No 12692, Wednesday 31 Jul 2019, Hypatia

Solved enroute to Las Vegas

ACROSS
9   Irritate with yarn on couple found by a sewer? (6-3-6) NEEDLE-AND-THREAD {NEEDLE}{AND}{THREAD}
10 Anyone upset, feeling a bit disturbed (7) ANNOYED {ANYONE}*{Di...d} Semi&lit
11 Get rid of old dog without new drug (7) EXPUNGE {EX}{PU{N}G}{E}
12 To separate from nurse, married doctor left, instead (9) DISMANTLE {L+INSTEAD}* over {M}
14 Enjoyed King's introduction to fiction with daughter (5) LIKED {LI{K}E}{D}
17 Offenders run into American vehicles (7) ABUSERS {A}{BUSE{R}S}
19 Engineer can't continue with IIT? That's huge! (7) TITANIC {CANT+IIT}*
21 London's subways going Westward, although less frequently (5) TUBES {BUT<=}{lEsS}
23 Malai roti dexterously rolled in piece of newspaper (9) EDITORIAL [T<=]
25 We learn about renovation (7) RENEWAL*
27 Bird's egg is symbolised by Indian party (7) ROISTER RO(-o+i)ISTER
30 I fetch troupe that's absent (3,2,3,7) OUT OF THE PICTURE {I+FETCH+TROUPE}* [RA]

DOWN
1   Fashionable accountant for old South American (4) INCA {IN}{CA}
2   Auditor's arrogant tone (4) VEIN (~vain)
3   When kids are entertained by Spooner's time sheet (4,4) PLAY DATE (day plate to Play date)
4   Criminal also arrested in scrap (6) BANDIT {B{AND}IT}
5   Spread her enthusiasm to captivate fan (8) ADHERENT [T]
6   Quietly, after tea we finally left service area? (6) CHAPEL {CHA}{P}{wE}{L}
7   Bird heard in wind (4) TERN (~turn)

8   Tool essentially made razor safe, at last (4) ADZE {mADe}{raZor}{safE}
12 Drawing an L/C, say (5)  DRAFT [DD]
13 Firecracker nearly dropped under small boy (5) SQUIB {S}{QUIt}{B}
15 Primarily, keyboards accommodating native Japanese, including script (5) KANJI Acrostic
16 Related to nobleman, upper class debutantes tucked into lentil dish (5) DUCAL {D{Up..r}{Cl..s}AL}
18 Getting closer to vault, secure your old secret (8) STEALTHY {S{v..lT}EAL}{THY}
20 Revealing couple of poetic compositions wooing wife and sweetheart (3-5) TWO-PIECE {W} and {swEet} in {POETIC}*
22 Was what friends who came to the airport did (3,3) SAW OFF {WAS}* [RA & &lit]
24 To break into a luxury car takes up time (6) IRRUPT {1}{RR}{UP}{T}
25 King abdicating crown seized castle (4) ROOK (-t+r)ROOK
26  They're crazy people changing park's name in places (4) NUTS (-p+n)NUTS
28  Hoodlum smuggling heroin's a jerk (4) THUG {T{H}UG}
29  Does set up musical instrument (4) REED<=

Reference List
Old = EX, New = N, Drug = E, Daughter = D, Married = M, Run = R, American = A, Egg = O, Indian = I, Quietly = P, Left = L, Small = S, Boy = B, Your old = THY, Wife = W, Luxury car = RR(Rolls Royce), Time = T, King = R, Park = P, Name = N, Heroin = H

GRID

No 12691, Tuesday 30 Jul 2019, Spinner

ACROSS
1   Wordplay is hard to take advantage of (6) PUNISH {PUN}{IS}{H}
4   A ball with very small proceeds (8) ADVANCES {A}{D{V}ANCE}{S}
10 Scrub bishop filled with filth (7) RUBBISH [T]
11 Fractured season beginning to derail around first of January (7) INJURED {IN{Ja...y}URE}{De...l}
12 After six balls, near defeat! (8) OVERCOME {OVER}{COME}
13 Handy fuel wasted by American (6) USEFUL {FUEL*}{US}
15 Exploit group after money (4) MILK {M}{ILK}
17 Style fest turned into medium for viral propagation in Africa (6,3) TSETSE FLY*

20 Check fraud's caravan (9) CONSTRAIN {CONS}{TRAIN}
21 Spotted amongst returning brigade yesterday (4) EYED [T<=]
24 Everyone runs around the day before pre-university course (1,5) A-LEVEL {AL{EVE}L}
25 Firm overwhelmed by extraordinary income of money (8) ECONOMIC {E{CO}NOMIC*}
28 Be suspended, having patched up bad clutch (7) HANDBAG {HAN{BAD*}G}
29 Perhaps a very small mark that's red? (7) SCARLET {SCAR}{LET} Anno for LET pending See comments
30 Awareness to retain differentiator, creating anticipation (8) SUSPENSE {S{USP}ENSE}
31 Cold reduced and fizzled out (6) CEASED {C}{EASED}

