No 14566, Monday 18 Aug 2025, Afterdark

Solution to 4D 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

6   Set up home on land (7) INSTATE {IN}{STATE}

7   Setback on tour, second on second test (7) RELAPSE {RE}{LAP}{S}{tEst}

9   Receiver on training? Yes, internal (5) PAYEE {P{AYE}E}

10 English stall fight (9) ENCOUNTER {EN}{COUNTER}

11 Stew! Laughs raucously after taking a round (7) GOULASH {G{O}ULASH*}

13 Reside divinely without limits for a change (4,2) LIVE IN dIVINELy*

15 Property I have on headland is on use (13) EFFECTIVENESS {EFFECT}{IVE}{NESS}

19 Accord with company and US university on the last day (6) COMITY {CO}{MIT}{daY}

20 New series? At last you dug into a copy (7) REISSUE {REISS{yoU}E*}

23 Heartless hatred & hard? No, it's a show (9) SPLENDOUR {SPLeEN}{DOUR}

24 Letters from Putin trolling presentation (5) INTRO [T]

26 Handheld device has limitless alphabets; it's a mess (7) PHABLET aLPHABETs*

27 England on both sides of borders, concealing (7) ECLIPSE {E}{CLIPS}{E}

DOWN

1   Pale like gutted hubby (4) ASHY {AS}{HubbY}

2   Arrived with artist and snapper, say (6) CAMERA {CAME}{RA}

3   Type of lens used by predecessor (9) TELEPHOTO [DBE]

4   Replacing one by one, suggestion that it's a mirage (8) ?L?U?I?N (Addendum - ILLUSION (-a+i)ILLUSION - See comments)

5   Hope oats is cooked well and becomes an ideal example (10) APOTHEOSIS*

6   Challenge imperfect undergraduate on numbers (6) IMPUGN {IMP}{UG}{N}

7   Energetic orchestra? Cynical nearly (4) RACY [T]

8   Mistake with commission (6) ERRAND {ERR}{AND}

12 Angry unfair mail, that's strange (10) UNFAMILIAR*

14 Always immature to pine, say (9) EVERGREEN {EVER}{GREEN}

16 Inside president angled with a knot (8) ENTANGLE [T]

17 Cats runs around having drink and misbehaves (4,2) ACTS UP {ACT*}{SUP} Should have been CAT and not CATS

18 Request individual? Go away (6) BEGONE {BEG}{ONE}

21 I primarily contracted lice infection leading to cold spike (6) ICICLE {I}{Co...d}{LICE*}

22 Ball placed in carpet is in wide ditch (4) MOAT {M{O}AT}

25 Record a form of dance (European) (4) TAPE {TAP}{E}

Reference List

Home = IN, Tour = LAP, Second = S, Training = PE, English = EN, Company = CO, English = E, Artist = RA, Undergraduate = UG, Numbers = N, European = E

No 14565, Saturday 16 August 2025, Afterdark

Rangoli by Gowri

Artwork by Prasanna

ACROSS

8 Spartan prophet touring Vatican with energy (6) SEVERE {SE{V}ER}{E}
9 In a way, I've need to collect challan first as proof (8) EVIDENCE {I'VE NEED}* around {Challan}
10 Karma is nothing; trifle? Gutted (4) FATE {FA}{TriflE}
11 Distant viewing devices made of steel carried by a policeman at Spain (10) TELESCOPES {STEEL}*{COP}{ES}

12 Announced a small subsidy (4) SAID {S}{AID}
13 Pleasure to mention people in text, first off (10) EXCITEMENT {tEX{CITE}{MEN}T} 
17 Really, if the tail's cut short on book, it will denote a word of action (4) VERB {VERy}{B}
18 Remove eaters, primarily they should be out in a heap (5) ERASE {EAtERS}*
19 Firm's time has value (4) COST {CO'S}{T}
21 Say, biologists work on insects, its characters (10) SCIENTISTS*
23 Neglect Naomi, try somewhat (4) OMIT [T]
24 Popular clues? Fuss about collection (10) SUCCESSFUL {CLUES FUSS C}*
28 Say, Jack has vehicle at the end of the road (4) CARD {CAR}{roaD}
29 Edward sweeps all around part of the houses (8) BEDROOMS {B{ED}ROOMS}
30 Move once, other way round, primarily decide to stretch (6) EXPAND {PAN}<=>{EX}+{Decide}

