No 14887, Tuesday 01 Sep 2026, Karaoke

Solution to 6D has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered only by a non-regular / novice commenter, with proper annotation. Those who have answered earlier in the week, please give others a chance.

Open for anyone to answer, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

1   Unintentional action in Persian Gulf essentially at war with Israel Defence Forces (8,4) FREUDIAN SLIP {PERSIAN+gULf+IDF}*

9   Mock trials at frequent intervals for some edible pods (5) OKRAS {mOcK+tRiAlS}

10 Outlaws stashing ill-gotten money? Certainly not (2,2,5) BY NO MEANS {B{MONEY*}ANS}

11 East Pak remains around border region (7) KASHMIR {paK}{ASH}{RIM<=}

12 One who is challenged at mineral springs with disorder (7) SPASTIC {SPAS}{TIC}

13 Armed combat ultimately turned on (6) THORNY {c...aT}{HORNY}

14 Boy in cab supplying frothy milk for kids (8) BABYCINO*

17 Turn out space traveller and regret (4,4) COME TRUE {COMET}{RUE} 

19 It is caustic when heads are rolled in "money down" (6) POTASH {sPOT cASH}

22 Justify previous policy about income-tax initially (7) EXPLAIN {EX}{PLA{In...x}N}

24 Pall-bearer mourning at the end near watercourse carrying last rite (7)  GRIEVER {m...nG}{RI{ritE}VER}

25 Slashes advertisement without final budget and achieves nothing (4,2,3) CUTS NO ICE {CUTS}{NOtICE}

26 Admit adult, no girl, right? (3,2) OWN UP grOWN UP

27 Brat needs old school for calculus (12)  BLADDERSTONE {BRAT+NEEDS+OLD+S}*

DOWN

1   India and others in shape for an intense response (9) FIRESTORM {F{I}{REST}ORM}

2   Inventor of photographic film from America shot on vacation in style in retreat (7) EASTMAN {A}{ShoT} in {NAME<=} 

3   Perhaps Rob did spend time in prison (2,4) DO BIRD* 

4   His mind goes blank when adult cinemas are abandoned (8) AMNESIAC {A}{CINEMAS}*

5   Reportedly a few tie the knot without resistance and argument (7) SUMMARY {(~some)SUM}{MArRY}

6   Main line on a mine lost current, unfortunate! (5) I?A?T ()

7   Playing cricket once with West mainly was something very difficult (6,7)  ROCKET SCIENCE {CRICKET+ONCE+wESt}*

8   Hasty prophecy maybe for treatment of mental illness (13) PSYCHOTHERAPY*

15 Home loan ahead of time (2,7) IN ADVANCE {IN}{ADVANCE}

16 Tollgate kept in shambles after intrusion of essential security (8) TURNPIKE {KEPT+IN}* over {secURity}

18 Be prepared to handle, core business captured by rogue trade (7) TRAINED {b..IN..s} in {TRADE}*

20 It flows essentially from coin melted with oxide primarily (7) ORINOCO {fROm+COIN}*{Ox..e}

21 She preys on easy-goers near square (6) OGRESS {GOERS}*{S}

23 Part of flower is soft, extremely elegant and lovely primarily (5) PETAL {P}{El...nT}{And}{Lo...y}

Reference List

Previous = EX, Girl = G, Right = R, School = S, India = I, America = A, Adult = A, Resistance = R, Home = IN, Square = S, Soft = P

No 14886, Monday 31 Aug 2026, Hypatia

Solution to 16D has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered only by a non-regular / novice commenter, with proper annotation. Those who have answered earlier in the week, please give others a chance.

Open for anyone to answer, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

7   Legal nationalist forces fighting to secure independence (8) FORENSIC {N+FORCES}* over {I}

9   Model saving time for second sibling (6) SISTER SI(-t+s)STER

10 Defeat armoured vehicle (4) TANK [DD]

11 Communicate with men hiring registered vendor (10) CONTRACTOR {CONT{R}ACT}{OR}

12 Doctor separating wounded and serious (6) SOMBRE {SO{MB}RE}

14 Protect Sinner - He's lost (8)  ENSHRINE {SINNER+HE}*

15 A scene from Tom & Jerry, possibly in a temporary rally? (4,3,6) DEAD CAT BOUNCE [DD]

18 Shot group of journalists per Spooner (8) BACKHAND (hack band to backhand)

20 Local icon's clothing fabric (6) CALICO [T]

21 Setter in main marketplace (4,6) HIGH STREET {SETTER}* [RA]

22 Field manager regularly clearing sink (4) FLAG {FieLd+mAnaGer}

23 Keep checking elephants on vacation in jungle (6) FOREST {FOR{El...tS}T}

24 Win back in random plan (8) STRATEGY {STRA{GET<=}Y}

DOWN

1   Decline screening said overs set up in camera (8) POLAROID {DI{ORAL}{O}P}<=

2   Eat bananas closer to thick tree (4) TEAK {EAT}*{t..cK}

3   Tipsy chemist bottling spirit (6) PSYCHE [T]

4   European crowd introduced to very strong coffee (8) ESPRESSO {E}{S{PRESS}O}

5   Rich saloon exercises happening at identical intervals (10) ISOCHRONAL*

6   Pity engineer spoiling Onam (6) BEMOAN {BE}{ONAM*}

8   Vanity firm is sentenced wrongly (13) CONCEITEDNESS {CO}{IS+SENTENCED}*

13 Initially bride needs husband: revolting to go becomes a disgrace to family (5,5) BLACK SHEEP {Br..e}{LACKS}{H}{PEE<=}

16 Virtue of unwinding by a trip to spa which is taken frequently (8) C?A?T?T? {Addendum - CHASTITY {bY+a+TrIp+To+SpA+sHiCh}<=  See comments)

17 Trade banter (8) EXCHANGE [DD]

19 Yes, this author made say, movies (6) ASIMOV {ASIMOV+YES}*=SAY MOVIES [CA]

20 Provides automobiles without deflated tyre (6) CATERS {CA{TyrE}RS}

22 Originally France exported tuna and cheese (4) FETA Acrostic

Reference List

Nationalsit = N, Independence = I, Time = T, Second = S, Registered = R, Men = OR, Overs = O, European = E, Firm = CO, Husband = H, To go = PEE