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  • USA Women’s Eagles Squad names to kick off Rugby World Cup in England

    USA Women’s Eagles Squad names to kick off Rugby World Cup in England

    USA Women’s Eagles Head Coach Sione Fukofuka and staff have announced the 23-player squad set to take on host nation England in the opening match of the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025.

    With over 40,000 tickets already sold, the Eagles will face off against the Red Roses in Pool A at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland. USA fans can catch the match live on Paramount+ at 2:30 pm ET on Friday, August 22nd. 

    This year marks the 10th edition of the tournament, which has been expanded to feature 16 teams. The Eagles, currently ranked 10th in the world, are in a competitive Pool A alongside world-number-one ranked England, Australia, and Samoa. 

    Fukofuka has named 11 players who will make their first Rugby World Cup appearance including Keia Mae Sagapolu, Tahlia Brody, Emily Henrich, Ilona Maher on the starting XV with Alivia Leatherman, Paige Stathopolous, Rachel Ehrecke, Freda Tafuna, Cass Bargell, Kristin Bitter, and Sariah Ibarra on the bench ready to make an impact. 

    He commented; “Our focus for the first match of the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 is very much on ourselves and executing our game plan to put pressure on England. We know they have big external expectations on them as world number 1 and will have the pressure of being the host nation, so we are quietly going about our work, building confidence and looking forward to performing in front of family, friends and fans on the World Cup stage. 

    “England are World Number 1, and we expect them to be physical, accurate and confident  for the full 80 minutes. They have a strong set piece and threats across the field, however we are confident we also have a strong set piece platform with threats to attack them with confidence and have the commitment in defence to give us opportunities to create pressure.

    “The team have worked hard to be here and earned their opportunity to represent the United States at the World Cup. Our intensive selection process, followed by the camps at Mt St Mary’s and Loughborough University have required the players to dig deep and work hard to make the team, so being here is a testament to that work ethic and commitment. Making it here has a level of satisfaction and excitement at the opportunity in front of us, but now we prepare to perform and earn results.”

    The atmosphere and energy in the stadium will be high as the match will open with a performance from chart-topping English singer Anne-Marie before players run out to the biggest ever Women’s Rugby World Cup stage. 

    After taking on the host country, the USA Women’s Eagles will continue their pool stage journey with matches in York against Australia and Samoa. The top two teams from each pool will advance to the knockout stage.

    USA Women’s Eagles v England | Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025

    Name Club
    Hope Rogers Exeter Chiefs
    Kathryn Treder Loughborough Lightning / Bay Area Breakers
    Keia Mae Sagapolu Loughborough Lightning
    Tahlia Brody Loughborough Lightning
    Erica Jarrell – Searcy Sale Sharks
    Kate Zackary Ealing Trailfinders
    Georgie Perris-Redding Sale Sharks
    Rachel Johnson Exeter Chiefs / Denver Onyx
    Olivia Ortiz Sale Sharks
    McKenzie Hawkins Denver Onyx
    Bulou Mataitoga Loughborough Lightning / Bay Area Breakers
    Alev Kelter Loughborough Lightning / Bay Area Breakers
    Ilona Maher Bristol Bears / USA Sevens
    Emily Henrich Leicester Tigers / Boston Banshees
    Lotte Sharp Saracens
    Paige Stathopoulos Ealing Trailfinders / Boston Banshees
    Alivia Leatherman Trailfinders / Twin Cities Gemini
    Charli Jacoby Exeter Chiefs / Queensland Reds
    Rachel Ehrecke Denver Onyx
    Freda Tafuna Lindenwood University
    Cassidy Bargell Boston Banshees
    Kristin Bitter Denver Onyx
    Sariah Ibarra USA Sevens

    USA Coaches & Staff | Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025

    Head Coach, Attack + Backs | Sione Fukofuka

    Assistant Coach, Defense | Sarah Chobot

    Assistant Coach, Forwards | Mel Bosman

    Head of Athletic Performance | Charles Dudley

    Analyst | Callum Howells

    Lead Physiotherapist | Alice Mae

    Athletic Trainer | Sam Malette

    Team Doctor | Abbie Hamilton

    Massage Therapist | Delwyn Griffith

    Performance Psychologist | Scott Goldman

    Team Manager | Alana Gattinger

    General Manager, High Performance | Tamara Sheppard

    Media Manager | Jenni Burke

    USA Women’s Eagles Match Schedule | Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025

    USA v England

    August 22 | 2:30 pm ET | Stadium of Light, Sunderland

    Paramount+

    USA v Australia

    August 30 | 2:30 pm ET | York Community Stadium, York

    Paramount+

    USA v Samoa

    September 6 | 8:30 am ET | York Community Stadium, York

    CBS, Paramount+

    Quarterfinals Begin September 13

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  • Student-led NASA project takes flight on balloon mission

    Student-led NASA project takes flight on balloon mission

    A years-long student-led NASA project that develops technology to help guide rockets will near its final destination this month on board the Balloon Optimization Opportunity Platform!, or BOOP!

