Top Stories of the Day | Thursday: Gaza, Syria, UN, Gender Inequality

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: United Nations – United Nations –

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September 18, 2025 UN

The main news of the day at the UN and around the world: the catastrophic situation in Gaza, the Security Council meeting on Syria, the report on UN activities, International Equal Pay Day.

The Gaza crisis

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs is warning of the catastrophic situation facing civilians in Gaza City. In just five days, strikes have damaged 11 UNRWA facilities, sheltering approximately 11,000 people. According to the latest data, approximately 200,000 displacements from north to south of the enclave have been documented in the past month alone. The UN is reiterating its call for a ceasefire, increased supplies to Gaza, and the immediate and unconditional return of hostages and the release of those arbitrarily detained.

The situation in Syria

Success political transition in Syria Depends on the broad participation of all communities and population groups. This requirement was emphasized by the Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, speaking to the Security Council. UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher, in turn, recalled that more than 70 percent of Syrians require humanitarian support. Fletcher called on the members of the UN Security Council to maintain stability through continued engagement to prevent violence, to adequately fund humanitarian measures, and to facilitate the reconstruction of Syria.

Report of the UN Secretary-General

In a year when international crises are only intensifying, the United Nations has maintained its commitment to promoting peace and sustainable development. in the annual report of the Secretary-General, presented ahead of the High-Level Week of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly. Thus, in 2024, the UN and its partners managed to mobilize $25 billion (50 percent of the target), which enabled them to provide assistance to 116 million people in need in nearly 80 countries. UN efforts also contributed to the protection of hundreds of thousands of civilians and the advancement of peace processes.

Equal pay

Women worldwide still earn, on average, 20 percent less than men. Gender equality is not fully achieved due to persistent historical and structural barriers that limit opportunities for women and girls. UN Women notes this. International Equal Pay Day, which is celebrated on September 18. The organization calls for coordinated action aimed at reducing the gender gap.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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Meteorologists warn: climate crisis is changing the global water cycle

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Source: United Nations – United Nations –

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September 18, 2025 Climate and environment

Water is the source of life on Earth, but today it is increasingly becoming the cause of natural disasters. According to a report released Thursday by the UN World Meteorological Organization (WMO), climate change is increasing pressure on the planet's water resources, triggering disasters affecting millions of people worldwide.

A year of record heat and devastating floods

Last year was the hottest in 175 years of record-keeping, with the average surface temperature of the Earth exceeding pre-industrial levels by 1.55 degrees Celsius.

The anomaly directly affects the water cycle: warm air holds more moisture, leading to more intense precipitation and, as a result, devastating floods.

"Water disasters continue to take a heavy toll this year," said WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo. "Flooding in Pakistan and South Sudan, and deadly downpours in Bali, are just part of the alarming picture. Unfortunately, there's no end in sight to this trend."

Storm Boris and the "centennial" floods

In September 2024, Central and Eastern Europe were hit by the powerful storm Boris, causing flash floods and the evacuation of tens of thousands of people. In the Czech Republic, river levels reached levels that, statistically, would only occur once in a century. As Stefan Uhlenbruck, Director of the WMO's Hydrology Division, notes, such "century-scale" events are becoming increasingly common.

Monsoons off schedule and drought in the Amazon

Water cycle instability is also evident in other regions. In India, the monsoon arrived earlier than usual this year, bringing heavy rains to the states of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. Meanwhile, the Amazon basin, northwest Mexico, and southern Africa experienced severe drought, exacerbated by the El Niño phenomenon.

"El Niño certainly played a role, but scientific evidence shows that it is climate change and rising temperatures that lead to extreme events – both droughts and floods," Saulo explained.

Melting glaciers: a global threat

One of the most alarming trends on the planet is the rapid disappearance of glaciers. In 2024, they lost 450 gigatons of ice—a volume equivalent to 180 million Olympic-sized swimming pools. This added 1.2 mm to global sea levels, increasing the risk of coastal flooding.

Everything is interconnected: from the Arctic to Asia

The report emphasizes that the water cycle is a closed global system.

"We're not dealing with localized problems," says WMO researcher Sulagna Mishra. "Melting glaciers in the Arctic influence monsoons in Asia, and hurricanes in the Pacific influence weather patterns around the world."

Against the backdrop of global climate change, the World Meteorological Organization is calling for urgent action: improved monitoring, data sharing on water flows, groundwater and its quality, as well as international cooperation and urgent investment in early warning systems.

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UN Special Envoy: Political Transition in Syria Only Possible with Genuine Inclusiveness

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: United Nations – United Nations –

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September 18, 2025 Peace and security

The success of the political transition in Syria depends on the broad participation of all communities and population groups. This prerequisite was emphasized by the Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, in his address to the Security Council.

