Briefly

BEIJING

Two Korean War vets hailed as role models

Two veterans, Sun Jingkun and Xu Zhenming, were recently honored with the title of "Role Model of Our Time" for their contributions during the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-53). The Party Central Committee's Publicity Department announced the awards to coincide with the 70th anniversary of the Chinese People's Volunteers army entering the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to help in the war against aggression by the United States. Sun, 96, joined the military in 1948 and was demobilized in 1955, returning home to Dandong, Liaoning province, with eight military medals and more than 20 scars. Xu, 95, joined the Eighth Route Army in 1942 and fought in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45). After the war finished in 1945, he participated in the War of Liberation (1946-49) and then the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea.

GUANGXI

Acting chairman for autonomous region

Lan Tianli, 58, was appointed vice-chairman and acting chairman of the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region on Monday. The appointment was made at the 19th session of the Standing Committee of the 13th People's Congress of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, which is the local legislature. Lan, a member of the Zhuang ethnic group born in Yizhou, Guangxi, has spent most of his political career in the region. The standing committee also approved the resignation of Chen Wu as chairman of the region.

JILIN

Court sends gang members to prison

The Changchun Intermediate People's Court in Jilin province sentenced 23 members of a mafia-style gang to terms of imprisonment ranging from two-and-a-half years to 25 years on Monday for committing 12 crimes. The court also confiscated their personal property or imposed fines. Property worth over 300 million yuan ($44.9 million) has been recovered or confiscated. Liu Lijun, the gang's ringleader, was found guilty of nine crimes, including organizing and leading mafia-style organizations, intentional homicide, extortion, forcing transactions, offering bribes and forging or buying and selling military certificates. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison. Liu's gang was busted in April 2018. Forty-six civil servants who aided or sheltered the gang have been punished.

Xinhua - China Daily