No 14573, Tuesday 26 Aug 2025, Avtaar

Solution to 9A 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   Not able to speak about India virtually for a short time (6) MINUTE {M{IN}UTE}

4   Brilliant compere taking up commercial hosting India's leading scholar (8) ACADEMIC {AC{AD}E}{M{In..a}C}

9   Constitutional rule to stop introduction of service tax (6) S?R?L? (Addendum - STROLL {Se...e}{T{R}OLL} - See comments ) 

10 Capsicum pie in crust of tomato baked with a bit of masala (8) PIMIENTO {PIE+IN+To..tO+Ma...a}*

11 Misrepresentation by school - parents mostly fleeced with ultimate in donations (5,9) FALSE PRETENCES {PARENTS+FLEECEd+d...nS}*

13 Victims of one-night stands? (10) CASUALTIES {CASUAL TIES}

14 Cheaply constructed gable going around (4) LEGO [T<=] 

16 Supply not starting for long (4) ACHE cACHE

18 Ambulance left a mortuary's entrance and travelled round the bend (10) UNBALANCED {amBULANCE+AND}*

21 Lost in the rush, heading for grand, magical heavenly spectacle (8,6) SOUTHERN LIGHTS {LOST+IN+THE+RUSH+Gr..d}*}

23 Prevail over our shortened boat crew cycling across Wales (8) OUTWEIGH {OUr}{(+t)TEIGH(-t)} over {W}

24 In which you will find lead members of the panel against retiring (6) GALENA [T<=]

25 Carefully consider introducing it in court following Avtaar (8) MEDITATE {D{IT}ATE}<=>{ME}

26 Cool tennis ace after losing a game at the end (6) SERENE {SERENa}{gamE}

DOWN

1   Disregard letter I have despatched (4) MISS MISSive

2   Typical standards of Vikings having left for Norway (7) NORMALS NORMA(-n+l)LS

3   Boxer's married wearing brown amulet (8) TALISMAN {T{ALIS}{M}AN}

5   What separates No-conflict zones? (7,4) CHINESE WALL [CD]

6   Cabbie runs into pickpocket (6) DRIVER {D{R}IVER}

7   Chain armour reportedly lined with tin after mounting (7) MANACLE {(~mail)MA{CAN<=}LE}

8   Army seizing vessel smuggling gold - it has lights in many parts (9) CROSSWORD {CRO{SS}WD} over {OR}

12 Power leads in apparatus having tentacles to secure shelter and gear gets IP certificate (6,5) PATENT RIGHT {P}{Ap...s}{Ha...g}{Te...s} over {TENT}{RIG}

13 Dreamy schoolmaster missing the new refurbished place where he is to take lessons (9) CLASSROOM {SChOOLMASteR}*}

15 Say, Kashmiri monkey losing tail before maturity (8) LANGUAGE {LANGUr}{AGE}

17 Tormented harassed groups close to paranoia (7) HAUNTED {H{p...iA}UNTED}

19 Model fills valise with two pieces of yellow gemstone (4-3) CATS-EYE {CA{T}SE}{YEllow}

20 Danger which inhibits engineers (6) THREAT {TH{RE}AT}

22 Animal fleece picked up (4) HARE(~hair)

Reference List

India = IN, Commercial = AD, Rule = R, Compere = MC, Wales = W, Left = L, Norway = N, Married = M, Runs = R, Vessel = SS{Steamship), Power = P, Model = T, Engineers = RE(Royal Engineers)

