Spanish director Almodóvar calls Trump, Netanyahu and Putin 'monsters'
Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almódovar called Donald Trump, Benjamin Netanyahu and Vladimir Putin "monsters" on Wednesday at the Cannes Film Festival where he is presenting his latest film "Bitter Christmas" in competition.
"As Europeans, we are also obliged to become a kind of shield against these monsters like Trump, Netanyahu, or the Russian," the director told a press conference, referring to the US, Russian and Israeli leaders.
An outspoken critic of Israel's war in Gaza, the maker of "Talk to Her" and "Volver" wore a "Free Palestine" pin on his lapel.
Almodóvar's remarks echoed those of Spanish star actor Javier Bardem who slammed the "toxic masculinity" of the three leaders in an expletive-laden tirade on Sunday.
"Bitter Christmas", which has had mixed reviews in Spain, is a highly personal project focused on a film director who is out of ideas and decides to steal stories from those close to him.
Spain increases age window for breast cancer screening
Spain's Public Health Commission has approved a proposal to expand the target population of the population-based breast cancer screening programme in Spain's public health system to women aged between 45 and 74.
Until now, the rules stipulated a mammogram every two years for women between 50 and 69 years old, a frequency that the new proposal maintains for the entire new age range.
Regional governments will have up to six years to achieve near 10 percent coverage in the new age groups, according to the national Health Ministry headed by Mónica García.
The decision has been reached because 10 percent of breast cancers in Spain are diagnosed in women under 50.
Man in court for partly biting victim's ear off in parking space row
Alicante's Provincial Court on Wednesday held a trial against a man who tore off part of another man's ear during an argument over a parking space at the city's port.
The prosecution is asking for a five-year prison sentence for him because he also assaulted two national police officers during his arrest.
The accused wanted to access the parking area with his vehicle and told his victim that the space where he had left the car was reserved for port personnel. An argument ensued, during which he bit the victim's right ear and tore off a piece of it.
Spanish tennis great Nadal to launch Netflix documentary series
Rafael Nadal said on Wednesday he sought to be "transparent" and "honest" in his forthcoming Netflix documentary series, speaking to AFP at a preview event ahead of its release.
The series from the streaming giant will be available from May 29th, during the French Open - the Grand Slam tournament where the Spaniard forged his legend with a record 14 titles.
"I believe it's a genuine documentary that doesn't paint everything in rosy colours, and combines my sporting career with the difficulties I have faced," Nadal told AFP shortly before the screening of the first of four episodes in Madrid.
"I think I've been quite transparent about my life and everything that has happened to me. I've been honest, and it's my story," added the undisputed king of clay, who won 22 Grand Slam titles over a career spanning more than 20 years before retiring at the end of 2024.
The documentary was filmed during that final season, "while I was still playing, trying to come back from injury and hip surgery," he said.
"And I didn't succeed. I tried to stay competitive, but I couldn't get back to 100 percent. That whole process was filmed: the doubts, the uncertainty, and then acceptance of the situation."
Asked whether it was important for him to tell that difficult final chapter, Nadal replied: "Not necessarily, but I have people around me that I trust who convinced me to do it - people who have been successful in this industry and perhaps had a broader view of my career."
"I followed their advice and here we are. I hope people will like it," added Nadal, who bid a tearful farewell last year to Roland Garros, where a mark of his footprint is carved into the clay on Court Philippe Chatrier.
With additional reporting by AFP.
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