No 13461, Monday 24 Jan 2022, Hypatia

Solution to 6D 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.

ACROSS

7   Worker cutting pure fruit (8) PLANTAIN {PL{ANT}AIN}

9   Between two, neither partner’s backing conservative — that’s funny (6) IRONIC {I{NOR<=}I}{C}

10 Can extroverts keep succeeding? (4) NEXT [T]

11 Shook the tree and bullied (10) THREATENED*

12 Sensitive nurse (6) TENDER [DD]

14 Pennies saved by new account holder (8) OCCUPANT {OCCU{P}ANT}*

15 She manages artist cast in small commercial upfront (13) ADMINISTRATOR {MIN{ARTIST*}OR}<=>{AD}

18 Desire just carelessly (8) WANTONLY {WANT}{ONLY}

20 Doctor Hardy touring India’s capital (6) RIYADH {R{I}YADH*}

21 Concerning papers of Claude Monet leaving Europe by mistake (10) DOCUMENTAL {CLAUDe+MONET}*

22 Press conference, initially in Pakistan (4) PACK {PA{Co...e}K}

23 Good French kiss in bed exuding first sign (6) BECKON {B{pECK}ON}

24 Playing polo — day before yesterday's final game (8) MONOPOLY {POLO}*<=>{MON} and {y...aY}

DOWN

1   Love exercising in section put up in plant (4,4) ALOE VERA {A{LOVE*}ERA<=}

2   Insect bite changing wife to model (4) GNAT GNA(-w+t)T

3   Father sadly parts without love (6) PASTOR {PAST{O}R*}

4   One engaged to check notes, basically with registered lender (8) FINANCER {FI{N}ANCE}{R}

5   House husband, in Delhi say embracing old method of treatment (10) HOMEOPATHY {HOME}{(~pati)PATHY} over {O}

6   Bird drone carries little weight (6) ?I?E?N (Addendum - PIGEON {P{1G}EON} - See comments)

8   Neural networks in my sets? (7,6) NERVOUS SYSTEM {MY+SETS}* [RA]

13 As per Spooner, old president avoids vehicles (4,6) DUMPTRUCKS (~ trump ducks to dumptrucks)

16 Eager to wear grandmother’s yellow clothes (8) NANKEENS {NAN{KEEN}S}

17 Free — one cryptic clue for fun (8) RIDICULE {RID}{1}{CLUE*}

19 Maybe Old Welsh regularly left homes (6) ABODES {mAyBe+OlD+wElSh}

20 What banks have done again for yield (6) RELENT {RE-LENT}

22 Flower distributor? (4) PIPE [CD]

Reference List

Pennies = P, Commercial = AD, Europe = E, Wife = W, Model = T, Registered = R, Old = O