MOSCOW -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang said here on Monday that China stands ready to deepen cooperation with Russia in investment, energy, agriculture and other fields.
Li made the remarks in his talks with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, adding that the Chinese market welcomes more high-quality agricultural and food products from Russia.
China stands ready to work with Russia to follow the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, further strengthen communication, continuously deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, and create more benefits for the two peoples, according to Li.
Mishustin said that currently, the Russia-China comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era is at an unprecedented high level. Russia is willing to further intensify dialogue and exchanges with China at all levels, deepen cooperation in fields such as economy and trade, energy, agriculture, and people-to-people and cultural exchanges, create new growth points for cooperation, and continuously enhance good-neighborly friendship, he added. (China-Russia-Premier)
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BAGHDAD -- The Iraqi electoral commission announced Monday the final results of the Nov. 11 parliamentary elections, confirming a strong performance by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani's political coalition.
During a televised press conference, the Independent High Electoral Commission released the detailed results, revealing only minor adjustments from the preliminary count announced earlier. (Iraq-Parliamentary Elections-Final Results)
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TOKYO -- Japan's economy contracted an annualized real 1.8 percent in the third quarter of 2025, marking the first contraction in six quarters, preliminary government data showed Monday.
Quarter-on-quarter, real gross domestic product (GDP), adjusted for inflation, in the July-September period declined 0.4 percent from the previous three months, according to the Cabinet Office.
The shrinkage in GDP was widely expected, as the Japanese economy grappled with sticky inflation, sluggish private spending and higher U.S. tariffs. (Japan-GDP)
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LONDON -- The British Home Office on Monday unveiled a sweeping overhaul of the country's asylum system, with Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood warning that the current framework is in "crisis."
Under the new policy paper, people granted asylum will be required to wait 20 years before becoming eligible to apply for permanent settlement in the United Kingdom (UK). Earlier applications may be permitted for those who arrive through "safe and legal routes" and can demonstrate verified contributions to British society. (Britain-Asylum Seekers)
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BERLIN -- The German government announced on Monday that it will lift its partial restrictions on arms exports to Israel, effective Nov. 24. The curbs were originally imposed in August.
According to the German news agency dpa, federal government spokesperson Stefan Kornelius said the decision was largely prompted by the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
On Aug. 8, Germany halted the export of weapons to Israel that could potentially be used in Gaza, following the Israeli government's decision to expand military operations in Gaza. (Germany-Politics-Israel)
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MADRID -- The Spanish government and the European Commission on Monday raised their forecasts for Spain's economic growth in 2025 to 2.9 percent.
Spanish Minister of Economy, Trade and Business Carlos Cuerpo announced in a speech in Congress that the government would update its macroeconomic outlook and lift its projection for GDP growth in 2025 from 2.7 percent to 2.9 percent.
In its autumn economic forecast published the same day, the European Commission also revised upward its projection for Spain, raising its estimate from 2.6 percent to 2.9 percent for the current year. (Spain-Economy) ■
