hello and welcome to dateline london — the programme which brings together leading political commentators in the uk with the international correspondents who file their stories with dateline london. this weekend, saudi arabia announced that the journalist jamal khashoggi is dead. will that long awaited admission, dismissals, and arrests be enough to restore business as usual in its relations with the outside world? and, after theresa may flirts uncertainly with the idea of an extended goodbye to the europan union — has she just hastened her own? with me, the sudanese writer nisreen malik — a specialist in arab affairs. stefanie bolzen from germany's die welt, who was at this week's eu summit. the usjournalist greg katz from the associated press. and, the british political commentator adam raphael — who's been prowling the corridors of power in whitehall and westminster since the 1970s. after more than two weeks of denial — saudi arabia announced thatjamal khashoggi is dead. the journalist vanished after entering the saudi consulate in istanbul. king salman‘s government says he died in a fight. two officials have been dismissed — one a close aide to crown price

mohammad bin salman, the country's de facto ruler. mbs, as he's known, promised to remake his country by weening it off its dependence on oil. but because of mr khashoggi, many have pulled out of an event intended to attract foreign investment. that should have been did in place and will go ahead. willis and osbert do anything to dissipate this sense of unease about what happens to jamal khashoggi? i don't think so. i think this is targeted to administration in the us and europe. it isa administration in the us and europe. it is a really thin cover, basically transparent. one should not dignify it with analysis, i think. i think it with analysis, i think. i think it is very much directed towards people who want to say, look later than the work, that is an investigation. we cannot draw i

don't like line of global polity. below that, the banks, the media, they know what it is and they cannot justify it any longer. politically, it is still touch and go. it is is a pricing story, i did not think it would be in the headlines. it has touched a nerve and a don't know whether, tom said it was credible. he has inflicted so much me this, now i can dig as did the media and see it as credible. public companies with shareholders have been pulling out of this investment conference. the cynical part of me thinks it will run out of steam at some point and we will move on. it has been surprising in the past couple of weeks. i think there might be enough interest in it from the public and media, everyone is talking about it,

to put enough pressure on the us administration to do something that would make life very hard for mohammed bin salman. there is a real dilemma for the drug administration. they are in the process of reordering therefore in policy. —— dcom administration. presumably, the last thing we want to is sanctioned saudi arabia and ratchet the prices just before the mid—term elections. . this is strategic political disaster for the trump administration. he has been very direct. he has been unequivocal that the us economy's arms deals to the saudi is more important to him than the journalist. he has been very clear that the administration doesn't want you to sanction and

risk the arms deal. i am not sure that congress will disagree at this point. you talk about the business community, the banks, the insurance —iam community, the banks, the insurance — lam not community, the banks, the insurance — i am not convinced that the well the bike after this conference. the co nfe re nce the bike after this conference. the conference is a red herring, it is a lost cause. moving forwards to 6—10 weeks i don't think much will change. i think mbs has been tainted by this. what ever happens, the terrible death of this journalist is the implications of a manjust terrible death of this journalist is the implications of a man just a few month ago being faded as the great hope for the future of saudi arabia. jeremy kushner in this thing much hope anything, for example. jeremy kushner in this thing much hope anything, for examplelj jeremy kushner in this thing much hope anything, for example. i think thatis hope anything, for example. i think that is right. i share of the sceptical view of how long this will last. for america, trump

sceptical view of how long this will last. foramerica, trump has sceptical view of how long this will last. for america, trump has been at least frank and honest about his motives. this country will be less frank and honest but we have just as much of the state is not nor money united states in saudi arabia. the huge arms deals that british companies have. we depend on it. that is out of reach, this is an unprecedented act. one has to be careful about, we will probably never find out precisely the actual responsibility for what happened. how directly it was caused by mbs. whether it wasjust how directly it was caused by mbs. whether it was just an... i how directly it was caused by mbs. whether it wasjust an... i suspect the saudis almost reveal this. —— would not reveal this. i suspect it

