A 13-year-old girl has died after being flung out of a fast-turning ride at an amusement park in China.

Chinese premier Wen Jiabao has warned the ruinous turmoil that engulfed the country in the past could re-emerge unless it tackles political reforms.

Power use in Beijing has hit a record high as millions of people in northern China turned up air conditioning amid a heatwave that is scorching the region with temperatures up to 42 degrees Celcius, news reports said today.

Brewer Scottish & Newcastle was today considering a move to establish a foothold in the fast-growing Chinese beer market.