No 9866, Friday 11 Jun 10, Nita Jaggi

@#$%!&**&^%$#@!
ACROSS
1   - Depressed head girl is the first to leave with hesitation (4) - {G}{L}{UM}
9   - Close fitting cap in the laboratory is kept back to single out each male, vital character (9,6) - {BAL<-}{ACLAVA HELMETi*}

10 - Told to match the portion (4) - (~meet)METE
11 - He is involved in the rain drama (5) - INDRA [T]
12 - Selects the pots for distribution (4) - OPTS*
13 - Legislator follows the footnote in the poem (5) - {PS}{ALM<-}
14 - Democratic leader of the French is behind the framework of the hotplate (7) - {GRID}{D}{LE}

16 - After meal beverage for an uncle is set in Cuba (7) - {SAM}{BUCA*}
18 - Second announcement cut short for the President's trophy (5) - {S}{CALl}{P}

22 - Lure it behind the rebellious sailor (4) - {BA<-}{IT}
23 - Landlord will use a limited area in return (5) - {OWN}{aERa<-}
24 - Chew back to swallow food (4) - GULP <-
25 - Star image may be set up by this officer (6,9) - PUBLIC RELATIONS [CD]
26 - State of extreme poverty (4) - NEED [CD]
DOWN
2   - Chieftains are wrong to deal in Emergency Rooms (7) - {LEAD*}{ERS}
3   - Kind of question bank set in competitive exams (8,6) - MULTIPLE CHOICE [CD]

4   - Reportedly displays the stock (5) - (~wears)WARES
5   - Blink at the first woman to hide the notice (5) - {EV{AD}E}
6   - It may be pulled up or down in between a stage performance (7,7) - THEATRE CURTAIN [CD]
7   - Old man cracks the nut (6) - ALMOND*
8   - Afghan leader is in to reside in the city (7) - {SE{A}TTLE}
15 - Extraordinary accrual of fir used in coats (7) - CARACUL* See cap worn by Hamid Karzai

17 - Conflict in the club will start troubling the French (6) - {BAT}{T}{LE}
19 - Fuel on the side will catch fire (7) - {L}{IGNITE}

20 - Falls on the divine messenger (5) - ANGEL [DD]

21 - Think of the key in front of the panel (5) - {PLAN}{K}

GRID

No 2570, Sunday 30 Jan 10

I am off to HOSUR for a college Alumni meet, so will not be back till evening, have a field day with your comments.
ACROSS
1 - Dizzy blonde? (5-6) - LIGHT-HEADED [DD]
9 - Film, hidden from view on occasion (5,4) - {BLIND} {DATE}
10 - Caricature of girl in opera, lead in Carmen (5) - {MIMI}{C}
11 - Essayist is overwhelmed by extra charge (7) - ADD{IS}ON
12 - Abstemious - tea user, possibly (7) - AUSTERE*
13 - Gloomy day - sail out across mouth of Mersey (6) - {D}{IS{M}AL}
14,17 - Pretty girls using extortion in plant (4-4-8) - {LOVE-LIES} {BLEEDING} Guessed from crossings and this was the last one I got.

18 - A dry heat out East, all things considered (2,4) - {A}{T T}{H(-e)AT}
21 - Master in pain through most of term (7) - TE{ACHE}R(-m)
23 - Firm not persuaded (7) - UNMOVED [DD]
24 - After hours, a lecturer was wearing (3,2) - {H}{A}{D ON}
25 - He, say, must stand in front of church to make an announcement (9) - PRONOUN{CE}
26 - Argue in protest about WW1 battle charge after commencement of truce (11) – {RE}{MONS}{T}{RATE}
DOWN
1 - Servant, 13, with day off (5,4) - L{ADY*}S MAID*
2 - Old woman, awfully angry, penning note (6) - GRA{N}NY*
3 - Lawrence of Arabia’s birthplace - Democrat misdirected (8) - TERMADOC* Had to google this
4 - Girl’s TV awards (5) - EMMY'S [DD]

5 - Golden Globe winning actress may make heaviest demand (4,5,5) - DAME EDITH EVANS*
6 - The Lord of the Flies novelist? (7) - D?C?E?S Lord of the flies novelist is Golding, but that does not fit here!
7 - A plank on a ship, perhaps (6) - {A}{BOARD}
8 - Uncommonly splendid manure required? Don’t despair (3,11) - NIL DESPERANDUM*
15 - Ad lib from retired English politician in shot (9) - {EX}{T{E}{MP}ORE}
16 - Warehouse, one pretty nearly bust (8) - ENTREPOT(-y)*
17 - Killer, hideous brute grabbing child (7) - BUT{CH}ER*
19 - Row about Diane being neater (6) - TI{DI}ER
20 - Copper getting a cut climbing dome (6) - {CU}{POL<-}{A} )
22 - Tennis champion served up nine after holding initially (5) – {H}{ENIN} Hard luck to her, she lost to Serena in the Australian open finals yesterday.





