Jamal Khashoggi: Branson halts $1bn Saudi investment talks

[nitpicker]

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-45833910

Jamal Khashoggi: Branson halts $1bn Saudi investment talks

14 minutes ago


Sir Richard Branson has halted talks over $1bn Saudi investment in Virgin space firms after the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Sir Richard has also suspended directorships in two tourism projects.
(snip)

In a statement, Sir Richard said: "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.

"We have asked for more information from the authorities in Saudi and to clarify their position in relation to Mr Khashoggi."
(snip)

Virgin was in talks with Saudi sovereign wealth fund the Public Investment Fund about a proposed $1bn investment in space companies Virgin Galactic and Virgin Orbit.

Talks have been going on since October 2017, when the Saudi intention to invest was agreed by Prince Mohammad bin Salman Al-Saud, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, and Sir Richard. The Virgin investment plan was part of Saudi efforts to diversify its economy away from its dependence on oil profits.
(snip)

[nitpicker]

1. More from the article (other businesses reconsidering attending Ssudi investment conference)

(snip)

A number of high-profile business leaders and firms have put plans to attend a Saudi investment conference on hold, or have said they will not be attending.

The Future Investment Initiative, which will be held in Riyadh between 23 and 25 October, is known as the "Davos in the desert". However, reports of Mr Khashoggi's murder have cast a shadow over the event.
(snip)

((various people and firms reacting)

[JI7]

3. maybe we can get a list of those planning to attend and call on them to cancel

[dalton99a]

14. What happened after last year's conference:

A few days after the foreigners checked out of the Ritz-Carlton, Crown Prince Mohammed converted it into a high-end prison for hundreds of wealthy Saudis. For weeks, guards kept them locked up — roughing up some — until they handed over billions of dollars in what the prince insisted were ill-gotten gains.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/13/world/middleeast/saudi-arabia-conference-crown-prince-mohammed.html

[democratisphere]

2. Let the sanctions against Saudi Arabian barbarians roll!

Sir Richard Branson showing the rest of the world how it is done!

[watoos]

5. You mean, acting presidential.

[democratisphere]

9. More like a world leader.

Our so-called president is only capable of leading his deplorables down to the sea.

[Chickensoup]

4. Compare that with our corrupt mafia

Boss reaction that the legal resident
of the US is not an American after all
Trump is devoid of any decency.
Just pure evil.

[watoos]

6. I mean let's call a spade a spade.

I keep hearing the narrative that we support SA because SA is fighting Iran. I mean, I agree that Iran has done a lot of bad stuff, but so has SA. You tell me which nation is worse? The only reason that we support SA is because SA has a pact with Israel to fight Iran. For crying out loud the majority of people who flew those planes into our buildings were Saudis.

Also, what is going on in Yemen is terrible. We are backing the Saudis who are murdering millions of innocent people. The Saudis are using our weapons. Oh but according to our president this is good because it creates jobs.

We have no business selling weapons to Saudi Arabia, I still remember 9/11.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

11. ARMs appear to be Trump's game pieces now. He can't

wheel and deal hotels and golf courses...but he found a substitute to play with. Playing and winning is infinitely more important than anything else. His meter never goes near the human decency range.

[Achilleaze]

7. Jared (R) done peed on the Branson rocket ship

[Ilsa]

8. I posted the tweeted article into

Morning Joe's twitter thread, after they spent 30 minutes talking about IQ45's lying response to the latest news about it.

[spanone]

10. trump will gladly take that money...he loves some saudi bucks

[47of74]

12. Money talks

That's the only thing these rich fucks understand. Not humanity, common decency, and the like. The only way people can get through to these monsters is to hurt them financially.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

13. Refreshing! A decent act. Had almost forgotten what that was like.