IT General

Cozy crime is a subgenre in which intriguing tales of murder boast a jaunty aesthetic that's irreverently twee. Think Only Murders in the Building, with its foolhardy amateur sleuths alternately investigating homicide and bickering over their podcast's production. Think Pushing Daisies, a candy-colored mystery series about a lovelorn pie-maker who can literally raise the dead to solve their murders. Think Sew Torn. 

Written and directed by Freddy Macdonald, this inventive indie crime comedy begins with a drug deal gone violently wrong, before stitching together a multi-thread tale of an unlikely criminal mastermind: a mild-mannered mobile seamstress played by Eve Connolly (Vikings). 

What's Sew Torn about?

Sew Torn is set in a picturesque village high in the mountains, where a pleasant business district boasts quaint shops. One such shop is owned by seamstress Barbara Duggen (Connolly), who offers custom embroideries alongside alterations. Further out, vibrant green pastures dotted with cows stretch to a mighty concrete bridge overlooking a misty valley, reaching even farther to stately homes, where a wealthy bride-to-be (a hilariously harsh Caroline Goodall) is in a snit over a fallen button. 

In an opening in which Barbara barely speaks, Macdonald swiftly sets up how this young woman has shrunken in the shadow of her late mother, the original mobile seamstress. Trapped by her dedication to carry on her mother's work even as the family business fails, Barbara's fingers twitch at rebellion as she stitches. Her urge for self-sabotage might be ruinous, but at least it could bring something new. By flicking a button into a floor vent, she must flee the growling bride to get another. Barbara's lovely commute back to her village is interrupted when she comes across a pair of bumbling gangsters on a blood-spattered, remote road.

A clever lass, Barbara takes one quick look at the scene and assesses from the felled motorcycles, hobbled goons, and scattered bags of white powder that the briefcase skittered down the road is full of cash. "A perfect crime," she says to herself, seeing a solution to her financial woes. She doesn't just pick up the money and run, though. Instead, Barbara uses her handy seamstress kit and its brightly colored threads to create a Rube Goldberg machine that should neatly dispose of the messier bits of this could-be heist. Despite her quick thinking, things don't exactly go to plan. 

Sew Torn offers a collection of possibilities and quirky characters. 

In 1998, writer/director Tom Tykwer awed critics with his high-energy crime thriller Run Lola Run, which featured a flame-haired Franka Potente chasing down several different solutions to save her scheming boyfriend from a deadly fate. Sew Torn offers Barbara a similar bargain. When her perfect crime proves deeply flawed (and fatal), rather than leaving her bleeding out in a cornfield, Macdonald thrusts her back onto that road, staring down the coveted briefcase once more. 

Armed with some hard-won knowledge from her previous encounter with the briefcase, Barbara tries a new plan; she calls the cops. Well, actually, this village is so small that she calls the cop, an elderly woman who is not only the sheriff but also the local notary and the justice of the peace. Far from a hard-ass, K Callan (Poker Face, Knives Out) brings the energy of Coen brothers comedy, as her character can suss out bullshit with ease yet exudes patience and empathy. She'll collar all three of these crooks with the sternness of a school marm teaching a lesson. 

Here and throughout the other threads, Barbara's choices knit in a reluctant gangster (Calum Worthy), a frantic thug (Thomas Douglas), a chatty embroidery enthusiast (Ron Cook), and a merciless kingpin (John Lynch). Each gets their moment to shine via Sew Torn's curious narrative structure. Some imbrue menace, while others give off agony, and still others a boisterous warmth. Yet all would be for naught if Connolly weren't crushing the lead role. 

Eve Connolly proves she's a captivating leading lady in Sew Torn. 

While this crime comedy can get quite silly with its violent slapstick, thread-centric machinations, and kooky criminals, Barbara is the straight man surrounded by stooges. Her expression is often drawn, her eyes spiked with calculation. While other characters bloviate about their lives, Barbara is a much more internal character, her quietness making her seem all the more an outsider in her hometown. But Connolly makes sure Barbara never feels flat or passive. Voiceovers framing the beginning and the end give audiences a peek into Barbara's thinking, but mostly we rely on Connolly's sharp facial expression and precise physicality for insight. 

All of this interiority makes a sharp contrast in the third thread of the film all the more exciting. In this sequence, Barbara's only path to survival is to throw herself into a dance number. It is explosive and inexplicable. Her limbs fling about madly while her face is sharply focused. This is not a celebration; it is a scheme tied to strings. And of all the incredible things she pulls off with thread, it's the most climactic and wickedly fun. 

Macdonald enhances the fantastical possibilities of this crime-ridden tale with color, using vivid hues but a medium contrast. There's grays within these tones, perhaps reflecting Barbara's boredom with these surroundings despite their beauty. Yet there's no ignoring the boldness of things like the dazzling blue of her eyes, the harsh red of blood, and the bright yellow thread wrapped around the giant bobbin at the back of her teal Volkswagen bug (a cutesy signifier of her trade). Notably, each color is reflected in literal threads that prove crucial to Barbara's plans. Each burst of color speaks to Barbara's possibilities for more than mending. She can remake the world around her or tear it to shreds. But what to do with that knowledge?

