A summit to discuss the gas dispute between Russia and Ukraine that have led to gas shortages for Europe will be held in Moscow on Saturday, the Russian president's press secretary said on Thursday.

An EU-brokered accord to resolve a gas dispute between Russia and Ukraine has been thrown into doubt. Moscow accused Kyiv of altering the agreement and declared it null and void, but the latest reports indicate the deal may still be salvaged after all.

Despite being responsible for the deaths of millions of Soviets in labor camps and purges, as well as throwing millions at the Germans, some without weapons, in WWII, former Soviet dictator Josef Stalin finished third in a recent poll by a TV station, state-run Rossiya.

Russia's prime minister proposed on Tuesday turning the gas exporters' forum into an official organization to be based in St. Petersburg and said Russia could cover the cost.

Oymyakon is the place in Russia that is considered the coldest town on earth that is permanently populated with people. In this town people do really live in the cold weather.

Russia may cut oil production by 200,000-300,000 barrels a day if it joins OPEC's expected output reduction policy, the chief of the country's largest independent producer, LUKoil, said on Monday.

Russian ships arrive in Venezuela for joint military exercises. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev will arrive to Venezuela, Cuba and some other countries of Latin America next week.

China's largest SUV and truck maker Great Wall Motor Co said earlier this week that it has decided to terminate its joint venture in Russia because of hard industry protectionist measures in the country, the Wall Street Journal online reported on Tuesday.

Russia's drive for recognition as one of the world's major powers took a long step forward as the EU's French presidency publicly backed President Dmitry Medvedev's call for a new "security architecture" for Europe.

The EU says partnership talks with Russia will be resumed, despite Lithuania's objections. The talks were suspended following Russia's war with Georgia. However, the day was not a total loss for Vilnius, which succeeded in getting the EU Presidency to restate its commitment to Georgia's territorial integrity.

General Motors (GM) opened today a $300 million, flexible assembly plant in St. Petersburg, Russia, in presence of President Dmitry Medvedev. The plant will add 70,000 units of capacity to more than 100,000 already available to GM at joint venture and partner facilities in the country.

Chinese auto sales are declining in Russia though the emerging market still posts auto sales increase, xinhuanet.com said today, citing a report by a Russian automotive market research company.