BRICS

Backed by BRICS partners Russia and India, China will soon take the top spot from the United States as the world's biggest economy, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told RT.

Lavrov pointed out that the growing influence of BRICS in the global economy and the G20 will lead to a multi-polar world.

Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) are discussing the possibility of establishing a separate gold trading system, according to the First Deputy Chairman of Russia's Central Bank Sergey Shvetsov.

Just a week after the two Asian neighbours ended a tense standoff in Doklam, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi decided to maintain cordial bilateral ties and to ensure regional peace.

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned yesterday of a global catastrophe unless a diplomatic solution is reached over North Korea, but rejected U.S. calls for more sanctions as "useless," widening a split among major powers over how to rein in Pyongyang.

Chinese President Xi Jinping told an international summit on Sept. 5 that although the global economy had improved, risk factors had also increased.

Addressing the "Dialogue of Emerging Market and Developing Countries," Xi appeared to rebuke the United States's recent resistance to international agreements - including the Paris climate accord. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping sought yesterday to move past a tense border dispute with India, telling Prime Minister Narendra Modi the two nuclear-armed neighbors should pursue "healthy, stable" relations, according to China's state media.

An end to Doklam standoff saved Chinese President Xi Jinping from an embarrassing face-to-face meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Xiamen.

North Korea's biggest-ever nuclear test and declaration it had a hydrogen bomb prompted worldwide condemnation from leaders, as well as thoughts on possible responses they could adopt. 

Japan on Sept. 4 urged the U.N. Security Council to agree on a plan to draft a new sanctions resolution to punish Pyongyang after its sixth nuclear test.

The BRICS Group leadership meeting began in the Chinese city of Siamon. Leaders of Brazil, India, China, Russia and South Africa have gathered in the first plenary session, TASS reports.

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned on Friday that the standoff between North Korea and the United States was close to spilling into a large-scale conflict and said it was a mistake to try to pressure Pyongyang into halting its nuclear missile program, Reuters reports.