    Provided

    The BOOP! mission logo

    Astrophysical sciences and technology Ph.D. student Kazuma Noda has taken the lead and traveled to New Mexico for the launch of the balloon mission, which will take the Cryogenic Star Tracking Attitude Regulation System (CSTARS) into the atmosphere.

    Past RIT undergraduate students used NASA funding to create CSTARS, an instrument designed and built to orient a rocket payload based on the images of stars. CSTARS previously flew on the sounding rocket named the Cosmic Infrared Background ExpeRiment-2 (CIBER-2), but firmware issues hampered the mission.

    BOOP! will provide advantages to see CSTARS get the results many RIT students have worked towards.

    “I think we fixed the issue we had, and now we want to see if this can track stars again,” said Noda, who added that balloons are much cheaper than sounding rockets, and observation time will increase from 8 to 10 minutes to possibly four hours with BOOP!

    Associate Professor Michael Zemcov from the School of Physics and Astronomy and Professor Dorin Patru from Kate Gleason College of Engineering have been the lead advisers on the CSTARS effort, and are excited to see BOOP! take it to the finish line.

    “All these algorithms and systems and electronics that we’ve built over the almost ten years in support of CSTARS, we’re finally at the point where it all works,” he said. “This is a fun project that has a long history that many students have contributed to over the years.”

    As an undergraduate student in Japan, Noda worked with sounding rockets in collaboration with CIBER. He knew he wanted to continue doing the work, so he made the move to RIT for graduate school.

    While Zemcov corresponded with NASA to get CSTARS involved with the BOOP! mission, he handed the project to Noda to lead.

    “For a Ph.D. student, the ideal situation is to be given a leadership role,” said Zemcov. “He’s done really well in executing that. We should be giving students these opportunities as much as we possibly can. It’s the best way to learn.”

    Noda previously traveled to NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia to integrate CSTARS onto the BOOP! gondola, and traveled to New Mexico for BOOP!’s launch, giving him hands-on, real-world experience with a NASA mission.

    As Zemcov added, “There’s no substitute for going out and doing it yourself.”

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  • Rapid loss of Antarctic ice may be climate tipping point, scientists say – Reuters

    1. Rapid loss of Antarctic ice may be climate tipping point, scientists say  Reuters
    2. Emerging evidence of abrupt changes in the Antarctic environment  Nature
    3. From sea ice to ocean currents, Antarctica is now undergoing abrupt changes – and we’ll all feel them  The Conversation
    4. Antarctica’s ‘abrupt changes’ spell climate warming  inkl
    5. Abrupt Antarctic changes could have ‘catastrophic consequences for generations to come,’ experts warn  Phys.org

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  • Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce both ‘genuinely ready’ for marriage

    Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce both ‘genuinely ready’ for marriage



    Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce both ‘genuinely ready’ for marriage

    Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are said to be preparing for the biggest step in their relationship yet, with sources revealing that the couple are ready for marriage and children after a summer spent closely together.

    The lovebirds have spent the past few months keeping things private, dividing their time between Swift’s $50 million Manhattan penthouse and Kelce’s $20 million rental home in Boca Raton, Florida.

    Their quiet routine ended last week when they appeared together on Kelce’s New Heights podcast, where they shared laughs, affectionate moments and even spoke about Swift’s upcoming album The Life of a Showgirl.

    However, the most awaited episode drew more than 1.3 million viewers and briefly broke the stream.

    “This time together solidified Taylor knowing that she wants to be with Travis forever,” a source told US Weekly. “They want to be married and have kids in the future. They’re both genuinely ready for that chapter.”

    The same day, the NFL star appeared in a GQ cover feature where he openly praised the Lover hitmaker and spoke about their relationship in more detail than ever before.