No 14540, Friday 18 Jul 2025, Avtaar

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

1   Movie choice announced - "Old town in Tennessee's outskirts" (7) PICTURE {(~pick)PIC}{Te...{UR}...eE}

5   Foot fragments outside entrance to Harappan digs (7) FATHOMS {F}{AT{Ha...n}OMS}

10 Like to go on reading (4) PEER {PEE}{R}

11 Egg stored in box is close to first drawer (10) CARTOONIST {CART{O}ON}{IS}{f..sT}

12 University taken over by government is bust (6) STATUE {STAT{U}E}

13 Luncheon's organised without entree? That is unusual (8) NONESUCH lUNCHEONS*

14 Lawyer's restraint binding banks in suit (9) BARRISTER {BARRI{SuiT}ER}

16 Weld aluminium counter holding bucket with long handle (5) LADLE [T<=]

17 School tournament's finale followed by every one (5) TEACH {t...nT}{EACH}

19 Open platform in disused craft leaked, leaving shores of Latvia (9) AFTERDECK {CRAFT+lEaKED}*

23 Country doctor participating in a cricket match, entertained by accountant (8) CAMBODIA {C{A}{MB}{ODI}A}

24 Unsound regulation adopted by leading Central bank (6) FLAWED {F{LAW}ED}

26 Spooner's cooks look for drink (6,4) SPRUCE BEER (~ brews peer to spruce beer)

27 Bird's stomach opening out (4) ROOK bROOK

28 Mike distributed sheet describing promo (7) HEADSET {HE{AD}SET*} A mike per se cannot be a headset

29 Kant's original perception about new religious scripture of fundamental importance (7) KEYNOTE {Kant}{EY{N}{OT}E}

DOWN

2   Avtaar's joining new English cadet for beverage (4,3) ICED TEA {I}{E+CADET}*

3   Card-sharp wins nothing (5) TAROT {TAR{O}T}

4   Condition of insects about to be freed (7) RICKETS cRICKETS

6   Somewhere near a field, German's hidden (6) AROUND {A}{gROUND}

7   Exercise routine in Shetland Islands almost completely performed without trellises, essentially (9) HANDSTAND  {SHeTlANDislANDs}*

8   Say, Chicago's problem taken up by leader of Indiana state in US (7) MUSICAL {SUM<=}{In...a}{CAL}

9   Saw open rifle shot clipping head of Connery in "The Man Who Would Be King" (6,2,5) PRINCE OF WALES {SAW+OPEN+RIFLE}* over {Co...y}

15 Covered with hard stones all over, fencing of castle keeps bulging, basically (4-5) ROCK-BOUND {RO{Ca...e}{Ke..s}{Bu...g}OUND}

18 One-time rich model (7) EXAMPLE {EX}{AMPLE}

20 Insist on measure supporting church (7) ENFORCE {EN}{FOR}{CE}

21 Idiot stealing the lady's smoking thingy (7) CHEROOT {C{HER}OOT}

22 Keep commercial now (6) ADHERE {AD}{HERE}

25 Top of arching, mostly inclined projection on stage (5) APRON {Ar...g}{PRONe}

Reference List

Old Town = UR, Foot = F, To go = PEE, Reading = R, University = U, Accountant = CA, Promo = AD, New = N, Religious scripture = OT(Old Testament), English = E, About = C, Measure = EN, Church = CE, Commercial = AD

No 14520, Wednesday 25 Jun 2025, Avtaar

FOR ATTENTION OF ALL VISITORS TO THE BLOG

I am reopening the blog so that anyone can access it, however from 7 PM on Thursday 26 Jun onwards, I will again be restricting access to the blog permanently and only custom readers will be able to access the blog. 

Those who want access to the blog as custom readers may therefore send me an e-mail at deepakgita@gmail.com and I will approve the same. Those who have already done so need not do so again.

I have been forced to change the settings as one person refused to adhere to the rules of the blog despite being advised on many occasions. Once the blog is restricted to custom readers as it was for the past few days last week, I will have the administrative power to remove anyone who does not follow the rules.

Solution to 23D 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   Amateur cuts, opening both sides of the belly (7) VENTRAL {VENT}{R}{A}{L}

5   Hue and cry about the end of casual love affair (7) CLAMOUR {C}{c...aL}{AMOUR}

9   Bull run - support reversing - having crossed central point (7) RHUBARB {R}{BRA<=} over {HUB}

10 "Computer file is corrupted", associate stated (4,3) DATA SET {A+STATED}*

11 Rush to hire help for extra payment (9) SURCHARGE  {SUR{CHAR}GE}

12 Bailiff constantly recalled arresting leader in Exeter (5) REEVE {EV{Ex...r}ER<=}

13 Cavity in heavenly object's retracted (5) SINUS {SUN IS}<=

15 Will's assistant finally sent abroad, having trained (9) TESTAMENT {a...nT}{ES{TAME}NT*}

17 Victory with a service turning the other way (4,5) VICE VERSA {V}{A+SERVICE}*

19 Hello! Bored by working, dear? (5) HONEY {H{ON}EY}

22 Senior socialist revolutionary following final of the league (5) ELDER {RED<=}<=>{thE}{L}

23 Supplement to suppress cocaine craving (9) ADDICTION {ADDI{C}TION}

25 Trapping snail in gigantic nets (7) NAILING [T]

26 Fashionable belt with ring featured in commercial online (1,2,4) A LA MODE {A{LAM}{O}D}{E}

27 Romans sculpted Sicily's terminal in work of stone (7) MASONRY {ROMANS}*{s...lY}

28 Destinies fulfilled - sealed by locking of lips (7) KISMETS {KIS{MET}S}

DOWN

1   Group of bugs survives, unexpectedly evading the introduction of vaccine (7) VIRUSES SURvIVES*

2   Books about international organisation operating to support launch of research for quantum particle (7) NEUTRON N{EU}T}{Re...h}{ON}

