Business
Hints and All Four Answers for Sunday’s Puzzle #1113, June 28, 2026
Sunday’s edition of The New York Times’ popular word-grouping game offered a deceptively straightforward board that still managed to trip up plenty of solvers, according to multiple puzzle outlets tracking Sunday’s release. Here’s a complete breakdown of Connections #1113 for June 28, 2026, including hints for those still working through it and the full answers for anyone ready to check their results.
What is Connections?
Connections, launched by The New York Times in June 2023, challenges players to sort 16 words or short phrases into four groups of four, with each group sharing a hidden category. The game, edited by Wyna Liu, has quickly grown into one of the Times’ most popular puzzles, played by tens of millions of people each month. Categories are color-coded by difficulty, typically running from yellow and green on the more approachable end to blue and purple representing the trickiest, most misleading groupings. Players are permitted up to four incorrect guesses before the puzzle ends.
One outlet covering Sunday’s release described the board as a tidy set of deceptively obvious words that split cleanly into four neat categories once the connections became clear, while still noting that a couple of overlapping words made the grid feel slipperier than it first appeared.
Hints for each category
For players who want a nudge before seeing the full solution, here are hints for each of Sunday’s four groupings, presented from easiest to most difficult.
The first category gathers four words that all imply superior rank or quality — terms often used to describe something considered a cut above the standard option.
The second category collects four short, punchy words a person might shout to signal that something should begin immediately.
The third category focuses on small physical accessories that a guitarist might rely on while playing, whether acoustic or electric.
The fourth and trickiest category connects words that may not seem related at first glance, until you consider that each one can be paired with the same single word describing a flat surface or a governing panel.
The answers, category by category
The first group, centered on words implying high quality, consists of CHOICE, FINE, PRIME and SELECT. Several solvers noted that this set carries a particular real-world familiarity, since terms like prime, choice and select are commonly used as quality grades in supermarkets, often signaling a price premium for something marketed as slightly better than the standard option.
The second group, gathering words used to signal that something should start right away, includes BEGIN, GO, NOW and START. Puzzle commentators described this as the most accessible entry point on the board, noting that the four words are everyday verbs that practically announce their own category once a player spots even two of them together.
The third group, focused on items a guitarist might use while playing, consists of CAPO, PICK, SLIDE and STRAP. Solvers familiar with guitar equipment were able to recognize this set quickly, while others without that background reportedly needed a bit more time, since words like PICK and STRAP can easily be mistaken for belonging to unrelated everyday categories before the musical connection becomes clear.
The fourth and most difficult group, the purple category, links CHESS, CORPORATION, DARTS and SURFER under the theme “They Have Boards.” Each word pairs with “board” to form a distinct compound or phrase: a chessboard, a corporation’s board of directors, a dartboard, and a surfboard. Multiple outlets flagged this as the toughest group of the day, noting that CHESS and DARTS almost too obviously suggest a “board game” theme on their own, which made it harder for some solvers to see that CORPORATION and SURFER belonged in the same group rather than forming a separate, unfinished category.
Why this puzzle proved trickier than it looked
Several puzzle writers covering Sunday’s release pointed to specific words that functioned as red herrings, designed to send solvers down the wrong path before the real groupings became apparent. Words like PICK and STRAP, for instance, could plausibly belong to a general tools-or-clothing theme at first glance, while BEGIN and NOW might initially seem interchangeable with other simple action words elsewhere on the board, rather than locking into the “signals to commence” category specifically.
The purple group’s wordplay was singled out repeatedly as the board’s central challenge. One outlet advised that solvers stuck on a word like CORPORATION or SURFER should think about the noun that typically follows or defines its most recognizable feature, rather than relying on the word’s basic, surface-level meaning, since that approach is what ultimately unlocks the “boards” connection.
Strategy tips for tackling today’s puzzle and beyond
Puzzle guides accompanying Sunday’s release offered several general strategies for approaching Connections more effectively. Players are generally advised to scan the board first for any obvious word pairs or shared meanings before committing to a full group of four, eliminate words that seem unrelated to any apparent theme early on, and stay alert for words capable of fitting more than one category, since the puzzle is deliberately constructed to include such overlaps. Saving the purple category for last is also a commonly recommended approach, since it can often be solved through process of elimination once the other three groups have been correctly identified.
A new Connections puzzle goes live at midnight local time for each player’s specific time zone, meaning solvers in different parts of the world are frequently working through different numbered puzzles at any given moment. Players looking to keep their streaks alive can also find daily coverage of the Times’ broader puzzle lineup, including Wordle, the Mini Crossword, Strands, and the sports-focused Connections variant, each of which resets on its own midnight schedule and offers a distinct daily test of vocabulary, pattern recognition and lateral thinking.
