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Blue skies smiled over Beijing for the fourth day in a row and excitement filled its air yesterday as Premier Wen Jiabao promised a clean, green and beautiful city during and after the Olympic Games.

Premier Wen Jiabao shoots a hoop at the Beijing Olympic Basketball Gymnasium, where he met with the Chinese men's team yesterday. He talked to NBA star Yao Ming, and wished the team the best for the Games. Xinhua

• Torch carries light and hope to Sichuan
• Policewomen fly on bikes, ready for motorcade
• Nation world leader in renewable energy, says eco-group
• Law aims to ensure fair elections
• Children from quake zones explore mysteries of Hungary
• Photo misused by BBC incites anger

Beijing is praying for the mercy of Mother Nature this Friday, as the latest weather forecast calls for rain and thunderstorms on the day of the Opening Ceremony.

• Protest applicationprocedure piles out
• A passion that burns brightly
• Pin collectors rush in for Games gala
• Across China: Hubei
• Across China: Chongqing
• Across China: Beijing

Iraq has finally qualified at the last moment to participate in the 29th Olympic Games to be held in Beijing. Sports can always ignite a glimmer of hope for a nation and its people despite its lack of any major role.

• Upgrade or go down
• Price of profligacy
• Migrants need more support
• Cashing in on the classics
• New law no great help to e-commerce
• Hot Words
• Cartoon

Heilongjiang, China's northernmost province, has great potential in terms of co-operation with Hong Kong, the booming special administrative region in the southern part of the country, said leaders from both sides.

• Cooperation to lead to win-win result
• Heilongjiang blessed with rich resources

At least 123 people, mostly women and children, were crushed to death under the feet of thousands of pilgrims in a stampede at a temple in northern India yesterday, police said.

• Blair criticizes Brown's leadership in scathing memo
• Around the World: Japan
• Around the World: Eu/Iran
• Around the World: Somalia
• Climbing catastrophe on K-2 claims 9
• Six degrees of separation theory stands up to test
• Smallest snake is as thin as spaghetti
• Special Supplement: Games gives Shenzhen chance to show world what it's made of
• Across Asia: Thailand
• Across Asia: Afghanistan
• IN BRIEF (Page 7)

On July 21, Li Zhanshu, governor of Heilongjiang province, talked with Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang, who led a delegation to the province to discuss stronger cooperation and mutual development between the two regions.

• SAR-Heilongjiang trade, investment robust
• Northeast passage for HK to Russia

Harbin restaurant manager Katerina Esmanovich looks up at the clock expectantly. A long table is set with a white tablecloth, pink flower bouquets, and yellow napkins folded into wine glasses like fans. The wedding party is on its way.

• Capital on fast track to become the world's biggest subway
• Stuck in the Middle Kingdom with you

CINCINNATI: Novak Djokovic handed number one in waiting Rafael Nadal his first defeat in nearly three months, stunning Spaniard 6-1, 7-5 to reach the final of the Cincinnati Masters.

• Real won't give up on signing Ronaldo
• Dodger Ramirez makes big impression
• Deriugina fails to overturn 4-year ban
• Score Board
• IN BRIEF (Page 11)

Neil Kelsall, a young tour leader from Manchester in the United Kingdom, took nearly 20 tourists from Britain to the Chengdu Research Center for Giant Panda Breeding in the northern suburbs of this capital of Sichuan province during their one-day stay in the city in late July.