No 14121, Wednesday 13 Mar 2024, Lightning

Solution to 8D 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 answer, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

1   It's clear that former lover permitted assuming power (8) EXPLICIT {EX}{P}{LICIT}

5   One's on region - it may be surrounded by water (6) ISLAND {1'S}{LAND}

9   Fractional part of state from the east contained new titanium (8) MANTISSA {ASSAM<=} over {N}{TI}

10 Work hard on a new phrase used in advertising (6) SLOGAN {SLOG}{A}{N}

12 Chinese secret society at a country (5) TONGA {TONG}{A}

13 Thoroughly sour item brought back into gathering (9) RADICALLY {RA{ACID<=}LLY}

14 Bright object in excavation site partly missing second mark (6) QUASAR {QUArry}{ScAR}

16 Strip of land is high, must be destroyed (7) ISTHMUS {IS+H+MUST}*

19 Wide stretch of water - it may be used for transport (7) CHANNEL [DD]

21 Narrow passage of water has no bends according to hearsay (6) STRAIT (~straight)

23 A remark editor made is set aside (9) EARMARKED {A+REMARK+ED}*

25 Half century by fellow after losing opener - stylish (5) FIFTY {F}{nIFTY}

26 Magic anyone could demonstrate in area with steep sides (6) CANYON [T]

27 Disrupt wise person covering a malicious program (8) SABOTAGE {S{A}{BOT}AGE}

28 Pin for holding meat Kelvin threw into drain (6) SKEWER {S{K}EWER}

29 Very small portion of engineering minds go astray (8) SMIDGEON {En...g+MINDS+GO}*

DOWN

1   Enrolled nurse at Cambridge university essentially defying hatred (6) ENMITY {EN}{MIT}{defYing}

2   Use plan in reforming India for one (9) PENINSULA*

3   Primarily Indian, born in Zanzibar alongside island (5) IBIZA Acrostic

4   One that may cover damage at home with certain right (7) INSURER {{IN}{SURE}{R}

6   Damaged coil I sort for attorney (9) SOLICITOR*

7   A new styling accessory is a saviour (5) ANGEL {A}{N}{GEL}

8   One small harbour beyond the borders of Derby is very elegant (8) D?N?Y?S? (Addendum - DANDYISH {1}{S}{H}<=>{D AND Y} - See comments)

11 Food item I would like immediately for starters (4) IDLI {I'D}{Like}{Im...y}

15 Sip orange cocktail - a sling from this place (9) SINGAPORE* Semi&lit

17 Primary building block of powerful computer (9) MAINFRAME {MAIN}{FRAME}

18 Sees carbon in chapter made up on physics and chemistry (8) SCIENCES {SEES+C+IN+C}*

20 At first large audience kept engrossed at Dal perhaps (4) LAKE Acrostic

21 Admires peculiar weapon carried in a belt (7) SIDEARM*

22 Broadcast with very new fictitious monster (6) WYVERN {W+VERY}*{N}

24 Sped with German engineer to shooting area (5) RANGE {RAN}{G}{E}

25 Former American president touring Japan goes to steep inlet of sea (5) FJORD {F{J}ORD}

Reference List

Former lover = EX, Power = P, New = N, High = H, Editor = ED, Fellow = F, Kelvin = K, Enrolled Nurse = EN, Right = R, Harbour = H, Chapter = C, With = W, German = G, Engineer = E, Japan = J