The&nbsp;US on Tuesday said that Saudis have agreed to 'thorough' probe needed into journalist's disappearance.&nbsp;

Heather Nauert made the statement following a meeting between US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir to discuss the case of the missing Saudi journalist, who was last seen on October 2 entering his country's consulate in Istanbul.&nbsp;

US&nbsp;Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday expressed concern about the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-considers-admitting-khashoggi-died-in-botched-interrogation-reports-171638">disappearance of dissident Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi</a> during a meeting in Riyadh with the country's foreign minister and thanked Saudi King Salman for his commitment to investigating it, the State Department said.

Pompeo met with both King Salman and Foreign Minister Ahmed al-Jubeir. "The secretary reiterated US&nbsp;concern over Jamal Khashoggi’s disappearance" in his meeting with the foreign minister, State Department Heather Nauert said in a statement.

Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Tuesday that Turkey had "not received a confession" from&nbsp;Saudi&nbsp;Arabia regarding the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi after he visited its consulate in Istanbul two weeks ago.

The US on Tuesday said that Saudis have agreed to 'thorough' probe needed into journalist's disappearance. Heather Nauert made the statement following a meeting between US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir to discuss the case of the missing Saudi journalist, who was last seen on October 2 entering his country's consulate in Istanbul.

The US on Tuesday said that Saudis have agreed to 'thorough' probe needed into journalist's disappearance. Heather Nauert made the statement following a meeting between US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir to discuss the case of the missing Saudi journalist, who was last seen on October 2 entering his country's consulate in Istanbul. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday expressed concern about the disappearance of dissident Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi during a meeting in Riyadh with the country's foreign minister and thanked Saudi King Salman for his commitment to investigating it, the State Department said. Pompeo met with both King Salman and Foreign Minister Ahmed al-Jubeir. "The secretary reiterated US concern over Jamal Khashoggi’s disappearance" in his meeting with the foreign minister, State Department Heather Nauert said in a statement. Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Tuesday that Turkey had "not received a confession" from Saudi Arabia regarding the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi after he visited its consulate in Istanbul two weeks ago.

Saudis agree to 'thorough' probe into journalist's disappearance, says US

US President Donald Trump said Monday that "rogue killers" could be to blame for the disappearance of a dissident Saudi journalist and said that the oil-rich state's monarch emphatically denies involvement.

"The denial was very, very strong," Trump told reporters at the White House after talking to <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-king-orders-public-prosecutor-to-open-internal-investigation-into-khashoggi-case-171569">King Salman</a> by telephone. "It sounded to me like maybe these could have been rogue killers. Who knows?"

"All I can do is report what he told me. He told me in a very firm way that they had no knowledge of it. He said it very strongly," Trump said.

Trump said that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was on his way to Saudi Arabia within the hour to discuss the controversy over journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a contributor to The Washington Post and critic of powerful Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Khashoggi vanished after visiting the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2. <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-to-search-saudi-consulate-in-missing-journalist-khashoggi-case-source-171581">Turkish sources say he was murdered there</a> by a team of Saudi agents.

Trump has taken a cautious position, threatening &nbsp;"severe punishment" should proof emerge of Saudi guilt, but insisting that he will not risk billions of dollars in deals to sell US weapons to the kingdom, a strategic ally in the tinder box Middle East.

Following days of mounting tensions, Saudi officials were allowing Turkish investigators to enter the consulate on Monday.

A Turkish diplomatic source said it was expected that the search, to be conducted jointly with Saudi authorities, would "take place towards the evening."

Lurid claims have appeared in Turkish media, including that Khashoggi was tortured before being killed and cut up. However, the Turkish leadership has so far refrained from pointing the finger directly at Riyadh in public comments.

The controversy has also embarrassed Saudi Arabia's other traditional Western allies -- many of them arms suppliers to the kingdom -- and undermined efforts by the prince, Mohammed, to present himself as the modernizing future of the kingdom.

An investment conference seen as a platform for the crown prince, due to take place next week in Riyadh and dubbed "Davos in the Desert," has been hit by a string of prominent cancellations.

Business barons including British billionaire Richard Branson and Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi, as well as media powerhouses like Bloomberg and CNN, have pulled out of the Future Investment Initiative (FII).&nbsp;

In major new twin blows to the credibility of the event, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon and Ford chairman Bill Ford also cancelled plans to attend, CNBC reported.

In Washington, Trump's son-in-law and senior advisor, Jared Kushner, is coming under pressure after having spearheaded the administration's strategy to forge close ties with Mohammed.

But US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Saturday that he still plans to attend the Saudi conference.

"If more information comes out over the next week, I will obviously take that into account," he said.

US President Donald Trump said Monday that "rogue killers" could be to blame for the disappearance of a dissident Saudi journalist and said that the oil-rich state's monarch emphatically denies involvement.

US President Donald Trump said Monday that "rogue killers" could be to blame for the disappearance of a dissident Saudi journalist and said that the oil-rich state's monarch emphatically denies involvement. "The denial was very, very strong," Trump told reporters at the White House after talking to King Salman by telephone. "It sounded to me like maybe these could have been rogue killers. Who knows?" "All I can do is report what he told me. He told me in a very firm way that they had no knowledge of it. He said it very strongly," Trump said. Trump said that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was on his way to Saudi Arabia within the hour to discuss the controversy over journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a contributor to The Washington Post and critic of powerful Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Khashoggi vanished after visiting the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2. Turkish sources say he was murdered there by a team of Saudi agents. Trump has taken a cautious position, threatening "severe punishment" should proof emerge of Saudi guilt, but insisting that he will not risk billions of dollars in deals to sell US weapons to the kingdom, a strategic ally in the tinder box Middle East. Following days of mounting tensions, Saudi officials were allowing Turkish investigators to enter the consulate on Monday. A Turkish diplomatic source said it was expected that the search, to be conducted jointly with Saudi authorities, would "take place towards the evening." Lurid claims have appeared in Turkish media, including that Khashoggi was tortured before being killed and cut up. However, the Turkish leadership has so far refrained from pointing the finger directly at Riyadh in public comments. The controversy has also embarrassed Saudi Arabia's other traditional Western allies -- many of them arms suppliers to the kingdom -- and undermined efforts by the prince, Mohammed, to present himself as the modernizing future of the kingdom. An investment conference seen as a platform for the crown prince, due to take place next week in Riyadh and dubbed "Davos in the Desert," has been hit by a string of prominent cancellations. Business barons including British billionaire Richard Branson and Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi, as well as media powerhouses like Bloomberg and CNN, have pulled out of the Future Investment Initiative (FII). In major new twin blows to the credibility of the event, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon and Ford chairman Bill Ford also cancelled plans to attend, CNBC reported. In Washington, Trump's son-in-law and senior advisor, Jared Kushner, is coming under pressure after having spearheaded the administration's strategy to forge close ties with Mohammed. But US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Saturday that he still plans to attend the Saudi conference. "If more information comes out over the next week, I will obviously take that into account," he said.

'Rogue killers' may have killed missing Saudi journalist Khashoggi: Trump

Human Rights council speaks on missing journalist Jamal Khashoggi

After several media bigwigs pulled<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/britain-france-germany-call-for-credible-investigation-into-khashoggi-disappearance-171470"> out of the international conference</a> in Riyadh over journalist Jamal Khashoggi's disappearance, US media reported that JP Morgan CEO James Dimon and Ford chairman Bill Ford will also boycott the event.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-dismisses-threat-of-sanctions-over-khashoggi-warn-of-retaliation-171430">Also Read:&nbsp;Saudi dismisses </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-dismisses-threat-of-sanctions-over-khashoggi-warn-of-retaliation-171430">threat</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-dismisses-threat-of-sanctions-over-khashoggi-warn-of-retaliation-171430"> of sanctions over Khashoggi, warns of retaliation</a>

Riyadh will be hosting "Future Investment Initiative" widely touted as "Davos in the Desert" however the sudden disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi on October 2nd and the subsequent reports of him being killed inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul has sent shockwaves around the world leading several major company CEOs to pull out of the marquee event.

Virgin Atlantic chief Richard Branson and Uber CEO &nbsp;Dara Khosrowshahi had already decided not to attend the event over Khashoggi's reported disappearance inside the Saudi consulate.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia threatened that it will respond to any action taken against it by the international community "with a bigger one". It dismissed accusations that it was behind Khashoggi's mysterious disappearance.&nbsp;

"The kingdom affirms its total rejection of any threats or attempts to undermine it whether through threats to impose economic sanctions or the use of political pressure," Saudi Arabia said in a statement.

However, Western powers continued to pile on the pressure spearheaded by US president Trump warned of "severe punishment" if Saudi hand was proved during the ongoing investigation over Khashoggi.

"We're going to get to the bottom of it and there will be severe punishment," Trump told US media.

In an attempt to cool tempers, Saudi King Salman called up Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday to affirm his country's "solid" relations with Ankara.

Erdogan has called on Saudi Arabia to explain the fate of Jamal Khashoggi, after he entered the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul and reportedly never came out.

After several media bigwigs pulled out of the international conference in Riyadh over journalist Jamal Khashoggi's disappearance, US media reported that JP Morgan CEO James Dimon and Ford chairman Bill Ford will also boycott the event.

After several media bigwigs pulled out of the international conference in Riyadh over journalist Jamal Khashoggi's disappearance, US media reported that JP Morgan CEO James Dimon and Ford chairman Bill Ford will also boycott the event. Also Read: Saudi dismisses threat of sanctions over Khashoggi, warns of retaliation Riyadh will be hosting "Future Investment Initiative" widely touted as "Davos in the Desert" however the sudden disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi on October 2nd and the subsequent reports of him being killed inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul has sent shockwaves around the world leading several major company CEOs to pull out of the marquee event. Virgin Atlantic chief Richard Branson and Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi had already decided not to attend the event over Khashoggi's reported disappearance inside the Saudi consulate. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia threatened that it will respond to any action taken against it by the international community "with a bigger one". It dismissed accusations that it was behind Khashoggi's mysterious disappearance. "The kingdom affirms its total rejection of any threats or attempts to undermine it whether through threats to impose economic sanctions or the use of political pressure," Saudi Arabia said in a statement. However, Western powers continued to pile on the pressure spearheaded by US president Trump warned of "severe punishment" if Saudi hand was proved during the ongoing investigation over Khashoggi. "We're going to get to the bottom of it and there will be severe punishment," Trump told US media. In an attempt to cool tempers, Saudi King Salman called up Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday to affirm his country's "solid" relations with Ankara. Erdogan has called on Saudi Arabia to explain the fate of Jamal Khashoggi, after he entered the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul and reportedly never came out.

JP Morgan CEO, Ford chairman to pull out of Saudi conference over Khashoggi case: Report

Saudi Arabia's King Salman has ordered the public prosecutor to open an internal investigation into the Khashoggi case, a Saudi official told Reuters on Monday.

“The King has ordered the Public Prosecutor to open an internal investigation into the Khashoggi matter based on the info from the joint team in Istanbul,” the official, who is not authorized to speak publicly, said.

Saudi Arabia's King Salman has ordered the public prosecutor to open an internal investigation into the Khashoggi case, a Saudi official told Reuters on Monday. “The King has ordered the Public Prosecutor to open an internal investigation into the Khashoggi matter based on the info from the joint team in Istanbul,” the official, who is not authorized to speak publicly, said.

Saudi King orders public prosecutor to open internal investigation into Khashoggi case

Saudi Arabia's interior minister rejected Saturday claims there were orders to kill missing Riyadh critic and journalist Jamal Khashoggi, describing them as "baseless allegations and lies".

Prince Abdel Aziz bin Saud bin Nayef added that his country was "in compliance with international laws and conventions," the official Saudi Press Agency reported him saying.

Khashoggi, a Washington Post contributor, vanished on October 2 after entering the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul to obtain documents for his upcoming marriage.

Turkish police and numerous media have claimed he was tortured and killed at the consulate.

His case risks hurting not just fragile Turkish-Saudi relations but also damaging the image of the kingdom and its ties to the West as Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman promotes a reform drive at home.

The Saudi minister, in the first ministerial reaction to the accusations about Khashoggi's killing, said he welcomed the cooperation between his country and Turkey to clarify the circumstances of the disappearance.

Saudi Arabia's interior minister rejected Saturday claims there were orders to kill missing Riyadh critic and journalist Jamal Khashoggi, describing them as "baseless allegations and lies".

Saudi Arabia's interior minister rejected Saturday claims there were orders to kill missing Riyadh critic and journalist Jamal Khashoggi, describing them as "baseless allegations and lies". Prince Abdel Aziz bin Saud bin Nayef added that his country was "in compliance with international laws and conventions," the official Saudi Press Agency reported him saying. Khashoggi, a Washington Post contributor, vanished on October 2 after entering the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul to obtain documents for his upcoming marriage. Turkish police and numerous media have claimed he was tortured and killed at the consulate. His case risks hurting not just fragile Turkish-Saudi relations but also damaging the image of the kingdom and its ties to the West as Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman promotes a reform drive at home. The Saudi minister, in the first ministerial reaction to the accusations about Khashoggi's killing, said he welcomed the cooperation between his country and Turkey to clarify the circumstances of the disappearance.

Allegations of orders to kill Khashoggi 'baseless': Saudi minister

A delegation from Saudi Arabia has arrived in Turkey as part of a joint investigation into the disappearance of prominent Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, three Turkish sources said on Friday.

A Saudi source also said a senior royal, Prince Khaled al-Faisal, visited Turkey on Thursday for talks. Later the same day Turkey said the two countries had agreed to form a joint working group - at Riyadh's initiative - to investigate the case.

Saudi state news agency SPA later quoted a Saudi official as welcoming Turkey's approval of its request to form the team.

US President Donald Trump, speaking to reporters in Ohio, said he had not yet spoken to Saudi Arabia's King Salman about Khashoggi's disappearance but would be calling him "pretty soon."

"This is a very serious thing and we're looking at it in a very serious manner," Trump said.

Khashoggi entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2 to get documents for his forthcoming marriage. Saudi officials say he left shortly afterwards but Turkish officials and his fiancee, who was waiting outside, said he never came out.

Turkish sources have told Reuters the initial assessment of the police was that Khashoggi, an outspoken critic of the Saudi government, was deliberately killed inside the consulate.

Riyadh has dismissed the claims.

SPA said on Friday that Saudi Arabia's interior minister, Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif, condemned the "lies and baseless allegations" against the kingdom, although he praised the joint investigation with Turkey.

The Saudi delegation, which arrived in Turkey on Thursday, is meeting a Turkish prosecutor investigating the case as well as representatives from the Justice Ministry, Interior Ministry, police and the national intelligence agency, one source said.

There is no set date for how long the meetings will take, but "very quick results need to be seen", the source said. The team is now in Istanbul and will continue to work over the weekend, the source added.

