ID :
92507
Tue, 12/01/2009 - 13:58
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/92507
The shortlink copeid
ISS crew have farewell supper, begin to reactivate Soyuz.
MOSCOW, December 1 (Itar-Tass) - The combined crew of the
International Space Station (ISS) have had a farewell supper ahead of
Roman Romanenko, Frank De Winne, and Robert Thirsk transfer to the Soyuz spaceship for a return journey on the way home, Valery Lyndin, spokesman of the Flight Control Center outside Moscow, has told Itar-Tass.
"After the supper, the crew began to reactivate the Soyuz TMA-15
spaceship docked with the ISS," Lyndin said. The cosmonauts checked the
functioning of the spaceship's systems and transferred packing cases with
the results of biological experiments to it. "Some cases have been kept in
refrigerators right up to the crew's transfer to the descent module," the
expert pointed out.
Soyuz hatches are to be closed at about four a.m. Tuesday. Three hours
later, the spaceship will undock from the ISS, at 06:56, Moscow time,
Lyndin specified. Within the period the cosmonauts are to check the
air-tightness of the hatches, don spacesuits, and finalise the preparation
of the spaceship fro descent to Earth.
Immediately after separation from the station, an automatic programme
will come into play to guide the spaceship for over three hours to the
planned landing site, located 84 km north of the Kazakhstani city of
Arkalyk. Fifty minutes prior to landing, the spaceship's motor will
operate for deceleration. Landing is scheduled for 10:16 Moscow time.
Romanneko, De Winne, and Thirsk have worked in orbit for over 187
days. Following their return to Earth, only two cosmonauts will remain
aboard the station: Maxim Surayev and Jeffrey Williams who had arrived at
the ISS early in October. This will happen for the first time over the
past two years. Their "solitary journey" will continue until December 23
when another three cosmonauts will be brought to orbit by the Russian
Soyuz TMA-17 spaceship.
.Retirement pension in RF becomes 6,230 rbls on average.
MOSCOW, December 1 (Itar-Tass) - The basic component of the old-age
retirement pension of people in the Russian Federation (RF) grows by 31.4
percent, effective from Tuesday, December 1, as a result of which the
average size of the pension becomes 6,280 roubles. This increase, which
will apply to 37 million pensioners, will be funded through the allocation
of 30,800 million roubles.
An official at the Pension Fund of the RF has told Itar-Tass that this
is already a fourth increase in pensions since the beginning of the year.
The first indexation was effected on March 1 when the basic component of
the retirement pension was increased by 8.7 percent. On April 1 and August
1, the size of the insured component of the pension grew by 17.5 and 7.5
percent, respectively. Besides, the size of a lumpsum monetary payment was
augmented by 13 percent in April.
So, after four indexations this year, the average size of social
pensions will be up to the pensioner's subsistence expenses, or amount to
4,268 roubles.
Next rise in pension awaits people in Russia on January 1, 2010, when
valorisation -- a reassessment of the monetary value of the pension rights
that citizens acquired prior to the pension reform in 2002 -- will be
carried out. On January 1, 2010, the notional pension capital will be
augmented by 10 percent. One percent will be added to it for every years
of the person's length of service in Soviet times, until 1991.
It is planned that on April 1, 2010, retirement pension will be
increased by another 6.3 percent. As a result of all the indexations the
average size of retirement pension towards the end of 2010 will be 7,902
roubles.
On the whole, ten percent of Russia's GDP will be used by the State to
finance pensions and other social benefits in 2010.
.DPRK re-denominates national currency.
SEOUL, December 1 (Itar-Tass) - The Democratic People's Republic of
Korea (DPRK) has sharply increased the rate of the national currency, for
the first time in the past 17 years, the Yonhap news agency reported on
Tuesday. It is believed here that the re-denomination of the North Korean
won has been prompted by the need to fight inflation and by attempts to
crack on black market trade.
According to North Korean sources that transact trade operations with
China, Pyongyang announced a currency reform at 11:00 local time on
Monday. An exchange of new money began on 14:00 local time, the sources
said on conditions of anonymity.
