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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

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Sunday, February 23, 2025:

AcrossSing like "Boopity-bop-dee-doo-dee-doo-bee"

• The answer is Scat.

Hawk's claw

• The answer is Talon.

The "U" in U.K.

• The answer is United.

"Hey, that's cheating!"

• The answer is No fair.

Rapper with the songs "Hot in Herre" and "Air Force Ones"

• The answer is Nelly.

DownSurprise greatly

• The answer is Stun.

Officially accepted storylines

• The answer is Canon.

"Get ___!" ("Stop being so boring!")

• The answer is A life.

Sum amount

• The answer is Total.

Astronaut Armstrong

• The answer is Neil.

Free of moisture

• The answer is Dry.

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

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

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

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

When Intuitive Machines became the first private space company to land on the moon, it was hailed as successful, despite its spacecraft breaking a leg and falling to its side. 

Now, as the Houston-based company seeks to repeat the journey, its executives say they've made improvements to their new spacecraft, Athena, that should help it avoid the problems that impacted the mission in 2024. 

"Landing on the moon is extremely difficult," Trent Martin, senior vice president of Intuitive Machines' space systems, told reporters. "Certainly we will be better this time than we were last time, but you never know what could happen."

The mission, referred to as IM-2 or PRIME-1, is set to launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, as early as Wednesday, Feb. 26. Neither NASA nor Intuitive Machines has announced a specific time for the liftoff, but the space agency intends to broadcast the event live with commentary. Another spacecraft, NASA's Lunar Trailblazer, will also hitch a ride on the flight to orbit the moon and map locations of lunar water. 

SEE ALSO: NASA's blasting a new lander to the moon. It's wrapped in sportswear. Intuitive Machines' Athena moon lander will attempt to touch down near the lunar south pole on March 6. Credit: Intuitive Machines

When the uncrewed IM-2 launches, it will be the third lander en route to the lunar surface, joining Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost and ispace's Resilience, which are both currently orbiting the moon. 

Firefly's lander is the first NASA Commercial Lunar Payload Services mission of the year. It is expected to attempt a landing on March 2. Intuitive Machines will follow closely behind, with a descent slated for March 6. The program has invested $2.6 billion in contracts with private-sector vendors to help deliver instruments to the moon and send back crucial data. 

But landing on the moon remains onerous, underscored by the fact that Intuitive Machines is so far the only company — as opposed to a government space program — that has gotten there mostly intact. The moon's exosphere provides virtually no drag to slow a spacecraft down as it approaches the ground. Furthermore, there are no GPS systems on the moon to help guide a craft to its landing spot.

Odysseus shoots a picture of itself laying on its side on the lunar surface on Feb. 27, 2024. Credit: Intuitive Machines

A last-minute crisis almost ruined Intuitive Machine's 2024 landing. Flight controllers had discovered a problem with the spacecraft's navigation system just a few hours before touchdown. Mission leaders opted to take another lap around the moon, which bought them extra time to switch to a NASA laser-based system attached to the spacecraft as an experiment. 

A combination of gravity and inertia factors also seemed to stymie the landing, said Phil Metzger, a planetary scientist at the University of Central Florida. The Odysseus lander had reached the surface but wasn't upright. That's in part because everything on the moon is "six times tippier," he said in a post on X then, formerly Twitter. The Japanese moon lander SLIM, short for Smart Lander for Investigating the Moon, experienced a similar outcome.

A snapshot from the Intuitive Machines landing revealed the spacecraft had broken a leg on the way down. The tilt had apparently caused an antenna to be blocked, forcing the team to use a backup with lower bandwidth to send back data.

"IM-1 was a success because we were able to broadcast data from the surface of the moon back to Earth, but," Martin said, "we did end up on our side."

The Athena lander is encapsulated in a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket ahead of launch, which could happen as early as Feb. 26. Credit: SpaceX via Intuitive Machines

Following the mission, Intuitive Machines investigated everything that didn't go as planned. The team determined an issue with the laser altimeter, a tool that measures exactly how high the surface is with a laser beam, ultimately leading to the harder-than-desired landing. Because of that issue, flight controllers were using the onboard cameras, which weren't as precise. 