GRID

No 9753, 30 Jan 10, Gridman

16A has me stumped, WATERMUSIC, TAPEDMUSIC fits, but I could find no such words
ACROSS
 1  - Praise and support retreating friends (8) - {BACK}{SLAP<-} )  
6  - A key mistake? (4) - TYPO [E]
9  - Indian village: very nearly it’s orderly and free (6) - {GRA(-m}{TIS*}
10 - Go green — good enough to cause to swell (7) - ENGORGE*
13 - Covers covering mole’s last covers (9) - ENVELOP{E}S
14 - He has a diseased animal with its head blown off (5) - OWNER Anno pending
15 - Only second gets an exclamation of support (4) - {S}{OLE}
16 - It may be played in the fountain to give you sound experience (10) - ?A?E?M?S?C
19 - A well-mannered person follows this when online (10) - NETIQUETTE [CD]
21 - Scandal over Scot’s retraction (4) - SCAM<- )
24 - Flora’s partner (5) - FAUNA [CD]
25 - No panther straying into Greek temple (9) - PARTHENON*

26 - Ooh… Gent is lively and very active (2,3,2) - ON THE GO*
27 - Thorough, with no batsman remaining (3-3) - ALL-OUT [DD]
28 - Mistakes sounded Irish (4) - ERRS(~erse)
29 - Child reportedly removes moisture from odds and ends (8) - (~son){SUN}{DRIES}
DOWN
 2  - Appearance of a rook with competitor (7) - {A}{R}{RIVAL}
 3  - Proverbially, it’s accused by the pot (6) - KETTLE [CD]
 4  - Tells a cap wallowing in the lowest standing (4-5) - LAST-PLACE*
 5  - Stamp the newspapers (5) - PRESS [DD]
 7  - Father in stony-broke situation gets briefs (1-6) - Y-{FR}ONTS*
 8  - Locomotive operator’s obsession? (3-5,4) - ONE-TRACK MIND [CD]
11 - Sad appearance within the limits of Guindy (6) - G{LOOM}Y
12 - Celebrity — not necessarily a musician (6,2,4) - PERSON OF NOTE [CD]
17 - Host to go into coach without right (9) - {ENTER}{T(-r)AIN}
18 - Fair in the city centre (6) - SQUARE [DD]
20 - He jeers at dancing aunt and half-sister (7) - {TAUN*}{(-sis)TER}
22 - Condemn our losing head in perfume (7) - CENS{(-o)UR)E
23 - Melvillean character more healthy after the beginning of Winter (6) - {W}{HALER}
25 - Having second thoughts about great deal of schemes (5) - P{LOT}S Nice clue



GRID

No 9752, Friday 29 Jan 10, Gridman

ACROSS
 1  - Zigzags like the road up the Nilgiris, say (11) - SWITCHBACKS [E] More popularly known as Hairpinbends in India. You can see switchbacks on the Railway line to Darjeeling also.

 9  - The commercial side of Bollywood, perhaps (4,3) - SHOW BIZ [CD]
10 - By which you fold a paper (7) - ORIGAMI [CD]
11 - Leaders of cultural entourage going out of significance in German city (5) - ESSEN(-c-e)
12 - Things going thus are not under control (3,2,4) - OUT OF HAND [CD]
13 - One good small room in northern dwelling (5) - {I}{G}{LOO}

15 - One to hold the standard high (9) - FLAGSTAFF [E]
18 - Rob messes horribly with design carvers (9) - EMBOSSERS*
21 - Think and work in the middle of bed (5) - {OP}{IN}{E}
22 - With phone out of order, mean to work wonders (9) - {PHENO*}{MENA*}
24 - Grate ace built around right kutir to begin with (5) - C{R}EA*{K}
26 - Open out by turns? (7) - UNTWIST [CD]
27 - Severe purgative given by medical officer to a staff unendingly (7) - {DR}{A}{STIC(-k)}
28 - Vessel taken around old throng dispersed in fortresses (11) - S{TRONGHOLD*}S
DOWN
 1  - Yet misses exercises in regiment (9) - SYSTEMISE*
 2  - They are admired in Hindi constituencies (5) - ICONS [T]
 3  - They serve aboard (5,4) - CABIN BOYS [CD]
 4  - Go away like a flying bee? (4,3) - BUZZ OFF [CD]
 5  - Cairo at odds with this country (7) - CROATIA*
 6  - Almost cut fellows in scorn (5) - {SNI(-p)}{FF}
 7  - I shove a large sum of money back for Italian dish (8) - {CAL}{A}{MAR}{I}<- )
 8  - Tie up container to donkey’s head (4) - {BIN}{D}
14 - Book for an opera? (8) - LIBRETTO [DD]
16 - Gents in a school that’s reconstructed for one who lags behind (9) - SLO{WC}OACH* Gents & WC? What is the connection there?
17 - Excitement for which you don’t pay? Not exactly! (4,5) - FREE KICKS [CD]
19 - Role tec devised for voter (7) - ELECTOR*
20 - Sit out? On the contrary, deputise (5,2) - STAND IN [CD]
22 - Serve a beverage to party leader for three-quarters of sixty minutes (4) - {P}{(-h)OUR}
23 - Fails to use most scatterings around India’s capital (5) - OM{I}TS*
25 - Praise text oldster brought out (5) - EXTOL [T]

GRID

No 9751, Thursday 28 Jan 10, Gridman

What a relief after NJ

ACROSS
1 - Head of clan too old for insurance (8) - {C}{OVERAGE}
5 - Sufficient for one to turn. “Disgusting!” (6) - {ENO<-}{UGH}
9 - They may be gathered in one’s mind (8) - THOUGHTS [CD]
10 - Say no to litter! (6) - REFUSE [DD] Nice one
12 - U.S. magazine’s back issue (4) - EMIT <- )
13 - Has on hand the cash-box without moving (5-5) - {STOCK S}{TILL}
15 - Cold, did you say? It’s hot on the tongue! (6) - CHILLI(~chilly)

