No 14458, Monday 14 Apr 2025, Arden

HAPPY VISHU

Rangoli by Gowri

Solution to 1D 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

9   Loves to protect the tail enders in play (7) OTHELLO {0}{THE}{tail}{taiL}{0}

10 Material for soldiers - new incursion into Palestine area? (7) ORGANZA {OR}{GA{N}ZA}

11 Internal pressure is same - acting all around leading to a gridlock (7) IMPASSE {P} in {IS+SAME}*

12 Take it as supreme manifestation (7) PRESUME*

13 International rating agency's copy right to even things out (9) SANDPAPER {S&P}{APE}{R}

15 Work on the game, get the fruit (5) MANGO {MAN}{GO}

16 Non-lethal launcher for touring around (4,3) RIOT GUN*

19 Ways to express falsehoods about civil society body (7) LINGOES {LI{NGO}ES}

20 Beginners falter and in no time pass out (5) FAINT Acrostic

21 Cops failing on detail (4,5) VICE SQUAD {VICE}{SQUAD}

25 Nothing to hide - sort out air passage (7) NOSTRIL {N{SORT*}IL}

26 Marine pollution - regularly follow over part of the ship (7) FLOTSAM {FoLlOw}{MAST<=}

28 Supporters in the US find their origins without hesitation (7) ROOTERS {ROOT{ER}S}

29 Electric shock perhaps plays a role (7) ACTRESS {AC}{TRESS}

DOWN

1   Is blocking block? Come up with questions (6) ?O?I?S (Addendum - POSITS {ST{IS}OP}<= See comments)

2   Composer's copyright and an invitation for a ride... (6) CHOPIN {C}{HOP IN}

3   ...and discharge about fifty (4) PLUS {P{L}US}

4   Become vigorous like one among the sheep (4,2) TONE UP {T{ONE}UP}

5   Constant pressure over men said to be substantial (8) CORPORAL {C}{OR}{P}{ORAL}

6   Pacts are good to intercept spies (10) AGREEMENTS {AG{REEM}ENTS} Anno not clear See comments

7   Union settlement has to stop insinuation (8) INNUENDO {INNU{END}O*}

8   Very hungry, becomes a nervous wreck (8) RAVENOUS*

14 "Summon a machinist" is an absorbing book (4-6) PAGE-TURNER {PAGE}{TURNER}

16 On Sunday, best plant (8) REFINERY {RE}{FINERY}

17 Love calling, oversight? (8) OMISSION {0}{MISSION}

18 Harry, not Elvis is the story teller (8) NOVELIST*

22 Loose clothing can cover the back (6) CAFTAN {C{AFT}AN}

23 Awful result in N. Ireland (6) ULSTER*

24 Crazy to come up and demand such fabric (6) DAMASK {MAD<=}{ASK}

27 Pledge one and take half first of all (4) OATH Acrostic

Reference List

Soldiers = OR, New = N, Pressure = P, Right = R, Hesitation = ER, Copyright = C, Fifty = L, Sheep = TUP, Constant = C, Good = REEM, On = RE