No 14238, Saturday 27 Jul 2024, Gussalufz

ACROSS

1   Luv it! Am incessantly stashing health supplement (7,1) VITAMIN C [T]

6   Fixed typo besetting each table (6) TEAPOY {T{EA}POY*}

9   One can root (4) ALOO {A}{LOO}

10 One thousand die after hunger, with closures in Chicago stadium cooking area (10) KITCHENDOM {K}{ITCH}{DO}{c...gO}{s...uM}

11 Mercury possibly contains nitrogen? That's bonkers! (6) MENTAL {ME{N}TAL}

12 Bishop left wearing cross, sister is angry (8) BRISTLES {B}{RIST{L}ES*}

13 Boy! Start fires in empty godowns and plant diseases? (10) BLIGHTINGS {B}{LIGHT}{IN}{Go...nS}

15 Tough, but not over rough and tough (4) THUG {ToUGH}*

17 Architect's note (4) CHIT [T]

18 Running short race? Sprint, chasing time record (10) TRANSCRIPT {RACe+SPRINT}*<=>{T}

20 Regularly recurring acid dreams, weed, no electronic communications (3,5) NEW MEDIA {AcId+DrEaMs+WeEd+No}<=

22 Surprising raid, no? (6) INROAD* &lit

24 Spots in secret FL resort (10) FERNTICLES*

26 With last of cash gone, credit used for vehicle (4) TANK ThANK

27 The sly, depraved radicals (6) ETHYLS*

28 Caught wild bus ride along the edge of a street in LA (8) CURBSIDE {C}{BUS+RIDE}*

DOWN

2   Will he? (Although not all there, and suffering) (3,6) ILL HEALTH [T]

3   Back around noon: naked cooking! (5) AFOOT {AF{nOOn}T}

4   Point-blank shot strikes frying pan — part of a psychological test? (7) INK BLOT  {pOINT+BLanK}*

5   Result when one's put on tan foundation at night? (3) COT Anno pending

6   The ghost is less frequently seen in these regions (7) TEHSILS {ThE+gHoSt+Is+LeSs}

7   One commenting on art a ton, affectedly (9) ANNOTATOR*

8   Gas with tiny mass, abbreviated: I (5) OZONE {OZ}{ONE}

12 Headgear from Punjab, and an amulet (7) BANDANA [T]

14 Crooked agent pockets second case of every show's earnings (4-5) GATE-MONEY {GATE{MO}N*}{EverY}

16 Haphazard international body criticised over Israel, finally (9) UNPLANNED {UN}{P{i...eL}ANNED}

18 Distributed freely after deleting appallingly rude pieces (7) TIDBITS  DISTrIBuTed*

19 Clip of space habitat welcomed by music after docking (7) SCISSOR {SC{ISS}ORe}

21 Release electron stream (around speed of light) (5) EJECT {E}{JE{C}T}

23 Amidst brawls, one retreats to get food items (5) ROTIS R(-1)+OT(+1)IS

25 Some revolting chemicals in insect secretion (3) LAC [T<=]

Reference List

Each = EA, Can = LOO, One thousand = K, Bishop = B, Left = L, Boy = B, Over = O, Time = T, Caught = C, Second = MO, Electron = E, Speed of light = C

No 14237, Friday 26 Jul 2024, Avtaar

RULES FOR POSTING COMMENTS FOR FRIDAY ONLY

All those who are not regular commenters but who are rookie commenters or silent followers of the blog are requested to post answers with annotations in the comments section. In your own interest please avoid looking up the answers from the interactive version. Don't hesitate to post your annotations, in case you make a mistake in the annotation someone will correct it with the right annotation.

PLEASE NOTE, SOLUTIONS WITHOUT ATTEMPTING THE ANNOTATIONS WILL BE DELETED

Each commenter is requested to post only 5 answers thereby giving others also a chance to participate. Please provide all your answers in one comment.

Regular solvers/Veterans can post 1 answer each, but after 11 AM only.

Thanks for the response, here's the regular blog.

ACROSS

1   Fancy vehicle studded with diamonds to welcome prince (7) CAPRICE {CA{P}R}{ICE}

5   Conference of banks in Seattle Tower (7) SEMINAR {Se...lE}{MINAR}

10 Worry about featuring in British daily (4) FRET {F{RE}T}

11 Pirate spoils pauper, according to Spooner (10) BOOTLEGGER (loot beggar to bootlegger)

12 Vegetables in skimmed curd fed to deities (6) GOURDS {GO{cURd}DS}

13 Perhaps, Avtaar can mean 'Reincarnated'? (8) NICKNAME {NICK}{MEAN*} 

14 Doctor is late - heard you are heading out, having nothing to do (2,7) AT LEISURE {IS+LATE}*{(~you)U}{aRE}

16 Bar acquired by chief in expanding East Tamil Nadu town (5) ERODE {Ex...g}{ROD}{E}

17 Completely pointless, insincere greeting (5) HALLO sHALLOw

19 Couple rents jewellery (9) BRACELETS {BRACE}{LETS}

23 Case of lieutenant avoiding casual relaxation leading to lack of appetite (8) ANOREXIA RElAXAtION*

24 A sign describing Presidential couple, pointing to Middle Eastern City (6) ALEPPO {A}{LE{PP}O}

26 4th of April - soldiers taking part in professional test (10) EXPERIMENT {EXPER{aprIl}{MEN}T}

