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3 great shows to watch on Netflix this weekend (December 26 - 28)
With Christmas out of the way and the new year on the horizon, I bet you're sitting around and struggling to find something decent to watch. That's why I've found these three shows on Netflix that deserve your attention.
I ditched VS Code for the open-source VSCodium, and I have no regrets
VS Code is one of the most popular open-source (mostly) applications out there, and for good reason: It does everything you could ask for and then some. However, it also has always-on telemetry that you cannot disable. That is where VSCodium comes into play.
How to watch Bugonia: Emma Stones new film is now streaming
The dynamic duo that brought us Poor Things is back with another cinematic gem. Bugonia, directed by Yorgos Lanthimos and starring Emma Stone, is a conspiracy caper that plunges you into a perpetual state of doubt. It also stars the fantastic Jesse Plemons (Stone and Lanthimos' Kinds of Kindness collaborator) and made Mashable's list of the best movies of 2025.
Bugonia is now officially available to stream as of Dec. 26. If you missed it on the big screen, here's everything you need to know to tune in at home.
What is Bugonia about?A remake of Jang Joon-hwan's 2003 South Korean film Save the Green Planet!, Bugonia follows Teddy (Plemons), a bike-riding beekeeper and conspiracy theorist. He believes the state of the world is due to aliens living among us — one being no-nonsense big pharma CEO Michelle Fuller (Stone). Teddy, along with his cousin Don (Aidan Delbis), enacts a plan to kidnap Michelle and uncover the truth. What follows is a battle of wills, uncomfortable discussions of capitalist greed, class politics, and whether or not humanity is worth saving.
Check out the official trailer below, complete with a Chappell Roan jam session.
Is Bugonia worth watching?Bugonia premiered at the 2025 Venice International Film Festival, where it received mostly positive reviews, before heading to theaters nationwide on Oct. 31. It didn't break any box office records, but most of the awards season favorites didn't.
It's earned an 87 percent critic rating and 84 percent audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes, as well as three Golden Globe nominations and three Critics Choice Awards nominations. Oscar nods are likely to follow.
Mashable's own entertainment editor didn't think it was one of Lanthimos' best, writing, "Bugonia, despite having a sensational cast and clear vision for its world, lacks profundity in its smorgasbord of hot topics. Environmentalism, oligarchy, the manosphere, healthcare for profit — all of these make for a dizzying brew from which Teddy and Michelle arise on opposing sides."
However, Bugonia still managed to earn the number 11 slot on our list of the best movies from 2025.
Check out our full review of Bugonia.
How to watch Bugonia at home Credit: Focus FeaturesThere are a couple of different ways you can watch Bugonia at home as of Dec. 26. You can buy it or rent it at digital-on-demand retailers for as low as $19.99, or you can stream it on Peacock. See the details below.
Buy or rent it on digitalBugonia is available as of Nov. 25, 2025, to buy or rent at digital-on-demand retailers. If you choose to rent, you'll get 30 days to watch the film and just 48 hours to finish it once you start. If you choose to buy it instead, then it's yours to keep with no watch limits.
Here are some quick links to rent or purchase the film:
Prime Video — buy for $24.99, rent for $19.99
Apple TV — buy for $24.99, rent for $19.99
Fandango at Home — buy for $24.99, rent for $19.99
Google Play — buy for $24.99, rent for $19.99
As a Focus Features film, Bugonia made its streaming debut on Peacock on Dec. 26, 2025. This follows the digital-to-streaming arc of other recent Focus Features films (The Phoenician Scheme, The Ballad of Wallis Island, Honey Don't!).
Don't have a Peacock subscription? You can sign up for $10.99 per month with ads or $16.99 per month without (thanks to the most recent price hike). Before you get ahead of yourself, though, be sure to check out the best ways to save some money on a subscription below.
