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  • Rain dampens France fire, as Spain reports ‘almost no flames’

    Rain dampens France fire, as Spain reports ‘almost no flames’

    A week of catastrophic, record-breaking wildfires across Western and Southern Europe has entered a new phase this week, with favorable weather finally bringing relief to hard-hit regions in France and Spain, while emergency crews continue to battle out-of-control blazes in Greece and Turkey.

    In southwestern France, near the iconic wine capital of Bordeaux, firefighters are breathing a tentative sigh of relief after days of raging flames that have already become the country’s worst wildfire event since 1949. Cooler temperatures and long-awaited rainfall reached the affected coastal pine forest region on Thursday, halting the spread of the massive blaze that has already consumed more than 42,000 hectares of land — an area larger than the entire U.S. city of Detroit. Thunder rumbled over the coastal town of Lege-Cap-Ferret on Thursday, with scattered raindrops falling across the fire zone, a sight welcomed by first responders stationed at the local command post set up in the town’s sports hall.

    Regional firefighting authorities report they are “reasonably optimistic” that the worst of the emergency has passed, noting the blaze has not expanded beyond its existing boundaries since the weekend. Still, regional fire chief Marc Vermeulen emphasized that the battle is far from over: crews will need multiple days of sustained work dousing smoldering hot spots deep within the forest and along the fire’s perimeter to prevent the flames from flaring up again once drier, warmer conditions return. So far, the French blaze has forced more than 220,000 people — including vacationers staying at campsites and coastal bungalows, and permanent residents of the region — to evacuate, and destroyed roughly 240 residential properties.

    For many local residents, the repeated trauma of climate-fueled wildfires has prompted permanent changes of plans. Kevin Montmartre, an Uber driver based in inland Bordeaux who has already been evacuated three times in recent days from his second home in the beach town of Andernos-les-Bains, told Agence France-Presse that growing wildfire frequency tied to climate change has made him rethink his property investment. “Honestly, I’ve talked it over with my wife, and if there’s another one in the coming years, we’ll sell the house,” he said as rain began to fall in Bordeaux.

    Neighboring Spain, which has also faced some of the most extreme wildfire conditions in modern history, is also reporting major progress in containing its blazes. Authorities in the Madrid region announced Thursday that the large wildfire burning on the capital’s outskirts has not spread for several days, with only a small number of smoldering hot spots remaining and “almost no flames” left active. Since the fire began last Wednesday, it has burned 27,000 hectares of land and destroyed at least 100 homes, a toll that officials expect to rise as full assessments begin. By Wednesday, thousands of evacuees had already been allowed to return to their homes, with only around 1,000 people still displaced as of Thursday morning.

    Further west in Spain, the Avila wildfire has already made history as the largest wildfire the country has recorded since national fire tracking began in 1961, having burned approximately 50,000 hectares of land to date.

    While France and Spain see progress, emergency responders across other parts of Southern Europe are still working to contain fast-moving blazes. On the Greek island of Crete, a popular Mediterranean tourist destination, thousands of residents and visitors were evacuated late Wednesday as high winds pushed flames toward resort areas. The fire continued to rage on Thursday, and local official Maria Lioni confirmed that early reports indicate homes, agricultural infrastructure, and livestock have been lost, though full damage counts remain unavailable while the fire is still active.

    In Turkey, officials report the country is currently battling at least 115 active wildfires across its territory, though crews have managed to bring 110 of those blazes under control. Thousands of volunteers have joined professional firefighting crews across the continent to support evacuation efforts, supply logistics, and fire suppression work.

  • ASX 200 tumbles as mining giants fall on inflation, Wall Street woes

    ASX 200 tumbles as mining giants fall on inflation, Wall Street woes

    Australia’s benchmark stock index, the ASX 200, has broken its three consecutive session winning streak, closing deep in negative territory on the back of growing geopolitical instability in the Middle East and a sharp overnight downturn on U.S. markets that rippled through global trading. By the closing bell, the ASX 200 shed 70.90 points, or 0.78%, to settle at 8967.70, while the broader All Ordinaries index fell 77 points, or 0.84%, to 9122.70. The Australian dollar also weakened in tandem with risk-off sentiment, sliding to 69.50 U.S. cents by market close.

