16 holes in body to mark 16 months of dating

A young woman wants to pierce 16 holes in her body in order to commemorate the 16 months she spent with her former boyfriend, reports Nanjing Morning Post.

Qian recently went to the largest cosmetic-surgery hospital in Nanjing, capital of East China's Jiangsu Province, and asked the doctor to pierce the holes on the ears and other parts of her body.

Although both the doctor and her mother tried to dissuade her, Qian insists on going ahead.

According to a hospital official, an increasing number of young women are piercing their bodies to keep up with the trend.

Woman's midnight singing nightmare for neighbours

A woman's hobby of singing late at night has become a nightmare for neighbours in a residential district in Nanjing, capital of East China's Jiangsu Province.

Undaunted by their complaints, the woman sings till as late as 4 am, ruining the neighbours"sleep.

The woman says it's her right to sing; and will continue with her hobby, reports Jinling Evening Post.

Thief strips to avoid police punishment

A thief who was caught red-handed stealing a TV set stripped his clothes and started rolling on the ground to avoid going to the police station in Bengbu, a city in East China's Anhui Province on Sunday, reports Jianghuai Morning Post.

But his ploy did not work: The police, after failing to persuade him to put on his clothes, wrapped him in a blanket and carried him "kicking and screaming "to the patrol vehicle.

Blackout destroys 22 precious swan eggs

An unexpected power cut yesterday in Hangzhou Safari Park made 22 rare black-swan unfit to hatch, reported Oriental Morning Post yesterday.

Luckily, 27 young birds survived and are under intensive care.

The black swans imported from Australia are worth around 10,000 yuan (US$1,220) each.

Necessities offered free to needy elderly

A charity supermarket was opened on Tuesday in Fuzhou, East China's Fujian Province, to provide free daily necessities for needy elderly, reports Economic Review.

People with a monthly pension less than 200 yuan (US$24) can get food or other merchandise worth 50 yuan (US$6) free every month. More than 1,800 senior citizens are eligible for the benefit.

2,000 jobless recruited as police assistants

About 2,000 laid-off workers got new jobs as police assistants on Tuesday in Suzhou, a city in East China's Jiangsu Province, reports Oriental Morning.

To improve security in communities and make up for the shortage of police staff, the local public security department plans to recruit 4,000 assistants in two years.

They will be paid 800 yuan (US$97) per month and a bonus according to their performance.

Lonely old man tries to kill himself

A 65-year-old man who could not bear his loneliness attempted to commit suicide by setting fire to his own house on Wednesday but was rescued by neighbours, reports Straits Metropolitan Post.

The man in East China's Fujian Province has been depressed since the time his wife of many years fled with another man.

And the trigger was a neighbour's wedding ceremony, adding to his depression.

(China Daily 01/16/2004 page4)