17 - Spells out in balance sheet (5) - B{OUT}S
20 - Photo developer’s solution (5) - FIXER [E]
21 - Pages, not masters, in season to have late meal (6) - SU(-mm+pp)PPER
24 - Higher insurance for a cricket fielder (5,5) - {EXTRA} {COVER}
27 - Retrieved a Roman robe (4) - TOG<-{A} How does GOT get reversed ? (Addendum - See Sandhya's comments below for the answer to my query)

29 - Adult lays out krona for a cold-weather jacket (6) - {A}NORAK*

30 - Not surprising, a number is heard and noticed (8) - (~four){FORE}{SEEN}
31 - Acted like a couch potato (6) - LOLLED [E]
32 - An unhappy person may let it fall (4,4) - TEAR DROP [CD]
DOWN
1 - Tailor a ship (6) - CUTTER [DD]

2 - Fiddle in an orchestra (6) - VIOLIN [CD]
3 - Partial irrigation for city on the Baltic Sea (4) - RIGA [T]
4 - Bird is beyond the empty grange. Understand? (3,2) - {G}{E}T IT
6 - Works said to have necessaries (5) - NEEDS(~kneads)
7 - Demanding exceptional interest? (8) - USURIOUS [CD]
8 - Kind of shoes Hess and Elle wear out (8) - HEELLESS*
11 - Be frugal with curls, end coming up first (6) - (+s)SCRIMP(-s)
14 - Blender noise — no end to spin (4) - WHIR(-l)
16 - One letting out property carelessly loses the first of receipts (6) - LESSO*{R}
17 - Sounded pronouncedly sad (4) - BLEW(~blue)
18 - Finally falter badly in a line (5,3) - AFTER {A}{L}L*
19 - Expo: it’ll set out a psephologist’s exercise (4,4) - EXIT POLL*
22 - Pure representation covers large attitudinizer (6) - P{OS}EUR*
23 - Patna’s perturbed at leader of clans having forty winks (6) - {C}ATNAP*
25 - Mindful of fighting within the limits of Alipore (5) - A{WAR}E
26 - Tamil Nadu town’s about-turn on poem (5) - {ER<-}{ODE}
28 - Listen, doubly it’s a sign of approval (4) - HEAR [CD]

GRID

N 9750, Wednesday 27 Jan 10, Nita Jaggi

Bye-bye NJ

ACROSS
1 - Attack when as old king is a bit terrified (7) - {AS}{SAUL}{T}
5 - Shocked leader on the street (6) - {AGHA}{ST}
10 - Faith in a syndicate is when engineers take the place of Alan (8) - (-al+re){RELIANCE}
11 - Access a website (6) - PORTAL [DD]
13 - Particle is mostly hidden in the potato (4) - {I(-s)}{OTA}
14 - Realtors go to the wrong figure-caster (10) - ASTROLOGER*
16 - First to monitor now, the bovine kind of disease (3,3) - {M}{AD} {COW}
18 - Yen is acceptable, oh! for the regular oatmeal in the city (8) - {Y}{OK}{OH}{A}{M}{A}
21 - Have a value placed on the tip off a container by an expert (8) - {RATE(-d)}{ABLE} Anno doubtful
22 - Angry athlete will not note the effect of the plant (6) - ALTHEA(-e)* (Correction ALTHEA(-te+a) Don't know how A and EFFECT are related)

25 - More colourful vessel then transported in Uttar Pradesh (8,2) - {BRIG}{HTEN*} {UP}
27 - Barbie may be an example of this! (4) - DOLL [CD]

30 - Handles the party celebrations (6) - TREATS [DD]
31 - Earmark everything around for the bird lover in the East (8) - {ALL}{O}{CAT}{E}
32 - Accept the TV with the regular style of an Asian (6) - {SET}{T}{L}{E}
33 - Take-over in their position (7) - INHERIT*
DOWN
2 - Decisions that may be made with the blink of an eye (5) - SPLIT [CD]
3 - Boy is accepted by the French name (4) - {A}{LA}{N} NJ's french is improving
4 - See the cuts formed in the wood (6) - {LO}{CUST*}

6 - Animal sound at midnight is maybe lower lacking energy (5) - {G}{ROWL(-e)*}
7 - One may run around a star for this! (9) - AUTOGRAPH [CD]
8 - Unfinished story has a song about the winged sandals (7) - {TAL(-e)}{ARIA} Had to google search this
9 - Heartlessly set out to resubmit another element (6) - ERBIUM(-st)*
12 - Fix the marriage partner (5) - GROOM [DD]
15 - Artist is ready in the borders of erstwhile Yugoslavia (4) - {GO}{Y}{A}
17 - Somehow terminated out a harmful thing (9) - DETRIMENT(-a)*
19 - Look at the beast when left in the right place (4) - OG(-r+l)LE
20 - Light-footed task force (5) - FLEET [DD]
21 - Allowances for an engineer and a graduate is put up (7) - {RE}{BA}{TES<-} )
23 - Combined everything with one editor (6) - {ALL}{I}{ED}
24 - Completely involved in the foul play covering the line in Norway (4,2) - {FU{L}L O*}{N}
26 - Guesthouse is up-to-date by the sound of the French girl (5) - {HOT}{EL}(~elle)
28 - A large mammal of the giraffe family (5) - OKAPI [E]

