TASS

The US and British embassies in Moscow have issued warnings of potential terrorist attacks targeting large gatherings in the Russian capital. The US Embassy urged American citizens to avoid crowded areas in Moscow over the next 48 hours, citing unspecified extremist threats.

Russia's FSB security service said Thursday it had killed ISIL militants who were planning a "terrorist attack" on a Moscow synagogue, Russian state news agencies reported.

The FSB said an ISIL cell based in Kaluga, southwest of Moscow, had been planning to shoot Jewish worshippers at a synagogue in the capital.

MOSCOW - In an interview for Russia's TASS news agency, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has said he intends to maintain an independent policy of not imposing sanctions against Russia despite colossal pressure from the West.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan will hold talks in Moscow "in the nearest future," the TASS news agency reported on Monday, citing Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.

Turkey is trying to persuade Russia to return to a deal that allows for the export of grain via Ukraine's Black Sea ports.

The Russian Embassy in Cyprus will soon start providing consular services in the Turkish-occupied north of the divided island, according to a telegram from the Russian state news agency TASS citing an embassy spokesperson. 

Russia's navy carried out a live fire "exercise" in the Black Sea, Moscow's defence ministry said Friday, days after the Kremlin declared it would consider ships travelling to Ukraine through the waterway potential military targets.

He then spoke about the order of the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, that all air defense systems must be improved, and then he particularly emphasized the S-350, S-500 and never-before-mentioned S-550 air defense systems.

"A Ukrainian drone is flying peacefully over Moscow. It seems that the Kremlin has a high chance of being in the affected area very soon. Fireworks planned for May 9?" he wrote alongside the published video. Newsweek could not confirm the authenticity of the footage.

Russia has been invited to participate in the Central Asian Football Association (CAFA) championship in June, Reuters reported. This comes amid speculation that the Russian Football Union may switch to the Asian Confederation (AFC).

Russian football has been sanctioned by the European Football Federation (UEFA) as well as FIFA, but is seeking a return to international competition.

US State Department spokesman Ned Price yesterday warned Turkey of the prospect of sanctions if Ankara goes ahead with receiving a second batch of Russian S-400 missile systems - a move which was announced by Russia's state-run Tass news agency and confirmed by the Turkish defence ministry - which were included in the initial procurement deal, but he did not say if Washington's intends to go fo