DOWN
1   Renders each version on point (8) PERFORMS {PER}{FORM}{S}
2   In part, snob leverages aristocrat (5) NOBLE [T]
3   Control ultimately helps one producing spells (6) SWITCH {h..pS}{WITCH}
5   Physician's patent, say, for medical apparatus? (4) DRIP {DR}{IP}
6   Corrected exactly after commercial by editor (8) ADJUSTED {AD}{JUST}{ED}
7   Clue fairly complicated? Not Spinner's, precisely! (9) CAREFULLY {CLUE+FAiRLY}*
8   Deal accepts demand draft for hamper (6) SADDLE {SA{DD}LE}
9   Call to embrace theism destroyed by science (9) CHEMISTRY {CR{THEISM*}Y}
14 Steps from affected castes gaining voice (9) STAIRCASE {ST{AIR}CASE*}
16 Solo needs tightening up of unresolved parts (5,4) LOOSE ENDS*
18 Piece together animal insignia missing tail (8) ASSEMBLE {ASS}{EMBLEm}
19 Erudite is dead cute, somehow (8) EDUCATED*
22 Cleans up wife's remains (6) WASHES {W}{ASHES}
23 Mellow following England's win (6) ENGAGE {EN}{GAGE} Gage/Mellow? (Addendum - {AGE} after {ENG} - See comments)
26 Beer poured into empty mugs for men (5) MALES {Mu{ALE}gS}
27 Periods – a girl's everyday suffering, basically (4) AGES Acrostic

Reference List
Hard = H, Very = V, Small = S, Money = M, Firm = CO, Differentiator = USP, Cold = C, Point = S, Patent = IP, Commercial = AD, Editor = ED, Wife = W, England = EN

GRID

No 12690, Monday 29 Jul 2019, KrisKross

ACROSS
1   Setter's job? Essentially work to cheat (8) IMPOSTOR {I'M}{POST}{wORk}
5   Car heading off to religious area – an ideal place (6) UTOPIA {aUTO}{PI}{A}
9   Servant follows son to welcome daughter (8) DOGSBODY {DOGS}{BO{D}Y}
10 Wish for ripe bananas (6) ASPIRE {AS}{RIPE*}
12 Very rare Lego set is too big (9) OVERLARGE {V+RARE+LEGO}*
13 Pass in Australia is so long (5) ADIEU {A{DIE}U}
14 Hide your initial anger (4) FURY {FUR}{Your}
16 Sierra Leone's boating crew demonstrates skill (7) SLEIGHT {SL}{EIGHT}
19 Deceitful guard returns one's valise after removing contents (7) EVASIVE {SAVE<}{1}{Va..sE}
21 Name of German perfume (4) OTTO [DD]
24 Cause of irritation in mouth or nose (5) THORN [T]
25 Couple designing fine art near church (9) INTERFACE {FINE+ART}*{CE}
27 Play small song, says Spooner (6) LEEWAY {(-w+l)LEE}{(-l+w)WAY}
28 "India matters" – boring book, quite irritating (8) TIRESOME {T{I}{RES}OME}
29 Pet butterfly, say (6) STROKE [DD]
30 Synonym for "rooms" could be found in this (8) CHAMBERS [C&DD]

DOWN
1   After getting elected, spoke about keeping order within the House (6) INDOOR {IN}{RO{O}D<<=}
2   Young animal's leg twisted in ditch (6) PIGLET {PI{LEG*}T}
3   Fortune-teller is back near Luxembourg (5) SIBYL {IS<=}{BY}{L}
4   The German in French airport is well-behaved (7) ORDERLY {OR{DER}LY}
6   Will new team at last win in cricket match? (9) TESTAMENT {TES{TEAM*}{wiN}T}
7   Unions not possibly patronising (8) PAIRINGS PAtRonISING* [CA]
8   Competent American court imprisons oriental queen (8) ADEQUATE {A}{D{E}{QU}ATE}
11 Egyptian city's rising God (4) ZEUS<=
15 In England, the standard wedding card (5,4) UNION JACK {UNION}{JACK}

17 Pals kept running, getting words of encouragement (3,5) PEP TALKS*
18 He could do a smashing job (8) SABOTEUR [CD]
20 English team, with captain in the middle, walk out (4) EXIT {E}{XI}{capTain}
21 Very large aircraft finally loaded – but it can't take off (7) OSTRICH {OS}{a...fT}{RICH}

22 Lots of blood when stabbed by a lance's tip (6) GALORE {G{A}{La..e}ORE}
23 Shylock perhaps regularly dealt with small gems (6) JEWELS {JEW}{dEaLt}{S}
26 Watery discharge in lodge, say (5) RHEUM (~room)

Reference List
Religious = PI, Area = A, Daughter = D, Very = V, Church = CE, India = I, Matters = RES, Order = O, American = A, Court = DATE, Oriental = E, Queen = QU, English = E, Very Large = OS, Small = S

GRID

Special, Sunday 28 Jul 2019, K Koteswar Rao

Three answers as usual per commenter till 6 PM (Annotations compulsory)
Please provide all your answers in one comment.

ACROSS
9   What do you see in Working Capital? (6,1)
10 Bush is not right anymore! (7)
11 He is invested with priestly functions in preference to have supper with Earl (7)
12 17, not following order while on the move (2,5)
13 Drunk is said to be a contemptible person but closely integrated (9)
15 Everything revealed when stripped finally! (2-3)
16 Without hesitating, disconnected employee (7)
19 Issue emanating from 28 by spending time to bring in pressure (7)
20 They sell tickets unofficially to tourists? No, Sir! (5)
21 Reportedly strengthen positive number (5-4)
25 Baked meat loaf, not from porridge (7)
26 Pretending deaf in the last month for non-payment (7)
28 Prepared to take time on issue that goes on head (7)
29 Could be extensive negative number (7)

DOWN
1   A king is consumed by thing of no value? How ingenious! (6)
2   Dugong is groomed animal to work with hunters (6)
3   It’s a mistake to change direction to get a metal disc (4)
4   12, duck out to be in the soup bowl (6)
5   Short tunes in air-conditioned state perhaps (8)
6   Decorative work by brother, I had, using mineral (10)
7   List of options prevents but provide help on computers (4,4)
8   Strategy of Indonesian orchestra includes piano (4,4)
14 Servant arranged in a crosswise direction (10)
16 Privy to exposed body! (8)
17 Vixen holding back number (8)
18 Violating misfielding (8)
22 Vegetable is hard to cook (6)
23 Hardened to get ruined (6)
24 Amount Due East of XX100 (6)
27 One who is good at deceiving is at the back of variables (4)

Across Lite version can be accessed at KKR 26

Enjoy.

