China

The Indian government says it will ban smoking in public places and the sponsorship of sporting events by tobacco firms in a bid to lower cigarette-related deaths.

British Olympic chiefs will meet government ministers today to decide whether London can launch a bid to bring the Olympic Games back to Britain for the first time since 1948.

The five cities bidding to host the 2008 Summer Olympics have all submitted their official candidature files ahead of the deadline, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said on Wednesday.

Manchester United's Alex Ferguson has revealed his "roving ambassador" plans after retiring from the manager's job at the end of next season.

Beijing's high-kicking, kung-fu fighting Special Police Brigade is ready to persuade soon-to-visit Olympic officials that they can handle bombs, hostage-takings and terrorists.

A Toronto city councillor has warned that taxpayers may drown in debt if the city emerges as the host of 2008 Olympics.

Jan Zelezny, winner of three Olympic javelin gold medals and one of a dozen active athletes who are members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), has warned against awarding the 2008 Games to Beijing.

A human rights group said Chinese police detained four dissidents on Monday for urging the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to use Beijing's bid for the 2008 Games to press China to free jailed democracy activists.

Manchester United wants to increase sales from its merchandising operation abroad by transferring responsibility for its overseas stores to regional partners with local expertise.

China Development Bank has doubled its pledged investment in Beijing to support the capital city's bid to host the 2008 Olympics.

State owned telecommunications company China Netcom has been named the official telecom sponsor of the Beijing Olympic Bid Committee.

The fizz wars in China are set to bubble into life again with reports suggesting ISL is trying to secure Coca-Cola as a major sponsor of the China national soccer team.

Some 28 Chinese democracy activists have urged the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to press Beijing, which is bidding to host the 2008 Olympic Games, to free jailed dissidents.

Beijing plans to spend 100 billion yuan ($12.08 billion) cleaning up its heavily polluted air to improve its bid to host the 2008 Olympics, a government minister said on Friday.

Japan has no plans to launch a new investigation into allegations the central Japanese city of Nagano bribed International Olympic Committee (IOC) executives to host the 1998 Winter Games.

The 2003 world badminton championships will be staged in Birmingham, English officials said after outbidding China, Hong Kong and the Netherlands.