DMITRY MEDVEDEV

Russia is ready to dramatically cut its nuclear stockpiles in a new arms pact with the United States if Washington meets Russia's concerns over missile defense, President Dmitry Medvedev said on Saturday.

Russia plans to release 30 percent more greenhouse gases by 2020 under an emissions target scheme announced on Friday by President Dmitry Medvedev.

Russia said on Thursday that talks with the United States on reducing vast arsenals of Cold War nuclear weapons were proceeding constructively ahead of a visit by U.S. President Barack Obama to Moscow in July.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), comprising Russia, China and four ex-Soviet Central Asian republics--Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan-- held their own summit Tuesday in the Russian Ural city of Yekaterinburg.

BRIC nations (Brazil, Russia, India and China) called for a more diversified global monetary system, but apparently failed to reach consensus Tuesday on reducing the dominance of the U.S. dollar.

Russia hopes U.S. President Barack Obama will not pursue his predecessor's plan to deploy weapons in space but Moscow is ready to respond appropriately to any such moves, a senior Russian general said on Wednesday.

The presidents of Russia and China on Wednesday called for a diplomatic push to resolve tensions over the nuclear programs of Iran and North Korea after wide-ranging talks in Moscow.

Chinese mainland's purchase of US Treasury bonds fell for the first time in 11 months to $763.5 billion in April, latest US government data showed on Monday.

Leaders of the emerging countries joined hands calling for a new world order amid the global financial crisis and boosting security and trade at two summits on Tuesday.

Leaders of emerging world powers discussed reducing their reliance on the United States, as well as boosting security and trade at two summits on Tuesday hosted by Russia but excluding the West.

The leaders of the world's biggest emerging markets demanded a greater say in the global financial system on Tuesday at their first summit, but steered clear of any assault on the U.S. dollar's dominance.

The draft communique of Brazil, Russia, India and China does not mention the role of U.S. dollar or a supranational reserve currency, sources with knowledge of the document told Reuters on Tuesday.

Stock index futures edged higher on Tuesday as renewed U.S. dollar weakness lifted shares of natural resource companies and investors set their sights on key housing and inflation data due out before the bell.

Russia will advocate a cautious approach to changing the system of global reserve currencies when the world's biggest emerging economies hold their first formal summit on Tuesday, the Kremlin's top economic aide said.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Tuesday defied mass protests against his re-election by visiting Russia for a summit.

A second nuclear test by North Korea has wasted a long-awaited chance for progress in global nuclear disarmament and rekindled a climate of confrontation, the head of the U.N. atomic watchdog said on Monday.

U.S. employers last month cut the fewest jobs since September and international policy-makers said the worst of the downturn may be over as more positive corporate news popped up around the globe.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, opening the country's top business forum, said on Friday the global economy had avoided the worst but warned participants it was too early to celebrate recovery.

Russia is taking security measures as a precaution against the possibility tension over North Korea could escalate into nuclear war, news agencies quoted officials as saying on Wednesday.

North Korea, facing international censure for this week's nuclear test, threatened on Wednesday to attack the South after it joined a U.S.-led plan to check vessels suspected of carrying equipment for weapons of mass destruction.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev challenged EU leaders at a summit on Friday to help Ukraine pay its gas bills in order to prevent disruption of Russian supplies to Europe.