Volkswacht Bodensee - News from Lake Constance, St. Gallen, Thurgau, Schaffhausen, Switzerland, Europe and the whole world

US President Donald Trump held a long-awaited phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping Thursday as the leaders of the world's two biggest economies tried to avoid an all-out trade war.

After being walked for two weeks by stars from Tom Cruise to Rihanna, the legendary red carpets of the Cannes film festival are set for a second life thanks to an upcycling charity and some environmentally conscious designers.

Jurors prepared to consider a verdict in Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein's rape and sexual assault retrial Thursday after hearing from three women who allege the cinema power broker preyed on them.

Rights groups, lawyers and some governments are describing the Gaza war as "genocide" and calling for a ceasefire but Israel, created in the aftermath of the Nazi Holocaust of Jews, vehemently rejects the explosive term.

England fast bowler Jofra Archer could make his long-awaited Test return as soon as next month's second match against India, selector Luke Wright said on Thursday.

The US trade deficit more than halved in April as President Donald Trump's global tariffs reversed an import surge that preceded the new duties.

Manchester City are close to a double swoop for Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Ait-Nouri in time for the Club World Cup, according to reports on Thursday.

Sarina Wiegman insists holders England will not head to Euro 2025 in "crisis" despite the high-profile absences of Mary Earps, Fran Kirby and Millie Bright.

President Christine Lagarde said the European Central Bank was in a "good place" to deal with global uncertainty as it cut interest rates again Thursday, fuelling expectations it might soon hit pause after a lengthy easing cycle.

Environmental groups took TotalEnergies to court Thursday in a landmark Paris trial, accusing the French oil and gas giant of misleading consumers with ads that overstate its climate commitments and fossil fuel transition.

Hugo Aguilar, an Indigenous rights defender and former advisor to Mexico's Zapatista guerrilla movement, won election to become the head of the country's Supreme Court, official results showed Thursday.

Stocks markets slid Thursday after US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping spoke amid their trade war, while the European Central Bank signalled an end to its rate-cut cycle.

British iconic bootmaker Dr Martens on Thursday announced another sharp drop in annual profits, as it looks to build on recent stability under its new chief executive.

Japanese scrum-half Naoto Saito has extended his contract with Toulouse until June 2026, the Top 14 club announced Thursday.

Turkmenistan said Thursday it had significantly reduced a gas fire that has been raging for half a century at a site dubbed the "Gateway to Hell" .

England bowler Brydon Carse joked Thursday that he considered amputating a persistently troublesome toe before medical staff persuaded him to consider a less drastic solution, pointing out he would struggle with his balance.

Australia moved to the brink of the World Cup after beating already qualified Japan 1-0 in Perth on Thursday thanks to Aziz Behich's 90th-minute winner.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz meets Donald Trump in the Oval Office on Thursday, hoping to avoid one of the US president's infamous ambushes amid discord over Ukraine and tariffs.

Restaurant owners on the Greek tourist island of Paros staged a 24-hour shutdown Thursday to protest against zoning regulations blocking them from using part of the island harbour's beachfront.

Two Greenpeace activists who removed French President Emmanuel Macron's waxwork from a Paris museum to stage anti-Russia protests were on Thursday charged with aggravated theft, their lawyer said.

The US trade deficit more than halved in April, government data showed Thursday, pulling back from a record as imports on a plunge in imports as President Donald Trump's global tariffs kicked in.

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said Thursday that NATO allies were close to agreeing a deal on spending ahead of a summit later this month, in a bid to satisfy US President Donald Trump's demand that it reach five percent of GDP.

The European Central Bank's easing cycle reached the one-year mark Thursday when policymakers delivered another interest rate cut as concerns mount about the struggling eurozone economy and global trade tensions.

Decades of pollution and climate change have caused fish to disappear from the Baltic Sea at an alarming rate, with the European Union on Thursday vowing to make the sea an "urgent priority".

South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus on Thursday named a 54-player squad for the June 28 fixture against the Barbarians, followed by Tests against Italy and Georgia.

Afghan women working for the United Nations in Kabul have been threatened by unidentified men because of their jobs, the organisation and several women told AFP on Thursday.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru said Thursday they stood "united" with fans as the Indian Premier League champions announced financial aid to families of those crushed to death during their title celebrations.

The first Birkin bag that was designed by French luxury brand Hermes for actress Jane Birkin in 1984, will be auctioned in Paris on July 10, auction house Sotheby's said Thursday.

Rangers head coach Russell Martin said Thursday his "whole career has been based on proving people wrong" after he was unveiled as the new man in the Ibrox hot seat.

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said Thursday NATO allies were close to agreeing a deal on spending ahead of a summit later this month, in a bid to satisfy US President Donald Trump's demand for five percent of GDP.

Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva urged his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron on Thursday to "finalise" an EU trade deal with four South American countries, which Paris has so far rejected.

A Japanese startup will attempt a tricky lunar touchdown on Friday with an unmanned lander named Resilience, two years after its first try which crashed onto the Moon's surface.