29 - Roof is the same on both sides of the mosque (4) - {DO}{M}{E}

GRID

No 9749, Tuesday 26 Jan 10, Nita Jaggi

REPUBLIC DAY greetings to all. I will be publishing an interview with Shuchismita Upadhyay (Shuchi) the brain behind CROSSWORD UNCLUED later today, thought I would do it tomorrow as it may be a holiday for papers, which is not so.
13A has me stumped
ACROSS
 1  - Extremists regularly fear the new acts developed ingeniously in the beginning (8) - {F}{A}{N}{AT{I}CS}
 5  - Encourage the sailor to eat out in the afternoon (4) - {AB}{E(-a)T}
 9  - Small articles on sovereignty initially in the eastern vicinity of the capital city (8) - {S}{A}{RAJ}{E}{V}{O}
10 - Duration of a programme (6) - COURSE [DD]
12 - University that may offer independent education through correspondence (4) - OPEN [CD]
13 - Sound of which vehicle? (10) - ?R?T?S?I?M (Addendum - BROOMSTICK - See comments)
15 - Train Peter in to change the way the past is perceived (14) - INTERPRETATION*
17 - Take care to cut short an answer of one with limitless calibre (14) - (RESPONS(-e)}{I}{(-a)BILITY}
21 - Supplementary notice of the detailed validation does not have a sign (10) - {AD}DITIONAL(-a-v)*
22 - Sudama’s humble offering to the Lord! (4) - POHA [E] Poha is beaten rice in India
25 - Write-up again to see (6) - REVIEW [DD]
26 - Initially have a look right in the borders of Chile for the gas (8) - C{H}{LO}{R}{IN}E
27 - Said to look at the location (4) - SITE(~sight)
28 - Muslim leader is right in front of a gangster going back to the capital city (8) - {AGA}{RT}{LA<-} )
DOWN
 1  - Politician is out of the commotion in the merger (6) - (-con)FUSION
 2  - Look after the money when small change gets replaced by a note (5) - (-p+n)NURSE
 3  - The Spanish name for the Tagus river (4) - TAJO [E]
 4  - Hide the man finally in the car in Uttar Pradesh (5,2) - COVE{R} {UP} ?
 6  - They may be put up at fairs organised for publishers (10) - BOOKSTALLS [CD]
 7  - Special kind of person will start talking to the minister anyhow (9) - {T}ERMINIST*
 8  - Joint in the side of the wood (5) - ABEAM [DD] (Correction - STEAK - See comments)
11 - Animal spot (4) - STYE Is the only word that fits here Anno unknown (Correction MOLE [DD] - See comments)
14 - Behaviour is right for the workers in the warehouse (10) - DEPO{RT}{MEN}T
16 - Proceeded gingerly with ease after four plunges (9) - {NOSED}{IV}{ES}
18 - Black dust left out of the machines taken up (4) - S(-l)OOT <- )
19 - Friendly gesture in a dominant position (4,3) - BEAR HUG [DD]
20 - Hidden device from the public eye for security reasons (6) - CAMERA [CD]
21 - Kitchen garment is out in Paris stitched with the number upside down (5) - {APR(-is)*}{ON<-} )
23 - Language is the first option for the girl (5) - {O}{RIYA}
24 - Two pairs are on time (4) - FOUR [DD]

GRID

No 9748, Monday 25 Jan 10, Nita Jaggi

Finally NJ has now gone over my head, not making any comments today, except one as I am fed up.

ACROSS
 8  - Representatives surround the news agency regularly in trance reviewing the messages (14) - COMM{UNI}{C}{A}{T}{I}ONS  

9  - Scram for the Michael Jackson song (4,2) - BEAT IT [DD]

10 - Tea maker finally has to regularly cook with mostly all the fuel (8) - {CHA}{R}{C}{O}{AL(-l)}
11 - Device in a shrine briefly is in there (8) - {A}{TOM(-b)}{IS}{ER}
13 - It is blown out before you eat the cake! (6) - CANDLE [E]
14 - Refined background is not for us (6) - DECENT Anno pending
16 - Take position on a ship initially used by the soldiers endlessly (6) - {A}{SS}{U}{ME(-n)}
19 - Gone back over at midnight to take the last peg of drink (6) - E{G}{G}NOG<- )
21 - Appraisal conducted by a police team out in the morning on the street (4,4) - {A}{CID} {TE(-am)}{ST}
23 - Rare ape is ready to over exercise to come into sight again (8) - REAP{P}EAR*
24 - Oddly, German mummy wins an award (6) - {G}{R}{A}{M}{M}{Y}
26 - Break-up of trading ties is accepted to be a part of the instructions given (14) - DISINTEGRAT*{ION}
DOWN
 1  - Agreed upon a carbon copy of the first early prints taken by an editor (8) - {A}{CC}{E}{P}{T}{ED}
 2  - Discharge half of them in one final judgment (4) - {EM}{I}{T}
 3  - They may be the exact words of another person! (4) - QUOTES [CD]
 4  - Pick out a record from the internet (7) - {DISC}{ERN}
 5  - Equalizes the scales (8) - BALANCES [DD]
 6  - Bad behaviour of the girl is cut short by the politician from the French court on both sides (10) - {MIS(-s)}{CON}{DU}{C}{T}
 7  - Measure the Thai outhouse left on the landed estate (6) - {EN}{T(-h)AI}{L}
12 - Man has no spices sprinkled over around the herb (10) - {M}{ECON{O}PSIS*} This is a flower or a plant how is it a herb?

