China says up to 5,000 killed in earthquake new

A powerful earthquake in south-west China has killed up to 5,000 people and left as many as 10,000 injured, state media said

Tightening of immigration laws means farmers face losing 50,000 tonnes of fruit

Millions of pounds worth of soft fruit and vegetables are likely to be left to rot in fields this summer because of a shortage of foreign pickers caused by the falling value of the pound and restrictions on seasonal labourers.

Alex Ferguson savours coronation as Reds prepare for Moscow march

Sir Alex Ferguson savoured his 10th Premier League title, saying that Manchester United had the momentum to win the Champions League.

Brown pledges shake-up of social care

Gordon Brown today pledged fundamental reform to social care of the elderly and disabled in England as the Government warned that the system is facing a £6bn funding gap within 20 years.

Critics accused of 'putting the knife into' Brown

Burma's towns face refugee crisis alone as aid piles up

A week after Cyclone Nargis struck, killing at least 60,000 people and leaving about 1.5 million in desperate need of aid, the towns and cities of the Irrawaddy delta in Burma are starting to become flooded with refugees.

Gas giant warns over prices

British Gas owner Centrica warned today of potential further bill hikes for customers after revealing that continued high wholesale gas prices would hit results this year.

Centrica launches £182m lawsuit against Accenture

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'Significant witness' to murder of teenager in bakery comes forward

Detectives hunting a youth who killed a 16-year-old boy with a shard of glass after an argument in a London baker's shop say a "significant witness" has come forward.

'Ghost city' Mosul braces for assault on last bastion of al-Qa'ida in Iraq

Mosul looks like a city of the dead. American and Iraqi troops have launched an attack aimed at crushing the last bastion of al- Qa'ida in Iraq and in doing so have turned the country's northern capital into a ghost town.

Tadic claims victory for pro-Europeans in Serbian elections

Serbs have voted for close ties with Europe in parliamentary elections seen by many as crucial to the country's future.

Lewis Hamilton happy with second best

No wonder that Felipe Massa loves Istanbul Park. Yesterday the only problem he encountered on his way to a hat-trick of victories here came on the 24th lap when Lewis Hamilton pulled a daring and successful passing move on him going into Turn 12.

BA starts search for potential successor to CEO Walsh

British Airways has appointed the recruitment consultants Whitehead Mann to find a new chief operating officer and possible successor for its embattled chief executive Willie Walsh.

Glaxo 'downplayed' warning on heart-attack risk from Aids drug

The multinational drugs company GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) downplayed an early warning about the rising number of people who have suffered heart attacks after using one of its drugs, abacavir. An anti-Aids medication, abacavir is taken by tens of thousands of people worldwide.

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Antidepressants may help body fight HIV and cancer

Antidepressant drugs may help the immune system fight serious illness, research suggests. They enhance the activity of natural killer cells, key elements of the immune system, and could help the body combat infections such as HIV, and even cancer

Rushdie aims for literary hat-trick as Booker marks 40th anniversary

There is little doubt that Salman Rushdie's novel, Midnight's Children, is considered one of the most important works of modern times. In 1981, the novel, which deals with the partition of India, picked up the Booker Prize. Twelve years later, it earned greater literary kudos by being selected as the Booker of Bookers, a title given to mark the prize's 25th anniversary.

Crunch-time looms in battle to cut school tests

Calls for the Government to scrap or relax its testing regime for more than a million children a year will reach a decisive point this week.

Ray Lewis: You Ask The Questions

London's Deputy Mayor for young people answers your questions, such as 'Do Boris's past racial remarks worry you?' and 'Has Operation Trident failed?'

Nuala O'Faolain: 'Ruthlessly truthful' memoirist

The Irish journalist, writer and commentator Nuala O'Faolain last month caused something close to a sensation when she revealed in a tearful radio interview that she was dying of cancer. She told her friend, the RTE broadcaster Marian Finucane: "Beauty means nothing to me any more." The interview, which featured the often harrowing intimacy of much of O'Faolain's work, stopped many listeners in their tracks.