Martin said the investigation resulted in 85 upgrades, including contingencies that should allow Athena to land up to 10 degrees off — perhaps more — and still complete the mission objectives. To be sure it would work, the team tested all of its deployment mechanisms with such a tilt in all different directions. 

"Certainly we will be better this time than we were last time, but you never know what could happen."

Intuitive Machines also addressed the previous communications issues. Tweaks to the spacecraft should allow it to land 30 degrees off-kilter and still have the high-gain antenna pointed back at Earth. Additionally, the company has upgraded its dishes on the ground for receiving data. 

The lander's NASA instruments include a drill and mass spectrometer, a device that identifies the kinds of particles in a substance. The tool is intended to measure gasses in the lunar soil at Mons Mouton, a plateau at the moon's south pole where Athena will try to touch down. 

But, after all is said and done, the lander has to be upright to use them. Still, Intuitive Machines says it'll be a worthwhile trip.

"Let's say something happened like last time, and we ended up on our side," Martin said. "Obviously, we would not be able to deploy drills. We would not be able to deploy hoppers and rovers. However, there are lots of instruments on all of those systems that we would still be able to operate, just like last time."

The dream of mining metals in deep space crashed and burned in the 2010s. AstroForge’s Odin mission to survey a potentially metallic asteroid is packed and ready to lift off.

When it comes to the current state of Black women in tech, the vibes are ominous. There's the current war on DEI, with companies like Google and Meta killing their diversity programs. Then there's the desire of Meta's Mark Zuckerberg for more "masculine energy" in corporate America, which only added to the feeling that Silicon Valley was growing ever more hostile to women and People of Color. Aside from the anecdotal evidence, the numbers don't lie: Only 19 percent of computer science bachelor degrees are earned by women, approximately 3 percent are earned by Black women, and only 2 percent of tech roles are held by Black women, according to data from the organization Black Girls Code.

BGC's mission is to increase those numbers by partnering with schools, companies, organizations, and volunteers to offer Black girls in-person and virtual learning opportunities. Cristina Mancini, a former executive at Salesforce and 20th Century Fox, took the helm of BGC in late 2023, announcing at the time her push for workforce development and a goal of seeing one million girls of color in tech by 2040.

With Black History Month upon us, and a very different industry environment than a year ago, Mashable caught up with Mancini to discuss the latest with her organization and how she stays optimistic during this strange time.

Mashable: Tell us the latest about Black Girls Code and your goals for the year.

Mancini: For those who aren’t familiar, Black Girls Code is an organization that works to inspire, educate, and launch the next generation of technologists by equipping them with the skills and confidence to lead in a field where they’ve historically been underrepresented. We have a lot of exciting initiatives and programming coming up this year – including a new season of our free video-based coding academy, Code Along, which will be released and available on YouTube later this month.

One thing we are really focused on this year is expanding our impact to reach more people and continuing to enhance our curriculum. As AI and other emerging technologies reshape our world, we are constantly evolving and expanding our curriculum to position our girls to be not just participants, but leaders in this technological revolution. This includes: expanding to more cities to reach more girls; evolving our curriculum and deepening our career acceleration programs; creating more pathways to apprenticeships that will define the future of tech.

We have a bold vision to launch one million Black girls in tech by 2040. To some this may seem ambitious, but considering that currently only 2 percent of tech roles are held by Black women, I don’t think it’s ambitious enough. Our work is about creating ecosystems of support to equip girls from grade school through college, as well as those pursuing alternative career paths, with the skills necessary to accelerate their professional growth in tech. By focusing on personal and professional development alongside tech education, BGC ensures its graduates are well-rounded and ready for the workforce.

With little government support for fostering STEM and tech opportunities for Black girls, how can parents, family members, and teachers make up the difference?

Statistics are stark: Women still account for only 18 percent of new computer science degrees, and that number gets significantly lower when you account for intersecting identities. This highlights not just a tech industry issue but a broader societal challenge.

