Deutsche Welle: DW.com - Europe

US security plan: EU's Kallas downplays fear of rift in ties The EU's top diplomat said the US was still "our biggest ally" despite differences on numerous topics. Kaja Kallas was commenting on a US national security plan that slammed Europe along economic and cultural lines. Finland: The money woes of the world's happiest country Finland cut Russian energy imports and closed the shared border after the Ukraine war, erasing €12 billion in trade. The shocks deepened the Nordic nation's deficit, already strained by defense and welfare spending. Heavy fighting for Pokrovsk: Is Ukraine losing the city? Russia claims it has occupied Pokrovsk. According to Ukrainian and Western observers, fighting for the city continues. What happens there could also determine the fate of the nearby city of Myrnohrad. Half of Europeans see high risk of war with Russia: poll A narrow majority of Europeans in nine countries perceive an elevated risk of war with Russia in the near future, a new poll has found. More felt Donald Trump was acting like an enemy of Europe than a friend. Russia: Appeal rejected for journalists tied to Navalny A Moscow court rejected an appeal by four Russian journalists, including two former DW reporters, convicted of ties to Alexei Navalny's anti-corruption foundation. Unknown volcano eruption claimed as cause of Black Death Though its route through Central Asia remains elusive, two German researchers believe they have discovered how — and why — the plague made it to Medieval Europe. Putin 'morally responsible' for Sturgess' death — UK report The conduct of all those involved in a Russian mission to kill a double agent in England was "astonishingly reckless," a UK report found. Dawn Sturgess, a British woman, died after an assassination attempt in 2018. EU agrees to relax regulations around gene-edited crops The EU has agreed allow certain foods altered using genetic engineering techniques to be sold without special labeling under a new framework. The rules distinguish between NGTs and GMOs. Macron discusses Ukraine, trade with Xi in China Emmanuel Macron has embarked on a three-day state visit to China. He is expected to urge Xi to help push Russia toward a ceasefire in Ukraine and discuss access to the Chinese market. EU frees billions in bid to reduce China rare earth reliance The European Commission plans to set up a center to coordinate the purchases and stocks of the crucial raw materials. China is by far the largest supplier, and vast US demand also complicates European acquisition.