WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) –Amazon chief Jeff Bezos said he was “heartbroken” Saturday after at least six people were killed at an Amazon warehouse in the US state of Illinois when it was struck by a tornado. “The news from Edwardsville is tragic,” Bezos tweeted about the town where the facility was located. “We’re heartbroken over the loss of our teammates there, and our thoughts and prayers are with their families and loved ones.” […]
Tag: Bezos
Amazon magnate Bezos blasts into space on own rocket
by Issam AHMED WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The wealthiest man on the planet Jeff Bezos lifted off on his own rocket and reached outer space on Tuesday, a key moment for a fledgling industry seeking to make the final frontier accessible to elite tourists. Blue Origin’s first crewed mission, an 11-minute hop from west Texas to beyond the Karman line and back again, coincided with the 52nd anniversary of the first Moon landing. “It’s […]
Trailblazing woman pilot, 82, to fly into space with Bezos
by Lucie AUBOURG WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Barrier-breaking woman aviator Wally Funk, 82, will join Jeff Bezos this month on the first crewed spaceflight for the billionaire’s company Blue Origin, the firm announced Thursday. The trip is 60 years overdue for Funk, who was one of the Mercury 13 — the first women trained to fly to space from 1960-1961, but excluded because of their gender. On July 20, she will become the oldest […]
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos to take first Blue Origin flight into space
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Amazon founder Jeff Bezos announced Monday he will fly into space next month on the first human flight launched by his Blue Origin rocket firm. “Ever since I was five years old, I’ve dreamed of traveling to space. On July 20th, I will take that journey with my brother,” Bezos said on his Instagram account. Blue Origin said Bezos and his brother Mark will travel on the first crewed flight […]
Bezos to hand over Amazon CEO reins on July 5
SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP) — Amazon founder Jeff Bezos said Wednesday that he will hand over operational control to his successor on July 5, leaving as the e-commerce giant flexes its muscles in television and cloud. Bezos is ceding his chief executive role to Andy Jassy, who heads Amazon Web Services, the lucrative cloud computing unit at the Seattle-based company. Bezos will take the role of executive chair. Bezos announced his departure date at […]
Bezos to step down as CEO of Amazon this year
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Jeff Bezos said Tuesday he would give up his role as chief executive of Amazon later this year as the tech and e-commerce giant reported a surge in profit and revenue in the holiday quarter. The company said Andy Jassy, who heads Amazon Web Services, would take over as CEO in the third quarter. The announcement came as Amazon reported a blowout holiday quarter with profits more than doubling to […]
Bezos launches $10 billion fund to combat climate change
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — His company is often criticized for its environmental record, but Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon and the world’s richest man, said Monday that he was committing $10 billion to a new fund to tackle climate change. In a post to his 1.4 million followers on Instagram, the e-commerce tycoon said the Bezos Earth Fund would “fund scientists, activists, NGOs — any effort that offers a real possibility to help preserve […]
Bezos accuses Enquirer of ‘blackmail’ over intimate photos
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — 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 his mistress if he did not cease an investigation into the newspaper’s alleged links with Saudi Arabia. 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 […]
Bezos calls Trump’s attacks on media ‘dangerous’
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon and owner of the Washington Post newspaper, warned Thursday that President Donald Trump’s attacks on media are dangerous for the country. Bezos, during a question-answer session at a dinner hosted by the Economic Club of Washington, said Trump’s attacks risk eroding protections and social norms important for democracy. “It’s dangerous to demonize the media,” Bezos said. “It’s dangerous to call the media lowlifes. It’s dangerous […]
Amazon’s Jeff Bezos unveils $2 billion philanthropic fund
by Rob Lever Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, the richest person on the planet, said Thursday he was creating a philanthropic fund to help homeless families and launch preschools in low-income communities, committing an initial $2 billion to the cause. Bezos made the announcement on Twitter a year after asking for ideas on how he could use his personal fortune — now estimated at more than $160 […]
Bezos tops Forbes world’s rich list as Trump wealth drops
PARIS, France (AFP) — Amazon chief Jeff Bezos is now the world’s richest person, having snatched the top spot from Microsoft founder Bill Gates who slips to second place, according to Forbes magazine’s annual billionaires list published Tuesday. US President Donald Trump’s ranking on the list fell to 766th place from 544th in the last edition, his wealth now being estimated at $3.1 billion, $400 million less than a year ago. Thanks to a 59-percent […]
Bezos a $100-billion man as Amazon rises on cyber shopping
SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP) o– Amazon founder Jeff Bezos was a $100-billion man on Monday as the online retail colossus raked in cash from the holiday weekend’s cyber shopping spree. Forbes magazine’s real-time ranking of the richest people had Bezos on top, with a personal net worth of $100.3 billion. Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates saw his net worth climb to a dizzying $89.4 billion but was relegated to being the second most affluent person […]





