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MOEX Index down below 2,200 points first since November 10

Meanwhile, the dollar exchange rate was down at 60.36 rubles, while the euro was down at 62.36 rubles

MOSCOW, November 18. /TASS/. The MOEX Index slipped below 2,200 points during Friday trading for the first time since November 10, according to trading data.

As of 11:41 am Moscow time, the MOEX was down by 0.67% at 2,198.18 points.

By 11:55 am, the MOEX Index narrowed losses to 0.77% trading at 2,195.83 points, while the dollar-denominated RTS was down by 0.52% at 1,145.55 points.

Meanwhile, the dollar exchange rate was down by 0.27% at 60.36 rubles, while the euro was down by 0.01% at 62.36 rubles.

Russia, Brazil in talks on long-term LNG contracts — minister

According to Maxim Reshetnikov, the negotiations enter the substantive stage

French movie star Depardieu says proud of his Russian passport

"I am dreaming of buying an apartment in Moscow, and probably a house in Siberia, on Lake Baikal," the actor said

Israel, US attack amusement park in central Iran

No information on casualties or damage has been reported yet

Trump calls on several countries to normalize relations with Israel — Axios

The US leader expressed hope that after the end of the Iran conflict, countries that are not party to the Abraham Accords or do not have a peace treaty with Israel would normalize their relations with Tel Aviv

Iran calls on Saudi Arabia to ‘eject’ US troops from region

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stressed that Iran respects the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and considers it a brotherly nation

Rosoboronexport signs $20 billion in deals with African countries since 2023

The company’s CEO Alexander Mikheyev noted that Rosoboronexport offered its African partners the most relevant products for equipping the Armed Forces and other security agencies

US military aircraft struck by Iran makes it to Kuwait — TV

Iran also fired at two US UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters conducting a search and rescue operation

Israel significantly expands its control over Gaza since ceasefire began — newspaper

According to The Wall Street Journal, as it expands the territory under its control, the Israeli army continues to uncover underground tunnels belonging to the Palestinian movement Hamas

Russia ratifies treaty on closer cooperation with South Ossetia

The two countries will take measures to harmonize the labor, social protection, and retirement benefits law, including on the issue of mutual recognition of work record

Israeli army storms Palestinian town of Tubas in West Bank

Earlier, the IDF press service reported the completion of a 60-hour raid in the city of Jenin

Israel attacks over 70 Hezbollah facilities in Lebanon during day

The Israel Defense Forces struck approximately 10 command centers, weapons storage facilities, and additional infrastructure sites used by Hezbollah to advance attacks against IDF soldiers and Israeli civilians

Putin says West seeking to weaken and destroy Russia

The West "has been overtly stating that it managed to break up the Soviet Union back in 1991 and that now it’s high time Russia was divided into regions that would conduct hostilities against one another," the president said

Rusal plans to enter new markets in 2019, says CEO

Rusal also plans to develop areas on new products, technologies and competences

Zelensky rejects Merz’s proposal to grant Ukraine EU associate membership

The time is right to move forward with Ukraine’s membership in a full and meaningful way, Zelensky said

Trade turnover between Russia, Brazil reaches $10.5 bln

The basis of trade is the supply of all types of Russian fertilizers and diesel fuel, Russian Ambassador to Brazil Alexey Labetsky said

IN BRIEF: Foreign Ministry statement on retaliatory strikes, bans by Western media

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova announced the ministry will soon issue a special statement on Russian retaliatory strikes against Kiev

What is known about Metropolitan Hilarion’s detention in Czech Republic

According to Metropolitan Hilarion’s attorney Michal Pacovsky, his client is suspected of drug possession

CSTO, African Union’s counter-terrorism body sign cooperation deal

Taalatbek Masadykov, CSTO Director General, and Deputy Secretary General Valery Semerikov earlier met with AUCTC Acting Director Idriss Mounir Lallali

Gulf nations seek security guarantees in US-Iran talks — newspaper

The Wall Street Journal reported that the missile program had not yet been discussed in talks

Israel to intensify strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon — Netanyahu

According to the Israeli prime minister, more than 600 Shiite radicals have been eliminated in recent weeks

Attacks on Energodar infrastructure pose risks to Zaporozhye NPP operation — engineer

Such attacks could lead to a major man-made disaster with consequences extending far beyond the region, Alexander Uvarov said

EU aid to Ukraine frozen — Borrell

The ex-chief of EU diplomacy said the situation is similar with the approval of new sanctions against Russia

Russia views Metropolitan Hilarion’s detention in Czechia as frame-job — diplomat

Maria Zakharova stressed that Russia demands Metropolitan Hilarion’s immediate unconditional release

