this is bbc news — i'm lewis vaughanjones with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. in a bid to bridge the vaccine gap, the united states backs an initiative to waive intellectual property protections for coronavirus vaccines. facebook upholds its suspension of donald trump, ruling that the former president broke the platform's standards and rules. the uk is sending two patrol vessels to monitor a planned blockade ofjersey�*s main port. it's the latest escalation with france over post—brexit fishing rights. after benjamin netanyahu fails to form a new israeli government — his rival yair lapid is asked to try to form a coalition.

and nine little miracles. a malian woman expecting to give birth to seven children has been surprised by two more. hello and welcome to audiences in the uk and around the world. we're covering all the latest coronavirus developments here in britain and globally. after increased pressure the biden administration has officially announced its support for a global waiver on patent protections for covid—19 vaccines, with the aim of allowing greater access for developing countries. justifying the move, us trade representative katherine tai said in a statement, "this administration believes strongly in intellectual property protections, but in the service of ending this pandemic, supports the waiver of those protections for covid—19 vaccines."

the announcement was met with enthusiasm from the director—general of the world health organization, who took to twitter describing it as "a monumental moment in the fight against covid—19." a vaccine waiver makes it harder for vaccine manufacturers to make money out of their products. shares in a number of them tumbled on the news. two of the biggest vaccine makers are us companies moderna and pfizer. the international federation of pharmaceutical manufacturers and associations says the plan is a red herring when it comes to improving the distribution of vaccines. thomas cueni is the associations�* director general. the decision by the us administration is disappointing, but it doesn't change that it's a strong answer to complex problem. it's strong but simple answer to a complex problem because it disrupts, it distracts from tackling the real challenges, which are trade barriers, including from the us,

disrupting supply chains. it prevents the immediate tackling of the bottlenecks in the supply chain, the scarcity of raw materials, where you really need full partnership. and it also prevents a fast move because what we need now, looking at the dramatic situation in india, is rich countries starting rapidly to share their vaccines with poor countries. it is unfair to see that we have countries where 20—year—old healthy young people vaccinated, and most of africa, basically, doesn't get any vaccine now that india is in such a dramatic situation. i'm joined now by professorjorge contreras, who is a professor of law at the university of utah. so what do you make of this decision by the us to throw its support behind this idea? it’s

support behind this idea? it's a reall support behind this idea? it�*s a really surprising an unprecedented move by the us department of state and the us government, which is usually being quite protective of intellectual property rights. 0k, intellectual property rights. ok, so where does this leave us. what are the implications of it? ~ , us. what are the implications of it? a ., , us. what are the implications ofit? a ~, ., us. what are the implications ofit? a ._ ., , of it? as many have said, this is a necessary _ of it? as many have said, this is a necessary but _ of it? as many have said, this is a necessary but not - is a necessary but not sufficient step to distributing a vidmack vaccine on a worldwide basis. intellectual property rights of air, they are important but there are a lot of other pieces to the puzzle including supplier, manufacturing, regulatory approval, safety and so forth,... i'm afraid we will have to leave that they are, it was short and sweet, we thank george were coming on but as you can see, we've lost the line. we will come back to him if we do get him.

facebook says it will continue to stop donald trump from directly using its platforms. the social media giant ruled the outgoing president had broken its standards and rules by appearing to sympathise with the capitol building attackers, while continuing to falsely insist that he had won a landslide victory in the presidential election. facebook�*s oversight board said it upheld the decision, but that a review would be carried out within six months. james clayton has more. trumps use of social media is itself. it was his way of directly communicating with americans. but that he also use that platform to radicalise facebook boss mark zuckerberg thought trump's post could lead to further violence and suspended donald trump indefinitely the day after the riots. twitter went one step further, and banned mr trump forever.

