Afghan - Turkey Relations: Taliban spokesman: Afghanistan considers co-op with Turkey

Afghanistan will cooperate with Turkey once the new government is formed, Taliban’s spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid told Turkey’s Yeni Shafak newspaper on September 5.

Commenting on Turkey’s positive messages towards the Taliban, Mujahid said that they highly appreciate Turkey’s efforts and they will reciprocate once the new government is formed.

"We will invite Turkey in the best possible way after the responsibilities and the government are settled. Turkey has a very special place for us. There is a lot of work to be done,” Mujahid said.

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German-US Relations: Despite warmth, Merkel and Trump still differ on trade and NATO - by Jeff Mason and Andreas Rin

 German Chancellor Angela Merkel and U.S. President Donald Trump aired differences over trade and NATO on Friday at a White House meeting where they tried to put on a show of warmth and friendship despite tensions between the two allies.

With Trump poised to impose tariffs on steel and aluminum soon that will impact European exports, Merkel said the decision is now in Trump's hands on whether to grant exemptions to European Union nations.

"We had an exchange of views. The decision lies with the president," Merkel told a joint press conference after Trump complained about the U.S.-European trade imbalance, particularly in regards to automobiles.

Merkel's quick trip came the same week as a three-day state visit by French President Emmanuel Macron, who, like Merkel, pressed Trump on trade and urged him to keep the United States in a multi-national nuclear deal with Iran. Neither leader appeared to make significant progress convincing Trump on either issue.

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