    Nine out of 11 tracked sectors finished the session in negative territory, led by steep drops in materials and consumer discretionary stocks. Among the country’s three largest mining firms, performance was split: BHP fell 1.71% to $59.15, Fortescue Metals Group dropped 1.15% to $18.86, while Rio Tinto bucked the broader trend to gain 1.83% to $168.41. Gold mining stocks also faced heavy selling pressure, with Northern Star Resources declining 3.29% to $20.02 and Evolution Mining falling 3.07% to $11.06, dragged down by a pullback in global gold prices. In the consumer discretionary space, major retail names all posted losses: Wesfarmers fell 1.53% to $89.22, JB Hi-Fi dropped 1.58% to $80.51, and Harvey Norman declined 1.79% to $4.94.

    Against the broad market downturn, the information technology sector emerged as the lone bright spot, posting broad gains to offset some of the broader index losses. Leading the tech rally, logistics software firm WiseTech Global surged 6.67% to $37.89, while accounting software provider Xero gained 1.43% to $71.48 and enterprise software provider TechnologyOne added 1.11% to $30.99.

    Tony Sycamore, senior market analyst at IG, explained that the Australian selloff followed a clear negative lead from Wall Street, where investor sentiment was rattled by shifts in U.S. monetary policy outlook and growing geopolitical risks. “Wall Street’s decline came as investors digested the Federal Reserve’s decision to keep rates on hold, which saw long-end bond yields climb to a 19-year high on concerns about a potential policy error,” Sycamore noted. He added that downward pressure was amplified by two key developments: a rebound in global oil prices driven by renewed Middle East tensions, and a continued pullback in semiconductor stocks that pushed the Nasdaq 100 into official correction territory.

    Despite the day’s sharp losses, Sycamore pointed out that the Australian benchmark remains on track to extend its winning streak to four consecutive monthly gains, with the index up nearly 2% through the first 30 days of July. “July once again lives up to its reputation as the best-performing month of the year, with an average return of 2.73 per cent over the past decade,” he said.

    Geopolitical tensions directly contributed to market volatility, as Brent Crude oil prices rose another 1.3% to $US91.89 a barrel following a new wave of U.S. military strikes against Iranian-backed militias operating in Iraq. The oil price rally stoked fresh investor concerns that persistent energy cost pressures could force central banks to keep interest rates higher for longer, fueling broader inflation risks.

    In individual company news, a handful of stocks outperformed the broader market despite the negative sentiment. National Australia Bank (NAB) gained 0.85% to close at $41.55, even after the bank disclosed that home lending applications fell 15% in the June quarter compared to the preceding three months. Pizza chain Domino’s Australia surged 9.08% to $19.59 after the company released preliminary unaudited results showing underlying net profit after tax would come in between $118 million and $122 million, matching the guidance the firm previously provided to the market. Lithium producer Pilbara Minerals also gained 2.68% to $4.21, after reporting record annual production and sales, with June quarter revenue rising 31% to $743 million.

  • AFL 2026: Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell speaks on his contract extension talks

    AFL 2026: Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell speaks on his contract extension talks

    As the Hawthorn Football Club gears up for a high-stakes push to secure a top-two ladder finish, head coach Sam Mitchell has revealed that ongoing negotiations for a contract extension have proceeded without friction, describing the process as “pretty seamless”.

    Industry reports indicate Mitchell is closing in on a three-year contract renewal that would extend his tenure at the helm of the Hawks through to the end of the 2030 AFL season. Speaking to media on Thursday ahead of Saturday’s clash against North Melbourne, held at Hawthorn’s widely regarded spiritual home base of Tasmania, Mitchell deflected focus from his own contract talks to highlight the meaningful, people-focused side of his coaching role, particularly in the lead-up to young prospect Aidan Schubert’s senior debut this weekend.

    “I love Hawthorn and I am sure there will be something coming out soon enough,” Mitchell told reporters. When pressed on rumors of a three-year extension, he joked “Three? Thirteen. I will let that play out, someone will report on that when it’s been all finalised but it’s been pretty seamless, to be honest.”

    Moving away from contract discussions, Mitchell opened up about the personal rewards that draw him to coaching, emphasizing the joy of supporting young talent as they grow into the sport. “I think seeing the joy in young people and when they improve and it’s not just the players,” he said. “When you’re working with staff and you see someone like Aidan Schubert … when you see his parents, his family and how much they’ve put into him. How many hours by how many people to give him that opportunity and when you see that smile, you have that feeling that you’ve helped that along. I think they’re the parts of coaching that make us do it.”