According to Pedersen, Syria urgently needs international assistance on a scale commensurate with its needs and ambitions. The return of the private sector to Syria is also essential, which requires political stability, regional and global support, and the easing of sanctions and export controls.

External intervention

The special envoy condemned ongoing external interference, including from Israel. He cited media reports of the killing of several Syrian soldiers, as well as the Israeli landing south of Damascus and further strikes in early September. "Such external interference is unacceptable and must end," Pedersen stated.

Relative stability

Speaking of situation in As-SuwaydaPedersen noted that the ceasefire announced on July 18 is generally holding. He welcomed the joint efforts of the United States, Jordan, and Syria, as enshrined in the September 16 statement. According to the Special Envoy, it is crucial that decisions simultaneously "guarantee the sovereignty, unity, independence, and territorial integrity of Syria" and address "the legitimate concerns of the Druze community for their security, human rights, and political future."

Political transition

"The international community must support Syria and resolutely oppose foreign interference. But equally, the success of the transition will depend, first and foremost, on whether the state acts as a state for all, not only in words but also in deeds," the Special Envoy said.

He also added that Ahmed al-Sharaa will be the first Syrian president since 1967 to personally participate in debates during the UN General Assembly High-Level Week in New York.

"The United Nations stands ready to support efforts on all fronts," Pedersen reiterated.

Rebuilding the country

In turn, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher emphasized that more than 70 percent of Syrians need support, 9 million suffer from acute food shortages, about 7 million remain internally displaced, and more than 4 million are refugees in neighboring countries.

According to him, despite significant funding cuts, the UN and its partners provide vital humanitarian assistance to nearly 3.5 million people across Syria every month. However, donors have provided only 18 percent of the required funds, which is already leading to the closure of hospitals, women's and girls' centers, and the reduction of other programs.

He also stressed that millions of Syrians, returning to their native places After years of displacement, they need help to rebuild their communities.

Fletcher called on UN Security Council members to maintain stability through continued engagement to prevent violence, to adequately fund humanitarian efforts, and to support the reconstruction of Syria.

"Turn promises into concrete investments and expand support for major recovery, reconstruction, and development programs, creating livelihoods, rebuilding homes, and restoring essential services. Ultimately, this is restoring hope," he said.

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Foreign investment in Turkmenistan's economy reached $1.4 billion in 2024, according to the minister.

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –

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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

Ashgabat, September 18 (Xinhua) — Turkmenistan's Minister of Finance and Economy Mammetguly Astanagulov announced that foreign investment in the country's economy will reach $1.4 billion in 2024, Interfax-Kazakhstan reported on Thursday, citing the News Central Asia portal.

Speaking at the 2025 Turkmenistan Investment Forum (TIF), the minister noted that the total volume of investments in Turkmenistan's economy in 2024 reached $12.1 billion, which is 9 percent higher than the 2023 figure.

"Of this, $1.4 billion was foreign investment, equivalent to 11.6 percent of the total. The share of foreign investment increased by 1.4 percent compared to the previous year," M. Astanagulov clarified.

He emphasized that attracting foreign investment remains a key focus of Turkmenistan's economic policy. Priority sectors for investment remain the oil and gas and petrochemical industries, energy, and construction.

The TIF-2025 Investment Forum, aimed at attracting foreign investment, is taking place in the Avaza National Tourist Zone from September 18 to 19. More than 800 delegates from 45 countries are participating.

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A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck 143 kilometers east of Russia's Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –

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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News

BEIJING, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) — A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck 143 kilometers east of the Russian city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky at 18:58 GMT on Thursday, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.

According to preliminary data, the epicenter of the tremors was located at 52.95 degrees north latitude and 160.75 degrees east longitude. The hypocenter was located at a depth of 10 kilometers.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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Dmitry Chernyshenko: Qualifying competitions for the Future Games in Astana are being held as part of the 2025 Phygital Games

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Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –

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The 2025 Phygital Games are taking place in Nizhny Novgorod from September 17 to 20. The tournament is bringing together 400 participants from 50 regions of Russia, as well as Latvia and Mauritania.

Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Dmitry Chernyshenko spoke with Games participants, assessed the competition venues, and held a meeting on the development of the phygital movement.

The meeting also featured speeches from First Deputy Minister of Sport of Russia Odes Baysultanov, Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education Olga Petrova, Governor of the Nizhny Novgorod Region Gleb Nikitin, and President of the All-Russian Phygital Sports Federation Nikita Nagorny.

The Deputy Prime Minister thanked Governor Gleb Nikitin, his team, the Russian Ministry of Sport, and the organizers, and emphasized the importance of holding the 2025 Phygital Games during the World Youth Festival, as this provides an additional opportunity for engagement in the phygital format, launched "with the help of President Vladimir Putin."

