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A major Buddhist temple has withdrawn from plans to host Japan's opening stage of the Olympic torch relay.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

Sarkozy aide 'misquoted'

Pity, because I don’t misquote when I read all these things going on in Tibet! Bloody petit policies; did the Chinese promised to buy airplanes from France?

France's human rights minister has denied setting conditions for President Nicolas Sarkozy's attendance at the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony. Rama Yade said Le Monde newspaper had misquoted her as listing "conditions" for Mr. Sarkozy's presence at the event. "The word 'conditions' was never used," she said. Le Monde stood by its story.

Ms Yade had been quoted as saying Mr. Sarkozy would miss the event unless China freed political prisoners and agreed to talk to the Dalai Lama. Le Monde had quoted Ms Yade as saying: "Three conditions are essential for him to attend: an end to violence against the population and the liberation of political prisoners; light shed on the events in Tibet; and the opening of a dialogue with the Dalai Lama."

And he people of Tibet continue ...misquote and let’s hope that somebody will have the balls to say something and mean it!

Sarkozy the first to talk about boycott

We are definitely going to live again days of the Moscow Olympics! French President Nicolas Sarkozy says he has not ruled out boycotting the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in China over the situation in Tibet.

His aides said France was still opposed to a full boycott but that it might pull out of the opening ceremony in Beijing on 8 August. The recent unrest in Tibet has sparked worldwide concern.

Olympics chief Jacques Rogge said last week he was "heartened" that no major government had backed a boycott. On Tuesday, the White House said US President George W Bush still planned to attend the opening of the Games, while the UK said Prime Minister Gordon Brown would still be going to the closing ceremony.

It seems in the end the Athens Olympics will be the last real Olympics to remember despite the fact of all the negativity before they started.

Olympic torch aflame …China

The Olympic torch has been lit at a ceremony being held in Greece amid heavy security. About 1,000 police officers are patrolling ancient Olympia, fearing protests by pro-Tibet demonstrators.

One person briefly disrupted proceedings as China's representative spoke but was removed by security.

Olympic ceremony

A ceremony is due to be held in Greece to light the torch that will be carried to Beijing for the Olympic Games. Hundreds of police will be on patrol around ancient Olympia, where the games originated almost 3,000 years ago.

Security is tight to prevent disruption by activists, who have vowed to protest over the violence in and around Tibet. The head of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) defended the decision to hold the Games in China saying there was "no momentum" for a boycott.

"The major political leaders don't want a boycott," said IOC president Jacques Rogge said ahead of Monday's ceremony. The torch is to travel through 20 countries - and scale Mount Everest - before the Beijing Games open on 8 August.

He’s running out of excuses as well, what does it mean the major political leaders don't want a boycott? If I remember well from the past USA was a major power but boycotted Moscow Olympics and the Russians did the same in Los Angeles, the thing now is who’s going to be the first, the rest will just follow!

The Ovi magazine today

Today's Ovi magazine articles:

Outrageous Happenings in Tibet: Boycott the Olympics by Alexandra Pereira

Every citizen of the supposedly democratic countries should show his/her repulsion towards the recent happenings in Lhasa and the almost 60-year-old occupation of Tibet by China, following abominable policies of ethnic genocide and religious and cultural.

China's Copycat Economics by Valerie Sartor
North American factory workers are fuming as China taps into more and more industries, almost effortlessly gaining the market share majority. However, China experienced copycat economics long before employing it as a current economic strategy.

Danish report by Euro Reporter
Denmark has more to offer than bacon... Euro Reporter investigates.

2nd Opinion by Thanos K & Asa B
He is bad ...really bad! Seriously, I think you'll need a second opinion after this.

Believe it, in Tibet protesters surrender to the …Chinese police

I find it so difficult to believe that more than 100 people have turned themselves in to Chinese police following the anti-China riots in Tibet’s capital. Lhasa. I find difficult to believe that these people surrendered voluntarily as the Chinese state said, in response to a deadline given by the authorities!

The Chinese government said that it will punish seriously protesters who do not surrender and there are already news coming out from Lhasa that the police has been searching houses and making arrests.

And I find it difficult to believe that these people are going to survive but what I find more difficult to take is the impudence with which the Chinese government dares come with announcements like this … voluntarily surrounded!