One question that I’ve been asking myself a lot lately is what is the cost of inaction? What happens when entire demographics are missing from rooms where these technologies are being funded, legislated, and created. When diverse voices are absent from the tech industry, innovation suffers, and systemic biases are perpetuated. The lack of representation leads to technologies that fail to address the needs of underrepresented communities. Without intentional efforts to include underrepresented groups, tech risks becoming a field that reinforces existing inequalities. This exclusion stifles progress and leaves critical societal issues unaddressed.

This is why, at Black Girls Code, we remain more focused than ever on our mission, our learners, and our community. As always, we need to stay connected, share resources, and think critically about what we put our energy and our money towards. We also need to create the spaces and instill a sense of belonging, helping young women of color see themselves in spaces they might have thought were out of reach. We need to demystify technology and remind people that technology is for everyone.

SEE ALSO: Meta now lets users call women 'property' and gay people 'mentally ill'

Tech isn’t this scary thing; it’s for everyone and it impacts all aspects of our lives from healthcare, entertainment, and education to finance and sustainability.

I also encourage teachers, parents, and family members to check out our Code Along series! This video-based coding academy teaches coding skills in a fun, accessible, and engaging format on YouTube and other social media platforms (for free!). We have two programs – one designed for an elementary school learner, called Code Along Jr., and one designed for middle schoolers, which is Code Along. Last year, across our two Code Along programs, we reached over 2 million viewers. These kinds of opportunities are such easy, fun, and impactful ways to get involved, where students learn real, tangible skills that will pave the way for their career preparation. For example, our ‘How to Code an AI Chatbot from Scratch’ video is one of our best performing episodes in the Code Along series, as it’s both useful and fun. Perhaps most importantly, these programs serve as a source of inspiration for what the next generation of tech innovators is capable of, and looks like.

Having diverse voices creates ethical experiences that reflect the values of all consumers. Diverse teams are better equipped to create inclusive products and services that serve a broader audience. By empowering Black girls to enter the field of tech, BGC ensures that their unique perspectives contribute to a more equitable and innovative industry. We need to invest in girls of all backgrounds and position them to not just be participants, but leaders in this technological revolution that we’re experiencing.

It's a precarious time for women and POC in the tech sector. How can Black girls interested in the industry, and Black women already in it, stay optimistic?

The first thing I’d like to say is that I am confident we can build a technological industry and future that is created by us, for everyone. One that is safe, inclusive, and joyful. That being said, addressing the gaps in representation isn’t a technology problem, it’s a human problem. We need to ensure our technology represents people from all walks of life. As members of the Black community, we’re super users of this technology and we have the opportunity to become architects. As technology continues to develop at such a rapid pace, we need to ensure we are in these rooms shaping the future we want. We need to be engaged, active, and intentional, and focused on having conversations that are centered on solutions rather than obstacles.

I’d like to encourage us to think about the narrative we’re telling ourselves and exhibiting to the younger members of our community. At BGC I am working on redefining the narrative for Black women in tech – focusing on Black joy in technology rather than marketing trauma as a success story. I want to spotlight the examples of brilliance in action, to talk about and learn from our technologists in the making, who are using technology on their own terms. When we look around, and choose to see joy and success, we see that the opportunities are boundless.

Finally, I just want to remind everyone that we have to remember to breathe. To take care of ourselves. It is impossible to be optimistic otherwise. Talking to our loved ones and connecting with our communities should be the cornerstone of the day, not an after-thought.

SEE ALSO: Watch Zaila Avant-garde become the first African American to ever win the Scripps National Spelling Bee You have extensive experience working in tech at Salesforce and entertainment at 20th Century Fox. How did each industry differ when it came to fostering and supporting Black talent?

I could speak about my career at length, but I believe talking about the pressing challenges facing the tech industry and how we're looking to address them is a better use of our time. We are in the midst of a technological revolution and AI is quickly infiltrating all aspects of our lives – hiring practices, financial services, healthcare, entertainment, and more. Too often, the people creating these technologies don't look like the communities they're supposed to serve. When entire demographics are absent from the critical spaces where technologies are conceived, we leave room for bias and harm. The question isn’t just ‘when will we acknowledge this truth’, but ‘when will we act on it?’ Time is not on our side and we do not want to know what the cost of inaction means for our communities.

