No 14558, Friday 08 Aug 2025, Vidwan

Rangoli by Gowri

RULES FOR POSTING COMMENTS FOR FRIDAY ONLY

All those who are not regular commenters but who are rookie commenters or silent followers of the blog are requested to post answers with annotations in the comments section. In your own interest please avoid looking up the answers from the interactive version. Don't hesitate to post your annotations, in case you make a mistake in the annotation someone will correct it with the right annotation.

PLEASE NOTE, SOLUTIONS WITHOUT ATTEMPTING THE ANNOTATIONS WILL BE DELETED

Each commenter is requested to post only 5 answers thereby giving others also a chance to participate. Please provide all your answers in one comment.

Regular solvers/Veterans can post 1 answer each, but after 11 AM only.

ACROSS

9   Champion Scot with old fashioned values (9)

10 Flow controller setting volume for uniform rate (5)

11 Old soldier positively welcomes work after retiring (5)

12 Boredom - passing university, appearing in test once in three years (9)

13 Where venting of lava can abruptly, naturally occur at first? (7)

14 Avoid or ban it as fashion! (7)

16 Screen for Luigi Groto? (8,5)

21 For instance, Vatican City board, could be overbalanced (7)

24 Turned away in time! Run out declared! (7)

25 Millions welcome faceless cons and rebels (9)

27 Old Nick settled on a number (5)

28 Heart of antelope and a bovid (5)

29 Atypical mad don (3,3,3)

DOWN

1   Deceptive first lady had visa rejected (7)

2   Paul aces, swinging shoulder bones (8)

3   Arab comedy about a police contraption (4,6)

4   Six run outs disoriented India Masters (8)

5   Active, new force of volunteers has provided a far-left movement (6)

6   Range in Slovenia (4)

7   What is brew in Hebrew is same as tin in Latin! (6)

8   Disguising and arousing evil in good (7)

15 Most versatile works leading to right medal in US Army (6,4)

17 One flank of vehicle floating in Red Sea (8)

18 Scratch vote turning into record (8)

19 Misguidedly revere male painter from Holland (7)

20 Love to present dragonfly, say (7)

22 Limed, salted eggs prepared for Vice Admiral (6)

23 English Supreme Court's line on conditional security bond (6)

26 Bit bored of working again (4)

No 14557, Thursday 07 Aug 2025, Gridzilla

Welcome to the new THC setter Gridzilla. Bouquets and brickbats welcome.

Solution to 2D 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 solve, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

8   Facts twisted a bit? (4) DATA {A}{TAD}<=

9   Order lunch perhaps, including starter of dumplings (5) MEDAL {ME{Du...s}AL}

10 Grass is basically recreational - enjoy every drag (4) REED Acrostic

11 Part of mixed fraction having one number missing? (6) FACTOR FRACTiOn* 

12 Discovered best hotel - pricy, and private (8) ESOTERIC {bESt}{hOTEl}{pRICy}

13 They have hopes of getting peace initially, in rocky sierras (8) ASPIRERS {AS{Pe..e}IRERS*}

15 Nymphs love to look at butt of Adonis (6) OREADS {0}{READ}{a...iS}

17 Manipulation of American company by Indian state, is over (7) MASSAGE {GE}<=>{ASSAM<=}

19 Boss went out with wife and apprentice (7) STUDENT {STUD}{wENT}

22 Remove wrapping of fuse & cables to get current (6) USABLE {fUSe}{cABLEs}

24 Like canines in Manhattan need - meals mostly cooked (8) ENAMELED {NEED+MEALs}* What's the role of Manhattan? Ok, Manhattan is indicator for US Spelling

26 Bar owner is drunk all day and not active (8) LANDLADY {ALL+DAY+aND}

28 Plan of cycling team: winning competition ultimately (6) DESIGN {(+de)DESI(-de)}{w...nG}{c...oN}

30 First of all, men actually like erotic sex (4) MALE Acrostic

31 Big lake? Sounds scary (5) EERIE (~erie)

32 Report is from Sweden possibly - not Germany (4) NEWS SWEdeN*

DOWN

1   Hot stuff turning up in Lonavala (4) LAVA [T<=]

2   "Mark goes," says Spooner, "to get some baked goodies" (8) ?A?T?I?S (Addendum PASTRIES (~trace pees to pastries - See comments))

