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Critical Metals (NASDAQ:CRML) got a boost on Monday (June 16), landing a letter of interest (LOI) for a non-dilutive US$120 million funding package from the Export-Import Bank of the US (EXIM).

The funds would be used to advance its Tanbreez rare earths project in Southern Greenland.

Touted as one of the world’s largest rare earths deposits, Tanbreez is expected to produce up to 85,000 metric tons of rare earth material annually, with more than 27 percent classified as heavy rare earth elements.

“This is a tremendous milestone for Critical Metals Corp which highlights to the rare earths supply chain, Western Governments and investors that Tanbreez is a world-class asset that will provide mission-critical rare earth metals to counter China’s continued dominance,” said Critical Metals CEO and Chairman Tony Sage.

The funding would support pre-production, technical studies and early mining activities. EXIM’s financing falls under its new Supply Chain Resiliency Initiative and comes with a 15 year repayment term.

Critical Metals acquired a controlling stake in Tanbreez in June 2024 in a transaction valued at up to US$211 million. It expects the asset to require US$290 million in capital expenditure to advance to initial commercial production.

The US$120 million from EXIM would support key early stage work at Tanbreez, including technical and economic studies, pre-production activities and the start of mining operations.

The company is aiming to complete a definitive feasibility study by late 2025.

Critical Metals also plans to invest an additional US$10 million in exploration this year, giving it the option to increase its ownership in the project to 92.5 percent through the acquisition of a further 50.5 percent stake.

“We are now razor focused to put Tanbreez into production as soon as possible,’ said Sage.

Securities Disclosure: I, Gabrielle de la Cruz, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

A court in Bamako has ordered the temporary transfer of operational control of Barrick Mining’s (TSX:ABX,NYSE:B) Loulo-Gounkoto gold-mining complex to a state-appointed administrator for six months.

The ruling, handed down on Tuesday (June 17) by the Tribunal de Commerce, empowers former health minister and certified accountant Soumana Makadji to run one of Barrick’s most lucrative global assets.

The company has described the move as “unjustified” and “unprecedented.”

According to Judge Issa Aguibou Diallo, the ruling was made under Article 160-1 of the OHADA corporate law framework, which allows a court to appoint a provisional administrator when the regular functioning of a company becomes impossible. The administrator, Makadji, is tasked with reopening the mine site, participating in negotiations with Barrick and reporting to the court on a quarterly basis — though not to the government.

Makadji is seen in Bamako as a technocrat with strong ethical credentials. His appointment is intended to stabilize operations at Loulo-Gounkoto, which Barrick suspended in January 2024 after the Malian government physically removed unsold gold from the mine and froze the company’s ability to export.

Despite the administrative change, Barrick maintains that its subsidiaries remain the legal owners of the mine.

In a statement released on Monday (June 16), the company emphasized that its “ongoing efforts to reach a constructive and sustainable resolution” have been met with escalatory actions by the state.

“While the company has made a number of good-faith concessions in the spirit of partnership, it cannot accept terms that would compromise the legal integrity or long-term viability of the operations,” Barrick said.

Arbitration and legal fallout

Barrick has already launched international arbitration proceedings at the World Bank’s International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes, as per a May 29 Reuters article.

The company has asked the tribunal to declare that its Malian subsidiaries are protected under longstanding mining conventions, which it argues are not subject to retroactive legislative changes. Mali, however, contends that the convention covering Loulo expired in April 2023, subjecting it to the updated mining code.

The arbitration tribunal has now been formally constituted, and Barrick has filed a request for provisional measures to prevent Mali from further intervening until the dispute is resolved.

A disputed settlement

In February 2024, a tentative settlement appeared close. According to Jeune Afrique, Barrick had agreed in principle to pay 225 billion West African CFA francs (roughly US$396 million) in instalments, recognize the new 2023 mining code and convert Mali’s 20 percent equity stake in Loulo-Gounkoto into “priority shares.”

The government would in turn release the seized gold and free the detained executives.

But the deal collapsed. A Malian negotiator later claimed Barrick had signed the “wrong” agreement and warned the government had “the right to take control of the mines” if the company failed to resume operations.

