Global Pulse

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  • US eases access to marijuana for medical use

    US eases access to marijuana for medical use

    In a landmark policy shift that aligns federal regulation with decades of shifting public opinion and state-level reform, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Thursday it has reclassified marijuana from a Schedule I controlled substance to Schedule III, a move designed to expand patient access to medical cannabis and clear longstanding barriers to scientific research on the drug’s therapeutic benefits and risks.

    Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche explained that the new classification reflects the updated scientific consensus that marijuana carries moderate to low risk of dependence. By updating its federal status, Blanche said, the change will open up access to life-changing treatments for vulnerable patients and give clinicians clearer authority to make evidence-based care decisions based on individual patient needs.

    For decades, marijuana has been grouped in the Schedule I category alongside heroin and methamphetamine, a classification that labels drugs as having no accepted medical value and an extremely high potential for abuse. That outdated designation created massive bureaucratic hurdles for researchers hoping to study cannabis, and put federal policy sharply at odds with changes across the country: today, 40 U.S. states permit medical marijuana use, while 24 states and Washington D.C. have legalized the drug for adult recreational use.

    Thursday’s policy change fulfills an executive order President Donald Trump issued last December, which directed the Justice Department to speed up the reclassification process to expand access for patients with serious medical conditions, including cancer and chronic pain. Trump noted at the December announcement that patients and their families had long pushed for this shift, saying, “We have people begging for me to do this. People that are in great pain.” The president emphasized that the reclassification does not equal nationwide legalization, and reiterated his longstanding personal stance against drug use, saying he has always advised his own children to avoid drugs, alcohol, and tobacco.

    Unlike the Biden administration, which began the reclassification process but failed to finalize the change before Trump took office in early 2025, the Trump administration delivered on the promised reform. It also laid out next steps for broader potential changes: the Justice Department will open expedited public hearings starting in June to evaluate whether additional adjustments to marijuana’s federal status are warranted in line with federal law.

    Crucially, the reclassification does not override existing state bans on recreational or medical marijuana use, nor does it legalize recreational cannabis at the federal level. But it removes the thick layer of regulatory red tape that has stymied clinical research for decades. “These actions will enable more targeted, rigorous research into marijuana’s safety and efficacy,” Blanche said.

    Beyond patient access and research, the shift is expected to deliver significant financial benefits to legal cannabis businesses. The new classification lowers the tax burden on licensed cannabis operators, many of which have faced steep, punitive tax penalties under the old Schedule I rules. The change leaves intact the nation’s patchwork of state-level regulations for cannabis cultivation, distribution, and personal possession, but marks the most significant adjustment to federal marijuana policy in modern U.S. history.

  • Why the European Union’s wartime loan is a vital lifeline for cash-strapped Ukraine

    Why the European Union’s wartime loan is a vital lifeline for cash-strapped Ukraine

    KYIV, Ukraine — Cash-strapped Ukraine, locked in its second major year of defensive war against Russian invasion, has secured a landmark 90 billion-euro ($106 billion) multi-year loan from the European Union, a financial lifeline that will keep the country’s core state functions and wartime military operations running through 2027.

    The massive financial package received formal unanimous approval from EU member states on Thursday, marking the end of a months-long political deadlock that nearly left Kyiv facing catastrophic resource shortages as early as this spring. The final green light came just days after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed full repairs to the Ukrainian segment of the Druzhba oil pipeline, with oil transit resuming to landlocked Slovakia and Hungary — a key precondition Budapest and Bratislava had tied to the release of the funds.

    Negotiations over the package had stalled for months due to internal political friction within the 27-nation bloc, most notably staunch opposition from outgoing Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a longstanding Kremlin ally within the EU. Orbán’s electoral defeat earlier this month removed the single biggest barrier to progress, clearing the path for final negotiations to resume and reach a successful conclusion.

    ### The Urgent Rationale for the Package
    The timing of the approved loan could not be more critical for Kyiv. The International Monetary Fund projects that Ukraine will face a total financing gap of approximately 136 billion euros ($158 billion) over the 2026–2027 period, as the country’s tax base remains gutted by war and most of its export infrastructure remains blocked by Russian naval forces. The EU loan is expected to cover around two-thirds of this total shortfall. Without the funding, senior Ukrainian and EU officials warned that Kyiv could have exhausted the resources needed to keep basic public services running and sustain frontline military operations as early as the coming spring.