he'll never be allowed back onto that platform. however, facebook asked its decision to be reviewed by its board which it claims is independent. it's designed to make difficult moderation decisions, and their decision today was complex. it said that the oversight board has upheld facebook�*s decision to suspend mr trump's access to post content on facebook and instagram. however, it's also said that facebook couldn't ban trump indefinitely. the company must reassess this penalty, it said, within six months of the decision. thejudgment does leave a way back for trump back on facebook, but for now, the door is firmly closed. and that is a huge problem for donald trump and his hopes of a political return. in a statement, the former president lashed out, saying:

facebook has been essential to mr trump. he spent more than $200 million in 2020 between his campaign and his facebook advertising, so it's notjust an opinion that facebook was an essential part of this political power. he was actually one of the few places where he was putting his money where his mouth was. mr trump yesterday released his own communications platform. but it's really no replacement for being on twitter or facebook. at the click of a button, mr trump could beam himself onto the computers and phones of tens of millions of americans. that button has now gone. perhaps forever. james clayton, bbc news. well earlier the bbc spoke to alan rusbridger who's a member of facebook�*s oversight board and asked why no clear decision was made on whether donald trump can return to facebook or remain banned form the platform.

i think it was that we said they were both right and wrong, they were both right and wrong, they were both right and wrong, they were right to take the stuff down, they were right to stop him because he was a clear and present danger at a time of great volatility in the united states, but it was wrong then to go on and say, well, you are banned indefinitely because indefinitely is not a word that appears anywhere on facebook�*s own rulebook, and it is an arbitrary thing. so we've just gone back and said, you know, well done forgetting the original decision right, but can you think more carefully about defining what what this period of down is and why. iam i am rejoined iam rejoined by

i am rejoined by professor george. i am rejoined by professor georue. ~ ., . , george. we got cut off. this idea that — george. we got cut off. this idea that the _ george. we got cut off. this idea that the us _ george. we got cut off. this idea that the us has - george. we got cut off. this idea that the us has gone i idea that the us has gone behind the idea of waiving the usual intellectual property protection is given to vaccines. in this case with the idea they will hopefully speed up the rollout right around the world. just refresh our memories again, what is your take on the decision by the us? it's an important decision, very important gesture of global solidarity in this time of crisis and at the end of the day, it's a necessary but not sufficient step in ensuring manufacturer and supplier of novamack vaccines around the world. —— novamack. there's a lot more that needs to be done intellectual property.— intellectual property. what does that _ intellectual property. what does that mean? - intellectual property. what does that mean? does - intellectual property. what does that mean? does a i does that mean? does a demeanour load of other companies right around the world canjust start companies right around the world can just start producing it?

world can “ust start producing it? �* ., ., ., it? i'm afraid we have lost that line _ it? i'm afraid we have lost that line again. _ it? i'm afraid we have lost that line again. we - it? i'm afraid we have lost that line again. we will. it? i'm afraid we have lost i that line again. we will leave it at this time. the uk is sending two royal navy patrol vessels to the island ofjersey, in the english channel, to monitor the situation after a row erupted with france over post—brexit fishing rights. the french government threatened to cut off power supplies to the channel island in a dispute over new a licensing system for french fishing vessels. (ani)butjersey�*s government says a more imminent danger is a blockade by fishing boats of st helier — the island's main entry point for goods. let's get some of the day's other news. a court in rome's sentenced two american tourists to life in prison for the murder of a police officer. the two friends from california had been on holiday in the italian capital injuly 2019 when they were stopped on suspicion of drugs offences. an undercover officer

was stabbed in the altercation. the men said they had acted in self—defence. in a growing power struggle within south africa's governing african national congress, its secretary general, ace magashule has refused to comply with his suspension after being charged with corruption. mr magashule denies the charges and called the move unconstitutional. israel's president has asked opposition leader yair lapid to form new government after benjamin netanyahu failed to form a coalition. mr netanyahu had been unable to secure a majority in the i20—seat parliament. now to an extremely rare case that has generated huge interest on social media. a 25—year—old malian woman has given birth to nine babies at once. two more, than doctors had detected during scans. courtney bembridge

has the details. one, two, three, four, five. six. seven. eight. and nine. halima cisse gave birth to five girls and four boys. the babies are all well and if there are no complications, the family will set a new world record.

