The roof of the World -- the Himalayas in Tibet -- is home to three flags that made it to the big pic 101 days before the Games: that of the PRC, the IOC and the Beijing Olympics. 8,848 meters above sea level, those who can make it are ready.

Other headliners on the front page tell of the flame now in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, noted author Bo Yang passing away this morning, nine wildlife parks opening to the public, and Lien Chan, former KMT chief, meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao.

Bad news, too: foot-and-mouth is with Beijing once again. Parents -- make sure your kids are kept safe and away from this disease. Avoid unclean places, uncooked food, and tell your son or daughter to wash his or hand as often as possible. Prevention pays off.

Elsewhere...

• The horrible train crash on the Jiaoji Railway yesterday was the result of a speeding train which derailed and banged into another train. The railway line got back into service around 20 hours after the bang; meanwhile, the man in charge of the regional railway bureau got the pink slip. (Page 2)

• 86 "blue sky days" for Beijing this Olympic Year. So far. So far, so good. (Page 4)

• A new logo is in place for Wangfujing. The new stylized W replaces the former superimposed Chinese characters, in use for a good 15 years. (Page 5)

• The Jingjin Freeway, that superhighway with 8 lanes (4 in each direction), has made it to Taihu in terms of road surface, ahead of the planned June 2008 opening. (Page 5)

• Also ready by June 2008: mobile phone signals in Lines 1 and 2 of the Subway system. Get ready for underground chatter. (Page 5)

Droplets up north, otherwise a gloomy day, clearing just slightly later in the afternoon. 18°C - 29°C.