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  • Who will win the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup? We ran 10,000 simulations to rank the contenders

    Who will win the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup? We ran 10,000 simulations to rank the contenders

    Women’s rugby is growing rapidly worldwide, and now accounts for 25% of the total global playing base. US women’s rugby star Ilona Maher is the most followed rugby player in the world, ahead of men’s stars Siya Kolisi and Antoine Dupont.

    So there’s more interest than ever in the tenth Women’s Rugby World Cup, which kicks off in England on August 23. As with any big sports event, the pundits will be picking their winners based on recent win-loss records and overall performance trends – key factors that underpin official rankings.

    Rugby Vision, a suite of statistical models I developed to predict outcomes for major competitions, uses similar information but with some important differences. Notably, it is less sensitive to the outcome of any single game.

    The model uses three main components: a rating system for international teams; estimation of expected outcomes for each World Cup game using those ratings; and 10,000 simulations of the tournament to account for uncertainty around expected outcomes.

    Rugby Vision has outperformed betting markets and other algorithms in recent men’s Rugby World Cups. I should add, though, it is not designed to support sports betting, but rather to illustrate how statistical modelling compares with real-world results.

    Picking a winner

    The probability of each team advancing to each stage of the tournament is shown in the table below. England, which has dominated women’s rugby in recent years and has home advantage, is overwhelming favourite with a 70.3% chance of winning the tournament.


    Niven Winchester, CC BY-NC-ND

    New Zealand, which won the previous tournament, is second favourite with an 18.8% chance of defending their title. The next most likely winners are consistent performers Canada (6.7%) and France (3.9%). There is a 99.7% chance the winner will be one of these top four teams.

    In each pool, one team (from the top four) is almost assured of making the quarterfinals, one team is “likely”, and one team has a fighting chance. For example, in Pool B, Canada has a 99.4% chance of being quarter-finalists, Scotland a 69.8% probability, and Wales a 27.5% chance.

    Given the tournament schedule, Canada will likely play New Zealand in one semifinal, while England will face France in another. This is a key reason why France has a 75.5% chance of reaching the semifinals, but only a 12.1% chance of playing in the final.

    Behind the algorithm

    The simulations are based on an algorithm used to rank teams. The algorithm used here differs from that used for the official World Rugby Rankings.

    Rugby Vision rankings and rating points for the participants are shown in the table below. England (with 136.8 rating points) is ranked number one, with a large lead over New Zealand (125.4), Canada (117.5) and France (114.6). Brazil (49.5), which will make its World Cup debut, rounds out the rankings.


    Niven Winchester, CC BY-NC-ND

    The Rugby Vision rankings are comparable to the official World Rugby rankings, but a key difference is that Canada is ranked ahead of New Zealand in the official standings.

    The rating points can be used to predict game results. For the first round of games at the tournament, the table below shows the expected winning margin of the favourite and the probability of each team winning.

    For example, in the game between Scotland and Wales, Scotland is expected to win by nine points, but there is a 29.5% chance Wales will win.


    Niven Winchester, CC BY-NC-ND

    While England enters the tournament as clear favourite, rugby has never been short of surprises. Past Rugby World Cups have seen giants fall and underdogs rise. The simulations give us a guide, but they are not a crystal ball.

    What is certain is that the women’s game is in excellent shape – growing fast, drawing crowds and showcasing world-class talent. This tournament is bound to be a spectacle.


    The author acknowledges the assistance of Soren Winchester, whose data collection contributed to the forecasts included in this article.


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  • Geo TV’s music show ‘Pakistan Idol’ auditions in Multan today

    Geo TV’s music show ‘Pakistan Idol’ auditions in Multan today

    The logo of music competition — Pakistan Idol

    Geo TV’s music show “Pakistan Idol” auditions in Multan today (Wednesday).

    The auditions will take place on Wednesday at 9am at the Multan Arts Council.

    If you want to make a name for yourself in music and have a melodious voice, this is a great opportunity for you. Don’t miss the chance to astonish the world with your voice!

    Reach the Multan Arts Council by 9am to audition. This could be the moment that changes your life and turns your dreams into reality.

    Do try your luck! Who knows, the next Idol might be from Multan!


