Military Spokesman

(CFP)

Senior Colonel Geng Yansheng, the new spokesman for China's Ministry of National Defense (MND), made his public debut at a press conference in Beijing on July 31.

Geng, 50, began his military service in 1977. He was appointed director of the Information Office of the MND in April 2010 after working for 16 years in the ministry's Foreign Affairs Office. The official resume shows Geng is married, with a son.

Geng's deputy, Colonel Yang Yujun, will also serve as spokesman for the MND. Yang, 40, studied public policy in the University of London. He is married, with a daughter.

The MND launched the spokesperson system in May 2008 in an effort to increase transparency of matters relating to China's armed forces.

Internet Leader

(CNSPHOTO)

Wu Jianping has been awarded the prestigious Jonathan B. Postel Service Award 2010 by the Internet Society (ISOC) for his pioneering role in advancing Internet technology, deployment and education in China and Asia Pacific over the last 20 years.

Wu, 57, is a professor at Beijing-based Tsinghua University. He is the first Chinese scientist to receive the highest honor in the Internet world.

Wu began his studies of Internet technology in the late 1970s. His best-known contribution is the development of the CERNET, China's first Internet backbone network. Created to establish an advanced nationwide network infrastructure to support education and research among universities, CERNET has since become the world's largest national academic network. Since 1998, Wu has been devoted to the design and development of a large-scale native IPv6 backbone in China, which serves to connect over 200 universities and millions of users.

The ISOC is the organizational home of the Internet Engineering Task Force, the Internet's premier technical standards body. The Postel Award was established to honor individuals or organizations making outstanding contributions in service to the data communications community.

"Wanted Journalist"

(CFP)

Qiu Ziming, a reporter with Beijing-Based business weekly The Economic Observer, became a public focus in late July after an unlawful arrest warrant for him triggered widespread concern about journalistic supervision.

The police in Suichang, east China's Zhejiang Province, issued the warrant on July 23, after Zhejiang Kan Specialty Material Co. Ltd. accused Qiu of defamation.

A review by the police authorities of Lishui, which administers Suichang, found the warrant failed to meet statutory requirements. The Suichang police were ordered to revoke the warrant and apologize to Qiu.

Qiu has published four stories since May in The Economic Observer indicating Shenzhen-listed Kan Specialty Material was involved in insider trading. The publication said Qiu's reporting was based on sound evidence and it had subjected the reports to extensive scrutiny before publishing them.

"News organizations have the right to know, interview, cover, criticize and monitor events regarding national and public interests. Journalistic activities by news organizations and their reporters are protected by law," said the General Administration of Press and Publication.

"The world's countries should rise up to the complicated global challenges and tackle, through consultation, major global issues bearing on world peace and development rather than let a few countries have the final say because the fundamental interests of all countries are at stake."

Yang Jiechi, Chinese Foreign Minister, at a press conference during his visit to Mexico on July 30

"Do not be talked into the belief that the yuan is very close to a reserve currency. It, in fact, lags far behind that level."

Yi Gang, head of China's State Administration of Foreign Exchange, on whether the Chinese currency yuan could become a reserve currency in a recent interview with China Reform magazine

"In a modern society ruled by law, the recurrence of such abuses of human dignity and rights should be ended resolutely. Offenders against the law also have their lawful rights, and they should be respected."

Cao Yisun, professor at Beijing-based China University of Political Science and Law, after China's Ministry of Public Security banned the police from parading prostitution suspects in public or using other humiliating practices

"Our infrastructure over the last 50 years has been washed away."

Adnan Khan, an official in Pakistan's Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Province, on the once-in-80-years flood that killed more than 3,000 people

"This is a historic day for the world, a big step in the right direction."

Maude Barlow, Canada's leading water activist, after the UN General Assembly on July 28 recognized access to clean water and sanitation as a human right. Water advocates hail the move as a momentous step toward a future treaty

"We must face the truth, even if it is uncomfortable, and move forward."

Jacob Zuma, South African President, explaining why he's abolishing half the country's traditional monarchies, dismissing them as artificial creations of apartheid