For those who came up short on Sunday’s puzzle, Puzzle #1113 adds one more entry to an archive that continues to grow by the day, with Monday’s edition, Puzzle #1114, set to bring an entirely new set of 16 words and four fresh categories for solvers to untangle.
Business
Germany’s export-led economy faces mounting pressure from China – WSJ

Germany’s export-led economy faces mounting pressure from China – WSJ
Business
Miranda Kerr and Snap CEO Evan Spiegel Erase $550 Million in Medical Debt for More Than 261,000 Californians
Snap Inc. CEO Evan Spiegel and his wife, Australian model Miranda Kerr, have erased $550 million in medical debt for more than 261,000 Californians through a partnership with a national nonprofit, the organization announced this week.
Undue Medical Debt, the Santa Monica-based nonprofit behind the gift, said the donation marks one of the largest single contributions of its kind to date, providing relief to families across the state at a moment when healthcare costs and broader affordability concerns continue to weigh heavily on households.
How the couple revealed the gift
Spiegel and Kerr announced the donation themselves in a video posted to Instagram on Saturday, choosing to make the gift public specifically so recipients wouldn’t mistake the upcoming notification letters for a scam. “Hey everybody, Evan and Miranda here,” Spiegel said at the start of the video. “And today we are so excited because we’re announcing a partnership with Undue Medical Debt to relieve over half a billion dollars of unpaid medical debt for more than 250,000 Californians.”
Kerr followed by explaining the reasoning behind going public with the donation rather than keeping it private. “If you happen to receive a letter in the mail letting you know that your medical debt has been forgiven, we want you to know, it’s real,” she said.
The couple also spoke to the personal motivation behind their decision to focus on medical debt specifically. “When someone you love is sick, all you want to do is focus on helping them get better,” Kerr said. “That’s why we wanted to support this effort and help relieve medical debt, so families can focus on caring for their loved ones and really supporting their healing.”
Spiegel echoed that sentiment, expressing hope that the gift would offer recipients more than just a financial reprieve. He said he hoped the donation gave families “a little peace of mind” and allowed them “to focus on what matters the most.”
How the relief actually works
Undue Medical Debt operates by purchasing qualifying medical debt in bulk directly from hospitals, physician groups and collection agencies, often for a fraction of its original value. According to the organization, every $10 donated translates into roughly $1,000 in medical debt relief for families in need, allowing relatively modest contributions to produce an outsized impact at scale.
Recipients of the relief don’t need to take any action to qualify. The debt is identified and canceled directly by the nonprofit based on income thresholds, with qualifying individuals earning at or below 400% of the federal poverty level, or carrying medical debt amounting to more than 5% of their annual income. Affected Californians are expected to begin receiving notification letters in the mail starting in mid-July.
The scale of impact across California
The donation’s reach extends across numerous counties throughout the state, with some regions benefiting more significantly than others. San Diego County is expected to see the largest impact, with the gift relieving approximately $99 million in debt for roughly 40,369 residents. Los Angeles County will also see a substantial benefit, with about 17,466 people set to have a combined $26.7 million in medical debt wiped away. Other counties included in the top 10 beneficiaries are Riverside, San Bernardino, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Monterey, San Francisco, Sonoma and Alameda.
A nonprofit leader’s reaction
Allison Sesso, president and CEO of Undue Medical Debt, characterized the donation as one of the most significant gifts the organization has received. “The scale of this gift to Californians is truly astonishing, unburdening over a quarter million families of over half a billion dollars of un-payable medical debt,” Sesso said in a statement. “In the U.S. 1 in 4 adults are in medical debt; it’s a growing crisis undermining healthcare access, economic wellbeing, and mental health. We’re so grateful that Evan Spiegel and Miranda Kerr share our belief that no one should go bankrupt because of a cancer diagnosis, and no family should have to choose between insulin and groceries.”
Sesso added that the organization’s technology-driven approach to acquiring and canceling debt at scale is designed to address one of the central barriers preventing people from seeking necessary medical care, regardless of where in the state they live. The nonprofit has said it has erased more than $40 billion in medical debt across all 50 states since its founding in 2014, working with nearly 30 government partners nationwide, including Los Angeles County.
A pattern of giving for the couple
The medical debt gift is not the first large-scale act of philanthropy from the pair. In 2022, Spiegel paid off student loans for the graduating class of Otis College of Art and Design. More recently, in January 2025, Spiegel — who grew up in Pacific Palisades and lost his childhood home in that month’s devastating Los Angeles County wildfires — personally donated $5 million in immediate aid through Snap and was among those who helped form a relief initiative known as the Department of Angels to assist wildfire survivors. At the time, Spiegel said California had given so much to him and his family, adding that he cares “deeply about the wellbeing of our communities.”
