Latest news with #Anti-Bezos
USA Today
8 hours ago
- Business
- USA Today
Protests pop up in Venice before Jeff Bezos-Lauren Sánchez wedding: See photos
As billionaire Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his fiancée of several years, Lauren Sánchez, prepare to walk down the aisle in a star-studded, lavish wedding in Venice, Italy, their celebrations have reportedly been impacted by protests, which see the event as a sign of garish commodification of a fragile city. Local anti-tourist activists, members of Greenpeace Italy and the U.K. group "Everyone hates Elon" (Musk) are among those protesting against the wedding ceremony, saying city authorities were prioritizing tourism over resident needs, Reuters reported. Protesters argue the city is being overrun with tourism while steadily depopulating, and needs public services and housing, not VIPs and over-tourism. "The problem is not the wedding, the problem is the system. We think that one big billionaire can't rent a city for his pleasure," one of the protesters, Simona Abbate told Reuters. Anti-Bezos banners pop up in Venice: See photos, video Anti-Bezos banners and signs have sprung up in different parts of Venice. A banner, which says, "No space for Bezos!" was hung from the city's famous Rialto Bridge. Another with a picture of Bezos laughing and a sign reading: "If you can rent Venice for your wedding, you can pay more tax," was unfolded in central St. Mark's Square June 23 by "Everyone hates Elon." Wedding venue reportedly moved Amid ongoing protests and threats of disruption, multiple media outlets, including CNN and BBC reported protesters claimed victory after wedding celebrations were moved to an isolated, less accessible part of the lagoon city. After the wedding ceremony, the location of which is unknown, the newlyweds and their guests will head to a hall of the Arsenale, a renovated maritime area on the outer edge of Venice. The vast 14th-century complex in the eastern Castello district, known for hosting the Venice Biennale art fair, is surrounded by water and impossible to reach by land when connecting bridges are raised. The event, which would mark the grand finale of the three-day event, was previously scheduled to be held at the Scuola Grande della Misericordia, an art museum, BBC reported. Locals had threatened peaceful blockades against the event on the day of. BBC reported that some protesters were planning to enter canals near the key venues with inflatable alligators, in an attempt to block the path of the rich and famous. However, after the venue was reportedly changed, that plan has been called off, though protesters still plan to send out statements and register their protest over the wedding weekend. Protesters rejoiced at the development and claimed an "enormous victory," saying the tech billionaire and his wedding guests were forced to "run away" from the city center, BBC reported. Local officials defend celebrations City authorities, however, are defending the grand wedding, estimated to cost $23-$34 million, according to regional governor Luca Zaia, who added it is expected to bring an economic boost to local businesses. Zaia, on June 24, continued to offer his support to the billionaire. "Do you think it's normal that you try to prevent two people, whatever their social background is, from celebrating their wedding wherever they want?" the governor wrote in a post on Facebook. "Venice needs all the support and love possible, so I'm wishing Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez a happy and peaceful marriage in the most beautiful city in the world!" Bezos and Sánchez, meanwhile, will make charity donations, including $1 million euros for Corila, an academic consortium that studies Venice's lagoon ecosystem, Italy's Corriere della Sera newspaper and the ANSA news agency reported. The couple has reportedly also requested wedding guests to make donations in lieu of gifts. When is Jeff Bezos' wedding to Lauren Sánchez? Bezos and Sánchez have been rather tight-lipped about their upcoming nuptials, and the exact date of their wedding has not been revealed. Reuters and The New York Times reported the three-day wedding is likely to occur between June 26 and 28. About 200 guests, including some of the couple's closest celebrity friends such Oprah Winfrey, designer Diane von Furstenberg and husband Barry Diller, Mick Jagger, Salma Hayek, Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, Eva Longoria, and Kim Kardashian, are expected to be in attendance. Five of the city's most luxurious hotels have been booked out to host the wedding party. Bezos and Sánchez are not the first celebrity couple to choose Italy for their destination wedding. Previously, George and Amal Clooney also wed in Venice in 2014, as did Salma Hayek and her billionaire husband François-Henri Pinault in 2009. This story has been updated with additional information. Contributing: Anna Kaufman, Amanda Lee Myers, USA TODAY; Reuters Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@ and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.
