No 14677, Monday 29 Dec 2025, Dr. X

Solution to 14A has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered 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 & 21 What nuclear-armed enemies might do to create a sensation (3,3,5,2,4) SET THE WORLD ON FIRE [C&DD]

8   Scientific head checks piece of microfilm briefly (5) FICHE [T]

9   Government worried about drug cartel and mob (9) GATHERING {G}{AT{H}E}{RING}

11 Regret my cracks about a model's intelligence (4,6) GREY MATTER {REGRET+MY}* over {A}{T}

12 Wild cat's excited, turning most furious (4) PUMA {UP<=}{MAd}

14 Rushed to rest after time travel (7) T?A?S?T ()

16 Belched in bar? Reduce fizzy drinks (7) ERUCTED {T} in {REDUCE}*

17 Utahan lady naughtily showing tongue (7) NAHUATL {UTAHAN+L}*

19 Excitement about one old 3-D model of scene (7) DIORAMA {D{1}{O}RAMA}

21 See 1

22 Consuming bit of stimulant, chatter at rave continuously (2,1,7) AT A STRETCH {St...t} in {CHATTER+AT}*

25 Scoundrel in retreat picking up model after work for a very high price (3,6) TOP DOLLAR {RAT<=} over {DOLL}<=>{OP}

26 Article on iridium is belonging to them (5) THEIR {THE}{IR}

27 One injured in Everest can get specialised medical treatment (9,4) INTENSIVE CARE {1}{IN+EVEREST+CAN}

DOWN

2   Waste matter in old, blue crate (7) EXCRETA {EX}{CRATE}*

3   Switched to the smart device regulating temperature (10) THERMOSTAT*

4   Number of women leaving force (5) EIGHT wEIGHT

5   Sick, need month for recovering (2,3,4) ON THE MEND*

6   Stare as fish goes around river (4) LEER {EEL<=}{R}

7   Do cut very artfully, protecting one's fallopian tube (7) OVIDUCT {DO+CUT+V} over {1}

8   Battling outbreak very well (8,3) FIGHTING FIT {FIGHTING}{FIT}

10 Chubby woman behind magnificent relative (11) GRANDFATHER {FAT}{HER}<=>{GRAND}

13 Absolute jerk chasing American associate outside High Court (10) AUTOCRATIC {TIC}<=>{A}{A} over {COURT*}

15 Latest novel has completely fanciful stories (4,5) TALL TALES {T{ALL}TALES*}

18 Obtained pot filled with right, dense layer of soil (4-3) HARD-PAN {HAD}{PAN} over {R}

20 African mammal in barn ate bananas (3,4) ANT BEAR*

23 Proves devious president eliminated former chairman of KGB (5) SEROV pROVES*

24 European lecturer enthralled by American writer (4) POLE {PO{L}E}

Reference List

Government = G, Drug = H(eroin), Excited = UP, Bar = T, Lady = L, Old = O, Work = OP, Old = EX, Women = W, River = R, Very = V, American = A, Associate = A, President = P, Lecturer = L