Main news of January 18

A roundup of what has happened in the past 24 hours

WORLD

* Some 11 metric tons of lethal mustard gas, also known as sulfur mustard or yperite, remain in existence in Libya, Belgian media reported citing Defense Minister Pieter de Crem

* Russia is under no obligation to provide an explanation for a recent alleged delivery of arms to Syria, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said

* German weekly "Zeitungszeugen" magazine will start publishing excerpts from Adolf Hitler's "Mein Kampf" next week, a move that has already caused criticism in Germany, French daily Le Figaro reported

RUSSIA

* Russia warned that an attack on Iran would be a "catastrophe" for the region and said world powers should adopt a policy of non-intervention in the Middle East and North Africa

* Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said he is ready for a transparent presidential election as an accurate gauge of his support among Russians

* Russian prosecutors have charged nearly 100 people with administrative offences over voting fraud at last month’s parliamentary elections

BUSINESS

* International rating agency Fitch has revised down its outlook on Russian cities of Moscow and St Petersburg to stable from positive over the increased political uncertainty in Russia ahead of the March presidential vote, the agency said

* The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in Europe (EBRD) invested a record $2.9 billion in Russia last year, up 25 percent on the previous year, the bank said