USA Today
8 hours ago
- Business
- USA Today
Protests pop up in Venice before Jeff Bezos-Lauren Sánchez wedding: See photos
As billionaire Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his fiancée of several years, Lauren Sánchez, prepare to walk down the aisle in a star-studded, lavish wedding in Venice, Italy, their celebrations have reportedly been impacted by protests, which see the event as a sign of garish commodification of a fragile city. Local anti-tourist activists, members of Greenpeace Italy and the U.K. group "Everyone hates Elon" (Musk) are among those protesting against the wedding ceremony, saying city authorities were prioritizing tourism over resident needs, Reuters reported. Protesters argue the city is being overrun with tourism while steadily depopulating, and needs public services and housing, not VIPs and over-tourism. "The problem is not the wedding, the problem is the system. We think that one big billionaire can't rent a city for his pleasure," one of the protesters, Simona Abbate told Reuters. Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez's wedding: Everything we know so far about the secret, lavish affair Anti-Bezos banners pop up in Venice: See photos, video Anti-Bezos banners and signs have sprung up in different parts of Venice. A banner, which says, "No space for Bezos!" was hung from the city's famous Rialto Bridge. Another with a picture of Bezos laughing and a sign reading: "If you can rent Venice for your wedding, you can pay more tax," was unfolded in central St. Mark's Square June 23 by "Everyone hates Elon." Wedding venue reportedly moved Amid ongoing protests and threats of disruption, multiple media outlets, including CNN and BBC reported protesters claimed victory after wedding celebrations were moved to an isolated, less accessible part of the lagoon city. After the wedding ceremony, the location of which is unknown, the newlyweds and their guests will head to a hall of the Arsenale, a renovated maritime area on the outer edge of Venice. The vast 14th-century complex in the eastern Castello district, known for hosting the Venice Biennale art fair, is surrounded by water and impossible to reach by land when connecting bridges are raised. Who else has tied the knot in Italy? Jeff Bezos, Lauren Sánchez wedding heads to Venice The event, which would mark the grand finale of the three-day event, was previously scheduled to be held at the Scuola Grande della Misericordia, an art museum, BBC reported. Locals had threatened peaceful blockades against the event on the day of. BBC reported that some protesters were planning to enter canals near the key venues with inflatable alligators, in an attempt to block the path of the rich and famous. However, after the venue was reportedly changed, that plan has been called off, though protesters still plan to send out statements and register their protest over the wedding weekend. Jeff Bezos' wedding guest list: Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner and more stars arrive Protesters rejoiced at the development and claimed an "enormous victory," saying the tech billionaire and his wedding guests were forced to "run away" from the city center, BBC reported. Local officials defend celebrations City authorities, however, are defending the grand wedding, estimated to cost $23-$34 million, according to regional governor Luca Zaia, who added it is expected to bring an economic boost to local businesses. Zaia, on June 24, continued to offer his support to the billionaire. Lauren Sánchez engagement ring: See photos of the stunning jewelry "Do you think it's normal that you try to prevent two people, whatever their social background is, from celebrating their wedding wherever they want?" the governor wrote in a post on Facebook. "Venice needs all the support and love possible, so I'm wishing Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez a happy and peaceful marriage in the most beautiful city in the world!" Bezos and Sánchez, meanwhile, will make charity donations, including $1 million euros for Corila, an academic consortium that studies Venice's lagoon ecosystem, Italy's Corriere della Sera newspaper and the ANSA news agency reported. The couple has reportedly also requested wedding guests to make donations in lieu of gifts. When is Jeff Bezos' wedding to Lauren Sánchez? Bezos and Sánchez have been rather tight-lipped about their upcoming nuptials, and the exact date of their wedding has not been revealed. Reuters and The New York Times reported the three-day wedding is likely to occur between June 26 and 28. Who was Jeff Bezos' first wife? All about philanthropist MacKenzie Scott About 200 guests, including some of the couple's closest celebrity friends such Oprah Winfrey, designer Diane von Furstenberg and husband Barry Diller, Mick Jagger, Salma Hayek, Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, Eva Longoria, and Kim Kardashian, are expected to be in attendance. Five of the city's most luxurious hotels have been booked out to host the wedding party. Bezos and Sánchez are not the first celebrity couple to choose Italy for their destination wedding. Previously, George and Amal Clooney also wed in Venice in 2014, as did Salma Hayek and her billionaire husband François-Henri Pinault in 2009. This story has been updated with additional information. Contributing: Anna Kaufman, Amanda Lee Myers, USA TODAY; Reuters Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@ and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.
