Erdogan shreds Saudi murder story

[Balance of Power]( From [Bloomberg Politics]( [FOLLOW US [Facebook Share]]( [Twitter Share]( [SUBSCRIBE [Subscribe]](  There’s one person Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan didn’t specifically mention in his big “naked truth” speech: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The Turkish leader [laid out damning facts]( related to the Oct. 2 murder of Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, rejecting the Saudi version of events and asking leading questions, including about the location of the body. Erdogan said all indications are that what he called a “political killing” was planned and carried out by a team sent to Istanbul to murder the Washington Post columnist. “Covering up such an atrocity will harm the conscience of all humanity,” Erdogan told his ruling party in Ankara. He called on King Salman to hold all culprits to account, “from the highest to the lowest level.” Turkey will pursue the investigation to the end, Erdogan said. Those comments suggests that while Erdogan may be giving the Saudis a way out, he’s also leaving the door open to link the crime to the 33-year-old Crown Prince, known as MBS. Strategic media leaks by anonymous officials have implied that Erdogan has audio recordings he’s using to extract concessions from the deep pocketed Saudis, while also sending a message to [the West]( that Saudi Arabia, under the de facto rule of MBS, is far from a reliable partner. As [Benjamin Harvey]( writes, Erdogan is trying to turn the case into [a catalyst for changing the balance of power]( in Saudi Arabia and regaining influence across the Middle East. - [Caroline Alexander]( Erdogan at the Grand National Assembly of Turkey today. His remarks (watch them [here]() coincide with the first day of an [investment conference]( in Saudi Arabia, where MBS is expected to speak.  Photographer: Anadolu Agency/Anadolu Global Headlines [Border wars]( | Two weeks before elections that will determine control of Congress, President Donald Trump is hardening his immigration stance, a move Democrats [hope]( will help motivate Hispanics to turn out for their candidates. The president, who’s looking to fire up his own base, accused Democrats of encouraging illegal voting. He also announced the U.S. is cutting off aid to three Central American he said aren’t doing enough to stop a migrant “caravan” that he [asserted]( — without evidence — contains “criminals and unknown Middle Easterners.”  For more images, see our [photo essay](. Click [here]( for an animated map showing where the migrants might be headed next and [read more]( in this QuickTake. 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China considers the island one of its provinces. [Tax-cuts for all]( | Trump’s surprise call to cut middle-income families’ taxes by 10 percent could mean millionaires get a break too, [Laura Davison]( reports. The president [said]( yesterday a plan would be unveiled in the next week or so. Congress would vote on it after the November elections, he added, even though Republican lawmakers say they have no such legislation in the works. [Oil powerhouse]( | Iraq is fast gaining stature in OPEC after it surpassed Canada this year as the world’s fourth-biggest oil producer. But, as [Mohammed Aly Sergie]( writes, for all its petro-wealth, 15 years after the U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein, the country is lacking enough electricity supplies to keep the lights on and is failing to attract the investment it needs to create jobs and spur local businesses. What to Watch - Theresa May lives to [fight another day]( after members of her Conservative Party said once again they were on the point of throwing the prime minister overboard — but then backtracked — over her handling of Brexit. The latest controversy comes as prominent scientists have voiced concern that a sharp break in ties with the EU or a no-deal exit could spark an exodus of highly skilled specialists, [crippling research](. [And finally ...]( Chinese President Xi Jinping today officially opened the world’s longest sea crossing, a $15 billion triumph of engineering that more closely knits the former colonies of Hong Kong and Macau to the mainland. The question is: Will anyone use it? Planners have dialed down traffic projects for the 34-mile (55-kilometer) span, since alternatives abound and drivers need three separate permits to use it fully.  The western artificial island, top, the eastern artificial island, center, and the Hong Kong Link Road section of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge.   Need to know every detail of what's happening in the federal government? Try Bloomberg Government. Delivering rich data, sophisticated tools and breaking news alongside original, in-depth analysis from policy experts, [BGOV helps government relations professionals]( perform at the top of their game.   You received this message because you are subscribed to the Bloomberg Politics newsletter Balance of Power. You can tell your friends to [sign up here](.  [Unsubscribe]( | [Bloomberg.com]( | [Contact Us]( Bloomberg L.P. 731 Lexington, New York, NY, 10022