The Beijing Olympics torch relay was held on Tuesday behind closed doors under blanket security in Indonesia amid Chinese anger at protests over its human rights record.

‘Beijing’ the Chinese Olympic Committee tells us, ‘is about to show the world a grand picture of "peace, friendship, and progress of mankind" and to strike up the passionate movement of "faster, higher, and stronger" for mankind’. Indeed, the upcoming Olympic Games are meant to celebrate the emergence of the new China, and the energy and dynamism of its 1.3 billion people.

A Japanese Buddhist temple is refusing to host the Olympic torch relay when it comes to Japan next week, to protest China's crackdown on Tibetan unrest.

Following a 22-hour stay in Pakistan, where it was kept off the streets, the Olympic Torch heads to India. In New Delhi, thousands of security personnel have being mobilized to protect the traveling symbol of the games.

Countries across Asia are stepping up security as the Olympic torch relay comes to the region this week with stops in Pakistan, India, Thailand and several other nations.

The latest sensing technology which could propel UK athletes to Olympic glory was demonstrated to Science Museum visitors this week by Imperial College London researchers.

The Olympic torch arrived in Oman Monday where it is expected to have a protest-free visit - the torch's sole Middle East stop on its way to Beijing.

The Olympic torch relay in Oman's Muscat, the ninth stop of its global journey, started on Monday afternoon.

The Olympic torch, symbol of this summer's 2008 Games in Beijing, arrived on Monday for an expected trouble-free relay in Oman, its sole stop in the Middle East on its way to China.

Argentine athletes and celebrities have carried the Olympic torch through downtown Buenos Aires, past hundreds of China supporters and protesters.

Sochi's winning bid for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games has been a mixed blessing for many of the Russian resort city's residents. The joy of hosting such a prestigious event has been accompanied by rising prices and the realization that many will lose homes to make way for Olympic sites.

Sunshine Coast swimmer Nick D'Arcy has had a local sports star award withheld from him until the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) rules on assault allegations against him.