27 They are charged by current applied to terminal in series (4) IONS {I}{ON}{s...eS}

28 Poem about climax of journey by ship, ending in victory (7) ODYSSEY {OD{j...eY}E}{SS}{v...rY} &lit

29 Intricate paperwork? (7) ORIGAMI [CD]

DOWN

2   Where one lands in state carriage (7) AIRPORT {AIR}{PORT}

3   It goes round and round, to and fro, from Cairo to Rabat (5) ROTOR [T]

4   Group of artists start to sculpt, slicing copper fragments (7) CUBISTS {CU}{BI{Sc...t}TS}

6   Base of fine, clean, scrubbed cover with a mesh (6) ENLACE* {finE+CLEAN}*

7   Cool blue-green aluminium, basically (2,7) IN GENERAL {IN}{GREEN*}{AL}

8   Won over by a journalist, judge cancelled a bequest (7) ADEEMED {A}{DEEM}{ED}

9   The Reverend released pressure on crooked realtor, eventually (6,2,5) SOONER OR LATER {SpOONER}{REALTOR*}

15 Suppliers of big shots? (9) ENLARGERS [CD]

18 A note with demand covering location of treasure is seized (7) ANNEXED {A}{N}{NE{X}ED}

20 Piano removed from stage, replaced by nationalist who recites in a singing manner (7) CHANTER CHA(-p+n)NTER

21 Maybe Egyptian mummy, no potentate holds up ? (7) TOPONYM [T<=] Definition by example

22 Old cloak inset with unknown animal's skin (6) OXHIDE {O}{HIDE} over {X}

25 Drug lord is managing with difficulty (5) EKING {E}{KING}

Reference List

Diamonds = ICE, Prince = P, About = RE, British daily = FT(Financial Times), President = P, Ship = SS, Journalist = ED, Pressure = P, Note = N, Location of treasure = X, Piano = P, Nationalist = N, Old = O, Unknown = X, Drug = E

No 14236, Thursday 25 Jul 2024, Bruno

Solution to 3D 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.

Open for anyone to answer, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

1   Snoring in the middle of stripped down popular English crossword, perhaps? (6) PUZZLE {poPU{ZZ}Lar}{E}

4   Computer from American city functions essentially when dropped in soda (6) LAPTOP {LA}{P{f..cTi..s}OP}

9   Harvest of farmer ultimately stolen by policeman (4) CROP {C{f...eR}OP}

10 Queen in USA too surprised with last president's references (10) QUOTATIONS {Q}{IN+USA+TOO+p...nT}*

11 Make another effort to communicate with Harry, finally getting involved in Peter's problem (6) RETYPE {RET{h...rY}PE*}

12 Lost time in part of book on escort (8) CHAPERON {CHAPtER}{ON} 

13 Dead Queen on last parade with King, perhaps? (6,3) NUMBER ONE {NUMB}{ER}{ON}{p...dE}

15 Change - remove last letter and last word (4) AMEN AMENd

16 No flattery repulsed King (4) LION {N}{OIL}<=

17 Classless society and music with no beats? Married man's into it! (9) COMMUNISM {MUSIC+NO}* over {M}{M}

21 Electronic system's temporary - company needs to replace one (8) INTERCOM INTER(-1+co)COM

22 It might keep one warm - a frog perhaps? (6) JUMPER [DD]

24 Avoided collisions close to girls (4,6) NEAR MISSES {NEAR}{MISSES}

25 Black finger's tip chopped off (4) INKY pINKY

26 Toe's wounded at one end - work extremely likely to be held back (6) DACTYL {w...eD}{ACT}{Li..lY<=}

27 Some boys terrorise animal (6) OYSTER [T]

DOWN

1   One recently became rich - built unapproved pod outside (7) PARVENU UNAPpRoVEd*

2   Lively and fast - gets last batsman out for zero (5) ZIPPY (-n+z)ZIPPY

3   One in Barcelona that visits Louvre often for a drink (7) L?Q?E?R (Addendum - LIQUEUR - {1}{QUE} in {LoUvRe} - See comments)

