MacKenzie Bezos, the former wife of Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, pledged on Tuesday to give half her $36 billion fortune to charity.

MacKenzie Bezos to give half her fortune to charity

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/amazon-shareholders-reject-facial-recognition-ban-as-concern-grows-in-us-congress-220810">Amazon.com Inc shareholders</a> overwhelmingly rejected a proposal that the company stop selling facial recognition technology to government agencies, while a resolution to audit the service drew more support, a regulatory filing on Friday showed.

Some 2.4% of votes were in favour of the ban. A second proposal that called for a study of the extent to which Amazon's "Rekognition" service harmed civil rights and privacy garnered 27.5% support.

Amazon's sale of the technology to law enforcement in Oregon and Florida has put the company at the centre of a growing US debate over facial recognition, with critics warning of false matches and arrests and proponents arguing it keeps the public safe.

Amazon has defended its work and said all users must follow the law.

These and other Amazon resolutions by shareholders faced an uphill battle to winning majority support, with Amazon's board recommending against them and founder and Chief Executive Jeff Bezos controlling 16% of the stock and voting rights.

Calculation of support was based on the total votes for, against and abstaining. The tallies excluded broker non-votes.

Law enforcement in the United States have used facial recognition for years, and vendors of the technology have abounded, including France's Idemia, Japan's NEC Corp and newer entrants like Israel's Anyvision and Microsoft Corp, which has called for regulation in recent months.

Now, members of the US&nbsp;Congress are looking into the rights impact of the technology. Amazon's marketing of facial recognition has resulted in intense scrutiny, and researchers have said its technology struggled to identify the gender of individuals with darker skin, prompting fears of unjust arrests.

Among other issues, shareholders considered before Amazon's annual meeting on Wednesday was a request to make it easier for investors to call a special meeting, which garnered 35.3% of votes.

A proposal that the company report how it plans to deal with climate change received 29.8% of votes. Nearly 7,700 employees had signed a letter of support of the climate resolution, in a sign of rising worker activism at Amazon.

Watch: Jeff Bezos says he'll send a spaceship to the moon

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Amazon.com Inc shareholders overwhelmingly rejected a proposal that the company stop selling facial recognition technology to government agencies, while a resolution to audit the service drew more support, a regulatory filing on Friday showed.

Amazon.com Inc shareholders overwhelmingly rejected a proposal that the company stop selling facial recognition technology to government agencies, while a resolution to audit the service drew more support, a regulatory filing on Friday showed. Some 2.4% of votes were in favour of the ban. A second proposal that called for a study of the extent to which Amazon's "Rekognition" service harmed civil rights and privacy garnered 27.5% support. Amazon's sale of the technology to law enforcement in Oregon and Florida has put the company at the centre of a growing US debate over facial recognition, with critics warning of false matches and arrests and proponents arguing it keeps the public safe. Amazon has defended its work and said all users must follow the law. These and other Amazon resolutions by shareholders faced an uphill battle to winning majority support, with Amazon's board recommending against them and founder and Chief Executive Jeff Bezos controlling 16% of the stock and voting rights. Calculation of support was based on the total votes for, against and abstaining. The tallies excluded broker non-votes. Law enforcement in the United States have used facial recognition for years, and vendors of the technology have abounded, including France's Idemia, Japan's NEC Corp and newer entrants like Israel's Anyvision and Microsoft Corp, which has called for regulation in recent months. Now, members of the US Congress are looking into the rights impact of the technology. Amazon's marketing of facial recognition has resulted in intense scrutiny, and researchers have said its technology struggled to identify the gender of individuals with darker skin, prompting fears of unjust arrests. Among other issues, shareholders considered before Amazon's annual meeting on Wednesday was a request to make it easier for investors to call a special meeting, which garnered 35.3% of votes. A proposal that the company report how it plans to deal with climate change received 29.8% of votes. Nearly 7,700 employees had signed a letter of support of the climate resolution, in a sign of rising worker activism at Amazon. Watch: Jeff Bezos says he'll send a spaceship to the moon ×

Amazon facial recognition ban won just 2% of shareholder vote

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/amazon-offers-employees-10000-to-quit-launch-delivery-business-218463">Amazon&nbsp;</a>said&nbsp;shareholders&nbsp;rejected proposals to curb and audit its&nbsp;facial&nbsp;recognition&nbsp;service on Wednesday, just as members of&nbsp;Congress&nbsp;indicated there was bipartisan support to one day regulate the technology.

In the past year, Amazon&nbsp;has found itself at the centre of a growing debate over the use of&nbsp;facial&nbsp;recognition&nbsp;by governments, with critics warning of false matches and arrests and proponents arguing it keeps the public safe. Law enforcement in Oregon and Florida have used&nbsp;Amazon's face and image ID service, known as Rekognition.

With support from civil liberties groups, two non-binding proposals on&nbsp;facial&nbsp;recognition&nbsp;made it to the ballot ahead of&nbsp;Amazon's shareholder meeting on Wednesday. The world's top online retailer and cloud computing company had tried to stop the votes, but it was effectively overruled by the&nbsp;US Securities and Exchange Commission.

The first proposal would have made the company stop offering&nbsp;facial&nbsp;recognition&nbsp;to governments unless its board determined sales did not violate civil liberties. A second would have requested a study by September of the extent to which&nbsp;Amazon's service harmed rights and privacy.

According to an&nbsp;Amazon&nbsp;spokeswoman, the resolutions failed by a wide margin. The vote breakdown will be disclosed at a later point in time.

Adding to&nbsp;shareholders'&nbsp;concerns was recent research that showed&nbsp;Amazon's technology struggled to identify the gender of individuals with darker skin, prompting fears that a faulty technology would put innocent people behind bars.

Amazon&nbsp;has defended its work and said all users must follow the law. It also added a web portal for people to report any abuse of the service.

The proposals faced an uphill battle.&nbsp;Amazon's board recommended against them, and Jeff Bezos, the company's chief executive and founder, controls 16 per cent of it's stock and voting rights.

Still, critics of the technology believed the vote was beneficial.

"This shareholder intervention should serve as a wake-up call for the company to reckon with the real harms of face surveillance and to change course," said Shankar Narayan of the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington state.

A key&nbsp;congressional committee also met on Wednesday in Washington, DC, to discuss&nbsp;the civil rights impact of all&nbsp;facial recognition technology, not only&nbsp;Amazon's.

Responding to the shareholder vote, Democratic&nbsp;US Representative Jimmy Gomez said, "that just means that it's more important that Congress&nbsp;acts."

Republican members of the committee expressed&nbsp;concern&nbsp;about&nbsp;US&nbsp;citizens having their rights violated and their information shared with the likes of the FBI without elected officials' oversight. A second hearing on the topic is scheduled for June 4.

Any federal regulation would follow a major decision by San Francisco officials earlier this month to&nbsp;ban&nbsp;city personnel from using the technology. That contrasts with New York, Chicago and Detroit, where law enforcement has reportedly used&nbsp;facial&nbsp;recognition&nbsp;or acquired it with the hope of speeding up post-crime investigations.

Amazon&nbsp;is one of many&nbsp;facial&nbsp;recognition&nbsp;vendors, alongside France's Idema, Japan's NEC Corp and Microsoft Corp, which has repeatedly called for regulation and said&nbsp;it turned down sales for human rights&nbsp;concerns.

Mark Meadows, a Republican, said it was time to start legislating.

"You've now hit the sweet spot that brings progressives and conservatives together," he said.

Amazon said shareholders rejected proposals to curb and audit its facial recognition service on Wednesday, just as members of Congress indicated there was bipartisan support to one day regulate the technology.

Amazon said shareholders rejected proposals to curb and audit its facial recognition service on Wednesday, just as members of Congress indicated there was bipartisan support to one day regulate the technology. In the past year, Amazon has found itself at the centre of a growing debate over the use of facial recognition by governments, with critics warning of false matches and arrests and proponents arguing it keeps the public safe. Law enforcement in Oregon and Florida have used Amazon's face and image ID service, known as Rekognition. With support from civil liberties groups, two non-binding proposals on facial recognition made it to the ballot ahead of Amazon's shareholder meeting on Wednesday. The world's top online retailer and cloud computing company had tried to stop the votes, but it was effectively overruled by the US Securities and Exchange Commission. The first proposal would have made the company stop offering facial recognition to governments unless its board determined sales did not violate civil liberties. A second would have requested a study by September of the extent to which Amazon's service harmed rights and privacy. According to an Amazon spokeswoman, the resolutions failed by a wide margin. The vote breakdown will be disclosed at a later point in time. Adding to shareholders' concerns was recent research that showed Amazon's technology struggled to identify the gender of individuals with darker skin, prompting fears that a faulty technology would put innocent people behind bars. Amazon has defended its work and said all users must follow the law. It also added a web portal for people to report any abuse of the service. The proposals faced an uphill battle. Amazon's board recommended against them, and Jeff Bezos, the company's chief executive and founder, controls 16 per cent of it's stock and voting rights. Still, critics of the technology believed the vote was beneficial. "This shareholder intervention should serve as a wake-up call for the company to reckon with the real harms of face surveillance and to change course," said Shankar Narayan of the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington state. A key congressional committee also met on Wednesday in Washington, DC, to discuss the civil rights impact of all facial recognition technology, not only Amazon's. Responding to the shareholder vote, Democratic US Representative Jimmy Gomez said, "that just means that it's more important that Congress acts." Republican members of the committee expressed concern about US citizens having their rights violated and their information shared with the likes of the FBI without elected officials' oversight. A second hearing on the topic is scheduled for June 4. Any federal regulation would follow a major decision by San Francisco officials earlier this month to ban city personnel from using the technology. That contrasts with New York, Chicago and Detroit, where law enforcement has reportedly used facial recognition or acquired it with the hope of speeding up post-crime investigations. Amazon is one of many facial recognition vendors, alongside France's Idema, Japan's NEC Corp and Microsoft Corp, which has repeatedly called for regulation and said it turned down sales for human rights concerns. Mark Meadows, a Republican, said it was time to start legislating. "You've now hit the sweet spot that brings progressives and conservatives together," he said.

Amazon shareholders reject facial recognition ban as concern grows in US Congress

Jeff Bezos, who heads both <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/amazon-working-on-internet-serving-satellite-network-208049">Amazon</a> and space company Blue Origin, unveiled a lunar lander Thursday that he said would be used to transport equipment, and possibly human beings, to the south pole of the Moon by 2024.

"This is Blue Moon," the world's richest man said at a presentation in Washington, as curtains lifted to show a mock-up of a huge vessel weighing many tons and able to carry four self-driving rovers.

"It's an incredible vehicle, and it will go to the Moon," he declared.

Bezos didn't announce a specific date for the project's first launch, but said the lander would be ready in time to make President Donald Trump's announced timeline to return people to the Moon by 2024.

"We can help meet that timeline, but only because we started three years ago," he said. "It's time to go back to the Moon, this time to stay."

Fifty years after American astronauts first walked on the Moon, the United States is among countries showing renewed interest in Earth's natural satellite.

The vehicle has been under development for the past three years, Bezos said. It will be capable of carrying scientific instruments, the four small rovers, and also a future pressurized vehicle for humans.

The goal is to land on the Moon's south pole, where ice deposits were confirmed in 2018. Water can be exploited to produce hydrogen, which in turn could fuel future exploration of the solar system.

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Fully loaded with fuel, Blue Origin will weigh about 33,000 pounds (15,000 kilograms), which will decrease to around 7,000 pounds when it is about to land, he said.

Space colonies

The White House's intention to return to the Moon in 2024 has sent NASA into a frenzy of activity since the end of March because that particular mission was originally anticipated for 2028.

Nothing is ready: not the powerful rocket necessary to transport vehicles and astronauts. Not the components of the future mini-station in lunar orbit, which will act as a rest-stop between Earth and the Moon. And not the lander or rovers needed by astronauts, among whom will be the first woman to set foot on Earth's natural satellite.

