General knowledge crossword

ACROSS

1 Whose long peace was shattered in 1922 by Howard Carter? (11) 8 What is an estate agent called in the US? (7) 9 The Meseta is a great central plateau of which country? (5) 10 Who is Irish singer Eithne Ní Bhraonáin better known as? (4) 11 What edible stalks have poisonous leaves due to oxalic acid in them? (7) 12 What is a strongly alkaline solution, especially of potassium hydroxide called? (3) 13 What is the capital of Samoa? (4) 15 What hard durable timber is much used in shipbuilding? (4) 17 Thirteen popes were named what? (3) 19 What is a solemn procession, especially for a funeral? (7) 20 In horse-measuring, how many inches make a hand? (4) 23 Which nomadic people herd their cattle in Kenya and Tanzania? (5) 24 Despite popular belief, the writer of the song “I’ll Take You Home Again, Kathleen” pined for which country? (7) 25 What word from French describes manual dexterity when performing conjuring tricks? (11)

DOWN

1 Soup might be served from what large deep dish? (6) 2 Which cyclone destroyed two thirds of Darwin in 1974? (5) 3 Which defence alliance was formed in April 1949? (4) 4 Which African city was formerly called Salisbury? (6) 5 Which fast, light de Havilland bomber of WWII was made almost entirely of wood? (8) 6 Which famous falls are on the Canada-US border? (7) 7 Which is the only major European river flowing from west to east? (6) 12 What slender delicate insect with large clear membranous wings is a predator of aphids? (8) 14 The name of what light umbrella comes from Italian for “protecting against” and “sun”? (7) 16 What is another name for Norway lobsters? (6) 17 What is a book of financial accounts? (6) 18 What stick of coloured wax is used for drawing? (6) 21 Which novelist (John __) wrote Butterfield 8 and Pal Joey? (5) 22 What soft-ripened cow’s milk cheese takes its name from a region of northern France? (4)