Thanks to a crackling cast, a clever color scheme, and a plotline that's uniquely knotty, Macdonald makes Sew Torn a sensational experience. It has the cheeky fun of a top-notch crime comedy without losing the edge of life-or-death stakes. With a series of possibilities being unspooled, the movie is delightfully unpredictable. Its leading lady lands each beat, be it one of harrumphing frustration, a outrageous dance, or a dangerous hope. And in the end, it leaves its audience dizzy but satisfied by its wild spins. 

Sew Torn is now available on VOD.

UPDATE: Jun. 12, 2025, 3:13 p.m. EDT "Sew Torn" was reviewed out of its World Premiere at SXSW 2024 in this review, originally published on March 11, 2024. It has been updated to include the latest streaming information.

SAVE $20: As of June 13, the Amazon Fire TV 32-inch 2-Series is on sale for $129.99 at Amazon. That's a 13% saving on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV 32-inch 2-Series $129.99 at Amazon
$149.99 Save $20 Get Deal

If you're on the hunt for a new TV but don't want to break the bank, turn your attention to the Amazon Fire TV 2-Series. A great option for anyone, and as of June 13, it's on sale for just $129.99.

This price is for the 32-inch model and for the TV only; to add on a four-year protection plan, you'll need to pay more.

SEE ALSO: Snag a 65-inch Toshiba C350 Fire TV for its lowest price yet at Amazon

As with most Amazon devices, this TV comes with Alexa voice control built in. Not only can you use this to control some of your other smart home devices (think speakers, robot vacuums, or light bulbs), but you can also use it to search through multiple streaming platforms at once, helping you find your favorite shows and movies much more easily. Just tell Alexa what you want to watch, and it will search through your various accounts to find it.

For entertainment, the TV runs on Amazon's Fire OS, so you'll have access to popular streaming apps like Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, and more. It also features two standard HDMI inputs and one ARC input, making it easy to connect gaming devices. It also supports Dolby Audio for even better sound quality.

And despite such a low price, you won't find it scrimping on image quality. Nope, enjoy an HD 1080p resolution for all your shows and gaming.

Get this limited-time deal from Amazon now.

The best tech deals right now, hand-picked by Mashable's team of experts

• Apple AirPods Pro 2nd Gen With MagSafe USB-C Charging Case — $169.00 (List Price $249.00)

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Climate.gov may soon shut down, putting the end to an important U.S. government climate and weather resource used by countless people every year. The Guardian reports that the website's entire content production team was let go at the end of May, becoming some of the latest workers impacted by the Trump administration's widespread layoffs of federal employees.

Run by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Climate.gov publishes scientific data on the Earth's climate, including maps, educational material, and articles aimed at informing the general public. According to the website, Climate.gov's mission is to "provide science and information for a climate-smart nation." 

Sadly, this flow of climate information is likely to soon become a trickle at most, with Climate.gov's editorial team of 10 having reportedly all been dismissed by May 31. 

SEE ALSO: How do we navigate climate disinformation online?

The cuts began shortly after President Donald Trump's inauguration in February, with three of Climate.gov's editorial team members dismissed in the Department of Government Efficiency's (DOGE) mass purge of probationary employees. The remaining seven were subsequently axed in recent weeks, though all 10 remain on Climate.gov's now outdated list of staff at time of writing.

"[The current U.S. administration] think that climate change isn't real, and they don't want anybody talking about it," Climate.gov's former program manager Rebecca Lindsey told NPR. Lindsay was one of the three workers who were dismissed in February.

Trump has actively hindered efforts to combat climate change for years, withdrawing the U.S. from the Paris Climate Agreement and scrapping the Clean Power Plan during his first term as president in 2017. This week, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) confirmed reports that it is working to abolish all restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions from U.S. power plants that use fossil fuels. The EPA further revealed that it intends to weaken regulations which limit power plants' emissions of toxic air pollutants such as mercury.

The NOAA is one of the many government agencies struggling under extensive staffing cuts implemented by Elon Musk's DOGE this year. Approximately 1,000 former NOAA workers have reportedly been axed since Trump took office, making up 10 percent of the NOAA's workforce. This includes over 150 critical roles which have been left empty as of May.

NPR reports that Climate.gov will cease publishing new content on July 1, though it remains unclear what will happen to the content currently available. The website could be completely shuttered, left to rot, or even reappropriated to host less scientific articles that are more in line with Trump's views on climate change. Whatever happens, it seems clear that climate education and action are not high priorities for the Trump administration.

What if one day, when you opened the front door of your apartment, you found that you'd been completely walled in?

