No 14886, Monday 31 Aug 2026, Hypatia

Solution to 16D has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered only 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   Legal nationalist forces fighting to secure independence (8) FORENSIC {N+FORCES}* over {I}

9   Model saving time for second sibling (6) SISTER SI(-t+s)STER

10 Defeat armoured vehicle (4) TANK [DD]

11 Communicate with men hiring registered vendor (10) CONTRACTOR {CONT{R}ACT}{OR}

12 Doctor separating wounded and serious (6) SOMBRE {SO{MB}RE}

14 Protect Sinner - He's lost (8)  ENSHRINE {SINNER+HE}*

15 A scene from Tom & Jerry, possibly in a temporary rally? (4,3,6) DEAD CAT BOUNCE [DD]

18 Shot group of journalists per Spooner (8) BACKHAND (hack band to backhand)

20 Local icon's clothing fabric (6) CALICO [T]

21 Setter in main marketplace (4,6) HIGH STREET {SETTER}* [RA]

22 Field manager regularly clearing sink (4) FLAG {FieLd+mAnaGer}

23 Keep checking elephants on vacation in jungle (6) FOREST {FOR{El...tS}T}

24 Win back in random plan (8) STRATEGY {STRA{GET<=}Y}

DOWN

1   Decline screening said overs set up in camera (8) POLAROID {DI{ORAL}{O}P}<=

2   Eat bananas closer to thick tree (4) TEAK {EAT}*{t..cK}

3   Tipsy chemist bottling spirit (6) PSYCHE [T]

4   European crowd introduced to very strong coffee (8) ESPRESSO {E}{S{PRESS}O}

5   Rich saloon exercises happening at identical intervals (10) ISOCHRONAL*

6   Pity engineer spoiling Onam (6) BEMOAN {BE}{ONAM*}

8   Vanity firm is sentenced wrongly (13) CONCEITEDNESS {CO}{IS+SENTENCED}*

13 Initially bride needs husband: revolting to go becomes a disgrace to family (5,5) BLACK SHEEP {Br..e}{LACKS}{H}{PEE<=}

16 Virtue of unwinding by a trip to spa which is taken frequently (8) C?A?T?T? {Addendum - CHASTITY {bY+a+TrIp+To+SpA+sHiCh}<=  See comments)

17 Trade banter (8) EXCHANGE [DD]

19 Yes, this author made say, movies (6) ASIMOV {ASIMOV+YES}*=SAY MOVIES [CA]

20 Provides automobiles without deflated tyre (6) CATERS {CA{TyrE}RS}

22 Originally France exported tuna and cheese (4) FETA Acrostic

Reference List

Nationalsit = N, Independence = I, Time = T, Second = S, Registered = R, Men = OR, Overs = O, European = E, Firm = CO, Husband = H, To go = PEE