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Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation Commits $6.3 Million to Increase Access to Sports in Six Metro Atlanta School Districts
Grants will establish new sports programs, improve field quality, alleviate cost of participation
Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation Commits $6.3 Million to Increase Access to Sports in Six Metro Atlanta School Districts
Grants will establish new sports programs, improve field quality, alleviate cost of participation
OnePlus 15R review: unbeatable battery life, beatable value
Charging every night is extremely optional.
Trump’s second term is reshaping US science with unprecedented cuts and destabilizing policy changes
The Trump administration is rewriting the 80-year-old American social contract for science research.
Trump’s second term is reshaping US science with unprecedented cuts and destabilizing policy changes
The Trump administration is rewriting the 80-year-old American social contract for science research.
Suspect remains at large after stabbing near northeast Oklahoma City business
Police taped off the Sonic near Northeast 23rd Street and I-235 as they investigated the crime.
Nike cofounder Phil Knight tops 2025 donations with $2 billion gift
Phil Knight's $2 billion cancer research pledge leads the list of the 2025 largest donations, with Buffett and Bezos also making notable gifts.
The 12 unforgettable TV moments of 2025
Here are some of the year's most memorable TV moments and episodes, according to the Times staff.
Will Congress compromise on health costs? Americans worry.
What if I told you there is a bipartisan plan on the table to compromise on Obamacare subsidies extensions?
'Fallout' is bleak but funny science fission : Pop Culture Happy Hour
Fallout is based on a hugely successful video game series known for blending a sardonic, very dark comedic sensibility, and violence. The series is set in the game's post-apocalyptic world – an America divided into factions wrestling for control of an irradiated wasteland. When the hopeful Lucy (Ella Purnell) steps out of the comfortable life she's known in an underground vault, the world she's confronted with is harsh, brutal, merciless – and kinda funny. Fallout just returned for a second season on Prime Video, so today we’re revisiting our conversation about the show.
Senate candidate Sherrod Brown hosts roundtable with small business owners
Next year is shaping up to be a massive election year in Ohio, with a gubernatorial race, as well as a U.S. Senate seat up for grabs.
Why the Rockets Are Built for What Comes Next
Houston's quiet resilience shines when games get tough. They're proving a gritty, adaptable style is built for late-season battles, not just flashy wins.
ACA subsidy fraud is 'rampant,' Republicans say. Some health policy experts disagree
The GOP is pointing to a new Government Accountability Office report on subsidy fraud to argue against extending enhanced ACA subsidies.
Jackpot Digital to Deploy Electronic Poker Tables at Two PENN Entertainment Properties in Mississippi
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 16, 2025) - Jackpot Digital Inc. (TSXV: JJ) (OTCQB: JPOTF) (Frankfurt Stock Exchange: LVH3) (the "Company" or "Jackpot Digital")Jackpot Digital, the world's leading provider of innovative dealerless electronic poker gaming solutions, is pleased to announce that it has finalized installation agreements to deploy its Jackpot Blitz® dealerless poker electronic table games ("ETGs") at Boomtown Casino Biloxi and Hollywood Casino Gulf Coast in...
Youth Mental Health Spotlighted at U.S. Launch of the Second Lancet Commission on Adolescent Health and Wellbeing | Johns Hopkins Center for Global Mental Health
In October 2025, global health leaders, policymakers, youth advocates, and researchers convened in the nation’s capital for a two-day A Call to Action for Youth Mental Health. The event served as the U.S. launch of the report of the Second Lancet Commission on Adolescent Health and Wellbeing, an international effort to address the urgent and escalating challenges facing adolescents worldwide. Hosted by the Johns Hopkins Center for Global Mental Health, the convening followed the World Health Assembly launch in May 2025. The next steps will be to continue collaborating with partners across the U.S. and the world to support the actions responsive to youth needs, including, Integrate youth lived experience expertise into mental health research, policy, and practiceApply data-driven accountability for equitable access to quality careShape urban environments to promote youth mental healthUnderstand gendered drivers and tailored responses to support youth mental healthCatalyze intersectoral engagement for youth mental health: health, education, and social support systems
Roundtable: Did COP30 do enough for health?
