China has extended key visa facilitation measures through December 31, 2026, making visa applications easier for many short-term travelers. The update centers on an expanded fingerprint exemption for eligible applicants. What’s changing? Based on notices issued by multiple Chinese embassies on December 18, applicants applying for short-term visas with a stay of no more than 180...

Chinese Learning Series – Classes 5 to 10 Welcome back! In this part of our series, we’ll cover Classes 5 to 10, focusing on practical topics like shopping, transport, weather, time, family, and hobbies. Class 5: Shopping and Money 这个多少钱？ (Zhè ge duōshǎo qián?) – How much is this? 太贵了 (tài guì le) – Too expensive 便宜一点 (piányi...

While the weather has been a little unpredictable of late, when the sun does shine and you’re looking for a spot of alfresco dining or drinking, there is no shortage of stunning rooftops and terraces here in Beijing. To kick off this series, we're going to take a look at some of the rooftops and terraces situated around the Sanlitun and Gongti area, so grab your sunglasses and go...

Africa’s next streaming revolution isn’t coming from Silicon Valley it’s coming from Lagos. Hafrikplay, a fast-growing Nigerian music platform, is raising a $5 million Series A to build what CEO Omobosola Karimat Alaka calls “Africa’s own music infrastructure.” The goal: to empower artists long before fame, with fair pay, visibility, and ownership built...

  Location: Xishui County, Guizhou · Reported by local authorities · Originally covered by ECNS More than 100 people, including children, have been hospitalized in Xishui County, Guizhou Province after eating sandwiches made by a local pastry factory. Officials say the affected stores have paused operations while testing and investigations continue. Key facts...