The best Peacock streaming dealsBest Peacock deal: Save 17% on an annual subscription Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium annual subscription $109.99 per year or $169.99 per year (save 17%) Get DealThe best Peacock deal for most people on any given day is the annual subscription deal. You'll get 12 months of streaming for the price of 10 just by paying for a year up front. While monthly subscriptions cost $10.99 per month with ads (which adds up to $131.88), yearly subscriptions cost $109.99 (which breaks down to only $9.17 per month). That's about 17% or $21.89 in savings.
Prefer to watch ad-free? It'll cost you $169.99 per year (which breaks down to $14.16 per month instead of $16.99).
Best Peacock deal for Xfinity customers: free Peacock Premium for eligible accounts Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock / Xfinity Peacock Premium Free for select Xfinity customers Learn MoreXfinity customers should check the eligibility details below before signing up for Peacock, as you might be able to score a subscription without paying a cent. Here's a breakdown of who is eligible to get Peacock for free through Xfinity. You can also head to Xfinity.com for more details.
Xfinity Internet customers who are Diamond or Platinum Xfinity Rewards members can get Peacock Premium for free by redeeming a reward for it. Sign in at xfinity.com/rewards and choose Peacock as a reward. Then, wait for your email (it may take a few hours) with instructions on activating the offer.
NOW TV customers can also receive Peacock Premium as part of their service.
New customers with Xfinity Internet and an X1 TV Box, Flex streaming TV Box, or a Xumo Stream Box from Xfinity can get Peacock Premium for free for six months.
Students and young adults can save $5 per month on a Peacock Premium subscription all year long — that's a total of $25 in savings. You'll need to verify your student status via SheerID and retrieve the unique promo code to knock the cost down to just $5.99 instead of $10.99. Just note that after the promo year is up, you'll be charged full price again unless you cancel.
Best for first responders, medical professionals, military, and teachers: Save $4/month Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium for First Responders and Medical Professionals $6.99 per month (save $4 per month) Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium for Military $6.99 per month (save $4 per month) Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium for Teachers $6.99/month (save $4 per month) Get DealFirst responders, medical professionals, military personnel, and teachers can all secure a Peacock Premium subscription at a discounted rate of $6.99 per month by verifying their professional status via SheerID. Unlike the student deal, however, it's not limited to a year. If you continue to meet verification qualifications, you can renew your subscription at the discounted rate each year — although you may have to go through the verification process each time and receive a new promo code.
Best for Instacart users: free Peacock Premium for Instacart+ subscribers Opens in a new window Credit: Instacart / Peacock Peacock Premium annual subscription Free for Instacart+ subscribers (save $109.99/year) Get DealInstacart+ membership ($99.99 per year) unlocks a free Peacock Premium subscription ($109.99 per year value) on top of free grocery delivery, lower fees, and credit back on eligible pickup orders. Plus, if you're new to Instacart+, you'll get a free two-week trial to kick things off. That means you can watch Bugonia and plenty more for free. Just be sure to cancel before you're charged the full amount.
Best for Walmart shoppers: free Peacock Premium for Walmart+ members Opens in a new window Credit: Walmart Walmart+ $98 per year Get DealWalmart now gives its Walmart+ members the ability to choose Peacock Premium as a free perk. A $109.99 value, your $98 Walmart+ membership is already a better deal than paying for Peacock on its own. Add in free shipping (with no order minimums), fuel discounts, a Scan & Go checkout tool, and early access to deals during Walmart's major shopping events, and you've got yourself a winning subscription.
The Brick screen time blocker is an even better value when multiple people use it
It's no secret I love the Brick, a device that single-handedly cut my screen time in half. In fact, as I'm writing this, my phone is currently Bricked. Instagram, TikTok, and Substack, you will not distract me from my work today. The physical barrier that Brick adds makes it the best choice for those whose built-in screen limits just don't work.
However, there's one big barrier with the Brick — its price. At $59, it's a steep cost for the sake of cutting screen time, unless you get one sale (which, btw, it's currently 20% off.) But there's one thing that I think makes it an even better value — you can share it with your whole household.
Opens in a new window Credit: Brick Brick $47.20 at Brick$59 Save $11.80 Get Deal Can multiple people use the same Brick?