DOWN
1 Isolated new apes to assess (8) SEPARATE {APES}*{RATE}
2 Honest deal penned to collect billions, nothing new to be confused (10) DEPENDABLE {DEAL PENnED}* around {B}
3 Payment to community (10) SETTLEMENT [DD]
4 Narrate well, avoid introduction, begin on time (4) TELL{wELL}<=>{T}
5 Poses with appeal in ship (4) SITS {S{IT}S}
6 Raze road in the middle, make it nothing (4) ZERO [T]
7 Blind //guard (6) SCREEN [DD]
14 Refuses to talk on marine creatures (5) CLAMS [DD]

15 In their normal condition, on vessel met, assembled around hospital (10) THEMSELVES {VESSEL MET}* around {H}
16 Scientific device created crime scoop (10) MICROSCOPE*

20 Prison band is lively (8) STIRRING {STIR}{RING}
22 Auditor practices principles (6) CAUSES {CA}{USES}
25 My daughter's bond (4) CORD {COR}{D}
26 Sleet is special at present (4) SNOW {S}{NOW}
27 Swimmer's provided return to keep quiet (4) FISH {IF<}{SH}

REFERENCE LIST

Vatican=V, Energy=E, Nothing=FA(Fanny Adams), Spain=ES, Small=S, Book=B, Time=T, About=C, Edward=Ed, Once=Ex, Billions=B, (Sex)Appeal=It, Ship=SS, Hospital=H, Auditor=CA(Charted Accountant), My(!)=Cor, Special=S, Quiet=Sh.