    Recruited from South Australia, Schubert will make his first senior appearance for Hawthorn this weekend, stepping into the role of second ruck and key forward. The young talent was just 17 when he first joined the club, with his birthday falling in late December. His promotion comes at a critical time for the Hawks, who have lost backup ruck Noah Mraz to the side’s lineup after a kidney laceration injury.

    Mitchell spoke glowingly of the debutant, noting his close family ties and the excitement his promotion has generated among the existing playing group. “But Aidan’s a great young man. He’s very family-orientated. He’s got on the phone (to family) straight away … and the boys are really excited to play with him,” Mitchell added.

    Saturday’s match against North Melbourne in Tasmania stands as a key fixture for Hawthorn as the club pursues a top-two finish on the season ladder, a result that would solidify their position as leading contenders for the premiership.

  • AFL 2026: Dean Solomon will sit down with Essendon next week to discuss his future

    AFL 2026: Dean Solomon will sit down with Essendon next week to discuss his future

    The race for Essendon Football Club’s vacant full-time senior coaching position has added a formal competitor, with interim head coach Dean Solomon confirming he will officially put his case forward for the permanent role in upcoming discussions with club leadership. Solomon steps into the contested process alongside other high-profile candidates including James Hird, Mark McVeigh, Jaymie Graham and Murray Davis, all vying for the top job at the AFL club. Solomon’s move to pursue the role comes after months of deliberate consideration, a delay he says was intentional to keep his focus where it matters most: guiding the team through a turbulent period following Brad Scott’s sudden sacking in May.

    In comments made to media on Thursday, the 46-year-old premiership-winning former Essendon player outlined that the timeline for formal discussions has arrived, after club president Tim Roberts told him four to five weeks prior to prioritize in-game coaching first. “It is a discussion I am going to have with the club in the next week and we’ve sort of had that contact now,” Solomon explained. “We will sit down and have a conversation over the next week or so, with all due respect, I will probably want to have that discussion with them first then work from there. I think I said many weeks ago that Tim (Roberts), sort of mentioned to me, four or five weeks ago, ‘take your time, concentrate on coaching (and) doing what you have to do for this group and this footy club’ … at some point in time he’ll give us a tap on the shoulder and have that discussion. So that time has sort of come and we’ll sit and have a good chat about all things and I’ll put forward my thoughts on the current situation and the future.”

    The former premiership Bomber also opened up about the multiple factors that extended his consideration process, most notably his family’s current residence outside of Victoria. “There’s multiple layers about where I’m currently at and the position I am in, my family, where they’re based,” he said. “That’s why it’s been a good thing to take the time to have a good think and respect the current position I am in, as well, as interim coach. My first priority always has been – and always will be – the players and making sure they get the best opportunity they can to be the best they can be.”

    Solomon’s tenure as caretaker has been marked by a slow start before a landmark breakthrough win: after nine straight winless matches across his two stints as interim coach (including three games at the helm back in 2017), Essendon snapped its long drought with a victory over Greater Western Sydney at Marvel Stadium a fortnight ago, which lifted the club off the bottom of the AFL ladder. Despite the challenging win-loss record for most of his time in charge, Solomon says he has deeply valued the opportunity to lead the side through transition. “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity, massive challenge, obviously on the back of losing your coach, it’s always a challenge taking on the interim role and what flows on from that,” he said. “But I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the challenge with this, binding a coaching group, a football department and a playing group. Really working hard between Monday and Friday to ensure we get good momentum finishing the year off and making decisions around the medium-to-long term for the club.”

    He added that while the team’s results have not met expectations, the side has shown clear improvement in patches, and the coaching group has worked to implement meaningful shifts in the team’s playing style. “In all honesty, I’m just happy to play the role I’ve had to play for the past 12-13 weeks for this football club and I hope it helps it in the medium-to-long term,” Solomon said. The club will hold formal interviews with all candidates in the coming days, with a final decision on the permanent senior coach expected in the near future.

  • Nolan’s ‘Odyssey’ boosts sales of mythology tales in UK

    Nolan’s ‘Odyssey’ boosts sales of mythology tales in UK

    When Christopher Nolan’s highly anticipated big-screen adaptation of Homer’s *The Odyssey* hit theaters in mid-July, industry experts expected it to dominate global box offices—what no one predicted was the unprecedented ripple effect it would create across the UK’s publishing industry, reviving widespread public interest in ancient Greek and Roman mythology.

