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Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier if you know soccer players.

As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a 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.

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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.

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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: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. 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: Shoes

• Green: Uniform

• Blue: NFL team

• Purple: Soccer-related

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Parts of a sneaker

• Green: What a jockey wears

• Blue: Seattle Seahawks

• Purple: Former MLS team names

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 #494 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Parts of a sneaker - EYELET, LACES, SOLE, TONGUE

• What a jockey wears - BOOTS, BREECHES, GOGGLES, SILKS

• Seattle Seahawks - BARNER, LOVE, WALKER, WOOLEN

• Former MLS team names - BURN, CLASH, FUSION, IMPACT

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports 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 yesterday's Connections.

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, Jan. 30, 2026:

Across"Top Gear" channel

• The answer is BBC.

Announcement that causes groans among travelers

• The answer is Delay.

Middle of a drum kit, typically

• The answer is Snare.

Political staffers

• The answer is Aides.

Bottom line figure

• The answer is Net.

DownFrench-speaking nation in West Africa

• The answer is Benin.

Sharp part of a sword

• The answer is Blade.

This text mark: ^

• The answer is Caret.

Left-leaning political org.

• The answer is DSA.

"Right you are!"

• The answer is Yes.

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 yesterday's Mini Crossword.

Fallout Season 1 is available for free on YouTube, letting viewers retrace the journey through its nuclear wasteland before the Season 2 finale next week. It won't be available for long, though.

Prime Video is uploading all eight episodes of Fallout Season 1 to its official YouTube account, compiled into a convenient playlist for easy viewing. However, you will have to wait a bit if you're hoping to binge the entire first season in one sitting. While the first four episodes of Fallout Season 1 are already available on YouTube now, the remaining two will be released on Saturday from 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT.

SEE ALSO: People are freaking out about 'Fallout' — but are they right?

Once the episodes are available, you'll want to get on them quickly. Fallout Season 1 will be removed from YouTube on Feb. 10 at 2:59 a.m. ET / Feb. 11 at 11:59 p.m. PT, giving just 10 days to watch it.

Based on the popular video game franchise of the same name, Fallout follows Lucy (Ella Purnell), a woman born and raised in an underground vault following a nuclear apocalypse over 200 years earlier. Venturing out into the wasteland in search of her kidnapped father (Kyle MacLachlan), Lucy soon encounters a colourful variety of surface dwellers such as Maximus (Aaron Moten), a member of the military order Brotherhood of Steel, and the Ghoul (Walton Goggins), a bounty hunter mutated by radiation.

Fallout Season 2 picks up where Season 1 left off, with Lucy travelling across a post-apocalyptic U.S. toward New Vegas, once known as Las Vegas.

The Fallout Season 2 finale premieres next Tuesday, Feb. 3 at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT on Prime Video.

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 burn.

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

SINGE

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Be quiet!

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for January 30, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

SHUSH

Hurdle Word 3 hint

A long-nosed mammal.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for January 30 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for January 30, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

TAPIR

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Livid.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

IRATE

Final Hurdle hint

Has gotten bigger.

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

GROWN

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

With episode 4 of Season 2, The Pitt has finally revealed what happened to Dr. Heather Collins, played by Tracy Ifeachor.

The second season of the hit HBO Max show has seen much of the Season 1 cast return, including Patrick Ball's disgraced Dr. Langdon and Katherine LaNasa's fed-up charge nurse Dana. However, news broke last July that Ifeachor would not be appearing in Season 2. So, how did the show's writers explain her absence?

Fans have been speculating about how Collins' exit might be explained. Because the show's seasons are set over one day, with each episode just one hour in a shift, The Pitt could have simply suggested Collins was not on duty this July Fourth. However, with episode 4, titled "10 A.M.," Whitaker (Gerran Howell) reveals that Collins's exit is more long-term, and he gives a satisfying explanation why.

