No 14305, Tuesday 15 Oct 2024, KrisKross

Solution to 24A 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   Plant is copper-coloured - basically brown (8) CUCUMBER {CU}{Co...d}{UMBER} 

5   Raises popular fruit (6) UPSHOT {UPS}{HOT}

9   All in train ride welcomed by ticket-seller (5,3) TIRED OUT {RIDE}* in {TOUT}

10 American city from the East, most attractive, very close to Houston (6) TUCSON {CUTe<=}{SO}{h...oN}

12 Say, I am primarily obsessive, narcissistic, craving attention desperately (9) EGOMANIAC {EG}{I+AM+Ob...e+Na...c+Cr...g+At...n}* &lit

13 Closing section of song about Rome, partly (5) OUTRO [T]

14 Everyone cycling gets hurt (4) ACHE (-e)ACH(+e)E

16 Tramp is embarrassed about smuggling crack (7) DRIFTER {D{RIFT}ER<=}

19 In speech, hide firm's source of wealth - extremely profitable business (4,3) CASH COW {(~cache)CASH}{CO}{We...h}

21 Report describing Malta's parade (4) POMP {PO{M}P}

24 Bit of masala with old Indian bread - divine food (5) M?N?A (Addendum - MANNA {Ma...a}{ANNA} - See comments)

25 Revolutionary destroyed China's art (9) ANARCHIST*

27 Trouble going through garbage lying around in sewer (6) TAILOR {T{AIL}OR<=}

28 Calm mind before replacing associate (8) SERENITY S(-a+ere)ERENITY

29 Delivery charges? (3-3) RUN-UPS [DD] [CD]

30 How to make posh studio? (8) WORKSHOP {POSH}* [RA]

DOWN

1   Boat captain's initial rank (6) CUTTER {Ca...n}{UTTER}

2   Ring my professor (6) CORDON {COR}{DON}

3   KrisKross' face shortly in newspapers, say (5) MEDIA {ME}{DIAl}

4   Wise earl, ignorant about computers etc. (7) ERUDITE {E}{RUD{IT}E}

6   Desirable to have Uranium converted into another element (9) PLUTONIUM {PLUM} over {U}{INTO*}

7   The male model had to think twice (8) HESITATE {HE}{SIT}{ATE}

8   Stew, roti and chole, essentially made in a clay oven (8) TANDOORI {ROTI+AND+chOle}*

11 Biting and chewing idli / dosa for starters (4) ACID Acrostic

15 Boastful Spooner's offer: "A pound" (4-1-4) COCK-A-HOOP (~hock a coop to cock-a-hoop)

17 Racism - it could be a dangerous weapon (8) SCIMITAR*

18 A star icon performing in capital city (8) ASUNCION {A}{SUN}{ICON*}

20 Stole some music for listening (4) WRAP (~ rap)

21 Quietly mix 40% booze as medicine (7) PLACEBO {P}{LACE}{BOoze}

22 European losing new coat (6) FINISH FINnISH

23 Don't sleep in repulsive places when touring Alleppey on vacation (4,2) STAY UP {{ST{Al...eY}UP<=}

26 Verify pattern (5) CHECK [DD]

Reference List

Popular = HOT, Malta = M, Old Indian bread(currency) = ANNA, My = COR, Earl = E, Computers etc = IT, Quietly = P, New = N