National transport strike paralyses travel across Italy
A nationwide transport strike on Friday disrupted travel across Italy, with major delays and cancellations reported in rail, air, and public transit services.
China’s central bank has announced a new set of measures to strengthen financial support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), aiming to help them navigate external uncertainties and maintain stable operations, according to a senior official at the People’s Bank of China (PBOC).
“The moderately loose monetary policy adopted by the People’s Bank of China helps expand funding available to the real economy, lower financing costs for businesses, especially the SMEs, and enhance their operational stability,” said Ding Zhijie, head of the PBOC’s Research Institute, during the latest episode of China Economic Roundtable, a talk show hosted by Xinhua News Agency.
Ding highlighted that the PBOC has intensified its credit support to smaller firms and taken steps to ease their interest burdens. By the end of April, inclusive loans issued to micro and small enterprises reached 34.3 trillion yuan (approximately 4.77 trillion U.S. dollars), marking an 11.9 percent year-on-year increase—outpacing the overall loan growth.
Financing costs have also declined, with the average interest rate on newly issued corporate loans falling to 3.2 percent in April, 50 basis points lower than the same period last year.
In a further move to boost credit access, the central bank has added 300 billion yuan to its relending quota to support the agricultural sector and small businesses.
Ding also underscored the importance of the entrepreneurship guarantee loan, a policy tool introduced in 2016 to foster job creation and innovation. He noted that the central bank will continue to urge banks across the country to implement the policy more effectively to expand financial support and help stabilize employment.
Iranian missiles struck multiple locations across Israel and neighbouring regions early Friday morning, including a Microsoft office complex, according to emergency responders and local media reports.
Peace is no longer a dream. It is a discussion. On the streets of Baku and Yerevan, it is also a question, of trust, of foreign interests, and of who truly wants it.
Israeli strikes have reportedly targeted areas near the residences of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian, according to the New York Times, citing local witnesses.
The 2025 G7 Leaders’ Summit was held June 15–17 in Kananaskis, Alberta, under Canada’s presidency. Prime Minister Mark Carney framed the meeting around priorities of protecting communities, energy and climate security, the digital transition, and future partnerships.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for June 17th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
President Ilham Aliyev has signed a decree approving the “Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the People's Republic of China on International Multimodal Transportation.”
Azerbaijan and Poland discussed closer cooperation in digital tax reforms and innovation during a high-level meeting held on the sidelines of the IOTA General Assembly in Baku.
President Ilham Aliyev welcomed Uzbekistan’s Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade, Laziz Kudratov, in Baku, as the two countries look to deepen their strategic economic partnership.
Iranian missiles struck multiple locations across Israel and neighbouring regions early Friday morning, including a Microsoft office complex, according to emergency responders and local media reports.
The 19th General Assembly of the Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies (OANA) is underway in St. Petersburg, Russia. The gathering, which brings together 41 news agencies from 33 countries, is being hosted by the TASS news agency as part of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.
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