15 - Forgets about the gentle swallows initially caught (8) - NEGLE{C}TS*
17 - Right-of-way in the written agreements without an agent in hand (8) - EASEMENT Anno pending
18 - Firing on the river dam (7) - BARRAGE [DD]
20 - Language in charge is following a girl in England (6) - {GA{E}L}{IC}
22 - Working well, I leave Nigeria in chaos (2,4) - IN GEAR(-i)*
25 - Keen to miss out an examination (4) - AVID Anno pending

GRID

No 2569, Sunday 24 Jan 10

The ususl gaffe in numbering, todays should have been 2568!! Quite a straightforward one today for a Sunday CW.
ACROSS
1 - Lighten a wicked vile tale (9) – {A}LLEVIATE*
6 - Put a price on a rib (5) – {COST}{A}
9 - To walk or run away is acceptable (3,2) – {LEG} {IT}
10 - Braggart in flash trap (9) – {LOUD}{MOUTH}
11 - Friend goes with many a sailor (7) – {MATE}{LOT}
12 - A command to break old man's kneecap (7) – P{A}{TELL}A
13,15 - Undertake a task till . . .? (3,4,4,2,3,6) – PUT ONES HAND TO THE PLOUGH
19 - Went by, pleased for a change (7) – ELAPSED*
21 - Errand boy collecting wicked loot (7) – P{ILL}AGE
22 - Gad about with suitor round centre of St Ives? (9) – GALL{IV}ANT
23 - Toddler, alone, hasn't one that's full (5) – {TOT}{AL(-one)}
24 - Girl from Brentford or Isleworth (5) – DORIS [T]
25 - Look at key in surprise (3-6) – {EYE} {OPENER}
DOWN
1 - Ardent Liberal fuelling a reputation (6) – {A}{F{L}AME}
2 - Start smoking in open view at college (5,2) – {LIGHT} {UP}
3 - Quantitative data Miss World will have supplied? (5,10) – VITAL STATISTICS [CD]
4 - Suddenly everyone's in agreement, including Conservative's leader (3,2,4) – ALL AT ON{C}E
5 - Provide witty remark after end of joke (5) – {E}{QUIP}
6 - A period required after to reach end (4,2,1,4,4) – {COME TO} {A} {FULL STOP}
7 - Filthy group of soldiers briefly given cover (7) – {SQUA(-d)}{LID}
8 - Religious retreat in wood run by a spymaster (6) – {ASH}{R}{A}{M}
14 - Sailor about to collect special gunpowder ingredient (9) – {SALT}{PET}{RE}
15 - Creeping plant in home on wheels (7) – TRAILER [DD]
16 - A number, following try, cheer (7) – {HEAR}{TEN}
17 - Bishop, encouraged, asked for money (6) – {B}{EGGED}
18 - One who instructs cashier (6) – TELLER [DD]
20 - Elizabethan sailor died a dissolute man (5) – {D}{RAKE}



GRID

No 9747, Saturday 23 Jan 10, Nita Jaggi

Sorry for the delayed post as the site was down and I could log in only at 8:35 AM. Not adding many links and pictures to save time. 25A has me stumped.
ACROSS
7 - Pull the cart into position (8) – TRACTION*
9 - Loose jacket for an athlete (6) – JUMPER [DD]
11 - Blackmail the former supporter endlessly into confusion (9) – {EX}{TOR(-y)}{TION*}
12 - Place made famous by Gandhi’s Salt March (5) – DANDI [E]
13 - Alien is not a client I see at the health centre (6) – {CLI(-et-n)}{IC} ? (Correction - {CLIN(-et)*}{IC} - Thanks to Richard)
14 - Upright in posture (8) – VERTICAL [E]
17 - Reputation of an individual (9) – CHARACTER [E]
22 - Old leader in the morning goes to sleep in the dark anyhow removing the duvet on top (8) – {AM}{BED}{KAR(-d)*}
23 - It is the stroke at midnight! (6) – TWELVE [CD]
25 - Black tea grown in China (5) – C?N?O (Addendum - CONGO - See discussion in comments)
27 - Apt vendor fixes the writing desk (9) – DAVENPORT*
28 - Printing style allowed by Lawrence in the capital of Russia (6) – {LET}{TE}{R}
29 - Accountant is in to vote following an advertisement by a lawyer (8) – {AD}{VO{CA}TE}DOWN
1 - Exercise over a period of time (7) – STRETCH [DD]
2 - Up in command to hold a training academy at first in Norway (7) – {CAP}{TA}{I}{N}
3 - Hard layers at last of oil are dissolved in Germany (5) – {S}{OLI*}{D}
4 - An embankment (4) – BUND [E]
5 - Hungry chaps consumed the hot vegetable (7) - SP{IN}ACH*
6 - Supporter is sick to finally use this form of writing (7) – {BRA}{ILL}{E}
8 - Formed a bad opinion of a sailor up in the building (9) – {TAR}{NI<-}{SHED}
10 - Cause to disbelieve one cheat in trouble (7) – {UN}{TEACH*}
15 - Weak to do the new kind of martial art (9) – TAEKWO{N}DO*
16 - Disney city (7) – ORLANDO [E]
18 - Structure of the foundation stone contains copper and a bit of lead (7) – BAS{CU}{L}E
19 - Hard rubber at the tip of an elastic piece is over on the string (7) – {E}BONITE Anno pending
20 - Losing competitor in the borders of Russia is in loans perhaps (4,3) – ALSO {RA}N*
21 - Pays for the seats (7) – SETTLES [DD]
24 - Escape with the girl with determination in daytime (5) – {EVA}DE Anno for DE not clear
26 - Reported not to have been paid by us for the poems (4) – OWED(~ode)