But Bezos, who rarely speaks about the projects at Blue Origin, which he founded in 2000 and finances with more than $1 billion per year, clearly suggested he wants to help NASA.

Bezos, who also owns The Washington Post, did not talk to journalists at the event.

The lander's unveiling came as Bezos outlined his broader vision to build an infrastructure that would sustain the colonization of space by future generations of humans and shift polluting industries of the Earth.

This would involve the construction in space of artificial worlds inspired by designs first proposed by the late physicist Gerard K. O'Neill, one of Bezos's heroes, intended to give humanity an escape route in case of limited resources on Earth.

"My generation's job is to build the infrastructure," said Bezos. "We're going to build the road to space."

Blue Origin is working on two other major projects: New Shepard, a suborbital rocket to fly tourists into space; and New Glenn, a heavy lift, partly reusable launch rocket.

Bezos confirmed his commitment to fly the first people in New Shepard this year, and New Glenn in 2021.

The New Shepard rocket first reached space last year, achieving a height of 66 miles (106 kilometers) in April 2018.

Jeff Bezos, who heads both Amazon and space company Blue Origin, unveiled a lunar lander Thursday that he said would be used to transport equipment, and possibly human beings, to the south pole of the Moon by 2024.

Jeff Bezos, who heads both Amazon and space company Blue Origin, unveiled a lunar lander Thursday that he said would be used to transport equipment, and possibly human beings, to the south pole of the Moon by 2024. "This is Blue Moon," the world's richest man said at a presentation in Washington, as curtains lifted to show a mock-up of a huge vessel weighing many tons and able to carry four self-driving rovers. "It's an incredible vehicle, and it will go to the Moon," he declared. Bezos didn't announce a specific date for the project's first launch, but said the lander would be ready in time to make President Donald Trump's announced timeline to return people to the Moon by 2024. "We can help meet that timeline, but only because we started three years ago," he said. "It's time to go back to the Moon, this time to stay." Fifty years after American astronauts first walked on the Moon, the United States is among countries showing renewed interest in Earth's natural satellite. The vehicle has been under development for the past three years, Bezos said. It will be capable of carrying scientific instruments, the four small rovers, and also a future pressurized vehicle for humans. The goal is to land on the Moon's south pole, where ice deposits were confirmed in 2018. Water can be exploited to produce hydrogen, which in turn could fuel future exploration of the solar system. × Fully loaded with fuel, Blue Origin will weigh about 33,000 pounds (15,000 kilograms), which will decrease to around 7,000 pounds when it is about to land, he said. Space colonies The White House's intention to return to the Moon in 2024 has sent NASA into a frenzy of activity since the end of March because that particular mission was originally anticipated for 2028. Nothing is ready: not the powerful rocket necessary to transport vehicles and astronauts. Not the components of the future mini-station in lunar orbit, which will act as a rest-stop between Earth and the Moon. And not the lander or rovers needed by astronauts, among whom will be the first woman to set foot on Earth's natural satellite. But Bezos, who rarely speaks about the projects at Blue Origin, which he founded in 2000 and finances with more than $1 billion per year, clearly suggested he wants to help NASA. Bezos, who also owns The Washington Post, did not talk to journalists at the event. The lander's unveiling came as Bezos outlined his broader vision to build an infrastructure that would sustain the colonization of space by future generations of humans and shift polluting industries of the Earth. This would involve the construction in space of artificial worlds inspired by designs first proposed by the late physicist Gerard K. O'Neill, one of Bezos's heroes, intended to give humanity an escape route in case of limited resources on Earth. "My generation's job is to build the infrastructure," said Bezos. "We're going to build the road to space." Blue Origin is working on two other major projects: New Shepard, a suborbital rocket to fly tourists into space; and New Glenn, a heavy lift, partly reusable launch rocket. Bezos confirmed his commitment to fly the first people in New Shepard this year, and New Glenn in 2021. The New Shepard rocket first reached space last year, achieving a height of 66 miles (106 kilometers) in April 2018.

Amazon's Jeff Bezos unveils lunar lander project 'Blue Moon'

Amazon tycoon Jeff Bezos says he's going to send a spaceship to the moon, joining a resurgence of lunar interest half a century after people first set foot there. Bezos says his space company Blue Origin will land a robotic ship the size of a small house, capable of carrying four rovers and using a newly designed rocket engine and souped-up rockets.

Jeff Bezos says he'll send a spaceship to the moon

Billionaire entrepreneur Jeff Bezos, founder of rocket company Blue Origin, unveiled on a mockup of a lunar lander spacecraft and discussed missions to the moon. Watch this video to know more.

Jeff Bezos unveils lunar landing spacecraft mockup

One of Warren Buffett's and Charlie Munger's biggest regrets was not buying shares of Google owner Alphabet Inc.

"I don't mind not having caught Amazon early," Munger said. "The guy (Jeff Bezos) is kind of a miracle worker, it's very peculiar," he said, adding that he feels bad&nbsp;"for not identifying Google earlier ... We screwed up."

Buffett and Munger were asked if Berkshire Hathaway's investing philosophy had changed given that one of Berkshire's portfolio managers recently bought shares of Amazon.com Inc.

Todd Combs and Ted Weschler manage roughly $26 billion of Berkshire's investments.

Munger said he and Buffett saw how great search engine optimization was used in its Berkshire-owned GEICO and "we just sat there sucking our thumbs."

One of Warren Buffett's and Charlie Munger's biggest regrets was not buying shares of Google owner Alphabet Inc. "I don't mind not having caught Amazon early," Munger said.

One of Warren Buffett's and Charlie Munger's biggest regrets was not buying shares of Google owner Alphabet Inc. "I don't mind not having caught Amazon early," Munger said. "The guy (Jeff Bezos) is kind of a miracle worker, it's very peculiar," he said, adding that he feels bad "for not identifying Google earlier ... We screwed up." Buffett and Munger were asked if Berkshire Hathaway's investing philosophy had changed given that one of Berkshire's portfolio managers recently bought shares of Amazon.com Inc. Todd Combs and Ted Weschler manage roughly $26 billion of Berkshire's investments. Munger said he and Buffett saw how great search engine optimization was used in its Berkshire-owned GEICO and "we just sat there sucking our thumbs."

We screwed up not buying Google shares, Berkshire's Munger says

US, China top billionaires list; India ranked fourth behind Germany: Forbes

The most powerful operational rocket in the world, SpaceX's Falcon Heavy, launched its first commercial mission on Thursday (April 11) from Florida in a key demonstration for billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk's space company in the race to grasp lucrative military launch contracts.

SpaceX's Falcon Heavy conducts first commercial flight

Amazon on Thursday confirmed it is working on a project to deploy a network of satellites for high-speed internet service in underserved parts of the world.

Project Kuiper was first reported by tech news website GeekWire, which cited US regulatory filings disclosing the satellite project that could cost billions of dollars to complete.

"Project Kuiper is a new initiative to launch a constellation of low earth orbit satellites that will provide low-latency, high-speed broadband connectivity to unserved and underserved communities around the world," Amazon said in response to an AFP inquiry.

"This is a long-term project that envisions serving tens of millions of people who lack basic access to broadband internet."

The filings described a plan to put 3,236 satellites in low orbit at altitudes ranging from 367 miles (590 kilometres) to 391 miles (630-kilometre), according to GeekWire.

The frontier of space is internationally agreed to be 62 miles (100 kilometres) above Earth, known as the Karman Line.

The Seattle-based online powerhouse was looking to partner with like-minded companies on the effort.

There was no indication that Project Kuiper thus far involved Blue Origin, the rocket company owned by Amazon chief executive Jeff Bezos, which blasted off the 10th test flight of its New Shepard rocket early this year.

More test flights lie ahead, but the first flights with passengers on board could start by late 2019.

Amazon would be one of several companies seeking to use satellites to deliver internet to remote areas including Elon Musk's SpaceX and OneWeb, a venture-backed startup with funding from Japan's SoftBank, Airbus and chipmaker Qualcomm.

Several companies have been attempting to use space-based internet systems since the 1990s including one backed by Microsoft's Bill Gates and Saudi royal family investors.

Amazon on Thursday confirmed it is working on a project to deploy a network of satellites for high-speed internet service in underserved parts of the world. Project Kuiper was first reported by tech news website GeekWire, which cited US regulatory filings disclosing the satellite project that could cost billions of dollars to complete.

Amazon on Thursday confirmed it is working on a project to deploy a network of satellites for high-speed internet service in underserved parts of the world. Project Kuiper was first reported by tech news website GeekWire, which cited US regulatory filings disclosing the satellite project that could cost billions of dollars to complete. "Project Kuiper is a new initiative to launch a constellation of low earth orbit satellites that will provide low-latency, high-speed broadband connectivity to unserved and underserved communities around the world," Amazon said in response to an AFP inquiry. "This is a long-term project that envisions serving tens of millions of people who lack basic access to broadband internet." The filings described a plan to put 3,236 satellites in low orbit at altitudes ranging from 367 miles (590 kilometres) to 391 miles (630-kilometre), according to GeekWire. The frontier of space is internationally agreed to be 62 miles (100 kilometres) above Earth, known as the Karman Line. The Seattle-based online powerhouse was looking to partner with like-minded companies on the effort. There was no indication that Project Kuiper thus far involved Blue Origin, the rocket company owned by Amazon chief executive Jeff Bezos, which blasted off the 10th test flight of its New Shepard rocket early this year. More test flights lie ahead, but the first flights with passengers on board could start by late 2019. Amazon would be one of several companies seeking to use satellites to deliver internet to remote areas including Elon Musk's SpaceX and OneWeb, a venture-backed startup with funding from Japan's SoftBank, Airbus and chipmaker Qualcomm. Several companies have been attempting to use space-based internet systems since the 1990s including one backed by Microsoft's Bill Gates and Saudi royal family investors.

Amazon working on internet-serving satellite network

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his wife, MacKenzie, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/jeff-bezos-ex-wife-cedes-control-of-amazon-in-divorce-deal-208021">finalised the biggest divorce settlement </a>in history on Thursday, leaving him with 75 per cent of their stock in the tech giant and giving her nearly $36 billion in shares.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

MacKenzie Bezos said she would give all of her stake in The Washington Post and the space exploration firm Blue Origin to her husband -- the world's richest man -- as well as voting control of her remaining Amazon stock.

Jeff Bezos, 55, and MacKenzie, 48, a novelist, married in 1993 and have four children. Jeff Bezos founded Amazon in their Seattle garage in 1994 and turned it into a colossus that dominates online retail.

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In a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, Amazon, which has a market capitalization of some $890 billion, said MacKenzie Bezos will control four per cent of the company's outstanding common stock.

At Amazon's current share price that would be worth some $35.6 billion.

According to Forbes magazine, the divorce settlement makes MacKenzie Bezos the third wealthiest woman in the world after L'Oreal heiress Francoise Bettencourt Meyers and Walmart's Alice Walton.

Jeff Bezos, who now owns 12 per cent of Amazon, remains the world's richest man and the largest shareholder in the company with an estimated fortune of $110 billion, Forbes said, ahead of Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and Berkshire Hathaway chairman Warren Buffett.

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Jeff and MacKenzie Bezos announced their separation in January and posted Twitter messages on Thursday revealing the divorce settlement.

"Grateful to have finished the process of dissolving my marriage with Jeff with support from each other and everyone who reached out to us in kindness," MacKenzie Bezos wrote.

"Happy to be giving him all of my interests in the Washington Post and Blue Origin, and 75% of our Amazon stock plus voting control of my shares to support his continued contributions with the teams of these incredible companies," she said.

"Excited about my own plans. Grateful for the past as I look forward to what comes next."

Jeff Bezos, in a Twitter message of his own, said his wife had been "an extraordinary partner, ally, and mother."

