Latest news with #Venetian
Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Irish Independent
Venice gangs using young children to steal from tourists
But criminal gangs are cleverly exploiting a legal loophole and recruiting thieves as young as 12 or 13. Those under the age of 14 escape criminal prosecution. Police chiefs say gangs have turned away from using pregnant women – who can be prosecuted – and instead turned their attention on children. But even when the youngsters are caught and sent to a community centre for the night, they escape within hours, according to Marco Agosti, the commander of the Venice local police. Many of the pickpockets are known to police. Frustrated local activists catch them tailing their victims and later post their images on social media, as well as their names or nicknames such as 'Shakira', 'Mika' or 'Dodu'. 'I didn't feel a thing, they were invisible,' said one 50-year old British victim, who did not want to be named. She was targeted during the city's annual Carnevale festivities in February. 'I didn't realise my wallet was gone until I arrived at the railway station.' Local and national Carabinieri police say they have apprehended more than 150 alleged thieves since the beginning of the year and filled 15 large bags of stolen bags and empty wallets at the town hall. The victims are mostly foreigners and they hardly ever come to the hearing Despite more than 800 police cameras conducting surveillance across the World Heritage listed city, police say they are hamstrung by legal loopholes that allow criminal gangs to exploit the 'baby borseggiatori' (or baby pickpockets) as well as the transient nature of their crimes. 'Pickpocketing is only actionable on a party's complaint and if the robbed person does not show up for trial, the complaint is thrown out,' Gianni Frazoi, the deputy commander of Venice police, told newspaper Corriere della Sera. 'The victims are mostly foreigners and they hardly ever come to the hearing. And so there are no trials and no convictions.' Venice police said 41 people had been caught pickpocketing or arrested between January and May this year but there had been more arrests in June and July. In the first two weeks of May, police arrested 11 pickpockets. All were minors but five could not be prosecuted under Italian law because they were under the age of 14. Commandant Agostini rejected suggestions Venice was any worse than Italy's other tourist hotspots such as Milan, Rome, Florence or Naples. But he did say it was sometimes difficult to get a conviction under Italian law, citing the recent arrest of an alleged Venetian burglar known as 'The Grasshopper' for leaping from one building to another and who has been in and out of jail for his alleged break-ins. Venice mayor Luigi Brugnaro is calling for an immediate change to the law and broader police powers.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Is Ashish Chanchlani dating Elli AvrRam? YouTuber finally spills the shocking truth
A Melodious Collaboration: 'Chandaniya' From Speculation to Revelation The Journey of Elli AvrRam A Viral Strategy That Worked Ashish Chanchlani, known for his comic timing and viral YouTube content, recently stirred up quite a buzz across social media by orchestrating a clever prank. The digital creator left fans speculating about a possible romantic connection between him and Swedish-Greek actress Elli AvrRam. However, the teasing posts and viral images were not hints of a blossoming romance but instead a strategic lead-up to a creative project. What seemed like hints of a relationship was, in fact, promotional content for their newly released music July 19, 2025, Chanchlani and AvrRam surprised their combined fanbases by dropping the music video titled Chandaniya on Instagram. The song is part of the album Master of Melody, showcasing the vocal talent of Vishal Mishra. The music was composed by Mithoon, with lyrics penned by Sayeed Quadri. Directed with an eye for romance and aesthetics, the video pairs comedy with sentiment and presents a picturesque tale of love in the enchanting backdrop of storyline centers on a couple navigating the challenges of long-distance love. Ashish plays a man working in a quaint Venetian café, whose mundane day turns joyful when Elli's character unexpectedly appears on his birthday. The two then spend a memorable day together, full of romantic moments and laughter. The narrative's blend of lighthearted charm and emotional warmth has resonated with releasing the music video, Ashish and Elli ignited public curiosity with an Instagram post showing them in a cozy embrace. Elli held a bouquet while leaning into Ashish's arms, and the caption read 'Finally,' sparking rumors of a confirmed relationship. While neither of them directly addressed the gossip, their series of playful posts and public appearances had many believing that the duo were romantically involved. Their chemistry at high-profile gatherings and online banter only added to the speculation.A few fans, however, remained skeptical. Some guessed early on that this could be another one of Ashish's humorous setups. Not long after the video dropped, Ashish confirmed these suspicions by posting another video clip humorously mocking those who had believed in the romantic rumor. The 31-year-old content creator cheekily acknowledged his role in misleading the audience, solidifying the prank's AvrRam, born as Elisabet Avramidou Granlund in 1990, hails from Stockholm, Sweden. She comes from an artistic background; her father, Jannis Avramidis, is a Greek musician, while her mother, Maria Granlund, acted in Ingmar Bergman's acclaimed film Fanny and Alexander. Raised in Tyresö, a suburb of Stockholm, Elli was immersed in the performing arts from a young age. She trained in acting under her mother and her aunt, who runs a theatre company in southern moved to India to pursue her acting dreams and gained nationwide recognition in 2013 after her appearance on the reality show Bigg Boss. She later starred in several Bollywood projects, including the comedy film Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon and a dance number in Koi Jaane Na with Aamir Khan. Over time, she has established herself not only as a film personality but also as a social media influencer, admired for her versatility and captivating screen Ashish-Elli team-up for Chandaniya was a well-orchestrated promotional strategy disguised as a romantic mystery. Their approach blurred the lines between digital engagement and marketing, sparking excitement and conversation long before the video's release. Their chemistry, both on and off screen, added authenticity to the campaign—turning a music video launch into a memorable event for fans across platforms.
