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

As little Heidrun celebrates her second birthday today, she is still waiting for something that should be a matter of course in a constitutional state: a place in an inclusive daycare centre with individual assistance. Her parents have been fighting for this right for over a year and have now filed disciplinary complaints, criminal charges and petitions. What they are experiencing in Potsdam (Federal state of Brandenburg) is, according to citizens, ‘the pitiful face of an administration that ignores laws and cold-heartedly abandons the weakest members of society, children with severe disabilities’.Back in January 2025, representatives of the Children, Youth and Family Department of the state capital Potsdam (Germany) acknowledged in writing that Heidrun needs special support due to her severe disability – since birth, the toddler has suffered from a KBG gene defect (100 per cent severe disability with care level 4 and, among other things, the designation ‘H’ = ‘helpless’ and ‘aG’ = ‘exceptionally mobility impaired’).

There were scenes of "utter chaos" when thousands of women and children related to suspected Islamic State jihadists escaped a camp in Syria last month following the sudden withdrawal of Kurdish forces, witnesses have told AFP.

Three years after Greece's deadliest-ever train crash, the mother of one of the tragedy's 57 victims told AFP she hopes her new political party will force the country's governing elite to accept responsibility.

There is no proven link between the "uniquely colourful and crusty" speeches of former Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte and the murders he is accused of, his defence lawyer told the International Criminal Court on Thursday.

A Greek court convicted four people Thursday over a long-running wiretapping scandal that rocked the government in 2022, prompting resignations and a vote of no confidence in parliament.

A French court on Thursday sentenced Iranian national Mahdieh Esfandiari to one year in prison for justifying terrorism in a case linked to a possible prisoner swap with two French citizens held in Iran.

US and Ukrainian officials were meeting in Geneva on Thursday to discuss advancing efforts to end Russia's four-year invasion of Ukraine, just as Moscow signalled it was in no hurry to sign a deal.

The draw for the latter stages of this season's Champions League takes place on Friday with Newcastle United's midweek victory against Qarabag meaning an unprecedented six English sides will feature in the last 16.

Iran and the United States held talks in Switzerland on Thursday, in a last-ditch bid to avert war under the shadow of the biggest American military build-up in the Middle East in decades.

South Africa captain Aiden Markram led from the front with an unbeaten 82 as South Africa all but secured a T20 World Cup semi-final berth with a brutal nine-wicket thrashing of the West Indies in Ahmedabad on Thursday.

The European Central Bank said Thursday it booked its third straight loss in 2025 due to the lingering impact of a record run of interest rate hikes.

Defending MotoGP champion Marc Marquez said Thursday that a lingering shoulder injury has forced him to change his riding style as he prepares to open the new season in Thailand.

Hong Kong's stock exchange reported record profits for the second consecutive year on Thursday, after the finance hub topped the global rankings for initial public offerings in 2025.

A record eighth-wicket partnership by Romario Shepherd and Jason Holder enabled the West Indies to overcome an early collapse and post 176-8 against South Africa on Thursday in the T20 World Cup Super Eights in Ahmedabad.

Stock markets mostly extended gains on Thursday as investors digested company earnings, including forecast-beating results from chip titan Nvidia.

Actors and filmmakers rushed to defend the head of the Berlin film festival Thursday following a media report that her job was on the line over a director's anti-Israel speech at the event.

Hong Kong pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai won an appeal on Thursday over a 2022 fraud conviction, days after a court jailed him on separate national security charges.

A French court was to rule Thursday in the trial of an Iranian accused of "promoting and inciting terrorism", a case linked to a possible prisoner swap with two French citizens held in Iran.

New Zealand's "street-smart" cricketers can find a way to beat England and guarantee their semi-final place at the T20 World Cup, coach Rob Walters said on Thursday.

Iran and the United States began indirect talks in Switzerland on Thursday, a last-ditch bid to avert war following the biggest American military build-up in the Middle East in decades.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz ended his two-day visit to China on Thursday in the tech hub of Hangzhou, identifying "challenges that we must overcome together" after meeting President Xi Jinping and announcing an Airbus deal.

Troubled automaker Stellantis, behind brands like Jeep and Fiat, announced Thursday a net loss of 22.3 billion euros ($26.3 billion) for last year, blaming a lack of demand for electric vehicles.

US and Ukrainian officials were set to meet in Geneva on Thursday for fresh talks, hours after Russia launched a fresh barrage of missiles and drones at its neighbour overnight.

Seoul's Kospi index hit another record high Thursday on a mixed day for equities following a strong lead from Wall Street but with traders giving a tepid response to forecast-beating earnings from chip titan Nvidia.

A 22-metre robot arm will help remove a third sample of radioactive debris from inside Japan's stricken Fukushima nuclear plant, its operator said Thursday, as it unveiled the snake-like device.

From a rise in arrests to online attacks, Senegal has been under an intensified crackdown on same-sex relations in recent weeks, prompting outcry from human rights groups and driving some in the LGBTQ+ community to consider exile.

A Hong Kong court sentenced the father of a wanted activist to eight months in prison Thursday under a national security law, after he attempted to terminate his daughter's insurance policy and withdraw funds.

Albanian actor Anila Bisha is renowned for playing complex women on the stage and screen, skills honed over a 30-year career, but now she lives in the shadow of her AI avatar and a performance she never gave.

Climate change may threaten the value of Bansko's prime ski slopes, but the Bulgarian resort has found an all-seasons solution to boost its economy, drawing in a cosmopolitan community of digital nomads.

A Thai political party that came second in this month's vote filed a criminal complaint Thursday against the nation's election commissioners, accusing them of violating election laws, the party's deputy told AFP.

Kim Jong Un said North Korea could "get along" with Washington if it accepted Pyongyang's nuclear status, state media said Thursday, but has dashed any hopes of mended ties with "deceptive" neighbour Seoul.

The San Antonio Spurs edged the Toronto Raptors 110-107 on Wednesday, pushing their NBA winning streak to 10 games and closing in on Western Conference leaders Oklahoma City Thunder, who fell to the Detroit Pistons.