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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 July 25's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

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.

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

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 used to be available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it. Unfortunately, it has since been taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times.

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 July 26 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Nectar.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter J.

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

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

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

JUICE.

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.

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

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Connections is the latest New York Times word game 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 July 26's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

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.

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Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer. If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

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

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for July 26 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Apropos of nothing...

• Green: Foment

• Blue: Sexy one

• Purple: Ideas expressed with a certain single letter  

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: OFF TOPIC REMARKS

• Green: CREATE, AS RESULTS

• Blue: HOTTIE

• Purple: WORDS REPRESENTED BY THE LETTER "R"

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 #410 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• OFF TOPIC REMARKS - ASIDE, DETOUR, DIGRESSION, TANGENT

• CREATE, AS RESULTS - BEAR, GENERATE, PRODUCE, YIELD

• HOTTIE - BABE, FOX, SNACK, TEN

• WORDS REPRESENTED BY THE LETTER "R" - ARE, RADIUS, REVERSE, RIGHT

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.

Is this not the Connections game you were looking for? Here are the hints and answers to yesterday's Connections.

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• Fitbit Charge 6 Fitness Tracker With 6-Months Membership — $159.95

• Apple Watch Series 9 (GPS, 41mm, Midnight, S/M, Sports Band) — $299.00 (List Price $399.00)

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

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

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.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer hints for July 27 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for July 27

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.

NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Bedtime story

All the words appear in a specific children's story.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

The words are taken from Goodnight Moon.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is GoodnightMoon.

NYT Strands word list for July 27

• GoodnightMoon

• Mush

• Mittens

• Kittens

• Socks

• Clocks

• NoBody

Looking for other daily online games? Find one you might like – or hints for another game you're already playing – on Mashable's Games page.

TL;DR: Live stream New Zealand vs. USA at Paris 2024 for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Group stages of soccer are well underway at Paris 2024, and it's still anyone's game. Next up, it's group A teams New Zealand and USA.

If you want to watch New Zealand vs. USA at Paris 2024 for free from anywhere in the world, keep scrolling because we have all the information you need.

When is New Zealand vs. USA at Paris 2024?

New Zealand vs. USA at Paris 2024 takes place at 1:00 p.m. ET on July 27. The event will be held at Marseille Stadium, Marseille.

How to watch New Zealand vs. USA at Paris 2024 for free

Olympic soccer matches at the Paris 2024 Olympics will be available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but if you want to catch the game from elsewhere in the world, you can do so with the use of a VPN. VPNs are tools that hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock free streaming sites like BBC iPlayer from anywhere in the world.

Unblock BBC iPlayer for free by following this simple process:

1. Sign up for 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 BBC iPlayer

5. Live stream New Zealand vs. USA at Paris 2024 from anywhere in the world

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ExpressVPN is the best service for streaming live sport on BBC iPlayer, 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 also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

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'Twisters' did not culminate in a Glen Powell and Daisy Edgar-Jones kiss, and Belen Edwards needs to rant about it.

The 2024 Paris Olympics is making a historic bid among a long lineage of international games, from its Seine cleaning efforts and integration of AI, to the first time the competition has achieved gender parity among athletes.

Its leaders are also making claims for international camaraderie amid global turmoil, including the continued barrage of Palestine by Israel's armed forces. Athlete delegations from both Israel and Palestine will be competing in Paris, under close watch from activists around the world.

SEE ALSO: Celine Dion triumphs at Olympics opening ceremony and the internet lights up

Following a parade of nations and several performances, International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach ushered in the games saying, "Let us celebrate this Olympic spirit of living life in peace, as the one and only humankind, united in all our diversity."

One thing is certain: Supporters around the globe will be watching athletes representing the war-torn region. The opening ceremony has set a tense tone for Israel's reception.

The Palestinian delegations makes historic arrival

The delegation for Palestine, recognized as part of the IOC in 1995 and debuted in 1996, sends eight competitors to the 2024 Paris games. Athletes will compete in athletics, boxing, swimming, judo, taekwondo, and shooting.

