The Fortnite v41.20 update is all set to release on July 16, 2026, and will introduce a plethora of new content for players to experience. This will be the second big update for the ongoing Fortnite Runners season, and will add new skins and weapons, as well as more sprites. A special Fortnite collaboration (and its related skins) will also be unveiled in this update.
Read on to find out more about all the upcoming content in the Fortnite v41.20 update.
Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 3 v41.20 update: Release timing and details
Fortnite’s summer update is dropping soon (Image via Epic Games)
As per standard schedule, downtime for the Fortnite v41.20 update will begin on July 16, 2026, at 4 am ET. Matchmaking is expected to be paused 30 minutes prior to the beginning of maintenance, and will be available once again after servers are back up.
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While the exact downtime duration has not been announced by Epic Games yet, servers are expected to be back online after approximately two or three hours.
The following content will be added in Fortnite once the v41.20 update goes live:
DC Hot Bat Summer event
New sprites
Odyssey collab
Sprite events
Here are the details about these events:
1) DC Hot Bat Summer
The Fortnite DC Hot Bat Summer event will be officially launching on July 16, 2026. It will feature new summer skins for a variety of DC characters such as Batman, Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy and Catwoman. Ace the Bat-Hound, Batman’s canine companion, is also expected to be added in the game as a sidekick.
2) New Sprites
Three new Sprites will be added (Image via Epic Games)
The following Sprites will be up for grabs along with the launch of the Fortnite v41.20 update:
Batman Sprite
Air Sprite
Seven Sprite
As with all the other Sprites that are currently in-game, different variants of these Sprites will also be available for players to collect.
3) Fortnite x Odyssey collab
A special Fortnite x Odyssey collab is in the works (Image via Epic Games)
A special Fortnite x Odyssey collaboration is scheduled for release once the new update rolls out. Details about this collab (and its skins) will be announcd by Epic Games before Fortnite v41.20 goes live.
4) Sprite events
New Sprite events are coming this week (Image via Epic Games)
Continuing the Sprite-based gameplay of the current season, new Sprite events have been scheduled for the upcoming week. This includes a brand-new Shiny Hours event which will take place on July 18, 2026, wherein the drop rates for certain special Sprites (to be announced later) will be boosted.
You may not realise it, but weekend sport has a strange power over otherwise reasonable people. By Friday afternoon, you can be calmly checking fixtures. By Saturday morning, you’ve somehow formed strong opinions about a lunchtime football match, a rugby handicap, a racing outsider and a late GAA result that depends on a team you only half-follow but suddenly trust with your whole chest.
That’s part of the fun. Sport gives you stories before anything has happened. A team needs a response after a poor result. A striker’s due a goal. A province has a point to prove. A favourite looks short but hard to oppose. An underdog feels dangerous because the weather’s grim and the crowd will be loud.
A sportsbook brings all of those little arguments into one place. The trick isn’t pretending you can predict every twist. It’s knowing how to read the weekend without letting the fixtures bully you into backing everything with a start time.
The Early Kick-Off Is Usually the Trap
The early kick-off always looks harmless. It’s sitting there at the top of the day, waving politely, acting like a sensible place to start. Then the team news lands, one full-back is missing, the favourite starts slowly and suddenly your carefully planned Saturday has taken a personal insult before lunch.
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That’s why early matches deserve more respect. They often carry a much different energy. Players may look flat. The crowd may take time to warm up. Managers may choose caution because nobody wants to spend the rest of the weekend explaining a silly defeat.
Before you get too attached to the first fixture, ask whether the price suits the setup. Is the favourite away from home? Has there been rotation? Is the underdog organised enough to make it awkward? Does the match need goals, or are you only hoping for them because it’s the first thing on screen?
One Strong Opinion Beats Six Loose Ones
Every sports fan knows the danger of a weekend slip that grows legs. One football pick becomes three. Then a rugby selection joins in. Then racing looks tempting. Then someone mentions darts, and suddenly you’re emotionally invested in a match you didn’t know existed 20 minutes earlier.
That’s where using the betmaster.ie sportsbookis more useful when you arrive with a plan instead of a wandering thumb. A good sportsbook gives you plenty to choose from, but choice only helps if you know what you’re looking for.
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The better approach is to build around your strongest read. Maybe it’s a football match where the team news supports your view. Maybe it’s a rugby market where the handicap looks too generous. Maybe it’s a racing selection where conditions suit the horse better than the headline price suggests.
