text: U.S. threatens further Turkey sanctions if pastor not freed
  
  The White House has said that Turkey'stariff hikes on U.S. products in retaliation for sanctions against Ankara were "regrettable" and again called for the immediate release of American pastor Andrew Brunson.
  
  A USA dollar banknote is seen on top of 50 and 100 Turkish lira banknotes in this picture illustration in Istanbul, Turkey August 14, 2018.
  
  The currency lost almost 40 percent against the dollar this year, driven by worries over President Erdogan's growing influence on the economy and his repeated calls for lower interest rates despite high inflation.
  
  Qatar said it would provide "a host of economic projects, investments and deposits" worth $15 billion to support Turkey's economy.
  
  Analysts say Turkey is also likely to seek a more dynamic economic relationship with China and Russian Federation, with whom ties have warmed considerably in recent years.
  
  A Trump tweet on Friday announcing a doubling of aluminum and steel tariffs for Turkey triggered the rout in the currency markets.
  
  On Monday the lira hit a record low of 7.2, dragging down other emerging markets currencies.
  
  'Queen of Soul' Aretha Franklin has died
  Her last live performance took place at Elton John's 25th anniversary gala for the Elton John AIDS Foundation in November 2017. Franklin did not perform regularly for many years, partly because of an aversion to flying after a rough trip in 1982.
  
  Motorola P30 Looks More Like iPhone X Than iPhone X Itself
  Motorola said this new phone , called the P30, will see a greater availability around the globe; there's just no word yet on when. The new smartphone from Lenovo owned Motorola looks exactly similar to Apple iPhone X with Huawei's gradient finish paint job.
  
  Tensions between the two North Atlantic Treaty Organisation allies have been strained amid Turkey's detention of American pastor Andrew Brunson.
  
  Global investors have been anxious by Turkey's high levels of foreign debt and Erdogan's refusal to allow the central bank to raise interest rates to support the currency, as experts say it should.
  
  RELATED NEWS
  
  Former Indian PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee in critical condition
  Vajpayee served as India's Prime Minister three times: for 13 days in 1996, 11 months in 1998 to 1999 and then from 1999 to 2004. The Modi government in 2014 that Vajpayee's birthday, December 25, would be marked as Good Governance Day. 8/17/2018
  
  La Liga games to be held in the USA
  Two of Spain's biggest clubs Barcelona and Real Madrid played against each other in the tournament in Miami previous year . According to the Financial Times newspaper, LaLiga matches could be played in the United States as early as this season . 8/17/2018
  
  China unperturbed by trade war at the street level - Reuters Poll
  President Donald Trump on Wednesday morning took to Twitter, as he often does, to lambaste some of his favourite targets: the U.S. In addition to those tariffs, China is dissatisfied with the subsidies the U.S. provides to locally-made photovoltaics . 8/17/2018
  
  New York University offers free tuition to all medical students
  At the same time, all current NYU medical students received emails saying the school is offering them full-tuition scholarships. So far, the school has raised $450 million of it, with $243 million coming in the last nine months, says Rivera. 8/17/2018
  
  Remembering Aretha Franklin's New York City days
  The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) said her music would inspire people for generations. US President Donald Trump also paid tribute to Franklin as "a great woman, with a wonderful gift from God, her voice". 8/17/2018
  
  Trump connects Russian Federation probe, action on Brennan
  John Brennan's issue is that he challenged a thin-skinned president of the United States, and it really portends risky things. White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced the decision at a White House briefing Wednesday. 8/17/2018
  
  Aretha Franklin "The Queen Of Soul" Has Passed Away At 76
  She was also awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom - America's highest civilian honor - in 2005 by President George W. A biopic, Queen of Soul , will star Jennifer Hudson, who Franklin considered one of her first choices to play her. 8/17/2018
  
  Turkish lira rallies as Qatar makes $15 bil. loan pledge
  The decision came after Qatar's emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara . President Erdogan has accused the U.S. of trying to "bring Turkey to its knees through threats over a pastor". 8/17/2018