Arriving in Paris on Thursday July 25, the group of athletes were met with a crowd of supporters, many urging the international bodies in attendance to recognize the Palestinian state as well as its athletes. "France doesn’t recognize Palestine as a country, so I am here to raise the flag," Palestinian swimmer Yazan Al-Bawwab told the Associated Press. "We’re not treated like human beings, so when we come play sports, people realize we are equal to them."

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One day later, the group floated down the Seine holding the now symbolic red, green, and black flags as well as traditional keffiyehs, a symbol of Palestinian resistance. Many were adorned in embroidered Palestinian outfits — Flag bearer Waseem Abu Sal, who will compete as the first Palestinian Olympic boxer, donned a white shirt emblazoned with the image of a plane dropping ammunition on a child innocently playing soccer under a sunny sky. The outfit of Valerie Tarazi, Olympic swimmer and Palestine's second flag bearer, represented her Gazan family.

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Fans and activists protest Israel's presence

Meanwhile, crowds in Paris' public viewing spaces booed Israel's Olympic delegation as it took its spot in the Olympic parade spotlight.

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Protesters unfurled banners and hung posters around the city, calling for Israel's exclusion from the games. One poster, featuring the image of an Olympic podium covered in blood, bombs, and the Israeli flag, read: "When it comes to killing for sport, there's no competition."

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Many activists have called for a boycott of the 33rd Olympic games following its inclusion of Israel's team. And there's precedent for IOC action that admonishes the actions of countries: Russian athletes, banned from competing as a national team in the 2024 games, were screened for public, pro-military stances following the country's invasion of Ukraine.

Credit: Pool / Getty Images Sport via Getty

The 2024 Olympics began with a star-studded, impressive opening ceremony in Paris.

The event featured a totally new look, opting to feature the Seine River and stunning background of the city itself instead of the typical garish display inside a stadium.

Being in Paris, we expected big-time artists and celebrities and it certainly delivered.

Zinedine Zidane

French soccer legend Zinedine Zidane got thing underway by carrying the Olympic torch in a pre-filmed sketch that got the Olympics underway.

Tweet may have been deleted Lady Gaga

As lots of folks expected Lady Gaga appeared at the opening ceremony. She performed a song in French, complete with dancers, choreography, and an orchestra, as the athletes made their way down the Seine.

Tweet may have been deleted Marie Antoinette

OK, not really. But someone dressed as Marie Antoinette held her own disembodied head. Really.

Tweet may have been deleted Aya Nakamura

The uber-popular French pop star performed, dressed in all gold with dancers following along as she walked and danced through beautiful Parisian backgrounds.

Tweet may have been deleted Steph Curry and A'ja Wilson

The NBA and WNBA stars, respectively, were interviewed during the NBC broadcast about their goals and experiences with the Olympics.

Tweet may have been deleted Michael Phelps

The Olympics G.O.A.T, swimmer Michael Phelps, appeared in the procession, though, obviously, he is no longer competing.

Tweet may have been deleted The Minions

Yes, for some reason, we got what amounted to a Minion advertisement in the middle of the ceremony. Apparently they were created by a French artist.

Tweet may have been deleted Gojira

The French metal band played a very metal performance after a section honoring Les Mis.

Tweet may have been deleted Noah Lyles

The world's current fastest man was another featured interview on the NBC broadcast. Lyles promised a win in not only the 100-meter, but also the 200-meter.

Tweet may have been deleted Rim'K

French rapper Rim'K performed on a barge on the river.

Tweet may have been deleted Snoop Dogg Tweet may have been deleted

Grammy-nominated rapper Snoop Dog was seen carrying the Olympic torch through the streets of Saint-Denis on Friday. But he also gave us a little jig after Algerian-French rapper Rim’K performed.

LeBron James and Coco Gauff

Team USA flag-bearers Coco Gauff and LeBron James were featured in interviews during the NBC croadcast. The tennis star and NBA icon did a joint interview about how thrilled they were to represent the U.S. in Paris.