This is why at Black Girls Code we are reminding people that underrepresented does not mean underprepared or underqualified. At Black Girls Code we are creating an ecosystem where under-recognized talent thrives as developers, innovators, and leaders across all technology sectors, and we are doing this through four main goals, which are to: launch one million Black girls in tech by 2040; inspire a passion for tech. Show Black girls and gender-expansive youth of color that they belong in tech, they can express themselves with tech skills, and can build thriving tech careers; educate with relevant skills. Equip our community with the tech and leadership skills they need to thrive in the tech world, while providing supportive in-person and virtual learning environments; launch fulfilling careers. Connect our community of learners with the career opportunities they deserve, and provide them with the workplace skills and support to help them be successful.

By empowering Black girls to enter tech, BGC ensures that their unique perspectives contribute to a more inclusive and innovative industry because I believe we can create technology by us, for everyone.

When you think of Black History Month, who stands out as inspirations and what have you learned from these people?

I’m lucky to say that I am inspired and learn from my colleagues and the girls in our community every single day. To name one in particular, Ife Joseph has been part of the BGC community since she was 7, and in 5th grade created an app called “Mental Health for Social Justice.” The app is a digital journey for young kids dealing with racism. She was nominated for TIME magazine’s “Kid of the year” award in 2021 and later spoke at the UN about the importance of BGC. One of the many professionals I admire is Dr. Joy Buolamwini. Her work, featured in the film Coded Bias, shines a light on algorithmic discrimination and inspires others to prioritize fairness in AI development. There’s also Dr. Avriel Epps, an AI ethicist who is educating young minds about AI through her upcoming book, A Kids Book About AI Bias. We actually have a number of events with her this spring, including a breakout at the HumanX conference in Vegas and learning workshops with students. I could list countless lessons that these women have taught me, but above all, the stories they’re telling are challenging the narrative about who belongs in tech, and who’s creating it.

TL;DR: Get a refurbished 2019 Apple MacBook Pro (i5 2.4GHz, 8GB RAM, 256 GB SSD) on sale for $424.97 until March 30 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Refurbished 2019 Apple MacBook Pro (i5 2.4GHz, 8GB RAM, 256 GB SSD) $424.97
$1,499.00 Save $1,074.03 Get Deal

This refurbished Touchbar MacBook Pro is geared up for work, creativity, or marathoning your comfort shows. And instead of paying $1,499, you can get this 2019 Apple MacBook Pro (i5 2.4GHz, 8GB RAM, 256 GB SSD) on sale for $424.97 — until our limited stock runs out.

What does the Touchbar do?

The Touchbar adapts to the apps you're using. Use it for media controls when you're watching a movie, or a color picker when you're using a design app. It also adds some extra security with Touch ID, but that's not all this computer has going for it. 

Under the hood, this MacBook Pro is powered by a 2.4GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 processor and 8GB of RAM. The 256GB SSD provides fast data access and boot times, with the option to expand storage up to 2TB if needed. Plus, with four Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports, you’ll have versatile connectivity options for charging, data transfer, and connecting external displays.

While this is technically a refurbished computer, you'd never know from looking at it. The grade "A" rating means it's in near-mint condition. Even the battery lasts for up to 10 hours on a full charge. 

March 30 at 11:59 p.m. PT is the deadline to get a MacBook Pro on sale for $424.97. 

StackSocial prices subject to change. 

TL;DR: Secure lifetime access to this bundle of Microsoft Office and Windows 11 Pro for $54.97 for a limited time.

Opens in a new window Credit: StackCommerce The Ultimate Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows: Lifetime License + Windows 11 Pro Bundle $54.97
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Tired of constant software subscription renewals and unexpected service interruptions? With this Microsoft Office Professional 2021 and Windows 11 Pro Bundle, you can finally eliminate two of those headaches. You'll get lifetime access to both essential software tools for $54.97 — perfect for anyone looking for long-term cost savings and complete ownership of their productivity software.

With Microsoft Office 2021, you’ll have all the tools you need for productivity, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and more — all available offline, with no subscription fees. This suite provides everything from document creation to data analysis, making it perfect for professionals, students, and home users.

