The European Union on Wednesday unveiled its plan to tighten vaccine export control rules to prevent what it sees as a one-way flow of doses leaving the bloc.
The plan, which will go before an EU leaders' summit on Thursday, would limit vaccine exports to countries such as Britain that produce some vaccines but do not send any to the bloc.
It stops short of a full export ban but any shipment of doses due to leave the EU will be assessed on the destination country's inoculation rate and vaccine exports.
The proposal came as millions of AstraZeneca doses were reportedly found in Italy.
Brussels directed an Italian government inspection of the Anagni factory, south-east of Rome, where AstraZeneca vaccines are bottled. The raid uncovered 29 million doses that authorities hadn't recorded.
The EU is embroiled in a months-long dispute with AstraZeneca over a shortage of deliveries to the continent.
Europe will now insist on reciprocity as vaccination rates in Britain rise but the continent's inoculations proceed slowly. The bloc said it wants two AstraZeneca plants in the UK to deliver doses to EU countries.
The UK government is understood to be willing to share supplies from the Netherlands-based Halix plant with the EU.
In a joint statement on Wednesday, the UK and the EU agreed to cooperate on vaccine supply as discussions continued.
"We are all facing the same pandemic and the third wave makes cooperation between the EU and UK even more important," the statement said.
"We have been discussing what more we can do to ensure a reciprocally beneficial relationship between the UK and EU on Covid-19.
"Given our interdependencies, we are working on specific steps we can create a win-win situation and expand vaccine supply for all our citizens.
"In the end, openness and global cooperation of all countries will be key to finally overcome this pandemic and ensure better preparation for meeting future challenges."
President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said the bloc exported vaccines to dozens of countries but "open roads should run in both directions".
"This is why the European Commission will introduce the principles of reciprocity and proportionality into the EU's existing authorisation mechanism," she said.
"The EU has an excellent portfolio of different vaccines and we have secured more than enough doses for the entire population. But we have to ensure timely and sufficient vaccine deliveries to EU citizens. Every day counts."
Ms von der Leyen said the EU approved the export of some 41 million vaccine doses to 33 countries in the last six weeks and believes the bloc is at forefront of international vaccine-sharing efforts.
Under the less stringent export control system already in force, only one shipment in 381 has been barred.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Tuesday told a private meeting of MPs that capitalism and greed were the reasons for the success of Britain’s Covid-19 vaccination drive.
He also praised pharmaceutical companies for developing the vaccines in record time.
But his more controversial remarks could provide ammunition for the EU countries embroiled in a bitter row with drug maker AstraZeneca over a shortfall in supplies.
Mr Johnson's comments, reported by The Sun newspaper, were made during a Zoom meeting with Conservative Party MPs.
"The reason we have the vaccine success is because of capitalism, because of greed, my friends," Mr Johnson said.
He later said "I regret saying it" and repeatedly asked MPs to "forget I said that".
It is understood the prime minister did not compare the UK's vaccination campaign with those of EU countries during his address.
The Downing Street office declined to comment on the reports.
Home Secretary Priti Patel said she was not in the meeting.
"The prime minister always acknowledges the strong success that we've had in terms of the vaccine, not just the roll-out, which is incredible, but also our ability as a country to develop the vaccine, and the role that pharmaceutical companies and science and technology has played in that," she said.
Britain is gradually easing lockdown restrictions in a plan underpinned by the success of the national vaccination campaign, under which more than 28 million people received a first vaccine dose.
The UK stands to lose the most under the new European rules, as the biggest benefactor of EU exports so far.
Last week, Ms von der Leyen demanded “reciprocity” from Britain after she said the EU had sent 10 million vaccines across the Channel over the past six weeks, mostly from Belgium’s Pfizer plant, but the UK had exported none to the bloc.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday threw her weight behind Ms von der Leyen's targeted ban but ruled out an outright ban.
"We have a problem with AstraZeneca," she said.
European rifts on the issue were exposed on Sunday when Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin said the EU’s threats would be a retrograde step and risked retaliation from Britain.
Philippe Lamberts, a Belgian Member of the European Parliament, said he hopes the EU does not block supplies to Britain.
"The quarrel is not between the European Commission and the British government, it is between the Europeans and one of their suppliers who have a track record of dishonesty," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Wednesday.
He said AstraZeneca "overpromised and underdelivered" vaccines to the bloc.
He described the Anglo-Swedish drug maker as "a company that cannot be relied upon" and said other pharmaceutical companies had "engaged constructively" with the EU.
Ms Merkel's intervention came as she announced now-reversed plans for a tougher lockdown in Germany over the Easter holidays. All shops were to close between April 1 and April 5, with only grocers allowed to open on Saturday, April 3.
The plan was unexpectedly dropped on Wednesday after she admitted it was not practical.
“This mistake is my mistake alone. I deeply regret this and ask all citizens for forgiveness," Ms Merkel said.