5   One form of a tax - a revenue, mainly (6) AVATAR {A}{VAT}{A}{Re...e}

6   Family of bears in Montana migrating (9) TRIBESMAN {BEARS+IN+MT}*

7   Water transport leaving river quickly - reaching edges of ocean (7) PONTOON {PrONTO}{OceaN}

8   Iconoclast fits norm? Mainly conservative? No, no! Eccentric! (13) NONCONFORMIST {FITS+NORM+Co...e+NO+NO}*

14 Refer to mob uprising around Iran's and Russia's capitals at different points to get facial recognition measurement? (9) BIOMETRIC {CI{Ru...n}TE}{MO{Iran}B}<=

16 Oil producer's products leach ecstasy on river when going upstream (7) LINSEED {LINeS}{DEE<=}

18 King may suppress joke (7) MAJESTY {MA{JEST}Y}

19 Orator's point gets limitless press coverage, when brought up (7) SPEAKER {PEAK} in {pRESs<=}

20 Keenness of upper classes to live in London, for example (6) ACUITY {U} in {A CITY}

23 Wet duck seen in fog (5) MOIST {M{O}IST}

Reference List

English = E, Soda = POP, Queen = Q, Time = T, Queen = ER, No = N, Married = M, Man = M, Company = CO, Zero = Z, That in Spanish = QUE, River = R, Ecstasy = E, Upper classes = U

No 14235, Wednesday 24 Jul 2024, Hypatia

Solution to 8A 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.

Open for anyone to answer, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

8   Discovering love, jail criminal's happy (6) ?O?I?L (Addendum - JOVIAL {lOVe+JAIL}* - See comments)

9   Money, government pockets for every training (8) TEACHING {T{EACH}IN}{G}

10 Ripest expert on a topic (4,6) HIGH PRIEST {RIPEST}* [RA]

11 Regularly sent letters back from Kirkuk to West Asian (4) TURK {KiRkUk+To}<=

12 Reverend's mature subject for therapy sessions (3,5) MUD BATHS (bud maths to mud baths) Mature or Immature?

14 Rarely do bonds held return zero (6) NOBODY [T<=]

15 Snake's nasty and angry, on reflection (7) MEANDER {MEAN}{RED<=}

17 Natural firm's about to import fresh grain (7) ORGANIC {CO<=} over {GRAIN}*

20 Everyone secured work around old space mission (6) APOLLO {A{OP<=}LL}{O}

22 Former president mostly modified press (8) EXPEDITE {EX}{P}{EDITEd}

24 Poet starts to blog about rhymes daily (4) BARD Acrostic

25 Stress from a late teen, for one? (10) UNDERSCORE {UNDER SCORE}

27 Pest recognized smells in the air (8) NUISANCE (~knew sense)

28 Republican left bruised and frightened (6) SCARED SCArRED

DOWN

1   Very drunk, impolite leader driven out in loneliness (8) SOLITUDE {SO}{LIT}{rUDE}

2   Affluent royal is crowned here, basically (4) RICH Acrostic

3   Real nervous in court, becoming red (6) CLARET {C{REALE}T}

4   He doesn't believe in hate it's spreading (7) ATHEIST*

5   One joins players quicker outside (8) FASTENER {FAST{E}{N}ER}

6   Engineer bored with a discussion panel? (10) WHITEBOARD*

7   After sabbath, neither partner exercised on vacation and slept soundly (6) SNORED {S}{NOR}{Ex...eD}

13 Country boy and girl cycling crash ahead (10) BANGLADESH {LAD}{(+e)ESH(-e)}<=>{BANG}

16 Articulate look into Queen changing with time (8) ELOQUENT {E{LO}QUEN*}{T}

18 Trainee essentially gets web connection (8) INTERNET {INTERN}{gETs}

19 Most redundant parts of a compass (7) NEEDLES NEEDLESs

21 Say dog eating a posh snack (6) PEANUT {PE{AN}{U}T}

23 Study each consumption (6) PERUSE {PER}{USE}

26 Mogul seen periodically in Jacob Zuma's army (4) CZAR {jaCob+ZumAs+aRmy}

Reference List

Money = TIN, Government = G, Work = OP, Old = O, President = P, Republican = R, Drunk = LIT, Court = CT, Players = E,N, Sabbath = S, Time = T, Posh = U

No 14234, Tuesday 23 Jul 2024, Hypatia

Solution to 14A 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.