    The latest data from market research firm NielsenIQ tells a striking story: in the four weeks leading up to July 25, print sales of Homer’s original epic jumped 1,400% compared to the same period in 2025. It is not just the classic text that has flown off shelves, either. Emily Wilson’s widely praised 2017 translation of the millennia-old poem has seen an equally explosive surge, with Britain’s largest bookstore chain Waterstones reporting that sales of Wilson’s edition have risen more than 1,000% year-over-year, and growth continues to climb week over week alongside sales of every other available translation of the text.

    The boom has extended far beyond *The Odyssey* itself. NielsenIQ records show significant sales uplifts for a whole range of related mythology works, from Homer’s *The Iliad* to modern reimaginings such as Madeline Miller’s *Circe* and Margaret Atwood’s *The Penelopiad*. On Amazon UK’s bestseller list for history, Stephen Fry’s adaptation of *The Odyssey* currently holds the top spot, with Fry’s two other classics-focused books *Mythos* and *Troy* taking second and fifth place respectively. Even audiobook platforms are sharing in the success: Spotify reports that searches for *The Odyssey* translations have skyrocketed 310% in recent weeks.

    For academics working in the field of Classics, this unexpected cultural wave brings cautious optimism. Many hope the blockbuster’s mainstream popularity will translate to higher student enrolment in ancient studies programs at the university level. Richard Kendall, a Classics lecturer at the University of Exeter and this year’s first expert-in-residence at the UK’s The Classical Association, called the sales spike “fantastic,” noting that ancient myths have retained their pull on audiences for millennia. “These are ripping good yarns,” Kendall told AFP. “It’s wonderful that this has created so much popularity. People are reading more, but this is just this iteration… People will always return to these stories.”

    At University College London, where Nolan himself studied Homer as an undergraduate English student, department leaders are already preparing for a long-term boost. “The buzz around the film has been tremendous, and we’re hoping to see a bounce in student numbers in the next few years,” said Phiroze Vasunia, head of UCL’s Greek and Latin Department. He added that the surge in interest sparked by the film aligns with a broader, steady rise in public enthusiasm for Classics and ancient studies that has been building in recent years.

    Since its release, Nolan’s film has been a commercial juggernaut. The director’s first feature since his 2023 Oscar-winning *Oppenheimer*, it has topped the North American box office for two consecutive weeks and has already grossed more than $640 million globally, earning widespread praise from audiences for its sweeping take on Odysseus’ 10-year journey home from the Trojan War. Starring Matt Damon as the legendary hero, Anne Hathaway as his loyal wife Penelope, and Tom Holland as their son Telemachus, the adaptation brings one of Western literature’s oldest stories to life for a new generation of moviegoers.

    Yet for all its commercial success, the film has not escaped sharp criticism from leading voices in the classics world. Emily Wilson, whose award-winning translation Nolan has publicly praised, published a blistering takedown of Nolan’s screenplay this week that made headlines across the globe. In an essay for the *London Review of Books*, Wilson argued the adaptation “lacks psychological, emotional, political and ethical depth,” writing “I would be ashamed to have written any part of this” and adding that it strips out many of the core elements that make Homer’s original poem a masterpiece.

    Prominent British classicist and historian Mary Bead echoed Wilson’s critique, though she also welcomed the renewed public interest in Homer that the film has generated. Writing in *The Times*, Beard argued that the poem’s original “erotic puzzles, the teasing ironies, the intriguing questions about truth and falsehood” had been replaced in Nolan’s adaptation with “a rather ponderous Hollywood message about civilisational decline.”

    Regardless of the critical divide, one outcome is clear: *The Odyssey* has turned ancient mythology into one of the UK’s hottest literary trends of 2025, introducing thousands of new readers to stories that have shaped Western culture for nearly 3,000 years.

  • Surge in building approvals fails to close Australia’s growing housing shortage

    Surge in building approvals fails to close Australia’s growing housing shortage

    Australia’s latest housing construction data shows a welcome uptick in building approvals that has finally pulled the country ahead of annual population growth, but industry economists and housing analysts warn the nation remains far off the ambitious national target designed to fix decades of worsening affordability and chronic underbuilding.

    New data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics reveals that June saw a sharp jump in total building approvals, driven largely by a surprise surge in multi-unit apartment developments. The data shows that approvals for private sector non-house dwellings – a category that includes apartments and townhouses – jumped 17.8% in June, bouncing back strongly from an 11% decline recorded in the previous month. At the same time, approvals for standalone private houses edged up 0.4%, marking the sixth consecutive month that approvals for single-family homes have stayed above the 10,000 mark. When combined, total national building approvals reached their highest level since August 2021.