non— couplets are extremely rare and risky. doctors in mali were worried so the government intervened and the mother was flown to morocco. translation: she was 25 _ flown to morocco. translation: she was 25 weeks _ flown to morocco. translation: she was 25 weeks pregnant - flown to morocco. translation: she was 25 weeks pregnant so i flown to morocco. translation: j she was 25 weeks pregnant so we tried to make a pregnancy go longer until she reached 30 weeks. she gave birth eventually with the help of a cesarean operation. we were surprised to find nine babies. nadya sulema came to international attention when she had octuplets in 2009 and she had octuplets in 2009 and she holds the current world record for most babies born in a single birth to survive. courtney bembridge, bbc news. stay with us on bbc news, still to come: president emmanuel macron lays a wreath at the tomb of napoleon, to mark the 200 years since his death. i, nelson rolihlahla mandela, do hereby swear to be faithful to the republic

of south africa. after six years of construction and numerous delays, the channel tunnel has been formally opened by the queen and president mitterand. the tunnel is not yet ready for passengers and freight services to begin. for centuries, christianity and i islam struggled for supremacy. now the pope's visit symbolises their willingness to coexist. - roger bannister became the first man in the world to run a mile in underfour minutes. memories of victory as the ve celebrations reach their climax. this night is dedicated i to everyone who believes in a future of peace and freedom. -

this is bbc news, the latest headlines: the united states backs an initiative at the world trade organization to waive intellectual property protections for coronavirus vaccines. facebook upholds its suspension of donald trump, saying it has the right to refuse to be a medium for the former president. let's get more now on that story. and we can speak to evan greer who's a digital rights activist and deputy director of fight for the future, a nonprofit organization centered around the internet and civil rights. thank you very much for coming on the program.— on the program. thank you for havin: on the program. thank you for having me- — on the program. thank you for having me. what _ on the program. thank you for having me. what do _ on the program. thank you for having me. what do you - on the program. thank you for having me. what do you makej on the program. thank you for. having me. what do you make of this decision _ having me. what do you make of this decision by _ having me. what do you make of this decision by facebook's - this decision by facebook's oversight board? i this decision by facebook's oversight board?— this decision by facebook's oversight board? i think when we focus on — oversight board? i think when we focus on these _ oversight board? i think when we focus on these individual l we focus on these individual moderation decisions, especially ones about high profile individuals like former president trump, we are missing the point which is that facebook's business model of harvesting our data and using

it to algorithmically amplify and suppress certain content is fundamentally incompatible with democracy. we can go back and forth all day about whether or not he should have been banned, how long he should be banned for but in the end that is not going to solve a fundamental problem. we need comprehensive policies to address the harms of big tech. but policies to address the harms of big tech-— of big tech. but given all that ou of big tech. but given all that you have _ of big tech. but given all that you have to _ you have to make decisions and just wishing them away by saying that we need stronger oversight or whatever, in the here and now, decisions have to be made about whether or not donald trump is allowed back on. . ,. . , donald trump is allowed back on. . _ ., , ., on. that is certainly right and i think it makes _ on. that is certainly right and i think it makes sense - on. that is certainly right and i think it makes sense that i on. that is certainly right and | i think it makes sense that we are having this conversation and donald trump is a repugnant human being that has used facebook and other platforms to espouse racism and other harmful ideologies. i certainly understand the ground swell of outrage and the desire for him to be removed from these platforms but again i think we need to look at the bigger picture because even if we do kick trump of all of these platforms we still have a real problem on our hands which is

that these companies that are harvesting our data and amplifying some of the worst content on the internet in pursuit of advertising dollars are actually building the foundation that brought us donald trump in the first place and so even if we never hear his name again, we're not to address these concerns that are undermining democracy and human rights and civil rights until we get those policies in place, get that oversight in place of these countries, companies, not as facebook but all of these surveillance couplejones. surveillance couple jones. amazon, surveillance couplejones. amazon, google and youtube as well. , , well. facebook is saying, this is in a perfect _ well. facebook is saying, this is in a perfect answer - well. facebook is saying, this is in a perfect answer and - well. facebook is saying, this| is in a perfect answer and they introduce this oversight board introduce this oversight board in the absence of any government regulation. they said it is fairly unprecedented move they took to try to get some consistency in these decisions. they themselves admit it is not perfect but it is better than what is out there at the moment. what do you make of the oversight board and how it is working? i