will always be unclear how directly he was involved. what about the border implications of this? you could argue that this is a terrible case of an individual but thousands of people are dying and the war in yemen which was started by saudi arabia to defend the government who had been asked to do by the rebels. yet, not watch public reaction. one journalist dies in terrible circumstances and in media outlets ago. there is something bothers you. this murderer is much more global and this murderer is much more global a nd co ntext this murderer is much more global and context than emerge as we have recently seen in europe. journalists murdered in malta and slovakia and when bulgaria, not quite sure yet. recently, journalists who do critical or investigative journalism which is theirjob are becoming

targets. this is one reason why i think it is getting so much attention because it is reflecting the state of what we call the fourth power in our countries which is so important to protect. who thought that president everyone whose country has got lots of dollars in recent yea rs country has got lots of dollars in recent years would emerge as a champion of political journalism? for me, our paper, one of our pal weeks is in prison in turkey recently. i think there is the straw that broke the camel 's recently. i think there is the straw that broke the camel '5 back element of this. because of the war in yemen, because of radical left wing media circles. this was not universally adopted. arabs and saudis have seemed he has not...

people see what's they want to see? . yes. there is a history of people seem new . yes. there is a history of people seem new royal regimes and the middle east as performance and never letting lessons from that. there are a bunch of things going on there. people have been told that mbs was not going to be any different, if anything, he would be a lot worse. the war in yemen was the canary down the cool mine for that. . shifting away from oil dependency and broadening the economy? we haven't seen broadening the economy? we haven't seen many broadening the economy? we haven't seen many tangible manifestation of that. saudi arabia is not the kind of country that has diversify its financial industry like the way that the united arab emirates might have done for example. they have not reached out to to resign. he has

made all these gestures and paid millions of dollars to pr firms. he has lifted a ban on women driving, but has also arrested law of female activist who come change for women driving. there was also in the allegedly. there is a sense that people had been saying that we told you that mbs was not what we thought he was. we children that in the war in yemen of the impunity of the global community against saudi arabia. there has been a larger frustrations since 9/11. people hadn't seen, aida, qaeda, ices, mining 11— these are all fallouts. people do not want to confront the root cause of these frustrations. banning muslims from chad and sudan

from entering the us because they cannot you what the saudi problem. this is been a focus of what. but that talk about president erdogan. they have not made any public allegations but privately but of allegations but privately but of allegations have emerged and state media and a lot of turkish sources being credit. what you think to keep it out of this? i think they are hoping for something behind the scenes. some total prick pro quote that your know about. prick will some evidence that the saudi regions will very much never see the light of day in exchange for deep six in

combat. the turks may be getting some sort of strategic, or economic financial considerations which will be off the books and under the table. clearly, the saudis are any position to help them out. erdogan is going to get something out of this. whether it be some sort of political or financial arrangement, what turkey will get out of this boat i do many of itself into getting something the saudi regime that of the quake, contradicts the narrative that they have put out. it is evident delicate dans because the moment that the saudis get to ball she, the turks can say we will torpedo this in a second because we have recordings. the americans want saudi arabia to be able to cast its

narrative and questioned as well. they now have two parties that they can implicitly blackmail. they are and a very good position. league and he can position himself as a champion of the free papers. yes. theresa may isn't proposing extending the implementation period for brexit, you understand — the period between being wholly in and being wholly out of the european union. still, by dangling the suggestion in front of the media, she at least ensured that the headlines out of this week's summit of the heads of government of the eu's 28 member countries didn't scream "deadlock." yet — this tactical distraction has done damage, with both the remainers and the leavers in her party voicing their frustration. mrs may has also weakened one of the strongest arguments for her survival — that the critical negotiating weeks before a brexit deal are so short, this is not the time to change the leader. you were there, stephanie. tell others what it was like, what was the atmosphere? summoning claims

that inside the room, after theresa may has left, their 20s and found it pretty boring. they did not know what to talk about any more. it was only brexit on the agenda. behind closed doors, there was a lot going on. yes, a lot of dancing and a lot of showing around. mccool and micron to their own place in brussels, the lecturing out and got some nice pictures. the next day was the press conference by the german chancellor. she did not smile but she saved a cheeky thing — she said modern ireland is tricky because it is an intellectually interesting task. you would think of it was that, you