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  • German Magic Duo the Ehrlich Brothers Launch Their First U.S. Tour

    German Magic Duo the Ehrlich Brothers Launch Their First U.S. Tour

    If you aren’t familiar with Andreas and Christian Ehrlich, a.k.a. the Ehrlich Brothers, just know that their magic show is probably unlike any you’ve seen before. The German duo is known for mixing massive illusions with personal storytelling and performing to sold-out crowds in 10,000-seat arenas. Their ticket sales outnumber those of Madonna and Justin Bieber in their home country and thanks in part to a recent push by Andreas’ son for more of a presence on social media their worldwide fanbase has increased. And now the pair will be bringing their show “Diamonds — The Mind-Blowing Magic Show” to the states for their first-ever U.S. tour, starting Sept. 25.

    It’s a chance for American audiences to see some of their illusions up close, which includes levitating and disappearing a gold Lamborghini to making a motorcycle leap from a giant iPad screen onto the stage. And if you’re not convinced by their reputation or their admirers — which include everyone from King Charles III to Tom Hanks — consider this: you could leave the show with candy and cash.

    “We make the biggest candy jar in the world appear,” Andreas reveals. “And we give that candy out to the audience.” But Christian can top that. “There’s one illusion which is a classic in the Ehrlich Brothers show for 20 years,” he notes. “We ask a spectator to loan us some money. They give us a small bill and I transform it into $100 and give it back. So in every show, at least one person will go home with more money than they came with.”

    Asked what else you can expect and Christian offers, “A huge show with a lot of pyrotechnics and storytelling.” In fact, every illusion is driven by story — that giant candy jar, for example, is a realization of a childhood dream. Says Andreas, “This is one of the biggest dreams you can have — to have a wish and just call it out and make it real.”

    Adds Christian, “We try to talk to people using the art of magic. We approach magic like a good song that reaches your heart.” He points to the motorcycle jumping out of the iPad as an example. “It’s really a story about how our dad passed away much too early. It’s something everybody deals with and we put a magic twist on it. We want to be really authentic and talk about emotions and feelings that the audience relates to.”

    What you won’t see at an Ehrlich Brothers show, they say, is cliché. “We’ve never cut a girl in half or made a girl vanish out of some boxes,” Christian promises. Adds Andreas, “What is the reason to have a beautiful girl on stage only to make her disappear? No, it’s really about the story and showing one illusion after another. So much so that people can’t believe the show is two hours, it feels much shorter.”

    The brothers spend years working on their illusions — there’s one they’re hoping to debut next year that they’ve been focused on since 2019. And they have gone from building small-scale tricks in their father’s workshop to employing 40 people who construct and work out the mechanics. Andreas admits the brainstorming phase involves them coming up with “some crazy stuff” and about 5% of those ideas evolve into actual illusions.

    Of course, there are perils with such massive illusions. Earlier this year during a rehearsal, Andreas’ hair caught fire when he moved too close to a flamethrower — video of the incident is online and the pair were able to joke about his “new hairstyle.” In 2016, the motorcycle stunt went wrong, causing Andreas to fall and break his ribs. In both cases, the brothers continued with their shows.

    It’s humorous to hear that the pair consider the U.S. shows to be “smaller,” as the theaters average more around 4,000 seats than tens of thousands. They also estimate they’ll be down to six trucks from their usual 30. “We need to be a bit smaller because we have so many of our own illusions [at home],” explains Chris. And some — like their Angel of Death illusion — weigh about five tons. But it’s still set to be a massive spectacle.

    The pair have entertained audiences from all over the world at their shows, and were inspired to tour America after getting consistent feedback that the show would translate to the States. “For us, it was always a question: Is it a German show, or a show that works on an international scale?’” says Christian. “And so many people from America told us we needed to come, that it would be a big party. So it motivated us to try. And I think people will love it. There’s nothing especially German about it.”

    The 10-city tour will kick off in Washington, D.C., and make stops in Pittsburgh, Newark, Las Vegas, San Jose, Phoenix, Anaheim, San Diego, Tucson, Ariz., and Arlington, Texas, giving the pair some time to check out the sights as a German TV crew will be documenting the tour. Asked if they’ll check out Disneyland on their L.A. leg, and Chris jokes, “We’re going to make it disappear so that all the people come to the show just for one day.”

    One stop they’re particularly looking forward to is Las Vegas. “It will be a big pleasure to see some of our colleagues there and also check out the shows,” notes Christian. “Though I’m disappointed I will just be missing the Backstreet Boys. I’m a big fan.”