No 14564, Friday 15 Aug 2025, Afterdark

INDEPENDENCE DAY GREETINGS

Rangoli by Gowri

Artwork by Prasanna

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

9   Flying feat of king exceptional (7) TAKEOFF {FEAT+OF+K}*

10 Arrogant petty officers escort member to America (7) POMPOUS {PO}{M}{PO}{US}

11 Nobleman accepts charged particle from inventor (7) PIONEER {P{ION}EER}

12 Princess's argument leads to conflict (7) DILEMMA {DI}{LEMMA}

13 Calm cats? Yell primarily, running around. Disaster (9) CATACLYSM {CALM+CATS+Yell}*

15 Arab found in a line reportedly gathering mustard seeds in Delhi (5) IRAQI {1}{RA{(~queue)Q}

16 Discarded cats (4-3) CAST-OFF {CATS}* [RA]

19 Neighbour's nieces running across hotel (7) CHINESE {C{H}INESE*}

20 Bordered fabric almost destroyed at the corner (5) LINED {LINEn}{d...eD}

21 Different groups bat for a bar serving food (9) GASTROPUB*

25 Seize criminal at Quebec holding rand (7) CONQUER {CON}{QUE}{R}

26 Aggressive lion and zebra's tails cut off by composer (7) BERLIOZ {LIOn+ZEBRa}*

28 An issue following trouble returns in communication (7) LIAISON {1}{SON}<=>{AIL<=}

29 Plant is liable in a commotion to store oxygen (7) LOBELIA {LIABLE*} over {O}

DOWN

1   Right away, apricot should be thrown as it is related to hereditary hypersensitivity (6) ATOPIC APrICOT*

2   Travelling to UK, outskirts of Eastbourne with husband (3,3) EKE OUT {TO+UK+Ea...nE}*

3   Practice to fish with guest essentially (4) CODE {COD}{guEst}

4   Brawl with a female following Ray (6) AFFRAY {A}{F}{F}{RAY}

5   Say, Covid was same, long all over (8) EPIDEMIC {EP{IDEM}IC}

6   Bird flies, bird's wings are clipped and cooked with a food additive (10) EMULSIFIER {EMU}{FLIES+bIRd}*

7   Co-tenant's capacity to copulate (8) ROOMMATE {ROOM}{MATE}

8   At tea, saint is in confusion (8) ASTATINE*

14 But old curs can get hurt in sudden rainstorm (10) CLOUDBURST*

16 Uninformed visit of first calling aged cousin primarily with everyone (4,4) COLD CALL {Ca...g}{OLD}{Co...n}{ALL}

17 Relative has lion with swan! Crazy (3-2-3) SON-IN-LAW {LION+SWAN}*

18 Statuette damaged in gunfire (not nuclear) (8) FIGURINE {IN+GUnFIRE}*

22 Implied to butlers to arrange right away (6) SUBTLE BUTLErS*

23 Travel across border properly (6) PRIMLY {P{RIM}LY}

24 Market faces blockade around American zone/area (6) BAZAAR {B{A}Z}{A}AR}

27 Group often found near stone (4) RUBY {gRoUp}{BY}

Reference List

King = K, Petty Officer = PO, Member = M, Princess = DI, Hotel = H, Rand = R, Right = R, Female = F, Following = F, Nuclear = N, American = A, Zone = Z, Area = A

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

No 14548, Monday 28 Jul 2025, Afterdark

Solution to 11A 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   Sailor and a copper at second counter (6) ABACUS {AB}{A}{CU}{S}

4   Avoids Mark in a book shop at the entrance (8) ABSTAINS {STAIN} in {A}{B}{Shop}

10 Accuracy of abstract is oddly suspicious for starters (9) PRECISION {PRECIS}{Is}{Od..y}N N from?

11 Criminal and US General are similar (5) A?I?E (Addendum - ALIKE {AL}{IKE} - See comments)

12 Attempts to reset implement, engineer succeeds as per sources (5) TRIES Acrostic

13 Tamil leader's party led over Labour and advanced (9) TRAVELLED {Ta..l}{RAVE}{L{L}ED}

14 Private party in dubious trade is deceived (7) TRAPPED {TRA{PP}ED*}

16 Domestic servant in brothel parties (4) HELP [T]

19 No rules for birds and animals (4) COWS CrOWS

21 Note; learner in contest is a wonder (7) MIRACLE {MI}{RAC{L}E}

24 Disclosed by former media editor (9) EXPRESSED {EX}{PRESS}{ED}

25 Tips, tips to cheat ladies, use emotions slyly (5) CLUES Acrostic

26 Staff are Europeans (5) POLES [DD]

27 Your tea is inside, behind sedans, oddly not on furniture (4,5) EASY CHAIR {Y{CHAI}R}<=>{sEdAnS}

28 Sit awkwardly in gown, say causes anxiety (8) DISTRESS {D{SIT*}RESS}

29 Gorilla spotted in Puerto Rico, Sun records (6) PAPERS {P{APE}R}{S}

DOWN

1   Passion of a prince's small (8) APPETITE {A{P}{PETITE}

2   New camera is displaying a landmass (8) AMERICAS {CAMERA+IS}*

3   Constituents of world organisation has appeal (5) UNITS {UN{IT}S}

5   Unbecoming of Ben; digging a hole in the centre of ground (7) BENEATH {BEN}{EArTH}

6   Tourist in 13 leaves daughter for lover at last (9) TRAVELLER TRAVELLE(-d+r)R

7   Cold spike causes licorice to lose its core and wither (6) ICICLE LICorICE*

8   Rates of grains? Add a penny (6) SPEEDS {S{P}EEDS}

9   Matched with female with appeal, to enjoy delightfully primarily (6) FITTED {F}{IT}{To}{En..y}{De...y}

15 Teacher (female) replaces a chip in the front in computer, say (9) PROFESSOR PRO(-c+f)FESSOR

17 Perfect car, a cute model (8) ACCURATE*

18 Evaluates same combination, will be over for certain (8) MEASURES {MEA{SURE}S*}

20 Doctor sets my son's routines (7) SYSTEMS {SETS+MY+S}*

21 Majority of French inside are humble (6) MODEST {MO{DE}ST}

22 Assisted to pay attention to record stored inside (6) HELPED {HE{LP}ED}

23 Retreat to borders, heartless lieutenants causes accidents (6) SPILLS {LIPS<=}{Li...tS}

25 Bean companies active (5) COCOA {CO}{CO}{A}

Reference List

Sailor = AB, Second = S, Book = B, Criminal = AL, General  = IKE(Eisenhower), Labour = L, Private Party = PP, Rules = R, Note = MI, Learner = L, Editor = ED, Your = YR, Sun = S, Prince = P, Appeal = IT, Daughter = D, Penny = P, Female = F, Son = S, Of in French = DE, Record = LP(Long Play), Company = CO, Active = A