3   Fine cream whipped with a little egg (6) AMERCE {CREAM*}{Egg}

4   Marketing jingle is bad (6) (7) ADVERSE {AD}{VERSE} See comments regarding Enu

5   Remove from below? (5,3) ELBOW OUT {BELOW}* [RA]

6   Country has oil, reportedly (6) GREECE (~grease)

7   Cheese seller made Limburger sandwiches (4) DELI [T]

14 Cracks seen after reviewing bridges (5) SNAPS<=

16 What starts in discos and night clubs everywhere? (5) DANCE Acrostic Semi&lit

18 Renegades managed to deliver ecstasy and explosives (8) GRENADES ReNEGADES*

20 & 29 A robe Gwen & Doris used repeatedly (8,4) DRESSING GOWN {GWEN+DORIS}* Letter Bank

21 From work, Roy went around the city (3,4) NEW YORK [T<=]

23 Huge debt is hurting this economy, eh? (6) BUDGET {BUDGET+EH}* = {HUGE DEBT} [CA]

25 Pulled top off, getting confused (6) ADDLED pADDLED

27 Horse in fair maybe overlooked periodically (4) ARAB {fAiR+mAyBe}

29 See 20D

Reference List

Number = N, Wife = W, Active = A, Germany = DE, Marketing = AD, Ecstasy = E

No 14556, Wednesday 06 Jul 2025, Crescent

Solution to 25A 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 solve, if not solved by 1 PM.

Clues of 7D and 11D have got interchanged

ACROSS

8   Wage battle at last instant shelling coasts of Lebu (9) EMOLUMENT {b...lE}{MO{LebU}MENT}

9   Metallic gold hinges in clips (4) IRON {I{OR<=}N}

10 Toper crew's most wasted Australian chaps? (3-3,9) TWO-POT SCREAMERS  {TOPER+CREWS+MOST+A}*  Semi&lit

12 Denounces case charging former partners (9) EXECRATES {CRATE} in {EXES}

13 Matter remains on appeal (5) ISSUE {IS}{SUE}

14 Faint impression of connection with line in the middle (7) INKLING {INK{L}ING} (Correction - (-l)INK(+l)LING - See comments)

17 Roving swindler back to snare enthusiastic one (7) NOMADIC {CON<=} over {MAD}{1}

19 Drop dead with desire (5) DITCH {D}{ITCH}

21 Bones from a fish piercing rounded object (9) METACARPI {A}{CARP} in {ITEM<=}

24 Chopping rule to pound raw meat blend (11,4) PORTMANTEAU WORD {R+TO+POUND+RAW+MEAT}*

25 Month to be idle (4) ?O?N (Addendum - MOON [DD] - See comments)

26 One referred to habit inspired by adult education, in short, turning point (9) ADDRESSEE {DRESS} in {A}{EDu...n<=}{E}

DOWN

1   Become frightened when it mysteriously died in wake (3,3,4,2) GET THE WIND UP {WHEN+IT}*{D} in {GET UP}

2   Style of jumper once, almost polka dancing (4,4) POLO NECK {ONCE+POLKa}*

3   Odd time for speaker's talk (6) RUMOUR {RUM}{(~hour)OUR}

4   Some service tips in table tennis to gain edge (3,3) TEA SET {Ta..e}{EASE}{Te..s}

5   Timber in ship second to none, not wanting ordinary sort at sea (8) STERNSON {S}{NoNE+SORT}*

6   Supplement section from affidavit, am in memorandum (7,1) VITAMIN M [T]

7   Babies raised and left end up with rich relatives (12) STEPCHILDREN {STEP}{L+END+RICH}* (Correction - {PETS<=}{I+END+RICH}* - See comments)

11 Wretched holes? Very! (6) HOVELS {HOLES+V}* &lit

15 Hellish stink in void (8) INHUMANE {IN{HUM}ANE} Stink/Hum? See comments

16 New parts matched in design blow a gasket (2,6) GO MENTAL {ME{N}T} in {GOAL}

18 Rodent lifting its front half before creative inspiration takes over (8) DORMOUSE {RODent<=}{M{O}USE}

20 Slip under cot ultimately in dread (6) TERROR {ERROR}<=>{coT}

22 Tax nets close in (6) TRENDY  {TR{END}Y}

23 Agencies united in specific situations (6) CAUSES {CA{U}SES}

Reference List

Gold = OR, Australian = A, Line = L, Dead = D, Rule = R, Adult = A, Point = E, Died = D, Second = S, Ordinary = O, Left = L, Very = V, New = N, Over = O, United = U