3   Hit book banned by Gulf (5) REACH bREACH

4   Sign on hill describing earth's saviour (9) LIBERATOR {LIB{E}RA}{TOR}

5   Bum died in jail (5) CADGE {CA{D}GE}

6   Father changed clothing, carpet and effects (9) AFTERMATH {AFTER{MAT}H*}

7   Blue film-set holding up old boys (7) OBSCENE {SCENE}<=>{OB}

8   Engineers deal with seclusion (7) RETREAT {RE}{TREAT}

14 Royal emblem featuring forgotten head of Europe (9) SOVEREIGN {S{OVER}{E}IGN}

16 Don't go near ribbon store, says Spooner (5,4) STAND BACK (~band stack to stand back)

17 Country fellow sent up after Avtaar stops scan (7) VIETNAM {MAN}<=>{V{I}ET}

18 Blackguard passes tea carriers (7) CADDIES {CAD}{DIES}

20 Few supporting topseed's offensive (7) NOISOME {SOME}<=>{NO 1}

21 Americans in tug visit retreats (7) YANKEES {YANK}{SEE<=}

23 Young lady, one left abandoned in American city - is fuming (5) A?G?Y (Addendum - ANGRY {GiRl} in {A}{NY} - See comments)

24 Chic college girl (5) CLASS {C}{LASS}

Reference List

Amateur= A, About = C, Run = R, Support = BRA, Associate = A, Help = CHAR, Victory = V, League = L, Cocaine = C, Commercial = AD, Online = E, Books = NT(New Testament), Book = B, Earth = E, Died = D, Old boys = OB, Engineers = RE(Royal Engineers), Left = L, American = A, College = C

No 14495, Tuesday 27 May 2025, Avtaar

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   Bar conducting probe? Disgraceful! (6) INDIGN {IN{DIG}N}

5   Every other breach damages entrances (8) BECHARMS {BrEaCh}{HARMS}

9   Long, endless, singular, rambling conclusion to speech (8) LANGUISH {SINGULAr}*{s...cH}

10 Young girl taking time filming Germany's interior sections (6) MIDSTS {MIS{T}S} over {D}

11 1960s rock song by Roger, I played outside bank (7,5) ELEANOR RIGBY {BY+ROGER+I}* over {LEAN}

13 Along with a lasso, a shikar's leader left (4) ALSO {A}{LasSO}

14 Husband taken in by inflexible, tasteless, vacuous notions (8) THOUGHTS {T{H}OUGH}{Ta...eS}

17 How to get a team member in office? (8) ?O?K?A?E (Addendum - WORKMATE {TEAM}* [RA] - See comments)

18 Land is flat, without fencing and extremely backward (4) LAOS {fLAt}{SO<=}

20 Growth of leaves in newly fenced corners after cutting cedar's root (12) FRONDESCENCE {FENCED+CORNErS}*

23 Leaving a jet, more energetic (6) SPRYER SPRaYER

24 Extraordinary tenor - cracking numbers - in Mexican folk ensembles (8) NORTENOS {N{TENOR*}OS}

25 Plug-uglies, primarily employed by moneylenders who take possession by force (8) USURPERS {USUR{Pl...s}ERS}

26 Head of krill nibbled by curious Welsh predators (6) WHELKS {WHEL{Kr..l}S*}

DOWN

2   Old boatman's sweetheart turning up outside entrance of apartment (4) NOAH {HON<=} over {Ap...t}

3   Ethiopian on vacation visits, looking around for cosy fireplace (9) INGLENOOK {INGL{Et...aN}OOK*}

4   Overwhelmed by bills, Avtaar cries (6) NOISES {NO{I}SES}

5   Suffering Chinese bend over centre of Parthenon, starting to supplicate, away from public view (6-3-6) BEHIND-THE-SCENES {CHINESE+BEND}* over {parTHEnon} and {Su...e}

