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US-SAUDI-POLITICS-DISSIDENT-BRANSON
Branson listens to speeches as he is inducted into the Flight
Path Walk of Fame in Los Angeles
Richard Branson listens to speeches as he is inducted into the
Flight Path Walk of Fame at Los Angeles Airport Flight Path
Museum, highlighting his accomplishments in aviation and
aerospace in Los Angeles, California, U.S. March 28, 2018.
REUTERS/Mike Blake
Dimensions3484 x 2322
Size1.4MB
CreditReuters
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"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 a statement.
Branson also said he would suspend his directorship in two Saudi
tourism projects around the Red Sea, citing Khashoggi's
disappearance. Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund did not
immediately respond to a request for comment.
Pressure has mounted on Saudi Arabia since Oct. 2 when Khashoggi,
a prominent critic of Saudi policies and a Washington Post
journalist, went missing. He was last seen entering the Saudi
consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2.
Last year, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund said it planned
to invest about $1 billion in Branson's space company, Virgin
Galactic, The Spaceship Company and Virgin Orbit.
Branson said on Thursday, "We have asked for more information
from the authorities in Saudi and to clarify their position in
relation to Mr. Khashoggi."
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that the United
States has investigators overseas to assist Turkey in its
investigation of the journalist's disappearance and that they
were also working with Saudi Arabia.
(Reporting by Gaurika Juneja in Bengaluru; Editing by Toni
Reinhold)
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