The Sunday Crossword No 3058, Sunday 28 Jul 2019

3789
ACROSS
1   HS2's plans: official reports describe detailed electric transportation (6,6) BULLET TRAINS {BULLET{mART<=}INS}
10 Disney tune the French singer's getting to at last (3,2,2) LET IT GO {LE}{TIT}{Ge...g}{tO}

11 Hanover king, egregious lunatic after losing America (6,1) GEORGE 1  EGREGIOus*
12 Get on... get on... about... about... (5) AGREE {AG{RE}E}
13 Final half of bowling, champ's losing heart a lot (4,4) VERY MUCH {deliVERY}{MUnCH}
15 Rashly, he sued aunt for carelessness (5,5) UNDUE HASTE*
16 Vain and regularly indulged (4) IDLE InDuLgEd
18 Dutch specialty that's made round? (4) EDAM* &lit

20 To be summarily dismissed, you might do this at the butcher's counter (3,3,4) GET THE CHOP [DD]
22 A polenta stew requiring next to no effort (2,1,5) ON A PLATE*
24 Sun god's receiving thanks from worshipper (5) RASTA {RA'S}{TA}
26 Original impetus for feminist campaign (5,2) TIMES UP*
27 Actually, half-missing dearly departed balloon (7) INFLATE {INFact}{LATE}
28 Atmospheric processes produced by automobiles overtaking bishop on bike (6,6) CARBON CYCLES {CAR{B}{ON}{CYCLE}S}

DOWN
2   Spoke, and mumbled, without mumbling at first (7) UTTERED mUTTERED
3   Um... I'd like to have a look at that (3,2,3) LET ME SEE [DD]
4   Also, knight removed from chessboard (4) TOOK {TOO}{K}
5   Taking last two slices, bistro guest ate in country, not respecting others (5,5) ROGUE STATE [T] What is 'last two slices' for? Where is the telescopic indicator?
6   Make horizontal axis the reverse of what you'd expect (5) IRONY {IRON}{Y}
7   'Good to enter into unrestrained nudism': big name in psychoanalysis (7) SIGMUND {SI{G}MUND*}
8   Somehow, seaport usable for vessels used only for fun (8-5) PLEASURE-BOATS*
9   Pershing felt a worry, creating machines of war (7,6) FIGHTER PLANES*
14 Become a success, capable of recompense (4,2,2,2) MAKE IT UP TO {MAKE IT}{UP TO}
17 Enormous jerk about to commit sin with one female (8) TERRIFIC {T{ERR}{1}{F}IC}
19 American cinema, oddly uninspiring (7) ANAEMIC {A}{CINEMA*}
21 One caught in childhood game wearing quaint socks (7) HOSTAGE {HOS{TAG}E}
23 Behold! First half of pulpit address delivers one that's been left behind (5) LOSER {LO}{SERmon}
25 Element derived from quartz in compounds (4) ZINC [T]

Reference List
The French = LE, About = RE, Thanks = TA, Bishop = B, Axis = Y, Good = G, Female = F, American = A, Behold = LO

GRID

No 12689, Saturday 27 Jul 2019, Afterdark

Thanks Col. for blogging for the last three weeks

Across

1. Unfair to retain bureaucrats in an area (6) BIASED {B{IAS}ED}
4. Seaming wicket in Glamorgan, primarily seen by the beginning of summer at England (6) SEWING {Summer}{E}{W}{IN}{Glamorgan}
9. One against 13? Time to regret (4) TRUE {T}{RUE}
10. Had copies distributed earlier on pressure from Bishop's office (10) EPISCOPATE {COPIES*}{P}{ATE}
11. In Ottawa, Sabina gets a spice (6) WASABI (T)
12. Too many administrators and headman, a vanity to the extremes (3-5) TOP-HEAVY {TOP-}{HE}{A}{VanitY}
13. A new crime's now on? False (9) INSINCERE {I}{N}{SIN}{CE}{RE}
15. Kings are tyrants, heartless going to wars pointlessly (5) TSARS {TyrantS}{wARS}
16. Started to pray for Sun, to begin with shower to go away (5) BEGUN {BEG}{sUN}
18. Butler in terrible mood after being dismissed; crowd is backing (5-4) MAJOR-DOMO {{RO}{JAM}<=}{MOOD*}
22. Wrong name, also name in memoirs wrongly spelled (8) MISNOMER {N} in {MEMOIRS*}
23. Small place; has faulty shower (6) SPLASH {S}{PL}{HAS*}
25. Mock doctor, a miser spending some money at charity event (10) FUNDRAISER {FUN}{DR}{A}{mISER}
26. Out in the morning and wander (4) ROAM {RO}{AM}
27. A den made over anew essentially, for a group of nine (6) ENNEAD {A+DEN*} around {aNEw}
28. Hat on forehead? Perhaps he is absent (6) FEDORA {FOREHEAD-HE*}