6   Country advanced, after arresting leaders of resistance outfits (8) CAMEROON {CAME ON} over {Re...e}{Ou...s}

7   Tops from an old Delhi artisan inspiring gowns in Hanoi (2,3) AO DAI Acrostic

8   Idiot boxes underground, reviewed by operating key on remote control (4,6) MUTE BUTTON {MUT{TUBE<=}T}{ON}

12 Like diamonds, graphite and lead in Anthony Trollope's novel (10) ALLOTROPES {An...y+TROLLOPES}*

15 Bond film "Ancient fellow" described by Spooner (6,3) GOLDEN EYE (~olden guy to golden eye)

16 Cheerful accountant supported by disheartened judge (8) CAREFREE {CA}{REFeREE}

19 One tight singer, finally belted out without a break (2,1,3) IN A ROW {1}{NARrOW}

21 Beam article about caste in Kerala (5) NAYAR {RAY}{AN}<=

22 Footwear box (4) SOCK [DD]

Reference List

Time = T, Germany = D, Husband = H

No 14473, Thursday 01 May 2025, Avtaar

Artwork by Prasanna

Solution to 3D 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   A Navy craft? I should think so (3,3) AND HOW {A}{N}{DHOW}

4   Fearsome Don providing guns (8) ALARMING {AL}{ARMING}

9   Scrap in prison room getting reported (6) CANCEL {CAN}{(~cell)CEL}

10 Choose to drink before, with lead character in the amateur musical drama (8) OPERETTA {OP{ERE}T}{The}{A} 

11 Ruler traversing India by ship near seaside, treated for glandular fever (7,7) KISSING DISEASE {K{I}{SS}ING}{SEASIDE*}

13 Flowers, say, on fringe of centrepiece in bar reflecting ray of sunlight (10) BUTTERCUPS {UTTER}{Ce...e} in {PUB<=}{Su...t}

14 Ladies' wear from Kashmir - asymmetrically going around (4) SARI [T<=]

16 Soil remains behind cross (4) TASH {ASH}<=>{T}

18 Two female champions gripping ends of torso in competition (4-2-4) FACE-TO-FACE {F}{ACE}{TorsO}{F}{ACE}

21 Struggling, maybe? Very odd to assume debt - that is the last thing I will do (4,2,4,4) OVER MY DEAD BODY {MAYBE+VERY+ODD}* over {OD}

23 Hot, troublesome, mostly reckless disruptors (8) HECKLERS {H}{RECKLESs}*

24 Rime of the Ancient Mariner? (2-2-2) YO-HO-HO [GK]

25 A yacht's bow and stern submerged in leak before start of summer cruises (3,5) DAY TRIPS {D{A}{YachT}RIP}{Su...r}

26 African political group initially involved in deal with moneylending (6) USANCE {US{ANC}E}

DOWN

1   Tips of arrows ricocheted, controlled optimally with the bow (4) ARCO {Ar...s}{Ri...d}{Co...d}{Op...y}

2   One drilling cavity, circling raised seat (7) DENTIST {DEN{SIT<=}T}

3   Runs away, escaping from trap (8) O?E?S?E? (Addendum - OVERSEES (~overseas) - See comments)

5   Butterflies piled up near theatre's entrance amidst show (11) LEPIDOPTERA {PILED*}{OP{Th...e}ERA}

6   Empty refuge camouflaged by overthrown ruler is most difficult to locate (6) RAREST {Re..gE} in {TSAR<=}

7   Opening segment in latest commercial picture withdrawn (7) INTRADA {IN} with {AD}{ART}<=

8   Source of red and white pear given out (9) GRAPEVINE*

12 Broken sides of divan crack open completely (4,3,4) NECK AND CROP {DivaN+CRACK+OPEN}*

13 Fiancé is fantastic - hotter in couch (9) BETROTHED {BE{HOTTER*}D}

15 Spooner John eyes records (8) LOGBOOKS (~bog looks to logbooks)

17 Crude vessel docked in Sicily's shores (7) SKETCHY {Sic{KETCH}iclY}

19 American in a hurry accepts suggestions from nationalists, democrats etc (3,2,2) AND SO ON {A}{Na...s}{De...s}{SOON}

20 One taking a stroll left, restricted by cautionary signal (6) AMBLER {AMB{L}ER}

22 Donkey's well - nursed by Avtaar (4) MOKE {M{OK}E}

Reference List

Navy = N, Don = AL(Capone), Prison = CAN, Before = ERE, Amateur = A, India = I, Ship = SS, Female = F, Debt = OD(Overdue), Hot = H, Latest = IN, Commercial = AD, American = A, Left = L

