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At his best, Spike Lee keeps his audience on their toes, never totally sure where he might go next. In Highest 2 Lowest, his latest collaboration with Denzel Washington (Mo' Better Blues, Malcolm X, He Got Game, Inside Man), Lee is having an absolute blast keeping us off-balance. 

Washington headlines this New York City-set thriller as record exec David King, whose wealth, company, family, and legacy are thrown into spin when his son is kidnapped for ransom. Washington has especially been delivering smashing performances as of late in everything from The Tragedy of Macbeth to Gladiator II, but there's something special here. You can feel the trust between him and Lee as the always-exploring filmmaker plays with tone, frequency, film stocks, and continuity to grant Washington the space to experiment and thrive. 

Rather than a cold ransom drama built on the shoulders of a glowering leading man, Lee trusts Washington to brandish that signature smile as freely as his Academy Award–winning snarl. But the movie star also gets to flex some less tested moves and emotions. This makes for some sequences that play peculiarly on a first watch. But on reflection, what Lee and Washington set up in a discomforting first act lays the groundwork for a climax that hits like a subway train. 

Highest 2 Lowest delivers a tale of mistaken identity and hard-won justice with Spike Lee flair. Aubrey Joseph and Elijah Wright plays friends in "Highest 2 Lowest." Credit: A24

Screenwriter Alan Fox adapted Highest 2 Lowest from Ed McBain's 1959 novel King's Ransom, which was previously translated to the screen by legendary Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa in 1963 with High or Low. In the opening credits to Lee's film, both are cited as source material. All three versions present a wealthy businessman on the brink of a major professional gamble, who is forced to pivot his focus — and funds — when a kidnapper abducts his son. However, Fox making his businessman a record exec who focuses on developing Black artists gives new dimension to this story.

By making King's business one of preserving Black culture and uplifting Black voices, Fox's script gives richer texture to his conflict. Surrendering the money means his business deal is dead, so to save his son, he risks sacrificing his professional legacy — if the cops can't catch the kidnappers. Of course, his son is also his legacy. But what will David do when it turns out that the kidnappers grabbed the wrong kid? Will he pay $17.5 million, potentially going broke and handing over his company in the process, for his godson Kyle (Elijah Wright)?

While David, his wife Pam (Ilfenesh Hadera), and his rattled son Trey (Aubrey Joseph) discuss this matter in their lavish high-rise apartment — which suddenly seems less untouchable — they speak with an eerie calm. Speaking in stilted delivery, David and his family seem numb to the gravity of their situation. Maybe they are shocked that something so low and criminal can touch them all the way up here. Or perhaps this composure, strange as it is, is constructed, a presentation for the public — the police — who've invaded their home. Maybe the social pressure to keep cool has even impacted how they react in front of each other.

There's little yelling. In fact, when Trey shouts at his father, demanding the ransom be paid for his friend, the teen is scolded for the tone he's taken toward his father. As this goes on, a campaign poster for Kamala Harris hangs on the wall behind them. The reminder to be excellent and smiling even in the face of defeat and indignity is everywhere. Their apartment is elegantly decorated with icons of Black culture, framed copies of books by Maya Angelou and Zora Neale Hurston, paintings, including some of Black pro athletes, and photographs of Stevie Wonder, James Brown, and Aretha Franklin, alongside cover photos of David King himself.

The Kings celebrate and represent Black excellence in their work, their charity, and their home. But is that all just talk if David won't risk his wealth to save Kyle? To answer that question, Lee — as the title suggests — will leave the high-rise to go down, down, down, to the subways of New York City. Naturally, the 4 train to the Bronx is where the handoff is supposed to happen. 

When Highest 2 Lowest cuts to the chase, Lee has us by the throat.  Denzel Washington rides the subway in "Highest 2 Lowest." Credit: A24

The film starts slow, purposefully so. The first act drama is all about contracts and high-minded debates about purpose. But once David straps on a backpack full of millions to pay off the abductors, Lee hits his rhythm with purpose, delivering a street-smart, character-driven journey through New York City. 

Washington sheds the high-priced suits for an almost incognito look of all-black casual wear topped with a ball cap. As the train fills with Yankees fans, rowdy for game day, the soundtrack becomes diegetic, through the rousing music from the Puerto Rican Day Parade (with a cameo from Do the Right Thing's Rosie Perez as herself!) happening below the now-elevated train. The energy of all this activity is propulsive, driving not only the plot forward, but also pulling audiences to the edge of their seats. When all the carefully laid plans of the Kings and the cops go south, my audience rippled with gasps and even a handful of shouts. Lee had effectively made us bystanders on that train, invested in the drama like it was our own. And everything that comes after is Lee relishing the absolute chokehold he has on his audience — even after the kidnapped teen is recovered.

Rather than returning King to business as usual, King is on a quest to reclaim what he lost, and understand why he lost it to begin with. This pulls him out of the facade of control that was his offices, and plunges him onto his old stomping grounds in the Boogie Down Bronx, alongside his friend/driver (a simmering Jeffrey Wright) with a gun on his hip and a showdown with a mysterious rapper called Yung Felon (played by A$AP Rocky) ahead of him. 

A$AP Rocky and Denzel Washington are fire together.  A$AP Rocky plays Yung Felon in "Highest 2 Lowest." Credit: A24

Without giving too much of the plot away, King and Felon are destined to come face to face. Where one came from the heights of a high-rise, the other's recording in a grimy basement studio. But both are gamblers who made music their biggest risk, and it's ultimately put them at odds. Rocky, who also has a role in this year's If I had Legs I Would Kick You, is mesmerizing as this ferocious rapper, spitting bars with the same confidence he exhibits while slinging insults at Washington's King. Washington meets his intensity, but not his energy. The power dynamic favors the older man, and so Washington leans into a condescending calm, a king on a throne staring down at a fool.

