China unveils prototype of world's fastest high-speed train

A prototype of a new high-speed train that will run at speeds of up to 400 kilometers per hour -- making it the fastest commercial train service in the world -- was unveiled by China's railway operator in Beijing on Sunday.

The electric multiple unit (EMU) CR450 train will further shorten travel times on the country's extensive railway network and represents a step up from the current CR400 Fuxing high-speed trains, which run at maximum speeds of 350 kilometers per hour.

The new train has been clocked at up to 450 kilometers per hour during its testing phase, with key performance indicators, including operational speed, energy consumption, interior noise, and braking distance, all setting a new international benchmark, according to the China Railway group.

The CR450 outperforms the existing EMU trains in multiple areas, with better operation and control, improved safety monitoring, and the ability to conduct intelligent interactions with drivers and provide intelligent services for passengers.

The latest breakthroughs made in the development of the CR450 project will help boost China's railway technological innovation and independence, further strengthening the country's global leadership in high-speed rail technology, according to China Railway.

China has built the world's longest and most advanced high-speed rail network since opening its first high-speed line back in 2008. As of September, the country's high-speed rail network exceeded 46,000 kilometers, accounting for over 70 percent of the global high-speed railway length.

China unveils prototype of world's fastest high-speed train

China unveils prototype of world's fastest high-speed train

China unveils prototype of world's fastest high-speed train

China unveils prototype of world's fastest high-speed train

The European Central Bank (ECB) announced on Thursday that it would slash key interest rates by 25 basis points in a bid to wind down the restrictive monetary policy.

Effective from March 12, the interest rates on the deposit facility, the main refinancing operations and the marginal lending facility will be decreased to 2.50 percent, 2.65 percent and 2.90 percent respectively, said the central bank in a statement.

The disinflation process is well on track, with headline inflation averaging 2.3 percent in 2025, 1.9 percent in 2026 and 2.0 percent in 2027, the ECB said.

The decision to keep on cutting rates came at a time when the economy in the eurozone is facing increasing uncertainties.

In its latest edition of the staff projections on Thursday, the ECB lowered its forecast for economic growth in the eurozone to 0.9 percent for 2025, 1.2 percent for 2026 and 1.3 percent for 2027.

This marks a downward revision from the ECB's forecast in December last year, which had projected 1.1 percent growth in 2025 and 1.4 percent in 2026, while the 2027 outlook remains unchanged.

The ECB attributed the weaker growth outlook for 2025 and 2026 to declining exports and sluggish investment, citing high trade policy uncertainty and broader economic instability as key factors.

ECB cuts interest rates by 25 basis points