Prince Khaled, the governor of Mecca, made his brief visit in his capacity as special adviser to King Salman, a source with links to the prince's family told Reuters, in a move that would suggest the monarch was treating the issue as a priority.

President Tayyip Erdogan has previously said that Turkey could not remain silent over Khashoggi's disappearance and called on officials at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to prove he had left the building.

On Tuesday, the Turkish foreign ministry said the Saudi consulate in Istanbul would be searched as part of the investigation.

A delegation from Saudi Arabia has arrived in Turkey as part of a joint investigation into the disappearance of prominent Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, three Turkish sources said on Friday.

A delegation from Saudi Arabia has arrived in Turkey as part of a joint investigation into the disappearance of prominent Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, three Turkish sources said on Friday. A Saudi source also said a senior royal, Prince Khaled al-Faisal, visited Turkey on Thursday for talks. Later the same day Turkey said the two countries had agreed to form a joint working group - at Riyadh's initiative - to investigate the case. Saudi state news agency SPA later quoted a Saudi official as welcoming Turkey's approval of its request to form the team. US President Donald Trump, speaking to reporters in Ohio, said he had not yet spoken to Saudi Arabia's King Salman about Khashoggi's disappearance but would be calling him "pretty soon." "This is a very serious thing and we're looking at it in a very serious manner," Trump said. Khashoggi entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2 to get documents for his forthcoming marriage. Saudi officials say he left shortly afterwards but Turkish officials and his fiancee, who was waiting outside, said he never came out. Turkish sources have told Reuters the initial assessment of the police was that Khashoggi, an outspoken critic of the Saudi government, was deliberately killed inside the consulate. Riyadh has dismissed the claims. SPA said on Friday that Saudi Arabia's interior minister, Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif, condemned the "lies and baseless allegations" against the kingdom, although he praised the joint investigation with Turkey. The Saudi delegation, which arrived in Turkey on Thursday, is meeting a Turkish prosecutor investigating the case as well as representatives from the Justice Ministry, Interior Ministry, police and the national intelligence agency, one source said. There is no set date for how long the meetings will take, but "very quick results need to be seen", the source said. The team is now in Istanbul and will continue to work over the weekend, the source added. Prince Khaled, the governor of Mecca, made his brief visit in his capacity as special adviser to King Salman, a source with links to the prince's family told Reuters, in a move that would suggest the monarch was treating the issue as a priority. President Tayyip Erdogan has previously said that Turkey could not remain silent over Khashoggi's disappearance and called on officials at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to prove he had left the building. On Tuesday, the Turkish foreign ministry said the Saudi consulate in Istanbul would be searched as part of the investigation.

Saudi team arrives in Turkey for Khashoggi investigation: Sources

Saudi Arabia has welcomed a joint investigation with Turkey into the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

The country had earlier requested Turkey to form a bilateral level team to investigate the murder of Khashoggi.

A Saudi official source said it was "a positive move" that Turkey had agreed to a Saudi request to form "a bilateral expert-level Joint Action Team to disclose the merits of the Saudi national Jamal bin Ahmed Hamza Khashoggi's disappearance," SPA said.&nbsp;

According to media reports, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-claims-to-have-audio-video-recordings-to-prove-journalist-jamal-khashoggis-murder-171096">Turkey possesses audio and video recordings </a>that prove the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi took place inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.

A media report quoted a source as saying that the evidence Turkey has, shows signs of assault and struggle inside the consulate.

Senior journalist Khashoggi, 59, who is a strong critic of the Saudi establishment had taken US citizenship after leaving his country and had written several articles against Saudi Arabia's repressive policies for the Washington Post.

The New York Times revealed on Wednesday that a group of 15 men flew down to Turkey in a private jet in order to kill Khashoggi inside the Saudi consulate in Turkey. The Turkish government openly accused Saudi Arabia of colluding to kill the journalist.

The journalist had entered the Saudi consulate to submit documents seeking a divorce from his wife living in Saudi Arabia so that he could remarry again in Turkey.

Saudi Arabia has denied any hand in Khashoggi's disappearance asserting that he walked out of the consulate from the back door. However, his fiance, Hatice Cengiz, who accompanied him to the consulate on October 2 said he never came out of the consulate as she waited outside.

Turkey had earlier asked Saudi Arabia to present evidence to prove that the missing journalist had left the consulate.

Turkey on Thursday denied a claim by US President Donald Trump that American investigators were collectively working with both Ankara and Riyadh to probe the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

(With inputs from agencies)

Saudi Arabia has welcomed a joint investigation with Turkey into the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The country had earlier requested Turkey to form a bilateral level team to investigate the murder of Khashoggi.

Saudi Arabia has welcomed a joint investigation with Turkey into the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The country had earlier requested Turkey to form a bilateral level team to investigate the murder of Khashoggi. A Saudi official source said it was "a positive move" that Turkey had agreed to a Saudi request to form "a bilateral expert-level Joint Action Team to disclose the merits of the Saudi national Jamal bin Ahmed Hamza Khashoggi's disappearance," SPA said. According to media reports, Turkey possesses audio and video recordings that prove the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi took place inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. A media report quoted a source as saying that the evidence Turkey has, shows signs of assault and struggle inside the consulate. Senior journalist Khashoggi, 59, who is a strong critic of the Saudi establishment had taken US citizenship after leaving his country and had written several articles against Saudi Arabia's repressive policies for the Washington Post. The New York Times revealed on Wednesday that a group of 15 men flew down to Turkey in a private jet in order to kill Khashoggi inside the Saudi consulate in Turkey. The Turkish government openly accused Saudi Arabia of colluding to kill the journalist. The journalist had entered the Saudi consulate to submit documents seeking a divorce from his wife living in Saudi Arabia so that he could remarry again in Turkey. Saudi Arabia has denied any hand in Khashoggi's disappearance asserting that he walked out of the consulate from the back door. However, his fiance, Hatice Cengiz, who accompanied him to the consulate on October 2 said he never came out of the consulate as she waited outside. Turkey had earlier asked Saudi Arabia to present evidence to prove that the missing journalist had left the consulate. Turkey on Thursday denied a claim by US President Donald Trump that American investigators were collectively working with both Ankara and Riyadh to probe the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. (With inputs from agencies)

Saudis welcome joint Turkey probe into missing journalist Jamal Khashoggi

Media companies are pulling out of a Saudi investment conference over&nbsp;of growing outrage over the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Turkey.

Economist Editor-in-chief Zanny Minton Beddoes will not participate in the "Future Investment Initiative"&nbsp;conference in Riyadh, spokeswoman Lauren Hackett said in an email.

Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/british-entrepreneur-richard-branson-suspends-saudi-links-over-missing-journalist-171114">I suspend my directorships, Virgin Galactic too will suspend talks with Saudi fund: Branson over Khashoggi case</a>

Andrew Ross Sorkin, a CNBC anchor and New York Times business journalist, tweeted that he was not attending the conference, saying he was "terribly distressed by the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and reports of his murder."

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I’m terribly distressed by the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and reports of his murder. I will no longer be participating in the Future&nbsp;Investment&nbsp;Initiative in Riyadh.
— Andrew Ross Sorkin (@andrewrsorkin) <a href="https://twitter.com/andrewrsorkin/status/1050431793680265222?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 11, 2018</a></blockquote>
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This is leadership: <a href="https://twitter.com/Uber?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Uber</a> CEO <a href="https://twitter.com/dkhos?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@dkhos</a> says he won't be going to Saudi conf. It's a meaningful decision since Saudi is a big investor in Uber and a Saudi govt rep sits on Uber's board.
— Andrew Ross Sorkin (@andrewrsorkin) <a href="https://twitter.com/andrewrsorkin/status/1050701341604159488?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2018</a></blockquote>
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CNBC will no longer participate in the FII in Riyadh due to the continuing questions surrounding the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
— CNBC (@CNBC) <a href="https://twitter.com/CNBC/status/1050726151163994113?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Pressure has mounted on Saudi Arabia since Khashoggi, a critic of Saudi policies, went missing. He was last seen entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2.

The New York Times has also decided to pull out of the event as a media sponsor, spokeswoman Eileen Murphy said.

The Financial Times said in a statement that it was reviewing its involvement as a media partner.

Uber Technologies Inc Chief Executive Officer Dara Khosrowshahi said in a statement he won't attend the FII conference in Riyadh unless substantially different set of facts emerge.

Viacom Inc CEO Bob Bakish, who was slated to speak at the conference, has decided to not attend the event, company spokesman Justin Dini said.

Other media companies slated to appear at the conference include CNN and Bloomberg, according to the event's website.

The disappearance of Khashoggi, a US resident who wrote columns for the Washington Post against Crown Prince Salman's regime, has cast a shadow over the three-day conference known as "Davos in the desert," which is scheduled to begin on October 23. The Post is owned by Amazon.com Inc founder and Chief Executive Jeff Bezos.

The event attracted some of the world's business elite including Wall Street's top bosses and executives from multinational media, tech and financial services companies.

Turkish officials have said Khashoggi was murdered inside the consulate where he had gone&nbsp;to get documents for his planned marriage. Riyadh has said the claims are baseless.

JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co CEO Jamie Dimon is scheduled to speak, as is Mastercard Inc CEO Ajay Banga. Representatives for both companies did not respond to requests.

Another billionaire, Steve Case, one of the founders of AOL, also decided to distance himself from Saudi Arabia, saying he would no longer attend the event.

"In light of recent events, I have decided to put my plans on hold, pending further information regarding Jamal Khashoggi." Case tweeted

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I was looking forward to returning to Riyadh this month to speak at the Future Investment Initiative conference, and participate in a Red Sea Project meeting. In light of recent events, I have decided to put my plans on hold, pending further information regarding Jamal Khashoggi.
— Steve Case (@SteveCase) <a href="https://twitter.com/SteveCase/status/1050527146991648768?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 11, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Khashoggi's disappearance has led officials and business leaders to drop out of another one of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman's large projects.

On Wednesday, former US Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz said that he had suspended his role on the board of Saudi Arabia's planned mega business zone NEOM until more is known about what happened.

Moniz was named on Tuesday as one of 18 people advising the $500 billion NEOM project. The Crown Prince said last week that the NEOM business zone would build two to three towns each year starting in 2020 and be completed by 2025.

The Harbour Group, a Washington firm that has been advising Saudi Arabia since April 2017, ended its $80,000 a month on Thursday. "We have terminated the relationship," managing director Richard Mintz said.

British billionaire Richard Branson said on Thursday that his Virgin Group would suspend its discussions with Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund over a planned $1 billion investment in the group's space ventures, in light of events involving Khashoggi.

Media companies are pulling out of a Saudi investment conference over of growing outrage over the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Turkey. Economist Editor-in-chief Zanny Minton Beddoes will not participate in the "Future Investment Initiative" conference in Riyadh, spokeswoman Lauren Hackett said in an email.

Media companies are pulling out of a Saudi investment conference over of growing outrage over the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Turkey. Economist Editor-in-chief Zanny Minton Beddoes will not participate in the "Future Investment Initiative" conference in Riyadh, spokeswoman Lauren Hackett said in an email. Also read: I suspend my directorships, Virgin Galactic too will suspend talks with Saudi fund: Branson over Khashoggi case Andrew Ross Sorkin, a CNBC anchor and New York Times business journalist, tweeted that he was not attending the conference, saying he was "terribly distressed by the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and reports of his murder." I’m terribly distressed by the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and reports of his murder. I will no longer be participating in the Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh. — Andrew Ross Sorkin (@andrewrsorkin) October 11, 2018 × This is leadership: @Uber CEO @dkhos says he won't be going to Saudi conf. It's a meaningful decision since Saudi is a big investor in Uber and a Saudi govt rep sits on Uber's board. — Andrew Ross Sorkin (@andrewrsorkin) October 12, 2018 × CNBC will no longer participate in the FII in Riyadh due to the continuing questions surrounding the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. — CNBC (@CNBC) October 12, 2018 × Pressure has mounted on Saudi Arabia since Khashoggi, a critic of Saudi policies, went missing. He was last seen entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2. The New York Times has also decided to pull out of the event as a media sponsor, spokeswoman Eileen Murphy said. The Financial Times said in a statement that it was reviewing its involvement as a media partner. Uber Technologies Inc Chief Executive Officer Dara Khosrowshahi said in a statement he won't attend the FII conference in Riyadh unless substantially different set of facts emerge. Viacom Inc CEO Bob Bakish, who was slated to speak at the conference, has decided to not attend the event, company spokesman Justin Dini said. Other media companies slated to appear at the conference include CNN and Bloomberg, according to the event's website. The disappearance of Khashoggi, a US resident who wrote columns for the Washington Post against Crown Prince Salman's regime, has cast a shadow over the three-day conference known as "Davos in the desert," which is scheduled to begin on October 23. The Post is owned by Amazon.com Inc founder and Chief Executive Jeff Bezos. The event attracted some of the world's business elite including Wall Street's top bosses and executives from multinational media, tech and financial services companies. Turkish officials have said Khashoggi was murdered inside the consulate where he had gone to get documents for his planned marriage. Riyadh has said the claims are baseless. JPMorgan Chase & Co CEO Jamie Dimon is scheduled to speak, as is Mastercard Inc CEO Ajay Banga. Representatives for both companies did not respond to requests. Another billionaire, Steve Case, one of the founders of AOL, also decided to distance himself from Saudi Arabia, saying he would no longer attend the event. "In light of recent events, I have decided to put my plans on hold, pending further information regarding Jamal Khashoggi." Case tweeted I was looking forward to returning to Riyadh this month to speak at the Future Investment Initiative conference, and participate in a Red Sea Project meeting. In light of recent events, I have decided to put my plans on hold, pending further information regarding Jamal Khashoggi. — Steve Case (@SteveCase) October 11, 2018 × Khashoggi's disappearance has led officials and business leaders to drop out of another one of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman's large projects. On Wednesday, former US Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz said that he had suspended his role on the board of Saudi Arabia's planned mega business zone NEOM until more is known about what happened. Moniz was named on Tuesday as one of 18 people advising the $500 billion NEOM project. The Crown Prince said last week that the NEOM business zone would build two to three towns each year starting in 2020 and be completed by 2025. The Harbour Group, a Washington firm that has been advising Saudi Arabia since April 2017, ended its $80,000 a month on Thursday. "We have terminated the relationship," managing director Richard Mintz said. British billionaire Richard Branson said on Thursday that his Virgin Group would suspend its discussions with Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund over a planned $1 billion investment in the group's space ventures, in light of events involving Khashoggi.

Media companies, executives drop out of Saudi event over Khashoggi's disappearance

Media companies are pulling out of a Saudi investment conference because of growing outrage over the disappearance of a prominent Saudi journalist in Turkey.

Economist Editor-In-Chief Zanny Minton Beddoes will not participate in the Future Investment Initiative conference in Riyadh, spokeswoman Lauren Hackett said in an email.

