Why is Britain considering another migrant deal that relies on France?
The protests that have received coverage around the world – of Venetians objecting to their city being turned into a 'playground' and a 'circus' – sit uneasily with its history.
I would remind demonstrators of the images we have of La Serenissima when it was at its most decadent, in the 18th century. These show a city state splurging in excess, with its opulence and gilded extravagance captured by the artists Francesco Guardi and Giovanni Antonio Canal – better known as 'Canaletto'. Venice has always been a place of splendour. May Venetians be grateful for the filling of their coffers by Mr Bezos and his guests, and for the enduring beauty of their wonderful city.
Julian Barran
Bath, Somerset
SIR – In choosing Venice for his wedding, Jeff Bezos has shown remarkably good taste. America is a great country, but it doesn't have anything to match the likes of Venice or Rome. I hope the guests find time to educate themselves by visiting world-famous sites such as the Guggenheim Museum, the Doge's Palace and the Jewish ghetto.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
26 minutes ago
- The Independent
Cruz Beckham channels dad David's skills with poolside football tricks
Watch as Cruz Beckham channels his father David 's football skills with some impressive poolside tricks. Posting a range of holiday snaps on Instagram on Monday (18 August), the 20-year-old can be seen doing kick-ups in front of a pool at sunset, whilst another clip shows him kicking the ball to a friend across the water. Cruz had been holidaying with his family across France and Italy, where they have been enjoying time on their £16million yacht. Eldest brother Brooklyn was nowhere to be seen, with the family reportedly no longer on speaking terms with the 26-year-old. Last week, the famous family were noticeably absent as he and his wife, Nicola Peltz, renewed their marriage vows just three years after their wedding.
The Guardian
40 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Vienna announced as host city for Eurovision song contest 2026
Vienna has been chosen to host the Eurovision song contest 2026, the world's biggest live televised music event, Austria's public broadcaster announced, with the final set for 16 May. Austria's JJ won this year's competition, held in Basel in Switzerland, with his song Wasted Love, which blends techno beats with operatic vocals – making his home country the 2026 host. Vienna, which previously hosted the glitzy TV extravaganza in 1967 and 2015, edged out Innsbruck, the capital of western Tirol province, to stage next year's contest, the public broadcaster ORF announced on Wednesday. The final of Eurovision's 70th edition will be held at the Wiener Stadthalle, Austria's largest indoor arena, with semi-finals set for 12 and 14 May, Eurovision said. Since its launch in 1955, Eurovision has become the ultimate pop platform, catapulting the Swedish group Abba to worldwide fame, as well as boosting the likes of Céline Dion, Cliff Richard and Olivia Newton-John. About 166 million viewers in 37 countries watched this year's contest, with a record 60% of viewers aged 15 to 24 tuning in. The competition got even more views on Instagram and TikTok. The show has often drawn controversy, with pro-Palestinian activists staging protests in Switzerland in May after Eurovision allowed Israel – who was runner-up – to participate in the contest despite the devastating Gaza war. After his win, JJ, whose real name is Johannes Pietsch, in an interview called for Israel to be excluded from next year's competition, sparking a storm of criticism in Austria, a staunch supporter of Israel. JJ, 24, has since sought to defuse the controversy, saying via his record label, Warner, that he was 'sorry if his comments had been misinterpreted'. Austria's far-right Freedom party, which came top in elections for the first time last year but failed to form a government, has described Eurovision as a 'queer, leftwing, woke spectacle' and criticised Vienna for wanting to stage it despite the high costs. Basel put up nearly $40m (£30m) to host the contest. Under the slogan 'Europe, shall we dance?', Vienna – more commonly known for classical music and the baroque splendour of its architecture – pushed to host the contest, citing its experience with big events. It also touted its 'enormous' accommodation capacities, its 'excellent' transport links, and its 'cosmopolitanism', with 2 million people living in the Austrian capital. The the Wiener Stadthalle hosted Eurovision in 2015, after the previous year's edition was won by the drag performer Conchita Wurst. Located in central Vienna, it opened in 1958 and seats 16,000 people in its main hall. When Vienna last hosted the Eurovision contest, the city installed traffic lights showing same-sex and heterosexual couples instead of a single figure – which proved so popular that authorities decided to keep them for good.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Iconic James Bond star says he will consider RETURNING for new 007 film... as role is still up for grabs
The role of James Bond is still up for grabs, but a familiar face may now be open to returning to the franchise. Pierce Brosnan, who portrayed the spy in four films, has revealed he would consider reprising his role - depending on what director Denis Villeneuve has in store for the British secret agent. In an interview with Radio Times, Pierce, 72, was asked if he would 'do Bond again - is it time for a senior citizen 007?' 'My wife Keely [Shaye Smith] and I have been listening to the drumbeat of expectation of who's going to be the next James Bond,' the Irish actor replied. 'There are many great candidates out there, and I'm sure they're going to make it a spectacle of delight. I don't think anyone wants to see a craggy, 72-year-old Bond, but if [next 007 director Denis] Villeneuve had something up his sleeve I would look at it in a heartbeat. 'Why not? It's great entertainment. It could be lots of laughs. Bald caps, prosthetics… who knows?' Pierce portrayed the iconic spy on the big screen in 1995's GoldenEye, 1997's Tomorrow Never Dies, 1999's The World Is Not Enough, and 2002's Die Another Day. 'I wish them well,' Pierce said of the next film in an interview with SAGA earlier this month. 'I'm so excited to see the next man come on the stage and to see a whole new exuberance and life for this character. 'I adore the world of James Bond. It's been very good to me. It's the gift that keeps giving. 'And I'm just a member of the audience now, sitting back, saying: "Show us what you're going to do."' The role has been vacant ever since Daniel Craig, the latest 007, departed in 2021. Already a star before playing Bond for the first time in 2005 blockbuster Casino Royale, Daniel amassed a reported $100million from his six outings as the secret agent. Now actor Aaron Taylor Johnson has emerged as the man most likely to replace Daniel Craig. Taylor Johnson has previously played it cool when asked about the possibility of him becoming Bond, telling Esquire: 'It's not really for me to stay anything.' Should he be named as Bond, the actor will be working with Steven Knight, who has signed up to write the latest James Bond movie, Amazon MGM Studios confirmed in July. The British screenwriter is perhaps best known as the creator of the hugely popular BBC crime drama Peaky Blinders starring Cillian Murphy. And now he's set to lend his talents to the long-running spy franchise by drafting the script for the newest 007 film, with Knight revealing that it has always been on his 'bucket list'. The latest Bond film is currently in development and is to be helmed by Dune director Denis Villeneuve, with Amazon MGM Studios overseeing the project after longtime producer Barbara Broccoli gave up creative control. Meanwhile, Amy Pascal and David Heyman are on board to produce the movie via Pascal Pictures and Heyday Films respectively, while Tanya Lapointe will serve as executive producer.
