The Prince of Wales intends to continue making "heartfelt interventions" in matters of national importance when he becomes king, rather than adopting the Queen's blanket impartiality on public affairs, close friends have said.

Make a plan before you leave ship and reap the rewards of your research, Pam Neville says. She shares some shore excursions from a recent Mediterranean cruise.

PK Stowers travels to France's Loire Valley and discovers its historic chateaux.

Named after the country's longest river, the Loire Valley is referred to as the 'cradle of the French language' because of its rich history of human habitation going back thousands of years. It's also renowned for its magnificent chateaux, from mediaeval fortresses to renaissance palaces, all within a relatively short distance of each other.

'We're confident at some stage it'll wake up again.' The Philae lander has been quiet since sending back initial photos, but sunshine could revive it.

The Latvian capital has reopened the KGB's former headquarters to keep alive the memory of past atrocities, writes Mike Collier.

Beppe Grillo is the Mr Angry of Italian and, increasingly, of European politics.

A rare woman rider tells Susan Buckland about the famed Lipizzaners.

Security for Italy's most at-risk prosecutor has been increased because of claims that Cosa Nostra bosses have plans to assassinate him with a bazooka.

The graphic contents of an anonymous letter in which the Federal Bureau of Investigation called Martin Luther King a "filthy abnormal animal" have been made public.

Daniel Scott tramps along the Norfolk coast with the help of a flying Kiwi.

With a little planning and imagination, you can complete a Swiss tour without breaking the bank, writes Rosemarie North.

This month we receive onto our shores the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, undoubtedly the most dominant political figure in the EU.

Surround yourself with the sights and smells of a Spanish summer, writes Anna Leask.

The East German border guard who gave the order to open the Berlin Wall 25 years ago this weekend has spoken about his momentous decision.

Whether its an 18-year-old Scotch or a fancy cocktail, you'll be spoiled for choice in Edinburgh, says Paul Davies.

Anna-Louise Taylor finds 'something very Wellington' in Britain's south-west.

Drop into any pub in Ireland and you'll not stay a stranger very long, Bruce Morris discovers.

Pro-European parties look to have swept Ukraine's first parliamentary vote since the revolution that toppled Viktor Yanukovych's Government in February.

The recent detailed analysis of DNA collected from a shawl, allegedly of one of Jack the Ripper's first victims, appears to carry a fundamental maths error.

The Salvadore Dali Museum in Figueres and the Gala Dali Castle in Pubol are well worth a visit if you're holidaying in north-eastern Spain.

P.K. Stowers visits Dali's birthplace, home to an enormous range of his art.

Lace up your hiking boots and discover north-east Spain by foot. P.K. Stowers pays homage to Catalonia.

Ewan McDonald puts on his greatcoat and goes walking in the footsteps of a Belfast cowboy.

Hiking the Catalonia Classic trail, taking in the Spanish villages of Calella de Palafrugell, Peratallada, Begur and many others.

1000 years of history is on show for Rob McFarland.

George Clooney's wedding put Venice in the news. But Anne Hanley finds plenty for lesser mortals to do - for free.

Danielle Murray saddles up for a family trip cycling the canalways and forested paths of southern France.

You've had the first XV in Newcastle - now here are six impact players from down the road, writes Geoff Cumming.

Newcastle isn't on the radar of most Kiwis. It should be, says Geoff Cumming.