Down

1. Promise once more, to follow Bible and keep reading (7) BARGAIN {B}{A{R}GAIN}
2. Article about king at a battlefield (5) ARENA {A{RE}N}{A}
3. Best set sent back in European Community? Sad (7) ELEGIAC {E{{AI}{GEL}<=C}
5. Avoid English, Science and Physical Education at the beginning (6) ESCAPE {E}{SC}{And}{Physical}{Education}
6. Influenced with leader being absent, aimed to control media, perhaps (9) IMPRESSED {aIM{PRESS}ED}
7. Recover and turn up (3,4) GET OVER (DD)
8. Award for winner's biased perhaps (8,5) VICTORIA CROSS {VICTOR}{1 ACROSS} Biased is the solution to 1 across in this grid
14. Extinct creature? UN doing a clone using an egg (9) IGUANODON  {UN+DOING+A*} around {O}

17. Gourmet's imposing, needs curries often (7) EPICURE {EPIC}{cUrRiEs}
19. Watch two balls; wait (7) OBSERVE {O}{B}{SERVE}
20. Cosmetic used by mother to conceal a blemish (7) MASCARA {M{A}{SCAR}A}
21. Animal could be a chimp, a langur in captivity (6) IMPALA (T)

24. Clumsy old guard; dud, should be sacked for being slow (5) LARGO {OLD+GUARD-DUD*}

Reference List

Bureaucrats=IAS, Wicket=W, England=E, Time=T, Pressure=P, Man=He, A=I, New=N, Now=CE (Common Era), On=Re, Being dismissed=RO (Run Out), Name=N, Out=RO (Run Out), In the morning=AM
Bible=B, Reading=R, Article=An, King=RE (Rex Edward), Best=AI (A-One), European Community=EC, English=E, Science=Sc, Egg=O, Ball=O, Ball=B

Colour/Font Scheme

Definition, Solution, Component letters, Embedded links, Theme word,  Anagram Indicator, C/C indicator, Reversal Indicator, Hidden word Indicator, Letter Pick indicator, Deletion Indicator, Homophone Indicator, Movement Indicator, Positional Indicator, Substitution, Indicator, Link/Connector, Extraneous

GRID

No 12688, Friday 26 Jul 2019, Afterdark

RULES FOR POSTING ON 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.

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

The regular blog will replace the clues at 5 PM.


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

ACROSS
1   Determined to transfer director to British capital; dejected and overwhelmed (6,4) BOGGED DOWN {(-d+b)BOGGED}{DOWN}
6   Soldiers coming back after end of fight capturing a plant (4) TARO {OR<=} after {T} over {A}

10 Boy! Louis is mad to cross the middle of river. Evidently (9) OBVIOUSLY {BOY+LOUIS}* over {riVer}
11 Counter opening earlier, runs out of stock of calling device (5) PAGER {GAP<=}{Ea...eR}
12 Drawback! Book desptached for capital of Canada takes time, internal mix up at Germany. Get a courier (7,6) CARRIER PIGEON {(-b+c)CARRIER} {PI}{G}{EON}
14 Chilled daiquiri, cognac, absinthe at the end leads to dysentry primarily (4) ICED {d...rI}{c...aC}{a...hE}}{Dy...y}
15 Perhaps extra zone Congress eventually conceded to Left in the poll for vacant seat (2-8) BY-ELECTION {BYE}{(-s+l)LECTION}
17 Teacher is strict, our group got notified first (10) INSTRUCTOR {STRICT+OUR}* over {No...d}
21 Man, say is skeletal essentially (4) ISLE {IS}{skeLEtal}
23 Five missing; servant covers up mysterious clash necessitating a court order (6,7) SEARCH WARRANT {SERvANT}* over {ARCH}{WAR}
25 Small bird found in the lot we let fly (5) OWLET*
26 Fluctuating returns, large discrepancy found in the centre, covered up (9) IRREGULAR {IRR}{EG{foUnd}LAR*}
27 Worst owner to retain place (4) STOW [T]
28 Decreased flow around Chennai in the middle, rose again (10) REASCENDED {DECREASED}* over {cheNnai}

DOWN
1   Born in difficulty, child is bearing a trouble from the start, leading to a complaint (10) BRONCHITIS {BORN*}{CH}{1}{Tr...e}{IS}
2   Teacher manages to control errant students at the beginning (9) GOVERNESS {GOVERN{Er...t}{St...t}S}
3   Sweethearts's hugs and kisses and stroke is almost sensational (6) EXOTIC {swEet}{XO}{TIC}
4   Eldest royal, tucked in and put to sleep (7) DESTROY [T]
5   Receipt for wife's account features an unknown quantity (7) WAYBILL {W}{A}{Y}{BILL}
7   Gas in car gone (5) ARGON [T]
8  Vegetable is good, recipe's awesome primarily (4) OKRA {OK}{Re...e}{Aw...e}
9   A regular pint with ice flakes can be connected to breathlessness (6) APNEIC {A}{PiNt}{ICE*}
13 Father to learner; be free and ignorant (10) UNLETTERRED {UN(-f+l)LETTERED}
16 Everything in street kept before often needs to be fixed (9) INSTALLED {IN}{ST}{ALL}{nEeDs}
18 Property of earl at the outskirts of Tilbury right in the front (6) REALTY {(+r)REA(-r)L}{Ti...rY}
19 Company! Can it be endless and in the middle gain energy with drug? (7) COCAINE {CO}{CAn}{It}{aNd}{E}
20 Drawback to have son following and no turning back in the front and beyond (7) ONWARDS {DRAW<=}{S}<=>{NO<=}
22 Shoe found in Britain, at Oxford's good, high class and cheap essentially (6) BROGUE {BR}{O}{G}{U}{chEap}