No 9746, Friday, 22 Jan 10, Nita Jaggi

Stumped by 4A being a CD and my bugbear!!

ACROSS
1 - Timid man in Spain somehow is not one to be finally angry (5) - {PANS(-i)*}{Y}
4 - God’s instrument! (7) - CAUSERS ? Just a wild guess (Addendum - BANSURI - Thanks to Suresh, see comments and also the link provided with the answer)
10 - Six vehicles for the priests (6) - {VI}{CARS}
11 - Wakefulness at home for mostly all not in Somalia around noon (8) - {IN}{SOM(-al){N}IA*}
13 - Regularity in the Roman settlement is at the corner of an empty city (8) - {NORMA*}{A}{L}{C(-it)Y}
14 - Influence a very strong leaderless clan (6) - {A}{FF}{(-s)ECT}
16 - Harmful to be back (4) - EVIL <- )
17 - Lift the silent attendant (10) - {DUMB}{WAITER}
20 - Draped the mini cloth over the hole in the stone block (10) - MON{O}LITHIC*
21 - Not enough of the French articles (4) - {LE}{AN}
24 - Paper required for the first edition (6) - {T}{ISSUE}
26 - Hands over the money in a diverse way (8) - DE{L}IVERS*
28 - It may be one’s monthly expenses! (8) - OUTGOING [E]
29 - Teachers at last are relaxed admitting two hundred in an institution (6) - {S}{C{H}OOL}
30 - A senior keen to mend the shoe (7) - SNEAKER*

31 - Announce the succession of a planet (5) - CERES (~series)
DOWN
2 - Current officer is a royal Indian not playing the instrument (9) - {AC}{CO}{R}DION Anno pending

3 - Commander hidden in Amritsar dargah (6) - SARDAR [T]
5 - Regular value — not of a relative (4) - {A}{U}{N}{T}
6 - Fine trickster (8) - SCOFFLAW [E] New word for me, had to google search it as it was a CD
7 - Wash the bit of rice in the south-east (5) - {R(-ice)}{IN}{SE}
8 - Show even one caught carelessly (6) - EV{I}N{C}E*
9 - One can make him take down an order (6) - WAITER [CD]
12 - Motivate a curator initially for all to see in the gallery (7) - {A}{C}{T{U}ATE}
15 - Helps firstly leaving in guards extremely safe pursuing an old boy (7) - {OB}{L}{I}{G}{ES} How did SE get reversed?
18 - Accordingly free others confused without us (9) - THEREFORE(-s)*
19 - Dimming away the world of camouflaged characters missing to be fed (8) - GLAUCOMA(-fed)*
20 - Woman in charge of mother in a market place (6) - {MA}TRON Anno pending
22 - Cuddle up even under an empty seat for the French (6) - {NE}{{S(-ea)T}{LE}
23 - Group of people are in shape (6) - CIRCLE [DD]
25 - Goat’s head sign may belong to the sinister one (5) - SATAN [CD]
27 - Worker is eager at first to bet (4) - {ANT}{E}

GRID

No 9745, Thursday 21 Jan 10, Nita Jaggi

In a hurry have to take my wife to hospital so leaving 9A and some annos.

ACROSS
1 - Charm listener after finish (6) - {END}{EAR}
5 - Plays around Madras (6) - DRAMAS*
8 - Birds in Florida and China are very large (9) - {FLA}{MING}{OS}

9 - Taste is a bit unusual for the woman without the vitamin at lunchtime (5) - {U}??M? (Addendum - {U}{MA(-a}M}{I} - New word for me. See comments)
10 - These maybe the gatherings to mark an event! (7) - SOCIALS [CD]
12 - Empty out the griddle in the city (6) - {O(-u)T){TAWA} TAWA or TAVA is a griddle in India
14 - Poet is against even to be under protection (5) - AE{G}{I}{S} Anno pending (Addendum -{AE}{G}{I}{S} )
16 - Band is in silence when inside (4) - S{AS}H How did IS become AS (Correction AS is from WHEN)
19 - Want the boy to eat the vitamin (4) - NE{E}D
20 - Method of cutting the hard ring out of the overhanging pieces (9) - ENGRAVING(-h-o)*
21 - Animal driving the market upwards (4) - BULL [E]
22 - Anyhow save the birds (4) - AVES*
25 - I initially run after the man turning back at a low point (5) - {NAD<-}{I}{R}

