Mother of inmate with mental age of 10 pleads his innocence of arson attack on hotel

Some of California's top chefs are attempting to overturn a ban on the production and sale of foie gras, two months before it is due to come into effect.

A man has been jailed for five-and-a-half years for slashing the throat of a father who survived by stemming the blood with a doner kebab.

People feel de-skilled by celebrity chefs and their complicated recipes, so they're not cooking things that have been done since time immemorial. You can make a pastry in five minutes with leftover scraps: eggs, cream, milk, vegetables, bacon – just throw in whatever's in the fridge.

Wang Gengxiang was five when he fell into a pile of burning straw in a courtyard at his home village of Mijiazhuang on the outskirts of Fenyang, Shanxi province, in north China. Most of the skin on his head was burnt off, meaning he has to wear a full surgical mask to prevent infection of the scarring.

Bones found in China have led scientists to suggest a new species of humanoid. By Steve Connor

Fossilised remains of China's 'red deer cave people' may represent a whole new human species. Steve Connor on a discovery that radically complicates the story of our origins

The latest leg of the Dubai Carnival introduces a distant beam of sunshine to the petrified domestic scene – and could yet make a down payment towards the European summer. For it is not so much his name that summons Dubai Prince to centre stage today, as his untapped potential. After just four career starts, the fact that he returns in a trial for the Dubai World Cup suggests he could yet develop into a Godolphin flagship for the months ahead.

A teenager has been found guilty of murdering a school friend he claimed had pestered him for sex.

Vaccination against virus urged following increase in cases linked to sexually transmitted infection

A new government report on drinking alcohol aims to give us easy to understand, no-nonsense advice. But are we ready to listen?

The number of people admitted to hospital with life-threatening anaphylactic shock – involving sudden swelling, breathlessness and low blood pressure – has increased by at least 700 per cent in the last two decades.

French archaeologists have discovered an extremely rare example of a neolithic "earth mother" figurine on the banks of the river Somme.

British songstress Adele has been given the perfect get well gift after being nominated for six Grammys at next year's awards.