Rocky and Washington are extraordinary, channeling passion, rage, and self-righteousness into explosive exchanges both personal and political. These two deliver some of the best scene work in a movie this year. But it wouldn't hit as hard as it does if it weren't for Lee's careful construction of the film's first act. To appreciate where David ends up, you have to understand where he was when we first met him.

See, beyond his business, his family, and his legacy, David is at his core struggling to recapture his passion for the music. It's a problem his wife identifies during a scolding on the balcony in act one. But it's a dissonance that Lee sets up with the opening song. Though King's whole career has been dedicated to Black artists in rap and R&B, the song that plays over the movie's first moments — when we first see King high up on his Brooklyn balcony overlooking the Manhattan skyline —  is "Oh, What A Beautiful Mornin'," the cheerful farmer tune from Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma! 

Its folksy attitude clashes with the iconic views of New York City's urban landscape of glass and steel. The jaunty singing of cowboy-hatted Gordon MacRae is willfully jarring against the stony expression of David King in his sharply tailored suit. It's genuinely funny — though not as funny in the deeply NY way as Lee's later swipes at the Celtics and charming dad jokes about "Jake from State Farm."

Lee begins by pushing the viewer off-balance with this earnest, out-of-place song, because music mogul David King is so out of touch with his own musical inspirations at this moment. It's not until King is back on the streets that he can reconnect with that passion, that energy of New York that Lee captures so well. And there's a twisted pleasure in Washington's performance, recognizing this thrill even as the hunger for it could ruin King's whole realm. 

Lee is incredible. With Highest 2 Lowest, he richly reimagines Kurosawa's film within his own lens, showcasing Black pride and New York pride with great joy. With this, Lee grants Washington the room to move, taking big swings as his character does, and delivering one of his best performances in a decade. To that, Rocky and the ensemble bring an intoxicating vibrancy, especially in the film's second half. All of this builds to create an ending that will make you want to stand up and cheer. 

This is a journey. This is a ride. Highest 2 Lowest is Lee and Washington, reunited and good as ever. 

Highest 2 Lowest opens in theaters on Aug. 15, debuting on Apple TV+ Sept. 5. 

Dangerous Animals has a killer hook: Jai Courtney stars as a deranged serial killer who uses sharks as his weapon of choice.

It sounds bonkers, like something you'd see in an old Batman comic, in an Austin Powers movie, or on late-night TV, back when the ads were all 1-900 numbers. But props to screenwriter Nick Lepard and director Sean Byrne. They bring blood and bite to this funky premise, delivering a movie that's deep in dread, sweat, thrills, and chills. 

Sure, when sharks swim into horror, things can get pretty gnarly. The all-time classic is Jaws, where the gore of chewed-up human remains is balanced with an engaging character-driven drama. Splashier slaughters came from that seminal film's more vicious offspring, ranging from the shark slasher Deep Blue Sea to more realistic thrillers like The Shallows and 47 Meters Down, with the over-the-top Jason Statham adventure The Meg and the proudly trashy Sharknado film series taking a more gonzo approach to the subgenre.

SEE ALSO: Summer Movie Preview: What's coming to theaters and streaming?

Yet, Dangerous Animals isn't of this breed. Instead, sharks in this movie are sort of a bait and switch for something more surprising and far more sinister. 

Dangerous Animals is more serial killer horror than shark creature feature.  Hassie Harrison plays Zephyr in "Dangerous Animals." Credit: IFC Films

Those familiar with Sean Byrne's previous films may not be surprised to discover the sharks aren't the scariest things in Dangerous Animals. No shade to these kings of the ocean. Cinematographer Shelley Farthing-Dawe and editor Kasra Rassoulzadegan masterfully capture and edit shots of sharks swimming with a delicious sense of menace. Some such scenes are so striking in the way they portray the power and size of these creatures that it literally took my breath away. But sharks are not the monsters in this movie. They're just being sharks!

The monster here is Tucker (Courtney), a sun-cooked Aussie who makes a living on the Gold Coast by taking tourists out on his boat to go on shark dives. Sure, many come and go with nothing but a brush with nature and happy memories. But from the film's frightening opening sequence, audiences are made aware of Tucker's dark side. It's not just chum this rugged fellow tosses overboard to the sharks. He feeds them ritualistically, feeling a deep connection to the beasts and taking special pleasure in watching them feast  — on young women, specifically.

SEE ALSO: The angry Australian animal Australians are actually scared of

This is in line with Byrne's brand of horror, which tends to center the terrible things mankind does to its own. The Aussie filmmaker made his debut with 2009's The Loved Ones, which centered on a teen girl taking out her most twisted desires on a kidnapped crush. Then in 2015 came The Devil's Candy, starring Ethan Embry as a family man (and metalhead) who strives to protect his teen daughter from the homicidal urges of a mentally ill (or arguably possessed) old man.

Dangerous Animals feels a natural progression for Byrne, containing the heavy-metal energy of his sophomore film with the sadistic glee of his first. And Courtney proves his pitch-perfect collaborator in making a movie that's unrelentingly twisted and rousingly entertaining. 