No 14523, Saturday 28 June 2025, Afterdark

 ACROSS
1 General Bury gets everyone behind the country (13) INTERNATIONAL {INTER}+{AL}<=>{NATION} al=everyone? the clue should read almost everyone?
10 Worried about rental arrangement change (9) ALTERNATE {ATE} about {RENTAL}*
11 Keep husband away (5) FORTH {FORT}{H}
12 Group of singers in church dopier often (5) CHOIR {CH}{dOpIeR}

13 Important that in sales the margins are adjusted (9) ESSENTIAL {IN SALES ThE}
14 Longs for Dutch fishes without starters (6) DREAMS {D}{bREAMS}
16 Criticize trouble by resistance (4) RAIL {AIL}<=>{R}
19 Attracting attention to leaders of Pakistan society stating truth (4) PSST [Acrostic}
20 Payout for portrayer acting with fear (6) TERROR {pORTayER}*
25 Had Cooper leading work-together (9) COOPERATE {ATE}<=>{COOPER}
26 Ways to get compliment - chase regularly (5) PATHS {PAT}{cHaSe}
27 Decreasing characters of Maddy in Guru (5) DYING [T]
28 In a way, unlit sign is disparaging (9) INSULTING*
29 Hectoring registrar for procuring electronic coolers (13) REFRIGERATORS {REGISTRAR FOR}* over {E}

DOWN
2 New intern, go back inside. It's all gas (8) NITROGEN {INTERN}* over {GO}<
3 Losing leader in 20 is a mistake (5) ERROR {tERROR}
4 Partners are right closer (6) NEARER {NE}{ARE}{R} Partners or opponents?
5 Value art? Reuse in broadcast (8) TREASURE*
6 Onslaught is hurtful (9) OFFENSIVE [DD]
7 Scared of force and attack, with one in the front (6) AFRAID {F}{RAID}<=>{A}
8 Rocked and rolled with co-ed out of love (6) DANCED {AND}*{CoED}
9 That woman (lady-female) is in terrace (5) SHELF {SHE}{L}{F}
15 Green revolution faces difficulty with ambassador (9) MESSENGER {GREEN}*<=>{MESS}
17 Taking drink in loop (8) STEALING {S{TEA}LING}
18 Smaller? Right inside is more beautiful (8) PRETTIER {P{R}ETTIER}
21 Step down from rule over society (6) RESIGN {RE{S}IGN}
22 Chemical agents found in police department in Athens outskirts (5) ACIDS {CID} in {AthenS}
23 Victor's tense with learner's remark (6) NOTICE {NO(-v+T)ICE}
24 Minor spotted in Naples sermons (6) LESSER [T]
26 Constant allowance for captain, perhaps (5) PILOT {PI}{LOT}

REFERENCE LIST

Husband=H, Church=CH, Dutch=D, Resistance=R, Electronic=E, Partners(in Bridge)= N(orth) S(outh) and E(ast) W(est), Force=F, One=A, Love=O, Lady=L, Female=F, Right=R, Society=S, Police Department=CID, Victor=V, Tense=T, Constant=PI.

No 14522, Friday 27 Jun 2025, Afterdark

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.

