Pallade Veneta - News from Venice, Veneto, Venetia and Italy, as well as from around the world

Life in 1990s former Yugoslavia was a nightmare of war, economic collapse and an all-powerful mafia.

Hundreds of anti-government protesters gathered outside Thailand's Government House on Thursday, demanding Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra resign over a leaked phone call with former Cambodian leader Hun Sen that triggered public outrage.

Equities fell Thursday after the Federal Reserve warned Donald Trump's trade war could reignite US inflation and dampen economic growth, while oil rose on Middle East concerns as investors awaited developments in the Israel-Iran conflict.

Governments around the world are attempting to evacuate thousands of their nationals caught up in the rapidly spiralling Israel-Iran conflict, organising buses and planes and in some cases assisting people crossing borders on foot.

China look set to unleash their 2.26m (7ft 5in) "moving Great Wall" at the Women's Asia Cup after teenager Zhang Ziyu put in another towering display days after her debut.

Nippon Steel completed its multi-billion-dollar acquisition of US Steel on Wednesday, granting rare veto-like power over strategic decisions to Washington with a "golden share".

New York's pride parade, the highest-profile annual US LGBTQ gathering, is ramping up efforts to raise funds from individual community members with corporate donations on the wane as Washington demonizes diversity.

Before a cheering audience, a man opened the ball in Nairobi with acrobatic moves to electronic rhythms -- a celebration of queer resistance from a Kenyan LGBT community feeling threatened by new legislation.

Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra apologised Thursday for a leaked phone call with former Cambodian leader Hun Sen that has provoked widespread anger and put her government on the brink of collapse.

Iran launched a fresh salvo of missiles at Israel on Thursday, with a hospital reported hit, as President Donald Trump warned he was weighing US military action in the conflict.

Motorists in Nigerian cities are spending hours, or even days, queuing for natural gas to power their cars after the government promoted its use as an alternative fuel.

On his farm two hours north of Johannesburg, Nico Thuynsma gestured towards thousands of orange, yellow and pink proteas in flower and thriving 1,500 kilometres (930 miles) from their natural home at the southern tip of Africa.

Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra faced mounting calls Thursday to resign after a leaked phone call she had with former Cambodian leader Hun Sen provoked widespread anger and prompted a key coalition partner to quit.

Compulsory microchipping, as well as bans on ear-cropping and tail-docking, are among a set of new rules to protect cats and dogs that European lawmakers are due to vote on Thursday.

The Czech Republic signed a contract earlier this month with South Korea's KHNP to build two nuclear reactors, but experts question its future over complaints raised by KHNP's French rival EDF.

Explosive back Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii will be fit to face the British and Irish Lions after being named Thursday in Australia's squad for a Test against Fiji, but James O'Connor, Samu Kerevi and Marika Koirobete all missed out

Myanmar's deposed democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi marked her 80th birthday in junta detention on Thursday, serving a raft of sentences set to last the rest of her life.

Pakistan says it has expelled more than a million Afghans in the past two years, yet many have quickly attempted to return -- preferring to take their chances dodging the law than struggle for existence in a homeland some had never even seen before.

An Australian woman accused of killing three lunch guests with toxic mushrooms fell sick from the same meal, her defence said Thursday, rejecting claims she faked her symptoms.

A New Zealand coroner Thursday condemned a "perilous" rugby-inspired sport in which competitors sprint and crash into each other without protective gear.

For days, Syrians have watched as Iranian missiles and Israeli interceptors light up the skies over their territory, but the new government in Damascus has so far remained officially silent on the unprecedented conflict.

Real Madrid were held to a 1-1 draw by Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal at the Club World Cup in new coach Xabi Alonso's first game in charge on Wednesday, after Manchester City got off to a winning start.

Shubman Gill will be in the spotlight as a new-look India, without star batsmen Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, bid to end their 18-year wait for a Test series win in England.

Asian stocks fell Thursday after the Federal Reserve warned Donald Trump's trade war would likely reignite US inflation and dampen economic growth, while oil prices edged down as investors awaited developments in the Israel-Iran conflict.

Randal Kolo Muani and Francisco Conceicao both bagged braces as Juventus hammered Al Ain 5-0 on Wednesday in their Club World Cup opener in Washington.

Canterbury Crusaders will be bolstered by the return of All Blacks prop Tamaiti Williams when they chase an eighth Super Rugby title in nine years in Saturday's final at home against Waikato Chiefs.

President Donald Trump warned he was weighing US military action against Iran, as Israel launched fresh strikes against Tehran on Thursday.

Nippon Steel and US Steel said Wednesday they had completed a long-debated transaction granting the US government a "golden share" -- a veto-like power over the Japanese company's strategic decisions.

The Chilean Congress passed a law Wednesday increasing the share of the hake catch for small-scale fishermen who had staged violent protests to press for a higher proportion.

Taiwan is vetting hundreds of thousands of military service members, public school teachers and civil servants in a bid to root out potential homegrown Chinese sympathisers, as Beijing intensifies espionage on the island.

Myanmar's deposed democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi marked her 80th birthday in junta detention on Thursday, serving a raft of sentences set to last the rest of her life.

Hurricane Erick barreled down on Mexico's Pacific coast Wednesday having strengthened to a powerful Category 3 storm, the US National Hurricane Center said, warning of potentially deadly floods.