Late period Woody Allen movies have tended to arrive on the understanding that, though they may offer flashes of the wit, pathos and psychological acuity of his early work, they’ll never match up to Manhattan or Annie Hall. Blue Jasmine is proof that Allen’s powers are merely fluctuating, not in terminal decline: it’s his most assured, affecting work in years.

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An Italian TV journalist reports from outside St Mary's Hospital in London, England

Royal baby in numbers: The pomp, protocol and pregnancy

Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, is in labour and as the world’s media decamps outside the hospital, here is the royal birth in numbers.

Fragrant watermelon soup could be served as a starter or dessert

Fragrant watermelon soup

Serves 4-6

Courgette (or zucchini) flowers

On the menu: Courgette flowers; The King's Ginger; Hendrick's; Kusmi tea; Lindt chocolates

This week I've been eating... courgette flowers

Great taste without guilt: Rare steak tataki

Rare steak tataki

Serves 4

Four held after man found dead in North Shields

Detectives are questioning four people on suspicion of murdering a Lithuanian man whose body was found in a flat.

Zadie Smith's long-awaited fourth novel, NW, is out next month

Between the Covers 21/04/2013

Your weekly guide to what's really going on in the world of books

Killer on the run after escaping while on day release

A prisoner serving a life sentence for murder is on the run after he disappeared while on day release.

DVD & Blu-ray review: Ginger & Rosa (12)

Sally Potter DVD/Blu-ray (90mins)

One-bowl wonder: Moroccan vegetable tagine

Moroccan vegetable tagine

Serves 4

Previous research in America has suggested that redheads are more susceptible to pain

Why should redheads have to endure this vile bullying from so much of the modern media?

Whether we call them 'redhead' or 'ginger', there seems to be little these people can do to protect themselves from persecution in the public domain

Graham Wylie, co-owner of Prince de Beauchene and On His Own

Wylie pair head 84 entries for Grand National

Just for a moment, all eyes are trained on Aintree instead of the Cheltenham Festival with the publication of the John Smith's Grand National entries.

Man who had jaw broken in random assault on his birthday was 'targeted by thug purely because he had red hair'

Alex Kosuth-Phillips was celebrating his 23rd birthday when a stranger approached him in a pizza restaurant

19-year-old boy dies after double beating

The death of a 19-year-old Irish student who was attacked twice on a night out in Northern Ireland is being probed by detectives on both sides of the border.

The real zing: Baked sea bream with bok choi and a ginger-and-chilli dressing

Baked Chinese-style sea bream with bok choi

Serves 6

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The Dr Feelgood guitarist talks frankly about his terminal illness
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Before you stuff your luggage with this year's Man Booker longlist titles, the case for some varied poolside reading alternatives
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Rupert Cornwell: What if Edward Snowden had stayed to fight his corner?

The CIA whistleblower struck a blow for us all, but his 1970s predecessor showed how to win
'A man walks into a bar': Comedian Seann Walsh on the dangers of mixing alcohol and stand-up

Comedian Seann Walsh on alcohol and stand-up

Comedy and booze go together, says Walsh. The trouble is stopping at just the one. So when do the hangovers stop being funny?
From Edinburgh to Hollywood (via the Home Counties): 10 comedic talents blowing up big

Edinburgh to Hollywood: 10 comedic talents blowing up big

Hugh Montgomery profiles the faces to watch, from the sitcom star to the surrealist
'Hello. I have cancer': When comedian Tig Notaro discovered she had a tumour she decided the show must go on

Comedian Tig Notaro: 'Hello. I have cancer'

When Notaro discovered she had a tumour she decided the show must go on
They think it's all ova: Bill Granger's Asia-influenced egg recipes

Bill Granger's Asia-influenced egg recipes

Our chef made his name cooking eggs, but he’s never stopped looking for new ways to serve them
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The Last Word: Luis Suarez and Gareth Bale's art of manipulation

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Briefings are off the record leading to transfer speculation which is merely a means to an end