As the world heats up, human health needs to be much more firmly on the climate negotiations agenda, say four experts
Jackpot Digital to Deploy Electronic Poker Tables at Two PENN Entertainment Properties in Mississippi
Jackpot Digital Inc. (TSXV: JJ,OTC:JPOTF) (OTCQB: JPOTF) (Frankfurt Stock Exchange: LVH3) (the "Company" or "Jackpot Digital")Jackpot Digital, the world's leading provider of innovative dealerless electronic poker gaming solutions, is pleased to announce that it has finalized installation agreements...
6 actresses on refusing the boxes Hollywood tried to put them in
On our Oscar Actresses Roundtable, Sydney Sweeney, Jennifer Lopez, Gwyneth Paltrow, Elle Fanning and Tessa Thompson open up about bad press, career boxes and inhabiting their roles.
Starmer urged to stand up for BBC against Trump’s ‘outrageous’ $10bn lawsuit
Ed Davey says prime minister must make it clear lawsuit is ‘unacceptable’ as US president quotes Badenoch to back ‘fake news’ claim
Rangers Reach Contract Deals With Danny Jansen, Tyler Alexander
Jansen will help shore up Texas' catching situation; Alexander brings left-handed pitching element to Rangers' staff.
Sharks place wingers Will Smith, Philipp Kurashev on injured reserve; no timetable for return given
The San Jose Sharks recalled wingers Igor Chernyshov and Ethan Cardwell in corresponding moves on Monday.
Early iOS 26 Software Leak Uncovers Dozens of Upcoming Apple Features
Software from an iPhone prototype running an early build of iOS 26 leaked last week, giving us a glimpse at future Apple devices and iOS features. We recapped device codenames in our prior article, and now we have a list of some of the most notable feature flags that were found in the software code. In some cases, it's obvious what the feature flags are referring to, while some are more vague and harder to interpret.
PayPal applies to form bank that can offer small business loans and savings accounts
PayPal has applications pending with the state of Utah and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation to establish PayPal Bank.
Peoria bus business files for bankruptcy, will continue to operate
The business was established in 1941 and serves four Illinois cities with its bus fleet.
Trump offers ‘platinum’ security guarantees for Ukraine, but US officials caution offer won’t last forever
American officials on Monday described significant progress in talks to bring Russia’s war in Ukraine to an end, suggesting beefed-up security guarantees for Kyiv had advanced the peace talks — but that the US offer would not be on the table forever.
Police in Japan arrest a suspect in stabbing at an entertainment complex
TOKYO (AP) — Japanese police said Monday they arrested a man in connection with the alleged stabbing of two people at an entertainment complex housing the female pop music group HKT48 in the southern city of Fukuoka. Both had non-life-threatening injuries.
Police in Japan arrest a suspect in stabbing at an entertainment complex
Japanese police say they arrested a man in connection with the alleged stabbing of two people at an entertainment complex housing the female pop music group HKT48 in Fukuoka. Both had...
I'm 84 and work late nights from my wheelchair. I can't comfortably retire, and I intend to work until my 100th birthday.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Jane Way, 84, who works 30 hours a week as a US-based accountant for a South African orphanage.
Meloni’s rise and Italian political stability
Giorgia Meloni is emerging as Europe’s unexpectedly resilient leader, reshaping Italy’s politics and influencing continental dynamics.
Drew Gilbert Has Chance To Have Stellar Season For Giants
Gilbert will watch his old Tennessee head coach, Tony Vitello, get a chance at the MLB level with San Francisco.
Director Rob Reiner and his wife found dead in their Los Angeles home
Investigators believe they suffered stab wounds and a family member is being questioned, according to police sources
Brice Turang Could Be .300 Hitter For Brewers Next Season
Milwaukee second baseman has shown marked improvement at plate in his three MLB seasons. Hitting .300 might not be that much out of range for Turang.
2 stabbed at entertainment complex in southern Japan, police arrest a 30-year-old suspect
Fukuoka police said they arrested a 30-year-old suspect for allegedly stabbing a 44-year-old man in the chest at the facility on Sunday with what appeared to be a kitchen knife.
2 stabbed at entertainment complex in southern Japan, police arrest a 30-year-old suspect
TOKYO (AP) — Japanese police said Monday they arrested a man in connection with the alleged stabbing of two people at an entertainment complex housing the female pop music group HKT48 in the southern city of Fukuoka, leaving them with non-life-threatening injuries.
2 stabbed at entertainment complex in southern Japan, police arrest a 30-year-old suspect
TOKYO (AP) — Japanese police said Monday they arrested a man in connection with the alleged stabbing of two people at an entertainment complex housing the female pop music group HKT48 in the southern city of Fukuoka, leaving them with non-life-threatening injuries.
