No 14532, Wednesday 09 Jul 2025, Vidwan

Solution to 13A 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.

Seems to be a 'CROSS' day today

ACROSS

8   A volatile liquid, curse associated with Danes crossing borders (6) HEXANE {HEX}{dANEs}

9   Occupation means an Engineer in Gen X! (8) ANNEXING {AN}{IN+GEN+X}*

10 Racy naked image (3) PIC sPICy

11 Some of that axial muscle disorder (6) ATAXIA [T]

12 Figures of Scottish women checking into a match (8) HEXAGONS {HE{X}{A}{GO}NS}

13 Kind of plant with only one main branch, later replaced by a side from one side only (8) ?N?A?I?L (Addendum - UNIAXIAL UNI(-later+a+xi)AXIAL - See comments)

15 Close quarters, almost close to a group of nine (6) ENNEAD {EN{NEAr}D}

17 X is following a Y, for example (4) AXIS {X}{IS}<=>{A}

18 Best and more works for reformist (5) FIRST {FIRST+MORE}*=REFORMIST [CA]

19 One going after exact type of public transportation (4) TAXI {1}<=>{TAX}

20 Set free! Set off! Fly! (6) TSETSE {SET*}{SET*}

22 I'd go next perhaps for cleansing body from inside (8) DETOXING*

24 '6 Down Pix' producing and putting on some gripping stuff! (8) EPOXYING  {OXYGEN+PIX}* An extra X in the fodder

26 Principles of alliance incorporating a basic mantra (6) AXIOMS {AXI{OM}S} 

28 Rent some stripteasers (3) RIP [T]

29 Top conservative quietly replaced to shield one thrown out (8) EXPELLEE {EX(-c+p)PEL}{LEE}

30 Bull looks at sunflower-like plants (6) OXEYES {OX}{EYES}

DOWN

1   One of the canonical hours to send lewd message on phone (4) SEXT [DD}

2   Vacuous, compunctionless, taxman abandoned felines (4,4) MANX CATS {Co...eS+TAXMAN}*

3   North-Eastern friend, one of our neighbours (6) NEPALI {NE}{PAL}{1} Semi&lit

4   Single rate for what graduate wants (9,6) BACHELORS DEGREE {BACHELORS}{DEGREE}

5   One following, guarding every amateur (8) INEXPERT {1}{NEX{PER}T}

6   1/3rd of water's gone, wasted, tapped by earlier two generations (6) OXYGEN {GONE}* over {XY}

7   Presently unknown (4) ANON [DD]

14 Mostly following American link (5) NEXUS {NEXt}{US}

16 Growth hormone from faux indigos (5) AUXIN [T]

18 Law overwhelms love, failing to be adaptable (8) FLEXIBLE F(+lex-o)LEXIBLE

19 Words and wiles, women's unleashing materials (8) TEXTILES {TEXT}{wILES}

21 Table emptied by me to vote for American cuisine (3-3) TEX-MEX {TablE}{X}{ME}{X}

23 It is used to serve drink to a pet stray (6) TEAPOT*

25 Petty cunning female going after power (4) POXY {fOXY}<=>{P}

27 Men having independent bearing (4) MIEN {M{I}EN}

Reference List

Into = X, Match = GO, Side = XI, Conservative = C, Quietly = P, Shield = LEE, Women = W, By = X, Vote = X, Female = F, Power = P