Langeliers and Butler lead Athletics past Rays

Langeliers and Butler lead Athletics past Rays

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Shea Langeliers smashed a three-run homer in his first plate appearance sincecoming off the injured list,and Lawrence Butler broke a ninth-inning tie with a two-run triple that lifted the Athletics over the Tampa Bay Rays 6-4 on Monday night. The Athletics made two key defensive plays in the bottom of the eighth to keep it tied at 4. The Rays had runners on first and second with no outs when Junior Caminero hit a hard grounder to third, but Max Muncy stepped on the bag and threw to first for a double play. Josh Lowe then singled to left field but Colby Thomas threw a dart to home plate to get Brandon Lowe. Butler sent a shot to the wall in left-center field to score runners from second and third on his second triple of the season. Sean Newcomb (2-4) got the final out in the eighth, and Mason Miller worked a scoreless ninth to earn his 16th save. Brent Rooker had an RBI single for the Athletics, who had lost six of eight. The Rays, coming off a defeat at Baltimore, had won five straight and 10 of their last 11 following a loss. Pete Fairbanks (3-2) allowed three hits and two runs in the ninth. Key moment The first hit for the Rays came in the fourth on Caminero's two-run homer — his 21st of the season — over the center-field wall. Jonathan Aranda and Jose Caballero added RBI singles to tie it at 4. Key stat The Athletics, who allowed four home runs Sunday, have given up 125 longballs this season, the second-most in team history before the All-Star break. Up next Athletics LHP Jeffrey Springs (6-6, 4.30 ERA) starts Tuesday against his former team. RHP Shane Baz (8-3, 4.37) goes for the Rays. ___ AP MLB:https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

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June 30, 2025

Langeliers and Butler lead Athletics past Rays

Langeliers and Butler lead Athletics past Rays TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Shea Langeliers smashed a three-run homer in his first plate appearance si...

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Brad Marchand reportedly agrees to 6-year extension with Florida Panthers after championship run

Brad Marchand reportedly agrees to 6-year extension with Florida Panthers after championship run

Fresh off an NHL championship, Brad Marchand is staying with the Florida Panthers long term. The veteran left wing, whojoined the team after a late-season tradefrom the Boston Bruins in March, has agreed to a six-year extension with the Panthers, per multiple reports. The deal is reportedly worth just under $32 million. BREAKING: Brad Marchand has agreed to a six-year extension with the Florida Panthers, per@PierreVLeBrun.pic.twitter.com/YzRNcV3Bh8 — Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports)June 30, 2025 Marchand, 37, was traded to the dominant Panthers after 16 seasons with the Bruins, including the past three as team captain. The winger's eight-year contract with Boston, which started in 2016, expired this offseason. Afternegotiations for a new contract fell throughwith Boston, the team opted to trade him. But Marchand thrived with the Panthers, becoming a key part of Florida's postseason run. He scored a career-high 10 playoff goals, plus 10 postseason assists; six of those goals came in the Panthers' 4-2 series win over the Edmonton Oilers in the Stanley Cup Final. With Marchand sticking around, Panthers star forward Matthew Tkachuk seemed prettypleasedwith the re-signing. pic.twitter.com/ovamczDLWu — Matthew Tkachuk (@TKACHUKycheese_)June 30, 2025 It's been a busy weekend for Florida, which has managed to keep its back-to-back championship-winning team together so far this offseason. The Panthersre-signed forward Sam Bennetton Saturday, with defenseman Aaron Ekbladreportedly signing a multi-year extensionas well. With those three deals, the team will now have eight of its key players — including Tkachuk, forward Sam Reinhart, defenseman Seth Jones and more — locked up through 2030, setting the stage for a dominant couple of seasons in Florida.

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June 30, 2025

Brad Marchand reportedly agrees to 6-year extension with Florida Panthers after championship run

Brad Marchand reportedly agrees to 6-year extension with Florida Panthers after championship run Fresh off an NHL championship, Brad Marchan...