That's the premise for Netflix's upcoming mystery/thriller Brick, which sees a strange black wall enveloping an apartment block and trapping the residents inside.

Writer/director Philip Koch's movie looks like a twisty, claustrophobic ride.

Brick is streaming on Netflix July 10.

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 Friday, June 13, 2025:

AcrossHouse and Doogie Howser, for short

• The answer is MDs.

Dessert wine

• The answer is Port.

Mugful after a sledding excursion

• The answer is Cocoa.

Desert whine?

• The answer is I'm hot.

"Like, yesterday!"

• The answer is ASAP.

DownChocolate-and-coffee drink

• The answer is Mocha.

Sag

• The answer is Droop.

Three-point percentage, e.g.

• The answer is Stat.

Poofy toy dogs, familiarly

• The answer is Poms.

Org. that employs Jack Ryan in Tom Clancy novels

• The answer is CIA.

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 today's Mini Crossword.

TL;DR: Live stream South Africa vs. Australia in the 2025 World Test Championship final for free on ICC.TV. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The ICC World Test Championship final has been a long time coming. Test teams have been competing in this edition of the competition since 2023, with South Africa and Australia eventually emerging as the leading sides. South Africa are making their first-ever appearance in the WTC final, whereas Australia are defending champions after defeating India in the 2023 final.

If you want to watch South Africa vs. Australia in the 2025 World Test Championship final for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is the 2025 World Test Championship final?

South Africa vs. Australia in the 2025 World Test Championship final takes place on June 11-15. This Test match takes place at Lord's Cricket Ground.

How to watch the 2025 World Test Championship final for free

South Africa vs. Australia in the 2025 World Test Championship final is available to live stream for free on ICC.TV.

This free live stream on ICC.TV is only available in select regions (see full list of territories here), but anyone can stream the WTC Final for free with a VPN. These helpful tools can hide your IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in a location with free access. This simple process bypasses geo-restrictions so you can live stream on ICC.TV from anywhere in the world.

Live stream the 2025 World Test Championship final 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 a location listed here

4. Visit ICC.TV

5. Live stream South Africa vs. Australia for free from anywhere in the world

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

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ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to live stream the 2025 World Test Championship final, for a number of reasons:

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Scientists have scored a pristine view of a pair of exotic worlds orbiting a star more than 300 light-years away — one with sand-like clouds and another surrounded in space by moon-making material. 

The discoveries come from YSES-1, a star system in the deep southern sky. Using the James Webb Space Telescope, a collaboration of NASA and its European and Canadian counterparts, a team of astronomers saw so-called "silicate clouds" directly for the first time on an exoplanet, a world far beyond our own solar system. The team's detection of a dusty disk around the sibling planet is also rare, perhaps just the third time scientists have seen one so clearly. 

Webb usually observes exoplanets through indirect methods, such as transmission spectroscopy, a technique for studying a planet's atmosphere by analyzing how starlight filters through it. What distinguishes this new research is that the two worlds — YSES-1b and YSES-1c — were directly imaged, meaning the telescope captured light from the planets themselves. 

Sitting far from their host star, these young planets glow from the leftover heat of their formation. Thanks to their temperature, size, and distance, the result is a clean picture of the exoplanets in thermal infrared, allowing scientists to get much more data. 

"What's really cool about this system is that unlike most planets, we can actually take a picture of them!" said Evert Nasedkin in a post on the social media platform Bluesky. You can see the image further down in this story.

SEE ALSO: A tiny star gave birth to an absolute giant. Scientists are puzzled.

The idea for this groundbreaking project began long before Webb was even open for business, said Kielan Hoch, lead author of the research recently published in the journal Nature. 

Scientists hypothesized the telescope could get both worlds in a single shot, "essentially giving us two for the price of one," Hoch said in a statement. 

What's really cool about this system is that unlike most planets, we can actually take a picture of them! We used the NIRSpec and MIRI instruments on JWST to observe nearly the full spectra of each of these exoplanets.

[image or embed]

— Evert Nasedkin (@evertnasedkin.bsky.social) June 10, 2025 at 1:15 PM

These two gas giant planets weigh five to 15 times the mass of Jupiter and orbit far from their host, a star similar to the sun. What's different is that it's only about 16.7 million years old, a mere whippersnapper compared to our middle-aged, 4.6 billion year-old sun. The planets are also in extremely distant orbits. YSES-1b, the innermost of the two, is still perhaps four times farther from its star than Pluto is from the sun.  

But given only a handful of known exoplanets can be directly imaged, the study has offered scientists a unique opportunity to see an early stage of a developing star system. From these observations of the YSES-1 system — the letters in its name stand for Young Suns Exoplanet Survey — astronomers can gain insight into how planets and moons form and evolve. 

SEE ALSO: Webb discovers a distant moon has an intriguing similarity to Earth

Few distant worlds meet the criteria for direct imaging because planets are often millions of times fainter than the stars they circle. And if they are orbiting close by, their own light usually gets swamped.  

