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Philippines, Germany Commit to Concluding Broader Defense Agreement

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius and Philippine Defense Minister Gilberto Teodoro shake hands before their bilateral meeting, in Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines, August 4, 2024. REUTERS/Lisa Marie David
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius and Philippine Defense Minister Gilberto Teodoro shake hands before their bilateral meeting, in Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines, August 4, 2024. REUTERS/Lisa Marie David
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Philippines, Germany Commit to Concluding Broader Defense Agreement

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius and Philippine Defense Minister Gilberto Teodoro shake hands before their bilateral meeting, in Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines, August 4, 2024. REUTERS/Lisa Marie David
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius and Philippine Defense Minister Gilberto Teodoro shake hands before their bilateral meeting, in Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines, August 4, 2024. REUTERS/Lisa Marie David

The Philippines and Germany have committed to concluding a broader defense cooperation arrangement, their defense ministers said in a joint statement on Sunday.
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius met with his Philippine counterpart Gilberto Teodoro in Manila to enhance cooperation between the countries, which are celebrating 70 years of diplomatic relations, Reuters reported.
The ministers committed to establishing long-term relations between their armed forces to expand training and bilateral exchanges, explore opportunities to expand bilateral armaments cooperation and engage in joint projects.
Manila and Berlin are deepening military ties as tensions have flared in recent months between China and the Philippines, which have traded accusations over run-ins in disputed areas of the South China Sea.
Germany on Friday joined the US-led United Nations Command in South Korea, becoming the 18th nation in a group that helps police the heavily fortified border with North Korea and has committed to defend the South in the event of a war.
Pistorius said that move was evidence of Berlin's strong belief that European security is closely linked to security in the Indo-Pacific region.
The United States and its partners are expanding alliances and partnerships, including those that span the globe.
China has expressed concern about the growing ties between NATO members and Asian nations such as Japan, South Korea and the Philippines.

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Nigerian President Calls for End to Protests, 'Bloodshed'

File photo: Supporters of Niger's National Council of Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP) protest outside the Niger and French airbase in Niamey on September 2, 2023 to demand the departure of the French army from Niger. (Photo by AFP)
File photo: Supporters of Niger's National Council of Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP) protest outside the Niger and French airbase in Niamey on September 2, 2023 to demand the departure of the French army from Niger. (Photo by AFP)
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Nigerian President Calls for End to Protests, 'Bloodshed'

File photo: Supporters of Niger's National Council of Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP) protest outside the Niger and French airbase in Niamey on September 2, 2023 to demand the departure of the French army from Niger. (Photo by AFP)
File photo: Supporters of Niger's National Council of Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP) protest outside the Niger and French airbase in Niamey on September 2, 2023 to demand the departure of the French army from Niger. (Photo by AFP)

Nigeria's President Bola Ahmed Tinubu called for the suspension of nationwide protests and an end to "bloodshed" on Sunday after security forces cracked down on rallies over economic hardship.
Thousands of demonstrators began taking to the streets last week to protest government policies and the high cost of living, said AFP.
Rights group Amnesty International has accused security forces of killing at least 13 protesters, while police say seven people died and deny responsibility.
In a televised address, Tinubu urged the demonstrators "to suspend any further protest and create room for dialogue," his first public comments on the rallies since they started on Thursday.
“I have heard you loud and clear. I understand the pain and the frustration that drive these protests, and I want to assure you that our government is committed to listening and addressing the concerns of our citizens," he said.
"But we must not let violence and destruction tear our nation apart," he warned. "We must stop further bloodshed, violence and destruction."
- 'Hunger and deep poverty' -
Tinubu also used the speech to defend his record and outline measures he said would benefit young Nigerians and the economy.
Africa's most populous country is battling high inflation and a tumbling naira after Tinubu ended a fuel subsidy and liberalized the currency more than a year ago in reforms the government says will improve the economy in the long term.
Dubbed #EndbadGovernanceinNigeria, the protest movement won support with an online campaign.
But officials have warned against attempts to copy recent anti-government protests in Kenya, where demonstrators forced the president to abandon new taxes.
Police in Nigeria said they had arrested nearly 700 people in the first two days of the protests, accusing them of "armed robbery, arson, mischief" and destroying property.
Amnesty has urged police to release demonstrators and refrain from firing live rounds to break up crowds.
On Friday, it said "security personnel at the locations where lives were lost deliberately used tactics designed to kill while dealing with gatherings of people protesting hunger and deep poverty."
In his address, Tinubu said "security operatives should continue to maintain peace, law, and order in our country following the necessary conventions on human rights, to which Nigeria is a signatory."
- Kano deaths -
The protests eased in many places on Saturday, but security forces again fired teargas at demonstrators in Abuja and residents told AFP that police killed three people at a rally in the northern city Kano.
The city has seen intense clashes in recent days and residents said police in the Rijiyar Lemo district fired shots and tear gas at a crowd throwing stones on Saturday afternoon.
Resident Sanusi Usman said the police used "live bullets to disperse the crowd."
"Three people were killed, including two minors and a pregnant woman who was hit as she was crossing the road," he said.
"Three people were hit and killed, two boys and a pregnant woman who was crossing the highway," resident Awwalu Ibrahim also told AFP. "One of the boys was nine years old. He was the son of my neighbor."
Police have not responded to requests for comment.