No 14451, Saturday 05 Apr 2025, Avtaar

ACROSS

1 Earth taken out from uncut grassy patch completely (7) THROUGH {THe ROUGH}
5 Policewoman hiding husband's axe (7) CHOPPER {C{H}OPPER}
10 Collection of anecdotes about North African State's primaries (4) ANAS [Acrostic]
11 Work on new tariff to cover closed circuits, chiefly for on-road monitor (7,3) TRAFFIC COP {OP}<=>{TARIFF}*{Closed}{Circuits}

12 Heard shout "Nurse, it is an emergency" (6) CRISIS {(~CRY)CRI}{SIS}
13 Watchful European wanting to counter cutting article in newspaper (4-4) OPEN-EYED {OP{E}{YEN<}ED}
14 Silly to entertain master of local slang (9) IDIOMATIC {IDIO{MA}TIC}
16 Rank //144 (5) GROSS [DD] Gross=12 dozens
17 Supports venture to visit Mars every so often (5) ABETS {BET} in {mArS}
19 Bar's cleaner taking girl out for dinner, at the close (9) DETERRENT {DETER(-g+dinneR)ENT}
23 Veteran in favour of returning Avtaar's draft (3,5) PRO FORMA {PRO}{FOR}{AM<}
24 Sweet Charlie takes time off for drink (6) COFFEE {(-t+C)OFFEE
26 Competition's withdrawn round - those who came undressed, starting to rehearse (10) CORRIVALRY {COY} around {aRRIVALs}{Rehearse}
27 Infectious disease killed college poet (4) OVID {cOVID}
28 I love LA's fossilised pits (7) ALVEOLI*
29 Cook with oil in can with fine bits of raw yam (4,3) STIR FRY {STIR}{F}{Raw}{Yam}

DOWN
2 Many in fear reportedly led by member of barbarian tribe (7) HUNDRED {(~DREAD)DRED}<=>{HUN}
3 Topless grills for ovens (5) OASTS {rOASTS}
4 Become a sailor's stooge, training with captain's second (2,2,3) GO TO SEA {STOOGE*}{cAptain}
6 Raised note about banks in Frankfurt (6) HEFTED {HE{FrankfurT}ED}
7 Select more rum out of India for surveyor (9) PICKEERER {PICK}{EERiER} Chambers gives one meaning of pickeer as scout
8 European recalled crux of poem "Scooters" (7) ELOPERS {POLE<}{vERSe}
9 Switch tracks following dog, crossing outskirts of Toledo (3-1-4-5) CAT-O-NINE-TAILS {TAILS}<=> {CA{ToledO}NINE}

15 Uncertain future - too unpredictable (3,2,4) OUT OF TRUE*
18 Zanzibar now legally protects nocturnal flier (4,3) BARN OWL [T]

20 With terminals of office in sync, programmers initially try to crack code (7) ENCRYPT {officE}{iN}{synC}{ProgrammersTRY}*
21 Wanting more, picked up joint, love (7) NEEDIER {(~KNEE}NEE}{DIER}{(~DEAR)DIER} see comments
22 Girl on vacation providing refuge to stray fawn (6) GROVEL {GirL} over {ROVE}
25 Batter's boundary to cross half-century (5) FLOUR {F{L}OUR}

REFERENCE LIST

Earth=E, Husband=H, Work=OP, European=E, Master=MA, Girl=G, Charlie=C, Time=T, College=C, Fine=F, Can=Stir=Prison, India=I, Half-century=Fifty=L.

No 14423, Tuesday 04 Mar 2025, Avtaar

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   Nick trimmed perfect cut of meat (7) PURLOIN {PURe}{LOIN}

5   A dog taking out heroin in the old African capital (7) YAOUNDE {A}{hOUND} in {YE}

9   Skipping prayer with priest in club? (7) ROMPING {R{OM}{P}ING}

10 Bits of emerald and ruby on Miss Luxembourg's scarf (7) MUFFLER {Em...d}{Ruby}<=>{MUFF}{L}

11 Lone wolf Carol gave the game away (9) SINGLETON {SING}{LET ON}

12 Hear college contest lost money (5) CATCH {C}{mATCH}

13 Mark briefly bet 1000 (5) SPECK {SPEC}{K}

15 Powerful caucus controlling state of crude oil - cunning, extremely greedy groups (9) OLIGARCHY {OIL}* with {ARCH} in {Gr..dY}*