    Funding will be disbursed in two equal installments: 45 billion euros ($53 billion) will be made available for the remainder of 2026, with an equal 45 billion euros allocated for the full 2027 calendar year. Under the terms of the agreement, roughly one-third of the total package will go toward stabilizing Ukraine’s national budget to fund pensions, public sector salaries, healthcare and other core government services. The remaining two-thirds will be directed to defense priorities, including the procurement of foreign weapons systems and the expansion of Ukraine’s domestic arms manufacturing capacity. The first disbursement of funds is expected to reach Kyiv within the next several months.

    ### What Caused the Months-Long Delay
    EU leaders initially reached a political agreement on the loan framework back in December 2025, but implementation was put on hold amid a bitter dispute over the Druzhba oil pipeline. In a compromise reached that same month, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia had agreed not to block the EU from raising the full amount on global capital markets, on the condition that the three countries would not be required to contribute any financial guarantees to the package.

    The dispute escalated in late January, when the Ukrainian segment of the Druzhba network — which carries Russian crude oil to refineries in Slovakia and Hungary — was knocked offline after an alleged Russian drone attack. Both the Hungarian and Slovakian governments publicly accused Ukraine of deliberately cutting off oil supplies to pressure their leaders, turning a technical infrastructure issue into a broader political standoff within the bloc and holding up the loan approval.

    The impasse was only broken earlier this week, when Hungary and Slovakia confirmed that Ukraine had fully restored oil transit through the pipeline. Zelenskyy’s announcement that all repair work was complete removed the final outstanding barrier to the deal. Thursday’s formal vote, which unanimously approved adjustments to the EU’s 10-year long-term budget to accommodate the new spending, was the final procedural step required to release the package.

    ### Repayment Terms Tied to Russian War Reparations
    In a departure from earlier proposals that would have used billions in frozen Russian central bank assets to back the loan, EU leaders agreed to a more cautious framework that will tie Ukraine’s repayment obligation directly to future war compensation from Moscow. Under the new terms, Ukraine will not be required to begin repaying the loan until after Russia formally compensates Ukraine for the massive physical and economic damage caused by its full-scale invasion.

    EU leaders opted against mobilizing frozen Russian assets to back the loan after widespread concerns over potential Russian retaliation against European financial institutions and complex international legal challenges that could block the seizure of the assets. The bloc has opted to keep the estimated $300 billion in Russian central bank assets frozen until Moscow agrees to end its invasion and pay full reparations for the damage inflicted on Ukraine.

  • A Date with Shandong: Lost in Heze’s peony sea

    A Date with Shandong: Lost in Heze’s peony sea

    Every spring, the eastern Chinese city of Heze in Shandong province transforms into a sprawling sea of blush, crimson and ivory blooms as its world-famous peony enters full peak bloom. For 2026, the city’s annual signature celebration, the Heze Peony Festival, opened its gates to visitors from across China and around the world, inviting guests to dive into the layered charm of a flower that has shaped the region’s identity for centuries. Among those exploring the festival this year was Samar Kerkeni, an international expert with China Daily Website, who set out on an immersive journey to experience how peony culture weaves through every corner of Heze life.

    Kerkeni’s first stop was the iconic Caozhou Peony Garden, the core venue of the festival and one of the largest peony cultivation sites in the country. After joining the opening festivities and wandering the endless rows of blooming plants, she ventured beyond the garden to explore the deep cultural roots the flower has planted in Heze. Her cultural tour included visits to a local calligraphy and painting institute, where artists showcased works centered on peony motifs, and a traditional dough figurine workshop, where master artisans walked her through the process of handcrafting peony-shaped dough art, a centuries-old folk craft unique to the region. These demonstrations highlighted how the peony is far more than just a natural attraction for Heze: it is a core inspiration for the city’s living intangible cultural heritage.

    Continuing her journey, Kerkeni traveled to Caoxian County, a district of Heze that has grown into a national hub for traditional Chinese hanfu manufacturing. There, she had the opportunity to try on a custom peony-patterned hanfu, an experience that illustrated the flower’s expanding influence on modern cultural design and China’s fast-growing creative cultural industries. What began as a symbol of traditional aesthetics has evolved into a driving force for local economic development, blending cultural heritage with contemporary consumer demand to create new jobs and market opportunities for the region.

