>> israel's president hands the coalition mandate to benjamin netanyahu's main rival. a french journalist is being held hostage in mali. oliver bob -- olivier dubois appeared in a brief video being held by a group linked to al qaeda. vaccines could be about to get cheaper and more readily

available as the u.s. supports waving intellectual property rights on some of them. more on this from kate moody. thank you for being with us. lapine is tasked with trying to form a government in israel. netanyahu has admitted he cannot form a coalition. he had to faith -- faith that truth at midnight last night. can you higher lot bead -- yair lapid make it work? >> founding the countries largest centrist party. since then, he built his image

as a champion of the struggling middle class in opposition to benjamin netanyahu which he believes represents the interests of rented this -- religious ideological -- ideologues and the ultranationalist right wing. >>[speaking not english language] >> the 57-year-old secular opposition leader replaced his former ally, the strongest force in the anti-netanyahu camp. the party blue-and-white made the unexpected move of entering a netanyahu led coalition last spring citing the need for unity amid the covid-19 pandemic. yet --.

in the opposition sent to going -- 2015, he finished second in the last legislation in march with 17 states. yair lapid has 28 days to form a new government which would oust the longest-serving prime minister in israeli history. >> a french journalist is being held hostage in mali. olivia dubois appeared in short video talking to his family and the french government for help. he is being held by a group linked to al qaeda. >> olivia dubois -- olivia -- olivier dubois worked for several french news outlets. he was kidnapped april 8 in the northern malian city by the jihadist group jama'at nursat al-islam wal muslimin.

the group is linked to al qaeda. it is not responsible for publishing video in which dubois calls on his loved ones and authorities to free him. different foreign ministry is in contact with dubois's family. terrorism experts say it remains unclear whether he was alerted there under false pretenses. >> someone told him he would be able to conduct an interview with the local jihadi commander from the region. that is why he went to gao. we do not know if he was dragged there by a jihadi group or local criminals whsold himater to a jihadi group. >> jama'at nursaal-islam wal muimin was formed in 17 when four major jihadi factions unified under the banner of al qaeda. molly -- mali has been struggling to contain a deadly islamist insurgency driven by groups associated with al qaeda

and the islamic state. thousands have been killed. foreigners has does have become targets for kidnappings. -- foreigners have become targets for kidnappings. the aid worker was abducted near gallo in 2016. >> olivier dubois apparently held by a group close to al qaeda in mali. next, the g7 scolded both china and russia this wednesday, casting the kremlin as malicious and beijing as a bully. there were a few concrete steps aside from supporting taiwan and ukraine. g7 is to expand affordable covid-19 vaccines. i think we will all give out three big cheers for that one. julie, it is a pleasure to have you here with us at france 24.

we always appreciate your insights. the g7 foreign ministers published a 12,000 word communique saying russia was trying to undermine democracy and china was trying to undermine human rights. -- was guilty of human rights abuses. do you think there is anything that vladimir putin and xi jinping will be worried about? julie: well, mark, i think what was important about this summit was the broader message of state comi togher to protect they are looking to strengtheties between democracies to defend what they see as the international rules of order against what they see as autocratic threats like china and russia. that includes act of aggression on the international scenes and acts of aggression and repression domestic quick, especially in china. we had very pointed language

about the oppression of the uighur community in china and strong words on human rights. a little bit looser language in terms of what states would be willing to do to counter that. not very song commitments from this whole group in terms of what actions they might take economically but laying out different options. a lot of words, at the same time, this normative shift is a pivot from what we have seen in the past. it is a multilateral effort to make these points and speak to china and russia to say other countries are watching and are going to be pushing back to what they see as a real threat against the international order. mark: multilateral diplomacy can move in mysterious ways, can't it? can we talk about the covid vexing question. this is very -- the covid vaccine question. i'm thinking of india and france where the cases are still incredibly high, over the 20,000

mark. if a wise move was ever needed, surely it was now. is this the wise move the world is waiting for? julie: well, it certainly is a move in the right direction. at the g7 foreign ministers new that going into this summit, especially with the devastation we have seen in india is cases there and many other parts of the world also. we saw in this plan a commitment to raising more funding for the u.n. administered covax program, thecheme that allows for wider distbution of the vaccine to low and middle income countries. we know that high income countries have about 50% of the global vaccine supply. this is supposed to help with distribution to countries that are very much in need. perhaps even equally iortantly is decisions to cal for water production and for new partnerships that would allow

for scaling up productions in places like india that would allow the vaccine to be produced in a while dear -- wider scale. we did not hear a call for pharmaceutical companies to rights.ntellectual property the u.s.id give somsupport to t option. mark: that issue is interesting. i can recall emmanuel macron saying that at the point where as a surge of the vaccine was reaching its hottest point, he was saying the vaccine must be free and available to all. many other world leaders chimed in with that same issue. but that is not the case is it? julie: it is not. it is a complicated issue and is obviously something that most of the foreign ministers at the summit and most people watching this around the world obviously want to see the vaccine rolled