"The World Phygital Federation already includes 118 countries. This means that in 118 countries, people are gathering, holding competitions, and evaluating them on the World Federation platform, using the same rules and regulations first tested at the Future Games in Kazan last year. This year, qualifying competitions for the Future Games, which will be held in Astana next July, are being held here," noted Dmitry Chernyshenko.

Dmitry Chernyshenko reported that, according to the Minister of Sports of the Nizhny Novgorod Region, thanks to the phygital training camps, the conversion rate of children who had never played sports but took up the sport after participating in the camps was 30%.

The meeting noted that special attention is currently being paid to integrating phygital technologies into the school and higher education systems.

The Phygital Games 2025 is a key tournament on the Champions Path to qualify for the Games of the Future 2026 in Kazakhstan. For the RFSO Lokomotiv football team, participation in the Phygital Games 2025 provides additional match practice before competing in the GOTF 2025, which will be held in December in Abu Dhabi.

According to Nizhny Novgorod Region Governor Gleb Nikitin, the region has great potential and a strong foundation for developing the phygital movement. Eight municipalities in the region already have equipped phygital sports venues. A dedicated sports federation is active, and the number of events held is growing annually.

"For two years in a row, we've been holding phygital camps in the region, where children spend two weeks learning 3D modeling, programming, robotics, and playing sports. We invite students from sports schools and those interested in IT to participate. As a result, after these camps, 30% of children who hadn't previously played sports enroll in sports clubs, and athletes are eager to learn information technology. Phygital is a real tool that helps children find their calling in sports and life," the governor noted.

The 2025 Phygital Games brought together the strongest teams in five disciplines: phygital football, phygital basketball, phygital hockey, phygital dancing, and phygital shooters.

Dmitry Chernyshenko and Gleb Nikitin attended the T-Bank Phygital Hockey competition, as well as the RWB Phygital Football and Vkusno – Period Phygital Basketball competitions.

The Deputy Prime Minister was presented with the "Sports Nizhny Novgorod" metaverse on the Roblox gaming platform. Nizhny Novgorod became the first city in Russia to create its own virtual world on the popular children's gaming platform to engage children in physical education and sports, as well as to introduce them to the region's history.

The Nizhny Novgorod Fair, the Meshchera Sports School, and the Meshchersky Sports and Recreation Center, where the region's first phygital center was created and presented to Dmitry Chernyshenko two years ago, served as the Games' venues.

"The development plan for the phygital movement in Russia runs until 2030. Ten phygital sports competitions have already been included in the unified calendar of interregional, national, and international sporting events. We plan to create 300 phygital centers in the regions and introduce 20 phygital disciplines in the next five years," said Odes Baysultanov, First Deputy Minister of Sport of Russia.

Nikita Nagorny, President of the All-Russian Phygital Sports Federation, emphasized that significant work has been done over the past two years to develop the phygital movement in our country. It has become a fully-fledged part of the Russian sports community. At the meeting, Nikita Nagorny and Artem Buslaev, President of the Russian Squash Federation, signed an agreement on the joint development of squash in Russia.

The Games are organized by the Agency for the Development of Computer and Other Sports and the Ministry of Sports of the Nizhny Novgorod Region, with the support of the Ministry of Sports of Russia.

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Marat Khusnullin took part in the Moscow Financial Forum.

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –

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Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin spoke at the session "Digital Financial Control as an Element of Client-Centric Public Administration" at the Moscow Financial Forum.

In his speech, the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that all control and financial mechanisms must be subordinated to the main goal – improving people's quality of life – and based on the principles of teamwork.

"The President set a strategic goal of improving the quality of life for citizens. Achieving this goal is a key priority and the core of our work. To successfully implement it, we must ensure the coordinated work of all participants in the process. If controllers, clients, and builders work separately, nothing will work. Success is only possible when we act as a team. A striking example of such effective collaboration is the work in the reunified regions, where, together with the Treasury, an effective budgetary oversight system was created within a tight deadline and under challenging conditions," said Marat Khusnullin.

The Deputy Prime Minister also noted that further improvement of the control and financial system is necessary to implement the national project "Infrastructure for Life," which aims, among other things, to improve the quality of life by 30% in 2,160 settlements by 2030.

Furthermore, the issue of streamlining oversight and control activities was raised, taking into account the need to shorten the investment and construction cycle. The Deputy Prime Minister explained that this approach requires a shift from excessive detail to monitoring based on aggregated indicators: volumes, deadlines, quality, and financing. This significantly simplifies the work and allows for a focus on results.

