No 14200, Thursday 13 Jun 2024, KrisKross

Solution to 23A 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   Shoots government boats (6) GRAFTS {G}{RAFTS}

4   Businesslike cold call in mobile describing insurance basically (8) CLINICAL {C}{CALL+IN}* over {In...e}

10 Wise men fix occult device (5,4) MAGIC LAMP {MAGI}{CLAMP}

11 Lives filled with most precious thoughts (5) IDEAS {I{DEAr}S}

12 Soldier with very large umbrella (7) PARASOL {PARA}{SO}{L}

13 Fresh bit of toast, cereal and syrup (7) TREACLE {To..t+CEREAL}*

14 Poet from University in Asian port cityAsian port city (5) AUDEN {A{U}DEN}

15 One gulping soft drink down gets pat on the back (8) ACCOLADE {AC{COLA}{D}E}

18 Friend reaching Ohio on small, tailless horse (8) PALOMINO {PAL}{O}{MINOr}

20 Enthusiasm of zealots - ugly, repulsive (5) GUSTO [T<=]

23 Repeat 1-3 times, finally close (7) I?E?A?E (Addendum - ITERATE {I}{T}{ERA}{T}{c..sE} - See comments)

25 An auditor eventually brings up outstanding debts (7) ARREARS {A}{a...oR}{REARS}

26 Joint supporter for a killer? (5) COBRA {CO}{BRA}

27 Philosopher from Israel happily hugging child (9) ARISTOTLE {ARIS{TOT}LE*}

28 Fan of American firm leading a comfortable life? (2,6) IN CLOVER {INC)(LOVER}

29 Transforms game in the middle, hitting goals (6) AMENDS {gAMe}{ENDS}

DOWN

1   Good design ample to arrive at a new strategy (4,4) GAME PLAN {G}{AMPLE}*{A}{N}

2   School argued about uniform, as predicted (7) AUGURED {AUG{U}RED*}

3   After cycling fast, one (not surprisingly) eats hungrily (5,4) TUCKS INTO {(-s)TUCK(+s)S}{1}{NOT*}

5   Playing politics, a king grabs power making a superficial improvement (8,2,1,3) LIPSTICK ON A PIG {POLITICS+A+KING}* over {P}

6   Innocent KrisKross punching rascal, knocking head off (5) NAIVE {kNA{I}VE}

7   Under pressure, associate leaves competition to crack buggy code (7) COERCED {COE{RaCE}D*}

8   Whips criminal as he steals sandwiches (6) LASHES [T]

9   Treatment in case of cancer - alleviate endless pain somehow (10,4) PALLIATIVE CARE {ALLEVIATE+PAIn}* (Correction - {Ca..eR+ALLEVIATE+PAIn}* &lit - See comments)

16 Enter complex, extremely irregular math function (9) LOGARITHM {LOG}{Ir...aR+MATH}*

17 Surrender, say, overwhelmed by spinners who are the highest-rated (3,5) TOP SEEDS {TOP{(~cede)SEED}S}

19 A vocal European in charge is bitter (7) ACERBIC {A}{(~serb)CERB}{IC}

21 Plain box with strap (7) SPARTAN {SPAR}{TAN}

22 Heartily relish eating pine fruit (6) LITCHI {reL{ITCH}Ish}

24 Like Missouri's historical monument (5) ALAMO {A LA}{MO}

Reference List

Government = G, Cold = C, Large = L, University = U, Down = D, Time = T, Supporter = BRA, American firm = INC, Good = G, New = N, Uniform = U, Power = P, Associate = A, In charge = IC, Like = A LA