Bloomberg
4 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Brandon Lutnick Pushes Cantor to Go All-In on Crypto SPACs
The crowd was lining up at the Venetian hotel for the latest attraction in Las Vegas: Wall Street's new crypto royalty. It was late May, and Brandon Lutnick — the son of billionaire US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick — had flown in with his banker colleagues to celebrate the rise of cryptocurrencies under President Donald Trump.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Jeff Bezos' wedding ignited a protest movement in Venice — why locals are fed up with billionaire tourism
Protesters, who are floating a Bezos effigy in the canal, say the Amazon founder's lavish celebration is everything wrong with tourism today. Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez are in Venice for what will certainly be the most extravagant wedding of the summer (year, decade, century...) but not everyone is sending their best wishes to the newlyweds-to-be. As the couple's star-studded festivities unfold across the Floating City, a vocal protest movement is staging a very public response. Their message: This isn't just a wedding — it's a symbol of everything Venetians are losing to billionaire tourism. The protest movement: 'No Space for Bezos' Organized by a coalition of housing advocates, student groups, anti-cruise ship activists, and even Greenpeace, the protests operate under the banner 'No Space for Bezos' — a nod to Sánchez's 2021 spaceflight and a pointed critique of Venice's dwindling accessibility for locals. Protesters argue Bezos isn't just a celebrity groom; he's a symbol of corporate power, wealth inequality, and the privatization of public spaces. Many also point to Amazon's labor practices, tax disputes, and Bezos' political ties as reasons the wedding has become a flashpoint. A floating dummy on an Amazon box On Wednesday, activists floated a life-sized Bezos dummy down the Grand Canal — clutching fake money and riding an oversized Amazon box — in one of the most surreal moments of the protest. As reported widely, banners have also appeared on the Rialto Bridge and in St. Mark's Square, including one that read: 'If you can rent Venice for your wedding, you can pay more tax.' Protesters originally threatened to block canal traffic using inflatable unicorns and flamingos, but the plan was called off after the main wedding venue — originally set for Scuola Grande della Misericordia — was moved to the more secure Arsenale complex. Protest organizers called the relocation a 'victory,' according to The Washington Post. The bigger picture: Venice at a crossroads While city officials insist the event will bring a major economic windfall — and Venetian mayor Luigi Brugnaro told the AP that the city finds it "an honor" and is "very proud" to host the wedding — critics argue the real cost is cultural and civic. Bezos and Sánchez have sourced about 80 percent of goods and services locally and made at least three major donations to Venice-based preservation groups, including the CORILA environmental research association, as described in a leaked piece of their wedding invitation. Still, for many residents, the symbolism overshadows the spending. 'We would have protested Bezos even if he came with three people in a wooden boat with oars,' protest leader Tommaso Cacciari told The Washington Post. In a city long grappling with overtourism, rising housing costs, and environmental risk, the Bezos wedding has become more than a private event — it's a proxy war over what Venice will become next.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The invitation to the Bezos-Sanchez destination wedding in Venice has leaked — and the internet has thoughts
"Please, no gifts." After much hype, speculation, and eyebrow-raising Vogue spreads, Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez are officially headed down the aisle in Venice, Italy this week. After ABC shared details of the couple's upcoming destination wedding invitation, PopCrave posted to X what appears to be a photo of a portion of the official wedding invitation. Set on a white backdrop with whimsical illustrations of birds, butterflies, dragonflies, feathers, and gondoliers rowing across the bottom, the design leans hard into a Venetian fairytale vibe — or at least that appears to have been the intention. The message opens: 'We are excited for you to join us! We have one early request — please, no gifts.' Instead, the couple says they'll be donating to three Venetian charities on behalf of their guests. The charities have the aim of supporting and sustaining Venice at a time when it is being plagued with overtourism, and protestors are greeting the newlyweds-to-be. 'This magical place has gifted us unforgettable memories,' the card reads. 'Our hope is that through these efforts and by you joining us, Venice will continue to inspire wonder for generations to come.' Social media had some questions about both the sentiment and the aesthetics. 'Was this made in Microsoft Paint?' one user asked, summing up the dominant reaction. Others compared it to a DIY Canva template, with one person joking, 'Graphic design is my passion.' Another quipped, 'Canva for the win,' while someone else added, 'The way this is a publicity stunt after all the backlash.' Of course the "no gifts" message also solicited response. 'Please no gifts — we're far too rich to receive anything from you peasants,' one commenter joked. Another replied, 'But I already ordered them something from Amazon.' Solve the daily Crossword