The James Webb Space telescope captures a direct image of exoplanets YSES-1b and YSES-1c with its Near-Infrared Spectrograph instrument. Credit: NASA/ ESA / CSA / Hoch et al. / Nature

But scientists want these images because there is so much to learn from them. Molecules within a planet's atmosphere absorb certain colors of light, so when astronomers study a planet's spectrum, they can look for what's missing from the rainbow to determine which gases — like water, methane, and carbon dioxide — are present in the planet's air. For the YSES-1 system, scientists not only saw molecules in the direct imaging but detected cloud particles and a dust disk. 

On YSES-1c, rather than water vapor, the clouds are made of hot, ultra-fine rock grains. While Earth's clouds are often white and pillowy, these are probably hazy and dark, filling the sky with something akin to a glass powder. You can think of these silicate clouds sort of like the plumes of mineral ash that vent out of volcanoes. 

YSES-1b is even "weirder," said Nasedkin, one of the coauthors. Around it is a so-called circumplanetary dust disk that could serve as a birthplace for moons, similar to those seen around Jupiter. Scientists used computer models to figure out that the dust is hot — about 400 to 600 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Because this particular disk is much older than two previously found around other unrelated exoplanets, what is creating or sustaining it is a mystery. The original disk of planet-building material around the star is long gone, so the researchers have ruled that out as the source. 

"It's possible that we're seeing the dust emitted by collisions of moons and other small, rocky bodies left over from the planet's formation!" Nasedkin said.

TL;DR: A lifetime license to Microsoft Office 2019 for Mac is on sale for $39.99 — enjoy permanent access to essential productivity tools.

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What you get:

• Lifetime access to Microsoft Office Home & Business 2019 you only pay for once

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Streamline your work and personal projects with a lifetime license to Microsoft Office Home & Business 2019 for Mac for just $39.99 (reg. $229).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Live stream Indiana Pacers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (Game 4) in the 2025 NBA Finals for free on YouTube. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2025 NBA Finals continue to surprise and entertain, with the Pacers taking a 2-1 lead after the first game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The pressure is now all on the Thunder. The pre-Finals favorites need to win Game 4, otherwise the Pacers will be one step away from lifting the trophy.

If you want to watch Indiana Pacers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (Game 4) in the 2025 NBA Finals for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Indiana Pacers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (Game 4)?

Indiana Pacers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (Game 4) starts at 8:30 p.m. ET on June 13. This game takes place at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

How to watch Indiana Pacers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (Game 4) for free

Indiana Pacers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (Game 4) in the 2025 NBA Finals is available to live stream for free on YouTube.

This content is geo-restricted to India, but anyone can access this free live stream with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in India, meaning you can live stream the 2025 NBA Finals from anywhere in the world.

Live stream the NBA for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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

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

4. Visit YouTube

5. Watch Indiana Pacers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (Game 4) for free

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The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer money-back guarantees or free trials. By leveraging these offers, you can watch NBA live streams without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does mean you can watch select games from the NBA Finals before recovering your investment.

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

What is the best VPN for YouTube?

ExpressVPN is the best service for accessing free live streams on platforms like YouTube, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including India

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month subscription for just $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream Indiana Pacers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (Game 4) for free with ExpressVPN.

Ice cream makers have had their moment in recent years. TikTokkers have taken a liking to these machines — and who can blame them? Ice cream is just plain yum — making the ice cream maker an on-trend appliance for cool kitchens.

Indeed, ice cream makers are having their moment in the sun (well, not quite the sun, because that would melt the ice cream, of course). And that's definitely a good thing. Because who doesn’t want a constant supply of the tasty frozen treat?

But there are things to know about making your own ice cream. It isn’t like rushing up to the ice cream van and ordering a 99 with a flake. Using an ice cream maker isn't quite that simple. Especially if you’ve never owned one before. Allow us to get you started with some info on ice cream makers, plus a round-up of the best models.

How does an ice cream maker work?

It’s easy. In most case you simply add the mixture into a bowl (cream, milk, sugar, and any flavouring), which the machine then stirs with a rotating paddle. The machine will then drop the temperature, freezing the mix. Some premium-level machines have a built-in freezer, others have a bowl that you need to pop in the freezer beforehand. The mix will also expand during the process. The amount of ice cream you’ll get depends on the bowl capacity. Other models, such as those by Ninja, have a different method but the principle is the same: Put your mix in the bowl and let the machine do the work.

How long does it take to make ice cream?

As you’ll see below, different ice cream makers will work with different timescales — somewhere between 20 and 50 minutes. It’s worth noting that pre-freezing a bowl can take around eight hours or more. Up to 24 hours in some cases, in fact. So, if you live in a household with kids who are likely to start demanding ice cream at any given time, it might be worth keeping that bowl in the freezer permanently, so it’s always ready.

What other features do ice cream makes have?