    By the end of her visit, it was clear that Heze’s relationship with the peony extends far beyond the annual bloom. What started as a beloved native flower has grown into a unifying thread that connects the area’s natural beauty, centuries-old cultural traditions, and a thriving modern creative economy, drawing visitors and cultural exchange from across the globe.

  • Warner Bros shareholders approve Paramount’s $111bn takeover

    Warner Bros shareholders approve Paramount’s $111bn takeover

    In a pivotal move that stands to reshape the global media and entertainment landscape, shareholders of Warner Bros Discovery have formally approved an $111 billion acquisition by Paramount, the media enterprise controlled by Skydance owner David Ellison. Once finalized, the merger will place Warner Bros Discovery’s unparalleled roster of iconic intellectual property and major media assets—including blockbuster franchises *Harry Potter* and *Game of Thrones*, influential cable news network CNN, streaming platform HBO Max, Food Network, Discovery Channel and an extensive lineup of sports content—under Paramount’s expanding corporate umbrella.

    The approval caps a chaotic multi-month bidding process that saw streaming giant Netflix first launch a takeover offer for Warner Bros Discovery, only to step aside after Paramount tabled a higher, competing bid that won over Warner Bros Discovery leadership. In a statement following the shareholder vote, Warner Bros Discovery chair Samuel DiPiazza framed the merger as a transformative step for both companies. “With Paramount, we look forward to creating an exceptional combined company that will expand consumer choice and benefit the global creative talent community,” DiPiazza said, adding that the deal will “unlock the full value of our world-class entertainment portfolio.”

    Paramount, which already boasts a stable of established media brands including Nickelodeon, CBS and Comedy Central, has positioned the merger as a critical step in its evolution into a major Hollywood powerhouse. The company is backed by tech billionaire Larry Ellison, founder of Oracle, and led by his son David Ellison, who serves as CEO and chairman of Paramount. David Ellison, a prominent Republican donor, is set to host a high-profile dinner for former president and 2024 presidential candidate Donald Trump Thursday at the U.S. Institute of Peace in Washington D.C., a gathering that has already drawn intense backlash from critics and protesters.

    A-list actor Mark Ruffalo is scheduled to join demonstrators outside the venue, who have labeled the event a “corruption gala” over the merger’s ongoing regulatory review and concerns about the Ellison family’s control of CNN. Donald Trump, who has repeatedly attacked CNN’s coverage of his political career and called for the network to be sold off amid the takeover, has previously described CNN’s leadership as “corrupt or incompetent” and argued they should not retain control of the network. These concerns have resonated with critics, who worry that the new ownership could compromise CNN’s journalistic independence.

    The merger has also sparked broad opposition across the creative community, with hundreds of prominent industry figures warning that the consolidation will deepen existing struggles in the entertainment sector. In April, more than 1,400 actors, directors and filmmakers—including Oscar winners Emma Thompson and Javier Bardem, and comedy star Ben Stiller—signed an open letter outlining their opposition. The letter argued the merger would lead to “fewer opportunities for creators, fewer jobs across the production ecosystem, higher costs, and less choice for audiences in the United States and around the world.”

    Paramount has pushed back against these criticisms, issuing a public pledge to support creative talent and expand opportunities for content creators. The company says the combined entity will open more distribution avenues for creators’ work, rather than reducing access.

    Despite shareholder backing, the merger still faces a critical regulatory hurdle: it must earn approval from both the U.S. Department of Justice and European Union competition watchdogs before it can move forward. Paramount has said it expects the merger to be finalized by September, pending the required regulatory clearances. If approved, the company plans to integrate Warner Bros Discovery’s HBO Max subscriber base into its existing streaming portfolio, creating one of the largest combined media companies in the world.

  • New bridge helps cement Lesotho as water lifeline for South Africa’s economic hub

    New bridge helps cement Lesotho as water lifeline for South Africa’s economic hub

    In southern Africa, a landmark infrastructure milestone has been reached this week with the official launch of the 825-meter Senqu Bridge, a key component of the massive Lesotho Highlands Water Project that is set to reshape cross-border water cooperation and economic development for two neighboring nations. Sitting 90 meters above the reservoir of the under-construction Polihali Dam at an elevation of over 2,500 meters above sea level, the bridge is the largest of three purpose-built crossings supporting the project’s second phase, designed to keep supply routes open once the dam’s water levels rise to full capacity.