17 Preposterous cess on stocking individual parts of rockets (9) NOSECONES {CESS+ON}* over {ONE}

19 Fires rifles (5) SACKS [DD]

22 Wrong answer by young girl (5) AMISS {A}{MISS}

23 Epic tale about drowning island's extremity (9) TAILPIECE {EPIC+TALE}* over {I}

25 Blind dog removing top from soil (7) CURTAIN {CUR}{sTAIN}

26 Appears hotel's fencing the field in which I get audience (7) EARSHOT [T]

27 Women's shawl from India showed up at Tanzanian borders (7) DUPATTA [T]

28 Procession of fighters in New York? (7) F?Y?V?R (Addendum - FLYOVERS [CD] + See comments)

DOWN

1   Numbness starts to exhaust some getting entertained in French city (7) PARESIS {PAR{Ex...t}{Some}IS}

2   Rector and church groups land in court (7) ROMANCE {R}{CE} over {OMAN}

3   Recess in waffle iron fixed up (5) ORIEL [T<=]

4   Girl wearing fancy thing with private item of attire (9) NIGHTGOWN {G}<=>{THING*} and {OWN}

5   State of Avtaar overwhelmed by desire (5) YEMEN {YE{ME}N}

6   Executives reworked discounted cash flow mostly with future interest increases, to start with (9) OFFICIALS {CASh+FLOw+Fu...e+In...t+In...s}*

7   Essence of article on unusual lion from an African river basin (7) NILOTIC {arTICle}<=>{LION}*

8   Lathery, plastic material (7) EARTHLY*

14 Boot in bond vehicle described by Spooner (9) KICKSTART (stick cart to kickstart)

16 Enemy hints about following through, nevertheless (2,5,2) IN SPITE OF {FOE}{TIPS}<= after {IN}

17 Greek character moved to music topless with distinct changes in expression (7) NUANCED {NU}{dANCED}

18 Waken, pinching top of right ear's bone (7) STIRRUP {STIR{Ri..t}UP}

20 Russian who produced dramatic outcomes announced king is threatened and finished queen off (7) CHEKHOV (~check off) (Correction - {(~check) CHEKH}{OVer} - See comments)

21 Light outside officer's lodge (7) SHELTER {SHE{LT}ER}

23 Pacific island's Indian coach (5) TONGA [DD]

24 Do section 25/26 (5) PARTY {PART}{a...xYz}

Reference List

The old = YE, Prayer = OM, Priest = P, Luxembourg = L, College = C, Money = M, 1000 = K, Answer = A, Island = I, Rector = R, Church = CE, Girl = G, Queen = ER

No 14397, Saturday 1 Feb 2025, Avtaar

 ACROSS

1 Approach without struggle from the moment you are seeking to master "Avtaar's Special" (6) AHIMSA {AH{I'M S}A}
5 Leek is wholly covered by shoot (8) SCALLION {SC{ALL}ION}

9 Fresh discharge over lake, silting every now and then (5-3) SPLIT-NEW {SP{L}IT}{N{Every}oW} {SP{L}{sIlTiNg}EW see comments
10 Hoist implanted with a power tool soft earth that is used for cutting grain (6) REAPER {REA{P}{E}R} E from? See comments

11 Habit is loose and not secure (6,6) SECOND NATURE*
13 Go, chasing the origin of Excalibur sword (4) EPEE {PEE}<=>{Excalibur}

14 Complete tally of banks in Timbuktu almost botched (3,5) SUM TOTAL {TimbuktU ALMOST}*
17 Portion of meat, cut noodles and batter with filling of oil (8) PASTRAMI {PASTa}{RAM}{oIl}

18 Tongue, eyes, thumbs, nails (4) ESTH [T] Chambers gives Esth as Esthonian, Estonian
20 Territory in the Pacific Ocean - land with uncapped view, possibly? (3,9) NEW CALEDONIA

{OCEAN LAND vIEW}* Semi &Lit

23 Master, I cracked spans of atoms' arrangement in molecules (6) STERIC [T]
24 Uncharacteristic mistake - missing zero - by head for accounting - one hundred thousand's taken back (8) ATYPICAL {TYPo}<=>{Accounting}+{I}{LAC<}
25 Pen essays without preface about pairings of chromosomes (8) SYNAPSES {PEN eSSAYS}*
26 Moving story? (6) CINEMA [CD]