2 stabbed at entertainment complex in southern Japan, police arrest a 30-year-old suspect
Japanese police say they arrested a man in connection with the alleged stabbing of two people at an entertainment complex housing the female pop music group HKT48 in the southern city of Fukuoka, leaving them with non-life-threatening injuries
2 stabbed at entertainment complex in southern Japan, police arrest a 30-year-old suspect
Japanese police say they arrested a man in connection with the alleged stabbing of two people at an entertainment complex housing the female pop music group HKT48 in the southern city of Fukuoka,...
2 stabbed at entertainment complex in southern Japan, police arrest a 30-year-old suspect
2 stabbed at entertainment complex in southern Japan, police arrest a 30-year-old suspect
2 stabbed at entertainment complex in southern Japan, police arrest a 30-year-old suspect
FUJIFILM Business Innovation Celebrates 60 Years in the Philippines and Singapore; Marks 30th Anniversary in Chinese Mainland
FUJIFILM Business Innovation, a leader in information workflows and digital transformation, is celebrating its 60th anniversary in the Philippines and Singapore. Starting in 1965, the Philippines was the company's first overseas market, and soon after it established operations in Singapore. This year also marks the 30th anniversary of FUJIFILM Business Innovation China, further underscoring the company's long and enduring operational history across the Asia Pacific region. These milestones refle
Refugee and migrant health system review in Lithuania
Lithuania has experienced a substantial increase in the number of refugees and migrants, particularly following the 2021 Belarus border situation and the mass displacement from Ukraine in 2022. By late 2024, over 91,000 Ukrainians had been cumulatively registered in Lithuania, with about 47,000 holding valid temporary protection status. This increase, alongside sizeable communities of Belarusian nationals, Russian citizens and other regular migrants covered under compulsory health insurance contributions, has brought new challenges for Lithuania’s health system, especially related to continuity of care, interpretation support and equitable access across municipalities. This report presents the findings of a joint review of the health system in Lithuania, conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health of Lithuania, and other partners. The review examines the capacity of Lithuania’s health system to provide services for refugees and migrants. It focuses on the health challenges facing refugees and migrants, the policies and systems in place to address these challenges, and the opportunities to strengthen long-term health system capacity. Furthermore, the report offers practical recommendations for addressing the barriers refugees and migrants face in accessing health services.
School politics class: Berenberg made largest unlawful UK political donation with £300,000 for Tories
Established UK political parties
N.J.’s public health plan didn’t spiral — it was driven off a cliff
Over the last four years, premiums have increased more than 60%, driving healthy, lower-cost municipalities out, further destabilized the risk pool, triggering additional rate hikes, and accelerating attrition.
Campbell County health and food inspections (12/5/25–12/11/25)
GILLETTE, Wyo. — The Consumer Health Services Division of the Wyoming Department of Agriculture conducts inspections of retail food establishments throughout Wyoming (where there is not a local health department that does inspections) to help ensure safety of Wyoming residents. Campbell County establishments are inspected at least once a year by the WDA. All of […]
A shakeup not seen in a decade is taking over NFL standings
The rise of once-lowly teams, and the regression of established powers, has combined to turn the playoff picture upside down
Twins Must Move Quickly to Address Bullpen in Free Agency
Beneath the icy face of Alaska, a long theorized ‘connector fault’ may be revealed in the wake of major earthquake
After a magnitude 7 earthquake ripped under Hubbard Glacier earlier this month, scientists believe a “connector fault” may exist between established cuts in the thick planetary crust.
Destiny 2 Equilibrium Loot Table: Dungeon Weapons and Armor
Here's our full Destiny 2 Equilibrium loot table, including all dungeon weapons, armor, cosmetics, and more.
Oddsmakers' expectations for Philip Rivers' return against the Seahawks: 'I don't really have a clue'
LaNorris Sellers nearing return to South Carolina as top QB bypasses transfer portal
The Gamecocks are closing in on a result that could stabilize the program and alter the transfer quarterback market
Opponent Defensive Preview: Boise State Broncos, LA Bowl Edition
The Washington Huskies (8–4, 5–4 Big Ten) meet the Boise State Broncos (9–4, 6-2 Mountain West champions) in the LA Bowl. The Huskies are coming off a solid second season under Jedd Fisch where key underclassmen established themselves for a 2026 season with high expectations. On the other side, the Broncos won their third straight […]
Political power and profitable trades in the US Congress
The debate over whether US members of Congress should be allowed to trade individual stocks has become a mainstream policy concern. This column uses data on every US congressional stock trade from 1995 to 2021 to reveal that while rank-and-file members do not systematically beat the market, once some of them assume leadership positions their portfolios start to look very different and outperform those of regular members. The pattern raises uncomfortable questions about how political power, corporate access, and personal wealth interact.