Andrew Ross Sorkin, a CNBC anchor and New York Times business journalist, tweeted that he was not attending the conference, saying he was "terribly distressed by the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and reports of his murder."

Pressure has mounted on Saudi Arabia since Khashoggi, a critic of Saudi policies, went missing. He was last seen entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2.

The New York Times Co has also decided to pull out of the event as a media sponsor, spokeswoman Eileen Murphy said.

The Financial Times said in a statement that it was reviewing its involvement as a media partner.

Uber Technologies Inc Chief Executive Officer Dara Khosrowshahi said in a statement he won't attend the FII conference in Riyadh unless substantially different set of facts emerge.

Viacom Inc CEO Bob Bakish, who was slated to speak at the conference, has decided to not attend the event, company spokesman Justin Dini said.

Other media companies slated to appear at the conference include CNN and Bloomberg, according to the event's website.

The disappearance of Khashoggi, a US resident who wrote columns for the Washington Post, has cast a shadow over the three-day conference known as "Davos in the desert," which is scheduled to begin on October 23. The Post is owned by Amazon.com Inc founder and Chief Executive Jeff Bezos.

The event attracted some of the world's business elite including Wall Street's top bosses and executives from multinational media, tech and financial services companies.

Turkish officials have said Khashoggi was murdered inside the consulate where he went to get documents for his planned marriage. Riyadh has said the claims are baseless.

JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co CEO Jamie Dimon is scheduled to speak, as is Mastercard Inc CEO Ajay Banga. Representatives for both companies did not respond to requests for comment.

Another billionaire, Steve Case, one of the founders of AOL, also decided to distance himself from Saudi Arabia, saying he would no longer attend the event.

"In light of recent events, I have decided to put my plans on hold, pending further information regarding Jamal Khashoggi." Case tweeted.

Khashoggi's disappearance has led officials and business leaders to drop out of another one of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman's large projects.

On Wednesday, former US Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz said that he had suspended his role on the board of Saudi Arabia's planned mega business zone NEOM until more is known about what happened.

Moniz was named on Tuesday as one of 18 people advising the $500 billion NEOM project. The Crown Prince said last week that the NEOM business zone would build two to three towns each year starting in 2020 and be completed by 2025.

The Harbour Group, a Washington firm that has been advising Saudi Arabia since April 2017, ended its $ 80,000 a month on Thursday. "We have terminated the relationship," managing director Richard Mintz said.

British billionaire Richard Branson said on Thursday that his Virgin Group would suspend its discussions with Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund over a planned $1 billion investment in the group's space ventures, in light of events involving Khashoggi.

Media companies are pulling out of a Saudi investment conference because of growing outrage over the disappearance of a prominent Saudi journalist in Turkey. Economist Editor-In-Chief Zanny Minton Beddoes will not participate in the Future Investment Initiative conference in Riyadh, spokeswoman Lauren Hackett said in an email.

Media companies are pulling out of a Saudi investment conference because of growing outrage over the disappearance of a prominent Saudi journalist in Turkey. Economist Editor-In-Chief Zanny Minton Beddoes will not participate in the Future Investment Initiative conference in Riyadh, spokeswoman Lauren Hackett said in an email. Andrew Ross Sorkin, a CNBC anchor and New York Times business journalist, tweeted that he was not attending the conference, saying he was "terribly distressed by the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and reports of his murder." Pressure has mounted on Saudi Arabia since Khashoggi, a critic of Saudi policies, went missing. He was last seen entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2. The New York Times Co has also decided to pull out of the event as a media sponsor, spokeswoman Eileen Murphy said. The Financial Times said in a statement that it was reviewing its involvement as a media partner. Uber Technologies Inc Chief Executive Officer Dara Khosrowshahi said in a statement he won't attend the FII conference in Riyadh unless substantially different set of facts emerge. Viacom Inc CEO Bob Bakish, who was slated to speak at the conference, has decided to not attend the event, company spokesman Justin Dini said. Other media companies slated to appear at the conference include CNN and Bloomberg, according to the event's website. The disappearance of Khashoggi, a US resident who wrote columns for the Washington Post, has cast a shadow over the three-day conference known as "Davos in the desert," which is scheduled to begin on October 23. The Post is owned by Amazon.com Inc founder and Chief Executive Jeff Bezos. The event attracted some of the world's business elite including Wall Street's top bosses and executives from multinational media, tech and financial services companies. Turkish officials have said Khashoggi was murdered inside the consulate where he went to get documents for his planned marriage. Riyadh has said the claims are baseless. JPMorgan Chase & Co CEO Jamie Dimon is scheduled to speak, as is Mastercard Inc CEO Ajay Banga. Representatives for both companies did not respond to requests for comment. Another billionaire, Steve Case, one of the founders of AOL, also decided to distance himself from Saudi Arabia, saying he would no longer attend the event. "In light of recent events, I have decided to put my plans on hold, pending further information regarding Jamal Khashoggi." Case tweeted. Khashoggi's disappearance has led officials and business leaders to drop out of another one of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman's large projects. On Wednesday, former US Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz said that he had suspended his role on the board of Saudi Arabia's planned mega business zone NEOM until more is known about what happened. Moniz was named on Tuesday as one of 18 people advising the $500 billion NEOM project. The Crown Prince said last week that the NEOM business zone would build two to three towns each year starting in 2020 and be completed by 2025. The Harbour Group, a Washington firm that has been advising Saudi Arabia since April 2017, ended its $ 80,000 a month on Thursday. "We have terminated the relationship," managing director Richard Mintz said. British billionaire Richard Branson said on Thursday that his Virgin Group would suspend its discussions with Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund over a planned $1 billion investment in the group's space ventures, in light of events involving Khashoggi.

Media companies, executives drop out of Saudi event over missing journalist

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-claims-to-have-audio-video-recordings-to-prove-journalist-jamal-khashoggis-murder-171096">Turkey claims to have audio, video recordings to prove Khashoggi's murder: Report</a>

Turkey claims that it has audio and video recordings that prove the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi took place inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul earlier this month. A media report quoted a source as saying that the evidence Turkey has, shows signs of assault and struggle inside the consulate.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/entertainment/housefull-4-sajid-khan-steps-down-as-director-akshay-kumar-says-wont-work-with-proven-offenders-171068">Akshay Kumar says 'will not work with proven offenders', Sajid Khan steps down as 'Housefull 4' director</a>

Upcoming Bollywood film ‘Housefull 4’ finds itself in the middle of #MeToo controversy as director Sajid Khan steps down from his post in the wake of several sexual assault allegations levied against him.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/kohli-consolidates-top-position-in-test-rankings-171094">Kohli consolidates top position in ICC Test rankings, Windies' Roston Chase moves up</a>

India captain Virat Kohli, who struck 139 in India's massive win in the first Test against the West Indies, on Friday consolidated his position at the top of the Test rankings, moving within one point of his highest rating point of 937.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/worlds-longest-flight-departs-singapore-for-new-york-171118">Jetliner lands in </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/worlds-longest-flight-departs-singapore-for-new-york-171118">US</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/worlds-longest-flight-departs-singapore-for-new-york-171118"> after world's longest flight</a>

The world's longest commercial flight arrived in New York on Friday after a nearly 18-hour trip from Singapore, completing the world's longest commercial flight.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pak-high-court-judge-sacked-over-remarks-against-isi-171141">Pak High Court judge sacked over remarks against ISI</a>

A senior Pakistani judge, who was in line to become the chief justice of the Islamabad High Court next month, was sacked for his controversial statement that the country's powerful spy agency ISI was manipulating judicial proceedings to get favourable decisions.

Turkey claims to have audio, video recordings to prove Khashoggi's murder: Report Turkey claims that it has audio and video recordings that prove the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi took place inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul earlier this month.

Turkey claims to have audio, video recordings to prove Khashoggi's murder: Report Turkey claims that it has audio and video recordings that prove the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi took place inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul earlier this month. A media report quoted a source as saying that the evidence Turkey has, shows signs of assault and struggle inside the consulate. Akshay Kumar says 'will not work with proven offenders', Sajid Khan steps down as 'Housefull 4' director Upcoming Bollywood film ‘Housefull 4’ finds itself in the middle of #MeToo controversy as director Sajid Khan steps down from his post in the wake of several sexual assault allegations levied against him. Kohli consolidates top position in ICC Test rankings, Windies' Roston Chase moves up India captain Virat Kohli, who struck 139 in India's massive win in the first Test against the West Indies, on Friday consolidated his position at the top of the Test rankings, moving within one point of his highest rating point of 937. Jetliner lands in US after world's longest flight The world's longest commercial flight arrived in New York on Friday after a nearly 18-hour trip from Singapore, completing the world's longest commercial flight. Pak High Court judge sacked over remarks against ISI A senior Pakistani judge, who was in line to become the chief justice of the Islamabad High Court next month, was sacked for his controversial statement that the country's powerful spy agency ISI was manipulating judicial proceedings to get favourable decisions.

News brief: Big stories of the day

Turkey claims that it has audio and video recordings that prove the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/opinions/disappearance-of-saudi-journalist-jamal-khashoggi-confirms-a-dangerous-trend-169599">killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi </a>took place inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul earlier this month. A media report quoted a source as saying that the evidence Turkey has, shows signs of assault and struggle inside the consulate.

The foreign intelligence service was shocked by the nature of the evidence provided by the Turkish officials, the report said.

Citing anonymous US and Turkey officials, the&nbsp;US media report further said that the audio recording reveals&nbsp;persuasive and gruesome evidence of a Saudi team sent to Istanbul being responsible for the death of journalist&nbsp;Jamal Khashoggi.

Both CNN and Washington Post declared that Turkey possessed audio and video recordings to prove Khashoggi's killing inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.

The post&nbsp;further&nbsp;quoted the officials as saying that the voice of Khashoggi and other men speaking in Arabic can be heard in the recordings which shows how the journalist was interrogated, tortured and then murdered.

Senior journalist Khashoggi, 59, a strong critic of the Saudi establishment had taken&nbsp;US citizenship after leaving his country and had written several articles against&nbsp;Saudi Arabia's repressive policies&nbsp;for the Washington Post.

The&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-journalist-was-killed-by-15-man-hit-team-that-then-dismembered-his-body-with-bone-saw-nyt-170659">New York Times had revealed on Wednesday that&nbsp;</a>a group of 15 men flew down to Turkey in a private jet in order to kill Khashoggi inside the Saudi consulate in Turkey. The Turkish government openly accused Saudi Arabia of colluding to kill the journalist.

Khashoggi had entered the Saudi consulate to submit documents seeking&nbsp;a divorce from his wife living in Saudi Arabia so that he could remarry again in Turkey.

Saudi Arabia has denied any hand in Khashoggi's disappearance asserting that he walked out of the consulate from the back door. However, his fiance, Hatice Cengiz, who accompanied him to the consulate on October 2 said he never came out of the consulate as she waited outside.&nbsp;

Turkey has asked Saudi Arabia to present evidence to prove that he left the consulate.

Khashoggi's own website on&nbsp;October 3 had posted a message saying he was arrested at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul but state-run Saudi Press Agency said he had left the building and the consulate was carrying out follow-up procedures and coordinating with the Turkish authorities to "uncover the circumstances" of his disappearance.

Turkey claims that it has audio and video recordings that prove the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi took place inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul earlier this month.

Turkey claims that it has audio and video recordings that prove the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi took place inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul earlier this month. A media report quoted a source as saying that the evidence Turkey has, shows signs of assault and struggle inside the consulate. The foreign intelligence service was shocked by the nature of the evidence provided by the Turkish officials, the report said. Citing anonymous US and Turkey officials, the US media report further said that the audio recording reveals persuasive and gruesome evidence of a Saudi team sent to Istanbul being responsible for the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Both CNN and Washington Post declared that Turkey possessed audio and video recordings to prove Khashoggi's killing inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. The post further quoted the officials as saying that the voice of Khashoggi and other men speaking in Arabic can be heard in the recordings which shows how the journalist was interrogated, tortured and then murdered. Senior journalist Khashoggi, 59, a strong critic of the Saudi establishment had taken US citizenship after leaving his country and had written several articles against Saudi Arabia's repressive policies for the Washington Post. The New York Times had revealed on Wednesday that a group of 15 men flew down to Turkey in a private jet in order to kill Khashoggi inside the Saudi consulate in Turkey. The Turkish government openly accused Saudi Arabia of colluding to kill the journalist. Khashoggi had entered the Saudi consulate to submit documents seeking a divorce from his wife living in Saudi Arabia so that he could remarry again in Turkey. Saudi Arabia has denied any hand in Khashoggi's disappearance asserting that he walked out of the consulate from the back door. However, his fiance, Hatice Cengiz, who accompanied him to the consulate on October 2 said he never came out of the consulate as she waited outside. Turkey has asked Saudi Arabia to present evidence to prove that he left the consulate. Khashoggi's own website on October 3 had posted a message saying he was arrested at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul but state-run Saudi Press Agency said he had left the building and the consulate was carrying out follow-up procedures and coordinating with the Turkish authorities to "uncover the circumstances" of his disappearance.

Turkey claims to have audio, video recordings to prove Khashoggi's murder: Report

British entrepreneur Richard Branson is suspending two directorships linked to tourism projects in Saudi Arabia following the unexplained disappearance in Turkey of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

In a statement late Thursday, Branson said also that his Virgin group would suspend discussions with Saudi Arabia over proposed investment in Virgin Galactic, which is set to carry out its first space flight within weeks.

"I had high hopes for the current government in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its leader Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and it is why I was delighted to accept two directorships in the tourism projects around the Red Sea," Branson said in the statement posted on the Virgin website.&nbsp;

"I felt that I could give practical development advice and also help protect the precious environment around the coastline and islands."

But he added: "What has reportedly happened in Turkey around the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, if proved true, would clearly change the ability of any of us in the West to do business with the Saudi government.&nbsp;

"We have asked for more information from the authorities in Saudi and to clarify their position in relation to Mr Khashoggi.

"While those investigations are ongoing and Mr Khashoggi’s whereabouts are not known, I will suspend my directorships of the two tourism projects.

"Virgin will also suspend its discussions with the Public Investment Fund over the proposed investment in our space companies Virgin Galactic and Virgin Orbit," Branson added.

In comments Tuesday, Branson said he expected his Virgin Galactic company to conduct its first space flight "within weeks, not months".