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

ACROSS

1   UK shapes differently for reorganisations (5-3) SHAKE-UPS*

5   Unfeeling, lacks love - thick skin (6) CALLUS CALLoUS

10 One role that is distinct (5) APART {A}{PART}

11 A research facility's expert's heading off to get a mineral (9) ALABASTER {A}{LAB}{mASTER}

12 Costly to sacrifice pawn for knight at the end in general (9) EXTENSIVE EX(-p+t)TENSIVE

13 Colour of mineral found outside Switzerland (5) OCHRE {O{CH}RE}

14 Parrot having regular urge to get decayed vegetable (6) REPEAT {uRgE}{PEAT}

15 Draw wine and fruit first off (7) STIPPLE {aSTI}{aPPLE}

18 Dismissed move on settlement (7) OUTPOST {OUT}{POST}

20 Hector's son adopted by an apostle (6) PESTER {PE{S}TER}

22 Implant made by doctor post ECG at first on journo (5) EMBED {MB}<=>{Ecg}{ED}

24 Poisonous sting by ant, bee is primarily killing, horrible (9) SNAKEBITE {ANT+BEE+IS+Ki...g}*

25 UV, RAT involved in treatment of spine condition (9) CURVATURE {C{UV+RAT}*URE}

26 Fruit is old almost, I have half of it (5) OLIVE {OLd}{I}{haVE}

27 Showy or silent somehow (6) TINSEL*

28 Automobile check started hastily covered nothing (4,4) ROAD TEST {R{O}ADTEST*}

DOWN

1   Labour's right is drivel (6) SLAVER {SLAVE}{R}

2   One section reportedly intended to be flat (9) APARTMENT {A}{PART}{(~meant)MENT}

3   New internee located leading to an understanding (7,8) ENTENTE CORDIALE*

4   Musician uses kapi, Ani strums inside (7) PIANIST [T]

6   Crooked antisocial robbed (billion lost) synthetic hormones (8,7) ANABOLIC STEROID {ANTISOCIAL+ROBbED}*

7   Lady at church has lock (5) LATCH {L}{AT}{CH}

8   Magician more upset about Roman Catholic English (8) SORCERER {SO{RC}{E}RER}

9   Press release covers copy, special records (6) PAPERS {P{APE}R}{S}

16 Drop in price housing European Community, turning constant (9) PRECIPICE {PR{EC}{PI<=}ICE}

17 Outage put crew in disturbance, guarding Ohio (5,3) POWER CUT {PUT+CREW}* over {O}

19 Brainless fusspot messes up a bet (4-2) TOSS-UP FUSsPOT*

20 Spot bachelor getting ordinary fake medicine (7) PLACEBO {PLACE}{B}{O}

21 Allow free lentils, not entirely (6) RELENT RE{LENTils} Error in the clue

23 Nobleman meets group of attorneys over noon (5) BARON {BAR}{O}{N}

Reference List

Pawn = P, Switzerland = CH, Son = S, Journo = ED, Right = R, Billion = B, Lady = L, Church = CH, Roman Catholic = RC, English = E, Press release = PR, Special = S, Bachelor = B, Ordinary = O, Over = O, Noon = N

No 14488, Monday 19 May 2025, Afterdark

Solution to 10A 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   Tom's insurers pass over head office and make it all-inclusive (8) CATHOLIC {CAT}{HO}{LIC}

