No 14543, Tuesday 22 Jul 2025, VMA Nair

Solution to 11D 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 daybreak at sea (6) ADRIFT {A}{D}{RIFT}

4  An expert at calculation, say, interrupts a very promising person (8) COMPUTER {COM{PUT}ER}

9   Worthless experiment by China (6) PALTRY {TRY}<=>{PAL}

10 Brilliant student about to crack exam for a program on small screen (8) TELECAST {ACE}{L}<= in {TEST}

12 Arabian authorities primarily plan to detain a person from ancient Syria (8) ARAMAEAN {AR}{Au...s}{M{A}EAN}

13 Compound having same formula as another is more complex (6) ISOMER* 

15 Troll daughter trapped in shelter without a bit of compassion for own failure to recognise reality (4-8) SELF-DELUSION {ELF}{D} in {SEcLUSION}

18 Menopause file? (6,2,4) CHANGE OF LIFE {FILE}* [RA]

21 Fellow leaving recreation ground around noon to relax (6) UNBEND {fUN}{BE{N}D}

22 Resembling glass from Soviet Union, perhaps, containing borax essentially (8) VITREOUS {SOVIET+U}* over {boRax}

24 Master's vocal about suggestion of importing alcoholic drink (8) ORIGINAL {OR{Im...g}{GIN}AL}

25 Colour of trendy work outfit, basically (6) INDIGO {IN}{DIG}{Ou...t}

26 University at last promoted a little regionalism in language for an exceptional intellectual (8) UBERGEEK {U}{BE}{(+r)RG(-r)EEK}

27 Welsh soldiers rejected ecstasy and dope (6) RENEGE {RE} and {E}{GEN}<=

DOWN

1   Develop computer program before survey (8) APPRAISE {RAISE}<=>{APP}

2   After retirement, disheartened senior keeps bond in safe (8) RELIABLE {ELd{BAIL}ER}<=

3   Progressive female soldiers charge at weak ruler (7-8) FORWARD-THINKING {F}{OR}{WARD}{THIN}{KING}

5   Submit our business expenses yearly for starters (4) OBEY Acrostic

6   Harry prefers scene featuring dupe for meeting with reporters (5,10) PRESS CONFERENCE {PREFERS+SCENE}* over {CON}

7   Agony aunt runs away, avoiding national media on vacation (6) TRAUMA {AUnT+R}*{MediA}

8   Crash outside junction close to busy traffic circle (6) ROTARY {RO{T}AR}{busY}

11 Business consultant originally spent 1000 dollars (7) ?A?L?N? (Addendum - CALLING {Co...t}{ALL IN}{G} - See comments)

14 A beautiful woman ultimately becomes convent's latest nun (7) ASCETIC {A}{SCE(-n+t)TIC}

16 Prepared notice describing popular substance found in tobacco (8) NICOTINE {NICOT{IN}E*}

17 Get some new fancy jewel (8) GEMSTONE {GET+SOME+N}*

19 Couple of countries turned up to host event for number puzzle (6) SUDOKU {UK}{US}<= over {DO}

20 Force Rob right away to misrepresent government shares (6) OBLIGE {rOB}{LI{G}E}

23 Video of some patient from the south (4) TAPE [T<=] 

Reference List

Day = D, China = PAL(Rhyming slang), Student = L, Arabian = AR, Daughter = D, Fellow = F, Noon = N, Union = U, Trendy = IN, University = U, Last = BE, Soldiers = RE(Royal Engineers), Ecstasy = E, Dope = GEN, Female = F, Soldiers = OR, Runs = R, National = N, Junction = T, 1000 dollars = G, Popular = IN, New = N, Event = DO, Right = R, Government = G