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Financial news: Information on the selection of applications from credit institutions for the conclusion of bank deposit agreements

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Moscow Exchange – Moscow Exchange –

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Application selection parameters
Date of the application selection September 19, 2025
Unique identifier for the selection of applications 22025280
Deposit currency rubles
Type of funds funds of the single treasury account
Maximum amount of funds placed in bank deposits, million monetary units 248,000
Placement period, in days 4
Date of deposit September 19, 2025
Refund date September 23, 2025
Interest rate for placement of funds (fixed or floating) Fixed
Minimum fixed interest rate for placement of funds, % per annum 16.23
Basic floating interest rate for placement of funds
Minimum spread, % per annum
Terms and conditions for concluding a bank deposit agreement (fixed-term, replenishable or special) Urgent
Minimum amount of funds placed per application, million monetary units 1,000
Maximum number of applications from one credit institution, pcs. 5
Application selection form (open or closed) Open
Application selection schedule (Moscow time)
Venue for the selection of applications Moscow Exchange PJSC
Applications accepted: from 09:30 to 09:40
*Preliminary applications: from 09:30 to 09:35
*Competition mode applications: from 09:35 to 09:40**
**Time interval for the end of accepting applications (seconds): 120
Formation of a consolidated register of applications: from 09:40 to 09:50
Setting a cut-off percentage and/or recognizing the selection of applications as unsuccessful: from 09:40 to 10:00
Submitting an offer to credit institutions to conclude a bank deposit agreement: from 10:00 to 10:50
Receiving acceptance of an offer to conclude a bank deposit agreement from credit institutions: from 10:00 to 10:50
Deposit transfer time In accordance with the requirements of paragraphs 63 and 64 of the Order of the Federal Treasury dated April 27, 2023 No. 10n

* for the open form of selection of applications from credit institutions for the conclusion of bank deposit agreements.

** the closing time for accepting applications from credit institutions for concluding bank deposit agreements is set within a time interval and is determined by the exchange’s information software and hardware arbitrarily, within the established time interval.

Contact information for media: 7 (495) 363-3232Pr@moex.kom

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Dmitry Patrushev assessed the progress of the federal project "General Cleaning"

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Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –

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Dmitry Patrushev assessed the progress of the federal project "General Cleaning."

Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev held a meeting to discuss the progress of the federal project "General Cleanup" as part of the national project "Environmental Well-Being." The event was attended by senior officials from the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Ministry of Transport, Rosatom, and other relevant agencies.

"To fulfill the objectives set by the President of Russia and ensure favorable living conditions for people across our country, we continue to eliminate accumulated environmental damage. This work is being carried out in several areas. A list of 50 sites slated for elimination by 2030 is being compiled. Furthermore, it is important to complete three major projects: the cleanup of accumulated waste from the former industrial sites of Usolye-Khimprom, the Baikal Pulp and Paper Mill, and the Krasny Bor landfill. A total of over 140 billion rubles is planned for the implementation of the federal project 'General Cleanup' by 2030," said Dmitry Patrushev.

Rosprirodnadzor and Rospotrebnadzor are currently assessing the negative environmental impact of hazardous facilities in Russia's regions. Based on the data obtained, a list of facilities prioritized for remediation is being compiled.

In addition, the Federal Environmental Operator of the Rosatom State Corporation is carrying out the decommissioning of three major facilities in the Irkutsk and Leningrad regions. This year, the company also began designing protective structures for the Komsomolsk Sulfuric Acid Plant.

The meeting also discussed the cleanup of sunken vessels. Five wrecks will be removed in the Far East in 2025.

Dmitry Patrushev also instructed the Ministry of Transport, Rosmorrechflot, and the Ministry of Natural Resources, in conjunction with the Far Eastern regions, to develop a site-by-site plan for lifting ships by 2030 and begin implementing it by the end of the year.

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Financial news: Strike prices for September futures on Moscow Exchange indices have been determined

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Moscow Exchange – Moscow Exchange –

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The settlement price of the RTS Index futures contract was 105,717 points. This figure is determined based on the average RTS Index value for the hourly trading period from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM. On September 18, it was 1,057.17 points.

The settlement price of the futures contract on the Moscow Exchange Index was 278,533 points. This figure is determined based on the average value of the Moscow Exchange Index for the hour of trading from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM. On September 18, it was 2,785.33 points.

The strike price for the MOEX Index (mini) futures contract was 2,785.33 points. This figure is determined based on the average MOEX Index value for the hourly trading period from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM. On September 18, it was 2,785.33 points.

The strike price of the RTS Index (mini) futures contract was 1,057.17 points. This figure is determined based on the average RTS Index value for the hourly trading period from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM. On September 18, it was 1,057.17 points.

The September futures contracts will mature on September 18, 2025.

Contact information for media: 7 (495) 363-3232Pr@moex.kom

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.