    For context, South Africa’s most densely populated province, Gauteng – home to the country’s economic hub Johannesburg – already relies on Lesotho for 60% of its public water supply. The completed project will nearly double annual water exports from the small mountainous, landlocked kingdom to South Africa, boosting current output from 780 million cubic meters to more than 1.27 billion cubic meters per year. This expansion will secure a critical water lifeline for one of Africa’s largest industrial and commercial centers, addressing long-running water scarcity challenges that have plagued South Africa for decades.

    Rooted in a 1986 bilateral treaty between the two nations, the Lesotho Highlands Water Project stands as the largest foreign investment South Africa has ever undertaken, and ranks among the world’s biggest transboundary water infrastructure initiatives. With a total current estimated cost of 53 billion South African rand ($3.2 billion), the project includes a 120-kilometer network of tunnels that divert water from Lesotho’s high-altitude river systems into South Africa’s inland water grid. First launched in 1990, the first phase of the project is already operational, while the ongoing second phase is scheduled for completion between 2028 and 2029. Beyond expanding water exports, the project also increases Lesotho’s domestic hydropower generation, strengthening the country’s energy security and cutting its dependence on costly imported electricity.

    The $144-million Senqu Bridge itself is already being celebrated as a major engineering achievement for Lesotho, and it has delivered immediate economic benefits to local communities: approximately 1,200 construction jobs were created for Lesotho workers during its buildout, a critical boost for a country that declared a national economic emergency last year after unemployment surged to nearly 30%.

    At the bridge’s launch ceremony, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa emphasized the outsized importance of the project to his water-scarce nation. “South Africa is a water-scarce country and the waters of Lesotho’s highlands are vital to our country’s development. We remain forever grateful to the great Basotho nation for making water resources available to us,” Ramaphosa said.

    For Lesotho, a country classified by the World Bank as one of the poorest in the world, where half of the population lives below the national poverty line, the project delivers transformative long-term economic gains through increased water royalties and sustained revenue. Lesotho Prime Minister Sam Matekane framed the initiative as a core pillar of the country’s national development strategy, noting that the benefits are intended to reach everyday citizens rather than remain abstract policy wins. “The royalties and infrastructure that flow from this project are not incidental benefits. They are central to our development finance strategy,” Matekane said. “The project must deepen impact on the people, strengthen accountability in delivery and ensure that its benefits are not abstract but are felt in the daily lives of the people affected.”

    Several key construction milestones remain before the project is fully completed, including a 38-kilometer tunnel that will connect the new Polihali Reservoir to the existing Katse Reservoir, the primary holding facility from the project’s first phase. Lesotho, which is currently grappling with deepening economic strain caused by 50% U.S. tariffs on its key textile and mining exports and major cuts to U.S. foreign aid that previously supported most of the country’s public health programs, stands to see significant economic relief from the increased revenue the expanded project will generate.

  • 77-year journey of Chinese PLA Navy

    77-year journey of Chinese PLA Navy

    This document outlines the core intellectual property and operational terms for the digital content platform operated by China Daily Information Co (CDIC). First established in 1994, CDIC holds full copyright ownership over all material published across its website, including text, photographic content, multimedia assets, and all other forms of digital content distributed through the platform. Under the stated copyright regulations, no portion of CDIC’s published content may be republished, redistributed, or reused in any format without explicit prior written authorization granted by the company.

    In addition to intellectual property guidelines, the website includes a technical recommendation for visitors: users are advised to access the site via a browser configured to a display resolution of 1024*768 or higher to ensure the optimal browsing experience. The platform also lists its official regulatory registration details required for online multimedia publishing: its online publishing license number is 0108263, and its official business registration number is 130349.

    To help visitors engage further with the organization, the site also includes navigation links to key resource pages. These sections cover general information about China Daily, opportunities for placing advertising on the platform, contact information for organizational inquiries, open employment listings, and specific employment resources for expatriate workers. Visitors are also invited to follow China Daily’s official channels across social media and other digital platforms for regular updates.

