* Russia will link U.S. plans for a missile shield in Europe with the issues of strategic offensive armaments in its relations with the United States, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said

* A fire that broke out after a natural gas pipeline exploded in west Moscow was completely extinguished, the Moscow branch of the Russian Emergencies Ministry said

* A Russian oil tanker was attacked by pirates in the Gulf of Aden but managed to escape with no casualties or damage, a Russian shipping company said

* Five people, including the governor of the Irkutsk Region, were killed in a helicopter crash in East Siberia, the Russian Emergencies Ministry said

* The global caseload of A/H1N1 swine flu cases reached 4,055, with a death toll of 48, the head of the Novosibirsk-based Vektor virology research center in southwest Siberia said

* The Eurovision 2009 song contest is officially opening in Moscow, the contest's organizers said

WORLD

* Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili agreed to meet with the opposition, which is demanding his resignation, with the meeting planned for Monday, the presidential press office said

* The ongoing financial crisis forced British households to consume less and recycle more, causing a considerable drop in the amount of rubbish they are throwing away, The Independent on Sunday reported