"She is resourceful and brilliant and loving, and as our futures unroll, I know I'll always be learning from her," he said.

"I'm grateful for her support and for her kindness in this process and am very much looking forward to our new relationship as friends and co-parents," Bezos added.

Bezos has largely kept his personal life private during his years steering Amazon.

But it was thrust into the spotlight with the announcement in January that he and his wife were divorcing after 25 years of marriage and the revelation by the National Enquirer that he had been having an affair with a former news anchor, Lauren Sanchez.

When the National Enquirer, controlled by President Donald Trump's ally David Pecker, threatened to release lurid, intimate pictures of Bezos and Sanchez, Bezos fought back by releasing the details of his exchanges publicly.

"Rather than capitulate to extortion and blackmail, I've decided to publish exactly what they sent me, despite the personal cost and embarrassment they threaten," Bezos wrote in a blog post.

A lawyer for the National Enquirer denied that the supermarket tabloid had tried to extort and blackmail the Amazon founder.

Trump has been a frequent critic of the Post, which Bezos purchased in 2013, claiming that the newspaper is biased against him and calling it the "Amazon Washington Post."

Amazon shares closed down 0.1 percent at $1,818.86 on Thursday.

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his wife, MacKenzie, finalised the biggest divorce settlement in history on Thursday, leaving him with 75 per cent of their stock in the tech giant and giving her nearly $36 billion in shares.

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his wife, MacKenzie, finalised the biggest divorce settlement in history on Thursday, leaving him with 75 per cent of their stock in the tech giant and giving her nearly $36 billion in shares. MacKenzie Bezos said she would give all of her stake in The Washington Post and the space exploration firm Blue Origin to her husband -- the world's richest man -- as well as voting control of her remaining Amazon stock. Jeff Bezos, 55, and MacKenzie, 48, a novelist, married in 1993 and have four children. Jeff Bezos founded Amazon in their Seattle garage in 1994 and turned it into a colossus that dominates online retail. pic.twitter.com/OJWn3OOLS6 — MacKenzie Bezos (@mackenziebezos) April 4, 2019 × In a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, Amazon, which has a market capitalization of some $890 billion, said MacKenzie Bezos will control four per cent of the company's outstanding common stock. At Amazon's current share price that would be worth some $35.6 billion. According to Forbes magazine, the divorce settlement makes MacKenzie Bezos the third wealthiest woman in the world after L'Oreal heiress Francoise Bettencourt Meyers and Walmart's Alice Walton. Jeff Bezos, who now owns 12 per cent of Amazon, remains the world's richest man and the largest shareholder in the company with an estimated fortune of $110 billion, Forbes said, ahead of Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and Berkshire Hathaway chairman Warren Buffett. pic.twitter.com/oFGWPkK3dB — Jeff Bezos (@JeffBezos) April 4, 2019 × Jeff and MacKenzie Bezos announced their separation in January and posted Twitter messages on Thursday revealing the divorce settlement. "Grateful to have finished the process of dissolving my marriage with Jeff with support from each other and everyone who reached out to us in kindness," MacKenzie Bezos wrote. "Happy to be giving him all of my interests in the Washington Post and Blue Origin, and 75% of our Amazon stock plus voting control of my shares to support his continued contributions with the teams of these incredible companies," she said. "Excited about my own plans. Grateful for the past as I look forward to what comes next." Jeff Bezos, in a Twitter message of his own, said his wife had been "an extraordinary partner, ally, and mother." "She is resourceful and brilliant and loving, and as our futures unroll, I know I'll always be learning from her," he said. "I'm grateful for her support and for her kindness in this process and am very much looking forward to our new relationship as friends and co-parents," Bezos added. Bezos has largely kept his personal life private during his years steering Amazon. But it was thrust into the spotlight with the announcement in January that he and his wife were divorcing after 25 years of marriage and the revelation by the National Enquirer that he had been having an affair with a former news anchor, Lauren Sanchez. When the National Enquirer, controlled by President Donald Trump's ally David Pecker, threatened to release lurid, intimate pictures of Bezos and Sanchez, Bezos fought back by releasing the details of his exchanges publicly. "Rather than capitulate to extortion and blackmail, I've decided to publish exactly what they sent me, despite the personal cost and embarrassment they threaten," Bezos wrote in a blog post. A lawyer for the National Enquirer denied that the supermarket tabloid had tried to extort and blackmail the Amazon founder. Trump has been a frequent critic of the Post, which Bezos purchased in 2013, claiming that the newspaper is biased against him and calling it the "Amazon Washington Post." Amazon shares closed down 0.1 percent at $1,818.86 on Thursday.

After divorce settlement, MacKenzie Bezos becomes third richest woman in the world

Jeff Bezos: World's richest man agrees to $35bn divorce

MacKenzie Bezos, ex-wife of Amazon.com Inc founder and Chief Executive Officer Jeff Bezos, will give 75 per cent of their stake in the company and all voting rights to the billionaire entrepreneur.

MacKenzie Bezos will also relinquish all her interests in the Washington Post newspaper and rocket company Blue Origin, she said in a tweet on Thursday.

The announcement resolves questions about the direction of the world's largest online retailer that have abounded since the couple announced their divorce in January. Jeff Bezos, widely viewed as a management guru whose long-term focus has been essential to Amazon's meteoric stock rise, will retain company control.

The settlement also suggests that Amazon will be spared the kind of boardroom battle that has plagued other companies whose owners are dealing with family rifts.

"Happy to be giving him all of my interests in the Washington Post and Blue Origin, and 75 per cent of our Amazon stock," MacKenzie Bezos said in the tweet.

Her remaining stake is worth about $36 billion at current market prices. The couple's total stake of $143 billion had made them the richest in the world.

"Grateful to have finished the process of dissolving my marriage with Jeff with support from each other and everyone who reached out to us in kindness, and looking forward to next phase as co-parents and friends," MacKenzie Bezos wrote.

MacKenzie Bezos, ex-wife of Amazon.com Inc founder and Chief Executive Officer Jeff Bezos, will give 75 per cent of their stake in the company and all voting rights to the billionaire entrepreneur.

MacKenzie Bezos, ex-wife of Amazon.com Inc founder and Chief Executive Officer Jeff Bezos, will give 75 per cent of their stake in the company and all voting rights to the billionaire entrepreneur. MacKenzie Bezos will also relinquish all her interests in the Washington Post newspaper and rocket company Blue Origin, she said in a tweet on Thursday. The announcement resolves questions about the direction of the world's largest online retailer that have abounded since the couple announced their divorce in January. Jeff Bezos, widely viewed as a management guru whose long-term focus has been essential to Amazon's meteoric stock rise, will retain company control. The settlement also suggests that Amazon will be spared the kind of boardroom battle that has plagued other companies whose owners are dealing with family rifts. "Happy to be giving him all of my interests in the Washington Post and Blue Origin, and 75 per cent of our Amazon stock," MacKenzie Bezos said in the tweet. Her remaining stake is worth about $36 billion at current market prices. The couple's total stake of $143 billion had made them the richest in the world. "Grateful to have finished the process of dissolving my marriage with Jeff with support from each other and everyone who reached out to us in kindness, and looking forward to next phase as co-parents and friends," MacKenzie Bezos wrote.

Jeff Bezos' ex-wife cedes control of Amazon in divorce deal

The investigator hired to look into the release of intimate images of Jeff Bezos said Saturday he has concluded that Saudi Arabian authorities hacked the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/amazon-founder-jeff-bezos-to-divorce-wife-mackenzie-189291">Amazon chief's phone</a> to access his personal data.

Gavin de Becker linked the hack to extensive coverage by The Washington Post newspaper, which is owned by Bezos, of the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul last year.

"Our investigators and several experts concluded with high confidence that the Saudis had access to Bezos' phone, and gained private information," de Becker wrote on The Daily Beast website.

He said that while the brother of Bezos's mistress was paid by the National Enquirer scandal sheet for the release of the information, his role may have been a red herring, and the plot went far beyond one man seeking to cash in.

"It's clear that MBS considers The Washington Post to be a major enemy," de Becker wrote, referring to the oil-rich kingdom's powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, whom the US Senate, after a closed-door briefing by the CIA, named as "responsible" for the murder.

But de Becker did not specify which part of the Saudi government he was blaming for the hack, and gave few details about the investigation that led him to the conclusion that the kingdom was responsible.

The results, he wrote, "have been turned over to federal officials."

Bezos hired Gavin de Becker &amp; Associates to find out how his intimate text messages and photos made their way into the hands of the Enquirer, which reported on the Amazon chief's extramarital affair, leading to his divorce.

Bezos has accused <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/amazons-jeff-bezos-accuses-national-enquirer-of-blackmail-over-intimate-photos-195903">Enquirer publisher American</a> Media Inc, led by David Pecker, of "blackmail" for threatening to publish the intimate photos if he did not halt the investigation.

The Amazon chief declined to do so, instead publishing copies of emails from AMI.

Saudi Arabia has stressed that the crown prince was not involved in the killing of Khashoggi, a Post contributing columnist.

Riyadh initially said it had no knowledge of his fate, but later blamed the murder on rogue agents.

The investigator hired to look into the release of intimate images of Jeff Bezos said Saturday he has concluded that Saudi Arabian authorities hacked the Amazon chief's phone to access his personal data.

The investigator hired to look into the release of intimate images of Jeff Bezos said Saturday he has concluded that Saudi Arabian authorities hacked the Amazon chief's phone to access his personal data. Gavin de Becker linked the hack to extensive coverage by The Washington Post newspaper, which is owned by Bezos, of the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul last year. "Our investigators and several experts concluded with high confidence that the Saudis had access to Bezos' phone, and gained private information," de Becker wrote on The Daily Beast website. He said that while the brother of Bezos's mistress was paid by the National Enquirer scandal sheet for the release of the information, his role may have been a red herring, and the plot went far beyond one man seeking to cash in. "It's clear that MBS considers The Washington Post to be a major enemy," de Becker wrote, referring to the oil-rich kingdom's powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, whom the US Senate, after a closed-door briefing by the CIA, named as "responsible" for the murder. But de Becker did not specify which part of the Saudi government he was blaming for the hack, and gave few details about the investigation that led him to the conclusion that the kingdom was responsible. The results, he wrote, "have been turned over to federal officials." Bezos hired Gavin de Becker & Associates to find out how his intimate text messages and photos made their way into the hands of the Enquirer, which reported on the Amazon chief's extramarital affair, leading to his divorce. Bezos has accused Enquirer publisher American Media Inc, led by David Pecker, of "blackmail" for threatening to publish the intimate photos if he did not halt the investigation. The Amazon chief declined to do so, instead publishing copies of emails from AMI. Saudi Arabia has stressed that the crown prince was not involved in the killing of Khashoggi, a Post contributing columnist. Riyadh initially said it had no knowledge of his fate, but later blamed the murder on rogue agents.

Investigator says Amazon chief Jeff Bezos' phone hacked by Saudis

Jeff Bezos remains the world's richest person, ahead of Bill Gates and Warren Buffett, according to the latest Forbes list of the ultra wealthy, while far behind President Donald Trump jumped 51 spots in the ranking.

While things are largely stable up on top of the list, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg dropped three spots and former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg rose by two.

According to the list announced Tuesday by Forbes, the riches of Bezos, 55, have swelled by $19 billion in one year and he is now worth $131 billion.

Bezos, who holds 16 per cent of Amazon and whose wealth now makes him a target of the left wing of the US Democratic Party, has widened the money gap between himself and Gates, the philanthropist and co-founder of Microsoft.

Gates, 63, has seen his wealth grow to $96.5 billion, up from 90 billion last year, said Forbes.

Third place is held by Buffett, 88 and long considered an investment guru, although he did get stung in late February by a deep plunge in shares of US processed food maker Kraft Heinz, in which he had a large stake.

Buffett's fortune slipped by $1.5 billion to $82.5 billion, the magazine estimated.