Jai Courtney is a rip-roaring force of nature in Dangerous Animals.  Jai Courtney plays a serial killer who uses sharks as a weapon in "Dangerous Animals." Credit: IFC Films

The Australian actor has had a fascinating career, having been floated as a possible predecessor for Bruce Willis in the universally panned A Good Day to Die Hard in 2013. He's appeared in several action franchise movies since then, from Divergent to Terminator: Genisys to 2016's Suicide Squad and its odd 2021 pseudo-sequel. But only the last of these — where he played the wild card DC supervillain Captain Boomerang — gave a sense of the unique dichotomy of Courtney's abilities. 

SEE ALSO: 34 bloody excellent Australian horror movies that'll mess you up (and where to watch them)

Broad-shouldered and handsome, he's a natural fit for the action hero mold. But his performance in David Ayer's Suicide Squad showed Courtney could be funny and get weird with it. It was an exhilarating rush to watch him do just that. In Dangerous Animals, he is unleashed. Forget the serious brooding or dashing swagger of bog-standard leading men. Courtney has something more rare and beguiling, a crooked smile that promises trouble and a wild eye that threatens carnage.

In Dangerous Animals, Tucker's sheer brute force makes him scary. But Courtney, finding the fun in playing such a monster, makes the character instantly iconic. He is so undeniably charming in tourist-pleasing mode that it's easy to see how his prey is lured in. For the free-spirited surfer named Zephyr (Hassie Harrison), the heroine at the heart of Dangerous Animals, he disarms her by offering her a favor — no strings attached. But just as quickly as he can flash his teeth in a smile, he can bite. And this makes Byrne's movie more than just a torrid thriller. 

Dangerous Animals is a mesmerizing horror story about toxic masculinity. 

Tucker loves the sound of his own voice. While keeping women locked away in an effectively sound-proofed cell on his boat, he delivers unwelcomed speeches about the nature of animals. Courtney captures the snarling bravado heard on countless macho podcasts, dropping fun facts about sharks, snakes, and marlins, applying a philosophical varnish to his violence against women. But the visual details of Tucker's ritual, which involves vintage VHS tapes and DIY lures, suggest a more psychological motive rooted in misogyny. And this psychology is just as disturbing as the scenes of violence and slaughter by shark. 

In Dangerous Animals, Byrne and Courtney give us a mesmerizing portrait of toxic masculinity. Tucker compares himself to sharks, because as a man he feels insufficient, especially in the face of women like Zephyr. There's even an implication of impotence that evokes Luis Buñuel's The Criminal Life of Archibaldo de la Cruz, where a man aspires to murder women but never does so by his own hand. Similarly, Tucker uses sharks to commit his crimes.

Terrifying in a real-world sense, Tucker has mastered hiding his rage until he's out on the sea, where there's nowhere to run. The way he can switch from an affable bogan to a snarling beast is riveting, not only for Courtney's quickness but also because this terrible transformation reflects a common fear women have that any random smiling guy on the street might be a monster just beneath the surface. (See the man versus bear debate of 2024.) 

Remarkably, as thematically dark as Dangerous Animals is, watching it is electrifying and wickedly fun. Whether small-talking with a scruffy local, rigging up a victim for feeding time, or dancing around ritualistically to rock music in red underwear, Courtney is a live wire, sparking so intensely that his villain seems capable of anything.

Cheers to Harrison, who matches his energy with a solid disgust as Zephyr. Together, they build a cat-and-mouse tale that is jolting in the way of Byrne's previous films. Just when you think you know where Dangerous Animals is going, it dives even deeper and darker, and you're left catching your breath.

Simply put, Dangerous Animals is a satisfying, sick, and devilishly smart thriller that will excite you in theaters and stalk you on the way home. 

Dangerous Animals is now streaming on Shudder.

UPDATE: Sep. 4, 2025, 4:19 p.m. EDT "Dangerous Animals" was reviewed out of its World Premiere at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. This review, originally published on May 17, 2025, has been updated to include the latest viewing information.

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 Friday, Sept. 5, 2025:

AcrossSlumber party attire, casually

• The answer is PJs.

Surplus

• The answer is Glut.

Bobby ___, co-founder of the Black Panthers

• The answer is Seale.

Soccer announcer's cry after a goal

• The answer is It's in (no apostrophe).

Famous star-crossed lover

• The answer is Romeo.

D.C. baseball player

• The answer is Nat.

DownSubstance inside early flat-screen TVs

• The answer is Plasma.

Famous star-crossed lover

• The answer is Juliet.

Recorder in a courtroom

• The answer is Steno.

"Hop aboard!"

• The answer is Get on.

"___, yes, ___!"

• The answer is Sir.

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

Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of Games

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.

SAVE $2,000: As of Sept. 5, the Jackery Solar Generator 4000 Kit is on sale for $2,999 at Amazon. That's a 40% saving on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Jackery Jackery Solar Generator 4000 Kit $2,999 at Amazon
$4,999 Save $2,000 Get Deal

A power generator is always helpful to have on hand. Whether it's for power cuts, emergencies, or camping trips when you don't want to switch off completely, portable power stations are essential items.

If you've been in the market for a solar generator or you're seeking an upgrade, there's a great deal at Amazon right now on the Jackery Solar Generator 4000 Kit. As of Sept. 5, this beast of a power station is $2,000 off, now priced at $2,999 for a limited time.

SEE ALSO: The DJI Power 2000 portable power station means business, and it’s great for DJI drone owners

It has a huge 4085.6Wh capacity, so it can handle heavy-duty devices up to 3,000W. Think about air conditioners, RVs, and more. And it does this quietly, running at just 30dB.

Charging is quick and flexible, just like you'd want with something you may have to use last minute. It can reach 80% in about 1.3 hours via AC or 1.6 hours with the solar panels. The system can also expand from 2kWh to 24kWh, making it adaptable for everything from weekend camping trips to whole-home backup.

