Covid: Germany rejects US-backed proposal to waive vaccine patents
The EU’s biggest economy rejects the US-backed proposal, saying patents are not hindering production. BBC News – Europe
Craig Taylor
Elections 2021: Tory gains as first English councils declare
But many of the local election results are still to come, with further results expected throughout the weekend. BBC News – UK
Idaho school shooting: Girl in Rigby wounds three, police say
The girl, reported to be aged 11 or 12, shot and wounded two fellow students and a member of staff. BBC News – US & Canada
Covid-19 vaccines: Why some African states have leftover doses
African countries struggled to get vaccines, but now several of them have thousands of expired doses. BBC News – Africa
No full-time return to the office for over a million
The vast majority of 50 big UK firms say staff will divide their time between home and office, BBC research finds. BBC News – Business
Israel: Netanyahu rival Lapid asked to form new government
Israel’s president turned to Yair Lapid after the prime minister missed an overnight deadline. BBC News – Middle East