Google Disco is an AI tool that makes web apps from browser tabs
GenTabs will be the first Disco feature, and many more are coming.
Qinshon Judkins Gives Perspective on Browns' Failed 2-Point Play
Rookie running back Quinshon Judkins breaks his silence on the Cleveland Browns' pivotal two-point conversion miscue
First Brands Advances Business Stabilization Initiatives and Long-Term Paths to Create Value and Drive Growth
ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich., December 12, 2025--First Brands Group, LLC ("First Brands" or the "Company"), a leading global supplier of aftermarket automotive parts, announced today a series of decisive steps the Company has taken to stabilize its operations, strengthen leadership, and maintain continuity of supply and service for customers, including:
Gift-worthy USA TODAY Sports books capture legendary eras for fans
Celebrate the biggest wins in sports history with USA TODAY books—Dodgers’ dynasty, Lambeau legends, the Big Red Machine and more.
Gift-worthy USA TODAY Sports books capture legendary eras for fans
Celebrate the biggest wins in sports history with USA TODAY books—Dodgers’ dynasty, Lambeau legends, the Big Red Machine and more.
December 12, 2025
Over the past century, most cancer research has focused on the tumor itself. Rakesh Jain focused on the tumor’s environment instead. Plus, a glacier’s edge can be a dangerous place to do research. One team is using robots and sound samples to monitor the melting ice. And, when cases of plague pop up in the US, it can feel straight up medieval. It’s treatable, but how and why does it persist?
Trump calls affordability a "hoax"; Democrats take note
In the first year of his second term, President Donald Trump has focused his attention on foreign policy and made numerous trips abroad – with an eye toward the Nobel Peace Prize. But as he discusses peace deals with foreign leaders, his ratings domestically have fallen. Critics say that he isn’t doing enough to ease American’s economic concerns. So, this week, Trump returned his attention stateside and kicked off his affordability tour in Pennsylvania, while simultaneously branding “affordability” as a democratic “hoax.” Today on the politics roundtable, we discuss why Trump’s tour signals the administration’s concerns about the politics of affordability, and how some Democrats could use this as a way to gain an edge during the 2026 midterms. Host Colby Itkowitz speaks with Dan Merica, the co-anchor of our politics newsletter, The Early Brief, and White House Bureau Chief Matt Viser.
Benin settles after failed coup attempt, but regional concerns remain
Loyalist troops aided by Nigeria's air force foiled putsch, but confidence in nation's democratic stability is shaken.
Scientists have been studying the exoplanet TRAPPIST-1 e. Could it harbor alien life? : Short Wave
Want to be a top notch candidate for hosting alien life? Then there's a few key requirements you should be aware of: Ideally, you're a large object like a moon or a planet; scientists suspect you also have an atmosphere and water; plus, you should orbit your star from a nice mid-range distance — in the "Goldilocks Zone" of habitability. Until recently, you would be competing against TRAPPIST-1 e. It's a planet outside of our solar system. TRAPPIST-1 e is also only 40 light years away, rocky and the same size as Earth, which prompted researchers to investigate whether it also has an atmosphere — and the potential for alien life. A team of researchers has been investigating TRAPPIST-1 e to learn more about its potential. Their answers, recently published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters, say a lot not just about this exoplanet, but about how scientists should refocus their hunt for alien life.Interested in more space science? Email us your question at shortwave@npr.org.Listen to every episode of Short Wave sponsor-free and support our work at NPR by signing up for Short Wave+ at plus.npr.org/shortwave.
Awards season is back: Acclaimed actors dish on their buzzy roles in roundtable
Jacob Elordi and more join the discussion
Google's new browser experiment turns your open tabs into custom apps
Imagine if Chrome could build the app you need before you think of it.
Sharon Osbourne says Ozzy's infidelity didn't faze her until he brought another woman into their home
Sharon Osbourne was both aware of and largely unbothered by the indiscretions of her late husband, Ozzy Osbourne — with one notable exception.
