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an hour ago
- Entertainment
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Billionaire Jeff Bezos marries Lauren Sanchez in lavish Venice ceremony
The sky itself is no limit for billionaire Jeff Bezos and fiancee Lauren Sanchez, who have travelled into space, and expectations were about as high ahead of their wedding in Venice on Friday. Advertisement View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lauren Sánchez Bezos (@laurensanchezbezos) One of the world's most enchanting cities as a backdrop? Check. Star-studded guest list and tabloid buzz? Of course. Local flavour? You bet. And then, time to tie the knot. The couple held their wedding ceremony Friday night, and Sanchez posted to Instagram a photo of herself beaming in a white gown as she stood alongside a tuxedo-clad Bezos, the world's fourth-richest man. Advertisement It was the second day of events spread across the Italian lagoon city, which added complexity to what would have been a massive logistical undertaking even on dry land. Dozens of private jets had flocked to Venice's airport, and yachts pulled into the city's famed waterways. Athletes, celebrities, influencers and business leaders converged to revel in extravagance that was as much a testament to the couple's love as to their extraordinary wealth. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lauren Sánchez Bezos (@laurensanchezbezos) The heady hoopla recalled the 2014 wedding in Venice of actor George Clooney to human rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin, when adoring crowds lined the canals and hundreds of well-wishers gathered outside City Hall. Advertisement Not so for these nuptials, which became a lightning rod for small, colourful protests. But any desire to dampen the prevailing fever pitch hadn't materialised as of Friday. Instead, the glitterati were partying and the paparazzi were jostling for glimpses of the gilded gala. On Friday afternoon, Sanchez emerged from her hotel wearing a silk scarf on her head and blew a kiss to journalists before stepping into her water taxi. It carried her through the canals to San Giorgio island, across the lagoon basin from St Mark's Square, where the couple held their ceremony on Friday night. Bezos followed two hours later. Then, in a string of water taxis, came their illustrious guests — Oprah Winfrey, Kim Kardashian, Ivanka Trump, Tom Brady, Bill Gates, Queen Rania of Jordan, Leonardo DiCaprio and more. Advertisement Kim and Khloe Kardashian leave a hotel ahead of the wedding celebrations of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez (Luigi Costantini/AP) Paparazzi trailed on their own boats, trying to capture them all on camera. There are some who say these two shouldn't have been married in this city. They characterise the wedding as a decadent display of wealth in a world with growing inequality, and argue it's a shining example of tourism taking precedence over residents' needs, particularly affordable housing and essential services. Venice is also one of the cities most vulnerable to rising sea levels from climate change. Advertisement Stella Faye, a researcher at a university in Venice, said: 'Venice is not just a pretty picture, a pretty postcard to please the needs and wants of the elite or of mass tourists, but it is an alive city, made of people who want to actually live there.' About a dozen Venetian organisations — including housing advocates, anti-cruise ship campaigners and university groups — are protesting under the banner 'No Space for Bezos,' a play on words referring to his space exploration company Blue Origin and the bride's recent space flight. Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump attended the wedding (Antonio Calanni/AP) Greenpeace unfurled a banner in St Mark's Square denouncing Bezos for paying insufficient taxes. Activists floated a bald-headed Bezos-inspired mannequin down Venice's Grand Canal atop an Amazon delivery box, its hands clenching fake cash. Authorities — from Venice's mayor to the nation's tourism minister — have dismissed the outcry, saying it ignores the visibility and economic boost the wedding has brought. 'There will be photos everywhere, social media will go wild over the bride's dress, over the ceremony,' Italy's tourism minister, Daniela Santanche, told the AP. 'All of this translates into a massive free publicity campaign. In fact, because they will spend a lot of money, they will enrich Venice — our shopkeepers, artisans, restaurateurs and hotels. So it's a great opportunity both for spending and for promoting Italy in the world.' As Amazon's chief executive, Bezos usually avoided the limelight, frequently delegating announcements and business updates to his executives. Today, he has a net worth of 234 billion dollars, according to Forbes. Protests included a mannequin, resembling Jeff Bezos, being floated in a canal in Venice (Click News via AP) In 2019, he announced he was divorcing his first wife, MacKenzie Scott, just before the National Enquirer published a story about an affair with Sanchez, a former TV news anchor. Sanchez filed for divorce the day after Bezos's divorce was finalised. He stepped down as chief executive of Amazon in 2021, saying he wished to spend more time on side projects, including Blue Origin; The Washington Post, which he owns; and his philanthropic initiatives. Sitting beside Sanchez during an interview with CNN in 2022, he announced plans to give away the majority of his wealth during his lifetime. Last week, a Venetian environmental research association issued a statement saying Bezos's Earth Fund was supporting its work with an 'important donation'. Corila, which seeks protection of the Venetian lagoon system, said contact began in April, well before any protests.