Open for anyone to answer, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

1   Entertainers in company with Karaoke accessories (6) COMICS {CO}{MICS}

4   Like hot brown girl on a yoga course (8) ASHTANGA {AS}{H}{TAN}{G}{A}

9   One taking interest in setting benchmark? Not essentially (6) BANKER BENchmARK*

10 Characters in print and embossing are together (2,6) IN TANDEM [T]

11 Knew bear can make fresh trail (5,3,6) BREAK NEW GROUND {KNEW+BEAR}* [RA]

13 Prank involving pet is funny and clean (10) ANTISEPTIC {ANT{PET+IS}*IC}

14 Go around strikes (4) ?T?B (Addendum - STAB<= - See comments)

16 Steps leading down in Ganges had a temple originally (4) GHAT Acrostic Semi&lit

18 Implied by mistake - sure, not odd! (10) UNDERSTOOD*

21 Like award inspiring mostly ailing scientist (14) ASTROPHYSICIST {AS TROPHY IS} over{SICk}  T from? Clue corrected see comments

21 Like award first inspiring mostly ailing scientist (14) ASTROPHYSICIST {AS}{TROPHY}{1ST} over{SICk} 

23 Accepted timeless custom to welcome friend in an Emirate (3,5) ABU DHABI {A}{HABIt} over {BUD}

24 Shrug in dance (6) BOLERO [DD]

25 Abandoned old dear with nothing in place of great wealth (2,6) EL DORADO {OLD+DEAR}*{0}

26 Current issue (6) STREAM [DD}

DOWN

1   Copper's to remain solid (4) CUBE {CU}{BE}

2   Shelter animals raised inside tower (7) MINARET [T<=]

3   Gap behind say, Spooner leading in church (8) CREVASSE {ASS}<=>{REV} in {CE}

5   Lyricists are bad viewers, per Spooner (11) SONGWRITERS (~wrong sighters to songwriters)

6   Spin around each beverage holder (3,3) TEA URN {T{EA}URN}

7   Working out with Bond? Certainly! (2,5) NO DOUBT {OUT+BOND}*

8   Criminal had me confined in a dreadful place (9) AHMEDABAD {HAD+ME}*{A}{BAD}

12 Check Biden getting confused with Putin and Harris, initially (3,2,3,3) NIP IN THE BUD {BIDEN+PUTIN+Ha...s}*

13 Government dividing city's tax revenue ultimately to annoy (9) AGGRAVATE {AG{G}RA}{VAT}{r...nE}

15 Push toy roughly around little child to intimidate (5,3) PSYCH OUT {PUSH+TOY}* over {Ch..d}

17 Bowl over areas to understand limits (7) ASTOUND [T]

19 Crude mobs essentially perceived as noisy (7) OBSCENE {mOBs}{(~seen)SCENE}

20 Royal abandons sibling in trouble (6) BOTHER BrOTHER

22 Despicable creature of either gender (4) WORM [DD] (Correction {W OR M} - See comments)

Reference List

Company = CO, Hot = H, Girl = G, Time = T, Church = CE, Each = EA, Government = G, Royal = R

No 14233, Monday 22 Jul 2024, Dr. X

Solution to 26A 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.

Open for anyone to answer, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

1   Royal Air Force in undercover operation doing this? (8) STRAFING {ST{RAF}ING} Semi&lit

5   Ethnic people from Vanuatu are graceful (6) TUAREG [T]

10 Live long and securely in capital city (7) BELFAST {BE}{L}{FAST}

11 Wary of a dog - run frantically (2,5) ON GUARD*

12 Fish is orca, moving closer to beach (5) ROACH {ORCA*}{b..cH}

13 Old president in charge rejected act intentionally (2,7) ON PURPOSE {O}{RU{P}N<=}{POSE}

14 Crazy incident involving associate turning blue on a drug (3,2,1,6) MAD AS A HATTER {M{A}{SAD<=}{A}{H}ATTER}

18 Oh my God! Hound twisting to bound over cougar is astonishing (4,8) GOOD GRACIOUS {DO{O}G<=}{COUGAR+IS}*

21 German diet's heavy, having ultimately terrible gas with bit of tummy upset (9) REICHSTAG {R{t...lE}ICH}{GAS+Tu..y}*

23 Forget about divorce essentially and relax (5) LOOSE {LO{divOrce}SE}

24 Sheltered part with cover over spot around back of cottage (3,4) LEE SIDE {L{SEE<=}ID}{c...gE}

25 Shocking deceit with bit of arsenic in cold drink (4,3) ICED TEA {DECEIT+Ar...c}*

26 Investigates charges involving top star's son (6) S?S?E? (Addendum - SUSSES {SU{St..s}{S}ES} - See comments)

27 Husband overwhelmed by cocaine and drink becomes tearful (6,2) CHOKES UP {C{H}OKE}{SUP}

DOWN

1   Star conceals rifle, about to give bribe (6) SUBORN {SU{ROB<=}N}

2   Wild leopard killing prince! Put more bullets in gun (6) RELOAD LEOpARD*

3   Force hit outlaw with good stun grenade (9) FLASHBANG {F}{LASH}{BAN}{G}

4   Start to trek in Montana, inhale fresh country air (8,6) NATIONAL ANTHEM {Trek} in {MONTANA+INHALE}*

6   One who encourages boy avoiding fast food item (5) URGER bURGER

7   Chooses again to study and tops easily (8) READOPTS {READ}{TOPS*}

8   Wander, say, all round to inspect collection of devices (8) GADGETRY {GAD}{EG}{TRY} 

9 &15 Insane reason for halting card game (3,7,4,1,4,4) NOT PLAYING WITH A FULL DECK [C&DD]