5   Before last month, retreat/resort was set apart (6) SPACED {DEC<=}<=>{SPA}

9   One in island, say a'int supplied preserve (8) MAINTAIN {MA{1}N}{AINT*}

10 Stop working on drain (6) ?E?I?E (Addendum - RETIRE {RE}{TIRE} - See comments)

12 One country provides refuge to gangster from another country (9) AUSTRALIA {AUSTR{AL}IA}

13 Intentions are hid easy, kept buried in (5) IDEAS [T]

14 Includes date in commercials (4) ADDS {A{D}DS}

16 Position of Titans crashed after running over ball (7) STATION {STATI{O}N*}

19 Earl almost gets chills regularly at committee (7) COUNCIL {COUNt}{ChIlLs}

21 Scoundrel found in bank (4) HEEL [DD}

24 Vendors in confusion miss doctor's stoves (5) OVENS VENdOrS*

25 Yes, Harry stayed across road the day before (9) YESTERDAY {YE}{STE{RD}AY*} 

27 Journo nailed it originally within (6) EDITOR [T]

28 Soldier crossing lines at Elektrostal borders to correspond (8) PARALLEL {PARA}{LL}{El...aL}

29 Worry about small lock (6) STRESS {S}{TRESS}

30 Backed a commie filled with poetry (8) REVERSED {RE{VERSE}D}

DOWN

1   Dotcom masking hidden punctuation marks (6) COMMAS [T]

2   Longing to get a new T-shirt (6) THIRST*

3   As per sources Oxford University's training English readers in remote (5) OUTER Acrostic

4   Commander-in-Chief in remote isle like unemotional persons (7) ICICLES {I{CIC}LES*}

6   State cited paper revision will be after page is removed (9) PREDICATE {CITED+pAPER}*

7   Critic takes time to cover current conditions (8) CRITERIA {CRIT}{ER{I}A}

8   Doctor gives drug and signs off for bandage (8) DRESSING {DR}{E}{SIGNS*}

11 Yes, in Germany, Romans on vacation get containers (4) JARS {JA}{Ro..nS}

15 Toss coin, sides will produce results (9) DECISIONS*

17 Commanding Officer in new store to get vehicles (8) SCOOTERS {S{CO}OTER}*{S} Last S from?

18 Better drink at Rio after ecstasy and some rum (8) SUPERIOR {SUP}{RIO}<=>{E} and {Rum}

20 Prepares amateurs (4) LAYS [DD]

21 Prisoner in army given time (7) HOSTAGE {HOST}{AGE}

22 Grown-ups laud profusely but test regularly (6) ADULTS {LAUD*}{TeSt}

23 City on vacation, clued without substance as ordered (6) CYCLED {CitY}{CLuED}

26 Camera set to cover wipe out (5) ERASE [T]

Reference List

Insurers = LIC, Gangster = AL(Capone), Date = D, Soldier = PARA, Road = RD, Line = L, Small = S, Page = P, Drug = EYes in German = JA, Ecstasy = E

No 14487, Saturday 17 May 2025, Afterdark

 ACROSS
9 Decorates cot, kisses and leaves the first partner (7) BEDECKS {BED}{pECKS}
10 Heard you returned bull and collected money, it's wifelike (7) UXORIAL {U(~you)}{OX<}{RIAL}
11 Weird HQ note taken primarily in secrecy (2,3,2) ON THE QT {HQ NOTE Taken}*
12 Corruption in bank? Book removed and cooked noticeably (7) KNAVERY {bANK}*{VERY}
13 Toy traded by Electrical Engineer (5,4) TEDDY BEAR* {TRADED BY Electrical}* E for Electrical is not there in Chambers

15 Debut in first test, Rohit to hit out (5) INTRO {IN}{Test}{ROhit}
16 Woke up bloodshot, of a bluish colour (4-3) ROSE-RED {ROSE}{RED}
19 Shrink showcasing success in national television's lady (European) (7) DWINDLE {D{WIN}D}{L}{E}
20 Beats wife and flies (5) WHOPS {W}{HOPS}
21 Out of den, Bin Laden gave explosive unobstructed (9) NAVIGABLE {BIN LAden GAVE}*
25 Note missing in rent money as per second hearing (7) RETRIAL {REnT}{RIAL}
26 Insects' pictures shows egg inside (7) IMAGOES {IMAG{O}ES}

28 White horse in the front is an expresser of disgust, lets out a neigh (7) WHICKER {White}{Horse}{ICKER}
29 Rising frost worried Islamic nation (7) EMIRATE {RIME<}{ATE}

DOWN
1 Recede from battle with electricity board (3,3) EBB OUT {BOUT}<=>{E}{B}
2 Perhaps our bosses have a Tesla; reordered (6) EDITED {ED}{I}{T}{ED}
3 UK school certificate changes, Chinese is removed and edited (4) GCSE {ChanGES}*
4 Fly with group in empty turbojets above earth (6) TSETSE {Turbojet{SET}S}{E}
5 Stud made a mistake, lost rupees and hid out (8) HUNKERED {HUNK}{ERrED}
6 Concentrating on LOC is in, managed by a Lieutenant Governor (10) LOCALISING {LOC}{A L{IS}{IN}G}
7 Divided group, led by gender-ambiguous person, met the journo (8) BISECTED {SECT}<=>{BI}+{ED}
8 Deposit millions in the centre, it's mine (8) CLAYMORE {C{LAY}{M}ORE}
14 Standards of dirty casks terrible (10) YARDSTICKS*
16 We are (in the centre) aware of strange tree (4-4) REWA-REWA {WE aRe AWARE}*

