No 13822, Saturday 25 Mar 2023, Dr. X

ACROSS

1   Give fruit salad right away to refugee (8) FUGITIVE {GIVE+FrUIT}*

5   Billion accepted in banknotes for castle in N. African town (6) CASBAH {CAS{B}{A}H} Accepted/A? It's there in Chambers dictionary

10 Time to accumulate runs with bit of ease in match (5) AGREE {AG{R}E}{Ease}

11 Emission percentage cut by revolutionary contribution (9) RADIATION {RA{AID<=}TION}

12 Cackling back, gigantic creature grabs raptor's head (9) GIBBERING {BIG<=}{BE{Ra...r}ING}

13 What baby wears to sleep extremely peacefully? (5) NAPPY {NAP}{Pe...lY}

14 Shudder as criminal finally enters court (6) BLENCH {B{c...aL}ENCH}

15 Old boy starting to turn impolite and impose in an unwelcome way (7) OBTRUDE {OB}{Turn}{RUDE}

18 Fantastic bistro alongside lake in English city (7) BRISTOL {BISTRO*}{L}

20 Owing money, one criminal returns to smuggle heroin at Cambodia (2,4) IN HOCK {1}{CO{H}N<=}{K}

22 Right after sacrificing rook, captures queen resulting in mate (5) EQUAL {rE{QU}AL}

24 Composed a nice tune, say (9) ENUNCIATE*

25 I hear vicar went berserk, scoring ecstasy in noisy mock serenade (9) CHARIVARI {I+HeAR+VICAR}*

26 Yellowish-green colour, a little garish for large pointed arch (5) OGIVE O(-l+g)GIVE

27 Sledge, insult endlessly to crush England's opener (6) SLEIGH {SL{En...d}IGHt}

28 Revelations by meek gal as rogue wants money (8) LEAKAGES {mEEK+GAL+AS}*

DOWN

1   Fine footpath having good raised edge (6) FLANGE {F}{LAN{G}E}

2   Briefly return to pick up racy loose blouse (9) GARIBALDI {GA{RIBALD}In}

3   It's impossible to know with certainty as raconteur is absent? (6,2,7) THERES NO TELLING [C&DD]

4   Leave rupees inside coat (7) VARNISH {VA{R}NISH}

6   Acting with haste, hit and bolt as fast as possible (7,3,5) AGAINST THE CLOCK {ACTING+HASTE}*{LOCK} 

7   Airship starting to malfunction in unforeseen irregularity (5) BLIMP {BLI{Ma...n}P}

8   Sharpen tip of dagger to pierce tree for sugary secretion (8) HONEYDEW {HONE}{Y{Da...r}EW}

9   A cheat ensnaring American girl on island slowly (6) ADAGIO {A}{D{A}{G}{I}O}

16 Applying packs, treat acne that's persistent (9) UNCEASING {U{ACNE*}SING}

17 Releases repressed emotions in seedy cabarets (8) ABREACTS*

19 Lodge has small revolting room (6) LEEWAY {L{WEE<=}AY}

20 One maniac at store kills fellow - pointless (7) INUTILE {1}{NUT}{fILE}

21 Warns comrade tersely to hide (6) DETERS [T]

23 University teacher's rule (5) USAGE {U}{SAGE}

Reference List

Right = R, Billion = B, Accepted = A, Runs = R, Old boy = OB, Lake = L, Herion = H, Cambodia = K(Kampuchea), Rook = R, Queen = QU, Ecstasy = E, Large = L, Money = M, Fine = F, Good = G, RACY = RIBALD,  Rupees = R, Cheat = DO, American = A, Girl = G, Fellow = F, University = U