EU hails deals to get more vaccine shots, tackle variants
The news came only hours after Pfizer and BioNTech said they had signed a deal to deliver an additional 200 million vaccine doses to the bloc. Von der Leyen also unveiled EU plans to better detect virus variants and to speed up the approval of adapted vaccines capable of countering them. Authorities in Germany's most populous state, North Rhine-Westphalia, expressed concerns that some people appeared less willing to take the AstraZeneca vaccine than those made by Moderna or Pfizer. AdโThe authorized AstraZeneca vaccine isn't a second-class vaccine,โ the state's health ministry said. Pfizer and German partner BioNTech confirmed that they, too, have finalized an agreement to supply the EU with another 200 million vaccine doses.
Wayne County ordinance makes street racing a public nuisance
DETROIT โ Street racing has been declared a public nuisance in southeastern Michiganโs Wayne County following a vote by county commissioners. The new ordinance allows police to impound vehicles and equipment used in street racing. County Executive Warren Evans said the new measure provides law enforcement with tools to help keep neighborhood streets safe. โFor their own safety and for the safety of other motorists and pedestrians, would-be racers need to stay off Wayne County streets. โStreet racing does endanger lives, has caused injuries, and fatalities and I have witnessed it first hand,โ Evans said.
EU opens antitrust probes into Apple Pay and App Store
LONDON European Union authorities have opened antitrust investigations into Apple's App Store and its payments platform over concerns that its practices stifle competition. The Commission opened a second investigation into the mobile App Store over concerns that Apple restricts developers from letting iPhone and iPad users know about ways to make purchases outside of apps. EU Executive Vice President Margrethe Vestager said it appears that Apple obtained a gatekeeper' role when it comes to the distribution of apps and content to users of Apples popular devices." It also appeared that Apple set conditions on how Apple Pay should be used in merchants apps and websites, she said. It is important that Apples measures do not deny consumers the benefits of new payment technologies," she said.
Next EU chief defends NATO after Macron criticism
BERLIN The president-elect of the European Union's executive Commission is defending NATO after French President Macron claimed that a lack of U.S. leadership is causing the military alliance's "brain death." Ursula von der Leyen didn't explicitly address Macron's criticism in a speech Friday but said that, even though there has been "bumpiness" recently, "NATO has proven itself superbly as a protective shield of freedom." Macron said the European members of NATO "should reassess the reality" of what the alliance is in light of the U.S. commitment. Von der Leyen, who will succeed Jean-Claude Juncker in one of the EU's top jobs in the coming weeks, said that "NATO was and is always what its member states make of it it is up to 29 countries to participate and change something."