World News Roundup: Crimea shooting, Brexit deal, Honduran migrants

Following is a summary of current world news briefs.

Trump reluctant to abandon Riyadh over missing journalist, wants evidence

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he did not want to abandon close ally Saudi Arabia over the disappearance of a Saudi journalist and government critic, and he needed to see evidence to prove Turkish claims he was killed by Saudi agents. Trump said he was waiting for a full report on what had happened to Jamal Khashoggi from Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, whom he sent to Saudi Arabia and Turkey to meet with officials over the disappearance.

No decision on Turkey sanctions yet, top U.S. diplomat says

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday said he expects a decision soon regarding U.S. sanctions imposed on Turkey, noting that some of them were directly connected to Ankara's detention of an American pastor who was released last week. "We'll have a decision on that shortly," Pompeo told reporters on the plane after his visit to Ankara, according to audio that aired on CNN.

Latest U.S. sanctions show disregard for human rights of all Iranians: foreign minister

The United States' latest economic sanctions against Iran display a disregard for the human rights of all Iranians, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Wednesday. The U.S. Treasury on Tuesday sanctioned two Iranian banks and a handful of companies it says are linked to Iran's Basij militia.

Suspect in Bulgarian murder case extradited from Germany

Germany has extradited the suspect in the killing of Bulgarian television journalist Viktoria Marinova to Bulgaria, an Interior Ministry official said on Wednesday. Bulgarian Severin Krasimirov is to be charged in person with the rape and murder of 30-year-old Marinova, whose body was found in a park in her Danube hometown of Ruse on Oct 6. Police said she was beaten, raped and died of suffocation.

At least one dead, dozens hurt as thousands protest graft in Haiti

At least one person was killed and dozens injured as thousands of protesters took to the streets in Haiti on Wednesday over a corruption scandal and some marchers called for the resignation of President Jovenel Moise. A report by Haiti's Senate accused former government officials of embezzlement, abuse of authority and forgery involving the Venezuelan Petrocaribe oil loan program during the 2008-16 administrations of former presidents Rene Preval and Michel Martelly.

How Russia moved into Central Africa

When Central African Republic (CAR) pleaded for help last year to fight marauding militias, former colonial ruler France offered guns it had seized off Somalia. But Russia objected and donated its own weapons instead. By early February, Russia had sent nine planes with weapons along with dozens of contractors to train local soldiers and secure mining projects, marking the start of its highest-profile military foray in sub-Saharan Africa for decades.

Teenager kills 19 in Crimea college shooting: Russian officials

At least 19 people were killed and dozens injured at a college in the Black Sea region of Crimea on Wednesday when a student went through the building shooting at fellow pupils before killing himself, Russian law enforcement officials said. Eighteen-year-old Vladislav Roslyakov turned up at the college in the city of Kerch on Wednesday afternoon carrying a firearm and then began shooting, investigators said. His body was later found in the college with what they said were self-inflicted gunshot wounds.

May seeks to reassure EU leaders on Brexit deal

British Prime Minister Theresa May assured EU leaders in Brussels on Wednesday that she can still reach a Brexit deal, avoiding a showdown over stalled talks as Brussels stepped up planning for a failure of negotiations. May was given a 15-minute slot to speak to the bloc's other 27 leaders before they sat down to dinner without her and discussed preparations for a possible no-deal Brexit under which Britain leaves the European Union without a treaty to cushion the disruption to businesses across the continent.

On eve of meeting pope, South Korean president speaks of peace hopes

South Korea's president spoke of "heart-warming" moves toward peace on the Korean peninsula on Wednesday, a day before he is expected to relay an invitation to Pope Francis to visit North Korea. Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the number two in the Vatican, said a Mass in St. Peter's Basilica for President Moon Jae-in and others, including U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican Callista Gingrich and hundreds of Korean residents in Rome.

More Honduran migrants seek to join U.S.-bound group in Guatemala

More Honduran migrants tried to join a caravan of several thousand trekking through Guatemala on Wednesday, defying calls by authorities not to make the journey after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to cut off regional aid in reprisal. The caravan has been growing steadily since it left the violent Honduran city of San Pedro Sula on Saturday. The migrants hope to reach Mexico and then cross its northern border with the United States, to seek refuge from endemic violence and poverty in Central America.

(With inputs from Reuters)

(With inputs from agencies.)