No 14148, Saturday 13 Apr 2024, KrisKross

ACROSS

1   Rigidity of government initially blocks drive for improvement (8) PROGRESS {P{Ri...y}{Of}{Go...t}RESS}

5   I can't possibly drink tonic, essentially astringent (6) TANNIC {I+CANT}* over {toNic}

9   Warning sign guided correctly, says Spooner (3,5) RED LIGHT (~led right to red light)

10 Spot betel leaves in Indian chair (6) JAMPAN {JAM}{PAN}

12 Online workers in America had to develop (9) ELABORATE {E}{LABOR}{ATE}

13 Gamekeeper's beginning to look at headless lizard (5) GECKO {Ga...s}{dECKO}

14 Finally have milk, pulse as supplements (4) EKES Tail Acrostic

16 Chennai's sure to shelter revolutionary European (7) RUSSIAN [T<=]

19 Unstable structure where Jack resides? (5,2,5) HOUSE OF CARDS [C&DD]

21 Delivered wine to the audience (4) READ (~red)

24 Unfair using force to dismiss one for duck (5) WRONG WR(-i+o)ONG

25 Every carriage includes, say, hollow seat to relax (4,5) EASY CHAIR {EA{SaY}CH}{AIR}

27 Take charge of island surrounded by very rebellious Middle Easterners (6) OMANIS {MAN}{I} in {SO<=}

28 Bird, not very hungry, nibbling tip of leaf (8) STARLING {STARv{Leaf}ING}

29 Article in sorcerer's control (6) MANAGE {M{AN}AGE}

30 Utensil is shelling peas, not oysters primarily (8) TEASPOON {PEAS+NOT+Oy...s}*

DOWN

1   One carrying ale (6) PORTER [DD]

2   Are old dances a challenge? (6) ORDEAL*

3   Animal with one piercing, curved horn (5) RHINO {RH{1}NO*}

4   Champion, during breaks, gets hard liquor (7) SCHNAPS {S{CH}NAPS}

6   Obsessive KrisKross welcomed by sage, treated to get freedom from pain (9) ANALGESIA {ANAL}{GES{I}A*}

7   Playing back movie's enjoyable - missing the end is difficult (2,6) NO PICNIC {ON<=}{PIC}{NICe}

8   Fox in ground chasing prisoner (8) CONFOUND {FOUND}<=>{CON}

11 Stop consuming drug for support (4) BEAR {B{E}AR}

15 Leader having self-confidence to retain record and carry on (4,5) KEEP GOING {K{E{EP}GO}ING}

17 Rogue who's approaching park around display area (8) SHOWROOM {WHOS*}{MOOR<=}

18 Oscar in Bhutan runs, following a fast route (8) AUTOBAHN {UT{O}BAHN*}<=>{A}

20 Opponents in House often upset (4) FOES [T<=]

21 Decoration made from flower seen around estate regularly (7) ROSETTE {ROS{EsTaTe}E}

22 Couple of leaders in Canada like coarse fabric (6) CALICO {CAn..a}{LIke}{COa..e}

23 Continue without stopping monster (6) DRAGON {DRAG ON}

26 See 19 Across

Reference List

Online = E, Very = V, Champion = CH, Drug = E, Record = EP, Oscar = O