Daily News 19

Author: DN19 Newsroom

  • Naol Bassaye Built a Global Technology Career by Learning to Start Again

    Naol Bassaye Built a Global Technology Career by Learning to Start Again

    From Ethiopia to London: Naol’s Journey From Self-Taught Coder to Serial Founder

    Naol’s career trajectory reads like a blueprint for the modern global technologist. What began as a self-directed coding education in Ethiopia has evolved into a track record of founding companies in London, driven by a core conviction that expanded access fundamentally changes what people are capable of building.

    The Power of Self-Directed Learning

    Teaching himself to code in Ethiopia, Naol bypassed traditional gatekeepers—formal computer science degrees, expensive bootcamps, and geographic proximity to tech hubs. This foundation of autodidacticism didn’t just produce technical skills; it instilled a mindset where barriers are treated as problems to be solved rather than fixed limitations.

    Reinvention as a Career Strategy

    The move from Ethiopia to London represents more than geographic relocation. It marks a deliberate pattern of reinvention—applying the same self-directed learning approach to new markets, new problems, and new company-building cycles. Each venture becomes a vehicle for testing the hypothesis that guides his work: when access expands, human potential scales non-linearly.

    Access as a Force Multiplier

    The through-line connecting Naol’s Ethiopian origins to his London ventures is a belief that access—whether to education, tools, networks, or capital—acts as a force multiplier for human creativity. This isn’t abstract idealism; it’s an operational principle shaped by lived experience. Having navigated the gap between having talent and having opportunity, he now builds companies designed to close that gap for others.

    In a tech ecosystem that often celebrates pedigree over potential, Naol’s path offers a counter-narrative: the most durable companies may come from founders who’ve had to invent their own on-ramps.

  • Former Rockstar Director Calls GTA 6 Leaks a “Nothing Burger”

    Former Rockstar Director Calls GTA 6 Leaks a “Nothing Burger”

    Grand Theft Auto VI leaks have fueled intense online speculation ahead of an extended look at the game coming to Netflix this week. However, former Rockstar Games technical director Obbe Vermeij has urged fans not to overreact.

    An individual or group known as CyberLeek leaked alleged GTA 6 gameplay clips, maps and videos last week. Take-Two Interactive Software Inc., the parent company of Rockstar Games, later subpoenaed Microsoft, Discord and GitHub over “stolen content,” confirming that at least some of the leaked material is legitimate.

    Vermeij, who previously served as technical director at Rockstar North in Edinburgh, described the leaks on X as a “nothing burger.”

    “Calm down everybody,”

    he wrote.

    “The leaks are a nothing burger.”

    Vermeij said Rockstar’s marketing strategy is to keep its games under wraps for longer than other publishers, adding that the incident appears to involve only some footage escaping.

    “90 [percent] of future players don’t spend their time on the internet looking for video snippets. They don’t have the time and don’t want spoilers,”

    he continued.

    “I imagine the teams are a little annoyed about it but not more than that.”

    Former Rockstar director compares GTA 6 leaks with Hot Coffee controversy

    Vermeij also referred to the Hot Coffee controversy, which involved a hidden sex-scene minigame in 2004’s Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. Rockstar and Take-Two settled a lawsuit related to the controversy.

    “I was there during Hot Coffee,”

    Vermeij wrote, describing the incident as a “nightmare” for Rockstar’s New York office. He said it had less of an impact on Rockstar North and argued that the current GTA 6 leaks are far less significant.

    “It looks like gta6 will be phenomenal and sell for the next 15 years or so. The leaks are just a tiny blip,”

    he concluded.

  • How to Watch Elche vs. Barcelona Online for Free

    How to Watch Elche vs. Barcelona Online for Free

    Watch Elche vs. Barcelona in La Liga for free on CazéTV with ExpressVPN. Barcelona begin their title defense against Elche this weekend at the Manuel Martínez Valero, with fans expecting the champions to start the season with a convincing victory.

    When is Elche vs. Barcelona?

    Elche vs. Barcelona kicks off at 3:30 p.m. ET on Aug. 23. The La Liga fixture will be played at the Manuel Martínez Valero.

