No 14750, Wednesday 25 Mar 2026, Arden

Solution to 25D 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   Army man's struggle for country (7) MYANMAR*

5   The famous four live least bothered (7) BEATLES {BE}{LEAST*}

9   Big man Brown drinking vermouth (5) TITAN {T{IT}AN}

10 Fancy hat priced so low (4,5) DIRT CHEAP* Semi&lit

11 Practising initially with one book daily (9) OBSERVANT {One}{B}{SERVANT}

12 Maybe Christopher's missing others on the mountain (5) REEVE {RE}{EVErest}

13 Made it back off a bit and fastened (4) TIED [T<=]

15 Japanese gambling on a breach in a river (8) PACHINKO {P{A}{CHINK}O}

18 Check time in the heart of the ship (8)  CORVETTE {COR{VET}{T}E}

19 Appropriate score (4) NICK [DD]

22 Mercury transits symbol of female passivity and is hurrying off (5) HYING {H{YIN}G}

24 Type of fish on the rocky seashores (3,6) SEA HORSES*

26 Corporations's intent to make a list (9) WAISTLINE {A+LIST}* in {WINE} What is 'corporations's'?

27 I had returned to old state (5) IDAHO {I}{HAD<=}{O}

28 Sister's travel counters (7) RESISTS*

29 Another thing that is meant to be a retirement cover (7) NIGHTIE {THING*}{IE}

DOWN

1   Could be remote visitor from the heavens (6) METEOR*

2   Sits awkwardly in a fancy American car making highest pitch (9) ALTISSIMO {A}{L{SITS*}IMO}

3   More detailed coverage of one in a villa (5) MANOR {M{AN}ORe}

4   Welcome sign of a communist reprimand (3,6) RED CARPET {RED}{CARPET}

5   Live on time - it could be felt (5) BERET {BE}{RE}{T}

6   Instrument with electric cable, no one to set up (9) ACCORDION {AC}{CORD}{NO 1<=}

7   Some allege ill-treatment, rise against the sovereign (5) LIEGE [T<=]

8   Excellent sandwiches - pay first for an evening meal (6) SUPPER {SUP{Pay}ER}

14 Female star billionaire strays (9) DIVAGATES {DIVA}{GATES}

16 Special screen with current input at regular intervals for a medical procedure (9) CAESAREAN {C{A}ES{A}RE{A}N*}

17 Gives up on pastry - that should give an impetus (4,5) KICK START {KICKS}{TART}

20 Service without sin - how to stop barrage? (6) SHOWER {S{HOW}ERvice}

21 Cash or easy payment option to acquire land (6) ASHORE [T]

23 One competes with climbers (5) IVIES {1}{VIES}

24 Avoids Dutch chicken on board (5) SKIPS {S{KIP}S}

25 Outstanding split opinion (5) O?I?G (Addendum - OWING {O}{WING} - See comments)

Reference List

Vermouth = IT, Book = B, On = RE, Time = T, Tent = WINE, Old = O, Current = A, On board = SS, Pinion = WING