Royalty

The slain journalist Jamal Khashoggi was funding an "electronic army" to fight with Saudi state propaganda, while describing Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as a "beast," according to his private Whatsapp messages published by CNN International.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sent at least 11 messages to Saud al-Qahtani, his closest adviser who oversaw the team that killed Jamal Khashoggi, in the hours before and after the journalist's death in October, according to a highly classified CIA assessment seen by the Wall Street Journal.

An Argentine judge reviewing a Human Rights Watch complaint against Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman asked the foreign ministry on Nov. 29 to seek information from Turkey, Yemen and the International Criminal Court.

Continuing his break with the U.S. intelligence community, U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday dismissed as "feelings" the CIA's assessment that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had ordered a journalist killed last month at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.

United States President Donald Trump on Nov. 17 called a CIA assessment blaming Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi "very premature" and said he will receive a complete report on the case on Nov. 20.

Top Saudi intelligence officials close to Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman discussed hiring private companies last year to kill Iranian enemies of the kingdom, the New York Times reported Nov. 11, citing anonymous sources. 

Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan meets with Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani. File photo

Milking a Cobra for venom during a snake handling display at Queen Saovabha Snake Park, Bangkok, Thailand. (Alamy Stock Photo)

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (L) is seen in this file photo with his top aide Saud al-Qahtani

Japanese Princess Akiko of Mikasa became the honorary president of Prince Mikasa Foundation in Istanbul on Sept. 13.