Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? I will say, 8-Across was a geographical fact I didn’t know. Read on for all the answers. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.

Mini across clues and answers

1A clue: Bit of clothing for a snowman
Answer: SCARF

6A clue: «___ is just another defense against the universe»: Mel Brooks
Answer: HUMOR

7A clue: Say without saying
Answer: IMPLY

8A clue: River whose basin spans 11 countries
Answer: NILE

9A clue: Opposite of WSW
Answer: ENE

Mini down clues and answers

1D clue: Excel
Answer: SHINE

2D clue: Spice in curry powder
Answer: CUMIN

3D clue: More than enough
Answer: AMPLE

4D clue: Queen Elizabeth I or II, for Helen Mirren
Answer: ROLE

5D clue: Cook in oil
Answer: FRY

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Google has announced a new way to schedule and reschedule meetings in Google Calendar, with one-click suggestions powered by its Gemini AI assistant. The update is designed to reduce the time spent coordinating availability by automatically identifying times that work for everyone invited.

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When creating an event, Calendar will now surface suggested meeting times based on the participants’ availability, working hours and existing commitments. If invitees later decline or conflicts arise, Gemini can prompt the organizer with a new recommended time directly inside the event, allowing the meeting to be rescheduled without leaving Calendar.

The feature builds on Google’s broader push to weave generative AI more deeply into its Workspace tools, shifting routine tasks like scheduling, drafting and summarizing toward automated assistance. 

Calendar already uses AI for features such as smart event creation and time insights, but this update gives Gemini a more active role in managing changes after a meeting is created.

Google said the new meeting suggestions are rolling out gradually to eligible Workspace users, with broader availability expected in the coming weeks.

Read also: Gemini AI Is Coming for Your Gmail Inbox. Here’s What to Expect and How to Turn It Off

Looking for the most recent Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands puzzles.

Today’s NYT Connections puzzle is pretty entertaining. I got a kick out of the blue group, which made me think about a 1973 Disney movie I hadn’t seen in years. And yes, you’ll notice from the grid that, at first, there seems to be a Batman theme (there’s not, it’s a trick). Read on for clues and today’s Connections answers.

The Times has a Connections Bot, like the one for Wordle. Go there after you play to receive a numeric score and to have the program analyze your answers. Players who are registered with the Times Games section can now nerd out by following their progress, including the number of puzzles completed, win rate, number of times they nabbed a perfect score and their win streak.

Read more: Hints, Tips and Strategies to Help You Win at NYT Connections Every Time

Hints for today’s Connections groups

Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.

Yellow group hint: So funny!

Green group hint: Drop the puck.

Blue group hint: Steal from the rich, give to the poor.

Purple group hint: Play ball!

Answers for today’s Connections groups

Yellow group: Quite the laugh.

Green group: NHL team member.

Blue group: First words of Robin Hood character names.

Purple group: Starting with baseball gear.

Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words

What are today’s Connections answers?

The yellow words in today’s Connections

The theme is quite the laugh. The four answers are card, character, cutup and joker.

The green words in today’s Connections

The theme is NHL team member. The four answers are Devil, Flyer, Penguin and Ranger.

The blue words in today’s Connections

The theme is first words of Robin Hood character names. The four answers are Friar, Maid, Robin and Sheriff.

The purple words in today’s Connections

The theme is starting with baseball gear. The four answers are ballroom, basement, Batmobile and capstone.

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