BreakingNews.ie
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- BreakingNews.ie
Sophie Ellis-Bextor says she discusses toxic masculinity with her five sons
Pop singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor has said she has 'a lot of faith' in her five sons and has chatted to them about toxic masculinity. The Murder On The Dancefloor singer, 46, is mother to Mickey, Jesse, Ray, Kit and Sonny, whom she shares with her husband, musician Richard Jones. Advertisement Ellis-Bextor said while she will 'keep an eye on' their mobile phones, she does not demonise things that could 'shut down communication'. Sophie Ellis-Bextor appears in Good Housekeeping UK's August issue (Chris Craymer/Good Housekeeping UK) In recent months the success of hit Netflix show Adolescence has sparked conversations around misogyny among young boys online and the radicalisation of young men, with the creators discussing the topic in Parliament in April. Ellis-Bextor told Good Housekeeping UK: 'I've always had a lot of faith in my boys. We've openly chatted about toxic masculinity for a long time. 'My eldest is very articulate about these things, so none of it was new to my house. Sometimes people have an idea of what boys are like, as if they're a different species. Advertisement 'As I far as I'm concerned, I'm raising five people who happen to be boys. I keep an eye on (mobile phone screen time), because that's parenting, but if you start demonising things, you shut down communication. 'Then you're like those parents in the 1950s who made kids burn their rock 'n' roll albums.' Speaking about her husband, Ellis-Bextor added: 'When we got married, we'd already had our first baby. 'My mum said: 'Make sure you always choose each other over anything else, even the kids.' She was right. Even though the kids might roll their eyes if they see us hugging or whatever, they're happy that we're happy. Advertisement 'We have fun as a family, too. Last year, they came with us for a lot of the tour.' Sophie Ellis-Bextor discusses life with five sons in Good Housekeeping UK (Chris Craymer/Good Housekeeping UK) The singer also discussed her forthcoming album, Perimenopop, a play on the words perimenopause and pop. 'There's still this idea that only young people make pop music,' she said. 'As soon as I had the new album title, I felt like, 'Now I can literally be myself.' Advertisement 'This album is about poking fun at this gloomy chapter and the narrative around it that women should be quietening down and becoming invisible… I don't feel like that at all.' The full interview can be read now in the August issue of Good Housekeeping UK.
BreakingNews.ie
2 hours ago
- Sport
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LOI: Shamrock Rovers 11 points clear after beating Waterford
Shamrock Rovers' lead at the top of the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division table is now 11 points. The leaders beat Waterford 1-0 tonight, while Bohemians required a late equaliser to draw 1-1 with Sligo Rovers. Advertisement Derry City are now level on points with Bohs after their 3-0 win over Drogheda United, while Galway United and Shelbourne played out a 1-1 draw. At Turner's Cross, it finished Cork City 0-0 St Patrick's Athletic. Dundalk edged out Cobh Ramblers 1-0 in their top of the table clash in the First Division tonight. Elsewhere, Wexford beat Kerry 4-3, Bray were 4-0 winners away to Athlone Town and Treaty United lost 1-0 at home to Finn Harps.
BreakingNews.ie
3 hours ago
- Health
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Pancreatitis cases linked to weight loss jabs
Ireland's medicines watchdog has confirmed a number of reports of pancreatitis linked to weight loss jabs. GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro are under review in the UK after a spike in adverse reactions. Advertisement The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) said the number of Irish cases is very low, but people should consult their doctor if they are concerned. HSE national clinical lead for obesity, Professor Donal O'Shea, said it is important people use these drugs under medical supervision. Prof O'Shea said: "The main side effects are gastrointestinal and that's around nausea, vomiting, constipation, but they can cause unsteadiness and dizziness. "And I've certainly seen people coming into hospital having had falls on these treatements, and again the advice is not to take these unless they are prescribed by a healthcare professional."
BreakingNews.ie
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
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Quiz: How much do you know about the Irish acts at Glastonbury?
As the fun has already begun at Glastonbury, it will be a weekend where several Irish artists will get to show their talents. Some of the biggest artists in the world, such as Lorde, Charlie XCX, Lewis Capaldi, there is no shortage of incredible music over the next few days. Advertisement However, Ireland is more than represented, with Kneecap CMAT, The Script, and Snow Patrol among over 30 Irish artists. With the festival already underway, test your knowledge on the Irish acts set to perform in our quiz. Whether you are luck enough to be there, watching it on BBC, or just a fan of music, take on our quiz on the Irish in Glastonbury.
