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Added on the 08/07/2021 11:42:39 - Copyright : AFPTV - First images
The EU dishes out a 337.5 million euro ($366 million) fine to Mondelez, the US confectioner formerly known as Kraft behind major brands including Toblerone and Oreo, for restricting sales of products within the 27-country bloc. The giant "illegally restricted retailers from sourcing these products from member states where prices are lower" explains European Commission VP Margrethe Vestage, "and this allowed Mondelez to maintain higher prices." SOUNDBITE
The EU has hit Apple with a 1.8-billion-euro fine ($1.9 billion) for violating the bloc's laws by preventing music streaming services from informing users about subscription options outside of its App Store. "Apple did so by restricting app developers' ability to inform users of Apple devices about alternative cheaper options to purchase music available on the internet outside of the Apple ecosystem," commission vice-president Margrethe Vestager says in a statement. SOUNDBITE
The EU says it has slapped a record 4.34-billion-euro ($5.04 billion) antitrust fine on Google for illegally using its Android operating system to strengthen the dominance of its search engine. SOUNDBITE
The European Commission announces it is clearing a 50-million-euro payment to the Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA, which was under review following Israeli claims its staff participated in Hamas's October 7 attack. Commission spokesman Eric Mamer tells reporters the funds would be "implemented through international partners, such as, for example, the Red Cross and the Red Crescent." SOUNDBITE
French President Emmanuel Macron announces a fund, initially worth 100 million euros ($98 million), for Ukraine to directly buy weapons and other material it needs in its war against invading Russia. Macron was speaking after an EU summit in Prague. SOUNDBITE