No 12723, Friday 06 Sep 2019, Hypatia

RULES FOR POSTING ON 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.

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

The regular blog will replace the clues at 5 PM.

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

ACROSS
9   You and I rush after hero and the actors in "Cloudy with a chance of rain", perhaps (7,8) WEATHER FORECAST {WE}{AFTER+HERO}*{CAST}
10 Fail to pay when due and flat broke! (7) DEFAULT {DUE+FLAT}*
11 Fast or strike without a purpose (7) RAPIDLY {RAP}{IDLY}
12 Wild crab and one deeply burrowed (9) ABANDONED [T]
14 A little dog fight starting near swamp (5) DROWN {Dog}{ROW}{Near}
17 Spice and flavour from reddish orange natural sources (7) SAFFRON Acrostic &lit

19 Patent Hypatia had registered in first lady's book (7) EVIDENT {EV{I'D}E}{NT}
21 Stretchy fabric from two fashion capitals (5) NYLON {NY}{LON}
23 Jane's casual clothes (4,5) BLUE JEANS [RA]
25 Upset when flat earning rent's gutted (7) STARTLE {STA{RenT}LE}
27 Bother hiring nurse before a disaster (7) TORNADO {TO{RN}{A}DO}
30 MI associate and double "O" shot on the US shores (1,8,3,3) A THOUSAND AND ONE {A} with {AND+AND+O} in {ON+THE+US}*

DOWN
1   Impressed by old woman knocking girl out (4) AWED A(-g+w)WED
2   Spouse nearly adopted a homeless child (4) WAIF {W{A}IFe}
3   Bear ought to get climbing again (8) SHOULDER {SHOULD}{RE<=}
4   Something charged for running behind time (6) PROTON {PRO}{T}{ON}
5   I drop bananas with a bit of Ragi, picking up say, a breakfast dish (8) PORRIDGE {I+DROP}* over {Ragi} and {EG<=}
6   That man needing parking is escorted and assisted (6) HELPED {HE}{L{P}ED}
7   Reportedly manufactured cleaner (4) MAID (~made)
8   Delay support (4) STAY [DD]
12 Burning issue? (5) ARSON [CD]
13 Terrific or Terrible? (5) AWFUL [DD]
15 Talk show hostess invites European leaving Hungary for entertainment (5) OPERA {OP{E}RAh}
16 Perhaps re-do records? (5) NOTES Definition by example
18 Name country entertaining British before the French duke, say (8) NOBLEMAN {N}{O{B}{LE}MAN}
20 Casting a spell, criminal's hot and smashing (8) INJURING (-con+in)INJURING
22 Batting after putting up century abroad (3-3) NOT-OUT {TON<=}{OUT}
24 Disunity in party is getting messy (6) UNTIDY DisUNITY* [CA}
25 Animal's tail flicked by leg (4) STAG STAG(-e)
26 Avoiding the restless Cheetah attacking in hunger (4) ACHE CHEetAh*
28 Trace a cat (4) ATOM {A}{TOM}
29 Out briefly at regular intervals to submit (4) OBEY {O}{BriEflY}

Reference List
First lady = EVE, Book = NT, Nurse = RN(Regidtered Nurse), Associate = A, Woman = W, Girl = G, Again = RE, Time = T, Running = ON, Say = EG, Parking = P, European = E, Name = N, British = B, The French = LE, Hot = IN, Century = TON, Out = O

GRID

No 12722, Thursday 05 Sep 2019, Hypatia

ACROSS
8   In Bath, it was said, England & UK are breaking up (6) EUREKA {E+UK+ARE}*
9   Someone on a talent show, concerned with fresh delivery (8) NEONATAL [T]
10 Emperor emptied complete treasury before rule (8) DOMINEER {DO}{MINE}{Em...oR}
11 Celebrity sketch (6) FIGURE [DD]
12 Follow journalist pursuing audiophile, apparently well read (3-5) DOG-EARED {DOG}{EAR}{ED}
13 Make a slip with assignment (6) ERRAND {ERR}{AND}
14 Extremely slow if it's most crowded (7) DENSEST [DD]
17 Unfortunately, obtrude on stronghold (7) REDOUBT*
20 Long American tower (6) ASPIRE {A}{SPIRE}
22 Consolidated around 50 plus small private shares, for one (8) UNLISTED {UN{L}I{S}TED}
25 Cool red diamond cut in interwoven pattern (6) ?I?K?R (Addendum - WICKER {WICKEd}{R} - See comments)
26 Demerits for crazy sounds from Spooner's dog (3,5) BAD MARKS (-m+b)BAD (-b+m)MARKS
27 Bats once, runs short of second base to abandon (8) RENOUNCE {ONCE+RUNs}*{E}
28 Something pleasant heard from someone satisfied (6) EYEFUL (~ i full)

DOWN
1   Regret about atmospheric layer covering group of countries (8) EUROZONE {RUE<=}{OZONE}
2   Prefer I were in retirement home to make fresh connections (6) REWIRE [T<=]
3   Run from employment (6) CAREER [DD]
4   To meddle with MP in assembly is imprudent (7) INTRUDE ImpRUDENT* [CA]
5   Study before getting bored by father's colleague (8) CONFRERE {CON}{FR}{ERE}
6   Romper with large pocket for baby? (8) KANGAROO [CD]
7   Say Hastings, picked up novel about a priest (6) WARREN {NEW<=} over {A}{RR}
15 Link post in Twitter – it's secured fast and quickly released (4-4) SLIP-KNOT*
16 Second wife, on getting close, doesn't start cursing (8) SWEARING {S}{W}{nEARING}
18 Launch baker (5,3) BREAK OUT {BAKER}* [RA]
19 Model's married one you can hardly catch – an acrobat! (7) TUMBLER (-m+t)TUMBLER
21 Small queen guarding bee's nest getting bit (6) SHIVER {S}{HIVE}{R}
23 Steps taken by the upwardly mobile? (6) LADDER [CD]
24 Groomed players to eat when drunk (6) SHAVEN {S{HAVE}N}

