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

Four-time Olympic champion Simone Biles made a triumphant return to gymnastics after a two-year hiatus, dominating the US Classic on Saturday in her first competition since the Tokyo Olympics.

The Philippines condemned the China Coast Guard Sunday for allegedly firing water cannon at its vessels in the disputed South China Sea, describing the actions as "illegal" and "dangerous".

Dotted among a small flock of sheep in a field in the Scottish Highlands, Luigi and Peaches, two young working dogs with thick white coats, are busy being trained to keep watch on the skies above.

Pope Francis will celebrate an open-air Mass before a huge crowd on Sunday at a riverside park near Lisbon to wrap up an international jamboree of Catholic youth.

Four-time Olympic champion Simone Biles made a triumphant return to gymnastics after a two-year hiatus on Saturday, winning the US Classic in her first competition since the Tokyo Olympics.

Americans Jessica Pegula and Taylor Fritz suffered semifinal defeats at the Washington Open on Saturday but Coco Gauff kept the star spangled banner flying earning her place in Sunday's final.

South Africa will look to make more football history when they face the Netherlands in the Women's World Cup last 16, before holders the United States play Sweden later Sunday in a blockbuster.

A court in Texas on Friday issued a temporary order siding with a group of women and doctors who brought a lawsuit challenging the state's abortion bans.

When a girl suffered a snakebite in Venezuela, her family had her injected with deer urine along with antivenom, opting in part for a home remedy. Her leg later had to be amputated.

Calls are growing for Donald Trump's criminal trials to be broadcast live, as the United States grapples with the prospect of seeing a former -- and possibly future -- president in the dock.

Playmakers Aaron Smith and Richie Mo'unga say the All Blacks have taken "massive steps" from their troubles of last year and are ready to challenge for the Rugby World Cup.

Four-time Olympic champion gymnast Simone Biles returned to competition for the first time since the Tokyo Olympics on Saturday at the US Classic, ending a two-year hiatus.

Deputies in Senegal's parliament passed a vote Saturday that effectively restored the right of two key opposition deputies to run in the country's presidential election next year.

Greek fourth seed Maria Sakkari advanced to the Washington Open final on Saturday, upsetting US top seed Jessica Pegula to capture her third victory in 26 hours.

Caelan Doris scored two tries while Jack Conan suffered an injury scare as Ireland overpowered Italy 33-17 in their opening Rugby World Cup warm-up match in Dublin on Saturday.

A much-improved second-half performance from South Africa earned a 24-13 victory over Argentina in Buenos Aires on Saturday in a Rugby World Cup warm-up match.

Moscow escalated its attacks in Ukraine on Saturday, with President Volodymyr Zelensky denouncing a deadly strike on a blood transfusion centre as a "war crime".

Caelan Doris scored two tries as Ireland overpowered Italy 33-17 in their opening Rugby World Cup warm-up match in Dublin on Saturday.

Greek fourth seed Maria Sakkari advanced to the Washington Open final on Saturday, upsetting US top seed Jessica Pegula to capture her third victory in 26 hours.

A sea of 1.5 million pilgrims packed a riverside park near Lisbon on Saturday for a vigil held by Pope Francis as part of a global Catholic youth festival.

Four-time Olympic champion Simone Biles will open on the uneven bars when she returns to competition on Saturday night at the US Classic, her first gymnastics meet since the Tokyo Olympics.

Firefighters from Spain and France succeeded on Saturday in containing a wildfire near the countries' shared Mediterranean coastal border, after winds dropped enough to allow water bomber planes to fly.

Moscow hit back with missiles Saturday after Ukraine carried out a drone strike overnight on a Russian tanker in the Kerch Strait, a day after another of its ships was hit in the Black Sea.

A former aide of a lawmaker from Israel's hard-right governing coalition was among two settlers arrested Saturday over the killing of a 19-year-old Palestinian in the occupied West Bank, Israeli media reported.

Champions Celtic marked Brendan Rodgers' return as manager with a 4-2 victory over Ross County, while Rangers crashed to a shock 1-0 defeat at Kilmarnock in the opening weekend of the Scottish Premiership season on Saturday.

A Germany city had to deploy snowploughs at the height of northern hemisphere summer after a violent storm dumped huge quantities of hail in the streets.

Wales launched their Rugby World Cup warm-up campaign with a 20-9 win against England in Cardiff on Saturday.

Tens of thousands of people gathered at riverside park near Lisbon on Saturday ahead of a vigil held by Pope Francis as part of a major Catholic youth festival.

Brazilian attacking midfielder Matheus Franca has joined Crystal Palace on a five-year contract, the Premier League club announced Saturday

Scotland scrum-half Ben White limped off with an ankle injury just weeks before the Rugby World Cup while prop Zander Fagerson saw red during a remarkable 25-21 warm-up win over a second-string France at Murrayfield on Saturday.

British rider Charlie Hatton produced a flying run to win the men's mountain bike downhill final at the world cycling championships in Fort William on Saturday.

Elfyn Evans swept to the brink of victory in the Rally of Finland on Saturday, hammering home the advantage handed to him by the retirement on Friday of Toyota teammate and world champion Kalle Rovanpera.