A stampede on a stairwell at a primary school in south-west China, reportedly sparked by a child’s shouts of “ghost”, killed seven children and injured 37, reports said today.

CHINA’S web portals have blocked prayers, blessings and other comment on the death of Pope John Paul II from being posted on the internet, officials said.

China’s first astronaut in space returned safely to Earth today when his craft touched down as planned after 21 hours in orbit. Beijing’s mission control declared the country’s landmark debut flight “a success”.

China launched its first manned space mission today, sending an astronaut hurtling into orbit and becoming the third country in Earth’s history to do so - four decades after the Soviet Union and the US.