    How to watch Elche vs. Barcelona for free

    Elche vs. Barcelona is available to stream live for free on CazéTV. However, the service is geo-restricted to Brazil.

    A VPN can connect you to a secure server in Brazil, allowing you to access CazéTV from elsewhere. Follow these steps to watch Elche vs. Barcelona online:

    1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN such as ExpressVPN.
    2. Download the VPN app on your preferred device.
    3. Open the app and connect to a server in Brazil.
    4. Visit CazéTV.
    5. Stream Elche vs. Barcelona live.

    ExpressVPN deal for streaming La Liga

    Streaming-focused VPNs are generally paid services, but many offer money-back guarantees. That can provide time to watch Elche vs. Barcelona and other live sports before deciding whether to continue your subscription.

    ExpressVPN is a strong option for accessing CazéTV because it offers:

    • Servers in 105 countries, including Brazil
    • Easy-to-use apps for iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and other major devices
    • A strict no-logging policy
    • Fast connection speeds without throttling
    • Up to 10 simultaneous connections
    • A 30-day money-back guarantee

    A two-year ExpressVPN subscription is available for $68.40 and includes four additional months at no extra cost, representing an 81% discount for a limited time. The offer also includes one year of unlimited cloud backup. Alternatively, a one-month plan costs $12.99.

    Use ExpressVPN to stream Elche vs. Barcelona live for free on CazéTV from anywhere in the world.

  • NYT Connections Sports Edition: Hints & Answers for August 23, 2026

    NYT Connections Sports Edition: Hints & Answers for August 23, 2026

    Today’s Connections: Sports Edition puzzle will feel familiar to anyone who has been watching Boston Celtics basketball. As noted in previous hints guides, this daily word game from The New York Times tests the knowledge of sports fans by challenging them to find the “common threads between words”. Similar to the original Connections and Wordle, the puzzle resets after midnight, with each new set of words growing progressively trickier. Below, you will find hints, category clues, and the full solution for game #699.

    What Is Connections: Sports Edition?

    The NYT’s latest daily word game launched in association with The Athletic, the Times property that powers the publication’s sports coverage. Connections: Sports Edition is playable on both web browsers and mobile devices. The objective is to group 16 words into four categories of four words each, based on a shared connection.

    Each puzzle features 16 words split into four distinct categories. These sets can comprise anything from player names and statistics to movie titles and stadium names. While multiple words may appear to fit together, there is only one correct answer per category. If a player correctly identifies all four words in a set, those words are removed from the board. An incorrect guess counts as a mistake; players are allowed up to four mistakes before the game ends.

    Players can rearrange and shuffle the board to help spot connections more easily. Additionally, each group is color-coded by difficulty: Yellow (easiest), followed by Green, Blue, and Purple (hardest). Like Wordle, results can be shared with friends on social media.

    Hints for Today’s Categories

    If you want a nudge in the right direction without spoiling the specific categories, try these thematic clues:

    • Yellow: Numbers for a RB
    • Green: Movies
    • Blue: Celtics
    • Purple: Ballparks

    Today’s Connections: Sports Edition Categories

    Need a little extra help? The specific categories for puzzle #699 are:

    • Yellow: Stats for a Running Back
    • Green: One-Word Basketball Movies
    • Blue: Current Boston Celtics
    • Purple: First Word in Names of MLB Home Ballparks

    Solution for Connections: Sports Edition #699

    Spoiler alert: The following section reveals the complete answers. Turn back now if you prefer to solve the puzzle yourself.

    Yellow Category: Stats for a Running Back

    • ATTEMPTS
    • FUMBLES
    • TOUCHDOWNS
    • YARDS

    Green Category: One-Word Basketball Movies

    • AIR
    • EDDIT
    • HOOSIERS
    • HUSTLE

    Blue Category: Current Boston Celtics

    • GEORGE
    • PRITCHARD
    • TATUM
    • WHITE

    Purple Category: First Word in Names of MLB Home Ballparks

    • CITIZENS
    • GLOBE
    • GREAT
    • SUTTER

    Don’t feel discouraged if you didn’t solve it this time. A new Connections: Sports Edition puzzle arrives every day to test your sports knowledge, and we will be back tomorrow with fresh hints and the solution.