It is more or less after this trio that things start to get shaken up on the Forbes list.

The CEO of French luxury good company LVMH, Bernard Arnault, held on to fourth place. But Zuckerberg lost $9 billion in net worth and slipped from fifth to eighth.

Ahead of Zuckerberg now are Mexican tycoon Carlos Slim, Zara and Inditex founder Amancio Ortega of Spain, and Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison.

Bloomberg rose from 11th to ninth place as his fortune increased to $55.5 billion, from $50 billion, said Forbes.

Americans still dominate the list with 14 of the top 20 billionaires from the US.

Non-Americans among the top 20 include India's Mukesh Ambani, chairman of Reliance Industries, in 13th place, and China's Ma Huateng, head of the Chinese internet giant Tencent, who rounds out the top 20.

Donald Trump 715th richest

Forbes estimates Trump's wealth at $3.1 billion, unchanged from last year.

While 994 people from last year's ranking saw their wealth drop -- a record, according to Forbes -- Trump rose in the Forbes ranking from 766 last year to 715 this year.

Trump's nine New York skyscrapers, including the famous Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue, account for nearly half of his wealth, while his clubs and golf courses are valued at $550 million.

However, one of Trump's Florida golf clubs, the National Doral Miami, took a hit and has been depreciated by $26 million following a sharp drop in bookings attributed to disagreements with the president's policies, Forbes said.

Trump is not the richest US elected official: that honour goes to JB&nbsp;Pritzker, a Democrat who took office as governor of Illinois in January. Pritzker, an heir to the Hyatt hotel fortune, was estimated to be worth $3.2 billion.&nbsp;

Jeff Bezos remains the world's richest person, ahead of Bill Gates and Warren Buffett, according to the latest Forbes list of the ultra wealthy, while far behind President Donald Trump jumped 51 spots in the ranking.

Jeff Bezos remains the world's richest person, ahead of Bill Gates and Warren Buffett, according to the latest Forbes list of the ultra wealthy, while far behind President Donald Trump jumped 51 spots in the ranking. While things are largely stable up on top of the list, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg dropped three spots and former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg rose by two. According to the list announced Tuesday by Forbes, the riches of Bezos, 55, have swelled by $19 billion in one year and he is now worth $131 billion. Bezos, who holds 16 per cent of Amazon and whose wealth now makes him a target of the left wing of the US Democratic Party, has widened the money gap between himself and Gates, the philanthropist and co-founder of Microsoft. Gates, 63, has seen his wealth grow to $96.5 billion, up from 90 billion last year, said Forbes. Third place is held by Buffett, 88 and long considered an investment guru, although he did get stung in late February by a deep plunge in shares of US processed food maker Kraft Heinz, in which he had a large stake. Buffett's fortune slipped by $1.5 billion to $82.5 billion, the magazine estimated. It is more or less after this trio that things start to get shaken up on the Forbes list. The CEO of French luxury good company LVMH, Bernard Arnault, held on to fourth place. But Zuckerberg lost $9 billion in net worth and slipped from fifth to eighth. Ahead of Zuckerberg now are Mexican tycoon Carlos Slim, Zara and Inditex founder Amancio Ortega of Spain, and Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison. Bloomberg rose from 11th to ninth place as his fortune increased to $55.5 billion, from $50 billion, said Forbes. Americans still dominate the list with 14 of the top 20 billionaires from the US. Non-Americans among the top 20 include India's Mukesh Ambani, chairman of Reliance Industries, in 13th place, and China's Ma Huateng, head of the Chinese internet giant Tencent, who rounds out the top 20. Donald Trump 715th richest Forbes estimates Trump's wealth at $3.1 billion, unchanged from last year. While 994 people from last year's ranking saw their wealth drop -- a record, according to Forbes -- Trump rose in the Forbes ranking from 766 last year to 715 this year. Trump's nine New York skyscrapers, including the famous Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue, account for nearly half of his wealth, while his clubs and golf courses are valued at $550 million. However, one of Trump's Florida golf clubs, the National Doral Miami, took a hit and has been depreciated by $26 million following a sharp drop in bookings attributed to disagreements with the president's policies, Forbes said. Trump is not the richest US elected official: that honour goes to JB Pritzker, a Democrat who took office as governor of Illinois in January. Pritzker, an heir to the Hyatt hotel fortune, was estimated to be worth $3.2 billion.

Bezos, Gates and Buffett still top the world's ultra rich: Forbes

Forbes 2019: Kylie Jenner dethrones Mark Zuckerberg, becomes world's youngest billionaire

Top business leaders, lawmakers and others are urging Amazon chief executive Jeff Bezos to reconsider his decision <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/amazon-cancels-plan-to-locate-headquarters-in-new-york-197522">not to move forward with plans for a new headquarters in New York</a>, to build an "exciting future" for the city.

In an open letter to appear in Friday's edition of The New York Times, the 80-odd signatories -- from bank CEOs to church leaders and the head of US airline JetBlue -- acknowledged the "rough" public debate that thwarted the project, but chalked it up to "New York charm."

In mid-February, Amazon abandoned its plans for a new headquarters in New York, to be located in the Long Island City neighbourhood of Queens, blaming opposition from community leaders angry at the huge subsidies on offer.

"New York attracts the best, most diverse talent from across the globe. We are a dynamic new centre of the country's most inclusive tech economy," the open letter said.

"We all hope you reconsider and join us in building the exciting future of New York."

They said the online retail giant's proposed New York campus would be a "tremendous benefit to residents and small businesses in the surrounding communities."

Also on the list of signatories are several current members of Congress representing New York.

Long Island City was one of two locations chosen last year for Amazon's so-called "HQ2" -- the other project in the suburbs of the US capital Washington will move forward.

The online retail giant had promised the sprawling complex would create 25,000 jobs in New York -- and possibly 40,000 by 2034 -- in exchange for nearly $3 billion in state and city incentives.

The New York plan had been endorsed by Mayor Bill De Blasio and Governor Andrew Cuomo.

But it ran into fierce opposition from some local politicians and community activists, including newly elected Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, whose district borders the New York site.

But those who signed the open letter wrote: "A clear majority of New Yorkers support this project and were disappointed by your decision not to proceed."

The letter says Cuomo would "take personal responsibility" for getting state approval of the project.&nbsp;

The New York Times has reported that Cuomo, a Democrat, has had several meetings with Amazon leaders in a bid to reverse the decision.

Amazon did not immediately reply to a request for comment on the letter.

Top business leaders, lawmakers and others are urging Amazon chief executive Jeff Bezos to reconsider his decision not to move forward with plans for a new headquarters in New York, to build an "exciting future" for the city.

Top business leaders, lawmakers and others are urging Amazon chief executive Jeff Bezos to reconsider his decision not to move forward with plans for a new headquarters in New York, to build an "exciting future" for the city. In an open letter to appear in Friday's edition of The New York Times, the 80-odd signatories -- from bank CEOs to church leaders and the head of US airline JetBlue -- acknowledged the "rough" public debate that thwarted the project, but chalked it up to "New York charm." In mid-February, Amazon abandoned its plans for a new headquarters in New York, to be located in the Long Island City neighbourhood of Queens, blaming opposition from community leaders angry at the huge subsidies on offer. "New York attracts the best, most diverse talent from across the globe. We are a dynamic new centre of the country's most inclusive tech economy," the open letter said. "We all hope you reconsider and join us in building the exciting future of New York." They said the online retail giant's proposed New York campus would be a "tremendous benefit to residents and small businesses in the surrounding communities." Also on the list of signatories are several current members of Congress representing New York. Long Island City was one of two locations chosen last year for Amazon's so-called "HQ2" -- the other project in the suburbs of the US capital Washington will move forward. The online retail giant had promised the sprawling complex would create 25,000 jobs in New York -- and possibly 40,000 by 2034 -- in exchange for nearly $3 billion in state and city incentives. The New York plan had been endorsed by Mayor Bill De Blasio and Governor Andrew Cuomo. But it ran into fierce opposition from some local politicians and community activists, including newly elected Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, whose district borders the New York site. But those who signed the open letter wrote: "A clear majority of New Yorkers support this project and were disappointed by your decision not to proceed." The letter says Cuomo would "take personal responsibility" for getting state approval of the project. The New York Times has reported that Cuomo, a Democrat, has had several meetings with Amazon leaders in a bid to reverse the decision. Amazon did not immediately reply to a request for comment on the letter.

Business leaders, lawmakers to Amazon: Please come back to New York

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/entertainment/grammys-2019-ariana-grande-wins-best-pop-vocal-album-gives-the-ceremony-a-miss-196500">Grammys 2019: Ariana Grande wins Best Pop Vocal Album; gives the ceremony a miss</a>

Reigning pop princess Ariana Grande took home the first Grammy of her career for Best Pop Vocal Album on Sunday for her fourth studio album 'Sweetener,' topping a tough field including perennial favourite Taylor Swift.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bafta-2019-the-complete-list-of-winners-196479">BAFTA 2019: 'The Favourite', 'Roma' take home big awards of the night</a>

It was a big night for Oscar favourites ‘Roma’ and ‘The Favourite’ that picked up big awards at BAFTA. The British Academy Film and Television Awards took place in London.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/german-migrant-rescue-ship-renamed-after-tragic-toddler-alan-kurdi-196483">German migrant rescue ship renamed after tragic toddler Alan Kurdi</a>

A German migrant rescue ship which operates in the Mediterranean was renamed Sunday after Alan Kurdi, a three-year-old Syrian refugee boy whose body washed up on a Turkish beach at the height of the migrant crisis, sparking global outrage

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/lawyer-denies-tabloid-blackmailed-amazon-chief-jeff-bezos-196477">Lawyer denies tabloid blackmailed Amazon chief Jeff </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/lawyer-denies-tabloid-blackmailed-amazon-chief-jeff-bezos-196477">Bezos</a>

A lawyer denied Sunday allegations by Jeff Bezos that the National Enquirer tabloid had tried to extort and blackmail him, insisting that embarrassing photographs were obtained from a "reliable" source.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/us-representative-zalmay-khalilzad-to-be-back-to-focus-on-intra-afghan-dialogue-196488">US representative Zalmay Khalilzad to be back to focus on intra-Afghan dialogue</a>

United States Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad will be back in the region during which he will be visiting six countries - Belgium, Germany, Turkey, Qatar, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.

Grammys 2019: Ariana Grande wins Best Pop Vocal Album; gives the ceremony a miss Reigning pop princess Ariana Grande took home the first Grammy of her career for Best Pop Vocal Album on Sunday for her fourth studio album 'Sweetener,' topping a tough field including perennial favourite Taylor Swift.

Grammys 2019: Ariana Grande wins Best Pop Vocal Album; gives the ceremony a miss Reigning pop princess Ariana Grande took home the first Grammy of her career for Best Pop Vocal Album on Sunday for her fourth studio album 'Sweetener,' topping a tough field including perennial favourite Taylor Swift. BAFTA 2019: 'The Favourite', 'Roma' take home big awards of the night It was a big night for Oscar favourites ‘Roma’ and ‘The Favourite’ that picked up big awards at BAFTA. The British Academy Film and Television Awards took place in London. German migrant rescue ship renamed after tragic toddler Alan Kurdi A German migrant rescue ship which operates in the Mediterranean was renamed Sunday after Alan Kurdi, a three-year-old Syrian refugee boy whose body washed up on a Turkish beach at the height of the migrant crisis, sparking global outrage Lawyer denies tabloid blackmailed Amazon chief Jeff Bezos A lawyer denied Sunday allegations by Jeff Bezos that the National Enquirer tabloid had tried to extort and blackmail him, insisting that embarrassing photographs were obtained from a "reliable" source. US representative Zalmay Khalilzad to be back to focus on intra-Afghan dialogue United States Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad will be back in the region during which he will be visiting six countries - Belgium, Germany, Turkey, Qatar, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.

