this is the briefing. i'm sally bundock. our top story: politicians in europe and the us demand answers from facebook about alleged misuse of personal data in election campaigns. the fbi confirms six bomb attacks in the texan city of austin are linked. lost for decades — an austrian film that foresaw the rise of the nazis is given a new lease of life. taxing the tech titans: the european commission plans to make companies like google, amazon and facebook pay theirfair share. and as pressure mounts on facebook over the handling of users' data by cambridge analytica, the uk political consultancy‘s operations in asia come under scrutiny. a warm welcome to the programme, briefing you on all you need to know

in global news, business and sport. also in the programme a fresh warning the amount of plastic in the ocean is set to treble in a decade. so we're asking are you changing your habits — how easy is it to give up on plastic? send us your comments on this story and others we're covering today. just use the hashtag bbc—the—briefing. let's begin the programme with the latest on facebook. the social media giant facebook is to be questioned by politicians in washington as the company comes

under growing pressure to explain the measures it's taking to secure the personal data of its two billion users. it follows allegations that information on facebook members was used for political purposes by the british firm cambridge analytica. that company's chief executive, alexander nix, has been suspended. both firms deny any wrongdoing. simonjones reports. facebook held a crisis meeting today... an international row about facebook dates at making headlines in the states and in london, home to the consultancy, cambridge analytica. that company is accused of using the personal data of 50 million facebook users to send highly targeted messages during the 2016 us election campaign. secret filming by channel 4 news shows its boss, alexander nix, boasting about

the role it played in donald trump's victory. the company has denied the facebook information was used for this purpose. it said alexander nix's, is to not represent the values of the firm. he has been suspended. facebook says it is outraged and says it has been deceived by cambridge analytica. the media giant is sending representatives to answer the congress in washington. facebook is an extraordinary company but it is an extraordinary company but it is no longer a company, it is a country. it is a huge. it is breathtakingly powerful. data is the new oil. and facebook‘s behaviour leaves something to be desired. facebook denies it has done anything

wrong but there is growing pressure from politicians in the us and the ukfor from politicians in the us and the uk for its boss, mark zuckerberg, to break his silence about how his customers information is dead. i will be talking to the technology correspondent, camped outside facebook hq and he will bring you the latest from there. the fbi now believes that six separate attacks in us state of texas are the work of a serial bomber. in the latest incidents, explosive packages were left at separate fedex offices. police say they have responded to hundreds of calls from the public who have sighted other possible devices including one at a charity shop on tuesday when an old military device donated to the store had detonated, injuring an employee. tonight, at approximately 7pm, the

austin police department received a call that came through travis county. the court was upgraded to a bomb hotshot coal that occurred in the goodwill. officers responded to the goodwill. officers responded to the scene. upon the initial investigation, officers determined that a goodwill employer had found a box that someone had dropped out that contained some items that that employee did not think the goodwill wa nted employee did not think the goodwill wanted to have. hit pass the box on, ina wanted to have. hit pass the box on, in a plea took the box around the corner to dispose of it and looking inside of it it had two small devices that were at the very

similar ages of that and some type of military memento. after all investigation on scene we determined that this was not an explosive device, this incident is not related to any of the other incidents that we have that here in austin. we will go live to texas for more on that story later in the programme. let's brief you on some of the other stories making the news: three soldiers have been killed in ecuador in the latest of a series of attacks near the border with colombia. another seven troops were injured by a roadside bomb the coastal province of esmeraldas. ecuador blames former members of colombia's farc rebel group saying the gangs are involved in drug—trafficking. a police officer in the us state of minnesota has been charged with murder after he shot dead an unarmed australian woman last year, sparking an international outcry. mohammed noor killed justine damond after she called to report a possible rape — prosecutors said there was no evidence of a threat

thatjustified his actions. the amount of plastic in the ocean is set to treble in a decade, unless steps are taken to reduce litter. that's what major research commissioned by the british government has found. the foresight future of the sea report also says the ocean faces threats from many different types of pollution, including run—off pesticides and fertilisers from farms. we have heard from quite a few of you on that story and we will share some of your comments. the european commission is plans to get the world's biggest tech companies — like google, facebook and amazon — to pay their fair share of tax with proposed 3% levy on digital revenues. these firms have been criticised for booking their profits in countries with the lowest corporation tax. justin urquhart stewart, director, seven investment management joins me now.

