Protests over Russian presence as Venice Biennale opens
Topless Russian and Ukrainian activists staged a joint protest at the Venice Biennale on Wednesday amid widespread anger over Russia's return to the festival for the first time since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Wearing pink balaclavas and setting off pink smoke bombs, Ukrainian feminist collective Femen and Russian protest punk band Pussy Riot demonstrated outside the Russian pavilion, AFP reported.
READ ALSO: Venice Biennale opens in turmoil over Russian presence
"We are here to remind you that the only Russian culture, the only Russian art today is blood," Femen activist Inna Shevchenko told reporters.
Russia's inclusion sparked outrage from Italy's government and the European Union, which threatened to cut €2 million in funding from the Biennale. The jury resigned last week, saying it would not hand out awards to countries whose leaders were subject to International Criminal Court arrest warrants - meaning Russia and Israel.
About a hundred demonstrators also gathered outside Israel's pavilion, holding banners reading "No artwashing genocide."
Pope Leo holds firm on Iran as US secretary of state arrives in Rome
Pope Leo XIV told his general audience on Wednesday that the Church "denounces those who mortify life and takes a stand for victims," as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Rome ahead of talks at the Vatican on Thursday.
The Pope had earlier this week rejected Donald Trump’s accusations that he was "endangering many Catholics" and "prefers to talk about how it's fine for Iran to have a nuclear weapon."
READ ALSO: 'A lot to talk about': Rubio to meet pope at the Vatican after Trump criticism
"If someone wants to criticise me for announcing the Gospel, let them do so with the truth," he said.
Rubio said his Vatican visit had been planned before Trump's comments. He was also due to meet Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at Palazzo Chigi on Friday.
New suspect stays silent over reopened 2007 murder case
A new suspect in the killing of Chiara Poggi, a case that has gripped Italy for nearly two decades, refused to answer questions on Wednesday when summoned by prosecutors, Ansa reported.
The case was reopened last year after DNA compatible with that of Andrea Sempio - a friend of the victim's brother - was found under two of her fingernails.
Prosecutors now allege Sempio, now 38, stabbed Poggi after she rejected his advances. A wiretap showed he had called her and she refused to speak to him.
The developments could lead to the release of Alberto Stasi, who has been serving a 16-year sentence for the murder since 2015.
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