No 14555, Tuesday 05 Aug 2025, Incognito

Solution to 5D 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 solve, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

8   Tailless mouse scampering and wrestling (4) SUMO MOUSe*

9   Devil who reformed to become Santa? (5) SATAN* 

10 American tax authority includes king and irritates (4) IRKS {IR{K}S}

11 Father and a couple of daughters get the French means of boat propulsion (6) PADDLE {PA}{DD}{LE}

12 Game to sing about drink (8) SPORTING {S{PORT}ING}

13 Deploy National Guard in grotto in south east to rummage for usable stuff (8) SCAVENGE {S{CAVE}{NG}E}

15 Desire to harm mummy with parasites (6) MALICE {MA}{LICE}

17 Boy abused badly for smears (7) BEDAUBS {B}{ABUSED}*

19 A brain is confused about a sea (7) ARABIAN{A}{R{A}BIAN*} 

22 Witch estimates, to some extent, it needs to be scratched (6) ITCHES [T]

24 Left without parents (8) ORPHANED [E]

26 Things to be thrown usually purchased before marriage (8) CONFETTI [CD]

28 Hiding behind stone, alien makes spaceship engine (6) ROCKET {ET}<=>{ROCK}

30 Only one part of a shoe (4) SOLE [DD]

31 Post office has exciting picture (5) PHOTO {P{HOT}O}

32 It's right on the map, perhaps, before Anglia (4) EAST [C&DD]

DOWN

1   Island near Florida having copper and barium (4) CUBA {CU}{BA}

2   Avoid going around carrying student in Massachusetts and European region (8) MOLDAVIA {O{L}DAVI}* in {MA} 

3   Since bird is back on the ship,... (6) ASTERN {AS}{TERN}

4   Wrongly heats in ship and hides (7) STASHES {S{HEATS*}S}

5   Whistle blower in school unit with queen (8) ?N?O?M?R ()

6   Flying pilots and weapon (6) PISTOL*

7   Peel's small relative (4) SKIN {S}{KIN}

14 He's in court having captured a conman (5) CHEAT {C{HE}T} over {A}

16 Hundred rushed with some enthusiasm to get lifting device (5) CRANE {C}{RAN}{En...m}

18 Violently busts operations in boarding places (3,5) BUS STOPS {BUSTS}*{OPS}

20 British farms' subordinate units (8) BRANCHES {B}{RANCHES}

21 Type of lizard, perhaps, from can returned in back room (7) MONITOR {TIN<=} in {ROOM<=}

23 Raised that boy following Theodore (6) HEFTED {HE}{F}{TED} 

25 Average offspring becomes a clergyman (6) PARSON {PAR}{SON} 

27 Bachelor wearing specs has European instrument (4) OBOE {O{B}O}{E}

29 Removing curs from Syracuse redevelopment? Not hard... (4) EASY SYrAcusE*

Reference List

King = K, Daughter = D, The in French = LE, Boy = B, Alien = ET, Student = L, Ship = SS, Small = S, Court = CT, Hundred = C, British = B, Following = F, Bachelor = B, Specs = OO, European = E

No 14554, Monday 04 Aug 2025, Incognito

Solution to 5D 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 solve, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