The ruling junta, led by Colonel Assimi Goïta, has made resource nationalism a hallmark of its post-coup economic strategy. Since coming to power in 2020, the military-led regime has shown a willingness to pressure foreign firms to comply with state priorities, especially in strategic sectors like mining.

The Loulo-Gounkoto dispute is now emblematic of the wider uncertainty surrounding foreign investment in Mali, a country where gold accounts for over 70 percent of export earnings.

Future implications

Loulo-Gounkoto is a cornerstone of Barrick’s global portfolio.

In 2023, the complex produced 723,000 ounces of gold, second only to Barrick’s Carlin mine in Nevada. It boasts remaining reserves of 7.3 million ounces, making it one of the largest high-grade gold systems in the world.

The financial implications of the shutdown are significant. Analysts warned in December that continued disruptions at the site could cut 11 percent from Barrick’s projected 2025 EBITDA.

Morningstar had earlier projected that Loulo-Gounkoto would contribute 250,000 ounces to Barrick’s output this year — an estimate now scrapped from the company’s 2025 guidance.

Further complicating matters, the permit for the Loulo section of the complex is set to expire in February 2025, just weeks after the six month provisional administration period ends. Barrick said it applied for a renewal four months ago, but has received no response from the government. The Gounkoto permit remains valid for another 17 years.

Barrick has said it remains committed to reaching a “mutually acceptable solution” and has appealed the court’s decision. But with no public comment from the Malian government and the provisional administrator now in place, a quick resolution appears unlikely.

Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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Galan Lithium Limited (ASX:GLN) ( Galan or the Company ) is pleased to announce it has secured a binding commitment for a A$20 million placement ( Placement ) at A$0.11 per share, a 21% premium to the last closing price of A$0.091 as at 19 June 2025 from an existing shareholder, The Clean Elements Fund ( Clean Elements ). Additionally, Clean Elements will receive one unlisted option for every two shares issued under the Placement, with an exercise price of A$0.15 per option and an expiry date that is three years from the date of issue.

The Placement is subject to Clean Elements’ satisfactory completion of due diligence over a period not longer than 77 days. Full completion of the Placement will require shareholder approval which will be sought at a Galan general meeting, expected to be held in early September 2025 .

The Placement provides the final construction funding solution for Phase 1 (at 4ktpa LCE), of the Company’s world class Hombre Muerto West project ( HMW ) in Argentina , which will see production of lithium chloride concentrate in H1 2026.

Managing Director, Juan Pablo (JP) Vargas de la Vega, commented:

We are extremely pleased to receive further support from Clean Elements. HMW is a world-class lithium project, offering exceptional scale and grade. This commitment from Clean Elements, priced at a significant premium to our last closing share price, reflects the value proposition provided by Galan.

To have executed this funding agreement whilst facing strong macro headwinds for the lithium industry is a huge achievement for Galan and further validates the unique attributes of HMW. With a clear pathway to first concentrate production, this support positions Galan to focus on execution. The next 12 months promise to be a transformational period for Galan and the team remains fully focussed on the creation of significant value for all shareholders.’

Clean Element’s Chairman, Ofer Amir, stated:

‘We are incredibly excited to partner with Galan Lithium on what we believe is one of the most compelling lithium opportunities in Argentina today. After extensive evaluation of the Argentinian lithium landscape, HMW stands out as an exceptional world-class asset with the rare combination of scale, grade, and execution capability that positions it to be a major force in the global lithium market. This investment represents Clean Elements’ confidence in Galan’s transformative potential and our shared vision of powering the clean energy revolution.

Our investment in Galan reflects our disciplined approach to identifying high-quality lithium assets with strong fundamentals and experienced management teams. Galan’s impressive resource base of 9.5 Mt LCE, combined with its low-cost position in the first quartile globally and proven operational track record in the Hombre Muerto Salar, aligns perfectly with our investment criteria. We were particularly impressed by Galan’s strategic partnership with Authium, which enhances project economics through innovative processing technology while securing offtake agreements that de-risk the path to production. We look forward to supporting Galan beyond Phase 1 as they execute their long term production growth plan towards 60 ktpa LCE.’

