Archaeologists say they have found traces of 2,500-year-old chocolate on a plate in the Yucatan peninsula, in a breakthrough suggesting it may have been used as a sauce with solid food.

Taken on its own merits, Standing at the Sky's Edge is a classy, well-made record.

Martin O'Neill has reignited his row with Alan Pardew, questioning the Newcastle manager's accusation that Sunderland had been overly physical in a tempestuous Tyne-Wear derby last Sunday.

After a bad week for civil servants, the Government might find the time ripe for Whitehall reform

Some 371 people are to lose their jobs as the closure of a giant paper mill was announced today.

YES, YOU can debate Pulp's This is Hardcore poster in terms of music, lyrics, the history of music, pornography and the media (Letters, 26 April). The trouble is the first time I saw it I was waiting for the Tube and the image made me queasy - trying not to meet the deadened eyes of a woman disassociating herself from whatever abuse was taking place to the rest of her body.

Exposure to the pound hits Scapa

The soaring cost of chemicals has bitten deep at Courtaulds, the paint to polymers group. Sipko Huismans, chief executive, revealed yesterday that margins had halved last year in the viscose business, while acrylics had fared even worse after "outrageous" price increases.

Arjo sees first-quarter jump

Pulp auction

INVERESK, the Scottish paper manufacturer, yesterday celebrated its first results since flotation with a 45 per cent jump in taxable profits to pounds 4.7m for the half-year to 5 June, writes Neil Thapar.