17 Oddly Smith is wearing glasses, primarily elegant and suave man (8) SMOOTHIE {SM{OO}THI*}{Elegant}
18 Doctors hold viewpoint on promotional materials (8) DANGLERS {D{ANGLE}RS}
22 Asserts that sins will leave a void inside (6) VOICES {V{O}ICES}
23 All the plant & animal life in a region have boron traces (6) BIOTAS {B}{IOTAS}
24 Listener captivating police officer and engineer simpler (6) EASIER {EA{SI}{E}R}
27 Sailor has sex appeal just a small part (1,3) A BIT {AB}{IT}

REFERENCE LIST

Book=B, National Television=DD (Door Darshan), Lady=L, European=E, Wife=W, Note=N, Egg=O, Electricity Board=EB, Tesla=T, Earth=E, Rupees=R, Lieutenant Governor=LG, Gender-ambiguous person=BI (sexual), Millions=M, Glasses=OO, Doctors=DRs, Boron=B, Void=nothing=O, Engineer=E, Sailor=AB(Able-Bodied (seaman)), Sex appeal=It.

No 14468, Friday 25 Apr 2025, AFterdark

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.

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

ACROSS

9   Real-time construction (wasting money) of a studio (7) ATELIER {REAL+TImE}*

10 One at the very beginning orders; club has commotion to supply fruit (7) AVOCADO {A}{V}{Or...s}{C}{ADO}

11 First two characters and first officer beginning to negotiate with carelessness (7) ABANDON {A}{B}{AND}{Of...r}{Ne...e}