    For touring dates and tickets, visit ehrlich-brothers.com/en/


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  • The market rotation picks up steam. It’s the latest reminder of a key investing rule

    The market rotation picks up steam. It’s the latest reminder of a key investing rule

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  • Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 release date is finally confirmed

    Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 release date is finally confirmed

    At Gamescom 2025, we finally got a confirmed release date for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, and there isn’t long to wait!

    Set in 2035, CoD BO7 is a direct sequel to 2024’s Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, something we haven’t seen in the Call of Duty series for a long time.

    It certainly looks absolutely bonkers as well, taking place across the globe, and also in bizarre twisted versions of reality.

    There’s Harry Mason, there’s robots, dropships, a co-op campaign and more.

    And as for when you can get your hands on it: Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 comes out 14th November 2025.

    On 30th September, we can see even more during Call of Duty Next. If you’re sold already, though, you can already get your pre-orders in.

    If you do pre-order the game, you’ll get some nifty bonuses for Black Ops 6 multiplayer, so you won’t even have to wait for a BLOPS7 taste!

    This is a developing story, and you can find even more details on our main page for CoD BO7.

    Read more:

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  • ‘Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice’ Anime Will Hit Crunchyroll in 2026

    ‘Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice’ Anime Will Hit Crunchyroll in 2026

    Any video game fan who’s dedicated hours to playing Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice can now dedicate even more hours to watching its upcoming anime adaptation. Sekiro: No Defeat will arrive as a new streaming TV series on Crunchyroll in 2026, the anime giant announced Tuesday at Gamescom. 

    Developed by FromSoftware, the critically acclaimed action game is set during Japan’s Sengoku period and lets players assume the role of Wolf — also known as Senkiro — a shinobi charged with protecting a lord with divine lineage. Crunchyroll partnered with Kadokawa, Qzil.la and Arch to bring to life the anime version that will see Daisuke Namikawa voice Wolf, Miyuki Satou as Kuro and Kenjiro Tsudawhich voicing Genichiro Ashina. Kenichi Kutsuna is directing the series that will stream on Crunchyroll in the US and globally (excluding Japan, China, Korea, Russia and Belarus).

    “We are taking on the monumental task of animating the breathtakingly beautiful Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. In doing so, we are pouring every ounce of our artistic vision and passion for beauty into its production,” said Kutsuna. “The final product is being crafted to be a truly memorable experience, one that will leave a lasting impression on both dedicated fans of the game and those who are discovering the world of Sekiro for the very first time. Please look forward to it.”

    a shinobi holds a kitana in an image for sekiro no defeat

    FS/Activision/KA/SNDP/Crunchyroll

    The story follows a young orphan Wolf, who is trained under Owl, a nomadic ninja who appoints him as Kuro’s protector. Kuro is targeted as the last survivor of the Dragon Heritage bloodline, a lineage imbued with immortality through its deity, the Divine Dragon. During an attempt to flee, Wolf loses an arm in a fight against their main adversary, Genichiro. Throughout the fantasy adventure story, he gains a new name (Sekiro) and fights for honor, loyalty and his lord’s fate. 

    Newcomers unfamiliar with the tale of Sekiro can count on seeing masterful katana skills, action-packed combat scenes and magic when Sekiro: No Defeat hits screens next year. 


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  • FromSoftware’s Sekiro Gets the Anime Treatment via Crunchyroll in 2026 — Here’s the Debut Trailer and First-Look Images

    FromSoftware’s Sekiro Gets the Anime Treatment via Crunchyroll in 2026 — Here’s the Debut Trailer and First-Look Images

    FromSoftware’s Sekiro is back from the dead — but rather than getting a sequel, it’s getting an anime adaptation via Crunchyroll in 2026.

    Activision published Sekiro in 2019 to critical and commercial acclaim. It went on to sell an impressive 10 million copies, but so far no sequel has materialised. FromSoftware of course subsequently released Elden Ring, which was even more commercially successful.

    The announcement of Sekiro: No Defeat came via Kadokawa, Qzil.la, and ARCH, who said the new anime “channels the precision and spirit of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice into every frame.” It’s a fully hand-drawn adaptation to be streamed exclusively on Crunchyroll worldwide excluding Japan, China, Korea, Russia, and Belarus.

