No 14680, Thursday 01 Jan 2026, Hypatia

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Artwork by Prasanna

Rangoli by Gowri

Solution to 1D has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered 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   Hunt securing a Persian tiger in tunnels underground (8) CATACOMB {C{A}{CAT<=}OMB}

9   Jailer suppressing nationalist in country (6) TURKEY TURnKEY

10 Former TN Chief Minister in back-to-back articles (4) ANNA {AN}{AN<=}

11 Some garbage collectors adding to unpleasant delays, per Spooner (10) LITTERBAGS (~bitter lags to litterbags)

12 Empty vessels - one inside another (6) VACANT {VA{CAN}T}

14 One showing resistance joined in home managed by rector (8) OHMMETER {OHM{MET}E*}{R}

15 Late run in place that's between two extremes (7,6) NEUTRAL GROUND {LATE+RUN}* [RA]

18 Images containing special updates on WhatsApp, say (8) STATUSES {STATU{S}ES}

20 Thanks politicians restricting introduction of rate hikes (6) TRAMPS {T{Rate}A}{MPS}

21 Purposely adapted to absorb volume in excess (10) OVERSUPPLY {O{V}ERSUPPLY*}

22 Boy grabbing ring quickly (4) SOON {SO{O}N}

23 Every second score in this debut of cricket commentator (6) CRITIC {sCoRe+In+ThIs}{Cr...t}

24 Gin packed in wooden carton (5,3) TETRA PAK {TE{TRAP}AK} This is a Brand Name

DOWN

1   Support unit given to soldier protecting American money (8) ?A?N?A?N ()

2   God of love keeps all men active basically (4) KAMA Acrostic

3   Tumbler picked up regularly from the club lodge (6) GOBLET {ThE+cLuB+lOdGe}<=

4   Flag bowler consuming time on hand (8) STREAMER {S{T}{R}EAMER}

5   Abba, scratching head, unclear about material left behind after a star's death (4,6) CRAB NEBULA {aBBA+UNCLEAR}*

6   Dog and black bird (6) BEAGLE {B}{EAGLE}

8   Something that has no limit - Pi, perhaps? (10,3) BOTTOMLESS PIT {PIt} Definition by example

13 Corrupt leader at bar negotiating about union (10) ADULTERATE {LEADER+AT+T}* over {U}

16 Store procures our cereal boxes (8) RESOURCE [T]

17 Official Tamil podcast? (8) DIPLOMAT {TAMIL+POD}*

19 Local travel mostly arranged before noon (6) TAVERN {TRAVEl}*{N}

20 Sporty star posing in these clandestine meetings with a pro (6) TRYSTS {TRYSTS+A+PRO}=SPORTY STAR

22 Fraudulent activity's part of this campaign (4) SCAM [T]

Reference List

Rector = R, Special = S, Thanks = TA, Volume = V, Gin = TRAP, Time = T, Hand = R, Black = B, Bar = T, Noon = N