Details of the Placement

The Company has received binding commitments for a total of 181,818,182 shares at an issue price of A$0.11 per share. 90,909,091 options (exercisable at A$0.15 with a 3 year expiry from issue date) will also be issued.

The Placement is expected to settle in two tranches:

  • Tranche Two – A$10 million , 90,909,091 shares and 45,454,545 options (exercisable at A$0.15 with a 3 year expiry from issue date), subject to shareholder approval and completion of due diligence. Expected settlement on or around 28 November 2025 .

The proceeds of the Placement will be utilised to complete Phase 1 construction activities in H2 2025 required to realise first lithium chloride production in H1 2026. The Company notes that a US$ 6 million prepayment facility will be available to the Company under the terms of the offtake and prepayment agreement with Authium Limited ( Authium ) (see announcement https://shorturl.at/GaU0r) .

In light of the current market conditions, the Company decided to pursue the Placement, which was structured at a 21% premium to Galan’s last closing price. Despite efforts to secure debt funding, the prevailing economic environment has resulted in unfavourable terms and higher costs associated with debt. By opting for equity raising Galan will strengthen its balance sheet and minimise financing risk, whilst carrying no debt, as the Company brings HMW into production.

About Hombre Muerto West

HMW is a multi-decade, lithium brine project in Argentina with compelling economics. Phase 1 provides for a 4ktpa LCE operation, producing a 6% LiCl concentrate product over a projected 40-year life. Finalisation of Phase 1 and commencement of production is the key focus Galan. Beyond Phase 1, the Company will undertake a phased scaling approach, eventually ramping up to 60ktpa at the conclusion of Phase 4. This approach mitigates funding and execution risk and will allow for continuous process improvement.

With a world class resource and a cost profile within the first quartile globally, HMW is a clear demonstration of the benefits of a high-quality lithium brine asset. These benefits are allowing Galan to progress through development and into production with a lower capital intensity and lower risk profile when compared to hard rock lithium (spodumene) projects.

As importantly, lithium chloride is a key component for lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, which have become the dominant battery product globally. With the ability to be cost effectively converted into a lithium dihydrogen phosphate or lithium carbonate, lithium chloride, as will be produced at HMW, is an ideal source for LFP batteries.

Please refer to Mineral Resource Statement for Galan’s Total Resources of 9.5Mt LCE.

The Galan Board has authorised this release.

For further information contact:

COMPANY

MEDIA

Juan Pablo (‘JP’) Vargas

de la Vega

Matt Worner

Managing Director

VECTOR Advisors

jp@galanlithium.com.au

mworner@vectoradvisors.au

+ 61 8 9214 2150

+61 429 522 924

About Galan

Galan Lithium Limited (ASX:GLN) is an ASX-listed lithium exploration and development business. Galan’s flagship assets comprise two world-class lithium brine projects, HMW and Candelas, located on the Hombre Muerto Salar in Argentina , within South America’s ‘lithium triangle’. Hombre Muerto is proven to host lithium brine deposition of the highest grade and lowest impurity levels within Argentina . It is home to the established El Fenix lithium operation, Sal de Vida (both projects are operated by Arcadium Lithium) and Sal de Oro (POSCO) lithium projects. Rio Tinto is now in the process of acquiring Arcadium Lithium plc. Galan also has exploration licences at Greenbushes South in Western Australia , just south of the Tier 1 Greenbushes Lithium Mine.

About Clean Elements

Clean Elements is a private holding company specifically founded to pursue the development of high performing lithium assets in Argentina and globally. Clean Elements has a successful track record in investing in lithium brine assets, notably completing a financing transaction with NOA Lithium in 2024. Clean Elements is partnered with Swiss financial expert firm ISP Securities Ltd., part of the ISP Group, who is a leading Swiss financial service provider specializing in wealth management, asset management, securitisation and trading services. ISP Group has companies in Switzerland ( Zurich and Geneva ), Dubai , Hong Kong , and Israel .

Contact:

Ofer Amir
ofer@thecleanelements.com
+97254492777

View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/galan-lithium-limited-a20-million-placement-to-strategic-partner-302486923.html

SOURCE Galan Lithium Limited

News Provided by PR Newswire via QuoteMedia

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The Golden State Valkyries pulled away in the fourth quarter to beat Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever 88-77 at home on Thursday.