On more expensive models you’ll find literally cool features, such as built-in freezing or settings to control the consistency of your ice cream (or other frozen dessert). One feature that’s always welcome — and found in cheaper models — is a chute in the lid to add ingredients, whether it’s flavouring or nuts, while the ice cream is being made.

What else can ice cream makers make?

Ice cream makers don't only make ice cream. Certain models will make ice cream variations, such as sorbet and gelato, or frozen yoghurt. What’s not to like? The Ninja model below offers an impressive ten different varieties of frozen dessert, so these machines can be very versatile.

What is the best ice cream maker?

There are plenty of top-quality models on offer from well-known brands like Cuisinart and Sage. We have checked out customer reviews, features, and specifications to put together a very chill list. Whether you're a total beginner looking to whip something up, or a professional ice cream maker-in-the-making, there’s something for you here.

These are the best ice cream makers in 2025.

TL;DR: Live stream the 12th season of Love Island UK for free on ITVX. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Forget about sunning yourself on a picture-perfect beach this summer, because Love Island UK is back on our screens.

We're all set for a summer of cringey pickup lines, awkward breakups, and massive meltdowns. There's also a chance that contestants will find love, but that's not really what Love Island is about. It's all about the drama, and we absolutely love it.

If you're interested in watching Love Island UK in 2025 for free from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is Love Island UK in 2025?

The 12th season of Love Island UK started on June 9. The 12th series is expected to run for eight weeks.

How to watch Love Island UK for free in 2025

The 12th season of Love Island UK is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

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

Live stream Love Island UK for free by following these simple steps:

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 ITVX

5. Stream Love Island UK for free from anywhere in the world

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The best VPNs for unblocking streaming sites are not free, but they do tend to offer free trials and money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch the 12th season of Love Island UK without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you time to watch a large chunk of the season before recovering your investment.

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

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

ExpressVPN is the top choice for accessing free live streams on ITVX, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• Easy-to-use apps for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS, as well as platforms like Linux, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, and routers

• Strict no-logging policy

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

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• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month subscription for just $12.95 (including money-back guarantee).

Live stream Love Island UK for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

A twig.

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

SPRIG

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Intelligent.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for June 13, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

SMART

Hurdle Word 3 hint

To resupply weapons.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for June 13 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for June 13, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

REARM

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Very angry.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for June 13 Hurdle Word 4 answer

LIVID

Final Hurdle hint

Minor.

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

PETTY

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

Let's start with something positive: As of this writing, Walmart has both the Nintendo Switch 2 console and the Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle in stock.

So, what's the catch? According to the product listing pages, the new Nintendo consoles are being sold by third-party sellers — and with jacked-up prices. The bundle normally retails at Walmart for $499, but it's currently listed for sale from seller "GAMES FOR US" for $749. The $449 console is listed for sale for $672, a $223 increase.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Nintendo Switch 2 console $672 at Walmart
Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Walmart Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle $749 at Walmart
Get Deal

The last we checked, Walmart said only six of the bundles were left in stock, and buyers are limited to one purchase per order. The console on its own is also low in stock.

This is the first time we've seen a Switch 2 product listing page with an honest-to-gosh "Add to cart" button since Target started selling the console online on June 6.

Now, here at Mashable, we do not recommend feeding trolls, wild animals, or price gougers. However, this is such a rare sight, we wanted to update our daily Switch 2 restock tracker with the news.

To be honest, we knew this day was coming. Eager resellers were already listing the Switch 2 for sale on sites like eBay before the launch even happened. It was only a matter of time until price gougers and third-party sellers started listing the Switch 2 at higher prices.

After the June 5 launch, Nintendo announced it had sold 3.5 million in a week, surpassing even the very high expectations. With high demand and limited supplies, this news was inevitable.

See the sight for yourself at Walmart.

Updated on Thursday, June 12 at 8:20 p.m. ET — We have good news and bad news. The good news? Walmart has the Nintendo Switch 2 console and the Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle in stock. The bad news? It looks like the consoles are being sold by third-party sellers — and with jacked-up prices. The bundle normally retails at Walmart for $499, but it's currently listed for sale from seller "GAMES FOR US" for $749. And the console that should be selling for $449? Currently listed for $672. Walmart lists both items as low in stock.

Here at Mashable, we do not recommend feeding trolls or price gougers, but Switch 2 restocks have been so rare, we wanted to provide this update. Unfortunately, it looks like price gougers have officially come for the Switch 2, and not just on eBay.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Nintendo Switch 2 console $672 at Walmart
Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle $749 at Walmart
Shop Now

The Nintendo Switch 2 launch day has come and gone, and those lucky enough to get a console are already happily playing Mario Kart World and other launch titles.