    More Daily Puzzles

    If you are also playing NYT Strands, check out our hints and answers for today’s Strands puzzle. For additional brain teasers, visit the Mashable games hub to play Mahjong, Sudoku, free crosswords, and more.

  • How to Watch the Dutch GP for Free This Weekend: Live Stream F1 Without Paying

    How to Watch the Dutch GP for Free This Weekend: Live Stream F1 Without Paying

    How to Watch the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix for Free: Complete Streaming Guide

    Formula 1 returns from its summer break this weekend with the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, the 12th round of the 2026 season. With the championship battle far from settled, fans can stream every session without paying a cent by leveraging free trial offers from Amazon Prime and Apple TV+.

    2026 Dutch GP Schedule (Eastern Time)

    • Practice 1: 6:30–7:30 a.m. ET, Thursday, Aug. 21
    • Sprint Qualifying: 10:30–11:14 a.m. ET, Thursday, Aug. 21
    • Sprint Race: 6:00–7:00 a.m. ET, Friday, Aug. 22
    • Qualifying: 10:00–11:00 a.m. ET, Friday, Aug. 22
    • Grand Prix Race: 9:00 a.m. ET, Saturday, Aug. 23

    Primary Method: Stack Amazon Prime and Apple TV+ Trials

    Apple TV holds exclusive U.S. broadcasting rights for Formula 1 in 2026. The most cost-effective way to access the feed is through Prime Video Channels:

    1. Start a 30-day Amazon Prime free trial (new members only). This unlocks Prime Video and the Channels marketplace.
    2. Inside Prime Video Channels, subscribe to the Apple TV+ channel and activate its 7-day free trial.
    3. Stream the full Dutch GP weekend live via the Prime Video app.
    4. Cancel the Apple TV+ channel auto-renewal before day seven to avoid the $12.99/month charge. Cancel Prime before day 30 to avoid the membership fee.

    By stacking these trials, viewers with no active subscriptions can watch the entire race weekend for zero cost.

    Alternative Free-Trial Options

    If you have already used the Prime Video Channels route, three other pathways remain:

    • Apple TV+ direct: New standalone subscribers qualify for a 7-day free trial via the Apple TV app.
    • Apple One bundle: The Individual tier ($19.95/month after trial) includes Apple TV+, Apple Music, Apple Arcade, Apple Fitness+, Apple News+, and 50 GB iCloud storage, and offers a full one-month free trial.
    • New hardware purchase: Buying an eligible iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple TV 4K grants three months of Apple TV+ free for new subscribers. While this requires hardware spend, it covers a large portion of the remaining F1 calendar.

    Key Reminders

    All trials convert to paid subscriptions automatically. Set calendar reminders to cancel before the trial window closes if you do not wish to continue. The Dutch GP marks the first sprint-format weekend since the break, adding an extra session to the schedule and more opportunities to watch live.

  • GTA 6 Leaks Reveal Strip Club Setting and New Slow-Motion Camera

    GTA 6 Leaks Reveal Strip Club Setting and New Slow-Motion Camera

    Rockstar Games’ highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto VI continues to face an unprecedented wave of leaks, with new gameplay footage surfacing this week following the initial trailer breach three years ago. The latest leak showcases protagonist Jason Duval robbing a gas station convenience store, fleeing in a vehicle, experiencing a slow-motion car crash, and ultimately escaping into a strip club.

    Leaked Gameplay Reveals New Mechanics

    While many gameplay elements will feel familiar to longtime series fans, the slow-motion camera interrupting regular game speed represents a notable novelty. This mechanic appears to be a feature Rockstar Games intended to keep under wraps, especially considering the studio has yet to officially reveal any actual gameplay footage. The developer has been saving its major gameplay reveal for a Netflix launch scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 27 at 3 p.m. ET—an unprecedented distribution strategy for a game of this magnitude.

