No 14729, Saturday 28 Feb 2026, Incognito

 ACROSS
1 Hold under restraint in vehicle, with energy and speed, consuming carbon (11) INCARCERATE {IN}{CAR}{C}{E}{RATE}
9 Tender by alien for toilet fitting (5) BIDET {BID}{ET}
10 Slate tile manufactured in orbiter (9) SATELLITE*
11 & 15 Marketing staff's maleness (10,8) TRAVELLING SALESMEN {MALENESS}* [RA]
12 Gas outlet in Coventry (4) VENT [HIPS]
13 Vice? Top class in peninsula! (5) SINAI {SIN}{AI}
15 See 11
17 In long time, young lady has one release of gas for example (8) EMISSION {E{MISS}{I}ON}
19 Call on six and take seat (5) VISIT {VI}{SIT}
22 Remove gum from homburg made for scientist (4) BOHR {HOmBuRg}*

23 Fierce apes scrambled for exit from inferno (4,6) FIRE ESCAPE*
26 Mammal consumes minced sole in large quantities (9) WHOLESALE {WHALE} around {SOLE}*
27 Swallows and gulls leaving second lake for Portugal (5) GULPS {GUL(-l+P)PS}
28 Person displaying dextrality bending third hanger (5-6) RIGHT-HANDER*

DOWN
1 "My country and I" on radio! (5) INDIA [DD] I is the NATO ( Radio) alphabet for India

2 Charlie and boy leaving energy storage units in feline care institutions (9) CATTERIES {C}{bATTERIES}
3 Consequence of lustre being spoilt? (6) RESULT*
4 Is a note rewritten in country? (7) ESTONIA*

5 Fit a bell like emblem for starters (4) ABLE [ACROSTIC]
6 Part of skin from European spider running across highway (9) EPIDERMIS {E}{SPIDER}* around {MI}
7 Sailor eats in a disorderly manner and reduces (6) ABATES {AB}{EATS*}
8 Wife, accompanied by nurse having container, entered (4,2) WENT IN {W}{EN}{TIN}
14 Make a sound like a horse, boy, with our next door resident (9) NEIGHBOUR {NEIGH}{B}{OUR}
16 Anticipated face appearing in final (9) ENVISAGED {EN{VISAGE}D}
17 Bends damaged bowlers after removing rim initially (6) ELBOWS {BOWLErS}*
18 Animal DNA mutated in it, a chemical like sulphuric acid (7) OXIDANT {OX}{I{DNA*}T}
20 Tiny adolescent, perhaps, with sexy exterior (6) TEENSY {TEEN}{SexY}
21 General accompanying Ms Braun to city (6) GENEVA {GEN}{EVA}
24 Read wrongly about first lady character appearing in Sherlock Holmes story (5) ADLER {READ}* around {Lady}

25 Barge crashed in absence of a floating mass of ice (4) BERG {BaRGE}*

REFERENCE LIST

Energy=E, Carbon=C, Alien=ET( Extra-Terrestrial), Top Class= A1=AI, Six=VI (Roman numeral), Lake=L, Portugal=P, Charlie=C, Boy=B, European=E, Sailor=AB (Able-Bodied Seaman), Wife=W, Nurse=EN (Enrolled Nurse), General=Gen.

No 14728, Friday 27 Feb 2026, Incognito

RULES FOR POSTING COMMENTS FOR FRIDAY ONLY

All those who are not regular commenters but who are rookie commenters or silent followers of the blog are requested to post answers with annotations in the comments section. In your own interest please avoid looking up the answers from the interactive version. Don't hesitate to post your annotations, in case you make a mistake in the annotation someone will correct it with the right annotation.

PLEASE NOTE, SOLUTIONS WITHOUT ATTEMPTING THE ANNOTATIONS WILL BE DELETED

Each commenter is requested to post only 5 answers thereby giving others also a chance to participate. Please provide all your answers in one comment.

Regular solvers/Veterans can post 1 answer each, but after 11 AM only.

Thanks for the response, here's the regular blog.

