No 14149, Monday 15 Apr 2024, Crescent

Solution to 13D 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   Shades reducing glare worn by Italian tourists (8) VISITORS {VIS{IT}ORS}

9   Tears every second, soap starts the works? (6) OPERAS {tEaRs+SOAP}*

10 Enchantress welcomes learner to ring (6) CIRCLE {CIRC{L}E}

11 Are old without exception using smart schemes? (8) ARTFULLY {ART}{FULLY}

12 Say Ireland's approach leaving English a ticklish issue (8) COMPOSER {COMe}{POSER}

14 Claw on base for optical instrument (6) ETALON {TALON}<=>{E}

15 Tea sheikh often brews following eclipse (4,3,5,3) TAKE THE SHINE OFF {TEA+SHEIKH+OFTEN}*{F}

18 What one uses to keep making very black balls? (6) GLOBES GLO(-v+b)BES

20 Guide caught, picked up on female facing pressure (8) SHEPHERD {(~heard)HERD}<=>{SHE}{P}

22 Arrest past pupil caught in parade (8) OBSTRUCT {OB}{STRU{C}T}

24 Fast attack craft ordered to base (1-5) E-BOATS*

25 Prisoner cycling naked entertains the disheartened (6) DETENU {(-nu{DE(+nu)NU} over {ThE}

26 Religious leaders never soft about arguments (8) PONTIFFS {NO}{P}<={TIFFS}

DOWN

1   Bachelor, one entering bathing beach showing 'Sex Drive' (6) LIBIDO {LI{B}{1}DO}

2   Minute piece crumbling in pastry dish (5,3) MINCE PIE {MIN}{PIECE*}

3   Grouse that setter's term uses incorrectly applied reference work (6,9) ROGETS THESAURUS {GROUSE+THAT+s...eR+USES}* 

4   India spreads like a continent (4) ASIA {I} in {AS A}

5   Fastness in deer saving skin might be up at present (3,3,4,5) FOR THE TIME BEING {FORT+IN+dEEr+MIGHT+BE}*

6   Group of horses on wet soil initially agitated (6) REMUDA {RE}{MUD}{Ag...d}

7   Impoverished, being significantly below standard? (5,3) BADLY OFF [DD]

13 Run, point and start to shoot devices (5) R?S?S ()

16 Be ribald shocking one speaking freely (2-6) AD-LIBBER*

17 State of Amethi, opiate imbibing section (9) ETHIOPIA [T]

19 Abstainer stopping drink could be Trump (6) BETTER {BE{TT}ER}

21 Grass providing hay, ultimately okay (6) RATIFY {RAT}{IF}{haY}

23 This Sultan's immediate antecedents being shot? (4) TIPU Anno not clear (Addendum {sT+hI+oP+tU} - See comments)

Reference List

Italian = IT, Learner = L, Are old = ART, English = E, Base = E, Following = F, Very = V, Black = B, Past pupil = OB(old Boy), Caught = C, Soft = P, Bachelor = B, India = I, On = RE, Abstainer = TT