Tanya Gold's take on the royal family's ability to project an impression of thrift while spending vast sums of public money is, in my humble republican opinion, the most entertaining published response to the appeal court's ruling that Prince Charles's correspondence with Tony Blair's cabinet should be published. The Guardian's leader on the topic of the so-called 'black spider' memos is also a stimulating read. I suspect the attorney general has a real fight on his hands. His argument appears to be that we must not know what Prince Charles's most passionate political opinions are because he is not supposed to have political opinions, and that his correspondence must therefore be suppressed because it might compromise the public's impression of his political neutrality. Convoluted or simply deluded? You choose.
Where journalists have greatness thrust upon them
BBC News
VIDEO: Film features plight of African park
35 min 13 sec agoThe lethal realities of life in Virunga National Park are the subject of a British documentary which has just had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York.
Crime falls 15% in England and Wales
35 min 26 sec agoOverall crime in England and Wales falls by 15% in 2013, an official survey shows - but there are signs, according to police figures, of rises in certain categories.
Ukraine troops storm eastern town
39 min 14 sec agoUkrainian commandos advance on the separatist stronghold of Sloviansk in eastern Ukraine days after a new "anti-terrorist" operation is announced.
Rio police 'to probe' dancer's death
48 min 32 sec agoPolice in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro say they will conduct a thorough investigation into the death of a dancer which sparked riots.
S Sudan president sacks army chief
50 min 20 sec agoSouth Sudan's president sacks the head of the national army amid reports of military setbacks - including rebels seizing the oil hub of Bentiu.
Match-fixer arrested in Finland
51 min 20 sec agoConvicted football match-fixer Wilson Raj Perumal is being held by Finnish police on an international arrest warrant, officials say.
Facebook earnings surge on mobile ads
53 min 29 sec agoSocial networking giant Facebook reports better than expected profits, as a surge in mobile advertising helps boost its revenues.
Further IT problems for Ulster Bank
53 min 39 sec agoUlster Bank, a subsidiary of RBS, reports problems with its computer systems, as some customers are debited twice for cash machine withdrawals.
DJ Travis denies indecent assault
1 hour 4 min agoFormer Radio 1 DJ Dave Lee Travis pleads not guilty to a single charge of indecent assault against a woman in January 1995.
Dog bites highest in deprived areas
1 hour 9 min agoHospital admissions for dog bites are three times as high in the most deprived areas of England as in the least, official figures show.
UK team to shoot for fusion record
1 hour 18 min agoThe director of a UK science facility says it could set a new world record in nuclear fusion by the end of the decade.
Cornish granted UK minority status
1 hour 19 min agoCornish people will be granted minority status under European rules for the protection of national minorities.
Mercedes may rethink team order plan
1 hour 34 min agoMercedes say they may be forced to rethink their policy of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg racing without team orders.
AUDIO: Recognition that 'Cornwall is not England'
1 hour 36 min agoCornish people will be granted minority status under European rules for the protection of national minorities.
Shakespeare's birds cause US trouble
1 hour 45 min agoHow European Starlings invaded America
Brother's death 'devastates' duchess
1 hour 47 min agoThe Duchess of Cornwall has been left "devastated" by the news of her brother's death, Clarence House says.
Buddha tattoo woman to be flown home
1 hour 51 min agoA British tourist arrested in Sri Lanka because she had a Buddha tattoo on her arm says she has not been "shown compassion" as she faces deportation.
Nigeria rapist to be stoned to death
1 hour 51 min agoAn Islamic court in northern Nigeria sentences a man of 63 to death by stoning for raping a girl of 10 and infecting her with HIV.
VIDEO: Fee increase for small claims court
1 hour 58 min agoFees to make a claim using small claims court courts have been increased from April 22nd, with some almost double what they were previously
US medics killed in Kabul attack
2 hours 59 sec agoThree American medical staff are shot dead by a security guard at a hospital in the Afghan capital, Kabul, officials say.
