Author: Britten Duerden

NEW DELHI (Business Emerge): India recorded a significant expansion in rice shipments during the latest fiscal year, reinforcing its position in global food trade while water tables in major producing regions continued to decline. The increase in output and exports has coincided with rising dependence on groundwater for irrigation, particularly in northern farming belts, where growers report deeper extraction and higher operating expenses linked to rice cultivation. The development has been most visible in Punjab and Haryana, two states that form the core of India’s rice supply chain. Farmers in these regions rely largely on groundwater rather than canals or…

ZURICH (Business Emerge): A Swiss cantonal court has admitted a civil complaint against cement manufacturer Holcim, permitting a climate related legal case to move beyond initial screening and into further judicial review. The filing alleges that the company has not reduced carbon dioxide emissions to a level that would limit damage linked to rising global temperatures and sea levels. The court confirmed that the complaint meets current admissibility standards, while noting that this position may still change following later procedural examination. The case was brought by four residents of Pari, a low lying island in Indonesia that has experienced repeated…

Örebro (Business Emerge / Rural Europe): Greenhouse gas output in Sweden increased during 2024, ending a period of steady decline recorded over several years. Official data released this week showed a year on year rise that followed adjustments to national fuel blending requirements for petrol and diesel. The increase marked a shift from earlier reductions achieved through long term emissions controls and sector specific measures. The change was recorded across the full calendar year and covered carbon dioxide along with other regulated greenhouse gases. The rise occurred after the administration revised mandatory biofuel mixing levels used in road fuels. Those…

GAZA (Business Emerge / Middle East): Authorities in Gaza reported that intense rainfall has triggered further collapses of structures already weakened by earlier military damage, complicating efforts to recover people believed to be trapped beneath debris. Emergency services said ongoing storms have reduced access to affected sites and slowed rescue operations across several districts. Local officials said two residential buildings gave way late last week during heavy rain, resulting in multiple fatalities. Health authorities confirmed at least 12 deaths from those incidents. The same weather system caused flooding in temporary shelters, including tented areas, and was linked to additional deaths…

WASHINGTON (Business Emerge/The States): Fourteen of the largest retail banking groups in the United States recorded higher income from overdraft and insufficient funds charges during the first nine months of the year, while a smaller number reported declines. Public regulatory filings show that fee income from these charges increased at most major institutions despite earlier reductions across the sector. The figures cover 20 large retail banks operating nationwide that report overdraft and non sufficient funds charges to federal banking supervisors. These institutions together hold about half of all deposits in insured US banks. The reporting period spans the first nine…

MANILA (Business Emerge/Asia): The Philippine government has secured a new financing package aimed at expanding national efforts to safeguard its marine environment and improve long-term sustainability across coastal communities. The Asian Development Bank approved a policy-based loan valued at 500 million dollars on December 11, forming the core of a broader funding programme involving support from Agence Française de Développement and Germany’s KfW Development Bank. Both institutions are expected to contribute around 235 million dollars each, creating a multi-partner initiative that will guide the country’s transition toward a more sustainable ocean-focused strategy. The programme focuses on a series of environmental…

PERTH (Business Emerge/AUS): The Australian government has moved to stabilise operations at the Tomago aluminium smelter by outlining a plan intended to ensure the facility continues running once its existing energy contract reaches its end in 2028. Officials confirmed that discussions with the smelter’s leadership and the New South Wales administration are underway to frame a long-term power arrangement. The announcement followed earlier warnings from the company that the plant, which employs more than 1,000 permanent workers and about 200 contractors, could face closure if it could not obtain reliable and affordable energy supplies. The government indicated that the proposal…

BRUSSELS (Business Emerge/Europe): European regulators have opened a formal review into the activities of security equipment manufacturer Nuctech as part of an examination into whether the company benefited from financial support originating in China that could have shaped its commercial standing in the region. The action marks the latest step in the application of the European Union’s Foreign Subsidies Regulation. The assessment began after coordinated inspections were carried out at Nuctech sites in Poland and the Netherlands in April of the previous year. Officials involved in the process indicated that the review aims to determine whether various forms of financial…

HANOI (Business Emerge Energy Desk): Industrial facilities in Hanoi have been asked to limit their operations as the city experiences a period of severe air pollution that has lasted for several days. Officials issued the request after monitoring stations recorded a sharp deterioration in air quality across multiple districts. The directive was communicated earlier this week and targets major sectors including electricity generation, steel production and chemical manufacturing. Health authorities noted that reductions should be implemented whenever the air quality index crosses 200, a threshold indicating high concentrations of fine particulate matter known as PM2.5. Data recorded on Thursday placed…

Stockholm (Business Emerge Special Report): Europe’s electric mobility organizations have urged the European Commission to maintain its target requiring all new passenger vehicles sold from 2035 to produce zero tailpipe emissions. The appeal comes ahead of a policy announcement expected later this month, with industry groups cautioning that altering the framework may influence ongoing manufacturing and investment strategies across the region. The concerns were raised ahead of the Commission’s scheduled presentation of a new automotive regulatory package on December 16. The update is expected to address compliance pathways for vehicle emissions and could introduce additional flexibility. Several established manufacturers have…