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

A Hong Kong court handed three Tiananmen vigil activists jail sentences of between five and seven years on Friday for national security crimes, following a trial that has drawn international condemnation.

A revolution in forecasting natural disasters is underway, say researchers in Switzerland who are training AI models on vast troves of NASA climate data to produce potentially-lifesaving data at lightning speed.

Yu Zidi made history last year aged 12 when she became the youngest-ever medallist at the swimming world championships. Now a teenager, she headlines China's bid for Asian Games domination and has Olympic glory in her sights.

Independent Indian filmmaker Anuparna Roy, whose first film won a top prize at the Venice Film Festival last year, told AFP that it had been blocked by censors and would not be shown in her home country.

Donning doll-like dresses with voluminous skirts, young women on stage roar in rage about rape and sexism they experienced in Japan, using theatre and "cute" fashion to denounce male-dominated society.

In the windswept village of Doonbeg on Ireland's Atlantic coast, Donald Trump is less polarising US president and more golf resort owner credited with bringing jobs and money to a remote corner of the country.

US Vice President JD Vance accused Democrats of running on "hate" Thursday and urged voters to send them packing in November, using a prime-time convention speech to rally Republicans ahead of the midterm elections.

Cristiano Ronaldo will have a last crack at winning the Asian Champions League when the continent's top club competition begins on Monday, with big-spending Saudi teams set to dominate.

Sweden's party leaders traded barbs on housing, schools, jobs and the climate in one of their final televised debates ahead of Sunday's general election, which could see a left-wing government come to power.

An ancient Biblical prophecy lies at the heart of a Pacific islands push to open embassies on contested ground in Jerusalem, experts and former diplomats told AFP.

Anthropic said Thursday it shut down multiple cases of state-sponsored surveillance operations that used its artificial intelligence (AI) models, and warned that governments and state-aligned actors are increasingly using AI to spy on ethnic minorities and dissidents.

A Hong Kong court is expected to issue sentences on Friday against three activists who organised vigils marking China's deadly Tiananmen crackdown, after they were found guilty of inciting "subversion".

Top seed Aryna Sabalenka stormed past Jessica Pegula in straight sets on Thursday to reach the US Open final for fourth straight year and keep her bid for a rare three-peat on track.

A consumer inflation report due Friday could pave the way towards the US central bank's first interest rate hike in more than three years, as the war with Iran drives energy costs higher.

Top seed Aryna Sabalenka stayed on course for a third consecutive US Open crown on Thursday, storming into the final with a straight sets demolition of American third seed Jessica Pegula.

Three-time world sailor of the year Tom Slingsby headlines a powerhouse team unveiled Friday as Australia makes its return to the America's Cup after almost three decades.

Israel said Thursday it demolished key tunnels built by the Iran-backed Hezbollah group beneath the strategic Ali al-Taher ridge in southern Lebanon, triggering a 4.1 magnitude tremor.

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in the Indian capital on Friday ahead of an 11-member BRICS summit set to be dominated by wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, as well as economic challenges.

Elon Musk's lawyers put the makers of a new four-hour documentary about the multibillionaire on formal legal notice days before its premiere, warning that the film defames him.

New Zealand and South Africa collide in a heavyweight finale to their four-match series in Baltimore on Saturday in the latest ambitious bid to grow rugby's audience in the United States.

Michael Carrick said Kobbie Mainoo is a "real joy" to work with after the England international caught the eye in Manchester United's 4-0 thrashing of Sabah on the Red Devils return to the Champions League.

Manchester United celebrated their return to the Champions League with a 4-0 thrashing of Sabah on Thursday, as Cesc Fabregas's Como impressed on their debut in Europe's premier club competition.

At least five people were killed and nearly 70 others wounded on Thursday when a Russian strike hit a shopping centre in Pavlograd, central Ukraine, the authorities announced.

Jamal Musiala scored the opener and Michael Olise grabbed two goals as Bayern Munich cruised to a comfortable 5-0 home win over Bodo-Glimt in the Champions League on Thursday.

Manchester United cruised to a 4-0 win on their return to the Champions League for the first time in three seasons as Azerbaijani champions Sabah were taught a lesson on their debut among Europe's elite on Thursday.

Oil prices surged Thursday as advances by Yemeni rebels threatened the flow of crude supplies while yields on long-term US Treasury bonds reached new multi-year highs following data showing an uptick in US wholesale inflation.

At least five people were killed and nearly 70 others wounded on Thursday when a Russian strike hit a shopping centre in Pavlograd, central Ukraine, the authorities announced.

George Russell admitted on Thursday that he will need luck on his side if he is to upset the formbbook and beat his Mercedes team-mate and runaway series leader Kimi Antonelli to the drivers' championship.

Zina Garrison has known of Coco Gauff for some time, but she only met the 2023 US Open champion last year and "it was literally a handshake," Garrison told AFP.

Canada offered support Thursday to boost Ukraine's air defenses and help replenish its drone stocks, as the countries pledged to deepen their alliance during a visit by President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Prime Minister Mark Carney said Thursday that he had spoken to US President Donald Trump "in recent days" and Ottawa remains ready to reach a "fair" trade deal with Washington, despite escalating economic tensions.

A Latin American fact-checking network on Thursday asked Meta not to replace the verification practice with Community Notes after the company said it was testing the crowdsourcing system in the region.