Bezos accuses tabloid of ‘blackmail’ over intimate photos

Washington: Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos has accused the publisher of the tabloid National Enquirer, who has been described as a close friend of President Donald Trump, of trying to blackmail him over lurid photos. Bezos, the world’s richest person, owns The Washington Post, a frequent target of Trump as he assails the US media as “enemy of the people” and a source of fake news. Last month Trump took aim at Bezos-referring to him as ‘Bozo’-in what appeared to be an allusion to National Enquirer reporting of the billionaire’s relationship with former news anchor and entertainment reporter Lauren Sanchez. AFP

Richard Branson says he’ll fly to space by July   

Washington: British billionaire Richard Branson plans to travel to space within the next four or five months aboard his own Virgin Galactic spaceship, he said. “My wish is to go up on the 50th anniversary of the moon landing, that’s what we’re working on,” the head of the Virgin group said Thursday on the sidelines of an event to honor Virgin Galactic at the Air and Space Museum in Washington. The American Apollo 11 mission landed on the moon July 20, 1969.  Virgin Galactic is one of two companies, along with Blue Origin, on its way to sending passengers into space-though just barely, and just for a few minutes. AFP