Financial news: Russian financial markets remained stable in February.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Central Bank of Russia

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OFZ yields declined over the month amid a key rate cut and a softening signal about future regulatory actions. Meanwhile, the Russian Ministry of Finance increased the volume of OFZ placements at auctions to 701 billion rubles, while households continued to actively purchase them on the secondary market. As a result, OFZ purchases by individuals reached their highest level since June of last year, reaching 64.1 billion rubles.

Sectoral stock market indices moved in different directions, and the Moscow Exchange Index rose slightly by the end of February (0.6% m/m).

The ruble weakened slightly during this period, reaching 77.27 rubles per US dollar. Corporate currency sales generally increased, despite a decline in sales by major exporters. Demand for currency remained low compared to previous years. However, demand for swaps with the Bank of Russia temporarily increased in the money market.

Read more in the next issue. Review of Financial Market Risks.

Preview photo: Andrianaa Hoshko / Shutterstock / Fotodom

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The UN calls on the world to unite and save 87 million lives.

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Source: United Nations – United Nations –

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March 11, 2026 Humanitarian aid

On Wednesday, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher unveiled a new global humanitarian campaign, "87 Million Lives." That's the number of people the initiative will help.

According to Fletcher, the world is experiencing a very dangerous time. Conflicts, particularly in the Middle East, are rapidly escalating and increasingly intersecting. Violence is causing new waves of displacement, economic upheaval, and a sharp increase in humanitarian needs.

Fletcher made three requests of the international community. The first is to ensure the protection of all civilians and infrastructure, including schools, hospitals, and energy facilities, and to guarantee the safety of humanitarian workers.

"Civilians, all civilians, wherever they are in the region, must be protected," the Emergency Relief Coordinator said.

The second appeal concerns access for humanitarian organizations to people in need of assistance, regardless of country or party to the conflict.

Third, Fletcher called for a renewed diplomacy based on a strategic, rational approach and a commitment to peace.

He also emphasized that the humanitarian system is going through an extremely difficult period: aid workers are increasingly becoming targets. Just today, he said, three aid workers were killed in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Lebanon.

"This is a challenging time for humanitarian action. We are overwhelmed, under constant attack, and short on resources, but we refuse to compromise our principles and our mission. We will not turn our backs on the people who rely on us," Fletcher said.

Against this backdrop, the UN unveiled its 2026 Humanitarian Plan, which provides $23 billion to help 87 million people. Nearly 2,000 humanitarian organizations are participating in the program, more than 60 percent of which are UN partners on the ground. Fletcher's new campaign calls for the plan's implementation.

Fletcher noted that in January alone, more than 7 million people received assistance through 17 UN operations, including nearly 2 million in Sudan. If this level of assistance can be maintained monthly, the organization will be able to reach its goal of assisting 87 million people this year.

According to the coordinator, $5 billion has already been allocated for the plan's implementation, and with announced commitments, $8.7 billion—more than a third of the required amount. The main donors are the United States, the European Commission, Sweden, Germany, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Canada, Japan, Norway, Denmark, the UAE, Belgium, and Qatar.

However, the funding gap remains significant – over $14 billion. Fletcher noted that military operations in the Middle East cost approximately $1 billion per day, and even a small portion of these funds could save millions of people.

"We're not asking you to choose between a hospital in Brooklyn, London, Mexico City, Rio, or Manila and a hospital in Kandahar, Akobo, Aleppo, or Port-au-Prince. We're simply asking you to recognize that perhaps the world could spend a little less on weapons this year and a little more on doing something truly meaningful," Fletcher said.

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The UN Security Council condemned Iran's strikes on neighboring countries. A Russian draft resolution failed to secure the required number of votes.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: United Nations – United Nations –

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March 11, 2026 Peace and security

The UN Security Council today adopted a resolution condemning Iran's strikes on neighboring countries in response to attacks by the United States and Israel. The resolution, proposed by Bahrain on behalf of the Gulf Cooperation Council, was supported by 13 Security Council members, with two – Russia and China – abstaining.