Where did Dr. Collins go in The Pitt Season 2? Tracy Ifeachor and Katherine LaNasa in "The Pitt" Season 1. Credit: HBO Max

While Dr. Whitaker is caring for returning patient Louie (Ernest Harden Jr.), the amiable drunkard asks where Dr. Collins is, noting, "Sister always helps me out."

In response, Whitaker says, "Dr. Collins finished her residency, took up a job in Portland as an attending physician."

This tracks with what The Pitt's executive producer John Wells told The Hollywood Reporter about the reason for Ifeachor's exit.

In an interview with Mikey O'Connell, Wells said, "Look, the show is set at a teaching hospital. And if you’re a fourth-year resident in a teaching hospital, your time there is done at the end of that year. Not to scare any of the other cast members, but people don’t stay at these hospitals forever. They’re going to roll off, and that will be part of the evolution of the show. We’re not committed to doing a year every season as we go on, but we can’t say that we’re going to be true to the medicine and teaching hospitals and maintain the same cast for the entire time."

This might put to bed rumors about Ifeachor being fired, which have been disputed by her reps and star/executive producer Noah Wyle. In July of 2025, he told Deadline, "“I mean, we’ve all been sort of amused by the speculation about what everybody thinks might be a reason.” The actor continued, “But truthfully, we loved the actress. We enjoyed having her with us very much. She’s gotten really big and we will miss her.”

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

However, it's what Whitaker says next that might better satisfy fans. He tells Louie of Portland, "I think that's where she's from. She's adopting a baby, wanted to be closer to her family."

Dr. Collins' last appearance in Season 1 was episode 11. Sitting on the back of an ambulance during a lull in action, she confided to Dr. Robby (Wyle) about her challenges in becoming a mom through pregnancy. Earlier that season, she suffered a miscarriage while on shift. In this scene, she talked about the cost of IVF, then says, "Even if my insurance would pay for more rounds or I could pay out of pocket, I'm not sure I could go through this again. Maybe it's just not meant to be."

Robby shows support, telling her to go home for the day. He tells her, "Turn off your phone. Turn off the TV, pour a glass of wine. Have a bath. Go to bed." And as far as we know, she does. When the PittFest shooting brings a flood of wounded to their ER, Collins is long gone. But in Season 2, she is not forgotten. Louie remembers her for her compassion. And Whitaker reveals that she found a way to be a mom after all.

"It's a beautiful thing," Louis says in response, and we couldn't say it better ourselves.

The Pitt Season 2 streams on on HBO Max, with new episodes each Thursday.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult to solve if you're well-groomed.

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 January 30, 2026 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: A sector

• Green: Beauty tools

• Blue: Sticky things

• Purple: Five fingers

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Region

• Green: Grooming items

• Blue: Things with adhesive surfaces

• Purple: ___ Hand

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 #964 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Region: AREA, CLUSTER, PATCH, POCKET

• Grooming items: COMB, COMPACT, NAIL FILE, TWEEZERS

• Things with adhesive surfaces: BAND-AID, LINT ROLLER, STICKER TAPE

• ___ Hand: HELPING, MINUTE, POKER, UPPER

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 January 30, 2026

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

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 yesterday's Connections.

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you have a bad sense of direction.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, 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 preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for January 30, 2026 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for January 30, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: We're not lost...

The words are related to directions.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe things that guide.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Find Your Way.

NYT Strands word list for January 30

• Beacon

• Star

• Find Your Way

• Landmark

• Sextant

• Atlas

• Compass

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 yesterday's Strands.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you go big or go home.

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 January 30, 2026 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 January 30, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Huge.

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 J.

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...

JUMBO

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 January 30, 2026

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 yesterday's Wordle.

The encrypted messaging app Signal has become a critical tool for organizers following the actions of immigration agents in Minneapolis. Now that activity is the target of a probe launched personally by FBI Director Kash Patel — one that has Constitutional law experts questioning its merits.

Criticism of the Signal investigation was swift from figures on both the right and left. The libertarian Cato Institute called the investigation an "epic constitutional and legal fail by Patel."

