TAIWAN STRAITS ATTEMPT SUCCESSFUL

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  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.
   Mental Illness, a Cause for Criminality
  China Newsweek August 18
  Two recent bus arsons—one in Hangzhou on July 5 and the other in Guangzhou on July 15—have stirred up the public’s fear of such disturbing incidents.
  Criminology studies carried out in many countries have shown that different seasons may give rise to different types of crimes. Violent crimes and sexual assaults, for example, are more likely to surge in the heat of July and August. However, the possibility that someone might commit a crime is more likely related to his or her mental state.
  Whether the two criminals who set fire to the buses have psychotic disorders can only be determined through strict psychological tests. However, it is clear that they both suffer from anti-social tendencies. They were dissatisfied with their lives and sought to exact revenge by harming innocent members of the public. To an extent, these mentally unstable men merely craved attention for their misdeeds as a way to validate their existence.
  To prevent episodes like those on the city buses in the future, special mental and medical attention must be provided to those in disadvantaged groups, those who have received unfair treatment in society, and those with nowhere to go for help.
   Global Economic Governance
  World Affairs September 1
  “Global economic governance” is a new concept put forth in recent years. In 1944, the Bretton Woods Conference established a postwar international economic order and gave birth to three global economic stabilizers: the International Monetary Fund, the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, and the World Bank, which combined took charge of global finance, trade and development. At present, the three organizations are still playing important roles in the international economy. However, to address new problems that could not be properly solved under the old order, the concept of global economic governance has come into being.   After the worldwide financial crisis of 2008, there emerged questions over the effectiveness of the postwar international economic order. Because it was dominated by a small group of industrialized countries, it merely reflected the interests and needs of the developed world, making the majority of international players question its validity. The financial crisis forced developed countries to further realize that without the participation of emerging economies, it’s hard to maintain the stability of the global economic order. The Group of 20 Summit was inaugurated in November 2008, providing a platform for developed, developing and emerging countries to join hands to resolve thorny global economic and financial problems.
  However, even today, the concept of global economic governance is in its early stages and developed countries continue to dominate international economic decisionmaking. Much remains to be done to make the vision a reality.
   Tightening Supervision for Parole
  Guangzhou Daily August 27
  The Supreme People’s Procuratorate announced on August 26 that 711 criminals who served their terms outside prison on the pretenses of parole or who were released ahead of time were imprisoned again, of whom 76 used to hold high official positions. While people applaud the procuratorate’s move, many can’t help but question how these criminals were able to “break” out of prison or how the judicial body hopes to prevent such violations in the future.
  Sentence reductions, the option of parole and allowance for serving sentences outside of prison temporarily have increasingly been used by wealthy and politically powerful prisoners to stay out of brick-and-mortar prisons. These people bribe officials in order to secure releases ahead of their terms. Often, they are given freedom after spending just a short mount of time in prison. Such practices have harmed judicial justice and equality and gone against the law of the land, while fostering judicial corruption.
  The Central Government has paid close attention to this problem and is working to address it. However, to fully realize judicial justice, it needs to establish a tighter supervision system so that laws can be enforced to the letter.
  Officials involved in illegal sentence reductions should be held responsible and punished accordingly. Doctors faking medical certificates for prisoners to apply for compassionate release should be disciplined, while those who are justified in serving terms outside of prison should be held under strict control. Additionally, authorities should be under public scrutiny so as to fully root out judicial corruption.   JUNIOR TENNIS CHAMPION TAKES NEW TITLE
  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
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