    Here’s the official blurb:

    Crafted with reverence for the original, Sekiro: No Defeat is an adaptation of the game’s unforgettable story — a tale of loyalty and blood, set in a fantastical reimagining of Sengoku-era Japan.

    “We are taking on the monumental task of animating the breathtakingly beautiful Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. In doing so, we are pouring every ounce of our artistic vision and passion for beauty into its production,” said Kenichi Kutsuna, director of the adaptation.

    “The final product is being crafted to be a truly memorable experience, one that will leave a lasting impression on both dedicated fans of the game and those who are discovering the world of Sekiro for the very first time. Please look forward to it.”

    The Sekiro anime is helmed by:

    ● Director: Kenichi Kutsuna

    ● Screenwriter: Takuya Satou

    ● Character Designer: Takahiro Kishida

    ● Deputy Director: Shunsuke Fukui

    ● Chief Animation Director: Kaito Moki

    ● Action Animation Director: Takashi Mukoda

    ● Art Director: Yuji Kaneko

    ● Color Designer: Azusa Sasaki

    ● Cinematographer: Keisuke Nozawa

    ● Editor: Yoshinori Murakami

    ● Sound Director: Yasushi Nagura

    ● Composer: Shuta Hasunuma

    ● Produced by: ARCH

    ● Production Company: Qzil.la

    Sekiro anime cast:

    ● Wolf: Daisuke Namikawa

    ● Kuro / The Divine Heir: Miyuki Satou

    ● Genichiro Ashina: Kenjiro Tsuda

    Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

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  • Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 New Trailer Reveals Campaign, Multiplayer, and Zombies Details, Release Date, and Much More — Here’s Everything You Need to Know

    Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 New Trailer Reveals Campaign, Multiplayer, and Zombies Details, Release Date, and Much More — Here’s Everything You Need to Know

    The Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 reveal at Opening Night Live 2025 included a first-look at the new campaign, revealed fresh details on multiplayer and zombies, confirmed its release date, open beta, and platforms, and much more.

    Developed by Treyarch and Raven Software, Black Ops 7 follows last year’s Black Ops 6, but is set in 2035. That means it picks up after the events of Black Ops 2 and Black Ops 6. The campaign lets you play solo or up to four-player co-op, with global progression for the first time in the franchise.

    Also for the first time in Call of Duty, the campaign has an endgame called, appropriately enough, Endgame.

    As for multiplayer, Omnimovement, which was introduced in Black Ops 6, returns but is tweaked in a number of important ways. There’s near-future tech and weaponry in keeping with the 2035 setting. The headline here is Skirmish, an all-new multi-objective, large-scale mode for Multiplayer. This arrives alongside two new large-scale 20v20 maps.

    Round-based Zombies returns with new vehicle gameplay in what Treyarch called the biggest Black Ops Zombies map ever.

    Surprisingly, Black Ops 7 has Dead Ops Arcade 4. Dead Ops Arcade is a hidden twin-stick top-down shooter found in the original Call of Duty: Black Ops, and returns this year after a long absence.

    Here’s all the official information on Black Ops 7 coming out of Activision today as part of the ONL 2025 reveal:

    Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Co-Op Campaign – Mind-bending, innovative Co-Op Campaign redefines the Black Ops Experience

    • An unprecedented Campaign dives deeper into the madness, delivering a narrative experience unlike anything ever before in Call of Duty – playable solo or in a squad of up to four players
    • Returning fan-favorite characters, including David Mason and Raul Menendez, along with the introduction of new icons like Emma Kagan, CEO of tech giant The Guild, add to the most innovative Black Ops campaign ever
    • Take on high-stakes missions across a wide spectrum of environments, from the neon-lit rooftops of Japan to the Mediterranean coast, and even into the deepest corners of the human psyche. Players will also experience Avalon, an expansive city whose secrets ripple across the Campaign
    • In the culmination of the story, Treyarch and Raven Software are unleashing Endgame, which opens up the entire world of Avalon for players as they wield personalized abilities, unlock loadouts, and face unexpected challenges, putting everything they’ve mastered throughout the Campaign to the test
    • Endgame is a brand-new, replayable experience that breaks the rules of what you thought a Call of Duty Campaign can be

    Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Multiplayer – Signature Black Ops Multiplayer featuring 16 6v6 maps and 30 weapons at launch

