This is NEWS Plus Special English. I'm Liu Yan in Beijing. Here is the news.
An official pardon is being considered in China for prisoners who meet certain criteria. The draft decision has been submitted to China's top legislature.
The authorities say in the spirit of the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, four categories of prisoners who are not deemed a threat to society may become eligible for amnesty.
It's been made clear that any criminals who have been convicted of bribery or embezzlement will not be covered by the amnesty.
The four special cases cover criminals who fought in China's war of resistance against Japanese invasion and the civil war against the Kuomintang army, and criminals who participated in wars to safeguard national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity after the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949. Those found guilty of serious crimes are excluded.
The cases also include criminals who are 75 years of age and older, criminals with physical disabilities, as well as those who committed crimes while under the age of 18 and received a maximum sentence of three years in prison.
This is NEWS Plus Special English.
China will increase the pensions of veterans who fought in World War II, starting in October.
World War II veterans currently receive a yearly pension of more than 7,000 yuan, roughly more than 1,000 U.S. dollars, while some receive higher amounts in better-off parts of the country.
Details of the increase were not revealed.
The central government has already offered a one-time subsidy of 5,000 yuan to the veterans as part of measures to honor them for their contribution ahead of Victory Day celebrations on September 3.
China currently has more than 50,000 soldiers, military officials and other servicemen who fought in the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression between 1937 and 1945.
The subsidy will also be given to the more than 6,000 surviving veterans of the Kuomintang army who fought in the war.
Many veterans have been invited to the Victory Day events in Beijing, with some joining the military parade and others in the audience at Tian'anmen Square.
