A German reporter detained in Turkey for more than a year was released from jail pending trial, even as six other journalists and newspaper employees were sentenced Friday to life imprisonment by a Turkish court. The 44-year-old, who has both German and Turkish citizenship, was arrested in Istanbul on Feb. 14, 2017, on terrorism and propaganda charges that he denies. His case and that of five other German citizens still held in Turkey for what Germany considers political reasons badly soured relations between the two countries. Germany's foreign minister later told reporters that Yucel was on his way to an Istanbul airport and can "freely leave Turkey." Merkel, who met Thursday with Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, said the reporter's release "shows that talks aren't futile."

Source: ABC News February 16, 2018 10:41 UTC