The resolution, co-sponsored by 135 states, according to a representative of Bahrain, demands that Iran immediately cease attacks on neighboring countries. The document's authors call these actions by the Islamic Republic a violation of international law and a serious threat to international security.

Russia proposed its own draft resolution condemning all attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure and calling on all parties to cease violence.

The Russian draft failed to garner the required number of votes. Only four delegations voted in favor—Russia itself, China, Pakistan, and Somalia; two countries voted against, and nine abstained.

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Only one in seven countries in the world has a woman in power.

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Source: United Nations – United Nations –

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March 11, 2026 Women

Women remain severely underrepresented in political leadership worldwide, and key decisions are still made predominantly by men. In 2026, only 28 countries were led by a woman—head of state or government—while 101 countries had never had a female leader.

When women are excluded from political leadership, decisions affecting peace, security, and economic priorities are made without taking into account the experiences of half of humanity. New global data collected in a study conducted by the Inter-Parliamentary Union and UN Women reveals stagnation, and in some cases, a reversal, in women's representation, particularly in the executive branch.

Chronic underrepresentation

Women hold only 22.4 percent of ministerial positions globally—less than the 2024 target, marking a reversal after years of gradual progress. Fourteen countries have achieved gender parity in government, while eight countries still do not have a single female minister.

Women hold 27.5 percent of parliamentary seats, only slightly higher than the 2025 figure of 27.2 percent. Women are also losing ground in parliamentary leadership: as of January 2026, there were 54 female speakers worldwide, or 19.9 percent, a decrease of almost four points from the previous year.

Hostility and intimidation

Female politicians face increasing hostility and intimidation online and offline: 76 percent of female parliamentarians report receiving threats (compared to 68 percent of men), which is deterring women from participating in politics.

Even after reaching leadership positions, women often find themselves concentrated in "traditional" social sectors: they head 90 percent of ministries dealing with gender equality and 73 percent of ministries dealing with family and children's affairs. Men almost completely dominate the ministries of defense, interior, justice, economy, administration, health, and education.

“At a time of growing global instability, escalating conflicts, and a backsliding on women’s rights, excluding women from political leadership weakens societies’ ability to respond to current challenges,” said UN Women Executive Director Sima Bacchus. “When women participate in leadership, countries become more stable, decisions are more effective, and societies are more resilient.”

Inter-Parliamentary Union Secretary-General Martin Chungong noted that quotas and political will remain key tools for accelerating change, but men and women must work together to change political culture and break down stereotypes.

Despite slow progress, women around the world continue to expand their political participation. Removing structural barriers—discriminatory laws, violence against women in politics, unequal access to resources, and changing negative social norms—will be crucial to achieving equal political leadership.

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Top Stories | Wednesday: Lebanon, Ukraine, humanitarian aid, cyberbullying

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Source: United Nations – United Nations –

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March 11, 2026 UN

The top news of the day at the UN and around the world: the UN Security Council discussed the sharp escalation of the situation in Lebanon, the overnight attacks in Ukraine, the UN launched a new fundraising campaign to help 87 million people, and about two-thirds of children worldwide report an increase in cyberbullying.

UN Security Council meeting on Lebanon

On Wednesday morning, the Security Council held a meeting at UN Headquarters to discuss the situation in Lebanon, which has escalated since the start of the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran. Hezbollah militants attacked Israel on March 2, drawing Lebanon into a new war. France, supported by several other countries, requested the emergency meeting. Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo stated in her address that escalating the conflict would benefit no one. To prevent further loss of life and create conditions for constructive political dialogue, she emphasized, it is necessary to end the violence.

New shelling of Ukraine

On the night between Tuesday and Wednesday, attacks across Ukraine killed and wounded civilians, damaging residential buildings, educational institutions, and energy infrastructure, the UN press service reported, citing Ukrainian authorities. As of this morning, parts of the Dnipro, Donetsk, and Kharkiv regions remained without power. Also today, a drone strike on a public bus in Kherson reportedly injured more than ten civilians. Evacuation operations continue for civilians from frontline areas—440 people fled several towns in the Donetsk region yesterday. The UN and partners are providing assistance.

