A global argument kicked off after the Biden administration threw its weight behind waiving intellectual property protections for Covid-19 vaccines, which would allow other countries to make them. Germany, home to BioNTech and CureVac, countered that patents are needed because they encourage exactly the kind of innovation that enables fast vaccine development. The new U.S. proposal may face lengthy negotiations at the World Trade Organization—and in the meantime, many countries will continue to turn to Beijing for shots. The likes of India, Brazil and South Africa need doses now. Indeed, Bloomberg’s Editorial Board writes that waiving patent protections won’t be a panacea.

What you’ll want to read this weekend

The U.S. economy is on its way back, but minority communities are getting left behind and the latest jobs data show women are leaving the workforce. As the return to the office gathers momentum, employers need to realize their workers will bring with them the emotional scars of a horrific year of isolation and fear. This is how companies can smooth the path.

The divorce of Bill and Melinda Gates brings with it the disentanglement of their $145 billion fortune, which has only just begun. Bloomberg Businessweek explains how an even richer person, Jeff Bezos, turned his attention to the CEO of the National Enquirer after it wrote about his extramarital affair. Guess what happened then.

Jeff Bezos

Facebook decided to keep former President Donald Trump off its platform for another six months, citing postings tied to the events of Jan. 6, when his far-right supporters perpetrated a deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. The decision provides new grist for the Republican and his grievances, but few places to air them. Timothy O’Brien writes in Bloomberg Opinion that it should stay that way.

The chip shortage keeps getting worse, but the solution is much more complex than simply building more of them. Automakers are scrapping features like large displays and navigation systems while rental companies are buying up used cars.

New York City is coming back to life, but there are fewer Michelin-starred restaurants than before the pandemic. Meanwhile, Hong Kong has the top-rated drinking hotspot in Asia. One question to ponder when making vacation plans this spring: Blue Origin wants to know how much you’d pay for an 11-minute flight into space.

The Blue Origin New Shepard 

What you’ll need to know next week

  • This Mother’s Day (in the U.S. and Canada), order in top dining.
  • Tim Cook is expected to appear at the Apple vs. Epic trial.
  • U.S. President Joe Biden is to host Congressional leaders.
  • Alibaba earnings will shine a light on Beijing’s anti-monopoly probe.
  • Coinbase releases its first earnings as a public company.

What you’ll want to read in Bloomberg Green

Critical Moment to Save Fish Stocks Is Here

Decades of talks to end the government financial support that fuels overfishing could result in a deal at the World Trade Organization this summer. Subsidies totaling $22 billion are a key reason why fish stocks are plummeting across the globe. But several nations are seeking exemptions. Without an ambitious deal, environmentalists warn of an unprecedented hunger crisis and ecological disaster.

Boats setting sail from Zhoushan. China has the largest distant-water fishing fleet in the world and is the biggest subsidizer of fisheries.

Photographer: Yao Feng/VCG/Getty Images

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