Latest news with #girl
South China Morning Post
a day ago
- Health
- South China Morning Post
Chinese teen's suicide puts crushing academic pressure in the spotlight
A heart-wrenching suicide note left by an 18-year-old girl who killed herself in April has reignited discussion online about the heavy academic burden placed on children in China. In the letter, the girl – who was in her final year at a top high school in Bengbu, a city in the central province of Anhui – wrote about the pressure she felt to do well and said she had been broken by relentless exams, particularly maths and physics. 'I cannot bear how you meticulously checked the scores of all the examinations and tests. I cannot bear how my scores appeared frequently in the text messages between you and your friends and relatives. But then you were afraid that I might see them and you secretly deleted them afterwards,' the girl said in the letter written on the back of school test sheets, which was posted on social media recently. The girl said she had been so stressed that she could not eat the day before an exam, and that the stress had become so severe that she had decided to end her life. The girl had been attending a high school in Bengbu, Anhui province. Her father said in a text message sent to friends and relatives that his daughter had hidden her feelings, and he urged other parents to pay more attention to their children's mental health . He said in the message, which was circulated online, that she had always done well in exams and usually had the highest or second highest marks in the class. The girl's death is far from an isolated incident in China – official statistics show deaths by suicide among children and adolescents are on the rise. And experts say excessive schoolwork, and pressure from the traditional notion that academic achievement is the only path to success, are factors.
Reuters
4 days ago
- Reuters
Fact Check: No bystanders shot in Carlow gun incident mischaracterised as a ‘massacre' online
No bystanders were shot when a man fired a gun inside a shopping centre in Ireland on June 1 before turning the gun on himself, according to police, which counters online posts that say a nine-year-old girl was hit in a 'shopping mall massacre'. An X post, opens new tab shared hours after the incident in Carlow, and viewed 5.7 million times, said: 'Something very serious is unfolding in Ireland right now. Today's Shopping Mall Massacre, which saw a 9-year-old girl shot by a man who had explosives strapped to his body, has enraged the General Public. Ireland may have a Civil War VERY soon.' A post with the same wording was also shared on Facebook, opens new tab. Ireland's police force, An Garda Siochana, referred Reuters to its press releases when contacted for comment. None, opens new tab of its statements, opens new tab say anyone but the gunman, opens new tab was shot. A statement, opens new tab on June 2 said the man discharged a shotgun into the air at Fairgreen Shopping Centre before 'self-inflicting a fatal wound'. The same statement says: 'No person was injured by the shots discharged,' although a young girl also fell and injured her leg when running from the scene. The Garda said it observed 'a bottle containing an unknown substance' on the gunman's body and called an explosive ordnance disposal team who later 'declared the scene safe'. An update issued on June 4, opens new tab said detectives were continuing to gather witness statements and listed no further casualties. National, opens new tab media, opens new tab named 22-year-old Evan Fitzgerald as the man who died. False. Garda said only the gunman was shot, which was self-inflicted. A girl injured her leg as she ran from the scene. This article was produced by the Reuters Fact Check team. Read more about our fact-checking work.
CTV News
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Little girl in Colorado 'heartbroken' over missing guacamole
Watch A five-year-old Colorado girl captured the hearts of millions after crying over a food chain forgetting to add guacamole to her order.
CNA
13-05-2025
- CNA
Girl, 13, caught with vape laced with controlled drug etomidate
A 13-year-old girl in Singapore was caught for using a drug-laced vape, after behaving erratically outside the State Courts on Apr 24. Authorities say she appeared intoxicated, unsteady and oblivious of her surroundings. Her vape was found to contain a controlled drug, etomidate. Nikhil Khattar reports.
South China Morning Post
11-05-2025
- General
- South China Morning Post
Spark Study Buddy (Explorer): Petite police officer rescues girl from 40-metre well
Content provided by British Council [1] A police officer in Xinjiang, China rescued a two-year-old girl from a 40-metre-deep, 40cm-wide well. Many people were touched by the story online. The girl later visited the officer in the hospital to thank her. [2] On April 16 in Luopu county, Xinjiang, a little girl fell into an abandoned well while playing. The well had a narrow opening, making it hard to use regular rescue equipment. [3] Bupatim Abudukadir, a petite police officer, volunteered for a rescue mission. She fastened a safety rope, climbed into the narrow well, and found a child stuck in mud up to her chest. 'Big sister is here to save you. Don't be afraid,' she said gently, pulling the girl out of the mud and holding her close. [4] Reflecting on the experience, she said: 'It was my first time in such a situation. I was scared. The well was very narrow and deep, and it got darker the deeper I went down. I felt like I was suffocating. But when I thought about the responsibility on my shoulders and the child waiting to be saved, I adjusted my mindset quickly. I did not think too much at the time. I just knew the child had to be rescued.' [5] After the girl was rescued, she collapsed from a lack of oxygen. Both she and Abudukadir were taken to the hospital. Abudukadir had swelling in her left hand and needed oxygen therapy, but she is now doing well. The girl is also safe. [6] Abudukadir always wanted to be a police officer. Even though she studied electromechanical engineering, she became an auxiliary officer at the Hanggui Police Station in Luopu County in May 2023. Her daily tasks involve teaching people about fraud prevention and resolving conflicts. [7] The Luopu County Public Security Bureau held a ceremony to recognise outstanding police auxiliary personnel. During this event, the bureau's party committee decided to promote Abudukadir from level seven to level five. [8] Luopu County's Heroic Acts Selection and Commendation Leading Groups has recommended that she be honoured with the title of 'Model of Righteousness and Courage.' Additionally, Xinjiang Daily has presented her with the 'Positive Energy Special Award,' which comes with a reward of 10,000 yuan (around HK$10,746). Source: South China Morning Post, April 25 Questions 1. According to paragraph 2, why was it difficult to rescue the girl with normal equipment? 2. In paragraph 3, the word 'petite' tells us that Abudukadir is … A. strong. B. tall. C. small. D. brave. 3. What sort of treatment did Abudukadir get at the hospital, according to paragraph 5? 4. According to paragraph 6, what does Abudukadir's daily work include? 5. Abudukadir has been … from a level seven police officer to a level five police officer. A. promoted B. promote C. promotion D. promoting 6. Complete the table with the correct form of the adjective. The first one has been done for you. (4 marks) Answers 1. because the well's opening was too narrow (accept all similar answers) 2. C 3. She got oxygen therapy. 4. anti-fraud education and conflict mediation 5. A 6. narrower; narrowest; wide; wider
