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RUSSIA'S ECONOMY

Moody’s upgrades Russian Sistema Holding rating to Ba3 from B1 with stable outlook

The decision to upgrade Sistema's ratings follows the positive outcome for the company of a legal case linked to its prior ownership of oil company Bashneft

© EPA/ANDREW GOMBERT

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Co-owner of JSFC Sistema Evtushenkov criminal case closed — lawyer

MOSCOW, January 22. /TASS/. Moody’s Investors Service upgraded the corporate family rating and the probability of default rating of Russian Sistema Holding to Ba3 from B1 with stable outlook, the international rating agency said on Friday.

"Our decision to upgrade Sistema's ratings follows the positive outcome for the company of a legal case linked to its prior ownership of oil company Bashneft, and also factors in its ability to maintain strong financial metrics despite the loss of Bashneft," Moody's Vice President Julia Pribytkova said.

TASS reported earlier the criminal case against Sistema co-owner Vladimir Evtushenkov was closed because of absence of an event of crime.

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Russian Central Bank’s key rate to total 13% as of end-2024, GDP to grow by 2.8% — Sber

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Reinforced Ukrainian battlegroup fails to break through Russian defenses in DPR — expert

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Russia says its battlegroup West seized better positions

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US military advisers, if sent to Ukraine, won’t come close to frontlines — Pentagon

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Wang Yi also called for "resolutely opposing attempts to take advantage of the chaos and add fuel to the fire"

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The goal "is to put more pressure on Crimea," The New York Times said

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The United States should not cross the red lines with regard to China’s sovereignty and security, Wang Yi added

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Kremlin announces creation of blockchain-based payment system in BRICS

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US 'not forgetting' to help itself with aid to Ukraine — Kremlin

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Ukraine turns into testing ground for future world order, says Belarus president

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Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, April 24th

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Konstantin Gavrilov also noted that the "manic efforts" of some Western OSCE member countries to isolate Russia "are futile and will backfire on their initiators"

Venezuelan foreign ministry, Russian embassy hold joint conference in Caracas

The event brought together almost 200 diplomats, foreign ministry staffers and experts in international relations

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According to Sergey Ryabkov, discussions around the deployment of NATO nuclear facilities in Poland are an "unfolding story"

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French neo-Nazi ringleader liquidated near Avdeyevka — sources

There is confirmed evidence of his connections with French secret services

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Earlier, a delegation from the Moscow Zoo headed by its head Svetlana Akulova arrived in Pyongyang on April 22

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Putin stays in daily contact with Sergey Shoigu, Kremlin spokesman says

Timur Ivanov was arrested by Moscow’s Basmanny Court

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Fatah accuses Hamas of actions that led to Israeli control of Gaza — report

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Houthi leader says group attacked more than 100 ships in Red, Arabian seas so far

Ansar Allah strikes one ship every two days, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi said

Radioactive cloud from Ukraine’s eliminated munitions drifts to Europe — Security Council

"An increase in radiation levels has already been registered in Poland," Nikolay Patrushev warned

Iran calls on BRICS states to facilitate ceasefire in Gaza Strip

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani called for a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza

Crocus City Hall attack funded using cryptocurrency, Russian finance watchdog says

Russia’s Federal Financial Monitoring Service head added that the act of terrorism was intricately planned and it took an international network of conspirators to carry it out

Transfer of US ATACMS missiles to Ukraine cannot be justified — Russian ambassador

"Neither these missiles nor other weapons can help defeat the Russian Federation," Anatoly Antonov said

Musk concurs that civil war looming in West

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Ukrainian army strikes own surrendering soldiers — POW

Andrey Babenko said that after a crash course in Britain he had been sent to the frontline near Liman

Russian troops destroy 89 Ukrainian UAVs, 5 boats in Kherson area over past day

"Battlegroup Dnepr units conducted active counterbattery warfare and destroyed enemy drones, manpower and equipment on the right bank of the Dnieper River," Governor Vladimir Saldo said

Russian international reserves up $2.5 bln in one week exceeding $603.2 bln — Central Bank

Russia’s international reserves are highly liquid foreign assets available with the Bank of Russia and the Russian government

Ukraine to cease to exist unless it enters into talks, Belarusian president warns

Alexander Lukashenko stressed that his Ukrainian counterpart Vladimir Zelensky should have realistic expectations

Russian foreign minister to meet with Bolivian counterpart in Moscow

The top diplomats are to discuss bilateral ties, political dialogue, ways of broadening cooperation in various sectors and improving the legislative and contractual framework

Serial production of missiles for S-500 air defense systems begins in Russia — source

State trials of S-500 are under way at a testing range in southern Russia

West’s unwillingness to give up hegemony escalates tensions in world — security official

According to Nikolay Patrushev, this creates conditions for the devaluation of international law and its institutions and the erosion of the UN's central role in resolving global and regional conflicts

West prepares puppet structures in case of coup in Belarus — KGB

Ivan Tertel said various methods were being considered, up to "instigating a forceful seizure by illegal armed groups" being trained in the West and Ukraine

Russia to hold next international security meeting in 2025 — top security official

The date and location will be announced later

Ukraine could send special forces to capture Zaporozhye NPP — politician

According to Vladimir Rogov, the Ukrainian troops are holding drills to cross the Dnieper from the right bank to the left bank and capture a large industrial site

Positive trends in Russian economy become stronger — Putin

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Swiss conference on Ukraine undermines European security — Russian diplomat

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Russia needs to boost production of goods based on domestic technologies — Putin

The President undescored that Russia did not plan to produce absolutely everything domestically

Dardanelles temporarily closed due to fire on board of dry cargo carrier

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IAEA chief to have working contacts with Rosatom, no meeting with Putin is planned

Rafael Grossi may visit Russia in late May

Ukraine had to negotiate agreements with Russia with ‘three masters’ — Russian envoy

"It is very difficult to negotiate with those who are unable to make decisions, even if they want, they can’t, and only act as a side to a difficult conflict," Vladimir Medinsky explained

Staff shortage cannot be covered by labor migration — Putin

Labor productivity requires a significant increase in all sectors of the economy, the President stressed