Whether or not courts would accept any action bought by Patel against Signal or its users, the circumstances are at least highly unusual: Patel announced the probe via podcast.

Patel discussed the investigation during Monday's episode of The Benny Show, a podcast hosted by the right-wing commentator Benny Johnson. Patel alleged, without evidence, that participants in the chat might have incited violence, threatened law enforcement, or broke the law.

SEE ALSO: 'Shameful': Tech leaders react to ICE killing of Alex Pretti

Patel said that alleged screenshots from a Signal chat amongst Minneapolis anti-ICE organizers posted to X by the rightwing, self-described independent journalist Cam Higby led to the investigation.

Higby has said he hopes the government conducts a "witch hunt" of the Signal chat participants, who were allegedly sharing information about license plates belonging to cars driven by federal immigration officers.

"We immediately opened up that investigation because that sort of Signal chat being coordinated with individuals, not just locally in Minnesota, but maybe even around the country," Patel said. "If that leads to a break in the federal statute or a violation of some law, then we are going to arrest people."

Signal did not respond to Mashable's request for comment on the investigation. The X accounts belonging to the app and its president, Meredith Whittaker, have remained silent on the investigation.

Here's what you need to know about whether the investigation has merit and how it unfolded:

Does the FBI Signal chat investigation violate Constitutional rights?

Patel insisted that the investigation wouldn't infringe on the public's First Amendment right to express political speech and protest but rather focus on illegal activity.

Yet legal and Constitutional scholars have questioned whether the Signal chat participants were doing anything illegal.

In an interview with the Guardian, First Amendment expert Kevin Goldberg said that his review of Higby's social media posts revealed nothing clearly illegal.

"I got the sense the [Signal chat] group has been organized for purposes that are fully protected by the First Amendment: To observe, to speak, and to alert others of possible dangers," said Goldberg, vice president of the Freedom Forum, a nonpartisan foundation that works on First Amendment issues. "I didn't see anything that impedes or obstructs justice. The claimed 'doxing' of law enforcement is not necessary illegal."

Patrick G. Eddington, senior fellow at the Cato Institute, had a cutting response for the Trump administration and Patel.

"I suppose it was just a matter of time before a Trump administration official would suggest that the use of public key encryption — protected by the First Amendment — to monitor federal agent misconduct was itself allegedly a crime," he wrote in an article on the Cato Institute's website. "This is another epic constitutional and legal fail by Patel."

Eddington added that a decades-old federal court case affirmed citizens' First Amendment right to coordinate peaceful protest activity, and even monitor an agency like ICE for "acts of brutality," using encrypted speech.

On Thursday, Higby alleged on X that he had more material to leak about the Signal chat he infiltrated.

How did the FBI learn about the Signal chat?

When Patel spoke on Johnson's show, he followed an interview with Higby, who alleged on X that he attempted and succeeded in infiltrating the anti-ICE organizers' group Signal chat.

Higby admitted to Johnson that though he isn't a "legal expert," he viewed the Signal exchanges as a "mass conspiracy" to violate federal law because the participants were, in his opinion, "engaging in collusion against federal law enforcement."

When Johnson asked Higby how he wanted the FBI to respond, Higby made his goal clear. "I want to see a witch hunt January 6th style," Higby said, referencing the federal prosecution of insurrectionists who stormed the U.S. Capitol in 2021.

Patel was literally the next guest on Johnson's show. He said Higby's X post on his alleged infiltration of the Signal chat triggered his decision.

"As soon as Higby put that [X social media] post out, I opened an investigation on it," Patel said. He argued that the practice aligns with the FBI's policy of following publicly-provided tips, leads, and information.

Speaking with Fox News' Sean Hannity, Patel indicated that the FBI would issue subpoenas, collect data, call grand juries, and "find out who broke the law."

What to know about using Signal

Though Signal uses end-to-end encryption, that doesn't mean user messages will be protected from the government.

