No 14738, Wednesday 11 Mar 2026, Hypatia

Solution to 16D 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   Dilapidated mine hidden by "Private" sign (6) GEMINI {G{MINE*}I}

9   Praise active president's detailed scheme on employment (8) APPLAUSE {A}{P}{PLAn}{USE}

10 Freezes pickles to finish off, per Spooner (5,5) KEEPS STILL (~steeps kill to keeps still)

11 Those people's leader killed for the next in line (4) HEIR tHEIR

12 City in America managed to block foreign visa (8) VARANASI {V{A}{RAN}ASI*}

14 Once, Singh has frequently filed stable reports? (6) NEIGHS {oNcE+sInGh+HaS}

15 Please switch off? (7) DELIGHT {DE-LIGHT}

17 Selection of top end antique hanging (7) PENDANT [T]

20 Sadly rejected morning greeting (6) SALAAM {ALAS<=}{AM}

22 Epic of an army fighting to save Sita, ultimately close to Lanka (8) RAMAYANA {AN+ARMY}* over {sitA} and {l..kA}

24 Polish chiefly brightening up faded furniture (4) BUFF Acrostic

25 Huge island warring became neglected (10) LANGUISHED*

27 Expect gangster to conceal hint in treason (8) BETRAYAL {BET}{AL} over {RAY}

28 Threads covering oriental pines (6) YEARNS {Y{E}ARNS}

DOWN

1   Make fresh green tea (8) GENERATE*

2   Stubbing member's foot softly, walk unsteadily (4) LIMP {LIMb}{P}

3   Party food includes extra spicy, tasty appetisers for starters (6) FIESTA Acrostic Semi&lit

4   Often a weak point hits large deer (7) WAPITIS {WeAk+PoInT+hItS}

5   Wealth of old, posh lecturer invested in British coins (8) OPULENCE {O}{P{U}{L}ENCE}

6   In Riyadh, a situation that's beyond control (3,4,3) BAD HAIR DAY {RIYADH+A}* [RA]

7   Wodehouse character - positive male in this novel (6) PSMITH {P}{S{M}ITH*}

13 Book in Hindi initially isn't available to translate a Rahman film (6,4) ANIMAL FARM  {A+RAhMAN+FILM}*

16 Mountain ash layer scattering this range with neutrons (8) H?M?L?Y?  

18 Parts of snake repeatedly used in Chinese clothes (8) NANKEENS* [Letterbank]

19 Twist removing a clear plastic around tattoo (7) CRINKLE {CLEaR}* over {INK}

21 Hysteria cum envy constraining judgement (6) ACUMEN [T]

23 Dynasty that ruled ancient city immersed in illusion (6) MAURYA {MA{UR}YA}

26 Battle arising from strikes (4) SPAR<=

Reference List

Private = GI, Active = A, President = P, America = A, Gangster = AL(Capone), Oriental = E, Softly = P, Old = O, Posh = U, Lecturer = L, Positive = P, Male = M, Ancient city = UR, Illusion = MAYA