Across
Praise Obama's final assertion in speech (7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
{Obam}A [’s final], then aural wordplay [in speech]: CCLAIM / “claim” (assertion)
Recreation area in grounds at last, with space for people playing (7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
{ground}S [at last], AND (with), PIT (space for people playing – orchestra pit)
A toff introducing island's religious leader (9)
Notes resistance from the Sun (5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
SO + LA (notes), R (resistance)
Way in which one might get promotion? (7,6)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
Cryptic. I waited for most of the checkers then put in something that fitted. I didn’t know until I looked it up that Madison Garden is a byword for the US advertising industry, hence ‘promotion’ in the clue.
Articles in Die Zeit carrying little weight for scientist (8)
Cardinal possibly involved in debacle? Richelieu (6)
Undernourished people in South American city (6)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
KIN (people) contained by [in] S (south) + NY (American city)
Father for one's enthralled by Trump (8)
Dubious goings-on in second instrumental run-through (5,8)
Unsophisticated, backward-looking spa town (5)
Daily could be great help (9)
Proposition English troops to infiltrate enemy (7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
E (English) + OR (troops) contained by [to infiltrate] THEM (enemy). Maybe ‘enemy’ is a bit strong, but if you’re not one of us you’re one of them and alien to our group. I lost time here on the parsing, thinking that ‘troops’ accounted for RE.
Tramples over partner's earlier issue (7)
Down
Open article on revolutionary period of British rule (4)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
A (indefinite article), RAJ (period of British rule) reversed [revolutionary]
Two blokes meeting pedlar of old (7)
Clearly the Speaker's given permission (5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
Oral wordplay [the Speaker’s]: “allowed” (given permission). I wondered about the definition but the dictionaries have ‘not in a whisper’, and I think ‘clearly’ covers that.
Hide from agent's ruler briefly (8)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
MOLE’S (agent’s), KIN{g} (ruler) [briefly]
Misdemeanour outside pub by one not easily understood (6)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
SIN (misdemeanour) contains [outside] PH (pub), X (by – times). The definition refers to the riddle of the Sphinx.
Remains in northern French city, capital of country (9)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
ASH (remains) contained by [in] N (northern) + VILLE (French city). The capital of Country Music, of course.
Turning up about noon, sneak something to drink (7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
RE (about) + N (noon) + SLIP (sneak) reversed [turning up]
Sixty other Crees resettled (10)
Dogged engineer enters pits (10)
Kitchen assistant's absurd pretension alienating staff at first (3,6)
Poirot's a hero! (8)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
HERCULE’S (Poirot’s)
One crossword setter nicking a drink — can you believe that! (7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
I (one), ME (crossword setter) containing [nicking] A + GIN (drink)
Hot saké ordered? You can bet on it (3,4)
Backing withdrawal of police for now (3,3)
Fire associate that's lost millions (5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
{m}INGLE (associate) [that’s lost millions]
Feature of good health? Not half! (4)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
CHIN{-chin} (good health – cheers!) [not half]
Type letters or click words in the clue