Signal's website acknowledges it will disclose transcripts of chats when legally compelled by the government or law enforcement agencies.

ICE reportedly also has a contract with the digital forensics company Cellebrite to help officials unlock phones to retrieve all of their data, including apps, location history, and Signal messages, according to the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

It's that most magical time of the year: The White Lotus casting season.

Season 4 of Mike White's hotel-set anthology series begins production in April of 2026, so casting announcements for the show's next set of ultra-rich guests and exasperated staffers have begun to roll in. Not only that, but the season's sure-to-be gorgeous setting has already been revealed.

SEE ALSO: 2026 TV preview: All the TV shows you need to know, and where to stream them

There's still quite a bit of time before the season's release, so we'll have to wait a while for the next batch of White Lotus memes and discourse to obsess over. But until then, here's everything we know about the upcoming season.

Who is in The White Lotus Season 4?

So far, four cast members have been announced for The White Lotus Season 4. In December 2024, AJ Michalka and Alexander Ludwig became the first actors to join the season.

Michalka is one half of the musical duo Aly & AJ, and she has also starred in movies such as Super 8 and The Lovely Bones, as well as TV shows including ABC's The Goldbergs and its spin-off, Schooled. Ludwig rose to fame as Cato in The Hunger Games and has since starred in series like the History Channel's Vikings and MGM+'s Earth Abides.

SEE ALSO: Carrie Coon gleefully reacts to 'White Lotus' memes of her running

On Jan. 16, Variety reported that Steve Coogan and Caleb Jonte Edwards had also checked into Season 4. Comedian Coogan is known for his work as Alan Partridge, as well as projects like The Trip films and Philomena, for which he was nominated for an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Picture (as a producer). A newcomer, Edwards has previously starred in one episode of the Australian crime drama Black Snow.

On Jan. 29, Variety reported that three new cast members would be joining the season: Helena Bonham Carter, Chris Messina, and Marissa Long. Helena Bonham Carter is known for her Emmy– and Oscar–nominated work in TV and film, like The Crown and The King's Speech, while Chris Messina has starred in shows like The Mindy Project and Sharp Objects. The White Lotus is Long's first TV credit.

Prior seasons have featured returning characters such as Tanya (Jennifer Coolidge), Belinda (Natasha Rothwell), and Greg (Jon Gries). Will White bring back another character this season?

Where does The White Lotus Season 4 take place?

Get ready to brush up on your French, because The White Lotus is heading to the French Riviera. On Jan. 9, Variety reported that the season would shoot at the Château de La Messardière, a 19th-century palace-turned-hotel in Saint-Tropez. According to Variety, some scenes were also filmed at a Paris hotel.

Sources also told Variety that the Cannes Film Festival might figure into the storyline, setting up a more film-focused season. The plot of Season 4 is otherwise under wraps.

When is The White Lotus Season 4 coming out?

Variety reported that The White Lotus Season 4 will shoot from the end of April to the end of October, meaning a 2027 release date is likely.

For comparison, principal photography for Season 3 wrapped in Aug. 2024. The season premiered in Feb. 2025, making for a six-month turnaround. If Season 4 follows a similar pattern, we could be looking at a spring 2027 premiere.

The White Lotus is now streaming on HBO.

UPDATE: Jan. 29, 2026, 5:53 p.m. EST This article was originally published on Jan. 17, 2026. It has been updated to include further information about casting.

TL;DR: Live stream Alcaraz vs. Zverev in the 2026 Australian Open for free on 9Now. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2026 Australian Open finals are fast approaching. Alcaraz faces off against Zverev in the first semi final of the men's draw. Are we heading towards another showdown between Alcaraz and Sinner? It's looking increasingly likely that these two stars will battle it out again on the biggest stage.

Of course, that's not to say that Zverez doesn't stand a chance of beating Alcaraz. The third seed made last year's final, so he's been here before. The big question is whether or not he can make the leap and actually win a Grand Slam for the first time. The prospect of competing with Alcaraz and Sinner is daunting for even the top players.