23 Attack is almost ending, to retreat against third front (5) SALVO {LASt}{V}{frOnt}
24 Cast is primarily terrific, gets Oscar for keeping spectators on the edge repeatedly (4) TOSS {Te...c}{O}{Sp...rS}

Reference List
Director = D, Soldiers = OR, Book = B, Left = L, Child = CH, Wife = W, Father = F, Learner = L, Company = CO, Energy = E, Son = S, Good = G, Against = V

GRID

No 12687, Thursday 25 Jul 2019, Dr. X

Solved while enroute from Los Angeles to San Diego

ACROSS
1   Justify seizing incorporated territory (8) PROVINCE {PROV{INC}E}
5   America almost destroyed peninsula annexed by Russia (6) CRIMEA AMERICa*
10 Slight commotion around dais perhaps (7) DISDAIN {DI{DAIS*}N}
11 Wise men love quests to gain knowledge essentially (7) ORACLES {O}{RAC{k..wLe..e}ES}
12 Bodily cavities conserved by organ transplant (5) ANTRA [T]
13 He knocks over maids with elan? (6,3) LADIES MAN* {MAIDS+ELAN}* &lit
14 Fast means of protest? (6,6) HUNGER STRIKE [CD]
18 Clashing with policeman? Bit idiotic (12) INCOMPATIBLE*
21 Give up a small sum of money to snitch in America (4,1,4) DROP A DIME {DROP}{A}{DIME}
23 Cherish a perfectly maintained physique (5) SHAPE [T]
24 Silly inane Republican takes time to get on board (7) ENTRAIN {INANE+R}* over {T}
25 Perplexed fool arrests a lot incorrectly (2,1,4) AT A LOSS {ASS} over {A+LOT}*
26 Creeps loiter aboard steamer (6) SIDLES {S{IDLE}S}
27 Reports of guru in trouble (8) MESSAGES {MES{SAGE}S}

DOWN
1   Dolt every so often interrupts a fruit vendor (6) PEDLAR {PE{DoLt}AR}
2   Unit about to meet for a type of inspection (2-4) ON-SITE {ON{SIT}E}
3   Where dirt might be isolated from external influences (2,1,6) IN A VACUUM [DD]
4   Fires cheat to lessen issues (14) CONFLAGRATIONS {CON}{FLAG}{RATIONS}
6   Forcibly seize ecstasy found in party (5) REAVE {R{E}AVE}
7   Character retained by messieurs to assist dairy worker (8) MILKMAID {M}{ILK}{M}{AID}
8   One who agrees with simpleton on board (8) ASSENTER {ASS}{ENTER}
9   Request strip club in headquarters? That is touch-and-go (10,4) BORDERLINE CASE {B{ORDER}{LINE}{C}ASE}
15. Charms fellow in fancy A-list society (9) TALISMANS {A+LIST}*{MAN}{S}
16 Love to canoodle around new exotic den (8) KINDNESS {KI{N}{DEN*}SS}
17 Approached brilliant director to take charge (8) ACCOSTED {AC{COST}E}{D}
19 Musical composition about a queen's garment (6) SARONG {S{A}{R}ONG}
20 Stops crates filled with ecstasy (6) CEASES {C{E}ASES}
22 Associate delivered succulent plant (5) AGAVE {A}{GAVE}

Reference List
Love = O, Republican = R, Time = T, Ecstasy = E, Club = C, Society = S, New = N, Director = D, Queen = R, Associate = A

GRID

No 12686, Wednesday 24 Jul 2019, Dr. X

Solved while enroute to  Disneyland in LA.

ACROSS
1   Poor husband besieged by poet, a boastful person (8) BLOWHARD {B{LOW}{H}ARD}
5   Help to secure new permit (6) ASSENT {ASSE{N}T}
10 Glossy fabric in stores at India (5) SATIN [T]
11 What a fisherman might do to keep in touch? (4,1,4) DROP A LINE [DD]
12 Bad time to enter perfect precision marching unit (5,4) DRILL TEAM {DR{ILL}{T}EAM}
13 Incompetent, unresponsive Republican becomes President (5) INEPT INE(-r+p)PT
14 Female is about to ruin brutes (6) FIENDS {F}{I{END}S}
15 Jointly presents expenses to maintain house (2-5) CO-HOSTS {CO{HO}STS}
18 Having fever, weary one dropped the boards (7) THEATRE {Ti{HEAT}RE}
20 Wander around emporium gutted in fire (6) REMOVE {R{Em...uM}OVE}
22 Worthless, crazy son kicked out (5) INANE INsANE
24 Very obvious! Compose a letter to win heart of mesmerizing gal easily (4,5) WRIT LARGE {WRIT{LA{m...eRi...g}G*}E}
25 Yank – a fellow with perfect grimace (4,1,4) PULL A FACE {PULL}{A}{F}{ACE}
26 Hallucinatory experience on Ecstasy? Nonsense (5) TRIPE {TRIP}{E}
27 British ballet dancer to prosper (6) DOWELL {DO}{WELL}
28 Writer's point? Be silent perhaps (5,3) STEEL NIB*

