Record-Breaking Sprinter

(XINHUA)

Chinese sprinter Zhang Peimeng trimmed his own national record to 10.00 seconds in the semifinal of the men's 100-meter race at the 2013 IAAF World Athletics Championships in Moscow on August 11. He finished fifth in the group and failed to enter the final.

Zhang was born in 1987 to a pole-vaulting father and a high-jump athlete mother. He won the men's 100-meter races at the National Athletics Championships in 2007 and the 18th Asian Athletics Championships in 2009.

Official Sacked

(XINHUA)

Liu Tienan, former Vice Minister of the National Development and Reform Commission, China's top economic planning body, has been expelled from the Communist Party of China (CPC) and removed from public office for discipline and law violations, according to a statement released by the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection on August 8.

The statement said Liu "took advantage of his position to seek profit for others, and both Liu and his family accepted huge amounts of money and property." Liu's alleged actions constitute serious crimes and disciplinary offenses and his case will be transferred to judicial organs.

Born in 1954, Liu was dismissed from his post for suspected involvement in serious disciplinary violations in May.

"We should learn to accept and appreciate what nature has given us and forget our obsession with physical appearance."

Zhu Hongwen, a professor of philosophy and sociology at Beijing Normal University, in response to a survey released by China Youth Daily saying that more than 75 percent of young people believe that being physically attractive can give them a competitive edge in society, on August 7

"Internet celebrities, who have notable influence on public opinion in virtual society, should share more positive and constructive messages with Chinese netizens."

Lu Wei, Director of the State Internet Information Office, on August 11

"It turns out that young people today are no less traditional than elder generations."

Han Tingyu, Marketing Director of Touchmedia, a major taxi in-vehicle advertising screen owner, in response to a month-long survey conducted by his company, which revealed that about 60 percent of those polled expect to get married, and ideally have a child, before the age of 29

"Fingerprints can help police, institutions and citizens be sure of the cardholder's identity, but it is not practical to ask all departments to install fingerprint devices."

Luo Yaping, a fingerprint expert at the People's Public Security University of China, in response to the Ministry of Public Security's program of recording fingerprints on ID cards in order to prevent criminals using lost or stolen cards from making purchases or conducting other illegal business