{{dayPoint.date | date : 'd MMMM yyyy'}}

{{newsPoint.title}}

{{newsPoint.title+ ' '}}

{{newsPoint.subtitle}}

US naphtha exports hit record 15 mln barrels in March — analysts

Americans are shipping about 61,000 barrels per day to Japan, the highest volume since December 2021

NEW YORK, April 2. /TASS/. US naphtha exports rose to a record 15 mln barrels in March amid Middle East tensions, according to the analytical agency Kpler’s calculations.

The United States has become the leading exporter of naphtha after shipments from the UAE and Qatar declined, according to data from Kpler, cited by Bloomberg. Americans are shipping about 61,000 barrels per day to Japan, the highest volume since December 2021. Moreover, Washington is exporting about 100,000 barrels a day to Venezuela, which is almost twice as much as in January 2026.

The United States exported 11.5 mln barrels of naphtha last month, which is still a four-year high, according to the analytical firm Vortexa.

Moscow receives tourists from smorgasbord of countries — official

Over the past 12 months, nine additional flights to Moscow from five countries, chairman of the Russian capital’s tourism committee, Yevgeny Kozlov, said

Russia to hold several conversations on situation in Syria — Foreign Ministry

Syria has been in conflict since 2011

Iran’s elite army unit dismisses US back-to-Stone-Age threats as Hollywood fantasies

Earlier, the US leader asserted that Iran’s Navy and Army have been obliterated, while the Islamic republic’s missile capabilities will soon be reduced to a minimum

Russian troops pound Ukrainian military-industrial, energy, transport sites over past day

The Ukrainian army lost roughly 1,305 troops in battles with Russian forces in all the frontline areas over the past 24 hours

Russia receives no proposal from Ukraine on debt restructuring — official

Russia is not planning to take part in Kiev’s debt restructuring program

Iran significantly cuts discount on its oil amid conflict — Oil Minister

According to Mohsen Paknejad, the necessary measures have been taken to ensure fuel security, and citizens can rest assured

Russian cutting-edge frigate completes shipbuilders’ sea trials

The second Project 22350 frigate Admiral Kasatonov has successfully completed shipbuilders’ sea trials

Profitability of Russian agricultural producers was 19% in 2023 — ministry

"We see that revenues moved up by 10% and profits of agricultural producers remained in general at the 2022 year level," Deputy Minister of Agriculture Elena Fastova noted

Moldovan Parliament approves withdrawal from CIS core treaties

The decision was enacted through a two-thirds majority vote during a session livestreamed on the legislative body's official website

Mideast crisis effects draw comparisons to Coronavirus pandemic — Putin

The Russian leader said the consequences of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East are still difficult to predict

Negotiations on Ukraine "on pause" — Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Galuzin

The official says that Russia has always been and remains open to political and diplomatic resolution of the Ukrainian conflict

Russia increases mineral fertilizer output by 2.5% in January-February

Fertilizer output in February increased by 1.5% year-on-year to 2.5 mln tons

Modi says looks forward to further dialogue with Putin

The Indian prime minister conveyed warm regards to the Russian leader

First batch of Skvorets-opto drones deployed to special military operation zone

Radio jamming of all kinds is not a problem for Skvorets-opto drones

Kiev lost over 35,000 soldiers, mercenaries in March fighting — expert

Andrey Marochko attributed the heavy losses in the Battlegroup Center’s area of responsbility to Kiev's ongoing "massive assaults" in that sector

Illegal turnover of consumer goods in Russia falls from 17% to below 10% over five years

Denis Manturov noted that extensive work had been carried out to fine-tune legal and supervisory mechanisms to combat the shadow market

Two NATO reconnaissance aircraft spotted over Black Sea

The British aircraft traversed Dutch, German, and Central European airspace before beginning a flight along the Romanian Black Sea coast

Putin opens new terminal of Blagoveshchensk Airport by video link

The airport is "called to give an extra impetus to socioeconomic development of the Amur Region and the Far East at large, and expand tourist and business ties with foreign countries," the head of state said

Rosneft’s net profit under IFRS amounts to $3.6 bln in 2025

Revenue fell by 18.8% on the year to $101 bln

Russia, India launching cooperation on unmanned transport vehicles — ministry

The countries are also discussing the possibility of integrating Russia's national digital transport and logistics platform with India's Unified Logistics Interface Platform

Russian Armed Forces destroy Ukrainian Humvee armored vehicle in Kursk Region

The Defense Ministry also published footage of the destruction of the armored vehicle

