Russian Railways (RZD) said on Thursday it was unable to make coupon payments on its dollar-denominated Eurobonds on time due to technical problems with Western banks. The company was hit with UK sanctions last month, so any bond payments are considered frozen assets and blocked on the account of the agent bank.

The dearth of communication between the armed forces of Russia and the US continues US military leaders have had no communication with their counterparts in Moscow since the beginning of Russia’s military operation in Ukraine, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin reiterated at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Thursday.

The Senate has voted to confirm Ketanji Brown Jackson, after a contentious series of hearings The US Senate voted 53-47 on Thursday to confirm Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court. Jackson faced stiff opposition from Republicans who hammered her past lenience on child sex offenders and controversial stance on gender issues, but ultimately…