Solution to 21D 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 Some years ago, Iberians turned over fuel from waste (6) BIOGAS [T<=]
5 Lack of current in European river - water contaminated with trace of red copper (5,3) POWER CUT {PO}{WE{Red}{CU}T}
11 This easy life can turn romantic, perhaps? (8,4) PRIMROSE PATH {PRIMROSE PATH + CAN = ROMANTIC PERHAPS} [CA]
13 Learner entertained by John's online publication (4) BLOG {B{L}OG}
14 Dealer in elastic and rubber, principally all over India (8) SUPPLIER {SUPPL{I}E}{Ru...r}
17 Possibly, New Delhi's not originally near the boundaries of Khilji's capital? (8) HELSINKI {N+dELHIS}*{Kh..jI}
18 Haphazardly swerve, leaving corner (4) VEER swERVE* Semi&lit
20 Awe-inspiring Pranayama, maybe? (12) BREATHTAKING [DD]
24 Tomb carries assassin - heartless and cruel (8) INHUMANE {INHUM{As...iN}E}
25 Picked up freezing bird moving out with young 'uns (8) CHILDREN {(~chilled) CHILD}{wREN}
26 South American female, say, in a place south of London (6) SUSSEX {S}{US}{SEX}
DOWN
2 Hero in pink gown stripped every now and then (4) IKON pInK+gOwN
3 US lawyer barred from temple amidst carnivals in Ecuadorean territory (9) GALAPAGOS {GALA{PAGOda}S}
5 Delaying tactics of expert in probing anti-Castro revolutionary (15) PROCRASTINATION {PRO}{ANTI+CASTRO}* over {IN}
6 Where one may find folks exchanging messages in straw hats, apparently (8) WHATSAPP [T]
7 Build National Park around Indian state (3,2) RIG UP {GIR<=}{UP
8 Wanting basic education free, learner enters for primer in French (10) UNLETTERED UN(-f+l)LETTERED
12 Nomadic group, abducted by miscreants, about to spend the night in the open (5,5) SLEEP ROUGH {GROUP}* in {HEELS<=}
15 After losing rhythm in the beginning, Laver goes berserk, winning match #1, 6-0,6-0 (4,5) LOVE GAMES {LAVEr+GOES}* over {Ma..h}
16 Threatening articles on Avtaar carried by popular newspaper at the end (2,3,3) IN THE AIR {THE}{A}{I} in {IN}{n...eR}
19 Spectacles model wearing pants (6) SIGHTS {SIGH{T}S}
21 Dozen characters from a large islet (5) A?O?L (Addendum - ATOLL {A to L}{L} - See comments)
22 Former Unionist escaping from leopard (4) ONCE OuNCE
Reference List
The in French = LE, The in Spanish = EL, Learner = L, John = BOG, India = I, New = N, With = W, South = S, US Lawyer = DA(District Attorney), Popular = IN, Model = T, Large = L, Unionist = U
Breathtaking clue!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Paddy
DeleteGood try. But, sorry, no
ReplyDelete10Ac My CoD; elegant
ReplyDeleteπ
DeleteAhh well done!
ReplyDeleteWell done. Slight change in anno. Dozen characters from A = A to L
ReplyDeleteThat is what Sathya has said- A to L. There is just a typo.
ReplyDeleteGood solve.
ReplyDeleteSathia hasn't been peomoted?
ReplyDeleteNa Paddy. Wp is not just dozen characters.
ReplyDeleteIt's (dozen characters FROM A) very specific.
Excellent crossyy.
ReplyDeleteThought french Once = ounce
π. Thanks for the French ref
DeleteGot it.
ReplyDeleteTough and enjoyable crossword from Avtaar today. Especially liked the cluing for 5A,17A,25A,12D and 15D.
ReplyDeleteπ
DeleteDear all - I wanted to share some news with you. I had gone on a 2 day weekend trip to Nava thirupathi & guess who I met there?
ReplyDeleteSpinner (our erstwhile crossword setter). He is Srivatsan, a software professional & a trained singer of carnatic music.
It was a real pleasure meeting him. He seems to have stopped setting Crosswords due to other commitments. But he enquired after most of you & said a special Hi to Colonel.
π
How did you spot him,by the way?
DeleteDid he not tell that he is also a serious college level cricketer, a real spinner?
He is proficient enough to sing in sabhas.
His Cw's were delectable. Pity he could not contine.
DeleteSpinner & Dr. RKE are known to each other at Trichy.
ReplyDeleteI didn't spot him exactly. He was sitting next to me & said cw setting was his hobby & that got us started.
ReplyDeleteHe told me about his singing & shared his December schedule. Have promised to attend a couple of his concerts
He said he is from NIT tricky but no mention of cricket or of Dr.RKE.
ReplyDeleteI, intact, told him about my stories in the blog & how I was inspired by the Doc - but he did not say anything. Said, he had not read any.
Nice puzzle - though I did not get col legno. My COD - atoll & supplier.
ReplyDeleteThanx avtaar
π
DeleteNice one from KKRJi. Loved solving.
ReplyDelete