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Good morning from the Newsroom of the Financial Times. Today is Friday

October 19th and this is your FT news briefing. Today we'll be looking at

some tougher talk from the US on Saudi Arabia, Uber's move from drivers to waiters,

and why Wall Street traded lower on Thursday.

I'm Eric Krucky.

And I'm Amy Keene, and here's the news you need to start your day.

The Trump administration has finally taken a harder line against Saudi Arabia.

Vice President Mike Pence spoke to reporters on Thursday. If what has been alleged occurred, if a journalist in particular lost their life at the hands of violence,

that's an affront to a free and independent press around the world and there will be consequences.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Stephen Minutians pulled out of Saudi Arabia's Future Investment Initiative Conference.

President Donald Trump also said that if the kingdom had future investment initiative conference.

President Donald Trump also said that if the kingdom had a hand in Koshoggi's death,

there would be consequences.

Well, it'll have to be very severe.

I mean, it's bad, bad stuff, but we'll see what happens.

Until now Trump has defended the Saudi royal family.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he wants to give the kingdom more time to finish their investigation into the

possible murder.

And the FT reports that Uber's planning to expand its on-demand model. The ridehailing app is developing a new short-term

...