When I first started using the Brick, a few things happened. My screen time plummeted, I rediscovered how to be bored again, but most surprisingly, my wife wanted in on the Brick life.
Our days look very different. I work from home, typing away on my laptop, and hunting the internet for the latest tech and shopping news. Meanwhile, my wife is a high school teacher, instructing and working with students in the classroom. But despite how different our days look, we both fall into the trap of scrolling when we have downtime or a free period.
Plus, at the end of the day, when we're finally home together, our nights usually culminate in turning on our current binge of the moment, but end with us looking at our phones rather than the TV. All this to say, we both needed some help with screen time.
Luckily, more than one person can use a Brick. In fact, according to Brick's support site, there's no limit to how many people can use the same Brick. All you need to connect to a Brick is access to the app and to make your own account — you can't share accounts.
Make sure to keep the Brick in a spot everyone in your house can access. Credit: Samantha Mangino / MashableSo to go in on a Brick with one other person cuts the cost in half. Sharing it with a whole house of roommates, well, you can do the math. But before you share your Brick, remember this isn't like sharing a streaming subscription (because we definitely don't do that...). You need physical access to the Brick to use it, so you can only share it with people in your household.
And a word of caution on sharing your Brick with other people — agree to keep the Brick in one spot. You don't want to go to block (or unblock) your phone and find that it's been moved — you want to avoid using an Emergency Unbrick.
So if you've been holding out on buying a Brick, consider splitting the cost with a partner or roommate because we could all use some help getting offline.
Opens in a new window Credit: Brick Brick $47.20 at Brick$59 Save $11.80 Get Deal
Keep a scanner in your pocket with this handy app — now $28 for life
TL;DR: Digitize anything from anywhere with this lifetime subscription to the iScanner App, on sale now for just $27.99 (reg. $199.90) with code FLASH through Jan. 11.
Opens in a new window Credit: iScanner iScanner App: Lifetime Subscription $27.99$199.90 Save $171.91 Get Deal
If you’ve ever needed to scan something quickly, you know how hard it can be to hunt down a scanner. Luckily, there’s now an app for that — iScanner. This handy tool turns your iPad or iPhone into a scanner that lets you digitize documents anywhere. And right now, a lifetime subscription to iScanner App can be yours for only $27.99 (reg. $199.90) with code FLASH through Jan. 11.
It’s almost 2026, but we’re often still dealing with physical documents and find ourselves needing a scanner. The iScanner App lets you keep a scanning device ready at all times by turning your iPhone or iPad into a scanner.
Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!With the iScanner App, submitting signatures, safeguarding handwritten notes, and sharing documents is easy. Just point your device’s camera at the page you would like to scan and let the app take over. It has AI-powered features that detect and adjust the document’s borders, so you don’t have to deal with distortions.
Once you have scanned something, you can improve it with editing tools like color correction and noise-removing features. Then export it as a PDF, JPG, DOC, XLS, PPT, or TXT. If you pick a PDF, you can also use it to sign, add text, or auto-fill documents on this file type, as iScanner doubles as a PDF editor.
iScanner also serves as a document manager. You can organize your scans into folders using convenient drag-and-drop. It also lets you lock folders and files with a PIN if you’re handling confidential information. And if you need to translate text or solve a math problem, this app can do that too.
Get a lifetime subscription to the iScanner App, on sale now for just $27.99 (reg. $199.90) with code FLASH through Jan. 11.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Make PDFs do exactly what you want forever with one $24 payment
TL;DR: This $23.99 lifetime PDF Converter & Editor gives you fast, accurate conversions, full editing tools, OCR, form building, and more — on both Mac and Windows.
Opens in a new window Credit: Acethinker PDF Converter & Editor: Lifetime License $23.99$99.99 Save $76 Get Deal
Sometimes it feels like PDFs are running your day instead of the other way around. This lifetime PDF Converter & Editor license is the workflow upgrade you might not have realized even existed.
