Technology

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: How to play Pips, the newest NYT game

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025:

AcrossS, as in shaker

• The answer is Salt.

Cawing bird

• The answer is Crow.

___ shrimp (oxymoron)

• The answer is Jumbo.

Most common instrument in New York Times crosswords, with over 800 appearances

• The answer is Oboe.

Units of corn

• The answer is Ears.

DownKind of gear for diving

• The answer is Scuba.

Knight's protection

• The answer is Armor.

Brain sections

• The answer is Lobes.

Number of teeth for Goofy

• The answer is Two.

Presidential first name of the 2020s

• The answer is Joe.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to the latest Mini Crossword.

In Apple TV’s Pluribus, a faint radio signal from deep space reshapes humanity, and the source, astronomers learn, is Kepler-22b, a world that exists far beyond our solar system. 

During episode 8, Carol and Zosia look for its star through a telescope. 

"I’m not sure I’m looking in the right spot," Carol says. "I mean, I see the Swan, I think."

After getting her bearings — and Zosia eliminating the light pollution by turning off all the lights — Carol announces she sees the star, Kepler-22. 

"And the planet, which you can’t see, is Kepler-22b. That’s our name for it. We have no idea what they call it," Zosia says. "Sometimes we close our eyes and try to picture it."

For fans wondering how much science sits behind the fiction, the answer is more than you might think. But what we actually know about this real exoplanet is far less than scientists would like. (We don't have a hive mind working it.)

SEE ALSO: NASA's Hubble saw fledgling planets colliding around a nearby star Is Kepler-22b a real planet?

NASA discovered Kepler-22b in 2009 using data from its namesake, the Kepler Space Telescope, a mission designed to look for planets around other stars. Other observatories were used to confirm the findings in 2011. 

But Kepler did not grab a photo of the planet. Instead, it watched for tiny dips in a star’s brightness. When a planet crosses in front of its star, it blocks a small amount of light. Catch that dimming a few times at regular intervals, and astronomers can validate the existence of a planet. This is called the "transit method" of planet detection, but you can think of it as watching for cosmic blinks.

"Fortune smiled upon us with the detection of this planet," said William Borucki, who led the team that discovered Kepler-22b, in a statement back then. "The first transit was captured just three days after we declared the spacecraft operationally ready. We witnessed the defining third transit over the 2010 holiday season."

Kepler-22b sits within its star's habitable zone, where temperatures could allow liquid water to exist on a planet's surface. Credit: NASA / Ames / JPL-Caltech infographic Does Kepler-22b have air and water?

Kepler-22b orbits a star similar to the sun, though it's slightly smaller and cooler. One full trip around that G-type star takes about 290 days — close to Earth’s year. That timing matters, because it places Kepler-22b in what many scientists call the "habitable zone." This is the region around a star where temperatures could allow water to exist on a planet's surface in liquid form, assuming the world has the right kind of atmosphere. Liquid water matters because every form of life people know about depends on it.

That detail helped fuel news headlines calling Kepler-22b a "new Earth" or "Earth's twin" more than a decade ago. But the reality is more complicated.

Kepler-22b is bigger than Earth. Its radius is roughly two times larger. For now, that puts it in a category scientists call a "super-Earth." The name sounds dramatic, but it only means "bigger than Earth, smaller than Neptune." And, no, it's not necessarily a souped-up version of home.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. Is Kepler-22b a rocky world like Earth?

In fact, scientists don't know what Kepler-22b is made of. It could be rocky, like Earth. It could be covered by an ocean. Or it could resemble a mini-version of Neptune, wrapped in thick gas with no solid surface at all (although, truth be told, we might not even know Neptune's makeup, as Mashable recently reported). All of those possibilities fit the measurements astronomers can make so far.

Its temperature is also uncertain. Models suggest that if Kepler-22b had an atmosphere similar to Earth’s, its surface could be around 72 degrees Fahrenheit. But atmospheres trap heat differently. A thicker atmosphere like Venus' could make the planet much hotter, causing liquid to evaporate, while a thinner one like Mars' could leave it frigid. 

What makes Kepler-22b special?

What Kepler-22b does represent is a milestone. It was the first confirmed planet squarely inside the habitable zone of a sun-like star. Its discovery showed that planets close to Earth’s size, on Earth-like orbits, are not impossible to find. Kepler went on to identify thousands more candidates, many smaller and cooler than the early finds.