ACROSS

8   After fighting, start to prod and twist (4) WARP {WAR}{Prod}

9   Mahmood, a singer found in Agartala, Tripura (5) TALAT [T]

10 After dropping girl, villager minced calf flesh (4) VEAL VilLAgEr*

11 Spot something on the bulletin board (6) NOTICE [DD}

12 Remain motionless! Buck in front of a net is agitated! (8) STAGNATE {STAG}{A+NET}*

13 Current church man is absolutely correct (8) ACCURATE {AC}{CURATE}

15 Melted ghee covering egg spread around top of toast for German polymath (6) GOETHE {GHEE}* over {O} and {To..t}

17 Non-believer, perhaps, at robbery (7) ATHEIST {AT}{HEIST} Why perhaps?

19 Say "I do" again? (7) REMARRY [CD]

22 Do well in Klamath river (6) THRIVE [T]

24 Strong desire to achieve limit with charged particle (8) AMBITION {AMBIT}{ION}

26 Collie going around duke died, hit when moving (8) COLLIDED {COLLI{D}E}{D}

28 Passion to posses silver plant (6) LOVAGE {LOV{AG}E}

30 Chess piece one may leave with uncle (4) PAWN [DD]

31 Disney at Zulu dance (5) WALTZ {WALT}{Z}

32 Throw sots around (4) TOSS*

DOWN

1   Before commencement of October, May produces sauce (4) MAYO {Oc...r}<=>{MAY}

2   Update it erroneously showing lack of this (8) APTITUDE*

3   Greek goddess, then, is in custody of Australian Army (6) ATHENA {A{THEN}A}

4   In sleeping place, heavy drinker went red (7) BLUSHED {B{LUSH}ED}

5  Choke stern gal at sea (8) STRANGLE*

6   Show niece running around 5 (6) EVINCE {E{V}INCE*}

7   Philosopher from Banaskantha (4) KANT [HIPS]

14 Nab animal with child (5) CATCH {CAT}{CH}

16 Oprah returns for one of the Marx brothers (5) HARPO<=

18 Worried POW tends to give up one's job (4-4) STEP-DOWN*

20 Vacate it by mistake and energise (8) ACTIVATE*

21 Distributes a medal without North African leader (7) MANDELA {A+MEDAL}* over {N}

23 After one, sand covers large cay (6) ISLAND {1}{S{L}AND}

25 Central American country where six footer consumes half of lizard (6) BELIZE {BE{LIZard}E}

27 Path for consuming some medicine or a lozenge initially (4) ORAL {OR}{A}{Lo...e}

29 Having flatulence, husband gets large cut (4) GASH {GAS}{H}

Reference List

Current = AC, Duke = D, Died = D, Zulu = Z, Australian = A, Army = A, Child = CH, North = N, Large = L, Husband = H

