No 12126, Monday 02 Oct 2017, Lightning

ACROSS
1   Substitute half of a meal with vegetable (8) SUPPLANT {SUPper}{PLANT}
5   Agreement on a country’s borderline (6) ACCORD {A}{Co...y}{CORD}
9   Discuss one’s electronic essay (8) TREATISE {TREAT}{1'S}{E}
10 Leisurely walk on street with pastry (6) STROLL {ST}{ROLL}
12 Improve breed (5) RAISE [DD]
13 Somehow segregate hidden message (6,3) EASTER EGG*
14 Control rumours about European community (6) DIRECT {DIR{EC}T}
16 Hearing aid’s in demand within hearing distance (7) EARSHOT {EAR'S}{HOT}
19 No second cries let out by hawk (7) TIERCEL {CRIEs+LET}*

21 He spread murmur about priest (6) HELIUM {H{ELI}UM}
23 Last wishes influence mental strength (9) WILLPOWER {WILL}{POWER}
25 Seed — gluten free alternate for smooth transition (5) SEGUE {SeEd+GlUtEn}
26 Put right salesman with attitude (6) REPAIR {REP}{AIR}
27 Coffee say, with breakfast item almost always consumed (8) BEVERAGE {EVER} in {BAGEl}
28 Mum is returning by period of fasting (6) SILENT {IS<=}{LENT}
29 Sues old pal over engagement (8) ESPOUSAL {SUES+O+PAL}*

DOWN
1   Sarcastic writing by nobleman having a bit of temper (6) SATIRE {S{A}{Te...r}IRE}
2   Negotiated epic price drop (9) PRECIPICE*
3   Refreshment in flat terrain (5) LATTE [T]
4   New trail with sodium upfront (7) NASCENT {NA}{SCENT}
6   Spinning car halted at church (9) CATHEDRAL*
7   Australian working with European on layer that protects earth (5) OZONE {OZ}{ON}{E}
8   Representative from Georgia interrupting strike (8) DELEGATE {DELE{GA}TE}
11 Tennis legend smashes records (4) ASHE [T]
15 Save revolutionary leader’s departure (9) EXCEPTION {EXCEPT}{NO1<=}
17 Fragile time machine? (4,5) HOUR GLASS [CD]
18 Attendants braise a rare dish served for starters (8) STEWARDS {STEW}{A}{Rare}{Dish}{Se...d}
20 Order new patch of grass (4) LAWN {LAW}{N}
21 Nearly damage cape with saddle (7) HARNESS {HARm}{NESS}
22 Regularly chew actual grain (6) CEREAL {ChEw}{REAL}
24 Soap finally takes out black mark in part of jacket (5) LAPEL LA(-b+p)PEL
25 Stone thrown by scribe (5) STENO*

GRID

The Sunday Crossword No 2963, Sunday 01 Oct 2017

ACROSS
1   Be quiet in particular after defeat by editor (4,4) PIPE DOWN {PIP}{E D}{OWN}
5   Lawyer not lasting long (5) BRIEF [DD]
9   Popular face, not having left country (5) INDIA {IN}{DIAl}
10 Variety of smart neon decorations (9) ORNAMENTS*
11 Bend back with bundle containing very soft fruit (4,5) CRAB APPLE {ARC<=}{B A{PP}LE}

12 Furious buccaneer deprived of power (5) IRATE pIRATE
13 Large shock received by spy ring, our team being superior (4-9) SELF-RIGHTEOUS {SE{L}{FRIGHT}E}{O}{US}
16 Breaking old rule, bashed bone (8,5) SHOULDER BLADE*
20 Distinctive character in sweet hospitality (5) ETHOS [T]
21 Idea getting support with weight in one section of church (9) BRAINWAVE {BRA}{1}{N{W}AVE}
23 Caught spirit with percussion instrument (5,4) SNARE DRUM {SNARE D}{RUM}

24 Reported discovery, penalised (5) FINED (~find)
25 Aquatic plant from America added to collection (5) LOTUS {LOT}{US}
26 Talkative type, upset, disrupting public relations (8) PRATTLER {P{RATTLE}R}

DOWN
1   Royal measure endlessly covered by journalists (8) PRINCESS {PR{INCh}ESS}
2   Lengthen article about university city (5) PADUA {PAD}{U}{A}
3   Silence in broadcast that's costly, holding start of important commercial up (4,3) DEAD AIR {Im...t}{AD}<= in {DEAR}
4   Film star's joyful shout over one element with appeal about right (6,8) WHOOPI GOLDBERG {WHOOP}{1} {GOLD}{BE{R}G}
5   Child at home among tall grass, mostly (7) BAMBINO {BAMB{IN}Oo}
6   Part of Mediterranean island? One's in a developed area (6,3) IONIAN SEA {I}{ONES+IN+A}*{A}
7   Lot keeping south and north secure (6) FASTEN {FA{S}TE}{N}
8   Being sold rum, three men had made merry (5,3,6) UNDER THE HAMMER*
14 Gather in secret without initial despair (4,5) LOSE HEART {cLOSE {HEAR}T}
15 Guardian's purpose restricted by delay (8) DEFENDER {DEF{END}ER}
17 Shellfish? Yes, sort at sea (7) OYSTERS*
18 Good name retained by worker, for instance, qualified (7) BENEFIT {BE{N}E}{FIT}
19 Not so much raised to support very English craft (6) VESSEL {V}{E}{LESS<=}
22 Pawn in duel regularly set aside (5) ANNUL {pAwN}{iN}{dUeL}

GRID