27 - Mostly the boy is in a grand large gathering (6) - {TH(-e)}{RON}{G}

29 - Many distraught by a rebellious animal in the country (7) - {MYAN*}{MAR-} )
32 - Mistake the burial chamber to have a note in place of a sign (5) - (-v+f)FAULT
33 - Improving the limitless kind of rejoicing after a regular change in the wrong direction (9) - ENHANCING Anno pending (Addendum - {E}{N}{H}<-{(-d)ANCING} )
34 - Strong guide sold herb to be distributed (3-10) - BIG-SHOULDERED*
DOWN
2 - Subtleties unidentified before hundreds guarding the front entrance (7) - NUANCES Anno pending
3 - Noise in each city (5) - E{DIN}A
4 - Rough-textured grouse is disturbed (6) - RUGOSE*
5 - Particles from the French street (4) - {DU}{ST} Today THE in Frenchis DU for NJ
6 - Age category in a disco initially for you has been left out at last (5) - {A}{D}{U}{L}{T}
7 - Were homes designed at an unknown location? (9) - SOMEWHERE*
8 - They may get clenched in anger (5) - FISTS [E]
11 - Wooden frame on an insulating material (7) - LAGGING [DD]
12 - Guard nothing on the way mostly in the fringes of a rally (7) - {O}{ST}{I(-n)}{A}{RY}
13 - Weight of the strings of a horse-drawn carriage (5) - {TON}{G}{A}

15 - Ambitious girl regularly has a name in an advertisement (5) - {G}{R}{A{N}D}
17 - Prison largely in Bahrain removes the new hidden device (3,6) - A{BUG} GHRAIB(-n)* (Correction - A{BU G}HRAIB(-n)*)
18 - Greeting that is heard on the other end of the line! (5) - HELLO [CD]
23 - Left out the primeval kind of dangerous creature (7) - VAMPIRE(-l)*

24 - Skinny type of neck (5) - SCRAG [DD]
26 - I am somehow happy not to heartlessly pay for the pupil in the city (6) - {IM}{PHA(-p-y)*}{L}
28 - Politicians trap us (5) - {NET}{AS} How did US become AS?? NETA is a politician in India
30 - Initially a new number is enlisted for the girl (5) - {A}{N}{N}{I}{E}
31 - Public protest for the trial software (4) - DEMO [DD]

GRID

No 9744, Wednesday 20 Jan 10, Nita Jaggi

Stumped again with 7D, 9 & 16A and other guesses
ACROSS
1 - Somewhat ill, sailor accommodates the mischievous four tots (3,2,5) - O{UT OF SORT*}S
9 - Escape in a boat, after the gas effect of a fire (6) -( Addendum - ABLAZE ?)
10 - One in the family who may not be well-liked! (5,5) - BLACK SHEEP [CD]
11 - Immigrants arriving in the Foreign Office covering the left wing in front (6) - {IN}{FLOW}
12 - Throws out the reptiles when Henry comes in for tea (7) - (-t+h)HURTLES
16 - Half-dry out the photograph of a model (5) - (Addendum - POS(-t)ER - Thanks to Sembhayya)
17 - Policemen are firm on second thoughts (4) - {CO}{PS}
18 - Dog mostly every second need not to be loud (5) - {MUT(-t)}{E}{D}
19 - Simple and trusting new associate I have (5) - {N}{A}{IVE}
20 - To shiver in the woven rug with a bit of embroidery (4) - {URG*}{E} (Correction - {GRU*}{E} - Thanks to Svemuri)
21 - Damaged old car without date is found in the sea (5) - CORAL(-d)*

22 - Boil the nut out of the cooked substances (7) - ABSCESS ? (Addendum - ABSCESS(-nut)* - Thanks to Sandhya) Nice clue after all
27 - Recollection of storage areas in the computer (6) - MEMORY [DD]
29 - King will have an alternative therapy as a way of solving the problem (4,2,4) - KIND OF CURE Anno pending or KILL OR CURE in view of 26D
30 - Anonymous (2,4) - NO NAME [CD]
31 - Spotted those rays covering the primarily orthodox visionary (10) - SO{O}THSAYER*
DOWN
2 - You and the heartless gal are young but not beautiful (4) - {U}{G(-a)L}{Y}
3 - Unknown black arts (6) - OCCULT [CD]
4 - She fails to hand in an identical plant (6) - {S(-h)E}{SAME}
5 - Holders of a dance show initially (5) - REEL{S}
6 - Desserts at last in Andhra Pradesh have the same strong taste (5) - {S}{AP}{ID}
7 - Accidentally blast one tile with an explosive (10) - (Addendum - BALL{I}STITE* )
8 - Draws ember out of the braziers (3,7) - BED WARMERS*
12 - It may be a reunion for ex-students! (10) - HOMECOMING [CD] Terrible definition
13 - Soldiers are almost sick with the workers at the time of departure (10) - {RE}{TIRE(-d)}{MEN}{T}
14 - Leaders of sports competitions are in dismay (5) - {S}{C}{ARE}
15 - Pauses in breathing regularly in the Alps is not good (5) - {A}{P}NEA Anno for NEA pending
23 - Smart choirboy drops one bit of the yellow accessory (6) - BROOCH(-i-y)*
24 - New coach designs the structure (6) - CO{N}CHA* ?
25 - Walls in Denmark cover the yard with ease (5) - {D{Y}K}{ES}
26 - Overheard to dispose off the hollow instrument (5) - BANJO Anno pending (Correction - (~sell){CELL}{O} - Thanks to Richard)

28 - Woody plant found in the street (4) - TREE [T]