12 Beginner seen in hospital ward shouting (7) ENTRANT {ENT}{RANT}

13 Insight gained in teaching (9) INTUITION {IN}{TUITION}

15 Artist is primarily engaging the breed (5) RAISE {RA}{IS}{En...g}

16 Stateside server has merit (7) DESERVE [T]

19 Muscle displayed in second page at school (7) TRICEPS {TRICE}{P}{S }

20 Police officer drunk in break (5) SPLIT {SP}{LIT}

21 Female's menu disregards men, (European) in the plant (9) FENUGREEK {F}{mENU}{GREEK}

25 Brag about return of investment, otherwise rest (7) ROISTER {ROI}{REST*}

26 One month to receive offer for capital (7) ABIDJAN {A}{BID}{JAN}

28 Coder set out to buy gold at Erode (7) CORRODE {C{OR}RODE*}

29 General's note on regular duel on a type of wave (3,4) LEE TIDE {LEE}{TI}{DuEl}

DOWN

1   Nothing seen during South Africa, Rhode Island trip (6) SAFARI {SA}{FA}{RI}

2   A rule introduced in department for leave (6) DEPART {DEP{A}{R}T}

3   Penny in exotic dress at the inauguration but it's patchy in colour (4) PIED Acrostic

4   British heir essentially succeeded to lead country (6) BRUNEI {B}{hEIr} over {RUN}

5   Fruit of filbert seen in mist, left by a mad man (8) HAZELNUT {HAZE}{L}{NUT}

6   New actors before the bell are appearing together (2-8) CO-STARRING {ACTORS*}{RING}

7   Drone seen at soldier's location (8) PARASITE {PARA}{SITE}

8   It's futile to get footwear for a fewer amount (8) BOOTLESS {BOOT}{LESS}

14 Rita's note in press creates displeasure (10) IRRITATION {IR{RITA}{TI}ON}

16 Deputy Inspector from the beginning is stern in territory (8) DISTRICT {De...e}{In...r}{STRICT}

17 A group of fighters traded biyearly regularly (8) SOLDIERY {SOLD}{bIyEaRlY}

18 English army in New Delhi entrance executed (8) ENFORCED {E}{New}{FORCE}{De..i}

22 More or less, listener could follow nationalist lady without substance (6) NEARLY {EAR}<=>{N} and {LadY}

23 Enjoying dismissal of unknown girl by order (6) ENJOIN ENJOyINg

24 Founder gathers news on doghouse (6) KENNEL {KE{N}{N}EL}

27 Fancy half idli with meat essentially (4) IDEA {IDli}{mEAt}

Reference List

Money = M, Very = V, Club = C, Artist = RA, Page = P, School = S, Female = F, Men = M, Note = TI, Nothing = FA(Fanny Adams), Rule = R, British = B, Left = L, Note = TI, English = E, Nationalist = N, Unknown = Y, Girl = G, New = N

No 14467, Thursday 24 Apr 2025, Afterdark

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.

ACROSS

9   One US state holds grain with selfishness (7) AVARICE {A}{VA}{RICE}

10 Expert trainer primarily worried about salt (7) ACETATE {ACE}{Tr...r}{ATE}

11 Apparent papers will be collected in tournament (7) EVIDENT {EV{ID}ENT}

12 Option to buy one dessert (4-3) CHOC-ICE {CHO{C}ICE} Buy 1 or Buy C?

13 Bug eaters to chew the vegetable (5,4) SUGAR BEET*

15 Siemens, solicitor is fat (5) STOUT {S}{TOUT}

16 Big warship to park at the front of boarding point (3,4) BUS STOP {B}{USS}{TO}{Park}

19 Company to insist head should be removed from school (7) COLLEGE {CO}{aLLEGE}

20 Disorder at tea shop regularly to refund (5) CHAOS {CHA}{sHoP<=}

21 Spells of bad weather land cops in trouble at Sweden (4,5) COLD SNAPS {LAND+COPS}{S}

25 Think again about individual help (7) R?L?E?E (Addendum - RELIEVE {RELI{E}VE} - See comments) E from?

26 Auditor's quiet, that is nervy essentially for the bank employee (7) CASHIER {CA}{SH}{IE}{neRvy}

28 Reportedly boy got breads at dawn (7) SUNRISE {(~son){SUN}{RISE} (Correction - {(~ son ryes){SUNRISE} - See comments)

29 Sat uncomfortably with anger, fixed in a place (7) STABILE {SAT*}{BILE}

DOWN

1   Concern on ship for stroke (6) CARESS {CARE}{SS}

2   Wickerwork displayed by American in Germany (6) CANING [T]

3   Mountain of wealth (4) PILE [DD]

4   Instead of dollars, use krone to pay for container (6) KETTLE (-$+k)KETTLE

5   Actor in first cinema takes action on controlled substance (8) NARCOTIC {ACTOR+IN+Ci...a}*

6   Fish is sad, lonesome in house (5,5) LEMON SOLES Letter Bank (Correction - {LONESOME}* in {LS} - See comments)

7   Friend, a bud made a poem of recantation (8) PALINODE {PAL}{1}{NODE}

I never saw a purple cow.

I never hope to see one.

But I can tell you anyhow

I'd rather see than be one

8   Letters distributed to primarily everyone to migrate (8) RESETTLE {LETTERS}*{Ev...e}

14 Roasting device's resistor damaged, one at the end (10) ROTISSERIE {RESISTOR}*{1}{thE}

16 Terrible setback getting king's support (8) BACKREST {BACK{R}EST*}

17 Say actor telling a story skipping a year of a fish (8) STARLING {STAR}{LyING} Fish or Bird??

18 Choose new reel about fish (8) PICKEREL {PICK}{REEL*}

22 Oslo customer saves an insect (6) LOCUST [T]

23 One police department initially investigating clubs is sharp (6) ACIDIC {A}{CID}{In...g}{Cl..s}

24 New setter's on the way (6) STREET*

27 Vessels are upside down; catch (4) SNAP<=

Reference List

Papers = ID, Siemens = S, Big = B< Tea = CHA, Sweden = S, Quiet = SH, Ship = SS, Dollars = S, Krone = K, House = LS(Lok Sabha), King = R, Year = Y