No 13632, Thursday 11 Aug 2022, WrdPlougher

Artwork by Prasanna

Solution to 4D 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.

Slipping back to old ways!!

ACROSS

5   Spell 500,500 out twice (6) VOODOO {V}{00}{D00} What's the role of TWICE?

7   Spelling checked by editor over chat, altered report (8) DESPATCH {SP} in {ED<=}{CHAT*} SP/Spelling? See comments 

9   Cable car carrying delegate without date (8) TELEGRAM {T{dELEGate}RAM}

10 Recycled soil absorbing rind of vine fruits (6) OLIVES {OLI{VinE}S*}

11 Thinking about restaurant criticism? (12) DELIBERATING {DELI}{BERATING}

13 Drifting east, circling ship reaching capital (6) ASSETS {A{SS}ETS*}

15 Like a rhino-hunter, disheartened having caught nothing, returning home (6) HORNED {Hun{0}teR}{DEN<=}

18 In spite of vow, changing stances (6,2,4) POINTS OF VIEW*

21 Tales of Mohammed (possessed the X factor, essentially prophetic) (6) HADITH {HAD}{IT}{p..pHe..c}

22 Write about criminal, eager to provide colour (3-5) PEA-GREEN {PE{EAGER*}N}

23 Steady fluctuating ruble in a day (4-4) TRUE-BLUE {T{RUBLE*}UE}

24 Incompetent sailor captivated by two French articles (6) UNABLE {UN}{AB}{LE}

DOWN

1   Sticky poster she ripped? That's packing cover, basically (8) ADHESIVE {AD}{SHE*}{I{coVer}E}

2   On the telephone, loudmouths exchange... (6) BOURSE (~boors)

3   ... vapid anecdotes about this — no surprise (8) ASTONISH {An...eS}{THIS+NO}*

4   Breeding frustration (6) ?A?I?G ()

6   See ovary doctor about egg preparation method? (4,4) OVER EASY*

7   Made me anxious to camouflage insult (6) DEMEAN [T]

8   Cared not about reputation, in short (4) CRED CaRED* A/About? What is the Anind? See comments 

12 Bizarrely, never finally made call from the centre of an STD (8) VENEREAL {NEVER*}{madE}{cALl}

14 Snub lady, gutted somewhat (8) SLIGHTLY {SLIGHT}{LadY}

16 Leans Roe, vies rather oddly to overturn repeal (8) REVERSAL {LeAnS+RoE+ViEs+Rather}<= What is the indicator to take only R from RATHER?

17 Basic tie (6) STAPLE [DD]

18 Main rule of textbook (6) PRIMER {PRIME}{R}

19 A question following operation that's murky (6) OPAQUE {A}{QUE}<=>{OP}

20 Market announced price that's reasonable (4) FAIR (~fare)

Reference List

5 = V, 500 = D, Editor = ED, Ship = SS, X factor = IT, Sailor = AB, French articles = UN,LE, Poster = AD, Rule = R