No 14216, Tuesday 02 Jul 2024, Saral

 Solution to 8A 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

7   Frank caught involved in crime before (7) SINCERE {C} in {SIN}{ERE}

8   Pest in place near bar (6) L?C?S? {Addendum - LOCUST {LOCUS}{T} - See comments)

9   Priest inside cycle rickshaw (6) CLERIC [T]

10 Soldier about to divide baked breads for units (8) BRIGADES {BR{GI<=}ADES*}

11 Cover arrived containing Ohio university banner (10) CAMOUFLAGE {CAM{O}{U}{FLAG}E}

13 Old international model in flight (4) EXIT {EX}{I}{T}

14 Masters from the beginning arranged competitors' exercise schedule (4) ACES Acrostic

16 Rotating reel in circles (5) LOOPS <=

18 Changing skin colours (4) INKS* 

19 Summons with wrong RTI (4) WRIT {W}{RTI*}

21 Rascal parking in new sector in military school, say (5,5) CADET CORPS {CAD}{ETCOR{P}S*}

23 Show off power in defence (3,5) AIR FORCE {AIR}{FORCE}

25 Losing head, monarch thrashed reporter (6) ANCHOR mONARCH*

26 A great deal of money in old gaming house (6) CASINO {CASh}{IN}{O}

27 A work in front of department is clumsy (7) AWKWARD {A}{WK}{WARD}

DOWN

1   Huge oriental tailless rat below northern gate (8) ENORMOUS {E} and {MOUSe}<=>{N}{OR}

2   Composition on the radio, almost complete and relaxing (8) PEACEFUL {(~piece)PEACE}{FULl}

3   That man getting red basil, basically an aromatic plant (4) HERB {HE}{R}{Ba..l}

4   Setting clues including one for cleanse (6) SLUICE {CLUES}* over {1}

5   Very cold times, Indian eagle finally kept in enclosure (3,3) ICE AGE {I} with {e..lE} in {CAGE}

6   Star acting heartlessly, takes chance (8) ASTERISK {TAkES}*{RISK}

7   Hansell also regularly turning up for dance (5) SALSA {hAnSeIi+AlSo}<=

12 A worthless duck (5) AVOID {A}{VOID}

15 Naval commander is rehearsing at first, organising festival (8) CARNIVAL {NAVAL+Co...r+Is+Re...g}*

17 Wager fires Spooner, resulting in delays (8) SETBACKS (~bet sacks to setbacks)

18 Cold rain destroyed warship (8) IRONCLAD*

20 Disagreement at home for light meal (6) TIFFIN {TIFF}{IN}

21 Mostly container with trace of nickel, a chemical element (6) CARBON {CARBOy}{Ni...l}

22 Big-headed prince with staff crossing Uruguay (5) PROUD {P}{RO{U}D}

24 Spirit of the land (4) ELAN [T]

Reference List

Caught = C, Bar = T, University = U, International = I, Model = T, With = W, Parking = P, Old = O, Work = WK, Oriental = E, Northern = N, Gate = OR, Red = R, Indian = I, Prince = P