New York-based influencer Chase Filandro dies at 20
In a statement posted on Instagram on August 5, his sister Francesca Ford expressed the family's heartbreak over his unexpected passing. 'Our family is heartbroken and devastated by the sudden and unexpected loss of our beloved, Chase,' she said. 'It was Chase's own decision to enter Heaven. His light will continue to shine eternally in the hearts of all those he touched throughout his remarkable, though far too brief, life.'
Francesca went on to highlight Chase's many artistic talents. 'Chase was a talented artist with boundless creativity. He was a singer, musician, actor, teacher, artist, poet, and painter. Chase was a beacon of light with a magnetic personality and zest for life that touched everyone he encountered, both in person and online.'
She added, 'Chase brought joy, creativity, and inspiration to so many. While our hearts are shattered by this tremendous loss, we find comfort in knowing that his artistic legacy and the love he shared will never be forgotten.'
Francesca also reflected on Chase's passion for nature. 'Those who knew Chase understood his deep love for the arts and the outdoors. His passionate spirit and genuine warmth created lasting connections with people everywhere.'
The family has requested privacy during this difficult time as they grieve and honor Chase's life.
To celebrate his love of the outdoors, Chase's family has initiated plans to build memorials in his honor at two National Parks. The family shared, 'Chase was an avid traveler and was moved by the beauty of National Parks. He always welcomed strangers with a smile and made friends along all the trails he traveled on.'
The family later expressed their gratitude for the overwhelming support. 'Thank you so much for helping us reach our goal in only 13 hours. Chase clearly had such an impact on many. We are continuing to raise funds to now support the building of an additional memorial in New York that is closer to home. Thank you all again.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab Times
a day ago
- Arab Times
New York-based influencer Chase Filandro dies at 20
NEW YORK, Aug 6: The influencer community is mourning the sudden loss of Chase Filandro, a New York City-based content creator known for his comedy sketches and book reviews. According to his family, Filandro died by suicide at the age of 20. In a statement posted on Instagram on August 5, his sister Francesca Ford expressed the family's heartbreak over his unexpected passing. 'Our family is heartbroken and devastated by the sudden and unexpected loss of our beloved, Chase,' she said. 'It was Chase's own decision to enter Heaven. His light will continue to shine eternally in the hearts of all those he touched throughout his remarkable, though far too brief, life.' Francesca went on to highlight Chase's many artistic talents. 'Chase was a talented artist with boundless creativity. He was a singer, musician, actor, teacher, artist, poet, and painter. Chase was a beacon of light with a magnetic personality and zest for life that touched everyone he encountered, both in person and online.' She added, 'Chase brought joy, creativity, and inspiration to so many. While our hearts are shattered by this tremendous loss, we find comfort in knowing that his artistic legacy and the love he shared will never be forgotten.' Francesca also reflected on Chase's passion for nature. 'Those who knew Chase understood his deep love for the arts and the outdoors. His passionate spirit and genuine warmth created lasting connections with people everywhere.' The family has requested privacy during this difficult time as they grieve and honor Chase's life. To celebrate his love of the outdoors, Chase's family has initiated plans to build memorials in his honor at two National Parks. The family shared, 'Chase was an avid traveler and was moved by the beauty of National Parks. He always welcomed strangers with a smile and made friends along all the trails he traveled on.' The family later expressed their gratitude for the overwhelming support. 'Thank you so much for helping us reach our goal in only 13 hours. Chase clearly had such an impact on many. We are continuing to raise funds to now support the building of an additional memorial in New York that is closer to home. Thank you all again.'
