e457a1bb0c94be24c18314a264b509c7

Puzzles

Quick crossword #239

Author photo

POPULAR ARTICLES

Cost of living

frank

Concern as inflation rises

Britain’s annual rate of consumer price inflation unexpectedly rose to its highest in over a year at 3.6 per cent in June, potentially making it a tougher call for the Bank of England to cut interest rates next month. June’s reading from the Office for National Statistics took the annual CPI rate to its highest since January 2024, against expectations from economists in a Reuters poll for it to remain unchanged at May’s reading of 3.4 per cent.

Reuters

Environment

frank

Algal bloom choking coastal life

Calls are growing for immediate federal support and intervention in South Australia’s algae crisis, as fishing and tourism industries struggle with the impact of a months-long bloom with no end in sight. The naturally occurring algal bloom has killed tens of thousands of marine animals of almost 400 species and caused widespread disruption to commercial fisheries and aquaculture since being identified off the Fleurieu Peninsula in March. SA senator Sarah Hanson-Young said the algal bloom was a national disaster requiring a national response, calling on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese “to come to Adelaide to stand on the beaches with me and to take some action”.

AAP Newswire

Ukraine

frank

Russian advance making slow progress

US President Donald Trump’s ultimatum to Russia to accept a peace deal in Ukraine within 50 days or face bruising sanctions on its energy exports has given the Kremlin extra time to pursue its offensive. The dogged Ukrainian resistance, however, makes it unlikely that the Russian military will make any quick gains. President Vladimir Putin has declared repeatedly that any peace deal should see Ukraine withdraw from the four regions that Russia illegally annexed in September 2022 but never fully captured. He also wants Ukraine to renounce its bid to join NATO and accept strict limits on its armed forces -– demands Kyiv and its Western allies have rejected.

AP

POPULAR ARTICLES

Cost of living

frank

Concern as inflation rises

Britain’s annual rate of consumer price inflation unexpectedly rose to its highest in over a year at 3.6 per cent in June, potentially making it a tougher call for the Bank of England to cut interest rates next month. June’s reading from the Office for National Statistics took the annual CPI rate to its highest since January 2024, against expectations from economists in a Reuters poll for it to remain unchanged at May’s reading of 3.4 per cent.

Reuters

Environment

frank

Algal bloom choking coastal life

Calls are growing for immediate federal support and intervention in South Australia’s algae crisis, as fishing and tourism industries struggle with the impact of a months-long bloom with no end in sight. The naturally occurring algal bloom has killed tens of thousands of marine animals of almost 400 species and caused widespread disruption to commercial fisheries and aquaculture since being identified off the Fleurieu Peninsula in March. SA senator Sarah Hanson-Young said the algal bloom was a national disaster requiring a national response, calling on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese “to come to Adelaide to stand on the beaches with me and to take some action”.

AAP Newswire

Ukraine

frank

Russian advance making slow progress

US President Donald Trump’s ultimatum to Russia to accept a peace deal in Ukraine within 50 days or face bruising sanctions on its energy exports has given the Kremlin extra time to pursue its offensive. The dogged Ukrainian resistance, however, makes it unlikely that the Russian military will make any quick gains. President Vladimir Putin has declared repeatedly that any peace deal should see Ukraine withdraw from the four regions that Russia illegally annexed in September 2022 but never fully captured. He also wants Ukraine to renounce its bid to join NATO and accept strict limits on its armed forces -– demands Kyiv and its Western allies have rejected.

AP