GRID

No 9743, Tuesday 19 Jan 10, Nita Jaggi

No idea about 17A

ACROSS
4 - An angel protects an adult during a crisis (8) - GUARDI{A}N*
8 - Sit lazily in the living room (6) - LOUNGE [DD]
9 - Care to eat the part of a meal on a running track (10) - {RACE*}{COURSE}
10 - She is trim to be fit without an initial increase in weight (4) - {(-s)HE}{F(-i)T)
11 - Note the time on the message (4) - {ME}{MO}
13 - Recruit an English army leader in the borders of Greece (6) - {ENG}{A}{GE}
15 - Cut short the hard head gear (7) - {HAR(-d)}{NESS}
17 - Empty out the half dry articles in the river (4) - ?T?A
18 - Armoured vehicle in the pond (4) - TANK [DD]
19 - Did apes spoil the rice fields? (7) - PADDIES*
21 - Show off an apartment around United Nations (6) - FLA{UN}T
22 - Free the Democratic leader held by an international organisation (4) - UN{D}O
25 - Tick the new item (4) - MITE*

26 - Go against the princess in an agreement (10) - CONTRA{DI}CT
27 - Chaperone has a tussle at last with the foreigner over a bit of racism (6) - {E}{SCO{R}T}
28 - Expansion of one screen is largely around the centre of the theatre (8) - {I}NCRE{A}SE*
DOWN
1 - Testing stage is in an alphabetical order (5) - ALPHA [T]
2 - Noisy fight in an event gets the unionist in place of an associate (6) - R(-a+u}UFFLE
3 - Fixed time of prayer is decided in Crete (5) - TERCE*
4 - Good introduction of the new Coke mascot in an ad campaign (5) - {G}ECKO*
5 - They aim to capture her in the bright lights (7) - ARC{HER}S
6 - Debtor you heartlessly gag sits pleading for the health professionals (9) - {DR}{U}{G(-a)G}{ISTS*}
7 - Giving a task specifically is up to the soldier covering the Northern borders of Nuremberg (9) - {AS}{SI<-}{G{N}I}{NG}

12 - Enthusiasm of a worker in lowa (5) - {MAN}{IA}

14 - Baby may not see the light of the day (9) - STILLBORN [E]

15 - Soldier will target hub in danger (9) - HAGBUTTER*
16 - Horse is left out at last in a new country (5) - SUD{A}{N} Anno pending
19 - Seat of Punjabi University (7) - PATIALA [E]
20 - Developing agent maid manufactured gets oily every second (6) - AMID*{O}{L}
22 - Join fifteen regularly following the peacekeepers (5) - {UN}{I}{T}{E}
23 - Showers affection on the same Asian bridge players (5) - {DO}T{ES} Where is T from ?
24 - Cash? Maybe kept for small expenses (5) - PETTY [CD]

GRID

No 9742, Monday 18 Jan 10, Nita Jaggi

As usual NJ has foxed me today with 15D besides some others which I have made wild guesses at.
ACROSS
1 - Drink brand has been announced (4) - MARC (~mark)
9 - Speedster may encounter this on a road trip (4-2,9) - HEAD-ON COLLISION [CD]
10 - Dinner is inside for some Alaskans (4) - MEAL [T]
11 - Sprays of flowers (5) - ROSES [CD]
12 - Weight of the holding device (4) - LASH ? (Correction - LAST [DD] - Thanks to Bhavan, see his comment)
13 - Nine are in trouble over a nonsensical conversation (5) - IN{A}NE*
14 - Form of riot control in Texas dismissing ten around an Arab at midnight (7) - {TE(-x){AR} {G}AS}
16 - Mostly colour the disciple’s turned jacket (7) - {PEAC(-h)}OAT Anno pending)
18 - Turn the vessel on the submarine (1-4) - {U}-{BOAT}
22 - Large pipe on the road (4) - MAIN [E]
23 - Jokingly showing in the main functions (2,3) - IN FUN [T]
24 - Hits the real pest every second (4) - {R}{A}{P}{S}
25 - Measure undertaken for the success of a gigantic plant outreached to take-off (6,9) - GOLDEN PARACHUTE(-t)*
26 - Trees have a foul smell outside (4) - ELMS* Where did one L go?

DOWN
2 - Campaign for a new Democratic leader is being broadcast around Los Angeles (7) - {A}{N}{D}{O{LA}N} This is the Hindi word for Campaign
3 - Arguments that leave out the rock group from the reformations, cannot be changed (14) - CONFRONTATIONS(-rem-a)* Where did the A go?
4 - To stagger around the British revolutionary (5) - RE{B}EL
5 - Warm sentiment (5) - TOAST [CD] Nice clue
6 - It may help to cast-off the broken bones! (7,7) - PLASTER BANDAGE [CD] Don't ask me how
7 - Class of stone a character has in Libya (6) - {A}{SH{L}A}R R is the character?
8 - Company has a booth left out towards the sea (7) - {CO}{A}{STAL(-l)}
15 - Roof of the orange coloured room (7) - ?E?A?O?
17 - Can a notice be put up in the country? (6) - {CAN}{A}{DA<-} )
19 - A messenger is before the supporter of an actor (7) - {A}{BRA}{HAM}
20 - Old king has left the waste matter (5) - {OFFA}{L}
21 - Large quantity of tapes are out (5) - SPATE*


GRID