8   Father has old wooden border on wall (4) DADO {DAD}{O}

9   Untruth protected by a new foreigner (5) ALIEN {A}{LIE}{N}

10 Everyone at day's end is a friend (4)  ALLY {ALL}{daY}

11 Ground sesame condiment in Thai concoction (6) TAHINI* 

12 Hot soldier goes after retired footballer's large animal (8) ELEPHANT {H}{ANT}<=>{PELE<=}

13 Oddly, I tip moms showing hopefulness (8) OPTIMISM* 

15 Pole with projectile is thin (6) NARROW {N}{ARROW}

17 Fortune won back in city (7) LUCKNOW {LUCK}{WON<=}

19 Around beginning of marathon, master trembles getting speech impediment (7) STAMMER {STAM{Ma...n}ER*}

22 Spill the beans about meat (6) REVEAL {RE}{VEAL}

24 Helped sad sister jumping around after losing first race (8) ASSISTED {SAD+SISTEr}*

26 Wrongly nominates in absence of American names (8) MENTIONS NOMINaTES*

28 Males follow a copper's sharpness at work (6) ACUMEN {MEN}<=>{A}{CU}

30 Legendary spirit? Sounds like gin! (4) JINN (~gin)

31 Silly! Sweet gal leaves stew with oriental eastern bird (5) EAGLE {sweEt+GAL}*{E}

32 Ancient city destroyed to some extent (4) TROY [T]

DOWN

1   Boy leaves snake for mother (4) MAMA MAMbA

2   Name from Earldom in Ickenham (8) DOMINICK [T]

3   Washington mine has one animal (6) WAPITI {WA}{PIT}{1}

4   Cover rejected by Ms Watson results in quandary (7) DILEMMA {LID}{EMMA}

5   In absence of final word of prayer, entertainment arranged shows worldwide means of communication (8) ?N?E?N?T (Addendum - INTERNET ENTERTaINment* - See comments)

6   A slice of bacon is more risky (6) RASHER [DD]

7   Tribe from Hispanic lands (4) CLAN [T]

14 Dried fruit crop (5) PRUNE [DD]

16 Old boy starting to eat sweet eclairs is very fat (5) OBESE {OB}{Eat}{Sw..t}{Ec...s}

18 Lone rook flies around spectator (8) ONLOOKER* 

20 Initially, Ministry of Space gets Ecuadorian capital for plane (8) MOSQUITO {Mi...y}{Of}{Sp..e}{QUITO}

21 Attendant carries animal in corridor (7) PASSAGE {P{ASS}AGE}

23 Old camping equipment's coverage (6)  EXTENT {EX}{TENT}

25 What's used to weigh fish parts? (6) SCALES [DD]

27 Price adjusted after taking away right? Classic! (4) EPIC PrICE

29 Cupid's rose is destroyed (4) EROS*

Reference List

Old = O, New = N, Hot = H, Pole = N, About = RE, American = A, Eastern = E, Boy = B, Old boy = OB, Old = EX, Right = R

Special, Sunday 03 Aug 2025, WCCC-2025 Online Round 1, Dr Satyen Nabar

Three answers per commenter till 1 PM (Annotations compulsory) 

Please submit all your answers in one comment.  

(COMMENTS ENTERED WITH LESS THAN THREE ANSWERS/ANNOTATIONS WILL BE DELETED WITHOUT NOTICE, UNLESS THE COMMENTER SPECIFIES THAT IT IS A COMPENSATION FOR A REPEAT)

Enjoy.