87 Million Lives Campaign

During a press conference in Geneva, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher launched a fundraising campaign to provide life-saving assistance to 87 million people worldwide. $23 billion is needed for this purpose. According to Fletcher, donors have so far committed only $5 billion and pledged another $3.7 billion, but this is not enough. He emphasized that governments alone cannot shoulder the entire burden, calling on civil society, the private sector, and the public to also support the UN's efforts.

The spread of cyberbullying

Around two-thirds of children worldwide report an increase in cyberbullying, and one in two admits they don't know where or how to get the support they need. These findings are based on a survey conducted by the Office of the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative on Violence against Children. More than 30,000 children from all regions participated. The study's authors emphasize that artificial intelligence (AI) is "fundamentally transforming the threats" children face online.

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Ukraine: Independent International Commission presents its new report

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Source: United Nations – United Nations –

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March 11, 2026 International law

Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine presented her new report During the 61st session of the UN Human Rights Council, it stated that the commission continued its investigation into the deportation of Ukrainian children by Russian authorities to the Russian Federation or to occupied areas of Ukraine.

Deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia

"The overwhelming evidence of the deportation and displacement of a total of 1,205 children from five regions of Ukraine, as reviewed by the commission, led it to conclude that these actions constitute crimes against humanity and war crimes of deportation and forced displacement of children," the report states.

The report's authors assert that Russian authorities systematically failed to inform their parents or legal guardians of the children's whereabouts and obstructed their return. Instead of creating a system to facilitate the return of children, the authorities sought to place them long-term with families or appropriate institutions in the Russian Federation.

"Throughout 2022, Russian authorities stated that adoption was the preferred placement option for these children. Therefore, the Commission also concluded that Russian authorities committed a crime against humanity by forcibly disappearing children deported or displaced from Ukraine, and a war crime by unjustifiably delaying their repatriation," the report states.

According to the commission, 80 percent of children have not yet returned from Russia, while others have encountered obstacles and delays. Many parents and legal guardians remain unaware of the fate and whereabouts of their children and continue to search for them, the report's authors report.

Lawsuits against Ukrainians

The commission also investigated the conduct of trials in the Russian Federation and the territories of Ukraine it occupied. Ukrainian civilians and prisoners of war were primarily accused of terrorism, espionage, and the violent seizure of power.

"The Commission found that these courts deprived the accused of the fundamental guarantees of a fair trial and thereby committed serious violations of international humanitarian law that constitute war crimes," the report said.

"Russian authorities systematically used evidence fabricated or obtained through torture or ill-treatment to incriminate defendants," the report's authors say.

According to them, the courts did not respect fair trial guarantees and handed down predetermined sentences.

Brutal Punishments in the Russian Armed Forces

The commission investigated the circumstances surrounding the recruitment of citizens from 17 countries to fight on the side of the Russian armed forces.

"Many of them were deceived and lured from abroad with promises of civilian work or other favorable conditions. They were forced to sign contracts written in Russian, a language they didn't understand, and sent on dangerous missions to the front lines," the report states.

The commission also interviewed 85 soldiers who served in the Russian armed forces and subsequently deserted. Most of them described brutal methods used by their commanders. Specifically, punishments such as execution on the spot, beatings, and confinement in a pit were used for refusing to participate in military operations that would have led to certain death, or for retreating from the front lines due to injury or a lack of supplies, the report states.

"These testimonies demonstrate a complete disregard for human life and dignity and indicate that the use of violence against subordinates is a widespread and systematic phenomenon in the Russian armed forces," the report's authors write.

Violations by Ukrainian authorities

The commission members also noted that the overly broad definition of the crime of "collaboration activity" in the Ukrainian criminal code has led to widespread legal uncertainty. According to the report's authors, activities that do not pose a threat to national security can also be interpreted as this crime.

The commission documented violations reported during mobilization into the Ukrainian Armed Forces. These included unlawful administrative detention, lack of access to legal counsel, and hasty examinations by military medical commissions that ignored potential medical problems.

