Russia

MOSCOW, October 9. /TASS/: Russia is ready to participate in solving global food problems and to help the poorest countries in particular, President Vladimir Putin said on Sunday in the video address on the occasion of the Agriculture and Processing Industry Workers’ Day.

MOSCOW, October 9. /TASS/: Confirmed novel coronavirus cases in Russia grew by 18,819 in the past day compared to 20,571 a day before, the federal anti-coronavirus crisis center reported on Sunday.

Russia registered less than 20,000 new daily COVID-19 cases for the first time since August 9. Overall, Russia recorded 21,203,332 novel coronavirus cases since the start of the pandemic in the country, the latest figures suggest.

MOSCOW, October 9. /TASS/: Passenger and freight train traffic across the Crimean Bridge proceeds on schedule, Russia’s Transport Ministry reported on Sunday.

"Currently, the railway traffic of long-distance passenger and freight trains across the Crimean Bridge proceeds under the statutory schedule," the statement says.

Suburban train traffic across the Crimean Bridge will be restored at 7 p.m. on Sunday, the ministry said.

MOSCOW, October 9. /TASS/: Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold an operational meeting with the permanent members of the Security Council on Monday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told TASS.

"Tomorrow the President is scheduled to hold a meeting with the permanent members of the Security Council," he said.

Peskov did not specify whether the situation with the Crimean bridge would be discussed at the meeting. "We'll let you know following the results [of the meeting]," he said.

MOSCOW, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on Saturday to strengthen measures for protecting transport crossing through the Kerch Strait, the power grid connecting Crimea and the main gas pipeline to the peninsula.

Putin authorized the Russian Federal Security Service to organize and coordinate measures to effectively protect these facilities, said the decree published by the Kremlin.

Earlier on Saturday, a deadly blast hit the 19-km Crimean Bridge, which consists of two parallel routes for automobiles and trains over the Kerch Strait.

MOSCOW, October 7. /TASS/: Traditional Christmas and New Year celebrations in Saint Petersburg will be canceled and all previously allocated money for the festivities will be channeled to finance volunteers and mobilized troops of the special military operation in Ukraine, the municipal authorities said in a statement on Friday.

"During a session with Governor Alexander Beglov with members of the municipal administration it was decided to cancel previously scheduled events dedicated to New Year festivities," the statement reads.

MOSCOW, October 8. /TASS/: Ukraine’s reaction to an incident on the Crimean Bridge highlights the terrorist nature of the Kiev regime, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova wrote on Telegram on Saturday.

"The Kiev regime’s reaction the destruction of civilian infrastructure highlights its terrorist nature," she pointed out, commenting on remarks from Kiev officials.

MOSCOW, October 8. /TASS/: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s remarks about willingness to engage in diplomacy with Russia on Ukraine are at odds with the real steps taken by Washington, which is getting increasingly involved in the multifaceted support for the Kiev regime, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a statement on Saturday.

MOSCOW, October 8. /TASS/: Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on enhancing security measures for the Crimea bridge as well as for the energy bridge and the gas pipeline connecting the peninsula with mainland Russia, the Kremlin said in a statement on Saturday.

MOSCOW/HOUSTON, Oct 7 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on Friday that establishes a new operator for the Exxon Mobil Corp-led (XOM.N) Sakhalin-1 oil and gas project in Russia's Far East.

Putin's move affecting Exxon's largest investment in Russia mimics a strategy he used to seize control of other energy properties in the country.

The decree gives the Russian government authority to decide whether foreign shareholders can retain stakes in the project.