The Valkyries have won four of their last five games and improved to 6-6 overall, after becoming the fastest franchise to win five games in its inaugural season earlier this month.

The Fever finished each of the first three quarters with the lead and put the Valkyries in a deficit as large as 13 points, but it wasn’t enough to deny Golden State.

Kayla Thornton led Golden State with 16 points and six rebounds in 20 minutes of play. Tiffany Hayes, playing her first home game since her return from injury, produced 14 points and five assists in 32 minutes off the bench.

Aliyah Boston finished with a game-high 17 points and 12 rebounds for the Fever in the loss. Clark had 11 points, nine assists and seven rebounds. She shot just 3-for-14 from the field and didn’t hit a 3-pointer (0-for-7).

Clark was coming off a game where she was in the middle of a scuffle that led to an ejection, flagrant fouls and subsequent fines. It inspired Indiana Fever coach Stephanie White to blast the league’s refs and reignited the national debate about how the WNBA’s biggest star is treated and viewed by opposing players.

White missed Thursday’s game for personal reasons. Austin Kelly served as the acting coach for Indiana.

Fever vs. Valkyries highlights

Caitlin Clark stats tonight vs. Valkyries

  • Points: 11
  • FG: 3-for-14
  • 3PTs: 0-for-7
  • FT: 5-for-5
  • Rebounds: 7
  • Assists: 9
  • Blocks: 0
  • Steals: 1
  • Turnovers: 6
  • Fouls: 3
  • Minutes played: 34

Final: Valkyries 88, Fever 77

The Valkyries overcame a double-digit deficit to regain the lead in the fourth quarter.

Aliyah Boston was forced to sit in the middle of the quarter after picking up her fifth personal foul.

3Q: Fever 59, Valkyries 55

The Fever went on a 10-3 run to start the quarter and built up one of its biggest leads of the game against the Valkyries. The Valkyires went on a 10-2 scoring run of their own to end the third quarter. Kate Martin scored back-to-back baskets, scoring five of her nine points in the final minute of the period. Kayla Thornton has 10 points and five rebounds through three quarters for Golden State.

Aliyah Boston has produced a double-double for the Fever with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Caitlin Clark scored five of her seven points in the third quarter for Indiana to go along with her seven assists and six rebounds.

Indiana has led by as many as 13 points. Golden State’s largest lead has been five.

Halftime: Fever 44, Valkyries 38

Aliyah Boston and Natasha Howard led the way for the Fever in the first half against the Valkyries. Boston has produced 15 points, seven rebounds and three blocks for Indiana. Howard has chipped in with eight points, three rebounds and two assists.

Caitlin Clark was limited to just two points in the first half but contributed with six assists and four defensive rebounds.

Carla Leite and Chloe Bibby led Golden State with eight points each in the first half. Kayla Thornton had seven points and five rebounds.

1Q: Fever 21, Valkyries 12

Monique Billings scored four of the Valkyries’ first seven points in the quarter against the Fever. Kayla Thornton and the Valkyries led Caitlin Clark and the Fever 7-2 with 7:43 left in the opening quarter. Thornton has scored three points.

Natasha Howard would help rally the Fever with four points as part of an 11-0 scoring run to take a 13-7 lead with 3:08 left in the quarter. The scoring run was built up to 14-0 before Golden State’s Chloe Bibby made a layup off an assist from Laeticia Amihere.

Clark went scoreless in the first quarter.

Fever’s starting lineup vs. Valkyries

  • Guard Caitlin Clark
  • Guard Kelsey Mitchell
  • Guard Lexie Hull
  • Forward Natasha Howard
  • Forward Aliyah Boston

Valkyries’ starting lineup vs. Fever

  • Guard Carla Leite
  • Guard Veronica Burton
  • Forward Kayla Thornton
  • Forward Stephanie Talbot
  • Center Monique Billings

What time is Fever vs. Valkyries?

The WNBA regular-season game between the Indiana Fever and Golden State Valkyries is scheduled to tip at 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. local time).