For just $23.99 (reg. $99.99) with code CONVERT, you get a full-featured tool that converts, edits, merges, scans, and organizes documents with accuracy and zero drama — available to both Windows and Mac users.
Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!At its core, the software delivers fast, high-quality conversion in every direction. Need a PDF turned into Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Text, HTML, JPG, or PNG? Done. Want to convert those files back into clean, well-formatted PDFs? Also done — with the layouts, fonts, images, and links fully preserved.
The built-in OCR takes things a step further by letting you extract editable text from scanned documents or image-based PDFs. That means old contracts, printed forms, screenshots, or textbook pages instantly turn into workable digital files.
Editing is equally straightforward: merge or split PDFs, reorder or delete pages, rotate content, add watermarks, build interactive forms, annotate, and secure your files with encryption or unlock them when needed.
You can even extract all images from a PDF in one click or compress oversized files for easy sharing.
Whether you’re freelancing, running a small business, or simply organizing personal documents, this tool eliminates the usual PDF frustrations and gives you full control over your files — permanently. Get lifetime access to the PDF Converter & Editor while it’s on sale for just $23.99 (reg. $99.99) with code CONVERT.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Build a Custom AI Assistant to Save Yourself Time
In the run-up to the new year, we’re resharing some of our favorite tips from 2025. Build a Custom AI Assistant to Save Yourself Time Custom AI assistants can save you time and effort by eliminating repetitive tasks. You don’t need to have coding skills to use them, but to get the most out of them, you […]
257257Moon phase today: What the moon will look like on December 26
The Moon is now a few days into the new cycle, so there is plenty to see when you look up in the sky tonight.
What is today’s moon phase?As of Friday, Dec. 26, the moon phase is Waxing Crescent. According to NASA's Daily Moon Observation, 37% of the moon will be lit up tonight.
Without any visual aids, you can spot the Mares Crisium, Fecunditatis, and Serenitatis tonight. If you add binoculars, you'll also see the Endymion Crater and the Posidonius Crater. To see even more, pull out a telescope and you'll spot the Apollo 11 and 17 landing spots and the Rupes Altai.
When is the next full moon?The next full moon will be on Jan. 3. The last full moon was on Dec. 4.
What are moon phases?According to NASA, the Moon takes around 29.5 days to complete one full cycle. This is known as the lunar cycle. Throughout this time, it passes through a series of phases as it orbits Earth. Although the same side of the Moon always faces us, the amount of sunlight reflecting off its surface changes, which is why it can appear fully illuminated, partly lit, or completely invisible at different points in the cycle. This process is divided into eight main lunar phases:
New Moon - The moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).
Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).
First Quarter - Half of the moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-moon.
Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.
Full Moon - The whole face of the moon is illuminated and fully visible.
Waning Gibbous - The moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)
Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-moon, but now the left side is lit.
Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.
How to watch Pacers vs. Celtics online for free
TL;DR: Live stream Indiana Pacers vs. Boston Celtics in the NBA for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
Fans can follow a number of festive NBA games for free this year, including Indiana Pacers vs. Boston Celtics. The Celtics have been much better than expected this season without star player Jayson Tatum, and they'll be expected to beat the Pacers comfortably here.
If you want to watch Pacers vs. Celtics in the NBA for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is Pacers vs. Celtics?Pacers vs. Celtics in the NBA starts at 7 p.m. ET on Dec. 26. This game takes place at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
How to watch Pacers vs. Celtics for freePacers vs. Celtics in the NBA is available to live stream for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime.
This free live stream is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can access free live streams of the NBA from anywhere in the world.
Stream the NBA for free by following these simple steps:
Sign up for a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime (if you're not already a member)
Subscribe to a VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK
Watch the NBA from anywhere in the world on Prime Video
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer money-back guarantees or free trials. By leveraging these offers, you can watch NBA live streams without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does mean you can watch select games from the NBA before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for the NBA?ExpressVPN is the best service for accessing free live streams on platforms like Prime Video, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries
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 two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% 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 (with money-back guarantee).