Reference List
England = E, Journalist = ED, American = A, 50 = L, Small = S, Red = R, Diamond = D, Second = S, Base = E, Father = FR, Priest = RR, Wife = W, Model = T, Married = M, Queen = R(Regina), Players = S,N

GRID

No 12721, Wednesday 04 Sep 2019, KrisKross

ACROSS
1   Old American about to drink coffee from the East (6) NAVAJO {O{JAVA}N}<=
4   Member of Jewish community with hospital in capital city, extremely expensive (8) PHARISEE {P{H}ARIS}{Ex...vE}
10 Theatre is much abused by everyone (5,4) MUSIC HALL {IS+MUCH}*{ALL}
11 Enter popular place (5) INPUT {IN}{PUT}
12 Doctor Grant on vacation, ordered Charlie to go for jog (7) DOGTROT {DOcTOR+GranT}*
13 Pain after stretching exercise, without a healthy drink (7) YOGHURT {YOG}{HURT}
14 Primarily dry area in warmer country (5) SUDAN {SU{Dry}{A}N}

15 Submarine, reportedly in good shape, reaches America (8) NAUTILUS (~not ill){NAUTIL}{US}
18 "Missing love": Another novel about Arizona's old city (8) NAZARETH {ANoTHER}* over {AZ}
20 Promise from Sicily's first Don (5) SWEAR {Si...y}{WEAR}
23 Character from Athens at cricket match is most tense (7) TAUTEST {TAU}{TEST}
25 Reject ads, possibly adulterous (4,3) RULE OUT adULTEROUs* [CA]
26 Ark wrecked near US state – it's destiny (5) KARMA {ARK*}{MA}
27 Online Oracle lies to leaders fighting about polls (9) ELECTORAL {E}{ORACLE+Lies+To}*
28 Thinness of mineral found near Bhilai, say (8) SPARSITY {SPAR}{SITY}(~city)
29 Stand up for a picture (6) TRIPOD [CD?]

DOWN
1   Man playing around with maids perhaps, wandering around (8) NOMADISM {M}{ON}<={MAIDS}*
2   Faced holy man in See, mostly (7) VISAGED {SAGE} in {VIDe}
3   Pot carried around with a plant (9) JACARANDA {JA{CA}R}{AND}{A}

5   Sorry – household under renovation. Be patient (4,4,6) HOLD YOUR HORSES*
6   After bankruptcy, government's feeling sorry (5) RUING {RUIN}{G}
7   Engineer pukes outside English University, killing himself (7) SEPPUKU {SE{P}PUK*}{U} Seems to be an error while cluing. 

8   Being prudent, I typically save (6) ENTITY [T]
9   Fellow when worried, chewed tablet as a safety instruction (6,4,4) FASTEN SEAT BELT {F}{AS}{TENSE}{TABLET*}
16 Plastic wire, for example, wound over a central core (9) INSULATOR {INSUL{A}T}{cORe}
17 President, shaken badly, spoke nonsense (8) PRATTLED {P}{RATTLED}
19 Tanks in a harbour, shortly bearing back (7) AQUARIA {A}{QUAy}{AIR<=}
21 Demagogue ultimately won epitaph saying "I'm the greatest" perhaps (3,4) EGO TRIP {d...uE}{GOT}{R I P}
22 Supports contests (6) STAKES [DD]
24 Can retired man finally pass tests? (5) EXAMS {AXE<=}{M}{pasS}

Reference List
About = ON, Hospital = H, Popular = IN, Charlie = C, Area = A, Love = 0, Online = E, Man = M, Around = CA, Government = G, University = U, Fellow = F,  President = P,  Bearing = AIR,

GRID

Holiday Special, Tuesday 03 Sep 2019, Doppelganger (Repeat)

No paper due to Vinayaka Chathurthi.

Repeating CW No 1 from Doppelganger (without any changes so there will be goofups in the cluing) as I am out of stock of specials. KKR has sent me one which will be used next Sunday.

Each person may enter a maximum of three answers till 6 PM (Annotations compulsory)
Please submit all your answers in one comment.

ACROSS
1   Father and Uncle Sam with a journalist took a break (6)
5   The company without any permit had energy to finish  (8)
9   Escape after playing an old prank in his stint (5,3)
10 The short film was not good, it was pathetic (6)
11 Indicate, whether with evidence it is resistant to the elements (12)
13 A detailed milling on the screw head becomes a knot (4)
14 Former law is suitable. Perfect! (5,3)
17 Attractive little devil (3,5)
18 God’s at home in this weather (4)
20 A clear idiot he is, dressed in muftis (5,7)
23 Wine with no heart is like a tissue (6)
24 Bearing built with one silver racer (8)
25 The operator takes time while angling for this (8)
26 Make offensive remarks about a small student who is on the border (6)

DOWN
2   A Cree owns land (4)
3   Loyal supporters like limited delay before time in battles (9)
4   They adored revolutionary growth (6)
5   Movie starring Tom at church with the setter crunching a fancy debt note (5,2,2,3,3)
6   A monument made by Doppleganger in a short while with some money (8)
7   The French had a very limited bar (5)
8   Timeless temporary shelter for the nobleman, it’s with a complaint (10)
12 The French with new Morel is cooked up with a contract at registration (10)
15 What a lathe operator does with a Mah-Jong piece to make a gate (9)
16 Each carriage sounds like an acquisition (8)
19 Silence with leftovers, are like movie trailers (6)
21 I first called in every Ranger as it got colder (5)
22 Past girl is all excited (4)

No Across Lite version as the Across Lite site is down.

Enjoy.