The Hindu Cryptic on Sunday No 15, Sunday 03 Aug 2025, Arden

Rangoli by Gowri

ACROSS

1   One in pieces returned to governor (6) SATRAP {PART{A}S}<=

4   Ancient treatise represented last game (8) ALMAGEST*

9   High and mighty couple - at heart showing compassion (6) UPPITY {coUPle}{PITY}

10 Can sign for those representing two categories (8) BINARIES {BIN}{ARIES}

12 Performed around that place? Wasn't sure (8) DITHERED {DI{THERE}D}

13 Red maid regularly gets income (6) COMMIE {MaId} in {COME}

15 Bomb burst - it's half on the surface (2,5,5) AT FIRST BLUSH*

18 Sharing and copying hidden part (12) APPORTIONING {AP{PORTION}ING}

21 Agree to fish eating - fit to return (6) RATIFY {RA{FIT<=}Y}

22 Graveyard shift to follow - keep an eye (8) DOGWATCH {DOG}{WATCH}

24 Scoundrel born to start a fire (8) BLIGHTER {B}{LIGHTER}

25 Armature winding about to go - giving shock (6) TRAUMA {ARMATUre}*

26 Perhaps a setter retains love for a marine creature (3,5) SEA OTTER {A+SETTER}* over {0}

27 Returning part of the deposit is allowed at present (2,2,2) AS IT IS [T<=]

DOWN

1   DC current passes through straight briefly in a police vehicle (5,3) SQUAD CAR {SQUA{DC}{A}Re}

2   Court official's past it - moving with forces (8) TIPSTAFF {PAST+IT}*{F}{F}

3   Father had potato salad without hesitation (2,3,4,2,1,3)  AT THE DROP OF A HAT*

5   Ex-PM gets no British accommodation (4) LAIR bLAIR

6   Shot Star Wars - fools do become dumbfounded (2,1,4,3,5) AT A LOSS FOR WORDS*

7   Puzzle over extortion involving mafia films (6) ENIGMA {Ex...oN}{In...nG}{MafiA}

8   Looks less attractive - taking up some ornamentation... (6) TASSEL [T<=]

11 Use soft one to make it attractive (7) FESTOON*

14 Police station unreliable - cities perhaps need a military unit (7) PLATOON {POLice+stATiON}* [CA]

16 Film on decay creates suspicion (8) MISTRUST {MIST}{RUST}

17 Leader in clutch of intellectuals (8) EGGHEADS {EGG{HEAD}S}

19 Agreed to be inside, rising with darkness (6) EREBUS {SU{BE}RE}<=

20 Loft above a place in Greece (6) ATTICA {ATTIC}{A}

23 Asked to start grant (4) CEDE (~seed)

Reference List

Born = B, About = RE, Current = A, Force = F, British = B, Clutch = EGGS

No 14553, Saturday 2 August 2025, Incognito

 ACROSS
8 Toneless singer at seaside town (4) BARI BARItone

9 Place for heartbreak? (5) EARTH*
10 Threw rose for cupid (4) EROS*
11 Believe director lost gold when travelling (6) CREDIT {DIRECTor}*
12 Mum's taking in tough dogs (8) MASTIFFS {MA{STIFF}'S}

13 One on the Rolls, perhaps? (8) EMPLOYEE [CD]
15 Mohawk, for example, hid oar deviously (6) HAIRDO*

17 Capital one invested in casino renovation (7) NICOSIA {I} in {CASINO}*
19 Military unit starts to battle desperate extremists around country capital (7) BRIGADE {Battle}{RIGA}{Desperate}{Extremists}
22 Women's rowing team's tonnage, perhaps (6) WEIGHT {W}{EIGHT}
24 Sailor boy in enclosure gets a bit of salad vegetables (8) CABBAGES {AB}{B} in {CAGE}+{Salad}
26 Badly hated fight in part of prison holding inmates awaiting execution (5,3) DEATH ROW {HATED}*{ROW}
28 Measure of volume of ship having no energy source (6) GALLON {GALLeON}
30 This, for example: "Caught girl leaving glue" (4) CLUE {C}{gLUE}
31 Guide// cattle (5) STEER [DD]
32 Military organisation running amok in the middle of mutiny? (4) UNIT {mUTINy}*

DOWN
1 Couple's normal around 1 (4) PAIR {PA{I}R}
2 Before John, Virginia consumes Indian dish (8) VINDALOO {LOO}<=>{V{IND}A}
3 Southern gate guard (6) SENTRY {S}{ENTRY}
4 Instrument got from alien following president (7) TRUMPET {ET}<=>{TRUMP}
5 Luminous substance produced when developing photographs not having tag (8) PHOSPHOR{PHOtOgRaPHS}*
6 Celestial twins's jewel in India (6) GEMINI {GEM}{IN}{I}

7 See a female kill time (4) LOAF {LO}{A}{F}
14 Ms West travels across Indiana state (5) MAINE {MA{IN}E}
16 Avoid admitting director in Department of Government Efficiency at first (5) DODGE {D} in {Department}{Of}{Government}{Efficiency}
18 What an uncle might want to collect unreasonably? (8) INTEREST [CD]
20 Cad following aim put in full effort (2,3,3) GO ALL OUT {LOUT}<=>{GOAL}
21 Animal in vehicle glared (7) SCOWLED {S{COW}LED}
23 Drain //person disembowelling carcass (6) GUTTER {DD}
25 Garbo went around with model actor (6) BOGART {GARBO}*{T}

27 General returned with small fishes (4) EELS {LEE}<{S}
29 Drop ring at premier technical institution (4) OMIT {O}{MIT}

REFERENCE LIST

Gold=OR, Mum=Ma, One=I, Women=W, Sailor=AB, Boy=B, Caught=C, Girl=G, Indian=Ind, Southern=S, Alien=ET, India=I, Female=F, Director=D, Model=T, Small=S, Ring=O.

