eu

German Health Minister Jens Spahn says he's in favor of acquiring Russia's Sputnik V vaccine, noting that new infections in Germany are rising at a "very clearly exponential rate."

While daily new infections have declined somewhat, more than 1,000 Germans are dying per day. All 16 German states are in favor of keeping restrictions in place.

Leaders from across the European Union's 27 member-states celebrated the start of vaccination efforts on Sunday. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called it "a European success story."

Several European nations, including Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Germany and Italy, announced travel restrictions from the U.K., where officials say a new variant of the coronavirus is spreading.

Hours after the EU's drug agency signed off on the vaccine, the European Commission approved its use, clearing the way for inoculations to begin across Europe.

A new report says American whiskey distillers have watched more than $300 million in export revenues evaporate since a trade dispute broke out between the…