this is something that notjust the eu but across the world to have been trying to pin down for years. will we make progress today? they have to. it has come to a head but frankly it has come about with globalisation because companies can go wherever they wish and shareholders want them to find the lowest tax base they can. in europe, he would go to something like luxembourg or make ireland and the year trade were ever you like. if you want a fair cut of the revenue therefore you will have the charge companies as to where the income and growth. turnover in france, germany britain, you could pay a proportion of your tax at cordingley but the question is will they be able to get

companies to do that. can you not force them to do that? is that it straightforward to ascertain how much money they are making in a country? in theory, yes but how much they say they are doing and are actually doing is difficult to do. unilever have products are round the world. you could see the number of boxes going around. something like google or facebook cannot actually feel it, touch it. it is good in theory but the application will have to be quite careful to be able to analyse which country the amount is coming from and generated and how to get tax out of that. income is where people are paying for it is that of sensible about where the costs were? it will be difficult to sort that out. the devil is in the detail and

the lawyers are the winners, as always. let's take a look at some other stories of... a park in central brussels has become the meeting place for migrants and volu nteers meeting place for migrants and volunteers welcoming them into their homes. locals are mobilising themselves offer a route from those fleeing from their homeland. they gather every night, hundreds of migrants from africa and the middle east looking for somewhere to stay in brussels's maximillian park but they will not be sleeping rough. they are here to meet a group of volu nteers they are here to meet a group of volunteers that are seeking shelter with local people willing to put a roof over their heads. i have been to so many countries and i have never seen as to so many countries and i have never seen as good as belgian people, just how friendly they are, just to have a house, is very hard and those people make it easy for

us. how was the journey from tunisia to hear? it was scary. we had to cross the mediterranean sea and it is like you see death. a core group of volu nteers is like you see death. a core group of volunteers is there to help until late into the night. translation: last september we had no members and today we had 38th now is on. up to 4000 host families. we have drivers, food distribution centres, citizen to collect and distribute food. they started welcoming pickle late last year. some migrants have now found a roof for the night while others are still waiting, hoping to find a host family. most of them here had very few belongings and are not well—equipped to sleep in cold weather. tonight three young men are hosted here. when you have someone it you do not know and you invite

them into your house, at first you wonder, are these people going to be 0k wonder, are these people going to be ok but then when you see everything is fine and that the people are happy, they go out of your house with a big smile, it is good. what has this experienced brought you?- bea human has this experienced brought you?- be a human again. humanity, solidarity, love, lots of love. these men are in belgium illegally and do not want to be identified. getting here took them over a year. see people helping. i am very, very hopeful. like most of the migrants feared these men did not want to apply for asylum in belgium and so they can be put up in official centres. many are determined to reach the uk. public opinion in belgium is divided on the migration issue. it is a question that we have to organise reception centres for

illegal migrants. i do not think thatis illegal migrants. i do not think that is a good idea. back at the park, most migrants have found somewhere to sleep but not all. the volu nteers somewhere to sleep but not all. the volunteers see their work as a way of conquering and anti— migrant sentiment. most will be back tomorrow and the night after. their long—term future is anything but secure. still to come: this austrian field predicted the effects of nazism a decade before it happened. it disappeared the 90 years it has been recovered and restored. today, we have closed the book on apartheid and that chapter. more than 3,000 subway passengers were affected. nausea, bleeding, headaches and a dimming of vision, all of this caused by an apparently organised attack.

the trophy itself was on the pedestal in the middle of the cabinet here. now, this was an international trophy and we understand now that the search for it has become an international search. above all, this was a triumph for the christian democrats of the west, offering reunification as quickly as possible, and that's what the voters wanted. you're watching the briefing.

