The regular monthly puzzle based on topical events. Find it to solve online at ft.com/crossword
There was much to enjoy in this puzzle, as you’d expect from one of the FT’s most experienced and accomplished setters. I thought 9 across was particularly neat.
The wordplay in 18 across is clear enough that I didn’t initially notice the incorrect spelling of the new pope’s surname in the solution. And I think there might be an error in 6 down – though it’s more likely to be me missing something obvious. Never mind. These glitches didn’t spoil my enjoyment of the puzzle and to be honest, given the time constraints the setters face in putting these puzzles together, it’s amazing that more errors don’t slip through the net.
Thanks, Neo!
Definitions are underlined in the clues.
| ACROSS | ||
| 8 | SARAJEVO |
American rule in south-east applied to very old 10 (8)
|
| A (American) + RAJ (British rule in India) in SE (south-east) + V (very) + O (old) | ||
| 9 | URANUS |
MPs to leave Spurs-Man U playing God (6)
|
| Anagram (playing) of SPURS-MANU less MPS
Tottenham Hotspur beat Manchester United in the final of the Europa League this week. Football, m’lud. |
||
| 10 | CITY |
First couple from Cyprus guzzling Vermouth in Moscow? (4)
|
| First couple [of letters] from CYprus containing (guzzling) IT (Vermouth) | ||
| 11 | ON THE HOUSE |
Free, or at Parliament’s expense? (2,3,5)
|
| Two definitions | ||
| 12 | SIMION |
Monkey’s spoken for Romanian nationalist George (6)
|
| Sounds like “SIMIAN” (monkey)
George Simion was the far-right candidate in Romania’s recent presidential elections, won by the liberal mayor of Bucharest, Nicusor Dan. |
||
| 14 | IRON-CLAD |
Thatcher almost rounding cape in armoured ship (4-4)
|
| Almost IRON LAD[y] (Thatcher) rounding C (cape) | ||
| 16 | ORANGES |
Shades of Donald Trump? (7)
|
| Cryptic definition – referring to the president’s complexion | ||
| 18 | PROVOST |
IRA member meeting Saint and new Pope (7)
|
| PROVO (IRA member) + ST (saint)
Chicago-born Cardinal Robert Prévost became Pope Leo XIV this month. He usually spells his family name with an É, according to the internet. |
||
| 21 | STARGAZE |
Tear gas spreads round Russian militarist symbol in dream (8)
|
| Anagram (spreads) of TEAR GAS around Z (Russian militarist symbol) | ||
| 23 | FELLER |
Chap acting wantonly at Sycamore Gap? (6)
|
| Cryptic definition
Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers were this month found guilty of felling the tree at Sycamore Gap. |
||
| 24 | VOTE-WINNER |
English inventor with corrupt election idea? (4-6)
|
| Anagram (corrupt) of E (English) + INVENTOR + W (with) | ||
| 26 | FUEL |
U-turn on this payment in Stoke? (4)
|
| Two definitions
Keir Starmer has announced that he wants more pensioners to receive help with fuel payments, which is being seen as a U-turn after he previously scrapped the universal winter fuel allowance. |
||
| 27 | PALACE |
Royal residence for the new Cup holders? (6)
|
| Two definitions
Crystal Palace beat Manchester City in the final of the FA Cup last weekend. |
||
| 28 | DOGGY BAG |
Does it carry uneaten food back to the lab? (5,3)
|
| Cryptic definition – lab being short for labrador as well as laboratory | ||
| DOWN | ||
| 1 | FAMILIAR |
Well-known female with question as to her honesty? (8)
|
| F (female) + AM I LIAR? (question as to her honesty) | ||
| 2 | GARY |
Lineker maybe not straight about revelations initially (4)
|
| GAY (not straight) about first letter (initially) of Revelations
Having previously announced that he is stepping down as host of Match of the Day, Gary Lineker will now be leaving the BBC completely following an ill-judged retweet of an antisemitic trope. |
||
| 3 | REJOIN |