NICE 25 South Zone Finals, 02 Aug 25, Chennai

No 14552, Friday 01 Aug 2025, Arden

RULES FOR POSTING COMMENTS FOR FRIDAY ONLY

All those who are not regular commenters but who are rookie commenters or silent followers of the blog are requested to post answers with annotations in the comments section. In your own interest please avoid looking up the answers from the interactive version. Don't hesitate to post your annotations, in case you make a mistake in the annotation someone will correct it with the right annotation.

PLEASE NOTE, SOLUTIONS WITHOUT ATTEMPTING THE ANNOTATIONS WILL BE DELETED

Each commenter is requested to post only 5 answers thereby giving others also a chance to participate. Please provide all your answers in one comment.

Regular solvers/Veterans can post 1 answer each, but after 11 AM only.

Thanks for the response, here's the regular blog.

ACROSS

1   Fancy act, expose everything inside (7) CABARET {CA{BARE}T*} &lit

5   Horse gets crabby at regular intervals - it's horrible (7) MACABRE {MA{CrAbBy}RE}

9   Sent a criminal behind (5) NATES*

10 Essentially halt in place for an abrupt evolutionary change (9) SALTATION {S{hALt}TATION}

11 Retain collection - agree to entertain a complaint (9) EYESTRAIN {E{YES}TRAIN*}

12 It was decreed that butter was short (5) FATWA {FAT}{WAs}

13 Sprinkles half of them by dropping (4) SCAT SCATters

15 Badly disillusioned dudes leave the state (8) ILLINOIS dISILLusIONed* 

18 Glad at heart to increase value (8) APPRAISE {hAPPy}{RAISE}

19 One follows hard grind (4) HONE {ONE}<=>{H}

22 Openly corrupt - people finally withdrew support (5) PYLON OPeNLY*

24 Discontented landlord pockets potential earning in city (9) LENINGRAD {La...rD} over {EARNING}*

26 European boy in China upset with hot dish (9) ENCHILADA {E}{NCHI{LAD}A*}

27 Money in box returned to banks (5) RAMPS {SP{M}AR<=}

28 Regularly resells product like fish (7) EELPOUT {rEsElLs+PrOdUcT}

29 Broken twit reveals duplicity (7) TREASON {T}{REASON}

DOWN

1   Caught up with Ayrton on the French Riviera (6) CANNES {C}{SENNA<=}

2   Ramstein gets cut flower (9) BUTTERCUP {BUTTER}{CUP}

3   Start from zero again as others receive a point (5) RESET {RES{E}T}

4   Conductor contains alternative current (9) TOSCANINI {CONTAINS}*{I}

5   Italian PM is short but sweet (5) MELON MELONi

6   About 12.5 mm, in other words not large bird (9) CHAFFINCH {C}{(~half inch)HAFFINCH}

7   Suitably contrived, don't say constructed (5) BUILT sUITaBLy*

8   Perhaps need an answer to Nina from Carolina (6) ENNEAD* 

14 American actor combining nation and art somehow (9) TARANTINO {NATION+ART}*

16 Bide one's time till criminal in law caught - that's it (3,2,4) LIE IN WAIT {IN+LAW}* over {IE} with {IT}

17 Funny or amusing? One doesn't know (9) IGNORAMUS*

20 Extremely sharp - he is on a round (6) SPHERE {SharP}{HE}{RE}

21 No side-stepping initially for him to come up with an invention (6) EDISON [T<=] Semi&lit

23 Resident in Kargil - a cold place going up north (5) LOCAL [T<=]

24 Minimum is close to five in the final (5) LEAST {L{fivE}AST}

25 Doctor, surgeon go away as one tends to patients (5) NURSE SURgEoN*

Reference List

Hard = H, European = E, Money = M, Caught = C, Ram = BUTTER, Stein = CUP, Point = E, Current = I, About = C, Large = L, On = RE

No 14551, Thursday 31 Jul 2025, Arden

Solution to 22D 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 solve, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