    • Massive offering of 16 signature 6v6 Multiplayer maps at launch (13 all new maps and three returning Black Ops 2 classics), plus two new large-scale 20v20 maps, all combining new levels of visual fidelity along with best-in-class Treyarch Multiplayer map design for the most engaging Black Ops Multiplayer ever
    • Set in 2035, Multiplayer delivers an arsenal of new, near-future weaponry and gear
    • 30 weapons available at launch (28 ranged and 2 melee), including 16 never-before-seen in the franchise
    • In Black Ops 7, your loadout is alive with possibility. For the first time in Black Ops, all Scorestreaks, Field Upgrades, and Lethal & Tactical Equipment can be upgraded with the new Overclock system, growing more versatile the more you use them. Every match becomes a step toward unlocking their full potential
    • Next-level Omnimovement, including wall jumps and more, open-up creative possibilities and fresh dynamics to gameplay
    • Skirmish is an all-new, 20v20 adrenaline-charged MP mode that blends a variety of objectives, new abilities such as wingsuiting and grappling hooks, and intense vehicle warfare into a massive experience. This is Black Ops large-scale combat, redefined

    Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Zombies – Round-Based Zombies returns with the biggest Black Ops Zombies map ever

    • Treyarch’s legendary Round-Based Zombies returns with the biggest Black Ops Zombies map ever, featuring all-new vehicle gameplay that takes players across a massive set of new locations along with the return of Survival maps for the first time since Black Ops 2
    • In a continuation of the Black Ops 6 Zombies story, the crew collides with alternate versions of the original protagonists: Richtofen, Nikolai, Takeo, and Dempsey. In a never-before-seen incarnation, these legends return alongside the crew from Black Ops 6 to face a new kind of nightmare… though in the Dark Aether, nothing is ever what it seems

    Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 launches on November 14, 2025 across Xbox One, Xbox Series X and S, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and PC via Battle.net, Xbox on PC, and Steam. There’s no mention of a Nintendo Switch 2 version in today’s announcement. As a Microsoft game, Black Ops 7 will launch day-one on Game Pass Ultimate across Xbox and PC.

    The Black Ops 7 Open Beta will be free across all platforms, with players who pre-order or who have a subscription to select Game Pass plans gaining early access. It runs October 2-8, with Early Access for preorders and eligible Game Pass subscribers granted on October 2.

    For more from the devs, check out their thoughts on Call of Duty being called “lazy” and the threat of Battlefield 6.

    Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

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  • Nationwide internet outage slashes Pakistan’s connectivity to 20%

    Nationwide internet outage slashes Pakistan’s connectivity to 20%

    Pakistan faced a major internet disruption on Tuesday evening, with connectivity dropping to just 20 percent of normal levels, according to global internet observatory NetBlocks.

    The outage, which began late in the evening, hit multiple regions across the country, cutting millions of users off from online services.

    “Metrics show a major disruption to internet connectivity across Pakistan with high impact to backbone operator PTCL; overall national connectivity is down to 20% of ordinary levels,” NetBlocks confirmed in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

    By late Tuesday night, neither PTCL nor the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) had issued an official explanation for the disruption or provided a timeline for restoration.

    The outage disrupted businesses, stalled banking transactions, and interrupted routine online communication, triggering widespread concern and frustration on social media.


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  • Harry and Meghan face crime reports near California home

    Harry and Meghan face crime reports near California home

    Prince Harry and Meghan Markle left the United Kingdom in 2020 to begin an independent life in the United States, settling in a Montecito estate. 

    But according to recent reports, their hope of living in a quiet, crime-free community has not fully materialized.

    Local media reported that a residence just seven minutes from the Sussexes’ £21 million mansion was “broken into and ransacked” on July 19. 

    Another burglary took place only two days later at a nearby cannabis farm, where thieves stole tools and equipment. 

    Despite Montecito’s reputation as a secluded haven for celebrities including Oprah Winfrey and Ariana Grande, the area continues to experience robberies and burglaries.

    The couple’s 16-bedroom property, complete with tennis courts, a pool, and rose gardens, has doubled in value since their move. 

    Meghan has said the pair bought the house after touring only its exterior.

    Meanwhile, in Britain, Prince William and Kate Middleton recently confirmed their move to Forest Lodge, a residence where security protocols surrounding the future king and queen leave little risk of local crime. 

    Unlike Harry and Meghan’s Californian experiment, the Waleses are expected to remain shielded by royal protection for decades to come.


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