News brief: Big stories of the day

A lawyer denied Sunday <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-arabia-says-has-nothing-to-do-with-bezos-ami-dispute-196445">allegations by Jeff Bezos</a> that the National Enquirer tabloid had tried to extort and blackmail him, insisting that embarrassing photographs were obtained from a "reliable" source.

"It absolutely is not extortion and not blackmail," Elkan Abramowitz, who represents National Enquirer parent company American Media Inc (AMI)'s chief executive David Pecker, told ABC television's "This Week."

"What happened was the story was given to the National Enquirer by a reliable source that had been given information to the National Enquirer for seven years prior to the story. It was a source that was well known to both Mr Bezos and Miss (Lauren) Sanchez."

Last month, the supermarket tabloid reported that Bezos, 55, had an extramarital affair with a former news anchor, publishing a trove of private text messages. The report appeared days after Bezos and his wife MacKenzie announced their divorce.

When asked if the Enquirer's source was Sanchez's brother Michael, as reported by some media outlets, Abramowitz declined to confirm.

"It was a person that was known to both Bezos and Ms Sanchez," he said.

"I can tell you it's not Saudi Arabia, it's not President Trump, it's not Roger Stone. But I cannot tell you who the source is."&nbsp;

The attorney was responding to Bezos's stunning claims published on online platform Medium on Thursday.

Bezos hinted he may have been targeted by pro-Trump forces in part because of coverage by The Washington Post, which he owns, of the murder of its contributor Jamal Khashoggi, strangled and dismembered by Saudi agents in the kingdom's Istanbul consulate in October.

But Abramowitz insisted that the Enquirer's exchanges with Bezos, which the billionaire released in his online post, were simply journalistic negotiating practices rather than extortion.

"The story was already published... it was part of a legitimate negotiation," the lawyer said.

"I think both Bezos and AMI had interests in resolving their differences. Bezos didn't want another story written about him or those pictures published, AMI did not want to have the libel against them that this was inspired by the White House, inspired by Saudi Arabia or inspired by The Washington Post."

A lawyer denied Sunday allegations by Jeff Bezos that the National Enquirer tabloid had tried to extort and blackmail him, insisting that embarrassing photographs were obtained from a "reliable" source.

A lawyer denied Sunday allegations by Jeff Bezos that the National Enquirer tabloid had tried to extort and blackmail him, insisting that embarrassing photographs were obtained from a "reliable" source. "It absolutely is not extortion and not blackmail," Elkan Abramowitz, who represents National Enquirer parent company American Media Inc (AMI)'s chief executive David Pecker, told ABC television's "This Week." "What happened was the story was given to the National Enquirer by a reliable source that had been given information to the National Enquirer for seven years prior to the story. It was a source that was well known to both Mr Bezos and Miss (Lauren) Sanchez." Last month, the supermarket tabloid reported that Bezos, 55, had an extramarital affair with a former news anchor, publishing a trove of private text messages. The report appeared days after Bezos and his wife MacKenzie announced their divorce. When asked if the Enquirer's source was Sanchez's brother Michael, as reported by some media outlets, Abramowitz declined to confirm. "It was a person that was known to both Bezos and Ms Sanchez," he said. "I can tell you it's not Saudi Arabia, it's not President Trump, it's not Roger Stone. But I cannot tell you who the source is." The attorney was responding to Bezos's stunning claims published on online platform Medium on Thursday. Bezos hinted he may have been targeted by pro-Trump forces in part because of coverage by The Washington Post, which he owns, of the murder of its contributor Jamal Khashoggi, strangled and dismembered by Saudi agents in the kingdom's Istanbul consulate in October. But Abramowitz insisted that the Enquirer's exchanges with Bezos, which the billionaire released in his online post, were simply journalistic negotiating practices rather than extortion. "The story was already published... it was part of a legitimate negotiation," the lawyer said. "I think both Bezos and AMI had interests in resolving their differences. Bezos didn't want another story written about him or those pictures published, AMI did not want to have the libel against them that this was inspired by the White House, inspired by Saudi Arabia or inspired by The Washington Post."

Lawyer denies tabloid blackmailed Amazon chief Jeff Bezos

The stunning revelation that a tabloid obtained below-the-belt selfies of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos -- the world's richest man -- suggests that even billionaires are not out of the reach of hackers.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-arabia-says-has-nothing-to-do-with-bezos-ami-dispute-196445">Bezos came out fighting this week</a>, accusing the National Enquirer of blackmailing him with lurid pictures of him and his mistress and pre-empting the threat to publish by releasing details of the images himself.

But for Mark Johnson, CEO of Sovereign Intelligence, the incident makes clear that "no one is beyond the reach of cyber exploitation."&nbsp;

"It's a curious irony that billionaires demonstrate astounding acumen related to their own industries, and yet seemingly ignore the minutiae of common-place security measures."&nbsp;

Johnson sees billionaires and top executives as especially vulnerable because their personal information is a gold mine for criminals, intelligence agencies and competitors.

"Obtaining their personal data is like having keys to the kingdom," said Johnson, potentially providing priceless insight into the thinking and strategies of the world's most powerful business leaders.

Ian Bremmer, the founder of the Eurasia Group think tank, put it more bluntly.

"If the National Enquirer has @JeffBezos dick pics, don't tell me China doesn't have @Amazon IP and strategy," he tweeted.

Increase in calls&nbsp;

Since the revelations about Bezos, whose fortune is estimated at more than $130 billion, computer security experts interviewed by AFP report an increase in calls from wealthy clients asking them to verify that their computer systems and devices were not hacked.

"Today's threats, however, are not necessarily trying to breach the walls of the castle -- they are already inside, residing on personal devices," said Kris Coleman, the founder of Red Five Security. "Experience has shown that the typical breach is not discovered for eight months."

In this ever-more connected age, more and more personal data is stored online -- from social security numbers to bank details, driver's license numbers and personal addresses.

As a result, the focus of security measures for the ultra-wealthy has shifted from bodyguards and sophisticated alarms towards risk management to protect their assets, their image and their "legacy."

The super-wealthy will typically have their own computer security service and also call on external companies for regular evaluation of their devices because a large number of hacks are detected by third parties, according to observers.

Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook's CEO, spent $7.3 million on his security in 2017, up from $4.2 million in 2015 -- astronomical sums that the social network deemed justified due to his prominence.

Last July, Facebook said it would give him $10 million more per year to strengthen his security.

"Protection from colluding insiders working from positions of trust; or, against an intelligence agency trying to attack from the outside is going to require a large investment, a lot of experience, and vigilance," said Coleman.

Entourage

For Johnson, "no one's data is that well protected. Think of all the third-party platforms that have your social security number, or banking information, or that hold your personal pictures."

Just days before Bezos disclosed that a tabloid had obtained his intimate selfies, a fellow billionaire -- Joe Ricketts, the founder of the broker TD Ameritrade Holding Corporation -- was ensnared in scandal following the release of private messages.

The American news site Splinter published a series of racist emails from Ricketts, without saying how it obtained them.

The exchanges, some of which date back to 2009, show the 77-year-old sharing and apparently endorsing racist jokes and conspiracy theories. He has since apologized.

Back in August 2015, a cyber attack on the Ashley-Madison extramarital dating site revealed that American billionaire Dan Loeb had an account there.

Bezos did not say how the National Enquirer obtained his pictures, but experts say the most common method is for a hacker to usurp the identity of a member of a person's entourage.

"The adversary would send a message to the target asking them to click on a link in a text or email," Coleman explained. "The sender's real identity is hidden but the target trusts the message from their 'friend' and clicks the link unlocking malware or another type of attack on that device."

The stunning revelation that a tabloid obtained below-the-belt selfies of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos -- the world's richest man -- suggests that even billionaires are not out of the reach of hackers.

The stunning revelation that a tabloid obtained below-the-belt selfies of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos -- the world's richest man -- suggests that even billionaires are not out of the reach of hackers. Bezos came out fighting this week, accusing the National Enquirer of blackmailing him with lurid pictures of him and his mistress and pre-empting the threat to publish by releasing details of the images himself. But for Mark Johnson, CEO of Sovereign Intelligence, the incident makes clear that "no one is beyond the reach of cyber exploitation." "It's a curious irony that billionaires demonstrate astounding acumen related to their own industries, and yet seemingly ignore the minutiae of common-place security measures." Johnson sees billionaires and top executives as especially vulnerable because their personal information is a gold mine for criminals, intelligence agencies and competitors. "Obtaining their personal data is like having keys to the kingdom," said Johnson, potentially providing priceless insight into the thinking and strategies of the world's most powerful business leaders. Ian Bremmer, the founder of the Eurasia Group think tank, put it more bluntly. "If the National Enquirer has @JeffBezos dick pics, don't tell me China doesn't have @Amazon IP and strategy," he tweeted. Increase in calls Since the revelations about Bezos, whose fortune is estimated at more than $130 billion, computer security experts interviewed by AFP report an increase in calls from wealthy clients asking them to verify that their computer systems and devices were not hacked. "Today's threats, however, are not necessarily trying to breach the walls of the castle -- they are already inside, residing on personal devices," said Kris Coleman, the founder of Red Five Security. "Experience has shown that the typical breach is not discovered for eight months." In this ever-more connected age, more and more personal data is stored online -- from social security numbers to bank details, driver's license numbers and personal addresses. As a result, the focus of security measures for the ultra-wealthy has shifted from bodyguards and sophisticated alarms towards risk management to protect their assets, their image and their "legacy." The super-wealthy will typically have their own computer security service and also call on external companies for regular evaluation of their devices because a large number of hacks are detected by third parties, according to observers. Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook's CEO, spent $7.3 million on his security in 2017, up from $4.2 million in 2015 -- astronomical sums that the social network deemed justified due to his prominence. Last July, Facebook said it would give him $10 million more per year to strengthen his security. "Protection from colluding insiders working from positions of trust; or, against an intelligence agency trying to attack from the outside is going to require a large investment, a lot of experience, and vigilance," said Coleman. Entourage For Johnson, "no one's data is that well protected. Think of all the third-party platforms that have your social security number, or banking information, or that hold your personal pictures." Just days before Bezos disclosed that a tabloid had obtained his intimate selfies, a fellow billionaire -- Joe Ricketts, the founder of the broker TD Ameritrade Holding Corporation -- was ensnared in scandal following the release of private messages. The American news site Splinter published a series of racist emails from Ricketts, without saying how it obtained them. The exchanges, some of which date back to 2009, show the 77-year-old sharing and apparently endorsing racist jokes and conspiracy theories. He has since apologized. Back in August 2015, a cyber attack on the Ashley-Madison extramarital dating site revealed that American billionaire Dan Loeb had an account there. Bezos did not say how the National Enquirer obtained his pictures, but experts say the most common method is for a hacker to usurp the identity of a member of a person's entourage. "The adversary would send a message to the target asking them to click on a link in a text or email," Coleman explained. "The sender's real identity is hidden but the target trusts the message from their 'friend' and clicks the link unlocking malware or another type of attack on that device."

Bezos case exposes billionaires' vulnerability to hackers

Saudi Arabia had "absolutely nothing to do" with the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/american-media-says-it-acted-lawfully-in-reporting-on-amazons-bezos-196110">National Enquirer's reporting</a> on an extramarital relationship involving Amazon.com Inc Chief Executive Jeff Bezos, the kingdom's minister of state for foreign affairs said.

Bezos on Thursday accused American Media Inc (AMI), the Enquirer's owner, of trying to blackmail him with the threat of publishing "intimate photos" he allegedly sent to his girlfriend unless he said in public that the US&nbsp;tabloid's reporting on him was not politically motivated.

In a blog post, he alluded to Saudi Arabia's displeasure at the Bezos-owned Washington Post's coverage of the murder of its columnist and Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

He also referenced media reports about alleged links between AMI and Saudi Arabia.

