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Another puzzle planted firmly at the easy end of the scale and with a distinctly 'foreign' feel.

There's some Latin, along with references to Siberia, Belgium, Italy, Turkey and a German philosopher thrown in for good measure.

In common with the last few weeks, I have a feeling that some might think there's one or two too many anagrams, but we'll see.

My COD was going to be a toss up between 17d, which I thought was very witty and !a, which is also funny, well constructed and mainly because it's a term I've only recently become aware of (when watching reviews of the dire final season of Game of Thrones) - but then I remembered 12a, which I think is fantastic and trumps them both.

As usual, please feel free to leave your thoughts and comments.

Yes, it was on the easy side for me for a good three quarters of the time, but the bottom left hand corner had me foxed for a time until I saw 17d. Two I could not get:
10a which I assume must be heavenly harp=players, though I cannot pose it, and 12a which you praise but I simply could not get.
And BTW, you must be a night-owl.

Hi Brendan
Yep -- very easy this week but still some lovely clues. My fave was 11A -- very neat.
DS: 10A is actually the German philosopher of which Brendan speaks. It involves a bit of letter exchange, with your harpists being another word for silent partners in business ventures. Cheers ... and come on Root!

Well I did not find it as easy as you to did but have finished it at last. However not quite sure of the phrasing if I have got the answer right to 12a. Draws symbol involving face of Malcom X(5,4) Times sign?

Yes Thomas. but shhh dont give the answer unless someone asks is the protocol..... I think
Quite easy struggled with parsing of a couple especially 17 across... Siberian City? No time for Siberian City (4)

Sorry just wanted to know if It was right. Not quite sure how to do that without giving the answer.

Yes, Thomas , you have the correct answer for 12a.
Yell if you want the parsing...….

Playbus, a 5 letter Siberian city with T(ime) removed, gives a 4 letter one.

@Dscutler, yes - definitely a night owl:-)

@Phil - Root went early but Bairstow and Stokes are still there, so..........