Russian director Sokurov, Palestinian architect Amiry pull out of Biennale events

Israel

Russian director Alexander Sokurov and Palestinian writer and architect Suad Amiry have pulled out of events being held on Wednesday and Thursday for the Venice 'Biennale of the Word - Dissent and Peace' because of last-minute unavailability, organizers said on Wednesday.     Sokurov, whose movie Faust won the Golden Lion at the 2011 Venice Film Festival, has criticised Russia's invasion of Ukraine.     This year's Venice's Biennale, which opens to the public on Saturday, has been hit by