Starting on June 5, gamers could finally purchase the Switch 2 console for $449.99 and the Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle for $499.99 — if you could find it in stock. Costco had inventory available on June 5, and Target started selling its inventory online on June 6, but as of this writing, it's unavailable at all retailers. GameStop and Staples at least have tools that let you check available stock at nearby stores.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Buy the Switch 2 console at Target $449.99
Shop Now

So, where can you buy the Switch 2 online? Check for Switch 2 stock at the My Nintendo Store and official Nintendo retailers and smash that refresh button like it's your first time playing Super Smash Bros.

• Buy the Switch 2 at Nintendo

• Buy the Switch 2 at Walmart — Unavailable

• Buy the Switch 2 at GameStop — Check stock in stores

• Buy the Switch 2 at Best Buy — Check stock in stores

• But the Switch 2 at Costco — Unavailable

• Buy the Switch 2 at Target — Unavailable

• Staples — Check stock in stores

Every way to buy the Switch 2 online Credit: Nintendo

To avoid hoarding and reselling, Nintendo and retailers are limiting orders per person. That means you'll need to make an account to successfully place an order. We also recommend reviewing our tips for tracking restocks, and in the meantime, try all the links below.

Place an order with Nintendo

You can't simply go to the My Nintendo Store and buy the Switch 2. To order the Switch 2, you need to log in with an active, paid Nintendo Switch Online account. Once you do that, you can choose either a Switch 2 standalone console or the Mario Kart World bundle and then hit the confirm button to "register your interest" in ordering a Switch 2.

Now for the weird stuff. Only Switch Online members who have paid for at least 12 months of service and registered at least 50 hours of gameplay on their Switch consoles can purchase through Nintendo. In other words, you better be a true Switch gamer if you want to buy the Switch 2 this way. If you're eligible and follow these steps, watch your email for an invitation link.

Buy the Switch 2 at Nintendo: Nintendo Switch 2 console $449.99 Learn More Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle $499 Learn More How to order Switch 2 at Walmart

Unlike Nintendo, purchasing the Switch 2 online at Walmart is pretty simple. Technically, Walmart shoppers have been able to preorder Switch 2 consoles on Walmart's website since midnight ET on April 24. In reality, the console has been sold out consistently. Our advice? Go to the Walmart Switch 2 listing a few times a day and smash that refresh button.

We'll update this article as soon as we find Switch 2 consoles in stock at Walmart (or anywhere). Walmart also sells a lot of Switch 2 launch titles and accessories.

Buy the Switch 2 at Walmart: Nintendo Switch 2 console $449 Shop Now Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle $499.99 Shop Now How to buy Switch 2 at Target

Target stores opened as usual on launch day, and according to a press release, Switch 2 hopefuls were directed to a "designated queuing location" near the entrance. Target workers reportedly gave out reservation tickets to a lucky few. Buyers were whisked off to the electronics department, where they could finally purchase either the Switch 2 or a Switch 2 bundle.

Buy the Switch 2 at Target: Nintendo Switch 2 console $449.99 Shop Now Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle $499.99 Shop Now How to buy Switch 2 at GameStop

GameStop is the one retailer of the four listed here that's doing things a little bit differently. If you were lucky enough to get a GameStop preorder, you could pick up your console at midnight on June 5. GameStop stores also hosted midnight launch events (though supplies were limited), and gamers can go to GameStop locations to participate in a "Transfer and Trade," where they trade in their original Switch and transfer data to the new console.

You can also try your luck online or sign up to get updates when new inventory becomes available. You can also buy Switch 2 games and accessories at GameStop, including those all-important MicroSD Express cards.

Buy the Switch 2 at GameStop: Nintendo Switch 2 console $449.99 Shop Now Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle $499.99 Shop Now How to buy Switch 2 consoles at Best Buy

Best Buy joined GameStop in hosting Switch 2 midnight launch parties, but the tents and lawn chairs have been packed away by now. If you weren't one of the chosen ones who got a console at these events, you'll have to rely on the Best Buy website. So far, we haven't seen any inventory available, unfortunately.

As a “high-demand item,” Best Buy customers have to follow specific steps to buy a Switch 2 online:

• Create a My Best Buy account and sign in

• Confirm your location

• Add the item to your cart

• Follow the on-screen prompts and check for available inventory

• If you get a Switch 2 console in your cart, you’ll have 10 minutes to complete the purchase

Buy the Switch 2 at Best Buy: Nintendo Switch 2 console $449.99 Shop Now Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle $499.99 Shop Now Can you buy the Switch 2 at Amazon?