  • Shanghai’s Changning district to host month-long floral extravaganza

    Shanghai’s Changning district to host month-long floral extravaganza

    Shanghai’s dynamic Changning district is preparing to welcome horticulture enthusiasts and casual visitors alike to a month-long floral celebration, as the Changning venue of the 2026 Shanghai International Flower Show is set to officially open its gates this Friday at the iconic Zhongshan Park.

    Spanning an entire 30 days, the event is designed to deliver an immersive visual feast that showcases the finest creative horticultural art from across the region and beyond. The core of the Changning district exhibition is rooted in Zhongshan Park, a well-loved green space with over a century of history that occupies roughly 200,000 square meters of prime land in downtown Shanghai. The park’s century-old landscape provides a naturally charming backdrop that complements the carefully curated floral displays, blending historical greenery with modern horticultural innovation.

    Beyond the central grounds of Zhongshan Park, the floral celebration will extend across the entire district, with several major commercial complexes joining the event to host their own customized themed floral installations. Participating venues include the popular Columbia Circle, Tianshan Hongqiao, Livat Plaza, and Xijiao Bailian, turning the whole district into a sprawling floral journey that lets residents and tourists encounter stunning blooms and horticultural creativity as they go about their daily routines. This cross-site integration of public park space and commercial districts is designed to expand accessibility of the flower show, bringing the beauty of seasonal blooms closer to more people, and boosting cultural and recreational activity across Changning district.

  • Israeli strike kills Lebanese journalist despite ceasefire

    Israeli strike kills Lebanese journalist despite ceasefire

    Just one week after a U.S.-brokered ceasefire was meant to de-escalate cross-border tensions between Israel and Lebanon, a deadly Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon has claimed the life of a veteran Lebanese journalist and left another photojournalist injured, drawing widespread international condemnation for what press freedom advocates and Lebanese officials call a blatant violation of international humanitarian law.

    On Wednesday, 43-year-old Amal Khalil, a reporter for Lebanese daily newspaper Al-Akhbar, was documenting the aftermath of earlier Israeli strikes in the border town of al-Tayri when the attack unfolded alongside freelance photographer Zeinab Faraj. According to official accounts from Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health, the sequence of violence began with an initial airstrike targeting a vehicle directly ahead of the two journalists, forcing them to seek immediate shelter in a nearby residential building. Moments later, a second precision strike hit the very building where the pair had taken cover.

    Rescue teams initially pulled Faraj from the rubble, who was left with a critical head injury from the blast. However, when first responders returned to the site to extract Khalil, Israeli forces reportedly opened direct fire on the rescue ambulance and deployed a stun grenade, blocking emergency crews from reaching the trapped journalist. It would be several hours before responders could finally access the site, where they confirmed Khalil had been killed.

    Khalil’s death was not an isolated incident: official tallies confirm she was one of seven people killed in a wave of Israeli strikes across southern Lebanon on Wednesday, marking the deadliest single day for fatalities since the 10-day ceasefire went into effect last week. That truce is scheduled to expire this coming Sunday, even as Israel has continued to carry out cross-border strikes, demolish civilian homes and conduct ground incursions into southern Lebanese territory in open violation of the ceasefire terms. Amid repeated Israeli breaches of the truce, Lebanese armed group Hezbollah responded earlier this week by launching a volley of rockets and drones targeting Israeli positions.

    Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam swiftly condemned the attack on the journalists, labeling it a deliberate war crime. “We will spare no effort in pursuing these crimes before the relevant international bodies,” Salam said in an official statement following the killing.

    Al-Akhbar, Khalil’s employer, released a statement mourning her loss, revealing that the journalist had received unspecified threats from unknown actors earlier this year. Press freedom watchdogs have echoed the condemnation, with the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) saying it was deeply outraged by the attack.

    “The repeated strikes on the same location, the targeting of an area where journalists were sheltering, and the obstruction of medical and humanitarian access constitute a grave breach of international humanitarian law,” said CPJ’s regional director Sara Qudah. “CPJ holds Israeli forces responsible for the endangerment of Amal Khalil’s life and the injuries sustained by Zeinab Faraj.”