But here’s where things get even better: Windows 11 Pro comes with Copilot, an AI assistant that helps you streamline tasks, improve productivity, and make your workflow smarter. Copilot is integrated right into the Windows experience, helping you automate tasks, organize your workspace, and get more done without lifting a finger. With advanced security features like BitLocker encryption and seamless multitasking, Windows 11 Pro ensures you have a secure, efficient system.

So, why keep paying for something over and over again when you can own it for life?

This lifetime Microsoft Office Professional 2021 and Windows 11 Pro bundle is the ultimate deal for anyone who wants efficient software without the hassle, on sale for $54.97 for a little while longer.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Never misplace your wallet again — grab the KeySmart SmartCard for only $29.97 (reg. $39) with free shipping.

Opens in a new window Credit: KeySmart KeySmart SmartCard $29.97
$39.99 Save $10.02 Thinnest Card Tracker & Works with Apple Find My Get Deal

If you're the forgetful type, you've likely been told to grab the AirTag to track your items (or already invested in it). Sure, it may have been revolutionary when it was first released, but there's a sleeker tracking alternative that might make you wonder why you're still shoving an AirTag in your wallet.

Meet the KeySmart SmartCard, a credit card-shaped tracker that works with the same Find My app as the AirTag, minus the awkward, bulging design. You can grab your own for only $29.97 with free shipping while supplies last.

How the SmartCard works

Never used an AirTag before? The SmartCard works similarly, but you don't need to be a rocket scientist to figure it out. It pairs with the iPhone Find My tracking app to help you find your belongings quickly. Check out what you'll be able to do with this alternative:

• Track your wallet, luggage, or passport holder in real-time on the Find My app's map.

• Find your items (if they're nearby) by having the SmartCard play a sound for easy location.

• Create notifications for your items so you never leave home without them.

Unlike the AirTag, this wallet-friendly tracking card has a sleek, unobtrusive design — you might even forget you slipped it in your office swipe or cardholder until you need to find it. Plus, the SmartCard is Qi-wireless rechargeable and only needs to be powered up about every five months or so. 

And since the SmartCard has an IPX8 waterproof rating (better than the AirTag's IP67 rating), you could throw it in your beach bag or hiking pack without worrying about it.

Find your items at all times with the KeySmart SmartCard, an AirTag alternative now available for just $29.97 with free shipping while supplies last. 

StackSocial prices subject to change.

SAVE $69: While supplies last, you can get the Deeper Connect portable VPN router for $149.97 (reg. $219) with free shipping.

Opens in a new window Credit: Deeper Network Deeper Connect Air Portable VPN Travel Router $149.97
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You’ve been paying for a VPN for how long? Months? Years? That’s a lot of cash for something that just slows down your internet and locks you into another subscription. What if you could get the same, if not better, security and privacy without the monthly fees?

Many people are switching to a VPN router as a more affordable and effective alternative. Think of it as a VPN that offers more security and features than a digital one, all with no recurring fees. We’re constantly selling out of these, but they’re currently in stock right now for $150 with free shipping (reg. $219).

How does it work?

If you can connect your devices to WiFi, you can set up this VPN router. Plug it into your USB-C computer for power, connect it to your chosen network, and pair up to five devices. 

Connect your smart TV to networks overseas, unblock streaming websites, and enjoy how the gadget simultaneously blocks pesky ads. We bet your overpriced digital VPN wasn’t doing that for you before. You may also notice faster speeds since these servers go up to 300Mbps.

Or, join servers from your laptop to stay secure when browsing on public WiFi. This router has over 150,000 servers, so plenty of options exist to protect your data.

Speaking of your protection, this device uses military-grade encryption and a decentralized private network to keep your online activity private. Most digital VPNs use centralized private networks (where your traffic passes through a single point), but a decentralized private network (where your traffic passes through tons of points) offers faster performance and enhanced security since there isn’t a single point of failure.

Get the Deeper Connect Air VPN router for $150 with free shipping before we sell out again (reg. $219). No coupon is needed to get this price.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Grab Microsoft Office Pro 2021 at just $59.97 (reg. $219) and enjoy lifetime access to essential productivity tools.

Opens in a new window Credit: Retail King Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows: Lifetime License $59.97
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Grab Microsoft Office Pro 2021 for Windows at just $59.97 (reg. $219) and enjoy lifetime access to essential productivity tools.

