No 14928, Wednesday 21 Oct 2026, Arden

Solution to 12A 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   A continental drift — read about Adriatic sea (7) ASIATIC {ASIATIC+READ}*=ADRIATIC SEA [CA]

5   A complex individual soon to be in charge of gunners (7) ELECTRA {ELECT}{RA}

9   The atmosphere during get-togethers (5) ETHER [T]

10 Starts with British accent: Incantation in church by a priestess (9) BACCHANTE {Br...h}{Ac...t}{C{CHANT}E}

11 Expert made it transform into a chemical (9) ACETAMIDE {ACE}{MADE+IT}*

12 Involved with me in Germany, ready to overlook the odds (5) M?R?D 

13 Try writing about atmospheric pollution (4) SMOG {GO}{MS}<=

15 Wax filling expired — RIP (8) LACERATE {LA{CERA}TE}

18 Home spread — go after foot soldiers (8) INFANTRY {IN}{FAN}{TRY}

19 Girl wearing men's brand (4) LOGO {LO{G}O}

22 They assist in finding a vaccine finally to stop a virus (5) AIDES {AID{v...nE}S}

24 Poor enthusiasm for payment (9) BROKERAGE {BROKE}{RAGE}

26 New voice in case it's heard in and around Hong Kong (9) CANTONESE {CA{N}{TONE}SE}

27 All hope is gone once it's cooked (5) GOOSE [GK]

28 Left to conclude and herald the future (7) PORTEND {PORT}{END}

29 Suppressed anger finally, on the contrary (7) ENRAGED {EN{RAGE}D} What's the definition?

DOWN

1   Call father up or is it our forefather (3-3) APE-MAN {NAME}{PA}<=

2   One in Munich becomes a wasp (9) ICHNEUMON {ON+MUNICH}*

3   Part of outer radius is planet Earth (5) TERRA [T]

4   Convertible taxi allowed to go around port (9) CABRIOLET {CAB}{RIO}{LET}

5   He announced with enthusiasm, "close borders by end of June" (5) EMCEE {En...sM}{ClosE}{junE}

6   Passing border in record time line (9) EPHEMERAL {EP}{HEM}{ERA}{L}

7   Indicate northern drift (5) TENOR [T]

8   Program for mature political group (6) AGENDA {AGE}{NDA}

14 A former PM out to catch the boys on time (9) GLADSTONE {G{LADS}{T}ONE}

16 Extremely cohesive — only see working old Sri Lankans (9) CEYLONESE {Co...vE}{ONLY+SEE}*

17 Class slogan coined as follows (4,5) TAGS ALONG {TAG}{SLOGAN}*

20 Crazy plan to include an aide-de-camp (6) MADCAP {M{ADC}AP}

21 Saw hearts bleed all around (6) BEHELD {H+BLEED}*

23 A primary resolution to support sound money (5) DINAR {A}{Re...n}<=>{DIN}

24 Combine British advance (5) BLEND {B}{LEND}

25 Keen to increase age restriction (5) EAGER [T]

Reference List

Gunners = RA(Royal Artillery), Church = CE, Writing = MS(Manuscript), Home = IN, Mens = LOO, New = N, Record = EP(Extended Play), Line = L, Time = T, Hearts = H, British = B