    Whereas, insiders also said that the couple discovered just how much they had in common while spending uninterrupted time together. “Taylor and Travis have settled into a real rhythm as a couple, and the more time they spend together, the more they realize how aligned they are,” the source added.

    With Kelce’s NFL season about to begin and Taylor Swift planning to cheer him on at games as their romance is will remain in the spotlight.

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  • Trump calls on Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook to resign, renewing attack on central bank | Federal Reserve

    Trump calls on Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook to resign, renewing attack on central bank | Federal Reserve

    Donald Trump has called on a Federal Reserve governor to immediately resign, renewing his extraordinary attack on the central bank’s independence as officials mull next steps on interest rates.

    A close Trump ally accused Lisa Cook, an appointee of Joe Biden, of “potentially committing mortgage fraud” and urged the US Department of Justice to investigate. The claims have not been confirmed.

    The US president has repeatedly broken with precedent in recent months to demand the Fed cut rates and urge its chair, Jerome Powell, to quit after disregarding such calls.

    On Wednesday, Trump leaped on the allegations about Cook. The governor “must resign, now!!!” he wrote on Truth Social, his social media platform.

    Cook and the Fed did not respond to requests for comment.

    Cook, whose current term on the Fed’s board extends until 2038, previously served on the council of economic advisers under Barack Obama. When she took office in May 2022, she became the first Black woman to sit on the central bank’s board.

    This morning, Bill Pulte, head of the US Federal Housing Finance Agency, who has become – beyond the president himself – one of the Trump administration’s most vocal critics of Powell and the Fed, published allegations against Cook.

    In June 2021, Cook entered into a 15-year mortgage agreement on a property in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and declared her intention to use it as her principal residence, according to Pulte. In July 2021, Cook bought a property in Atlanta, Georgia, and also committed to use that property as her primary residence when taking out a 30-year mortgage, according to Pulte.

    Pulte referred Cook to the justice department for a criminal investigation, and promptly called on her to resign.

    “How can this woman be in charge of interest rates if she is allegedly lying to help her own interest rates?” he wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

    Cook, who has not commented on the allegations, is the latest figure to be targeted by Trump officials over claims of mortgage fraud. Pulte has made similar allegations about the New York attorney general, Letitia James, and the California senator Adam Schiff, both Democrats. The justice department is reportedly investigating. James has dismissed the claims as “baseless”.

    Schiff has vehemently denied the allegations, and accused the administration of weaponizing the US justice system.

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  • Kourtney Kardashian ‘sick’ of her sisters competing for spotlight

    Kourtney Kardashian ‘sick’ of her sisters competing for spotlight

    Kourtney Kardashian steps further away from her Kardashian-Jenner clan

    Kourtney Kardashian has been distancing herself from the Kardashian-Jenner clan.

    It has been reported that the Lemme founder thinks her family’s “fame game has gotten out of control.”

    According to RadarOnline, Kourtney, who is not interested to be “part of the circus anymore” is said to be leaning into a much more “low-key” lifestyle since marrying Travis Barker.

    The source told the outlet, “She’s all for looking glam when the time is right, but she’s leaned into a much more low-key, grounded lifestyle since marrying Travis and becoming a mom again.”

    Adding, “Her priorities have totally shifted. She’s focusing on family – not worrying about how she looks on Instagram.”

    “She’s just over it and believes her sisters would be happier, too, if they followed her lead,” they added.

    However, Kourtney Kardashian thinks her sisters Khloe Kardashian, Kim Kardashian, Kylie Jenner and Kendall Jenner just need to “actually live their real lives.”

    Referring to Kim, Khloe, and mom Kris Jenner’s appearance at Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez’s wedding in Italy, the source claimed that Kourtney, who did not attend the wedding, thought her family looked “ridiculous” as they competed for attention.

    The insider noted, “They’re constantly filming or getting ready to film – or editing pictures from whatever they just filmed. It’s a narcissistic merry-go-round. It makes Kourtney sick.”

    “That’s why she’s taken a step back from The Kardashians. She has more important things to do with her precious time,” they added.


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  • Marvel Rivals developers confirm approval to create original characters, sparking community backlash

    Marvel Rivals developers confirm approval to create original characters, sparking community backlash

    Marvel Rivals could soon see the introduction of original characters, following confirmation from the game’s developers that they have been approved to create new heroes for the roster.

    The news was revealed during an interview with MP1st, where creative director Guangguang was asked whether NetEase would consider adding completely new characters.

