Rare species off the menu, chefs say

Rare animals and plants just got their newest allies: Xi'an chefs.

More than 700 chefs recently signed a petition against cooking endangered species.

The chefs from restaurants and hotels of Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi Province, promised that they would contribute to the environmental protection drive and refuse to cook endangered wild animals and plants.

They were given a list of national endangered animals and rare plants by local environmentalists.

Xi'an Evening News

Runaways try to stop train with stones

Two middle school students who wanted to get a free train ride put stones on rails to stop a train in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Ai and his classmates, both 14, ran away from home in Kashi of Xinjiang by train to tour Central China late last year. They reached Urumqi recently and wanted to climb on a train headed toward their hometown. Police detained them and contacted their parents. The case is in progress.

West China Commercial News

Worker saved from hot oil dunk

Two workers jumped into a hot oil tank to save another worker who dropped in by accident in Chongqing Municipality.

The employee, surnamed Wang, slipped into an oil tank with heated above 70 C at work on Tuesday.

He attempted to climb out of danger but failed when the oil scalded him heavily.Two fellow workers nearby jumped into the tank and pulled Wang out. Other workers came immediately and pulled out the two rescuers.

Wang was seriously burned but stable in hospital. The other two workers were slightly burned.

Chongqing Commercial News

Triplets, mum score free hospital treatment

A woman farmer from a hard-up family who delivered triplets at a hospital received free medical treatment in Chongqing.

The woman, 29, gave birth to three boys on Tuesday in a local hospital.

To ease the burden on the financially strapped family, the hospital promised to provide free treatment for the mother and babies during their stay.

Doctors and nurses also donated more than 6,300 yuan (US$787) to the mother.

Chongqing Evening News

(China Daily 03/18/2006 page3)