SHANGHAI - The following are highlights of latest developments in preparations for the upcoming World Expo 2010 in Shanghai:?

Shanghai sets to protect Expo-related IPRs 

An intellectual property rights (IPRs) protection center has been established in Shanghai to provide IPR protection services for various participants in the World Expo 2010 from May 1 to October 31.

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The center will also invite related government departments, IPR protection experts and IPR lawyers to help deal with IPR disputes among participants or between participants and organizers or third-party institutions.

China Music Works Rights Association has signed an agreement with Expo organizers on cooperation in use of and authorization for music works at the six-month cultural gala. This was the first such agreement in Expo history.

Meanwhile, an informant hotline, 12330, has also been launched to receive IPR complaints at the Expo.

Six Chinese enterprises pavilions unveiled

Trial operation has started for six Expo pavilions tailored to 12 centrally-administered state-owned enterprises in China. The six are space, aviation, ship, oil, power grid and telecom pavilions. They account for one third of the 18 enterprises pavilions for the World Expo 2010. They will help illustrate the Expo theme "Better City, Better Life" in an interesting and scientific way.

Air service offered for Russian visitors to Expo

The Chinese budget air carrier, Spring Airlines, has resumed flights between Heihe, a city on the China-Russia border, and Shanghai with stopover in Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, in a bid to provide easier access to Shanghai World Expo for Russian visitors.

Ticket fares are quite cheap: 99 yuan ($14.5) for flights between Heihe and Harbin, 399 yuan for flights between Harbin and Shanghai and 699 yuan for flights between Heihe and Shanghai via Harbin.

Beijing intensifies security for Expo

The Beijing Capital Internatinal Airport has intensified security control efforts to ensure safety of entrances and departures for the Shanghai World Expo. Local police will launch checkpoints in the second and third terminals of the airport to examine suspicious vehicles, personnel and goods. More special policemen and sniffer dogs will join the examination. Armed patrol will continue inside the terminals.

Beijing police have decided to take anti-terrorist actions against any threats for explosions through text and phone calls and against spreading and fabrication of bogus terrorist information. Citizens will be required to register their real names when they buy knives for daily use and to carry the knives home with receipts after the purchases.