"This is something between the two parties, we have nothing to do with it," Adel al-Jubeir told CBS' "Face the Nation" when asked if the Saudi government was involved in the Enquirer leaks.

"It sounds to me like a soap opera," he said in an interview to be aired on Sunday, excerpts of which were posted on CBS' website. Jubeir said he was not aware of any links between the Saudi government and AMI or its CEO David Pecker.

AMI said on Friday its reporting on Bezos was lawful and it would investigate his claims.

The killing of Khashoggi at the kingdom's Istanbul consulate last October strained Saudi Arabia's ties with Western allies, exposed the kingdom to possible sanctions and tarnished the image of de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Saudi Arabia had "absolutely nothing to do" with the National Enquirer's reporting on an extramarital relationship involving Amazon.com Inc Chief Executive Jeff Bezos, the kingdom's minister of state for foreign affairs said.

Saudi Arabia had "absolutely nothing to do" with the National Enquirer's reporting on an extramarital relationship involving Amazon.com Inc Chief Executive Jeff Bezos, the kingdom's minister of state for foreign affairs said. Bezos on Thursday accused American Media Inc (AMI), the Enquirer's owner, of trying to blackmail him with the threat of publishing "intimate photos" he allegedly sent to his girlfriend unless he said in public that the US tabloid's reporting on him was not politically motivated. In a blog post, he alluded to Saudi Arabia's displeasure at the Bezos-owned Washington Post's coverage of the murder of its columnist and Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. He also referenced media reports about alleged links between AMI and Saudi Arabia. "This is something between the two parties, we have nothing to do with it," Adel al-Jubeir told CBS' "Face the Nation" when asked if the Saudi government was involved in the Enquirer leaks. "It sounds to me like a soap opera," he said in an interview to be aired on Sunday, excerpts of which were posted on CBS' website. Jubeir said he was not aware of any links between the Saudi government and AMI or its CEO David Pecker. AMI said on Friday its reporting on Bezos was lawful and it would investigate his claims. The killing of Khashoggi at the kingdom's Istanbul consulate last October strained Saudi Arabia's ties with Western allies, exposed the kingdom to possible sanctions and tarnished the image of de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Saudi Arabia says has 'nothing to do' with Bezos-AMI dispute

Amazon.com Inc is exploring alternatives to locating part of its new headquarters in New York in case the plan should fail due to local opposition, a person briefed on the matter told Reuters on Friday.

The online retailer has not yet acquired any land for the project, which would make it easy to scrap its plans, the source said. The Washington Post reported the story earlier on Friday.

The person briefed on the matter said that<a href="http://www.wionews.com/entertainment/woody-allen-sues-amazon-studios-for-quitting-movie-deal-195953"> Amazon </a>was still working towards winning approval from New York officials and had not given up on the proposal, but was considering potential alternatives to New York.

Earlier, the Post, which is owned by Amazon Chief Executive Jeff Bezos, reported that Amazon executives had internal discussions to reassess the situation in New York and explore alternatives. It cited two unnamed people familiar with the retailer's thinking.

In a statement on Friday, Amazon said it was working to engage with New Yorkers, but did not discuss whether it would change its plans.

"We're focussed on engaging with our new neighbours - small business owners, educators, and community leaders," it said. "Whether it's building a pipeline of local jobs through workforce training or funding computer science classes for thousands of New York City students, we are working hard to demonstrate what kind of neighbour we will be."

Amazon shares closed down 1.6 per cent on Friday.

In November, Amazon said it would branch out from its home base in Seattle with plans to create more than 25,000 jobs in two new developments.

The world's largest online retailer plans to spend $5 billion on the developments in Long Island City in New York's Queens borough, and in Arlington, Virginia, near Washington, DC, and expects to get more than $2 billion in tax credits and incentives with plans to apply for more.

Amazon has mailed flyers to Queens residents touting the economic benefits of its New York expansion.

But some residents in the rapidly transforming Long Island City neighbourhood across the East River from midtown Manhattan's skyscrapers have loudly opposed Amazon's plan. They say they fear more crowded subway stations, an overburdened sewage system and rent increases that would drive out long-time residents.

"I would be happy not to have them," said Terri Gloyd, the co-owner of the LIC Corner Cafe. "I think most of the neighbourhood hasn't wanted them here." She said her neighbours may have given the prospect of Amazon a warmer welcome had the subsidy package not been so large.

A critic of the plan, Queens lawmaker Senator Michael Gianaris, was appointed to a state Senate panel that has the power to block Amazon's campus, local media including the New York Times have reported.

City council speaker Corey Johnson told local radio he is looking at subsidies for Amazon and that the plan is not yet final. One point of contention could be Amazon's opposition to labour unions.

U.S. Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, whose district spans parts of Queens and the Bronx, has also criticized Amazon.

Ocasio-Cortez tweeted a link to the Post story on Friday and said: "Can everyday people come together and effectively organise against creeping overreach of one of the world’s biggest corporations? Yes, they can."

In one sign of opposition, artists spray-painted Amazon's logo - spelled "AMAZNO" - on streets near the proposed site.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio support Amazon's plan.

Cuomo defended the deal on Friday as the largest economic development the state had ever won and cited the Post story.

"If Amazon does not come to New York, it's because of the political opposition. Because it is so ironic for Amazon after they spent one year with everyone seducing them, and everyone courting them, we win and then there's political opposition."

Bidding war

The split-second headquarters, which Amazon called HQ2, attracted 238 proposals from across North America in a year-long bidding war.

Amazon ended the frenzy by dividing the spoils between the two most powerful U.S. East Coast cities and offering a consolation prize of a 5,000-person centre in Nashville, Tennessee.

At the outset of its search last year, Amazon said it was looking for a business-friendly environment. The company said it will receive performance-based incentives of $1.525 billion from the state of New York, including an average $48,000 for each job it creates.

It can also apply for other tax incentives, such as New York City's Relocation and Employment Assistance Programme that offers tax breaks potentially worth $900 million over 12 years. What benefit the company would actually get was unclear.

Amazon.com Inc is exploring alternatives to locating part of its new headquarters in New York in case the plan should fail due to local opposition, a person briefed on the matter told Reuters on Friday.

Amazon.com Inc is exploring alternatives to locating part of its new headquarters in New York in case the plan should fail due to local opposition, a person briefed on the matter told Reuters on Friday. The online retailer has not yet acquired any land for the project, which would make it easy to scrap its plans, the source said. The Washington Post reported the story earlier on Friday. The person briefed on the matter said that Amazon was still working towards winning approval from New York officials and had not given up on the proposal, but was considering potential alternatives to New York. Earlier, the Post, which is owned by Amazon Chief Executive Jeff Bezos, reported that Amazon executives had internal discussions to reassess the situation in New York and explore alternatives. It cited two unnamed people familiar with the retailer's thinking. In a statement on Friday, Amazon said it was working to engage with New Yorkers, but did not discuss whether it would change its plans. "We're focussed on engaging with our new neighbours - small business owners, educators, and community leaders," it said. "Whether it's building a pipeline of local jobs through workforce training or funding computer science classes for thousands of New York City students, we are working hard to demonstrate what kind of neighbour we will be." Amazon shares closed down 1.6 per cent on Friday. In November, Amazon said it would branch out from its home base in Seattle with plans to create more than 25,000 jobs in two new developments. The world's largest online retailer plans to spend $5 billion on the developments in Long Island City in New York's Queens borough, and in Arlington, Virginia, near Washington, DC, and expects to get more than $2 billion in tax credits and incentives with plans to apply for more. Amazon has mailed flyers to Queens residents touting the economic benefits of its New York expansion. But some residents in the rapidly transforming Long Island City neighbourhood across the East River from midtown Manhattan's skyscrapers have loudly opposed Amazon's plan. They say they fear more crowded subway stations, an overburdened sewage system and rent increases that would drive out long-time residents. "I would be happy not to have them," said Terri Gloyd, the co-owner of the LIC Corner Cafe. "I think most of the neighbourhood hasn't wanted them here." She said her neighbours may have given the prospect of Amazon a warmer welcome had the subsidy package not been so large. A critic of the plan, Queens lawmaker Senator Michael Gianaris, was appointed to a state Senate panel that has the power to block Amazon's campus, local media including the New York Times have reported. City council speaker Corey Johnson told local radio he is looking at subsidies for Amazon and that the plan is not yet final. One point of contention could be Amazon's opposition to labour unions. U.S. Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, whose district spans parts of Queens and the Bronx, has also criticized Amazon. Ocasio-Cortez tweeted a link to the Post story on Friday and said: "Can everyday people come together and effectively organise against creeping overreach of one of the world’s biggest corporations? Yes, they can." In one sign of opposition, artists spray-painted Amazon's logo - spelled "AMAZNO" - on streets near the proposed site. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio support Amazon's plan. Cuomo defended the deal on Friday as the largest economic development the state had ever won and cited the Post story. "If Amazon does not come to New York, it's because of the political opposition. Because it is so ironic for Amazon after they spent one year with everyone seducing them, and everyone courting them, we win and then there's political opposition." Bidding war The split-second headquarters, which Amazon called HQ2, attracted 238 proposals from across North America in a year-long bidding war. Amazon ended the frenzy by dividing the spoils between the two most powerful U.S. East Coast cities and offering a consolation prize of a 5,000-person centre in Nashville, Tennessee. At the outset of its search last year, Amazon said it was looking for a business-friendly environment. The company said it will receive performance-based incentives of $1.525 billion from the state of New York, including an average $48,000 for each job it creates. It can also apply for other tax incentives, such as New York City's Relocation and Employment Assistance Programme that offers tax breaks potentially worth $900 million over 12 years. What benefit the company would actually get was unclear.

Amazon exploring potential alternatives to New York HQ: Report

American Media Inc, the owner of the National Enquirer, said on Friday it acted lawfully in its reporting on Jeff Bezos, chief executive of Amazon.com Inc, and that it would thoroughly investigate his claims of blackmail and take whatever action was necessary.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/amazons-jeff-bezos-accuses-national-enquirer-of-blackmail-over-intimate-photos-195903">Bezos on Thursday accused AMI of trying to blackmail him</a> with the threat of publishing "intimate photos" he allegedly sent to his girlfriend unless he said in public that the supermarket tabloid's reporting on him was not politically motivated.

It comes after the tabloid last month reported Bezos was in a relationship with former news anchor and entertainment reporter Lauren Sanchez -- having accessed private text messages.

In a post on blogging platform Medium Thursday, Bezos said Enquirer publisher American Media Inc (AMI), led by David Pecker, approached him with a threat to publish the photos if he did not halt an investigation into the motives behind that leak.

He added the publication demanded he and security consultant Gavin de Becker, who is leading the probe, publically state they had "no knowledge or basis for suggesting that AMI's coverage was politically motivated or influenced by political forces."

De Becker mentioned in a recent Daily Beast recent that "strong leads point to political motives." Bezos, who owns The Washington Post, is a consistent subject of criticism by US President Donald Trump.

"Rather than capitulate to extortion and blackmail, I've decided to publish exactly what they sent me, despite the personal cost and embarrassment they threaten," Bezos wrote in the post, which was entitled "No thank you, Mr Pecker" and included copies of emails from AMI.

"Be assured, no real journalists ever propose anything like what is happening here," he added.

American Media Inc, the owner of the National Enquirer, said on Friday it acted lawfully in its reporting on Jeff Bezos, chief executive of Amazon.com Inc, and that it would thoroughly investigate his claims of blackmail and take whatever action was necessary.