How to watch Fever vs. Valkyries WNBA game: TV, stream for Caitlin Clark

The WNBA regular-season game between the Indiana Fever and Golden State Warriors will be streamed nationally exclusively via Amazon Prime, with only local affiliates in the Bay Area and Indianapolis able to televise the game.

  • Time: 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT
  • Location: Chase Center in San Francisco, California
  • TV: KPIX 5 (Bay Area), KOVR 13 (Sacramento), WTHR Channel 13 (Indianapolis)
  • Stream: Amazon Prime

Watch Fever vs. Valkyries with Amazon Prime

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

Cleveland Browns traded up on the final day of the 2025 NFL Draft to select high-profile quarterback Shedeur Sanders. His fall to the fifth round was the story of the draft this year.

Less than two months later, there’s a new story attached to Sanders as minicamps wrap up in Cleveland.

Sanders was cited for driving 101 mph in a 60 mph speed limit zone around 12:30 a.m. on June 17. According to municipal court records from Medina, Ohio, this is Sanders’ second speeding citation of the month.

The first citation stemmed from a June 5 incident in Brunswick, Ohio and Ohio State Highway Patrol told WKBN-TV that Sanders was cited for going 91 mph in a 65 mph speed limit zone.

Sanders failed to appear for his arraignment, which was scheduled for June 16, on the first speeding ticket. He is facing $269 in fines and court costs for that citation.

‘He is taking care of the tickets,’ team spokesman Peter John-Baptiste told Cleveland.com.

Sanders is competing for the starting quarterback role in Cleveland alongside veterans Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett as well as fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel.

Will the NFL suspend Shedeur Sanders?

No, the league won’t suspend Sanders for these speeding tickets. The NFL has not yet provided a statement on the citations.

At time of publishing, Sanders has not released a statement on the speeding citations.

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LOS ANGELES — In a simmering dispute, the Los Angeles Dodgers say Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were denied entry to the stadium grounds – while ICE says the agency was ‘never there’ and the Department of Homeland Security claims the masked agents were with Customs and Border Patrol.

Who indisputably is here: Al Aguilar, one of many gathering outside the stadium hours before the Dodgers faced the San Diego Padres on June 19.

Aguilar, a lifelong Dodgers fan who says he was born and raised in Los Angeles, stood near the intersection on a corner near Dodger Stadium five hours before the team’s game. And three hours before a scheduled protest sparked by the Dodgers’ silence amidst immigration raids and unrest in Los Angeles.

“At least make a statement,” said Aguilar, 72, who came from his home about two miles from the stadium.

Aguilar held a sign that said “Dodger Boo” instead of “Dodger Blue” and many motorists honked as they drove past.

Aguilar said he was old enough to remember when Latinos were displaced from the Chavez Ravine area to make way for the construction of Dodger Stadium, critical to luring the team to Los Angeles from Brooklyn in the 1950s.

‘I still love them, but say something,’ Aguilar said. ‘Especially on this day of Juneteenth. We stand on the shoulders of Martin Luther King and Cesar Chavez.’

But even as drivers honked in apparent support of Aguilar’s message, he said that ‘whether (the team) says something or not, people will still be Dodgers fans.’

Himself included.

Some protesters try to block traffic outside Dodger Stadium

LOS ANGELES — About 100 protesters outside Dodger Stadium disrupted traffic before the team’s game and prompted more than two dozen police officers to head to the scene.

At one point, the protesters spread out electric scooters across an intersection near an entrance and temporarily halted traffic. Police closed the gates and redirected traffic to another entrance while they tried to gain control of the situation.

While there were a couple of tense standoffs between protesters and police officers, there were no known arrests as of 8 p.m. PT.

All the while, the protesters kept up their chants, including “Boycott the Dodgers.”

It was the Dodgers’ silence over the Los Angeles protests sparked by immigration raids that galvanized the crowd on Thursday night.

“If the Dodgers can’t say anything, I guess we can,” Dodgers fan Amanda Carrera, 31, told USA TODAY Sports.

The police officers calmly removed the scooters and seemed unbothered by the chants. But things grew more tense when some people lingered in the crosswalks.

“Get out of the street, move,” an officer shouted. A protester leaned toward the officer and yelled back, but the moment did not escalate further.

