* President Vladimir Putin said at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in China:

// Jun. 16, 2006 - 04:32 GMT

SHANGHAI, June 16 (RIA Novosti) – President Vladimir Putin said Russia could sign a bilateral agreement on WTO accession with the U.S. ahead of next month's G8 summit, but expressed reservations over America's position.

// Jun. 16, 2006 - 05:28 GMT

I just read the editorial by Vladimir Simonov "Bush's Iraqi farce" and we were laughing out loud at his first line, "As any hopes of success wane in the fourth year of the Iraqi war, a theatrical gesture may be the only way to revive them." Does this guy know what's going on in Iraq? If he fails to see the dramatically positive  developments, then perhaps he's not qualified to be a journalist!

// Jun. 16, 2006 - 05:29 GMT

I would like to enter a plea for rationality, empathy and above all, patience in world affairs. Just consider: There have been serious conflicts between the U.S. and "Red" China (remember the islands of Quemoy and Matsu?) that certainly would have ended in war had it not been for the mutual assured destruction that would have occurred between two nuclear-armed nations. Today, the U.S. wouldn't dare attack North Korea or Iran because they either are, or soon will be, nuclear powers. The bomb has enforced patience upon us.

// Jun. 16, 2006 - 05:35 GMT

SHANGHAI, June 16 (RIA Novosti) – Iran's president said Friday that proposals put forward by six nations in a bid to solve the crisis around the country's nuclear program were a step forward.

// Jun. 16, 2006 - 05:49 GMT

A top U.S. diplomat said Thursday that Moscow and Washington are launching a regular dialogue on terrorism, weapons of mass destruction, arms control and other security issues – a signal that the two countries are seeking common ground in an increasingly divisive relationship.

// Jun. 16, 2006 - 05:50 GMT

MOSCOW, June 16 (RIA Novosti) – Russia's newest investment index will open Friday at 566.98 points, up 4.85% on the previous day's trading, following Thursday evening's sessions on major world trading floors.

// Jun. 16, 2006 - 05:54 GMT

Iran is ready to enter negotiations over an incentives package offered by the UN powers who hope it will encourage the Middle East country to abandon its nuclear fuel enrichment program, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday.

// Jun. 16, 2006 - 05:55 GMT

MOSCOW, June 16 (RIA Novosti) – Russia's Central Bank said Friday that the country's narrowly defined money supply (M1) was 2.455 trillion rubles ($90.8 billion at the current exchange rate) as of June 13, up 70.5 billion rubles ($2.61 billion) in the week since June 5.

// Jun. 16, 2006 - 06:05 GMT

DUSHANBE, June 16 (RIA Novosti) – Three explosions overnight rocked the capital of Tajikstan, Dushanbe, the country's Interior Ministry said Friday.

// Jun. 16, 2006 - 06:33 GMT