Tobacco imagery is still relatively common in films rated suitable for kids and young teens, despite significant declines in the cinematic depiction of smoking over the past 20 years, indicates research published in Thorax today.

Two major British tobacco companies are under investigation for price-fixing, and 11 store chains are involved in the probe, the Office of Fair Trading said.

BRITAIN'S top supermarkets and two tobacco giants were yesterday accused of a cigarette price fixing scam. Competition watchdogs named Imperial Tobacco and Gallaher along with chains including Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's and Morrisons among those facing a probe.

By Karen Attwood British American Tobacco played down speculation that it is eyeing the Franco-Spanish company Altadis. Rumours have been circulating that BAT was interested in making a move on the maker of Gauloises cigarettes, possibly in partnership with private equity.

Japan Tobacco, the world's third- largest traded cigarette maker, won Russian antitrust approval for its l7.5 billion, or $14 billion, takeover of Gallaher Group, the maker of Benson & Hedges cigarettes in Europe.