Tweet may have been deleted Joel Embiid

Former NBA MVP Joel Embiid was featured in an interview on the NBC broadcast, describing how he chose to play with the U.S. and not France or Cameroon, where he was born.

Tweet may have been deleted Juliette Armanet

The French singer did a lovely rendition of "Imagine" on a floating barge, accompanied by a piano that was on fire. Kind of cool.

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Rafael Nadal, Carl Lewis, Serena Williams

Spanish tennis superstar Rafael Nadal took over the torch from Zidane toward the end of the ceremony. Alongside Nadal on a boat in the Seine was Serena Williams and former track star Carl Lewis.

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tony Parker

The French retired NBA star helped carry the torch.

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After a long ceremony, and lots of waiting for Dion, she finally, as rumored, performed. And she did so in grand fashion atop the Eiffel Tower.

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UPDATE: Jul. 26, 2024, 5:27 p.m. EDT Celine Dion, the iconic Canadian singer, finally made her highly anticipated appearance at the Paris Olympics opening ceremony.

Four hours of Olympic opening ceremony theatrics and viewers are wondering one thing: Where is Celine Dion?!

SEE ALSO: Olympics opening ceremony shows 2024 really is the year of the ménage à trois

Dion was spotted in Paris the day before the opening ceremony, fueling rumors that the superstar was set to make her return on the Olympic stage. However, it remained unclear whether she would be among the athletes and stars sailing down the Seine during the ceremony.

Lady Gaga was whispered to be joining the star as well, following her opening number.

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With the sun setting over Paris, and French President Emmanuel Macron officially opened the 2024 games, Dion was yet to be seen. Still, the ceremony continued with a spectacular laser light show illuminating the Eiffel Tower. Glitter sparkled across the glowing Olympic rings, and a speedboat brought in even more Olympic icons, including Serena Williams.

Users on Elon Musk's X came across an interesting new option tucked deep into the Settings tab on the social media platform this week.

"Allow your posts as well as your interactions, inputs, and results with Grok to be used for training and fine-tuning," reads the settings option on X, formerly known as Twitter. The option refers to X's AI chatbot Grok, which the company continues to integrate throughout the platform.

The fine print under the Settings option text goes on to say that the data is used to "continuously improve your experience" on X, but that the user's data will also be shared with Musk's AI company, xAI, which powers Grok.

It's good that X informs users of how it uses their data. It's also positive that X provides users with a choice on whether they want to share their data with xAI and X for AI training.

It's bad, however, that X opts users in by default. It's also not great that users had to seemingly discover these opt-in and opt-out options on their own.

Here's the X setting that needs to be turned off. It's on by default. Credit: Mashable screenshot / X How to opt out of X's AI training

To stop X from using your data to train its AI, there are a few steps you need to take. (Note: It appears that this setting can only be disabled on X for the web, not via X's iOS or Android apps.)

1. Click the Settings and Privacy option on the left-hand sidebar menu on X.

2. Once in the Settings tab, click on the Privacy and Safety tab.

3. Scroll down to the Data sharing and personalization section and click on the Grok option.

4. You should now see the "Allow your posts as well as your interactions, inputs, and results with Grok to be used for training and fine-tuning" setting with the checkmark box ticked. Click on the checkmark to deselect and opt out.

Under that setting, there's also an option to delete any conversation history that you have with the X's Grok AI chatbot.

Musk has big plans for his AI company. He recently floated his idea to have Tesla invest $5 billion into his xAI, which powers Grok. If X users don't want their data to be used to train Musk's next big project, they should follow the steps above.

The Paris Olympics kicked off on Friday with an opening ceremony unlike any other.

It promised to be a star-studded event with expected appearances from Celine Dion and Lady Gaga, with rumors of other big names. The ceremony certainly delivered with performances and appearances from stars.