No 12720, Monday 02 Sep 2019, Scintillator

ACROSS
1   Tie up fancy undergarment (6) INVEST {IN}{VEST}
4   Chemical substance that can fence a house? (8) COMPOUND [DD]
9   A blind test for infection (6) SCREEN [DD]
10 Shroud over established concern (8) INTEREST {INTER}{EST}
12 Fancied criminal aiding me (8) IMAGINED*
13 No even benefit to badly televised grasslands (6) VELDTS {TeLeViSeD}*
15 Go over some muddled logic to buy expensive stuff (4) GOLD [T<=]
16 Respecting antisubmarine companies (2,8) AS CONCERNS {AS}{CONCERNS}
19 Nitty-gritty about news studios revealed (3,3,4) INS AND OUTS {A+N&N+STUDIOS}*
20 Did he cause a red stain at Jallianwala Bagh? (4) DYER [C&DD]
23 Sharpest point blunted in parts (6) SHARES SHARpESt
25 Time to have idea for local layout (4,4) TOWN PLAN {T}{OWN}{PLAN}
27 Protection for illuminator? (4,4) LENS HOOD [CD]
28 No mother accepts stylish names in Latin (6) NOMINA {NO}{M{IN}A}
29 Familiar view next to passenger seat (8) NEARSIDE {NEAR}{SIDE}
30 Son breaking records gets grand treats (6) FEASTS {FEA{S}TS}

DOWN
1   Going forth, Iceland's taking to court (7) ISSUING {IS}{SUING}
2   Violent, evil Arabs – they keep changing (9) VARIABLES*
3   Reportedly find kiss to be beautiful (6) SCENIC (~see nick)
5   Noise of an animal? Alright to keep at home (4) OINK {O{IN}K}
6   Phantom's personality (8) PRESENCE [DD]
7   You hang in a balance and turn the other way (5) UPEND {U}{PEND}
8   Hates exams, half-dead at start (7) DETESTS {TESTS}<=>{DEad}
11 Allowance covers one working (7) PENSION {PENS}{1}{ON}
14 Power key on a keyboard (7) CONTROL [DD]
17 Income from sovereign bonds (9) ROYALTIES {ROYAL}{TIES}
18 Hen seems suspect, finding traps (8) ENMESHES*
19 Hormone protection stops at nothing (7) INSULIN INSULatIoN
21 Empty nester lets out, seeking a payment (7) RENTALS {Ne..eR+LEST}* over {A}
22 Returns from party upstairs, finding husband not home (6) INCOME {INC}{hOME} Why upstairs?
24 Apparently almost endless difficulty in breathing (5) APNEA {AP}{NEAr} AP/Apparently? See comments
26 Agreement with a detective agent (4) BOND [DD]

Reference List
Fancy = IN, Antisubmarine = AS, About = A, News = N, Point = PT, Time = T, Stylish = IN, Son = S, At home = IN, Nothing = 0, Party = INC, Husband = H, Apparently = AP

GRID

Special, Sunday 01 Sep 2019, K Koteswar Rao

Three answers per commenter as usual till 6 PM (Annotations compulsory)
Please submit all your answers in one comment.

ACROSS
1   Second class advocate’s off-time activity is to improve language skills (5)
4   Number? No, nothing returns nothing taking nothing! (9)
9   Dirty evil move on dry nurse (3-6)
10 Niagara without repeat of a polished texture (5)
11 Stabbed with weapon and tore to blush (2,3)
12 Paper room in part of church (5,4)
13 Babylonian God is in agreement with the monument (7)
15 It is most orderly to have a bite in retreat (7)
18 Sailor’s violent treachery about to be overlooked (7)
20 Utopian plant (7)
21 It's most intelligent to take drug. It detects cancer (5,4)
23 Requests make happy in brief (5)
25 Commandeer hot pursuit ignoring appeal (5)
26 Strangely 20? Setter once! (4,1,4)
27 Mae West in World War II, a life-saver (3,6)
28 Throw out consultant from engineering project (5)

DOWN
1   Log in secretly to enter into alter ego (9)
2   Paint company showed 50% deficit on distemper finally (5)
3   It is easy to understand when it’s not cryptic clue! (5,4)
4   System went off. Alternative, Kelvin? (7)
5   Trouble during lunchtime with figure (7)
6   Gain access with credentials of brand name (3-2)
7   Shortly, I’m not mean-spirited (2,1,6)
8   What would you say when your broadband connection is lost in group performance? (5)
14 Treasury’s former queen is overwhelmed by ovation (9)
16 Water level helps the board to slide on wet surface (9)
17 Intranets working here today and gone tomorrow! (9)
19 Stag has unpleasant smell to fight, as per spooner (7)
20 Spot settlement (7)
21 Sri Lanka puts back some domed structure (5)
22 Skin disease is up in the upper air (5)
24 A periodical on 4down maybe (1-4)

Across Lite version can be accessed at KKR 28

Enjoy.

No 12718, Friday 30 Aug 2019, Dr. X

RULES FOR POSTING ON 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.

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

The regular blog will replace the clues at 5 PM.

