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Yesterday, Sunday February 22, 2026
France makes online booking and biometrics compulsory for every visa applicant
Starting 20 February 2026 all French visa appointments must be booked online via France-Visas and applicants must provide fingerprints and a live photo. The reform ends walk-ins, tightens document checks and aligns France with forthcoming EU digital border systems, but forces companies and travellers to plan much further ahead.
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Feb 22, 2026
Guangdong motorists flock to Hong Kong under new Southbound Travel scheme
In just eight weeks, 600 Guangdong cars have entered Hong Kong under the new Southbound Travel pilot, with 3,000 applications already filed and quotas filling up during holidays. The scheme streamlines clearance via the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge and is expected to boost business travel and high-value tourism. Authorities will review the 100-vehicle daily cap after three months, and a northbound version for Hong Kong cars is on the table.([scmp.com](https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3344198/600-guangdong-drivers-enter-hong-kong-thousands-apply-new-scheme?utm_source=openai))
Feb 22, 2026
Ukrainian refugees become net contributors to Czech budget, new data show
Government statistics released on Feb 21 show that tax and social-security income from 210,000 working Ukrainian refugees outweighed last year’s humanitarian payments by CZK 11.7 billion. The data bolster arguments for faster residence-permit processing and possible status conversion, with major implications for Czech employers reliant on foreign labour.
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