SEE ALSO: 'Spotlight on Paris' is NBC's latest bid for Gen Z Olympic attention

The big names aside, it was also a unique opening ceremony in the way it was carried out. It was not held in a stadium like usual. This time, we're getting a parade through Paris with thousands of athletes carried on nearly 100 boats. The idea was to bring all the gorgeous history of Paris into the ceremony itself.

With more than a billion projected viewers of the opening ceremony on TV, the reactions flooded online. In general, folks thought it was well done.

Here's what people were saying as the ceremony got the Olympics underway.

People liked seeing French soccer legend Zinedine Zidane as the first big cameo. Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted The athletes and celebs were spotted out and ready to go. Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted The fireworks and beautiful sights were lovely. But it was neat to see it take place along the river on boast. Tweet may have been deleted Lady Gaga did not disappoint.

A lot is expected from the opening ceremony, including a reported performance from superstars Celine Dion and Lady Gaga. We we will likely see the internet get quite excited to see Dion, especially, make her return to the stage for the Olympics.

Gaga appeared and performed, sans Dion, doing a upbeat dance and song number in French. Gaga fans loved it.

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Broadcast woes

There were some critiques of the NBC broadcast in the U.S., featuring Mike Tirico, Kelly Clarkson, and Peyton Manning.

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted A headless Marie Antoinette

Yes, a lead-in to a metal band playing a version of a Les Mis song featured Marie Antoinette holding her own, talking, disembodied head. It was a bit of a fever dream.

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted There were some....questions about a pre-filmed skit about love Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Dancing, art, and a very French show

There were memes about the artsy, definitely French nature of the opening ceremony.

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted The Minions showed up

Yep, the Minions, which were apparently created by a French artist, had long, silly segment in the middle of the ceremony.

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted One metal-as-hell section

A favorite for lots of folks was a very metal, very flame-forward, pretty great performance from the French band Gojira.

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Boats!

There were jokes about countless boats carrying athletes.

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Jokes about the masked torch-bearer

The through-line of the ceremony was a masked torch-bearer, running, jumping, and flying throughout Paris. There were lots of jokes and suggestions about who the torch bearer may be.

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Celine Dion...finally...brings the house down

After a very long opening ceremony — nearly four hours in length — Celine Dion finally, as rumored, came out and performed. People were upset it took so long.

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After taking time away due to a Stiff Person Syndrome diagnosis, the internet was thrilled to see Dion perform again, even if it was delayed.

She performed in grand fashion, on the platform of the Eiffel Tower. Most folks agreed it was the highlight of the ceremony.

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While the 2024 Paris Olympics kicked off with a parade of nations floating down the Seine, a torch bearer doing parkour through the Louvre, and the literal decapitation of Marie Antoinette, the internet was captivated by a much smaller part of the performance.

SEE ALSO: Lady Gaga just performed at the Olympics opening ceremony

"Did I just watch the Challengers hotel scene at the Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony," wrote Twitter user @kasiakovacs, referring to a "steamy" (the words of opening ceremony commentators) scene in which three neon-clad dancers stared longingly at each other and then quickly ran into a private room — getting up to something NSFW, certainly.

The tweet captures what has been months of fervor over director Luca Guadagnino's tennis threesome blockbuster, starring Zendaya, Josh O'Connor, and Mike Faist as star-crossed paramours in the world of professional sports. It's kind of a topical nod, as Paris's own tennis competitors float on by. It's also proof that "Challengers Summer" is far from over.

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Viewers didn't get to witness the Parisian apartment goings-on, though, as the dancers embraced, looked knowingly into the camera, and then slammed the door shut. No three-way make out sessions on primetime.

NBC's hosts, exhaling a quiet gasp as the shot took over screens, closed the segment with a succinct wrap up: "Oh — We are uninvited."

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Somewhere between What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? and Carol lies Mothers' Instinct. Set vaguely in the early 1960s, this psychological thriller thrusts two of America's most thrilling actresses at each other in a queer-coded battle of wills and mental illness. 

