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Tuesday 22 September

5 updates
Policy & visas
European Commission Press CornerMediterranean / EU / Jordan / New York

EU and UNESCO Hold High-Level Side Event on Information Integrity

EU Commissioner Šuica delivered opening remarks at the UNESCO-EU high-level side event held during the UN General Assembly in New York, themed on strengthening information integrity and freedom of expression in the Mediterranean. She said information integrity and freedom of expression are at the core of a peaceful, stable, and inclusive society, and that false narratives can delay solutions to urgent issues such as climate change and can lead people to trust smugglers and fuel radicalisation and violence. Under the Pact for the Mediterranean, the EU supports actions on media and information literacy, fact-checking, journalists—especially young journalists—and cross-border cooperation.

Policy & visas
European Commission Press CornerBrussels / EU / Macao

EU Adopts 26th Annual Report on Macao, Citing National Security Focus and Erosion of Freedoms

The European Commission and the High Representative adopted the 26th annual report on Macao, covering developments in 2025. The report says fundamental freedoms and rights were further eroded. Former pro-democracy lawmaker Au Kam San was arrested on 30 July under Macao's national security law, the first arrest under that law; independent outlet All About Macau announced closure in October after deregistration. The eighth Legislative Assembly election was held in September, with 14 directly elected, 12 indirectly elected and seven appointed seats, after 12 candidates were disqualified. Economically, the EU was Macao's second-largest goods trading partner in 2025 at €887 million, 25.3% of Mac…

Policy & visas
European Commission Press CornerBrussels / EU / Hong Kong

EU Adopts 28th Annual Report on Hong Kong, Citing Continued Erosion of Autonomy and Freedoms

The European Commission and the High Representative adopted the 28th annual report on Hong Kong, covering developments in 2025. The report highlights continued erosion of Hong Kong's autonomy and fundamental freedoms, with national security remaining the government's focus in the fifth year of the National Security Law. Trials and new prosecutions of pro-democracy figures continued, including the conviction of media entrepreneur Jimmy Lai and new charges against Joshua Wong, plus the first prosecution of a relative of a wanted activist. Arrest warrants with bounties were issued against 15 more overseas activists. The report notes Hong Kong remained the world's third-largest financial centre…

Policy & visas
European Commission Press CornerUkraine / Norway / EU / New York City / United States

Von der Leyen Meets Norwegian PM Støre in New York

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre in New York on the margins of the UN General Assembly. They discussed longstanding Norway-EU cooperation based on common values and interests, and Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, reaffirming support for the Ukrainian people with political, military, financial and humanitarian assistance. Von der Leyen highlighted the importance of the EEA Agreement and its full implementation, and welcomed Norway's September 18 measures to accelerate incorporation of the backlog of EU acts.

Policy & visas
European Commission Press CornerIndia / Indonesia / EU / Australia / United States

Von der Leyen Summit Speech: EU Backs Multilateralism With 80 Trade Agreements

European Commission President von der Leyen spoke at the Summit in Support of Multilateralism in New York, stressing the importance of partnerships in a fractured world and noting the EU is expanding its network of trade agreements, now numbering 80, including India, Australia, Mercosur and Indonesia. She said these partnerships bring prosperity and economic security and serve as a platform for shared standards, shared rules and support for the WTO and its reform. She also called the UN indispensable, citing the Black Sea Grain Initiative, and said the EU supports the UN80 initiative for a simpler, more efficient United Nations.

Monday 21 September

12 updates
Policy & visas
European Commission Press CornerEU / Australia / New York

EU-Australia Joint Statement: FTA Talks Concluded, Cooperation Deepened

European Commission President von der Leyen, European Council President Costa and Australian Prime Minister Albanese met on the margins of the UN General Assembly to review progress in EU-Australia relations since von der Leyen's March 2026 visit to Australia. The three leaders welcomed the conclusion of negotiations on a comprehensive, ambitious, balanced and commercially meaningful Free Trade Agreement and looked forward to its signature as soon as possible; welcomed progress toward Australia's association to the Horizon Europe Programme for 2027; reflected on implementation of the EU-Australia Security and Defence Partnership covering hybrid and cyber threats, foreign information manipul…

Policy & visas
European Commission Press CornerBrussels / EU

EU launches Water Resilience Stakeholder Platform

The European Commission officially launched the Water Resilience Stakeholder Platform in Brussels as a five-year support mechanism for implementing the Water Resilience Strategy. Established with the Committee of the Regions and the European Economic and Social Committee, the platform has over 50 members spanning policymakers, NGOs, academia, research organisations, regional bodies, youth actors, financial institutions and industry. Commissioner Roswall cited this summer's extreme heatwaves, wildfires and severe drought as evidence of Europe's water vulnerability, stressed the "Water Efficiency First" principle, and noted that over EUR 3 billion in EU cohesion policy funding has been mobili…