Live Sport Changes the Argument
Pre-match thoughts are useful, but sport has no manners. It changes the argument as soon as the action starts. A football favourite may dominate the ball without creating anything. A rugby side may lose discipline early. A horse may drift before the off for a reason the casual viewer has missed.
That’s why watching matters. Not in a dramatic, notebook-at-the-ready way. Just enough to see whether your read still makes sense once the event begins. Sometimes the market moves because something real is happening. Sometimes it moves because everyone’s reacting to noise.
In football, watch whether pressure is turning into chances or just possession. In rugby, look at territory, penalties and set-piece control. In racing, pay attention to ground, pace and how the market behaves close to the start.
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Live sport gives you extra information, but it also tempts you into quick decisions. The key is staying picky. If the match has changed in a way you understand, fair enough. If you’re only reacting because the odds moved and your tea went cold, maybe take a breath first.
The Best Weekend Bets Survive a Second Look
The most useful test is simple: would you still like the selection if it weren’t starting soon? Urgency can make an average idea feel better than it is. A match being live, televised or widely discussed doesn’t automatically make it worth backing.
A good weekend pick should survive a second look. You should be able to explain the case without relying on vibes alone. Why this team? Why this market? Why this price? What would make you change your mind? If those answers are fuzzy, the bet may be more boredom than belief.
This applies across sport. A favourite can still be too short. An outsider can still be too hopeful. A goals market can look lively but lack the setup. A rugby handicap can feel tempting until you check the weather, rotation or recent away form.
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Choose the angles that actually make sense, enjoy the rest and let Saturday be chaotic without letting your bet slip join in.
The Aston Villa midfielder, 23, has started just once so far the tournament, in the final group game against Panama, but impressed off the bench against Norway in the quarter-finals.
He is set to play on England’s right, taking the place of Noni Madueke, which means Bukayo Saka once again starts on the bench.
Morgan Rogers is set to start along with Jude Bellingham in England’s semi-final against Argentina (Getty)
Thomas Tuchel has an almost fully fit squad of players to pick from, with Declan Rice fully recovered and able to start in midfield for the Three Lions after illness.
Ezri Konsa is set to keep his place over Djed Spence at right back, John Stones in line to partner Marc Guehi at centre-back.
Jarell Quansah remains suspended, while injury-prone Reece James could be saved for later in the game. Jordan Henderson’s wrist injury rules him out.
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Argentina’s side is settled, with either Julian Alvarez or Lautaro Martinez, both back in scoring form for the Albiceleste, starting alongside Lionel Messi.
“I was thinking about [how to deal with Messi],” Tuchel said in his pre-match press conference. “If we do an old school man mark, not sure if we follow through with this idea, but it crossed my mind. Everyone knows the space he wants to show up. Everyone knows he sees stuff before everyone else.”
Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez will compete for one jersey tonight (AP)
Thiago Almada and Nico Gonzalez bring attacking options in midfield, but Leandro Paredes could offer more defensive cover and is the favourite to start in the other key decision for Lionel Scaloni.
Gautam Gambhir took charge as the Indian cricket team coach in July 2024. In the two years at the helm, Gambhir has won the Champions Trophy 2025, the 2026 T20 World Cup as well as the Asia Cup 2025. However, his tenure has also been marked by Test series losses at home against South Africa and New Zealand. India also lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. His tenure also saw the high-profile Test retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. In T20Is too, India lost two back-to-back series against Ireland and England.
Mohammed Kaif and Zaheer Khan were asked about Gambhir’s tenure as coach. Here’s what they said.
“I will deduct marks. I will rate him 4 out of 10. You are talking about transparency, right? There are a lot of talks about Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir. That picture is not becoming clear. It’s not clear whether they are talking or not. You can see he is talking with (Shubman) Gill and Rohit (Sharma). It is the responsibility of the coach to communicate with the player if there is any problem, to keep everyone on the same page,” Kaif said on Cricbuzz.
“There will be wins or losses, but that communication is important. If one player is dropped, the reason behind it should be clear. If Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir are not working together, this is not good news for us. If they are not on the same page, it is bad news for the fans of Indian cricket. We are talking about the 2027 World Cup; you need the support of seniors. The coach needs to talk with the seniors. When we played under John Wright, he was transparent. I am deducting marks for that. He had a chance to do more with this team.”