1   Workers get in, complain about spindles (8) DISTAFFS {DI{STAFF}S}

5   Bit of a methodical person - brings back calm (6) PLACID [T<=]

10 Rich widow's advice on taking a chance (7) DOWAGER {DO WAGER}

11 A hybrid crop - it could bear fruit (7) APRICOT {A}{CROP+IT}*

12 Long time for horse to enter - prod it (3,2) EGG ON {E{GG}ON}

13 Watchdog for thousand American friends in the country (9) OMBUDSMAN {O{M}{BUDS}MAN}

14 Digital entertainment - a special gift (6,6) HIDDEN TALENT [C&DD]

18 Wine and ale can do perhaps in this country (3,9) NEW CALEDONIA {WINE+ALE+CAN+DO}*

21 Against history - only a course (9) ANTIPASTO {ANTI}{PAST}{O}

23 New area can be costly (5) NACRE {N}{ACRE}

24 It helps some people's aspirations (7) INHALER [CD]

25 Repeating it - time not to lose heart (7) ITERANT {IT}{ERA}{NoT}

26 Look, it's somewhat wavering and erratic (6) GANDER [T]

27 Serial killer's last known address? (5,3) DEATH ROW [CD]

DOWN

1   Not happy about keeping an animal inside lower walls (6) DADOES {SAD<=} over {DOE}

2   Refuse to allow comedian to enter Vatican, perhaps (6) SEWAGE {SE{WAG}E}

3   Spy right inside in a country... (9) ARGENTINA {A{R}GENT}{IN}{A}

4   ...besides our fearsome dog barking (3,4,7) FOR GOOD MEASURE*

6   Persuaded a bit - order ultimately came from the South (5) LURED [T<=]

7   Coppers order to surrender finally, but one is cool as they say (8) CUCUMBER {CU}{CU}{MBE}{s...eR}

8   Go off with boyfriend outside school (8) DETONATE{D{ETON}ATE}

9   Heart of a Scot, in short, is poisonous (6,8) CARBON MONOXIDE {sCOt}

15 Lamenting about alliance (9) ALIGNMENT*

16 Making some dough and wanting to announce it (8) KNEADING (~needing)

17 Start with an issue about the terrible women (6,2) SWITCH ON {S{WITCH}ON}

19 Some money the church returned - that's sweet (6) ECLAIR {RIAL}{CE}<=

20 Grant is in Paris, covered by missile launcher (6) BESTOW {B{EST}OW}

22 Cry over endless beat (5) P?L?E (Addendum - PULSE {PUL{lesS}E} - See comments)

Reference List

Complain = DIS, Horse = GG, Thousand = M, Only = O, New = N, Right = R, Church = CE, Is in French = EST

No 14550, Wednesday 30 Jul 2025, Arden

Solution to 26D 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 solve, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

