World News Briefs -- October 12, 2018 (Evening Edition)

U.S. pastor Andrew Brunson and his wife Norrine arrive at the airport in Izmir, Turkey October 12, 2018. REUTERS/Umit Bektas

Reuters: Freed pastor Brunson leaves Turkey, due in U.S. Saturday

IZMIR, Turkey (Reuters) - A U.S. pastor left Turkey on Friday after a Turkish court freed him from two years of detention, in a step that could improve U.S.-Turkish ties strained by differences over Syria, Iran and Ankara’s planned purchase of Russian military equipment.

An aircraft carrying Pastor Andrew Brunson cleared Turkish airspace and he was expected to land at Joint Base Andrews outside of Washington at around noon EDT (1600 GMT) on Saturday after a stop in Germany, a White House spokesman said.

Brunson was released after the court sentenced him to three years and 1-1/2 months in prison on terrorism charges, but said he would not serve any further jail time. Brunson, who has lived in Turkey for more than 20 years, was jailed two years ago and has been under house arrest since July.

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MIDDLE EAST

Syria army warns Idlib residents as deadline looms.

Fear grips Syria city seized from Kurds by Turkish-backed rebels.

One year after IS, Syria's ravaged Raqa still 'shocking': Amnesty.

Saudi team arrives in Turkey for Khashoggi investigation: sources.

Saudis welcome joint Turkey probe into missing journalist.

Turkey has proof journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed at Saudi embassy: reports.

Trump says he will call Saudi King Salman about journalist Khashoggi.

Donald Trump says possible murder of missing journalist Jamal Khashoggi not enough reason to stop arms sales to Saudi Arabia.

Global business leaders suspend ties with Saudi Arabia.

UN body slams Saudi Arabia for deadly Yemen attacks.

Jordan PM reshuffles cabinet as IMF reforms come into focus.

Israel halts Gaza fuel deliveries as 7 Palestinians killed.

Trump says freed US pastor will be 'back home soon'.

ASIA

Islamist hardliners protest as Pakistan awaits blasphemy ruling.

Indonesia earthquake: Search for survivors extended for one more day.

North Korea intends to abolish all nuclear weapons, South says.

North, South Korea to hold high-level talk next week.

Moon Jae-in urges US to declare end of war with North Korea.

Moon: Trump and Kim looking toward another summit.

U.S. envoy for Afghanistan visits Pakistan in bid to further peace process.

Shinzo Abe to visit China in first visit by Japan PM since 2011.

South Korean lawsuit holds Seoul, Beijing liable for air pollution.

AFRICA

U.N. says 833 children released by Nigerian militia group.

UN highlights illegal Somali charcoal trafficking to Iran.

Eritrean exodus intensifies after peace with Ethiopia.

Mali: “Real climate of fear and insecurity in country’s north and centre,” says expert.

Libya’s eastern navy force seizes Italian fishing boats, detains crewmen.

UN approves 'final' extension of Abyei peace mission.

'Massive' landslide hits eastern Uganda, dozens killed.

Moroccans finding their voice with online protest pages.

Mo Dewji becomes Africa’s sixth billionaire to be abducted in 2018.

Pik Botha: Key figure in South Africa's apartheid transition dies.

EUROPE

Germany's Merkel is weakened, says long-time ally Schaeuble.

Brexit: No 10 says it will not agree to indefinite customs union with EU.

Russia vows to defend believers in Ukraine church dispute.

Poroshenko’s decision on weapons in Donbass fans tensions, Kremlin says.

Merkel's conservatives, Social Democrats slump as Greens surge.

Poland, Greece team up on Nazi-era war reparations demands.

Investigation starts into dramatic Soyuz rocket breakdown.

International Space Station commander watched on as Russian rocket carrying two astronauts fell back to Earth.

Germany to extradite suspect in Bulgarian journalist killing.

Royal wedding: Princess Eugenie marries Jack Brooksbank at Windsor Castle.

AMERICAS

Still no US ambassadors in Saudi Arabia, Turkey amid crisis.

Pentagon reveals cyber breach of travel records.

‘Changed Forever’: Florida Panhandle devastated by Michael.

GOP decries Dems’ ‘mob rule,’ flipping the script.

Fusion GPS co-founder will invoke 'constitutional rights not to testify': lawyers.

Maduro says Trump administration wants to have him killed.

Number of Mexican migrants in US shrinking.

Canada makes final preparations before cannabis becomes legal.

REVEALED: Melania Trump says her husband's alleged affairs with Stormy Daniels and others are of 'no concern' to her while declaring she loves the president -and loathes Rudy Giuliani.

US cardinal resigns amid accusations of church sex abuse cover-up.

TERRORISM/THE LOG WAR

Scores of Taliban recruits train at Abu Ubaidah bin Jarrah Training Camp.

US 'terror' listing blocks Sudan's economic revival.

Shabaab executes alleged spies in southern Somali.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

Wall St. rebounds with technology stocks leading the way.

U.S.-China trade talks must cover currency, U.S. Treasury chief says.

Facebook says hackers accessed data of 29 mn users.

Oil supply and demand reach record 100 million barrels a day.

Internet across the globe to face downtime over the next 48 hours: ICANN.

China's trade surplus with US widens to record $34bn. China-US surplus hits record, adding fuel to trade war.

Jetliner lands in US after world's longest flight.

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