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Zaheer said: “Under his leadership, we have won the T20 World Cup. His highs are also there. I will give him 6. As far as improvement, transparency and communication are concerned, it is a work in progress. You can call it a concern. Whenever you talk about Indian cricket, one thing you will see is talent and ability. You have all the ingredients. How to use them and make the best out of them is up to you.”
Recently, according to a report, Gambhir and Kohli were notably not interacting with each other ahead of the first India vs England ODI, despite the India coach spending a lot of time with other members of the squad.
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FIFA World Cup 2026 | Argentina Fans Sing & Dance After Dramatic Comeback Against Egypt
Norwegian Soren Waerenskjold launched a long-range sprint to claim victory at the Tour de France on Wednesday in the fastest stage in the race’s history.
Dutchman Olav Kooij took second ahead of Belgian Jasper Philipsen at the end of the 161km 11th stage from Vichy to Nevers.
At an average speed of 50.91kph, it was the fastest ever road stage in the 113 editions of the Tour.
Once again, there was a fairly disjointed sprint finish with none of the teams able to organise a sprint train to set up their fast man.
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Kooij’s lead-out rider Cees Bol launched off the front as the main sprinters hesitated, but Waerenskjold was the first to chase after the Dutchman.
He instantly put several bike lengths of daylight between himself and the rest and although both Kooij and Philipsen caught him by the line, they did not have enough strength to edge past Waerenskjold.
It was the second Tour stage victory for the Norwegian Uno-X Mobility team, which is in its first year as a World Tour outfit, after Jonas Abrahamsen succeeded once last year.
The team also held the yellow jersey for two stages this year with Torstein Traeen before he crashed out with a concussion and broken ribs.
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Reigning champion Tadej Pogacar finished safely in the pack to retain his overall lead of more than three and a half minutes to two-time former winner Jonas Vingegaard.
A four-man breakaway had set off early into the stage which began in the ancient spa town of Vichy.
They were never allowed a longer leash than 1min 40sec and four became three when Frenchman Julian Alaphilippe, a former world champion and yellow jersey-wearer, was dropped on a short climb with around 40km left.
But Anthon Charmig, Mathis Le Berre and Nelson Oliveira collaborated well together to resist the inevitable return of the peloton.
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With 10km to ride their lead was down to just 20sec.
But within four kilometres, their resistance was over and the expected sprint took centre stage.
England play Argentina in the World Cup semi-finals on Wednesday and there are a lot of big names missing from the squad
Thomas Tuchel’s choices for his England squad certainly caused a stir this summer. The players have delivered on the pitch, getting into the World Cup semi-finals, though Tuchel’s decision to leave several high-profile names left at home prompted plenty of discussion.
From the surprise inclusions of Djed Spence and Ivan Toney to a reliance on stars with recent injury concerns, the noise around the Three Lions’ squad has brought debate both before and during the tournament. While there is no way to leave everyone happy, some omissions have attracted attention.
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A spine-tingling semi-final clash with Argentina stands in the way of England reaching Sunday’s showpiece final in New York as Tuchel looks to etch his name in the history books by becoming the first foreign manager to lift the World Cup. Here is how the star-studded absentees have been spending their summer.
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Trent Alexander-Arnold
England’s right-back dilemma has been a major talking point, with Alexander-Arnold not the only man to miss out. Tino Livramento pulled out before the tournament in a major blow, with Ben White also unavailable and Tuchel choosing centre-back Trevoh Chalobah over Alexander-Arnold when the time came to replace Livramento.
England have also lost Reece James to injury and Jarell Quansah to suspension, though James returned from the bench against Norway. However, the situation only added to calls that Alexander-Arnold should be part of Tuchel’s squad.
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Having been used in midfield in the last Euros under Gareth Southgate, the ex-Liverpool defender has only featured in one of Tuchel’s six major camps. The ex-Chelsea boss has stood by his decision to leave out the Real Madrid man, though, indicating it was a sporting decision.
The 27-year-old’s omission, coupled with a mixed start to life at Real Madrid, has prompted Alexander-Arnold to focus on recovering from an injury-hit campaign in a hot-weather training camp. He has been sharing updates on social media as he prepares to play under new Madrid boss Jose MOurinho.