Arab Times
29-07-2025
- Arab Times
Foreign couples are flooding Denmark to say ‘I do' — and locals are not happy
COPENHAGEN, Denmark, July 29, (AP): Facing complex bureaucracy at home in Poland, Magdalena Kujawińska and her Colombian fiancé Heinner Valenzuela traveled to Copenhagen to become husband and wife. "We realized that it's not that easy to get married in Poland,' the 30-year-old Kujawińska said as the couple waited for their 10-minute ceremony at the Danish capital's 19th-century City Hall. "You need a certificate that you are not married,' she said. "We tried to get it from Colombia, but it's only valid for three months, and it couldn't get to Poland from Colombia in three months. It was just impossible for us.' The couple, who live in Krakow, had been engaged for more than three years when Kujawińska heard about Denmark's relatively relaxed marriage laws from a colleague. Working with an online wedding planner, the couple prepared the necessary documents. "And in four days, we had the decision that the marriage could be done here,' a smiling Kujawińska said. Couples who don't live in Denmark are increasingly getting married in the Scandinavian country - prompting some to dub Copenhagen the "Las Vegas of Europe.' The head of the marriage office at Copenhagen City Hall, Anita Okkels Birk Thomsen, said that about 8,000 wedding ceremonies were performed there last year. Of those, some 5,400 of them were for couples in which neither partner was a Danish resident. "That's almost double what we saw five years ago,' she said. "They come from all over the world.' But the city sees a downside to that: demand for ceremonies at City Hall now far exceeds the number of slots available. Mia Nyegaard, the Copenhagen official in charge of culture and leisure, said in a statement to The Associated Press that the "significant rise' in the number of foreign couples getting married in the capital "poses challenges for Copenhagen-based couples wishing to get married.' Local authorities plan to take action. Nyegaard said about 40% of wedding slots available at City Hall will be reserved for Copenhagen residents starting from the end of October. While booking a slot there is the most obvious way to get married in the city, arranging a ceremony with a private registrar is also an option, and that won't be affected. Copenhagen lawmakers will look after the summer break at what else they can do to relieve overall pressure on wedding capacity in the city. Denmark's marriage laws are liberal in several ways. In 1989, the country became the world's first to allow the registration of same-sex civil unions. The legalization of same-sex marriage followed in 2012. For unions of all kinds, Denmark - unlike many other European countries - doesn't require a birth certificate or proof of single status to obtain a certificate that grants the right to get married in Denmark within four months. Officials might, in cases where divorce papers don't show clearly that a divorce has been finalized, ask for a civil status certificate. Applications to Denmark's agency of family law cost 2,100 kroner ($326), and couples are issued with a certificate within five working days if they satisfy the requirements. Non-resident couples can travel to Denmark and get married with just a valid passport and, if required, a tourist visa. "We get that thing like, 'Are you sure we do not need a birth certificate?' And we go, 'Yes,'' said Rasmus Clarck Sørensen, director of Getting Married in Denmark. Clarck Sørensen, a Dane, began the wedding planning business with his British wife back in 2014. "In the last 20, 30 years, people just meet more across borders," he said. "Marriage rules are often made for two people of the same country getting married.' "They kind of piled on patches onto marriage law, and a lot of people get trapped in those patches,' he added. His online company's "Complete Service' package, priced at 875 euros ($1,014), includes help gathering all the necessary documents, processing the certificate application and organizing the date of the ceremony. The business says it helped over 2,600 couples last year. Copenhagen, easily Denmark's biggest city with the country's best transport links, is the most popular location and so far appears to be the only one struggling with demand. Any changes to the city's rules will come too late to bother newlyweds Kujawińska and Valenzuela, who are now busy planning a celebration in Poland with family and friends. "It means a lot for us because we've been waiting a lot for this,' Kujawińska said. "We're really happy.'
Arab Times
25-07-2025
- Arab Times
Here is the ‘Original' Dubai Chocolate Creation Story
Born from a spark of inspiration in a home kitchen, Dubai Chocolate has quickly risen to become a symbol of Emirati innovation and craftsmanship, winning hearts — and taste buds — around the world. What started in 2021 as a simple experiment by Dubai-based entrepreneur Sarah Hammouda has now blossomed into an internationally acclaimed brand. Driven by her craving for a traditional Arab flavor — pistachio kunafa — Sarah set out to create a chocolate that blended authentic Middle Eastern taste with a modern twist, one that could compete with global confectionery brands without losing its cultural identity. And in just under three years, her family kitchen experiment evolved into a fully developed luxury product, now proudly displayed on the shelves of upscale chocolate boutiques worldwide. A Uniquely Emirati Blend What sets Dubai Chocolate apart isn't just its elegant packaging — inspired by traditional Emirati art — but also its bold and balanced flavor profile. Inside each bar, silky layers of milk chocolate embrace a rich, creamy pistachio filling, punctuated with crispy strands of kunafa dough. The result is a perfect harmony of texture and taste — a bite-sized tribute to the region's heritage, reimagined in a language of luxury. From Viral Video to Global Craze The turning point came when a TikTok influencer casually posted a video tasting the chocolate. What followed was a marketing dream: the video went viral, amassing over 70 million views in just a few days. In the weeks that followed, Dubai Chocolate became a global sensation. Reports of sold-out stock, waiting lists, and copycat brands filled social media — but none could replicate the originality and authenticity of the original. A Tropical Twist: 'Time to Mango' Continuing its journey of bold innovation, Fix Dessert Chocolatier (the company behind the brand) recently launched a new flavor: "Time to Mango" — an adventurous tropical blend of mango and passion fruit, encased in smooth white chocolate and finished with a playful popping candy crunch. The Secret to Success: Quality and Identity Despite commercial temptations, Fix Dessert has remained true to its roots. The chocolates are still handcrafted, and the packaging continues to draw from Emirati design motifs, preserving the brand's original spirit: a world-class product with a local soul. A key figure in shaping the brand's success was Filipino chef Noel Catis Umamalin, who worked closely with Sarah Hammouda to refine the core recipe — ensuring that the product wasn't just delicious, but also stable in texture, scalable in production, and globally distributable. More Than a Treat — It's a Story Today, Dubai Chocolate is no longer just a sweet indulgence or luxury gift. It's become a symbol of Dubai's spirit of opportunity — a city where a modest idea can grow into a world-renowned brand. It's a story that continues to inspire female entrepreneurs and the next generation of Arab chefs alike: that innovation doesn't require a massive factory, just an original idea — and the courage to pursue it.
