Latest news with #Kunming
South China Morning Post
16-07-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
China's visa-free boom picks up steam as entries soar in first half of 2025
China's expanded efforts to encourage visitors continued to pay off in the first half of 2025, with the number of visa-free foreign entries rising by more than half compared to the same period a year earlier. Foreign nationals made 38 million trips in and out of the country, a 30 per cent increase year on year, according to the administration. 'Visa facilitation measures have effectively attracted large numbers of foreign visitors for tourism and business, driving sustained growth in inbound consumption,' administration spokeswoman Lu Ning said. A previous long-standing policy allowed travellers without a Chinese visa to transit through the country visa-free for up to 24 hours if they held valid travel documents with onwards confirmation to a third country, consistent with international practice. In the 2010s, Chinese cities such as Xiamen and Kunming introduced 72-hour or 144-hour visa-free transit to attract foreign visitors, though travel was restricted within those individual cities. 03:15 What to know: new mainland travel permits for non-Chinese nationals in Hong Kong and Macau What to know: new mainland travel permits for non-Chinese nationals in Hong Kong and Macau
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Australian Dentists Endorse Smartee's Mandibular Repositioning Technology at Global Symposium in Kunming
Clinicians praise the S8-SGTB appliance for accelerating outcomes, improving patient satisfaction, and offering a non-invasive solution for Class II malocclusions. KUNMING, China, July 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Smartee Denti-Technology recently welcomed orthodontic experts and partners from Australia at its Global Symposium in Kunming, China. The event offered a deep dive into Smartee's Mandibular Repositioning Technology and showcased its clinical applications, particularly the innovative S8-SGTB appliance for Class II skeletal malocclusions. Australian clinicians praised the device for its simultaneous orthopedic and orthodontic correction, shorter treatment duration, and patient-friendly design. Dr. Knox Kim, Principal Dentist at Dental Clinic @ World Tower Sydney, shared: "In the past, for treating Class II malocclusions in growing patients, we had to use twin-block appliances before starting aligner therapy. It took at least three to six months to see the improvement. But with Smartee, from my own experience, it only took about one or two weeks before the patient could notice the lower jaw was pushing forward. And when I show the patients and the patients' parents the before and after photos, they were very happy to see such a quick response and improvement." Dr. Jenny J. Song from Blossom Dental Care added: "Compared to traditional functional and fixed appliances, Smartee GS is intelligently designed to guide both mandible repositioning and teeth movement simultaneously. This not only reduces total treatment time but also improves the predictability of outcomes." Dr. Sabrina Liu, a general dentist in Sydney, reflected: "This seminar was eye-opening. The number of successful mandibular repositioning cases using Smartee GS aligners changed my perception of what clear aligners can achieve. I hope more dentists in Australia will learn about this technique to benefit their patients." At the core of Smartee's Mandibular Repositioning Technology is S8-SGTB, a clear, non-invasive appliance designed to treat skeletal Class II discrepancies, minimizing the need for jaw surgeries or extractions. Engineered for both growing and adult patients, it integrates orthopedic and orthodontic functions in a single aligner-based solution. Key features include: Simultaneous mandibular repositioning and dental alignment Anotomical occlusal splints and locking components for stable joint advancement Minimizing need for extractions or surgeries Discreet, comfortable design compared to bulky functional devices The S8-SGTB represents Smartee's commitment to delivering clinically effective, patient-centered treatment paths for complex cases. Learn more about Smartee Mandibular Repositioning, please visit View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Smartee Denti-Technology
Asharq Al-Awsat
01-07-2025
- Science
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Zombie Fungus-Infected Fly Encased in 99-Million-Year-Old Amber
Some of the most intriguing science fiction springs from eerie, real-life phenomena. Case in point, the mutant parasite in the video game series 'The Last of Us,' CNN said on Monday. Creators of the franchise, which includes a show on HBO, got the idea from a type of fungus that hijacks the brains of ants and releases a flurry of lethal spores. (Both HBO and CNN belong to the parent company Warner Bros. Discovery.) In 'The Last of Us,' the fungi can infect humans, snaking tendrils through their skin. No one can stop the spread of the disease as it spurs each host, bursting with mushroom-like fruiting bodies, to keep infecting others. The actual fungus group Ophiocordyceps lives off a variety of insects — but the rest of the plot is pure sci-fi. This week, a new find is shedding light on just how long mind-controlling parasites have plagued the insect world. A glob of 99-million-year-old amber trapped a zombie fungus erupting from a fly, preserving one of the oldest examples of a fungal parasite hijacking an insect's body before killing it. The fungus and its host likely lived alongside the dinosaurs. The fly, as well as a second specimen of an infected ant in its cocoon, or pupal stage, shows the complexity of ancient ecosystems, in which fungal parasites could 'prey on' insects, said Yuhui Zhuang, a doctoral student at the Institute of Paleontology at Yunnan University in Kunming, China. Both amber-encased specimens could help scientists figure out whether the fungi are the ancestors of the parasites that enter the vulnerable heads of today's carpenter ants.
