Hello and welcome to the intelligence on Economist Radio. I'm your host, Jason Palmer. Every weekday, we provide a fresh perspective on the events shaping your world.

A telling tech tussle is going on down under.

Australian authorities have drawn up plans to extract money from giants such as Facebook and Google for linking to news websites.

It's a battle long in the making that may set a global precedent.

And there's one thing dominating the public discourse in Egypt these days.

Filthy baked goods.

News of some risque cakes went very, very viral earlier this month,

and the reaction reveals a lot about how the country is being run. But first...

While the likes of America and Britain are racing ahead with vaccine programs, most of the 27 member states of the European Union have barely left the starting blocks.

To date, the EU has vaccinated just under 2% of its population. In Britain, it's more than 10% and in America, 6. And after that

sluggish start, the block looks like it'll be further hampered by a cut to supply.

AstraZeneca and Pfizer-Biontech have both said production problems will preclude them from meeting the expected numbers.

The EU says it will tighten export controls and is threatening legal action.

The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, urged the companies to meet their promises.

Europe invested billions to help develop the world's first COVID-19 vaccines,

to create a truly global common good.

And now the companies must deliver.

They must honor their obligations.

AstraZeneca has defended its efforts, partly blaming the EU for delays in signing the contract.

The EU, for its part, hasn't yet approved the AstraZeneca vaccine.

That's expected to happen on Friday, a month behind Britain.

The European Commission had set a goal of inoculating 70% of Europe's adults by the summer.

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