Russia sees prospects for constructing nuclear power units in Brazil

Russian Economic Development Minister Maxim Reshetnikov noted that Rosatom fully meets the needs of Brazilian nuclear power plants

Ukrainian forces increasingly target civilians with no link to Russia’s military op — MP

Stepan Kuvachev stressed that these kinds of attacks have no justification, and only cause pain and suffering

Press review: EU must recognize Ukraine crimes as US-Iran deal unlikely end conflict

Top stories from the Russian press on Monday, May 25th

Oreshnik strike, statements by Armenian PM: new briefing from Kremlin

According to Dmitry Peskov, the Russian leader will pay a state visit to Kazakhstan this week

Senior Russian diplomat, Azerbaijani ambassador discuss high-level contacts — MFA

The meeting included a detailed discussion of "the state and prospects of bilateral cooperation, including the importance of fully restoring cultural and humanitarian ties"

Russia remains integral part of global economic system — Putin

The President noted that Russia remained open to constructive interaction with all partners who shared the principles of mutual respect and were ready to build honest long-term relations

Lavrov informs Rubio that Russia begins strikes on military sites in Kiev

The measure is taken in response to the Kiev regime’s continued attacks against civilian population and infrastructure in Russia

Russian ratified free trade agreement between EAEU, Indonesia

The agreement should create conditions for further development of trade and economic cooperation between the EAEU member-states and Indonesia

Russia meets almost third of needs of Brazil’s fertilizer market — minister

Maxim Reshetnikov said the Russian companies are implementing comprehensive investment projects

Iran not yielding to US president’s pressure on deal terms — newspaper

On May 23, the US president stated that the draft of the future agreement with Iran has been largely agreed upon

Gazprom: 40 km left to complete Russian part of Nord Stream 2 pipeline

The Nord Stream 2 project envisages the construction of two lines of a gas pipeline with total capacity of 55 bln cubic meters of gas per year, running from Russia to Europe across the Baltic Sea

FIFA needs to provide safety guarantees for Iran at 2026 FIFA World Cup — minister

The Iranian football federation earlier voiced approval that the national team’s training base was relocated from the United States to Mexico

Plane makes hard landing in Krasnoyarsk Region: what we know

The aircraft commander and the co-pilot were on board, they were injured

Over 50 foreign journalists from 19 countries set off to LPR’s Starobelsk — diplomat

They include media representatives from Austria, Brazil, Britain, Hungary, Venezuela, and Germany

Russia to help Africa consolidate its role in new multipolar world — Lavrov

According to the top Russian diplomat, the continent’s economic and demographic trends, as well is its commitment to contribute to the resolution of the present-day pressing problems "determine Africa’s role as one of the pillars of the emerging polycentric world order"

Austria’s Hawle to expand its operations in Russia

The Austrian company is producing high-technology shutoff valves

Russia built 26 hydrofoil ships in six years

Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Savelyev emphasized that Russia made high-speed hydrofoil ships the mass kind of passenger transport

ADNOC uses 'shadow transit' to ship oil through Strait of Hormuz — Bloomberg

Vessels pass through the strait with their transponders switched off

Russian envoy criticizes OSCE’s reaction to Starobelsk attack as provocative, hypocritical

Dmitry Polyansky stressed that "the comment in English was phrased very carefully but it did not contain even a hint of condemnation"

Russia welcomes African countries’ plans to open embassies in Moscow — top diplomat

Sergey Lavrov stressed that broader Russian diplomatic presence on the continent helped to strengthen strategic cooperation with Africa

Russian envoy, Islamic Jihad official discuss Palestinian-Israeli conflict

Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov has, held talks with the Deputy Secretary of the Islamic Jihad Palestinian movement, Ziyad al-Nakhalah

Russia conducting combat trials of latest acoustic drone detection system

According to the developer, the system features a neural network module that can identify the type of unmanned aerial vehicles

Russian forces launching strikes on military-industrial complex sites in Kiev — MFA

The Foreign Ministry emphasized that "strikes will also be directed at decision-making centers and command posts"

Kalashnikov to unveil newest Skat-220 drone at forum in Moscow Region

The new UAV is based on the Skat-350M drone, but has a smaller wingspan of 2.20 m and a lighter weight of 12 kg

US interested in calling on Arab nations to help pay for cost of Iran operation — official

The United States and Israel launched a military operation against Iran on February 28

Russian snipers, mobile air defense teams successfully targeting long-range Ukrainian UAVs

The Russian serviceman stressed that sniper teams, consisting of several people, were fully mobile and could carry out drone-hunting missions for up to seven days

