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241/2018 • 20 OCTOBER, 2018 WEEKEND ISSUE

DAILY NEWS IN ENGLISH

Angela Merkel defies Trump, defends free trade at EU-Asia meet Meeting in Brussels, EU and Asia leaders have pledged to create

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has rebuked the "America First" approach to free trade of US President Donald Trump.

Afghanistan violence raises uncertainty over elections

Germany: Falsely imprisoned Syrian did not commit suicide

A top security official and several candidates have been killed in the run-up to the Afghan vote. But Germanyʼs special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan tells DW heʼs still optimistic about the countryʼs future. Afghan authorities have vowed to go ahead with the October 20 polls despite a violent attack in Kandahar on Thursday that killed General Abdul Raziq, one of the countryʼs most powerful security officials and a key US ally in the war against the Taliban.

A wrongfully imprisoned Syrian man, Amed A., whose death was ruled a suicide in the western German town of Kleve appeared to have called for help, local media reported on Thursday, casting doubt on the official account of the manʼs passing. The daily Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger wrote that a report passed around in the state parliament of North Rhine-Westphalia, where Kleve lies, indicated that the man had not intentionally set himself on fire. Indeed, it appeared that he had tried to call for help.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel defended free trade at a summit of European and Asian leaders in Brussels on Friday, rejecting the protectionist rhetoric and policy of US President Donald Trump. "We can show that itʼs about creating win-win situations, making it clear that when one profits, the other also profits," she said at the 12th summit of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM). Merkelʼs call set the tone of the two-day meet, where 30 European leaders and their counterparts from 21 Asian countries are expected to defend the World Trade Organization (WTO), international cooperation, and the fight against climate change. "The summit shows that countries from Europe and Asia, which all want a rulebased world trade, are gathering here to commit themselves to multilateralism and this is an important signal," Merkel said. Trumpʼs specterThe German chancellorʼs comments directly contradicted Trumpʼs zero-sum approach to trade and disregard for multilateralism. Under the banner of "America First," the US president has called for ripping up free trade deals, protected domestic industries through tariffs, andlambasted Germany and the European Union for their high export surpluses with the US. Fighting back against that doctrine, the EU and Singapore are set to sign a free trade deal later on Friday.

Divisions below the surface Disagreements nevertheless emerged between Europe and China appeared on Friday, with China refusing to admit wording in a final communique that would have called for the end of state subsidies, according to Reuters news agency. The European Union and the United States have criticized China for distorting international trade by subsidizing national companies andpromoting oversupply in international steel and aluminum markets. European leaders also face challenges in maintain good trading relations with Asian countries that have poor human rights records. Electoral irregularities in Cambodia and the Rohingya humanitarian crisis in Myanmar have led the bloc to recently threaten revoking both countriesʼ trading privileges. Merkel acknowledged those difficulties in her speech on Friday, admitting that European leaders would "have to bring up questions of human rights and values in bilateral talks." Electoral irregularities in Cambodia and the Rohingya humanitarian crisis in Myanmar have led the bloc to recently threaten revoking both countriesʼ trading privileges. Merkel acknowledged those difficulties in her speech on Friday, admitting that European leaders would "have to bring up questions of human rights and values in bilateral talks."

Malaysiaʼs UNMO leader Zahid denies graft charges

Tracing the flow of Nigeriaʼs stolen oil to Cameroon

Malaysiaʼs former deputy premier has pleaded not guilty to 45 charges stemming from a fresh graft investigation. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi heads the longdominant UNMO party which voters relegated into opposition last May. The head of Malaysiaʼs opposition party on Friday denied before a Kuala Lumpur that he had accepted bribes to award contracts while home minister, laundered money, and breached trust within a family-run charity. Multiple reports said the 45 charges pointed to alleged corruption involving a total of 111 million Malaysian ringgit (€23 million, $26 million).

The noise of heavy vehicle traffic and portside traders greets you at Idenau on Cameroonʼs border with Nigeria. Vigilant gun-toting soldiers, police and security guards patrol the area. Journalists like me are closely monitored and severely restricted. The soldiers are quick to warn that the use of any photographic or recording devices is strictly prohibited without written permission from the authorities. With that clearance in hand, I make my way to the waterside to find fishermen who can tell me about the local industry, with the policewoman assigned to escort me in tow.


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