And you're getting your money's worth with this kit. This robust generator is designed to last up to 10 years, and it comes with a five-year warranty.

Head to Amazon to score this great power station deal.

It's September, which means it's new iPhone season.

Apple's annual flagship launch extravaganza is just a few days away, so we should probably stop, catch our breath, and review what we know so far. As always, there have been plenty of leaks and rumors surrounding the iPhone 17 launch over the past year. Some of them will undoubtedly be true, while others seem pretty sketchy. That's just how these launches go.

Don’t miss out on our latest stories: Add Mashable as a trusted news source in Google.

Let's not waste any more time. Here is everything we know, everything we think we know, and everything we know we don't know about the iPhone 17 so far.

What iPhone 17 models will we get?

First up, let's establish exactly which iPhones we're expecting in September:

• iPhone 17

• iPhone 17 Pro

• iPhone 17 Pro Max

• iPhone 17 Air

Naturally, there will be a base iPhone 17 model. That's a given, as predictable as the sun setting at night. All indications point to the iPhone 17 getting Pro and Pro Max models, as well, which would be in line with previous Apple mobile releases from the past few years. It would be a real shock if Apple pivoted away from that.

SEE ALSO: iPhones, Macs, and iPads will get GPT-5 via Apple Intelligence. Here’s when it happens.

That said, that doesn't mean this year is bereft of surprises or big changes. Numerous leaks and rumors point to an ultra-thin model, potentially called the iPhone 17 Air. The Air could replace the Plus model that used to grace the iPhone lineup for the past few years, so instead of getting a bigger version of the base model, we'll get something that has an identity of its own.

We don't know exactly how big the Air will be, but leaks suggest it will measure in somewhere between 5 and 6mm of thickness. That would make it Apple's slimmest iPhone yet, putting it in competition with the recently released Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge, a 5.8mm thick device.

iPhone 17 release date

The rumors were correct: Apple's big reveal will happen on Tuesday, Sept. 9., starting at 10:00 Pacific time.

9to5Mac also pointed out that Apple always places the official release date of each new iPhone on the Friday of the week after the launch event, so keep an eye on Friday, Sept. 19 for the phone's official release date.

Over at Forbes, reporter David Phelan predicts the new iOS 26 update will officially arrive on Monday, Sept. 15 or Tuesday, Sept. 16.

iPhone 17 lineup: The specs

Obviously, we won't see the full spec sheet for these phones until the second week of September, so none of this is certain. But we have a rough idea of what to expect from these phones.

Let's start with the displays. Prolific leaker Ice Universe (via 9to5Mac) reported all the way back in July 2024 that these would be the approximate display sizes for each new iPhone:

• iPhone 17: 6.3-inch

• iPhone 17 Pro: 6.3-inch

• iPhone 17 Pro Max: 6.7-inch

• iPhone 17 Air: 6.65-inch

Perhaps the most exciting rumor that's emerged about these new phones is that both the iPhone 17 and 17 Air will reportedly feature 120Hz displays, per MacRumors. Apple has frustratingly limited high refresh rates to its Pro phones for a few years now, even as budget Android phones like the Pixel 9a have had that feature for years. This would be a massive upgrade for Apple and would make the base and Air models even more appealing.

It's also expected that the new iPhones will have new A19 chips inside them. As in previous years, the base model will likely have a regular A19 chip, while the Pro and Pro Max models will have a more powerful A19 Pro chip powering them. Leaker Fixed focus digital on Weibo suggested the Air model will have a slightly downgraded version of the A19 Pro chip instead of a base A19, potentially giving it some additional juice over the base iPhone 17.

What about the cameras? Credit: Zain bin Awais / Mashable

Again, we won't know the full, precise camera specs for the new iPhones until September, but there are some leaks to go off of for now.

Perhaps the biggest potential development this year is a selfie cam upgrade for the new iPhones. It sounds like they'll have 24MP selfie lenses, up from 12MP on previous models. We'll have to wait and see how that actually manifests in practice, but hey, a larger number is nice.

It also sounds like the Pro models will have a trio of 48MP lenses this time. Last year, the telephoto lens was only 12MP, so that could potentially be a big step up. One last thing to note is that the Air model will supposedly only have one rear camera, similar to the old iPhone SE and iPhone 16e models. No ultra-wide or telephoto shots for Air users, unfortunately.

The iPhone 17 colors

Leaker Sonny Dixon recently posted some photos of iPhone 17 dummy models that purported to show the color options for this year's new models.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Perhaps the most striking one is a new orange color for the Pro models, which is definitely eye-catching, if nothing else. The Pro models also appear to have regular black, white, and dark blue options for people who want something a little less exciting.

Weirdly, the base model and Air seem to have less exciting color options this year than the Pro phones. In the photos, the base model appears in black, white, light blue, and pink. The Air, meanwhile, comes in black, white, beige, and light blue.

What about the iPhone Fold?

The as-yet-unnamed foldable iPhone, which tech reporters simply call the iPhone Fold, is rumored to be ready to enter production soon, but not for a 2025 release date. The most recent rumors point to a 2026 launch for Apple's long-awaited foldable phone, which will reportedly be made with Samsung display technology.

So, unless Apple has a huge surprise up its sleeve, we won't see a foldable iPhone until the launch of the iPhone 18 in 2026.

As for the specs, the iPhone Fold is shaping up to be exactly what you thought it'd be: An iPhone that transforms into a sort of an iPad mini. As of Aug. 25, the latest rumors say the iPhone Fold will have four cameras. In addition, leakers say it will have Touch ID instead of Face ID, and no SIM card.