You'll notice there's one major retailer conspicuously missing so far — Amazon. That's because Amazon is not an official Nintendo retailer, so any Switch 2 consoles you find there are likely listed by resellers of dubious legitimacy. However, Amazon shoppers can preorder some Switch 2 titles ahead of the launch.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Daemon X Machina Titanic Scion Limited Edition $99.99 at Amazon
Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Rune Factory Guardians of Azuma Standard Edition $69.99 at Amazon
Shop Now How to buy the Switch 2 at Staples

As we noted in our Switch 2 preorder guide, select Staples stores will sell the Switch 2 on a first-come, first-served basis starting June 5. Most Staples locations open at 8 a.m., but we recommend showing up bright and early. Staples will also be selling an unnamed Switch 2 game bundle, and we know it's not the standard Mario Kart World bundle. As with other retailers, Switch 2 consoles are currently listed as "Out of stock" at the Staples online store.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle $499.99 at Staples
Learn More How to buy the Switch 2 at Costco

Are you a Costco member? Then you may be able to secure your Switch 2 at the mega-retailer, which has been one of the few retailers with actual inventory available on June 5. Costco members can purchase the Nintendo Switch 2 Mario Kart World bundle online starting June 5, though there's a limit of one console per membership (every seven days). As of this writing, the console and Mario Kart bundle are both sold out.

Opens in a new window Credit: Costco Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle $499.99 at Costco
Learn More Why is the Switch 2 so hard to find in stock?

Simply put, it's a matter of demand far outpacing supply, though tariffs definitely didn't help.

Since opening for preorder on April 24, the Switch 2 has been sold out pretty much everywhere, like the PS5 before it. In fact, so many gamers tried to place preorders on April 24 that they immediately crashed the GameStop, Target, and Walmart websites. That's left many Switch fans wondering how to buy the Switch 2 online. So, if you aren't buying a Switch 2 in person, keep checking this page for the latest stock updates on Switch 2 launch day and beyond.

Popular Switch 2 accessories

If you want to console yourself by stocking up on Switch 2 accessories, chargers, and cameras, these products are much easier to "Add to cart."

Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Hori Piranha Plant Camera $59 at Walmart
Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller $84.99 at Target
Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung microSD Express Card for Nintendo Switch 2 (256GB) $59.99 at Target
Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Joy-Con 2 Charging Grip $39.99 at Nintendo
Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Nintendo GameCube Controller $64.99 at Nintendo
Shop Now Still want more information? Our first impressions of the Switch 2 Mashable reporter Alex Perry plays the Switch 2 at a Nintendo event. Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

Mashable reporter Alex Perry was lucky enough to play the Switch 2 at two Nintendo pre-launch events, and as of this writing, he's hard at work testing his Switch 2 review unit. We've published his day one review, and check back for a full review next week. To sum up his thoughts, while there are a couple of annoying setup quirks, the new console is a big step forward and just as much fun as you'd hoped. You can also read all about the Switch 2 launch titles we're most excited to play.

"I think it’s awesome," Perry wrote in his Switch 2 early review. "Most of the games I’ve played have been impressive in one way or another, and the hardware is a clear improvement over the first Switch. It’s not perfect, but nothing is."

And if you still haven't secured an order, keep checking this page for updates — and good luck!

UPDATE: Jun. 8, 2025, 8:15 a.m. EDT We've updated this page with the latest stock updates from Target, Best Buy, Walmart, GameStop, Costco, and Staples.

I love Star Trek (not you, Lower Decks) but even the best shows have their fair share of silly, dumb, or downright baffling episodes. Sometimes the writers seem to have pulled their plots out of a hat full of words, and then somehow the episode makes it all the way to broadcast.

UPDATE: June 13, 2025, 11:00 a.m. ET — The massive internet outage that took down large swaths of the internet on Thursday appeared to be fully resolved.

Google Cloud — named as the source of the disruption by a Cloudflare representative — wrote that all services had "been fully restored" in its latest statement. Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian wrote on X that the company regretted "the disruption this caused our customers."

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

Cloudflare, meanwhile, apologized for the outage, even as it pinned the ultimate blame on a third party.

"We’re deeply sorry for this outage: this was a failure on our part, and while the proximate cause (or trigger) for this outage was a third-party vendor failure, we are ultimately responsible for our chosen dependencies and how we choose to architect around them," it wrote in a blog post.

Google Cloud was identified by a Cloudflare representative as the cause of a massive outage that disrupted services across the internet Thursday.

The widespread internet outage affected a variety of popular platforms, with users reporting problems accessing Google services, Cloudflare, Spotify, Twitch, and Discord.

The outage also included popular cloud hosting services such as Cloudflare, which reported service disruptions on its status page. However, a Cloudflare representative stated in an email to Mashable that Google Cloud was responsible for the disruptions to internet services.

"This is a Google Cloud outage," a Cloudflare spokesperson told Mashable by email. They added, "A limited number of services at Cloudflare use Google Cloud and were impacted. We expect them to come back shortly. The core Cloudflare services were not impacted."

On the Google Cloud status page, the company initially reported that it was "experiencing service issues with multiple GCP products beginning at Thursday, 2025-06-12 10:51 PDT."

At 3:41 p.m. ET, Google Cloud provided a further update: "Our engineers have identified the root cause and have applied appropriate mitigations. While our engineers have confirmed that the underlying dependency is recovered in all locations except us-central1, we are aware that customers are still experiencing varying degrees of impact on individual google cloud products. All the respective engineering teams are actively engaged and working on service recovery. We do not have an ETA for full service recovery."