Apple TV's "Pluribus" spotlights Kepler-22b, a real habitable-zone exoplanet discovered by NASA that remains a scientific mystery. Credit: Apple TV Can a spacecraft visit Kepler-22b?

Pluribus imagines Kepler-22b as an ocean world that sends a gift to humanity through radio waves. In real life, no such signals have arrived, no RNA instructions lurk in the static, and no shared consciousness has helped engineers build a faster-than-light-speed spacecraft. 

The planet's extreme distance from Earth adds a hard limit. Kepler-22b sits about 640 light-years away. At highway speeds of 60 mph, a road trip there would take about 7 billion years. Even the Voyager 1 spacecraft, zooming through interstellar space at 38,000 mph right now, would take 11 million years to get there. 

That's at least one way the show remains loyal to the astronomical facts. Carol asks what the "people" there are like. 

"We’ll probably never learn the first thing about them," Zosia says. "They’re too far away." 

The year of slop and rage bait is coming to a close, and some singles would surely use those words to describe dating in 2025, as well. 

Mid-year, daters told Mashable they're tired of dating apps and want to meet people in person, but they didn't know how. Meanwhile, others used AI to date for them, or they chose to meet and "marry" an AI instead.

SEE ALSO: Tinder's predictions for dating in 2026

With such a whirlwind year, we've picked the five ways that dating changed in 2025 — maybe (excuse the Wicked reference) for good.

AI infiltrates dating

Dating apps began utilizing AI before this year, but in 2025, AI-driven features took off. Despite Mashable asking back in February if AI can save dating apps — and noting the cons — apps continue to invest in such features. Tinder announced in its latest earnings call that it's testing an AI matchmaker called Chemistry, while Hinge launched AI-powered conversation starters in December. The founder of Hinge even announced that he's stepping away from the app to launch an AI dating service called Overtone. 

Daters themselves are also leaning into the AI boom. Match found that 300 percent more singles use AI to date in 2025 than in 2024. And Hinge recently reported that while its daters are longing for deeper connections, some are using the tech to find a partner, too. 

SEE ALSO: AI will play an even bigger role in our love lives in 2026, experts say

Don't think that AI usage stops when you do find that special someone: Some engaged couples are now using ChatGPT to plan their weddings. 

And that's if they're marrying a human. This year, we've seen an increase in people in relationships with chatbots themselves. According to one survey (by an AI company, so take it with a grain of salt), eight in 10 people in Gen Z would marry an AI. 

We fell out of love with the apps 

You're not imagining it: dating apps have lost their sparkle this past year. Seventy-eight percent of all dating app users reported feeling burnt out by the apps, according to a 2025 Forbes Health report. Dating apps are losing users, with Ofcom figures showing a gradual decline in users across all the main apps, with a particular decrease in female usership. And is it any wonder why? As a dating app user, they feel dead. You spend so much time swiping for very few matches, none of whom seem to want to engage in any kind of conversation. It feels like a waste of time. 

This year saw the explosion of "offline dating," formerly known as just "dating" for those old enough to remember a world before swiping. As people fell out of love with the apps, they decided to take things outside (literally) and put themselves out there in the real world. People flocked to singles' events at bars, bookshops, run clubs, art schools, even sandwich shops. Bye bye dating apps, hello rom-com worthy meet-cutes and wholesome IRL encounters.

Boyfriends are officially out 

Is having a boyfriend embarrassing now? It certainly seems to be, according to the viral British Vogue essay by Chanté Joseph, which interrogates whether it's now deeply uncool, nay "culturally loser-ish," to post about your boyfriend on main. Posting a pic of your boyfriend with the caption "boy did good"? Dead. Not just dead, but outright loser behaviour. 

What's going on? Well, women are decentering relationships from their lives. We're romanticising our friendships, centering joy, celebrating girlhood, healing our inner child, attempting to unlearn the male gaze, and becoming more self-actualised. Being single is a symbol of strength, independence, self-fulfilment. Relationships no longer hold the social capital they once did. There's simply more interesting stuff going on! 