Apple iOS 26: How will it change the way we use the iPhone? Apple shared this prevew of Liquid Glass earlier this year. Credit: Apple

Here's something we do know a lot about: Apple's iOS 26. It's not officially out yet for the wider public, as it's scheduled to launch alongside new iPhones in September, but we've tried and tested a number of different beta versions, both developer and public ones.

One thing is certain: Apple didn't change the naming scheme by accident. It's the nineteenth major release of Apple's mobile platform, and as it follows iOS 18, it should logically be called iOS 19. But Apple decided to switch to naming its iOS releases by year, and since this one covers a big chunk of 2026, it was thus named iOS 26.

There's more to it, though. Apple's iOS 26 brings a number of major changes to the platform, including the new, Liquid Glass design, a big overhaul of the Photos app, and various Apple Intelligence updates, including Live Translation and a smarter Siri. It's not a radical departure from the previous iOS (Apple doesn't really do radical departures), but it is a very notable upgrade.

Currently, iOS 26 is in its beta 7 iteration, meaning it's quite mature and likely very similar to what we'll see when the final version launches in September. Still, we'll be on the lookout for any new features and upgrades once that happens.

What else could we get at the Apple event in September?

In addition to the iPhone 17, we fully expect Apple to drop new versions of the AirPods Pro and Apple Watch. But there could also be some surprises in store, as Apple is reportedly working on a new HomePod and Apple TV devices for 2025 as well. Finally, expect a ton of announcements related to Apple Intelligence, the name for Apple's artificial intelligence features.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s iPhone 17 event looms: Every new product we expect to see

TL;DR: Live stream Ukraine vs. France in World Cup qualifiers for free on TF1+. Access this free streaming site from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

France begin their World Cup qualification campaign with a tricky fixture against Ukraine. Sure, fans will expect the likes of Mbappe and Saliba to take charge of this contest, but Ukraine possess the players to give Les Blues problems.

If you want to watch Ukraine vs. France in World Cup qualifiers for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Ukraine vs. France?

Ukraine vs. France in World Cup qualifiers kicks off at 7:45 p.m. BST on Sept. 5. This fixture takes place at the Wrocław Stadium.

How to watch Ukraine vs. France for free

Ukraine vs. France in World Cup qualifiers is available to live stream for free on TF1+.

TF1+ is geo-restricted to France, but anyone can access this free streaming service with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in France, meaning you can access free live streams on TF1+ from anywhere in the world.

Lve stream Ukraine vs. France 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 France

4. Visit TF1+

5. Stream Ukraine vs. France 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 watch Ukraine vs. France in World Cup qualifiers without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select World Cup qualifiers before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for TF1+?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on TF1+, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including France

• 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 also 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 (including money-back guarantee).

Live stream Ukraine vs. France in World Cup qualifiers for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Italy vs. Estonia in World Cup qualifiers for free on RaiPlay. Access this free streaming site from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

World Cup qualification is taking place all over the world this week, with a number of interesting matchups taking place. Italy face off against Estonia, with both sides desperate for three points. Italy have started their campaign with three points from two games, needing a win to keep pace with Norway at the top of the standings.

If you want to watch Italy vs. Estonia in World Cup qualifiers for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Italy vs. Estonia?

Italy vs. Estonia in World Cup qualifiers kicks off at 7:45 p.m. BST on Sept. 5. This fixture takes place at the Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia.

How to watch Italy vs. Estonia for free

Italy vs. Estonia in World Cup qualifiers is available to live stream for free on RaiPlay.

RaiPlay is geo-restricted to Italy, but anyone can access this free streaming service with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Italy, meaning you can access free live streams on RaiPlay from anywhere in the world.

Lve stream Italy vs. Estonia 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 Italy

4. Visit RaiPlay

5. Stream Italy vs. Estonia 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 watch Italy vs. Estonia in World Cup qualifiers without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select World Cup qualifiers before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for RaiPlay?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including Italy

• 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 also 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 (including money-back guarantee).

Live stream Italy vs. Estonia in World Cup qualifiers for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Australia vs. New Zealand in the 2025 Soccer Ashes for free on TVNZ+. Access this free streaming site from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

There are a number of massive World Cup qualifiers taking place over the coming weeks, but there's another competition that has gone under the radar. Ever heard of the Soccer Ashes? We hadn't either, but we're excited to watch the Socceroos take on the All Whites in a double-header.

If you want to watch Australia vs. New Zealand in the 2025 Soccer Ashes for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Australia vs. New Zealand?

Australia vs. New Zealand in the 2025 Soccer Ashes kicks off at 10:45 p.m. BST on Sept. 5. This fixture takes place at the Canberra Stadium.

How to watch Australia vs. New Zealand for free

Australia vs. New Zealand in the 2025 Soccer Ashes is available to live stream for free on TVNZ+.

TVNZ+ is geo-restricted to New Zealand, but anyone can access this free streaming service with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in New Zealand, meaning you can access free live streams on TVNZ+ from anywhere in the world.

Lve stream Australia vs. New Zealand 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 New Zealand

4. Visit TVNZ+

5. Stream Australia vs. New Zealand 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 watch Australia vs. New Zealand without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select games before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for TVNZ+?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including New Zealand

• 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 also 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 (including money-back guarantee).

Live stream Australia vs. New Zealand in the 2025 Soccer Ashes for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream the 2025 MotoGP Grand Prix of Catalonia for free on ServusTV. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Marc Marquez is enjoying an abolutely massive lead at the top of the 2025 MotoGP standings, but that doesn't change the fact that fans have got many more race weekends to get excited about. Sure, Marquez is probably going to win. But so what?

