Journalist and Russia analyst Julia Ioffe lays out how Vladimir Putin might be trying to exploit the current divide between the U.S. and Ukraine over striking Russian oil refineries.
How Putin may react to the rift between the U.S. and Ukraine
Friday, October 16, 2026
Thursday, October 15, 2026
NYT Strands hints and answers for Friday, October 16 (game #957)
Looking for a different day?
A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Thursday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Thursday, October 15 (game #956).
Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.
Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.
SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.
NYT Strands today (game #957) - hint #1 - today's theme
What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?
• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Just a little bit
NYT Strands today (game #957) - hint #2 - clue words
Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.
- PILL
- STATE
- LAME
- SALT
- LOCAL
- WORM
NYT Strands today (game #957) - hint #3 - spangram letters
How many letters are in today's spangram?
• Spangram has 10 letters
NYT Strands today (game #957) - hint #4 - spangram position
What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?
• First side: left, 5th row
• Last side: right, 5th row
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.
NYT Strands today (game #957) - the answers
The answers to today's Strands, game #957, are…
- PINPOINT
- MOLECULE
- ATOM
- MITE
- FOLLICLE
- AMOEBA
- SPANGRAM: SMALLWORLD
- My rating: Easy
- My score: Perfect
Yet again, looking in the top left-hand corner paid off. However, it was at the expense of a fairly easy-to-spot spangram — congratulations if you got a Spangram First today.
After spotting PINPOINT and SMALLWORLD (did everyone have the Disney ride theme tune churning around their heads afterwards?) I was convinced that MINIATURE would be lurking on the board somewhere.
Instead, the remaining words were all scientific leaning, with only the spelling of AMOEBA causing me pause.
Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Thursday, October 15, game #956)
- BEACON
- STAIRCASE
- DOME
- LANTERN
- GALLERY
- SPANGRAM: LIGHTHOUSE
What is NYT Strands?
Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.
I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.
Rep. Mike Quigley, D-Ill., on reports Ukraine's Starshield access was restricted
NPR's Michel Martin speaks with Democratic Rep. Mike Quigley of Illinois about reports that SpaceX temporarily restricted access to its Starshield in Ukraine, affecting the country's war efforts.
School roof collapse kills at least 29, injures more than 3 dozen in Pakistan
The roof of a private school collapsed in northwestern Pakistan on Thursday, killing at least 28 children and a female teacher and injuring more than 50 other people.
(Image credit: Maaz Awan)
Wednesday, October 14, 2026
NYT Strands hints and answers for Thursday, October 15 (game #956)
Looking for a different day?
A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Wednesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Wednesday, October 14 (game #955).
Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.
Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.
SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.
NYT Strands today (game #956) - hint #1 - today's theme
What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?
• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Sailor’s guide
NYT Strands today (game #956) - hint #2 - clue words
Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.
- GONE
- MEAT
- GREAT
- SOUR
- THEN
- GRAY
NYT Strands today (game #956) - hint #3 - spangram letters
How many letters are in today's spangram?
• Spangram has 10 letters
NYT Strands today (game #956) - hint #4 - spangram position
What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?
• First side: top, 2nd column
• Last side: bottom, 3rd column
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.
NYT Strands today (game #956) - the answers
The answers to today's Strands, game #956, are…
- BEACON
- STAIRCASE
- DOME
- LANTERN
- GALLERY
- SPANGRAM: LIGHTHOUSE
- My rating: Hard
- My score: 1 hint
The theme meant nothing to me (was it about maps or tides?) until I spotted BEACON in my favorite left-hand corner starting spot and the light of inspiration beamed down on me.
After getting the next most obvious LIGHTHOUSE feature of STAIRCASE (connected in the format of a spiral, no less), the remaining four game words proved harder to spot — so I took a hint and was gifted DOME.
From here I literally kicked myself as I spotted LANTERN and limped over the line with the now-easily-spottable GALLERY and TOWER.
Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Wednesday, October 14, game #955)
- BEAUTY
- BEAST
- FROG
- PRINCESS
- TORTOISE
- HARE
- SPANGRAM: ONCEUPONATIME
What is NYT Strands?
Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.
I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.
Trump's ambassador to Greece, Kimberly Guilfoyle, resigns after allegations of improper conduct
The White House publicly asked for U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle's resignation on Tuesday as she faced mounting accusations of improper conduct.
(Image credit: Jacquelyn Martin)
Tuesday, October 13, 2026
NYT Strands hints and answers for Wednesday, October 14 (game #955)
Looking for a different day?
A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Tuesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Tuesday, October 13 (game #954).
Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.
Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.
SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.
NYT Strands today (game #955) - hint #1 - today's theme
What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?
• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Folk and fairy tale twosomes
NYT Strands today (game #955) - hint #2 - clue words
Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.
- CANE
- TINT
- METER
- SHARE
- TROT
- STEM
- TROOP
NYT Strands today (game #955) - hint #3 - spangram letters
How many letters are in today's spangram?
• Spangram has 13 letters
NYT Strands today (game #955) - hint #4 - spangram position
What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?
• First side: left, 7th row
• Last side: bottom, 2nd column
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.
NYT Strands today (game #955) - the answers
The answers to today's Strands, game #955, are…
- BEAUTY
- BEAST
- FROG
- PRINCESS
- TORTOISE
- HARE
- SPANGRAM: ONCEUPONATIME
- My rating: Easy
- My score: Perfect
Imagination was not required in order to understand today’s theme and I was able to make the leap and spot ONCEUPONATIME dividing the folk and fairytale twosomes.
My approach was to complete the game in pairs, but that was really just to make it a little bit more interesting.
As a slow-moving person, constantly being followed by busy people “tutting” at my heels, The Tortoise and the Hare is my favourite fairytale. I usually align myself with the TORTOISE, but this game made me feel like a speedy impatient HARE.
Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Tuesday, October 13, game #954)
- EMBARRASS
- APPALL
- NONPLUS
- CHAGRIN
- MORTIFY
- SPANGRAM: CRINGEWORTHY
What is NYT Strands?
Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.
I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.