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Paige Bueckers, A'ja Wilson headline 2025 WNBA All-Star Game starters

Paige Bueckers, A'ja Wilson headline 2025 WNBA All-Star Game starters

Caitlin Clark and Napheesa Collierare already headed to the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game as this year's captains. Now, the Indiana Fever and Minnesota Lynx star have learned who will be sharing the court with them as starters for the WNBA's annual showcase. The league announced Monday, July 1 the starters for the 2025 All-Star Game, which has a blend of veteran and young stars that will be on the court for tip-off. Notably making the list isPaige Bueckers, who will be an All-Star in her first season in the league. TheNo. 1 overall pick in the 2025 draftleads all rookies in scoring and assists, and has six games of at least 20 points in her young career. Joining Bueckers are three WNBA champions: three-time MVP A'ja Wilson, two-time MVP Breanna Stewart and three-time All-Star Sabrina Ionescu. Also on the list as a starter, the Seattle Storm's Nneka Ogwumike, who earned her 10th All-Star selection, tying her for third-most in WNBA history. Clark and Collier are the captains of the All-Star Game as the leading vote getters, and will draft their teams during "WNBA Countdown" on July 8. They will select among the rest of the starters before picking from the 12 reserves. The reserves will be determined by the league's head coaches, which will include three guards, five frontcourt players and four players at either position. The reserves will be announced on July 6. The 2025 WNBA All-Star Game will be held July 19 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, on Clark and the Fever's home court. The Game will be the centerpiece of All-Star weekend activities, which also includes the 3-Point Contest and Skills Challenge on Friday, July 18. HOW THE PLAYERS RANKED:WNBA All-Star Game voting results Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever(2nd selection, captian) Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Lynx(5th selection, captain) Aliyah Boston, Indiana Fever(3rd selection) Paige Bueckers, Dallas Wings(1st selection Allisha Gray, Atlanta Dream(3rd selection) Sabrina Ionescu, New York Liberty(4th selection) Nneka Ogwumike, Seattle Storm(10th selection) Satou Sabally, Phoenix Mercury(3rd selection) Breanna Stewart, New York Liberty(7th selection) A'ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces(7th selection) The 2025 WNBA All-Star Game take place July 19 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Date:Saturday, July 19 Time:8:30 p.m. ET TV:ABC Stream:ESPN+, Disney+ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:2025 WNBA All-Star Game starters: Paige Bueckers, A'ja Wilson selected

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June 30, 2025

Paige Bueckers, A'ja Wilson headline 2025 WNBA All-Star Game starters

Paige Bueckers, A'ja Wilson headline 2025 WNBA All-Star Game starters Caitlin Clark and Napheesa Collierare already headed to the 2025 W...

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Tiny Tuvalu seeks assurance from US its citizens won't be barred

Tiny Tuvalu seeks assurance from US its citizens won't be barred

By Kirsty Needham SYDNEY (Reuters) -Tuvalu, a tiny Pacific nation that scientists predict will be submerged by rising seas, said it is seeking written assurance from the United States that its citizens will not be barred from entry after being apparently mistakenly included in a list of 36 countries facing visa bans. An internal diplomatic cable signed by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio showed the United States, which has already barred entry for citizens from 12 countries, was considering expanding travel restrictions to the 36 countries, including three Pacific Island states, Reuters and other media reported last month. Nations on the list would have 60 days to take corrective action, the cable showed. The news had caused significant concern in Tuvalu, whose population of 11,000 is at risk from rising sea levels, and where a third of residents have applied to an Australian ballot for a landmark climate migration visa. Tuvalu's ambassador to the United Nations, Tapugao Falefou, said he had been told by a U.S. official that Tuvalu's inclusion on the list was "an administrative and systemic error on the part of the U.S. Department of State". In a statement on Tuesday, Tuvalu's government said it had not received any formal notification that it was on the list, and had also been assured by the United States embassy in Fiji it was "an error within the system". "The Embassy has provided verbal assurances that there are no current restrictions on Tuvaluan nationals entering the United States, and that the matter is being reviewed with authorities in Washington," the statement from Tuvalu's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Labour and Trade said. It added Tuvalu was seeking a "formal written confirmation to that effect and continues to engage the U.S. Government to ensure Tuvaluans are not unfairly affected". The embassy did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. A U.S. official familiar with visa policy who is not authorized to speak publicly told Reuters "no decisions have been made, and any speculation is premature". "Tuvalu's public statement mischaracterizes and omits some of the valid concerns the United States has with travelers from that country," the official added. The other Pacific Islands listed in the cable were Vanuatu and Tonga. Tonga's government had received an official U.S. warning, and was working on a response, Tonga media reported. Vanuatu's government did not respond to a request for comment. (Reporting by Kirsty Needham in Sydney; Editing by Saad Sayeed)

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June 30, 2025

Tiny Tuvalu seeks assurance from US its citizens won't be barred

Tiny Tuvalu seeks assurance from US its citizens won't be barred By Kirsty Needham SYDNEY (Reuters) -Tuvalu, a tiny Pacific nation that...