    The killing of Khalil fits into a broader, escalating pattern of journalist targeting by Israeli forces that has accelerated sharply since October 2023. To date, at least 262 journalists have been killed by Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip, with an additional 22 media workers killed in Lebanon since the escalation of cross-border conflict began last year. Targeting of journalists by Israeli forces is not a new development, but the sharp rise in fatalities over the past 12 months has prompted growing global alarm over press safety in the region.

  • Nigerian explores ancient trail and merchant culture in Huangshan

    Nigerian explores ancient trail and merchant culture in Huangshan

    On April 21, a cross-border group of global digital influencers embarked on a cultural exploration of the Dahongling Ancient Trail, nestled in Qimen County of Huangshan, East China’s Anhui Province. Among the visiting delegates was Oluwabunmi Jimoh, a content creator and influencer originating from Nigeria.

    During their immersive walk along the centuries-old path, Jimoh had the opportunity to connect with local resident Zheng Jimin, who has deep ancestral ties to the region. Zheng walked the group through the layered history of the trail, unpacking its long-standing role as a critical trade route and the cultural significance it holds for generations of local communities. The ancient pathway carries rich legacies of traditional Chinese merchant activity that shaped the economic and social fabric of the Huangshan region for hundreds of years.

    China Daily has published accompanying multimedia content alongside this report, including a full video that captures Jimoh’s experience and the key historical insights she gained during her visit. The excursion forms part of broader efforts to showcase lesser-known cultural heritage sites in China to international audiences, building cross-cultural understanding and highlighting the country’s diverse historical landscapes to global viewers.

  • EU pulls $2.4 million from Venice Biennale over Russia’s return

    EU pulls $2.4 million from Venice Biennale over Russia’s return

    BRUSSELS/MILAN – The European Commission has followed through on its earlier threat to slash a €2 million ($2.4 million) grant to the Venice Biennale, one of the world’s most prestigious and long-running contemporary art events, after organizers confirmed Russia would participate in the 61st edition opening to the public on May 9. The funding cut was formally announced Thursday, with commission officials confirming the Biennale foundation has been officially notified of the decision and given 30 days to submit a formal defense of its choice to readmit Russian participation, the first since Moscow’s full-scale 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

    European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier reiterated the bloc’s firm opposition to the move in comments to reporters Thursday. “We are strongly condemning the fact that the Fondazione di Biennale has allowed for the Russian Pavilion to open again,” Regnier said.

    This return of Russian representation marks a sharp break from recent editions of the exhibition. Russian artists voluntarily withdrew from the 2022 Biennale, and Russia opted not to mount an exhibition in its permanent Giardini pavilion for the 2024 iteration, instead loaning the space to Bolivia. Russia’s last official participation in the International Art Exhibition before this year came in 2019.

    In an official statement responding to the EU’s funding cut, Biennale organizers pushed back against the bloc’s pressure, arguing they lack the legal and institutional authority to bar a recognized nation from participating. Under the event’s long-standing rules, any country that holds formal diplomatic recognition from the Italian Republic is eligible to request a spot at the exhibition. Compounding this, the Russian government has held full ownership of its purpose-built pavilion in the historic Giardini park since the structure was completed in 1914, meaning organizers were only required to acknowledge Russia’s formal notice of participation, rather than approve or deny the request.

    Sticking to its long-held principles of cultural openness, the Biennale emphasized its commitment to keeping art and culture free from exclusion and political censorship. “La Biennale di Venezia rejects any form of exclusion or censorship of culture and art. The Biennale, like the city of Venice, continues to be a place of dialogue, openness and artistic freedom, encouraging connections between peoples and cultures, with the constant hope for an end to conflicts and suffering,” the statement read.

    Founded in 1895, the Venice Biennale is widely regarded as the most influential contemporary art event on the global calendar. The exhibition’s structure pairs a large-scale central curated show with independent national pavilions, each organized and funded by the participating countries. For the 2025 61st edition, a total of 99 countries will mount national exhibitions, with 29 hosted in purpose-built pavilions in the Giardini, and the remainder spread across the historic Arsenale shipyard and other venues throughout Venice. This is not the first time the Biennale has rejected international pressure to exclude a participating nation; organizers have previously refused calls to bar both Iran and Israel from taking part amid geopolitical controversy.