If you're interested in watching the 2025 MotoGP Grand Prix of Catalonia for free from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is the 2025 MotoGP Grand Prix of Catalonia?

The MotoGP Grand Prix of Catalonia takes place at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. The 2025 MotoGP Grand Prix of Catalonia race starts at 8 a.m. ET on Sept. 7.

How to watch the 2025 MotoGP Grand Prix of Catalonia for free

The MotoGP Grand Prix of Catalonia is available to live stream for free on ServusTV.

ServusTV is geo-restricted to Austria, 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 Austria, meaning you can bypass geo-restrictions to access ServusTV from anywhere in the world.

Unblock ServusTV by following this simple process:

1. Sign up for a 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 Austria

4. Connect to ServusTV

5. Watch MotoGP 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 they do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access MotoGP live streams without fully committing with your cash. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does mean you can watch the 2025 MotoGP Grand Prix of Catalonia before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for live streaming is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for MotoGP?

ExpressVPN is the top choice for unblocking ServusTV, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Austria

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is protected

• Fast streaming speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (including money-back guarantee).

Watch the 2025 MotoGP Grand Prix of Catalonia for free with ExpressVPN.

The moon is looking nice and full tonight, but it's not quite the Full Moon yet, there's still a few more days in the lunar cycle before then.

The lunar cycle is a series of eight unique phases of the moon's visibility. The whole cycle takes about 29.5 days, according to NASA, and these different phases happen as the Sun lights up different parts of the moon whilst it orbits Earth. 

So, let's see what's happening with the moon tonight, Sept. 5.

What is today’s moon phase?

As of Friday, Sept. 5, the moon phase is Waxing Gibbous, and 94% will be lit up to us on Earth, according to NASA's Daily Moon Observation.

The moon's surface is bright and visible for us at this stage, so there's a whole lot to see tonight. With just your naked eye, you'll be able to spot the Oceanus Procellarum, the Mare Serenitatis, and the Copernicus Crater. Add binoculars to see the Alphonsus and Posidonius Craters, and a telescope to see the Reiner Gamma, the Linne Crater, and the Rima Hyginus.

When is the next full moon?

The next full moon will be on Sept. 7. The last full moon was on Aug. 9.

What are moon phases?

According to NASA, moon phases are caused by the 29.5-day cycle of the moon’s orbit, which changes the angles between the Sun, Moon, and Earth. Moon phases are how the moon looks from Earth as it goes around us. We always see the same side of the moon, but how much of it is lit up by the Sun changes depending on where it is in its orbit. This is how we get full moons, half moons, and moons that appear completely invisible. There are eight main moon phases, and they follow a repeating cycle:

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.

Last Quarter (or Third 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.

Connections: Sports Edition is a new version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for the latest Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections Sports Edition?

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: NYT Mini crossword answers, hints for September 4, 2025 Here's a hint for today's Connections Sports Edition categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Sports lingo

• Green: Away games

• Blue: Player-specific

• Purple: Partial names

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections Sports Edition categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Bowling terms

• Green: Cities hosting NFL international games this season

• Blue: Associated with Vince Carter

• Purple: Words in the names of MLS clubs

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections Sports Edition #347 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• Bowling terms - GUTTER, SPARE, SPLIT, STRIKE

• Cities hosting NFL international games this season - BERLIN, LONDON, MADRID, SÃO PAULO

• Associated with Vince Carter - DUNK CONTEST, TORONTO, UNC, VINSANITY

• Words in the names of MLS clubs - CITY, INTER, REAL, UNITED

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

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

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

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Connections.

Pips is the newest game in the New York Times catalogue. Released in August 2025, the new game puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move onto the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.

How to play Pips

If you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity for how Pips is played. Like dominoes, the tiles are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for September 5, 2025

The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible – and common – for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

• Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.

• Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.

• Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.

• Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.

• Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for September 5, 2025 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Sept. 5 Pips

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 3-3, placed vertically.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must equal 3. The answer is 3-5, placed vertically; 3-3, placed vertically; 3-1, placed vertically.

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 3-5, placed vertically; 2-3, placed horizontally.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 2-3, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Sept. 5 Pips

Less than (4): Everything in this space must be less than 4. The answer is 2-5, placed horizontally; 1-6, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 2-5, placed horizontally.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must equal 3. The answer is 3-3, placed vertically.

Equal (4): Everything in this space must equal 4. The answer is 4-4, placed horizontally; 4-2, placed vertically; 4-5, placed horizontally.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 4-5, placed horizontally.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 2-2, placed vertically; 4-3, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Sept. 5 Pips

Equal (3): Everything in this space must equal 3. The answer is 5-2, placed horizontally; 2-3, placed horizontally.

Not Equal: Everything in this space must be different. The answer is 5-2, placed horizontally; 1-3, placed horizontally.

Number (2): Everything in this light blue space must add up to 2. The answer is 1-3, placed horizontally; 2-1, placed horizontally.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must equal 3. The answer is 3-3, placed vertically.

Equal (2): Everything in this space must equal 2. The answer is 2-1, placed horizontally; 2-6, placed horizontally.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 2-6, placed horizontally.

Number (2): Everything in this purple space must add up to 2. The answer is 1-5, placed vertically; 1-4, placed horizontally.

Equal (5): Everything in this light blue space must equal 5. The answer is 1-5, placed vertically; 5-4, placed horizontally; 5-5, placed vertically; 5-0, placed horizontally.