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

ACROSS
1   Unpredictable native about to restrain man on island (13) INDETERMINATE {INNATE} over {DETER}{M}{I}
8   Unadulterated drugs, essentially cocaine consumed by freak (5) UNCUT {drUgs}{N{C}UT}
9   Ultraconservative single socialite girl, grabbed by bully (9) HIDEBOUND {H{1}{DEB}OUND}
11 They speculate in article – gold about to escalate by start of September (10) THEORISERS {THE}{O{RISE}R}{Se...r}
12 One unable to fly in air heartily (4) RHEA [T]

14 Current is excellent, runs fine and deep (7) AIRFLOW {A1}{R}{F}{LOW}
16 Mutter softly perhaps? Quite the opposite (7) TRUMPET {MUTTER+P}* Semi&lit
17 Serial directed by one countryman (7) ISRAELI {SERIAL*}{1}
19 Grand university essentially crumbling in mess (7) SUBLIME {S{U}{c..mBl..g}LIME}
21 Last victory secured by deceit (4) LIVE {LI{V}E}
22 Fashionable celebrities refuse to enter opening, almost with touch of impudence (10) GLITTERATI {G{LITTER}ATe}{Im...e}
25 Intimidate one after blunder in constructing set (9) TERRORISE {T{ERROR}{1}SE*}
26 Cheat knocking back spirit in regret (5) ROGUE {R{GO<=}UE}
27 Only those with a tan can figure out what's unacceptable? (6,3,4) BEYOND THE PALE [DD]

DOWN
2   Designing a new cruel type of weapon (7)  NUCLEAR {A+N+CRUEL}*
3   Strangely the nerd keeps everyone spellbound (10) ENTHRALLED {THE+NERD}* over {ALL}
4   Start to extricate husband grabbed by drunkard knocking back spirit (5) ETHOS {Ex...e}{SO{H}T<=}
5   Regulates procedures to collect tax (9) MODERATES {MODE{RATE}S}
6   Arrests outlaw around square (4) NABS {BAN<=}{S}
7   Renovate revolting place, suppressing cry of pain (5,2) TOUCH UP {PUT<=} over {OUCH}
8   Extremist, brutal, releasing new type of radiation (11) ULTRAVIOLET {ULTRA}{VIOLEnT}
10 What an artist might do to set a limit? (4,3,4) DRAW THE LINE [DD]
13 Ugly pub brawl leads to bartender engaging guard for protection (6,4) BUBBLE WRAP {PUB+BRAWL+Ba...r+En...g}*

15 Hasty turn to secure date (9) WHIRLWIND {WHIRL}{WIN}{D}
18 Daydreaming endlessly in office, wasting time (7) REVERIE {EVER} in {RItE}
20 One beginning to spy on darling in a town in Vanuatu (7) ISANGEL {1}{Spy}{ANGEL}
23 Tether ferocious Rottweiler, primarily avoiding fangs (5) TEETH TETHEr*
24 Commotion over arresting director (2-2) TO-DO {TO{D}O}

Reference List
Man = M, Island = I, Cocaine = C, Gold = OR, Runs = R, Fine = F, Softly = P, University = U, Victory = V, Spirit = GO, New = N, Husband = H, Square = S, Date = D, Director = D, Time = T

GRID

No 12717, Thursday 29 Aug 2019, Dr. X

ACROSS
1   New university head accepts point on reflection (2-2-4) UP-TO-DATE {Un...y}{P{DOT<=}ATE}
5   Blunder to enter gala nearly showing rifle (6) FERRET {F{ERR}ETe}
10 Smart move taking model for wife (5) STING S(-w+t)TING
11 Pure boiled food is good (9) REPUTABLE {PURE*}{TABLE}
12 Secret police tried to capture essentially dangerous criminal (9) RECONDITE {R{d..gEr..s}{CON}DITE*}
13 Group of nine performing in Final (5) NONET {N{ON}ET}
14 Tasteless cherry brandy – time for a little rum (6) KITSCH KI(-r+t)TSCH

15 Disrespectful fellow beginning to abuse in flat (7) PROFANE {PRO{F}{Ab..e}NE}
18 A little snake slithers and dashes off (7) SCRAWLS {Sn..e}{CRAWLS}
20 Shapely elves dancing around middle of pasture (6) SVELTE {ELVES}* over {pasTure}
22 Looking at securing ecstasy for model (5) EYING (-t+e)EYING
24 Become very angry in bar and knock over a fellow after argument (5,1,3) THROW A FIT {T}{H{ROW}{A}{F}IT}
25 Shot revolutionary aboard express! Ran out to tell a far-fetched story (4,1,4) SPIN A YARN {S{NIP<=}AY}{RAN*}
26 Reappear in future curriculum (5) RECUR [T]
27 A model wearing spotted, glossy fabric (6) SATEEN {S{A}{T}EEN}
28 Endures insolent son stifling sister (8) PERSISTS {PERT}{S} over {SIS}

DOWN
1   Heartily encourage nervous nurse lacking self-confidence (6) UNSURE {e..oUr..e}{NURSE*}
2   Woman yearning to enter stage, getting more anxious (9) TWITCHIER {T{W}{ITCH}IER}
3   Avoid cemetery worker's services and invite misfortune (3,4,3,5) DIG ONES OWN GRAVE [DD]
4   Sully revolting scoundrel backing evil husband (7) TARNISH {RAT<=}{SIN<=}{H}
6   Finished in disaster! Now sadly admitting error (6,4,5) EATING ONES WORDS {GONE} in {DISASTER+NOW}*
7   Steal popular bird (5) ROBIN {ROB}{IN}

8   Couples having trouble tear contracts (8) TREATIES {TIES} over {TEAR*}
9   Upper-class peer secures king's support (6) UPKEEP {U}{P{K}EEP}
16 Tricks by raciest rogue to ensnare one female (9) ARTIFICES {RACIEST}* over {1}{F}
17 Slanders essentially break simpleton (8) ASPERSES {AS{PER SE}S}
19 Most wretched character backing petty tyrant (6) SATRAP {SAd}{PART<=}
20 Oddball managed to enter podium knocking out guard at Centre (7) STRANGE {ST{RAN}aGE}
21 Attacks corrupt, revolting man aboard steamer (6) STORMS {ROT<=}{M} in {SS}
23 I do it stupidly? (5) IDIOT* &lit

Reference List
Model = T, Wife = W, Time = T, Fellow = F, Ecstasy = E, Bar = T, Son = S, Woman = W, Husband = H, Popular = IN, Upper = U, King = K, Female = F, Man = M, Steamer = SS

