IN BRIEF (Page 12)

Russia

Moscow, Tokyo sign cooperation deal

Russia and Japan on Saturday signed a memorandum of understanding in Russia's Far Eastern Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) to expand cooperation between the two countries, a parliamentary official said. The Japanese delegation was led by Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Hiroshige Seko, said Konstantin Kosachev, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Federation Council, the upper house of Russia's parliament, giving no more details about the agreement.

Iraq

PM and Sadr announce alliance

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and cleric Moqtada al-Sadr said on Saturday their political blocs would enter into an alliance, bringing Iraq one step closer to forming a new government. The alliance between Abadi's Victory Alliance, which came third in a May parliamentary election, and Sadr's Saeroon list, which won the largest number of seats, is the latest in a series of agreements made between Iraqi political leaders.

Xinhua - Reuters

(China Daily 06/25/2018 page12)