out as quickly and equitably as possible. but the idea of the peoples vaccine is tricky. the washington post called it more slogan than solution in that first of all it would probably get very slowed down by court appeals and whatnot, but even more so, the idea that it is not just the waiver, it is actually getting the raw materials to produce theaccine in any kind of efficient way, s th are pushing, often, for more focus on lifting export restrictions, working out partnerships with drug companies that already have approved vaccines rather than potentially spinning off into many uncharted territories onhe vacci. mark: julie, we will see how it goes. from ucl, and insight into the phases and stages they go through making these decisions. julie, thank you. great to see you.

next, facebook. upholding a band -- a ban on donald trump. an independent review panel assessed his words jet -- january 6 the day of the right at the capitol. a police officer was killed in the process and a writer was shot dead and three others also died. >> facebook will not be for ending donald trump at least not for now. u.s. president was blocked in january for inciting violence that led to the deadly capitol riot. facebook's oversight board has upheld the band, but criticized the nature of the decision. >> we are telling them very cleay that ty did the right thing when they moved trump from their platforms, but they cannot just invent rules as they go along. >> the board ordered facebook to review the decision saying an indefinite ban was unreasonable. facebook has six months to respond.

>> it must either restore mr. trump's account, make the suspension permanent, or, suspend the account for a determinants. of time -- a determinate time. >> trump is also banned from putter, instagram, and youtube and blasted deplatforms on a new website launched this week. he said corrupt social media companies must pay a political price. the white house declined to comment directly. trump's successor believes the tech firms must do more. >> the president's view is that the major platforms have a responsibility related to the health and safety of all americans to stop amplifying untrustworthy content, disinformation, and misinformation. >> facebook had been hoping the oversight board would resolve the divisive issue of how to handle donald trump.

the onus for that decision has been placed back with the company. mark: the biden administration will support an effort to waive intellectual property rights on covid vaccines. that could be a game changer in negotiations with the world trade organizations in making jabs more available. that sounds like great news. kate moody has more. kate: the u.s. trade representative's office will be supporting the proposal that would see pharmaceutical giant temporarily release the protections on their covid vaccines. the idea is any manufacturer around the world would be able to access is the recipe for those drugs and produce them rather than waiting for pfizer or astrazeneca to produce and ship them themselves. opponents say vaccine production is more comp hated then that. -- comp located than that.

-- complicated than that. let's take a listen to the white house spokesperson. >> our objective overall as we look at this decision is how can we provide as much supply in the most cost-effective way to the global community? we take intellectual property incredibly seriously. we also are in the midst of a historic global pandemic, which requires a range of creative solutions and we are looking at it through that prism. mark: jen psaki speaking from the white house. what happens next, kate? kate: negotiations would continue at the world trade organizations. over 80 member states have already backed the proposal put forward by india and south africa last october. the eu and united states had been blocking it. this decision by the biden administration to be a breakthrough, although it will not happen overnight. the pto negotiations have been a

long time and require full consensus. -- wto negotiations take a long time and require full consensus. a formal meeting is scheduled at the beginning of june. washington may now be joining other governments in trying to lobby brussels for the green light. mark: the head of the wto likes to get things done and has a big interest in this. it is great to see you, as always. for more, stay with us. ♪

>> welcome correspondence. here in france, things are beginning to return to normal after successive covid-19 lockdowns. but what of the situation elsewhere? it varies massively depending on a host of factors such as the pace of vaccine rollout and indeed, vaccine hesitancy. our first report this week takes us to the ivory coast. let's take a look. >> empty chairs, board staff, and patients occasionally trickling in. >>[speaking on english language]. --[speaking non-english language. ] >> since the arrival of doses of astrazeneca at the end of february followed by 50,000 more

doses from india, fewer than 100,000 people have received a job in the ivory coast. >>[speaking non-english language]. >> the suspension of the astrazeneca vaccine in european countries due to concerns over blood clots, doubts over the efficacy against the south africa variant, and a mountain of fake news have dissuaded many from getting vaccinated. >>[speaking non-glitch language] --[speaking non-english language]. >> authorities have expanded their target, offering the vaccine to all adults. >>[speaking non-english language. ]. >> less than 0.5% of the

population have received a vaccination so far, 60% would have to be vaccinated in order to achieve heard immunity, a target for now long waoff. ♪ >> to pakistan next. there is growing concern over continuing shortage of supplies in covid vaccines. those concerns are greater during ramadan, when pakistanis come together in greater numbers to break their fast at the end of the day. our team sent us this report. >> there is a long queue to enter. such temporary markets are set up across pakistan at the start of the holy months. basic food items are sold for cheaper than the open market. >>[speaking non-english language].

