No 14070, Friday 12 Jan 2024, Crescent

RULES FOR POSTING COMMENTS ON FRIDAYS ONLY

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ACROSS

8   Company providing drinks shown around centres of activity (4) FOCI {F{CO}I}<=

9   Dictator's assistant uses Nationalist mania in a riot (10) AMANUENSIS {USES+N+MANIA}*

10 City that is inspired by courage and drive (3,5) SAN DIEGO {IE} in {SAND}{GO}

11 Stellar rating secured by Southern Railway (6) STARRY {S}{TAR}{RY}

12 Scandinavian intonation or diction somewhat clipped (6) NORDIC [T]

13 This even possibly contains post sent over? (8) ENVELOPE {EVEN}* over {POLE<=} &lit

15 Couple of men infiltrating base slyly beat arrest (3,2,3,5) LAY BY THE HEELS {HE}{HE} in {SLYLY+BEAT}* 

17 Broad perspective of men wearing another country's hat (8) PANORAMA {PAN{OR}AMA}

19 Male ego needing to be entertained in general (6) MAINLY {MA{I}NLY}

21 Kill stroke precisely absorbed by heart (3,3) OFF PAT {OFF}{PAT}

23 Tame editor to note personal limits (4,4) TONE DOWN {TO}{N}{ED}{OWN}

24 Solace nuns may be prepared to provide based on permission (10) CONSENSUAL*

25 Just happening to kill time (4) EVEN EVENt

DOWN

1   Edible stem of wild oat grass? Quite the opposite! (6) POTATO {OAT}*<=>{POT}

2   Somebody in Government opening tender, unknown sum given upfront (3,5) BIG DADDY {BI{G}D} with {Y}<=>{ADD}

3   Cheap yarn marks woven tissue (10) PARENCHYMA {CHEAP+YARN+M}*

4   Pine tree at house lit up ringing in a century (3,4,5,3) EAT ONES HEART OUT* {TREE+AT+HOUSE}* over {A}{TON}

5   India wanting Mars trips (4) RUNS RUiNS

6   Never turning tail in public with everyone standing by (2,4) ON CALL {NO<=}{p...iC}{ALL}

7   Leader disposed to vent involved in insult causing splits (8) DISRUPTS {DIS{eRUPT}S}

14 Victory over the enemy line playing with fire (10) VEHEMENTLY {V}{THE+ENEMY+L}*

15 PIN hacked by criminal for a Prince's vault (8) LEAPFROG {LEG} over {FOR+A+P}*

16 Villain in effect about to lead mounted cops (8) EVILDOER {RELIVE}<= over {DO} (Correction - {RE}{LIVE}<= over {DO} - See comments}

18 Work on model's face (6) OPPOSE {OP}{POSE}

20 The fuzz perhaps coming from edges of machine cutting fine linen (6) LAWMEN {LAW{Ma...nE}N}

22 Fruitcake rolls to end in festive air (4) TUNE {NUT<=}{f...vE}

Reference List

Nationalist = N, Courage = SAND, Southern = S, Railway = RY, Men = OR, Ego = I, Note = N, Time = T, Grass = POT, Government = G, Unknown = Y, Marks = M, Century = TON, India = I, Victory = V, Line = L, Prince = P