American Media Inc, the owner of the National Enquirer, said on Friday it acted lawfully in its reporting on Jeff Bezos, chief executive of Amazon.com Inc, and that it would thoroughly investigate his claims of blackmail and take whatever action was necessary. Bezos on Thursday accused AMI of trying to blackmail him with the threat of publishing "intimate photos" he allegedly sent to his girlfriend unless he said in public that the supermarket tabloid's reporting on him was not politically motivated. It comes after the tabloid last month reported Bezos was in a relationship with former news anchor and entertainment reporter Lauren Sanchez -- having accessed private text messages. In a post on blogging platform Medium Thursday, Bezos said Enquirer publisher American Media Inc (AMI), led by David Pecker, approached him with a threat to publish the photos if he did not halt an investigation into the motives behind that leak. He added the publication demanded he and security consultant Gavin de Becker, who is leading the probe, publically state they had "no knowledge or basis for suggesting that AMI's coverage was politically motivated or influenced by political forces." De Becker mentioned in a recent Daily Beast recent that "strong leads point to political motives." Bezos, who owns The Washington Post, is a consistent subject of criticism by US President Donald Trump. "Rather than capitulate to extortion and blackmail, I've decided to publish exactly what they sent me, despite the personal cost and embarrassment they threaten," Bezos wrote in the post, which was entitled "No thank you, Mr Pecker" and included copies of emails from AMI. "Be assured, no real journalists ever propose anything like what is happening here," he added.

American Media says it acted lawfully in reporting on Amazon's Bezos

Amazon CEO <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/jeff-bezoss-blue-origin-rocket-makes-10th-flight-test-192329">Jeff Bezos</a> on Thursday accused the publisher of the National Enquirer of "blackmail" after it threatened to publish intimate photographs sent by the billionaire to <a href="http://www.wionews.com/entertainment/jeff-lauren-secret-romantic-texts-leaked-just-after-divorce-announcement-189627">Lauren Sanchez</a>, whom he was said to be dating.

It comes after the tabloid last month reported Bezos was in a relationship with former news anchor and entertainment reporter Lauren Sanchez -- having accessed private text messages.

In a post on blogging platform Medium Thursday, Bezos said Enquirer publisher American Media Inc (AMI), led by David Pecker, approached him with a threat to publish the photos if he did not halt an investigation into the motives behind that leak.

He added the publication demanded he and security consultant Gavin de Becker, who is leading the probe, publically state they had "no knowledge or basis for suggesting that AMI's coverage was politically motivated or influenced by political forces."

De Becker mentioned in a recent Daily Beast recent that "strong leads point to political motives." Bezos, who owns The Washington Post, is a consistent subject of criticism by US President Donald Trump.

"Rather than capitulate to extortion and blackmail, I've decided to publish exactly what they sent me, despite the personal cost and embarrassment they threaten," Bezos wrote in the post, which was entitled "No thank you, Mr Pecker" and included copies of emails from AMI.

"Be assured, no real journalists ever propose anything like what is happening here," he added.

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos on Thursday accused the publisher of the National Enquirer of "blackmail" after it threatened to publish intimate photographs sent by the billionaire to Lauren Sanchez, whom he was said to be dating.

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos on Thursday accused the publisher of the National Enquirer of "blackmail" after it threatened to publish intimate photographs sent by the billionaire to Lauren Sanchez, whom he was said to be dating. It comes after the tabloid last month reported Bezos was in a relationship with former news anchor and entertainment reporter Lauren Sanchez -- having accessed private text messages. In a post on blogging platform Medium Thursday, Bezos said Enquirer publisher American Media Inc (AMI), led by David Pecker, approached him with a threat to publish the photos if he did not halt an investigation into the motives behind that leak. He added the publication demanded he and security consultant Gavin de Becker, who is leading the probe, publically state they had "no knowledge or basis for suggesting that AMI's coverage was politically motivated or influenced by political forces." De Becker mentioned in a recent Daily Beast recent that "strong leads point to political motives." Bezos, who owns The Washington Post, is a consistent subject of criticism by US President Donald Trump. "Rather than capitulate to extortion and blackmail, I've decided to publish exactly what they sent me, despite the personal cost and embarrassment they threaten," Bezos wrote in the post, which was entitled "No thank you, Mr Pecker" and included copies of emails from AMI. "Be assured, no real journalists ever propose anything like what is happening here," he added.

Amazon's Jeff Bezos accuses National Enquirer of 'blackmail' over intimate photos

What Amazon founder Jeff Bezos said in blog post on National Enquirer 'blackmail'

The world's 26 richest people own the same wealth as the poorest half of humanity, Oxfam said Monday, urging governments to hike taxes on the wealthy to fight soaring inequality.

A new report from the charity, published ahead of the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/has-davos-made-the-world-better-191551">World Economic Forum in Davos</a>, also found that billionaires around the world saw their combined fortunes grow by $2.5 billion each day in 2018.

The world's richest man, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, saw his fortune increase to $112 billion last year, Oxfam said, pointing out that just one percent of his wealth was the equivalent to the entire health budget of Ethiopia, a country of 105 million people.

The 3.8 billion people at the bottom of the scale meanwhile saw their wealth decline by 11 percent last year, Oxfam said, stressing that the growing gap between rich and poor was undermining the fight against poverty, damaging economies and fuelling public anger.

"People across the globe are angry and frustrated," warned Oxfam executive director Winnie Byanyima in a statement.

The numbers are stark: Between 1980 and 2016, the poorest half of humanity pocketed just 12 cents on each dollar of global income growth, compared with the 27 cents captured by the top one percent, the report found.

Under-taxing the rich 
Oxfam warned that governments were exacerbating inequality by increasingly underfunding public services like healthcare and education at the same time as they consistently under-tax the wealthy.

Calls for hiking rates on the wealthy have multiplied amid growing popular outrage in a number of countries over swelling inequality.

In the United States, new congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez made headlines earlier this month by proposing to tax the ultra-rich up to 70 percent.

The self-described Democratic Socialist's proposal came after President Donald Trump's sweeping tax reforms cut the top rate last year from 39.6 percent to 37 percent.

And in Europe, the "yellow vest" movement that has been rocking France with anti-government protests since November is demanding that President Emmanuel Macron repeal controversial cuts to wealth taxes on high earners.

"The super-rich and corporations are paying lower rates of tax than they have in decades," the Oxfam report said, pointing out that "the human costs -- children without teachers, clinics without medicines –- are huge".

"Piecemeal private services punish poor people and privilege elites," it said, stressing that every day, some 10,000 people die due to lacking access to affordable healthcare.

The report, released as the world's rich, famous and influential began arriving for the plush annual gathering at the luxury Swiss ski resort town, urged governments to "stop the race to the bottom" in taxing rich individuals and big corporations.

Oxfam found that asking the richest to pay just 0.5 percent extra tax on their wealth "could raise more money than it would cost to educate all 262 million children out of school and provide healthcare that would save the lives of 3.3 million people".

The world's 26 richest people own the same wealth as the poorest half of humanity, Oxfam said Monday, urging governments to hike taxes on the wealthy to fight soaring inequality.

The world's 26 richest people own the same wealth as the poorest half of humanity, Oxfam said Monday, urging governments to hike taxes on the wealthy to fight soaring inequality. A new report from the charity, published ahead of the World Economic Forum in Davos, also found that billionaires around the world saw their combined fortunes grow by $2.5 billion each day in 2018. The world's richest man, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, saw his fortune increase to $112 billion last year, Oxfam said, pointing out that just one percent of his wealth was the equivalent to the entire health budget of Ethiopia, a country of 105 million people. The 3.8 billion people at the bottom of the scale meanwhile saw their wealth decline by 11 percent last year, Oxfam said, stressing that the growing gap between rich and poor was undermining the fight against poverty, damaging economies and fuelling public anger. "People across the globe are angry and frustrated," warned Oxfam executive director Winnie Byanyima in a statement. The numbers are stark: Between 1980 and 2016, the poorest half of humanity pocketed just 12 cents on each dollar of global income growth, compared with the 27 cents captured by the top one percent, the report found. Under-taxing the rich Oxfam warned that governments were exacerbating inequality by increasingly underfunding public services like healthcare and education at the same time as they consistently under-tax the wealthy. Calls for hiking rates on the wealthy have multiplied amid growing popular outrage in a number of countries over swelling inequality. In the United States, new congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez made headlines earlier this month by proposing to tax the ultra-rich up to 70 percent. The self-described Democratic Socialist's proposal came after President Donald Trump's sweeping tax reforms cut the top rate last year from 39.6 percent to 37 percent. And in Europe, the "yellow vest" movement that has been rocking France with anti-government protests since November is demanding that President Emmanuel Macron repeal controversial cuts to wealth taxes on high earners. "The super-rich and corporations are paying lower rates of tax than they have in decades," the Oxfam report said, pointing out that "the human costs -- children without teachers, clinics without medicines –- are huge". "Piecemeal private services punish poor people and privilege elites," it said, stressing that every day, some 10,000 people die due to lacking access to affordable healthcare. The report, released as the world's rich, famous and influential began arriving for the plush annual gathering at the luxury Swiss ski resort town, urged governments to "stop the race to the bottom" in taxing rich individuals and big corporations. Oxfam found that asking the richest to pay just 0.5 percent extra tax on their wealth "could raise more money than it would cost to educate all 262 million children out of school and provide healthcare that would save the lives of 3.3 million people".

World's 26 richest people own as much wealth as poorer 50% of humanity: Oxfam

Amazon.com shares seesawed on Thursday as investors questioned how the impending <a href="http://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-worlds-costliest-divorces-of-all-time-189434">divorce of company founder Jeff Bezos</a> would affect his control of the most valuable company on Wall Street and its ambitious expansion plans.

Bezos, whom Forbes lists as the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/amazon-founder-jeff-bezos-to-divorce-wife-mackenzie-189291">world's richest person</a>, worth an estimated $136.2 billion, said via Twitter on Wednesday that he and his wife of 25 years, MacKenzie, will divorce. Amazon shares were down 0.5 per cent in afternoon trading on Thursday, after gaining earlier in the session.

The split throws into question how the couple will split their fortune, which includes an approximately 16 per cent ownership stake in Amazon's roughly $811.4 billion market capitalisation. Divorce laws in Washington state, where they live, hold that property acquired during a marriage is generally divided equally between spouses.

Most analysts and fund managers are largely sanguine and say the divorce will not lead to any significant change in the company's leadership or its growth prospects.

Prominent short-seller Doug Kass, however, who runs hedge fund Seabreeze Partners, said he sold his stake in Amazon on news of the divorce. That was after initially buying a stake in late December and naming Amazon among his "best ideas list."

"Is it premature to ask what happens to Amazon when Jeff Bezos chooses to turn over the day-to-day running of the company he founded?" he said. "His announced divorce gives me pause for thought."

The couple has multiple residences across the country, so there is a possibility the divorce could be filed in a state where marital property is not presumed to be divided equally.

New York matrimonial lawyer Bernard Clair said, in that case, a judge would likely determine MacKenzie Bezos' share of Amazon stock based on her contribution to her husband's success, which could include helping him make important business decisions or raising their children so he could focus on work.

Any transfer of Jeff Bezos' stock would be subject to US Securities and Exchange Commission disclosure requirements. As an officer and director at the company, Bezos could be required to file an SEC Form 4 within two business days of any transfer, though former SEC lawyer Broc Romanek noted a provision of US securities laws exempts share transfers made pursuant to a domestic relations order.

Even if Bezos were exempted from filing a Form 4, he would be required to update promptly the record of his Amazon holdings on file with the SEC if his position in the company changed by 1 per cent or more, said DC securities lawyer Thomas Gorman. MacKenzie Bezos would also need to file a similar record if she received more than 5 per cent of Amazon stock.

Peter Henning, a securities law professor at Wayne State University, noted that Amazon, unlike fellow tech giants Facebook and Google, does not give its founder's shares greater voting rights. If MacKenzie Bezos is given a large block of shares, she could have a big say at the company.

Gorman agreed. "She could wind up with some sort of control block, and get herself a directorship," he said. "It depends on what she wants to do.”

Any effort to dilute MacKenzie Bezos' voting rights by creating a separate class of shares would require a shareholder vote, said Gorman, though he added that he thought such a move unlikely.