IN BRIEF: Kremlin statements on US gameplan in Iran

Dmitry Peskov said the current situation in the Middle East should be "shepherded to the peace track" as soon as possible

Arab countries’ losses from Middle East conflict may reach $200 bln — Bloomberg

The overall losses could push the regional unemployment rate up by as much as four percentage points, costing some 3.6 million jobs and forcing up to four million people into poverty

Russia’s LNG exports to Europe hit record high in March as Middle East supplies suspended

In January-March, EU imports of Russian LNG amounted to approximately 6.8 billion cubic meters, compared to 5.7 billion cubic meters a year earlier

Russian troops complete liberation of Lugansk People’s Republic — top brass

Russian troops liberated two communities in the Kharkov and Zaporozhye Regions over the past 24 hours, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported

New Svarog-17 mining drone to be tested in January — Frobotics

The drone is equipped with a more powerful engine-propeller unit and new-generation batteries, which will allow the drone, weighing approximately 10 kg, to operate over long distances

Pakistan says ready to host US-Iran talks

A five-point initiative proposed earlier by China and Pakistan to restore peace and stability in the Middle East has been met with approval in the region and beyond

Income of the poor in one of Hainan's counties up by $ 15 mln due to poverty alleviation

The involvement of low-income households in the economic activities of a number of sectors in the region is supported by state enterprises, educational, medical and government institutions, etc

Conflict around Iran catches major energy traders off guard — FT

According to the report, companies including Vitol, Trafigura, and Mercuria suffered losses due to logistical disruptions and poor market positions

Russia completes deliveries of Su-35 fighter jets to China

The contract worth about $2.5 billion on the deliveries of 24 fighter jets to China was signed in 2015

Dmitriev calls on UK, EU officials to acknowledge their mistakes, switch to Russian oil

The head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund commented on an address to the nation by US President Donald Trump, containing a remark that Washington does not need the Strait of Hormuz

Russian companies capable to increase oil, LNG supplies to India

Russia increased supplies of highly sought-after mineral fertilizers to India by 40% as of the end of 2025 and is ready to continue meeting its needs for such products

FACTBOX: What is known about new drone attack on TurkStream compressor station

The holding company clarified that the attack was carried out by three fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles

Russian foreign trade not declining since 2022, despite sanctions

According to Deputy Head of the Russian Presidential Administration Maxim Oreshkin, the geography and currency of payments changed over that period

Russian First Deputy PM discussed expansion of trade, investment ties with India

Denis Manturov was received by Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi

Putin expects pro-Russian forces to be able to take part in Armenian elections

Russia has a lot of friends in Armenia, the Russian leader emphasized

US journalist Carlson calls Trump’s speech an announcement of the end of American empire

"There’s turbulence ahead, but long term it’s a huge win for the United States," Tucker Carlson said

Press review: Russian control of LPR reshapes Ukraine talks as Trump pressures NATO allies

Top stories from the Russian press on Thursday, April 2nd

Former Yukos shareholders give up claims on Russian assets in Belgium

All the seizures of Russian assets of in Belgium will be finally invalidated, the head of the International Center for Legal Protection said

Russia’s Shoigu pushes for collective efforts to resolve Middle East conflict

According to the Russian Security Council secretary, everybody is extremely concerned about the situation in the Middle East

Russian Alexander Nevsky Brigade UAVs down 14 Ukrainian drones in one day

Over the past month, Russian air defense crews have shot down 102 large enemy UAVs

Iran destroys US bases in Middle East, says Houthi leader

Abdul Malik al-Houthi is convinced that the Iranian operations were accompanied by "heavy losses among officers and soldiers" of the armies of the United States and Israel

Russian stock market mixed on Thursday — market data

The MOEX Russia Index lost 0.03% to 2,774.41 points, while the RTS Index edged up by 0.33% to 1,087.97 points

Hainan's high-speed railway gets new schedule

Sri Lanka’s company ready to buy Russian oil, diesel fuel

Ceypetco is ready to immediately pay for shipments as soon as the company receives a commercial proposal, Mayura Neththikumarage added

Press review: US may end Iran war as Ukraine drones strike Russia’s Ust-Luga

Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, April 1st

Russia becomes third largest gas supplier to the EU in Q1 after Norway and US

In January-March, Russian gas supplies to the EU totaled almost 11.5 billion cubic meters

Russian-Chinese trade turnover down by 6.9% yoy to $228 bln in 2025 — trade envoy

Alexey Dakhnovsky underscored that despite the decline Russia retained its place among China's top five trading partners

