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This is Special English. I&`&m Mark Griffiths in Beijing. Here is the news.
A scientist known as China&`&s "father of hybrid rice" has developed a new strain that could enable the plant to adapt to more varied growing environments at a significantly lower cost.
The strain is designed to be hardier and able to withstand lower temperatures during the plant&`&s reproductive phase. It is the third generation of hybrid rice that Yuan Longping has developed.
Yuan told the China Daily that the third generation will also incorporate the merits of the previous two generations, and its adaptability to low temperatures will increase significantly.
Low temperatures during the reproductive phase resulted in crop failure for the second generation of hybrid rice in Anhui province in 2014, triggering government scrutiny over the adaptability of the strain. It also infuriated farmers, whose yields plummeted from an expected 7.5 metric tons to 750 kilograms per hectare, or even to zero.
Yuan said the cost of breeding the new strain has also decreased significantly, making its commercial use viable in the short term.
Yuan is also developing a new strain of saltwater-resistant rice that could yield up to 4.5 tons per hectare - around 60 percent of the yield from regular paddies.
Meanwhile, his team is looking to sell the new strain to the world&`&s major rice-growing countries.
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Another big name is joining the world&`&s pursuit for self-driving cars, with Apple acknowledging for the first time that it is investing "heavily" in building such a car.
According to a letter from the company to the U.S. transport regulator which was revealed in the media recently, Apple declared its interest in self-driving vehicle technology, adding that the company "is excited about the potential of automated systems in many areas, including transportation".
The letter was written by Apple&`&s Director of Product Integrity Steve Kenner on Nov. 22 to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. It urges the U.S. regulator not to introduce too many rules on the testing of self-driving cars.
The letter said established manufacturers and new entrants should be treated equally.
There has long been speculation about the computer and iPhone maker&`&s plans for expanding into transportation but it has not publicly admitted them.
A few companies are currently investing in self-driving cars, including Google which is reportedly already testing its cars on the roads, and the electric car maker Tesla, which has announced that all the cars it now builds will have the hardware installed to drive on their own.
You&`&re listening to Special English. I&`&m Mark Griffiths in Beijing.
A British Council program aiming to inspire girls and young women about the world of work has launched its online platform.
The program is entitled "Inspiring Women China". It is based on an initiative in Britain. Its online platform will enable this initiative to grow in scale across China with teachers able to connect with and invite volunteers in any chosen field or area to talk with students in their school or college.
The program is expected to inspire young people, girls and young women in particular, to raise their confidence and aspirations and enable them to make better informed choices about their career options.
At the heart of this program is a network of successful women from a broad range of backgrounds who volunteer their time to talk to students about their job, career and the path they took to get there.
Carma Elliot, head of the British Council China, says she agrees with the Chinese saying of "women hold up half the sky".
She said the program is also about inspiring the next generation of girls to fulfill their potential in society, and to make the greatest possible contribution to social and economic development.
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Member countries of the European Space Agency have approved an additional 440 million euros, roughly 470 million U.S. Dollars, to fund the agency&`&s next mission to Mars.
As part of the ExoMars mission, the agency sent an orbiter and a test lander to the red planet this year. The Trace Gas Orbiter was successfully deployed but the lander malfunctioned and crashed on the surface of Mars, raising fears about the next stage of the mission.
Despite the crash, officials meeting in Switzerland recently approved the budget that the agency said it requires to send a rover to Mars in 2020.
In all, member states approved 10 billion euros in funding for the agency, which will also allow it to continue participating in the International Space Station program until at least 2024.
You&`&re listening to Special English. I&`&m Mark Griffiths in Beijing.
Australian researchers have developed a world-first vaccine for gum disease.
The vaccine, developed by a team from the University of Melbourne, will eliminate, or at least significantly reduce, the need for surgery and antibiotics for severe gum disease.
Gum disease affects one in three adults worldwide and more than 50 percent of Australians over the age of 65.
The disease is commonly associated with diabetes, heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, dementia and certain types of cancer. It is a chronic condition that destroys gum tissue and bone supporting teeth, leading to tooth loss.
The vaccine targets enzymes produced by the bacteria to trigger an immune response which in turn produces antibodies that neutralize the pathogen&`&s destructive toxins.
Eric Reynolds, CEO of the Oral Health Cooperative Research Center at the University of Melbourne, said the vaccine would greatly reduce the tissue destruction caused by the pathogen.
Reynolds said the methods are helpful, and he holds high hopes for this vaccine to improve the quality of life for millions of people.