DOWN
2 Wish age gets reversed after leaving college (4) HOPE {EPOcH<}
3 Yacht's cable is then fixed above a case of marble (9) MAINSHEET {IS THEN A MarblE}*

4 A nurse is concocting aromatics, principally for a solution to treat bruises (6) ARNICA {A}{RN}{Is}{Concocting}{Aromatics}
5 Two lads in Soweto, getting high after taking time off with girls, finally indulge in excesses (3,4,4,4) SOW ONE'S WILD OATS {TWO LADS IN SOWEtO}*{girlS}
6 Initials and header missing in text by a friend (8) ACRONYMS {sMS}<=>{A CRONY}
7 Bent limb cut by soldier (5) LEANT  {LEg}{ANT}
8 Makes too much fuss about revised core values essentially missing basics of team spirit resolution (10) OVERREACTS Anno not clear {CORE VAluES Team Resolution}* See comments
12 Ask for sealing a break on the surface (10) APPARENTLY {APP{A RENT}LY}
15 Enterprise dealing with checking metric for valuing stock (9) OPERATION O{P/E RATIO}N
16 Catches herds crossing old ground (8) PADLOCKS {PACKS} over {OLD}*
19 Working together in any case, after Australia, America and Spain dropped bombs (2,4) IN SYNC {IN}{aNY CaSe}*
21 Agents taking over old town in the Papal court (5) CURIA {C{UR}IA}
22 Lady's expression of loathing disregarded by British writer (4) MAAM MAughAM

REFERENCE LIST

Special=S, Lake=L, Power=P, Zero=O, One=I, Hundred Thousand=Lac, College=C, Nurse=RN (Registered Nurse), Time=T, Australia, America=A, Spain=E

No 14370, Tuesday 31 Dec 2024, Avtaar

Solution to 18A 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   Recent communication about a missing Earl (6) LATTER {L{A}eTTER}

4   Agitated swimmer eating constantly (8) FEVERISH {F{EVER}ISH}

9   Soccer balls near goalpost's end grabbed by linesman from back (6) FOOTER {OO}{g...sT} in {REF<=}

10 Difficulty in speech... and I capitulate (8) HANDICAP [T]

11 Things are stirring in images of that old European complex (3,4,2,5) THE GAME IS AFOOT {IMAGES+OF+THAT+O+E}*

13 Practical test that is included by banks for financial director ahead of court proceeding (5,5) FIELD TRIAL {Fi...{IE}...aL}{D}{TRIAL}

14 Check by spinning top of tuner on TV (4) TEST {Tu..r}{SET}<=

16 Unevenly rough, dry part of Germany (4) RUHR {RoUgH+dRy}

18 Spies taken in by extremely bright discharged emigrants who frequent upper-class dos (10) ?O?I?L?T?S ()

21 A mantis flirting with sinister marsupial (9,5) TASMANIAN DEVIL {A+MANTIS}*{AND}{EVIL}

23 Most of our experiment covers onset of Venus' eclipse (8) OUTRIVAL {OUr}{TRI{Ve..s}AL}

24 Bird sighted at first on trek across river (6) SHRIKE {Si...d}{H{R}IKE}

25 Nocturnal habits? (8) NIGHTIES [DD]

26 "Dash" in special font (6) SPRINT {S}{PRINT}

DOWN

1   Pick up fight after changing sides (4) LIFT (-r+l)LIFT

2   Old children cutting, say, palm and foot (7) TROCHEE {TR{O}{CH}EE}

3   Nuclei of cells modified in degrees after removing electron (8) ENERGIDS {IN+DEGReES}*

5   In the morning, Avtaar visits former kingdom for investigation (11) EXAMINATION {AM}{I} in {EX}{NATION}

6   Get close to target and rip top off (6) ENDEAR {END}{tEAR}

7   Go down supporting popular Conservative ring (7) INCLOSE {LOSE}<=>{IN}{C}

8   Condition is almost pathetic after treatment (9) HEPATITIS {IS+PATHETIc}*

12 Likeness of, say, ruler with gold skirt reflecting on casing of gemstone (6,5) MIRROR IMAGE {AMIR}{OR}{RIM}<={Ge...nE}

13 Eldest brother is new head of family after he goes abroad (5-4) FIRST-BORN {BROTheR+IS+N+Fa...y}* 

15 Cool to follow book with cryptic clue of top quality (4-4) BLUE CHIP {HIP}<=>{B}{CLUE*}

17 Touch of titanium and silver below pot# (7) HASHTAG {Ti,,,m}{AG}<=>{HASH}

19 Stability's in doubt - possibly stay away, after leaving son in capital (7) TBILISI staBILITyS Third I from? Seems to be an error in fodder?

