PEOPLE/POINTS

Science Watchdog Honored

Fang Zhouzi, a Chinese writer well-known for exposing academic fraud, has been given the Righteous Person of the Year award by the website of the Procuratorial Daily, the official newspaper of China’s Supreme People’s Procuratorate, for his devotion to debunking bogus research and academic corruption, as well as fraudulent science and academic credentials.

Fang, 44, was born in China’s Fujian Province.After graduating from the University of Science and Technology of China in 1990, he went to the United States for further study and received a Ph.D in biochemistry from Michigan State University in 1995.

“Fang is a fearless fighter who constantly takes a knife to academic fraud and the fabrication of academic credentials. He guards faith in science by being a science policeman,” said the award’s organizing committee.

Fang said exposing fraud hadn’t brought him any financial benefit,but much benefit to society. “Fraud conducted by celebrities does greater public harm than that of ordinary citizens,” said Fang. He also built a website for the purpose of exposing academic fraud.

Fang’s stance has upset some people and last August he was violently attacked by people hired by a doctor whom Fang had accused of academic misconduct.

Diving Queen Retiring

Guo Jingjing, China’s famous Olympian and world champion, has submitted an application to retire from China’s national diving team. She will no longer train or compete, nor will she appear in the London Olympic Games. Guo’s last major event was the 2009 East Asian Games held in Hong Kong when she competed in the synchro springboard.

Guo, 29, set an incredible record in her diving career. She has four Olympic gold medals, five consecutive victories at the World Championships and, in all, 31 world championship titles.

“I think I have fulfilled my task, so the London Games is not what I have in mind now. The chance should be left for other young talent on the team,” Guo said.

Davos Forum Co-Chair

Wei Jiafu, President and CEO of China Ocean Shipping (Group) Co. (COSCO), the country’s largest and the world’s leading group specializing in global shipping, modern logistics and ship building and repairing, was appointed co-chair of the 2011 Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum, or Davos Forum, held on January 26-30 in Davos, Switzerland.

Wei, 51, was born in Jiangsu Province and is a senior engineer with a doctoral degree in naval architecture and a master’s degree in shipping management. With around 36 years in the shipping industry, he has diverse experience in international shipping management and operations.

In 1993, as president of COSCO (Singapore) Ltd., Wei transformed the company into a public listed company by acquisition, marking its first step into the international capital market. Wei has been managing director in many of COSCO’s subsidiaries at home and abroad, and in charge of corporate asset operation and management as a key member of top management before being appointed the group’s president and CEO in November 1998.

“The Communist Party of China and the government will make strenuous efforts to improve the welfare of its senior citizens and make sure their difficulties are solved and they have access to better services.”

Chinese President Hu Jintao, during a three-day inspection tour in Baoding, north China’s Hebei Province, early February

“Both Cambodia and Thailand are China’s friendly neighbors. China hopes the two nations exercise calmness and restraint, resolve disputes through consultation, and prevent the situation from escalating.”

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei, on the latest border conflicts between Cambodian and Thai troops over their age-old territorial dispute

“The country’s winter wheat producing regions have suffered severe drought since October last year, and the possibility of a spring drought is surfacing.”

Chinese Minister of Agriculture Han Changfu, making a call to take more measures to minimize the impact of a possible spring drought

“The additional weapons to be deployed there must be sufficient and modern,in order to ensure the security of the islands as an integral part of Russia.”

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, on February 9,ordering the deployment of sufficient weaponry to secure the disputed Southern Kuril islands

“When you speak about prompt,immediate, now—as if you are imposing on a great country like Egypt, a great friend that has always maintained the best of relationship with the United States, you are imposing your will on him.”

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit, accusing the United States of imposing its will on his country on February 9