No 9860, Friday 04 Jun 10, Sankalak

ACROSS
1   - Very sad note spelling out misfortune (9) - {ADVERS{IT*}Y*}
5   - Silent, like one in diplomacy (5) - {TAC{I}T}
8   - Notorious artist retreats before angry tirade (6) - {AR<-}{RANT}
9   - Wind instrument for a tenor, clear in improvisation (8) - {CLARINE*}{T}

11 - Terrible Russian! (4) - IVAN [E]

12 - Beautiful set in theatre to which Mrs. Peron returned (10) - {DECOR}{ATIVE<-} How many remember the song 'Don't cry for me Argentina', makes my hair stand up even today when I hear it, enjoy Madonna's rendition below (Correction that's not Madonna but Andre Rieu's to be d-i-l)

14 - Doctors accept bone as something worthless (5) - {DR{OS}S}
15 - These cows are fresh, roaming around East Indies (7) - {H{EI}FERS*}

16 - The tongue of one in Kenya (7) - SWAHILI [E]
17 - Take off artist (5) - MIMIC [CD]
19 - An officer and ruler belonging to the same family, having a connection (10) - {CO}{R}{RELATED}
20 - Famous school caught in a budget onslaught (4) - ETON [T]
22 - Having the same osmotic pressure as another one, extremely invigorating (8) - ISOTONIC [DD]
23,24 - Preserving elegance is a virtue compensating for another not so good (6,5) - {SAVING} {GRACE}
25 - Cigarettes are not for him, or her (3-6) - NON-SMOKER [CD]
DOWN
1   - Growth that gives current account excellent return (6) - {AC}{AC}{IA<-}

2   - Overhear bad liar stumbling as a result of using too many words (6,9) - VERBAL DIARRHOEA*
3   - Position managed by king (4) - RANK [DD](Correction - {RAN}{K} - Thanks to Kishore}
4   - My whole realm abandoned for some coloured bunting (12) - YELLOWHAMMER*

5   - Term a friar coined for solid ground (5,5) - TERRA FIRMA*
6   - Trust placed on some magic for a swindle (10,5) - {CONFIDENCE} {TRICK}

7   - Sailors guard railway official in rags (7) - {TA{TTE}RS}
10 - Following a bit of panic, respiration is affected by sweat (12) - {P}{ERSPIRATION*}
13 - The sort of dwelling unlikely to have a permanent address (6,4) - MOBILE HOME [CD]
16 - It is a part of downsizing (7) - SACKING [CD]
18 - Creature that gets silver in built-up American city (6) - {ON{AG}ER<-}

21 - Master, untrained, is upset but affectionate (4) - {WAR}{M}<-

GRID

No 9859, Thursday 03 Jun 10, Sankalak

ACROSS
1   - A combat unit left on trip, sleepwalking! (14) - NOCTAMBU{L}ATION*

8   - Sorceress, following onset of tempest, has a spasm (6) - {T}{WITCH}
9   - Kind of fraction that is unseemly (8) - IMPROPER [DD]
11 - One who helps a fool is beginning to tempt worker (9) - {ASS}{IS}{T}{ANT}
12 - Small, tough fragment (5) - {S}{HARD}
13 - The farthest objective with the majority of people (7) - {END}{MOST}
15 - Announce the closure of an innings (7) - DECLARE [DD]
17 - Such justice is said to be denied (7) - DELAYED [CD]
19 - American power held by a faction is unreliable (7) - {S{US}{P}ECT}
21 - Big cat, good in a row (5) - {TI{G}ER}

23 - He may wield a semaphore (9) - SIGNALLER [CD]

25 - Prisoners, conforming to expectation, could make an inference (8) - {CONS}{TRUE}
26 - Girl is getting back colour (6) - {SI}{ENNA}<-
27 - Withdrawal of a currency may send a monied set into chaos (14) - DEMONETISATION*
DOWN
1   - Where you may browse but not necessarily with a cup of coffee (3,4) - NET  CAFE [CD]
2   - They go with fish on the table (5) - CHIPS [CD]
3   - Partner in crime, could be (9) - ACCESSORY [CD]
4   - The sort of company to have if one wishes to restrict liability (7) - LIMITED [CD]
5   - Ring-shaped object found in a reactor usually (5) - TORUS [T]

6   - Refuge for destitute children (9) - ORPHANAGE [E]
7   - Restrain one getting married around the end of April (6) - {BRID{L}E}
10 - Artist with training is entranced (4) - {RA}{PT}
14 - Careful effort needed for repairing ceiling in empty doghouse (9) - {D{ILIGENC*}E}
16 - Tree which may, in a rain, cause endless suffering (9) - {CASUe*}{ARINA*}

17 - Do a Holmes act (6) - DETECT &lit
18 - Disagreement as may be caused by river waters, say (7) - DISPUTE Anno pending (Addendum - See Kishore's comment below for annotation)
19 - Starch which causes oxygen vapour to rise (4) - {SAG}{O}<- I hate Sago especially when in 'payasams' they remind me of frogs eggs!!

20 - Ground for some hesitation in rail transport (7) - {T{ER}RAIN}
22 - Quantitative relation seen in an address with no beginning or end (5) - oRATIOn
24 - Breather one gets from this garment (5) - {LUNG}{I}

GRID