Anne Hathaway and Jessica Chastain star as a pair of (mostly) happy homemakers who live side by side in charming suburbia. Established cinematographer Benoît Delhomme makes his directorial debut here, draping the film in a dreamy pastel palette that cools as the plot kicks in. An untimely death throws these very, very close friends into a spiral of suspicion that threatens to not only end their bond but maybe even several lives along the way. 

Steeped in tension and twisted possibilities, Mothers' Instinct is a deliciously deranged drama that's destined to find an audience that appreciates its brand of camp.  

Mothers' Instinct delivers a tale of motherhood and jealousy.  

Hathaway stars as Celine, an unflappably chic housewife who is as beloved by her dashing husband Damian (Josh Charles) and chipper son Max as she is by the local PTA. But no one loves her as much as Alice does. Played by Chastain, the next-door neighbor/best friend looks at Celine with a yawning awe, not only for all Celine's capable of but also how easy she makes it look. 

While Celine is utterly content with her picture-perfect domesticity, Alice pines to return to work, hungry to be "more" than a wife and mother. Their differences fester when a tragic accident robs Celine of her only child, leaving her bereft and staring at the greener grass on her neighbor's lawn — where a little boy still frolics. 

Celine's attitude chills so sharply toward Alice that she begins to wonder if her friend resents her. Desperate to reconnect, Alice gives all she can to her grief-stricken bosom buddy. But before long, she begins to wonder if Celine is scheming to take something more from her... maybe even revenge. 

Mothers' Instinct has a Lifetime movie plot with a queer undercurrent. 

Based on Barbara Abel's 2012 novel Behind the Hatred, Mothers' Instinct plunges unapologetically into domestic terror, pitting two young mothers against each other in a war of emotion and manipulation. Because Alice has a history of mental illness, Celine's hesitant to confess her suspicions to her husband, Simon (Anders Danielsen Lie). Which is probably for the best, as Simon is an insensitive oaf, ever ready to ignore his wife's inconvenient feelings. 

However, as bodies begin to pile up around the ballet flats of lovely Celine, Alice won't be ignored. But how can she hit back at the woman she loves, even if that woman is turning homicidal?

A queer undercurrent brings a juicy layer to this plot line. The menfolk bop about the lawns and dining rooms, chortling and considering themselves kings of their castles, intentionally two-dimensional. They are nowhere near as real or alive to their wives as their wives are to each other. A sex scene between Alice and her husband is cut short when he declares he wants to impregnate her, a turn-off to a woman who dreams of passion, not more dirty diapers. Meanwhile, simple scenes where Alice and Celine dance together or console each other throb with intimacy and even (potentially one-sided) desire. Combined with Delhomme's romantic palette, Mothers' Instinct feels more Todd Haynes than Alfred Hitchcock. And it's easy to imagine if circumstances were a little different, Alice might take Celine to lunch and declare her "flung out of space." 

Anne Hathaway and Jessica Chastain are Mothers' Instinct biggest asset and its greatest obstacle. 

Both actresses ably hip-swivel through the dastardly dance that is the movie's most vicious turns. Hathaway offering a chilliness that is enticingly enigmatic, while Chastain is often on the brink of tears, eyes on fire. Together, they play a battle of love and hatred that is so twisted, intense, and entertaining that it recalls Robert Aldrich's iconic psycho-biddy thriller What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? Hathaway and Chastain don't go as theatrical as Bette Davis and Joan Crawford once did, but rightfully so; their at-war heroines are not decades into their festered bond. Still, their performances shimmy knowingly into camp. 

But this might be the problem. Not the performances themselves, which are divinely committed and juicy, but the simple fact that Hathaway and Chastain are so respected and so damn famous. When Davis and Crawford went off the rails in that hagsploitation classic, they were aging leading ladies using their fading status to fuel the subtext of the showbiz horror gem. Watching them go feral was a bold and educated choice. (And it paid off, earning Davis a Best Actress Oscar nomination ten years after her last, plus a slew of other horror roles.)