    He responded: “We are allowed to introduce original characters in Marvel Rivals.” While not providing further details, Guangguang added only “stay tuned” when pressed for clarification.

    Until now, the Marvel Rivals roster has been built around established names from the comics and films, including recent additions Phoenix and Blade.

    Alongside well-known icons, the game has also introduced more obscure characters such as Luna Snow and Jeff the Land Shark.

    However, the announcement that original heroes could be added has not been welcomed by everyone. Many fans expressed disappointment, with some arguing that Marvel already has an extensive library of characters that should take precedence.

    On X, one user wrote: “This sucks a lot. I want to play the heroes I grew up with. There are THOUSANDS of them, from A-listers to C-listers. There is no need AT ALL to create new characters when they can just use what we already have.”

    Another user added: “We have SO many characters that people want added, and now we’re fighting for spots with original characters? Oh no.” Others emphasised that existing Marvel heroes should “take priority.”

    Not all responses were negative, with some community members noting that original characters could help balance the game by filling gaps in certain roles.

    For now, no release timeline or details about potential new heroes have been confirmed, leaving fans waiting to see how this decision will shape future updates.

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  • Pieter Coetze on his decision to stay in South Africa

    Pieter Coetze on his decision to stay in South Africa

    Pieter Coetze made his choice – he wanted to stay home.

    The South African backstroke star had committed to compete at the University of California at Berkeley in 2022, drawn to the idea of training alongside a world-class group there.

    But by 2023, he realised that wasn’t the move for him. He decommitted.

    “At the time… Cal was probably the best place I could go with all the backstrokers that they had,” he told SwimSwam. “The thought of training with those guys, having them to push me, was perfect.”

    But as the time to move grew closer, Coetze began to have reservations and the weight of the decision to relocate to the USA pulled at him.

    “It really can affect your career a lot,” he said. “Not only your career – you’re leaving your family behind, you’re leaving your whole support system back home. It was probably the biggest decision I’ve had to make up to that point.”

    There were other concerns, too.

    More practical matters, like the NCAA’s use of yards versus metres, and a schedule that would have put the NCAA Championships nearly on top of the South African nationals in April.

    “After months of training for NCAAs, which is obviously super focused on, they’re not going to worry about South African nationals,” explained Coetze.

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  • La Beauté Louis Vuitton’s First Campaign Stars Hoyeon

    La Beauté Louis Vuitton’s First Campaign Stars Hoyeon

    On Wednesday, Louis Vuitton has released the first campaign for La Beauté Louis Vuitton, one day after debuting the makeup collection on Aug. 19.

    The campaign, shot by Steven Meisel and directed by Damien Krisl, is fronted by actress and house ambassador Jung Ho-yeon, known by the mononym Hoyeon, alongside models Ida Heiner, Chu Wong and Anwar Odhiang.

    Famous for her role in the Netflix series Squid Game, Hoyeon has worked with Louis Vuitton since 2017, when she walked the runway as an exclusive in its Spring/Summer 2017 show, and was made an official ambassador for fashion, watches and jewellery in 2021. She has previously appeared in beauty campaigns for Chanel skincare and Lancôme fragrance.

    La Beauté Louis Vuitton launches globally online and in select Louis Vuitton stores from Aug. 29. The collection includes 55 shades of LV Rouge lipsticks and 10 LV Baume lip balms, each priced at $160, and eight LV Ombres eyeshadow palettes priced at $250, designed and developed by legendary makeup artist Pat McGrath.

    Learn more:

    Louis Vuitton Tests the Limits of Luxury Beauty With $160 Lipsticks

    The range of 55 lipsticks, 10 lip balms and eight eyeshadow palettes will launch globally on Aug. 29 in select Louis Vuitton stores. At those prices, who’s buying?

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  • PlayStation 5 price changes in the U.S. – PlayStation.Blog

    PlayStation 5 price changes in the U.S. – PlayStation.Blog

    Similar to many global businesses, we continue to navigate a challenging economic environment. As a result, we’ve made the difficult decision to increase the recommended retail price for PlayStation 5 consoles in the U.S. starting on August 21.

    The updated recommended retail price for PlayStation 5 consoles in the U.S. are as follows:

    • PlayStation 5 – $549.99
    • PlayStation 5 Digital Edition – $499.99
    • PlayStation 5 Pro – $749.99

    The recommended retail prices for PlayStation 5 accessories remain unchanged, and we have no other price changes to announce for additional markets.

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