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Beijing to Facilitate Frequent Business Travelers with Visa Requirements

The sun reflects off buildings in Beijing's central business district at sunset on February 13, 2025. (Photo by GREG BAKER / AFP)
The sun reflects off buildings in Beijing's central business district at sunset on February 13, 2025. (Photo by GREG BAKER / AFP)
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Beijing to Facilitate Frequent Business Travelers with Visa Requirements

The sun reflects off buildings in Beijing's central business district at sunset on February 13, 2025. (Photo by GREG BAKER / AFP)
The sun reflects off buildings in Beijing's central business district at sunset on February 13, 2025. (Photo by GREG BAKER / AFP)

Beijing authorities will facilitate eligible business travelers with visa applications, with a letter provided to organizations inviting them to the Chinese capital, the city's foreign affairs office said on Saturday.
The visitors must receive the invitation letter from qualified Chinese enterprises registered in Beijing to apply for the visa, Reuters quoted the office as saying in a statement.
The visa grants eligible foreigners travelling frequently to Beijing for trade and commercial activities a 180-day stay per trip on a five-year multiple-entry business visa.
The visa program may benefit their spouses and children too.

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Qatar Airways Names Hamad Al-Khater Group CEO

A Qatar Airways Airbus A350-900 aircraft takes off in Colomiers near Toulouse, France, October 19, 2017. (Reuters)
A Qatar Airways Airbus A350-900 aircraft takes off in Colomiers near Toulouse, France, October 19, 2017. (Reuters)
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Qatar Airways Names Hamad Al-Khater Group CEO

A Qatar Airways Airbus A350-900 aircraft takes off in Colomiers near Toulouse, France, October 19, 2017. (Reuters)
A Qatar Airways Airbus A350-900 aircraft takes off in Colomiers near Toulouse, France, October 19, 2017. (Reuters)

State-owned Qatar Airways has named Hamad al-Khater as the group's chief executive officer, effective December 7, replacing Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, it said on Sunday.

Al-Meer was appointed as the carrier's CEO in October 2023. He replaced Akbar Al Baker, one of the airline industry's most outspoken leaders, who retired after almost three decades of running the airline.

Khater served as the chief operating officer at Hamad International Airport and held other positions at Qatar's state-oil company QatarEnergy.

Business

ECB's Rehn Sees Downside Risks to Inflation, Urges Action on Ukraine Funding

FILE PHOTO: Olli Rehn in Helsinki, Finland, January 28, 2024. Lehtikuva/Heikki Saukkomaa via REUTERS
FILE PHOTO: Olli Rehn in Helsinki, Finland, January 28, 2024. Lehtikuva/Heikki Saukkomaa via REUTERS
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ECB's Rehn Sees Downside Risks to Inflation, Urges Action on Ukraine Funding

FILE PHOTO: Olli Rehn in Helsinki, Finland, January 28, 2024. Lehtikuva/Heikki Saukkomaa via REUTERS
FILE PHOTO: Olli Rehn in Helsinki, Finland, January 28, 2024. Lehtikuva/Heikki Saukkomaa via REUTERS

Inflation in the euro zone faces downside risks in the medium term, even as price growth has returned to the ECB's 2% target, European Central Bank policymaker Olli Rehn said, according to a report in a magazine on Saturday.

The sharp drop from the October 2022 peak of 10.6% to around 2% currently was achieved without triggering mass unemployment or a severe slowdown, he told Italian financial magazine Milano Finanza.

"The good news is that inflation has stabilized around the ECB's symmetric 2% target, supporting real incomes in Europe," Reuters quoted him as saying. "Our latest forecast suggests inflation will remain slightly below 2% over the horizon."

Rehn also urged EU leaders to resolve a stalled plan for a Ukraine "repair loan" funded by Russia's frozen assets, calling it "essential, even existential."

He dismissed speculation about ECB involvement, saying such a move would breach the EU Treaty's ban on monetary financing.

Instead, he backed a European Commission proposal under Article 122, often called the 'EU's emergency clause,' that gives the EU Council the power to adopt measures proposed by the European Commission in exceptional circumstances, bypassing the ordinary legislative process and the European Parliament.

"Every European should support using frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine," he said.

The Finnish policymaker, who has served in senior EU roles for decades, confirmed he would be a strong candidate for ECB vice president when the post opens next year.

"I have received encouragement from various parts of Europe," Rehn added.

Business

World Bank to Partner with Global Vaccine Group Gavi on $2 Billion in Funding

The Vaccine Alliance (GAVI) logo and US flag are seen in this illustration taken April 23, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
The Vaccine Alliance (GAVI) logo and US flag are seen in this illustration taken April 23, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
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World Bank to Partner with Global Vaccine Group Gavi on $2 Billion in Funding

The Vaccine Alliance (GAVI) logo and US flag are seen in this illustration taken April 23, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
The Vaccine Alliance (GAVI) logo and US flag are seen in this illustration taken April 23, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

The World Bank Group said on Saturday it is working with global vaccine alliance Gavi to strengthen financing for immunization and primary healthcare systems, planning to mobilize at least $2 billion over the next five years in joint financing.

The two organizations will also work together to advance vaccine manufacturing in Africa as part of a World Bank goal to help countries reach 1.5 billion people with quality, affordable health services by 2030, Reuters quoted the World Bank as saying.

Gavi is a public-private partnership that helps vaccinate more than half the world’s poorest children against diseases.

"Our expanded collaboration with the World Bank Group reflects a long-standing joint effort to support countries as they build robust and resilient health systems," said Sania Nishtar, Gavi's chief executive.

US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said in June the United States would no longer contribute funding to Gavi, alleging that the group ignores safety and calling on it to "justify the $8 billion that America has provided in funding since 2001."

The Trump administration had also indicated in March it planned to cut annual funding of around $300 million for Gavi as part of a wider pullback from international aid.

In June, Gavi had more than $9 billion, less than a target of $11.9 billion, for its work over the next five years helping to immunize children.

Other donors, including Germany, Norway and the Gates Foundation, have pledged money this year for Gavi's future work.