should be able to solve it. by november, we will see another summit and by december the brexiting will be done. all the protests in london and everyone else will not change that. you are confident about that? iam that. you are confident about that? i am pretty confident that we will see a deal between the uk and the ee soon. the hard brexiteers have their backs against the wall. do the dues no deal? or do they get leila brexit‘s no matter what? no deal? or do they get leila brexit's no matter what? it is something that the british, have been counting on. when they see something concrete, they really would want to reject it. is that unduly optimistic? i don't disagree with anything my colleague stuart said. there will probably be a deal of some sort. it is ideal on their

withdrawal deal leaving all the difficult issues to be kicked down the road. this is why this transition argument was not realistic to assume that a transition due to be done but in 21 months. 21 years, more likely. one of the troubles that mrs may has now is that she has lost because of her party. notjust be hard brexiteers, the nutters as i call them, but actually right across the party. because she has always reached a red lines, on the customs deemed, on the single market, not on the extension. she is not believed, she keeps on from a very weak position being forced farther and farther away from her original positions. i also agree with stephanie that what happens in parliament is absolutely unknowable.

offers leave the europeans are interested in giving hera offers leave the europeans are interested in giving her a deal which she can actually sell to the commons. however, the european cheering view of what a cell door and unsellable as unknowable. mike not even the chief whip of the key experts in parliament know how these rates will go. it could well end in it isa rates will go. it could well end in it is a stalemate in the december, january period. anything can happen. you could have a general collection, you could have the call for a second referendum, you could have a leadership election. we are an ms is the short summary of where we are. the main issue is time. everyone is running out of time. when that happens, reality takes over for you. the risk now is that corporations,

private companies, regularly body. preparing for an no—deal brexit. once that happens, it will become a self of some prophecy. the time crunch is the biggest factor. once too many things are kicked down the road, you cannot resolve all of the same time. there is a much politics and careerism, same time. there is a much politics and ca reerism, particularly same time. there is a much politics and careerism, particularly in the british parliament, so many people's reputations have been state on brexit that there might be a no—deal brexit that there might be a no—deal brexit just brexit that there might be a no—deal brexitjust for brexit that there might be a no—deal brexit just for the sake brexit that there might be a no—deal brexitjust for the sake of it rather than it is because what we believe is right. there is a distinction... the distinction between the trading deal and a withdrawal deal which is very different. she will probably get help with claudio. it is possible she may not get it through of

commons by she will get it of some sort. it is the next data that is so impossible. you could leave everything in the could still be out by march 29. that is the fight that people like me, a remainer, that the author., who knows what parliament will vote. if they vote no, the uk crushes out. but she remained prime minister on march 30, for example? will anything deal with the job that would block in the interim and the first 12 months after that. is there any political reckoning down the road? it is very hard for me to see the next 12 months here. i am sort of clueless. i suspect if she gets her with claudio out by march 29, the party was turn on her. she will

got britain that far and then they will look for a new leader. the consequences of that, in terms of jobs and employment, the short—term consequences will be very serious for this country. i speak from a committee position on this, probably not a neutral ballistic position. evenif not a neutral ballistic position. even if things now view as they're supposed to go. we look at the track record in parliament, theresa may one of the boats. so you think they will be presented with something concrete en? yes. but then what comes afterwards will be more frustrating. the negotiatorfor comes afterwards will be more frustrating. the negotiator for the year says they will have at least ten negotiations at the same time to get to the free—trade arrangement. they only have 21 months. usually, a trading takes five up to ten years. the elderly that theresa may. in the

way that theresa may raised this transition she said, i'm not proposing this but it could happen. eberhardt shouldn't been something that should have been made clear much earlier on. a lot of les hasn't been said publicly before. it will drag on and be frustrating. as you say, we have no idea what might happen ina say, we have no idea what might happen in a year. you mentioned anglo—american's little joke. especially after the elections that her sister party had. what about her own position? how vulnerable is the german chancellor? iran she is very vulnerable. there is a lot of talk that something might happen there.