Hathaway and Chastain are far from fading; they are still undeniable headliners and Oscar winners. So when they join forces for a movie, audiences might not expect something as willfully tawdry as Mothers' Instinct. This is not a sophisticated thriller on par with Vertigo or even Dial M for Murder, but neither does it need to be to satisfy. 

Hathaway is too interesting an actress to be relegated only to prestige pics. Recently, she elated critics in the flirty rom-com The Idea of You and the gnarly thriller Eileen. But personally, I most love her big swings, like when she played a toxic femme fatale in the psycho-sexual thriller Serenity or an alcoholic who accidentally manifests a rampaging kaiju in Colossal. Meanwhile, Chastain has mixed it up, leaping genres from the superhero flick X-Men: Dark Phoenix to the horror movie IT Chapter Two, to the utterly forgettable espionage thriller Ava. But after her Oscar win for her transformative performance in The Eyes of Tammy Faye, it's about time she gets to cut loose with some trashy thrills. And she does just that in Mothers' Instinct. 

All this is to say, Mothers' Instinct doesn't reach the glorious heights of Hitchcock, or Haynes, or even Aldrich. Rather, Delhomme builds his domestic thriller in a valley in between. His heroines don't reach the delicious camp hysteria of Davis or Crawford. They don't pose in the elegant and openly queer yearning of Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara. They might be formed in the mold of Hitchcock's femme fatales, but to their credit, Hathaway and Chastain make these roles their own. 

In the end, Mothers' Instinct might not be great cinema, but it is great fun. Spiked with twisted turns, explosive emotions, and a feud that's frightening and fun to behold, it's a thriller well worth its gnashed teeth and salty tears. 

Mothers' Instinct opens in select theaters July 26 and on digital Aug. 13.

The Comic-Con trailer for "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" Season 2 is chock-full of glorious Middle-earth action.

The 2024 Paris Olympics is off to a pink-hued start. La vie en rose!

Starting off the opening ceremony festivities in the Parisian sunlight was American superstar Lady Gaga, belting out her rendition of "Mon Truc En Plumes" originally performed by French dancer and actress Zizi Jeanmaire.

SEE ALSO: Celine Dion triumphs at Olympics opening ceremony and the internet lights up

As the parade of athletes traveled down nearly 4 miles of river, fans, dancers, and celebrities lined the banks, Gaga and a flurry of dancers holding hot pink feathered fans danced down a set of golden steps that read, "Enchanté!"

After the reveal of a grand piano — just like her "Jazz and Piano" days — tinkling away next to the waterfront, the singer took a moment behind her dancers to add a fan of white feathers to her back. Grand outfit changes are her thing, of course.

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted

Gaga is also rumored to return to the banks of the Seine later on in the ceremony, reportedly to duet with famed singer Celine Dion in a headline-making comeback performance for the French Canadian icon.

SEE ALSO: How to livestream the Paris Olympics opening ceremony

TL;DR: Live stream France in the Paris 2024 basketball for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

France are sure to be hometown favorites in lots of the Paris 2024 events, not least of all in the basketball — one of the most exciting, fastest-paced sports you'll see across the entire two weeks of action. Indeed, France are among the many nations shooting for gold, silver, and bronze in the Paris 2024 basketball, with twelve nations represented in both the men's and women's competitions.

But how can you watch the France basketball games for free from anywhere in the world? Keep reading to find out.

When are France competing in the Paris 2024 basketball?

France are set to compete in the below group games at Paris 2024:

Men's basketball

• France vs. Brazil in Group B — 11:15 a.m. ET on Jul. 27

• Japan vs. France in Group B — 11:15 a.m. ET on Jul. 30

• France vs. Germany in Group B — 3:00 p.m. ET on Aug. 2

Women's basketball

• Canada vs. France in Group B — 11:15 a.m. ET on Jul. 29

• France vs. Nigeria in Group B —11:15 a.m. ET on Aug. 1

• Australia vs. France in Group B — 3:00 p.m. ET on Aug. 4

How to watch France in the Paris 2024 basketball for free

The basketball at Paris 2024 is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is a free streaming platform that's geo-blocked outside of the UK. But basketball fans from across the globe can watch it by using a VPN. A VPN will hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect with a secure server in the UK, helping unblock free streaming sites such as BBC iPlayer, giving you access to all the Paris 2024 action, from anywhere around the world.

