live Ceasefire strains as Israel intensifies attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon killing hundreds - Thursday 9 April
Iran suggested it would be "unreasonable" to proceed with talks to forge a permanent peace d...
The European Central Bank has reduced its three key interest rates by 25 basis points, aligning with expectations and reflecting progress toward its inflation target.
The European Central Bank (ECB) lowered its main interest rates by 25 basis points, bringing the key deposit rate to 2% - its lowest level since January 2023. The rates for main refinancing operations and the marginal lending facility were also cut to 2.15% and 2.40%, respectively.
This marks the ECB’s eighth cut since launching its rate easing cycle in June 2024.
According to the ECB, inflation is now near its medium-term target. Projections show headline inflation averaging 2.0% in 2025, 1.6% in 2026, and returning to 2.0% in 2027. GDP growth in the euro area is forecast at 0.9% in 2025, 1.1% in 2026, and 1.3% in 2027.
The central bank also cited uncertainty around global trade, noting that escalating tensions could weigh on growth and inflation, while resolution of disputes could boost both indicators.
The rate decision followed a drop in annual euro area inflation to 1.9% in May and ongoing trade talks between the EU and U.S., after the U.S. postponed proposed tariff hikes on EU goods to July 9.
China and Russia vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution on Tuesday aimed at coordinating defensive efforts to protect commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, leaving no agreed international framework for securing the vital route.
Lebanon’s Hezbollah said it had stopped firing on northern Israel and Israeli forces on Wednesday as part of a two-week ceasefire in the Middle East brokered between the United States and Iran. However, a Hezbollah lawmaker warned that the pause could collapse if Tel Aviv does not adhere to it.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Iran and the United States, along with their allies, have agreed to an immediate two-week ceasefire covering all areas, but Israel says the deal excludes Lebanon. Tel Aviv says the U.S. is committed to achieving shared goals in upcoming negotiations.
Construction has begun on a major new solar power project in Xizang, as China continues to expand its renewable energy capacity and push towards a greener future.
Iran suggested it would be "unreasonable" to proceed with talks to forge a permanent peace deal with the U.S. after Israel pounded Lebanon with its heaviest strikes yet on Wednesday, killing hundreds of people. The warning came from Iran's lead negotiator, parliament speaker Mohammed Bager Qalibaf.
Walt Disney is planning to cut up to 1,000 jobs in the coming weeks, with many of the reductions expected to affect its marketing division, The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday, citing sources familiar with the plans.
Major automakers showcased new electric vehicles at the New York Auto Show this week, under the slogan “electrification is the future." However, weakening demand in the United States and intense competition with China are raising questions for markets across the globe, including the South Caucasus.
The U.S. national average retail price of petrol rose above $4 a gallon for the first time in over three years on Monday (30 March), according to GasBuddy data, as the U.S.–Israeli war with Iran continued to roil global energy markets.
Japan and Indonesia will deepen coordination on energy security, Tokyo said, as the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran disrupts vital oil and gas flows to Asia.
China's three largest state-owned airlines have issued warnings regarding their financial outlook for the current year, acknowledging that the eruption of war involving Iran has driven jet fuel prices to unsustainable highs.
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