Equal (4): Everything in this space must equal 4. The answer is 1-4, placed horizontally; 5-4, placed horizontally; 4-0, placed horizontally.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 4-0, placed horizontally; 5-0, placed horizontally; 0-0, placed horizontally; 0-6, placed horizontally.

Number (18): Everything in this space must add up to 18. The answer is 0-6, placed horizontally; 6-6, placed horizontally.

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

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for September 2, 2025 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Spice

• Green: Open

• Blue: Genetically similar

• Purple: Historical Asian successions

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Piquancy

• Green: Available

• Blue: Male animals

• Purple: Chinese Dynasties

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #817 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Piquancy: KICK, PUNCH, ZEST, ZING

• Available: FREE, SINGLE, SOLO, STAG

• Male animals: BILLY, BUCK, JACK, RAM

• Chinese Dynasties: HAN, MING, SONG, TANG

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for September 2, 2025

Are you also playing NYT Strands?

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

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Connections.

If you're reading this, you're looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game.

Strands requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferrined pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for September 2, 2025 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for September 2, 2025 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Getting into gear

The words are things needed for gameday.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words are sports equipment.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is SportingGoods.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for September 5

• Cleats

• Racket

• Glove

• Sporting Goods

• Paddle

• Skates

• Helmet

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Strands.

Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for September 2, 2025 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for September 2, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

To float away.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter D.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

DRIFT

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for September 2, 2025

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

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

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Wordle.

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

A super religious person.

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

PIOUS

Hurdle Word 2 hint

An ice cream measurement.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for August 4, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

SCOOP

Hurdle Word 3 hint

A setting.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for August 4 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for August 4, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

WHERE

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Done to garlic.

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

MINCE

Final Hurdle hint

A side path.

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

BYWAY

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

UPDATE: Sep. 4, 2025, 6:30 p.m. EDT This post was originally written in January 2025 and has been updated to reflect current pricing information for the Roborock Saros Z70, Saros 10, and Saros 10R. Each model has also since been tested at home, with my experiences documented below.

Shop all three of the Roborock Saros robot vacuums Roborock Saros Z70 $2,599.00 at Amazon Shop Now Roborock Saros 10 $1,299.99 at Amazon Shop Now Roborock Saros 10R $1,299.99 at Amazon Shop Now

It's unlikely that many people had a robot vacuum with a whole-ass arm on their CES 2025 bingo card. But alas, Roborock gave us one: the Roborock Saros Z70, which costs $2,599 regularly. That's steep but expected, considering the current high-end Roborocks with no robotic limbs go for over $1,500-ish (a few hundred less if they're on sale).

Where can you buy the Roborock Saros Z70?

If you're in the market for a new robot vacuum — and are open to buying one on the more expensive end of the spectrum — you still have plenty of time to decide whether the arm thing is overkill even for you. The Roborock Saros Z70 began shipping in April 2025, and is currently available for purchase at Amazon, Best Buy, and Roborock's website. Roborock's site is the only place that has sported the Saros Z70's first big discount: It was $1,000 off for a few days in August and September.

What's so special about the Roborock Saros Z70?

The Roborock Z70 goes past the small obstacle avoidance technology that has become a navigational staple in the best robot vacuums, instead, bulldozing into obstacle removal technology. It performs such with a robotic OmniGrip arm that unfolds out of the top of the robot vacuum to grab the obstacle claw machine-style, and drops it in a nearby designated area. The live demo at CES 2025 showcased the Z70 putting socks into a basket.

SEE ALSO: I tried the $2,600 robot vacuum with a mechanical crane arm, and it's absurd

I have since had the Saros Z70 in my home for several months, and was disappointed (but not surprised) that the robotic arm doesn't make your life much easier. The arm's pickup capabilities were advertised to cover four different types of obstacles and must weigh under 300 grams: socks, paper, small towels, and lightweight shoes (no pet toys yet). The arm does technically work sometimes — I've witnessed it successfully pick up sandals and socks — but other times, it completely misses or ignores obstacles altogether. The half-baked innovation had good intentions, but for now, is just another robot vacuum that is trying to do too much.

The Saros Z70 picking up a sandal. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

People more swayed by practicality than a hit-or-miss high-tech feature might find the bigger grab here to be the Z70's incredible 22,000 Pa of suction power. That's 12,000 Pa more powerful than the Roborock Qrevo Master, my favorite overall robot vacuum of 2024 that cleans with 10,000 Pa, and also beats the suction power of any Roomba I've tested by a long shot.

The Saros Z70 isn't the only new 2025 Roborock vacuum

Roborock also announced two more flagship robot vacuum and mop combos in the Saros line that are armless, making each a much more digestible price to the average household. Since this story's first writing in January, I was able to test both the Saros 10 and Saros 10R at home for several months. Both retail for $1,599.99 (in line with my original price prediction) but have been on sale for $1,299.99 toward the end of summer 2025. As it stands, I think the Roborock Saros 10R is the best robot vacuum you can buy currently.

SEE ALSO: As an anxious cat mom, I love my robot vacuum with a livestream camera

Rather than relying on the rotating laser tower atop many robot vacuums alone to assess walls and furniture in the room, the Roborock Saros 10R maneuvers using dual-light 3D Time-of-Flight technology and AI-powered RGB cameras. That's fancy talk for more meticulous 3D mapping of your home and more precise detection of small obstacles that may be lying in the cleaning path — so even without the arm, this is still a big step up in the autonomous navigation department. The AI itself is also upgraded for more accurate, ever-improving recognition of the trickiest obstacles, including small toys and loose, unfolded cables. It just can't clean under them like the Z70, though that might be a no-brainer sacrifice depending on the price difference between the two.