CNN
29-06-2025
- Science
- CNN
Zombie fungus-infected fly that likely lived among dinosaurs is preserved in amber
Some of the most intriguing science fiction springs from eerie, real-life phenomena. Case in point, the mutant parasite in the video game series 'The Last of Us.' Creators of the franchise, which includes a show on HBO, got the idea from a type of fungus that hijacks the brains of ants and releases a flurry of lethal spores. (Both HBO and CNN belong to the parent company Warner Bros. Discovery.) In 'The Last of Us,' the fungi can infect humans, snaking tendrils through their skin. No one can stop the spread of the disease as it spurs each host, bursting with mushroom-like fruiting bodies, to keep infecting others. The actual fungus group Ophiocordyceps lives off a variety of insects — but the rest of the plot is pure sci-fi. This week, a new find is shedding light on just how long mind-controlling parasites have plagued the insect world. A glob of 99 million-year-old amber trapped a zombie fungus erupting from a fly, preserving one of the oldest examples of a fungal parasite hijacking an insect's body before killing it. The fungus and its host likely lived alongside the dinosaurs. The fly, as well as a second specimen of an infected ant in its cocoon, or pupal stage, shows the complexity of ancient ecosystems, in which fungal parasites could 'prey on' insects, said Yuhui Zhuang, a doctoral student at the Institute of Paleontology at Yunnan University in Kunming, China. Both amber-encased specimens could help scientists figure out whether the fungi are the ancestors of the parasites that enter the vulnerable heads of today's carpenter ants. Axiom Space Mission 4, a private astronaut mission to the International Space Station, launched on Wednesday after an extended delay due to a long-standing leak issue at the in-orbit research facility. Air has been slowly escaping through tiny cracks in a tunnel that connects Russia's Zvezda module to a docking port for spacecraft carrying cargo and supplies. The steady leak, identified in 2019, recently stopped, however, raising concerns that the entire space station is losing air. In a joint European Space Agency and NASA mission, the Solar Orbiter spacecraft has captured never-before-seen footage of the sun's south pole, which could help scientists understand more about how space weather affects Earth. The first cosmic imagery from the Vera C. Rubin Observatory has arrived — and it's mind-blowing. Taken with the largest camera ever built, the images and videos feature over 2,000 newly detected asteroids, millions of distant galaxies and stars, and details of stellar nursery nebulae that resemble colorful cotton candy. This initial glimpse of Rubin's capabilities — test observations from just over 10 hours — is only a preview of what the observatory will produce over the next 10 years: a cinematic view of the universe and how it changes over time. Drone footage captured a distinct population of orcas in the Northeast Pacific's Salish Sea doing something never witnessed before in marine mammals: using a tool for grooming. Michael Weiss, research director of the Center for Whale Research in Friday Harbor, Washington, spotted the Southern Resident killer whales detaching strands of bull kelp from the seafloor and grooming each other with it in a practice dubbed 'allokelping.' These kelp 'combs,' which the orcas rubbed on each other for up to 15 minutes at a time, could serve two purposes: exfoliating dead skin and deepening social bonds. Catch up on these fascinating stories: — 'Super coral,' which are naturally more resilient to environmental changes, could be the key to saving Australia's Great Barrier Reef. Conservation scientists have already found dozens of these hardy species growing in a hot, acidic habitat. — Routine dredging of a river in the Netherlands turned up an incredibly well-preserved, nearly 1,000-year-old sword decorated with spiritual symbols. — Fossils unearthed in Colorado belong to a previously unknown dinosaur species about the size of a Labrador retriever that has long hind legs built for speedy running. — Scientists say they have identified Earth's oldest rocks in Quebec. The outcrop reveals details of an unknown chapter in our planet's history.