If you want to watch Alcaraz vs. Zverev in the 2026 Australian Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

How to watch Alcaraz vs. Zverev for free

Alcaraz vs. Zverev in the 2026 Australian Open is available to live stream for free on 9Now.

9Now 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 9Now from anywhere in the world.

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Live stream Alcaraz vs. Zverev in the 2026 Australian Open for free with ExpressVPN.

Match Group, the conglomerate that owns Tinder, Hinge, and other dating apps, is investigating a security incident that exposed user data.

A hacker group called Scattered LAPSUS$ Hunters claimed they stole a mass of Match's internal data, according to 404 Media. 404 Media downloaded the data and reported that it contained some users' unique advertising IDs, corporate receipts, and other internal documents.

SEE ALSO: Hinge's founder is leaving Match to launch Overtone, an AI dating service

A Match spokesperson told Mashable, "We are aware of claims being made online related to a recently identified security incident. Match Group takes the safety and security of our users seriously and acted quickly to terminate the unauthorized access. We continue to investigate with the assistance of external cybersecurity experts."

"There is no indication that user log-in credentials, financial information, or private communications were accessed. We believe the incident affects a limited amount of user data, and we are already in the process of notifying individuals, as appropriate," the spokesperson continued.

A spokesperson for the hacking group told 404 Media that it gained access to Match's documents through a social engineering tactic called vishing. Vishing is like phishing, except it's done over the phone. Scammers impersonate a credible person or company to gain information or money. The hacker told 404 Media that the group vished Match's Okta single-sign-on. Okta is a cybersecurity company that specializes in secure logins for companies. A spokesperson for Okta told 404 Media:

"Okta Threat Intelligence routinely shares threat research to help companies protect against evolving social engineering techniques. These target organizations in all industries and impersonate a range of identity and cryptocurrency providers. While Okta’s platform and services remain secure, Okta is calling attention to these evolving techniques to help raise awareness and support stronger defenses for customers."

Hackers posted that they accessed Match's data from the cloud platform AppsFlyer, but AppsFlyer denied that the incident originated from its app:

"AppsFlyer has confirmed that the incident referenced in recent media reports did not originate from AppsFlyer and did not involve a data breach, security incident, or compromise of AppsFlyer’s systems. AppsFlyer’s infrastructure and security controls were not breached. Any implication that AppsFlyer was the source of the incident, or that data was exposed due to a compromise of AppsFlyer systems, is inaccurate."

Google just gave Chrome a huge Gemini-powered upgrade that basically allows the AI assistant to complete tasks on the web for users.

In a blog post, Google announced that it was launching a new feature called "auto browse" powered by its most powerful new AI model, Gemini 3. The feature is only available for Chrome on desktop and is currently only rolling out to paying Google AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers.

What is auto browse? It's a feature that brings an agentic experience directly to Chrome via Gemini. Google's AI assistant Gemini will appear on a right-hand sidebar within Chrome, allowing users to chat and interact directly with websites within the web browser.

Gemini carries out tasks via Chrome's auto browse feature. Credit: Google

Using auto browse, Gemini can interact with any web page. Gemini can click, input text, and scroll through the page, all while carrying out the user-requested actions. All a user has to do is input in the Gemini sidebar what they would like the AI agent to carry out, and Gemini will reply, "Task started."

One example provided by Google involves the AI agent being asked to shop for supplies on Etsy for a themed party. The user inputs which website they want Gemini to search, which party to look for, and how much of a budget they have to spend. Gemini goes to Etsy, searches for supplies, adds the relevant ones to the cart, and then informs the user that the checkout cart is ready for them to look over.

Gemini will even look up and add discount codes and, if given permission, will access Google Password Manager to log in to the user's account on the website.

A task completed by the Gemini-powered auto browse feature in Chrome. Credit: Google

Furthermore, there is a "Take over task" button hovering at the top of the web browser window, allowing a user to intervene, just in case Gemini goes rogue.

