The comedian Graeme Garden celebrated and a look at misdirecting geographic capitals

Sometimes our puzzles have themes; sometimes they don’t. A solver might notice some of the themes while others may pass them by: it doesn’t usually matter, but there’s an extra gratification when we get feedback such as this letter :

Thanks to Soup for the splendid birthday compliment to Graeme Garden ( Cryptic crossword, 18 February ). It brought back joyous memories of The Goodies, and reminded me of how many years I’ve been hooting with laughter at I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue . Many happy returns, Graeme – and all power to your setting, Soup.
Julie Mottershead
Deal, Kent

4d Tense aquatic bird crushed by snake somewhere in South Africa (8)
[ wordplay : T (‘tense’) + SWAN (‘aquatic bird’), both inside BOA (‘snake’)
[ definition : somewhere in South Africa ]

The comedian Graeme Garden celebrated and a look at misdirecting geographic capitals

Sometimes our puzzles have themes; sometimes they don’t. A solver might notice some of the themes while others may pass them by: it doesn’t usually matter, but there’s an extra gratification when we get feedback such as this letter :

Thanks to Soup for the splendid birthday compliment to Graeme Garden ( Cryptic crossword, 18 February ). It brought back joyous memories of The Goodies, and reminded me of how many years I’ve been hooting with laughter at I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue . Many happy returns, Graeme – and all power to your setting, Soup.
Julie Mottershead
Deal, Kent

4d Tense aquatic bird crushed by snake somewhere in South Africa (8)
[ wordplay : T (‘tense’) + SWAN (‘aquatic bird’), both inside BOA (‘snake’)
[ definition : somewhere in South Africa ]

The comedian Graeme Garden celebrated and a look at misdirecting geographic capitals

Sometimes our puzzles have themes; sometimes they don’t. A solver might notice some of the themes while others may pass them by: it doesn’t usually matter, but there’s an extra gratification when we get feedback such as this letter :

Thanks to Soup for the splendid birthday compliment to Graeme Garden ( Cryptic crossword, 18 February ). It brought back joyous memories of The Goodies, and reminded me of how many years I’ve been hooting with laughter at I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue . Many happy returns, Graeme – and all power to your setting, Soup.
Julie Mottershead
Deal, Kent

4d Tense aquatic bird crushed by snake somewhere in South Africa (8)
[ wordplay : T (‘tense’) + SWAN (‘aquatic bird’), both inside BOA (‘snake’)
[ definition : somewhere in South Africa ]

Parts of US face another winter storm with severe conditions also pushing into Ontario, Quebec, and Newfoundland

Nearly two months since a major storm brought widespread heavy snow and freezing rain to eastern parts of the US, a new winter storm is sweeping across north-eastern US states and south-eastern Canada.

An area of low pressure, which first developed in north-western parts of the US late last week, intensified rapidly as it pushed north-east through central parts of the US.

Parts of US face another winter storm with severe conditions also pushing into Ontario, Quebec, and Newfoundland

Nearly two months since a major storm brought widespread heavy snow and freezing rain to eastern parts of the US, a new winter storm is sweeping across north-eastern US states and south-eastern Canada.

An area of low pressure, which first developed in north-western parts of the US late last week, intensified rapidly as it pushed north-east through central parts of the US.

Parts of US face another winter storm with severe conditions also pushing into Ontario, Quebec, and Newfoundland

Nearly two months since a major storm brought widespread heavy snow and freezing rain to eastern parts of the US, a new winter storm is sweeping across north-eastern US states and south-eastern Canada.

An area of low pressure, which first developed in north-western parts of the US late last week, intensified rapidly as it pushed north-east through central parts of the US.

PM says he wants quick end to conflict as he announces help for households with surging cost of heating oil

• UK politics live – latest updates

The UK will not be drawn into the wider war in the Middle East, Keir Starmer has said, as he announced that households reliant on heating oil to warm their homes would receive £53m of government support to help with their bills.

After costs surged following the outbreak of the Iran conflict, lower-income households will get targeted support, while heating oil suppliers engaged in price gouging would face legal action and future market regulation, he warned.

PM says he wants quick end to conflict as he announces help for households with surging cost of heating oil

• UK politics live – latest updates

The UK will not be drawn into the wider war in the Middle East, Keir Starmer has said, as he announced that households reliant on heating oil to warm their homes would receive £53m of government support to help with their bills.

After costs surged following the outbreak of the Iran conflict, lower-income households will get targeted support, while heating oil suppliers engaged in price gouging would face legal action and future market regulation, he warned.

PM says he wants quick end to conflict as he announces help for households with surging cost of heating oil

• UK politics live – latest updates

The UK will not be drawn into the wider war in the Middle East, Keir Starmer has said, as he announced that households reliant on heating oil to warm their homes would receive £53m of government support to help with their bills.

After costs surged following the outbreak of the Iran conflict, lower-income households will get targeted support, while heating oil suppliers engaged in price gouging would face legal action and future market regulation, he warned.