No 11121, Thursday 26 Jun 2014, Mac

I wonder if one of these days I will have to say RIP THC and THCC? The non inclusion of the link to the CW at the first instance when the online edition is up, seems to be a deliberate decision by the paper. I see no reason why they cannot do so when they are able to insert the clues and the grid later in the day.

Liked the free flowing offering from Mac.

ACROSS
9   PROCESS = System. In favour = PRO and Tax = Cess
10 UNCLEAR = Mysterious. Anagram of NUCLEAR
11 RESIDUE = Leftover. Anagram (AInd: stew) of I + REUSED
12 DISCUSS = Argue. Criticise = DIS and Abuse = CUSS
13 AUTOMATON = Robot. A + Fruit = TOMATO in (consumed by) a French = UN
15 STATE = Say. Anagram (AInd: failing) of A + TEST
16 MISSIVE = Message. Ma'am = MISS I have = I'VE
19 DEEPEST = Least shallow. River = DEE + is in french = EST around (outside) Paris primarily = P
20 CHESS = Game. As CV says, Anno left for a commenter ;-) (Addendum - Royal woman = DUCHESS without (drops out) 'of the' French = DU - See comments)
21 OVERSTEPS = Goes over the line. Anagram (AInd: all wrong) of TOP + SERVE'S
25 ASPIRIN = Drug. Longing = ASPIRING without (no) good = G
26 LIBRARY = Bookhouse. Sign = LIBRA + Railway = RY
28 EMULATE = Monkey. Bird = EMU + Dead = LATE
29 GLUTTON = He greedily eats. Anagram (AInd: cooked) of MUTTON +LEG without ME

DOWN
1   SPARTA = Ancient Greek city. Fight = SPAR and Army =TA
2   BORSHT = Soup. Anagram (AInd: served up) of BROTH'S Don't know if this is an accepted spelling. It'snot there in Wiki or Chambers.
3   HEED = Take notice. Telescopic (letters from) tHE EDitor
4   ASPECT = &lit. A and feature = SPEC + feature essentially = feaTure
5   BURDENED = Oppressed. Boy = B + anagram (AInd: ill-treated) of ENDURED
6   ECOSYSTEM = Comples interactive networks. English = E + Company = CO + Computers = SYSTEM
7   REGULATE = Control. Anagram (AInd: amended) of GET A RULE
8   PROSPECT = Opportunity. For = PRO + Parish leader = P inside (accepted) religious group = SECT
14 MAINSTREAM = Current. Ocean = MAIN + River = STREAM
16 MACRAMES = Ornamental laces. Setter = MAC + Devices = FRAMES without begining (uninitiated)  = RAMES

17 SHEEP RUN = Pasture for livestock. Anagram (AInd: ground) of HE + PRUNES
18 ENOUNCES = States. Condemns = DENOUNCES without beginning (leaderless) = ENOUNCES
22 EULOGY = Late tribute. [CD]
23 EXACTS = Demands. Former partner = EX with Acrostic from (starts) Annoyingly Conceded To Some
24 SAYING = Telling. Telescopic (contribution) from MagasaySAY IN Guerrilliaism
27 BOUT = Round. Delete (remove) A from around = ABOUT

Clues added at 11:20 AM from online edition

ACROSS
9.   System in favour of tax (7) {PRO}{CESS}
10. Mysterious nuclear explosion (7) UNCLEAR*
11. Leftover stew I reused (7) RESIDUE*
12. Argue, criticise and abuse (7) {DIS}{CISS}
13. A fruit consumed by a French robot (9) {A}{U{TOMATO}N}
15. Failing a test, say (5) STATE*
16. “Ma'am, I have a message” (7) {MISS}{I'VE}
19. The least shallow river is in France, outside Paris, primarily (7) {DEE}{P}{EST}
20. Royal woman drops out of the French game (5) duCHESS
21. Top serve's all wrong, goes over the line (9) OVERSTEPS*
25. Longing for no-good drug (7) ASPIRINg
26. Sign on railway book house (7) {LIBRA}{RY}
28. Monkey bird's dead! (7) {EMU}{LATE}
29. He greedily eats cooked mutton leg without me (7) GLUTTONme*

DOWN
1.   Fight with army of ancient Greek city (6) {SPAR}{TA}
2.   Broth's served up as soup (6) BORSHT*
3.   Take notice of letters from the editor (4) HEED [T]
4.   A particular feature, essentially (6) {A}{SPEC}{T} &lit
5.   Oppressed boy endured ill-treatment (8) {B}{URDENED*}
6.   English company's computers form complex interactive networks (10) {E}{CO}{SYSTEM}
7.   Get a rule amended for control (8) REGULATE*
8.   Opportunity for parish leader to be accepted by religious group (8) {PRO}{S{P}ECT}
14. Ocean/river current (10) {MAIN}{STREAM}
16. Ornamental laces setter devises uninitiated (8) {MAC}{fRAMES}
17. Ground he prunes is a pasture for livestock (5,3) SHEEP RUN*
18. Condemns leaderless states (8) dENOUNCES
22. Late tribute (6) EULOGY [CD]
23. Former partner starts to annoyingly concede to some demands (6) {EX}{A}{C}{T}{S}
24. Telling contribution from Magsaysay in guerrillaism (6) SAYING [T]
27. Remove 'a' from “around” to get “round” (4) aBOUT