Google continues to add AI features to its array of internet products. In addition to this announcement, Google also brought Nano Banana to Chrome. And earlier this week, Google added additional AI Mode integration into Google Search's own existing AI product, AI Overviews. And continuing the theme of rewarding users who pay for its AI products, auto browse is currently only available for Google AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers.

SAVE $100: As of Jan. 29, the Beats Studio Pro headphones are on sale for $249.99 at Amazon. This is $100 off their list price of $349.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Beats Beats Studio Pro $249.99 at Amazon
$349.99 Save $100   Get Deal

A good pair of headphones are always worth investing in, no matter if you're often out and about traveling, or just listen to music and podcasts while you're at home. If you've been hoping to grab a new pair for the year ahead, Amazon has quite a few deals on select models to explore. At the moment, this includes the Beats Studio Pro headphones.

As of Jan. 29, the Beats Studio Pro have dropped to $249.99 at Amazon. Normally they're listed for $349.99, so this great deal saves you $100. For a pair of headphones we said are "excellent on most of the levels that matter" in our review, this is a discount well worth your time.

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The Beats Studio Pro certainly check a lot of boxes. These headphones boast two noise-canceling modes — Active Noise Canceling and Transparency — which allow you to either block out sounds around you entirely or let a bit of noise in. They also feature Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking, which makes the sound feel as if it's coming from all around you, rather than just the drivers positioned over your ears. And the excellent battery life can last up to 40 hours.

Returning to our review, Mashable's Alex Perry also said that they "sound fantastic, last a long time, and support multiple playback styles. Most importantly, Android users don’t get the shaft, with near-parity between iOS and Google’s mobile platform." So regardless of what smartphone or device you use, these headphones are compatible.

If they've caught your eye, now is your chance to save $100 on the Beats Studio Pro at Amazon.

TL;DR: Make your computer feel brand new for just $19.97 with this Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows license.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows $19.97
$229 Save $209.03   Get Deal

You can’t get much for $20 these days, so it’s pretty surprising that that’s all it takes to totally refresh your PC with this Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows license. This suite of apps gives your computer seven helpful tools to help you get things done, and right now you can get them all for only $19.97 (reg. $229).

Whether you’ve been living without Microsoft Office tools for a while or you’re totally new to these incredible apps, this deal on a Windows license brings them to less than $3 each. And you’ll own all seven of them outright, so there are no subscription fees required.

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The Microsoft Office suite is geared to help you both personally and professionally. Curious which apps are included? You’ll get Word, the go-to app for drafting documents for decades, and PowerPoint, a great tool for creating presentations.

You can manage all your email communications in Outlook, build out a budget in Excel, and upgrade the way you take notes with OneNote. If you need to manage large databases, Access is a great tool, and if your work requires professional documents, Publisher has you covered.

This edition may seem to have an older year attached, but don’t worry. These apps have been redesigned and include enhanced features like new Excel analysis capabilities, new PowerPoint presentation tools, and updated email and contact management in Outlook.

After purchase, you’ll receive an instant delivery and download so you can access the apps permanently and work offline as needed. There’s also free customer service available anytime.

Get this Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows license for $19.97 (reg. $229) now.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Google has launched a new AI experiment called Project Genie, a tool that lets users build their own interactive virtual worlds. Project Genie comes from the Google DeepMind research lab and is now available to Google AI Ultra subscribers in the United States (users must be over the age of 18).

If you're an AI Ultra subscriber — the AI subscription plan is priced at $249.99 — you can start building worlds right away by visiting Google Labs and navigating to Project Genie.

What does Project Genie do?

A video released along with Project Genie shows exactly how users can create custom virtual worlds. Crucially, Project Genie doesn't just create a virtual environment; it also allows the user to create a character to explore and interact with the world. Users can even use prompts to create their own mini-games, using their keyboard's arrow keys to control the character. (One reporter at The Verge quickly realized he could use Project Genie to make Zelda and Super Mario knockoffs.)