GRID

No 12716, Wednesday 28 Aug 2019, Dr. X

ACROSS
1   Makes a whistling sound to attract female aboard steamer (8) SWOOSHES {S{WOO}{SHE}S}
5   Intimidated by a fellow with rifle (6) AFRAID {A}{F}{RAID}
10 Plan journey to cover historical French province (5) ANJOU [T]
11 Malfunction resulting from energy commission accepting faulty way (2,7) GO HAYWIRE {GO}{H{WAY*}IRE}
12 Performer exposed chasing female? Exclude from consideration (6,3) FACTOR OUT {ACTOR}{OUT} after {F}
13 Enemy capturing Nazi corps in ditch (5) FOSSE {FO{SS}E}

14 Opening bowler trapping Kohli at last abuses heartily (6) HIATUS {H{k..lI}AT}{abUSes}
15 The rogue interrupting head is a source of annoyance (3,4) PET HATE {P{THE*}ATE}
18 Allege darling's concealing a little romp and break off (7) PRETEND {P{Romp}ET}{END}
20 Liaisons with president in fancy suite (3-3) TIE-UPS {P} in {SUITE}*
22 Relationship with a model in South American city (5) RATIO {R{A}{T}IO}
24 What a trekker might do to get lost? (4,1,4) TAKE A HIKE [DD]
25 Hunts and burns one escaping around tunnel (9) SCAVENGES {Si{CAVE}NGES}
26 Caution socialist about welcoming alien (5) DETER {D{ET}ER<=}
27 Scenes featuring hot actresses essentially in films (6) SHEETS {S{H}{a..rEs..s}ETS}
28 Foul demand to conceal heartless crime (8) INDECENT {INDE{CrimE}NT}

DOWN
1   Strong fellow in store knocks out hard crooks (6) STAFFS {STA{F}{F}Sh}
2   Poor job by England, conceding a vital goal (9) OBJECTIVE {JOB*}{E}{aCTIVE}
3   Mexico's borders walled by Trump – he's often terribly impulsive (4-2-3-6) SPUR-OF-THE-MOMENT {Me..cO} in {TRUMP+HES+OFTEN}*
4   Ghastly snores around middle of night capture attention (7) ENGROSS {EN{niGht}ROSS*}
6   What a witch might do to become very angry? (3,3,3,6) FLY OFF THE HANDLE [DD]
7   Also called a retired captain (5) ALIAS {A}{SAIL<=}
8   Became worse in fact after consuming ecstasy near stall (8) DEEPENED {DE{E}{PEN}ED}
9   Keep mum in shack enthralled by drink (4,2) SHUT UP {S{HUT}UP}
16 One chosen for job, primate secures position close to Pope (9) APPOINTEE {AP{POINT}E}{popE}
17 Warns father about to force son (8) APPRISES {PA<=}{PRISE}{S}
19 Spot a girl beginning to experience decline of mental faculties (6) DOTAGE {DOT}{A}{G}{Ex...e}
20 Fools losing dollar in bet misbehave (5,2) TAKES IN {sTAKE}{SIN}
21 Live alongside one gutter in Mediterranean city (6) BEIRUT {BE}{1}{RUT}
23 Time to soothe kid (5) TEASE {T}{EASE}

Reference List
Female = F, Steamer = SS, Fellow = F, Nazi Corps = SS, President = P, Model = T, Alien = ET, Hot = H, Strong = F, Hard = H, England = E, Ecstasy = E, Son = S, Girl = G, Time = T

GRID

No 12715, Tuesday 27 Aug 2019, xChequer

ACROSS
7   International tender needs them in the same place (6) IBIDEM {I}{BID}{EM}
8   Hot wind is back and low season's back (6) SIMOON {IS<=}{MOO}{s...oN}
10 Sit tight allowing international bank rate to regress in these spirals (8) STROBILI {LIBOR<=} in {SIT}* Had to cheat for this
11 Resistance for Democrat in team discussion creating difficulty (6) HURDLE HU(-d+r)RDLE
12 Has to break promises (5) OATHS*
14 Auditor's negative remark about medical body's technique (4-3) KNOW HOW (~no){KNOW} over {WHO}
15 Good change made, team snatch decisive victory (4,3,3,5) GAME SET AND MATCH {G}{MADE+TEAM+SNATCH}*
18 Sole crop in field for horses (7) PADDOCK {PAD}{DOCK}
19 Too bad about line in plant (5) SALAL {ALAS<=}{L}

20 Arose when police officer called (6) SPRANG {SP}{RANG}
21 Past issue boomerangs eventually (4,4) OVER TIME {OVER}{EMIT<=}
23 Level sides to toss in competitions (6) EVENTS {EVEN}{TosS}
24 Interpret a tongue (6) GLOSSA {GLOSS}{A}

DOWN
1   Respectable but not socially acceptable amateur becoming female star (8) VIRTUOSA {VIRTUOuS}{A}
2   Ceiling over public bathing area (4) LIDO {LID}{O}
3   Is consistent with being born without privileges? On the contrary (6) BEFITS BEneFITS
4   Prominent notice displayed by men reflecting moral approach (4,4) HIGH ROAD {HIGH}{AD} over {OR<=}
5   Worth a full toss leaving open boundary in play (6,4) FOURTH WALL*
6   Brief particulars with banks basis for ledger entry (6) INFLOW {INF}{LOW} (Addendum - {INFO}{W} over {Le...r} - See comments)
9   Act tense out in the middle to kick off game (4-4-3) TICK-TACK-TOE {ACT+TensE+TO+KICK}*
13 Time study to dilute move to stay afloat (5,5) TREAD WATER  {T}{READ}{WATER}
16 Thrill to keep working against gravity's pull a little longer (8) ELONGATE {EL{ON}{G}ATE}
17 Regular newspaper feature right under article – like a post (8) COLUMNAR {COLUMN}{A}{R}
18 Go for every season with this (6) PEPPER {PEP}{PER}
19 Energy and dash in furtive meet (6) SEEMLY {S{E}{EM}LY}
22 Hard to soak up nonsense (4) TOSH {H}{SOT}<=

