BEIJING - The Supreme People's Procuratorate said that the rate of arrest and prosecution of minors in China had fallen in 2017.In the first 11 months, prosecutors exempted 13,100 criminal suspects below the age of 18 from arrest, or 33.4 percent of all minor suspects, up 1.8 percentage points compared with the same period in 2016, the SPP said in a statement.Meanwhile, 8,800 minors, or 18.4 percent of the total, were exempted from prosecution from January to November in 2017, an increase of 3.4 percentage points year on year.Prosecutors nationwide have been required to show leniency to juveniles convicted of minor offences in an effort to educate and save them, said Zheng Xinjian, head of the minor case division of the SPP.China has taken steps to protect the rights of adolescent suspects. The Changning District People's Procuratorate in Shanghai set up the country's first special prosecution group for minors in 1986. embossed printed wristbandpaw print silicone braceletscheap silicone wristbands free shippingcolor-filled-wristbandsilicone wristbandsembossed-wristband
Banlangen granules are a combination of several herbs, which should be taken under medical guidance. [Photo by LIU JIAO / FOR CHINA DAILY] SHANGHAI -- The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has published an international standard for isatis indigotica root or banlangen, a traditional Chinese medicinal herb commonly used for the prevention and treatment of colds. The herb has a long history of use in China and other East Asian countries for removing heat and toxins, cooling the blood and clearing the throat. However, problems such as different quality requirements among different countries and regions may affect the herb's clinical effectiveness and safety, according to a document posted on ISO's website. Formulation of the ISO standard was led by a research team from China's Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and also involved experts from Germany, Canada, Australia, Thailand and the Republic of Korea. The project lasted 34 months and the standard was published earlier this month. Wang Zhengtao, a member of the Chinese research team, said the standard mainly specifies the minimum technical requirements for isatis indigotica root such as heavy metals and pesticide residues as well as the herb's test methods. The publication of the standard is expected to improve the international influence of isatis indigotica root and boost the trade of the herb across the world, Wang said. Herbal medicine is an important part of traditional Chinese medicine, which boasts a history of more than 2,000 years and has gained global attention for its unique theories and practices.
