I am on the train on my way back to Bangalore, so don't be surprised if you see an incomplete CW popping up at 8:30, all depends on the connectivity on the train.
'B'-day today!
cOARSe
'B'-day today!
ACROSS
9 - Battalion overly
engrossed in strategy (7) - (Addendum - PLATOON {PLA{TOO}N} - See comments)
10 - Brazilian city in South-East
America is important (7) - SERIOUS {SE}{RIO}{US}
11 - Bandage is a despicable covering (5) - (Addendum - SPICA [T] - See comments)
12 - Bottleneck before tramp to thumb a ride (5-4) –
HITCH-HIKE {HITCH}-{HIKE}
13 - Bar magistrate and another official (4,5) - LINE JUDGE {LINE} {JUDGE}
14 - Beaten path in the woods to follow (5) - TRAIL [DD]
15 - Bulb one lit around a foyer (7) - (Addendum - SHALLOT - {S{HALL}OT} - See comments)
17 - Ballet performer under a special training (7) - DANSEUR {UNDER+A+S}*
19 - By the sound of it pasta is only a cent (5) - PENCE Anno pending (Addendum - PENNY (~penne) - See comments)
20 - Band overcoming final hesitation to give a performance
(9) - RENDERING {R{END}{ER}ING}
22 - Burial chamber in Seoul, a building wrapped in silence
(9) - MAUSOLEUM {M{A+SEOUL*}UM}
24 - Balance from both sides (5) - LEVEL <->
25 - Buggy code with odd behaviour (7) - DECORUM {CODE*}{RUM}
26 - Bauble made by silly knitter (7) – TRINKET*
DOWN
1 - Biblical dozen
with a job peeling flesh (8) - APOSTLES {A}{POST}{fLESh}
2 - Budget speech
presented with capital deficit (6) - (Addendum - RATION oRATION - See comments)
3 - Bees' produce
befitting a queen, gelatin perhaps (5,5) - (Addendum - ROYAL JELLY {ROYAL} {JELLY} - See comments)
4 - Broken tooth end
is sharp (2,3,3) - ON THE DOT*
5 - Bloodsucker,
from the outset, selects prey (6) - TSETSE [T]
6 - Bridge and
rummy, casual hobbies primarily (4) – ARCH {A}{R}{C}{H}
7 - Bully at mid-on
sledged England's opener (8) - DOMINATE {DOMINAT*}{E}
8 - Bargain from a
street deal, 500 less (1,5) - A STEAL {A} {ST}{dEAL}
14 - Beef cut redolent in cooking (10) – TENDERLOIN*
16 - Broadcast in Oz under a new name (8) - ANNOUNCE {A}{N}{N}{OUNCE}
17 - Blow up device; it may end in ruins (8) - DYNAMITE*
18 - Badge of royalty changing hands in accordance with law
(8) - REGULATE Anno pending (Addendum - REGALITY - (-l+r)REGALITY - See comments)
19 - Balm for shock prof regularly prepared (6) - POMADE {PrOf}{MADE}
20 - Bleary-eyed man in card game lost one million (6) - RHEUMY {R{HE}UmMY}
21 - Bring up bill, one grand, for in charge (6) - INVOKE Anno pending (Addendum - INVO(-ic+k)KE - See comments)
23 - Blades trim rough edges (4) - OARS