15 See 9

16 Sell grog, nuts and deep-fried snacks (3,5) EGG ROLLS*

17 Manages to drink peg, initially stumbles in state of stupefaction (8) DOPINESS {DO{PIN}ES}{St...s}

19 Sex, essentially uninhibited, breaking bed - extremely uproarious (6) COITUS {CO{u...hIb...d}{Up...uS}

20 Escape from eastern Cuba, breaking barrier quietly (6) DECAMP {D{E}{C}AM}{P}

22 Old lift in Idaho is enormous (5) HOISE [T]

Reference List

Long = L, Old = O, President = P, Associate = A, Drug = H, Over = O, Son = S, Husband = H, Cocaine = COKE, Prince = P, Force = F, Good = G, Boy = B, Wander = GAD, Eastern = E, Cuba = C, Quietly = P

Special, Sunday 21 Jul 2024, Ghaza

Artwork by Prasanna

Rangoli by Gowri

Three answers per commenter till 6 PM (Annotations compulsory) 

Please submit all your answers in one comment.  

(COMMENTS ENTERED WITH LESS THAN THREE ANSWERS/ANNOTATIONS WILL BE DELETED WITHOUT NOTICE, UNLESS THE COMMENTER SPECIFIES THAT IT IS A COMPENSATION FOR A REPEAT)

Starred clues are part of a theme, they do not have a definition.

After filling the grid, solvers may fill-in-the-blanks. Each blank can be filled with a clue number, e.g. 2A or 10D.

Enjoy.

