Briefly

BEIJING

Careful handling of guilty-plea cases urged

China's top procuratorate has asked the country's prosecutors to carefully deal with cases involving possible lenient penalties on criminal suspects who admit their guilt and accept punishment to ensure they have a good social effect. A circular issued by the Supreme People's Procuratorate and published on Thursday has 28 requirements regarding proper implementation of the procedure. In the circular, the SPP asked procuratorates at all levels to apply the procedure in accordance with law and make sure it is exercised in every eligible case. However, it also emphasized that the procuratorial agencies should not only pay heed to the number of cases to which the procedure has been applied, but also ensure the quality of work so that the use of the procedure leads to a better effect on society.

Data-sharing platform for space launched

China has launched a platform for sharing near-space science data to facilitate research, according to the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The platform, Scientific Experimental System in Near Space, is led by the Aerospace Information Research Institute under the CAS. It includes original near-space data generated from various scientific experiments and data analyses, covering meteorological, hydrological and geographic information. The data spans multiple fields including biology, atmosphere, electromagnetics and radiation. The platform gathers data from six comprehensive scientific experiments carried out in 2018 and 2019, including an atmospheric observation of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, a meteorite impact simulation and a geomagnetic storm detection.

SHANDONG

Public encouraged to 'adopt' old trees

More than 200 ancient and precious trees on Taishan Mountain, a popular UNESCO World Heritage site in Shandong province, are available for public adoption, local authorities said. People can adopt trees aged above 100 years or the precious ones with historical, cultural and scientific significance growing on the mountain, according to the management committee of the Taishan Mountain scenic area. Adopters will be granted a tree adoption certificate and can put up a sign with their names on it without disturbing the surrounding environment of the trees, the management committee said.

HEBEI

Ancient noble tombs in north excavated

A large tomb complex in Hebei province has been preliminarily confirmed to belong to nobles from the late Shang Dynasty (c.16th century-11th century BC), archaeologists said. Over a year of excavation, a total of 22 tombs in the ancient graveyard near Zhoujiazhuang village in Shijiazhuang city were unearthed, according to the provincial institute of cultural heritage and archaeology. Of the 22 exquisitely constructed tombs, 17 can be dated back to the Shang Dynasty.

Xinhua