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The Washington Post newspaper on Tuesday called on Saudi Arabia to give an honest account of what happened to Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Khashoggi is a columnist for the Post, and contributed to the newspaper often with frequent pieces on the Saudi government.
Publisher and CEO Fred Ryan said Khashoggi's family deserves an apology for what transpired in the last few weeks.
"The government of Saudi Arabia owes the Khashoggi family and the world a full and honest explanation of everything that happened to him, and we support the requests from Jamal’s family and the United Nations for an international investigation," Ryan said in a statement.
Khashoggi has long been feared killed at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul after he entered on Oct. 2 and was never seen exiting.
Spain called on Monday for an urgent investigation into the disappearance of prominent Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the government's spokeswoman Isabel Celaa said."Spain clearly joins the concern that other countries have already expressed, particularly the European Union, and demands a transparent and urgent investigation," Celaa said.Saudi Arabia's King Salman on Monday ordered an internal probe into the unexplained disappearance of Jamal Khashoggi as a joint Turkish-Saudi team was set to search the Saudi consulate in Istanbul where he was last seen on Oct. 2.Saudi currency at weakest in two years on Khashoggi caseSaudi King orders public prosecutor to open internal probe into Khashoggi caseTurkey to search Saudi consulate in Istanbul for missing journalist on MondayKuwait says it rejects 'campaign against Saudi Arabia'
Spain calls for urgent investigation into disappearance of Saudi journalist
Saudi Arabia's currency fell to its lowest level in two years and its international bond prices slipped on Monday over fears that foreign investment inflows could shrink as Riyadh faces pressure over the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.Trade in the forward currency market, used by banks to hedge investments, suggested some institutions were protecting themselves against the risk of capital outflows or U.S. sanctions on Riyadh after the disappearance of Khashoggi, a prominent critic of Saudi authorities, in Istanbul.But the market moves were smaller than some bouts of instability in the last several years, indicating investors were not as panicked by the Khashoggi case as they were by a plunge of oil prices that began in 2014.U.S. President Donald Trump threatened "severe punishment" for Riyadh if it turned out that Khashoggi was killed in the Saudi consulate in Instanbul, as Turkish officials allege. Saudi Arabia has denied this and on Sunday warned it would counter any sanctions with greater ones of its own.Oil prices moved only slightly on Monday as analysts said they doubted Saudi Arabia, the word's biggest exporter of crude, would risk international isolation and damage its own finances by cutting back exports at a time when it is pushing through reforms designed to create jobs and diversify its economy.But Krisjanis Krustins, director in the Middle East and Africa team at credit ratings agency Fitch, said the affair could hurt some parts of the reform programme."If there is any lasting change in investor willingness to engage with Saudi Arabia, it could lead to slower and less complete implementation of some Vision 2030 initiatives, and greater need for Saudi Arabia to use debt and internal resources to finance them," he said.Saudi stocks plunge 7 pct on Khashoggi fallout; biggest drop since 2014Trump says US would be 'punishing itself' if it halts Saudi arms salesTurkey expects Saudi cooperation on case of missing journalist: FMWeak Private SectorThe riyal was quoted at 3.7524 to the U.S. dollar in the spot market early on Monday, its weakest rate since September 2016, Refinitiv data showed.The central bank maintains a peg of 3.75 riyals to the dollar, and usually the currency fluctuates in a range of about 3.7498-3.7503. In November 2015, when oil prices were plunging, the riyal dropped as low as 3.7598.In the forwards market, the dollar rose on Monday as high as 100 points against the riyal, a nine-month high, from 54 points on Friday. In 2016, it briefly rose above 1,000 points.Yields on Saudi Arabia's U.S. dollar bonds climbed, mostly at the long end of the curve; its notes maturing in 2046 were 15 basis points wider.Krustins and other analysts noted that foreign investment flows into Saudi Arabia were already very low because of a weak private sector and uncertainty over regulation; this could limit the impact of any reduction of flows.Media organisations and a growing number of executives, including JP Morgan Chase & Co chief executive Jamie Dimon, have pulled out of a major Riyadh investment conference scheduled for next week, dubbed "Davos in the Desert".The Saudi stock market had tumbled 7.2 percent over the previous two trading days because of the Khashoggi