British entrepreneur Richard Branson is suspending two directorships linked to tourism projects in Saudi Arabia following the unexplained disappearance in Turkey of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

British entrepreneur Richard Branson is suspending two directorships linked to tourism projects in Saudi Arabia following the unexplained disappearance in Turkey of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. In a statement late Thursday, Branson said also that his Virgin group would suspend discussions with Saudi Arabia over proposed investment in Virgin Galactic, which is set to carry out its first space flight within weeks. "I had high hopes for the current government in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its leader Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and it is why I was delighted to accept two directorships in the tourism projects around the Red Sea," Branson said in the statement posted on the Virgin website. "I felt that I could give practical development advice and also help protect the precious environment around the coastline and islands." But he added: "What has reportedly happened in Turkey around the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, if proved true, would clearly change the ability of any of us in the West to do business with the Saudi government. "We have asked for more information from the authorities in Saudi and to clarify their position in relation to Mr Khashoggi. "While those investigations are ongoing and Mr Khashoggi’s whereabouts are not known, I will suspend my directorships of the two tourism projects. "Virgin will also suspend its discussions with the Public Investment Fund over the proposed investment in our space companies Virgin Galactic and Virgin Orbit," Branson added. In comments Tuesday, Branson said he expected his Virgin Galactic company to conduct its first space flight "within weeks, not months".

I suspend my directorships, Virgin Galactic too will suspend talks with Saudi fund: Branson over Khashoggi case

The fate of missing Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, assuming that his disappearance was the work of Saudi security and military officials, threatens to upend the fundaments of fault lines in the Middle East.

At stake is not only the fate of a widely respected journalist and the future of Turkish-Saudi relations.

Khashoggi’s fate, whether he was kidnapped by Saudi agents during a visit to the kingdom’s consulate in Istanbul to obtain proof of his divorce or murdered on its premises, threatens to severely disrupt the US-Saudi alliance that underwrites much of the Middle East’s fault lines.

A US investigation into Khashoggi’s fate mandated by members of the US Congress and an expected meeting between President Donald Trump, and the journalist’s Turkish fiancée, Hatice Cengiz, could result in a US and European embargo on arms sales to Saudi Arabia and impact the kingdom’s brutal proxy war with Iran in Yemen.

It also would project Saudi Arabia as a rogue state and call into question US and Saudi allegations that Iran is the Middle East’s main state supporter of terrorism.

The allegations formed a key reason for the United States’ withdrawal with Saudi, United Arab Emirates and Israeli backing from the 2015 international agreement that curbed Iran’s nuclear program and the re-imposition of crippling economic sanctions.

They also would undermine Saudi and UAE justification of their 15-month-old economic and diplomatic boycott of Qatar that the two Gulf states, alongside Egypt and Bahrain, accused of supporting terrorism.

Condemnation and sanctioning of Saudi Arabia by the international community would complicate Chinese and Russian efforts to walk a fine line in their attempts to ensure that they are not sucked into the Saudi-Iranian rivalry.

Russia and China would be at a crossroads if Saudi Arabia were proven to be responsible for Khashoggi’s disappearance and the issue of sanctions would be brought to the United Nations Security Council.

Both Russia and China have so far been able to maintain close ties to Saudi Arabia despite their efforts to defeat US sanctions against Iran and Russia’s alliance with the Islamic republic in their support for Syrian president Bashar al-Assad.

A significantly weakened Saudi Arabia would furthermore undermine Arab cover provided by the kingdom for Trump’s efforts to impose a settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that would favour Israel at the expense of the Palestinians.

Finally, a conclusive determination that Saudi Arabia was responsible for Khashoggi’s fate would likely spark renewed debate about the wisdom of the international community’s support for Arab autocracy that has proven to be unashamedly brutal in its violation of human rights and disregard for international law and conventions.

Meanwhile, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has suffered significant reputational damage irrespective of Khashoggi’s fate, raising the question of his viability if Saudi Arabia were condemned internationally and stability in the kingdom, a key tenant of US, Chinese and Russian Middle East policy, were to be at risk.

The reputational damage suffered by Prince Mohammed embarrasses UAE Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed, who together with his aides and representatives in world capitals, worked hard to project his Saudi counterpart as the kingdom’s future.

Saudi Arabia has so far done itself a few favours by flatly rejecting any responsibility for Khashoggi’s disappearance with no evidence that the journalist left the consulate at his own volition; asserting that claims that it was involved were fabrications by Turkey, Qatar and the Muslim Brotherhood; seeking to defame Khashoggi’s fiancé and supporters; and refusing to fully cooperate with Turkish investigators.

Saudi reluctance to cooperate as well as the US investigation and Cengiz’s expected meeting with Trump complicate apparent Turkish efforts to find a resolution of the escalating crisis that would allow Saudi Arabia to save face and salvage Turkey’s economic relationship with the kingdom.

Turkey, despite deep policy differences with Saudi Arabia over Qatar, Iran, and the Muslim Brotherhood, has so far refrained from statements that go beyond demanding that Saudi Arabia prove its assertion that Khashoggi left the Istanbul consulate at his own volition and fully cooperate with the Turkish investigation.

Reports by anonymous Turkish officials detailing gruesome details of Khashoggi’s alleged murder by Saudi agents appear designed to pressure Saudi Arabia to comply with the Turkish demands and efforts to manage the crisis.

Widely acclaimed, Khashoggi’s fate, irrespective of whether he as yet emerges alive or is proven to have been brutally murdered, is reshaping the political map of the Middle East. The possibility, if not likelihood is that he paid a horrendous price for sparking the earthquake that is already rumbling across the region. 
&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

The fate of missing Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, assuming that his disappearance was the work of Saudi security and military officials, threatens to upend the fundaments of fault lines in the Middle East.

The fate of missing Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, assuming that his disappearance was the work of Saudi security and military officials, threatens to upend the fundaments of fault lines in the Middle East. At stake is not only the fate of a widely respected journalist and the future of Turkish-Saudi relations. Khashoggi’s fate, whether he was kidnapped by Saudi agents during a visit to the kingdom’s consulate in Istanbul to obtain proof of his divorce or murdered on its premises, threatens to severely disrupt the US-Saudi alliance that underwrites much of the Middle East’s fault lines. A US investigation into Khashoggi’s fate mandated by members of the US Congress and an expected meeting between President Donald Trump, and the journalist’s Turkish fiancée, Hatice Cengiz, could result in a US and European embargo on arms sales to Saudi Arabia and impact the kingdom’s brutal proxy war with Iran in Yemen. It also would project Saudi Arabia as a rogue state and call into question US and Saudi allegations that Iran is the Middle East’s main state supporter of terrorism. The allegations formed a key reason for the United States’ withdrawal with Saudi, United Arab Emirates and Israeli backing from the 2015 international agreement that curbed Iran’s nuclear program and the re-imposition of crippling economic sanctions. They also would undermine Saudi and UAE justification of their 15-month-old economic and diplomatic boycott of Qatar that the two Gulf states, alongside Egypt and Bahrain, accused of supporting terrorism. Condemnation and sanctioning of Saudi Arabia by the international community would complicate Chinese and Russian efforts to walk a fine line in their attempts to ensure that they are not sucked into the Saudi-Iranian rivalry. Russia and China would be at a crossroads if Saudi Arabia were proven to be responsible for Khashoggi’s disappearance and the issue of sanctions would be brought to the United Nations Security Council. Both Russia and China have so far been able to maintain close ties to Saudi Arabia despite their efforts to defeat US sanctions against Iran and Russia’s alliance with the Islamic republic in their support for Syrian president Bashar al-Assad. A significantly weakened Saudi Arabia would furthermore undermine Arab cover provided by the kingdom for Trump’s efforts to impose a settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that would favour Israel at the expense of the Palestinians. Finally, a conclusive determination that Saudi Arabia was responsible for Khashoggi’s fate would likely spark renewed debate about the wisdom of the international community’s support for Arab autocracy that has proven to be unashamedly brutal in its violation of human rights and disregard for international law and conventions. Meanwhile, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has suffered significant reputational damage irrespective of Khashoggi’s fate, raising the question of his viability if Saudi Arabia were condemned internationally and stability in the kingdom, a key tenant of US, Chinese and Russian Middle East policy, were to be at risk. The reputational damage suffered by Prince Mohammed embarrasses UAE Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed, who together with his aides and representatives in world capitals, worked hard to project his Saudi counterpart as the kingdom’s future. Saudi Arabia has so far done itself a few favours by flatly rejecting any responsibility for Khashoggi’s disappearance with no evidence that the journalist left the consulate at his own volition; asserting that claims that it was involved were fabrications by Turkey, Qatar and the Muslim Brotherhood; seeking to defame Khashoggi’s fiancé and supporters; and refusing to fully cooperate with Turkish investigators. Saudi reluctance to cooperate as well as the US investigation and Cengiz’s expected meeting with Trump complicate apparent Turkish efforts to find a resolution of the escalating crisis that would allow Saudi Arabia to save face and salvage Turkey’s economic relationship with the kingdom. Turkey, despite deep policy differences with Saudi Arabia over Qatar, Iran, and the Muslim Brotherhood, has so far refrained from statements that go beyond demanding that Saudi Arabia prove its assertion that Khashoggi left the Istanbul consulate at his own volition and fully cooperate with the Turkish investigation. Reports by anonymous Turkish officials detailing gruesome details of Khashoggi’s alleged murder by Saudi agents appear designed to pressure Saudi Arabia to comply with the Turkish demands and efforts to manage the crisis. Widely acclaimed, Khashoggi’s fate, irrespective of whether he as yet emerges alive or is proven to have been brutally murdered, is reshaping the political map of the Middle East. The possibility, if not likelihood is that he paid a horrendous price for sparking the earthquake that is already rumbling across the region. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Fate of Jamal Khashoggi rejiggers the Middle East at potentially horrible cost

President Trump said today that he had spoken to Saudi authorities "at the highest level" over the case of missing journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-journalist-was-killed-by-15-man-hit-team-that-then-dismembered-his-body-with-bone-saw-nyt-170659">Also Read:&nbsp;Khashoggi was killed by Saudi 'hit team', says&nbsp;NYT report</a>

Jamal Khashoggi had reportedly entered the &nbsp;Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul last week but never came out even as his fiancee Hatice Cengiz waited outside. The Saudi journalist had entered the embassy for paperwork for his impending marriage, reports indicated.

Khashoggi, 59, has been living in the US for the past year. He has been a vocal critic of the Saudi regime and has written several articles for various newspapers in the US criticising Crown Prince Salman.

"We're demanding everything. We want to see what's going on there," Trump told reporters.

On Tuesday, the New York Times reported a Turkish official saying Khashoggi was killed inside the consulate by a 15-man Saudi "hit team" that had flown in on two charter flights, especially for the job.

Saudi officials, however, denied the journalist had been harmed in any way, insisting that he had left the consulate through a back door.&nbsp;

The US had earlier sought "thorough and transparent investigation" on &nbsp;Khashoggi's disappearance even as Turkey was given permission to enter the Saudi embassy to search for him. Turkish authorities have still not searched the embassy premises.

Meanwhile, Turkish investigators are examining CCTV footage showing the moment Khashoggi entered the Saudi embassy, it later released the footage to the public.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had said then were conflicting reports on the safety and whereabouts of Khashoggi.

"We call on the government of Saudi Arabia to support a thorough investigation of Mr Khashoggi's disappearance and to be transparent about the results of that investigation," Pompeo said in a statement.

"Turkish officials have said they believe he was killed inside in a planned murder. A team of 15 Saudis arrived on two planes to carry out the killing, officials have said," 'The Washington Post' reported.

US Vice President Mike Pence also commented on the mystery over the missing journalist, saying "the free world deserves answers".

CCTV released on Wednesday by Turkish TV showed a man believed to be Khashoggi enter the consulate and a vehicle entered and left the building after Khashoggi went inside.

President Trump said today that he had spoken to Saudi authorities "at the highest level" over the case of missing journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Also Read: Khashoggi was killed by Saudi 'hit team', says NYT report Jamal Khashoggi had reportedly entered the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul last week but never came out even as his fiancee Hatice Cengiz waited outside.

President Trump said today that he had spoken to Saudi authorities "at the highest level" over the case of missing journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Also Read: Khashoggi was killed by Saudi 'hit team', says NYT report Jamal Khashoggi had reportedly entered the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul last week but never came out even as his fiancee Hatice Cengiz waited outside. The Saudi journalist had entered the embassy for paperwork for his impending marriage, reports indicated. Khashoggi, 59, has been living in the US for the past year. He has been a vocal critic of the Saudi regime and has written several articles for various newspapers in the US criticising Crown Prince Salman. "We're demanding everything. We want to see what's going on there," Trump told reporters. On Tuesday, the New York Times reported a Turkish official saying Khashoggi was killed inside the consulate by a 15-man Saudi "hit team" that had flown in on two charter flights, especially for the job. Saudi officials, however, denied the journalist had been harmed in any way, insisting that he had left the consulate through a back door. The US had earlier sought "thorough and transparent investigation" on Khashoggi's disappearance even as Turkey was given permission to enter the Saudi embassy to search for him. Turkish authorities have still not searched the embassy premises. Meanwhile, Turkish investigators are examining CCTV footage showing the moment Khashoggi entered the Saudi embassy, it later released the footage to the public. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had said then were conflicting reports on the safety and whereabouts of Khashoggi. "We call on the government of Saudi Arabia to support a thorough investigation of Mr Khashoggi's disappearance and to be transparent about the results of that investigation," Pompeo said in a statement. "Turkish officials have said they believe he was killed inside in a planned murder. A team of 15 Saudis arrived on two planes to carry out the killing, officials have said," 'The Washington Post' reported. US Vice President Mike Pence also commented on the mystery over the missing journalist, saying "the free world deserves answers". CCTV released on Wednesday by Turkish TV showed a man believed to be Khashoggi enter the consulate and a vehicle entered and left the building after Khashoggi went inside.

Spoke to top Saudi authorities: Trump over Khashoggi's disapperence

As the mystery deepens over the plight of missing Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi who disappeared after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, US President Trump said US investigators are working with Saudis and Turkey to find his whereabouts.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/jamal-khashoggis-own-words-what-angers-saudi-leaders-170855">Also Read:&nbsp;Jamal Khashoggi on what angers Saudi leaders</a>

On Wednesday, the US president had told reporters that he had spoken to Saudi authorities at the highest level on&nbsp;Khashoggi's disappearance but did not state Saudi Arabia's response during the conversation.

Senior journalist Khashoggi, 59, who is a strong critic of the Saudi establishment had taken&nbsp;US citizenship after leaving his country and had written several articles against&nbsp;Saudi Arabia's repressive policies&nbsp;for the Washington Post.

The <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-journalist-was-killed-by-15-man-hit-team-that-then-dismembered-his-body-with-bone-saw-nyt-170659">New York Times revealed on Wednesday that </a>a group of 15 men flew down to Turkey in a private jet in order to kill Khashoggi inside the Saudi consulate in Turkey. The Turkish government openly accused Saudi Arabia of colluding to kill the journalist.

Khashoggi had entered the Saudi consulate to submit documents seeking&nbsp;a divorce from his wife living in Saudi Arabia so that he could remarry again in Turkey.

