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Here is the news. China and New Zealand have launched a two -year fast -track Patent Grant Program to simplify the intellectual property application process for innovators from both countries.
The Patent Prosecution Highway pilot program between the China National Intellectual Property Administration, and the Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand, took effect on November 1 this year, and will last until October 31, 2026.
It is a fast -track process that links the patent examination duties of different countries authorities, or regions, allowing patent examination authorities to share their work to speed up patent examination.
According to the China National Intellectual Property Administration, once China has issued a favourable decision on a patent claim, applicants can request an expedited review of related claims by New Zealand's IP office.
This streamlines the approval process.
Such rapid Rapid authorization means that innovators can protect their intellectual property and prevent imitation or infringement by competitors.
By the end of last year, China became the first country in the world with more than 4 million valid invention patents.
It has been the leading global source of international patent applications since 2019.
Since initiating the first pilot program of the Patent Prosecution Highway in November 2011, the China National Intellectual Property Administration has built ties with the Patent and examination authorities of 33 countries and regions.
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has announced that it is to allow for the graduates of 13 more universities to apply for its top talent pass scheme, among other measures, to sweeten its invitation to talents worldwide.
The addition includes nine universities from the Chinese Mainland, as well as four overseas artists, specialised institutions, on the Q .S.
World University rankings in the discipline of art and design.
The number of universities eligible under the scheme came to 198.
The Hong Kong S .A .R.
government also extended the validity period of the first visas of Category A applications, under the scheme, from 2 years to 3 years, to help applicants plan for moving their families to Hong Kong.
Category A applicants are those with an annual income reaching $2 .5 million Hong Kong Dollars US $321 ,000 or above, in the year immediately preceding the date of application.
For the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme, the Hong Kong SAR government scrapped the annual English.
According to local authorities, the Landmark Ice and Snow theme park in Harbin, in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, will expand ahead of the 9th Asian Winter Games.
seasons. The ice -snow world, built on the northern bank of the Songhua River, will cover a million square meters in the coming snow season with a size equivalent to 140 football pitches, larger than previous seasons.
The park will feature elements of the 9th Asian Winter Games.
The theme park grew from the former Harbin Ice Lantern Festival, which started in 1963.
In December 1999, the Ice Snow World was built in Harbin to mark the millennium.
This season marks its 26th anniversary, with the amusement venue scheduled to open in mid -December.
The ninth Asian Winter Games, scheduled for February 7 -14 in Harbin, will will see record participation.
More than 1 ,500 athletes from 34 countries and regions have registered so far.
During this year's Double -11 online shopping spree, e -commerce platforms like Taobao are no longer the only places Chinese customers dwell.
Attracted by heavily discounted hotel packages, people are spending more time on the country's leading online travel agencies, countries, including Fliggy and C -Trip.
Fliggy felt the heat first -hand after kicking off the sales of its double -eleven tourism packages on October 21st.
revenue exceeded 1 billion yuan, about US $140 million in less than a minute.
After securing a holiday package, customers can select any check -in date within the validity period, which usually spans several months.
And the payment won't go through, until customers confirm the dates of their stay, according to a report from commercial property information provider Medin, these packages meet Chinese people's growing demand for good value products and services, and, as the time they have to make decisions is often limited, flexibility flexibility and convenience are increasingly significant when it comes to travel accommodation.
For hotels, double eleven sales are another arena in the country's booming tourist market.
Data from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism shows that during the seven day national holiday last month China recorded 765 million domestic tourist trips a year -on -year increase of 5 .9 percent on a comparable basis the total spending of domestic tourists exceeded seven hundred billion yuan during the period up 6 .3 percent year -on -year and 7 .9 percent from 2019.
Shuai Mengting with the online travel agency Fliggy, believes that Double 11 is an important opportunity for hotels in the forthcoming off -season.
to take full advantage of the opportunity hotels have been expanding their package sales channels by live streaming and inviting influencers to promote their products.
Following this trend, Shui noted that Fliggy is also expanding its sales channels.
During this year's double -eleven sales, the company doubled its marketing input on popular social media platforms like WeChat, Shaohongshu and Weibo, compared to last year.
This is Special English.
A new study by researchers from China's Lanzhou University has provided valuable insights into the formation and evolution of the Taklimakan desert, the country's largest desert, using first -hand data.
Wang Xin, a professor at the College of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Lanzhou University, noted that the study revealed the modern landscape of the central Taklimakan desert began forming approximately 300 ,000 years ago, based on an analysis of a 200 -meter drill core collected from the centre of the desert.
The Taglimakan Desert is also the world's second largest shifting desert.
Wang, who led the team of researchers, said that a better understanding of its geological evolution, is crucial for comprehending the formation of desert landscapes in multi -altitude Asia.
Since 2008, the study team has carried out a research program to drill core samples from multiple deserts, including the Tak Limakan Desert, to provide direct in situ evidence for a better understanding of the evolutionary history of China's major deserts.
deserts. In the center of the Tak -Limakan Desert, the drilling depth reached 1 ,340 meters.
Through first -hand information from these drill cores, the team discovered that the initial formation of the Tak -Limakan Desert dates back at least 1 .8 million years, although a precise age for this early phase remains undetermined.
Wang explained that studying the changes and dynamics of the desert not only enhances people's understanding of how tectonic and climate interactions have shaped desert landscapes shapes on Earth, but also provides valuable insights into how desert environments may respond to future climate change trends under global warming.
The relevant research findings have been published in the journal Science Bulletin.
This is Special English.
Do you have a love -hate relationship with snow?
When the first snow falls, it brings a childlike thrill about everything the season brings.