case, but it rebounded 2.0 percent on Monday.Traders said some institutional investors, including foreign ones, were buying stocks at the lows, believing Saudi Arabia's fundamental economic situation was unlikely to change much.But many bankers and analysts said the Khashoggi case had fuelled perceptions of political risk in Saudi Arabia because it was the latest in a series of unexpected incidents over the past three years.During this period Saudi Arabia has launched a war in Yemen, imposed an embargo on Qatar, arrested dozens of top officials and businessmen in a corruption purge, detained women's rights activists and seen tensions with Canada and Germany rise.Jason Tuvey, senior emerging markets economist at London-based Capital Economics, said political developments in Saudi Arabia were becoming an increasingly important economic risk.US Treasury Secretary Mnuchin still plans to attend upcoming Saudi summitSaudi threatens to retaliate against any sanctions over Khashoggi disappearanceUK's Labour says it would stop selling arms to Saudi Arabia
Saudi currency at weakest in two years on Khashoggi case
On that same day, 15 Saudis, including several officials, arrived in Istanbul on two planes and visited the building while Khashoggi was still inside, Turkish police sources said. All of the identified individuals have since left Turkey.
Saudi authorities have yet to give a clear explanation of Khashoggi’s fate, while several countries -- particularly Turkey, the U.S. and the UK -- have expressed their desire that the matter should be elucidated as soon as possible.
"The Saudi government can no longer remain silent, and it is essential that our own government and others push harder for the truth. Until we have a full account and full accountability, it cannot be business as usual with the Saudi government,” Ryan added.
The statement comes after prominent names in business and the media have pulled out of the Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh.
The New York Times, CNN and CNBC networks announced they would not be sponsoring the conference next week amid the global outcry over Khashoggi's disappearance.
JP Morgan & Chase Co Chief Executive Jamie Dimon and Ford Motor Co Chairman Bill Ford canceled plans to attend a Saudi investor conference, the companies said on Sunday, the latest such high-profile announcements after the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.The cancellations could add pressure on other U.S. firms like Goldman Sachs Group Inc, Mastercard Inc and Bank of America Corp to reconsider their plans to attend the investor event.Neither JP Morgan nor Ford would elaborate on the reasons for the decision not to attend the Future Investment Initiative conference in Riyadh later this month, and did not comment on whether concerns about the disappearance of Khashoggi were a factor.Khashoggi, a U.S. resident and Washington Post columnist critical of Riyadh's policies, disappeared on Oct. 2 after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Turkey believes he was murdered and his body removed. Saudi Arabia has denied that.Bahrain minister backs boycott of Uber over Khashoggi caseThe investment summit in Riyadh typically attracts executives from some of the world's largest companies and media organizations. But it has rapidly become a vehicle for those firms to express their concerns over Khashoggi's disappearance.U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened "severe punishment" if it turns out Khashoggi was killed in the consulate, although he said Washington would be "punishing" itself if it halted military sales to Riyadh.Major news organizations such as CNN, the Financial Times, the New York Times, CNBC and Bloomberg have pulled out of the conference. The Fox Business Network, the lone Western news outlet still heading to the conference, told Reuters on Sunday it was reviewing that decision.Saudi riyal at weakest since June 2017 on Khashoggi caseUber Technologies Inc Chief Executive Dara Khosrowshahi, Viacom Inc CEO Bob Bakish and billionaire Steve Case, one of the founders of AOL, said they were no longer going .Goldman Sachs, Mastercard and Bank of America did not respond to requests on Sunday on whether they were still attending the event.Citigroup Inc and Credit Suisse Group AG declined to comment on Sunday on their plans.Bill Winters, CEO of Asia, Africa and Middle East-focused bank Standard Chartered Plc was still planning to go, the company said on Sunday.Erdoğan, Saudi King discuss Khashoggi case over phoneThe absence of media and technology executives is likely to case a shadow over the three-day event, dubbed "Davos in the Desert." It has become the biggest show for investors to promote Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's reform vision."Whilst it is disappointing that some speakers and partners have pulled out, we are looking forward to welcoming thousands of speakers, moderators and guests from all over the world to Riyadh," a Future Investment Initiative representative said last week. 
