Amanda Knox has tearfully pled her innocence in the murder of Meredith Kercher, her British roommate, before an Italian appeals court Monday.

“I am innocent,” Knox declared. “I have paid with my life for things I did not commit.”

She added, “I did not kill, I did not rape, I did not steal. I was not there at the time." more >>

A carved stone, part of the collection of the Capitoline Museums in Rome, Italy, has been identified as the world’s earliest surviving Christian inscription, which concerns an ancient sect that followed the teachings of a second-century Gnostic theologian, Valentinus.

“If it is in fact a second-century inscription, as I think it probably is, it is about the earliest Christian material object that we possess,” LiveScience quoted study researcher Gregory Snyder from Davidson College in North Carolina as saying Friday.

Officially called “NCE 156,” the inscription in Greek alludes to Christian beliefs. According to Snyder, it could be a funeral epigram, incorporating both Christian and pagan elements. more >>

A verdict in Amanda Knox’s appeal case should be reached Monday the presiding judge has stated. Knox’s lawyers prepared closing arguments for Thursday, while Amanda anticipating her chance in court, is ready with a statement of her own.

Knox’s sister, Deana, told “Good Morning America” that for the past three months the former University of Washington student has been working on a statement – which she will deliver in Italian.

"She really wants to just show the court who she really is," Deana said on GMA. "She doesn't want them to believe the character that all the prosecutors have played out. She wants them to know who she is." more >>

An Italian forensic police expert who investigated the Amanda Knox murder contends that evidence linking Knox and her co-defendant, Raffaele Sollecito, to the murder of Meredith Kercher was not contaminated.

Patrizia Stefanoni examined DNA during the investigation of the 2007 killing. However, a panel of experts Tuesday criticized Stefanoni’s methods, saying they were flawed and contaminated crucial evidence.

The key piece of evidence is a 30-cm kitchen knife considered to be the murder weapon, which was found in Sollecito’s apartment. Stefanoni told an appeals court that she can rule out contamination on the knife that contained DNA from both Knox and Kercher. more >>

Al Pacino has been chosen to receive the “Glory to the Filmmaker” award in Venice this week, which comes as the Hollywood actor looks to promote his latest project “Salome.”

"The Godfather" star touched on his latest directorial effort titled, “Salome,” a documentary and feature film mélange based on Oscar Wilde’s play. It is the biblical tale of Salome and King Herod, which explores the destructive use of sexuality.

Although the actor has cemented a legacy in the film industry, he criticized his latest project and stated that his future was “blank” on Sunday, ahead of the film’s screening at the Venice Film Festival. more >>

The Catholic Church has expressed its opposition against new mandatory sex education classes planned for New York City schools.

In a front-page editorial in the Vatican's official newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano, Lucetta Scaraffia chastised all mandatory sex education classes in public schools, but focused specifically on New York City schools, stating that it is "useless, and even harmful" to teach middle school students how to use a condom.

The New York City mandate was established in early August and has been opposed heavily by Archbishop Timothy Dolan of the Archdiocese of New York. more >>