    AMP senior economist My Bui explained that the full-year totals for the 2025-26 financial year now put the country in a better position than it has been in years, with almost 205,000 new dwellings approved over the 12-month period. That marks a notable increase from the 189,000 approvals recorded in 2024-25, and exceeds the roughly 190,000 new dwellings that industry analysts estimate are needed each year to keep pace with current population growth. “Despite some softness in the first quarter of this year, the recent strength in approvals has gotten us to a point where new supply is matching demographic demand for the first time in several years,” Bui noted.

    Yet this progress is not enough to get Australia on track to meet the federal government’s landmark National Housing Accord target. Launched by the current Labor government as a core policy response to skyrocketing housing costs and rental shortages, the NHA brings together federal, state and local governments to deliver 1.2 million new homes over five years ending in June 2029, which works out to a required annual average of 240,000 new dwellings. While approvals have risen steadily since mid-2024, per capita approval rates remain far below historical averages. In the 2025-26 financial year, only nine new dwellings were approved for every 1,000 Australian residents. That is substantially lower than the 12 approvals per 1,000 people recorded in early 2015, and represents only a marginal improvement from the eight per 1,000 recorded in June of last year.

    Most critically, the recent uptick is not large enough to offset the major underbuilding that occurred between 2022 and 2024, when new supply failed to keep up with rapid post-pandemic population growth. Bui added that because completed home construction lags approvals by months or even years – due to project delays, high cancellation rates and extended construction timelines – the accumulated national housing shortage is unlikely to shrink meaningfully any time soon. “Even with this improvement in approvals, we are not making much progress in closing the gap that has built up over the past three years,” she said.

    Looking ahead, economists warn that multiple headwinds will continue to pressure the housing construction sector over coming months. Commonwealth Bank associate economist Lucinda Jerogin noted that elevated interest rates remain a major constraint on new construction activity, while ongoing supply chain disruptions linked to the Middle East conflict and broad capacity constraints across the building industry are pushing construction costs higher. “Although cost pass-through to consumers and developers has been limited so far, the recent escalation of hostilities in the region increases the risk of renewed cost pressure that could derail new projects,” Jerogin explained.

    Housing Industry Association chief economist Tim Reardon added that shifts in market conditions typically take months to show up in official approval data, meaning the full impact of rising interest rates, global geopolitical instability and recent tax changes will not be visible in the numbers until late this year. “While leading indicators of industry confidence have deteriorated since the federal budget, and investors are already starting to pull back from the new home building market, these trends will not show up in approval figures for several months,” Reardon said.

    With Australian housing affordability currently at its worst level in more than 30 years, Reardon emphasized that policymakers need to take additional action to boost long-term housing supply. “It is more important than ever that policymakers support housing investment and development by reducing the costs of home building, not increasing them,” he said.

  • Neil the Seal forgiven $31,000 bill for ‘exceptional cuteness’ by council

    Neil the Seal forgiven $31,000 bill for ‘exceptional cuteness’ by council

    A 1,000-kilogram wild southern elephant seal named Neil has become an unlikely viral celebrity after a 34-day stay on the coast of south Tasmania left local authorities with a damage and management bill totaling more than AU$31,500 — but the animal will not be required to pay a single cent, all thanks to his overwhelming charm. Neil first came ashore in the Clarence region of Tasmania on June 24, and his unexpected visit quickly captured public attention, with hundreds of social media posts documenting the giant seal’s daily antics, turning him into a local sensation overnight.

    Local government body the City of Clarence recently published a full breakdown of the costs generated by Neil’s extended stay. The total invoice came to AU$31,540.53, with the vast majority of the expense tied to staffing. Over the 34-day period, council workers logged 131.5 standard work hours and an additional 144 overtime hours to manage crowds of tourists and local residents gathered to see the seal, as well as reroute vehicle traffic around his resting spots. That labour cost alone added up to AU$26,520.08. On top of staffing, equipment rental cost AU$3,600, plant hire came to AU$114.75, and material costs for repairing damaged public infrastructure hit AU$1,297.70. The damage Neil caused came from scratching his massive body against public property, which wore down one large sign, 10 roadside bollards and a section of perimeter fence enough to require full replacement.