SEE ALSO: I haven't had a boyfriend for a decade. Here's what I've learned. More surveillance by governments — and each other

2025 brought more age-verification laws around the globe. These laws typically require inputting personal data, such as a government-issued ID or a facial scan, into a website containing material that governments deem to be intended for adults. 

Dating apps are no exception. Earlier this year, several major apps like Hinge and Tinder told Mashable they'd require age checks due to the UK's age-verification law, the Online Safety Act. Tinder has taken it a step further by requiring a facial scan for all new users in the United States, following a trial in California. 

As dating apps grapple with security issues — such as bad actors and spam accounts — they're tightening restrictions on who can join, and the information required to swipe.

Surveillance is also increasingly occurring amongst daters themselves. Private Facebook groups like "Are We Dating the Same Guy?" continue to grow (and even face legal action, though a lawsuit about these groups was dismissed earlier this year), while a major controversy among singles this year was the leak of the Tea app. On Tea, women posted their experiences with certain men (similar to Are We Dating the Same Guy), and a major cyberattack exposed people's photos and IDs. 

As Tom Stroud wrote for Mashable, these spaces have "ushered in a new era of dating with receipts."

Cost of living hits our love lives more than ever

The cost of living has risen globally in the past few years. In the U.S., tariffs imposed by the Trump administration have also instilled a fear of rising prices, and that fear is coming to pass in some cases.

Wages aren't keeping up, and we're entering a grueling job market where recent graduates may be being replaced by AI. The result is that people, especially young adults, have less discretionary income.

No doubt this impacts dating. Mashable has been covering this phenomenon of cost of living impacting relationships for years now, but in 2025, it became starker than ever. In September, 28 percent of men said they'd rather date an AI than be single due to the cost of dating. 

TL;DR: Treat yourself to the gift of relief — get a lifetime license to Microsoft Office Home & Business 2021 for Mac for just $49.97 (reg. $219) and say goodbye to subscriptions.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office Home & Business for Mac 2021: Lifetime License $49.97
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Between streaming, fitness, and every productivity app under the sun, monthly fees add up fast. That’s why Microsoft Office Home & Business 2021 for Mac stands out: pay $49.97 just once, and you’ll own a lifetime license with the full suite of everyday Office tools.

Here’s what’s included: Word for polished documents, Excel for number-crunching, PowerPoint for presentations that don’t put your audience to sleep, Outlook for wrangling email and calendars, Teams (basic) for collaboration, and OneNote for all the scribbles and ideas you’d otherwise lose on sticky notes. It’s everything most Mac users need day-to-day, and it’s the Home & Business edition — meaning it works just as well for freelancers and small teams as it does for students or families.

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Setup is painless, too. The code ties directly to your Microsoft account (not your device), so you’re good to go once redeemed. Download links and license keys hit your inbox instantly, and you’re up and running without any confusing hoops. Plus, you’ll stay compatible with macOS 13, 14, and 15 with updates included.

This holiday season, give yourself the gift of ending a never-ending payment cycle — get a lifetime license to Microsoft Office for Mac for a one-time payment of $49.97 (reg. $219).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: This exclusive StackSocial deal gets you lifetime access to Babbel Language Learning for $159 with promo code LEARN.

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If picking up a new language — or a whole collection of them — has been on your mind, now’s the moment to dive in. For a limited time, StackSocial is offering Babbel Language Learning (all languages) as a lifetime deal, letting you unlock every course for far less than usual. A single $159 payment (reg. $646.20) with code LEARN gives you access forever, no renewals required.

Unlike no-name apps that promise fluency without substance, Babbel was developed by over 100 expert linguists and backed by researchers from Yale University. It’s designed to help you actually speak a new language with confidence — whether you’re prepping for a trip abroad, connecting with family, or hoping to boost your career.

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You’ll get access to 14 languages and 10,000+ hours of high-quality content. Lessons are short and made to fit into even packed schedules — just 10 to 15 minutes — and available on desktop or mobile, with progress synced across devices. You can even download lessons to practice offline, whether that’s on a flight or in a Wi-Fi dead zone on the subway.

Here’s part of what makes Babbel a standout:

• Real conversations: Lessons focus on practical topics like dining, shopping, transportation, and more.

• Speech recognition: Built-in tools help you perfect pronunciation and avoid awkward slip-ups.