Google says Project Genie can generate worlds at 720p resolution and 24 frames per second.

Considering how much time and labor go into creating video games, it's remarkable that Project Genie can create such detailed, interactive environments using AI. That said, Project Genie is primarily a research project, and while it can be entertaining to play with, it doesn't really do anything. (Keep reading to learn about potential future applications.)

The created worlds have realistic physics, and objects in the world react as the user interacts with them. Users can also modify and remix their virtual worlds to their heart's content.

Left: Create a virtual world from scratch. Credit: Google / YouTube Right: Users can also modify the world as desired. Credit: Google / YouTube Project Genie is powered by an experimental 'world model.'

Project Genie is powered by Genie 3, which is a powerful "world model." (Google says that Nano Banana and Gemini are also used to generate worlds.) A world model is an AI program that can generate a virtual world from text, images, and other inputs. Google actually teased Genie 3 back in August 2025, calling it "a key stepping stone on the path to AGI."

The new landing page for Project Genie elaborates: "Genie 3 represents a major leap in capabilities – allowing agents to predict how a world evolves, and how their actions affect it. Genie 3 makes it possible to explore an unlimited range of realistic environments. This is a key stepping stone on the path to AGI – enabling AI agents capable of reasoning, problem solving, and real-world actions."

Artificial general intelligence, or AGI, is a term for a hypothetical AI tool that can perform most tasks as capably (or more so) than the average human. That means it could do your job with little or no monitoring. To achieve true AGI, AI companies need to build models that can make sense of the environment and understand how to interact with it.

Examples of virtual worlds created by Genie 3. Credit: Google

World models are an emerging frontier in AI research, and companies building video models have attracted significant investment over the past year. AI company WorldLabs recently raised $230 million in funding, while video model maker Luma AI raised $900 million.

Besides AGI, what are the practical uses for world models? As one example, car companies could build a world to safely test autonomous vehicles. There are also possible applications for education and video game development.

Again, AI Ultra subscribers in the United States can start using Project Genie right away.

A virtual world created by Project Genie. Credit: Google / YouTube A virtual world created by Project Genie. Credit: Google / YouTube A virtual world created by Project Genie. Credit: Google / YouTube

Cryptocurrency is facing yet another big price plunge.

Bitcoin dropped to the $84,000 range on Thursday, the lowest price it's seen in 2026 so far. Other cryptocurrencies like Ether and Doge also experienced falling prices, with values being down as much as 6 percent.

Crypto analysts suggest that this is a crucial price point for cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin to maintain or its valuation may continue to drop.

As crypto outlets point out, the price drop of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies didn't happen in a vacuum. The stock market, especially tech stocks like Microsoft, took a huge dive on Thursday. Crypto-related stocks also took a big hit as well.

As investors sell off investments, crypto holdings traditionally take a big hit as one of the more riskier bets. According to Coindesk, investors have liquidated more than $650 million across all crypto assets during the Thursday selloff. 

Some analysts believe that Bitcoin could see its prices drop below $80,000 in the near future.

SAVE $1,150: As of Jan. 29, get the Anker Solix F2000 for $849 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $1,999. That's a discount of 58%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Anker Solix F2000 $849 at Amazon
$1,999 Save $1,150   Get Deal

We're in the middle of winter, and that means some particularly grisly weather. Much of the US just suffered a massive snowstorm with ice and power outages. If your area is prone to disaster or you lose power a lot, a portable power station might be the answer. You can get a great one right now for an excellent price if you'd like to stay prepared for the inevitable winter (or summer) storm that pops up in the future.

As of Jan. 29, get the Anker Solix F2000 for $849 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $1,999. That's $1,150 off and a discount of 58%.

SEE ALSO: The Bluetti Elite 10 mini portable power station is down to a record-low price — save over $86 before the next storm hits

This massive power station packs 2,048Wh of power into a portable package. That's enough electricity to ensure most of your home's appliances, including your fridge or toaster, can stay alive while you wait for the power to come back on. And it can handle your phone, laptop, tablet, and other devices too.

