Russia launched 41 missiles and 125 attack drones across Ukraine overnight, according to the Ukrainian air force.
(Image credit: Efrem Lukatsky)
Deadly overnight Russian attack on Ukraine targets the capital
Sunday, July 19, 2026
Cuban artist and dissident exiled from country after 5 years in prison arrives in US
A famous Cuban dissident artist and musician, Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, arrived in Miami on Saturday after being released from a five-year prison sentence on the condition that he leave his country.
(Image credit: David Santiago)
Saturday, July 18, 2026
NYT Strands hints and answers for Sunday, July 19 (game #868)
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 Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Saturday, July 18 (game #867).
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 #868) - hint #1 - today's theme
What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?
• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Big talk
NYT Strands today (game #868) - hint #2 - clue words
Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.
- SAIL
- NAIL
- HAIL
- THEME
- MOVE
- COST
NYT Strands today (game #868) - hint #3 - spangram letters
How many letters are in today's spangram?
• Spangram has 11 letters
NYT Strands today (game #868) - hint #4 - spangram position
What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?
• First side: left, 8th row
• Last side: right, 8th row
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.
NYT Strands today (game #868) - the answers
The answers to today's Strands, game #868, are…
- GIANT
- MAMMOTH
- COLOSSUS
- BEHEMOTH
- LEVIATHAN
- SPANGRAM: SUPERSIZEIT
- My rating: Easy
- My score: Perfect
The letter Z helped me get the spangram — eventually, as I got “size” first, then “supersize” before finally SUPERSIZEIT.
Even though I understood the theme immediately and had an idea of the words we were searching for, I really struggled to put them together .
Although rarely used, LEVIATHAN is an incredible word (it features in the Bible, describing a fire-breathing sea serpent).
I was thinking that it really should be the name of a horror or at least a wrestler when a Google search told me that both already exist; the 1989 horror flick made less cultural impact than Dave Batista, who used the nickname Leviathan before becoming The Animal. Every day’s a school day with Strands.
Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Saturday, July 18, game #867)
- SWEET
- OATY
- NUTTY
- CRUNCHY
- SALTY
- WHOLESOME
- SPANGRAM: BOWLOFGRANOLA
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.
8 killed and more than 60 wounded in Ukrainian drone attack on Russian regions
Kyiv's forces are continuing their aerial campaign against energy infrastructure and military targets inside Russia, aiming to undermine Moscow's war effort.
(Image credit: Moscow Region Governor Andrei Vo)
Friday, July 17, 2026
U.S. and Iran escalate strikes across Mideast
The United States and Iran exchanged strikes aimed at infrastructure and military targets on Saturday as their battle over the Strait of Hormuz intensified.
(Image credit: Razieh Poudat/AP Photo)
NYT Strands hints and answers for Saturday, July 18 (game #867)
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 Friday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Friday, July 17 (game #866).
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 #867) - hint #1 - today's theme
What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?
• Today's NYT Strands theme is… A healthy breakfast
NYT Strands today (game #867) - hint #2 - clue words
Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.
- COUNT
- STAY
- WOOLY
- LUNCH
- LONG
- LARGE
NYT Strands today (game #867) - hint #3 - spangram letters
How many letters are in today's spangram?
• Spangram has 13 letters
NYT Strands today (game #867) - hint #4 - spangram position
What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?
• First side: left, 4th row
• Last side: right, 4th row
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.
NYT Strands today (game #867) - the answers
The answers to today's Strands, game #867, are…
- SWEET
- OATY
- NUTTY
- CRUNCHY
- SALTY
- WHOLESOME
- SPANGRAM: BOWLOFGRANOLA
- My rating: Easy
- My score: Perfect
I go through phases with breakfasts of having the same thing for ages before getting bored and switching to something new.
In recent months I’ve been through porridge, overnight oats, fruit and yoghurt, and recently a BOWLOFGRANOLA all in pursuit of “a healthy breakfast" when in truth I would love to eat bacon and eggs every day.
I digress. After finding SWEET and OATY the search became a hunt for the obvious — although I was unaware granola could also be SALTY.
Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Friday, July 17, game #866)
- ENTERTAINMENT
- NATURE
- SPORTS
- GEOGRAPHY
- SPANGRAM: TRIVIALPURSUIT
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.
Thursday, July 16, 2026
Japan revises law to ensure supply of (male) heirs to the imperial throne
A popular princess drives support for having a female Japanese Emperor. But the country's first female prime minister opposes it.
(Image credit: Tomohiro Ohsumi)