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• Expert design: A proven method that emphasizes conversational skills over rote memorization.

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Pick up a lifetime Babbel Language Learning access for $159 (reg. $646.20) with this limited-time exclusive offer from StackSocial using code LEARN for a limited time.

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Anyone hunting for a last-minute holiday gift for the tech-savvy person on your list — or if you’re simply ready to level up your own digital life — Internxt’s 100TB Lifetime Cloud Storage Plan for $974.97 (reg. $9,900) is one of those rare, practical splurges that keeps paying off for years.

Internxt takes a different approach to cloud storage: everything is private by design, open-source, and end-to-end encrypted. Your files aren’t just stored — they’re split into encrypted fragments so no unintended party can ever read them.

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With zero-knowledge architecture, even Internxt can’t view your data. That’s a reassuring upgrade in a world where your digital footprint keeps getting bigger.

Across Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and any browser, you can store, sync, and share files instantly. Photos, videos, work archives, creative projects, multi-gig backups — it all fits comfortably inside 100TB. And because Internxt now uses post-quantum encryption, your storage is designed to withstand tomorrow’s computing power, not just today’s.

This plan shines especially for photographers managing giant RAW libraries, remote workers juggling massive project folders, families backing up years of memories, and anyone who’s tired of juggling subscriptions and running out of space.

The interface is clean and intuitive, sharing is simple, and performance stays lightning-fast thanks to Internxt’s optimized infrastructure.

Whether you’re gifting peace of mind to someone else — or finally giving it to yourself — 100TB of lifetime, fully private cloud storage is a seriously thoughtful upgrade for the new year and beyond. Get Internxt’s 100TB of cloud storage for life with a single $974.97 payment (reg. $9,900) for the holidays.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

If you felt like you needed more Seth Meyers and Sabrina Carpenter after watching that Day Drinking episode, there's good news.

On Monday, Late Night released seven minutes of bonus footage, which includes an innuendo-based game, some song-themed cocktails, and plenty more alcohol-fuelled giggling.

Get these two their own podcast already.

ChatGPT is giving your chatbot conversations the Spotify Wrapped treatment, launching personalised end-of-year recap Your Year with ChatGPT. In the spirit of the holidays, perhaps this is a good opportunity to reflect on your AI use.

What is Your Year with ChatGPT?

Launched today, Your Year with ChatGPT is a personalised summary of how you've used the generative AI chatbot throughout the past year. This includes statistics such as the number of messages sent, chats you've had, images generated, and "em-dashes exchanged."

Similarly to Spotify Wrapped's clubs, Your Year with ChatGPT also gives out "awards" determined by your behaviour. These vary depending upon what you primarily used ChatGPT for, whether it was to brainstorm business ideas, generate images, or for any other purpose. Some users are already sharing their superlatives such as "Most Likely to Automate His Entire Personality" and "Most Likely to Automate His Own Thought Process." There's a lot to unpack there.

Your Year with ChatGPT's wrap up also features an AI-generated poem and comes illustrated by AI-generated images, including a pixel graphic based on your interests. Just as with other end-of-year wrap ups, these graphics are intended to be saved and shared, helping you tell everyone exactly how much you relied on AI in 2025.

How to get Your Year with ChatGPT This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

To see Your Year with ChatGPT, either access ChatGPT in your web browser, or open the ChatGPT app on Android or iOS (first ensuring that it's up to date). From there, you should see Your Year with ChatGPT prominently promoted on the home page, which you can select to see your summary. OpenAI states that you can also just ask ChatGPT to "show me my year with ChatGPT" in the same way you would make any other request of the AI chatbot. 

Of course, Year with ChatGPT does require you to have used the chatbot enough that there is actually data to collate. Users must also have "reference saved memory" and "reference chat history" turned on in their ChatGPT settings.

Your Year with ChatGPT is available to free users as well as those with a Plus or Pro subscription, though not everywhere. The feature is only being rolled out to users in the US, U.K., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

OpenAI states that it will be rolling out Your Year with ChatGPT throughout the day, so if you don't see yours yet you may simply need to check back later.

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

It's been six months since I reviewed the Dell UltraSharp 4K Thunderbolt Hub Monitor (U2725QE), an LCD computer screen that convinced me to give up my search for an OLED upgrade.