No 14277, Thursday 26 Feb 2026, Incognito

Solution to 5A 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

1   Approach new radar under construction (4,4) DRAW NEAR*

5   German submarines moving about stealthily at first (1-5) ?-B?A?S (Addendum - U-BOATS {ABOUT}*{St...y}- See comments)

10 Toxic substance possessed by aggressive nominee (5) VENOM [T]

11 Tricycle going around Bali on tour's a vehicle for rough terrain (5,4) TRAIL BIKE {TR{BALI*}IKE}

12 Diary corrected by husband in Arabian city (6) RIYADH {DIARY}*{H}

13 I tutted agitatedly after American's uncooperative behaviour (8) ATTITUDE {I+TUTTED}*<=>{A}

15 Tin not available in plant (5) CANNA {CAN}{NA}

17 Previous partner creates by mistake and swears (9) EXECRATES {EX}{CREATES*}

19 Wrongly greet Arab for stellar arrangement (5,4) GREAT BEAR*

20 Reject rider's aid with a bit of negativity (5) SPURN {SPUR}{Ne...y}

21 In America, British soldiers or cadets transferred around (8) REDCOATS*

23 Lascar could be a scamp (6) RASCAL*

27 Container after container on European ship displays rotundity (9) TUBBINESS {TUB}{BIN}{E}{SS}

28 Dined at home, breaking a tine (3,2) ATE IN* 

29 Tries starting to examine statements and speaks (6) ESSAYS {Ex...e}{St...s}{SAYS}

30 25 capturing mafia chief, an English capitalist! (8) LONDONER {LON{DON}ER}

DOWN

1   Bird starting to roost in port (5) DOVER {DOVE}{Ro..t}

2   In any case, no broken cane results in irritation (9) ANNOYANCE {AN{NO}Y}{CANE*}

3   Mando composed for migrant (5) NOMAD*

4   Insects found in elephant shed (4) ANTS [T]

6   Game poets giving shelter to sick ace (9) BILLIARDS {B{ILL}{1}ARDS}

7   Goodbye from aide getting transferred by university (5) ADIEU {AIDE}*{U}

8   Kidnapped author's progeny covering events organised (9) STEVENSON {S{EVENTS*}ON}

9 Sailor Peter sails to get ammonium nitrate (9) SALTPETRE {SALT}{PETER*}

14 Observed covering occasion getting three less than a score (9) SEVENTEEN {S{EVENT}EEN}

15 Fag breaks ice target (9) CIGARETTE*

16 Gold with god? It, certainly, at last, gives power (9) AUTHORITY {AU}{THOR}{IT}{c...lY}

18 Cosh Hector and nun badly (9) TRUNCHEON {HECTOR+NUN}*

22 Bad bets after end of round result in amounts to be paid (5) DEBTS {BETS}*<=>{r..nD}

24 Poster about conflict gets prize (5) AWARD {A{WAR}D}

25 Perhaps, an introvert left one, right? (5) LONER {L}{ONE}{R}

26 Capital obtained from Barbados lodge (4) OSLO [T]

Reference List

Husband = H, American = A, Previous partner = EX, European = E, Ship = SS, University = U, Sailor = SALT, Poster = AD, Left = L, Right = R

