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Protests erupt in Venice against Jeff Bezos wedding bonanza

Protests erupt in Venice against Jeff Bezos wedding bonanza

Independent14 hours ago

Hundreds of people marched through Venice 's central streets on Saturday in protest of billionaire Jeff Bezos ' wedding to Lauren Sánchez.
On Friday, the world's fourth-richest man and his bride tied the knot in a private ceremony with around 200 celebrity guests on the secluded island of San Giorgio.
The wedding has divided Venice, with activists accusing Bezos of exploiting the city while ordinary residents contend with overtourism and the constant threat of climate-induced flooding.
Protesters from across Italy filled Venice's tiny streets with colourful banners reading 'Kisses Yes, Bezos No.'

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Inside newly-single Sophie Radford's ‘feral' Saturday night out – from her sexy outfit to downing shots & signing boobs
Inside newly-single Sophie Radford's ‘feral' Saturday night out – from her sexy outfit to downing shots & signing boobs

The Sun

time36 minutes ago

  • The Sun

Inside newly-single Sophie Radford's ‘feral' Saturday night out – from her sexy outfit to downing shots & signing boobs

SHE bemoaned her "full on" mummy lifestyle just months before she appeared to confirm she's split from her husband. And now Sophie Radford - the eldest daughter of parents-of-22 Sue and Noel Radford - is reportedly single again, she seems to be making up for lost time on the partying front. 7 7 7 7 The mother-of-three took to her Instagram page to share pictures and videos from the wild night out with her pals on her Stories. Sophie dressed to impress for the evening out, and showed off her gym-honed figure in a mesh see-through crop top and leather trousers, which she teamed with some tie up heels. The 31-year-old looked like she was enjoying herself as she posed for snaps with her mate Cerys, who wrote "let's get feral" over the top of a picture of herself and Sophie. The alcohol then started flowing, with Sophie posting a video of a tray full of shots. She also turned "shot girl" as she carried a tray of drinks back to her table, shimmying in delight as she did so. The drinking continued as Sophie and Cerys downed their shots, before the former got up close and personal with one of her mates. In a video of her friend sporting some writing on her decolletage, Sophie added: "Had a fan ask for a picture so Georgia made me sign her t**s!" The evening out concluded with a "pit stop" at McDonald's on the way home, with Sophie treating herself to a large fries and a double cheeseburger. The wild festivities came after Sophie broke down in tears as she admitted she was struggling during an episode of the family's reality show 22 Kids & Counting last August. During the run-up to her 30th birthday, she reflected on how her life had changed since becoming a mother. "Usually people in their twenties are out partying, but my twenties were very different, I had three kids, all within a year between them," she said. "It's hard going, it's definitely hard going. It's the same routine every day, it's so full on, all the time." The mum also acknowledged that her relationship with husband Joe Broadley had suffered since having children. "With me and Joe, we used to go out to cinemas, out for meals, go out shopping, do all sorts of things and it all stopped," she added. "Because I've seen my mum and dad so happy, I do feel like I should be like that as well. However, it's not for everyone. Sophie hinted during a Q&A with fans on Instagram in May that her marriage hadn't worked out. The Radford Family's TV history THE first ever episode of 22 Kids and Counting aired on Channel 5 on 22nd February, 2021. After the first series - which had just four episodes in it - performed well, Channel 5 commissioned a 10-episode second season, which was broadcast in 2022. They went on to commission a third series, which included a Christmas special aired in December 2023. The fourth season began airing in January 2024, but fans were left disappointed when it stopped after six episodes. Sue and Noel reassured viewers that they were just taking a little break, and the next episode will be airing on 21st July. You can catch up on all previous episodes of 22 Kids and Counting on My 5, here. Asked by a curious fan if she was single after being married for almost 10 years, Sophie replied: "YES. That's all that will be said on it." Sophie and Joe married in 2015 and have three children together, Daisy Mae, 12, Ayprill Louise, 10, and Leo, nine. Earlier in the Q&A session, Sophie was asked how she and Joe were. When they asked, "How are you and Joe?", Sophie answered: "How are we... TBC. Privacy". 7 7 7

Ciao Venice! Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's guests bid goodbye to Italian city the morning after final party of 72-hour wedding extravaganza
Ciao Venice! Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's guests bid goodbye to Italian city the morning after final party of 72-hour wedding extravaganza