Answer: get back into EU! (6)
|
| Two definitions
Keir Starmer this week made various deals with the EU, with predictable responses from the pro-Brexit right-wing press. |
||
| 4 | FOOTSIE |
Flirtatious activity on the markets? (7)
|
| Two definitions – Footsie being the nickname of the Financial Times Stock Exchange (FTSE) 100 Index | ||
| 5 | AU REVOIR |
Farewell to Mr Macron and his advisers? (2,6)
|
| Cryptic definition | ||
| 6 | NATO |
Alliance Trump threatens in rant at office (4)
|
| Not sure of the parsing here – it might have been intended as a hidden word but there’s a superfluous T getting in the way | ||
| 7 | RUSSIA |
USA: sir, that might be Zelenskyy’s nemesis! (6)
|
| Anagram (that might be) of USA SIR | ||
| 13 | INNER |
One ripe for confession’s beginning to go red (5)
|
| [s]INNER (one ripe for confession) less the first letter (beginning to go)
The bullseye at the centre of a dartboard is made up of a red “inner” and a green outer circle. |
||
| 15 | CIVIL |
An American war was so polite (5)
|
| Two definitions | ||
| 17 | EXAMINER |
Inspector once an underground operative? (8)
|
| EX (once) + A MINER (an underground operative) | ||
| 19 | SKELETAL |
Leek cooked with salt as some refugees appear (8)
|
| Anagram (cooked) of LEEK + SALT
A poignant reference to refugees fleeing the conflict in Gaza, where Israel’s block on aid is causing widespread starvation. |
||
| 20 | KENNEDY |
Trump pick understanding news boss in Big Apple (7)
|
| KEN (understanding) + ED (news boss) in NY (Big Apple)
Vaccine-sceptic Robert F Kennedy Jr is US Health and Human Services Chief |
||
| 22 | TOO BAD |
Teachta Dála holding up a heckle? Who cares (3,3)
|
| TD (Teachta Dála – a member of the Dáil, the Irish parliament) containing (holding) a reversal (up) of A BOO (heckle) | ||
| 23 | FARAGE |
Badger carried in from Scottish populist (6)
|
| RAG (badger) contained by (carried in) FAE (from in Scottish) | ||
| 25 | ESAU |
Hairy type having news-value occasionally (4)
|
| Alternate letters (occasionally) of nEwS-vAlUe | ||
| 26 | FAYE |
Senegalese president loud indeed (4)
|
| F (loud) + AYE (indeed)
Diomaye Faye became the youngest ever president of Senegal in March. It emerged recently that quotes attributed to him were actually made by Volodymyr Zelenskyy |
Never mind God, Ange will be happy just to keep his job. And well done Palace! I was less sure about other bits, like how to spell the far-right Romanian or the new Pope. A nice thing to have on the menu though, a current events crossword. As for those fellers at 23ac — shrivel in shame! Thanks Neo and Widders.
Excellent topical puzzle. Great blog packed with info.
Thanks Neo and Widdersbel.
NATO
Appears to be an error. Of course, someone may have a convincing explanation.
AU REVOIR
Anything was in the news about Macron’s advisers?
Liked FELLER, FAMILIAR, EXAMINER and FARAGE.
22d presumably referring to the recent turmoil in the Dail when the speaker was heckled. Most enjoyable puzzle.
Thanks to Neo and Widdersbel.
Two whoopsies then. Bugger.
KVa – Macron’s “Vice President”, Alexis Kohler, has just tearfully left the Elysee Palace to take up a job at Société Générale – more here
For 24a I wondered if Dyson had been suggesting vote-winning ideas, but can’t find anything. He’s been in the news as a large landowner targeted by the capital gains tax changes for farmers, so I wouldn’t be surprised if I’d missed something.
When is Farage not in the news?
Thank you to Widdersbel and Neo
Thanks Shanne.
Neo – I still have nightmares about the time I sent a magazine to press with a typo on the cover… but everyone else forgot about it pretty quickly. These things happen.
Thanks everyone for additional news insights.