Khasavyurt mayor survives assassination attempt

An explosive device was set off when the motorcade of the mayor of Khasavyurt, Dagestan, was driving along Yuzhny Street

Booby-trapped ship arriving in Ust-Luga from Belgium was rigged in haste — expert

Alexey Malyshev assessed that the explosives were probably planted when the ship was sitting higher in the water

NATO to begin its 'Strike Back 26' military exercise in Bulgaria on May 26

The country’s Defense Ministry said the tactical exercise will be held with live firing at the Koren training area near the city of Haskovo

Ukraine reports serious deficit of surface-to-air missiles amid latest air defense failure

Ukrainian media wrote earlier that the country’s air defense systems were unable to repel Russia’s strike on military facilities in Kiev

Bangladesh ink fertilizer supply contract with Russian company

The Russian Embassy in Dhaka said this is the largest contract throughout the history of bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the fertilizer sphere

FACTBOX: Russia’s Oreshnik missile strike, breached Ukrainian air defenses

Ukrainian air defenses failed to counter Russian missile strikes on military installations in Kiev and the Kiev Region

Russia boost LNG supplies to Europe by 5% in 2M 2025 — analytical center

The European Union imported 3.92 bln cubic meters of Russian LNG in January - February 2025, compared to 3.74 bln cubic meters a year earlier

Trump says signing Abraham Accords should be part of peace deal with Iran

The US president said it should start with the immediate signing by Saudi Arabia and Qatar

Russia to build 600 MW of energy storage units in 2026 — official

The pilot project on construction of 250 MW energy storage units is already being implemented in South Russia

US president says new deal with Iran to be 'exact opposite' of JCPOA

The deal with Iran will either be a great and meaningful one, or there will be no deal, Donald Trump stated

Share of Visa, Mastercard down to 17% in Russian market — official

Alla Bakina said the banks are performing the gradual substitution by other instruments, including Mir cards

EU preparing for possible energy supply crisis due to conflict in Iran — Spanish newspaper

The EC assures that there is currently no risk to supplies, though markets are feeling the impact of rising Brent crude oil prices, which has led to higher gas and oil prices in Europe

Gas injection rates in Germany, France minimal since 2013 — Gazprom

the Russian gas holding said that Rehden, the largest UGS in Germany, is just 4.2% filled, which is one of the lowest levels for May 22 throughout the history of observations

Russian footballer Dzyuba to trade cleats for MMA gloves

The Russian football player previously sparred a few times with UFC heavyweight fighter Alexander Volkov

Death toll at Starobelsk college up to 21; search operations over — ministry

All the bodies of the victims have been recovered from the rubble

Hungary rethinking role in NATO, PM says

Viktor Orban underlined that Budapest had no plans to participate in NATO’s actions that could drag member states into the conflict in Ukraine and lead to a direct confrontation with Russia

Russian troops liberate Dobropasovo community in Dnepropetrovsk Region over past day

According to the latest figures, the Ukrainian army lost roughly 1,135 troops in battles with Russian forces in all the frontline areas over the past 24 hours

Russia says ready to expand flights to BRICS countries

The BRICS countries have also prepared a joint statement on sustainable aviation fuel, to be presented to the Assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organization in October - November this year

US-Israeli strike on humanitarian aid aircraft in western Iran reported

The Civil Aviation Organization of the Islamic Republic called on all international bodies to take appropriate measures in response to this incident

US Justice Department slams May 23 shooting near White House as assassination attempt

According to media reports, the man, who opened fire approximately 150 meters from the White House, had mental health issues

Slovak PM says Kiev must 'move toward peace' to receive EU associate member status

Slovakia, in Robert Fico’s words, reacted with restraint to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s proposal to grant Kiev special status as an "associate member" of the community

Ukraine adds employees of attacked Starobelsk college to its Mirotvorets database

In total, seven women and three men were added to the database, including the college’s deputy directors and teachers

IN BRIEF: Bank of Russia says Visa, Mastercard should leave Russia

According to experts, the final withdrawal of Visa and Mastercard cards from Russia will be smooth and gradual, while users will calmly and progressively switch to Mir cards

New SME lending program with limit of $2.09 bln to launch in July — Novak

According to the official, the rate is equal to the key rate

Top Russian diplomat reminds his US counterpart about Anchorage agreements on Ukraine

Sergey Lavrov expressed regret that the high-handed efforts of the European elites and the Kiev regime are undermining these agreements

Seven civilians killed, 15 wounded in Ukraine’s attacks on DPR during day

Four houses, four infrastructure facilities, and several transport vehicles were damaged