    In a surprising decision that has delighted the public, the Clarence City Council announced it would waive the entire bill, crediting Neil for his unplanned service as a tourism ambassador, the widespread joy he brought to local communities, and what they called his “exceptional cuteness”. While the public is eagerly anticipating Neil’s next appearance on a Tasmanian shore, no one can predict where or when the five-year-old seal will choose to come ashore next. Despite the lighthearted reaction to the seal’s visit, Clarence Mayor Brendan Blomeley has issued a serious reminder to the public about the risks of interacting with wild elephant seals. Blomeley noted that while the final damage bill was relatively small, the constant close attention and overexposure Neil received from crowds could have resulted in a far more dangerous outcome for both the animal and members of the public. Southern elephant seals are large wild predators, and close contact can pose serious safety risks. “Wherever he decides to come ashore next, I hope he is given the space and time he needs,” Blomeley said, urging future visitors to the area to maintain a safe distance from the seal if he appears again.

  • Drones and blackouts inflict a tense summer on Russia-annexed Crimea

    Drones and blackouts inflict a tense summer on Russia-annexed Crimea

    The hum of generators has replaced the usual quiet hum of summer commerce across Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014, where escalating Ukrainian drone strikes and persistent power outages have upended what has long been a popular warm-weather retreat. What was once a season of sun-seeking tourists and coastal relaxation has become a period of daily uncertainty, as Kyiv ramps up a targeted campaign against Russian-controlled energy, fuel and logistical infrastructure in the strategically critical territory.

    Walking the streets of Sevastopol, Crimea’s largest coastal city, a sudden loud explosion does not spark panic the way it once did. For Georgy, a local tourism worker who declined to share his full name with AFP, the blasts have become mundane background noise. “We’re already used to it, really … nothing scares us anymore,” he said, sipping coffee at an outdoor cafe. “Even if there are some sounds, it’s most likely just a drill.”

    Along the Sevastopol waterfront, daily life carries on with a faint undercurrent of unease: elderly women wade through gentle Black Sea waves, children splash in shallow coves, fitness enthusiasts work out along the promenade, and teenagers practice skateboarding tricks steps from a concrete bomb shelter. On this particular day, Sevastopol’s governor posted no air raid alert to his Telegram channel, but such warnings have grown far more common since Ukraine began its stepped-up offensive against Crimean targets in June.

    The violence has already claimed civilian lives. Crimea’s Russian-appointed governor Sergei Aksyonov confirmed two civilians were killed in overnight strikes between Tuesday and Wednesday this week, joining dozens of other injured and dead residents caught in the crossfire of the campaign. For the peninsula’s 2.4 million residents, rolling blackouts and crippling fuel shortages are no longer unusual emergencies — they are part of daily routine. State-owned energy distributor Crimenergo publishes scheduled power outage announcements on its website every day, and Russian-installed authorities have already declared a local state of emergency, suspending civilian petrol sales to reserve fuel for essential operations.

    For small business owners like Oksana, who runs a grocery store in the resort city of Yalta, the only way to keep perishable goods from spoiling is to invest in a personal generator. Speaking over the constant low hum of her backup power unit, she described the 2024 summer season as an unmitigated disaster. “I have no choice… otherwise the sorbets will melt. This year is just a catastrophe,” she said. Larger seaside resorts and hotels that can afford the cost of continuous generator power are the only businesses able to operate close to normal, while smaller operations struggle to stay afloat.

    Crimea has held unique symbolic and political weight for the Kremlin since Russian forces seized and annexed the peninsula from Ukraine in 2014, a move that triggered sweeping Western sanctions and has never been recognized by the vast majority of the international community. Russian President Vladimir Putin has framed the annexation as a historic correction, promising Crimean residents a higher standard of living under Moscow’s rule than they ever had under Ukrainian governance. Today, the signs of conflict are impossible to miss across the peninsula: Russian air defense batteries line major highways, the blackened facades of damaged electric substations stand as visible evidence of drone strikes, and most gas stations are either closed entirely or restrict sales exclusively to military and emergency vehicles.

    Even when fuel is made available to civilian drivers, local operators intentionally hide price tags to avoid public anger. One local taxi driver explained that a liter of 95-octane unleaded gasoline now costs roughly 250 rubles, equal to around $3 — three to four times the pre-campaign price. Resupplying the peninsula from mainland Russia has become an increasingly dangerous proposition, too. Ukraine regularly targets cargo trucks and fuel tankers traveling along the northern overland route connecting Crimea to Russia’s Rostov-on-Don region through occupied southern Ukraine, a route that has earned the grim nickname the “road of death.”