    Legal Action and Industry Support

    Behind the scenes, Rockstar Games and parent company Take-Two Interactive are aggressively pursuing the source of these breaches. A federal court has reportedly granted subpoenas for GitHub, Microsoft, and Discord server records to aid in identifying the culprits. The effort has drawn support from across the industry, including Xbox CTO Scott Van Vliet, who posted on X: “[Xbox] are working closely with Take-Two and Rockstar Games to support efforts to protect creative works and intellectual property.”

    Leaker Monetizes Stolen Footage

    The primary leaker, operating under the alias Cyberleeks, has demonstrated remarkable audacity by reportedly charging up to $165,000 in cryptocurrency for advertising placements within the leaked footage, according to Yahoo Tech. This brazen monetization of stolen intellectual property underscores the sophistication of the breach.

    Leaks Fuel Record-Breaking Anticipation

    Despite the significant frustration these leaks cause for Rockstar’s development team, they may inadvertently amplify hype for what is widely projected to be the largest video game launch in history. The continuous drip of unauthorized content keeps GTA VI at the center of gaming discourse, potentially expanding its audience reach ahead of any official marketing campaign.

  • How to watch Espanyol vs. Real Madrid online for free

    How to watch Espanyol vs. Real Madrid online for free

    How to Watch Espanyol vs. Real Madrid La Liga Live Stream for Free

    La Liga returns in full force this weekend as Real Madrid and Barcelona kick off their campaigns. Real Madrid begin their title defense with a trip to face Espanyol at the RCDE Stadium. All eyes will be on José Mourinho as he aims to blend the squad’s star power and halt Barcelona’s bid for a third consecutive crown.

    Espanyol vs. Real Madrid Match Details

    The La Liga fixture kicks off at 3:30 p.m. ET on August 22. The match takes place at the RCDE Stadium in Barcelona.

    Watch Espanyol vs. Real Madrid for Free on CazéTV

    You can live stream Espanyol vs. Real Madrid for free on CazéTV. The broadcaster is geo-restricted to Brazil, but viewers worldwide can access the stream using a VPN. These tools mask your real IP address and route your connection through a secure server in Brazil, unlocking the free live stream from any location.

    How to Live Stream the Match for Free with a VPN

    1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN).
    2. Download the app to your preferred device.
    3. Open the app and connect to a server in Brazil.
    4. Visit CazéTV.
    5. Watch Espanyol vs. Real Madrid for free from anywhere in the world.

    Why ExpressVPN Is the Best Choice for Streaming La Liga

    The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading providers offer generous money-back guarantees. By using these offers, you can watch Espanyol vs. Real Madrid — plus Premier League action — without a long-term commitment, recovering your investment within the refund window.

    ExpressVPN stands out for bypassing geo-restrictions on CazéTV for several reasons:

    • Servers in 105 countries, including Brazil
    • 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 10 simultaneous connections
    • 30-day money-back guarantee

    ExpressVPN Pricing and Plans

    A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, a one-month plan is available for $12.99.

    Live stream Espanyol vs. Real Madrid for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

  • NYT Pips: Hints and Answers for August 22, 2026

    NYT Pips: Hints and Answers for August 22, 2026

    NYT Pips Hints and Answers for August 22, 2026: Easy, Medium, and Hard Solutions

    New York Times players tackling the daily Pips puzzle for August 22, 2026, can find piece-by-piece hints below. Released in August 2025, Pips adds a color-coded logic layer to classic domino mechanics, creating a single-player challenge that resets entirely if you request the official solution. Use the following guide to nudge your progress without spoiling the full board.

    How Pips Works: Rules and Color-Coded Conditions

    If you have played dominoes, the tile placement in Pips will feel familiar. Tiles sit vertically or horizontally and connect at touching ends. The critical difference lies in the color-coded spaces overlaying the grid. Touching tiles do not need to match numbers; instead, every tile half inside a colored zone must satisfy that zone’s specific rule.