“Nobody wants to run their divorce through a shareholder meeting,” he said.

Robert Bacarella, portfolio manager of the Monetta fund, said that while he is not changing his investment in Amazon, he expects other growth-focused portfolio managers may trim their stakes due to concerns about the divorce's impact.

"This is such an over-owned company and this gives them an excuse to say 'Maybe I'll trim some back because it adds a new question mark'," he said.

Bacarella, however, said he is not concerned because even if MacKenzie Bezos liquidated a stake that could be as high as 8 per cent, there would be no fundamental reason behind the sale. Any impact would be short-term in nature.

"Unless you worry that he will get so distracted by the divorce that he cannot manage the company, this will be a non-event," said Michael Pachter, an analyst at Wedbush Securities in Los Angeles. "He is given control of the company because shareholders like him and his vision, not because he has 50 per cent of the stock."

Thomas Forte, an analyst at DA Davidson, said questions about the future of the company due to the divorce are legitimate due to Jeff Bezos' outsized influence on its value. Should he leave the company for any reason, its shares would likely immediately fall more than 10 per cent, he said.

“His influence on the company is as a significant as if he had super-voting shares because of his track record and the way he runs the company as if he owned the whole thing," he said

Amazon.com shares seesawed on Thursday as investors questioned how the impending divorce of company founder Jeff Bezos would affect his control of the most valuable company on Wall Street and its ambitious expansion plans.

Amazon.com shares seesawed on Thursday as investors questioned how the impending divorce of company founder Jeff Bezos would affect his control of the most valuable company on Wall Street and its ambitious expansion plans. Bezos, whom Forbes lists as the world's richest person, worth an estimated $136.2 billion, said via Twitter on Wednesday that he and his wife of 25 years, MacKenzie, will divorce. Amazon shares were down 0.5 per cent in afternoon trading on Thursday, after gaining earlier in the session. The split throws into question how the couple will split their fortune, which includes an approximately 16 per cent ownership stake in Amazon's roughly $811.4 billion market capitalisation. Divorce laws in Washington state, where they live, hold that property acquired during a marriage is generally divided equally between spouses. Most analysts and fund managers are largely sanguine and say the divorce will not lead to any significant change in the company's leadership or its growth prospects. Prominent short-seller Doug Kass, however, who runs hedge fund Seabreeze Partners, said he sold his stake in Amazon on news of the divorce. That was after initially buying a stake in late December and naming Amazon among his "best ideas list." "Is it premature to ask what happens to Amazon when Jeff Bezos chooses to turn over the day-to-day running of the company he founded?" he said. "His announced divorce gives me pause for thought." The couple has multiple residences across the country, so there is a possibility the divorce could be filed in a state where marital property is not presumed to be divided equally. New York matrimonial lawyer Bernard Clair said, in that case, a judge would likely determine MacKenzie Bezos' share of Amazon stock based on her contribution to her husband's success, which could include helping him make important business decisions or raising their children so he could focus on work. Any transfer of Jeff Bezos' stock would be subject to US Securities and Exchange Commission disclosure requirements. As an officer and director at the company, Bezos could be required to file an SEC Form 4 within two business days of any transfer, though former SEC lawyer Broc Romanek noted a provision of US securities laws exempts share transfers made pursuant to a domestic relations order. Even if Bezos were exempted from filing a Form 4, he would be required to update promptly the record of his Amazon holdings on file with the SEC if his position in the company changed by 1 per cent or more, said DC securities lawyer Thomas Gorman. MacKenzie Bezos would also need to file a similar record if she received more than 5 per cent of Amazon stock. Peter Henning, a securities law professor at Wayne State University, noted that Amazon, unlike fellow tech giants Facebook and Google, does not give its founder's shares greater voting rights. If MacKenzie Bezos is given a large block of shares, she could have a big say at the company. Gorman agreed. "She could wind up with some sort of control block, and get herself a directorship," he said. "It depends on what she wants to do.” Any effort to dilute MacKenzie Bezos' voting rights by creating a separate class of shares would require a shareholder vote, said Gorman, though he added that he thought such a move unlikely. “Nobody wants to run their divorce through a shareholder meeting,” he said. Robert Bacarella, portfolio manager of the Monetta fund, said that while he is not changing his investment in Amazon, he expects other growth-focused portfolio managers may trim their stakes due to concerns about the divorce's impact. "This is such an over-owned company and this gives them an excuse to say 'Maybe I'll trim some back because it adds a new question mark'," he said. Bacarella, however, said he is not concerned because even if MacKenzie Bezos liquidated a stake that could be as high as 8 per cent, there would be no fundamental reason behind the sale. Any impact would be short-term in nature. "Unless you worry that he will get so distracted by the divorce that he cannot manage the company, this will be a non-event," said Michael Pachter, an analyst at Wedbush Securities in Los Angeles. "He is given control of the company because shareholders like him and his vision, not because he has 50 per cent of the stock." Thomas Forte, an analyst at DA Davidson, said questions about the future of the company due to the divorce are legitimate due to Jeff Bezos' outsized influence on its value. Should he leave the company for any reason, its shares would likely immediately fall more than 10 per cent, he said. “His influence on the company is as a significant as if he had super-voting shares because of his track record and the way he runs the company as if he owned the whole thing," he said

Investors ask how the Bezos divorce will affect Amazon

Just after the announcement of separation, few romantic texts sent by the CEO of Amazon Jeff Bezos to American news anchor Lauren Sanchez have been leaked by The Enquirer.

Earlier this week, Jeff Bezos and his wife MacKenzie Bezos claimed that they are getting divorced after 25 years of marriage.

Lauren Sanchez is the former co-host of 'Good Day' show.

&nbsp;Moreover, the National Enquirer has released purported texts between Bezos and Sanchez that could throw a new light to their relationship, E! News reported.

In a message obtained by the outlet, the CEO wrote, "I love you, alive girl. I will show you with my body, and my lips and my eyes, very soon."

In another text, "I want to smell you, I want to breathe you in. I want to hold you tight.. I want to kiss your lips.. I love you. I am in love with you."

However, the authenticity of messages is not yet confirmed by Jeff's team.

Further, a lawyer representing Jeff said it was "widely known" that Jeff and MacKenzie had been "long separated," E!online quoted the lawyer telling The Enquirer.

Earlier, the couple published a joint statement on Wednesday on the Amazon CEO's Twitter account stating that the two will get a divorce but continue to cherish each other as friends.

"After a long period of loving exploration and trial separation, we have decided to divorce and continue our shared lives as friends," the tweet read.

Concluding their gratitude, the couple further wrote: "We feel incredibly lucky to have found each other and deeply grateful for every one of the years we have been married to each other. If we had known we would separate after 25 years, we would do it all again."

The couple also said that they are looking forward to working together as "parents, friends, partners in ventures and projects, and as individuals pursuing ventures and adventures."

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<a href="https://t.co/Gb10BDb0x0">pic.twitter.com/Gb10BDb0x0</a>
— Jeff Bezos (@JeffBezos) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffBezos/status/1083004911380393985?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 9, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Jeff and MacKenzie have four children.&nbsp;

Just after the announcement of separation, few romantic texts sent by the CEO of Amazon Jeff Bezos to American news anchor Lauren Sanchez have been leaked by The Enquirer.

Just after the announcement of separation, few romantic texts sent by the CEO of Amazon Jeff Bezos to American news anchor Lauren Sanchez have been leaked by The Enquirer. Earlier this week, Jeff Bezos and his wife MacKenzie Bezos claimed that they are getting divorced after 25 years of marriage. Lauren Sanchez is the former co-host of 'Good Day' show. Moreover, the National Enquirer has released purported texts between Bezos and Sanchez that could throw a new light to their relationship, E! News reported. In a message obtained by the outlet, the CEO wrote, "I love you, alive girl. I will show you with my body, and my lips and my eyes, very soon." In another text, "I want to smell you, I want to breathe you in. I want to hold you tight.. I want to kiss your lips.. I love you. I am in love with you." However, the authenticity of messages is not yet confirmed by Jeff's team. Further, a lawyer representing Jeff said it was "widely known" that Jeff and MacKenzie had been "long separated," E!online quoted the lawyer telling The Enquirer. Earlier, the couple published a joint statement on Wednesday on the Amazon CEO's Twitter account stating that the two will get a divorce but continue to cherish each other as friends. "After a long period of loving exploration and trial separation, we have decided to divorce and continue our shared lives as friends," the tweet read. Concluding their gratitude, the couple further wrote: "We feel incredibly lucky to have found each other and deeply grateful for every one of the years we have been married to each other. If we had known we would separate after 25 years, we would do it all again." The couple also said that they are looking forward to working together as "parents, friends, partners in ventures and projects, and as individuals pursuing ventures and adventures." pic.twitter.com/Gb10BDb0x0 — Jeff Bezos (@JeffBezos) January 9, 2019 × Jeff and MacKenzie have four children.

Jeff Bezos, Lauren Sanchez secret romantic texts leaked just after divorce announcement

World's richest man to lose his title?

In pics: World's costliest divorces of all time

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, rated the world's wealthiest person, announced Wednesday on Twitter that he and his wife MacKenzie Bezos were divorcing after a long separation.

"We want to make people aware of a development in our lives," Jeff Bezos, 54, and MacKenzie Bezos, 48, said in joint statement posted to Bezos' Twitter feed.

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<a href="https://t.co/Gb10BDb0x0">pic.twitter.com/Gb10BDb0x0</a>
— Jeff Bezos (@JeffBezos) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffBezos/status/1083004911380393985?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 9, 2019</a></blockquote>
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"As our family and close friends know, after a long period of loving exploration and trial separation, we have decided to divorce and continue our shared lives as friends."

The Bezoses said they felt "incredibly lucky" for their 25 years together and would remain involved with each other as close friends and parents.

"Though the labels might be different, we remain a family and we remain cherished friends," the statement continued.

MacKenzie Bezos is the author of two books, including "The Testing of Luther Albright," a psychological novel about the challenges facing a Sacramento, California father and his family after an earthquake.

She was one of the first employees of Amazon at its founding and in 2014 launched Bystander Revolution, an anti-bullying organization.

The couple, who have four children, met while working at the hedge fund DE Shaw prior to Bezos's founding of Amazon.

Jeff Bezos is rated the world's wealthiest man by Forbes and Bloomberg, with a fortune estimated at around $137 billion.

Amazon this week passed Microsoft to become the world's biggest publicly traded company by market capitalization. 
&nbsp;

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, rated the world's wealthiest person, announced Wednesday on Twitter that he and his wife MacKenzie Bezos were divorcing after a long separation.

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, rated the world's wealthiest person, announced Wednesday on Twitter that he and his wife MacKenzie Bezos were divorcing after a long separation. "We want to make people aware of a development in our lives," Jeff Bezos, 54, and MacKenzie Bezos, 48, said in joint statement posted to Bezos' Twitter feed. pic.twitter.com/Gb10BDb0x0 — Jeff Bezos (@JeffBezos) January 9, 2019 × "As our family and close friends know, after a long period of loving exploration and trial separation, we have decided to divorce and continue our shared lives as friends." The Bezoses said they felt "incredibly lucky" for their 25 years together and would remain involved with each other as close friends and parents. "Though the labels might be different, we remain a family and we remain cherished friends," the statement continued. MacKenzie Bezos is the author of two books, including "The Testing of Luther Albright," a psychological novel about the challenges facing a Sacramento, California father and his family after an earthquake. She was one of the first employees of Amazon at its founding and in 2014 launched Bystander Revolution, an anti-bullying organization. The couple, who have four children, met while working at the hedge fund DE Shaw prior to Bezos's founding of Amazon. Jeff Bezos is rated the world's wealthiest man by Forbes and Bloomberg, with a fortune estimated at around $137 billion. Amazon this week passed Microsoft to become the world's biggest publicly traded company by market capitalization.

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos to divorce wife MacKenzie

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