Saudi Arabia has denied any hand in Khashoggi's disappearance asserting that he walked out of the consulate from the back door. However, his fiance, Hatice Cengiz, who accompanied him to the consulate on October 2nd said he never came out of the consulate as she waited outside.&nbsp;

Initially, the Turkey president Erdogan had said the journalist was being held inside the consulate as Saudi Arabia gave Turkish authorities permission to enter the premises and search for him, however, the authorities soon began to reveal through sources that he had, in fact, being killed, as reported by the New York Times article.

Khashoggi's own website on 3rd October had posted a message saying he was arrested at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul but state-run Saudi Press Agency said he had left the building and the consulate was carrying out follow-up procedures and coordinating with the Turkish authorities to "uncover the circumstances" of his disappearance.

Earlier, US secretary of state &nbsp;Mike Pompeo had expressed support towards a "thorough investigation" on Khashoggi's sudden disappearance.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
Meanwhile, Britain's foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt said it was a "very, very serious matter" adding that "if these allegations are true, there will be serious consequences."

The Washington Post in an article said Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had ordered an operation to "lure" Khashoggi home.

<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/l0S0q4slkkE" width="560"></iframe>

As the mystery deepens over the plight of missing Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi who disappeared after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, US President Trump said US investigators are working with Saudis and Turkey to find his whereabouts.

As the mystery deepens over the plight of missing Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi who disappeared after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, US President Trump said US investigators are working with Saudis and Turkey to find his whereabouts. Also Read: Jamal Khashoggi on what angers Saudi leaders On Wednesday, the US president had told reporters that he had spoken to Saudi authorities at the highest level on Khashoggi's disappearance but did not state Saudi Arabia's response during the conversation. Senior journalist Khashoggi, 59, who is a strong critic of the Saudi establishment had taken US citizenship after leaving his country and had written several articles against Saudi Arabia's repressive policies for the Washington Post. The New York Times revealed on Wednesday that a group of 15 men flew down to Turkey in a private jet in order to kill Khashoggi inside the Saudi consulate in Turkey. The Turkish government openly accused Saudi Arabia of colluding to kill the journalist. Khashoggi had entered the Saudi consulate to submit documents seeking a divorce from his wife living in Saudi Arabia so that he could remarry again in Turkey. Saudi Arabia has denied any hand in Khashoggi's disappearance asserting that he walked out of the consulate from the back door. However, his fiance, Hatice Cengiz, who accompanied him to the consulate on October 2nd said he never came out of the consulate as she waited outside. Initially, the Turkey president Erdogan had said the journalist was being held inside the consulate as Saudi Arabia gave Turkish authorities permission to enter the premises and search for him, however, the authorities soon began to reveal through sources that he had, in fact, being killed, as reported by the New York Times article. Khashoggi's own website on 3rd October had posted a message saying he was arrested at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul but state-run Saudi Press Agency said he had left the building and the consulate was carrying out follow-up procedures and coordinating with the Turkish authorities to "uncover the circumstances" of his disappearance. Earlier, US secretary of state Mike Pompeo had expressed support towards a "thorough investigation" on Khashoggi's sudden disappearance. Meanwhile, Britain's foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt said it was a "very, very serious matter" adding that "if these allegations are true, there will be serious consequences." The Washington Post in an article said Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had ordered an operation to "lure" Khashoggi home.

US investigators working with Saudis, Turkey on Khashoggi's disappearance: Trump

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged Saudi Arabia to release footage of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-journalist-was-killed-by-15-man-hit-team-that-then-dismembered-his-body-with-bone-saw-nyt-170659">journalist Jamal Khashoggi </a>and President Donald Trump demanded answers over his fate, as the kingdom faced growing pressure Thursday to provide a convincing explanation for his disappearance.

The Washington Post, the daily to which Khashoggi was a contributor, added to the mystery by reporting Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had ordered an operation to "lure" the critical journalist back home.

Khashoggi has not been seen since October 2 when he went to the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to obtain official documents for his upcoming marriage. Turkish officials quoted in media have said he was killed but Riyadh denies that.

The mystery has captivated the world but also threatens to harm brittle Turkish-Saudi relations and hurt efforts by the crown prince to improve the image of his country with a reform drive.

Erdogan challenged Saudi Arabia to provide CCTV images to back up its version that Khashoggi had left the consulate safely, indicating he did not find the current Saudi explanations sufficient.

"Is it possible there were no camera systems in a consulate, in an embassy? Is it possible that there was no Saudi camera system where this incident took place?"

Erdogan told Turkish reporters in comments published in newspapers.

"If a bird flew, or a fly or a mosquito appeared, the systems would capture this; they (Saudi Arabia) have the most cutting-edge systems," he was quoted as saying.

The consulate said CCTV cameras were not working that day and dismissed the murder claims as "baseless".

'Demanding everything'

The case is also threatening the strong relationship the Trump administration has built with Prince Mohammed, who wants to turn the oil-rich conservative kingdom into a hub for innovation and reform.

The two sides have worked together on challenging Iran despite growing concern over the prince's campaign against dissidents, which critics say has shown up the true face of his rule.

In a reversal from Washington's initial low-key response, Trump demanded answers after he spoke to Saudi authorities "at the highest level".&nbsp;

"We're demanding everything. We want to see what's going on there," he said. Trump later told "Fox News at Night" that "it would not be a good thing at all" if Saudi involvement was proven.

Khashoggi is a former government adviser who fled Saudi Arabia in September 2017 and lived in the US fearing arrest back home.

In his columns for the Washington Post and comments elsewhere, Khashoggi was critical of some policies of Mohammed bin Salman as well as Riyadh's role in the war in Yemen.

'Cannot remain silent'

While unnamed Turkish officials quoted in the media have been giving sometimes macabre details of the alleged murder, Erdogan has so far been more circumspect.

He has said Saudi Arabia must prove its version of events but so far has stopped short of directly accusing the kingdom or laying the blame on the powerful crown prince.

"It's not possible for us to stay silent regarding an incident like this," Erdogan said.

He added that it would "not be right" to comment yet but said he had "concerns".

Ankara and Riyadh have worked over recent years to maintain cordial relations despite disputes on key issues, such as the ousting of the Islamist Egyptian government and the blockade on Turkey's key regional ally Qatar.

Friends of Khashoggi told the Washington Post that for several months, senior Saudi officials were offering him protection, "even a high-level job working for the government" if the critic returned to the kingdom. Khashoggi was sceptical of such offers.

Following the Washington Post report, State Department deputy spokesman Robert Palladino said the US "had no advanced knowledge of Jamal Khashoggi's disappearance".

Turkish police are looking into a team of 15 Saudis who they say were at the consulate at the same time as Khashoggi and arrived in Istanbul on October 2 on board two private planes. Turkish media have said the 15 were an "assassination team" and that they took the consulate's footage with them.

After images of the men and their names were published by pro-government Sabah daily, media identified most of them as senior figures in Riyadh or close to the crown prince.

Turkish police are also analysing CCTV footage which showed a vehicle that went inside the consulate and then to the consul-general's residence nearby after 1200 GMT, two hours after Khashoggi had entered the mission.

Turkish authorities have been given permission to search the consulate -- Saudi sovereign territory -- but it has not yet taken place.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged Saudi Arabia to release footage of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and President Donald Trump demanded answers over his fate, as the kingdom faced growing pressure Thursday to provide a convincing explanation for his disappearance.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged Saudi Arabia to release footage of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and President Donald Trump demanded answers over his fate, as the kingdom faced growing pressure Thursday to provide a convincing explanation for his disappearance. The Washington Post, the daily to which Khashoggi was a contributor, added to the mystery by reporting Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had ordered an operation to "lure" the critical journalist back home. Khashoggi has not been seen since October 2 when he went to the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to obtain official documents for his upcoming marriage. Turkish officials quoted in media have said he was killed but Riyadh denies that. The mystery has captivated the world but also threatens to harm brittle Turkish-Saudi relations and hurt efforts by the crown prince to improve the image of his country with a reform drive. Erdogan challenged Saudi Arabia to provide CCTV images to back up its version that Khashoggi had left the consulate safely, indicating he did not find the current Saudi explanations sufficient. "Is it possible there were no camera systems in a consulate, in an embassy? Is it possible that there was no Saudi camera system where this incident took place?" Erdogan told Turkish reporters in comments published in newspapers. "If a bird flew, or a fly or a mosquito appeared, the systems would capture this; they (Saudi Arabia) have the most cutting-edge systems," he was quoted as saying. The consulate said CCTV cameras were not working that day and dismissed the murder claims as "baseless". 'Demanding everything' The case is also threatening the strong relationship the Trump administration has built with Prince Mohammed, who wants to turn the oil-rich conservative kingdom into a hub for innovation and reform. The two sides have worked together on challenging Iran despite growing concern over the prince's campaign against dissidents, which critics say has shown up the true face of his rule. In a reversal from Washington's initial low-key response, Trump demanded answers after he spoke to Saudi authorities "at the highest level". "We're demanding everything. We want to see what's going on there," he said. Trump later told "Fox News at Night" that "it would not be a good thing at all" if Saudi involvement was proven. Khashoggi is a former government adviser who fled Saudi Arabia in September 2017 and lived in the US fearing arrest back home. In his columns for the Washington Post and comments elsewhere, Khashoggi was critical of some policies of Mohammed bin Salman as well as Riyadh's role in the war in Yemen. 'Cannot remain silent' While unnamed Turkish officials quoted in the media have been giving sometimes macabre details of the alleged murder, Erdogan has so far been more circumspect. He has said Saudi Arabia must prove its version of events but so far has stopped short of directly accusing the kingdom or laying the blame on the powerful crown prince. "It's not possible for us to stay silent regarding an incident like this," Erdogan said. He added that it would "not be right" to comment yet but said he had "concerns". Ankara and Riyadh have worked over recent years to maintain cordial relations despite disputes on key issues, such as the ousting of the Islamist Egyptian government and the blockade on Turkey's key regional ally Qatar. Friends of Khashoggi told the Washington Post that for several months, senior Saudi officials were offering him protection, "even a high-level job working for the government" if the critic returned to the kingdom. Khashoggi was sceptical of such offers. Following the Washington Post report, State Department deputy spokesman Robert Palladino said the US "had no advanced knowledge of Jamal Khashoggi's disappearance". Turkish police are looking into a team of 15 Saudis who they say were at the consulate at the same time as Khashoggi and arrived in Istanbul on October 2 on board two private planes. Turkish media have said the 15 were an "assassination team" and that they took the consulate's footage with them. After images of the men and their names were published by pro-government Sabah daily, media identified most of them as senior figures in Riyadh or close to the crown prince. Turkish police are also analysing CCTV footage which showed a vehicle that went inside the consulate and then to the consul-general's residence nearby after 1200 GMT, two hours after Khashoggi had entered the mission. Turkish authorities have been given permission to search the consulate -- Saudi sovereign territory -- but it has not yet taken place.

Erdogan, Trump step up pressure over missing Saudi journalist

For years Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was a modest voice for progressive change in the tightly run, conservative Islamic kingdom. Even that got him in trouble.

But his disappearance last week in Istanbul, Turkey, amid accusations that he was kidnapped or murdered inside the Saudi consulate, has drawn attention to Khashoggi's rising calls for democratic reforms over the past year, which put him at odds with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom's most powerful figure.

Here are excerpts from Khashoggi's recent interviews and writings.

- On Twitter, on November 29, 2017, after Prince Mohammed locked up dozens of businessmen and royals in a luxury hotel and demanded they hand over their fortunes:

"If a prince can pay $1 billion in return for his freedom, how much will a prisoner of conscience have to pay? How much will we all pay to get our freedom?"

- On Prince Mohammed's reform program, on Al Jazeera television, March 23, 2018:

"I still see him as a reformer, but he is gathering all power within his hand. And it would be much better for him to allow a breathing space for critics, for Saudi intellectuals, Saudi writers, Saudi media to debate.... As we speak today, there are Saudi intellectuals and journalists jailed. Now nobody will dare to speak and criticize..."

- On Prince Mohammed in The Guardian on March 6, 2018, writing with Robert Lacey:

"He appears to be moving the country from old-time religious extremism to his own 'You-must-accept-my-reform' extremism, without any consultation."

- In The Washington Post, on May 21, 2018, after the Riyadh regime arrested activists and branded them traitors:

"We are being asked to abandon any hope of political freedom, and to keep quiet about arrests and travel bans that impact not only the critics but also their families. We are expected to vigorously applaud social reforms and heap praise on the crown prince."

- Criticizing the Saudi war in Yemen, which is closely identified with Prince Mohammed, in The Washington Post on September 11, 2018:

"Saudi Arabia must face the damage from the past three-plus years of war in Yemen. .... Further continuation of the war in Yemen will validate voices saying that Saudi Arabia is doing in Yemen what Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, the Russians and Iranians are doing in Syria."

- In an analysis of the Trump administration's plan for peace between Israel and the Palestinians, to the BBC on October 1, 2018:&nbsp;

"The Palestinian in Ramallah is much freer than me in Jeddah or Riyadh, he still can go on the street and demonstrate against the deal when I cannot do that."

For years Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was a modest voice for progressive change in the tightly run, conservative Islamic kingdom. Even that got him in trouble.

For years Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was a modest voice for progressive change in the tightly run, conservative Islamic kingdom. Even that got him in trouble. But his disappearance last week in Istanbul, Turkey, amid accusations that he was kidnapped or murdered inside the Saudi consulate, has drawn attention to Khashoggi's rising calls for democratic reforms over the past year, which put him at odds with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom's most powerful figure. Here are excerpts from Khashoggi's recent interviews and writings. - On Twitter, on November 29, 2017, after Prince Mohammed locked up dozens of businessmen and royals in a luxury hotel and demanded they hand over their fortunes: "If a prince can pay $1 billion in return for his freedom, how much will a prisoner of conscience have to pay? How much will we all pay to get our freedom?" - On Prince Mohammed's reform program, on Al Jazeera television, March 23, 2018: "I still see him as a reformer, but he is gathering all power within his hand. And it would be much better for him to allow a breathing space for critics, for Saudi intellectuals, Saudi writers, Saudi media to debate.... As we speak today, there are Saudi intellectuals and journalists jailed. Now nobody will dare to speak and criticize..." - On Prince Mohammed in The Guardian on March 6, 2018, writing with Robert Lacey: "He appears to be moving the country from old-time religious extremism to his own 'You-must-accept-my-reform' extremism, without any consultation." - In The Washington Post, on May 21, 2018, after the Riyadh regime arrested activists and branded them traitors: "We are being asked to abandon any hope of political freedom, and to keep quiet about arrests and travel bans that impact not only the critics but also their families. We are expected to vigorously applaud social reforms and heap praise on the crown prince." - Criticizing the Saudi war in Yemen, which is closely identified with Prince Mohammed, in The Washington Post on September 11, 2018: "Saudi Arabia must face the damage from the past three-plus years of war in Yemen. .... Further continuation of the war in Yemen will validate voices saying that Saudi Arabia is doing in Yemen what Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, the Russians and Iranians are doing in Syria." - In an analysis of the Trump administration's plan for peace between Israel and the Palestinians, to the BBC on October 1, 2018: "The Palestinian in Ramallah is much freer than me in Jeddah or Riyadh, he still can go on the street and demonstrate against the deal when I cannot do that."