No 14276, Wednesday 25 Feb 2026, Incognito

Solution to 24A 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

8   Flier gets right drink (4) BEER {BEE}{R}

9   State: "After saint, African leader gets domed memorial (5) STUPA {UP}<=>{ST}{Af...n}

10 Expression of regret in Australasia (4) ALAS [HIPS]

11 Retired Red Army chief's earlier sex, perhaps (6) GENDER {RED<=}<=>{GEN}

12 Taped bus damaged in capital (8) BUDAPEST*

13 Astronaut brandishes mace in interval (8) SPACEMAN {SP{MACE*}AN}

15 Javan returns with love for Indian (6) NAVAJO {JAVAN<=}{O}

17 Small farm hired out by my detective's brother (7) MYCROFT {CROFT}<=>{MY}

19 Tempter from Eden may be present (7) SERPENT*

22 Holds Greek snakes (6) GRASPS {GR}{ASPS}

24 In bygone times, you entered river and shed (8) O?T?O?S? {Addendum - OUTHOUSE {OU{THOU}SE} - See comments)

26 Building fort around this place instead (8) THEREFOR {T{HERE}FOR*}

28 Horrible rust covering gold bull (6) TAURUS {T{AU}RUS*}

30 Privy to cutting onion letting out some blood (2,2) IN ON oNION*

31 Unstable mountains in the US (5) ROCKY [DD]

32 Eastern lair, where reportedly 19 lived (4) EDEN {E}{DEN}

DOWN

1   This place is in another estate (4) HERE [T]

2   Maker making 20? (8) PRODUCER*

3   Burnt remains carried on animal in retreat (6) ASHRAM {ASH}{RAM}

4   Bus hand becomes spouse! (7) HUSBAND*

5   RAW's mock combat? (3,5) WAR DANCE {RAW}* [RA]

6   Chess champion served pork around midday by Victor (6) KARPOV {K{dAy}RPO*}{V}

7   Girl from Thalassery (4) LASS [HIPS]

14 Nosy parker's plea without a note (5) PRYER PRaYER

16 Jughead, Jupiter or Indiana, for example... one in Junior Statesman, for starters (5) JONES {Ju...r}{ONE}{St...n}

18 Around end of March, wrongly affirms, "Banjo or drum may be raised here" (4,4) FISH FARM {FIS{m..cH}FARM*}

20 Got professional treated (8) PROCURED {PRO}{CURED}

21 Fish eggs with lots of fat for famous painter who used to live in Bangalore (7) ROERICH {ROE}{RICH}

23 Reduce psychiatrist's contract (6) SHRINK [DD]

25 Moon from the sty? (6) TETHYS*

27 Asafoetida from Washington (4) HING [HIPS]

29 Guy leaving manure along with a fertiliser (4) UREA {manURE}{A}

Reference List

Right = R, Saint = ST, Greek = GR, Blood = O, Eastern = E, Victor = V

No 14275, Tuesday 24 Feb 2026, Arden

Solution to 10A 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

1   Fantastic idea, note India gets more coverage - it's a reminder (4-7) AIDE-MEMOIRE {IDEA*}{ME}{MO{I}RE}

7   Stole a launch, almost (3) BOA BOAt

9   Old jail they say is best (5) EXCEL {EX}{(~cell)CEL}

10 Regularly impair by blocking new beneficiary (9) R?C?P?E?T (Addendum - RECIPIENT {REC{ImPaIr}ENT} - See comments)

11 Motherland's hell-fire (9) DAMNATION {DAM}{NATION}

12 Like to check however, for fungus (5) YEAST {YE{AS}T}

13 Brief pull out (7) EXTRACT [DD]

15 Keep here evenly - you'll need it for fencing (4) EPEE {kEeP+hErE}

18 Boring review of a poet (4) DRAB<=

20 Playing team - regret about it being not professional (7) AMATEUR {TEAM*}{RUE<=}

23 Groom very softly bites lip (5) PRIMP {P{RIM}P}

24 Respite on assignment (9) REMISSION {RE}{MISSION}

26 "Drink from birth" - recollected a cheat (9) CHARLATAN {CHAR}{NATAL<=}

27 Forget talk of rejecting some coffee (5) LATTE [T<=]

28 Wool supplier - see how one ends up (3) EWE Tail acrostic

29 They look for another aspect with Harry (6,5) SEARCH PARTY {ASPECT+HARRY}*

DOWN

1   Bluebeard - born and raised in the city (8) ABERDEEN {BEARD}*{NEE<=}

2   Killed uprising- China will destroy (8) DECIMATE {ICED<=}{MATE}

3   Holding formal talks in the island nation (5) MALTA [T]

4   Red planet swallows eleven tons (7) MARXIST {MAR{XI}S}{T}

5   Infuriate a smoker (7) INCENSE [DD] 

6   Perhaps same hype about millions suffering from breathlessness (9) EMPHYSEMA {SAME+HYPE}* over {M}

7   Extra police for regulation by local authorities (6) BYELAW {BYE}{LAW}

8   Cause trustee to reject the odd ones - very clever (6) ASTUTE {cAuSe+TrUsTeE}

14 After a harvest, grain storage came up in the outskirts of Athens (9) ACROPOLIS {A}{CROP}{SILO<=}

16 Go-between randomly to admire (8) MEDIATOR* 

17 Greenhouse or cross over energy? (8) ORANGERY {OR}{ANG{E}RY}

19 Bitter about a cap - part of habit (7) BIRETTA {BITTER}*{A}

20 Annual call by clearing banks - crazy to lose interest (7) ALMANAC {cALl}{MANiAC}

21 Father in pain, is brave (6) APACHE {A{PA}CHE}

22 Delusion over border, time to support (6) MIRAGE {RIM<=}{AGE}

25 Maybe helps to carry (5) SHLEP*

Reference List

Note = ME, India = I, Old = EX, Mother = DAM, Very softly = PP, On = RE, Drink = CHAR, Born = NEE, Tons = T, Millions = M, Extra = BYE, Energy = E, Interest = I

