No 14044, Wednesday 13 Dec 2023, Lightning

Solution to 17D 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.

ACROSS

1   Quote in a broadcast - it is balanced (8) EQUATION*

5   Fellow movie star - one that contributes to a result (6) FACTOR {F}{ACTOR}

9   Tapes hid clumsily at openings of mine (8) PITHEADS*

10 Importance of short plait of hair (6) STRESS {S}{TRESS}

12 Extent of wrath from last to first (5) RANGE (+r)RANGE(-r)

13 Dare miner to destroy leftover portion (9) REMAINDER*

14 A snake leaders recently discovered on a ship (6) ABOARD {A}{BOA}{Re...y}{Di...d}

16 It could damage suit man ordered (7) TSUNAMI*

19 Leader cuts short first showing of film (7) PREMIER PREMIERe

21 Skilful catch - it may be a pivot (6) CLEVER {C}{LEVER}

23 Ethical engineer is tougher (9) RIGHTEOUS*

25 Primarily bold saying essentially lacking any distinguishing feature (5) BADGE {Bold}{ADaGE}

26 Attempt to have inside agreement (6) TREATY {TR{EAT}Y}

27 German extremely angry missing first and last payment (8) DIVIDEND {D}{lIVID}{END}

28 On the contrary, traitor joins heraldry (6) RATHER {RAT}{HER}

29 One waiting to plunder before short meeting at Oregon (8) PREDATOR {PRE}{DATe}{OR}

DOWN

1   Ruler without power at oriental kingdom (6) EMPIRE {EM{P}IR}{E}

2   Incapable of containing soccer side with one less person - it can't be justified (9) UNTENABLE {UN{TEN}ABLE}

3   Topic of letters from blithe men (5) THEME [T]

4   Sorted deposit containing diamonds with communist (7) ORDERED {OR{D}E}{RED}

6   Feature of a primarily touching accolade (9) ATTRIBUTE {A}{To...g}{TRIBUTE}

7   Pace first reader exhibited (5) TREAD [T]

8   Control excess precipitation (8) RESTRAIN {REST}{RAIN}

11 Release from East American university (4) EMIT {E}{MIT}

15 Philosopher is irate, lost at sea (9) ARISTOTLE*

17 Meaningful progress housing thousand - so be it upfront for change (9) A?E?D?E?T (Addendum - AMENDMENT {D{M}ENT}<=>{AMEN} - See comments)

18 Conductor of musical on raised platform (8) OPERATOR {OPERA}{TOR}

20 Decay around old part of plant (4) ROOT {RO{O}T}

21 Dismiss bank employee (7) CASHIER [DD]

22 Film roll spun around these days for one in charge (6) LEADER {LE{AD}ER<=}

24 Splendid person who has achieved lasting fame (5) GREAT [DD]

25 Unable to see screen (5) BLIND [DD]

Reference List

Fellow = F, Short = S, Catch = C, German = D, Power = P, Oriental = E, Diamonds = D, East = E, Thousand = M, Old = O, These days = AD