On its own status page, Cloudflare reported, "Cloudflare’s critical Workers KV service went offline due to an outage of a 3rd party service that is a key dependency. As a result, certain Cloudflare products that rely on KV service to store and disseminate information are unavailable..."

Mashable reached out to Google for comment on the outages, and we will update this story if they respond.

On Thursday afternoon, the website Down Detector showed a spike in user error reports starting around 2 p.m. ET. (Disclosure: Ziff Davis owns both Mashable and Down Detector.) By 3:30 p.m., service had been restored at many of the affected platforms, though some users are still reporting problems.

Prime Day is coming, and if you want to shop all the best deals, you'll need an Amazon Prime account.

Here's how shoppers can sign up for Amazon Prime:

Total Time

• 5 minutes, email address or phone number

What You Need

• Internet access

Step 1: Go to the Amazon Prime sign-up page and click on Start your free 30-day trial.

Head to Amazon Prime's sign-up page.

Step 2: Input your email if you have an existing Amazon account or click on Create Your Amazon account.

A new sign-in page will open up on the website. Input your email or mobile number and password if you have an existing Amazon account or click on Create Your Amazon account. If you make a new account, you'll need to provide some basic information such as name, email, and password.

Step 3: If you're creating a new account, follow the steps to verify your email with a One-Time Password.

If you choose to create a new account, Amazon will send an OTP to your respective email address or mobile number for account verification. If you are using an existing account, skip to Step 5.

Step 4: Input the OTP and click on Verify.

Once the OTP verification page appears on the screen, input the code and click on Verify.

Step 5: Sign up for your free one-month trial or purchase a full subscription.

Now users have two options: sign up for a free one-month trial or purchase a full subscription, though many users might not qualify for a free trial if they have already availed it in the past with the same email or phone number. If you are purchasing a subscription, click on one of these four plans to become a prime member: Monthly Prime Membership — costs $14.99 per month Annual Membership — costs $139 per year or under $12 monthly Student Monthly Membership — costs $7.49 per month; students are eligible for exclusive offers including a 6-month free Prime trial. Prime for government assistance recipients — costs $6.99 per month (must verify eligibility)

For a long time, the tracker fight has been very one-sided, with Apple's Find My network reliably using other Apple devices as a mesh network. That only really caught on with Android recently, and now, the Moto Tag has just become probably the most accurate Android tracker out there.

Meta has struck out against a popular app used to produce AI-generated nonconsensual intimate images — commonly referred to as "nudify" or "undress" apps — as the company selectively cracks down on advertisers.

In a new lawsuit filed in Hong Kong against the makers behind a commonly-used app known as Crush AI, the tech giant claims parent company Joy Timeline HK intentionally bypassed Meta's ad review process using new domain names and networks of advertiser accounts in order to promote the app's AI-powered deepfake services.

"This legal action underscores both the seriousness with which we take this abuse and our commitment to doing all we can to protect our community from it. We’ll continue to take the necessary steps — which could include legal action — against those who abuse our platforms like this," Meta wrote in a press release.

SEE ALSO: FDA wants to use AI to speed up drug approval process

Meta has previously been under fire for failing to curb nudify apps from advertising on its platform, including allowing ads featuring explicit deepfake images of celebrities to appear repeatedly on the platform — in addition to its advertising policies, Meta prohibits the spread of non-consensual intimate imagery and blocks the search terms "nudify," "undress" and "delete clothing." According to an analysis by Cornell researcher Alexios Mantzarlis, Crush AI allegedly ran more than 8,000 ads across Meta platforms between the fall of 2024 and January 2025, with 90 percent of its traffic coming from Meta platforms. Broadly, AI-generated ad content has plagued users, as the company has relaxed its content moderation policies in favor of automated review processes and community-generated fact-checking.

Victims of AI-generated nonconsensual intimate imagery have spent years fighting for greater industry regulation and legal pathways for recourse. In May, the Trump Administration signed the Take It Down Act, a law that criminalizes nonconsensual intimate imagery and sets mandatory takedown policies for online platforms. AI-generated child sexual abuse material (CSAM) has also proliferated across the internet in recent years, prompting widespread concern about the safety and regulation of generative AI tools.

In addition to taking legal action against Crush AI, Meta announced it was developing a new detection technology to more accurately flag and remove ads for nudify apps. The company is also stepping up its work with the Tech Coalition’s Lantern program, an industry initiative to coalesce information on child online safety, and will continue sharing information on violating companies and products. Since March, Meta has reported more than 3,800 unique URLs related to nudify apps and websites and discovered four separate networks trying to promote their services, according to the company.

Despite being one of gaming's most accessible genres, visual novels are still fairly niche. Some people don't have the time to sit through 50 hours of reading, or have been turned off by the countless dating sims that make up much of the genre. However, there's a lot more to visual novels than you may realize.