Backgrounds of the philanthropic couple
Spiegel co-founded Snapchat in 2011 alongside two of his Stanford University fraternity brothers, and the disappearing photo and video app’s rapid rise helped him become the world’s youngest self-made billionaire at age 24 in 2015. His net worth currently stands at approximately $2.1 billion, according to Forbes.
Kerr, 43, built her career as one of the fashion industry’s most recognizable models, including a lengthy run as a Victoria’s Secret Angel, before founding skincare brand Kora Organics in 2009. The company now generates more than $23 million in annual revenue. The couple met at a Louis Vuitton dinner at New York’s Museum of Modern Art in 2014, married in 2017, and share three sons together: Hart, 8, Myles, 6, and Pierre, 4. Kerr also has a 15-year-old son, Flynn, from her previous marriage to actor Orlando Bloom.
Why medical debt remains a pressing issue
The donation arrives amid mounting national concern over medical debt, which health policy researchers have identified as the leading cause of bankruptcy in the United States. Surveys have found that a majority of Californians worry about facing unexpected medical bills, with roughly 40% of the state’s population already carrying some form of medical debt. Advocates say gifts like Spiegel and Kerr’s, while substantial, represent one piece of a much larger affordability challenge facing households nationwide, even as they offer immediate, tangible relief to the families directly affected.
Business
SpaceX Stock Climbs Back to End Day With Gains
SpaceX shares at some points Friday traded below their first opening-day price from two weeks ago, while the rocket maker’s market cap flirted with levels below $2 trillion, where it hasn’t closed since the biggest listing on record.
Despite all that, the stock bounced back in the last hour to close at $153.23, up 23 cents on the day. For the week, SpaceX shares dropped 17%, a sign of waning enthusiasm for the biggest listing of all time. But for now, they remain comfortably above the opening IPO price of $150.
Business
Colombia and Portugal Draw 0-0 at World Cup, With Colombia Topping Group K Over Ronaldo’s Portugal Squad
MIAMI — Colombia and Portugal played out a scoreless draw at Miami Stadium on Saturday in a meeting of World Cup heavyweights, with Colombia securing top spot in Group K despite the stalemate, as Cristiano Ronaldo was kept largely quiet by a determined Colombian defense.
The result extends a mixed tournament for Ronaldo, who had drawn attention for his celebratory outburst following Portugal’s earlier win over Uzbekistan, but found himself a peripheral figure for long stretches against a Colombian side that controlled much of the match’s tempo.
A chance encounter early on
The match nearly burst into life within the opening minute, when a deflected effort from Bayern Munich winger Luis Díaz spun unexpectedly onto the head of forward Jhon Córdoba inside the box. Córdoba, seemingly as surprised as anyone to find himself with the chance, lifted his attempt over the bar. Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa was called into action shortly after, producing a sharp one-handed save to deny Córdoba a second opportunity.
Portugal struggled to generate much of a response in the first half. A shot from midfielder Bruno Fernandes was batted away by Colombia goalkeeper Camilo Vargas, and Ronaldo’s follow-up attempt on the rebound, an overhead effort, was blocked before it could threaten the goal. Forward João Félix also tested Colombia’s defense with an effort that sailed over the bar, but for the most part, the opening 45 minutes offered little in the way of clear chances for either side, with Ronaldo struggling to find space against a well-organized Colombian back line.
Colombia presses for a breakthrough
The pattern of Colombian pressure continued into the second half. Midfielder Richard Ríos fired a shot just wide of Costa’s left-hand post from close range shortly after the hour mark, continuing a string of Colombian opportunities that went unrewarded. Ronaldo had a half-chance of his own at the other end, but was ruled offside before his effort could be assessed further.
Costa was forced into another important save soon after, denying Jhon Arias as Colombia continued searching for the goal that would settle the contest. Forward Luis Suárez also found space inside Portugal’s box but miskicked his attempt with Costa’s goal in sight, while a shot from James Rodríguez was cleared away by defender Renato Veiga before it could test the Portuguese goalkeeper.
Portugal’s response off the bench
With Colombia controlling much of the second-half play, Portugal manager Roberto Martínez turned to his bench in search of a spark, introducing forward Rafael Leão. The substitution nearly paid off when fullback Diogo Dalot curled an effort just wide of the target after receiving a corner delivery from Fernandes, offering one of Portugal’s better chances of an otherwise difficult night in front of goal.