our headlines: politicians in europe and the us are calling executives at facebook to answer questions about allegations that data was misused to influence elections. the fbi has confirmed that it is linking six bomb attacks that have taken place in the texas city of austin this month. let's stay with that now. on the line is chas moore from the civil liberties group, austinjustice coalition. thank you for talking to the bbc. tell us about the atmosphere in boston, texas, right now. —— austin. people are on edge. yes, after today, with all the events, the edge is rising. i think people are really taken aback by what is going on. and

the fact these bombings, they are all over the place and the city. there is no motive. there is no target. literally, my roommate went out the door today, and we were taken aback out the door today, and we were ta ken aback because out the door today, and we were taken aback because of the news. everyone's on edge. that makes it all the more difficult, it is hard to understand who is behind these, why, because the attacks are so random. for me, and i speak for many people, this is like the dc sniper in the early 90s. just random people being targeted. it is a scary thing

because it is not like a serial killer with a motive, whether it is women, older women, something like that, this is a person putting bombs and explosives in random spots that are literally harming everybody. is are literally harming everybody. is a huge fear in the minds of everyone right now. how are the authorities handling this? they are asking for anyone who sees a suspect package to report it. i believe 1200 packages have been reported. with the fact the packages are making their way through fedex, we had a package today, and authorities say it is not linked... that is making people

scared. the fact we don't even know if these packages look the same any more, it is raising the concern of eve ryo ne more, it is raising the concern of everyone here. we have delivered there. thank you for your time. —— we have to leave it there. here's our briefing on some of the key events happening later. first to berlin, where the german chancellor will deliver a speech to parliament outlining her government's plans a week after being sworn in for a fourth term following six months of political standstill. and in the west bank, ahed tamimi, the palestinian girl who was filmed slapping and kicking an israeli soldier, is expected to appear in a closed israeli military court. also today, africa is on the verge of forming the largest free trade area since the world trade organisation. in kigali, rawanda, leaders of 55 african countries will sign an agreement that will launch the african continental free trade

area. now it's time to get all the latest from the bbc sports centre. hello. i'm tulsen tollett. coming up in your wednesday sport briefing: the world's best golfers are gathering in texas for the wgc matchplay. it's winner—takes—all between west indies and scotland as they bid for a place at next year's cricket world cup. and ashley young defends his manchester united manager, jose mourinho. 64 of the world's best golfers are in austin, texas, for the wgc match play tournament. the round—robin matches get under way on wednesday, before two single—elimination rounds at the weekend. four—time major champion rory mcilroy won his first title for 18 months last weekend and former world number one jordan spieth says he'll be a favourite for the masters in two weeks' time. whether he won last week or not, he

is always a force and needs to be healthy. just being rested and healthy. just being rested and healthy and on the right path, going forward , healthy and on the right path, going forward, rory is rory, and so he should always be a favourite at any event. it's winner—takes—all between west indies and scotland in harare later, with a spot at next year's world cup on the line. the two sides have never faced each other before, but whoever wins will guarantee themselves a spot at the tournament. there's another big night of nba action across north america on wednesday. the pick of the matches sees lebron james and the cleveland cavaliers host high—flying toronto. the raptors are top of the eastern conference with the cavs third. but the raptors have shown that they can be beaten having lost 132—125 at home to the oklahoma city thunder on sunday. and after back—to—back wins and the return of all—star forward kevin love from injury, the cavs will certainly be confident.

imean, first i mean, first of all, just having another body, it is great for the team. his basketball iq, he's familiar. if right back in. —— he just fits right back in. it is great to have him back. now, with football's international break upon us, this man, jose mourinho, is probably enjoying some time out of the spotlight. following a defeat last week, the manchester united manager ranted uninterrupted for 12 minutes and that was before criticising his own defender, luke shaw, which prompted suggestions mourinho's style might be outdated. but united defender, ashley young, has backed his boss. the situation, it's between the

manager and the player. but for me, he has been successful at every club he has been successful at every club he has been at. that would not happen if he knew how to handle players. —— did not know how. you can have a laugh and a joke. that is the best way for managers to work. afghanistan have kept their slim hopes of playing at next year's cricket world cup alive. they beat the united arab emirates by five wickets in their second super six match in harare. the uae were dismissed for 177 in just 43 overs, before afghanistan recovered from 54 for five to win with more than 15 overs to spare. now to what's been catching our eye on social media. how about this for a penalty?! we think this mightjust about be the best we have seen. this video was shared by the former manchester united defender, rio ferdinand. it's a street football match in argentina.