Reference List
International = I, Them = 'EM, Low = MOO, Resistance = R, Democrat = D, Good = G, Line = L, Socially acceptable = U, Amateur = A, Over = O, Born = NE, Notice = AD, Men = OR, Time = T, Gravity = G, Working = ON, Right = R, Energy = E, Dash = EM, Hard = H

GRID

No 12714, Monday 26 Aug 2019, xChequer

ACROSS
7   Invokes son to be the ultimate in corrupt (6) EDUCES {(s)EDUCE(+s)S}
8   With say spring break around, men getting tense I'll be bound (6) CAVORT {VAC<=}{OR}{T}
10 First shot, a shot to ask: "Are you serious?" (2,4,2) IS THAT SO {1ST}{A+SHOT}*
11 Embarrassed fellow backing one in agreement (6) NODDER {RED}{DON}<=
12 Offer to hold exercise in Turkey for example (5) BIPED {BI{PE}D}
14 Greeting liberal wanting to experiment with bondage (7) HELOTRY {HElLO}{TRY}
15 Guilt that left alone disperses, be totally relaxed (3,2,3,4,3) LET IT ALL HANG OUT {GUILT+THAT+L+ALONE}*
18 Soon connected with hundred people (7) INHABIT{IN A BIT} over {H}
19 Fling with maiden backfiring over model's false notions (5) MYTHS {M}{SH{T}Y<=}
20 Madame kept by politician showing attachment to the hilt (6) POMMEL {PO{MME}L}

From Wikipedia. Original by Nathan Robinson of myArmoury.com.

21 Double faulted, preposterously as it happens, at the last moment before victory (4,4) EVIL TWIN {LIVE}*{m...nT}{WIN}
23 Uniform parts from genuine, certified agent (6) ENGINE GENuINE* [CA]
24 Comment on target (6) REMARK {RE}{MARK}

DOWN
1   Quite likely charges dropped, the Holy Book saving bishop (8) FEASIBLE (~fees){FEAS}{bIBLE}
2   Luxurious sponge (4) LUSH [DD]
3   G5 lot possibly dash off and touch down (6) PENTAD {PEN}{TAD}
4   Guide reversing world body's order round a volcano (5,3) MAUNA LOA {MA(NU<=)AL}{O}{A}

5   Stays put, this gold rush displaying high tension (5,5) HOLDS TIGHT {THIS+GOLD}* in {HT}
6   Hard stone gets slippery (6) STEELY {ST}{EELY}
9   Perfectly formed teeth rot without check (2,3,6) TO THE LETTER {TEETH+ROT} over{LET}
13 Attendant engaged to help at home endlessly saluted (4,6) PAID HOMAGE {P{AID}{HOMe}AGE}
16 Manual British Telecom distributed for mobile (8) AMBULANT {MANUAL+BT}*
17 Move away from bears trailing ahead (2,6) UP STICK {STICKS}<=>{UP}
18 Pressed journalist to support club (6) IRONED {IRON}{ED}
19 First people to secure help (6) MAIDEN {M{AID}EN}
22 Split up for ambush (4) TRAP<=

Referenec List
Son = S, Spring break = Vacation = VAC, Men = OR, Tense = T, Exercise = PE(Physical Education), Liberal = L, Left = L, Hundred = H, Maiden = M, Model = T, Madame = MME, Uniform = U, On = RE, Bishop = B, World body = UN, Order = O, High Tension = HT, Stone = ST, Journalist = ED

GRID

Special, Sunday 25 Aug 2019, Raju Umamaheswar

Three answers per commenter as usual till 6 PM (Annotations compulsory)
Please submit all your answers in one comment.

ACROSS
1   Bill gets free bitter (5)
4   Supporter concealing piece of malicious chatter (9)
9   Revolutionary led island to overwhelming victory (9)
10 Substitute chocoholics are really outraged by, initially (5)
11 It's allowable, but shocking, when laid on the line (6)
12 Stable with one acceptable horse (8)
14 A number impair the efficiency of probation (9)
16 Belief in sacred objects (5)
17 Seaman returning to deck, sort of (5)
19 Identified tune with help, backing by newspaperman (9)
21 Someone questioned when an explosive device is found in river (8)
22 One leaving home  before catching plane (6)
25 I had quickly found island, in a manner of speaking (5)
26 Celandine flourished every so many years (9)
27 Observes way in which advertisement's introduced make-up (9)
28 Give a  termination to pain? (5)

DOWN
1   Where you can see washing at every point (3,5,3,4)
2   Restore Frenchman to wife (5)
3   Annoyance expressed by "Hell" and "Blast" (7)
4   Gathering to cook (4)
5   Beanstalk wouldn't indulge in gossip (4,3,3)
6   Rustic with a lot of objection in pain (7)
7   Sailor Head contains the Princess for unpunctuality (9)
8   Fairy's dressing of wool led to change (5,10)
13 Without regard to the consequences, like an  American preying bird ? (4-6)
15 Adaptable relatives adapted. (9)
18 Victory (with valuable card I held) over Helen ( 7)
20 He may hold shares in pit, in one that's fraudulent (7)
23 Beaver skin after completion of dressing (5)
24 Almost lower boat (4)

Across Lite version can be accessed at RAJU U 17

Enjoy.