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

To express oneself.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answer

EMOTE

Hurdle Word 2 hint

An EMT.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for December 23, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

MEDIC

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Pastry chef.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for December 23 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for December 23, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

BAKER

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Liquified.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for December 23 Hurdle Word 4 answer

PUREE

Final Hurdle hint

To switch.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answer

PIVOT

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

TL;DR: Live stream Arsenal vs. Crystal Palace in the EFL Cup for free on ITVX. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

These are special times for Crystal Palace fans. Fresh from winning the FA Cup last season, they now find themselves in the top half of the Premier League and the quarter finals of the EFL Cup. Arsenal stand in their way in the cup, so it's going to be very tough to progress. But Oliver Glasner seems to have the magic touch with this squad — anything is possible.

If you want to watch Arsenal vs. Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Arsenal vs. Crystal Palace?

Arsenal vs. Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup is likely to take place on Dec. 23. This fixture takes place at the Emirates Stadium.

How to watch Arsenal vs. Crystal Palace for free

Arsenal vs. Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock ITVX to stream the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Arsenal vs. Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit ITVX

5. Watch Arsenal vs. Crystal Palace for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the Carabao Cup without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Arsenal vs. Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on ITVX, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream Arsenal vs. Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Tunisia vs. Uganda in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free on Channel 4. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The World Cup is still months away but there's no shortage of soccer excitement thanks to the Africa Cup of Nations , which takes place over the holiday season and pits 24 top Africa soccer nations against each other.

The tournament is held in Morocco, and the host nation — aka the Atlas Lions — are heavy favorites to win the whole thing. But you never know what will happen in the group stages. That's part of the magic of any tournament.

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Group C kicks off today with Nigeria vs. Tanzania, followed by Tunisia vs. Uganda. Nigeria are probably the strongest team in this group but Tunisia have the talent to do well, including Premier League midfielder Hannibal Mejbri. They're in good form too, having just qualified for the 2026 World Cup without conceding a single goal. They're certainly be favorites over Uganda, a team that has only qualified for AFCON a handful of times in recent years. But like we say, anything can happen in the early stages of tournament soccer.

If you want to watch Tunisia vs. Uganda in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Tunisia vs. Uganda?

Tunisia vs. Uganda in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on Dec. 23. This fixture takes place at the Olympic Stadium.

How to watch Tunisia vs. Uganda for free

Tunisia vs. Uganda in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations is available to live stream for free on Channel 4.

Channel 4 is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock Channel 4 to stream AFCON for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Tunisia vs. Uganda for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit Channel 4

5. Watch Tunisia vs. Uganda for free from anywhere in the world

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The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of AFCON without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Tunisia vs. Uganda (plus more 2025 Africa Cup of Nations fixtures) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Channel 4?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Channel 4, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Watch Tunisia vs. Uganda in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Nigeria vs. Tanzania in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free on Channel 4. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

If you're looking for a soccer fix over the holidays, the Africa Cup of Nations promises fantastic action. The event, which is held every two years, sees 24 African countries compete — including world class players from clubs in top leagues.

With numerous group games already in the books, including tournament hosts — not to mention favorites — Morocco taking on Comoros, the AFCON excitement continues with Nigeria vs. Tanzania in Group C. Tanzania enter this group opener as the underdogs — this is only their fourth time qualifying for the tournament — while Nigeria are always a team to watch in AFCON. They're multi-time champions and finished in second place in 2023. They've also got striking power in the form of Galatasaray forward Victor Osimhen.

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If you want to watch Nigeria vs. Tanzania in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Nigeria vs. Tanzania?

Nigeria vs. Tanzania in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off at 1.30 p.m. ET on Dec. 23. This fixture takes place at the Complexe Sportif de Fes.

How to watch Nigeria vs. Tanzania for free

Nigeria vs. Tanzania in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations is available to live stream for free on Channel 4.

Channel 4 is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock Channel 4 to stream AFCON for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Nigeria vs. Tanzania for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit Channel 4

5. Watch Nigeria vs. Tanzania for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of AFCON without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream South Africa vs. Angola (plus more 2025 Africa Cup of Nations fixtures) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Channel 4?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Channel 4, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Watch Nigeria vs. Tanzania in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Senegal vs. Botswana in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free on Channel 4. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Africa Cup of Nations is one of the biggest soccer tournaments in the world and is sure to whet the appetite of fans waiting for next year's World Cup. There's a big game to catch today as Senegal and Botswana clash in Group D, which also sees action today from DR Congo vs. Benin.