she might even... there is need of a change of leadership. there is rumoured that she is going for the head of the coalition. to replace jean—claude youngsters. this is com plete jean—claude youngsters. this is complete gossip. and we love gossip. . gossip always tells you something. she lost an election is people who are very loyal followers. she is very abominable in her party. maybe thatis very abominable in her party. maybe that is why she isn't such a good mood like theresa may dancing on the stage, there is nothing to lose. mood like theresa may dancing on the stage, there is nothing to losem of the deliberation of knowing your comment was the final act. the problem is what is left behind. whoever succeeds through is a german

chancellor, brexit will remain a problem. . this seems unlikely, but a second referendum. if you want to preserve the conservative party, one way out and it doesn't seem to be the way out at the moment, could be a second referendum. it would depend on the paralysis of parliament but none of the boats going through. it is possible that mrs may made reversible as session on that. it is unlikely that is certainly a possibility. parliament is in a mess. the politicians cannot agree ona mess. the politicians cannot agree on a way forward all know they don't wa nt on a way forward all know they don't want hong around the necks what is going to happen next. . i do not think the second referendum will solve anything. i have been talking to people and they say, if i have

the boat a second time round i would do the same or even would leave. that is fine. if there is disabled, as we do put a second time, they will know exactly what they are voting on. there will be a clear mandate. one of the problems that mrs may had was an incredibly narrow 52-48 mrs may had was an incredibly narrow 52—48 vote. she also has very hard line on her side. a second referendum... i think we are and it was registered and gnarled bundle where in the first referendum. it is not become ideological and cultural. people will put even more irrationally as last time. people will put even more irrationally as last timelj people will put even more irrationally as last time. i think people will vote according to their knowledge. referee: i think a second referendum

will be really divisive. i think people will vote along ideological lines. reburied a question that we will undoubtably return to on this programme. thank you forjoining us. that's it for dateline london for this week. we're back next week at the same time. goodbye. the last two days have been pretty glorious. we have seen plenty of sunshine around. chilly mornings with mist and fog. some of which has been quite dense. that is how it is looking for most of us this weekend. england and wales will hold onto the dry weather. some rain in the forecast for parts of scotland and northern ireland, especially tomorrow. this afternoon, lots of sunshine

across england and wales. a little mist and fog stubborn to clear. it should clear for most places. thicker cloud around, more of a breeze, quite windy across the western isles. eastern scotland, we could see 17 or 18 degrees. very pleasant in england and wales. as we head on into this evening and overnight, most places stay dry. clear skies. we could see mist and fog developing as those temperatures fall back into single figures. rain across the north and west of scotland. some of it quite heavy by the end of the night. we will hold onto double—figure values because of the cloud. this is the culprit for the rain. this weather front pushing into scotland and northern ireland as we head into sunday morning. a disappointing start to the day across scotland and northern ireland.

rain pushing on into northern england but it will fizzle out. skies brightening up nicely behind it. a little bit fresh air. a few blustery showers. another nice day for the south—east. quite warm, 18 degrees. as we head on into monday. that weather front flips off into the continent. a strong area of high pressure for much of the upcoming week. it will continue to hold onto weather fronts across the north of the country, bringing outbreaks of rain. northern scotland and the northern ireland is, certainly. it will be windy here but breezy further south. we are importing cooler and drierairfrom the north—west. some good spells of sunshine but the temperature is much lower than what we have had recently. for much of the new week, it looks like it'll be largely dry thanks to the high pressure. turning colder by

the end of the week. this is bbc news. i'm shaun ley. the headlines at midday. saudi arabia admits journalist jamal khashoggi was killed in the consulate in istanbul. the uk says those responsible must be held to account. they have been a great ally in the middle east. we need them as a counterbalance to iran. and so it's not the simplest solution. protestors are to march through london demanding another referendum on the uk's membership of the european union. two men have been charged with murdering father—of—two ian tomlin, who was beaten to death outside his home in south—west london. also coming up this hour, bepicolombo blasts off. two satellites developed in europe and japan are on their way to the planet mercury. it's hoped that together they can resolve the puzzles of the mysterious planet closest to the sun.

the fourth edition of the invictus games open in sydney, and will see 500 competitors from 18 nations taking part.