TECH LEADERS SNUBBING SAUDI INVESTOR SUMMIT

Company leaders are backing away from a “Davos in the Desert” event intended to showcase Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s modernization plan for Saudi Arabia.

The Khashoggi affair is eclipsing the three-day Future Investment Initiative, scheduled to start in Riyadh in just two weeks. Billionaire Richard Branson says he is halting Virgin Group’s talks on a space venture.

Other dropouts include Viacom CEO Bob Bakish, Uber Technologies CEO Dara Khosrowshahi, venture capitalist Steve Case, L.A. Times owner Patrick Soon-Shiong, HP executive Joanna Popper and Android creator Andy Rubin.