No 11941, Monday, 27 Feb 2017, Arden

Arden continues .. a hattrick today
17d remains a bit of a mystery...thanks to Bhavan for the explanation--see below
Some rather interesting points - use of  invasion as inclusion indicator in 29a is rather clever..
1d..well we thought we had seen every variation of Sudoku.. but heres a new one !
Enjoyed the use of "felt" in 7d
And well 2d is unconventionally rather pleasant..isnt it?

ACROSS
9. Do release force, it's affected (7) UNCTION {(-F)UNCTION}
10. Say "Rent-a-car" and Charlie goes around (7) NARRATE (RENT A CAR - C)*
11. Block — not even once clued correctly (7) OCCLUDE (OnCe)(CLUED)*
12. City bum talked regularly (7) SEATTLE (SEAT)(TaLkEd)
13. Ran about acquiring large working capital (4,5) ULAN BATOR (RAN ABOUT L)*

15. Gum from diesel emission (5) ELEMI (T)
16. Parched by morning — drank last of the juice, rejected wine (7) MADEIRA {ARI(juicE)D)(AM)<==
19. Two styles — lacking the French humility (7) MODESTY (MODE)(STYle)
20. Rag chase? (5) TEASE (TEA = CHA)(SE)
21. Regulation to exchange Dinar in the past (9) ORDINANCE (DINAR)* in ONCE
25. Cringle as group of ministers encountered internal resistance (7) GROMMET R(RESISTANCE) in (GOM)(MET)
26. He had a drink with 60 soldiers once (7) MANIPLE NIP in MALE
28. Our intervention in turn disembarked woman traveler (7) TOURIST (OUR) in T(-W)IST
29. Striking second time there is foreign invasion (7) SALIENT ALIEN (foreign) in (Second)(Time)

DOWN
1. Puzzle to solve during London to New York flight (6) SUDOKU (DO)solve in (UK) (US)<==
2. Undercurrents vital even though it's thorny (6) ACACIA (AC)(AC)(vItAl)
3. Place to sleep with you, I heard (4) LIEU (LIE)(U)
4. Thought of camping... (6) INTENT DD/CD
5. ...it's too close, most of the capital's under fear (8) ANGSTROM (ANGST)(ROM(-E))
6. Equip old fellow for the final conflict (10) ARMAGEDDON (ARM)(AGED)(DON)
7. Felt presence of hair on the bed (8) MATTRESS (MAT)(TRESS)
8. Hidden virtue still surfaced — such audacity (8) TEMERITY (MERIT) in (YET)<==
14. Bishop takes the bus daily, she helps in the union (10) BRIDESMAID (B)(RIDES)(MAID)

16. Interest in a university entrance exam will help (8) MITIGATE I(interest) in (MIT)(GATE)
17. Too sick to climb, use no intermediary for talk (8) DIALOGUE (LAID UP)(GO UP)(UsE) See Comments
18. A poor nation, no choice for a renegade (8) APOSTATE (A)(POor)(STATE)
22. Check petition for some fine material (6) DAMASK (DAM)(ASK)
23. New copies left in the city (6) NAPLES (N) L in APES

24. They are held, one finally escapes (6) EVENTS (onE)(VENTS)
27. Nothing exceptional on top of the flower (4) NILE (NIL)(Exceptional)

GRID

Legend : Definition, Solution, Letters in wordplay, Indicators (of all sorts)