20 Cryptically, it's savage (6) SADIST {ITS}* [RA]

22 Superman's well-known place in England (4) KENT [DD]

Reference List

Earl = E, Old = O, European = E, Director = D, River = R, Special = S, Children = CH, Electron = E, Conservative = C, Gold = OR, New = N, Book = B

Special, Sunday 29 Dec 2024, IXL-2024 Onstage Final 1, Avtaar

Three answers per commenter till 6 PM (Annotations compulsory) 

Please submit all your answers in one comment.  

(COMMENTS ENTERED WITH LESS THAN THREE ANSWERS/ANNOTATIONS WILL BE DELETED WITHOUT NOTICE, UNLESS THE COMMENTER SPECIFIES THAT IT IS A COMPENSATION FOR A REPEAT)

Enjoy.

No 14343, Friday 29 Nov 2024, Avtaar

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   Most ridiculous place where one may find chicks? (7) INANEST {IN A NEST}

5   Buzz about the end of illegal affair (7) CLAMOUR {C}{i...aL}{AMOUR}

10 Yankee kills and injures without purpose (4) OFFS OFFendS

11 Calling loudly to replace leader of Conservatives in March (10) PROFESSION PRO(-c+f)FESSION

12 Carriage in teal and auburn (6) LANDAU [T]

13 Fish and peeled fruit with popular starter of Italian pasta (8)  LINGUINI {LING}{frUit}{IN}{It...n}

14 Awkward ball, Maharashtra's opener shut out (3,6) ALL THUMBS {BALL+Ma...a+SHUT}*

16 Piece of endearing duet remixed in musical composition (5) ETUDE {En...g}{DUET*}

17 A special collection that is valuable (5) ASSET {A}{S}{SET}

19 Criticism of union member hoarding foreign soda (9) BROADSIDE {BR{SODA*}IDE}

23 Black powder coating plastic resistance-free brown item of winter-gear (8) SNOWBOOT {S{BrOWN*}OOT}

24 Completely depressed after short vacation (6) HOLLOW {LOW}<=>{HOLiday}

26 Without support Rocky, say, after losing almost everything boxes with amateur (5-5) STAND-ALONE {ST{AND}{A}alLONE}

27 King Schwarzenegger - as "Terminator" - enthralling comeback (4) TSAR [T<=]

28 Bull's roar, having separated (7) BALONEY {BA{LONE}Y}

29 "Jolly good fella" - uttered scientist (7) FEYNMAN (~fine man)

DOWN

2   Addict keeling over before tumble? That's nothing! (4,3) NAFF ALL {FAN<=}{FALL}

3   Nudged wide, so not holding up (5) NOSED [T<=]

4   Suicide by rabid Oriental pups across kingdom (7) SEPPUKU {E+PUPS}* over {UK}

6   Reline bent arch supporting a vault (6) LIERNE*

7   Flies and parasitic growth outside capital city (9) MOSQUITOS {MOS{QUITO}S}

8   Universal study about housing in this day and age is wanting a title (7) UNOWNED {U}{NOW}{DEN<=}

9   Speech by Commanding officer covers withdrawn dance concert (13) COLLABORATION {ORATION<=>CO} over {BALL<=}

15 Take crackers to party having got gold in Olympic event (9) TAEKWENDO {TAKE*}{WON}{DO}

18 Singer Avtaar put in a right answer after reflection (7) SINATRA SINATRA {I} in {A}{RT}{ANS}<=

20 Sportsperson gave permission to be featured in two articles (7) ATHLETE {A}{TH{LET}E}

21 Miniature scene from one old boring play (7) DIORAMA {D{1}{O}RAMA}

22 Place to gather per Spooner (6) LOCATE (~collate to locate)

25 Variant of Tamil, not essentially new language (5) LATIN {TAmIL*}{N}

Reference List

About = C, Loudly = F, Popular = IN, Special = S, Resistance = R, Amateur = A, Oriental = E, Universal = U, Right = RT, Answer = ANS, New = N