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Photo: Naturpuur / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)

EU Halts Venice Biennale Funding Over Russia

The European Union halted a €2 million grant to Fondazione La Biennale di Venezia after approving the reopening of the Russian pavilion at the Venice Biennale, citing democratic values, open dialogue, diversity, and freedom of expression. The move follows widespread protests from Kyiv and the EU and comes amid broader backlash to Russia’s participation in a biennale that had been boycotted since its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

7 sources

Photo: Artem Katranzhi from Bakashikha, Russia / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)

MiG-29 destroyed at Kursk airfield, Ukraine says

Ukraine’s General Staff says the 15th Separate Artillery Reconnaissance Brigade “Black Forest” struck Khalino airfield in Kursk Oblast, destroying a MiG-29 and a Pantsir-S1 system as part of a broader campaign to degrade Russia’s air defenses and military infrastructure; officials indicated ongoing, systematic strikes and released video of the operation. Other reported targets that night included radar sites, drone depots, and logistics facilities, underscoring Kyiv’s aim to curb Russian attacks and sustain pressure on the frontline.

7 sources

Photo: Deonwillsgh / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Ant International secures $1.2B for global payments expansion

Ant International raised about $1.2 billion in a Series A, with participation from Ant Group and Alibaba as it pursues global expansion in merchant payments, account management and other financial services, while integrating AI across its infrastructure. The Singapore-based unit, spun out in 2024, operates four units—Alipay+, Antom, WorldFirst and Bettr—across Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Latin America, serving roughly 150 million merchants and 2 billion user accounts and was valued at about $10 billion prior to the funding.

11 sources

Photo: Ralf1969 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant Chief Engineer Killed, Officials Say

Russian authorities say a Ukrainian drone strike killed Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant chief engineer Aleksandr Yakovlev and the driver, with Rosatom urging a prompt IAEA response and condemning the attack. The plant has been under Russian control since 2022, with all reactors reportedly shut down for safety; Ukraine offered no immediate public comment on the incident.

7 sources