DOWN
1   Close to where a nurse might be dropping daughter (6) BESIDE BEdSIDE
2   Abuse of nicotine keeps husband in a precarious situation (2,4,3) ON THIN ICE {NICOTINE}* over {H}
3 . A reason for dismissal of student involved in throwing the party (8,3,4) HANDLING THE BALL {HAND{L}ING}{BALL}
4   Right to change clothes (7) REDRESS [DD]
6   It seems hotel's prepared to include roast dish from Europe (7,8) SPANISH OMELETTE {IT+SEEMS+HOTEL}* over {PAN}
7   Refugee in complex I lease (5) EXILE [T]
8   Study time! Get up suppressing worry (8) TREATISE {T}{R{EAT}ISE}
9   Huge clown entertains son (6) COSMIC {CO{S}MIC}
16 Queen left England overwhelmed by gesture (9) SOVEREIGN {S{OVER}{E}IGN}
17 Son made a mistake, dispossessed (8) STRIPPED {S}{TRIPPED}
19 Envelope from model leaving Antwerp sadly (6) ENWRAP ANtWRAP*
20 Plan to wear torn garments (7) RAIMENT {R{AIM}ENT}
21 Echo effect always found in Rhythm & Blues (6) REVERB {EVER} in {R&B}
23 Authorise construction of wall around Mexico at last (5) ALLOW {WALL}* over {m...cO}

Reference List

Husband = H, New = N, Republican = R, President = P, Female = F, House = HO, Fellow = F, Ecstasy = E, Daughter = D, Student = L, Time = T, Son = S, England = E, Model = T, 

GRID

No 12685, Tuesday 23 Jul 2019, Dr. X

Solved enroute while driving from San Francisco to Los Angeles all along the West Coast. A beautifully scenic drive.

ACROSS
1   Seize endless photographs featuring hot visual images (8) GRAPHICS {GRAb}{P{H}ICS}
5   Soldiers about to chase man in float – a terrorist (6) BOMBER {RE}<= after {BO{M}B}
10 United in passionate love, turned emotional (7) MAUDLIN {MA{U}D}{NIL<=}
11 Worm in lane, possibly dead (7) ANNELID {IN+LANE}*{D}

12 One stealing undergarments finally abandons strange fetish (5) THIEF FETIsH*
13 Obnoxious heels in bar cause a commotion (5,4) RAISE HELL {RAI{HEELS*}L}
14 Turning frog into prince! Extremely far out paranormal ability (12) PRECOGNITION {frOG+INTO+PRINCE}*
18 What a car assembly worker might do to treat one vulnerable cruelly? (3,3,4,2) PUT THE BOOT IN [DD]
21 Brutal raid organised to capture a criminal by noon (9) DRACONIAN {DR{A}{CON}IA*}{N}
23 Bucket here contains a volatile liquid (5) ETHER [T]
24 Disabling scheme to divide Chinese dynasty (7) MAIMING {M{AIM}ING}
25 Bond frames plan to engage in pretence (4-3) PLAY-ACT {P{LAY}ACT}
26 Potent in bed having knowledge (6) COGENT {CO{GEN}T}
27 Upset by director chasing one model in a passage (8) AGITATED {D} after {A}{G{1}{T}ATE}

DOWN
1   Plot to keep alien in cell (6) GAMETE {GAM{ET}E}
2   Neighbour's endless worry about an inability to act decisively (6) ABULIA {ABUt}{AIL<=}
3   Couple of husbands touring prehistoric castle speak at length (4,5) HOLD FORTH {H}{OLD}{FORT}{H}
4   Tense wife captures king at last in card game (8,6) CONTRACT BRIDGE {CONTRACT}{BRID{kinG}E}
6   Scrap after taking bit of umbrage (5) OUNCE {O{Um...e}NCE}
7   Newsflash – shot at home (8) BULLETIN {BULLET}{IN}
8   Fragrant rose given to win heart of beloved (8) REDOLENT {RED}{belOved}{LENT}
9   What one might be doing after washing's dried up is humiliating (6,4,1,3) TAKING DOWN A PEG [DD]
15 Traveller in the train, angrily ignoring husband (9) ITINERANT {IN+ThE+TRAIN}*
16 Record by one medic about plague (8) EPIDEMIC {EP}{1}{MEDIC*}
17 Taking ale frantically in distress (8) STEALING {ST{ALE*}ING}
19 Stop scoundrel about to grab hot woman in front of bar (6) THWART {T{H}{W}AR<=}{T}
20 Cheat upset about charge made a speech (6) ORATED {DO<=} over {RATE}
22 Bit of unpleasantness disregarded for love in marriage, it could make one cry (5) ONION (u+o)ONION

Reference List
Hot = H, United = U, Dead = D, Noon = N, Director = D, Husband = H, Love = O

GRID

No 12684, Monday 22 Jul 2019, Dr. X

ACROSS
1   Crack, ecstasy and cocaine taken in depression by woman (8) DECIPHER {D{E}{C}IP}{HER}
5   Manage when callous husband abandons, having turned rotten (6) AFFORD {hA{OFF<=}RD}
10 Poor recital – scrapping it for sure (5) CLEAR RECitAL*
11 Go to bed, overwhelmed by shame, oddly uncommunicative (9) SATURNINE {ShA{TURN IN}mE}
12 Harassed daughter rose to tackle a thug (9) DRAGOONED {D}{R{A}{GOON}ED}
13 Reasons given by one in low spirits about consuming ecstasy (5) IDEAS {1}{SA{E}D<=}
14 It is an extensively consumed herbal infusion (6) TISANE [T]
15 Summon chap going round with concoction of tea (7) EVOCATE {COVE<=}{TEA*}
18 Time to go round fancy bar in marina (7) HARBOUR {H{BAR*}OUR}
20 Heartily requested girl in lake to come out (6) EMERGE {r..uEs..d}{MER{G}E}
22 Close to largely forlorn girl (5) ALONG {ALONe}{G}
24 Drunkard's corporation? (4,5) BEER BELLY [CD]
25 Put up a fight in haunt (4,5) HANG ABOUT  {HANG}{A}{BOUT}
26 Long for a bit of vodka in noisy pub (5) LOCAL {L}{vOCAL}
27 Girl about to bag right husband making money in Africa (6) DIRHAM {MAID<=} over {R}{H}
28 A serious setback! Congress starting to become insignificant (4,4) BODY BLOW {BODY}{Be...e}{LOW}

