Minister of Transport of the Syrian Transitional Government: Aleppo Airport is ready, and the civil airport is trying to recover. On the evening of the 12th local time, the Minister of Transport of the Syrian Transitional Government said that he was working hard to prepare for the recovery of the Syrian civil airport for planes to take off and land. At the same time, the department is also coordinating the operational procedures for transit with neighboring countries. The minister said that in the next few hours, Syrian airspace will be opened to air traffic. At present, Aleppo International Airport in Syria is ready, and Syria will announce the operation dates of Damascus International Airport and Aleppo International Airport in the next few days.China and the United States renewed the agreement on scientific and technological cooperation between the two governments. On December 13, 2024, representatives of the Chinese and American governments exchanged notes and signed the Protocol on Amending and Extending the Agreement on Scientific and Technological Cooperation between the Two Governments, which extended the Agreement for five years from August 27, 2024. (Ministry of Science and Technology)The exchange rate of the Canadian dollar against the US dollar fell to the lowest level since April 2020. As the US dollar strengthened for the fifth consecutive day, the Canadian dollar fell below 1.42 Canadian dollars against the US dollar for the first time since April 2020. According to informed officials, Canada is studying that if US President-elect Donald Trump fulfills his threat to impose extensive tariffs, Canada will impose export taxes on its main exports to the United States.
It is reported that the European Central Bank is considering cutting interest rates by 25 basis points in the next two meetings. According to informed sources, as the inflation rate stabilizes at the target of 2% and economic growth is sluggish, ECB officials plan to cut interest rates by another 25 basis points in January, and there may be another one in March. People familiar with the matter said that as long as the economic development meets current expectations, gradually reducing the borrowing cost is the most appropriate path. They believe that cutting interest rates by 50 basis points at a time in an emergency is still an option, but this move may convey an unexpected sense of urgency. According to people familiar with the matter, officials have not yet made any decision, and every meeting will be evaluated based on all available information, even after March. They stressed that once the situation becomes clearer after Trump takes office in January, the policy inclination of the central bank may change.Ukrainian energy facilities were attacked by large-scale air strikes. Ukrainian President Zelensky said on the 13th that Ukrainian energy facilities were attacked by Russian missiles and drones again that morning. The Russian Defense Ministry announced on the 13th that the Russian army launched a large-scale attack on the energy infrastructure to ensure the operation of the Ukrainian military-industrial complex by using long-range space-based and sea-based high-precision weapons and attack drones, which was a response to Ukraine's attack on the Russian Taganrog military airport on the 11th using the US Army tactical missile system. Zelensky said on social media that 93 missiles were fired by Russian troops and 81 were intercepted by Ukrainian air defense fire. In addition, the Russian army also launched nearly 200 attack drones into Uzbekistan. DTEK, Ukraine's largest private power company, issued a statement on the morning of the 13th, saying that many thermal power plants under the company were seriously damaged by large-scale air strikes, and no casualties have been found. It is reported that this is the 12th round of large-scale air strikes launched by the Russian army against Ukrainian energy facilities this year. (Xinhua News Agency)Hikvision: The controlling shareholder has obtained a commitment letter for a special loan of 120 million yuan to increase its holdings. Hikvision announced that the company recently received a notice from the controlling shareholder, CLP Hikvision, that CLP Hikvision has obtained a commitment letter for a special loan to increase its holdings issued by China Industrial and Commercial Bank of China. Hangzhou Branch of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China will provide a loan fund of no more than 120 million yuan for CLP Hikvision Group to increase its shareholding in Hikvision by centralized bidding, and the loan period will not exceed 3 years.
It is reported that the European Central Bank is considering cutting interest rates by 25 basis points in the next two meetings. According to informed sources, as the inflation rate stabilizes at the target of 2% and economic growth is sluggish, ECB officials plan to cut interest rates by another 25 basis points in January, and there may be another one in March. People familiar with the matter said that as long as the economic development meets current expectations, gradually reducing the borrowing cost is the most appropriate path. They believe that cutting interest rates by 50 basis points at a time in an emergency is still an option, but this move may convey an unexpected sense of urgency. According to people familiar with the matter, officials have not yet made any decision, and every meeting will be evaluated based on all available information, even after March. They stressed that once the situation becomes clearer after Trump takes office in January, the policy inclination of the central bank may change.Guterres: Syria's credible, orderly and inclusive transitional arrangements must be supported. UN Secretary-General Guterres issued a statement through a spokesman, expressing deep concern about the recent widespread violation of Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The statement specifically mentioned hundreds of air strikes by Israel against Syria, and said that there is an urgent need to alleviate violence in all aspects of Syria. Guterres said that the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement is still valid, and he condemned all actions inconsistent with the Agreement and called on the parties to the Agreement to fulfill their obligations, including ending all unauthorized presence in the separation zone. The statement stressed that while maintaining public order, it is necessary to support Syria's credible, orderly and inclusive transitional arrangements.Market News: If Trump increases import duties on Canada, Canada will consider imposing export duties on uranium and oil.