Extinction Rebellion targets Bezos wedding in Venice
Extinction Rebellion has targeted Jeff Bezos' wedding in Venice with a protest in St Mark's Square.
A climber from the campaign group has scaled one of three 25-metre wooden poles that stand directly in front of St Mark's Basilica.
Wearing a climbing helmet and secured to the pole with ropes, he has unfurled a black and white banner that says The One Per Cent Ruins The World.
Three Italian marines and several police officers are guarding the base of the pole. It is understood that they cannot bring him down by force.
A fireman told The Telegraph: 'He's been up there for at least an hour and a half. He's clearly an experienced climber. We want to get him down. But we can't use force. It would be dangerous for him and for us.'
The protest is aimed at billionaire Mr Bezos, the third richest person in the world, who is in Venice to marry his fiancée Lauren Sanchez.
The Amazon founder and his bride-to-be, a former TV journalist, said they had made donations to three causes: Venice International University 'to support research and education', UNESCO's Venice office 'to safeguard the city's irreplaceable heritage', and an environmental charity called CORILA, which works on restoring the natural habitats of the Venetian lagoon.
Mr Bezos and his fiancée said that Venice had 'gifted us unforgettable memories', and that they hoped their donations would ensure that Venice 'will continue to inspire wonder for generations to come'.
Some Venetians have protested against the three-day wedding extravaganza, objecting to the presence of so many billionaires, the low levels of tax that they claim Mr Bezos pays, and his support for the Trump administration.
They have hung banners from bell towers, unfurled giant posters in St Mark's Square, and plastered the city with 'No Space for Bezos' stickers.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
36 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'.
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
Jeff Bezos seals 72-hour £40m Venice wedding celebrations with a kiss from bride
Amazon retail giant Jeff Bezos sent the world into a spin as the good and the great of Hollywood and the music industry attended his hugely anticipated wedding celebration Their wedding has been the talk of the town for months as fans eagerly awaited the lavish ceremony of Amazon mogul Jeff Bezos and his wife Lauren Sanchez. And the couple did not fail to disappoint. The couple took three days out of their busy schedule to celebrate their wedding, which is believed to have cost close to £40million. The last day of their wedding party, fans were greeted by Lauren, who now goes by the name of Mrs Bezos, in a flattering pink dress which was embellished with jewels. Both Lauren and Jeff were seen waving to the crowd that gathered outside their Aman Venice Hotel as they stepped into a boat to take them to a secret location to continue their party, surrounded by the elite of Hollywood. With her hair gently draped around her shoulders, Lauren looked the picture of happiness as she stood close to her new husband. Meanwhile, Jeff was seen dressed in all black. The businessman, 61, who is the third richest man in the world with an estimated worth of £177billion. was pictured in a black shirt teamed with a matching suit. He completed his look with a pair of sunglasses as they made their way along the Venice canal. The happy couple shared a kiss which sent fans wild, sealing their three day nuptials. And their guests also left fans in awe as the elite of Hollywood and the music industry gathered together for three days to witness the wedding of Lauren and Jeff. Guests included Oprah Winfrey, who looked stunning in a burnt orange outfit that came complete with feathered sleeves. With a fan in hand to stave off the Venice heat, the TV star who is also believed to be a billionaire, waved to fans as she jumped into the awaiting water taxi to take her to the party venue. Other guests included Kendall and Kylie Jenner, Kim and Khloe Kardashian and Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio, who were also pictured making their way to the old shipyard, the Arsenale. Kim was seen dressed to impress in a shimmering black fitted dress that showed off all her curves, while Khloe cut a more demure appearance in a flattering pink outfit. According to reports, the invited guests amounted to 200 people and Sir Elton John and Lady Gaga were among the performers of the night. And while the happy couple and their guests enjoyed the celebrations which went without a hitch, it seems not everybody was pleased that the retail giant had booked out the entire Italian city. An estimated 700 demonstrators gathered together at Santa Lucia train station armed with banners that read "If you can rent Venice for your wedding, you can pay more tax." The demonstration is believed to have been organised by the No Space For Bezos group. A few members of the group were seen laden with Amazon boxes that had the words "ordered, shipped, delivered, rejected" written on them. But this did not seem to change the happy course of the couple as they continued to enjoy their day despite the interruptions. This is reportedly the second marriage for both Jeff and Lauren and between them, they have seven children.