DOWN
1   Throw light on fish in river (6) DECODE {DE{COD}E}
2   Buck up after capturing most effective knight (9) CHEVALIER {CHE{VALId}ER}
3   Angrily pans one arrogant unacceptable individual (7,3,5) PERSONA NON GRATA*
4   Ultimately deplorable scenes around centre (7) ESSENCE {d...lE}{SCENES*}
6   Powerful ambition that a gastritis sufferer might have? (4,2,4,5) FIRE IN ONES BELLY [DD]
7   Suspect held by cop in enclosure (5) OPINE [T]
8   Smarter rogue desires to conceal a little romp (8) DRESSIER {DESIRES}* over {Romp}
9   Heavy food left out for good man in cottage (6) STODGE (-l+st)STODGE
16 Holy girl in unholy alliance (9) ANGELICAL {G} in {ALLIANCE}*
17 Covered shack retains warmth (8) SHEATHED {S{HEAT}HED}
19 Strip-tease by revolting toff (6) RIBBON {RIB}{NOB<=}
20 Prefer bringing back alternative style of dance music (7) ELECTRO {ELECT}{OR<=}
21 Regulation about abandoning construction of cableway (3-3) BYELAW caBLEWAY*
23 Landlord in a state of depression after losing daughter (5) OWNER dOWNER

Reference List

Ecstasy = E, Cocaine = C, Husband = H, Daughter = D, Girl = G, Long = L, Right = R, Left = L, Good man = ST, About = CA

GRID

Special, Sunday 21 Jul 2019, Puzzle Lovers XI

The XI 

Dr Ami Deokar, Dr. Amit Mehta, Dr. Ashit Hegde, Dr Ashwini Nabar, Dr. Harshad Argekar, Dr. Jyotsna Deo, Dr. Mukund Jagannathan, Paul Ferreira, Dr. Satyen Nabar, Dr. Suresh Hemrajani, Dr. Vishnu Madhav 

Three answers per commenter as usual till 6 PM(Annotations Compulsory)
Please provide all your answers in one comment.

ACROSS
1   Low pitch, almost close to breaking (6)
4   Degree in law, shortly trending around globe (7)
8   Hand a new cheque at first to English fund (7)
9   Bizarre duel accepted by progeny, returns with bumps (7)
11 When bails are hit without getting dislodged say, former English captain gets kiss (5, 5)
12 Tad worrisome, Artificial Intelligence taking over Operation theatre (4)
13 Partly blind, I affirm and state (5)
14 Put something over on exposed burn (8)
16 Quarantined individual expected to receive oxygen (8)
18 Machine cutting wood finer is new, takes no time to prepare counter (5)
20 Perfect ebb tide (4)
21 What a cardiologist might order - essentially desserts, lobsters, mutton, cheesecake are out (6, 4)
23 Bailed out of a MiG but refused to lose head (7)
24 ABCDE or perhaps lines on product (3, 4)
25 A person who encourages a gambler (7)
26 Case of bullets around terminal explodes (6)

DOWN
1   Addicts ultimately have a tendency to drink (5)
2   Cocoon enveloped by cracked seed perished (7)
3   Encourage ruler on coach, says the Reverend (4-5)
5   Introvert hiding cache (5)
6   Mist ruined, curbed our sightseeing (7)
7   Six balls worth reviewing in defeat (9)
10 What bulimia patients may follow - they forbid disclosure of information (3, 6)
13 One discharged board employee finally joins criminal to pull this off? (6, 3)
15 Bolts and nuts at Reliance Industries Limited changed (5, 4)
17 Chop fine, avoiding a slip for this? (4, 3)
19 Used split seconds for routines (7)
21 Vies desperately to capture England and separate (5)
22 Soft drinks extracted from espresso dashboard (5)

Across Lite version can be accessed at PUZZLE LOVERS XI 3

Enjoy.

The Sunday Crossword No 3057, Sunday 21 Jul 2019

ACROSS
1   Passage from tango and boléro's composer (6) TRAVEL {T}{RAVEL}
4   Rambling, untoward rambling (5-3) DRAWN-OUT*
9   Frightfully loud neckwear for a sentimental type (6) SOFTIE {SO}{F}{TIE}
10 Roaring missiles, second becoming first (8) STRIDENT (+s)STRIDENT(-s)
12 Group getting around the law in America? (3,1,4) THE A TEAM {T{HEAT}EAM} &lit
13 Tell the cops about lunatic fringe (6) FINGER*
15 Philosopher with urges for fatty food (5,3,4) BACON AND EGGS {BACON}{AND}{EGGS}

18 Ludicrously citing Nando's as stereotypical middle-class fare? (3,3,6) GIN AND TONICS*

21 I tear around centre of Bonn in my dreams (2,4) IF ONLY {I}{FL{bONn}Y}
22 It was Byzantine, garbled, convoluted and ultimately intricate (8) BELGRADE {GARBLED}*{i...tE}
24 Shunned by society, stems endless desire to discuss work (4,4) TALK SHOP TALK{S}{HOPe} Anno pending (Addendum - {sTALKS}{HOPe} - See comments)
25 Stimulating dream I like very much (6) ADMIRE*
26 Hallowed figure that is the source of many mysteries (8) CHRISTIE {CHRIST}{IE}
27 Village greens used to have these stores (6) STACKS [DD]

