No 14765, Saturday 11 Apr 2026, Hypatia

 ACROSS
8 Concerning brand, say (6) REMARK {RE}{MARK}
9 Arab husband entertained by local American and fashionable Italian (8) BAHRAINI {BA{H}R}{A}{IN}{I}
10 Study few drinking bit of mulligatawny soup (9) CONSOMME {CON}{SOM{Mulligatawny}E}

11 Frequently lying around near Google's catchphrase (6) SLOGAN {NeAr GoOgLe'S}<
12 According to Spooner, murderer composed a letter in Mac (8) RAINCOAT Spoonerism of CAIN WROTE
13 Control crazy boss checking employees on vacation (6) OBSESS {BOSS}* around {EmployeeS}
14 City strips housing quarters (7) BENARES {BARES} around{EN}

17 Had story reading in workshop (7) ATELIER {ATE}{LIE}{R}
20 Fakes //reports from Donald, say (6) QUACKS [DD]
22 Assist in problem about Indian fast food (8) BHELPURI {HELP} inside {RUB<} +I

25 Friend had amazing spiritual teacher (6) BUDDHA {BUD}{HAD*}
26 Monkey smashing China cup (8) CAPUCHIN*

27 Softer ballad without piano? That is right! (8) SPONGIER {S{P}ONG}{IE}{R}
28 Approach Argentine banking trust (6) CHARGE [T]

DOWN
1 So elated? Unexpectedly sad (8) DESOLATE*
2 Chiefly pious Anglican rector sermonising and working! (6) PARSON {Pious}{Anglican}{Rector}{Sermonising}{ON} & LIT
3 Amidst break, I'm bowling with arms bent (6) AKIMBO [T]
4 Disapproves //goals (7) OBJECTS [DD]
5 Gradually wind up shape (5,3) PHASE OUT {SHAPE}* [RA]
6 Spark in extremely critical fair fixture (8) CAROUSEL {AROUSE} in {CriticaL}

7 Makes dough per auditor's requirements (6) KNEADS {~NEEDS}
15 Say, driving license confiscated by force in mishap (8) ACCIDENT {ID} in {ACCENT}
16 Overjoyed by each set captain regularly getting caught (8) ECSTATIC {EaCh SeT cApTaIn}{C}
18 Student lacking education gets small income (8) EARNINGS {lEARNING}{S}
19 Enigmatic old boy's remedy (7) OBSCURE {OB'S}{CURE}
21 Appropriates cup, essentially spiking rum initially in drinks (6) USURPS {cUp}{SU{Rum}PS}
23 Look for old darling touring clubs (6) EXPECT {EX}{PE{C}T}
24 Basically. playful animated character munching and nibbling in game (6) PACMAN [Acrostic]

REFERENCE LIST

Concerning=Re, Husband=H, American=A, Italian=I, Quarters=EN {East North}, Reading=R, Indian=I, Piano=P, That is= ie (id est), Right=R, Student=L, Old Boy=OB, Old=Ex, Clubs=C.