Olympic flame at Everest

Chinese climbers bearing the Olympic flame have reached the summit of Everest, the world's highest mountain.

Chinese television showed the team of climbers, carrying special high-altitude torches, reaching the summit at 0920 local time. Huddled in the snow they unfurled flags and cheered for the cameras. Correspondents say China is hoping the dramatic feat will counter some of the damaging publicity from the protests during the torch's international relay.

So the Chinese brought the Olympic flame where there is no air, no freedom to move and breath …just like Tibet!

The Olympic ...torture in South korea

The latest leg of the Olympic torch relay is well under way in South Korea with protesters vowing to disrupt its run through the capital Seoul.

The 24-km (15-mile) route from Olympic Park to City Hall is heavily guarded by 8,000 police officers. Human rights groups have said thousands are preparing to protest over China's forced repatriation of North Korean refugees and its crackdown in Tibet.

But flag-waving Chinese supporters have so far vastly outnumbered protesters. Police have warned anyone trying to disrupt the relay would be severely punished.

This Olympic torture …sorry Olympic torch will be in familiar …democratic ground soon …North Korea!!!

Protest in Japan at torch relay

The Olympic torch has met with more protests and scuffles on the latest leg of its troubled relay in the Japanese city of Nagano.

With security tight along the route, two demonstrators tried to seize the torch and a third threw eggs at the flame. All were arrested. But correspondents say the relay passed off without serious disruption.

The streets were lined with thousands of Chinese supporters, as well as dozens of protesters. A sea of well-wishers greeted the torch as the final runner completed the relay at a city park. Officials said four people were slightly injured in separate incidents, and a smoke-emitting tube was thrown at the relay without effect, according to reports.

Is getting closer to China, let’s see if anybody will dare to demonstrate inside China now!

Finland's Vanhanen Will Not Boycott Olympics

Finland's P.M. Matti Vanhanen said he will not boycott the opening ceremonies of the Olympic Games in China. Vanhanen said Finland has a policy of keeping politics and sports separate.

I’m sorry Mr. Vanhanen for the cynicism but what do you believe will hurt the Chinese more, if you don’t go or if George W. Bush, Sarkozy or Brown don’t go? Actually if you do go and the above don’t you will become their alibi!

Anti-French rallies across China

Protesters in several Chinese cities have gathered to demand a boycott of French products and denounce campaigns for Tibetan independence.

Hundreds of people demonstrated in cities including Beijing, Wuhan, Hefei, Kunming, and Qingdao - often outside stores of the French chain Carrefour. Passions ran high, but the protests were closely patrolled by police. Protesters say they are angry at the scale of protests that accompanied the Olympic torch relay in Paris.

They have also denounced French President Nicolas Sarkozy's refusal to confirm whether he will attend the opening ceremony of the Games. Pictures from the central city of Wuhan showed large crowds congregating outside a Carrefour supermarket.

It must be the hour difference otherwise there is no other explanation to how they found out so ….late!!! Perhaps after the Olympics they will demonstrate for the San Francisco events!!!

Japan temple rejects torch

A major Buddhist temple has withdrawn from plans to host Japan's opening stage of the Olympic torch relay.

Zenkoji Temple, in the city of Nagano, had been due to serve as the starting point for the parade on 26 April. An official said the monks were worried about safety but also linked the decision to concern over recent unrest in Tibet.

Meanwhile the torch has arrived in Thailand in preparation for a parade through the capital city, Bangkok. The relay has been dogged by protests over Tibet, with chaotic scenes in London, Paris and San Francisco.

What more do they need to understand that Tibet must be free?

Protests at Argentine torch rally

Protesters have gathered in the Argentine capital Buenos Aires, where the Olympic torch is being paraded.

Authorities are mounting a major security operation, keen to avoid the disruption that marred the flame's progress through the UK, US and France. Several thousand police and marshals have lined the 13km (8-mile) route the torch will follow through Buenos Aires.

But anti-China activists protesting against the Beijing Games have promised "entertaining surprises". Buenos Aires Mayor Mauricio Macri lit the torch and held it aloft on Friday as hundreds of sporting enthusiasts applauded. But activist Jorge Carcavallo unfurled a giant banner on the torch route reading "Free Tibet". And members of the Falun Gong spiritual movement, which is banned in China, lit their own "human rights torch" and marched along the route the flame was to take.

Every new city shows what the people of this world think about the embarrassment Olympics, so Mr. Rogge how do you feel now? It was your choice!

Beijing wants to keep politics out

The International Olympic Committee is ending a week of meetings overshadowed by violent protests against the torch relay for the Beijing Games.

With the Olympic flame in Argentina, IOC officials were discussing how future relays should be handled. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has told China he will not attend the Games opening ceremony in Beijing in August.

The IOC president said protests at the relay in London, Paris and San Francisco had created a "crisis". Speaking on Thursday, Jacques Rogge also urged China to respect its "moral engagement" to improve human rights. But Beijing told the IOC to keep politics out of the Games.

Indeed, but what happens with politics entering the Olympics? And they have done so for the last …let me see 70 years when Nazis organized the Olympic games in 1938.

Trying to keep torch on track

Beijing has said no force can stop the world relay of the Olympic flame as it faces new protests on the Californian leg of its journey.

Seven Pro-Tibet demonstrators were arrested in San Francisco after tying anti-Chinese banners to the cables of the Golden Gate Bridge. The flame is due to arrive in the city on Tuesday following a troubled relay through Paris and London.

The torch was put out three times in Paris because of pro-Tibetan protests. But the flame itself was kept alight in a safety lantern. The flame was lit in Olympia, Greece, on 24 March and is being relayed through 20 countries before being carried into the opening ceremony at the Beijing Games on 8 August.

Demonstrators are protesting at China's security crackdown in Tibet after recent unrest against Chinese rule. Tibetan exile groups say Chinese security forces killed dozens of protesters. Beijing says about 19 people were killed in rioting.

Keep the torch on track? Which torch? The one that talks about human rights or the one that tortures?

Olympic protests in Paris

Protests against the torch relay ahead of the Beijing Olympics have spread to France's capital, Paris. Four people were arrested, including two who were taking part in demonstrations critical of Chinese rule in Tibet.

Officials twice extinguished the torch and put it on a bus for safety reasons. Earlier, the president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Jacques Rogge, expressed concern over unrest in Tibet and the torch protests. The French protests come after 37 people were arrested during pro-Tibet protests which disrupted Sunday's relay in London.

And more capitals in Europe to follow!

The Olympic torch turned to Olympic torture in London

Thirty arrests have been made after clashes between pro-Tibet protesters and police as the Olympic torch made its way through London.

Protests over China's human rights record began soon after the relay began at Wembley, and prompted an increasing police presence through the city. One protester tried to snatch the torch from former Blue Peter host Konnie Huq.

After an unpublicized change to the route, the Chinese ambassador carried the torch through Chinatown. It later made an unscheduled move on to a bus.

Well for how many people in China and Tibet the Olympic torch has turned to Olympic torture?

Nicolas sets Olympics conditions

France's human rights minister has set three conditions for President Nicolas Sarkozy's attendance of the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony.

President Nicolas Sarkozy would miss the event unless China sought talks with the Dalai Lama, freed political prisoners and stop violence against Tibetans adding that the recent clashes in Tibet should be investigated.

The Olympic torch is due to arrive in Paris on Monday as part of the global relay ahead of the Games. But let’s see when the Olympic spirit will arrive!