The Sunday Crossword No 3316, Sunday 21 Jul 204

ACROSS

1   Pauses in Hamlet upsetting (3-3) LET-UPS [T] 

4   As these words are like most poetry (8) STRESSED Definition by example

9   Perhaps Sturgeon’s gone east for pescatarian option (4,5) FISH PASTE {FISH}{PAST}{E}

11 Stray found in mountains (5) RANGE [DD]

12 Follow edges of footprint? (5) TRACE [DD]

14 Lowers trousers, having consumed liquor: high-risk actions (4,5) MOON SHOTS {MOON{SHOT}S}

15 Critical memos rewritten; they only cover small areas (13) MICROCLIMATES*

18 Greatly enjoy percussion overwhelming Sweden’s rowdy music (8,5) DRINKING SONGS {DRINK IN}{G{S}ONGS}

20 At home with insignificant type, idiot, nothing, no-name (9) INCOGNITO {IN}{COG}{NIT}{O}

22 Send out one’s children (5) ISSUE [DD]

23 Cut – or pure, you say? (5) SHEAR (~sheer)

24 Stalls accommodating greedy-guts, prickly types (9) HEDGEHOGS {HEDGE{HOG}S}

26 Aversion: staidest upset (8) DISTASTE*

27 Guides some of gnus herself (6) USHERS [T]

DOWN

1   One magazine, then another: you’re here for it all! (8) LIFETIME {LIFE}{TIME}

2   It’s decrepit? (3) TIS*

3   Red / green / yellow ingredient topping Italy’s pizza’s … topping! (9) PEPPERONI {PEPPER}{ON}{I}

5   Article on public land leading to Parky’s indisposition (3,6,4) THE COMMON COLD {THE}{COMMON}{COLD}

6   Casts Cockney as gentry (5) EARLS (~'urls}

7   Young man with gloom lifting snogs wildly in erotic verse (4,2,5) SONG OF SONGS {SON}{FOG<=}{SNOGS*}

8   Primarily, decidedly ritzy / elegantly styled – suit yourself! (6) DRESSY Acrostic &lit

10 Film rebooted: I Took The Limes (4,4,2,3) SOME LIKE IT HOT*

13 Fancy lady revamping sad churches (11) ARCHDUCHESS*

16 Delicious quality: after time, wine going to head (9) TASTINESS {T}{ASTI}{NESS}

17 Rates fools, storing jam with no lid (8) ASSESSES {ASS{mESS}ES}

19 Passed over – lamented (6) MISSED [DD]

21 Creep up on a policeman in Limerick (5) GARDA {DRAG<=}{A}

25 Everyman? Joke (3) ONE [DD]

Reference List

Sweden = S, Italy = I, Time = T, Head = NESS

No 14232, Saturday 20 Jul 2024, Dr. X

ACROSS

1   One attending courses is changing career to secure work (8) RACEGOER {RACE{GO}ER*}

5   Long for right look to entice (6) APPEAL APPEA(-r+l)L

10 Leads to development of Mensa (5) MEANS*

11 Tesla creates a revolutionary station wagon (6,3) ESTATE CAR {T+CREATES+A}*

12 Tense singer cut by star's criticism (7-2) TALKING-TO {T}{AL{KING}TO}

13 Column on celebrity hosting present occasion (5) NONCE [T]

14 Grass is strong! Relief to release worries essentially (6) FESCUE {F}{rESCUE}

15 Starts to eat uncooked rice, gets loose motion (7) GESTURE {Eat+Un...d+Rice+GETS}*

18 Rodent turned alert, avoiding a snake (7) RATTLER {RAT}{aLERT*}

20 Excellent and elegant, guiding ball close to hole (6) CHOICE {CH{O}IC}{holE}

22 It's used for cleaning bachelor pad (5) BROOM {B}{ROOM}

24 Italian cake in container - crust of excellent quality (9) PANETTONE {PAN}{Ex...nT}{TONE}

25 Accepted endless distress in terrible old form of torture (9) BASTINADO {B{pASTINg}AD}{O} (Correction - {A}{STINg} in {BAD}{O} - See comments)

26 Separate from boy lacking concern (5) OTHER bOTHER

27 Showy displays in club inside old retreat (6) ECLATS {STAL{C}E<=}

28 Decided to take a little rest? Professor talked monotonously (6,2) DRONED ON {D{Rest}ONE}{DON}

DOWN

1   Distant voyage to Mercury conducted, revolutionary (6) REMOTE [T<=]

2   Most creepy and brutal perjuries in court (9) CRAWLIEST {C{RAW}{LIES}T}

3   One writing about famous people's quirky compulsions in essence (6,9) GOSSIP COLUMNIST {G{COMPULSIONS*}IST}

4   Starts to eloquently praise fancy green centrepiece for table (7) EPERGNE {El...y}{Pr...e}{GREEN*}

6   Take a firm decision and stop being chaser in one-legged tag (3,4,4,4) PUT ONES FOOT DOWN [DD]

7   Former prisoner is caught, nailed by segment of DNA (2-3) EX-CON {EX{C}ON}

8   Thief in new reel, slyly stealing fancy car (8) LARCENER {N+REEL}* over {CAR}*

9   Powerful number captivating teenybopper on vacation (6) STRONG {S{Te...eR}ONG}

16 He couldn't swim naked (9) UNCLOTHED*

17 Inquiry about lab blowing up is expected (8) PROBABLE {PROB{LAB*}E}

19 Rematch with athlete essentially chasing record-breaking streak (6) REPLAY {athLete}<=>{EP} in {RAY}

20 Woo endlessly, entertaining with sincerity (7) CANDOUR {C{AND}OURt}

21 Bird over top of building in city of Palestine (6) HEBRON {HE{Bu...g}RON}

23 Bird in Seoul, exotic (5) OUSEL*

Reference List

Long = L, Right = R, Tesla  T< Tense = T, Singer = ALTO, Strong = F, Bachelor = B, Old = O, Boy = B, Club = C, Court = CT, Caught = C, New = N, Record = EP(Extended Ply)

No 14231, Friday 19 Jul 2024, Dr. X

RULES FOR POSTING COMMENTS FOR FRIDAY ONLY

All those who are not regular commenters but who are rookie commenters or silent followers of the blog are requested to post answers with annotations in the comments section. In your own interest please avoid looking up the answers from the interactive version. Don't hesitate to post your annotations, in case you make a mistake in the annotation someone will correct it with the right annotation.

PLEASE NOTE, SOLUTIONS WITHOUT ATTEMPTING THE ANNOTATIONS WILL BE DELETED

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Regular solvers/Veterans can post 1 answer each, but after 11 AM only.

Thanks for the response, here's the regular blog.

ACROSS

1   Eco-friendly technology in vehicle with apt curb on toxic emissions at launch (6,7) CARBON CAPTURE {CAR}{APT+CURB+ON}*{Em...s} Semi&lit 