Clinical trials of the vaccine in humans are expected to begin in early 2018.
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Patients in an Australia state are being recruited in what is touted as the world&`&s first medicinal cannabis trial for the prevention of nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy.
The clinical trial will involve 80 patients in the first stage and could expand to another 250 patients across New South Wales.
According to a statement from the office of the New South Wales Minister for Medical Research, the trial will play a critical role in developing a better understanding of how cannabis products may provide relief for cancer patients.
A new oral plant-derived, pharmaceutical-grade capsule will be used in the trial.
A lead researcher of the trial, associate Professor Peter Grimison said there was very limited high-quality research available on the role of cannabis-derived medicines in treating nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy.
He said they have come a long way with conventional anti-nausea medication, but one-third of patients continue to suffer during and after chemotherapy.
The professor said the role of cannabis medicines in alleviating chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting is still unclear, and this study aims to provide a definitive answer to this question.
You&`&re listening to Special English. I&`&m Mark Griffiths in Beijing. You can access the program by logging on to newsplusradio.cn. You can also find us on our Apple Podcast. If you have any comments or suggestions, please let us know by e-mailing us at mansuyingyu@cri.com.cn. That&`&s mansuyingyu@cri.com.cn. Now the news continues.
Hollywood writers will be hired to train the winners of a young Chinese scriptwriters program.
The program, "Ju Ben Hui", which means "alliance of scripts", is the name of the project that was jointly developed by three Beijing-based entertainment companies.
Top Chinese directors are on the panel that will select three young scriptwriters from candidates across the country. They will be selected for a grant of up to 1 million yuan, roughly 147,000 U.S. dollars, and a chance to be coached by a Hollywood scriptwriter at a venue in North China&`&s Hebei province.
The first winners will be announced next year and the date has yet to be released.
An actor-director who is on the panel said China needs more high quality screenplays, and Hollywood&`&s rich experience in storytelling can be an inspiration.
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Ten foreigners who have significant influence in their social media circles including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram, have gathered in Beijing to experience traditional Chinese medicine.
During the event, the foreigners experienced massage, acupuncture, hot spring treatments, and watched tai chi performance.
The event was co-sponsored by the Beijing Municipal Commission of Tourism Development and China&`&s biggest online travel agency C-trip. It is part of a campaign to showcase traditional Chinese medicine to foreign visitors.
Meanwhile, C-trip has launched traditional medicine tours on its website.
Beijing has rich tourism resources, with 35 tourism destinations dedicated to
Traditional Chinese Medicine tours.
You&`&re listening to Special English. I&`&m Mark Griffiths in Beijing.
A big-budget television drama about the early life of William Shakespeare is being filmed in Wales in western Britain.
The drama will be the largest budget film ever shot in Wales. The series is being made for U.S. television.
Backed by financing from the Welsh Assembly, the production is expected to generate almost 23 million U.S. dollars for the Welsh economy.
The first series of nine episodes has been commissioned following the success of an initial pilot program that was filmed in London.
Welcoming the news, the Welsh Assembly&`&s Economy Cabinet Secretary Ken Skates described it as a great win and a huge boost for the creative industries sector in Wales.
He said the event supports the sector strategy to attract high-end drama to Wales with a specific focus on the lucrative U.S. market and with the probability of repeat series.
TNT is the American cable and satellite television channel owned by the Turner Broadcasting System division of Time Warner. The channel has ordered 10 episodes of the drama that tells the wild story of a young William Shakespeare.
Shakespeare is played by newcomer Laurie Davidson. The series is scheduled to air on U.S. television in 2017.
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A couple tried to hide in a Shanghai IKEA store to live broadcast their late night adventure on Saturday, December 3. IKEA security discovered them and called the police.
The police said the couple would be detained for several days.
On Friday, the man announced his plans on Weibo, saying he would invite a lady to hide in an IKEA store for the night.
The pair arrived at IKEA, hid in a cupboard and put out a live broadcast in the darkness. Later in the evening, a security guard discovered them and called the police.
Police officers came soon afterwards and found another man with the couple. The three said they wanted to experience the childhood feeling of hiding in a cupboard and meant no harm.
The live broadcaster apologized on Weibo the following day.
Live web broadcasting is becoming increasingly popular in China. The authorities published a regulation on live streaming one month ago, urging providers to obtain qualifications and act according to rules.
The regulations banned the use of live streams to undermine national security, destabilize society, disturb social order, infringe upon others&`& rights and interests, or disseminate obscene content.
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