Thee Sunday Crossword No 3062, Sunday 25 Aug 2019

ACROSS
1   Just about to slam furiously (6) ALMOST*
4   With which tours are devised? (8) EUROSTAR* &lit
9   Firm finally junks junk food (6) CRISPS {CRISP}{j..kS}
10 Without alterations? Derelict, oddly deficient (in my opinion) (2,1,3,2) AS I SEE IT {AS IS}{dErElIcT}}
12 Ditches; gets ready for new partner (4) RUTS [DD]
13 Bugs inspected sneakily, implicating East (10) CENTIPEDES {INSPECTED}* over {E}
15 'I'll get my revenge,' as one international lawyer said to another (4,5,3) THIS MEANS WAR [CD]
18 'It's finished,' as one auctioneer said to another (5,4,3) THATS YOUR LOT [CD]
21 Seed-spiller gets back to back in a trice (10) NANOSECOND {ONAN<=}{SECOND}
22 Berry that's apparently complex antioxidant import – for starters (4) ACAI Acrostic

24 Mischievously insinuate (describing in a way) (8) IMPISHLY {IMP{ISH}LY}
25 Revealed by radar: a rather historic landing site (6) ARARAT [T]
26 Sagas recalled in songs? Yes, Syd: ornately (8) ODYSSEYS [T<=]
27 Duck heard, weirdly – that's a worry (2,4) OH DEAR {0}{HEARD*}

DOWN
1   A cold clergyman is strict (8) ACCURATE {A}{C}{CURATE}
2   State isn't casually taken over by chief (8) MAINTAIN {M{AINT}AIN}
3   Has a taste of course in León: pimentos without stuffing (4) SIPS {SI}{Pi...oS}
5   Lacking content: fully sustaining? That's wrong! (12) UNSATISFYING {FullY+SUSTAINING}*
6   A soup goes here initially to be digested? (10) OESOPHAGUS {A+SOUP+GOES+Here}* &lit
7   Precious, extremely dainty – but ready for the outdoors? (6) TWEEDY {TWEE}{Da..tY}
8   Make a further assessment of High Street (6) RETEST*
11 'Sailor not a jerk': friend with sense under discussion (12) SEMANTICALLY {SEaMAN}{TIC}{ALLY}
14 European politician experiences no credit crises or stresses (10) EMPHASISES {E}{MP}{HAS}{crISES}
16 Learner joins motorists' club before getting vehicle, with energy and freedom to choose (1,2,5) A LA CARTE {A{L}A}{CART}{E}
17 Noisy America, Trump's chosen conduit (8) ATWITTER {A}{TWITTER}
19 India (Goa): wanting articles to supply bit of colour (6) INDIGO {INDIa}{GOa}
20 Stylish, special item of clothing for the young (6) SNAPPY {S}{NAPPY}
23 Principal pollarded tree (4) ARCH lARCH

Reference List
East = E, Duck = 0, Cold = C, European = E, Credit = CR, Learner = L, Motorist Club = AA(Automobile Association), Energy = E, America = A, Special = S

GRID

No 12712, Friday 23 Aug 2019, Skulldugger

RULES FOR POSTING ON 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.

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

The regular blog will replace the clues at 5 PM.

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

ACROSS
1   People seeking love online face this singular misrepresentation (9) CATFISHES {FACE+THIS+S}* Thanks to Google
6   Capable of interrupting abrupt outburst (2,2) UP TO [T]
8   Too many words for Spooner's abnormal tissue growth? (8) PLEONASM from (-n+pl)PLEO(-pl+n)NASM
9   She picks nits and distractedly feeds goldfish, perhaps (6) PEDANT {PE{AND*}T}
10 Stay calm when our hip keynoters panic (4,4,5,2) KEEP YOUR SHIRT ON*
11 Discontinue cab (or taxi) shares (5) ABORT [T]
13 Lecturer wearing desi garment cold and derisive (8) SARDONIC {SAR{DON}I}{C}
15 Fruits or vegetables grown here (8) ORCHARDS {OR}{CHARDS} &lit
18 Time for sorcery (5) SPELL [DD]
20 Disabled Iris cannot leave for draft (8,7) NATIONAL SERVICE*
23 Picture house machine gutted and refurbished (6) CINEMA MAChINE*
24 Boffin's naughty nineties (8) EINSTEIN*
25 Shooters' innards mangled by beasts (4) GNUS {G(U<=>N)S}

26 Thaddeus and Bartholomew dropping popular subjects (9) DISCIPLES DISCIPLinES

DOWN
1   Have a cow after labour in underground chamber (5) CALVE {CA{L}VE}
2   Private, uncomplaining, hard-working sort (7) TROOPER [DD]
3   Fully developed insect revolutionary video gaming features (5) IMAGO [T<=]

4   Funny bone! (7) HUMERUS (~humorous)
5   Deep Blue's software program discovered in British county (8) SAPPHIRE {S{APP}HIRE}
6   Endure and overcome? On the contrary! (7) UNDERGO Opposite of {OVER}{COME}
7   Relating to barbers? No. Tailors, perhaps (9) TONSORIAL*
12 Watering hole excluding Scot brute (9) BARBARIAN {BAR}{BAR}{IAN}
14 Doctors from North and South wrapped penniless Indian fan in sponge (8) DRUNKARD {DR}{pUNKA}{DR<=}
16 Young animals the man fries after dressing (7) HEIFERS {HE}{FRIES*}
17 Metal trays for investors hoarding lire (7) SALVERS {SA{L}VERS}
19 Vital operation is complicated but crucial (7) PIVOTAL {VITAL+OP}*
21 Naked bunnies prepared for boredom (5) ENNUI bUNNIEs*
22 Side dish for fish fries (5) CHIPS [GK]

Reference List
Singular = S, Desi garment = SARI, Cold = C, Popular = IN, Labour = L, British county = SHIRE, Scot = IAN, Indian fan = PUNKA, Penny = P, Lire = L