USA Today
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Jeff Bezos' wedding venue changed after protestors threaten disruption: Reports
As billionaire Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his fiancée of several years, Lauren Sánchez, prepare to walk down the aisle in a star-studded lavish wedding in Venice, Italy, their celebrations have been dampened by protests, which see the event as a sign of garish commodification of a fragile city. Local anti-tourist activists, members of Greenpeace Italy and the U.K. group "Everyone hates Elon" (Musk) are among those protesting against the wedding ceremony, saying city authorities were prioritizing tourism over resident needs, Reuters reported. Protestors argue the city is being overrun with tourism while steadily depopulating, and needs public services and housing, not VIPs and over-tourism. "The problem is not the wedding, the problem is the system. We think that one big billionaire can't rent a city for his pleasure," one of the protesters, Simona Abbate told Reuters. Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez's wedding: Everything we know so far about the secret, lavish affair Wedding venue reportedly moved Amid ongoing protests and threats of disruption, Reuters and BBC reported the celebrations have reportedly been moved to an isolated, less accessible part of the lagoon city. After the wedding ceremony, the location for which is unknown, the newlyweds and their guests will head to a hall of the Arsenale, a renovated maritime area on the outer edge of Venice. The vast 14th-century complex in the eastern Castello district, known for hosting the Venice Biennale art fair, is surrounded by water and impossible to reach by land when connecting bridges are raised. The event, which would mark the grand finale of the three-day event, was previously scheduled to be held at the Scuola Grande della Misericordia, an art museum, BBC reported. Locals had threatened peaceful blockades against the event on the day of. BBC reported some protestors were planning to enter into canals near the key venues with inflatable alligators, in an attempt to block the path of the rich and famous. However, after the venue was reportedly changed, that plan has been called off, though protestors still plan to send out statements and register their protest over the wedding weekend. Protesters rejoiced at the development and claimed an "enormous victory," saying the tech billionaire and his wedding guests were forced to "run away" from the city center, BBC said. Anti-Bezos banners pop up in Venice Anti-Bezos banners and signs have also sprung up in different parts of Venice. A banner, which says, "No space for Bezos!" was hung from the city's famous Rialto Bridge. Another with a picture of Bezos laughing and a sign reading: "If you can rent Venice for your wedding, you can pay more tax," was unfolded in central St. Mark's Square June 23 by "Everyone hates Elon." Local officials defends celebrations City authorities, however, are defending the grand wedding, estimated to cost $23-$34 million, according to regional governor Luca Zaia, who added it is expected to bring an economic boost to local businesses. Zaia, on June 24, continued to offer his support to the billionaire. "Do you think it's normal that you try to prevent two people, whatever their social background is, from celebrating their wedding wherever they want?," the governor wrote in a post on Facebook. "Venice needs all the support and love possible, so I'm wishing Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez a happy and peaceful marriage in the most beautiful city in the world!" Bezos and Sánchez, meanwhile, will make charity donations, including $1 million euros for Corila, an academic consortium that studies Venice's lagoon ecosystem, Italy's Corriere della Sera newspaper and the ANSA news agency reported. The couple has reportedly also requested wedding guests to make donations in lieu of gifts. When is Jeff Bezos' wedding to Lauren Sánchez? Bezos and Sánchez have been rather tight-lipped about their upcoming nuptials, and the exact date of their wedding has not been revealed. Reuters and The New York Times reported the three-day wedding is likely to occur between June 26 and 28. About 200 guests, including some of the couple's closest celebrity friends such Oprah Winfrey, designer Diane von Furstenberg and husband Barry Diller, Mick Jagger, Salma Hayek, Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, Eva Longoria, and Kim Kardashian are expected to be in attendance. Five of the city's most luxurious hotels have been booked out to host the wedding party. Bezos and Sánchez are not the first celebrity couple to choose Italy for their destination wedding. Previously, George and Amal Clooney also wed in Venice in 2014, as did Salma Hayek and her billionaire husband François-Henri Pinault in 2009. Contributing: Anna Kaufman, Amanda Lee Myers, USA TODAY; Reuters Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@ and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