DOWN
1   Cricket match underground as part of an experiment (4,4) TEST TUBE {TEST}{TUBE}
2   Close? Far? Out – that is, not in the house (8) ALFRESCO*
3   Going over six state lines: it's Jean-Paul Sartre and friends! (15) EXISTENTIALISTS {SIX+STATE+LINES+IT}*
5   Oh no: celebrity's on the rise (4) RATS<=
6   Working in restaurant, didn't remember to open up for party, leading to drama (7,3,5) WAITING FOR GODOT {WAITING}{FORGO{DO}T}
7   A dagger's drawn, oddly: it's tense (2,4) ON EDGE {ONE}{DaGgEr}
8   Coaches turn to rust (6) TUTORS*
11 Tom Cruise film with daredevil navy airman (4,3) RAIN MAN {N+AIRMAN}*
14 What's ever-so briny? (4,3) DEAD SEA [CD]
16 ITV with manic broadcast about dietary stipulation found in Brussels (7,1) VITAMIN C {ITV+MANIC}*
17 Tests idiot about uniform (2-6) AS-LEVELS {ASS} over {LEVEL}
19 Manoeuvre's putting second section before first: sweet! (3,3) TIC TAC TAC<=>TIC

20 Sportsman with something more substantial than a cap (6) BOWLER [DD]
23 One marsh reverts to become a barren tract (4) GOBI {1}{BOG}<=

Reference List
Tango = T, Loud = F, Party = DO, Navy = N

GRID

No 12683, Saturday 20 Jul 2019, Scintillator

ACROSS
1   Obstacle being chic? (6) HICCUP  {CHIC}* [RA]
4   Captive sailors went round in circles (8) ABSORBED {ABS}{ORBED}
9   Complex vitamin bonds in lettuce (6) BLINKS {B}{LINKS}

10 Publicity-seeking noisemaker – one can go on and on (8) PRATTLER {P}{RATTLER} P for Publicity? (Addendum - {P{RATTLE}R} - See comments)
12 Pay attention to opinion and reputation (4,4) TAKE NOTE {TAKE}{NOTE}
13 Software engineer's uncontrollable itch to consume drug (ecstasy) (6) TECHIE {E+ITCH}*{E}
15 Short skirt invites endless disapproval, again! (4) TUTU {TUt}{TUt}
16 These can give rise to shocks (10) GOOSEBUMPS [CD]
19 Undoubtedly, Faraday by and large was working out Newton (3,3,4) FAR AND AWAY {FARADAY+WAs}* over {N}
20 Taking top off, search a person for hazard (4) RISK fRISK
23 Wind not inspiring the States (6) FLATUS {FLAT}{US}
25 Forks out behind old insects (8) ODONATES {O}{DONATES}

27 Where a lion is (lair?) mostly withdrawn, rejective (2,6) IN DENIAL {IN DEN}{LAIr<=}
28 Trade in cherry gives me energy for promotion (6) REDEEM {RED}{ME+E<=}
29 Rent lettings for occupation (8) SETTLING*
30 A 30-sec video before release of Joker (6) TEASER [DD]

DOWN
1   Use a tee in home (7) HABITAT {HABIT}{A}{T}
2   An insect showing hesitation – Roach, possibly (9) CRICKETER {CRICKET}{ER}
3   Dunk in sauce that's cold (6) UNKIND*
5   Rub on the back softly (4) BURP ? (Addendum - {RUB<=}{P} - See comments) &lit
6   Failing man penned sad notebooks (2,3,3) ON THE EBB  {HE} in {NOTE}*{BB}
7   Judges change heart, eject violently (5) BELCH BE(-n+l)LCH
8   They can leave you in stitches by running errands (7) DARNERS*
11 Seat of old dynasty in Turkey (7) OTTOMAN [DD]
14 One casts aspersions on Queen departing Great Britain and Ireland? (7) ISLANDS {1}{SLANDerS}
17 Sense of endless mist, possibly? (9) MOISTNESS {SENSE+O+MISt}* &lit
18 At home, a lungi is worn about the groin (8) INGUINAL {IN}{A+LUNGI}*
19 When baby boomers were born in, i.e., stiff conditions (7) FIFTIES* That clarifies yesterday's statement :-)
21 Right, ask him about a place in North India (7) KASHMIR {R+ASK+HIM}*
22 Cold outcome of partners securing last grade in engineering branch (6) SNEEZE {S}{N}{E}{E{Z}E}
24 Study accounts of auto firm, Tesla (5) AUDIT {AUDI}{T}
26. Gape at flight turning north (4) YAWN {WAY<=}{N}

Reference List

Drug = E, Ecstasy = E, Newton = N, Old = O, Energy = E, Tee = T, Book = B, Queen = ER, Of = O, Right = R, Partners = S,N,E, Engineering Branch = EE(Electrical Engineering), Tesla = T, North = N

Colour/Font Scheme

Definition, Solution, Component letters, Embedded links, Theme word,  Anagram Indicator, C/C indicator, Reversal Indicator, Hidden word Indicator, Letter Pick indicator, Deletion Indicator, Homophone Indicator, Movement Indicator, Positional Indicator, Substitution, Indicator, Link/Connector, Extraneous

GRID