Live stream the NBA for free with ExpressVPN.
How to watch Trail Blazers vs. Clippers online for free
TL;DR: Live stream Portland Trail Blazers vs. Los Angeles Clippers in the NBA for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The NBA action continues over the festive period with the Portland Trail Blazers taking on the Los Angeles Clippers. Neither team has been very impressive this season, but there's still time to end the year on a high.
If you want to watch Trail Blazers vs. Clippers in the NBA for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is Trail Blazers vs. Clippers?Trail Blazers vs. Clippers in the NBA starts at 10 p.m. ET on Dec. 26. This game takes place at the Moda Center.
How to watch Trail Blazers vs. Clippers for freeTrail Blazers vs. Clippers in the NBA is available to live stream for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime.
This free live stream is geo-restricted to the U.S., but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the U.S., meaning you can access free live streams of the NBA from anywhere in the world.
Stream the NBA for free by following these simple steps:
Sign up for a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime (if you're not already a member)
Subscribe to a VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in the U.S.
Watch the NBA from anywhere in the world on Prime Video
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer money-back guarantees or free trials. By leveraging these offers, you can watch NBA live streams without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does mean you can watch select games from the NBA before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for the NBA?ExpressVPN is the best service for accessing free live streams on platforms like Prime Video, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries
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 two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% 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 (with money-back guarantee).
Live stream the NBA for free with ExpressVPN.
How to watch Bulls vs. 76ers online for free
TL;DR: Live stream Chicago Bulls vs. Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
There are a number of interesting NBA games taking place over the festive period, including Chicago Bulls vs. Philadelphia 76ers. There have been plenty of positive signs for the 76ers this season, so they'll be looking to end the year on a high. The Bulls are falling away after a really strong start, but there's still time to turn things around.
If you want to watch Bulls vs. 76ers in the NBA for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is Bulls vs. 76ers?Bulls vs. 76ers in the NBA starts at 7:30 p.m. ET on Dec. 26. This game takes place at the United Center.
How to watch Bulls vs. 76ers for freeBulls vs. 76ers in the NBA is available to live stream for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime.
This free live stream is geo-restricted to the U.S., but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the U.S., meaning you can access free live streams of the NBA from anywhere in the world.
Stream the NBA for free by following these simple steps:
Sign up for a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime (if you're not already a member)
Subscribe to a VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in the U.S.
Watch the NBA from anywhere in the world on Prime Video
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer money-back guarantees or free trials. By leveraging these offers, you can watch NBA live streams without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does mean you can watch select games from the NBA before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for the NBA?ExpressVPN is the best service for accessing free live streams on platforms like Prime Video, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries
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 two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% 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 (with money-back guarantee).
Live stream the NBA for free with ExpressVPN.
How to watch Morocco vs. Mali online for free
TL;DR: Live stream Morocco vs. Mali in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free on Channel 4. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
A lot of fans think the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations is Morocco's to lose. The hosts are hot favorites to lift the trophy this year, but they're not going to have it all their own way. Next they face Mali in a fascinating Group A matchup. Can Mali produce a heroic performance to shock the hosts?
If you want to watch Morocco vs. Mali in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is Morocco vs. Mali?Morocco vs. Mali in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on Dec. 26. This fixture takes place at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.
How to watch Morocco vs. Mali for freeMorocco vs. Mali in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations is available to live stream for free on Channel 4.
Channel 4 is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock Channel 4 to stream AFCON for free from anywhere in the world.
Live stream Morocco vs. Mali for free by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK
Visit Channel 4
Watch Morocco vs. Mali for free from anywhere in the world
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of AFCON without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Morocco vs. Mali (plus more 2025 Africa Cup of Nations fixtures) before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for Channel 4?ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Channel 4, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries including the UK
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
Fast connection speeds free from throttling
Up to eight simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).
Watch Morocco vs. Mali in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free with ExpressVPN.
