The Hindu Cryptic on Sunday No 69, Sunday 16 Aug 2026, Arden

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ACROSS

1   Military orders to tolerate a ridicule (5,2,4) STAND AT EASE {STAND A TEASE}

7   First of all safety - and people undermine it (3) SAP Acrostic 

9   Middle name in a mix up - they provide early life cover (5) AMNIA {nAMe}{IN+A}*

10 Resistance to stop a film on murder - there's no shooting (9) ARMISTICE {A}{R}{MIST}{ICE}

11 With money, bank becomes more determined (9) DOUGHTIER {DOUGH}{TIER}

12 The bread winner brings it home... (5) BACON [CD]

13 ...and finally when the romantic ruler's getting amorous (7) NECKING {wheN}{thE}{r...iC}{KING}

15 Defy and force the ruffian (4) LOUT fLOUT

18 Plans over canned meat? (4) SPAM<=

20 Poet follows one as movement is slow (7) ANDANTE {DANTE}<=>{AN}

23 Daisy gets a stern warning to stay inside (5) ASTER [T]

24 New wine gets to head, shows unpleasantness (9) NASTINESS {N}{ASTI}{NESS}

26 Short course on drinking French wine in various regions (9) PROVINCES {PRO{VIN}CESs}

27 Come right inside the club (5) DRIVE {D{R}IVE}

28 Ultimately get to one digit (3) TOE Tail Acrostic

29 Dawdle around - days wasted finding top vegetable (5-6) LADYS FINGER {L{DAYS*}{Fi...g}INGER}

DOWN

1   School can make an impression while growing up (8) SCANDENT {S}{CAN}{DENT}

2   Declare the girl is overweight (8) ANNOUNCE {ANN}{OUNCE}

3   Inside a thing at the end (5) DEATH [T]

4   Making fun of a drink with Carol (7) TEASING {TEA}{SING}

5   A young man crossed over the border, returned with top officer (7) ADMIRAL {A} with {LA{RIM}D}<=

6   Oriental shock involving billions - going to China? (9) EASTBOUND {E}{AST{B}OUND}

7   Partners lie on long grass (6) SNITCH {S}{N}{ITCH}

8   Praises break up involving a sweetheart (6) PAEANS {SNAP<=} over {A}{swEet}

14 Justme with broken Tamil, about average (9) IMPARTIAL {I}{M{PAR}TIAL*}

16 The ruler, having born before '50 is praying (8) KNEELING {K{NEE}{L}ING}

17 Males promise merchandise for a haberdashery (8) MENSWEAR {MEN}{SWEAR}

19 Threatened people, one died later (7) MENACED {MEN}{ACE}{D}

20 Helps musicians to leave Britain (7) ASSISTS bASSISTS

21 Castigate for reviewing some of the corporate practices (6) CARPET [T<=]

22 Set to go out- no time for an underling (6) STOOGE {SEt+TO+GO}*

25 Tinned fruit picked regularly for a lemur (5) INDRI {tInNeD+fRuIt}

Reference List

Resistance = R, Force = F, New = N, Head = NESS, French wine = VIN, Right = R, School = S, Oriental = E, Billions = B, Partners = N,S, Born = NEE< 50 = L, Died = D, Britain = B, Time = T