you make of the oversight board and how it is working?— and how it is working? i think the most _ and how it is working? i think the most important _ and how it is working? i think the most important thing - and how it is working? i think| the most important thing that came out of this oversight or decision today is the fact that facebook refused to give the oversight board information that they requested, this allegedly independent oversight board, requested information from facebook about how it's algorithms operate and whether its algorithms were amplifying donald trump's racist and harmful content. facebook refused to give their own oversight board that information. and again to me that points to the fact that this is not about some partisan bickering back and forth about whether this content should be “p whether this content should be up or down, this is a broader problem, a problem of this business model and wand that can only be addressed through robust anti—trust enforcement, privacy legislation and more. evan greer, thank you so much for coming on.— for coming on. thank you for havin: for coming on. thank you for having me- _ 29 students abducted by gunmen in march from a forestry college in nigeria have been released. the students were brought by police to a station in the north—western

city of kaduna. reports say a ransom was paid to the kidnappers. in atlanta in the united states, a sacked white police officer is to get his job back despite facing murder charges for fatally shooting a black man lastjune. rayshard brooks was shot outside a restaurant by garrett rolfe, who faces life in prison or the death penalty if convicted. he lost his job after the shooting but a police oversight board has ruled that his dismissal did not follow due process. to colombia now and anti—government protests have entered an 8th day with demonstrators gathering across the country. at least 2a people, including a police officer, have died since the protests began. the un is urging security forces to refrain from using firearms. more than 800 people have been injured in clashes between police and demonstrators while more than 80 people are reported as missing. the nationwide rallies were initially against a now—cancelled tax reform bill. almost half of the country's population lives in poverty, with inequalities made worse

by the coronavirus pandemic. to myanmar now. with the military still in control of the country, the main civilian opposition has now formed its own armed forces unit. the national unity government says it created a quote "people's defence force" to protect civilians from military attacks. our southeast asia correspondent, jonathan head gave us this update. there are lots of people willing to fight. there are many groups involved in the civilian opposition in the cities who have now taken up basic weapons, and we are beginning to see some groups in places like chin state way out on the border with india. seen we a number of soldiers killed there and the ethnic insurgent groups that have been fighting for years on the borders who have formally pledged their support to this national unity government which in return says it will create a federal system

including properly representing them for the first time and incorporating those insurgents into what they say will be a federal army. they say this people's defence force is the first step in that. there's also a great deal of frustration about how little international support there has been for a different outcome in myanmar. the national unity government was formed any hope they get recognition internationally is a far more legitimate government than the military men who seized power backin military men who seized power back in february. seized power rememberfrom a back in february. seized power remember from a government that had just been re—elected by a landslide. that hasn't been forthcoming and i suspect in some ways this declaration of an armed wing of what has to now been in an armed movement is also a warning shot to the outside world saying we have no choice, we will have to start arming to defend ourselves and to fight against the dominance of the military because nobody else is helping us. it does raise the risks of a much wider conflict in myanmar and there are fears that is where myanmar is heading. all of their

neighbours, particularly thailand where they have the longest border, the economic ties and try not most critically and india, all of the bordering states and southeast asia, this is a warning sign to them as well, take it more seriously and take more action to resolve this conflict otherwise it must inevitably descend into a much more serious well. our thanks to jonathan there. emmanuel macron has marked the bicentenary of the death of napoleon bonaparte — france's best known military leader and one of the the founders of the modern republic. the president laid a wreath at napoleon's tomb, but in 21st century france napoleon is a divisive figure and mr macron acknowledged both sides of his legacy. lucy williamson has been looking at how napoleon is remembered. how do you commemorate an emperor in the 21st century? a man who threatened much of europe and reversed a ban on slavery, but also laid the foundations of the modern french state. translation: | tried - to make him as i think he was - very tormented, internal, never satisfied, always looking for power and a place

in history. i didn't want to make him a conqueror, but rather someone very lonely who died alone. this new statue of napoleon is destined for the town of montauban near toulouse, made a regional capital by the emperor in 1808. but is he still a hero here? translation: i don't understand why we'rej now putting up statues of napoleon when we've had such a fuss about removing statues of men because of their racist past. napoleon reinstated slavery, so i think it's bizarre. translation: i think it's a great idea. - even with his shortcomings, he was still a great man, whether we like it or not. montauban city council was also initially divided over the statue. translation: as with any | historical figure, some spots are darker than others. but of course, if you take just one element, it's very easy to condemn anyone.