Daily Mail​

time37 minutes ago

  • Daily Mail​

Ciao Venice! Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's guests bid goodbye to Italian city the morning after final party of 72-hour wedding extravaganza

Oprah Winfrey and Kris Jenner led the star-studded departures from Venice on Sunday morning, following the final party on Saturday night of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez 's three-day wedding extravaganza. Described as the 'wedding of a century,' the 61-year-old Amazon founder and the former journalist, 55, exchanged vows in front of nearly 200 VIPs on San Giorgio Maggiore island in Venice, Italy, on Friday. The nuptials began on Thursday with the first of three days of parties in Venice, followed by the intimate ceremony on Friday and then a star-studded rave. Around 200 of the world's wealthiest people were gathering for a final night's fun, before bidding their goodbyes to the Italian city the following morning. Kris, 69, and Oprah, 71, walked arm-in-arm down the dock, alongside Gayle King and Kris' boyfriend Corey Gamble. Described as the 'wedding of a century,' the 61-year-old Amazon founder and the former journalist, 55, (pictured) exchanged vows in front of nearly 200 VIPs on San Giorgio Maggiore island in Venice, Italy , on Friday Bezos, worth £177billion, has taken over the Italian city for a wedding estimated to have cost up to £40million, small change for the world's third richest man. But 700 demonstrators gathered at Santa Lucia railway station carrying protest banners and waving inflatable crocodiles. The demo was organised by the No Space For Bezos group, with some carrying Amazon boxes with the words: 'Ordered, Shipped, Delivered, Rejected.' But Bezos and Sanchez cared not a jot. It was the second marriage for both and they have seven children between them. Earlier, they blew kisses on a visit to Harry's Bar – and give a first glimpse of their understated wedding rings. Sanchez's simple wedding band was in stark contrast to the 30-carat $3million pink diamond she sported after Bezos asked her to marry him two years ago. In the run-up to Friday's ceremony, that sparkler was switched to her right to make way for an upgrade – an even larger, brilliant-white diamond, estimated at 35 carats and worth $10million. But impeccable sources reveal that the billionaire were already legally married, with a source closely connected to the organisation of the week's events saying: 'They have been married for at least a month, more than a month. 'The marriage is fully legal and took place in America under American law.' The source adds: 'When they were planning the wedding, they were clear about the fact that they were already secretly married. There is no application for a wedding license from the couple because it was not required. 'Whatever happens at the wedding on Friday, it will not be a wedding. Under Italian law, it will not be a wedding celebration, any vows said or rings exchanged will have no legal meaning.' The source added that Bezos had personally confirmed that he and Sanchez – who met when both were married to other people – are already legally married, and that they had also signed a pre-nuptial agreement to protect his $244 billion fortune. Vogue later released a set of pictures with a braless Sanchez posing in her new husband's unbuttoned wedding shirt. The Dolce & Gabbana tuxedo shirt was similar to the one he wore at Friday's ceremony. The photoshoot took place earlier this month, the day after Sánchez and Bezos were at the Dolce & Gabbana atelier in central Milan for their final fittings. She revealed her wedding dress was inspired by the high-necked lace wedding dress Sophia Loren wore to marry Cary Grant in the 1958 film Houseboat. She told the magazine that a few conventions were to be honoured, including the groom not seeing the bride just before the wedding day. Her Dolce & Gabbana Alta Gioielleria Miracolo earrings, four diamonds cut from a single stone and inlaid in white gold, were her something borrowed. Her something blue was from Blue Origin, the spaceflight she took with five other women, including the singer Katy Perry, that was arranged by Bezos. Sánchez said she carried a secret souvenir up in the rocket so she could bring it back for Bezos 'because it was one of the most profound experiences I've had in my life.' She credited her new husband for 'transforming my life'.

Deep Dive: Wise – Building a World of Money Without Borders: By Sam Boboev
Deep Dive: Wise – Building a World of Money Without Borders: By Sam Boboev

