Independent on Sunday 1321/Commoner

An unexceptionable puzzle from Commoner.  And that’s meant as praise, because the IoS is meant to be an accessible prize crossword where lesser mortals can have a go at winning.  Just one this morning that I’m not sure of, so elucidation as always appreciated.

Abbreviations
cd  cryptic definition
dd  double definition
(xxxx)*  anagram
anagrind = anagram indicator
[x]  letter(s) missing

definitions are underlined

Across

1  Blog about West overwhelmed by frightful climate change
GLOBAL WARMING
A charade of (BLOG)* and an insertion of W in ALARMING.  Good clue.

8  Violent, dirty tackle reported in game
WILDFOWL
A charade of WILD and a homophone of FOUL.

9  Pop over and write down “Hang on!”
APPEND
A charade of PA reversed, PEN and D.

10  Indian city with no hospital or place to buy food
DELI
(DEL[H]I)

11  State, without question, there’s a zombie shambling beside motorway
MOZAMBIQUE
M for ‘motorway’ followed by an insertion of QU in (A ZOMBIE)*

12  Underwear found in special shopping centres
SMALLS
A charade of S and MALLS.

14  Living ruler relinquishes power
RESIDENT
[P]RESIDENT

15  In truth, a group of soldiers is returning for plastic surgery
FACE-LIFT
An insertion of FILE reversed in FACT.

18  Confine one after the other, say
INTERN
A homophone of ‘in turn’.

20  B&B I overcharge to reserve – book in?  Refuse to go here!
RUBBISH BIN
Not entirely sure I’ve got this, so if someone has a better idea …  I think it’s an insertion of B,B and I in RUSH followed by B and IN. The insertion indicator is ‘reserve’ and RUSH is in its ‘charge’ sense.  No, I didn’t think so.

21  Jack perhaps sent back portion of unsavoury burrito
RUBY
Hidden reversed in unsavourY BURrito.  Referring to Jack RUBY, who shot Lee Harvey Oswald, who allegedly shot John F Kennedy.

23  Update about America received by Vice President
REVAMP
A charade of RE and AM in VP.

24  Nurse draws intestines
ENTRAILS
A charade of EN for ‘enrolled nurse’ and TRAILS.

26  Pioneer scouts travelling around rock
PRECIOUS STONE
(PIONEER SCOUTS)*

Down

1  General appearance of men in audition
GUISE
A homophone (‘in audition’) of GUYS

2  Coppers or pound note?
OLD BILL
A dd.

3  Handsome man not half in trouble
ADO
ADO[NIS]

4  Ride Raleigh, perhaps, around Zambia
WALTZER
An insertion of Z in WALTER Raleigh, the Elizabethan explorer.

5  Love to wear a mini-dress for a change?  This gains one further acceptance
READMISSION
An insertion of O for ‘love’ in (A MINI DRESS)*

6  One politician didn’t tell the truth, it is suggested.
IMPLIED
A charade of I MP LIED.

7  To increase speed, athlete’s one who moves arms impermissibly
GUNRUNNER
A charade of GUN and RUNNER.

11  Want detective to hold one’s drink, in a state
MISSISSIPPI
A charade of MISS for ‘want’, IS, SIP for ‘one’s drink’ and PI for Private Investigator or ‘detective’.

13  A résumé may describe the way to reach a certain standard!
MEASURE UP
A reverse anagram thingy.  A clue for ‘a résumé’ could be MEASURE UP, with UP as the anagrind.

16  Drug given by doctor people willingly take
EMBRACE
A charade of E, MB and RACE.

17  Flying creature rises over the water in French picture
TABLEAU
A charade of TAB (‘flying creature’ reversed) and L’EAU for ‘the water in French’.

19  Road not damaged in storm
TORNADO
(ROAD NOT)*

22  Contradict most of religious doctrine
BELIE
BELIE[F]

25  That thing’s at first oddly ignored
TIS
TIS, as in ‘it is’ or ‘that thing’s’.  The even letters of aT fIrSt.  Perhaps a bit archaic, but seen in ‘Tis Pity She’s a Whore, for John Ford’s tragedy.

Many thanks to Commoner for today’s puzzle.