Pandas shielded from quake by armed guards

China bids to save its panda cubs, which have been bred painstakingly in a world-renowned programme, from its earthquake

North Korea may be hit by a new famine

Devastating floods and rising food prices threaten a calamity that may kill 300,000 people, aid groups say

The survivors' tales

Judy Ling Wong was fulfilling a lifelong dream to cuddle a panda when the world exploded around her

Husband mourns pregnant wife crushed in quake

In one Sichuan village where nearly every house reduced to rubble, one widower mourns his family as the funerals continue

Flea Man puts parasites on the map

A fascination of parasites led Robert George to compile a record of fleas over 58 years to create his Atlas of the Fleas

Islamist group threatens India tourist attacks

Little known group Indian Mujahideen has also claimed responsibility for the bombings that claimed 63 lives in Jaipur

World in brief

US accused of missile strike in Pakistan; Pipeline blast in Ijegun; Cairo man jailed for 1,000 years

Karzai must say what he'd do with $50bn

Aid is desperately needed to lift one Afghanistan from deep poverty but farming can't absorb this sum quickly

Burma junta hails referendum win as people suffer

Constitutional poll result is condemned as a fix while a new storm threatens Irrawaddy Delta survivors of Cyclone Nargis

Art record tumbles as Bacon work fetches £44m

A nightmarish painting by Francis Bacon has become the most expensive work of contemporary art sold at auction

Jade cup puts poetry into auction

The work of art will be sold at Christie’s Hong Kong spring auctions on May 27 and is expected to fetch more than HK$25m

Mother aged 17 has seven children

Pamela Villarruel bore all her children in three pregnancies, having her first boy in 2005 when she was 14

Women in second bid for power

Kuwaiti women will participate in parliamentary elections for the second time in the conservative Muslim country’s history

A new way to protect Pacific man-eaters

Tiger sharks are man-eating predators that grow up to 18 feet long. But their numbers are falling in the western Pacific

Is Bordeaux in cartons the last straw?

The small plastic containers are the latest attempt by the French wine industry to boost consumption among young urbanites

British quake survivors: 'We thought it would bury us alive'

Tourists airlifted to safety after being trapped in Chinese panda reserve speak of their dramatic survival

Obama clashes with Bush in Nazi row

President accused of "false political attack" after appearing to compare Obama foreign policy to appeasement of Hitler

China quake death toll rises by a third

More than 19,500 people confirmed dead and authorities fear toll will reach 50,000, as time runs out for miracle rescues

Motive for Austrian axe killer 'was debt shame'

Middle class PR executive who killed wife, parents and parents-in-law, borrowed money from them and then lost €300,000

British tourists in quake zone 'safe and sound'

Tourists who were panda-watching 35 kilometres from south China quake have been evacuated by helicopter