Daily Record
2 hours ago
- Daily Record
£30 digital camera with 'sharp detail & colours' perfect for capturing top TRNSMT moments
A digital camera will allow you to snap all your favourite festival moments without wasting your phone's battery life. With Glastonbury underway and plenty of festivals just around the corner, many of us will be wanting to take a few snaps of our favourite artists and moments with pals throughout the event. While a smartphone can be handy in these moments, sometimes the picture quality won't be the best - especially from a distance. On top of this, the fear of your smartphone dying can stop some people from capturing memories that they can look back fondly on. And while many people may be primed with a portable charger to keep their phone topped up throughout the day, another solution for this dilemma is to buy a digital camera. While small in size, so they can easily fit into a bag or pocket, these cameras can provide users with incredible photos with vibrant colours and sharp details, making them a perfect purchase for any snap-happy music fans heading to TRNSMT next month. Ahead of its Prime Day event, Amazon has slashed the price of the VAHOIALD Digital Camera down from £40 to £29.99 in a limited time deal. Available in four colours, shoppers can choose between black, green, pink and purple. However, shoppers should note this camera does not come with an SD card. With a full HD 1080p resolution and 44 megapixels, this budget camera will be able to capture videos and photos in HD quality. On top of this, with a powerful CMOS processor and image stabilization, users will always be able to capture important moments in a clear and lifelike quality. And TRNSMT revellers won't need to worry about standing at the back of a crowd, as the camera boasts a 16X digital zoom so users will feel like they are on stage with their favourite artist. The camera also comes with a flashlight to capture moments in the dark. In order to access your favourite photos and post them on social media after the celebrations are over, all shoppers need to do is connect the camera to their laptop or PC with a USB cable and transfer the photos over. Another popular device on Amazon is the CAMKORY Digital Camera. Normally retailing for £49.99, shoppers can now buy it for £36.79. Along with a 16X digital zoom, this camera comes with anti-shake technology so users can get the perfect shot every time. Alternatively, Argos is selling the AGFA 24MP 8x Zoom Compact Digital Camera for £54.99. Available in black, white or pink, this camera comes with a smiley face capture, self timer and red eye reduction to create a more natural looking photo. Back to Amazon's budget digital camera, shoppers have awarded the device a 4.6 star rating, with over 500 people buying the camera in the last 30 days. Many left reviews expressing how the camera 'exceeded their expectations' and how easy it was to use. One happy shopper said: "I recently purchased this digital camera, and it came at the right time and I used it at a cousin's civil wedding ceremony. It is super beautiful and exceeded all my expectations. The image quality is outstanding, with sharp detail and vibrant colors even in low-light conditions." With another five-star reviewer adding: "If you're looking for a reliable digital camera that delivers great battery life, excellent picture quality, and fast autofocus, this model is a solid choice. Whether you're capturing landscapes, portraits, or action shots, it performs well across different conditions." However, one shopper grumbled: "Doesn't come with memory card. Also needs charged up a bit before using." Another shopper also said: "Perfect camera just didn't come with SD card like said so couldn't use it, now have to waste money on another SD card when it should've come with the camera." Despite this, a top reviewer praised: "Definitely worth buying, quality is amazing, all of my photos came out very clear and it is simple to work. It is very easy to carry as it is small enough to fit into a bag or to just be hand held, as it comes with a cute donut landyard to attach to the camera and wear around your neck." While a sixth customer noted: "This compact digital camera is a pleasant surprise. It's lightweight, easy to use, and perfect for casual photography or gifting to kids and beginners. I also love the cute design and simple controls. It's a fantastic option for anyone looking to capture everyday moments without the bulk of a pro camera." To buy the VAHOIALD Digital Camera, click HERE. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