According to Anker, the Solix F2000 can actually keep your fridge up and running for up to 10 hours, so if you're concerned about losing all the food you just went out and bought ahead of the storm, you'll be able to keep it nice and cold.

All this, plus the power station is housed in a form factor that makes it easy to transport, with wheels and a handle so you can take it from place to place with ease. It couldn't be simpler to use, and it's up for grabs at a great price. Be sure and get yours before it goes out of stock, and before the next ice storm.

SAVE $100: The Apple M5 iPad Pro (WiFi, 11-inch, 265GB) is on sale at Amazon for $899, down from the list price of $999. That's a 10% discount that matches the lowest we've ever seen at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad Pro (M5, 11-inch, 265GB) $899 at Amazon
$999 Save $100   Get Deal

A powerful and versatile tablet is one of life's greatest pleasures. It's perfect for times when you don't feel like hauling out the laptop but also have tasks that are too complex for a small phone screen. It can also be excellent for travel. If you're in the market for a top-of-the-line tablet, check out this Apple deal.

As of Jan. 29, the Apple M5 iPad Pro (WiFi, 11-inch, 265GB) is on sale at Amazon for $899, marked down from the standard price of $999. That's a 10% discount that shaves $100 off the price. It also matches the lowest we've ever seen at Amazon.

In Mashable's review of the best iPads, the iPad Pro with M5 processor earns the top spot as the ideal model for professionals. Mashable Shopping Reporter Samantha Mangino wrote, "This 2025 release is loaded with Apple's fastest processing power thanks to the M5 processor, giving it way more power than the average user really needs. Graphic designers can store all of their creative work on the device, which has up to 2TB of storage. It's also a smart choice for video editors."

SEE ALSO: The noise-cancelling Apple AirPods 4 just got $60 cheaper

Mashable Tech Editor Timothy Beck Werth did a full review of the M5 iPad Pro last fall and wrote, " It's the kind of gadget that makes you feel like you're living in the future." Some highlight features include its ultra-thin design, ultra-lightweight feel, and the fact that it gets up to 1,600 nits of brightness.

If you're seeking out a professional upgrade, consider the iPad Pro while it's on sale at Amazon for $899. The sale price applies to both the silver and black colorways.

SAVE $20: As of Jan. 29, the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select is on sale for just $19.99 with the on-page coupon code 4KSELECT20. That's 50% off its list price of $39.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select $19.99 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $20.00 with on-page coupon 4KSELECT20 Get Deal

One of Mashable readers' top buys from Black Friday is back on sale. While it's not quite as spectacular of a discount, it's still one worth shouting about.

As of Jan. 29, the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select is just $19.99 at Amazon with the on-page coupon code 4KSELECT20 (make sure to hit "redeem" next to the code). That's 50% or $20 off its list price of $39.99.

The 4K Select is the newest Fire TV Stick in Amazon's lineup and the most affordable option that offers 4K quality with HDR10+ support. It's the first Fire TV Stick to feature the ultra-responsive and speedy new operating system called Vega. While we haven't had a chance to test it yet, we're glad that Amazon decided to switch things up up from the previous operating system. We found the older system a bit laggy in our testing, so an upgrade was certainly in order.

The Fire TV Stick 4K Select still features the same plug-and-play design as the previous streaming sticks, though, which instantly brings all of your favorite streaming apps into a single platform. Just press and ask Alexa to open your favorite app, pick up an episode where you left off, show you sports scores, and more. It offers support for Amazon Luna, Xbox Game Pass, NordVPN, IPVanish, Alexa+, and Amazon Kids+ (coming soon).

If you don't have a smart TV, this will instantly transform your current setup. If you do, it will make your TV even smarter — all for just 20 bucks. That's a whole lot cheaper than buying a new TV, just saying.