Germany is fighting the same battle to contain a third wave of infections as neighbouring France.
Medical workers warned French hospitals face a "violent shock" if the surge in cases is not contained.
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
What is blockchain?
Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.
The main difference between blockchain and other forms of DLT is the way data is stored as ‘blocks’ – new transactions are added to the existing ‘chain’ of past transactions, hence the name ‘blockchain’. It is impossible to delete or modify information on the chain due to the replication of blocks across various locations.
Blockchain is mostly associated with cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Due to the inability to tamper with transactions, advocates say this makes the currency more secure and safer than traditional systems. It is maintained by a network of people referred to as ‘miners’, who receive rewards for solving complex mathematical equations that enable transactions to go through.
However, one of the major problems that has come to light has been the presence of illicit material buried in the Bitcoin blockchain, linking it to the dark web.
Other blockchain platforms can offer things like smart contracts, which are automatically implemented when specific conditions from all interested parties are reached, cutting the time involved and the risk of mistakes. Another use could be storing medical records, as patients can be confident their information cannot be changed. The technology can also be used in supply chains, voting and has the potential to used for storing property records.
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Jawan
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
Company%20profile
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A list of the animal rescue organisations in the UAE
How much of your income do you need to save?
The more you save, the sooner you can retire. Tuan Phan, a board member of SimplyFI.com, says if you save just 5 per cent of your salary, you can expect to work for another 66 years before you are able to retire without too large a drop in income.
In other words, you will not save enough to retire comfortably. If you save 15 per cent, you can forward to another 43 working years. Up that to 40 per cent of your income, and your remaining working life drops to just 22 years. (see table)
Obviously, this is only a rough guide. How much you save will depend on variables, not least your salary and how much you already have in your pension pot. But it shows what you need to do to achieve financial independence.
SPEC%20SHEET
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Honeymoonish
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AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street
The seven points are:
Shakhbout bin Sultan Street
Dhafeer Street
Hadbat Al Ghubainah Street (outbound)
Salama bint Butti Street
Al Dhafra Street
Rabdan Street
Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)
The%20specs%20
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THREE
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
Ticket prices
- Golden circle - Dh995
- Floor Standing - Dh495
- Lower Bowl Platinum - Dh95
- Lower Bowl premium - Dh795
- Lower Bowl Plus - Dh695
- Lower Bowl Standard- Dh595
- Upper Bowl Premium - Dh395
- Upper Bowl standard - Dh295
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FIXTURES
All kick-off times 10.45pm UAE ( 4 GMT) unless stated
Tuesday
Sevilla v Maribor
Spartak Moscow v Liverpool
Manchester City v Shakhtar Donetsk
Napoli v Feyenoord
Besiktas v RB Leipzig
Monaco v Porto
Apoel Nicosia v Tottenham Hotspur
Borussia Dortmund v Real Madrid
Wednesday
Basel v Benfica
CSKA Moscow Manchester United
Paris Saint-Germain v Bayern Munich
Anderlecht v Celtic
Qarabag v Roma (8pm)
Atletico Madrid v Chelsea
Juventus v Olympiakos
Sporting Lisbon v Barcelona
Which products are to be taxed?
To be taxed:
Flavoured water, long-life fruit juice concentrates, pre-packaged sweetened coffee drinks fall under the ‘sweetened drink’ category
Not taxed
Freshly squeezed fruit juices, ground coffee beans, tea leaves and pre-prepared flavoured milkshakes do not come under the ‘sweetened drink’ band.
Products excluded from the ‘sweetened drink’ category would contain at least 75 per cent milk in a ready-to-drink form or as a milk substitute, baby formula, follow-up formula or baby food, beverages consumed for medicinal use and special dietary needs determined as per GCC Standardisation Organisation rules
A cheaper choice
Vanuatu: $130,000
Why on earth pick Vanuatu? Easy. The South Pacific country has no income tax, wealth tax, capital gains or inheritance tax. And in 2015, when it was hit by Cyclone Pam, it signed an agreement with the EU that gave it some serious passport power.
Cost: A minimum investment of $130,000 for a family of up to four, plus $25,000 in fees.
Criteria: Applicants must have a minimum net worth of $250,000. The process take six to eight weeks, after which the investor must travel to Vanuatu or Hong Kong to take the oath of allegiance. Citizenship and passport are normally provided on the same day.
Benefits: No tax, no restrictions on dual citizenship, no requirement to visit or reside to retain a passport. Visa-free access to 129 countries.
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
War 2
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana
Rating: 2/5
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
Rafael Nadal's record at the MWTC
2009 Finalist
2010 Champion
Jan 2011 Champion
Dec 2011 Semi-finalist
Dec 2012 Did not play
Dec 2013 Semi-finalist
2015 Semi-finalist
Jan 2016 Champion
Dec 2016 Champion
2017 Did not play
Company%20profile%20
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Brief scores
Barcelona 2
Pique 36', Alena 87'
Villarreal 0