By 7:50 PT, a few innings into the game inside, the protest outside Dodger Stadium had dwindled to about two dozen.

But not everybody in the crowd was a fan of those who were trying to block traffic.

“Protesters like that ruin the cause,’ Carrera said. ‘It’s people coming to cause problems.”

Dodgers delay announcement on support for LA community

LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers were supposed to make an announcement about their ‘plans for assistance to immigrant communities’ but club president Stan Kasten said the organization would be delaying an announcement after the federal agents showed up.

“Because of the events earlier today, we continue to work with groups that were involved with our programs,’ Kasten said in a statement, per the Los Angeles Times. ‘But we are going to have to delay today’s announcement while we firm up some more details.’

Protesters showing up at Dodger Stadium

Amanda Carrera, who said she is a singer who wrote a song called ‘Dodger Girl,’ arrived with a sign that said ‘Proud to be a Latina.’

‘As much as I love the Dodgers, I love my people even more,’ said Carrera, 31.

‘Silence is the problem’: Graffiti near Dodger Stadium

Graffiti artists have left their mark near the ballpark, clearly targeting the organization over its perceived silence amidst the protests with messages like ‘stop selling out,’ ‘LA is our home’ and ‘silence is the problem.’

In the hours leading up to the game, there were fans around Dodger Stadium with megaphones and others chanting ‘ICE out of L.A.’

Kiké Hernández has been only Dodgers player to speak out

One masked protester outside the stadium held a sign that read ‘Kiké Forever,’ referencing the longtime Dodgers utilityman who became the first active player to speak out against the immigration raids with an Instagram post in both English and Spanish.

‘I may not be Born & Raised, but this city adopted me as one of their own. I am saddened and infuriated by what’s happening in our country and our city. Los Angeles and Dodger fans have welcomed me, supported me and shown me nothing but kindness and love,’ Hernández wrote.

‘This is my second home. And I cannot stand to see our community being violated, profiled, abused and ripped apart. ALL people deserve to be treated with respect, dignity and human rights. #CityOfImmigrants’

Hernández has spent nine seasons with the Dodgers over two stints, winning World Series titles in 2020 and 2024.

Fans out in full force as game begins

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Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Dennis Santana was involved in a fan altercation during Game 2 of the Pirates’ doubleheader against the Detroit Tigers on June 19.

The altercation, which included a jumping swing by Santana, came during the 8-4 win by the Pirates at Comerica Park in Detroit on June 19 and was caught on camera and later surfaced on social media, including X (formerly Twitter). In the video, Santana was also seen exchanging words with fans along the wall in the Pirates’ bullpen.

Meeting with reporters outside of his locker at Comerica Park, Santana, through a team interpreter, confirmed that the altercation took place around the seventh inning of the second game of the doubleheader. He additionally said he didn’t want to ‘get into’ the details of what caused it.

‘You guys know me. I’m a calm demeanor type of person. I’ve never had any issues for any of the teams that I’ve played for. I guess the guy crossed the line a few times and I would not like to get into it,’ Santana said.

Asked further by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Noah Hiles whether the fans in the stands were chirping with him during the whole game or if it was one comment that escalated the altercation, Santana continued to deflect the question.

‘Like I said, you guys know me and you know my temper. I’m a calm person and they crossed the line a few times. I would like to leave it at that,’ Santana said.

Here’s another look at the altercation between Santana and the fans:

Santana came into pitch in the ninth inning with the game tied at 4-4, and got the first out of the inning by getting Zach McKinstry to fly out to center before the tarp came out for the second rain delay of the game. The 6-foot-2 right-hander now has a 1.72 ERA in 31 1/3 innings of work this season across 32 appearances.

Paul Skenes earned the no-decision for the Pirates. The 2024 National League Rookie of the Year struck out nine hitters across six innings of work whole allowed two runs on three hits and five walks. The Pirates scored four runs in the top of the 10th inning to win it in extras.

Despite losing Game 2 of the doubleheader, the Tigers still took two of three against the Pirates to win the series. Detroit (48-28) leads the MLB in wins this season.