US reconnaissance drone detected off Iran coast calls Italian base home

The UAV, which has been repeatedly detected in this area, including near the city of Bushehr, has been in the air for multiple hours and is operating at an altitude above 14.5 km, according to the source

Senior Russian senator extends hope for a pivotal 2026 for Ukraine peace

If the 'peace camp' led by Russia can deactivate the destructive policy course being pursued by the still influential 'war camp', mutually acceptable solutions could be found, quite fast and easily, Konstantin Kosachev said

Iranian ambassador to Russia outlines Iran’s demands to US, Israel

Kazem Jalali said the Islamic Republic of Iran "has always welcomed any constructive and sincere efforts to establish stability and security in the region"

Loading by CPC from marine terminal for export totals 9.8 mln tons of oil year-to-date

Loading by CPC from its marine terminal near Novorossiysk for export slipped by 0.7% in 2024 to 63.01 mln tons of oil

Russia mulls abolition of declarative principle for oil and gas licenses

Head of the Federal Agency for Mineral Resources Oleg Kazanov said that "some work is being done in this direction"

US facilitated crimes against civilians in Ukraine — top lawmaker

Irina Yarovaya noted that the facts uncovered by the commission confirm that experiments were conducted on Ukrainian troops as well as wide-ranging work "in Ukraine specifically on the components of biological weapons"

Lukoil reduces oil production in Russia by 2.1%, gas output by 4% in 2025

The company accounted for about 15% of the country’s total oil production

Putin's meeting with Witkoff underway for about three hours now

No information has yet been released regarding its conclusion

BRICS' share of global GDP exceeds 40% and will continue to grow — Russian official

Maxim Oreshkin noted that the rapidly growing countries of Southeast Asia, which played a key role in economic growth in the first quarter of this century, will be joined by countries in South Asia and Africa

Putin to hold phone call with Saudi Crown Prince — Kremlin aide

The conversation will take place after the Russian president’s talks with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty

Ex-NATO chief agreed to consider buffer zone between alliance, Russia in 2021 — portal

Jens Stoltenberg wrote in his memoirs that he agreed to consider the possibility of withdrawing some NATO troops from Eastern Europe

NATO readies for clash with Russia, Kiev truce ploy: Foreign Ministry statements

As Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova noted, the NATO report again names Russia as the most significant threat to security, peace and stability in the Euro-Atlantic region

Death toll from strike on bridge in Iran rises to eight — authorities

95 people were injured

IN BRIEF: Kremlin says Middle East situation developing along worst-case scenario

Dmitry Peskov emphasized that Russia is closely monitoring the situation in the Middle East

Neighboring countries show interest in Russian high-speed railway — company

Discussions are already underway with certain countries in building such railway lines

Moscow receives tourists from smorgasbord of countries — official

Over the past 12 months, nine additional flights to Moscow from five countries, chairman of the Russian capital’s tourism committee, Yevgeny Kozlov, said

FAO forecasts record high grain production globally in 2023-2024

Improvement is observed in global wheat production driven by enhanced prospects in a number of countries, including Kazakhstan, Turkey and Canada

Russia to send second oil vessel to Cuba — Energy Minister

Russia won't leave the Cubans hanging, Sergey Tsivilyov said

Another batch of Krasnopol-M2 guided shells sent to troops — Rostec

Rostec noted that the Krasnopol-M2, actively used in Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine, is highly effective and boasts exceptional accuracy even at extreme ranges

NATO raises degree of escalation, goes too far in military rhetoric — Kremlin

"This is the reality that we will have to confront further on," Dmitry Peskov underlined

Ordinary Armenian consumers will pay for Western data centers — Overchuk

The Russian deputy PM noted that the West was shifting the burden of costs onto other countries

Russian forces ensure safe rotation of another batch of IAEA experts — top brass

The ministry pointed out that IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi personally supervised the rotation of the agency’s experts, and the Russian side strictly observed the ceasefire on the route of the observers to make this possible

Kiev attack on Zaporozhye kills several rare horses

It will take at least ten years to restore livestock, Gennady Shcherbak, the owner of the herd, told

Prospecting gold placer licenses to be retained, declarative principle to end

According to the head of the Federal Agency for Mineral Resources Oleg Kazanov, the prospecting licenses will remain

Proton-M carrier rocket with SatMex-8 satellite lifts off from Baikonur

The launch was carried out successfully at 23:06 Moscow time

Two people killed, 10 injured in Ukrainian attacks on Belgorod Region over past 24 hours

The Ukrainian military fired 44 munitions at settlements in the Graivoronsky district and attacked them with 35 drones

