No 14375, Monday 06 Jan 2025, Arden

Solution to 28A 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   Brain dead means life missing - provided it's a plant (5,6) ADAMS NEEDLE {DEAD+MEANS+LifE}*

7   Initially not awake, peaceful sleep (3) NAP Acrostic 

9   He drove fast into a cassia tree (5) SENNA [DD]

10 Family involvement in other castes shows poor taste (9) TACKINESS {TAC{KIN}ESS*}

11 Disgusted with a nude representation that took place (9) NAUSEATED {A+NUDE}* over {SEAT}

12 Recalled story about Charlie's confidence (5) ECLAT {TAL{C}E<=}

13 Copper's presence in public transport is a cause of anxiety (7) INCUBUS {IN}{CU}{BUS}

15 Get a refund - reclaim some value (4) RATE [T<=]

18 Uncle in America gets caught in a Ponzi scheme (4) SCAM {S{C}AM}

20 Quietly start again, I suppose (7) PRESUME {P}{RESUME}

23 Old money-like following a news (5) ANNAS {AS}<=>{A}{N}{N}

24 Extremely essential to block carbon pollution over a city (9) BARCELONA {BARC{Es...aL}ON*}{A}

26 Auto race in full bloom (9) CARNATION {CAR}{NATION}

27 Leave a European city (5) SPLIT [DD]

28 Shortly, moon can be base (3) L?W (Addendum - LOW {MOOn = LOW} - See comments)

29 Perhaps agree to stay - confirm he is keen (5,6) EAGER BEAVER {EAGER*}{BE}{AVER}

DOWN

1   Missing when one is in it (8) ABSENTIA [CD]

2   Declare girl's overweight (8) ANNOUNCE {ANN}{OUNCE}

3   Small story rehashed (5) STALE {S}{TALE}

4   Lands as one set off on both sides (7) ESTATES {SET*}{A}{SET*}

5   Part of television shows animal eating fish... (7) DECODER {DE{COD}ER}

6   ...no gloss in teleprocessing - perhaps, that's where the trouble starts (9) EPICENTRE TElEPRoCEssINg*

7   It points to lack of leverage on both sides (6) NEEDLE {NEED}{Le...gE}

8   Regular press meets as to get some money (6) PESETA {PrEsS+mEeTs+As}

14 Supports fast bowling - that's key (9) BACKSPACE {BACKS}{PACE}

16 A lousy way to get going, at last - victory for one from the Balkans (8) YUGOSLAV {A+LOUSY}* over {g..nG} and {V}

17 Discourage bottles - able to get a wine bottle (8) DECANTER {DE{CAN}TER}

19 Crowding, only bachelors allowed in China (7) MOBBING {M{O}{BB}ING}

20 Associate to catch up by mid-afternoon (7) PARTNER {ENTRAP<=}{a..eRn..n}

21 Nullify serious illness by changing hands (6) CANCEL CANCE(-r+l)L

22 He is appointed warden (6) ANDREW*

25 Follow Harry - seen around university (5) ENSUE {ENS{U}E*}

Reference List

Charlie = C, Caught = C, Quietly = P, News = N,N, Small = S, Victory = V, Only = O, Bachelor = B, University = U