UPDATE 1-PRESS DIGEST - China - April 24

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BEIJING/SHANGHAI, April 24 (Reuters) - Chinese newspapers available in Beijing and Shanghai carried the following stories on Thursday. Reuters has not checked the stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

CHINA DAILY (www.chinadaily.com.cn)

-- France's popularity among Chinese has dropped significantly, a survey showed. Respondents said their perception about French attitudes toward the Beijing Olympics had severely dented their impression of the country. As many as 60 percent of them said they had "a growing dislike for France".

-- The country will do more to become a leading destination for international students, riding a wave of a growing number of foreigners coming to study in recent years. The government has earmarked 500 million yuan in scholarships for foreign students this year, up 40 percent from 2006.

PEOPLE'S DAILY

-- Northeastern provinces face a serious threat of forest fires, with little rainfall and high temperature are forecast for the coming month.

-- The government said it will step up efforts to rescue and publish ancient Tibetan literature and archives.

SHANGHAI SECURITIES NEWS