Holiday Collection No. 70, Giant Cryptic

Hi Jeans,
Don't know about 34a but I suggest the following for the remainder (in BOLD):

7a Bit of news clip on favourite (7_) ??i?h?? SNIPPET (check that "h"!)
14a Test hearing (5) t?a?? TRIAL (should that "a" be in the fourth letter position, I wonder?)
21a Run off, unsure of girl's name (3) ??e removing "run" from "unsure" leaves SUE
22a Wretched section of salsa dance (3) s?? SAD
34a Follows miserable kind of life (4) d??s
18d Sounds like a fool finishes scales (7) a??e??s ASCENDS
42d After decree failed, five hundred went back (7) r??e?ed RECEDED (anagram of "decree" and "d" which is the Roman numeral for 500)

Hope that helps. Good luck!

Thanks Imur had the wrong answer to 9d that's what threw me off.

Hi Jeans.

My completed copy is exactly as Lmurs submissions.

For 34a I have DOGS

Good luck.

thanks Dutchy for your help again much appreciated