Rob Schmitz

Racism against a top soccer player has roiled the world of Spanish soccer. Vinicius Jr. plays for Real Madrid and has been at the receiving end of repeated abuse from fans of rival teams.

Germany was a pioneer in the solar power industry, but succumbed to competition from China. Now, Germany — and the European Union — are trying to revitalize the industry once again.

Five men have been sentenced in what has been called the most spectacular jewel heist in German history. A crime family network made off with $123 million worth of jewels from the largest treasure collection in Europe.

A teenager is in custody after opening fire at a school with his father's gun, police say. The boy called police himself after the shooting and had a list of children he wanted to kill.

German solar panel manufacturers are working with lawmakers to rejuvenate the industry in Europe. They are seeking to counter China's dominance of the industry with tax incentives and legislation.

Tens of thousands of German rail workers are on strike over wages and investment in the Deutsche Bahn rail company. Significant disruptions are expected for train, bus and air travel.

The history of Credit Suisse was enmeshed with Swiss history, and the bank long considered a national treasure with a great reputation. Last week, it was bought by rival UBS.

The country is considering putting speed limits on its highway network — and the move is leading to some soul searching.

Shares in the midsized lender continued to tumble as fears grow about First Republic's financial health grow even after it received a $30 billion lifeline from its bigger rivals last week.

The deal was brokered by the Swiss government to try to contain a crisis of confidence in global financial markets.

"NATO will become stronger with Finland's membership and thus, I believe, will play an active role in maintaining global security and stability," Turkey's president said Friday.

Ukraine has long sought fighter jets, though these are old Soviet-made MiG-29s and not the more advanced Western warplanes that Kyiv covets.

A drop in shares of European lender Credit Suisse sparked fears that banking turmoil is spreading around the world.

The Inflation Reduction Act, or IRA, promises tax breaks to companies making technology for clean energy. European leaders are concerned companies will flee to the U.S. to cash in on the tax breaks.

President Biden and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are expected to discuss trade and the war in Ukraine. Relations with China is also expected to come up.

Germany said Tuesday it is reviewing tech suppliers such as China's Huawei and ZTE, whose equipment is used in Germany's 5G networks. Europeans are starting to favor a tougher stance on China.

An adviser to Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the reports are based on "anonymous conjecture but not real facts." The attacks, he said, are "devoid of tactical sense."

Prime Minister Kaja Kallas has led the former Soviet republic since 2021. She's an outspoken critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, and a vocal supporter of Ukraine.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz is traveling without press and the two leaders do not plan to have a news conference. His visit may focus on the tense rhetoric between the U.S. and China.

Critics are laying into the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, accusing it of incompetence in its response to the massive quake and misplacing tax revenues meant for dealing with disasters.