Unblock BBC iPlayer for free by following this simple process:

1. Sign up for 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 BBC iPlayer

5. Live stream the basketball at Paris 2024 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 actually free to use, but leading VPN providers usually sweeten the deal with free trial periods or money-back guarantees. By using these deals, you can unblock BBC iPlayer without committing any cash. This is obviously a short-term solution, but it gives you time to stream the basketball, and plenty more sporting action at Paris 2024, before claiming back any initial investment.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best service for streaming live sport on BBC iPlayer, 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. That plan also gives you a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream France in the Paris 2024 basketball for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Canada in the Paris 2024 basketball for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Paris 2024 is offering up so much sport that its liable to make your spin like a basketball bouncing around the hoop. And there's plenty of b-ball amongst it all, with the top basketballing nation competing for gold, silver, and bronze.

Canada are among the nations who are shooting to win a medal at Paris 2024, but how can you watch the Canada basketball games for free from anywhere in the world? Read on to find out.

When are Canada competing in the Paris 2024 basketball?

Canada are set to compete in the below group games at Paris 2024:

Men's basketball

• Greece vs. Canada in Group A — 3:00 p.m. ET on Jul. 27

• Canada vs. Australia in Group A — 7:30 a.m. ET on Jul. 30

• Canada vs. Spain in Group A — 11:15 a.m. ET on Aug. 2

Women's basketball

• Canada vs. France in Group B — 11:15 a.m. ET on Jul. 29

• Australia vs. Canada in Group B — 7:30 a.m. ET on Aug. 1

• Canada vs. Nigeria in Group B — 7:30 a.m. ET on Aug. 4

How to watch Canada in the Paris 2024 basketball for free

The basketball at Paris 2024 is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is a free streaming platform that's geo-restricted to the UK. But basketball fans from across the globe can watch it by using a VPN. A VPN can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server based in the UK, unblocking free streaming sites such as BBC iPlayer, giving you access to all the Paris 2024 action, from anywhere in the world.

Unblock BBC iPlayer for free by following this simple process:

1. Sign up for 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 BBC iPlayer

5. Live stream the basketball at Paris 2024 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 VPN providers usually have free trial offers or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these deals, you can unblock BBC iPlayer without committing any cash in the long run. This is obviously a short-term solution, but it gives you time to stream the basketball, along with lots more sporting action at Paris 2024, before recovering any initial investment.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best service for streaming live sport on BBC iPlayer, 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. Within that plan you'll also get a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Canada in the Paris 2024 basketball for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Australia in the Paris 2024 basketball for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

For basketball fans, it doesn't get much more exciting than watching the game at this elite level: fast-and-furious, back-and-forth action with one of the most coveted prizes in all of sports up for grabs — a Paris 2024 gold medal.

There are twelve nations represented in each of the men's and women's competition, including Australia. But how can you watch the Australia basketball games for free from anywhere in the world? Here's all the information you need.

When are Australia competing in the Paris 2024 basketball?

Australia are set to compete in the below group games at Paris 2024:

Men's basketball

• Australia vs. Spain in Group A — 5:00 a.m. ET on Jul. 27

• Canada vs. Australia in Group A — 7:30 a.m. ET on Jul. 30

• Australia vs. Greece in Group A — 7:30 a.m. ET on Aug. 2

Women's basketball

• Nigeria vs. Australia in Group B — 5:00 a.m. ET on Jul. 29

• Australia vs. Canada in Group B — 7:30 a.m. ET on Aug. 1

• Australia vs. France in Group B — 3:00 p.m. ET on Aug. 4

How to watch Australia in the Paris 2024 basketball for free

The basketball at Paris 2024 is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but basketball fans from across the globe 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, unblocking free streaming sites such as BBC iPlayer, along with all the Paris 2024 action, from anywhere in the world.