Harry Maguire
Perhaps the most surprising absentee from England’s North American tour, the reliable centre-back has turned to the limelight of the television scene this summer. The 33-year-old became a symbol of Southgate’s teams in tournaments gone by, having been named in the 2020 Euros Team of the Tournament, but missed the last edition two years ago after missing the end of the 2023/24 season through injury.
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The arrival of Michael Carrick at Manchester United allowed Maguire to show his worth after an stop-start few months under Ruben Amorim. Maguire played a vital role in their mid-season turnaround to comfortably secure a third-place finish and reverse what looked to be a disastrous campaign.
He looked likely to take his place in Tuchel’s squad after returning for the March friendlies but ultimately missed out. The 33-year-old spoke to Gary Lineker on The Rest is Football show after being left “shocked and gutted” at not making the final 26.
Cole Palmer
One of the several attacking stars excluded by Tuchel, Palmer’s inconsistent campaign for Chelsea curtailed any chance of him playing a starring role this summer. However, questions were asked about his omission after England struggled to break down low blocks, especially in the group stage draw with Ghana.
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His ability to deliver in crucial moments, most notably in the Euro 2024 final against Spain, meant it was hard to overlook his undeniable quality on the biggest stage. However, Tuchel’s emphasis on having a more balanced, specialised squad as opposed to relying on individual quality, as England have done in the past, resulted in Palmer missing out.
The 24-year-old will be hopeful of a much-improved campaign under new Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso. He has spent the off-season in Ibiza, while also launching premium ice brand COLE’D.
Phil Foden
In a situation similar to that of Palmer, Foden has struggled to register the incredible numbers of seasons gone by. Foden was key to Manchester City winning the Premier League title in 2024 when he won the PFA Players’ Player of the Year thanks to his 19 goals and eight assists in the league.
However, Foden failed to replicate that form in the Euros and his performances on the pitch since have been inconsistent. He only returned seven league goals in each of his last two campaigns and the January arrival of Antoine Semenyo saw his minutes limited further.
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The brilliance Foden has displayed for his club has yet to translate to the England set-up and may have been another factor behind Tuchel leaving him out. While his compatriots have been in action in North America, the six-time Premier League champion has been seen enjoying some of the country’s major sporting events including the British Grand Prix and Wimbledon, as well as holidaying in Marbella.
England’s 2026 World Cup kits
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England and Nike have launched the new home, away and goalkeeper kits to be worn at this summer’s FIFA World Cup. You can get free delivery on all orders with the code DEAL.
England and Argentina will write a new chapter in one of football’s most storied rivalries when they face off in Atlanta on Wednesday for a place in the World Cup final.
Remarkably, it will mark the first time Lionel Messi plays a part in it.
At 39, the Argentina legend will face England for the first time in his glittering career, locking horns with a fellow No.10 whose World Cup contribution has been equally impressive.
Just like Messi, Jude Bellingham has been inspirational in the Three Lions’ run to the final four. And Wednesday’s match may well be determined by which of the two has the biggest say on the day.
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“We know how good Messi is,” England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford said of the Argentina great, whose enduring brilliance has been on show again even at the age of 39.
“He’s scored so many goals and contributed to so many goals as well throughout his career, it’s great to finally go up against him,” Pickford said.
Messi is already considered by many to be the greatest football player of all time and he seems to be on a mission to settle the debate about where he stands in the history of the sport.
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Already the all-time top scorer in the World Cup with 21 goals, he could surpass Argentina icon Diego Maradona by leading his country to back-to-back world titles.
His eight goals in the tournament so far have been pivotal to Argentina’s run and his moments of magic have dragged his team through big scares against Cape Verde and Egypt.
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Cover image: Argentina’s Lionel Messi (10) celebrates scoring their second goal during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Argentina and Egypt in Atlanta, Tuesday, July 7, 2026. AP Photo/undefined
“It’s just incredible his campaign, this tournament, how he carries that team it’s just absolutely incredible,” England coach Thomas Tuchel said of Messi. “There are no words (…) left for this kind of achievement, the responsibility and the quality that he shows again in this tournament.”
‘World-class’
Argentina’s World Cup triumph in 2022 saw Messi emulate Maradona by captaining his country to the title. Maradona lifted the trophy in 1986 and was runner-up with Argentina four years later when it lost to West Germany in the final.
“Trying to draw inspiration from what Diego did is difficult. Only Leo can do that,” said Argentina midfielder Alexis Mac Allister. “Diego is a national icon for us, and hopefully, we can achieve something similar to what that team did.”