    The other primary supply link is the Kerch Strait Bridge, a 19-kilometer, $5 billion combined road-and-rail crossing that has become the defining physical symbol of Moscow’s annexation of Crimea. Ukraine has repeatedly targeted the infrastructure, most notably in a 2022 truck bombing attack, and fuel tankers are now permanently banned from crossing the span to reduce the risk of catastrophic damage. Kyiv has been clear about its strategic goals for the Crimean campaign: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated last month that the strikes are meant to “create the conditions under which Russia will be forced to choose peace,” and frame the campaign as justified retaliation for Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities and civilian infrastructure.

    Maria Snegovaya, a researcher with the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, explained that Crimea holds unique ideological importance for the Kremlin that makes it a prime target for Ukraine. “Crimea is the crown jewel of Russia’s territorial conquests since 2014 with an entire mythology built around it,” she told AFP. “While the occupation of the Donbas has been justified primarily by the narrative of ‘protecting Russian speakers,’ Crimea is framed as historically sacred Russian land.” Ukraine rejects that framing entirely, backed by the international community’s near-universal refusal to recognize Russian sovereignty over the peninsula.

    Russian-installed local authorities declined repeated requests for comment from AFP, and no public information has been released about contingency plans if the Kerch Bridge is disabled again by Ukrainian strikes. While official figures are not available, anecdotal reports confirm a steady stream of residents have left the peninsula since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine began in 2022. For two young Crimean women returning home for summer break from university studies in Moscow — where air raid sirens are unheard of — leaving the peninsula permanently is an increasingly attractive plan. “I want first to go to Asia,” said 18-year-old Ekaterina, who studies fashion. “But it’s difficult to get residency there … maybe somewhere like the Netherlands, or other European countries, there are more options there.”

  • ‘Starting to believe again’: Bulldogs in disarray until Storm win saved their season

    ‘Starting to believe again’: Bulldogs in disarray until Storm win saved their season

    Just 10 weeks ago, Canterbury Bulldogs supporters were bracing for another disappointing NRL season, their finals hopes all but written off. Today, the once-struggling blue-and-whites find themselves on the brink of a top-eight spot, riding a five-win-from-six-match hot streak that has breathed new life into their campaign and left fans daring to dream of a deep finals run.

    Heading into their must-win clash at Melbourne’s AAMI Park, the Bulldogs sit just two competition points adrift of sixth-placed South Sydney Rabbitohs, though they trail the Sydney side significantly on for-and-against differential. The venue carries bitter recent memories for Canterbury: they dropped two matches at AAMI Park late last season, including an early finals exit at the hands of the Storm. But that history has only added stakes to a match that will make or break their 2024 finals aspirations.

    It was a 30-20 upset victory over the Storm back in Round 12 that sparked the Bulldogs’ extraordinary resurgence. Before that win, head coach Cameron Ciraldo’s side sat at a grim 3-7 win-loss record, mired in a crippling five-match losing skid. Since that turning point, the team’s biggest strength has been its elite defensive structure, holding opposition sides to just one single try across their last two outings. It was star player Matt Burton’s dynamic running game that lit the fuse for that upset Round 12 win, and Ciraldo says the squad has evolved drastically in the 10 weeks since that encounter.

    “It’s been 10 weeks since we last played the Storm, and I think we’ve learnt plenty in that time,” Ciraldo told reporters ahead of Friday’s clash. “Our game has evolved a lot, and we’ll have to take all of those lessons into tomorrow. I’ve really liked our team performance over the past 10 weeks. We haven’t always got the result, but we’ve been building in a lot of areas, getting our process right, and starting to believe again in what we’re capable of. We know coming down to Melbourne is never easy, it’s always a tough battle and it’s an intense game, so we’re going to have to be at our best.”

    The most visible tactical shift that has turned Canterbury’s season around is Ciraldo’s decision to move captain Stephen Crichton into the five-eighth role, pairing him with young halfback Lachlan Galvin. The new halves combination faced widespread skepticism from critics when it was first announced, but the pair have consistently defied expectations, locking into their attacking roles and helping the entire side play with renewed freedom and confidence.

    Ciraldo heaped praise on both players for their adaptability and work ethic, singling out captain Crichton for his team-first leadership. “I’m really proud of those two guys with how they’ve handled themselves over that period,” Ciraldo said. “There has been a lot of talk about their positions and what they’re capable of, but I really like the way they’ve come together and formed a combination and also what they’ve been able to do with their individual games as well. It’s credit to both of them and how hard they work.”

