No 13583, Wednesday 15 Jun 2022, KrisKross

Solution to 24D 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   Young reporter getting time in Chennai to become a painter (6) CUBIST {CUB}{IST}

4   Ship from Switzerland comes in ahead of schedule (8) SCHOONER {S{CH}OONER}

10 Song, maybe about a rich man (9) MONEYBAGS*

11 Row over grand animal (5) TIGER {TI{G}ER}

12 Charm with last of champagne? No, a rum cocktail (7) ENAMOUR {c...nE+NO+A+RUM}*

13 They say everyone dies in this marathon? (4,3) LONG RUN [DD]

14 Office worker broke locker, missing nothing (5) CLERK LoCKER*

15 US city girl welcoming star (3,5) LAS VEGAS {LAS{VEGA}S}

18 Wake up from bed finally at noon, perhaps (6,2) COTTON ON {COT}{aT}{NOON*}

20 Couple of you after retirement can even wed! (5) UNITE {U}{TIN<=}{wEd}

23 One politician facing every charge (7) IMPEACH {1}{MP}{EACH}

25 Win state, breaching border from the east (7) PREVAIL {LI{AVER}P}<=

26 Set up a kiosk counter, partly non-functional (5) KAPUT [T<=]

27 Helping to protect University in decay (9) RUINATION {R{U}{IN}ATION}

28 Left fish as presents (8) PORTRAYS {PORT}{RAYS}

29 Charlie relaxes and stops (6) CEASES {C}{EASES}

DOWN

1   Force to smuggle millions in trade (8) COMMERCE {CO{MM}ERCE}

2   Dressing in black, with maturity (7) BANDAGE {B}{AND}{AGE}

3   Sick on vacation — however, after drinking shake, rise quickly (9) SKYROCKET {SicK}{Y{ROCK}ET}

5   Cats and spaniels frolicking in daydreams (7,2,5)  CASTLES IN SPAIN {CATS+SPANIELS}*{IN}

6   Volunteer to join work to attain money (3,2) OPT IN {OP}{TIN}

7   Atmosphere, say, in rebellious nation (7) NIGERIA {AIR}{EG}{IN}<=

8   Keen group of artists? (6) RARING {RA RING}

9   Evergreen and enduring duo (6,3,5) LAUREL AND HARDY {LAUREL}{AND}{HARDY} Semi&lit

16 Quote: "Nature seems endlessly mysterious" (9) ENUMERATE {NATURE+sEEMs}*

17 Swan and duck, initially let loose in marshy area (8)  WETLANDS {SWAN+Duck+LET}*

19 In theory, individual to eat bland food and start to recover (2,5) ON PAPER {ON{PAP}E}{Re...r}

21 Designed ultimately useful font with ASCII characters, to emphasise a point (7) ITALICS {u...eL+fonT+ASCII}*

22 Lift movie award, reportedly (4,2) PICK UP (~ pic cup)

24 Leader deleted more silly post (5) A?T?R (Addendum AFTER dAFTER - See comments)

Reference List

Switzerland = CH, Grand = G, University = U, Charlie = C, Million = M, Black = B, Money = TIN, Artist = RA(Royal Academician)