8   Associate training to catch fish (5) TETRA [T]

9   Female enthralled by great, shimmering blue light lingering in the sky (9) AFTERGLOW {A{F}TERG*}{LOW}

11 English member in capital goes topless, showing lack of refinement (10) INELEGANCE {E}{LEG} in {fINANCE}

12 Bachelor wanting model, stylish and lean (4) BONY {B}{tONY}

14 King who won battles showing skill (4-3) KNOW-HOW {K}{WHO+WON}*

16 Inmate affected by a mental deficiency (7) AMENTIA {INMATE}*{A}

17 Developing new perfume having essence of peach (7) NASCENT {N}{peAch}{SCENT}

19 Revealed development of nuclear device (7) EVINCED {N+DEVICE}*

21 Secure slice of papaya for small parrot (4) COPY CO(-s+p)PY

22 Advanced cancer? Doc sadly in agreement (10) ACCORDANCE {A+CANCER+DOC}*

25 Steep cost to acquire Scorsese's latest revolutionary film (9) PRECIPICE {PR{s...sE}{PIC<=}ICE}

26 Embankments behind a mountain in America (5) ADAMS {DAMS}<=>{A}

27 In danger, old fellow flying over Cuba makes emergency touchdown (6,7) FORCED LANDING {IN+DANGER+OLD+F}* over {C}

DOWN

2   Style of design rated high by company (3,4) ART DECO {RATED}*{CO}

3   Skids in start of race in base, he's ok otherwise (5,5) BRAKE SHOES {Race} in {BASE+HES+OK}*

4   Reviewed article about plant set up in Sudanese city (5) NYALA {AN<=} over {LAY<=}

5   Easily locate a UV sterilisation machine (9) AUTOCLAVE*

6   Rotate round metal piece over centre of screw (4) TURN {NUT<=} over {scRew}

7   Eliminate smuggler concealing money in retreat (4,3) RULE OUT {mULE} in {ROUT}

8   It may help to solve problem of poor relations with leader of Canada in rift (8,3) THINKING CAP {THIN}{KIN}{G{Ca...a}AP}

10 Disturbing news, say about pupil's disobedience (11) WAYWARDNESS {NEWS+SAY}* over {WARD}

13 Way to yawn politely? It's late (10) BEHINDHAND {BEHIND HAND}

15 Expecting onset of hives after terrible itch covered by rash (4,5) WITH CHILD {Hi..s}<=>{ITCH*} in {WILD}

18 Boss is more relaxed after drink (7) SUPREMO {MORE}*<=>{SUP}

20 Restrain criminal with strap over wrist at centre (7) CONTAIN {CON}{TA{wrIst}N}

23 Very upset about extremely dire situation essentially in city of Ukraine (5) ODESA {O{DirE}S<=}{s..uAt..n} 

24 Type of microprocessor in computer is compact (1,1,1,1) R I S C [T]

Reference List

Female = F, English = E, Bachelor = B, Model = T, Stylish = TONY, King = K, New = N, Nuclear = N, Small = S, Fellow = F, Cuba = C, Money = M, Very = SO

No 14230, Thursday 18 Jul 2024, Dr. X

Solution to 23D 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.

Open for anyone to answer, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

1   Seasoned beef is over, pack salami finally (8) PASTRAMI {PAST}{{RAM}{s...mI}

5   Aroused a woman with love and understanding (6) AWOKEN {A}{W}{0}{KEN}

10 Icon cavorting with girl is disguised (5) INCOG {ICON*}{G}

11 Stretching is essentially necessary before exercise (9) STRAINING [CD] (Addendum - STRAINING {n..eSs..y}{TRAINING} - See comments)

12 How one lacking a suit might be cold (9) HEARTLESS [C&DD]

13 Portable shelter over left bank of raging river (5) TRENT {T{Ra...g}ENT}

14 One painting portrait of maiden aboard ship (6) LIMNER {LI{M}NER}

15 Tumour in a node affected mother (7) ADENOMA {A}{NODE*}{MA}

18 Lech at exotic model in thong (7) LATCHET {LECH+AT}*{T}

20 Old king is extremely taut, overwhelmed by pain with onset of arthritis (6) ATTILA {A{TauT}IL}{Ar...s}

22 Captivated by promo demonstrating electronic device (5) MODEM [T]

24 Clamour about fraud involving American company (9) CACOPHONY {C}{PHONY} over {A}{CO}

25 Rise in oceans is ultimately worrisome (9) ASCENSION {IN+OCEANS+iS}*

26 Old professor welcoming poets heartily in ancient Greek theatre (5) ODEON {O}{D{poEts}ON}

27 Tries dancing? Yes, after consuming dope in retreat (6) ESSAYS {YES}* over {ASS<=}

28 Fancy mattress for fashionable people (5,3) SMART SET*

DOWN

1   Dire Straits starting to perform before match (6) PLIGHT {Pe...m}{LIGHT}

2   Red coat is silk, cut artfully (9) SOCIALIST {COAT+IS+SILk}*

3   Border caught by Cook! Gone on thirty? That's perfectly accurate (5,2,3,5) RIGHT ON THE MONEY {HEM} in {GONE+ON+THIRTY}*