Policy & visas
European Commission Press CornerEU

European Commission Proposes Common Rating Scheme for Data Centres

The European Commission proposed a common rating scheme for data centres on 21 September 2026, aimed at increasing transparency on their energy and water use and supporting their sustainable integration into Europe's energy system. The EU wants to triple its data centre capacity over the next five to seven years, but this growth could put extra pressure on electricity grids, water use and carbon emissions. The rating scheme will ensure transparent information about data centres' actual resource use.

Policy & visas
European Commission Press CornerBrussels / EU

European Commission Launches Alliance for the Reduction of Bureaucratic Burden

European Commissioner Dombrovskis delivered a keynote speech in Brussels launching the Alliance for the Reduction of Bureaucratic Burden. The Commission has tabled twelve major Omnibus simplification proposals with the potential to save at least €17 billion in annual administrative costs for European businesses and national administrations. The Commission targets cutting administrative burdens by at least 25% for all companies and at least 35% for SMEs, with plans to deliver simplification proposals in banking, housing, transport and digital sectors in 2027.

Policy & visas
China Tourism NewsChina

China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism Issues 15th Five-Year Plan for Intangible Cultural Heritage

China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism issued the 15th Five-Year Plan for the Protection and Inheritance of Intangible Cultural Heritage, setting overall requirements, key tasks and safeguards. By 2030, it aims to form an initial new framework for systematic ICH protection, deepen ICH integration into modern life, and see new inheritance and experience scenarios emerge. Six key task areas cover improving the project protection system, optimizing talent cultivation, serving national strategies, creating new life-integration scenarios, deepening tech empowerment and boosting communication reach.

Policy & visas
Pinchain TourismChina

Ministry of Culture and Tourism Issues 15th Five-Year Plan for Public Cultural Service System Devel…

The Ministry of Culture and Tourism recently issued the 15th Five-Year Plan for Public Cultural Service System Development. The plan sets goals for 2030: continuous improvement in balanced development of public cultural services, comprehensive advancement of integrated urban-rural public cultural service systems, and a new level of digital-intelligent public cultural services. It deploys five key tasks and lists 18 key engineering projects, with requirements covering implementation mechanisms, legal framework, fiscal guarantees, talent cultivation, and safety bottom lines.

Policy & visas
UK CAA NewsScotland / United Kingdom

UK CAA: NATS Disruption Likely 'Extraordinary Circumstances', Compensation Unlikely

The UK Civil Aviation Authority issued a statement on the 21 September 2026 technical failure at NATS' Prestwick centre, saying delays and cancellations directly caused by the incident are likely to constitute 'extraordinary circumstances' under passenger rights rules, meaning passengers are unlikely to be entitled to compensation. Airlines must still meet care obligations, including meals, refreshments and hotel accommodation proportionate to the delay, and promptly reimburse passengers who make their own arrangements where carriers cannot proactively offer care or suitable replacement flights. The issue primarily affected airports in northern parts of the UK, with other airports also repo…

Policy & visas
China Tourism NewsChina / Yunnan Province / Mile City / Honghe Prefecture

2026 National National Day Culture and Tourism Consumption Month Main Event to Be Held in Mile, Yun…

According to China Tourism News, the main event of the 2026 National Day Culture and Tourism Consumption Month will be held on September 22 in Mile City, Honghe Prefecture, Yunnan Province. Themed 'Culture and Tourism Benefits the People, Sharing a Better Life,' the event aims to boost cultural and tourism consumption during the National Day period.

Data & research
China Tourism NewsChina

Cultural Tourism Scene Creation: Moving from Set Design to Scene Thinking

The article notes that two State Council General Office documents issued in January and November 2025 explicitly support building immersive cultural tourism scenes and accelerating digital technology application in the sector. The author argues that projects must shift from static set design to participatory scene thinking: spaces should carry cultural narratives, business mixes should follow curatorial logic, technology should avoid gimmickry, and cultural translation, resident participation and dramatic tension are essential.

