Khashoggi murder: Son arrives in US from Saudi Arabia

The eldest son of the murdered Saudi journalist, Jamal Khashoggi, has arrived in the US from Saudi Arabia along with his family.

Salah Khashoggi had previously been barred from leaving Saudi Arabia because of his father's criticism of the country's leadership.

Jamal Khashoggi was murdered in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul three weeks ago, investigators say.

Saudi Arabia's public prosecutor is due to travel to Turkey on Sunday.

Saudi officials deny the involvement of the royal family, including de factor ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, in the murder.

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But Russia has said the royal family should be believed.

"No-one should have any reasons not to believe them," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

His comments contrast with doubts among Saudi Arabia's Western allies as Riyadh has changed its version of what happened in the consulate on 2 October several times.

Russia is making clear who it is siding with, says the BBC's Mark Lowen in Istanbul, in another sign of the wide geopolitical repercussions stemming from this murder.

What do we know about Salah Khashoggi?

Two days before arriving in the US, Salah Khashoggi was pictured receiving condolences from Crown Prince Mohammed.

He briefly shook hands with the royal and gave what many see as a cold stare during Tuesday's apparently staged meeting.

Some are suggesting the public display may have been the price for being allowed to leave the country.A US spokesman said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had told Saudi leaders that he wanted Salah Khashoggi, a dual US-Saudi citizen, to be able to return to the US and was "pleased" that he had been allowed to do so.

Sources close to the Khashoggis told Reuters that he and his family arrived on a flight from Saudi Arabia and joined his mother and three siblings in Washington.

It is not clear how long Salah Khashoggi plans to stay in the US.

How is the investigation going?

The Saudi public prosecutor, Sheikh Saud al-Mojeb, will be meeting his Turkish counterpart in Istanbul.

The move was announced by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a televised speech.

Turkey also had other evidence which had not yet been disclosed, Mr Erdogan said.

And he called on Saudi Arabia to disclose the location of Jamal Khashoggi's body, as well as the name of an alleged "local co-operator" involved in disposing of it.

• How Saudis changed story on Khashoggi
• All you need to know about Khashoggi's death
• Who was the victim?

The Saudi prosecutor said on Thursday that the killing was premeditated, in a further development of the Saudi narrative.

Saudi officials have also blamed "rogue" agents, and, when Mr Khashoggi first disappeared, maintained he had left the consulate unharmed.CIA director Gina Haspel is now back in the US - Saudi Arabia's closest Western ally - after a visit to Turkey where she was briefed by investigators. She has briefed President Donald Trump.

No details were released, but media reports said that during the Turkey visit Ms Haspel had heard audio recordings that investigators claim capture the murder.

On Wednesday, Turkey's Sabah newspaper said she had listened to recordings of Khashoggi's interrogation and death, but gave no details about the contents or how the audio had been obtained.

A person "familiar with the audio" told the Washington Post that it was "compelling".

Turkey's Anadolu news agency said on Thursday that 38 members of staff at the Istanbul consulate had been questioned as witnesses.

What has been happening in Saudi Arabia?

State media say suspects are being questioned following information provided by a joint Saudi-Turkish team.

The official Saudi Press Agency reported that on Thursday Crown Prince Mohammed had chaired the first meeting of a committee to reform the state's intelligence services, which was set up following Mr Khashoggi's death.Last week Saudi Arabia sacked two key advisers to the prince, and arrested 18 people.

On Wednesday Crown Prince Mohammed vowed to punish those responsible for the murder.Last week Saudi Arabia sacked two key advisers to the prince, and arrested 18 people.

On Wednesday Crown Prince Mohammed vowed to punish those responsible for the murder.

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US alienation drives Japan and China into unlikely friendship

Growing alienation with Washington has driven Japan and China into an unlikely friendship.

Tokyo and Beijing have long been at odds over past military confrontations and and present territorial disputes.

Yet on a crucial visit to Beijing, Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has now hailed a historic turning point.

The two sides are seeking to boost economic ties and regional stability including North Korea.

On Friday Mr Abe met his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang, and he is due to meet President Xi Jinping later.

How do China and Japan get along?

Usually, not that great. The countries do trade with each other but politically, things have been quite fragile at times.

Japan's World War Two occupation of parts of China remains a very emotional issue and there are several disputed islands that Tokyo and Beijing have yet to agree on.

Mr Abe's current trip to China is the first visit by a Japanese head of government in seven years."From competition to co-existence, Japan and China bilateral relations have entered a new phase," the Japanese premier told reporters in Beijing.

His Chinese counterpart echoed that sentiment saying they should "return to a normal track" of "stable, sustained and healthy" relations.

Why are the talks important?