"There have been cases of violence against conscientious objectors, who were forcibly taken to recruiting stations and military units despite their expressed willingness to perform alternative civilian service," the report states.

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Air raid sirens are heard throughout Israel.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

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

JERUSALEM, March 11 (Xinhua) — Air raid sirens sounded across Israel on Wednesday evening as air defense systems detected missile launches from Iran and Lebanon.

According to several media reports, a rocket or its debris struck a building in the north of the country. Israel's Magen David Adom rescue service stated in a statement that its crews were heading to the scene to check for casualties.

Israeli state television channel Kan TV reported, citing an Israeli security official, that the military believes Iran and Hezbollah coordinated the launches in an attempt to evade Israeli air defenses. –0–

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The attack on an Iranian primary school that killed more than 160 people was carried out by a US missile, according to preliminary investigation findings.

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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

Washington, March 11 (Xinhua) — An ongoing military investigation has preliminarily determined that the strike by a U.S. Tomahawk missile on an Iranian elementary school, which killed more than 160 people, mostly students, was the result of a targeting error, The New York Times reported on Wednesday.

Officials familiar with the investigation told the publication that officers at U.S. Central Command based the strike coordinates on outdated intelligence provided by the Defense Intelligence Agency, which led to the targeting error.

It is noted that the conclusion is still preliminary and some key questions remain unanswered, including why outdated information was not re-verified.

The February 28 attack on Shajare Tayyebeh Elementary School in the city of Minab was part of US attacks targeting a nearby Iranian military base.

As the publication points out, although the conclusion was largely expected, since the United States is the only party in the conflict known to use Tomahawk missiles, the incident has already cast a shadow over the American military operation against Iran.

US President Donald Trump continues to repeat that Iran, not the United States, is responsible for the attack on the school.

“From what I’ve seen, Iran did it,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on March 7.

Tomahawk missiles “are sold and used by other countries,” Trump said on March 9, adding that “Iran also has several Tomahawk missiles.”

“As The New York Times itself acknowledged in its reporting, the investigation is still ongoing,” White House press secretary Caroline Leavitt said in a statement.

Analysts say the attack on a school full of students can be considered one of the most fatal military mistakes of recent decades. –0–

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Russia plans to include cancer vaccines in its free medical care program for 2026.

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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

Moscow, March 11 /Xinhua/ — Cancer vaccines will be added to Russia's compulsory medical insurance (CHI) program for 2026, TASS reported on Wednesday, citing a draft resolution from the Russian Ministry of Health.

The state program of guaranteed free medical care is planned to include anti-tumor drug therapy using personalized mRNA vaccines, as well as the personalized peptide cancer vaccine "Oncopept."

The list of treatments available to patients under compulsory medical insurance will also include cellular immunotherapy using genetically modified components. –0–

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The capital hosted drills on flood control and forest fire prevention.

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Source: Moscow Government – Moscow Government –

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Participants in the drills held in the capital on Wednesday practiced flood control and wildfire prevention, according to the Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Housing, Utilities, and Public Works. Petr Biryukov.

"Over three thousand specialists from the joint mobile task force created by order of Sergei Sobyanin participated in the exercise. These included fire and rescue garrison personnel, representatives of emergency and city services, and engineering and utility companies. The exercises tested the coordination of efforts to ensure the safe passage of floodwaters and prevent flooding, as well as preparedness for the fire season," said Pyotr Biryukov.

According to the drill scenario, a sharp rise in average daily temperatures caused the snow to melt rapidly, flooding the village of Ryzhovo. Residents needed to be evacuated immediately. Several people attempted to leave on their own but fell through the ice.

Participants in the exercise practiced organizing rescue and evacuation operations, providing first aid to victims, and implementing measures to protect populated areas and restore infrastructure damaged during flood and fire hazard periods. Approximately 500 pieces of modern equipment were deployed, including firefighting and medical helicopters, all-terrain vehicles, tracked firefighting vehicles, airboats, and hovercraft.

During the second phase of the exercise, specialists practiced wildfire prevention and suppression. A special task force is deployed in the city, and over 100 firefighters have been trained. They are capable of landing from aircraft and extinguishing fires.

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