Even if it's just a flurry, everyone tries to take the perfect photo to share with friends and family.
It's even better when there's enough snow for other activities, such as building a snowman, snowball fights, ice -skating, sled -riding and skiing.
Snow is the best present that winter can give to kids, and it's even better when it appears on special occasions, like Christmas.
While snow is pretty and fun, we must admit that it can be a pain to travel through when you're on the road, especially when you're in a rush.
But for the Chinese, especially those living in the northern part of the country, they never lose their affection for snow.
In fact, fact, they have managed to love snow for many thousands of years.
The first fun fact to know is that the Chinese call, what are known as snowflakes in English, xuehua, snow flowers.
When it snows, it's as though the angels in heaven are scattering blossom from up above.
Ancient Chinese poets described trees covered in snow as jade branches on the jade tree.
When the world is covered in snow, Chinese minds liken it to Mother Earth being dressed in silver silk.
talk. You can get an idea of how snow makes winter so lovable for many Chinese people.
Seeking pleasure from nature has been a common way for Chinese people to relax since ancient times.
While watching the snow fall and enjoying plum blossom, they would discuss the winter scenery and compose snow -themed poems.
For centuries, there has been a popular list of the best places to enjoy the most beautiful snow scenery, including the Western Hills in Beijing and the West Lake in Hangzhou in East China.
Snow is not only physically beautiful, It also symbolizes purity and innocence.
This Chinese love for snow has been extended further to describe a clever girl as snow and ice -smart, or bingshui -song -ming, in Chinese.
Please! This phrase is said to come from a poem by Tang Dynasty poet Du Fu.
In a poem dedicated to his friend Du writes that his friend had a mind that is so exquisite and agile as if it had been cleaned by ice and snow.
Later the phrase Bingxue Song Ming was commonly used to describe intelligent females.
Another fun fact is that snow makes a beautiful given name in Chinese because it represents purity, dignity, and royalty.
Parents use snow to express a vision when naming their children, hoping that their offspring will People have a pure heart like snow forever.
Last, but not least, Chinese people believe that snow is a good omen for a prosperous year.
This does not just embody a whimsical wish from ancient Chinese farmers for a good harvest, it has scientific underpinnings.
Snow that arrives at this critical moment will kill the eggs and the larvae of pests, as well as providing water for crops once spring arrives.
To fully appreciate the artsy beauty that snow brings, you need to stay warm when the are getting lower.
Isn't it bliss that most festive holidays in the Northern Hemisphere such as Christmas and the Chinese Spring Festival are all celebrated during the coldest months of the year?
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That is the end of this edition of Special English.
To recap, I am going to read two of the news items again at normal speed.
Please listen carefully.
During this year's Double 11 online shopping spree, e -commerce platforms like Taobao are no longer the only places Chinese customers dwell.
Attracted by heavily discounted hotel packages people are spending more time on the country's leading online travel agencies including Fliggy and C -Trip.
Fliggy felt the heat first -hand after kicking off sales of its Double 11 tourism packages on October 21.
Its revenue exceeded US $1 billion, about US $140 million in less than a minute.
After securing a holiday package, customers Customers can select any check -in date within the validity period, which usually spans several months, and the payment won't go through until customers confirm the dates of their stay.
According to a report from commercial property information provider Medin, these packages meet Chinese people's growing demand for good value products and services, and as the time they have to make decisions is often limited, flexibility and convenience are increasingly significantly when it comes to travel accommodation.
For hotels, double 11 sales are another arena in the country's booming tourist market.
Data from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism shows that during the 7 -day national holiday last month, China recorded 765 million domestic tourist trips, a year -on -year increase of 5 .9 per cent on a comparable basis.
Total spending of domestic tourists exceeded 700 billion yuan during the period, up 6 .3 % year on year and 7 .9 % from 2019.
Shui Meng Ting, with the online travel agency Fliggy, believes that Double Eleven is an important opportunity for hotels in the forthcoming off -season.
To take advantage of the opportunity, hotels have been expanding their package sales channels by live streaming and inviting influencers to promote their products.
Following this trend, Shua noted that FLEIGI is also expanding its sales channels.
During this year's double eleven sales, the company doubled its marketing input on popular social media platforms like WeChat, Shaohongshu and Weibo compared to last year.
A new study by researchers from China's Lanzhou University University, has provided valuable insights into the formation and evolution of the Taklimakan Desert, the country's largest desert, using first -hand data.
Wang Shin, a professor at the College of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Lanzhou University, noted that the study revealed the modern landscape of the central Taklimakan Desert began forming approximately 300 ,000 years ago, based on an analysis of a 200 -metre drill core collected from the of the desert.
The Taklamakan Desert is also the world's second largest shifting desert.
Wang, who led the team of researchers, said that a better understanding of its geological evolution is crucial for comprehending the formation of desert landscapes in mid -altitude Asia.
Since 2008, the study team has carried out a research program to drill core samples from multiple deserts, including the Taklamakan Desert, to provide direct in -situ evidence for a better understanding of the evolutionary history of China's major deserts.
In the centre of the Taklamakan Desert, the drilling depth reached 1 ,340 metres.
Through first -hand information from these drill cores, the team discovered that the initial formation of the Taklamakan Desert dates back at least 1 .8 million years, although a precise age for this early phase remains undetermined.
Wang explained that studying the changes and dynamics of the desert not only enhances people's understanding of how tectonic and climate interactions have shaped desert landscapes on Earth, but also provides valuable insights into how desert environments may respond to future climate change trends under global warming.
The relevant research findings have been published in the journal Science Bulletin.
That is the end of today's programme.
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