MILAN (AP) — Thousands of artists, curators and critics have signed an open letter calling on the Venice Biennale to exclude the Israeli national pavilion from this year’s contemporary art fair due to the war in Gaza, but Italy’s culture minister firmly backed Israel’s participation. The online letter was signed by more than 17,000 people through Wednesday, which included current …

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Sarah Nurse scored two goals, including the overtime winner, and Toronto beat Minnesota 4-3 on Tuesday night for its sixth straight victory. Toronto pulled within three points of first-place Montreal in the PWHL standings. Minnesota remains in second place despite losing three consecutive games. Toronto never trailed. Blayre Turnbull snuck the puck by Minnesota goaltender Nicole Hensley …

QUITO (AP) — Cinco de los seis sospechosos por el asesinato del candidato presidencial Fernando Villavicencio irán a juicio, dictaminó el miércoles la jueza que procesa este caso que conmocionó a Ecuador en agosto del año pasado días antes de las elecciones. Entre los procesados está Carlos Angulo, uno de los cabecillas de la organización criminal Los Lobos, a quien …

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and the men’s professional tennis tour have agreed to a five-year partnership that includes naming rights for the ATP rankings, the latest move by the kingdom into that sport and others. The ATP already had a deal that placed its Next Gen ATP Finals — a tournament for players 21 and under — in Jeddah …

LANGKAWI, Malaysia (AP) — King Harald V of Norway remained hospitalized with an infection on Malaysia’s northern resort island of Langkawi on Wednesday as officials said that his condition was improving. Harald, Europe’s oldest monarch at age 87, became ill while he was on vacation. His son, Crown Prince Haakon, said in Norway that his father “is doing better now. …

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Kansas City Chiefs superfan known as “ChiefsAholic” pleaded guilty Wednesday to a string of robberies and attempted robberies of banks and credit unions in multiple states. Xaviar Michael Babudar, 29, pleaded guilty in federal court in Kansas City, Missouri, to one count each of money laundering, transporting stolen property across state lines, and bank …

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Roman Josi had two goals and an assist as the Nashville Predators extended their winning streak to six games with a 4-1 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday night. Gustav Nyquist had a goal and two assists, Michael McCarron also scored and Juuse Saros made 24 saves for the Predators. Nashville returned from a road …

CHISINÁU, Moldavia (AP) — Las autoridades de Transnistria, una región separatista de Moldavia, recurrieron el miércoles a Rusia en busca de protección, mientras crecen las tensiones con el gobierno moldavo. Moldavia, país candidato a unirse a la Unión Europea, impuso nuevos aranceles el 1 de enero de 2024 a las importaciones y exportaciones de y hacia Transnistria, que colinda con …

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A bill that would have allowed people with lengthy prison terms to petition a court to consider reducing their sentences after serving a minimum of 15 years was defeated in the Virginia General Assembly on Wednesday. This is the third consecutive year that a so-called second look measure failed to pass. The Senate bill, sponsored by …

The AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll is back every week throughout the season! Get the poll delivered straight to your inbox with AP Top 25 Poll Alerts. Sign up here. Indiana State Sycamores (24-5, 15-3 MVC) at Evansville Purple Aces (15-14, 6-12 MVC) Evansville, Indiana; Wednesday, 8 p.m. EST FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK LINE: Sycamores -9.5; over/under is 156.5 BOTTOM …