- Fishing step from UK in Brexit talks
- Joe Biden got vaccinated against coronavirus live on TV
- Apple will produce self-driving cars in 2024
Fishing Step from UK in Brexit Talks
In an effort to unblock the Brexit trade deal, Britain and the EU progressed for a fisheries compromise on Monday, as Boris Johnson targeted December 30 for a final parliamentary vote on an agreement.
The UK took a last-minute effort to save the Brexit trade deal while dealing with the new type of the Covid-19. According to Bloomberg’s report, the Johnson government presented a new plan to the EU regarding fishing rights, which is one of the issues that cannot be agreed in the negotiations.
According to the plan, the EU was asked to cut the value of fish caught in British waters by 30%. Britain previously demanded that the EU accept a 60% cut. The EU’s position on Friday was to offer a 25% cut.
According to sources speaking to Bloomberg, EU member countries with a large fishing industry are taking a tougher position in this regard. EU officials pointed out that even this rate may not be enough to convince countries such as France and Denmark.
Despite the European Parliament’s call for the conclusion of the deal until December 20 in post-Brexit trade talks in terms of ratification processes, the two sides could not reach an agreement until this date.
While the talks continued on Monday, December 21, the talks did not yield any results on Monday. Speaking to Bloomberg, officials warned that the talks would collapse completely if any of the parties violated the established rules.
“There have been successive proposals from the UK, sometimes on fishing, that don’t respond to European priorities and demands,” France’s European affairs minister, Clément Beaune said. “Difficulties remain, in the fishing sector, but not only, so it would be an error of judgment and unacceptable stigmatization to say that a few countries or a few sectors are blocking.”
Joe Biden got Vaccinated Against Coronavirus Live on TV
US President-elect Joe Biden, 78, and his wife Jill were vaccinated against Covid-19. Biden was given the Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine at Christiana Care Hospital in Newark, Delaware. The vaccination was broadcast live.
“I’m doing this to demonstrate that people should be prepared when it’s available to take the vaccine,” Biden said from Newark, Delaware, where he got the jab live on TV. “There’s nothing to worry about.”
Biden noted that the administration of incumbent President Donald Trump deserves “some praise” for the Warp Speed coronavirus vaccine production and distribution program. He also urged citizens to follow the advice of doctors, wear masks, maintain social distance and, if possible, refrain from travel on holidays.
“It’s really important because we’re still in the thick of this,” he said.
The president-elect joins a growing list of public officials, including Vice President Mike Pence and second lady Karen Pence and U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams, who all received the vaccine on live television Friday and have revealed their own experiences of getting vaccinated against Covid-19. The first dose of Pfizer’s vaccine was received by Dr. Jill Biden earlier Monday, though she joined him at the hospital.
President Donald Trump now is one of the last of the country’s top elected officials who have not received the vaccine.
“I am not scheduled to take the vaccine, but look forward to doing so at the appropriate time,” President Trump wrote in a 13 December tweet.
The delay has been defended by some of his advisers, claiming he is still protected by the treatments he underwent to beat the virus.
Apple will Produce Self-driving Cars in 2024
According to Reuters, Apple plans to produce cars for individual use by 2024, while turning to autonomous driving technology. Apple’s own battery technology will be used in the vehicle to be produced.
Apple is said to have been working on Project Titan, its codename, since 2014. At first, the work was rather disorganized. But after the leadership change in 2018, Apple is now working hard on development and aiming to produce it in 2024. Apple declined to comment on its plans or future products.
Apple’s shares quickly increased in value after the news, while Tesla’s shares fell by almost 6.7%.
The electric vehicle market is growing with the expectations of a green economic transformation after the pandemic. According to the report, there will be at least 30 million electric cars and 80 thousand zero-emission trucks on European roads by 2030.
Britain had banned the sale of gasoline and diesel cars and trucks from 2030, 5 years earlier than planned, to reduce carbon emissions to net-zero by 2050, under what Prime Minister Boris Johnson calls the ‘green revolution’.
Uber, on the other hand, announced in a statement that all vehicles in the application will be electrified by 2040.
Stating that the drivers will receive 800 million dollars worth of aid by 2025 to switch to electric vehicles, the company said that some of the assistance will be in the form of discounts in vehicle purchases or rental convenience.
US electric car manufacturer Tesla Inc also stated that it has a target to deliver 500,000 cars in 2020, despite weak sales in the global automotive industry.