1   Working with sales force - one way to reach there fast (2,3,4,5) AS THE CROW FLIES*

10 Crime in Madras found to have happened regularly (5) ARSON {mAdRaS+fOuNd}

11 Weapon assessed and smashed (9) MACERATED {MACE}{RATED}

12 Business representative on a ship within reach (7) COMPASS {CO}{MP}{A}{SS}

13 Grounds are ground issues (7) REASONS {ARE*}{SONS}

14 For these old two-wheelers, ban drink leading to social unrest (5) RIOTS chaRIOTS

16 Creams get special mention on Times covers (9) OINTMENTS {MENTION}*{TimeS}

19 It's the mirror image of a tongue (9) MALAYALAM<=>

20 Lament about electronic network (5) DIRGE {E}{GRID}

22 Book about power distribution in a Welsh town (7) NEWPORT {N{POWER*}T}

25 Intend to stop payment for clothing (7) RAIMENT {R{AIM}ENT}

27 See Indian shop with short soldier guarding (9) BISHOPRIC {B{I}{SHOP}RICk} Soldier/Brick? See comments

28 Talk about Indian PM shielding top industrialist (5) IDIOM {MO{In...t}DI}<=

29 Doctor to use algorithm, perhaps (14) RHEUMATOLOGIST*

DOWN

2   Dirty bottles point to same cooking medium (6,3) SESAME OIL {S{E}{SAME}OIL}

3   Dye found within the borders of state capital (5) HENNA cHENNAi

4   You can sit on it if current temperature is cool outside (9) CAMPSTOOL {C{AMPS}{T}OOL}

5   Only Mark gets the prize (5) OSCAR {O}{SCAR}

6   Was ready for any eventuality with a reformed criminal (9) FOREARMED*

7   Pinpoint role so as to allow formal initiation (5) INTRO [T]

8   Somehow assist bury the dead - they are vicious (7) SADISTS {SA{D}ISTS*}

9   House sickness? (6) CANCER [DD]

15 It may sort of turn into a packaging material (9) STYROFOAM*

17 Broken arm in clue is digital (9) NUMERICAL*

18 Run up and run down where plants and trees are grown (9) NURSERIES {RUN<=}{SERIES}

19 Dress restriction you'll find in hotel rooms (7) MINIBAR {MINI}{BAR}

21 Bury original bottom line, wasted toil (6) ENTOMB {BOTtoM+liNE}*

23 A way to stop us spend (5) WASTE {W{A}{ST}E}

24 Sailor to come up on deck (5) TAROT {TAR}{TO<=}

26 Watching - not over bonus (5) I?I?G (Addendum - ICING notICING - See comments)

Reference List

Business = CO, Ship = SS, Electronic = E, Book = NT(New Testament). Indian = I, Point = E, Temperature = T, Only = O, Dead = D, Sailor = TAR

No 14549, Tuesday 29 Jul 2025, Afterdark

Solution to 17A 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 solve, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

1   Hurt by cat on the back to rodent (6) MARMOT {MAR}{TOM<=}

5   Plant found in Milan, Goa accidentally (8) MAGNOLIA*

9   Upset that world organisation's suspended (8) UNSTRUNG {UN}{STRUNG}

10 Systems for class at Indian state school (6) SETUPS {SET}{UP}{S}

11 Builder's a criminal, plot occupied primarily near river (10) CONTRACTOR {CON}{TRACT}{Oc...d}{R}

12 Thug to stay after a break in the middle (4) GOON {GO ON}

13 Arrangement of veins by native? No, it's new (8) VENATION* 

16 Cover can take ball by play-ends (6) CANOPY {CAN}{O}{PlaY}

17 Drunk with spirit after bender by day (6) ?T?N?D (Addendum - STONED {TONE}<=>{S} by {D})

19 Nothing, almost rubbish?! No, at the end America is remarkable (8) FABULOUS {FA}{BULl}{nO}{US}

21 Observe honour conferred on youth leader (4) OBEY {OBE}{Yo..h}

22 Itinerant guy avails oats primarily in erstwhile country (10) YUGOSLAVIA {GUY+AVAILS+Oats}*

25 Princess returns after 6 in city (6) VIENNA {ANNE<=}<=>{VI}

26 Say, a cohort on time has porridge, doesn't finish off with pressure (3,5) AGE GROUP {AGE}{GROUt}{P}

27 Pipe shed used to make pesticide mixture (5,3) SHEEP DIP*

28 Officer picked up by centre (6) KERNEL (~colonel)

DOWN

2   A new information concealed by doctor on state of pregnancy (5) AMNIO {A}{M{N}{I}O}

3   Remote thoughts intrinsic for a composition (5) MOTET [T]

4   Humanist, needing no introduction makes huge waves (7) TSUNAMI hUMANIST*

5   Unit of energy shows zero in electrified magnet (7) MEGATON {MEGAT{0}N*}

6   Grits can almost create problem to the stomach (7) GASTRIC {GRITS+CAn}*

7   Catalog on shape has 8 sides (9) OCTAGONAL*

8   One reminder received by member; you hear it is unprepared (9) IMPROMPTU {1}{M}{PROMPT}{(~you)U}

14 Herbalists, right away danced in set (9) ESTABLISH HErBALISTS*

15 Anyone can become angry and be a nuisance (9) ANNOYANCE*

18 Ground is arid and loose at the end, cracking (3,4) DRY LAND {DRY}{AND+Lo..e}*

19 Play golf with current provided for light (7) FOGLAMP {GOLF*}{AMP}

20 To live at mountains cycling is show (7) BESPEAK {BE}{(+s)SPEAK(-s)}

23 Rare, I designed a drier (5) AIRER*

24 Train in old city's express primarily (5) INURE {IN}{UR}{Ex...s}

Reference List

School = S, River = R, Bender = S, Day = D, Nothing = FA(Fanny Adams), Pressure = P, New = N, Information = I, Member = M, Right = R