Author: Victoria Sanders

ANKARA (Business Emerge): Senior Turkish officials are set to travel to Syria for meetings focused on bilateral coordination and the practical steps required to integrate the Syrian Democratic Forces into state institutions. The visit is planned for Monday and involves discussions on the implementation of an existing framework that outlines how the armed group would be absorbed into Syria’s formal security structure. The talks are intended to address unresolved elements of the arrangement and assess progress made since earlier contacts among regional and international stakeholders. The delegation will include Turkey’s foreign minister, defence minister, and the head of the national…

NEW DELHI (Business Emerge): India’s merchandise exports recorded a strong increase in November despite higher import duties imposed by the United States, marking a reversal from recent declines and signaling resilience in overseas demand. The rebound came after several months of pressure following the tariff escalation in late August, when duties on Indian goods entering the US were raised to 50 percent. The recovery was led by shipments to the United States, which expanded sharply on a year-on-year basis during the month. This improvement supported overall export performance and eased immediate concerns of a prolonged slowdown in external trade flows.…

KHARTOUM (Business Emerge/Middle East): Sudan has again been placed at the top of a Sudan crisis watchlist that ranks countries facing the highest risk of humanitarian emergencies, marking the third consecutive year the country has held the leading position. The latest edition of the list points to continuing armed conflict, large-scale civilian displacement, and limited access to aid as central factors driving the situation. The watchlist was released this week by an international humanitarian organization that monitors global emergency conditions. The assessment covers 20 countries considered most vulnerable to either new humanitarian crises or a worsening of existing ones. Sudan’s…

TOKYO (Business Emerge/Asia): Japan will send its remaining two giant pandas to China in late January, marking the first period in more than five decades when the country will have no pandas on display. The animals, housed at the Ueno Zoological Gardens in Tokyo, are scheduled to depart after a final public viewing period later this month, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government said. The transfer involves Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei, a male and female pair born at the Ueno facility in 2021. The zoo stated that visitors will be able to see the pandas until Jan. 25. Following the close…

TOKYO (Business Emerge/ASIA): The Bank of Japan is expected to indicate at its meeting next week that it will continue moving interest rates higher, with policymakers preparing to emphasise that the timing of additional steps will depend on how previous increases influence overall economic activity. The review, scheduled for December 18 and 19, comes as financial markets have largely anticipated a rise in the benchmark rate to 0.75 percent from 0.5 percent. Market expectations shifted after recent public comments from Governor Kazuo Ueda, which investors interpreted as signalling an upcoming adjustment. Recent market pricing reflects growing attention on how the…

JERICHO (Business Emerge/Middle East): Hundreds of thousands of people living in temporary camps in Gaza Floods areas are confronting renewed flooding risks after heavy rainfall swept through several sites this week. Humanitarian teams reported that many shelters were unable to withstand the weather, leaving families exposed to cold conditions. Humanitarian officials in Geneva said the rainfall began on Thursday and quickly filled tents and makeshift structures occupied by families displaced during the conflict. Local medical workers reported that one infant died after prolonged exposure to the harsh weather inside a flooded shelter. Aid workers noted that people living in low-lying…

KYIV (Business Emerge/Agency): Intense fighting around the city of Pokrovsk has continued to shape battlefield movements in eastern Ukraine, with recent developments indicating that the area could soon shift entirely under Russian control. The situation has emerged at a moment when discussions involving the United States on a potential settlement framework are moving forward, placing additional pressure on Kyiv’s military and diplomatic stance. Ukrainian officials reported on December 11 that their forces continued to defend limited positions in the northern part of Pokrovsk. The urban center, once home to roughly 60,000 residents prior to the large-scale 2022 invasion, had long…

Beijing (Business Emerge Asian Update): China has confirmed that its recent discussions with the European Union on a potential minimum pricing mechanism for electric vehicles have resumed, marking a new phase in efforts to address concerns surrounding imports of China-manufactured models. Officials indicated that the talks will continue into the coming week as both sides attempt to narrow gaps on trade measures affecting the EV sector. China’s commerce ministry stated that exchanges with EU representatives had taken place over the past several days, adding that the process remains active. The ministry also urged the bloc to maintain unified communication rather…

Kinshasa (Business Emerge Ground Report): Humanitarian agencies report approximately 200,000 individuals have evacuated their residences in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo during the past several days as armed factions supported by Rwanda continue territorial advances toward a border municipality, developments emerging shortly after recent diplomatic engagement in Washington. The United Nations confirmed through official communication issued Monday evening that combat operations in the affected zones resulted in no fewer than 74 fatalities, predominantly non-combatants, with an additional 83 individuals receiving medical treatment for injuries sustained during confrontations. The M23 armed faction, which maintains documented connections to Rwandan military apparatus,…