today, we're in a dictatorship of the politically correct, and i'm among those who want to fight it. napoleon was a man who knew the power of public image. at his former home outside paris, they're preparing for a new exhibition, looking at his many different faces. this room tells the story of napoleon's careful creation of his image from busts in the style of roman emperors to this painting, which shows him leading an army across the alps — reimagined to replace the mule he was actually travelling on with a magnificent horse. napoleon reportedly loved this painting so much, he ordered several copies of it to use as propaganda. 200 years on, the story of france's past is more balanced, more controversial. but president macron today said that history should not be made to bear the burden of modern debates. translation: napoleon| bonaparte is a part of us.

he is a part of us because saying his name continues to strike cords of imagination everywhere. napoleon bonaparte is part of us because the actions and lessons of the warrior, the strategist, the legislator as well as the builder, still carry into our century. his decision to lay a wreath at the emperor's tomb today won't have pleased everyone, nut as this resting place so clearly shows, napoleon's relationship to france was always complex. a man who died in exile after the shame of military defeat, laid to rest in honour under a golden dome. lucy williamson, bbc news, paris. that is it from me. i will be back with the headlines in just a couple of minutes' time. in the meantime, plenty more online and on the bbc news app. if you are online get me on

social media at twitter. i am lewis vaughan—jones and this is bbc news. goodbye. hello there. the weather is set to change a bit this weekend as the wind direction changes. at the moment, though, we've still got that cool northerly airflow and that means more showers, heavy showers again during thursday. certainly a dramatic day on wednesday, lots of downpours, hail and some thunder in there as well. a lot of those showers have faded away, so we've got a cold start. may be a frosty start in places on thursday morning. not as cold in the southwest where there is more cloud moving in. that's going to bring a bit of rain and drizzle that will run its way along the south coast through the english channel for a while. but could be a bit snowy to start with in scotland. snow levels will tend to rise, but these heavy showers will move across scotland into northern england. fewer showers for northern ireland, while some may see some sharp showers in the southeast corner of england for a while, there should be fewer showers through the midlands, wales and southern england. temperatures still

only 9—12 degrees. another chilly feeling day despite some sunshine. as we head into the evening we will see those showers continuing to move their way southwards, fading away for most inland areas overnight. that means temperatures are going to fall away. it's going to be another cold night. there is a risk of a frost, but may not be quite as cold by friday morning. plenty of sunshine to start the day. we will see the cloud developing, and a few showers breaking out as we head into the afternoon. most of those heavier and perhaps thundery showers with hail confined to eastern scotland and some eastern parts of england. eastern parts of england, turning drier further west. temperatures should be a little bit higher on friday, but still no better than iii, maybe 15 degrees. now into the weekend, the changes i promised. we've got another area of low pressure. that is going to strengthen the wind and these weather fronts will bring some rain up from the southwest. looks like it's going to be a southerly wind that brings that rain and eventually that will introduce some warmer air, especially during the second half of the weekend. wet weather, though, i think for england and wales on saturday and for a while in northern ireland, the rain moves slowly northwards into scotland where it's going to be a cold day here.

temperatures across england and wales away from the north should get up to 1a or 15 degrees. maybe a touch warmer than that in the southeast if it brightens up as the rain clears later in the day. we should be turning more showery, i think, during sunday and with that warmer air across most areas, 19 or 20 as possible in the southeast. it cools on monday, but the showers will continue.

this is bbc news, the headlines: the biden administration says it supports waiving intellectual property protections for coronavirus vaccines — a breakthrough for international efforts to suspend patent rules and make it easierfor poorer countries to manufacture vaccines, as the pandemic continues to rage in india and south america. the uk is sending two royal navy patrol vessels to the island ofjersey — to monitor the situation in the english channel — after the french government threatened to cut off power supplies to the channel island, over disputed post—brexit fishing rights in the lucrative fishing area. donald trump's ban from facebook and instagram has been upheld by facebook's oversight board. the social media giant ruled the outgoing president had broken its standards and rules by appearing to sympathise with the capitol building attackers, while continuing to falsely insist that he won the election.