No 14608, Wednesday 08 Oct 2025, Saral

Solution to 14A 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

7   Company backing very large conglomerate at last entering town (7) SOCIETY {OS<=}{C{c...tE}ITY}

8   From the beginning organisations regularly perhaps helping all needy and abandoned (6) ORPHAN Acrostic

9   Minister carrying new weapon (6) CANNON {CAN{N}ON}

10 Excited bakers enthralled by North American state (8) NEBRASKA {N{BAKERS*}A}

11 Threatened grenade explosion behind border (10) ENDANGERED {GRENADE}*<=>{END}

13 Star hugging model in shock (4) STUN {S{T}UN}

14 Jack was involved in chats (4) ?A?S (Addendum JAWS {J}{WAS*} - See comments)

16 Flier back from Afghani border (5) ROBIN [T]

18 Animals getting rid of old furs (4) CATS CoATS

19 That lady concealing love for loafer, say (4) SHOE {SH{0}E}

21 Creature unfortunately returning in front of guy with the German (10) SALAMANDER {ALAS<=}{MAN}{DER}

23 Note by politician said to be profane (8) TEMPORAL {TE}{MP}{ORAL}

25 Sweet? Not consuming limitless sugar (6) NOUGAT {NO{sUGAr}T}

26 Wild bears chasing unknown animals (6) ZEBRAS {BEARS}*<=>{Z}

27 Group at first encouraged riot possibly hiding in church (7) COTERIE {En...d+RIOT}* in {CE}

DOWN

1   Check lads spreading rumours (8) SCANDALS {SCAN}{LADS*}

2   Youth edited agreement removing mark (8) TEENAGER AGREEmENT*

3   Tin coated with finally ruby colour (4) CYAN {C{rubY}AN} Is coated okay as a containment indicator?

4   In favour of offer in bar (6) FORBID {FOR}{BID}

5   Sprinkles bouquets (6) SPRAYS [DD}

6   Ruined punk? Right, collapsed inside club (8) BANKRUPT {PUNK+R}* in {BAT}

7   Cramps while cycling in country (5) SPAIN (+s)PAIN(-s)

12 Agitator almost stumbles outside Brazil's capital (5) REBEL {RE{Br...l}ELs}

15 Wins? That is victory shrouded by pains (8) ACHIEVES {ACH{IE}{V}ES}

17 Submit main note perhaps (8) NOMINATE*

18 Seizes children's game reportedly (8) CONQUERS (~conkers)

20 Trade old wine (6) EXPORT {EX}{PORT}

21 Sisters abandoned one sadly in trouble (6) STRESS SiSTERS*

22 Cancel dates online (5) ERASE {ERAS}{E}

24 Basically looped artistic cross-stitch embroidery for filigree (4) LACE Acrostic Semi&lit

Reference List

Very large = OS, New = N, Model = T, Jack = J, Old = O, The in German = DER, Note = TE, Unknown = Z, Church = CE, Mark = M, Right = R, Victory = V, Online = E