The Sunday Crossword No 2991, Sunday 15 Apr 2018

HAPPY VISHU TO ALL VISITORS

ACROSS
1   Understanding close to being achieved (7) INSIGHT {IN SIGHT}
5   Passing movement covered by radio network (3-3) ONE-TWO [T]
8   Flightless bird in upper region men disturbed (7,7) EMPEROR PENGUIN*
10 Endless surprise about female warrior (6) AMAZON {AMAZe}{ON}
11 We run to fill a place, so to speak (2,2,4) AS IT WERE {A}{SIT{WE}{R}E}
13 Record by one in criminal realm in denial (10) DISCLAIMER {DISC}{LA{1}MER*}
15 Speaker's strong salute (4) HAIL (~ hale)
17 Gemstone in ring father left (4) OPAL {O}{PA}{L}
18 Rodent getting cold in country (10) CHINCHILLA {CHIN{CHILL}A}

20 Large amount in appeal involving god (8) PLETHORA {PLE{THOR}A}
21 Fish from mass in shop (6) SALMON {SAL{M}ON}

24 File packed with mean tips for muddy field game (6-2-6) FOLLOW-MY-LEADER {FOL{LOW}{MuddY}{LEA}DER}
25 Agreement following otherwise unpleasant experience (6) ORDEAL {OR}{DEAL}
26 Apparent end of great struggle dividing revolutionary pair (7) OUTWARD {g..aT}{WAR} in {DUO<=}

DOWN
1   Flower I placed on ground very softly on conclusion of ceremony (7,5) ICELAND POPPY  {I}{PLACED+ON}*{PP}{c...nY}

2   One cutting part of flower, mostly brown (5) SEPIA {SEP{1}Al}
3   Good pattern of diamonds around old grotesque carving (8) GARGOYLE {G}{ARG{O}YLE}
4   Obligation to carry right flag (4) TIRE {TI{R}E}
5   Managing nothing before revenge is wrought (10) OVERSEEING {O}{REVENGE+IS}*
6   Momentous, losing wicket twenty short of a hundred (6) EIGHTY wEIGHTY
7   British government, bit sorry? Absolutely (9) WHITEHALL {WHIT}{EH!}{ALL}
9   Polite source, chap with report initially in demand (4-8) WELL-MANNERED {WELL}{MAN}{NE{Re...t}ED}
12 Humorist, working hard on act, set up for retirement (10) WITHDRAWAL {WIT}{HARD*}{LAW<=}
14 Way in which actors use sources, coming up with content that's old (5,4) STAGE DOOR {ST{AGED}OOR<=}
16 Most inferior copy in box (8) CHEAPEST {CHE{APE}ST}
19 Postpone research, having day off? Be quiet on that (6) SHELVE {SH}{dELVE}
22 Doctor aimed to provide means of communication (5) MEDIA*
23 Error in faulty poll (4) TYPO [T]

GRID