Google's New Browser Promises to End the Tyranny of the Tab
Google’s AI browser Disco builds apps from your tabs but opens questions on privacy, accuracy, and how it affects the open web’s economics.
New children's facility aims to close mental health care gaps in Hennepin County
The Hennepin County Youth Stabilization Center opens after increased attention on gaps in children’s mental health services.
6 takeaways from Cleveland’s coordinators about the Bears
Recapping the most notable quotes from the Browns coordinators ahead of their Week 15 game vs. Chicago.
Gatesville man accused of misapplying business funds
Gatesville, Tx (FOX 44) – A 32-year-old Gatesville man is facing charges, accused of misapplying over $300,000 from a company he was CEO of. Timothy Austin Cottongim was the Chief Executive Officer and part owner of Mavrick Rentals LLC, a Gatesville company that rented dumpsters, portable toilets and storage containers. The charges came as a […]
Stand up and take a stand, ACC. Call Notre Dame's bluff after CFP brouhaha
After brouhaha with the College Football Playoff selection of Miami, the ACC must play hardball with Notre Dame and regain respectability.
Google is building an experimental new browser and a new kind of web app
Meet the GenTab, nothing like the plain ol’ browser tab.
Google announces experimental ‘Disco’ browser with ‘GenTabs’ powered by Gemini 3
Google today announced “Disco” as an experiment to “shape the future of web browsing.” GenTabs are the first flagship feature...
Google debuts 'Disco,' a Gemini-powered tool for making web apps from browser tabs
Google Labs is testing a product that will work with your browser tabs to make web apps for you.
Asked about The Donald’s national security strategy, the Commons was remarkable for its absences
You’d think MPs would be lining up to decry the US president’s threat to destabilise Europe. Instead, only backbenchers and a few junior ministers bothered to turn up
NJ senator declares war on Dem ‘machine,’ pledges primary battles against old-guard power brokers
Sen. Andy Kim, D-N.J., breaks with the Democratic Party establishment, citing corruption concerns after state Sen. James Beach allegedly dismissed a constituent at a hearing.
Penske Entertainment establishes formal Independent Officiating Board for IndyCar
Comprised of three members tasked with presiding over the IndyCar Series and its Indy NXT development series, the IOB reports to a new non-profit entity, IndyCar Officiating, Inc, created by Penske Entertainment.
'Ozempic' For Cats Is Coming, And Vets Are Testing It on Overweight Pets
It's still very early days.
I went hands-on with the Galaxy Z TriFold at Dubai Mall — Samsung's tri-fold has a distinct advantage over the Huawei Mate XT, and the design is much better than I expected
It costs an absurd amount of money, but the Galaxy Z TriFold isn't just a tech demo — this is a tablet-sized foldable you can actually use.
Scientists find a massive hidden CO2 sponge beneath the ocean floor
Researchers found that eroded lava rubble beneath the South Atlantic can trap enormous amounts of CO2 for tens of millions of years. These porous breccia deposits store far more carbon than previously sampled ocean crust. The discovery reshapes how scientists view the long-term balance of carbon between the ocean, rocks, and atmosphere. It also reveals a hidden mechanism that helps stabilize Earth’s climate over geological timescales.
Islanders Gameday News: Here come the Ducks
They’re not your father’s Ducks! Or at least not your older brother’s Ducks, or something. Tonight the Islanders host a Fairly Strong Ducks of Anaheim team that is first in its division at a very respectable 19-10-1. After years of “very tough negotiator” Pat Verbeek at the helm, it seems he just needed to hire […]
NFL Week 15 predictions by Microsoft Copilot AI for every game
Microsoft Copilot AI is coming off another respectable week predicting the results of NFL games. Here are its NFL Week 15 picks.
Communicators know business acumen matters. Most don’t feel ready.
There's a sizable gap between what communicators think they should know and what they feel comfortable with.
Thirty Years of Onion Politics: Bosnia and Herzegovina on the 30th anniversary of the Dayton Peace Agreement
The Dayton Peace Agreement ended the Bosnian War, establishing the constitutional framework of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It achieved its immediate aim of ending direct violence, yet ended up creating a state apparatus that obstructs social equality and economic sovereignty. This Spotlight argues that the evaluation of its success must take two problems into account: the cementation of ethnic categories as foundational levels of governance and the resulting failure to address or transform war legacies; and the institutionalized international involvement undermining democratic self-determination.