England have a talismanic No.10 of their own in the form of Bellingham, who is at the opposite end of his career to Messi.
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At the age of 23, Real Madrid star Bellingham is already playing in his second World Cup and his fourth major tournament for England. He has six goals, including two each in the last two rounds against Mexico and Norway.
Bellingham and captain Harry Kane, who also has six goals, have spearheaded England’s run to the semi-finals.
Tuchel said the duo had delivered “like crazy” at the World Cup.
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It is Bellingham, however, who has provided the biggest moments in the last two games.
“We all strongly believe it’s a team sport and no one is doing it alone, but of course we are also relying on the world-class moments of world-class players,” Tuchel said.
A storied rivalry
Both England and Argentina will need to find a way to limit the impact of each other’s big stars.
Tuchel said he had considered trying to man-mark Messi by deploying one player to shadow him throughout the game.
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“Everyone knows the spaces where he wants to show up. If you analyse the matches, you feel like he sees stuff just earlier than anyone else on the field,” Tuchel said. “I think we found some patterns in their game, but if you close the patterns he will find maybe a new one and create a new one. That’s a super strength. That’s just what it is.”
If Messi is the main focus of England’s attention, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni has to contend with the double threat of Bellingham and Kane.
“We’re facing great players, two of the best in the world,” Scaloni said. “We will try our best to neutralize them. We have our weapons and we will try to prevent them from having a good game.”
England vs. Argentina is a fierce rivalry that goes beyond the soccer field, with tensions also relating to the 1982 conflict over the Falkland Islands.
Maradona scored his infamous “Hand of God” goal in 1986 – and England also felt aggrieved when David Beckham was sent off for kicking out against Diego Simeone in 1998 before losing in a penalty shootout.
“If a fixture provides so many iconic moments you cannot just say it’s just another football match, but as a coach we do exactly that,” Tuchel said. “We don’t speak about the historic events. We don’t speak about the iconic moments.”
One of those iconic moments was Maradona’s second goal in the 2-1 win against England in the quarterfinals win in 1986 when he dribbled the ball from the halfway line before scoring.
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“That will be forever in our hearts. It was just such a beautiful goal,” Scaloni said. “It was just a coincidence that it was against England, but had it been against anybody else, it would have been just as beautiful.”
The Captain Stede Bonnet side quest in Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced follows Edward as he investigates what happened to Stede Bonnet and uncovers his fate. You can access the Captain Stede Bonnet sidequest only after completing the “Marooned” main quest in Sequence 8.
Stede Bonnet sends a letter to Edward stating that he is being held in the Charles-Towne Jail. In it, he also asks Edward to recover his provisions that are stored inside the ship’s cabin, which is now stuck on a Mystery Island.
Read on to learn how to complete the Captain Stede Bonnet side quest in Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced.
Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced: Captain Stede Bonnet side quest walkthrough
Locate Stede’s ship
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After the cutscene is over, sail through the Caribbean until you reach the highlighted marker where you need to dock your ship. Once ashore, leave the ship and head towards the coordinates 906,122 to locate Stede’s ship. You’ll find the boat, The Revenge, stranded on Mystery Island with no crew.
Head towards the marked location on the map (Image via Ubisoft || YouTube@postmodeorg)
Investigate Stede’s wreck
Climb aboard the boat, and you’ll find the entrance below deck is locked. Shortly after, a group of pirates, who are actually members of Stede’s Crew, will appear and prepare to fight.
Investigate Stede’s wreck (Image via Ubisoft || YouTube@postmodeorg)
However, Edward will quickly explain that he is not there for a fight; he is Bonnet’s friend and is looking for his Crew. Realising and recognising Edward, they will ask him to join them at the nearby camp.
Talk to Stede’s Crew to know what happened (Image via Ubisoft || YouTube@postmodeorg)
After speaking to Rowland Sharp, he explains that after the Major sent them there, a mutiny broke out. The traitors stole the key to the Major’s cabin below deck and have taken all the provisions for themselves. Since then, they have been holding them off. Immediately after, one of the crew members informs you that the mutineers are further down the shore, gathering for an attack.
