Chinese scientists announced on June 3 that they have succeeded in changing pig ear and bone marrow cells into stem cells like those found in embryos. The change makes the cells capable of developing into any other type of cell in the body.

The Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology (SIBCB) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences claimed a global breakthrough in forming pluripotent stem cells using somatic cells (cells that are not sperm or egg cells) from any animal with hooves (ungulates).

Xiao Lei, head of the research team, announced that the work is the world's first reported case of creating domesticated ungulate pluripotent stem cells.

It could open the way to creating models for human genetic diseases, genetically engineering animals for human organ transplants and developing pigs that are resistant to diseases such as swine flu, he said.

VENTING PRESSURE A graduating middle school student takes part in a game in Xiangfan City, central China's Hubei Province, on June 2 to relieve stress. Students were under heavy pressure as they prepared for the national college entrance examinations in June (LIU TAO)

For Fair Elections

China's central authorities issued a circular on May 30 urging candidates to practice fair play during direct elections of village heads amid complaints of bribery and other dirty tricks to win votes.

"The villagers' committee election work in some rural areas is not properly conducted, as the bribery situation is grave and seriously harms the impartiality of elections," said the circular.

According to the circular, candidates' behavior must be "strictly regulated." Punishments will include disqualification from the election, removing offenders from their current posts or criminal prosecution, and will be given to those who try to win votes from villagers with money, violence or intimidation and to those who cheat in vote counts.

Villagers have the right to report any improper candidate behavior and such reports should be investigated immediately, the circular said.

FOR CHILDREN'S HEALTH A national charity campaign by the China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation was launched on June 1 in Fuzhou, the capital city of south China's Fujian Province. The campaign seeks donations of as little as 1 yuan ($0.15) to buy nutritious food for children living in areas affected by last year's Wenchuan earthquake (JIN YI)

Employment Recovery

China saw some signs of recovery in employment figures over the first four months of 2009, as 3.65 million urbanites found new jobs. The data were reported during an executive meeting of the State Council presided over by Premier Wen Jiabao on June 3.

China's urban unemployment rate was 4.2 percent at the end of 2008. There were 8.86 million urban residents registered as jobless.

Altogether 2.68 million new jobs were created in cities across the country during the first quarter of 2009, according to the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security.

The figure was only 1.77 million in the fourth quarter of 2008.

The government plans to allocate 42 billion yuan ($6.2 billion) from the 2009 central budget to boost employment, which will be an increase of 66.7 percent from last year, said a statement released after the meeting.

Fewer College Candidates

China's national college entrance exam saw a decrease in candidates for the first time in the past seven years, the Ministry of Education said on June 2.

About 10.2 million people registered to attend the upcoming exam, down 3.8 percent year on year, according to the ministry.

In contrast, the exam saw a continuous increase in candidates from 2002 to 2008, jumping from 5.27 million in 2002 to 10.5 million in 2008.

This year's examinees will have a better chance of earning admission, as they are competing for 6.29 million seats in China's universities and colleges, up 4 percent from last year, the ministry's figures showed.

DEADLY CROSSOVER The debris of a minivan lies on the roadside after its crash with a train on the evening of June 2 near Tianmen, in central China's Hubei Province. The accident left nine dead and nine wounded. The minivan was trying to pass a pedestrian intersection that is off-limits to vehicles (CHENG MIN)