No 14274, Monday 23 Feb 2026, Arden

Solution to 5D 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

6   Tries out from things for cleaning and grooming with a fabric (5) TOILE TOILEtries

7   Criminal chained in front of a Spanish villa (8) HACIENDA {CHAINED}*{A}

10 Private joint - one enters (7) SOLDIER {SOLD{1}ER}

11 Time to argue about subversion (7) TREASON {T}{REASON}

12 Barbaric, cruel, hosts providing for the devil (7) LUCIFER {LUC{IF}ER*}

13 Able to jump into a run-down theatre (7) FLEAPIT {F{LEAP}IT}

14 Strangely neutral about extra input - It's the ultimate (2,4,5) NE PLUS ULTRA {NEUTRAL}* over {PLUS}

19 Figure about taking people in Delhi to a German city (7) COLOGNE {CO{LOG}NE}

21 Religious one - here at the centre, he was the first (7) PIONEER {PI}{ONE}{hERe}

23 Said to be different amid all the noise - it's contempt (7) DISDAIN {D{SAID*}IN}

25 Cocktail drinking - one with bottle opener is my brother (7) SIBLING {S{1}{Bo...e}LING}

26 Song Of Songs able to make you giggle, they say (8) CANTICLE {CAN}{(~tickle)TICLE}

27 Criminals somewhat received jail sentence (5) TRIAD {T{RI}AD}

DOWN

1   By housing the sick is able to get a water boiler (8) BILLYCAN {B{ILL}Y}{CAN}

2   Rescue whistle blower's hidden story (6) RELIEF {RE{LIE}F}

3   Yellowish green map, utilize again (10) CHARTREUSE {CHART}{REUSE}

4   Go away with these territory markers (4) SCAT [DD]

5   Makes sense since a state doubled input (4,2) ?D?S ?P (Addendum - ADDS UP {A{DD}S}{UP} )

6   Lets out but we are caught in a fight (6) TUSSLE {T{US}SLE*}

8   Others follow the first lady to the top of the world (7) EVEREST {REST}<=>{EVE}

9   Come together as one, close to one (5) UNITE {UNIT}{onE}

13 Rear houses empty from top to bottom bed (4-6) FOUR-POSTER {F{(-p)OUR(+p)P}OSTER}

15 Show servant with worker (7) PAGEANT {PAGE}{ANT}

16 Copy right - it provided a welcome drink (8) APERITIF {APE}{R}{IT}{IF}

17 They're highly reactive like the odd adopted child (5) ACIDS {A{ChIlD}S} Letter pick indicator wrongly placed

18 Starts first in Delhi - internal set up is against congress (6) FRIGID {Fi..t}{In}{De..i} over {RIG}

20 Rascal masquerading as an old sailor (6) LASCAR*

22 Gold coins - where are they in circulation (6) ORBITS {OR BITS}

24 Not all electronic equipment is good (4) NICE [T]

Reference List

Time = T, People in Delhi = LOG, Religious = PI, Right = R, Gold = OR

The Hindu Cryptic on Sunday No 44, Sunday 22 Feb 2026, Incognito

Three answers per commenter till 4 PM (Annotations compulsory) 

Please submit all your answers in one comment.  

(COMMENTS ENTERED WITH LESS THAN THREE ANSWERS/ANNOTATIONS WILL BE DELETED WITHOUT NOTICE, UNLESS THE COMMENTER SPECIFIES THAT IT IS A COMPENSATION FOR A REPEAT)