What you get with your purchase

• One-time purchase, lifetime access — no monthly fees, just essential Office apps

• Includes must-have tools like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access, Teams, and Publisher

• Designed for Windows users — perfect for work, school, and personal projects

• Boost productivity with reliable tools for documents, data management, and communication

• Quick and easy setup that allows you to download it instantly and activate with your product key

• No hidden fees — pay once and use Microsoft Office Professional 2021 forever

Skip the subscription headache — don’t miss this deal and get a lifetime license to Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows for $59.97. Sale ends March 30.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: A lifetime license for Microsoft Office 2024 Home for Mac or PC is on sale for £102.89 (reg. £118.74) until 23 February at 11:59 p.m. PT. 

One of the only reasons to stick with Microsoft 365 was that it had the most recent versions of apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. The subscription is expensive, but the AI upgrades really save a ton of time. 

Good news: that's not the only way to get updated Microsoft apps. Now, you can get Microsoft Office 2024 Home for Mac or PC as a one-time purchase, and it's marked down to £102.89 (reg. £118.74) for a limited time at the Mashable Shop.

Why rent software when you can buy?

This device license lasts for life with no recurring costs of any kind. It connects directly to your Microsoft account and lets you use Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote on a PC or Mac.

All of these apps have been updated with the latest features. Microsoft Word now includes real-time co-authoring, which lets multiple users work on the same document simultaneously. You also get to use AI-powered suggestions to help streamline the writing process. 

In Excel, dynamic data handling with new formulas like FILTER, SORT, and UNIQUE can be a serious time-saver for anyone working with complex data sets. That means Excel can now handle real-time updates, so your data visualisations and reports stay accurate and current without the need to manually refresh anything.

PowerPoint has received a major upgrade, too. You can record presentations with voice, video, and closed captions. That's a lot easier than manually inserting everything yourself after recording it on another app. 

And don’t forget about OneNote. The updated app is designed for smoother collaboration so you can share notes and work with others way more efficiently.

You have until 11:59 p.m. PT on 23 February to get a lifetime license for Microsoft Office 2024 Home for Mac or Windows for £102.89 (reg. £118.74). 

StackSocial prices subject to change. 

Opens in a new window Credit: Retail King Microsoft Office 2024 Home for Mac or PC: One-Time Purchase £102.89 at the Mashable Shop
£118.74 Save £15.85 Get Deal

TL;DR: Live stream Italy vs. France in the 2025 Six Nations for free on ITVX. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Italy are coming off impressive victory over Wales in the last round of 2025 Six Nations fixtures, but can they step things up and beat France in Rome? It's a difficult task, but England showed how to give France problems in the last round of games.

If you want to watch Italy vs. France in the 2025 Six Nations for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Italy vs. France?

Italy vs. France in the 2025 Six Nations starts at 3 p.m. GMT on Feb. 23. This fixture takes place at the Stadio Olimpico.

How to watch Italy vs. France for free

Italy vs. France in the 2025 Six Nations is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

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

Live stream Italy vs. France from anywhere in the world by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Visit ITVX

5. Live stream Italy vs. France for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Italy vs. France without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream this game before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Italy vs. France in the 2025 Six Nations for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Pakistan vs. India in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Almost every game from the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy is massive, but Pakistan vs. India is the biggest of the lot. It really doesn't get any better than this rivarly between two cricketing behemoths.

The world will stop for this huge game, and you can watch all the action unfold without spending anything.

If you want to watch Pakistan vs. India in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Pakistan vs. India?

Pakistan vs. India in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy starts at 4 a.m. ET on Feb. 23. This ODI takes place at the Dubai International Stadium.

How to watch Pakistan vs. India for free

The following platforms are offering coverage of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy:

• Australia — Prime Video (free with 30-day trial)

• India — Disney+ Hotstar

• New Zealand — Sky TV NZ

• Pakistan — Tamasha (free) and PTV (free)

• UK — Sky Sports

• USA — Willow and Sling TV

The 2025 ICC Champions Trophy is available to live stream for free in Pakistan. The free streaming platforms are geo-restricted to Pakistan, but anyone can access these free live streams with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Pakistan, meaning you can unblock free live streams of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy from anywhere in the world.