The Saros 10R dock is shiny and chic. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

Cleaning-wise, the Saros 10R cleans with 20,000 Pa of suction power, while the similar Saros 10 cleans with the same 22,000 Pa suction power as the Saros Z70. But to me, the biggest difference between the Saros 10 and Saros 10R is actually related to mopping — I compared both models head-to-head in my apartment to help you pick one.

TL;DR: Live stream Colombia vs. Bolivia in World Cup qualifiers for free on SBS On Demand. Access this free streaming site from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Qualification for the 2026 World Cup has not been straightforward for Colombia. They would have expected to secure an automatic spot with ease, but they currently sit in sixth position with two games left to play. A win over Bolivia will get the job done, but there is clearly work to do ahead of the showpiece event next summer.

If you want to watch Colombia vs. Bolivia in World Cup qualifiers for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Colombia vs. Bolivia?

Colombia vs. Bolivia in World Cup qualifiers kicks off at 7:30 p.m. ET on Sept. 4. This fixture takes place at the Estadio Metropolitano.

How to watch Colombia vs. Bolivia for free

Colombia vs. Bolivia in World Cup qualifiers is available to live stream for free on SBS On Demand.

SBS On Demand is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can access this free streaming service with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can access free live streams on SBS On Demand from anywhere in the world.

Lve stream Colombia vs. Bolivia 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 Australia

4. Visit SBS On Demand

5. Stream Colombia vs. Bolivia 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 watch Colombia vs. Bolivia in World Cup qualifiers without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select World Cup qualifiers before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for SBS On Demand?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including Australia

• 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 also 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 (including money-back guarantee).

Live stream Colombia vs. Bolivia in World Cup qualifiers for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Eagles vs. Cowboys in the NFL for free on 7Plus. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with IPVanish.

The NFL is back, and everything starts with a huge game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys. Can the defending Super Bowl champions start with a win? Can Dak Prescott deliver a dominant performance? Can CeeDee Lamb be stopped? There are so many questions, and you can find out all the answers without spending anything.

SEE ALSO: How to watch the NFL online for free

If you want to watch Eagles vs. Cowboys in the NFL for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Eagles vs. Cowboys?

Eagles vs. Cowboys in the NFL starts at 8:20 p.m. BST on Sept. 4. This game takes place at the Lincoln Financial Field.

How to watch Eagles vs. Cowboys for free

Eagles vs. Cowboys in the NFL is available to live stream for free on 7Plus.

7Plus is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can unblock 7Plus from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Eagles vs. Cowboys for free by following these simple steps:

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

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 Australia

4. Visit 7Plus

5. Live stream Eagles vs. Cowboys for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: IPVanish IPVanish (1-Month Plan) $12.99 at IPVanish (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 watch Eagles vs. Cowboys in the NFL without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to live stream select fixtures from the NFL before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites to follow the whole season, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for unblocking streaming services is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for 7Plus?

IPVanish is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on 7Plus, for a number of reasons:

• 3,100 servers in 145 locations including Australia

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

• AES 256 encryption and operates with a zero-logs privacy policy

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Unlimited simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to IPVanish is on sale for just $52.56 — 83% off for a limited time. This plan includes advanced privacy features, threat protection, unlimited connections, 24/7 support, and the 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream Eagles vs. Cowboys in the NFL for free with IPVanish.

Editor’s Note: IPVanish is owned by Ziff Davis, Mashable’s publisher. Any J2 products featured on Mashable are covered independently by our editorial team.

SAVE $630.01: The Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 portable power station with 102W fast charger is on sale for $968.99 at Amazon, down from the normal price of $1,599. That's a 39% discount and an all-time low price for this bundle.

Opens in a new window Credit: Jackery Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 portable power station with 102W fast charger $968.99 at Amazon
$1,599 Save $630.01 Get Deal

In some parts of the country, the sun is still blazing, and there's still a desire to bring a personal fan everywhere you go. But eventually, fall will arrive, and with it will come epic rain and windstorms. These storms are notorious for knocking down tree branches, which often spells a power outage. Years ago, we all just accepted living with no power and relied on a power bank to keep our phones going. Portable power stations, however, have changed this fate forever. If you don't yet own one, check out this deal.

As of Sept. 4, the Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 portable power station with a 102W fast charger is on sale at Amazon for $968.99. That's marked down from the normal price of $1,599, which works out to a 39% discount. In total, you'll be saving $630.01. Today's sale price is also a new record low for this bundle at Amazon.

The Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 comes with a massive 2042Wh of battery life thanks to a long-lasting LiFePo4 battery. That gives you tons of power to recharge devices come an inevitable power outage. The Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 will keep your phones charged, allow you to use a CPAP machine for sleeping, or use the hairdryer come morning.

SEE ALSO: The Anker Solix C800 portable power station is down to its best-ever price at Amazon

You can also use it to keep lights on, so no one trips on the way to the bathroom at midnight. It's also powerful enough to use with a microwave or your refrigerator. Jackery says this model can keep your refrigerator cooling for up to 72 hours during an outage.

Another major benefit of the Explorer 2000 v2 is its weight of just under 40 pounds. Many portable power stations that pack in 2000Wh are pretty hefty, so this model's weight is a nice surprise. For comparison, the DJI Power 2000 weighs almost 50 pounds.

This bundle deal also includes a 102W fast charger, so you can recharge the Explorer 2000 v2 quickly. Before the storms hit, snag this Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 deal from Amazon and be prepared for any power outages. In doing so, you'll be saving over $630.