How much tax does Amazon pay? Jeff Bezos faces protests before lavish Venice wedding
Protesters in Venice continue to demonstrate against Jeff Bezos's upcoming wedding as organisers deny they are taking over the city. About 200 guests are expected at the marriage between the Amazon boss, 61, and journalist Lauren Sanchez, 55, in the Italian city this week, including a host of celebrities. But Venice has erupted in protest at the nuptials, with opponents accusing Bezos of treating the city as his own personal wedding venue. Anti-Bezos posters have adorned the city for the past number of weeks, while residents have erected banners with messages such as "No space for Bezos", a reference to his company, Blue Origin, which has launched a rocket into orbit. On Monday, the sentiment against the wedding was ratcheted up a notch when environmental group Greenpeace unfurled a huge banner in St Mark's Square featuring the tech billionaire's face which read: "If you can rent Venice for your wedding you can pay more tax". The wedding between Bezos and Sanchez is expected to take place over three days later this week, from 26 to 28 June. Details have been kept under wraps but MailOnline reported the couple will tie the knot on Friday 27 June. Read more: Everything to know about Lauren Sánchez and Jeff Bezos' wedding in Venice (Business Insider) The Times reported that Bezos was forced to change the wedding venue earlier this week from the Grade di Santa Maria della Misericordia hall, which has easy access by water or on foot, to a more secure location at the city's former shipyard at Arsenale, in an effort to dodge protesters. Among the 200 guests are US president Donald Trump's children Donald Jr and Ivanka, as well as Kim Kardashian, Katy Perry, Oprah Winfrey and Bill Gates. There are a number of reasons why people are demonstrating against the wedding. Firstly, Venetians have long been concerned about over-tourism in their city, which brings in 20 million visitors a year despite having a population of just 50,000. One of the protesters, Marta Sottoriva, told The Independent the wedding illustrated that 'a city can be sold to the highest bidder with the most money'. In a statement, wedding planners Lanza & Baucina said: "Rumours of 'taking over' the city are entirely false and diametrically opposed to our goals and to reality. "Before the recent news of protests arose, we had worked for there to be minimal negative impact or disruption to the lives of Venetians and the city's visitors." And Venice mayor Luigi Brugnaro said the wedding is welcome and insisted it will not cause disruption to people who live in the city. Bezos and Sanchez are sourcing about 80% of their wedding provisions from Venetian vendors, the Associated Press reported. The other reason protesters are against the wedding is the ongoing legal battle to make Amazon pay more in taxes. Clara Thompson, from Greenpeace, said: 'While Venice is sinking under the weight of the climate crisis, billionaires are partying like there is no tomorrow on their mega yachts. 'The real issue is a broken system that lets billionaires skip out on taxes while everyone else is left to foot the bill." Yahoo News UK has approached Amazon for comment. - UK Last week, the independent Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA), the UK's industry watchdog, said it had launched an investigation into allegations Amazon is failing to pay its suppliers on time, saying it had "reasonable grounds" to suspect the company was in breach of the groceries supply code of practice. Amazon said it would "co-operate fully" with the investigation. And at the beginning of this month, Amazon pledged to improve its practices for monitoring fake reviews and how they are used to boost product ratings after an investigation by the UK competition watchdog, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). - EU In December 2023, Amazon won a legal battle with the EU after the Court of Justice of the European Union ruled it did not have to pay €250m in back taxes. In February 2025, it emerged that Italian prosecutors are investigating Amazon and three of its executives over alleged tax evasion worth €1.2bn. Reuters reported that three Amazon managers and the company's European unit based in Luxembourg were under investigation for alleged tax fraud in online sales in Italy between 2019 and 2021. Amazon's full UK operation paid a total of £932m in tax in 2023, which included business rates, corporation tax and national insurance contributions, a rise from the £781m it paid in 2022. This was out of an annual revenue of more than £27bn, meaning it paid 3.45% of that in tax, a percentage that was described as "a relative pittance" by Andy Prendergast, national secretary at the GMB union. Last September, Amazon UK Services announced that it had paid corporation tax for the first since since 2020 after a tax break introduced by then prime minister Rishi Sunak was scrapped. Amazon UK Services, which employs more than of the company's staff in the UK, said it paid £18.7m in "current tax", in 2023, which is understood to have been largely corporation tax.