Live stream the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy for free by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Visit Tamasha or PTV

5. Live stream Pakistan vs. India for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Pakistan vs. India (plus every other 2025 ICC Champions Trophy game) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for live sport?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including Pakistan

• 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

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

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

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

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

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

Tweet may have been deleted

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.

Tweet may have been deleted

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.

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: What different athletes play on

• Green: 10 pins

• Blue: Important to the Super Bowl outcome

• Purple: Baseball positions and players

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

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

• Yellow: Playing surface

• Green: Bowling terms

• Blue: Super Bowl LIX TD scorers

• Purple: Fielders

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 #153 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• Playing surface - FIELD, GROUNDS, PITCH, TURF

• Bowling terms - BUMPER, GUTTER, LANE, POCKET

• Super Bowl LIX TD scorers - DEJEAN, HURTS, SMITH, WORTHY

• Fielders - CATCHER, CECIL, PRINCE, SHORTSTOP

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for February 23 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for February 23 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Oh, this old thing?

These words are things people spend a lot of money on.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

The words are something an avid fan might collect.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Collectibles.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for February 23

• Plushie

• Comic

• Vinyl

• Bobblehead

• Stamp

• Collectibles

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.

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.

Tweet may have been deleted

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.

Tweet may have been deleted

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's The Mini crossword answers for February 23 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: Actions involving friction

• Green: Methods of keeping food fresh

• Blue: Toppings for breakfast foods

• Purple: Things people say they spill

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

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

• Yellow: Rub Together

• Green: Ways to Preserve Food

• Blue: Breakfast Condiments

• Purple: Proverbial Things That Are Spilled

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 #623 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Rub Together: GNASH, GRATE, GRIND, SCRAPE

• Ways to Preserve Food: CAN, FERMENT, FREEZE, PICKLE

• Breakfast Condiments: BUTTER, HOT SAUCE, JAM, SYRUP

• Proverbial Things That Are Spilled: BEANS, GUTS, MILK, TEA

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 February 23

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.

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

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: Hints and answers for February 23 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's The Mini crossword answers for February 23, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A playful aquatic mammal.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter T appears twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter O.

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...

OTTER.

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 February 23

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.

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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

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Saturday, February 22, 2025:

AcrossSize between sm. and lg.

• The answer is Med.

Sharp parts of forks

• The answer is Tines.

Cutting device in a woodworking shop

• The answer is Bandsaw.

Louise ___, Pulitzer-winning author of "The Night Watchman" and "The Mighty Red"

• The answer is Erdrich.

Faux meat option at Thanksgiving

• The answer is Tofurky.

Songs, informally

• The answer is Tunes.

Drug also called acid

• The answer is LSD.

DownConsciously focused on the present moment

• The answer is Mindful.

Evasive maneuvers

• The answer is End run.

Wished for

• The answer is Desired

Kind of deck with four suits: wands, cups, swords and pentacles

• The answer is Tarot.

Tackles of the quarterback

• The answer is Sacks.

"Oh yeah? Wanna ___?"

• The answer is Bet.

Preschooler's repeated question

• The answer is Why.

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

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

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

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

Scientists have discovered that the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way buzzes with activity, shooting out a nonstop stream of flares into space. 

A new study using NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has revealed a variety of light coming from the black hole Sagittarius A* — or rather its accretion disk, the ring of rapidly spinning material that surrounds it. 

While some flares are reminiscent of the ephemeral flickers of a candle, lasting just seconds, others are gigantic eruptions, blasting out a half-dozen incredibly bright jets on a daily basis.

These new findings, published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters this week, could help astrophysicists better understand black holes and how they interact with the gas and dust around them. They also may provide new insight into the evolution of the Milky Way.

"We saw constantly changing, bubbling brightness," said Farhad Yusef-Zadeh, the Northwestern University astronomer who led the study, in a statement. "And then boom! A big burst of brightness suddenly popped up. Then, it calmed down again. We couldn’t find a pattern in this activity. It appears to be random."