How to watch Egypt vs. South Africa online for free
TL;DR: Live stream Egypt vs. South Africa in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free on Channel 4. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The second round of Africa Cup of Nations group games kick off in Morocco. Fans will have their eyes on Egypt. Not just because of their record at the tournament — they've won seven AFCON titles — but because the squad features star player Mo Salah.
While Salah has had a tough season in the Premier League with Liverpool, he remains one of the greatest players in the world. But he's never won the AFCON with Egypt and he'll be looking to captain his country to success and extend Egypt's impressive record. South Africa, meanwhile, are also looking to make a statement in Group B.
If you want to watch Egypt vs. South Africa in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is Egypt vs. South Africa?Egypt vs. South Africa in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off at 10 a.m. ET on Dec. 26. This fixture takes place at the Le Grand Stade Agadir.
How to watch Egypt vs. South Africa for freeEgypt vs. South Africa in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations is available to live stream for free on Channel 4.
Channel 4 is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock Channel 4 to stream AFCON for free from anywhere in the world.
Live stream Egypt vs. South Africa for free by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK
Visit Channel 4
Watch Egypt vs. South Africa for free from anywhere in the world
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of AFCON without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Egypt vs. South Africa (plus more 2025 Africa Cup of Nations fixtures) before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for Channel 4?ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Channel 4, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries including the UK
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
Fast connection speeds free from throttling
Up to eight simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).
Watch Egypt vs. South Africa in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free with ExpressVPN.
How to watch Angola vs. Zimbabwe online for free
TL;DR: Live stream Angola vs. Zimbabwe in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free on Channel 4. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
Christmas Day is done and dusted and it's back to business in the Africa Cup of Nations. The second of round of group games kicks off with Angola vs. Zimbabwe.
Neither team is ranked as a favorite at the Morocco-hosted event, but tournament soccer — particularly the group stages — can be unpredictable. That's part of the beauty of the game. Eyes are on this group because it also includes Egypt and their star player, Mo Salah. While Zimbabwe have already faced Egypt, Angola face Salah's sqaud next and will want to make an impression here.
If you want to watch Angola vs. Zimbabwe in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is Angola vs. Zimbabwe?Angola vs. Zimbabwe in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off at 7.30 a.m. ET on Dec. 26. This fixture takes place at the Stade de Marrakech.
How to watch Angola vs. Zimbabwe for freeAngola vs. Zimbabwe in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations is available to live stream for free on Channel 4.
Channel 4 is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock Channel 4 to stream AFCON for free from anywhere in the world.
Live stream Angola vs. Zimbabwe for free by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK
Visit Channel 4
Watch Angola vs. Zimbabwe for free from anywhere in the world
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of AFCON without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Angola vs. Zimbabwe (plus more 2025 Africa Cup of Nations fixtures) before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for Channel 4?ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Channel 4, for a number of reasons:
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A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).
Watch Angola vs. Zimbabwe in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free with ExpressVPN.
NYT Pips hints, answers for December 26, 2025
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.
Released in August 2025, the Pips 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 PipsIf you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity for how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, 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 December 26, 2025The 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 December 26, 2025 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Dec. 26 PipsEqual (4): Everything in this green space must be equal to 4. The answer is 2-4, placed horizontally; 4-3, placed horizontally.
Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 4-3, placed horizontally.
Number (11): Everything in this space must add up to 11. The answer is 6-6, placed horizontally; 5-1, placed horizontally.
Number (3): Everything in this orange space must add up to 3. The answer is 5-1, placed horizontally; 2-0, placed horizontally.
Less Than (1): Everything in this space must be less than 1. The answer is 2-0, placed horizontally.
Medium difficulty hints, answers for Dec. 26 PipsEqual (3): Everything in this purple space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-3, placed vertically; 3-2, placed horizontally.
Equal (2): Everything in this red space must be equal to 2. The answer is 3-2, placed horizontally; 2-4, placed vertically; 2-2, placed horizontally.
Not Equal: Everything in this space must be different. The answer is 4-5, placed horizontally; 0-1, placed vertically; 2-2, placed horizontally; 0-6, placed vertically.
Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 0-6, placed vertically.
Hard difficulty hints, answers for Dec. 26 PipsNumber (11): Everything in this space must add up to 11. The answer is 5-5, placed horizontally; 1-2, placed horizontally.
Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 6-3, placed horizontally.
Equal (2): Everything in this red space must be equal to 2. The answer is 1-2, placed horizontally; 3-2, placed horizontally.
Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 5-3, placed horizontally.
Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 1-3, placed horizontally; 1-4, placed vertically.
Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 5-1, placed vertically.
Equal (3): Everything in this orange space must be equal to 3. The answer is 6-3, placed horizontally; 3-2, placed horizontally; 5-3, placed horizontally; 1-3, placed horizontally; 3-3, placed vertically; 3-0, placed horizontally.
Equal (1): Everything in this purple space must be equal to 1. The answer is 5-1, placed vertically; 1-0, placed horizontally.
Equal (0): Everything in this green space must be equal to 0. The answer is 3-0, placed horizontally; 0-0, placed vertically; 1-0, placed horizontally.
Greater Than (10): Everything in this space must be greater than 10. The answer is 6-6, placed horizontally.
Less Than (4): Everything in this space must be less than 4. The answer is 0-6, placed vertically.
Greater Than (11): Everything in this space must be greater than 11. The answer is 0-6, placed vertically; 6-4, 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.
NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for December 26, 2025
The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult to solve if you're from the Golden State.
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 December 26, 2025 Here's a hint for today's Connections categoriesWant a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:
Yellow: Golden State
Green: Funny films
Blue: Old-school groups
Purple: Not white
Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:
Yellow: California-based character tropes
Green: Comedy subgenres
Blue: '70s rock bands
Purple: Black ___
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 #929 is...
What is the answer to Connections todayCalifornia-based character tropes: MOVIE EXEC, SURFER, TECH BRO, VALLEY GIRL
Comedy subgenres: BUDDY, CRINGE, SCREWBALL, STONER
'70s rock bands: AMERICA, CHICAGO, FOREIGNER, JOURNEY
Black ___: FOREST, FRIDAY, PANTHER, WIDOW
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 December 26, 2025Are 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.
NYT Strands hints, answers for December 26, 2025
Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you love to shop til you drop.
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 MashableBy 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 December 26, 2025 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for December 26, 2025 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Please holdThe words are related to shopping.
Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explainedThese words describe an annual shopping day.
NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.
NYT Strands spangram answer todayToday's spangram is Boxing Day.
NYT Strands word list for December 26Shoe
Match
Gift
Lunch
Boxing Day
Tackle
Tool
Ballot
Pizza
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.
Wordle today: Answer, hints for December 26, 2025
Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you love to go fast.
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 December 26, 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 December 26, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:Pace.
Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?The letter E appears twice.
Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...Today's Wordle starts with the letter S.
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...
SPEED
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 December 26, 2025Reporting 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.
Hurdle hints and answers for December 26, 2025
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 hintGelatinous.
SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answerJELLY
Hurdle Word 2 hintA popular Colorado ski town.
SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for December 26, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 AnswerASPEN
Hurdle Word 3 hintA raid.
SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for December 26 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for December 26, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answerFORAY
Hurdle Word 4 hintA Jewish leader.
SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for December 26 Hurdle Word 4 answerRABBI
Final Hurdle hintKidney-related.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answerRENAL
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Stranger Things Season 5: What is the Abyss?
The following contains spoilers for Stranger Things Season 5, Volume 2.
"Everything we have ever assumed about the Upside Down has been dead wrong," Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) says in Stranger Things Season 5, Volume 2. And how right he is.
SEE ALSO: The 'Stranger Things' play totally unlocks 'Stranger Things' Season 5, Vol. 2The latest batch of Stranger Things episodes blows the show's world-building wide open, revealing what, exactly the Upside Down is. But that's not all. It also gives us more detail into the mysterious dimension where Henry Creel/Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) has been hanging out, which Dustin coins "the Abyss."