It comes at a time of escalating trade tensions between the US and most of the rest of the world.

That means Washington is making it harder for other countries to export to the US market.

The Trump administration has imposed huge trade tariffs which it says are in retaliation for other countries' unfair trade practices.

While Washington's trade war is most prominently fought with China, it also targets many other countries, including Japan.

• US-China trade war in 300 words
• How China is fighting back in the trade war

Biggest economies

Travelling with Mr Abe is a Japanese business delegation hoping to forge closer ties and boost trade.

"Vigorous trade will bring the bonds between our people ever closer," Mr Abe told reporters.

Japan and China are by far Asia's largest economies and the two sides have signed a deal to maintain annual dialogue and to cooperate on innovation.

The also agreed to make it easier for their financial markets to work together and vowed to uphold free trade principles.

There are also plans for a wider regional economic partnership and a special trade zone linking up China, Japan and South Korea.

What about North Korea?

It's not all about trade though. Both sides also say they want to work to safeguard peace and stability in the region.

The biggest threat to peace is widely seen as coming from North Korea, and Tokyo and Beijing have long disagreed on how to deal with the situation.

• North Korea's missile and nuclear programme
• North Korea's sidelined human rights crisis

China is Pyongyang's only remaining economic ally, while Japan has in the past warned against any rush to appease Pyongyang.

North Korean missiles have Japan in easy reach and a number of abducted Japanese citizens remain captives in the North.

At the Beijing summit though, Mr Abe said Tokyo was "determined" to normalise diplomatic relations with Pyongyang if there was progress on denuclearisation and the release of Japanese citizens.

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Lionel Messi will miss El Clasico after being ruled out for three weeks with a fractured arm as Barcelona beat Sevilla 4-2 to go top of La Liga.

Lionel Messi was left in agony after landing awkwardly on his right arm

The Argentine was left writhing in agony after landing heavily on his right arm after colliding with Franco Vazquez.

He was still in obvious discomfort as he left the field in the 26th minute.

Just moments earlier the Barcelona captain had scored a sublime goal to put Barcelona 2-0 up.

Messi had also set up Philippe Coutinho for the opener on two minutes.

Barcelona confirmed after the game that the 31-year-old suffered a "fracture of the radial bone in his right arm" and is set to miss the Champions League tie against Inter Milan in midweek and the clash with Real Madrid next Sunday.

Despite the injury to Messi, Barcelona extended their lead in the second half through a Luis Suarez penalty.

Pablo Sarabia's deflected long-range effort brought Sevilla back into the game before Barcelona had goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen to thank for a wonderful double stop to deny first Sarabia and then Wissam Ben Yedder.

Ivan Rakitic's fine volley made it 4-1 and although substitute Luis Muriel curled home an impressive effort of his own, Barcelona held on to secure their first win in five La Liga matches.

The result also puts them one point clear of Alaves at the top of the table before next week's huge game at the Nou Camp against rivals Real.

Messi injury overshadows Barca's return to form

While Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde will be relieved to see his side end their four-game winless run in La Liga, there will be concern for the fitness of star forward Messi.

The Argentine looked in scintillating form in the opening stages, setting up one goal before scoring a fine second to take his tally for the season to 12 in as many matches.

There is no blame attached to Vazquez as the Sevilla man competed fairly for the ball, but Messi's full bodyweight landed on his right arm.

The Barcelona physio applied heavy strapping, but Messi was replaced by Ousmane Dembele.

Valverde can take comfort from the form of Luis Suarez, who stepped up in Messi's absence to put in a commanding display and score his first goal in seven matches.

The former Liverpool striker was a menacing presence throughout and coolly converted a second half penalty to make it 3-0 after he was brought down in the box by goalkeeper Tomas Vaclik.

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Jose Mourinho: Manchester United boss says he would love to sign Eden Hazard

Hazard won the League Cup and Premier League with Mourinho's 2014-15 Chelsea side

Jose Mourinho "would love" to sign Eden Hazard for Manchester United but knows it would be impossible because "Chelsea are led by intelligent people".

Hazard, 27, won the Premier League under Mourinho during the manager's second spell at Chelsea in 2015.

The forward had said he wanted to work with Mourinho again in an interview with Belgian newspaper HLN on Saturday."We had a good relationship, we were champions together, so I think the feelings are good," Mourinho said.

"History says that when Eden Hazard is the best player in the Premier League, Chelsea is the champion.

"It happened with me, it happened with Antonio [Conte, in 2017]. The season is still in the beginning of course but, if he is the best player of the Premier League until now, which I think he is, Chelsea is top of the league because he's the kind of player who can make a huge difference.

"I would love to have him in Manchester United but I don't think Chelsea will sell him to Manchester United.