SEE ALSO: He found a Milky Way black hole 50 years ago, and finally got to see it The first image of Sagittarius A*, the black hole at the center of the Milky Way galaxy, released to the public in May 2022. Credit: Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration

Scientists at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, which runs Webb and the Hubble Space Telescope, are calling this the longest, most-detailed research of Sagittarius A*, pronounced "A-star," to date. The study is based on 48 hours of observation time in eight to 10-hour durations over the course of a year. 

Black holes were little more than a theory 50 years ago — a kooky mathematical solution to a physics problem — and even astronomers at the top of their field weren't entirely convinced they existed. 

Today, not only are supermassive black holes accepted science, they're getting their pictures taken by a collection of enormous, synced-up radio dishes on Earth. Supermassive black holes, millions to billions of times more massive than the sun, are thought to lurk at the center of virtually all large galaxies.

What we know is this: Falling into a black hole is certain death. Any cosmic stuff that wanders too close reaches a point of no return. But scientists have observed something weird at the edge of black holes' accretion disks, similar to the swirl of water around a bathtub drain. A tiny amount of that stuff can suddenly get rerouted. When that happens, high-energy particles can get flung outward as a pair of jets, blasting in opposite directions, though astronomers haven't quite figured out how they work.

The video above shows some of the Webb telescope data from April 7, 2024, covering 9.5 hours of observation, with a big flare appearing toward the end.

Yusef-Zadeh and team are trying to help get to the bottom of that. They've likened the new observations to solar flares, but capable of shining across 26,000 light-years of space. Webb saw brightness changes over short timescales, meaning they are coming from the black hole’s inner disk, not far outside its so-called event horizon, that previously mentioned point of no return.

Yusef-Zadeh speculates the biggest and brightest flares are like magnetic reconnection events, a process in which two magnetic fields crash and release accelerated particles, traveling near the speed of light. The shortest bursts may derive from minor disturbances in the accretion disk, similar to solar flares which occur when the sun's magnetic field jumbles, compresses, and erupts.

"Of course, the processes are more dramatic because the environment around a black hole is much more energetic and much more extreme," he said. "But the Sun’s surface also bubbles with activity."

The next step will be to observe Sagittarius A* for a longer, uninterrupted period of time to see if the flares repeat or are indeed random.

From time to time, the U.S. military shows glimpses of its X-37B spaceplane, which can travel to space for years at a time.

We just got another glimpse. The U.S. Space Force — which took the reins from the Air Force's expansive military operations in space in 2019 — has released a view the robotic craft took from Earth's orbit. You can see a portion of the X-37B and an outstretched panel above a view of a partially shadowed Earth.

"An X-37B onboard camera, used to ensure the health and safety of the vehicle, captures an image of Earth while conducting experiments in [highly elliptical orbit] in 2024," the Space Force posted on X. "The X-37B executed a series of first-of-kind maneuvers, called aerobraking, to safely change its orbit using minimal fuel."

SEE ALSO: A dramatic total lunar eclipse is coming. You don't want to miss it.

This is the seventh mission of the X-37B, which orbits 150 to 500 miles above Earth to explore reusable space vehicle technologies and conduct long-term space experiments. The plane was originally built by Boeing for NASA, but the project transferred to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, in 2004. At nearly 30 feet long, it's one-fourth the size of NASA's retired Space Shuttle.

An image of Earth captured by the U.S. Space Force's X-37B spaceplane. Credit: U.S. Space Force Tweet may have been deleted

The X-37B's "aerobraking" maneuver mentioned above involves using close passes by Earth's atmosphere to produce drag, ultimately allowing it to switch orbits without burning too much of its finite fuel.

"This novel and efficient series of maneuvers demonstrates the Space Force's commitment to achieving groundbreaking innovation as it conducts national security missions in space," former secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall explained in 2024.

But the spaceplane, which most recently launched in Dec. 2023, isn't coming back home just yet. The mission is "now continuing its test and experimentation objectives," the Space Force said. After that, the craft will plummet through our planet's atmosphere and land on a runway — an event the U.S. military has released images of in the past.

The military clearly wants to promote the X-37B's successes — without revealing too much about its outer space exploits.