No 14107, Monday 26 Feb 2024, Avtaar

Solution to 12D has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered only by a non-regular / novice commenter, with proper annotation. Those who have answered earlier in the week, please give others a chance.

Open for anyone to answer, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

1   Private, through road across Monaco's outskirts (6) INMOST {IN}{ST} over {Mo..cO}

4   Most helpless bees left struggling (8) FEEBLEST*

9   One running errands in US auto company hired by bank (3-3) LEG-MAN {LE{GM}AN}

10 Move by doctor to increase recall (6,2) DREDGE UP {EDGE}<=>{DR and {UP}

11 Scrap gold transported on empty hearse is put on a pedestal (4-10) HERO-WORSHIPPED {ROW}{OR}{SHIPPED}<=>{He..sE}

13 Attributes shown by expert training Republican on alliances (10) PROPERTIES {PRO}{PE}{R}{TIES}

14 Island's backing international test venue (4) BALI {I}{LAB}<=

16 Catch the butt of friendly ape (4) COPY {COP}{f...lY}

18 Free charitable activity's starting off outside President's hometown (10) BIRTHPLACE {CHaRITABLE}* over {P}

21 Driver software? (9,5) AUTOMATIC PILOT [CD]

23 Native's present in bar ahead of time (8) INHERENT {IN{HERE}N}{T }

24 Avtaar is invited by nurse for drill in dentistry (6) REAMER {REA{ME}R}

25 Settle software assurance process before portals of every department get installed (8) SITUATED {SIT}{UAT}{Ev..y}{De...t}

26 Tag carrying details embedded in hybrid car digitally (2,4) ID CARD [T]

DOWN

1   Having nothing to do, I start to doodle on walls of lobby (4) IDLY {I}{Do...e}{LobbY}

2   Electric generator's silver mesh secured by tip of metal ring (7) MAGNETO {AG}{NET} in {Me..l}{O}

3   Saw Europe's nervous after US dropped naval strength (3,5) SEA POWER {SAW+EuROPEs}*

5   Brexit supporter set occupier on fire (11) EUROSCEPTIC*

6   Criminal wished to entertain cop (6) BADDIE {BAD{DI}E}

7   Anecdotes from retired legislator about ending in trouble near US city (7) EXEMPLA {EX}{t...lE}{MP}{LA}

8   Following report's closure, doctor saves copy on, say, Amazon's unlimited file storage (4,5) TAPE DRIVE {r...eT}{APE}{DR}{rIVEr}

12 Revealed steps to obtain first and surpass others (11) O?T?I?T?N?E (Addendum - OUTDISTANCE {OUT}{D{1ST}ANCE} - See comments)

13 Pig-like animals - species mostly moving around peaks of Chile, Argentina and south end of Ecuador (9) PECCARIES {SPECIEs}* over {Chile}{Ar...e}{e...oR}

15 Broken lock? (5,3) SPLIT END [CD]

17 Bar's taken up most recent random criticism (7) POTSHOT {STOP<=}{HOT}

19 Condition affecting sense of smell wreaked havoc in Samoa (7) ANOSMIA*

20 Small bird crossing river in European city (6) SMYRNA {S}{MY{R}NA}

22 Cross-bar is pressed down (4) TROD {T}{ROD}

Reference List

Road = ST, Training = PE, Republican = R, President = P, Time = T, Cop = DI, River = R