and how about this for skill? what a goal! i don't think i'd like to try that one myself, though. keepehs keeper's terrible. you can get all the latest sports news at our website. that's bbc.com/sport. but from me, that is your wednesday sport briefing. thank you. an austrian film which predicated the rise of nazism and was believed to be lost is being premiered in vienna today. the 1924 film called the city withoutjews is based on a dystopian novel by the jewish writer, hugo bettauer. it was rediscovered in a flea—market in paris in 2015 and has now been restored thanks to a huge crowd—funding campaign. our vienna correspondent, bethany bell, reports. the city withoutjews is an eerily

prophetic film. a silent movie that tells the story of a city called utopia which expels all itsjews. —— utopia. said after the first world war, it shows howjews are made the scapegoats for rising prices. they are then forced to leave. in 1925, a year after the film was made, its author, hugo bettauer, was killed by author, hugo bettauer, was killed by a nazi. the film disappeared and for many years was believed to be lost. in 2015, a complete version of the film was found in a flea market in paris. the austrian film archive has

had the film restored with the help ofa had the film restored with the help of a huge crowd—funding campaign. the film has a happy end, thejews returning to their city. in reality, many of vienna's jews perished returning to their city. in reality, many of vienna'sjews perished in the holocaust. the film archive says the holocaust. the film archive says the movie's message against excluding people based on religion or race is one that has growing releva nce for or race is one that has growing relevance for our times. bethany bell, bbc news, vienna. an extraordinary story. stay with me on bbc news. and tell me what you think about our talking point today. talking about plastic. this person says plastic is not the problem, it is what we do with it after we use it. that is the issue. we need to recycle, reuse, and repurposed all plastic. and tom jones is doing a university research project on that and want you to get in touch. i will

have more on this later. thank you. hello again. tuesday brought us some beautiful, sunny weather across northern ireland and scotland. that's where the best of the sunshine was, and what a beautiful end to the day it was as well. this was the scene in oban, argyll and bute, looking out over the scottish islands as the sun set in the west. some changes, though, working in for wednesday. got some thicker cloud working into the north—west of the country. so, for scotland and northern ireland, a cloudier start to the day. some rain on the charts edging into western scotland as well. so for some, it will be a damper start as well. whereas further south, for england and wales, clearer skies overnight. well, that means, for early—risers, we've got something like this. a widespread frost developing, even in the towns and cities. head into the countryside and a really a cold start to the day. temperatures could be down as low as —6 in the coldest spots wales. a cold start then, yes, but beautiful sunny skies in england and wales for most of the morning. into the afternoon, cloud thickening from the north and west. sunshine will make the sun hazy elsewhere, but probably the thicker cloud won't reach the south—east

until the evening time. further north a different story. cloudy with outbreaks of rain working into western scotland fairly quickly in the day. any rain not lasting long in northern ireland. but could be slow to clear in western scotland. eastern scotland will be prone to seeing occasional bright spells through the afternoon. and here, temperatures will lift into double figures, probably one of the warmest spots in the uk. even further south, those temperatures going up. and, crucially, we will have lost the bitter wind. looking at the weather picture for thursday, a decent start to the day for many of us, with some bright and sunny spells. we've got a weather front coming in from the atlantic bringing heavy rain to western areas later in the afternoon. also some pretty strong winds edging into wales and south—west england, where we could get gales developing around the coast later in the day. looking towards the end of the week, an area of cloud and rain pushing across the uk. and then another area of low pressure set to swing in off the atlantic and moving towards the south—west of the uk. some uncertainty about exactly how far north the band of rain gets. we may see a stronger area of low pressure develop, and if that happens,

the rain might not get quite as far northwards. so, that is a possibility for friday. 9—11 for most of us. but the position of that rain is really important for the weather we'll have across scotland and northern ireland on saturday. at the moment, we're forecasting rain. but if the low pressure area is a bit more developed, it could be clear and a decent day on saturday with bright or sunny spells. as i say, quite a bit of uncertainty at the moment, this is business briefing. i'm sally bundock. the facebook fallout — the social media giant face a grilling by the us federal trade commission over the leak of data on millions of users. taxing the tech titans — how the european commission plans to make companies like google, amazon and facebook pay their fair share. and on the markets the jitters have eased for now with all eyes onjerome powell, the new chairman of the us central bank, as he concludes his first rate setting meeting.