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

The Cupra Raval translates Cupra’s rebellious spirit into an urban electric hatch. Derived from the UrbanRebel concept, it rides on the Volkswagen Group’s MEB+ architecture and will be built in Martorell. Launching in early 2026, the Dynamic and Dynamic Plus versions deliver 210 hp and up to 450 km of range, while the VZ Extreme pushes output to 226 hp and adds an electronic limited‑slip differential and adaptive chassis tuning.Two battery sizes—expected around 38 kWh and 56 kWh—will enable sub‑7‑second 0–62 mph acceleration. Styling borrows from the edgy UrbanRebel with angular headlamps, bold creases and copper‑coloured details. Inside, a driver‑focused cockpit features configurable digital instruments, a large infotainment screen and an optional 12‑speaker Sennheiser audio system.

Volkswagen’s ID.Polo ushers the iconic Polo name into the electric age. Pre‑sales begin at the end of April 2026. Built at the Martorell plant in Spain, the compact five‑door model is the first production car on VW’s updated MEB+ platform. Pricing will start below €25,000.Customers can choose between 37 kWh and 52 kWh batteries powering 85 kW, 99 kW or 155 kW motors; the GTI variant with 166 kW arrives later. The larger battery delivers up to 450 km of range and supports DC charging at up to 130 kW. New assistance systems include Travel Assist with traffic‑light and stop‑sign recognition.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Sunday ruled out Tehran ever giving up uranium enrichment in its negotiations with Washington, insisting it will not be intimidated by the threat of war with the United States.

Opener Tim Seifert struck a blistering 65 off 42 balls to lead New Zealand's highest-ever run in a T20 World Cup as they beat Afghanistan by five wickets on Sunday.

Gulbadin Naib struck a rapid half-century to guide Afghanistan to 182-6 after an early wobble against New Zealand in the T20 World Cup on Sunday.

"One Battle After Another" director Paul Thomas Anderson won top honors at the Directors Guild of America Awards in Los Angeles on Saturday, solidifying his film's position as a strong favorite for the Oscars.

Even with its legendary image of glitz and glamour, diamond icon De Beers has struggled to attract a buyer after nearly two years on a market dulled by falling prices and the allure of lab-grown gems.

It has become a staple of every NFL game's pre-show coverage -- footage of players strutting their way to stadium locker rooms wearing the latest daring sartorial choices.

Indian farmers have expressed concern that New Delhi has made too many concessions to Washington after the two countries brokered a new trade deal that would lower tariffs.

India's wicket-taking hero Mohammed Siraj said "it felt like a dream" after a whirlwind 24 hours that saw him called into the T20 World Cup squad and force him to change holiday plans to watch Real Madrid

Stephon Castle's 40-point triple-double propelled the San Antonio Spurs to a fourth straight NBA victory on Saturday with a 138-125 win over the reeling Dallas Mavericks.

Japan voted in snow-hit snap elections Sunday with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi hoping to turn a honeymoon start into a resounding ballot box victory that could rile China and rattle financial markets.

Pakistan's capital Islamabad was once known for its lush greenery, but the felling of trees across the city for infrastructure and military monuments has prompted local anger and even lawsuits.

The thorny issue of what to do with Russian assets has not only stumped Western leaders but also officials in Berlin who are saddled with three crumbling buildings belonging to Moscow.

For nearly a year, repeated misdiagnoses of the deadly kala-azar disease left 60-year-old Harada Hussein Abdirahman's health deteriorating, as an outbreak in Kenya's arid regions claimed a record number of lives.

The biggest event in American sports kicks off Sunday as the New England Patriots take on the Seattle Seahawks at a Super Bowl tinged by controversy over Bad Bunny's half-time show.

The Houston Rockets, fueled by Alperen Sengun's triple-double and some timely baskets from superstar Kevin Durant, rallied to beat the short-handed NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder 112-106 on Saturday.

Hideki Matsuyama, the 2021 Masters champion, fired a three-under par 68 to seize a one-stroke lead after Saturday's third round of the PGA Phoenix Open.

The Washington Post said Saturday its CEO and publisher Will Lewis was leaving effective immediately, just days after the storied newspaper owned by billionaire Amazon founder Jeff Bezos made drastic job cuts that angered readers.

Haiti's presidential transitional council, which has run the impoverished Caribbean nation for nearly two years, on Saturday handed power to US-backed Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aime, after failing to rein in rampant gang violence.

North Korea's leadership will hold a party congress later this month, state media announced Sunday, in what will be the first such major gathering since 2021.

Thais vote Sunday in an election pitting the popular reformists who won last time against the conservative who ended up as prime minister, with ex-leader Thaksin Shinawatra looming large from his prison cell.

Switzerland's Franjo von Allmen claimed the first gold medal of the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics as he blasted to victory in the men's downhill on Saturday, while skating sensation Ilia Malinin took to the ice for the first time.

Jamie George was proud of England's dynamic start to the Six Nations after they thrashed Wales 48-7 at Twickenham on Saturday ahead of next week's trip to Edinburgh.

US figure skating star Ilia Malinin was upstaged on his Olympic debut on Saturday as Japan's Yuma Kagiyama led the men's short programme in the team event to keep the pressure on defending champions the United States.

Kira Kimura won Japan's first-ever men's snowboard big air Olympic gold at the Milan-Cortina Games on Saturday, producing a stunning final run under pressure to edge out compatriot Ryoma Kimata.

The children crowding round the Vail gondola for the ride up to the ski slopes could be following the path of two little girls who started in the same place and made it to the top of the mountain: Lindsey Vonn and Mikaela Shiffrin.

Veteran French politician Jack Lang, a former minister, was forced out of a key cultural post Saturday as pressure grew on him over revelations in the latest release of the Epstein files.

Kira Kimura won Japan's first-ever men's snowboard big air Olympic gold at the Milan-Cortina Games on Saturday, producing a stunning final run to seal the title.

Mikel Arteta said Viktor Gyokeres has raised his game to the "highest level" after the much-criticised striker scored twice in a 3-0 win over Sunderland on Saturday.

Rasmus Hojlund's penalty deep into added-on time snatched a 3-2 victory at Genoa on Saturday and kept champions Napoli hanging on in the Serie A title race.

England winger Henry Arundell said his team felt "frustrated" despite hammering Wales 48-7 on Saturday to launch their Six Nations title bid in promising fashion at Twickenham.

Speed skater Francesca Lollobrigida won an emotional first gold medal for host nation Italy on her 35th birthday at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics on Saturday.

Henry Arundell marked his return to England's starting side with a first-half hat-trick of tries as Steve Borthwick's men launched their bid for the Six Nations title with a 48-7 rout of an outclassed Wales at Twickenham on Saturday.

Countries on Saturday elected Chile's COP climate summit chief negotiator to drive forward stalled talks on striking a landmark global treaty tackling the scourge of plastic pollution.

Liam Rosenior labelled Cole Palmer "unstoppable" after the Chelsea forward's first-half hat-trick inspired a 3-1 victory at Wolves on Saturday.

Veteran French politician Jack Lang, a former minister, offered his resignation from a key cultural post on Saturday as pressure grows on him over revelations in the latest release of the Epstein files.

Jaxson Hayes of the Los Angeles Lakers was among four newcomers named Saturday to compete in the Slam Dunk Contest at next week's NBA All-Star festivities in Los Angeles.

Mikaela Shiffrin said Saturday she has learned from the mistakes which cost her Olympic medals four years ago as the in-form ski star prepares for her first race at the Milan-Cortina Games.