Selfless couple helps keep village children in school

Over the past 13 years, an elderly couple in Xiushui, Jiangxi Province, has helped 37 students continue their studies.

The 87-year-old husband, surnamed Ye, received only one year of schooling because of poverty. In 1994 the retiree saw a TV report that said many children in Xiushui had to drop out of school because they did not have enough money. Inspired by the report, Ye and his wife decided they would support three students. Over the years, the couple has added more students to their list. Several students have even gone on to study at the university level. In 13 years the couple has spent at least 80,000 yuan ($10,300) helping students although they themselves live economically.

Students to spend their holiday cleaning up

As many as 200 college students, including postgraduates, in Beijing have been recruited by Chuan Meizi Housekeeping Agency to work as housekeeping assistants during this year's summer vacation.

The students said such work would offer them opportunities to earn extra money, keep in touch with society, learn to build personal relationships and become better with finances.The students will take part in a 20-hour training course covering basic housework skills, safety consciousness and teaching methods for primary and middle school students before taking the job, sources from the housing agency said.

Authorities seek help stamping out cockroaches

A disease-carrying species of cockroach was found in Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi Province.

The brown speck cockroaches are typically found in South China's Fujian and Guangdong provinces. Experts said the insects not only spread hepatitis, polio, pneumonia, tuberculosis and other diseases, but also cause allergic reactions, such as asthma and dermatitis. The local disease control center called on local residents to kill the insects and then burn their dead bodies and eggs in order to completely wipe them out.

Attempted suicide leaves woman with burn marks

A woman who was planning to kill herself by burning charcoal in her room suddenly realized that she did not want to die, but then burnt herself with the charcoal.

The woman, 32, arranged the suicide attempt in her flat in To Kwa Wan, Hong Kong, at about 11 am on Wednesday. She attempted to extinguish the burning coal after experiencing a change of heart, but then accidentally burnt her arms. She walked out into the street and a policeman noticed her burn marks and took her to the hospital.

(China Daily 06/23/2007)

（英语点津 Linda 编辑）

About the broadcasters:

Matt Doran is an award-winning American newspaper journalist and an undergraduate student at Albion College. He is currently a polisher for China Daily Website and is on summer break from Beijing Foreign Studies University, where he will resume his study of Chinese in the fall.

Suzann Riddle is a senior double majoring in Health Care Management and Economics at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC. She finds herself at China Daily Website after visiting many areas of China as a Holland Fellow, Appalachian's international exchange program with Fudan University.