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Netanyahu will visit the White House next Monday as Trump presses for a ceasefire in Gaza

Netanyahu will visit the White House next Monday as Trump presses for a ceasefire in Gaza

WASHINGTON (AP) — PresidentDonald Trumpwill host Israeli Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahufor talks at the White House next Monday as the U.S. leadersteps up his pushon the Israeli government and Hamas to broker a ceasefire and hostage agreement and bring about an end to the war in Gaza. The impending visit was confirmed by two U.S. administration officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly on it. The trip will be Netanyahu's third visit to the White House sinceDonald Trumpreturned to office in January, and it comes after the United States inserted itself into Israel's war against Iran byattacking Iranian nuclear sites. Afterbrokering a ceasefirebetween the two countries, Trump has signaled that he's turning his attention to bringing a close to the fighting between Israel and Hamas. Trump on Friday told reporters that "we think within the next week we're going to get a ceasefire" in Gaza, but didn't offer any further explanation for his optimism. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday that Trump and administration officials were in constant communication with Israeli leadership and that bringing about an end to the Gaza conflict is a priority for Trump. "It's heartbreaking to see the images that have come out from both Israel and Gaza throughout this war, and the president wants to see it end," Leavitt added. "He wants to save lives." Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer is in Washington this week for talks with senior administration officials on a Gaza ceasefire, Iran and other matters. Talks between Israel and Hamas have repeatedly faltered over a major sticking point — whether the war should end as part of any ceasefire agreement. About 50 hostages remain captive in Gaza, with less than half believed to be alive. With Netanyahu's visit, the timing of which was first reported by Axios, Trump will embrace the Israeli leader while continuing to push back against skeptical questions from Democratic lawmakers and others about how far U.S. and Israeli strikes have set back Iran's nuclear program. A preliminary report issued by the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency, meanwhile, said the strikesdid significant damageto the Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan sites, butdid not totally destroy the facilities. Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said on CBS' "Face the Nation" on Sunday that the three Iranian sites with "capabilities in terms of treatment, conversion and enrichment of uranium have been destroyed to an important degree." But, he added, "some is still standing," and that because capabilities remain, "if they so wish, they will be able to start doing this again." He said assessing the full damage comes down to Iran allowing inspectors access. Trump in recent days has also inserted himself into Israeli domestic affairs, calling for charges against Netanyahu in his ongoing corruption trial to be thrown out. He has condemned the trial as a "WITCH HUNT" and vowed that the United States will be the one who "saves" Netanyahu fromserious corruption charges. The decision by Trump toplunge himself into one of Israel's most heated debateshas unnerved some in its political class. Meanwhile, the Trump administration on Monday approved a new half-billion-dollar arms sale to Israel to resupply its military with bomb guidance kits for precision munitions. The State Department said the sale is worth $510 million. It includes more than 7,000 guidance kits for two different types of Joint Direct Attack Munitions, or JDAMs. The deal is relatively small given that the U.S. provides Israel with more than $3 billion annually in military aid. But Israel has relied on JDAMs and other related US weaponry in its war against Hamas in Gaza and its recent strikes against Iran. "The United States is committed to the security of Israel, and it is vital to U.S. national interests to assist Israel to develop and maintain a strong and ready self-defense capability," the department said in a statement. "This proposed sale is consistent with those objectives." ___ Associated Press writer Matthew Lee in Washington contributed to this report.

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June 30, 2025

Netanyahu will visit the White House next Monday as Trump presses for a ceasefire in Gaza

Netanyahu will visit the White House next Monday as Trump presses for a ceasefire in Gaza WASHINGTON (AP) — PresidentDonald Trumpwill host I...

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