Author: Steven Sahiounie

Russia’s long-term US Treasury securities stood at $27 million in June (compared to $28 million in May) WASHINGTON, August 16. /TASS/. Russia reduced its holdings of the US sovereign debt by $3 million, from $36 million in May to $33 million in June, according to latest documents released by the US Department of the Treasury. The figure stood at $36 million in May, $35 million in April, $77 million in March and $75 million in February. Russia’s long-term US Treasury securities stood at $27 million in June (compared to $28 million in May), while short-term amounted to $6 million ($8…

Ecuadoran media cite a local police source as saying that the victim was shot at his home in the town of San Mateo by two men on a motorcycle who later fled.  A local politician in Ecuador was killed on Monday, party officials confirmed, less than a week after a presidential front-runner was shot and killed at a campaign rally ahead of this weekend’s elections. Pedro Briones, a member of the Citizen Revolution Party of former president Rafael Correa and one of the movement’s leaders in the province of Esmeraldas on the border with Colombia, was killed by unknown gunmen. “My solidarity…

Earlier today, during an extraordinary meeting of the Board of Directors, the Bank of Russia decided to raise the key rate to 12% per annum MOSCOW, August 15. /TASS/. The ruble rate moved to growth as the dollar-to-ruble rate fell below 97 rubles, the euro-to-ruble rate dropped below 106 rubles, during currency trading on the Moscow Exchange. As of 06:38 p.m. Moscow time, the dollar rate decreased by 0.95% to 96.74 rubles, the euro rate went down by 1.21% to 105.76 rubles, the yuan rate was around 13.209 rubles (-1.35%). By 06:51 p.m. Moscow time, the dollar slowed down the…

The aircraft will not have the 100% Russian component base MOSCOW, August 15. /TASS/. The updated and subjected to import substitution SSJ 100 passenger jet will make the first flight in September, United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) chief executive Yury Slyusar said in an interview with the Rossiya-24 TV Channel. “All the systems are already being developed; not all the systems are installed on board of this aircraft. The first flight of the aircraft (SSJ 100) we expect in September will not have the 100% Russian [component base],” the chief executive said. “Our task is to provide for series deliveries of 20 units…

Talks are currently underway with Indian counterparts, Yury Slyusar said MOSCOW, August 15. /TASS/. The United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) may start producing SSJ-100 passenger jets at the HAL plant in India, UAC chief executive Yury Slyusar said in an interview with the Rossiya-24 TV Channel. “We continue believing [this can be done] in terms of imports at facilities of the HAL Plant, which is making combat aircraft for the Indian Air Force, where they are making Su-30 aircraft. Over 270 airplanes were produced there. This is a definitely large base, with trained staff, equipment and established processes. We would be able to…

The Kremlin says Russian President Vladimir Putin called for a peaceful resolution to the Niger crisis in a telephone call with Mali’s junta leader, Assimi Goita. Military chiefs from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will meet in Ghana on Thursday and Friday to discuss a possible military invasion in Niger, regional military and political sources confirmed on Tuesday. The meeting, originally scheduled for Saturday but then postponed, came after ECOWAS leaders last week approved the deployment of a “standby force to restore constitutional order” in Niger and reinstate Western-backed ousted president Mohamed Bazoum who was toppled on July 26…

An exabyte is a unit of computer data storage, a collection of around 1 quintillion bytes MOSCOW, August 15. /TASS/. In 2022, the volume of Internet traffic in Russia increased more than 11-fold compared to 2012, according to draft strategy for the growth of the communications industry until 2035. According to the report, the traffic volume was 11.1 exabytes in 2012 and 123.7 exabytes in 2022. Over the past ten years, traffic has increased more than 11-fold, with an average annual growth rate of 27%. An exabyte is a unit of computer data storage, a collection of around 1 quintillion…

Both countries said they held a positive, constructive, and in-depth discussion on the resolution of the border dispute along the LAC (line of actual control) in the Western Sector. In a joint statement on the 19th round of the China-India Corps Commander Level Meeting on Tuesday, China and India have agreed to maintain peace and tranquillity on the ground in the disputed Ladakh border and surrounding areas. According to China’s Defense Ministry, both sides have held a positive, constructive, and in-depth discussion on the resolution of the border dispute along the LAC (line of actual control) in the Western Sector.…

Yury Ignat earlier said that Ukrainian air defenses were also helpless against Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, Iskander tactical missiles, missiles of the S-300 anti-aircraft missile system, Oniks supersonic cruise missiles, Kh-31P air-launched anti-radiation missiles and rockets of the Smerch MLRS Ukrainian air defenses cannot fight Russian Kh-22 cruise missiles, Ukraine’s Air Force Command Spokesman Yury Ignat said in a live broadcast on the Rada television channel on Tuesday. “Not a single [Russian] Kh-22 cruise missile has been destroyed by Ukrainian air defenses not only over the past night but also over the entire period of military operations,” he said. The Ukrainian…

Israeli settlers this evening attacked Palestinian-registered cars near the town of Yabad, west of Jenin, according to local and security sources. Sources told WAFA settlers, backed by military forces, pelted stones and empty glass bottles at Palestinian cars driving near the military checkpoint of Dutan in the town of Ya’bad. They also closed the main street connecting Tulkarem with Jenin and Yabad with surrounding villages and prevented the movement of Palestinian commuters. Source: WAFA