Mental health needs of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities can't be ignored
William Skipworth’s three-part investigation in the New Hampshire Bulletin has laid bare the ongoing traumas experienced by people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The community’s response has been swift — shock, grief, and a collective demand for action to prevent future harm. As the dust settles, pressing questions are emerging about oversight and accountability: Which […]
Washington Nationals active in Rule 5 Draft, select Phillies pitcher
The New WHO Pandemic Treaty and Global Health Governance: Incorporating Common but Differentiated Responsibilities into PABS - Georgetown Journal of International Affairs
On May 20, 2025, the World Health Assembly unanimously adopted the World Health Organization (WHO) Pandemic Agreement, an international treaty designed to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response. The product of three years of arduous negotiations, the treaty marks a new era of global cooperation in public health. However, core aspects of the agreement remain unresolved—notably the Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) System, which is intended to ensure equitable access to pandemic-related materials and benefits. To support the successful implementation of the WHO Pandemic Agreement, the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities” should be formally incorporated into the negotiating agenda of the PABS annex. Introduction For the first time, an international treaty has enshrined the principle of “One Health,” the compelling idea that the health of animals, humans, and the environment all contribute to pandemic risks. SARS (2003), H1N1 (2009–10), Ebola (2014–16), and COVID-19 all emerged through zoonotic spillover from animal hosts—respectively, civets, hogs, and bats. Together, they underscore the need for a coordinated, cross-sectoral approach. The Pandemic Agreement responds to this call, requiring state parties to acknowledge the ecological interplay and commit to a comprehensive “One Health” strategy. Specifically, Article 5 charges governments to address “the drivers of pandemics and the emergence and re-emergence of infectious disease at the human-animal-environment interface,” including wild animal markets, deforestation, and antibiotic overuse. Yet the effectiveness of this “One Health” vision depends equally on the free flow of scientific information and data among countries and institutions. Just as environmental and animal health factors have been neglected in past global frameworks, so too has data sharing been marginalized, despite its centrality to timely detection and response. The Pandemic Agreement takes an important step by requiring governments to enhance data collection and cooperate with the World Health Organization (WHO). However, these provisions will remain aspirational without a robust Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) annex. The PABS system will determine whether countries and researchers can rapidly exchange pathogen samples and genetic data while ensuring equitable access to resulting research and development, including diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines. Without such mechanisms, the treaty’s promise to operationalize “One Health” and strengthen global preparedness will risk becoming largely symbolic, echoing earlier failures to translate shared principles into coordinated action. Equity Concerns When the 2025 Health Assembly adopted the Pandemic Agreement, it left the difficult question of access to pathogens and the sharing of resulting benefits to be addressed in a separate agreement. Negotiations on this separate agreement, PABS, are now underway in Geneva. Yet governments remain divided over fundamental questions of equity between the countries that primarily contribute to the system and those that primarily draw from it—and consequently benefit. For example, wildlife in countries bordering the equator is likely to produce PABS materials, but companies in Europe are likely to use them to develop lucrative products. The most likely contributor countries are likely to be those biodiverse countries around the equator, such as Brazil, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Indonesia, where the number of human-mammalian viral host interactions is large. Conversely, countries most likely to benefit from this material are those with the technology, investors, and infrastructure to capitalize on genomic data, such as the United States, EU member states, and Japan. This imbalance reflects a broader pattern seen in prior international frameworks. Now, as in the past, the wealthiest countries in the world (a useful heuristic is membership of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)) disproportionately benefit from systems in which pathogens and genomic sequencing data are contributed to a common source. Under the International Agreement on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (the “Plant Treaty” or “Seed Treaty”) and the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) Framework, companies from Europe and North America disproportionately withdraw biological samples and data for development into lucrative medical products. Their governments and companies have both statutory and contractual claims to the products that those companies correspondingly produce. PABS appears poised to follow the same pattern. The text calls for strong language on access to pathogens and associated data, but the corresponding benefits that should flow to poorer countries are couched in equivocal or non-binding language. Common but Differentiated Responsibilities To address these inequities, the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities” should be formally incorporated into the negotiating agenda of the PABS annex. Common but differentiated responsibilities are often a feature of climate change negotiations. The basic principle is that, even though all countries should reduce carbon emissions, governments that became rich and powerful through massive carbon