Tournament hosts Morocco are overall favourites but Senegal are in good form and, with star player Sadio Mané in their squad, are coming off an 8-0 win over Kenya. This game is an opportunity to Senegal to mark themselves as major contenders. They're also no strangers to silverware, having won AFCON back in 2021.

If you want to watch Senegal vs. Botswana in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Senegal vs. Botswana?

Senegal vs. Botswana in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off at 10 a.m. ET on Dec. 23. This fixture takes place at the Grande Stade de Tangier.

How to watch Senegal vs. Botswana for free

Senegal vs. Botswana in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations is available to live stream for free on Channel 4.

Channel 4 is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock Channel 4 to stream AFCON for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Senegal vs. Botswana for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit Channel 4

5. Watch Senegal vs. Botswana for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of AFCON without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Senegal vs. Botswana (plus more 2025 Africa Cup of Nations fixtures) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Channel 4?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Channel 4, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Watch Senegal vs. Botswana in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream DR Congo vs. Benin in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free on Channel 4. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Africa Cup of Nations is delivering hot soccer action all through the holidays, with plenty of nations that bring something different to the pitch. Next up is the Democratic Republic of Congo against Benin, who follow the likes of South Africa vs. Angola and Mali vs. Zambia.

DR Congo finished fourth in the 2023 edition of the tournament. They haven't made the final since their winning effort in 1974 but they have some solid players in their squad, including Lille defender Chancel Mbemba and West Ham wing back Aaron Wan-Bissaka. Benin enter the game as underdogs — this is only the fourth time the West African squad has qualified for the tournament in their history.

If you want to watch DR Congo vs. Benin in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is DR Congo vs. Benin?

DR Congo vs. Benin in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off at 7.30 a.m. ET on Dec. 23. This fixture takes place at the Stade El Barid.

How to watch DR Congo vs. Benin for free

DR Congo vs. Benin in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations is available to live stream for free on Channel 4.

Channel 4 is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock Channel 4 to stream AFCON for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream DR Congo vs. Benin for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit Channel 4

5. Watch DR Congo vs. Benin for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of AFCON without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream DR Congo vs. Benin (plus more 2025 Africa Cup of Nations fixtures) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Channel 4?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Channel 4, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Watch DR Congo vs. Benin in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free with ExpressVPN.

Uber admits it is routinely approving drivers with violent felony convictions — including assault, child abuse, and stalking — so long as those convictions were more than seven years ago. That's in the wake of a damning New York Times investigation (the second in six months) into Uber's ongoing problems with safety, particularly for female riders.

The ride-hailing app does at least have a blanket ban on would-be drivers convicted of murder, kidnapping, sexual assault, or terrorism. But in 22 states, the Times uncovered approvals for drivers convicted of other violent acts past the seven-year horizon. It also found a loophole in 35 states:

Background checks are only looking for crimes committed in the place the driver lived, letting other convictions slip through the net.

Uber defended the seven-year time window as "striking the right balance" between rider safety and letting people who've been convicted of a crime rebuild their lives. But the company has also admitted — in a roundabout way — that its rides aren't safe enough.

Uber admits a serious report of sexual abuse or sexual misconduct was filed every 32 minutes.

When the previous Times report found that Uber received reports of sexual abuse or misconduct against drivers every eight minutes on average between 2017 and 2022, the company responded by saying that 75 percent of those reports were "less serious." By which it meant cases where drivers used explicit language, flirted, or made comments on a passenger's appearance.

Even leaving aside the likelihood that those 75 percent of passengers still felt unsafe enough to report an incident, this still means in effect that Uber admits a "serious" report of sexual abuse or sexual misconduct was filed every 32 minutes.

Meanwhile, a third of people arrested on rape charges have at least one felony conviction, according to a U.S. Department of Justice study. Several Uber drivers convicted of rape in the past five years, and one Lyft driver, had violent felony convictions. Two of these cases took place in California, where people with violent felonies are supposed to be permanently banned from working for ride-hailing apps.