GRID

No 12711, Thursday 22 Aug 2019, Anon

ACROSS
1   Leader will let lie (6) WALLOW {Will}{ALLOW}
4   Rare alarm overwhelms Conservative (6) SCARCE {SCAR{C}E}
9   Starts assembling steel in Australian continent (4) ASIA Acrostic
10 Promote one gallery in simplistic surroundings (10) FACILITATE{FACIL{I}{TATE}E} There's an extra E here.
11 Priest holds new weapon (6) CANNON {CAN{N}ON}
12 Mango oil fabricated in Asian country (8) MONGOLIA*

13 Uninitiated, unreserved, unorthodox clergymen (9) REVERENDS uNRESERVED*
15 Wood left in fish (5) BALSA {BA{L}SA}

16 Fat old boy to see, perhaps (5) OBESE {OB}{SEE*}
18 Squats about, Mary Jane first plants (9) DUCKWEEDS {DUCK{WEED}S}

22 Confused bakers in North American state (8) NEBRASKA {N{BAKERS*}A}
23 Flies an irrational number of bundles (6) PILOTS {PI}{LOTS}
25 Bagmen clan cook dessert (10) BLANCMANGE*

26 Waitress amid confusion (4) MAID*
27 Sweats, prays, at last, beheads English rulers (6) SUDORS {p..yS}{tUDORS}
28 Remove regular cleg from Italian dishes with Yoga postures (6) ASANAS lASAgNAS

DOWN
1   Loss was almost on platform (7) WASTAGE {WAs}{STAGE}
2   Train student to make a living (5) LEARN {L}{EARN}
3   Crime of guard (7) OFFENCE {OF}{FENCE}
5   Dependency on large intestine's source of yeast (6) COLONY {COLON}{Ye..t}
6   Share beer on principle (9) RATIONALE {RATION}{ALE}
7   Guards initially missing records (7) ENTRIES sENTRIES
8   Eccentric, our ad-man hacks great Indonesian leader (6,7) ACHMAD SUKARNO*

14 Guarded temple in boundary (9) ENSHRINED {EN{SHRINE}D}
17 Tools for erstwhile British band, we hear (7) BEETLES (~beatles)

19 First off, captain from South has smoked herrings (7) KIPPERS {sKIPPER}{S}

20 Takes ends off of nuts and bolts (7) DETAILS {DE-TAILS}
21 Starting off memoirs about compound (6) ISOMER mEMOIRS*
24 Well-formed endless Manila lagoon (5) LIMAN MANILa*

Reference List

Conservative = C, Gallery = TATE, New = N, Left = L, Irrational Number = PI, Student = L

GRID

No 12710, Wednesday 21 Aug 2019, Lightning

8 different ways of E!

ACROSS
1   Liberal parting financial return for sound recording (8) PLAYBACK {P{L}AYBACK}
5   Sharp male supplanted Tesla with new and keen insight (6) ACUMEN {ACU(-t+m)ME}{N}
9   One that runs musical show on a hill (8) OPERATOR {OPERA}{TOR}
10 Curtailed prank to return knitted fabric (6) TRICOT {TRICk}{TO<=}
12 Nearly produce electromotive force with salt solution (5) BRINE {BRINg}{E}
13 Clever bishop's tirade about hostile institute (9) BRILLIANT {B{R{ILL}{I}ANT}
14 Ninja guards withheld animal (6) JAGUAR [T]
16 Instrument to smuggle ecstasy with ocean herb (7) OREGANO {OR{E}GAN}{O}
19 Electronic design is delicate (7) EMOTIVE {E}{MOTIVE}
21 Hundred and two engineers getting away to Java, maybe? (6) COFFEE {C}{OFF}{EE}
23 Kit a valet misplaced being chatty (9) TALKATIVE*
25 Departed consuming first tropical refreshment (5) LATTE {LA{Tr...l}TE}
26 Screen document covering temperature resistance (6) FILTER {FIL{T}E}{R}
27 Buy large net, building equipment primarily to get chemical substance (8) BUTYLENE {BUY+L+NET}*{Eq...t}
28 European breaking box to build (6) CREATE {CR{E}ATE}
29 Perhaps a shot of energy thus protecting force? (8) ESPRESSO {E}{S{PRESS}O}

DOWN
1   Nationalist leaving ring with black oriental bird (6) PHOEBE {PHOnE}{B}{E}

2   US native with ordinary beverage (9) AMERICANO {AMERICAN}{O}

3   Idle for the most part, entering engineering degree, show great emotion (5) BLAZE {B{LAZy}E}
4   Caught at fight beside public house with iron rod (7) CROWBAR {C}{ROW}{BAR}
6   Essentially searching for a river eel distributed in underwater ecosystem (5,4) CORAL REEF {s..rCh..g+FOR+A+R+EEL}

7   Drink tea following medical officer (5) MOCHA {MO}{CHA}
8   Musical symbols a tenor included in principle (8) NOTATION {NOT{A}{T}ION}
11 Tax he removed with old statesman (4) TITO {TIThe}{O}

15 Capable of joining with one, set off via tunnel (9) UNIVALENT*
17 Well-organised, passed net with proficiency (9) ADEPTNESS*
18 Hit provided one with century, expressing supreme happiness (8) BEATIFIC {BEAT}{IF}{1}{C}
20 Leave former lover with appeal (4) EXIT {EX}{IT}
21 Attache questioned smuggling bills for exchanging money (7) CHEQUES [T]
22 Engineering other changes for this purpose (6) HERETO {E+OTHER}*
24 Not doing well in the French city (5) LILLE {L{ILL}E}
25 Covering segment of play erratically (5) LAYER [T]

Reference List
Liberal = L, Male = M, Tesla = T, New = N, Hill = TOR, emf = E, Bishop =B, Institute = I, Ecstacy = E, Ocean = O, Electronic = E, Hundred/Century = C, Engineer/Engineering = E, Temperature = T, Resistance = R, Large = L, European = E, Energy = E, Black = B, Oriental = E, Ordinary = O, Caught = C,  River = R, Tenor = T, Old = O, Appeal = IT

GRID