Vossische Zeitung - News from Berlin, Brandenburg, Europe and the whole world

Astronomers announced Thursday that they had detected the most promising "hints" of potential life on a planet beyond our solar system, though other scientists expressed scepticism.

The spectre of a transatlantic trade war is also fuelling hopes of a silver lining in Europe: that a commerce deal with four South American countries could get a final green light despite longstanding French opposition.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang arrived in Beijing on Thursday, state media said, days after the United States curbed sales of its H20 artificial intelligence chips to China.

Former international fly-half Johnny Sexton has been appointed as assistant coach of Ireland and will also take up a coaching role with the British and Irish Lions, the Irish rugby union (IRFU) announced Thursday.

Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni meets with Donald Trump Thursday in Washington, hoping a personal charm offensive can help convince the US president to cut a more favourable deal on EU tariffs.

UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi met the head of Iran's atomic energy agency, Mohammad Eslami, on Thursday ahead of a fresh round of nuclear talks between Tehran and Washington.

Cambodia marked on Thursday the 50th anniversary of the Khmer Rouge's march into Phnom Penh, though survivors of its genocidal rule were forbidden from praying before victims' skulls.

Kylian Mbappe's arrival at Real Madrid was envisioned to expand their Champions League domination, but he was muzzled by Arsenal as Los Blancos crashed out in the quarter-finals, leaving coach Carlo Ancelotti on the brink.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was in Paris on Thursday to meet French President Emmanuel Macron about crafting a Ukraine ceasefire, as Washington and Europe seek common ground on ending the fighting.

Tokyo led Asian stocks higher on Thursday as optimism over Japan-US trade talks offset Federal Reserve boss Jerome Powell's warning that Donald Trump's tariffs could force officials to choose between fighting inflation or unemployment.

Nora Aunor, considered by many Filipinos as their country's greatest actress and singer, has died aged 71, the government and her family said Thursday.

Taiwanese chipmaking titan TSMC reported on Thursday a surge in net profit for the first quarter and forecast robust demand for artificial intelligence technology, despite the spectre of US tariffs on the critical sector.

When Rubi Cruz recognized her husband's belongings among personal items found at a suspected Mexican drug cartel training camp, she feared the worst -- that he had become a victim of forced recruitment.

French President Emmanuel Macron was set to meet in Paris Thursday with America's top diplomat about crafting a Ukraine ceasefire as Washington and Europe seek common ground on ending the fighting.

Pakistan's Mahrang Baloch has risen to become the young face of a decades-old movement against rights abuses since she discovered her father's tortured body when she was a teenager.

Myanmar's military government said Thursday it will release nearly 5,000 prisoners in an amnesty to mark the country's new year festivities.

Taiwanese chipmaking titan TSMC reported Thursday a surge in net profit for the first quarter and forecast robust demand for artificial intelligence technology, despite the spectre of US tariffs on the critical sector.

French luxury group Hermes said Thursday it would hike its prices in the United States to offset the impact of 10-percent import tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump.

Time for the daily staff meeting at Sri Lanka's Hotel Amba Yaalu where woman manager Jeewanthi Adhikari jokes: "This won't look very serious, there are only girls around the table."

Sweden is getting up a head of steam for what could be a record number of Eurovision wins this year with a humorous sauna act.

Eurovision is the world's biggest talent show, featuring 37 national entries, but one country seems to regularly dominate the conversation and the winners' podium: Sweden.

Clad in a traditional white tunic and purple sash, four-year-old Thiago could barely contain his excitement before taking part as a drummer in a Spanish Easter procession thronged by thousands.

Signature flamboyance is on the menu when the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest opens next month in Basel -- but looming large over the festivities is Israel's participation in the event.

Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni heads to Washington on Thursday to meet with Donald Trump, hoping a personal charm offensive can help convince the US president to cut a more favourable deal on EU tariffs.

This weekend's Saudi Arabian Grand Prix is the final leg of the first 'triple header' of the season.

As drones transform the face of war from Ukraine to Gaza, Denmark is opening a military drone testing centre to develop cutting-edge technology and boost its national defence.

Football fans in China were outraged by Zhejiang FC's decision to go ahead with a league match hours after the death of their Gabon international striker Aaron Boupendza.

Tyler Herro scored 38 points as the Miami Heat cruised past the Chicago Bulls 109-90 to keep their NBA playoff hopes alive on Wednesday.

Watching Chinese money flow into his home city of Sihanoukville, Cambodian linguist Um Keangseng opened a language school to meet the growing demand for Mandarin lessons.

Uncertainty over Donald Trump's tariff blitz mounted Thursday after the Fed chief warned of rising prices and "volatility" while "progress" flagged by the US president in talks with Japan lifted markets slightly.

When the news came through of yet another massacre in the countryside in Nigeria's volatile Plateau state, local Christian Jamaima Haruna was terrified for her Muslim husband.

Tokyo led stocks higher Thursday as optimism over Japan-US trade talks offset Federal Reserve boss Jerome Powell's warning that Donald Trump's tariffs could force officials to choose between fighting inflation or unemployment.

French cycling legend Bernard Hinault is licking his lips at the prospect of current superstars Tadej Pogacar and Mathieu van der Poel tackling the same route at the 2027 world championships as he faced when he claimed his one and only rainbow jersey in 1980.

European Central Bank policymakers look increasingly likely to cut interest rates again on Thursday, with US President Donald Trump's stop-start tariff announcements sowing concern in the eurozone.

Tyler Herro scored 38 points as the Miami Heat cruised past the Chicago Bulls 109-90 to keep their NBA playoff hopes alive on Wednesday.

The foreign ministers of Nigeria and Niger held talks Wednesday on cross-border security, terrorism and economic cooperation, despite tensions between the two neighbours since the July 2023 coup in Niger.

Australia has complained to World Rugby about cashed-up French clubs "poaching" teenage talent, with chairman Daniel Herbert urging the global governing body to beef up its rules.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney avoided major errors in a French debate Wednesday that tested his occasionally shaky language skills, as the election front-runner sought to parry attacks from his conservative opponent.

Rights groups are increasingly worried that El Salvador's notorious CECOT prison is becoming a "black hole" for the United States to rid itself of expelled migrants or other unwanted people with no legal consequences.