There was another fan ejection in the game as three fans were ejected from behind home plate in the 10th inning after an involvement with Pirates outfielder Tommy Pham.

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The U.S. men’s national team clinched a spot in the knockout round of the Concacaf Gold Cup after a grind-it-out 1-0 win over Saudi Arabia in Austin, Texas, on Thursday, June 19.

The U.S. will close out group play on Sunday, June 22 against Haiti at AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas (7 p.m. ET, Fox).

Defender Chris Richards put in a ‘man of the match’ performance, scoring the game’s lone goal and circumventing a Saudi Arabia scoring threat in the first half.

‘We needed tonight. It was a tough game against a tough opponent. Props to them,’ Richards told Fox Sports after the game. ‘But that’s Concacaf for you. Sometimes you’ve got to get physical, sometimes you’ve got to get nasty, and that’s exactly what we did tonight.’

As expected, Saudi Arabia proved to be a much tougher opponent to break than Trinidad and Tobago, which the U.S. steamrolled 5-0 on Sunday, June 15. On Thursday night, it took until late in the first half for the U.S. to even manage a shot on goal. For their part, the U.S. was equally as stingy defensively, allowing just one shot on goal the entire game.

USMNT vs. Saudi Arabia highlights

Brouhaha in the 89th minute

Tempers flared after Tyler Adams was pushed to the ground. Both Saudi Arabia manager Hervé Renard and U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino got involved as players from both teams got into a scrum.

Sebastian Berhalter was issued a yellow card, as were Saudi Arabia’s Ziyad Al Johani and Abdulrahman Al Obud.

USMNT 1, Saudi Arabia 0: Chris Richards finds back of net on set piece

The USA-Saudi Arabia Gold Cup match finally had a breakthrough, as Chris Richards scored off a free kick from Sebastian Berhalter in the 63rd minute.

The play went to VAR, but Richards was ruled onside, giving the defender his second career USMNT goal.

USA 0, Saudi Arabia 0: Scoreless match at halftime

The USMNT was not able to break down their disciplined opponents and make any threatening attempts on goal in the first half.

The U.S. enjoyed the majority of possession (72% to 28%), but did not get a shot on goal until late in the first half. In the 45th minute, Patrick Agyemang’s header attempt was on goal, but Saudi Arabia ‘keeper Nawaf Al Aqidi made an easy save.

Earlier in the first half, defender Chris Richards made the USMNT’s best play of the game so far, thwarting a potential Saudi Arabia goal-scoring opportunity.

Haji Wright out with an Achilles injury

Haji Wright, who came on as a second-half substitute and scored a goal on June 15, is not with the U.S. team for Thursday night’s game against Saudi Arabia. Wright is dealing with an Achilles issue.

What time is USMNT vs. Trinidad and Tobago at Concacaf Gold Cup?

The Concacaf Gold Cup group stage game pairing the USMNT with Saudi Arabia is set for 9:15 p.m. ET at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas. Q2 Stadium is the regular home of Austin FC of Major League Soccer.

How to watch USMNT vs. Saudi Arabia Gold Cup game: TV, stream

  • Time: 9:15 p.m. ET
  • Location: Q2 Stadium (Austin, Texas)
  • TV: FS1 (TUDN for Spanish-language broadcast)
  • Stream: Fubo

Watch USMNT vs. Saudi Arabia with a free trial of Fubo

USMNT starting lineup vs. Saudi Arabia

Mauricio Pochettino is going with the same starting 11 as the U.S. featured in Sunday’s win over Trinidad and Tobago.

For Sebastian Berhalter and Alex Freeman, the start against Saudi Arabia represents a third national team cap for each player.

Saudi Arabia starting lineup vs. USA

Saudi Arabia is coming off a 1-0 win over Haiti in its Gold Cup opener. The goal scorer from that win, Saleh Al-Shehri, starts this game on the bench. Forward Firas Al-Buraikan (known as Feras) is the team’s most-capped active player (52).

Why is Saudi Arabia in the Gold Cup?

Concacaf announced in December 2024 that Saudi Arabia would participate in the 2025 and 2027 Gold Cup tournaments. This announcement came shortly after Saudi Arabia was selected as the host nation for the 2034 World Cup.