4   Catch wrongly? He is injured in arm perhaps (7) MISHEAR {HE+IS}* in {ARM}*

6   Rapid trip in middle of sea, lots throw up - it's choppy (7-4,4) WHISTLE-STOP TOUR {sEa+LOTS+THROW+UP+ITS}*

7   Chef in kitchen turned to pick up sharp tool (5) KNIFE [T<=]

8   Almost beat, having cold drink before bedtime (8) NIGHTCAP {NIGH}{T{C}AP}

9   Fine leader of archaeologists tackling corrosion in parts of pyramids (6) FRUSTA {F}{RUST}{Ar...s}

16 Witnesses leader of band going crazy outside toilet (9) ONLOOKERS {bON{LOO}KERS}

17 Pastry, sandwiches, meat for seaside picnic (8) CLAMBAKE {C{LAMB}AKE}

19 Computer expert's electronic chart in link (6) TECHIE {T{E}{CH}IE}

20 Secret in a container hidden by suspect (7) ARCANUM {A}{R{CAN}UM}

21 Sound of seal and young swan (6) CYGNET (~signet)

23 Escapes with speed, climbing over top of knoll (5) D?C?S (Addendum - DUCKS {SCUD<=} over {Kn..l}- See comments)

Reference List

Woman = W, Girl = G, Maiden = M, Model = T, About = C, American = A, Company = CO< Old = O, Cold = C, Fine = F, Electronic = E, Chart = CH

No 14229, Wednesday 17 Jul 2024, Afterdark

Solution to 23D 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.

Open for anyone to answer, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

1   Focuses to cover stretch by measures (11) CENTIMETRES {CEN{TIME}TRES}

9   Share, distribute to fill empty pages with words, perhaps (7) PHRASES {Pag{SHARE*}eS}

10 Most secretive company hides loss, showing assets essentially and collects sales tax (7) CLOSEST {C{L}O}{asSEts}{ST} L/Loss?

11 Unlike parent, there's no money... (5) OTHER mOTHER

12 ...obviously lived yet somehow borrowing money essentially (9) EVIDENTLY {LIVED+YET}* over {moNey}

13 Age to split burden by 66% (5) RIPEN {RIP}{burdEN}

15 Shivering girl bent awkwardly to wrap Mackintosh primarily (9) TREMBLING {GIRL+BENT} over {Ma...h}

18 Orders to dispatch nearly ten screws at regular intervals (9) SENTENCES {SENd}{TEN}{sCrEwS}

21 Speed is useless, wicket is hard (5) HASTE (-w+h)HASTE

22 Mislead reserves in encounter heartlessly leading to case, perhaps (9) CONTAINER {CON}{TA}{IN}{En...eR}

24 Call 6 sons at Italy on time (5) VISIT {VI}{S}{I}{T}

26 Judge's note on release after collecting fine at the end (7) REFEREE {RE}{F{finE}REE}

27 Suggest getting a professional to model (7) PROPOSE {PRO}{POSE}

28 Protective glasses in car to stop and guard passengers eventually (11) WINDSCREENS {WIND}{SCREEN}{p...rS}

DOWN

1   Absurd cop breaks lockers (9) CUPBOARDS*

2   Direction mentioned in gate to leading hospital (5) NORTH {NOR}{To}{H}

3   Security for nurse can increase first in a riot (9) INSURANCE {NURSE+CAN+In...e}*

4   Direction to hold spades that is most comfortable (7) EASIEST {EA{S}{IE}ST}

5   Collect rupees for dinar from cheat (7) RECEIVE (-d+r)RECEIVE

6   Stood out and displayed reportedly (5) SHONE (~shown)

7  Guards' attempts to chase Senora given up halfway (8) SENTRIES {TRIES}<=>{SENora}

8   Delay support (4) STAY [DD]

14 A small tool to write on notebook finally shaped fine (8) PENKNIFE {PEN}{f...oK}{FINE*}

16 Boy! I have managed to get our response (9) BEHAVIOUR {B+I+HAVE}*{OUR}

17 Renown of Greek lunch, one without starter's shocking, sham basically (9) GREATNESS {GR}{EAT}{oNE}{Sh...g}{Sham}

19 Duke is gutted after cheat took million naira by force (7) CONDEMN {DukE}<=>{CON} and {M}{N}

20 Bands expose English singer missing in Germany (7) STRIPES {STRIP}{E}{Singer}

22 Auditor has money to procure vehicles (4) CARS {CA}{RS}

23 Flight at Heathrow fell off after an error in the tail (5) A?R?W (Addendum - ARROW {heatROW}<=>{A}{e..oR} - See comments)

25 Case at Supreme Court on gold heist on 2nd (5) SCORE {SC}{OR}{hEist}

Reference List

Money = M, Wicket = W, Hard = H, Reserves = TA(Territorial Army), Sons = S, Italy = I, Time = T, Note = RE, Gate = NOR, Hospital = H, Spades = S, Rupees = R, Dinar = D, Boy = B, Greek = GR, Million = M, Naira = N, English = E, Gold = OR, Fell = HEATH