emissions (e.g., France, the United Kingdom, the United States) should have a greater obligation to address the resulting crises. Applied to PABS, it would require that governments hosting and supporting companies developing lucrative products carry greater obligations toward the cost of running the PABS system; share benefits or final medical products; and transfer technology to help countries worldwide develop their own capacities to innovate and manufacture vaccines during an emergency. For example, an annex could mandate that any company based in an OECD country that withdraws PABS material would be obligated to donate the resulting diagnostics, therapeutics, or vaccines to the WHO during a public health emergency or pandemic. Questions remain about how robust those donations would be, but the principle is that they should deliver highly significant lifesaving benefits to be equitably shared. Theoretically, this approach mirrors the PIP Framework, in which companies withdrawing influenza samples are required to pay half of the operating costs. In practice, however, the framework has fallen short. The PIP Framework Secretariat has struggled to secure payments from companies, with companies often disagreeing over how much is owed. Additionally, without another pandemic influenza to test the strength of the agreement during a public health emergency, corporate compliance with sharing mechanisms remains unknown. Even if these limitations did not characterize the PIP Framework, partially paying for operating expenses does not address the inequity in access to genetic data and pathogen samples that left less developed countries last in line for COVID-19 vaccines (and, before them, H1N1). Common but differentiated responsibilities would go further, addressing governments’ legitimate grievances regarding information sharing. It would make withdrawals of PABS material and resulting products more transparent, building trust across the board. Enforcement and Enduring Success A key implication of this approach is that the governing mechanism of the PABS must have real enforcement authority. The WHO Pandemic Agreement delegates its core governance responsibilities to a Conference of the Parties (COP)—a governing body composed of one representative from each participating government, similar to those established under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. The proposed WHO Pandemic Agreement COP is charged with oversight functions but ultimately possesses no real authority to compel a government to take any action it does not wish to take. The text does not give the COP the ability to, for example, sanction a party that does not comply with either textual obligations or PABS provisions. In other words, there are no effective mechanisms in place to ensure compliance. Perhaps just as significant, establishing a meaningful enforcement mechanism within the PABS system would strengthen the WHO’s credibility and its ability to ensure compliance across global health governance. By setting a precedent for accountability, such a mechanism could enhance the organization’s authority not only within the Pandemic Agreement but also in enforcing the revised International Health Regulations and other frameworks for public health emergencies. Conclusion The PABS annex can—and should—be different. It should establish clear responsibilities for funding as well as for sharing the diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines that result from contributions to the system. The system, in turn, must include a dedicated body empowered to hold governments and the corporations they sponsor accountable for their responsibilities before, during, and after pandemics. Doing so would restore trust in the broader agreement, which was eroded as commitments were repeatedly diluted while parties scrambled to meet their own self-imposed deadlines during the Pandemic Agreement negotiations. A robust PABS Annex would cement a grand social bargain. Wealthier countries and their corporations would gain unimpeded access to scientific information essential for developing and manufacturing lifesaving medical products. As such, they would stand to gain considerable economic benefit. Yet that privilege must be matched with responsibility. The grand bargain must include not only the right to innovate, but also the duty to ensure that innovation serves all. As medical products are developed and produced through collective contributions, every person must have equal access. All human beings deserve an equitable chance to survive—to save their own life, the lives of their families, and the well-being of their communities. … Sam Halabi, JD, MPhil, is the Bette Jacobs Endowed Professor at Georgetown University’s School of Health and the Director of the Center for Transformational Health Law at Georgetown Law. He serves as the co-lead for the WHO’s Working Group on Regulatory Consideration on AI and Health’s training workstream. He earned his JD from Harvard, his MPhil from Oxford, and undergraduate degrees from Kansas State University. Lawrence Gostin, LLD (Hon.), JD, BA, is University Distinguished Professor and Founding Director and Timothy and Linda O’Neill Professor of the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law. He is the author of Global Health Security: A Blueprint for the Future (Harvard University Press, 2021); Global Health Law (Harvard University Press, 2014); Public Health Law: Power, Duty, Restraint (University of California Press, 3rd ed., 2016); Public Health Law and Ethics: A Reader (University of California Press, 3rd ed., 2018); Law and the Health System (Foundation Press, 2014); Principles of Mental Health Law & Practice (Oxford University Press, 2010). He also directs the WHO Collaborating Center at Georgetown University. Image Credit: United States Mission Geneva, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Science Can’t Wait: Why Stable Funding Matters for Discovery
The end of the shutdown did not resolve the uncertainty facing US researchers, who continue to navigate delays and budget constraints that slow scientific progress.