    A single tile half can sit inside a colored space while the other half sits outside it. Uncolored areas carry no restrictions. Here are the standard condition types appearing across all difficulty tiers:

    • Number: All pips in the space must sum to the displayed number.
    • Equal: Every domino half in the space must show the same pip count.
    • Not Equal: Every domino half in the space must show a different pip count.
    • Less Than: Every domino half in the space must total less than the displayed number.
    • Greater Than: Every domino half in the space must total more than the displayed number.

    Easy Difficulty Hints and Answers – August 22

    Less Than (3)

    Everything in this space must be less than 3. Answer: 2-6, placed horizontally.

    Equal (6)

    Everything in this space must be equal to 6. Answer: 2-6, placed horizontally; 6-0, placed vertically.

    Equal (0)

    Everything in this space must be equal to 0. Answer: 6-0, placed vertically; 0-5, placed horizontally.

    Greater Than (6)

    Everything in this space must be greater than 6. Answer: 0-5, placed horizontally; 3-1, placed vertically.

    Equal (2)

    Everything in this space must be equal to 2. Answer: 2-2, placed horizontally.

    Medium Difficulty Hints and Answers – August 22

    Less Than (4)

    Everything in this space must be less than 4. Answer: 2-1, placed vertically.

    Equal (4)

    Everything in this space must be equal to 4. Answer: 4-4, placed horizontally; 4-0, placed vertically.

    Greater Than (3)

    Everything in this space must be greater than 3. Answer: 6-0, placed vertically.

    Equal (1)

    Everything in this space must be equal to 1. Answer: 4-1, placed vertically; 2-1, placed vertically; 1-0, placed horizontally.

    Less Than (2)

    Everything in this space must be less than 2. Answer: 1-0, placed horizontally; 4-0, placed vertically; 6-0, placed vertically.

    Less Than (4)

    Everything in this space must be less than 4. Answer: 3-4, placed horizontally.

    Greater Than (3)

    Everything in this space must be greater than 3. Answer: 3-4, placed horizontally.

    Hard Difficulty Hints and Answers – August 22

    Number (5)

    Everything in this space must add up to 5. Answer: 5-4, placed horizontally; 1-6, placed horizontally.

    Equal (5)

    Everything in this space must be equal to 5. Answer: 5-4, placed horizontally; 5-0, placed vertically.

    Number (16)

    Everything in this space must add up to 16. Answer: 1-6, placed horizontally; 6-4, placed vertically.

    Number (2)

    Everything in this space must add up to 2. Answer: 5-0, placed vertically; 2-4, placed vertically.

    Equal (4)

    Everything in this space must be equal to 4. Answer: 2-4, placed vertically; 4-4, placed horizontally.

    Number (2)

    Everything in this space must add up to 2. Answer: 1-1, placed vertically; 3-0, placed horizontally.

    Equal (2)

    Everything in this space must be equal to 2. Answer: 2-2, placed vertically.

    Number (5)

    Everything in this space must add up to 5. Answer: 3-4, placed vertically; 2-6, placed horizontally.

    Number (12)

    Everything in this space must add up to 12. Answer: 2-6, placed horizontally; 6-3, placed vertically.

    Number (10)

    Everything in this space must add up to 10. Answer: 3-4, placed vertically; 6-0, placed vertically.

    Number (1)

    Everything in this space must add up to 1. Answer: 6-0, placed vertically; 1-5, placed horizontally.

    Number (8)

    Everything in this space must add up to 8. Answer: 6-3, placed vertically; 1-5, placed horizontally.

    Number (4)

    Everything in this space must add up to 4. Answer: 0-4, placed vertically.

    More Daily Puzzles

    Looking for additional challenges? Visit the Mashable games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crosswords, and other daily logic games.

  • NYT Connections Sports Edition: Hints and Answers for August 22, 2026

    NYT Connections Sports Edition: Hints and Answers for August 22, 2026

    Today’s NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints and Answers for Puzzle #698

    If you have been following the NFL, today’s Connections: Sports Edition puzzle should feel more approachable. This daily word game from The New York Times, developed in partnership with The Athletic, challenges sports fans to find the common threads between 16 words. Just like the original Connections and Wordle, the puzzle resets after midnight and the difficulty tends to climb throughout the week.

