No 13499, Wednesday 09 Mar 2022, KrisKross

Solution to 13A 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

1   One replacing king in revolting Mediterranean island (6) SICILY SIC(-k+1}ILY

4   Exaggerate: “Oscar? Very poor reward!” (8) OVERDRAW {O}{V}{REWARD*}

10 Butcher drinking wine initially fermented and packed (5-4) CHOCK-FULL {C{HOCK}{Fe...d}ULL}

11 Convict shot rifle (5) LIFER*

12 Stock of a fashion designer seen in online journal (7) BACKLOG {B{A}{CK}LOG}

13 Willing to expose leaders, say (7) T?S?A?E (Addendum - TESTATE {To}{Ex...e}{STATE} - See comments)

14 In retreat, some get satisfying experience (5) TASTE [T<=]

15 Close to you, daughers stick around, demonstrating affection (8) CUDDLING {C{yoU}{DD}LING}

18 Tree flourishing a lot in outskirts of Bengaluru (8) ABUTILON {A+LOT+IN+Be...rU}*

20 Chap is penniless after changing sides (5) BLOKE B(-r+l)LOKE

23 Program not terminating — KrisKross starts to correct infinite loop, making additional condition (7) CODICIL {CODe}{I}{Co...t}{In...e}{Loop}

25 Land agent again reduced rent (over a pound) (7) REALTOR {RE}{TORe} over {A}{L}

26 Subordinate rose, say, to kill leader (5) LOWER fLOWER

27 Chance of success through righteousness? No, no! (9) VIABILITY {VIA}{noBILITY}

28 Communist symbol saying “no” to international organsisation (3,5) RED CROSS {RED}{CROSS}

29 Certainly I want to hug date (6) INDEED {I}{N{D}EED}

DOWN

1   Music makers loot innocent victims, reportedly (8) SACKBUTS {SACK}{BUTS(butts)}

2   Love wearing smart, best sleeveless selections (7) CHOICES {CH{0}IC}{bESt}

3   Most probable alternative: I’ll seek it (9) LIKELIEST*

5   Treated invalid aunt (a recluse) — exhausted, sick person (14) VALETUDINARIAN {INVALID+AUNT+A+Re...sE}

6   Lists characters on the radio (5) ROLLS (~roles)

7   Avoid singing in a group (7) REFRAIN [DD]

8   One doing the job with fast delivery, dismissing opener (6) WORKER {W}{yORKER}

9   Pair of stretchers seen in operating theatre? (8,6) SURGICAL GLOVES [CD]

16 One born on 2nd of October perhaps, having rebellious attitude, becomes a bookkeeper (9) LIBRARIAN {LIBRA{AIR<=}N}

17 Feared extremely deadly criminal, and paid up (8) DEFRAYED {FEARED+De..lY}*

19 Wet garden filled with rambling weed (7) BEDEWED {B{WEED*}ED}

21 Plan of individual to keep fighting until losing weapon finally (7) OUTLINE {O{UnTIL*}NE}

22 Judge censored funny visual (6) OCULAR jOCULAR

24 Nurse about to enter vehicle (5) CARER {CA{RE}R}

Reference List

King = K, Oscar = O, Very = V, Daughter = D, Again = RE, Pound = L, Date = D, With = W, Judge = J, About = RE