Finextra

timean hour ago

  • Finextra

Deep Dive: Wise – Building a World of Money Without Borders: By Sam Boboev

Wise (formerly TransferWise) has quietly become one of fintech's biggest success stories, transforming how people and businesses send money across borders. From humble startup origins in 2011, Wise now moves over £145 billion internationally each year for 15+ million customers – at a fraction of the cost charged by banks. In doing so, Wise saved its users an estimated £2 billion in fees in FY2025 alone. It's a rare fintech that's both fast-growing and profitable, pursuing a bold mission encapsulated in its slogan: 'Money without borders – instant, convenient, transparent and eventually free.' This deep dive explores why Wise matters today – covering the massive market it's tackling, its journey and products, the technology and regulatory infrastructure under its hood, its recent financial performance, competitive landscape, and what customers and leadership are saying. A Massive Market Ripe for Disruption Moving money internationally has long been notorious for high costs and hassle. Over £22 trillion crosses borders each year, projected to reach £28 trillion by 2027 as globalization drives more migration, remote work, and global commerce. By Wise's own 2025 estimate, the number may be as high as £32 trillion annually. Historically, this market was dominated by big banks and legacy remittance providers relying on an antiquated correspondent banking network. International transfers often meant 'expensive, slow and inefficient service, reliant on outdated infrastructure,' as Wise's 2023 report bluntly puts it. Banks and incumbents like Western Union layered on fees and hidden exchange rate markups – profiting from customers' lack of transparency. The result: sending money abroad could cost 5-8% in fees (often not obvious upfront) and take days to arrive. Wise was founded to change this status quo. Its vision of 'Money Without Borders' is about making moving money 'as cheap, fast, and convenient as sending an email,' in the words of its co-founder. Wise's core innovation was using technology and clever account structures to eliminate intermediaries and hidden fees, giving users the real mid-market exchange rate and charging only a low upfront fee. As we'll see, this strategy is forcing the industry to evolve. Today, many fintechs and even banks are racing to offer cheaper, easier cross-border payments – yet traditional banks remain Wise's primary competitors, still handling the majority of cross-currency transactions. A growing field of digital challengers (from neobanks like Revolut to PayPal's Xoom and others) are also carving out niches. But Wise has a head start in scale, efficiency, and trust – built over a decade of singular focus on solving this problem. From Startup to Public Company Wise's origin story is a personal one. In 2011, two Estonian friends living in London – Kristo Käärmann and Taavet Hinrikus – grew frustrated with the 'massive problem' of bank fees on international transfers. They started TransferWise that year to help people send money abroad at the true exchange rate. The concept resonated: by 2014, having raised a $58 million Series C to expand globally, TransferWise launched in the US and Australia. The company hit major milestones quickly. It reached its first £1 billion transferred (cumulative) in 2014, and by 2017 was profitable with over £1 billion being moved every month through its platform – a rarity in fintech. Importantly, Wise also became an innovator in financial infrastructure early on. In 2016 it gained direct access to the UK's Faster Payments network (the first tech company to do so), showing a knack for working with regulators to improve speed and cost. Over time, TransferWise broadened its offerings beyond person-to-person remittances. In 2016 it launched its first business accounts for SMEs to send money internationally on better terms. By 2018 it rolled out a borderless multi-currency account and debit Mastercard, enabling customers to hold money in multiple currencies and spend it via card in different countries with low fees. The company's global footprint also expanded: it opened offices around the world (10 offices by 2019, including a European hub in Belgium to navigate Brexit) and set up an Asia-Pacific hub in Singapore in 2017. In 2021, reflecting its broadened mission, TransferWise rebranded to 'Wise.' That same year, Wise went public via a direct listing on the London Stock Exchange – notably, London's largest tech listing ever at the time. The listing valued Wise at ~$11 billion, signaling its arrival as a major fintech player. Today, Wise is truly international: over 6,500 employees ('Wisers') across 20+ offices serve customers in 170+ countries. Yet the company insists it's 'still solving only a fraction of the problem'. As CEO Kristo Käärmann wrote, 'Twelve years ago we set out to solve the massive problem people and businesses face in sending money around the world… While we're nowhere near mission complete, 16 million people and businesses are now helping us get closer every day.' In the next sections, we'll examine how Wise is attempting to fulfill that mission through its products and underlying infrastructure. --------- Source: Wise Annual Reports FY2023–FY2025; product pages and blog; CEO and executive statements from Wise reports; and Wise investor reports highlighting key metrics. All data and quotes are from official Wise materials. Disclaimer: Fintech Wrap Up aggregates publicly available information for informational purposes only. Portions of the content may be reproduced verbatim from the original source, and full credit is provided with a "Source: [Name]" attribution. All copyrights and trademarks remain the property of their respective owners. Fintech Wrap Up does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the aggregated content; these are the responsibility of the original source providers. Links to the original sources may not always be included. For questions or concerns, please contact us at

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