Policy & visas
China Tourism NewsChina / Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region / Beijing / Nanjing / Jiangsu Province

Ten Departments Issue Measures to Boost RV Consumption with Nine Steps

The State Council General Office forwarded the 'Several Measures on Promoting RV Consumption' issued by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and nine other departments, setting out nine measures covering RV campground construction, RV tourism product supply and management services, and RV rental services. Industry players see the benefits concentrated in stock conversion, route coupling and product upgrading, with campground land-use issues clarified. Data from the RV branch of the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers show 2025 sales of short-trip camping vehicles up 85.61% year on year and new-energy long-distance RV sales up 229%.

Policy & visas
China Tourism NewsChina

China Immigration Rolls Out Online Registration for Non-Hotel Foreigner Accommodation Nationwide

China's National Immigration Administration issued Announcement No. 7 of 2026 on September 21, rolling out nationwide online registration for foreigner accommodation outside hotels. Under Article 39 of the Exit and Entry Administration Law, foreigners staying outside hotels must register with local public security authorities within 24 hours of check-in, by themselves or their host. Registration can be done online via the NIA government services website, the "NIA 12367" app, WeChat mini-program or Alipay mini-program. Offline channels remain available, and online registration has the same legal effect as in-person registration.

Policy & visas
European Commission Press CornerBrussels / EU

European Commission proposes common EU rating scheme for data centres

The European Commission has proposed a common rating scheme for data centres to increase transparency on their energy and water use and support their sustainable integration into Europe's energy system. The scheme covers individual data centres with capacity above 500 kW and also their contribution to the grid, such as waste-heat reuse, added clean-energy generation capacity and flexibility. The Commission also launched a call for evidence and public consultation on minimum performance standards for data centres, closing on 14 December 2026. The Delegated Regulation now faces a two-month scrutiny period by the European Parliament and Council, with first sustainability labels expected in 202…

Sunday 20 September

4 updates
Policy & visas
China Tourism NewsChina

China's Market Regulator to Advance Platform Economy via Three Work Streams

At the State Council Information Office's "15th Five-Year Plan" themed press conference on September 20, Zhu Jianqiao, director of the market regulator's online transaction supervision department, outlined three work streams for the platform economy. First, improving legal rules by accelerating amendment of the E-Commerce Law, adding penalties such as proportional fines and suspension of related business, tightening platform duties on merchant onboarding review, product information control, consumer safety and merchants' operating rights, and bringing new-format e-commerce operators, new employment forms and platform-related entities into scope. Second, raising routine supervision by advanc…

Policy & visas
Pinchain TourismChina / Anhui Province

Anhui Regulates Lodging Prices in Peak Periods, Cracks Down on Fake Discounts

Anhui's Market Supervision Administration, Development and Reform Commission, Department of Commerce and Department of Culture and Tourism jointly issued a notice on regulating lodging room prices during key periods, covering major holidays, tourism peaks, important exam dates and large events. The notice requires operators to display prices prominently, list all goods and services in package sales, prohibits surcharges beyond marked prices or unlisted fees, and encourages publishing peak-period room prices at least 15 days in advance. It cracks down on fabricated 'original prices', fake discounts and low-price lures with high settlement, and specifically targets unilateral cancellation of…

Policy & visas
Pinchain TourismChina / Yunnan / Sichuan

China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism Releases Typical Cases of Forced Consumption; Low Penalties…

China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism released the sixth batch of typical cases of forced consumption in the tourism market for 2026, involving travel agencies arranging optional paid items without tourist consent, packaging shopping venues as attractions, and tour guides instructing tourists to shop. In one case, guide Huang Mou-long was ordered by the Dali Culture and Tourism Bureau to forfeit illegal gains and fined 5,000 yuan, while Yunnan Tianzhiai International Travel Service was handled in a separate case. In another, guide Fu Mou was fined 3,000 yuan and ordered to forfeit gains by the Yanyuan County Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism Bureau, and Sichuan China Youth Travel Ser…

Policy & visas
Pinchain TourismChina / Zhangjiajie City / Wulingyuan District / Hunan Province

Wulingyuan Launches 'Clean Wulingyuan' Environmental Action Plan

On 17 September, the implementation plan for the 'Clean Wulingyuan' special action in Wulingyuan District, Zhangjiajie City was officially issued, marking the full launch of the campaign. The action targets four areas: air pollution control, water ecology improvement, solid waste and livestock farming, and rectification of environmental inspection issues, aiming to resolve prominent ecological problems by the end of September 2026. The district has tightened accountability at all levels, with district leaders overseeing villages and party members responsible down to household level, plus a closed-loop mechanism for problem detection, handling and rectification. As a World Natural Heritage s…

Friday 18 September

4 updates