Jamal Khashoggi's own words: What angers Saudi leaders

The prominent Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi entered the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul, for some routine paperwok, on October 2 a little before 1.15 pm.&nbsp;

His girlfriend, who was waiting for him outside, says he never came out.&nbsp;

On Tuesday, the New York Times reported a Turkish official as saying Khashoggi was killed inside the consulate by a 15-man Saudi "hit team" that had flown in on two charter flights especially for the job.&nbsp;

The hit team then dismembered Khashoggi's body with a bone saw and flew out to different countries only a few hours after the killing.&nbsp;

“It is like ‘Pulp Fiction,’” the New York Times quoted the official as saying.&nbsp;

Saudi officials, including Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman have denied the accusations. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan meanwhile has demanded that the Saudis prove Khashoggi left the consulate safe and sound.&nbsp;

The Times added that it is unclear how the Turkish government decided Khashoggi had been killed. Some news outlets have reported that Khashoggi has been abducted and not killed but with over a week passing and there still being no sign of him, the possibility of him being alive is rapidly diminishing.&nbsp;

The Times reported on Tuesday that Turkish officials have "left things murky enough" &nbsp;— they have spoken on the condition of anonymity and have refused to publicly disclose their evidence.&nbsp;

The Times added however that the Turkish security establishment has concluded that Khashoggi’s killing was ordered by the very top because only the most senior Saudi leaders could order an operation of this scale and complexity.&nbsp;

Khashoggi, 59, a US resident, has written articles over the past year that have been critical of Crown Prince Salman. He has had a long career as a senior journalist in Saudi Arabia and as an adviser to top officials.

The prominent Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi entered the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul, for some routine paperwok, on October 2 a little before 1.15 pm. His girlfriend, who was waiting for him outside, says he never came out.

The prominent Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi entered the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul, for some routine paperwok, on October 2 a little before 1.15 pm. His girlfriend, who was waiting for him outside, says he never came out. On Tuesday, the New York Times reported a Turkish official as saying Khashoggi was killed inside the consulate by a 15-man Saudi "hit team" that had flown in on two charter flights especially for the job. The hit team then dismembered Khashoggi's body with a bone saw and flew out to different countries only a few hours after the killing. “It is like ‘Pulp Fiction,’” the New York Times quoted the official as saying. Saudi officials, including Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman have denied the accusations. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan meanwhile has demanded that the Saudis prove Khashoggi left the consulate safe and sound. The Times added that it is unclear how the Turkish government decided Khashoggi had been killed. Some news outlets have reported that Khashoggi has been abducted and not killed but with over a week passing and there still being no sign of him, the possibility of him being alive is rapidly diminishing. The Times reported on Tuesday that Turkish officials have "left things murky enough" — they have spoken on the condition of anonymity and have refused to publicly disclose their evidence. The Times added however that the Turkish security establishment has concluded that Khashoggi’s killing was ordered by the very top because only the most senior Saudi leaders could order an operation of this scale and complexity. Khashoggi, 59, a US resident, has written articles over the past year that have been critical of Crown Prince Salman. He has had a long career as a senior journalist in Saudi Arabia and as an adviser to top officials.

Journalist Khashoggi was killed by Saudi 'hit team' that then dismembered his body with bone saw: NYT

The US has sought a thorough and transparent investigation into the disappearance of a prominent Saudi journalist after President Donald Trump expressed concern over the scribe's whereabouts.

Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi journalist and Washington Post contributor, went missing after he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2.

According to some media reports, Khashoggi, 59, has been killed inside the Saudi consulate.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he had seen conflicting reports on the safety and whereabouts of Khashoggi.

"As the President has conveyed, the United States is concerned by his disappearance. State Department senior officials have spoken with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through diplomatic channels about this matter," he said.

"We call on the government of Saudi Arabia to support a thorough investigation of Mr Khashoggi's disappearance and to be transparent about the results of that investigation," Pompeo said in a statement.

Trump's own remarks to reporters were more tentative, saying he was "concerned" about "some pretty bad stories" about what had happened to Khashoggi.

"I am concerned about it. I don't like hearing about it. Hopefully that will sort itself out. Right now nobody knows anything about it, but there's some pretty bad stories going around. I do not like it," Trump told reporters at the White House on Monday.

Other western allies increased the pressure on Riyadh which has claimed that Khashoggi had left the Istanbul alive, a claim questioned by Turkish officials.

"Turkish officials have said they believe he was killed inside in a planned murder. A team of 15 Saudis arrived on two planes to carry out the killing, officials have said," 'The Washington Post' reported.

Saudi officials, however, insist that Khashoggi left the consulate through a back door.

Khashoggi, a US resident, has written articles over the past year critical of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. On the eve of his planned marriage to a Turkish woman, he entered the consulate and has not been seen since.

US Vice President Mike Pence also commented on the mystery over the missing journalist, saying "the free world deserves answers".

"Deeply troubled to hear reports about Saudi Arabian journalist Jamal Khashoggi. If true, this is a tragic day. Violence against journalists across the globe is a threat to freedom of the press and human rights. The free world deserves answers," Pence said in a tweet.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday demanded that the Saudi monarchy prove Khashoggi left its consulate in Istanbul as Riyadh has claimed.

The Trump family in particular the president's son-in-law Jared Kushner has established a close bond with Saudi Crown Prince Salman.

In March 2017, Trump hosted Salman at the White House, breaking protocol to do so as the Saudi was only a deputy crown prince at the time.

The president made Riyadh the destination of his first foreign trip and backed the Saudi royals wholeheartedly in their standoff with the Qataris.

The US has sought a thorough and transparent investigation into the disappearance of a prominent Saudi journalist after President Donald Trump expressed concern over the scribe's whereabouts.

The US has sought a thorough and transparent investigation into the disappearance of a prominent Saudi journalist after President Donald Trump expressed concern over the scribe's whereabouts. Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi journalist and Washington Post contributor, went missing after he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2. According to some media reports, Khashoggi, 59, has been killed inside the Saudi consulate. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he had seen conflicting reports on the safety and whereabouts of Khashoggi. "As the President has conveyed, the United States is concerned by his disappearance. State Department senior officials have spoken with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through diplomatic channels about this matter," he said. "We call on the government of Saudi Arabia to support a thorough investigation of Mr Khashoggi's disappearance and to be transparent about the results of that investigation," Pompeo said in a statement. Trump's own remarks to reporters were more tentative, saying he was "concerned" about "some pretty bad stories" about what had happened to Khashoggi. "I am concerned about it. I don't like hearing about it. Hopefully that will sort itself out. Right now nobody knows anything about it, but there's some pretty bad stories going around. I do not like it," Trump told reporters at the White House on Monday. Other western allies increased the pressure on Riyadh which has claimed that Khashoggi had left the Istanbul alive, a claim questioned by Turkish officials. "Turkish officials have said they believe he was killed inside in a planned murder. A team of 15 Saudis arrived on two planes to carry out the killing, officials have said," 'The Washington Post' reported. Saudi officials, however, insist that Khashoggi left the consulate through a back door. Khashoggi, a US resident, has written articles over the past year critical of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. On the eve of his planned marriage to a Turkish woman, he entered the consulate and has not been seen since. US Vice President Mike Pence also commented on the mystery over the missing journalist, saying "the free world deserves answers". "Deeply troubled to hear reports about Saudi Arabian journalist Jamal Khashoggi. If true, this is a tragic day. Violence against journalists across the globe is a threat to freedom of the press and human rights. The free world deserves answers," Pence said in a tweet. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday demanded that the Saudi monarchy prove Khashoggi left its consulate in Istanbul as Riyadh has claimed. The Trump family in particular the president's son-in-law Jared Kushner has established a close bond with Saudi Crown Prince Salman. In March 2017, Trump hosted Salman at the White House, breaking protocol to do so as the Saudi was only a deputy crown prince at the time. The president made Riyadh the destination of his first foreign trip and backed the Saudi royals wholeheartedly in their standoff with the Qataris.

US seeks thorough probe into disappearance of Saudi Journalist Khashoggi 

Turkey has sought permission to search Saudi Arabia's consulate in Istanbul after a prominent journalist from the kingdom went missing last week following a visit to the building, Turkish television reported on Monday.

The request was made after the foreign ministry summoned the Saudi ambassador for the second time over the disappearance of Washington Post contributor Jamal Khashoggi, NTV broadcaster said.

A Turkish diplomatic source confirmed the Saudi envoy was "invited" to the ministry on Sunday in Ankara and was met by deputy foreign minister Sedat Onal.

"The ambassador was told that we expected full cooperation during the investigation," the source said.

The ambassador was first summoned to the foreign ministry on Wednesday.

Khashoggi, 59, went to the consulate to obtain official documents ahead of his marriage to his Turkish fiancee. Turkish police said he never left the building.

However, Riyadh insisted Khashoggi left the consulate while a Turkish government source at the weekend said they believe he was killed.

The consulate on Sunday rejected the claims that the journalist was killed there as "baseless" in a post on Twitter.

In his first comments over the disappearance, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday said he was awaiting the results of an investigation.

"We hope to have results very quickly," Erdogan said. "I am waiting, with high hopes."

Khashoggi had been critical of some of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's policies and Riyadh's intervention in the war in Yemen.

Turkey has sought permission to search Saudi Arabia's consulate in Istanbul after a prominent journalist from the kingdom went missing last week following a visit to the building, Turkish television reported on Monday.

Turkey has sought permission to search Saudi Arabia's consulate in Istanbul after a prominent journalist from the kingdom went missing last week following a visit to the building, Turkish television reported on Monday. The request was made after the foreign ministry summoned the Saudi ambassador for the second time over the disappearance of Washington Post contributor Jamal Khashoggi, NTV broadcaster said. A Turkish diplomatic source confirmed the Saudi envoy was "invited" to the ministry on Sunday in Ankara and was met by deputy foreign minister Sedat Onal. "The ambassador was told that we expected full cooperation during the investigation," the source said. The ambassador was first summoned to the foreign ministry on Wednesday. Khashoggi, 59, went to the consulate to obtain official documents ahead of his marriage to his Turkish fiancee. Turkish police said he never left the building. However, Riyadh insisted Khashoggi left the consulate while a Turkish government source at the weekend said they believe he was killed. The consulate on Sunday rejected the claims that the journalist was killed there as "baseless" in a post on Twitter. In his first comments over the disappearance, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday said he was awaiting the results of an investigation. "We hope to have results very quickly," Erdogan said. "I am waiting, with high hopes." Khashoggi had been critical of some of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's policies and Riyadh's intervention in the war in Yemen.

Turkey asks to search Saudi consulate in missing journalist case: Report

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After the Indian government deported seven of them to Myanmar this week, Rohingya refugees in India say they do not wish to return "until peace is restored in their homeland".&nbsp;

And they added that the seven Rohingya refugees who have been deported will very soon be killed.&nbsp;

 
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Brett Kavanaugh was sworn in Saturday as US Supreme Court justice following the closest Senate confirmation vote in more than a century, marking a major win for President Donald Trump's drive to move the country's political institutions to the right.&nbsp;

The Senate voted 50-48 to approve Kavanaugh as protesters rallied across the country against a nominee who has been plagued by allegations of sexual misconduct as a young man and had questions raised over his candour and partisan rhetoric.

 
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Donald Trump has said he is "100 per cent" certain Dr Christine Blasey Ford named the wrong person when she accused Brett Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her. Kavanaugh was sworn in as a US Supreme Court justice on Saturday.&nbsp;

"This is one of the reasons I chose him is because there is no one with a squeaky clean past like Brett Kavanaugh. He is an outstanding person and I'm very honoured to have chosen him," Reuters reported Trump as telling reporters aboard Air Force One while flying to a campaign rally in Kansas.&nbsp;

 
<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-finds-journalist-was-killed-in-saudi-consulate-report-169898">Turkey says </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-finds-journalist-was-killed-in-saudi-consulate-report-169898">journalist</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-finds-journalist-was-killed-in-saudi-consulate-report-169898"> was killed inside Saudi consulate: Report</a>

Turkish police have concluded that prominent Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered inside the Saudi mission in Istanbul after going missing Tuesday, an unnamed government official said Saturday.

"Based on their initial findings, the police believe that the journalist was killed by a team especially sent to Istanbul and who left the same day," the official told AFP.

 
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Tanushree Dutta on Saturday filed a police complaint against veteran actor Nana Patekar for allegedly sexually harassing her on the sets of a film in 2008, police said.

Dutta, in a recent interview, alleged that Patekar had misbehaved with her while filming a song for the 2008 film "Horn Ok Pleasss".

She has filed the complaint at the Oshiwara police station against Patekar, choreographer Ganesh Acharya, producer Sameer Siddiqui and director Rakesh Sarang.

7 Rohingya deported to Myanmar will be killed very soon: Rohingya refugees in Delhi After the Indian government deported seven of them to Myanmar this week, Rohingya refugees in India say they do not wish to return "until peace is restored in their homeland".

7 Rohingya deported to Myanmar will be killed very soon: Rohingya refugees in Delhi After the Indian government deported seven of them to Myanmar this week, Rohingya refugees in India say they do not wish to return "until peace is restored in their homeland". And they added that the seven Rohingya refugees who have been deported will very soon be killed. Brett Kavanaugh sworn into Supreme Court after fight that divided US Brett Kavanaugh was sworn in Saturday as US Supreme Court justice following the closest Senate confirmation vote in more than a century, marking a major win for President Donald Trump's drive to move the country's political institutions to the right. The Senate voted 50-48 to approve Kavanaugh as protesters rallied across the country against a nominee who has been plagued by allegations of sexual misconduct as a young man and had questions raised over his candour and partisan rhetoric. Trump '100 per cent' certain Kavanaugh accuser named wrong person Donald Trump has said he is "100 per cent" certain Dr Christine Blasey Ford named the wrong person when she accused Brett Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her. Kavanaugh was sworn in as a US Supreme Court justice on Saturday. "This is one of the reasons I chose him is because there is no one with a squeaky clean past like Brett Kavanaugh. He is an outstanding person and I'm very honoured to have chosen him," Reuters reported Trump as telling reporters aboard Air Force One while flying to a campaign rally in Kansas. Turkey says journalist was killed inside Saudi consulate: Report Turkish police have concluded that prominent Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered inside the Saudi mission in Istanbul after going missing Tuesday, an unnamed government official said Saturday. "Based on their initial findings, the police believe that the journalist was killed by a team especially sent to Istanbul and who left the same day," the official told AFP. Tanushree Dutta files sexual harassment complaint against Nana Patekar Tanushree Dutta on Saturday filed a police complaint against veteran actor Nana Patekar for allegedly sexually harassing her on the sets of a film in 2008, police said. Dutta, in a recent interview, alleged that Patekar had misbehaved with her while filming a song for the 2008 film "Horn Ok Pleasss". She has filed the complaint at the Oshiwara police station against Patekar, choreographer Ganesh Acharya, producer Sameer Siddiqui and director Rakesh Sarang.