    Below you will find gentle nudges to help you solve it yourself, followed by the full category breakdown and the complete solution for game #698.

    How Connections: Sports Edition Works

    The game presents a grid of 16 words. Your task is to sort them into four groups of four, each sharing a specific theme. Categories can range from team names and equipment to wordplay and pop-culture references. While several words may appear to fit together, only one combination is correct for each set.

    • Correct guess: The four words are removed from the board and reveal their color-coded difficulty.
    • Incorrect guess: Counts as one mistake; you are allowed up to four before the game ends.
    • Tools: You can shuffle the board at any time to spot patterns more easily.
    • Color coding: Yellow (easiest), Green, Blue, Purple (hardest).
    • Sharing: Results can be posted to social media in the familiar emoji-grid format.

    Hint for Today’s Categories (Without Spoilers)

    Want a nudge without seeing the actual category names? Try these clues:

    • Yellow: Significantly worthy
    • Green: Referee tools
    • Blue: West Coast sports
    • Purple: Sounds like a bowl game

    Today’s Connections: Sports Edition Categories

    If you need a little more help, here are the exact category names for puzzle #698:

    • Yellow: Important
    • Green: Accessories for a Football Referee
    • Blue: California Soccer Teams
    • Purple: College Football Bowl Games, with the First Letter Changed

    Spoiler Alert: Full Solution for Puzzle #698

    This is your last chance to turn back. The complete answer set is listed below.

    Yellow: Important

    • INDISPENSABLE
    • KEY
    • PIVOTAL
    • VITAL

    Green: Accessories for a Football Referee

    • BEAN BAG
    • COIN
    • FLAG
    • WHISTLE

    Blue: California Soccer Teams

    • BAY
    • EARTHQUAKES
    • GALAXY
    • WAVE

    Purple: College Football Bowl Games, with the First Letter Changed

    • BEACH
    • GRANGE
    • HOSE
    • SIESTA

    If you didn’t crack it today, don’t worry—a fresh Connections: Sports Edition puzzle arrives every midnight. Check back tomorrow for new hints and answers.

    More Daily Puzzle Help

  • NYT Strands Hints and Answers for August 22, 2026

    NYT Strands Hints and Answers for August 22, 2026

    NYT Strands Hints and Answers for August 22, 2026: “Peak Americana”

    Today’s NYT Strands puzzle offers a treat for mountain enthusiasts. The New York Times’ elevated word-search game challenges players to find themed words by linking letters in any direction—up, down, left, right, or diagonally—with words that can change direction mid-path. Every letter in the grid belongs to an answer, and a special “spangram” spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically to summarize the day’s theme.

    Today’s Strands Theme: Peak Americana

    The hint for August 22, 2026, reads: Peak Americana. The theme centers on adjectives that describe famous mountain peaks in America. Each solution word corresponds to a well-known U.S. mountain range.

    Spangram Direction and Answer

    Is the spangram vertical or horizontal? Today’s spangram runs horizontally across the grid.

    Spangram answer: Mountain Range

    Complete Word List for August 22, 2026

    • Green
    • White
    • Smoky
    • Sawtooth
    • Cascade
    • Rocky

    These six adjectives name major American mountain ranges: the Green Mountains (Vermont), White Mountains (New Hampshire/Maine), Smoky Mountains (Tennessee/North Carolina), Sawtooth Range (Idaho), Cascade Range (Pacific Northwest), and the Rocky Mountains (spanning multiple western states).

    How Strands Differs from Wordle and Connections

    Unlike Wordle or Connections, Strands provides only an opaque hint without a word list. This design creates a brain-teasing experience that typically takes longer to solve—often 10 minutes or more for players working through the full grid.

    More Daily Puzzle Resources

    Looking for other daily online games? Mashable’s Games page offers additional hints for Strands, Wordle, and Connections, plus a games hub featuring Mahjong, Sudoku, free crosswords, and more.

    Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to the latest Strands puzzle.