Special report:   2008 Olympic Games     

    BEIJING, Feb. 19 -- Authorities say they will ban the sale of cars that fail to meet new emission standards, starting from next month onwards in another move to cut air pollution and host a truly "green" Olympics later this year in Beijing.

    All vehicles on the Beijing market will need to meet the new China IV standard, which is equivalent to its European counterpart known as the Euro IV. The same restriction will apply to all heavy vehicles used for public transportation, sanitation, and mail services, by the first of July.

    Implementing the new standard is expected to cut levels of particles that can be inhaled by 330 tons. These currently account for up to 90 percent of air-borne pollutants.

    (Source: cctv.com)