JP Morgan and Ford cancel plans for Saudi investor event
Iran said on Monday it will adopt a wait-and-see approach to the case of prominent critic of Tehran's arch rival Saudi Arabia Jamal Khashoggi, who disappeared on Oct. 2 after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul."We prefer to wait until more details and facts are revealed ... It is too early to comment," Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi told a news conference, broadcast live on state TV.Saudi threatens to retaliate against any sanctions over Khashoggi disappearanceMoroccan press calls for probe into Khashoggi caseSaudi stocks plunge 7 pct on Khashoggi fallout; biggest drop since 2014Fiancee demands accountability if Khashoggi murderedTrump says Saudi Arabia faces 'severe punishment' if Khashoggi was killed
Iran says it won't comment yet on missing journalist Khashoggi case
Bahrain's foreign minister called for a boycott of the ride-hailing company Uber Technologies after its chief executive officer said he will not attend a business conference in the kingdom's ally Saudi Arabia.Uber's CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said in a statement last week he is pulling out of the Future Investment Initiative conference in Saudi Arabia because of growing outrage over the disappearance of a prominent Saudi journalist in Turkey.Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund, which hosts the conference, invested $3.5 billion in Uber in 2016, making it one of the company's largest investors.Uber CEO to skip Saudi conference over Khashoggi caseOther companies and high-profile businessmen have pulled out of the three-day conference known as "Davos in the desert," which is scheduled to begin on Oct. 23 in Riyadh.Foreign minister Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa tweeted two hashtags calling for a boycott of Uber in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, as well as a broader hashtag urging followers to "boycott anyone who boycotts Saudi Arabia."It was unclear if the boycott call was aimed at users of Uber's service or investors in the company, or both, and whether Bahrain is planning other measures against the company.Similar campaigns have been trending on social media in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, although there has been no official backing so far.Saudi riyal at weakest since June 2017 on Khashoggi caseKhalaf Ahmad Al-Habtoor, a prominent UAE businessman, also urged boycotts of companies pulling out of the FII conference, including of Uber and Virgin."Now it is time for GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) to prove their loyalty by boycotting Virgin and Uber and all the companies pulling out of KSA... Together we can prove our unity and that we cannot be bullied," he said in a Twitter post.Uber declined to comment. Virgin Atlantic, which operates flights between Dubai and London but will withdraw the service from March 31, 2019, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.On Sunday, JP Morgan Chase & Co Chief Executive Jamie Dimon became the latest high-profile participant to cancel plans to attend the FII, following the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.Asian shares resume decline, Saudi tensions lift oil pricesFord Motor Co Chairman Bill Ford also pulled out, as well as media organisations like CNN and Bloomberg which once served as sponsors of the conference.Uber's absence carries a special sting, given both the size of the Saudi investment and its significance for the kingdom's economic reform plans.The Uber investment was the PIF's first major deal in the technology start-up market, signaling its shift in strategy toward more aggressive and eye-catching foreign investments. It was also a boon for Saudi women, who had been barred from driving until a decades-long ban was lifted this summer.Khashoggi, a prominent Saudi journalist, disappeared after entering the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2.Erdoğan, Saudi King discuss Khashoggi case over phoneTurkish 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.Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates are Riyadh's closest Gulf Arab allies and the three countries are working alongside each other in a series of conflicts in Yemen, Qatar and Lebanon to try to counter the influence of arch-rival Iran.
Bahrain minister backs boycott of Uber over Khashoggi case