Turkish police have concluded that prominent Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered inside the Saudi mission in Istanbul after going missing Tuesday, an unnamed government official said Saturday.

"Based on their initial findings, the police believe that the journalist was killed by a team especially sent to Istanbul and who left the same day," the official told AFP.

The news came hours after police confirmed that around 15 Saudis, including officials, arrived in Istanbul on two flights on Tuesday and were at the consulate at the same time as the journalist.

Khashoggi, a Washington Post contributor, "did not come back out" of the building, police had told the state-run Anadolu news agency.&nbsp;

On the back of this preliminary investigation, Ankara announced Saturday it had opened an official probe into the journalist's disappearance.

A former government adviser who has been critical of some policies of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Riyadh's intervention in the war in Yemen, Khashoggi has lived in self-imposed exile in the United States since last year to avoid possible arrest.

The Saudi crown prince earlier denied in an interview with Bloomberg that the journalist had been inside the consulate and said Turkish authorities could search the building.

"We are ready to welcome the Turkish government to go and search our premises," he said. The consulate is Saudi sovereign territory.

He added that "we will allow them to enter and search and do whatever they want to do... We have nothing to hide", in the interview published Friday.

Reacting to the news of his alleged murder, Khashoggi's Turkish fiancee, Hatice Cengiz, said she "did not believe he has been killed".

According to Cengiz, Khashoggi had visited the consulate to receive an official document for his marriage.

Turkey's foreign ministry on Wednesday summoned Saudi Arabia's ambassador over Khashoggi.

Khashoggi, who turns 60 on October 13, fled the country in September 2017, months after Prince Mohammed was appointed heir to the throne and amid a campaign that saw dozens of dissidents arrested, including intellectuals and Islamic preachers.

The journalist said he had been banned from writing in the pan-Arab daily Al-Hayat, owned by Saudi prince Khaled bin Sultan al-Saud, over his defence of the Muslim Brotherhood which Riyadh has blacklisted as a terrorist organisation.

Khashoggi has also criticised Saudi Arabia's role in Yemen, where Riyadh leads a military coalition fighting alongside the government in its war with Iran-backed rebels.&nbsp;

Turkish police have concluded that prominent Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered inside the Saudi mission in Istanbul after going missing Tuesday, an unnamed government official said Saturday.

Turkish police have concluded that prominent Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered inside the Saudi mission in Istanbul after going missing Tuesday, an unnamed government official said Saturday. "Based on their initial findings, the police believe that the journalist was killed by a team especially sent to Istanbul and who left the same day," the official told AFP. The news came hours after police confirmed that around 15 Saudis, including officials, arrived in Istanbul on two flights on Tuesday and were at the consulate at the same time as the journalist. Khashoggi, a Washington Post contributor, "did not come back out" of the building, police had told the state-run Anadolu news agency. On the back of this preliminary investigation, Ankara announced Saturday it had opened an official probe into the journalist's disappearance. A former government adviser who has been critical of some policies of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Riyadh's intervention in the war in Yemen, Khashoggi has lived in self-imposed exile in the United States since last year to avoid possible arrest. The Saudi crown prince earlier denied in an interview with Bloomberg that the journalist had been inside the consulate and said Turkish authorities could search the building. "We are ready to welcome the Turkish government to go and search our premises," he said. The consulate is Saudi sovereign territory. He added that "we will allow them to enter and search and do whatever they want to do... We have nothing to hide", in the interview published Friday. Reacting to the news of his alleged murder, Khashoggi's Turkish fiancee, Hatice Cengiz, said she "did not believe he has been killed". According to Cengiz, Khashoggi had visited the consulate to receive an official document for his marriage. Turkey's foreign ministry on Wednesday summoned Saudi Arabia's ambassador over Khashoggi. Khashoggi, who turns 60 on October 13, fled the country in September 2017, months after Prince Mohammed was appointed heir to the throne and amid a campaign that saw dozens of dissidents arrested, including intellectuals and Islamic preachers. The journalist said he had been banned from writing in the pan-Arab daily Al-Hayat, owned by Saudi prince Khaled bin Sultan al-Saud, over his defence of the Muslim Brotherhood which Riyadh has blacklisted as a terrorist organisation. Khashoggi has also criticised Saudi Arabia's role in Yemen, where Riyadh leads a military coalition fighting alongside the government in its war with Iran-backed rebels.

Turkey says journalist was killed inside Saudi consulate: Report

Turkish prosecutors have launched an investigation into the disappearance of prominent Saudi commentator Jamal Khashoggi, who has been missing for four days after entering the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, broadcaster NTV reported on Saturday.

On Friday, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said Saudi authorities would allow Turkey to search the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul, after Turkish and Saudi authorities gave conflicting accounts of his disappearance.

Khashoggi entered the mission on Tuesday. Ankara said there was no evidence he left the diplomatic mission, while Riyadh says that he exited the same day.

Turkish prosecutors have launched an investigation into the disappearance of prominent Saudi commentator Jamal Khashoggi, who has been missing for four days after entering the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, broadcaster NTV reported on Saturday.

Turkish prosecutors have launched an investigation into the disappearance of prominent Saudi commentator Jamal Khashoggi, who has been missing for four days after entering the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, broadcaster NTV reported on Saturday. On Friday, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said Saudi authorities would allow Turkey to search the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul, after Turkish and Saudi authorities gave conflicting accounts of his disappearance. Khashoggi entered the mission on Tuesday. Ankara said there was no evidence he left the diplomatic mission, while Riyadh says that he exited the same day.

Turkey starts investigation into disappearance of Saudi journalist: Report

A Saudi columnist remained missing on Friday as supporters rallied outside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul calling for his "release" despite Riyadh's denials that he was being held there.

Jamal Khashoggi, a contributor to the Washington Post, has not been found seen since he went to the Saudi mission on Tuesday to receive an official document for his marriage.

The Turkish-Arab Media Association (TAM) organised a rally in front of the consulate for Khashoggi, a former government adviser who has been critical of some policies of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Riyadh's intervention in the war in Yemen.

He has lived in self-imposed exile in the United States since last year to avoid possible arrest.

"As journalists we are concerned by the fate of Jamal. We do not know if he is alive or not, and the statements by Saudi Arabia on the subject are far from satisfactory," Turan Kislakci, a friend of Khashoggi and TAM chief, said in a statement to supporters.

As Kislakci spoke, supporters held up images of the journalist, with the words "Free Jamal Khashoggi".

"We believe that Jamal Khashoggi is the consulate's 'host' and call for his immediate release, or to tell us where he is," Kislakci added.

According to his fiancee, a Turkish woman called Hatice A., Khashoggi went to the consulate and never re-emerged.

Ankara and Riyadh have given contradictory versions of the circumstances of Khashoggi's disappearance, with Turkish officials saying they believed he was still inside the consultate.

But Saudi Arabia claimed he had entered and then left the mission on Tuesday.

Yemeni activist and 2011 winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, Tawakkol Karman, hit out at the Saudi authorities and told AFP that she believed Khashoggi "was kidnapped in this gangster's den that is supposed to be a consulate".

"What we want is Jamal Khashoggi's release. He entered the building of the consulate, he has to come out of there safe and sound. And the Turkish government must assume its role and deal with the case of Jamal Khashoggi because Turkish sovereignty has been violated," she added.

Human Rights Watch called on Ankara to "deepen their investigation" into the journalist's whereabouts, saying his possible detention could "constitute an enforced disappearance" in a statement late Thursday.

"If Saudi authorities surreptitiously detained Khashoggi it would be yet another escalation of Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman's reign of repression against peaceful dissidents and critics," Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at HRW, said.

A Saudi columnist remained missing on Friday as supporters rallied outside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul calling for his "release" despite Riyadh's denials that he was being held there.

A Saudi columnist remained missing on Friday as supporters rallied outside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul calling for his "release" despite Riyadh's denials that he was being held there. Jamal Khashoggi, a contributor to the Washington Post, has not been found seen since he went to the Saudi mission on Tuesday to receive an official document for his marriage. The Turkish-Arab Media Association (TAM) organised a rally in front of the consulate for Khashoggi, a former government adviser who has been critical of some policies of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Riyadh's intervention in the war in Yemen. He has lived in self-imposed exile in the United States since last year to avoid possible arrest. "As journalists we are concerned by the fate of Jamal. We do not know if he is alive or not, and the statements by Saudi Arabia on the subject are far from satisfactory," Turan Kislakci, a friend of Khashoggi and TAM chief, said in a statement to supporters. As Kislakci spoke, supporters held up images of the journalist, with the words "Free Jamal Khashoggi". "We believe that Jamal Khashoggi is the consulate's 'host' and call for his immediate release, or to tell us where he is," Kislakci added. According to his fiancee, a Turkish woman called Hatice A., Khashoggi went to the consulate and never re-emerged. Ankara and Riyadh have given contradictory versions of the circumstances of Khashoggi's disappearance, with Turkish officials saying they believed he was still inside the consultate. But Saudi Arabia claimed he had entered and then left the mission on Tuesday. Yemeni activist and 2011 winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, Tawakkol Karman, hit out at the Saudi authorities and told AFP that she believed Khashoggi "was kidnapped in this gangster's den that is supposed to be a consulate". "What we want is Jamal Khashoggi's release. He entered the building of the consulate, he has to come out of there safe and sound. And the Turkish government must assume its role and deal with the case of Jamal Khashoggi because Turkish sovereignty has been violated," she added. Human Rights Watch called on Ankara to "deepen their investigation" into the journalist's whereabouts, saying his possible detention could "constitute an enforced disappearance" in a statement late Thursday. "If Saudi authorities surreptitiously detained Khashoggi it would be yet another escalation of Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman's reign of repression against peaceful dissidents and critics," Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at HRW, said.

Supporters of missing Saudi journalist rally for his 'release'

By Bill Law

On October 2, Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi went into his country’s consulate in Istanbul. He has not been seen since. The Saudis claim he left the consulate the next day. But if that is true, why did he not immediately contact his fiancée who was waiting outside the building?

Turkish authorities say they have examined CCTV footage, and there is no evidence that Khashoggi did leave the consulate. They insist he is still inside, and, if that is the case, then he is being held against his will. The fear is that he may have already been spirited out of the country and flown to Saudi Arabia. The Saudis have a form for such shenanigans: In the past two years, three princes, members of the ruling House of Saud, have disappeared from European cities and turned up in Riyadh, victims of state-organised kidnappings.

Jamal Khashoggi has a long career as a distinguished journalist. In 2003, he was appointed editor-in-chief of the leading Saudi newspaper Al Watan. The job didn’t last long. Barely two months in, he was sacked for publishing articles critical of the conservative religious elite. His subsequent career followed the same trajectory. He is a brilliant journalist with a fiercely independent mind but with a wily pragmatism to know just how close to the red lines he could go. He returned to Al Watan in 2007 and managed to remain at its helm for three years. His general strategy was to survive in his post until an article that was just a tad too critical got him into trouble. Then he would lie low before re-emerging. That takes a great deal of courage, especially in a country like Saudi Arabia.

In 2010, Saudi business magnate Prince al-Waleed bin Talal asked Khashoggi to head his new media project, Al-Arab News Channel. It was envisioned as an independent, privately-funded Arabic news broadcaster, designed to offer objective, agenda-free coverage of current events in the region. Five years later it was finally launched in Bahrain’s capital Manama but was almost immediately shut down after airing an interview with a Bahraini opposition leader.

In September of 2017, Khashoggi, with other colleagues, left Saudi Arabia in the midst of a wave of arrests of clerics, academics and human rights activists. Amongst those arrested, and now facing charges that could lead to the death penalty, is the moderate cleric Salman al-Awdah.

Radical transformation

The Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, or MBS as he is known, has embarked on a radical transformation of the Saudi economy and society called Vision 2030. Its intention is to wean the kingdom of oil dependency while at the same time creating a vibrant private sector with a diversified economy. And while Vision 2030 talks a good deal about transparency and fulfilling the wishes of the people, in reality, the model that MBS likes best is China’s, with its command economy controlled by an elite shaping a society where criticism is fiercely repressed.

Mohammed bin Salman followed up on the September 2017 arrests with what was called a campaign against corruption. Over 200 leading businessmen, including Waleed bin Talal, as well as senior members of the ruling family, were detained in a series of raids in November of last year. They were held at Riyadh’s five-star Ritz-Carlton Hotel and only released after agreeing to turn over the bulk of their assets and control of their companies to the government. Though the authorities claimed due process was followed, it was, in fact, a classic shakedown.

MBS had generated favourable global headlines with his decision to allow women to drive. However as the deadline approached in June of this year, he proceeded to arrest women activists who had campaigned for their rights. The message was clear: It wasn’t the pressure of activists that led to the decision, it was only the generosity of the crown prince that enabled the only women in the world banned from driving to finally be allowed to get behind the wheel.

Further arrests followed, including that of Samar Badawi, the sister of the jailed blogger Raif Badawi. Raif’s wife had fled to Canada with their children in 2012, and they are now Canadian citizens. When the government of Canada protested Samar’s arrest, as well as that of other women activists, the Saudis reacted with fury. Claiming infringement on their sovereignty, they recalled their ambassador, gave his Canadian counterpart 24 hours to get out of Riyadh and froze all new business and investment deals. Thousands of Saudi students studying at Canadian universities were ordered to come home.

In September, in a move with eerie and disturbing echoes of Stalinism, satire was banned: “Producing and distributing content that ridicules, mocks, provokes and disrupts public order, religious values and public morals through social media … will be considered a cybercrime punishable by a maximum of five years in prison and a fine of three million riyals ($800,000),” the kingdom’s public prosecution announced in a tweet.

And now Jamal Khashoggi has disappeared. In his first article for The Washington Post after leaving the kingdom, he had written: “My friends and I living abroad feel helpless. We want our country to thrive and to see the 2030 Vision realized. We are not opposed to our government and care deeply about Saudi Arabia. It is the only home we know or want. Yet we are the enemy.”

Repression deepens

Indeed as Vision 2030 shows signs of faltering, repression deepens. One of the ironies of the Mohammed bin Salman regime — and for those affected, it is a cruel one — is that individuals who were supportive of the vision very quickly fell under the suspicious gaze of this impetuous young man who started to see enemies everywhere.

The message that the young crown prince strives to impart in the West, at least, is that the kingdom is open for business; that it has returned to moderate Islam; allowed movie theatres to open; that it displays progressive thinking by, for example, granting women the right to drive; but arrests the women activists who campaigned for that right. The disconnect between many of the good economic reforms MBS wants to secure and the way he is using his power to crush dissent grows ever wider by the day. And it begs the question, What is he afraid of?

