| Taiwan Straits Attempt Successful
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(FILE) |
Zhang Jian, heading a 14-member team ranging in age from 16 to 50, succeeded in swimming across the Taiwan Straits on August 22 after a four-day journey. Seven of the swimmers were from China's mainland, while the rest were from Taiwan.
Entering the water at noon on August 18 in Taiwan's Hsinchu, the team reached shore about 100 hours later in Pingtan, Fujian Province. The shortest distance between the two spots is 130 km; however, due to strong winds, storms, navigation issues, undercurrents and jellyfish stings, the swimmers covered nearly 400 km. This was the first time in known history that human beings successfully swam the entire straits.
Zhang Jian, 50, is a teacher with Beijing Sports University. He began swimming when he was 8 years old. Previously, he successfully completed crossings of famous water passages such as the Qiongzhou Straits, the Bohai Straits and the English Channel.
Junior Tennis Champion Takes New Title
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(FILE) |
Xu Shilin defeated her Belarusian competitor and became the women's singles tennis champion on August 24 at the Nanjing Youth Olympic Games.
Xu, born in 1998, began playing tennis at the age of 3 under the direction of her father, a tennis coach who at that time ran a tennis club in Zhongshan, Guangdong Province. She received systematic training in a U.S. tennis school from 2006-12. During these six years, Xu won 60 championships in numerous competitions. After winning the Youth Games match, Xu moved up to the No. 4 best in the world amongst teenage tennis players, making her the highest ranking youth player in China.
Xu's short-term plan is to win the championship of the Grand Slam youth groups, and has said her ultimate goal is to become one of the top 10 professional tennis players in the world.
"I would like to announce that the Palestinian leadership has accepted Egypt's call for a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire and we will work on meeting the demands and needs of our people in Gaza."
Mahmoud Abbas, Palestinian President, announcing on August 26 that a ceasefire agreement had been reached in Cairo between Israel and Palestine, putting an end to the seven-week conflict in the Gaza Strip
"This company brings in the most advanced technology. The Tula Regional Government promises to buy these cars."
Vladimir Gruzdev, Tula Governor, speaking on August 24 about the construction of a $520-million auto plant for Chinese private automaker Great Wall Motors in Russia's Tula Region
"Armed forces from neighboring countries have entered the interior of China to conduct the drill this time. Without a high level of strategic mutual trust, this kind of drill could never be held."
Meng Xiangqing, a professor with the National Defense University of the People's Liberation Army, commenting on the Shanghai Cooperation Organization's Peace Mission 2014 exercise on August 26
"When I was on the track, there was a lot of applause, so I felt really excited. I didn't feel any pressure. I just wanted to do my best. I never thought I would be standing on the podium today."
Liang Xiaojing, a 17-year-old Chinese sprinter, speaking after winning the women's 100-meter race on August 23 at the Nanjing Youth Olympic Games | 