FIFA clears Congolese team for World Cup amid Ebola outbreak

The Congolese Association Football Federation added that FIFA pledged to consider refunding the country’s football fans who purchased tickets for World Cup matches but were later denied US entry visas

Russia sees water diplomacy as instrument to consolidate Eurasia — diplomat

Nikolay Lomakin recalled that forests, water and soil are interconnected resources, urging to protect and maintain them

Pakistani army chief says Iran, US close to striking deal — Chinese foreign ministry

Pakistani Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir pledged that Islamabad is sparing no effort to get a deal done between Tehran and Washington

Rostec expects high demand for import-substituted Ka-226T helicopter

The KA-226T import-substituted helicopter has completed its maiden flight

Ceiling collapses at Siberian mine, at least one trapped - investigators

The incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday

Contract for 14 MiG-35 4++ generation jet fighters to be signed in 2020 — source

The start of flight trials and the international presentation of the aircraft took place in Janauary 2017

Kiev seeks to whitewash attack on LPR college using media — military expert

Last week, many Ukrainian media outlets published reports aimed at discrediting Russia’s military and political leadership, while also spreading fabricated materials intended to justify the actions of Ukrainian militants

Serbian president may step down as Balkan nation faces protests

A major anti-government rally took place in Belgrade’s Slavija Square on the afternoon of May 23

Russia, Brazil in talks on long-term LNG contracts — minister

According to Maxim Reshetnikov, the negotiations enter the substantive stage

Bank of Russia contests regulation of European Parliament, Council in General Court of EU

The regulator reserves all rights, claims, counterclaims, and defenses in all jurisdictions available to it to contest any illicit measures taken by the EU or any member state of the EU in relation to the Bank of Russia or its assets

Israeli army says it simultaneously struck over 200 targets in Iran and Lebanon

In Lebanon, the strikes targeted military facilities of the Shiite organization Hezbollah

Ukrainian media report air defense system failure in Kiev

The Russian Defense Ministry earlier reported that during a massive strike with Oreshnik, Iskander, Kinzhal, and Tsirkon missiles in Kiev and the Kiev region, the Russian Armed Forces hit Ukrainian military-industrial complex facilities

Russian Orthodox Church slams Metropolitan Hilarion’s detention as provocation

Deputy Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s External Church Relations Department Igor Vyzhanov emphasized that the use of such underhanded tactics by Russia’s opponents reveals their weakness

Detailing thwarted terrorist attack on gas tanker arriving from Belgium at Ust-Luga port

During an underwater inspection of part of the gas carrier’s hull, divers discovered foreign objects attached to magnets near the engine room that resembled explosive devices

Captain confirms two mines planted near stern of Arrhenius vessel calling at Ust-Luga

According to Igor Loy, his ship operates between the ports of Ust-Luga and Antwerp

Media outlets that refused to go to Starobelsk cannot be called unbiased — Kremlin

This decision does not add credibility to the information they provide, Dmitry Peskov said

Tanker with Iranian oil change course, heading to China — PTI

The change in the destination of Pin Shun appears to be payment-related, Sumit Ritolia, Lead Research Analyst at Kpler, noted

Russia ratified economic partnership agreement between EAEU, Indonesia

Conditions were determined for further development and deepening of trade and economic cooperation in spheres of mutual interest, including customs cooperation, e-commerce, technical barriers in trade

Pezeshkian asks global community to judge which side, Iran or US, actually favors dialogue

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian invited the world to judge which side engages in terrorism

Bank of Russia points to need for Mastercard, Visa to leave Russian market

They no longer provide the functionality they always ensured, Director of the Bank of Russia’s National Payment System Department Alla Bakina said

US fighter jet downed over Iran likely conducted strikes on ground targets — media

According to CBS News national security analyst Aaron MacLean, the pilots of the downed fighter had sidearms

Russia ready to increase supplies of coffee, tropical fruits from Brazil — minister

Maxim Reshetnikov said that Russia is also open to cooperation in healthcare and pharmaceuticals

Iranian president orders to restore internet access — agency

According to the international internet monitoring service NetBlocks, internet has been practically inaccessible in Iran for more than 86 days

Russia uses Oreshnik weapon to strike Ukrainian military command posts

That was response to terrorist attacks by the Ukrainian military against civilian facilities located on the territory of the Russian Federation, the Russian Defense Ministry reported

Russia to be among 15 top participants of China’s import exhibition

The 2nd China International Import Expo will take place in Shanghai on November 5-10

IN BRIEF: MFA's statements on systematic striking Kiev's MIC and warnings to foreigners

The Russian Foreign Ministry advised foreigners to leave Kiev as soon as possible and its residents not to approach military and administrative infrastructure sites