A disallowed goal in stoppage time
Colombia appeared to have snatched a dramatic late winner in stoppage time, when defender Davinson Sánchez headed home what was initially celebrated as the decisive goal. Colombian substitutes streamed off the bench in celebration before officials intervened, ruling Sánchez offside and wiping out the goal. The disallowed effort proved to be the match’s final notable moment, with the contest finishing scoreless.
Martínez reflects on a missed opportunity
Speaking after the match, Portugal manager Roberto Martínez acknowledged that his side had allowed Colombia to dictate the terms of the contest. “We let Colombia have the match they wanted,” Martínez said. “We did not control possession as much as we wanted. We weren’t able to control the game or use our talent.”
The result leaves Martínez with plenty to address, given that Portugal has now struggled in two of its three matches so far in the tournament, despite possessing one of the most talent-laden rosters in the competition.
Where both teams go next
Despite the draw, Colombia’s result was enough to secure top spot in Group K, a notably positive outcome for a team that will now face Ghana in the round of 32. Portugal, meanwhile, finishes the group stage in second place and advances to face Croatia in the next round.
For Colombia, the result represents an encouraging marker after an entertaining and largely one-sided performance against one of the tournament’s most decorated squads, even if questions remain about the team’s finishing in front of goal after multiple missed opportunities throughout the match.
A raucous atmosphere in Miami
Saturday’s match also stood out for the scene inside Miami Stadium, where Colombian supporters appeared to dominate the crowd by a wide margin, continuing a recent trend of passionate fan turnouts at the venue. The atmosphere followed a similarly charged scene days earlier when Brazilian fans filled the same stadium for their team’s win over Scotland.
While Colombian fans have a more complicated recent history at major tournaments, including incidents involving fans storming gates at the 2024 Copa América final, Saturday’s crowd was orderly and high-spirited throughout, creating an atmosphere that made Colombia feel almost like a host nation despite not holding that status at this World Cup.
A measured night for Ronaldo
For Ronaldo, who turns 42 later this year, Saturday’s match offered a stark contrast to his prior outing against Uzbekistan, when his enthusiastic on-camera celebration drew attention across the tournament. Against a well-drilled Colombian defense, the Portuguese forward was unable to find the same rhythm, spending long stretches of the match on the periphery of the action and managing little in the way of direct goal-scoring threat before his side’s lone offside chance late in the second half.
With the group stage now behind them, both Colombia and Portugal turn their attention to the knockout rounds, where Colombia will look to build on a group-topping finish against Ghana, while Portugal and Martínez will look to address the possession and control issues that have plagued the team through much of the tournament when they face Croatia in the round of 32.
Business
Harbor Mid Cap Fund Q1 2026 Commentary
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Business
AI-Themed Stocks Tanking, Consumer Confidence Rising and SpaceX Joining an Index | Markets P.M. for June 26
This is an edition of the Markets P.M. newsletter, a recap of the day’s most important markets moves, delivered after the closing bell. If you’re not subscribed, sign up here.
What Happened in Markets Today
Stock indexes closely tied to AI fell Friday. Japan’s benchmark index slid more than 4%, weighed down by a 13% plunge in SoftBank Group’s shares, after a media report suggested OpenAI could hold off going public until next year. South Korea’s Kospi index, which includes Samsung and SK Hynix, dropped almost 6%. In the U.S., Micron fell almost 7%, reversing some of the memory-chip maker’s gains after Wednesday’s blockbuster earnings report. The PHLX semiconductor index dropped about 5%, while the Roundhill Memory ETF fell 6.5%. Major U.S. indexes were down slightly. The Nasdaq fell 0.2% while the Dow industrials and S&P 500 each fell 0.1%.
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Business
Chip Stocks Drag Nasdaq Lower. Tech-Heavy Index Falls for Fifth Day in a Row.
Another sharp chip stock drop sent the Nasdaq tumbling for a fifth day in a row.
The Dow fell 56 points, or 0.1%. The S&P 500 was down 0.1%. The Nasdaq was down 0.2%. The S&P and Nasdaq each fell every day this week.
The S&P is riding its longest losing streak since August of last year.
Business
Micron, Wendy’s, Apple, ON Semiconductor
↘️ ON Semiconductor (ON): The chip maker agreed to acquire Synaptics (SYNA) in a roughly $7 billion all-stock transaction, as it seeks to push into physical AI. Shares of ON Semiconductor tumbled 24%, while Synaptics’ stock slipped 3.7%..
↗️ Eli Lilly (LLY): The pharma giant’s stock rose 7.1% after it said European regulators issued a positive opinion recommending Jaypirca as a treatment for chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
Business
Moderna, Nvidia, Sandisk, Palantir, ON Semi, and More Stocks That Explain Today’s Market
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Community Trust Bancorp: Not Great, But Good Enough
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