Follow the loyalists
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Kill all Mutineers to get the key (Image via Ubisoft || YouTube@postmodeorg)
Follow the in-charge to visit the shoreline where the Mutineers are already waiting. Fight with them, kill them one by one with the help of Stede’s Crew to finally get the Key in the Captain Stede Bonnet side quest.
Kill the British
Kill the British in Captain Stede Bonnet side quest (Image via Ubisoft || YouTube@postmodeorg)
Although all of the Mutineers have been killed, Edward still senses that there may be more enemies somewhere. After a while, a British ship arrives there to seize Bonnet’s property. Wait there for the British crew to arrive from the sea, and kill them one by one. Once that’s done, follow the loyalists back to Stede’s wreck.
Explore Stede’s Cabin
Explore Stede’s Cabin to find another letter at the end of the Captain Stede Bonnet side quest (Image via Ubisoft || YouTube@postmodeorg)
After a short cutscene, explore Stede’s cabin to find a letter and a sword lying on the table. The letter reveals that Stede is set to be hanged the following day on charges of piracy. After reading it, you’ll also find Stede’s portrait nearby.
Hang Stede’s portrait in the manor to complete the Captain Stede Bonnet side quest (Image via Ubisoft || YouTube@postmodeorg)
Now you need to take the portrait to your manor and look for a spot in the basement to hang it. This will conclude the Captain Stede Bonnet side quest.
Check out the links below for more such guides:
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Wayne Rooney is part of the BBC’s World Cup team and will appear on their broadcast of the England vs Argentina semi-final clash
Wayne Rooney will be part of the BBC’s World Cup coverage of England vs Argentina. And there are not many more suitable than England’s second all-time goalscorer to run the rule over Harry Kane and co.
The former Manchester United forward has been a regular for the broadcasters in the United States as he settles into life post-football. Rooney enjoyed a headline-grabbing career on and off the pitch, featuring in three World Cups.
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Here, Manchester Evening News examines some major moments from Rooney’s life away from the pitch.
Cheating scandals
Wayne has been married to wife Coleen since 2008 but the pair have been rocked with numerous cheating allegations. In 2004, the ex-United star was reported to have visited a brothel in Liverpool on several occasions and paid for sex with three women aged 21, 37 and 48.
It was claimed that Rooney also signed autographs for other visitors as he waited his turn. Speaking out about the allegations, he said: “Foolish as it now seems, I did on occasions visit massage parlours and prostitutes.
“I now regret it deeply and hope people may understand that it was the sort of mistake you make when you are young and stupid.”
Coleen didn’t make a comment on the situation at the time, but revealed in her 2023 autobiography that the pair hadn’t been intimate before his brothel visits. She wrote: “The truth is, and I’ve never said this before, at that time in our relationship, I’d never even slept with Wayne. I was only 16 and we weren’t having that kind of relationship at that stage.”
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Six years later, Rooney was accused of further infedility when former escort Helen Wood claimed he had a threesome with her and another woman called Jenny Thompson. Wood insisted the incident occurred while Coleen was pregnant with their first son, Kai, and he regretted the affair immediately.
She said: “He said, ‘I feel really s*** already – I’m begging you two not to say anything. It will ruin my marriage if it gets out.’”
There were reports that Coleen moved out of their family home at that time but later reconciled, despite the pair never speaking out on the issue.
In 2017, just after he departed United, Rooney made headlines when he was arrested and charged with drink driving after a night out. The ex-England international wasn’t driving his own car, however; it actually belonged to Laura Simpson, whom he had met while out drinking.
Simpson claimed that Coleen called her after the arrest, telling The Sun: “She asked me to tell her what happened. She seemed unhappy with the fact that we had left a nightclub in a cab together to go to my car.”
Six years later, in Wayne’s 2023 documentary, the 40-year-old revealed that this scandal almost pushed the couple to the breaking point. Coleen said: “I forgive him but it wasn’t acceptable. If it comes up we talk about it like we are talking about it now. I haven’t got the anger I did at the time… Life goes on and I’ve moved on.”
Arrest at US airport
Rooney moved to Washington, D.C. in 2018 and signed for DC United after a year back at his boyhood club, Everton. Months after sealing the MLS deal, he was arrested for ‘public swearing and intoxication’ at Dulles airport after triggering a door alarm.
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He paid a total fine of $116 (£86), and Rooney’s spokesperson claimed he was “disoriented” after being prescribed sleeping tablets and drinking alcohol. The statement read: “During the flight, Wayne took a prescribed amount of sleeping tablets mixed with some alcohol consumption and consequently was disoriented on arrival.
