At least 16 students were killed and three other people were missing after a landslide hit a school in a mountainous area of south-western China today, a state news agency said.

Second seed Maria Sharapova was never troubled as she eased past Peng Shuai to reach the last 16 of the French Open.

Asian stock markets were mostly lower today amid worries about weak Christmas sales in the United States and Europe and a warning by Japan’s central bank about possible risks from the European debt crisis.

ONE of the co-founders of Facebook is being tipped as a speaker for the next Dublin Web Summit — which is one of the largest tech events in Ireland and Britain.

Maria Sharapova has been reinstalled as Wimbledon favourite following a day that left the women’s draw short of star quality.

Top seed Rafael Nadal had to battle from a set down against big-serving Croatian Ivo Karlovic to secure himself a semi-final date with Juan Martin del Potro at the BNP Paribas Open.

Vera Zvonareva believes the experience she gained from last year’s grand slam final appearances came to the fore as she squeezed past Lucie Safarova at the Australian Open today.

Second seed Serena Williams eased into the fourth round of the Australian Open today while her sister’s nemesis Carla Suarez Navarro’s dream run continues in her first appearance in the Melbourne grand slam.

Daniela Hantuchova and Elena Dementieva have completed the star-star studded line-up at the year opening JB Group Classic in Hong Kong.

Former French Open winner Michael Chang believes he could help the Chinese tennis team increase their chances of winning medals at the 2008 Olympics if he were more involved in the set-up.

The owner of the UK’s biggest naturist tour operator posted profits for the first time today.

FRUSTRATED by the French clay and a Chinese teenager, Lindsay Davenport glared at her racket, clenched her teeth and mounted a comeback.