Saudi Arabia is the eighth different non-Concacaf affiliated nation to be invited to compete in the Gold Cup. Other invited teams include Brazil (1996, 1998 and 2003), Colombia (2000, 2003 and 2005), South Korea (2000 and 2002), Peru (2000), Ecuador (2002), South Africa (2005) and Qatar (2021 and 2023).

USMNT schedule for the 2025 Gold Cup

  • Sunday, June 15: 5-0 win vs. Trinidad and Tobago
  • Thursday, June 19: vs. Saudi Arabia, 9:15 p.m. ET (FS1)
  • Sunday, June 22: vs. Haiti, 7 p.m. ET (FOX)

What is the Concacaf Gold Cup?

The Gold Cup is a biennial tournament for national teams in the North and Central American and Caribbean region associated with Concacaf. Mexico (nine times), the U.S. (seven times) and Canada (one time) are the only nations to have won the Gold Cup. Mexico won the last Gold Cup competition in 2023.

2025 Concacaf Gold Cup key dates

  • Group stage: June 14-24
  • Quarterfinals: June 28-29
  • Semifinals: July 2
  • Final: July 6

What are the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup host cities and stadiums?

  • Arlington, Texas (AT&T Stadium)
  • Austin (Q2 Stadium)
  • Carson, California (Dignity Health Sports Park)
  • Glendale, Arizona (State Farm Stadium)
  • Houston (NRG Stadium and Shell Energy Stadium)
  • Las Vegas (Allegiant Stadium)
  • Los Angeles (SoFi Stadium)
  • Minneapolis (U.S. Bank Stadium)
  • San Diego (Snapdragon Stadium)
  • San Jose, California (PayPal Park)
  • Santa Clara, California (Levi’s Stadium)
  • St. Louis (Energizer Park)
  • Vancouver, British Columbia (BC Place)

Which players are on the USMNT Gold Cup roster?

Goalkeepers (3): Chris Brady (Chicago Fire), Matt Freese (New York City FC), Matt Turner (Crystal Palace/England)

Defenders (9): Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew), Alex Freeman (Orlando City SC), Nathan Harriel (Philadelphia Union), Mark McKenzie (Toulouse/France), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace/England), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati), John Tolkin (Holstein Kiel/Germany), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC)

Midfielders (9): Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United/England); Tyler Adams (Bournemouth/England), Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps/Canada), Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis/Spain), Luca de la Torre (San Diego FC), Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake), Jack McGlynn (Houston Dynamo), Quinn Sullivan (Philadelphia Union), Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven/Netherlands)

Forwards (5): Paxten Aaronson (FC Utrecht/Netherlands), Patrick Agyemang (Charlotte FC), Damion Downs (FC Köln/Germany), Brian White (Vancouver Whitecaps/Canada), Haji Wright (Coventry City/England)

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Kim Kardashian fans are going to have to wait a little longer for the highly anticipated NikeSKIMS line.

The activewear line will launch later this year instead of in the spring, like the companies had originally announced, because of production delays, according to a person familiar with the matter who requested anonymity to speak candidly. The person added that the delays are internal and not because of a supplier or shipping issue.

No date has been determined for the new launch date, the person added.

The person also said the relationship with Kardashian and the brand is still strong and that everyone is on the same page, but they want to make sure they take their time and get the products right.

Nike first announced the Skims partnership in February and said it would include apparel, footwear and accessories. Since then, Heidi O’Neill, one of the key leaders behind the partnership, has left the company.

New Nike CEO Elliott Hill has been betting big on the Skims brand as he looks to re-invigorate the company after recent declines in sales and its business. For Skims, which was last valued at $4 billion, the partnership with Nike brings a growth opportunity as it expands into athleisure.

Nike’s stock is down more than 20% year-to-date.

“The origin of NikeSKIMS is rooted in a desire to bring something new and unexpected to an industry that is craving something different, and to invite a new generation of women into fitness with disruptive product designed to meet their needs in both performance and style,” the company said about the line when they introduced it.

The news was first reported by Bloomberg.

Nike and SKIMS collaboration featuring Kim Kardashian, Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer, SKIMS.Courtesy: Nike Inc.

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