So what's the deal with the Abyss, and how is it connected to our world and the Upside Down? Let's break it down.
What is the Abyss? Jamie Campbell Bower in "Stranger Things." Credit: NetflixIn the world of Dungeons & Dragons, the Abyss is "a realm of pure chaos and evil," as science teacher Mr. Clarke (Randy Havens) describes it. That makes it the perfect namesake for the alternate dimension that Henry has made his home. Before the release of Season 5, Stranger Things fans referred to this world as "Dimension X," a name that comes not from any dialogue in the show, but from the released script for the Season 4 finale.
SEE ALSO: The Duffer Brothers use 'Stranger Things' Funko dolls to hint at how the show endsSeparate from the Upside Down, the Abyss is a yellow-tinged world full of bleak mountains and floating rock formations. It's also the original home to creatures like the Mind Flayer and the Demogorgons. As Holly (Nell Fisher) discovers in Season 5, Volume 2, if you go through one of the rifts in the ground in the Abyss, you'll find yourself falling through the Upside Down.
The Upside Down is a wormhole, not an alternate dimension. Randy Havens in "Stranger Things." Credit: NetflixFor Stranger Things' whole run, our heroes have assumed the Upside Down is an alternate dimension, like the Abyss turns out to be. However, that couldn't be farther from the truth. Instead, using Dr. Brenner's (Matthew Modine) notes from Hawkins Lab in the Upside Down, Dustin realizes that the Upside Down is actually a wormhole connecting our dimension and the Abyss.
Stranger Things has been hinting at this reveal throughout Season 5. Look no further than its references to A Wrinkle in Time, which features wormhole-like tesseracts. Or how about Mr. Clarke fully teaching a class on Einstein-Rosen Bridges, aka wormholes?
SEE ALSO: Here's how to watch the 'Stranger Things' Season 5 finale in theatersHenry, the Mind Flayer, and the Demogorgons have been using the Upside Down as a path to get to our world. And if they're ever gravely wounded in our world or the Upside Down, as Henry was at the end of Season 4, they can always retreat back up into the Abyss. That explains why none of the crawls ever located Henry: He was biding his time up in the sky.
How was the Upside Down wormhole created in the first place? Credit: NetflixPresumably, the Abyss has always existed in parallel with our world, but how did they end up connected? The answer: Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown).
In 1979, following the massacre at Hawkins Lab, Eleven banishes Henry to the Abyss. It's not the first time he's been there. As the play Stranger Things: The First Shadow confirms (and Volume 2 hints at), young Henry found himself teleported there while exploring a Nevada cave system.
After Eleven banishes Henry, Dr. Brenner focuses on trying to get her to find him psychically. Those experiments led her to make contact with a Demogorgon back in the void, all the way back in Season 1. When she did, that created not just the gate to the Upside Down, but the Upside Down itself, bridging the two worlds.
Great, so what does exotic matter have to do with all of this? Credit: NetflixDustin doesn't just discover that the Upside Down is a wormhole. He also learns that the entire bridge is being held together by exotic matter, which is the roiling ball of energy he, Steve (Joe Keery), Nancy (Natalia Dyer), and Jonathan (Charlie Heaton) discover hovering over Hawkins Lab in Indiana.
Exotic matter is a real scientific term. According to BBC Science Focus, "It's the generic name physicists give to matter with weird properties. Exactly how weird depends on the area of physics."
For the purposes of Stranger Things, though, exotic matter is the source of energy that keeps the walls around the Upside Down wormhole together. If it's destroyed, the whole bridge goes down — along with anyone in it. The destruction of the bridge will prove crucial to our heroes' plan to stop Vecna from joining the Abyss to our world.
So now that we've gotten that impromptu physics lesson out of the way, the stage is set for what's shaping up to be a massive finale. Here's hoping everyone makes it out alive.
Volumes 1 and 2 of Stranger Things Season 5 are now streaming on Netflix. The series finale premieres Dec. 31 at 8 p.m. ET on Netflix and in theaters.