The new exchange rate is 100 to one, or, in other words,1,000 old won
are exchanged for ten new ones. The North Korean government's decision
proved to be a complete surprise to the local market.
-0-pop
International Space Station (ISS) have had a farewell supper ahead of
Roman Romanenko, Frank De Winne, and Robert Thirsk transfer to the Soyuz spaceship for a return journey on the way home, Valery Lyndin, spokesman of the Flight Control Center outside Moscow, has told Itar-Tass.
"After the supper, the crew began to reactivate the Soyuz TMA-15
spaceship docked with the ISS," Lyndin said. The cosmonauts checked the
functioning of the spaceship's systems and transferred packing cases with
the results of biological experiments to it. "Some cases have been kept in
refrigerators right up to the crew's transfer to the descent module," the
expert pointed out.
Soyuz hatches are to be closed at about four a.m. Tuesday. Three hours
later, the spaceship will undock from the ISS, at 06:56, Moscow time,
Lyndin specified. Within the period the cosmonauts are to check the
air-tightness of the hatches, don spacesuits, and finalise the preparation
of the spaceship fro descent to Earth.
Immediately after separation from the station, an automatic programme
will come into play to guide the spaceship for over three hours to the
planned landing site, located 84 km north of the Kazakhstani city of
Arkalyk. Fifty minutes prior to landing, the spaceship's motor will
operate for deceleration. Landing is scheduled for 10:16 Moscow time.
Romanneko, De Winne, and Thirsk have worked in orbit for over 187
days. Following their return to Earth, only two cosmonauts will remain
aboard the station: Maxim Surayev and Jeffrey Williams who had arrived at
the ISS early in October. This will happen for the first time over the
past two years. Their "solitary journey" will continue until December 23
when another three cosmonauts will be brought to orbit by the Russian
Soyuz TMA-17 spaceship.
.Retirement pension in RF becomes 6,230 rbls on average.
MOSCOW, December 1 (Itar-Tass) - The basic component of the old-age
retirement pension of people in the Russian Federation (RF) grows by 31.4
percent, effective from Tuesday, December 1, as a result of which the
average size of the pension becomes 6,280 roubles. This increase, which
will apply to 37 million pensioners, will be funded through the allocation
of 30,800 million roubles.
An official at the Pension Fund of the RF has told Itar-Tass that this
is already a fourth increase in pensions since the beginning of the year.
The first indexation was effected on March 1 when the basic component of
the retirement pension was increased by 8.7 percent. On April 1 and August
1, the size of the insured component of the pension grew by 17.5 and 7.5
percent, respectively. Besides, the size of a lumpsum monetary payment was
augmented by 13 percent in April.
So, after four indexations this year, the average size of social
pensions will be up to the pensioner's subsistence expenses, or amount to
4,268 roubles.
Next rise in pension awaits people in Russia on January 1, 2010, when
valorisation -- a reassessment of the monetary value of the pension rights
that citizens acquired prior to the pension reform in 2002 -- will be
carried out. On January 1, 2010, the notional pension capital will be
augmented by 10 percent. One percent will be added to it for every years
of the person's length of service in Soviet times, until 1991.
It is planned that on April 1, 2010, retirement pension will be
increased by another 6.3 percent. As a result of all the indexations the
average size of retirement pension towards the end of 2010 will be 7,902
roubles.
On the whole, ten percent of Russia's GDP will be used by the State to
finance pensions and other social benefits in 2010.
.DPRK re-denominates national currency.
SEOUL, December 1 (Itar-Tass) - The Democratic People's Republic of
Korea (DPRK) has sharply increased the rate of the national currency, for
the first time in the past 17 years, the Yonhap news agency reported on
Tuesday. It is believed here that the re-denomination of the North Korean
won has been prompted by the need to fight inflation and by attempts to
crack on black market trade.
According to North Korean sources that transact trade operations with
China, Pyongyang announced a currency reform at 11:00 local time on
Monday. An exchange of new money began on 14:00 local time, the sources
said on conditions of anonymity.
The new exchange rate is 100 to one, or, in other words,1,000 old won
are exchanged for ten new ones. The North Korean government's decision
proved to be a complete surprise to the local market.
-0-pop