Was he worried that women campaigners, by seeking more rights, would undermine his authority? Did he think that Salman al-Awdah, with his 14 million Twitter followers, would seek to turn them against him? Did he fear that a fearless journalist writing for an influential Washington publication would weaken his standing in DC?

All of these people supported Vision 2030. They could have been his allies as he launched this bold and necessary project to transform the country. Instead, as Jamal Khashoggi wrote, he treated them as if they were the enemy. These are the anxieties not of a powerful leader, but of a man who is, in point of fact, displaying grave weakness.

I fear for Jamal Khashoggi, who went to the Saudi embassy in Istanbul in good faith. He is a good man and a fine journalist. His is a voice of reasoned criticism and wise comment that the Saudi crown prince should listen to. The thought that he might be forcibly repatriated back to the kingdom to face charges that could lead to a long prison sentence, or worse, fills me with dread. So I hope that good sense and common decency will prevail and he will be allowed to leave.

(Bill Law is an award-winning journalist)

(This article was originally published on The Fair Observer. Read the <a href="https://www.fairobserver.com/region/middle_east_north_africa/jamal-khashoggi-disappearance-istanbul-saudi-arabia-mohammed-bin-salman-middle-east-news-headlines-72519/">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

By Bill Law On October 2, Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi went into his country’s consulate in Istanbul. He has not been seen since. The Saudis claim he left the consulate the next day.

By Bill Law On October 2, Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi went into his country’s consulate in Istanbul. He has not been seen since. The Saudis claim he left the consulate the next day. But if that is true, why did he not immediately contact his fiancée who was waiting outside the building? Turkish authorities say they have examined CCTV footage, and there is no evidence that Khashoggi did leave the consulate. They insist he is still inside, and, if that is the case, then he is being held against his will. The fear is that he may have already been spirited out of the country and flown to Saudi Arabia. The Saudis have a form for such shenanigans: In the past two years, three princes, members of the ruling House of Saud, have disappeared from European cities and turned up in Riyadh, victims of state-organised kidnappings. Jamal Khashoggi has a long career as a distinguished journalist. In 2003, he was appointed editor-in-chief of the leading Saudi newspaper Al Watan. The job didn’t last long. Barely two months in, he was sacked for publishing articles critical of the conservative religious elite. His subsequent career followed the same trajectory. He is a brilliant journalist with a fiercely independent mind but with a wily pragmatism to know just how close to the red lines he could go. He returned to Al Watan in 2007 and managed to remain at its helm for three years. His general strategy was to survive in his post until an article that was just a tad too critical got him into trouble. Then he would lie low before re-emerging. That takes a great deal of courage, especially in a country like Saudi Arabia. In 2010, Saudi business magnate Prince al-Waleed bin Talal asked Khashoggi to head his new media project, Al-Arab News Channel. It was envisioned as an independent, privately-funded Arabic news broadcaster, designed to offer objective, agenda-free coverage of current events in the region. Five years later it was finally launched in Bahrain’s capital Manama but was almost immediately shut down after airing an interview with a Bahraini opposition leader. In September of 2017, Khashoggi, with other colleagues, left Saudi Arabia in the midst of a wave of arrests of clerics, academics and human rights activists. Amongst those arrested, and now facing charges that could lead to the death penalty, is the moderate cleric Salman al-Awdah. Radical transformation The Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, or MBS as he is known, has embarked on a radical transformation of the Saudi economy and society called Vision 2030. Its intention is to wean the kingdom of oil dependency while at the same time creating a vibrant private sector with a diversified economy. And while Vision 2030 talks a good deal about transparency and fulfilling the wishes of the people, in reality, the model that MBS likes best is China’s, with its command economy controlled by an elite shaping a society where criticism is fiercely repressed. Mohammed bin Salman followed up on the September 2017 arrests with what was called a campaign against corruption. Over 200 leading businessmen, including Waleed bin Talal, as well as senior members of the ruling family, were detained in a series of raids in November of last year. They were held at Riyadh’s five-star Ritz-Carlton Hotel and only released after agreeing to turn over the bulk of their assets and control of their companies to the government. Though the authorities claimed due process was followed, it was, in fact, a classic shakedown. MBS had generated favourable global headlines with his decision to allow women to drive. However as the deadline approached in June of this year, he proceeded to arrest women activists who had campaigned for their rights. The message was clear: It wasn’t the pressure of activists that led to the decision, it was only the generosity of the crown prince that enabled the only women in the world banned from driving to finally be allowed to get behind the wheel. Further arrests followed, including that of Samar Badawi, the sister of the jailed blogger Raif Badawi. Raif’s wife had fled to Canada with their children in 2012, and they are now Canadian citizens. When the government of Canada protested Samar’s arrest, as well as that of other women activists, the Saudis reacted with fury. Claiming infringement on their sovereignty, they recalled their ambassador, gave his Canadian counterpart 24 hours to get out of Riyadh and froze all new business and investment deals. Thousands of Saudi students studying at Canadian universities were ordered to come home. In September, in a move with eerie and disturbing echoes of Stalinism, satire was banned: “Producing and distributing content that ridicules, mocks, provokes and disrupts public order, religious values and public morals through social media … will be considered a cybercrime punishable by a maximum of five years in prison and a fine of three million riyals ($800,000),” the kingdom’s public prosecution announced in a tweet. And now Jamal Khashoggi has disappeared. In his first article for The Washington Post after leaving the kingdom, he had written: “My friends and I living abroad feel helpless. We want our country to thrive and to see the 2030 Vision realized. We are not opposed to our government and care deeply about Saudi Arabia. It is the only home we know or want. Yet we are the enemy.” Repression deepens Indeed as Vision 2030 shows signs of faltering, repression deepens. One of the ironies of the Mohammed bin Salman regime — and for those affected, it is a cruel one — is that individuals who were supportive of the vision very quickly fell under the suspicious gaze of this impetuous young man who started to see enemies everywhere. The message that the young crown prince strives to impart in the West, at least, is that the kingdom is open for business; that it has returned to moderate Islam; allowed movie theatres to open; that it displays progressive thinking by, for example, granting women the right to drive; but arrests the women activists who campaigned for that right. The disconnect between many of the good economic reforms MBS wants to secure and the way he is using his power to crush dissent grows ever wider by the day. And it begs the question, What is he afraid of? Was he worried that women campaigners, by seeking more rights, would undermine his authority? Did he think that Salman al-Awdah, with his 14 million Twitter followers, would seek to turn them against him? Did he fear that a fearless journalist writing for an influential Washington publication would weaken his standing in DC? All of these people supported Vision 2030. They could have been his allies as he launched this bold and necessary project to transform the country. Instead, as Jamal Khashoggi wrote, he treated them as if they were the enemy. These are the anxieties not of a powerful leader, but of a man who is, in point of fact, displaying grave weakness. I fear for Jamal Khashoggi, who went to the Saudi embassy in Istanbul in good faith. He is a good man and a fine journalist. His is a voice of reasoned criticism and wise comment that the Saudi crown prince should listen to. The thought that he might be forcibly repatriated back to the kingdom to face charges that could lead to a long prison sentence, or worse, fills me with dread. So I hope that good sense and common decency will prevail and he will be allowed to leave. (Bill Law is an award-winning journalist) (This article was originally published on The Fair Observer. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi confirms a dangerous trend

Mystery surrounded the whereabouts of a prominent Saudi critic on Thursday after Riyadh announced he had left their consulate in Istanbul -- but Turkey and his fiancee said he had not been heard from since entering the building.

Jamal Khashoggi, a contributor to the Washington Post, went to the Saudi consulate on Tuesday to receive an official document for his marriage.

His fiancee reported him missing after the journalist, who has lived in self-imposed exile in the US since last year to avoid possible arrest, was not seen to emerge.

The former government adviser, has been critical of some policies of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Riyadh's intervention in the war in Yemen.

After an initial period of silence Saudi Arabia said the consulate was working with Turkish authorities "to uncover the circumstances of the disappearance of Jamal Khashoggi after he left the consulate building" in a statement published Thursday by the state-run SPA news agency.

A senior Turkish official, however, said on Wednesday the journalist was being held at the consulate.

"According to information we have, this individual who is a Saudi national is still at the Istanbul consulate of Saudi Arabia," presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin told reporters in Ankara.

He said the Turkish foreign ministry and police were closely monitoring the case, adding that Ankara was in touch with Saudi officials.&nbsp;

Khashoggi's Turkish fiancee has been waiting outside the consulate since Wednesday morning.

"I haven't received any news from him since 1 pm (1000 GMT) on Tuesday," 36-year-old Hatice, who would not give her family name, told AFP as she stood near barricades.

She said Khashoggi had left his mobile phone with her.

"We want to know his whereabouts. Where is Jamal?" she said. "We want him to come out of the consulate safe and sound."

'Very concerned'&nbsp;

The US State Department said it was investigating the matter.

"We... are very concerned about where he may be," the Washington Post's international opinions editor, Eli Lopez, said in a statement late Tuesday.

"It would be unfair and outrageous if he has been detained for his work as a journalist and commentator," Lopez said.

Turan Kislakci, a friend of Khashoggi and head of the Turkish-Arab Media Association, told AFP: "We are certain that Jamal is being held inside unless the consulate has a tunnel."

Hatice said Khashoggi had gone to the consulate to obtain documents for their own marriage to prove he was not married.

Reporters Without Borders said Khashoggi's disappearance was "extremely worrying," calling on Saudi and Turkish authorities "to do everything to ensure that this journalist reappears – free –- as soon as possible."

The Committee to Protect Journalists said the Saudi's disappearance was a cause for alarm "given the Saudi authorities' pattern of quietly detaining critical journalists".

In an article written for the Post in September 2017, Khashoggi wrote: "When I speak of the fear, intimidation, arrests and public shaming of intellectuals and religious leaders who dare to speak their minds, and then I tell you that I'm from Saudi Arabia, are you surprised?"

At about the same time, Khashoggi said he had been banned from contributing to the Al-Hayat daily, owned by Saudi Prince Khaled bin Sultan al-Saud.

The writer admitted to defending the Muslim Brotherhood, which did not appear to please the newspaper.

While Riyadh classifies the Brotherhood as a "terrorist organisation", Turkey is one of the group's main supporters.

The hashtag "#kidnappingofJamalKhashoggi" was one of the most shared in Arabic on Twitter since Tuesday evening.

Saudi Arabia, which ranks 169th out of 180 on the World Press Freedom Index issued by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), has launched a modernisation campaign since the 2017 appointment of Prince Mohammed as heir to the throne.

But the ultra-conservative kingdom, which won plaudits in June for lifting a ban on women driving, has drawn heavy criticism for its handling of dissent.

Khashoggi once said that before he left the kingdom, the Saudi government banned him from Twitter for warning "against an overly enthusiastic embrace of then-president-elect Donald Trump".

He is one of the rare Saudi journalists to condemn repression in the country. In one of his last tweets, he criticised the lawsuit filed against a Saudi economist, Essam al-Zamel, after his arrest by Saudi authorities.

Mystery surrounded the whereabouts of a prominent Saudi critic on Thursday after Riyadh announced he had left their consulate in Istanbul -- but Turkey and his fiancee said he had not been heard from since entering the building.

Mystery surrounded the whereabouts of a prominent Saudi critic on Thursday after Riyadh announced he had left their consulate in Istanbul -- but Turkey and his fiancee said he had not been heard from since entering the building. Jamal Khashoggi, a contributor to the Washington Post, went to the Saudi consulate on Tuesday to receive an official document for his marriage. His fiancee reported him missing after the journalist, who has lived in self-imposed exile in the US since last year to avoid possible arrest, was not seen to emerge. The former government adviser, has been critical of some policies of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Riyadh's intervention in the war in Yemen. After an initial period of silence Saudi Arabia said the consulate was working with Turkish authorities "to uncover the circumstances of the disappearance of Jamal Khashoggi after he left the consulate building" in a statement published Thursday by the state-run SPA news agency. A senior Turkish official, however, said on Wednesday the journalist was being held at the consulate. "According to information we have, this individual who is a Saudi national is still at the Istanbul consulate of Saudi Arabia," presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin told reporters in Ankara. He said the Turkish foreign ministry and police were closely monitoring the case, adding that Ankara was in touch with Saudi officials. Khashoggi's Turkish fiancee has been waiting outside the consulate since Wednesday morning. "I haven't received any news from him since 1 pm (1000 GMT) on Tuesday," 36-year-old Hatice, who would not give her family name, told AFP as she stood near barricades. She said Khashoggi had left his mobile phone with her. "We want to know his whereabouts. Where is Jamal?" she said. "We want him to come out of the consulate safe and sound." 'Very concerned' The US State Department said it was investigating the matter. "We... are very concerned about where he may be," the Washington Post's international opinions editor, Eli Lopez, said in a statement late Tuesday. "It would be unfair and outrageous if he has been detained for his work as a journalist and commentator," Lopez said. Turan Kislakci, a friend of Khashoggi and head of the Turkish-Arab Media Association, told AFP: "We are certain that Jamal is being held inside unless the consulate has a tunnel." Hatice said Khashoggi had gone to the consulate to obtain documents for their own marriage to prove he was not married. Reporters Without Borders said Khashoggi's disappearance was "extremely worrying," calling on Saudi and Turkish authorities "to do everything to ensure that this journalist reappears – free –- as soon as possible." The Committee to Protect Journalists said the Saudi's disappearance was a cause for alarm "given the Saudi authorities' pattern of quietly detaining critical journalists". In an article written for the Post in September 2017, Khashoggi wrote: "When I speak of the fear, intimidation, arrests and public shaming of intellectuals and religious leaders who dare to speak their minds, and then I tell you that I'm from Saudi Arabia, are you surprised?" At about the same time, Khashoggi said he had been banned from contributing to the Al-Hayat daily, owned by Saudi Prince Khaled bin Sultan al-Saud. The writer admitted to defending the Muslim Brotherhood, which did not appear to please the newspaper. While Riyadh classifies the Brotherhood as a "terrorist organisation", Turkey is one of the group's main supporters. The hashtag "#kidnappingofJamalKhashoggi" was one of the most shared in Arabic on Twitter since Tuesday evening. Saudi Arabia, which ranks 169th out of 180 on the World Press Freedom Index issued by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), has launched a modernisation campaign since the 2017 appointment of Prince Mohammed as heir to the throne. But the ultra-conservative kingdom, which won plaudits in June for lifting a ban on women driving, has drawn heavy criticism for its handling of dissent. Khashoggi once said that before he left the kingdom, the Saudi government banned him from Twitter for warning "against an overly enthusiastic embrace of then-president-elect Donald Trump". He is one of the rare Saudi journalists to condemn repression in the country. In one of his last tweets, he criticised the lawsuit filed against a Saudi economist, Essam al-Zamel, after his arrest by Saudi authorities.

Mystery surrounds Saudi journalist's consulate disappearance

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