ACROSS

8   Skis broken in minor accident involving a gentle touch (4) KISS*

9   Drink box (5) PUNCH [DD]

10 Stone duck with friend (4) OPAL {O}{PAL}

11 Person making design on stone and such things is with her (6) ETCHER {ETC}{HER}

12 Sticking plaster may be made from strange cosmetic (8) LIPSTICK [CA] {LIPSTICK+STRANGE}*=STICKING PLASTER 

13 Displacing dust, reserve to obtain equine pedigree record (8) STUDBOOK {DUST*}{BOOK}

15 Think retired alien is following stupid aide (6) IDEATE {ET<=}<=>{AIDE}*

17 Dirty relative having a bearing (7) UNCLEAN {UNCLE}{A}{N}

19 Idiotic git holding body part demanding to be scratched (7) ITCHING {IT{CHIN}G*}

22 Man leaves human nosh prepared in island (6) HONSHU {HUman+NOSH}*

24 Middle Eastern countries having loan instalment with taxes (8) EMIRATES {EMI}{RATES}

26 Badly beat the endlessly careless journalist (8) THRASHED {THe}{RASH}{ED}

28 Damaged cart carrying Virginia's neckwear (6) CRAVAT {CRA{VA}T*}

30 Rescue without charge (4) FREE [DD]

31 Polishes fans (5) BUFFS [DD]

32 Flavouring agent possessed by Father Brown (4) HERB [T]

DOWN

1   Colour from Austin, Texas (4) TINT [T]

2   Snake with head of department next to the Spanish flower (8) ASPHODEL {ASP}{HOD}{EL}

3   Love troop marching around Portuguese city (6) OPORTO {0}{TROOP}*

4   Ulna broken by Eisenhower is different (7) UNALIKE {ULNA}*{IKE}

5   Take things without paying from ship loft at sea (8) SHOPLIFT*

6   Drive Ethel endlessly for German polymath (6) GOETHE {GO}{ETHEl}

7   Powder seen in hospital clock (4) TALC [T]

14 Brown gets chance for dance (5) TANGO {TAN}{GO}

16 Stressful past, for example (5) TENSE [DD]

18 Bah! Dubai can be made capital of UAE... (3,5) ABU DHABI*

20 Top level discomfort? (8) HEADACHE [CD]

21 Ned's show of goodwill on departure (4,3) SEND OFF {NEDS}* [RA]

23 Part of flower obtained from saint before conclusion of prayer (6) STAMEN {ST}{AMEN}

25 Carve "Incorporated company is established at first" (6) INCISE {INC}{IS}{Es...d}

27 Musical instrument possessed by Tushar Pandey (4) HARP [T]

29 City shown in diagram (4) AGRA [HIPS]

Reference List

Alien = ET, Bearing = N, Journalist = ED, The in Spanish = EL, Saint = ST

No 14723, Saturday 21 Feb 2026, Arden

 ACROSS
1 Fans to fund him, perhaps to act in movies (6,7) DUSTIN HOFFMAN*

10 To begin with, lot of customers are located in the neighbourhood (5) LOCAL [Acrostic]
11 Safety barriers on deck - from bottom to top crew not happy (9) TAFFRAILS (-s)TAFF RAIL(+S)

12 Cut two phases - terrible working here (9) SWEAT SHOP*
13 Whiff of a party in our midst (5) ODOUR {O{DO}UR}
14 Carol allowed a vest (7) SINGLET {SING}{LET}
16 Advance working permits (7) IMPREST*
18 Run for example to get a job and come back (7) RIPOSTE {R}{I{POST}E}
20 Part of main deck originally used - not while in the middle of a storm (7) GUNWALE {Used}{Not}{While} in {GALE}

22 It's a tedious thing to send back the Irish police (5) GARDA {A}{DRAG}<
24 Power - a lot represented in a game (5,4) WATER POLO*

26 Joint holders - title to cover unfinished game with tennis sides (9) LIGAMENTS {LI{GAMe}EN}{TenniS}

27 Rewrite epilogue - no crude oil to encourage (3,2) GEE UP {EPiloGUE}*
28 Major hold over corruption is saturnism (4,9) LEAD POISONING {LEADING} over {POISON}

DOWN
2 In other words a clue acquires new name - it's filthy (7) UNCLEAN {A CLUE}* over {N}+{N}
3 Everyone's taken in by latest fashion - can't believe them (4,5) TALL TALES {ALL} in {LATEST}*
4 Cannot change part of score (5) NOTCH [T]
5 Issue is not on season (9) OFFSPRING {OFF}{SPRING}
6 Give up force, otherwise leave (5) FORGO {F}{OR}{GO}
7 Fat nude lady and I sit for a photograph (7) ADIPOSE {lADy}{I}{POSE}
8 Students find it difficult to understand leftist ideology (5,8) CLASS STRUGGLE {CLASS}{STRUGGLE}
9 Camaraderie and sixth sense - tried out before cops arrest robber finally (6,2,5) ESPRIT DE CORPS {ESP}{TRIED}*{CO{robbeR}PS}
15 Arranged another date, now OK for some martial arts (3,4,2) TAE KWON DO*

17 Writer to persist with Arthur's father (9) PENDRAGON {PEN}{DRAG ON}
19 Dugout for a religious crook (7) PIROGUE {PI}{ROGUE}

21 Rising ego in a sweep - pertains to the highest point (7) APOGEAN {EGO<} in {A}{PAN}
23 Trained to help me inside (5) AIMED {AI{ME}D}
25 Jobs for Kelvin in a foreign news agency (5) TASKS {TAS{K}S}

Reference List

Run=R, For Example=That is=ie, New=N, Name=N, Force=F, Sixth Sense=ESP, Religious=Pi (short for pious), Kelvin=K.