SEE ALSO: Uber, Lyft face lawsuits from male drivers, claiming discrimination

So just how lax is Uber's background check? Our biggest clue comes from officials in Massachusetts, who did background checks of drivers on ride-hailing apps in 2017 and banned 8,000 drivers that had been approved, largely by Uber. (Lyft's policy is not to approve any drivers with violent convictions, no matter how much time has passed; Lyft has also recently allowed riders to block drivers altogether.)

If Massachusetts is any indicator, then, riders have a roughly 1 in 10 chance of getting a driver who would not be approved by state regulators.

Uber reportedly considered but rejected more than 20 new safety measures — including fingerprint checks, deemed too costly and too slow, at a time when Uber wanted to onboard new drivers faster. "We are def not doing everything we can," one Uber executive said in an internal email in 2018.

"The fact this is an internal policy that we don’t feel comfortable talking about," the exec added, "highlights the need for improvement here."

The moon is back into view now, and after a few nights of darkness, if you look hard enough, you should be able to catch a glimpse of come craters of mares.

What is today’s moon phase?

As of Tuesday, Dec. 23, the moon phase is Waxing Crescent. According to NASA's Daily Moon Observation, 11% of the moon will be lit up tonight.

With an unaided eye tonight, you can spot the Mares Crisium and the Fecunditatis. If you add binoculars or a telescope, you'll also be able to see the Endymion Crater.

When is the next full moon?

The next full moon will be on Jan. 3. The last full moon was on Dec. 4.

What are moon phases?

According to NASA, the Moon takes around 29.5 days to complete one full cycle. This is known as the lunar cycle. Throughout this time, it passes through a series of phases as it orbits Earth. Although the same side of the Moon always faces us, the amount of sunlight reflecting off its surface changes, which is why it can appear fully illuminated, partly lit, or completely invisible at different points in the cycle. This process is divided into eight main lunar phases:

New Moon - The moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)

Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

TL;DR: A dependable, lightweight refurbished MacBook Air (2017) with up to 12 hours of battery life is just $199.97 (reg. $999) with free shipping — an easy upgrade for everyday tasks.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air 2017 (Refurbished) $199.97
$999 Save $799.03   Get Deal

Most of us head into the new year with fresh goals. Whether they’re career-focused or more personal, like finally drafting that book idea you’ve been sitting on — this Apple MacBook Air (2017) is a surprisingly ideal companion.

At just $199.97 (reg. $999) with free shipping, it’s an affordable way to add a reliable, lightweight laptop to your productivity lineup.

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

This refurbished model delivers exactly what most people need from a daily-use computer. The 1.8GHz Intel Core i5 processor handles emails, documents, browsing, and light creative work smoothly. The 128GB SSD keeps things snappy and gives you room for files, drafts, photos, and essential apps.

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As a Grade A/B refurbished unit, it may show minor cosmetic wear, but performance-wise, it’s tested and ready for regular use.

If you’re hoping to kick off the new year with better tools (and without overspending), this pre-holiday sale might do the trick.

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TL;DR: AdGuard Family Plan is currently just $15.97 with code FAMPLAN — block ads, boost privacy, and protect up to nine devices for life.

Opens in a new window Credit: AdGuard AdGuard Family Plan: Lifetime Subscription $15.97
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If your online experience doesn’t feel smooth or optimized, this holiday deal makes it almost too easy to declutter your digital life.

The AdGuard Family Plan Lifetime Subscription is just $15.97 (reg. $169.99) when you use code FAMPLAN, and it gives you powerful ad blocking and privacy protection across up to nine devices — forever.

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

AdGuard is more than a simple pop-up remover. It’s a full ad-blocking and safety toolkit designed to make everyday browsing feel calmer, cleaner, and faster. Pages load without the usual clutter of banners, autoplay videos, and distracting overlays, and the built-in privacy shield helps keep trackers from collecting information about your family’s online habits.

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It’s a small one-time payment for a noticeably smoother online experience, and a helpful upgrade heading into the new year.

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Elementary OS isn't as popular as it once was, but it's still a well-designed desktop Linux distribution with an excellent suite of custom-built applications. Now, a new major version is available with multitasking improvements, 64-bit ARM support, and much more.