"It's a non-problem because Chelsea are led by intelligent and experienced people in football and I think they would never sell Eden to Manchester United."United take on Mourinho's former club at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, with the Portuguese still under pressure to turn his side's season around after four wins from their first eight games.

Mourinho has previously said there is a "manhunt" against him.

However, Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri said he believes United might have the best squad in the Premier League, and that Mourinho will win major silverware again.

"You are talking about one of the best coaches in the world, the results speak for him," Sarri said.

"I need to win if I want to compare myself to him. At the moment, it's not possible. I'm not at the moment one of the best.

"I think he will be able to win also in the future, because he is really one of the best. Maybe the best. The results are the best.

"At the moment I think Manchester City is better like a team, but player by player United are very, very strong, maybe the best in the Premier League."

Sarri also spoke about forward Eden Hazard's future at the club, as well as "disgusting" online abuse faced by Chelsea Women midfielder Karen Carney.

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Floyd Mayweather tells UFC's Khabib Nurmagomedov 'come into my world'

Khabib Nurmagomedov and Floyd Mayweather have both defeated Conor McGregor

Boxer Floyd Mayweather has told UFC fighter Khabib Nurmagomedov to "come into my world" and make a bout happen that he believes will earn him more than his fight with Conor McGregor.

The American, 41, beat McGregor in August 2017 in a fight that generated more than £450m and earned him £210m.

Nurmagomedov, after defeating the Irishman on his return to UFC, then called out Mayweather himself."When I face Khabib, of course I am getting a nine-figure payday," he said.

"More than the McGregor fight. Probably $100m more - I'm going to say between $110m and $200m (more) guaranteed."

Nurmagomedov, 30, extended his unbeaten mixed martial arts record to 27-0 with his 6 October victory against McGregor, but former five-weight world champion Mayweather (50-0) says any bout between the two will happen in the boxing ring.

"We fighting," he told TMZ. "I'm my own boss, so I can't say what's going on at Khabib's end, but at my end we can make it happen.

"I'm Floyd Mayweather. I'm the A-side, you call me out you come into my world.

"I don't know no other fighter that has done the numbers I have done. I don't know any fighters that have made the money I have made, so he called me out - come into my world, make it happen."

However, Mayweather warned the Russian there must be no repeat of the melee that followed his defeat of McGregor in Las Vegas.

"Of course we know Vegas is the fighting capital, and after the fight you have to conduct yourself like a true professional," said Mayweather.

"Not just in the ring, but outside the ring also - you must conduct yourself like a professional."

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School in Russian-annexed Crimea hit by deadly attack

Student gunman kills 17 and wounds 40 others at vocational school in Kerch before killing himself, say authorities.

The attack took place at a vocational school in the city of Kerch in Russian-annexed Crimea [Kerch.FM/ AFP]

A student has attacked a vocational college in the Russian-annexed peninsula Crimea, killing at least 17 people before killing himself, according to Russia's Investigative Committee.

The committee said CCTV footage showed 18-year-old student Vladislav Roslyakov entering Kerch Polytechnic College with a rifle on Wednesday and firing at students.

"Currently, there are 17 known deaths. The initial inspection of the bodies suggests that they died from gunshot wounds," the committee said in a statement.

The incident in Kerch, a city of 147,000 people, was initially reported as a gas explosion and a possible "terrorist" attack. But the committee later said it was a case of mass murder.

"Everyone was scared. People were crying."

'Tragic event'

Olga Grebennikova, director of the vocational college, told KerchNet TV that men armed with automatic rifles burst into the college and "killed everyone they saw". 

Grebennikova, who said she had left the grounds shortly before the attack occurred, said students and staff were among victims.

The local Crimean government announced three days of mourning following the incident and the Kremlin announced it would investigate the attack.

Russian President Vladimir Putin deplored the attack as a "tragic event" and offered condolences to the victims' families at a news conference in Sochi. 

Russia annexed the peninsula in March 2014, after a referendum in which the population of Crimea chose to become part of Russia.

The annexation followed the overthrow of pro-Russian Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich after weeks of protests that descended into a violent conflict.

Later pro-Russian separatists took over parts of Donbass in southeastern Ukraine.

Since then, fighting in that region has killed more than 13,000 people, including about 3,000 civilians.

The so-called Minsk agreements - brokered by Germany and France and signed by Russia and Ukraine in 2015 - have slowed the conflict, but sporadic fighting continues.

Over the past few years, Russian security agencies have arrested several Ukrainians accused of plotting terror attacks in Crimea, but no attacks have occurred.

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Israeli jets pound Gaza after rocket hits home

One Palestinian killed, eight injured in Israeli attacks, but Hamas says it's an attempt to undermine truce.