    Speaking of 21-year-old Galvin, the coach noted the young playmaker has improved exponentially week over week, punching well above his experience level when given opportunities. “He is 21 years old now and he’s improving so much each week,” Ciraldo said. “Like any 21-year-old, they’re still learning their trade and chasing that improvement. When he sees opportunities, he plays well above his years and that’s what we appreciate about his game.”

    As the Bulldogs prepare to take on the NRL powerhouse that has long dominated their recent encounters at AAMI Park, a win would not only lock in a likely top-eight berth but also cement one of the most impressive season turnarounds in recent NRL history. If they can replicate their Round 12 upset performance, the Bulldogs are poised to become one of the most dangerous underdog sides in this year’s finals series.

  • NAB reveals huge plunge in mortgages as central bank rejects property rescue

    NAB reveals huge plunge in mortgages as central bank rejects property rescue

    Australia’s housing and mortgage lending sector is facing fresh headwinds, with one of the nation’s largest financial institutions revealing a sharp downturn in new home loan activity even as the country’s central bank confirms it will not introduce emergency policy adjustments to stabilize a cooling property market.

    In an early pre-report disclosure to investors, National Australia Bank (NAB) confirmed that total home loan applications dropped by 15% over the past three months. The steep decline is attributed to a confluence of economic pressures: three consecutive interest rate hikes that lifted the cash rate by 75 basis points to start 2026, recent changes to property taxation, and elevated global fuel prices that have combined to erode investor confidence in the housing market. The bank’s full quarterly financial results are scheduled for official release on August 17, with the early update focusing on preliminary trends across its business and private banking divisions.

    Speaking at the Barrenjoey Annual Australia Economics Forum, Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) Assistant Governor and Chief Economist Sarah Hunter made clear that the central bank has no plans to automatically adjust monetary policy to offset falling property values. While Hunter acknowledged that the housing market holds major economic and social importance, she emphasized that the RBA’s policy decisions are tied strictly to its statutory dual mandate: maintaining inflation between 2% and 3%, and supporting full employment.

    “We don’t mechanically respond to falling house prices, but the housing market is really important. It is clearly very emotive as well. Everyone needs to live somewhere …. but no, we don’t just mechanically respond to what happens in the housing market. We think about its impact on the economy and think about it from a monetary policy lens,” Hunter explained.

    The 75 basis point rate hikes implemented in early 2026 reversed the three consecutive rate cuts that the RBA rolled out in 2025, a shift designed to curb persistent inflation that has remained above the central bank’s target band. New inflation data released Wednesday put headline annual inflation at 3.8% through June, while the trimmed mean inflation measure — a key metric that strips out the most volatile price movements to track underlying inflation — came in at 3.6% for the 12-month period.

    Hunter added that the RBA is closely monitoring the spillover effects of cooling housing prices on broader economic activity, employment, and inflation. While the central bank has flagged ongoing concern about household financial stability amid rising mortgage costs, Hunter stressed that there are currently no signs of systemic stress in the lending market. She acknowledged that for a small subset of borrowers, higher interest rates have made monthly mortgage repayments significantly harder to manage, but said struggling individual borrowers will not drive targeted policy action.

    Hunter’s remarks align with recent comments from RBA Governor Michele Bullock, who recently acknowledged that property prices have fallen faster than the central bank projected in its May forecasts. Bullock noted that the faster-than-expected cooling stems from a mix of shifting monetary policy outlooks, recent policy changes impacting housing, and a broad softening in consumer and investor sentiment toward the market.

    Even with the recent declines, Bullock pointed out that national property prices remain largely aligned with levels seen before the RBA began its current cycle of rate hikes in February 2026, and the downturn has so far been concentrated in Australia’s two largest cities, Sydney and Melbourne. First-home buyers, she added, are less exposed to the current price correction, as the largest drops have occurred in previously high-value markets, while historically affordable regions have seen more modest changes.

    On the question of financial risk, Bullock confirmed that negative equity — a scenario where a borrower owes more on their mortgage than their home is worth — remains extremely rare, affecting less than 1% of all Australian mortgage holders. The vast majority of households have also retained the substantial savings buffers they built up in recent years, meaning severe repayment distress is limited to a very small share of borrowers. While Bullock said the hardship facing this small group should not be minimized, she confirmed that overall financial stability risks remain contained.