>> lahore is one of the city most affected by covid-19. >>[speaking non-english language]. >> during the holy month of ramadan, mosques respect social distancing. pakistan is in the midst of a third wave. the country faces a shortage of vaccines. in this vaccination center, only those older than 50 are vaccinated. >>[speaking non-english language]. >> up to 3000 people are vaccinated per day in this center, the largest in pakistan. >>[speaking non-english language]. >> it is difficult to provide everybody this vaccine.

our demand is more than our supply. >> overwhelmed by demand, authorities have allowed private companies to sell the vaccine at a price equal to 80 u.s. dollars in a country where the average monthly income is 100 u.s. dollars. the vaccine is only for the privileged. >> it is not the best solution, but it might be the only solution for many people not getting it through the government. it is better than eating sick. -- getting sick. >> only 1.6 million people have been vaccinated in the country. at the current rate, it will take the son 10 years to vaccinate 70% of its current population -- it will take pakistan 70 years -- 10 years to vaccinate 70% of its current population. >> the brazilian variants of the

virus are more contagious. despite hospitals under heavy strain and restrictions, many young brazilians have had enough and regardless of the risks are not putting off the party lifestyle any longer. let's take a look. >> a sleepy town on the outskirts of rio. this municipal hospital built a year to deal with coronavirus, dr. arthur and his team have only a few minutes to save this 40-year-old woman. life support, her heart has almost stopped. the doctor monitors her vital signs. >> we see more and more young patients under 40 like her who are taking up more and more beds. the disease is progssing more seriously and quickly. it is very hard for us to watch and experience it psychologically. >> in brazil more than half of parents -- pay since -- patients

in intensive care are now under 40. >> the new variant targets more young people because we are entering the second year of the pandemic. at the beginning, these young adults, like this patient, stayed at home. they took care of older ones. after so much isolation, they no longer have the conditions to stay at home. >> was only 50 euros of state emergency aid per household, young people have no other choice but to work to support families. a sense of anxiety. this 35-year-old sports teacher returns home from work it is the same routine. taking his temperature, blood pressure, oxygen levels. leonardo transformed his living room into an infirmary. he has already had covid. he is terrified of getting infected again. >> we have no idea how the body will react. in theory, i am healthy.

but this virus is like russian roulette. nobody can be sure whether or not they will have serious symptoms. i believe that if there are more young victims, it could cost -- it is because this generation does not respect isolation rules or wear masks. >> underground parties have been taking place regularly for several weeks. the major cities of sent follow and rio are gradually opening up. -- sans paulo and rio are gradually opening up. >> police monitor compliance. at 10:00 p.m. curfew is really respected. >> it must be followed. it is the law. i think the reopening makes the ndemic gain ground. >> over the past 20 days, real police have been called to over 20,000 underground bars, gatherings, and parties. >> our last report texas to new york, where a faster pace --

takes us to new york where faster vaccines mean life is normalizing. one novel means of inciting new yorkers to get the job has been found, called joints for jabs. >> this small independent pharmacy on new york's upper east side as one of hundreds of locations offering the covid-19 vaccine. lisa basch has vaccinated at about 400 people this month. >> i am super excited. i am so happy to be able to help the older people. >> giovanni as a concierge in a local building. he lost -- giovanni is a concierge to a local building. he lost two family members to the virus. he was hesitant about getting vaccinated at first, but now he is ready. >> even my sister got it. she is ok. i would do does well. >> as more new yorkers get the

job, the city is opening up. streets are busier. some restaurants have waiting list. >> i am very lucky to live here in new york. where we started in this pandemic in march, now a complete 180. >> a few months ago this would have been unimaginable. these friends, all of them vaccinated, are celebrating. four of them share the same birthday today. >> it is almost like an emancipation. i have spent most of the last year in my bedroom. i really really did not think i woulsurvive the pandemic. and actually see my 70th birthday, but here i am. >> at union square there is a party going on. activists are giving away marijuana, recently legalized in new york state, two people who

can prove they have the vaccine. >> more than half of all of those are vaccinated in new york city, at least with the first dose. judging by the queue here, it looks like joints for jabs are only helping even more people to get the vaccine. ♪ >> that brings us to the end of this week's show. we leave you with these pictures from israel, where outdoor mask wearing has now ended, another step towards normality. thank you for watching.

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05/05/21 05/05/21 [captioning made possible by democracy now!] amy: from new york, this is democracy now! >> in order to be able to gear up, we need a broad waiver that covers the whole web of intellectual property rights the big pharma has right now constricting the ability of countries around the world. amy: pressure is growing on the biden administration to support a temporary waiver on intellectual property rights at the world trade organization to help gear up the produn