The mother of the Palestinian who was killed by the Israeli air raid at the hospital in Gaza [Mohammed Salem/Reuters]

Israel says its fighter jets have struck 20 targets in the Gaza Strip, killing one Palestinian and injuring eight others.

According to Gaza's Health Ministry, Naji Ahmad al-Zaneen, 25, was killed in the attack in northern Gaza early on Wednesday.

Among the wounded are six children who were on their way to school in Deir al-Balah in central Gaza.

Palestinian sources said several rockets fired by Israeli warplanes targeted sites south of Gaza City, while another blast rocked the central region of the Gaza Strip. A powerful explosion also rocked Khan Younis in southern Gaza.

The Israeli army stated that it carried out air raids in response to a rocket that hit a home in Beersheba in southern Israel, causing damage but no injuries.

"At 4am [01:00 GMT] Israelis in the city of Beersheba were running to bomb shelters after a rocket was launched from the Gaza Strip at Israel," the Israeli army said on Twitter.

"We will defend Israeli civilians," it added.

The Israeli army said Hamas, which governs the besieged enclave, bears "full responsibility" for the rocket fire but the Palestinian movement denied their role.

In a joint statement with allied armed groups, Hamas said it rejected "all irresponsible attempts" to undermine Egyptian efforts to broker a new long-term truce.

It was one of the first rockets fired in months from the Palestinian territoryunder Israel's devastating 11-year blockade and comes at a time of renewed tensions between Israel and Gaza.

Another rocket from Gaza reportedly fell into the sea near Tel Aviv. No injuries were reported.

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Real Madrid protest to Spanish FA over La Liga plans for Girona-Barcelona game in US

Barcelona played their home game with Girona in September, drawing the Catalan derby 2-2

Real Madrid have opposed staging a Spanish league game between Barcelona and Girona in the United States.

La Liga asked the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) for permission to hold the match in Miami on 26 January.

In a letter to the RFEF Real said it was "fundamental" teams play "home and away at each other's stadium" for "the integrity and equality" of La Liga.The RFEF president Luis Rubiales has spoken out against the game, as has the Spanish players' union (AFE).

European governing body Uefa, the US Soccer Federation and Concacaf, which governs the game in north and central America and the Caribbean region also need to give their permission for the game to happen.

The proposed 'home' match for Girona, a Catalan town situated around 60 miles north of Barcelona, would take place at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium on 26 January at 19:45 GMT.

La Liga, Spain's top division, has agreed to play one game a season in the US as part of a 15-year deal with media company Relevent.

In their letter, Real said: "First of all we would like to declare that Real Madrid were never informed that La Liga had requested to play the game nor of the intention to make the request, and we were never asked our opinion on it.

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Floyd Mayweather: Boxer responds to Khabib Nurmagomedov challenge with 'get the chequebook out!'

Mayweather (right) and McGregor met in one the richest bouts in boxing history

Boxer Floyd Mayweather could be open to a bout with Khabib Nurmagomedov after responding to the UFC fighter's challenge by saying: "Get the chequebook out!"

On Sunday the 30-year-old Russian called out American Mayweather, who is also undefeated, adding: "In the jungle there is only one king."

Mayweather, 41, beat Conor McGregor in a boxing bout in August 2017.

The Irishman's return to UFC ended in defeatby Nurmagomedov on 6 October.

That extended Nurmagomedov's unbeaten mixed martial arts record to 27-0.

Former five-weight world champion Mayweather, who is unbeaten in 50 fights, said on Twitter: "CBS, Showtime and MGM Grand get the chequebook out!"

It came after Nurmagomedov, in an Instagram video filmed with Leonard Ellerbe, the chief executive of Mayweather Promotions, said: "Let's go, Floyd, we have to fight now,

"50-0 v 27-0 - two guys who never lose. Why not?"

Nurmagomedov, renowned for his wrestling skills, caught McGregor with a punch before winning their contest with a choke as he forced his opponent to tap out.

Mayweather stopped McGregor in the 10th round in their fight, one of the richest bouts in boxing history.

"Of course I am the king because he could not drop McGregor and I dropped him easily," added Nurmagomedov, who retained his UFC lightweight title against McGregor.

Mayweather, who has not fought since the McGregor bout, has said he will come out of retirement to fight Manny Pacquiao in a rematch later this year.

Nurmagomedov and McGregor have both been temporarily suspended by the Nevada State Athletic Commission pending a full investigation into the scenes that marred the end of their fight in Las Vegas.

Following his victory, Nurmagomedov jumped the octagon fence and started fighting his rival's team. McGregor then fought with the Russian's camp as numerous brawls broke out.

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