Gazprom reports another drone attack on TurkStream pipeline station

The attack was repelled by joint efforts of Russian Defense Ministry forces and mobile task forces, preventing damage to the Gazprom PJSC facility, the company stated

Iran targets Oracle data center in Dubai — IRGC

Earlier on Thursday, Iran’s elite army unit claimed to have carried out strikes on a cloud computing center of US tech firm Amazon in Bahrain

Strait of Hormuz to be closed to US, Israel for long time — Iranian General Staff

A representative of the Iranian armed forces Abolfazl Shekarchi stressed that "under no pretext will they approach it"

Russia, Egypt could discuss creating grain and energy hub in the republic — Putin

The Russian president noted that the two countries have a lot of plans, and many of them are already being implemented

US exit from NATO to hurt Ukraine, set stage for high drama Ankara summit — newspaper

The NATO summit in Ankara is to take place on July 7 and 8

Russian regulator to continue tight monetary policy amid unfavorable factors — official

The tight monetary policy will help keep inflation within reasonable boundaries and protect the population from external shocks, Central Bank First Deputy Chairwoman Ksenia Yudaeva said

Internet blackout in Iran lasts more than 790 hours — NetBlocks

A chart shows that connectivity remains at around 1% of normal levels

Rostec hands over first batch Su-34 bombers to Russian Aerospace Forces this year

Rostec noted that the Novosibirsk plant is awaiting a new stage of upgrades and technical re-equipment of production

Chinese stock indices fall by more than 6% in March

On the last trading day of the month, the Shanghai Composite Index decreased by 0.8% and closed at 3,891.86 points

IN BRIEF: Putin, Pashinyan discuss Armenia elections and EAEU-EU ties

The Russian president expressed hope that local political processes in Armenia amid the election campaign would not harm relations between the two countries

EC to transfer €1.4 bln in revenue from Russian assets to Ukraine — statement

The funds will be directed "to sustain the Ukrainian State, preserve essential public services" and support the Ukrainian military

Melania Trump mediated reunification of seven children with their families in Ukraine

Reunifying children with their loved ones in this region of the world remains one of the most important global issues today, the First Lady said in a statement

Urea production in India plunge to 1.8 mln tons in March — newspaper

The decline is caused by disrupted supplies of liquefied natural gas

Germany expects further worsening of relations with Belarus - Seibert

Earlier, Berlin has already repeatedly denounced death sentences

Arctic Metagaz tanker attacked by sea drone from Libyan territory — radio station

According to radio station sources, the gas tanker was attacked by a Ukrainian Magura V5 sea drone

Placing Strait of Hormuz under third party control won't work — Russian MFA

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stressed that the move would violate international maritime law

Ukraine attacks Kursk Region with 47 drones over past 24 hours

There were no fatalities or injuries

IN BRIEF: What to know on Arctic Metagaz breaking loose from tow, now adrift at sea

It is impossible to predict which way the gas carrier will drift, said Khaled Ghulam, official representative of the Libyan Emergency Committee dealing with the incident

Russian army receives advanced Ka-52M helicopters — source

The Arsenyevsky aviation plant is fully loaded with production of such helicopters, the source added

Strikes on Iran may lead to nuclear arms race in Middle East, Russian senator warns

Deputy chair of the Russian Federation Council Natalya Nikonorova noted that the US and Israel are pushing Iran towards pulling out of the NPT, "after which the country will be able to develop its nuclear program without control from the IAEA"

Over 40 social facilities evacuated in Kerch over bomb threats

Svyatoslav Brusakov stressed that appropriate checks are still being carried out

Iranian supreme leader’s advisor seriously injured in shelling — TV

According to sources cited by the channel, the official is in critical condition

Russia’s lengthy list of diplomatic relations with other countries

Currently, Russia has diplomatic relations with 191 states

Grain supplies to Egypt, helping bring peace to Middle East: Putin’s statements

The Russian president invited Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to Russia and expressed hope that Egypt will be represented at a high level at the Russia-Africa summit in October

FACTBOX: Russia’s nuclear power projects abroad

Rosatom ranks first globally by the number of nuclear power plant construction projects abroad, with 41 power units in 11 countries worldwide

US-Israeli strikes on civilian facilities will not force Iranians to surrender — Araghchi

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi emphasized that "every bridge and building will be built back stronger"

Iran offers agreement on use of Strait of Hormuz

Tehran is ready to reach agreements with European, Asian, and Arab countries on this issue, Head of the Government Information Council Elias Hazrati said