Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez arrived in Venice, Italy, on Wednesday ahead of their star-studded weekend wedding, which has galvanized an assortment of protesters. Bezos waved from a water taxi as he and Sanchez arrived at the dock of the Aman Hotel on the Grand Canal with two security boats in tow. Their wedding has drawn protests by groups who view it as a sign of the growing disparity between the haves and have-nots, while residents complain it exemplifies the way their needs are disregarded in the era of mass tourism to the historic lagoon city. About a dozen...

 Vietnam has lifted the death penalty for eight crimes in legal reforms that may spare the life of a real estate tycoon imprisoned in the country’s largest financial fraud case. The legal reforms in Vietnam ended the death penalty for eight crimes, including trying to overthrow the government, damaging state infrastructure, making and selling fake medicine, starting wars, spying, drug trafficking, embezzlement, and taking bribes. Vietnamese lawmakers passed the reforms on Wednesday, according to state media. Truong My Lan, sentenced to death for her involvement in Vietnam’s largest financial fraud case, will be eligible to have her sentence reduced after the reforms,...

 Twelve people were killed overnight in the Mexican state of Guanajuato when gunmen opened fire on a celebration in the city of Irapuato, authorities said Wednesday. People were dancing and drinking in the street in celebration of St. John the Baptist when the shooting began. Revelers screamed and ran to escape the gunfire, according to videos circulated online. Irapuato official Rodolfo Gómez Cervantes, said in a news conference Wednesday that the number of victims had risen to 12. Some 20 others were wounded. President Claudia Sheinbaum lamented the attack, saying that it was under investigation. Last month, seven people were...

On Wednesday, Nestle said it will eliminate artificial colors from its U.S. food and beverages by the middle of 2026. It’s the latest big food company making that pledge. Last week, Kraft Heinz and General Mills said they would remove artificial dyes from their U.S. products by 2027. General Mills also said it plans to remove artificial dyes from its U.S. cereals and from all foods served in K-12 schools by the middle of 2026. The move has broad support. About two-thirds of Americans favor restricting or reformulating processed foods to remove ingredients like added sugar or dyes, according to...

The family of a 12-year-old boy who was fatally shot by a Philadelphia police officer three years ago has agreed to a $3 million settlement with the city. Thomas “T.J.” Siderio was on the ground and unarmed when the officer, Edsaul Mendoza, fired the fatal shot into his back, authorities have said. The youth had first fired a shot at an unmarked police car, injuring one of four plainclothes officers inside, and he eventually threw a gun down about 40 feet (12 meters) during a foot chase before he was shot and then either tripped or dropped to the ground....

“Now, y’all that don’t know, let me tell you how you receive an Einstein visa. You’re supposed to have some sort of significant achievement, like being awarded a Nobel Peace Prize or a Pulitzer; being an Olympic medalist; or having other sustained extraordinary abilities and success in sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics. “ Last time I checked the first lady had none of those accolades under her belt. It doesn’t take an Einstein to see that the math ain’t mathin’ here.”

President of the Republic of Ghana John Dramani Mahama statement on meeting with Bill Gates during Gavi Vaccine Alliance Pledging Session in Brussels to discuss the intervention in the country’s health sector “I had productive discussions with Bill Gates this afternoon in Brussels, ahead of the #Gavi Vaccine Alliance pledging session. Our discussion focused on Ghana’s vital interventions in the health sector. “We covered key topics, including the significant progress on the Free Primary Healthcare programme, the ongoing work of the National Vaccine Institute, and the impact of uncapping the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIS) to improve healthcare access and...

“I call on the Hungarian authorities to allow the Budapest Pride to go ahead. “Without fear of any criminal or administrative sanctions against the organisers or participants. “To the LGBTIQ+ community in Hungary and beyond: “I will always be your ally.”