is a developing story and will be updated. The Houston Astros will look to capitalize on home advantage as it prepares to face the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 6 of the World Series on Saturday. The Astros take a slender 3-2 lead into the game but have a golden opportunity of clinching the series in its home stadium, Minute Maid Park. If the Astros win, it would be the first time since 2013 that a team claims the title at their home field – but it hasn’t always been a happy hunting ground for the Astros. In both 2019 and 2021, the franchise watched as its opponents celebrated winning the series in Houston – first the Washington Nationals and then the Atlanta Braves. “One more win and we get to lift that trophy over our heads,” Astros pitcher Ryan Pressly told reporters ahead of the game. “But the job’s not done right now. We’ve just got to keep going out there, having good at-bats, putting good quality pitches together, and let the chips fall where they may.” As favorites coming into the series, the Astros will feel confident continuing their two-game win streak but will face a Phillies team determined to make their mark.

Philadelphia rallied to within one run in Game 5 and had postseason star Bryce Harper at bat in the bottom of the ninth, but a sensational catch at the wall by Astros outfielder Chas McCormick helped preserve Houston’s victory as the clock struck midnight. Phillies manager Rob Thomson says his team will keep fighting in Houston and he knows how quickly things can change in baseball. “Sometimes you go through times when you don’t hit with runners in scoring position and then, three days later, everybody’s getting hits,” he told reporters after the latest loss. “So we’ve just got to keep battling, that’s all. “Approach is the same that we’ve had. Just come out the next day and go get them. Prepare, compete. These guys will show up, I can guarantee it. They will fight until the end.” This report is auto-generated from cnn news service. Ausark Media holds no responsibility for its content. Source Read the full article