No 14722, Friday 20 Feb 2026, VMA Nair

RULES FOR POSTING COMMENTS FOR FRIDAY ONLY

All those who are not regular commenters but who are rookie commenters or silent followers of the blog are requested to post answers with annotations in the comments section. In your own interest please avoid looking up the answers from the interactive version. Don't hesitate to post your annotations, in case you make a mistake in the annotation someone will correct it with the right annotation.

PLEASE NOTE, SOLUTIONS WITHOUT ATTEMPTING THE ANNOTATIONS WILL BE DELETED

Each commenter is requested to post only 5 answers thereby giving others also a chance to participate. Please provide all your answers in one comment.

Regular solvers/Veterans can post 1 answer each, but after 11 AM only.

Thanks for the response, here's the regular blog.

ACROSS

1   Poke around old parlour (6) LOUNGE {L{O}UNGE}

4   General manager finally arranged photographic equipment (8) ENLARGER {GENERAL+m...eR}*

My father's enlarger

9   Head of inventory in Somalia enthralled by lively merger (6) FUSION {S{In...y}O} in {FUN}

10 Arab chaps present at the back (8) REARWARD {RE{AR}WARD}

12 Your old guards about to acknowledge a funeral song (8) THRENODY {TH{RE}{NOD}Y}

13 Cry over one boring North American country (6) BOSNIA {SOB<=}{N{1}A}

15 Forged math degree to get tasks regularly and to succeed (4,3,5) MAKE THE GRADE {MATH+DEGREE}* over {tAsKs}

18 Better tell salesman at the entrance casually to pack a furniture item (7,5) TRESTLE TABLE {BETTER+TELL+Sa...n}* over {A}

21 Core of Putin's ideologies (6) INSIDE [T]

22 Worker dumping good, bulkier clothes behind old undergarments primarily (8) LABOURER {LARgER} over {Be...d}{Old}{Un...s}

24 Way to receive grant for gambling game (8) ROULETTE {ROU{LET}TE}

25 Sister collecting money for organized protests (3-3) SIT-INS {SI{TIN}S}

26 Black coffers kept inside vault (8) DARKSOME {D{ARKS}OME}

27 Country essentially secured borders of Ghana (6) UGANDA {secUred}{G and A from GhanA}

DOWN

1   Duration of English film E.T. varies outside India (8) LIFETIME {E+FILM+ET}* over {I}

2   Unusual posture limiting king's movement towards top (8) UPSTROKE {UPSTRO{K}E*}

3   Dangerous, stoned criminal showing friendliness (4-11) GOOD-NATUREDNESS*

5   Christmas story unsettling Vatican City (4) NOEL NOvEL 

6   Company owned by Indian origin techies initially developed system for controlling the temperature (3-12) AIR-CONDITIONING {CO} in {INDIAN+ORIGIN+Te...s}*

7   Old woman from Gabon controlled New York (6) GRANNY {G}{RAN}{NY}

8   Detective Inspector taps official phone again (6) REDIAL {RE{DI}AL}

11 Unlucky day to open state park? Not quite (7) ADVERSE {A{D}VER}SEt}

14 Navy mainly taking tips from lawmakers on amount a person can carry (7) ARMLOAD {ARM{La...s}{On}ADa}

16 Seaman given unopened parcel for cancellation (8) ABORTION {AB}{pORTION}

17 Harry Kane to entertain supporters in US state (8) NEBRASKA {NE{BRAS}KA*}

19 Couple on board ultimately having a series of rows (6) TIERED {TIE}{RE}{b..rD}

20 Publisher lives with petitioner (6) ISSUER {IS}{SUER}

23 Spot a male cat (4) ATOM {A}{TOM}

Reference List

Old = O, Arab = AR, About = RE, Good = G, Money = TIN, English = E, India = I, King = K, Vatican City = V, Detective Inspector = DI, Day = D, Seaman = AB, Supporters = BRAS, On = RE