“He was approached by police who arrested him on a minor misdemeanour charge. He received a statutory automatic fine and was released shortly afterwards at the airport. The matter is now at an end. Wayne would like to put on record his appreciation for the manner he was treated by all involved. No further comment will be made.”
Huge BBC salary
While Rooney was commanding a whopping £300,000-a-week wage during his prime at United, his BBC salary is nothing to be sniffed at. In 2025, the ex-United man signed a two-year deal with the broadcaster which is worth a reported £800,000.
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This contract established Rooney as one of the BBC’s most well-paid pundits. His current salary will be a pleasant boost to the ex-forward’s wealth, which is valued at an eye-watering £126m.
England’s 2026 World Cup kits
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England and Nike have launched the new home, away and goalkeeper kits to be worn at this summer’s FIFA World Cup. You can get free delivery on all orders with the code DEAL.
Mark your calendars, opening night of the NHL is officially set in stone.
On Wednesday, the NHL announced its opening night schedule for the expanded 84-game 2026-27 season, set for Tuesday, Sept. 29, with five games on the docket.
The showdowns are headlined by an Original Six game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens, and a Pacific Division matchup between the Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks, both of which will air on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+.
It’s the first time in four seasons that the Leafs suit up for opening night, as in previous years, the opening-night schedule had typically featured three games between two U.S. teams.
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Action will start at 5 p.m. ET, when the reigning Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes square off against their predecessors, the Florida Panthers.
Additionally, the New York Rangers will take on the Boston Bruins in another Original Six showdown, and the Cup runner-up Vegas Golden Knights will host the Chicago Blackhawks.
The league also announced some key dates and spotlight matchups throughout the season.
The Heritage Classic will take place on Sunday, Oct. 25, as the Jets host the Canadiens outdoors at the Princess Auto Stadium in Winnipeg.
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A few teams will head across the pond for the NHL Global Series, as the Hurricanes and Seattle Kraken head to Helsinki for two games on Nov. 12 and 14, and the Blackhawks and Ottawa Senators fly to Düsseldorf, Germany, for games on Dec. 18 and 20.
On New Year’s Eve, the Utah Mammoth will host the Colorado Avalanche at the University of Utah’s Rice-Eccles Stadium for the annual NHL Winter Classic. Additionally, on Feb. 20, the Dallas Stars and Golden Knights will suit up at AT&T Stadium in Arlington for the Stadium Series.
All-Star weekend is scheduled for Feb. 5-6 at the UBS Arena on Long Island, home of the New York Islanders.
These college football coaches could find themselves in hot water in 2026
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4 min read
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Welcome once again to the annual CBS Sports Hot Seat Rankings, where the most pressured coaches in the sport take center stage. Last season was a bloodbath with major names like Brian Kelly, James Franklin and Mike Gundy shown the door. However, there seems to be a calm after the storm.
In fact, 95 coaches have a hot-seat score under 2.0. Forty-seven of them are under 1.0, a massive increase compared to 28 last season. A number of first-year coaches received zeros from the group, but mainstays like Kirby Smart, Curt Cignetti and Dan Lanning finished near the top of the list.
With the new era of college football, firing decisions have become a little more complicated. Multiple hot-seat coaches were brought back for 2026 and promised more support and resources. Others were returned to help develop a star player. And then of course, there are cases of schools simply being too broke to pull the trigger… looking at you, Tallahassee.
5
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Win or be fired
3
4-4.99
Start improving now
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3
3-3.99
Pressure is mounting
14
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2-2.99
All good … for now
23
1-1.99
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Safe and secure
48
0-0.99
Untouchable
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47
Last year, only one coach earned a “perfect” 5.0. Louisiana Tech’s Sonny Cumbie went on to beat the odds and posted an impressive 8-5 campaign. Oklahoma’s Brent Venables went from the country’s second-hottest seat to the College Football Playoff, while Arizona’s Brent Brennan cemented his place with a nine-win season. A bad grade is by no means a death sentence in a sport where everything can change in an instant.
The rest of the coaches to receive higher than 4.0s were less lucky. All five were ultimately fired. Oklahoma State’s Mike Gundy and UAB’s Trent Dilfer were let go unceremoniously midseason during miserable campaigns. The hot seat giveth and taketh away.
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