British billionaire Richard Branson, the founder of Virgin Group, is cutting ties with the Saudi government following the disappearance of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.
Branson has halted talks over $1bn Saudi investment in Virgin space firms and suspended directorships in two tourism projects on the Red Sea.
In a blog posted on Virgin Group’s website Thursday, he announced that Virgin Galatic and Virgin Orbit would suspend its discussions with the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia.
“What has reportedly happened in Turkey around the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, if proved true, would clearly change the ability of any of us in the West to do business with the Saudi Government,” Branson said in the post.
“We have asked for more information from the authorities in Saudi and to clarify their position in relation to Mr. Khashoggi.”
Khashoggi, a journalist known for his critical…