CNN
29-06-2025
- Science
- CNN
Zombie fungus-infected fly that likely lived among dinosaurs is preserved in amber
Some of the most intriguing science fiction springs from eerie, real-life phenomena. Case in point, the mutant parasite in the video game series 'The Last of Us.' Creators of the franchise, which includes a show on HBO, got the idea from a type of fungus that hijacks the brains of ants and releases a flurry of lethal spores. (Both HBO and CNN belong to the parent company Warner Bros. Discovery.) In 'The Last of Us,' the fungi can infect humans, snaking tendrils through their skin. No one can stop the spread of the disease as it spurs each host, bursting with mushroom-like fruiting bodies, to keep infecting others. The actual fungus group Ophiocordyceps lives off a variety of insects — but the rest of the plot is pure sci-fi. This week, a new find is shedding light on just how long mind-controlling parasites have plagued the insect world. A glob of 99 million-year-old amber trapped a zombie fungus erupting from a fly, preserving one of the oldest examples of a fungal parasite hijacking an insect's body before killing it. The fungus and its host likely lived alongside the dinosaurs. The fly, as well as a second specimen of an infected ant in its cocoon, or pupal stage, shows the complexity of ancient ecosystems, in which fungal parasites could 'prey on' insects, said Yuhui Zhuang, a doctoral student at the Institute of Paleontology at Yunnan University in Kunming, China. Both amber-encased specimens could help scientists figure out whether the fungi are the ancestors of the parasites that enter the vulnerable heads of today's carpenter ants. Axiom Space Mission 4, a private astronaut mission to the International Space Station, launched on Wednesday after an extended delay due to a long-standing leak issue at the in-orbit research facility. Air has been slowly escaping through tiny cracks in a tunnel that connects Russia's Zvezda module to a docking port for spacecraft carrying cargo and supplies. The steady leak, identified in 2019, recently stopped, however, raising concerns that the entire space station is losing air. In a joint European Space Agency and NASA mission, the Solar Orbiter spacecraft has captured never-before-seen footage of the sun's south pole, which could help scientists understand more about how space weather affects Earth. The first cosmic imagery from the Vera C. Rubin Observatory has arrived — and it's mind-blowing. Taken with the largest camera ever built, the images and videos feature over 2,000 newly detected asteroids, millions of distant galaxies and stars, and details of stellar nursery nebulae that resemble colorful cotton candy. This initial glimpse of Rubin's capabilities — test observations from just over 10 hours — is only a preview of what the observatory will produce over the next 10 years: a cinematic view of the universe and how it changes over time. Drone footage captured a distinct population of orcas in the Northeast Pacific's Salish Sea doing something never witnessed before in marine mammals: using a tool for grooming. Michael Weiss, research director of the Center for Whale Research in Friday Harbor, Washington, spotted the Southern Resident killer whales detaching strands of bull kelp from the seafloor and grooming each other with it in a practice dubbed 'allokelping.' These kelp 'combs,' which the orcas rubbed on each other for up to 15 minutes at a time, could serve two purposes: exfoliating dead skin and deepening social bonds. Catch up on these fascinating stories: — 'Super coral,' which are naturally more resilient to environmental changes, could be the key to saving Australia's Great Barrier Reef. Conservation scientists have already found dozens of these hardy species growing in a hot, acidic habitat. — Routine dredging of a river in the Netherlands turned up an incredibly well-preserved, nearly 1,000-year-old sword decorated with spiritual symbols. — Fossils unearthed in Colorado belong to a previously unknown dinosaur species about the size of a Labrador retriever that has long hind legs built for speedy running. — Scientists say they have identified Earth's oldest rocks in Quebec. The outcrop reveals details of an unknown chapter in our planet's history.