Unblock BBC iPlayer for free by following this simple process:

1. Sign up for 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 BBC iPlayer

5. Live stream the basketball at Paris 2024 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 unblock BBC iPlayer without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it gives you time to stream the basketball events at Paris 2024, not to mention all other events, before recovering any initial investment.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best service for streaming live sport on BBC iPlayer, 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. As part of this plan you'll get a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Australia in the Paris 2024 basketball for free with ExpressVPN.

If you pay for ChatGPT, your subscription is about to get some more value for your money.

According to OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, the alpha rollout for ChatGPT's new Voice Mode update will be available to ChatGPT Plus members at some point next week. This update was initially promised for June, but got delayed by a month. It’s unclear whether all Plus members will receive the feature simultaneously or if it will be rolled out more gradually. But rest assured that it is happening.

SEE ALSO: In case you missed it, ChatGPT on Mac suffered a serious security issue Tweet may have been deleted ChatGPT Voice Mode update: 3 new features

The new update for ChatGPT Voice Mode will purportedly allow users to have realistically paced voice conversations with ChatGPT, thanks to newly reduced response times. There are also some other neat utility features it can do now. According to Tom's Guide, the Voice Mode update will add at least three new features to ChatGPT:

• Live translate between languages

• Create sound effects while telling stories

• Do custom character voices

It's been a big week for ChatGPT, which announced the imminent rollout of its SearchGPT search engine just days ago. Whether it's through voice conversations or text searches, OpenAI's signature chatbot is certainly getting a workout as 2024 goes on.

SAVE UP TO $350: As of July 26, save up to $350 on various configurations (14-inch and 16-inch) of the Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 laptop at both Lenovo and Best Buy.

Fall is nearly here again (we can't believe it either), and that means it's time to send the kids back to school. Or perhaps you're kicking off a new school year yourself. Whatever the case may be, you're going to need the right tech to help you succeed. Now's a great time to snag a new laptop, and you can save up to $350 on multiple configurations of Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 laptops at both Lenovo and Best Buy.

Our pick Opens in a new window Credit: Best Buy Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 (16-inch, Intel Core Ultra 7 155U, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $699.99 at Best Buy
$1,049.99 Save $350.00 Get Deal

This 2-in-1 touchscreen laptop boasts a 16-inch 1920 x 1200 display with a 60Hz refresh rate, an Intel Core Ultra 7 155U processor, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD so you can store all your documents and media in one place. It's more than capable of running multiple programs at once, or if you're a heavy internet user, several tabs that might normally sap another laptop of memory. Bending it backwards is the real attraction here as it can also be used as a "normal" laptop, but being able to fold it like a tent or use it as a tablet is a major plus when it comes to portability. This hybrid laptop makes for a great back to school buy. This configuration is just $699.99, down from its normal price of $1,049.99 at Best Buy.

Our pick Opens in a new window Credit: Lenovo Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 (14-inch, Intel Core Ultra 5 125U, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $679.99 at Lenovo
$929.99 Save $250.00 Get Deal

This 14-inch configuration of the Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 laptop is rife with features in a slightly smaller package. The display is a bit smaller with a less zippy processor, but the memory and storage are still nothing to sneeze at, especially considering this laptop's transforming form factor. Lenovo is offering a complimentary 2-month Adobe Creative Cloud membership as well as a 3-month Xbox Game Pass subscription with purchase.

Our pick Opens in a new window Credit: Best Buy Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 (16-inch, Intel Core Ultra 5 125U, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $599.99 at Best Buy
$899.99 Save $300.00 Get Deal

This alternate 16-inch version of the Yoga 7i 2-in-1 laptop comes packing the Intel Core Ultra 5 12U processor with 16GB of memory and a 512GB SSD. Mashable reviewer Alex Perry praised this particular model for its "big screen that can move around in different ways" as well as its loud speakers, excellent battery life, and full keyboard. "If you need a bulky, sturdy machine for streaming things and answering emails, you can certainly do worse," Perry said of the machine.