Russia

MOSCOW (AP) — Spain has become the third country to surpass China in coronavirus infections after the United States and Italy.

With only a population of 47 million to China’s 1.4 billion, Spain’s tally of infections reached 85,195 on Monday, a rise of 8% from the previous day. Spain also saw 812 new deaths in the last day, raising its overall fatalities from the virus to 7,300.

THIS IS A MAJOR UPDATE. AP’s previous story is below.

MOSCOW, March 28. /TASS/: A company owned by the Russian government has acquired Rosneft’s assets in Venezuela, the cabinet’s press office told TASS on Saturday.

"The government of the Russian Federation has acquired assets in Venezuela from Rosneft. A company 100% owned by the Russian Federation has become the owner," the press service said.

Rosneft confirmed the statement, saying that in return it would get a 9.6% share of its equity capital as a settlement payment.

MOSCOW, March 29. /TASS/: The Russian government has approved a 23-point list of non-food essential goods, whose sale will continue during the novel coronavirus outbreak in Russia regardless of epidemiological situation.

The decree, published by the Russian government on Saturday, says that commercial organizations that trade in at least one group of those goods will be allowed to continue their operations during quarantine. Those organizations will also be allowed to sell non-essential goods, if they are sold alongside the essential ones.

MOSCOW, March 29. /TASS/: Russian military rescuers continue the search of a pilot whose Su-27 fighter jet fell into the Black Sea in March 25, the Southern Military District’s press service said.

"Personnel and equipment of the Southern Military District’s rescue units continue the search for the pilot of the Su-27 fighter jet, whose plane crashed on March 25," the press service said.

MOSCOW, March 29. /TASS/: More than 182,000 people remain under medical supervision in Russia over the suspected coronavirus infection, the sanitary watchdog said on Sunday.

"There were 273,426 people under medical supervision in Russia in general over the past period in 2020, and as of March 28, 182,702 people remain under control," the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing said.

MOSCOW, Mar 29 (NNN-TASS) – Russia is going to suspend border crossings via automobile, railway, pedestrian and other border checkpoints from tomorrow (Monday), in a bid to contain the spread of COVID-19, the Russian government said in a statement, Saturday.

MOSCOW, March 28 (Xinhua) -- Russia is going to suspend border crossings via automobile, railway, pedestrian and other border checkpoints from Monday in a bid to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus, the Russian government said Saturday in a statement.

MOSCOW, March 27. /TASS/: The issue of lifting unilateral sanctions becomes especially topical amid the rapid spread of the coronavirus infection, the Russian foreign ministry said on Friday.

MOSCOW, March 28. /TASS/: The Akademik Chersky pipe-laying vessel, which can potentially complete the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project according to Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak, continues to sail west. The vessel left the port of Nakhodka in the Russian Far East and is currently sailing around Africa, heading to the Atlantic. The current direction of travel is Pointe-Noire (Congo), myshiptracking portal data shows.

MOSCOW, March 28. /TASS/: A special train No. 906/905 travelling from Kiev to Moscow and back to transfer Russians from Ukraine and Ukrainians from Russia home has arrived at Moscow’s Kiev Railway Station, the press service for the Russian Railways’ stations told TASS.

"Yes, it has arrived," the service said.

The train will depart back to Kiev today at 19:35 (local time) and will finish its journey in Kiev on March 29 at 07:32.