TOKYO - TWO people were killed and five others injured on Wednesday after a large fire engulfed a building in central Tokyo, a fire department spokesman said.

The blaze broke out in the three-story building in the Japanese capital's Shibuya district in the afternoon, and spread to several neighboring structures. TV footage showed the gutted building with a column of smoke rising from it.

BEIJING - CHINA has ordered a haemorrhoid medicine off pharmacy shelves over fears the capsules were to blame for liver problems, state media reported on Wednesday.

The State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) demanded the nationwide recall of the 'Zhixue' capsules made by Vital Pharmaceutical Holdings Ltd in southwest China, Xinhua news agency reported.

NEW DELHI - INDIA could miss out on hosting the Commonwealth Games in 2010 if a dispute over the construction of the athletes' village is not resolved, a senior Games official said on Wednesday.

The four-yearly Games featuring 71 teams from the Commonwealth countries are due to be held in the Indian capital of New Delhi from Oct 3-14, 2010.