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Western Pacific Region achieves milestone: 19 countries complete comprehensive health information system assessments
The Health Information and Digital Health (HID) unit in the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific has successfully supported 19 countries, covering 99% of the Region’s population, to conduct comprehensive health information system (HIS) assessments, surpassing the regional target of 15 set for 2025 and advancing efforts toward universal health coverage. Using SCORE, a technical package of essential interventions, recommended actions, tool and resources developed by WHO and partners to address challenges in meeting HIS needs, these assessments systematically assess health data availability and quality, enabling countries to monitor trends, identify and respond to emerging health challenges, and improve policies and programmes for healthier families, communities and societies. The first round of SCORE assessments were conducted between 2019-2021 in 14 countries in the Region and over 130 countries globally. The second round of SCORE assessments were conducted between 2024-2025.SCORE assessments are a key priority identified by Member States and WHO at all levels, including within WHO-Country/Multi-Country Cooperation Strategies, the Regional Vision Weaving Health for Families, Communities and Societies in the Western Pacific Region (2025–2029), and the WHO Fourteenth General Programme of Work (GPW 14, 2025–2028). Within the Regional Vision, implementing SCORE assessments is a key action for technology and innovation to advance health equity (strand 5).The SCORE for Health Data technical package is based on five key interventions, represented by the acronym SCORE. Interventions S, C and O focus on strengthening core data sources. Survey (S) covers population-based health surveys, surveillance systems and censuses, including their capacity to monitor health-related SDGs. Count (C) focuses on birth, death and cause of death registration as parts of a functional CRVS system. Optimize (O) addresses routine health service data and key health service inputs such as health financing and health workforce.Interventions R and E focus on data use for action. Review (R) examines regular analytical reviews of health sector progress and performance, together with national analytical capacity. Enable (E) looks at the policy, governance, and digital foundations needed to support effective data use.The Western Pacific Region shows relatively strong performance in the Review (R) and Count (C) interventions. Most countries in the Region demonstrate good analytical reporting and institutional capacity for analysis and learning. More than two-thirds of countries show more mature CRVS systems, driven by improvements in birth and death registration. However, medical certification of cause-of-death remains a key gap, with limited or low coverage in over half of countries in the Region.Performance under the Survey (S) intervention is mixed. While surveillance systems are generally strong, several countries in the Region continue to face challenges in implementing their surveys and censuses. Monitoring health-related SDGs is still a challenge for more than a third of countries in the Region.The greatest challenges are observed in the Optimize (O) and Enable (E) interventions. More than half of countries have lower maturity levels in routine health service and resource systems. Two-thirds of countries also face challenges with effective use of data and evidence for policy and action, largely due to gaps in digital infrastructure, governance and legislation for health data systems, and especially in data and sharing.  As part of the SCORE methodology, multi-stakeholder consultations and validation workshops were conducted in many countries to review findings and plan strategies for HIS strengthening. The HID unit continues to provide targeted support to facilitate dialogue and assist countries in developing HIS improvement plans. These plans guide governments and partners to align investments and coordinate efforts for maximum impact.WHO also assists countries with tailored technical support to address key gaps as requested by countries/national health authorities. SCORE assessments should be conducted periodically to monitor progress in HIS strengthening, although progress across addressing gaps identified in SCORE should be continually tracked as countries implement improvements.Additional countries will be supported to implement SCORE in 2026. The Regional Vision delivery-for-impact target, endorsed by Member States, is for all countries and areas to have implemented SCORE assessments and have an increased SCORE index by 2029 while WHO is aiming for 80% of Member States in the Region to conduct round two assessments. Countries yet to complete assessments are therefore encouraged to contact the HID unit at the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific for tailored support.The implementation of SCORE HIS assessments in the Western Pacific Region was supported by The Gates Family Foundation.
New Orleans City Council Member Eugene Green wants to continue the work started in District D
New Orleans City Council Member Eugene Green begins his second term representing District D. He wants to continue the work on infrastructure, blight reduction and public safety started in his first term.
Advancing Claude in healthcare and the life sciences
Introducing Claude for Healthcare with HIPAA-ready infrastructure, plus expanded Life Sciences tools for clinical trials and regulatory submissions. New connectors to CMS, Medidata, and ClinicalTrials.gov.
Advancing Claude in healthcare and the life sciences
Introducing Claude for Healthcare with HIPAA-ready infrastructure, plus expanded Life Sciences tools for clinical trials and regulatory submissions. New connectors to CMS, Medidata, and ClinicalTrials.gov.
Fire burning at Bourne business, police say
Bourne police said there was a structure fire at ML Custom Woodworking, located at 150 State Road, where traffic is being diverted Saturday night,
Killington area businesses thrive despite missing FIS World Cup
Local ski shops report steady revenue as resort focuses on infrastructure upgrades.
10 quintillion hydrogen bombs every second: Webb detects massive galactic eruption
Scientists have discovered an enormous stream of super-hot gas erupting from a nearby galaxy, driven by a powerful black hole at its center. The jets stretch farther than the galaxy itself and spiral outward in a rare, never-before-seen pattern. NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope pierced through thick dust to reveal this violent outflow. The process is so intense it’s robbing the galaxy of star-forming gas at a staggering rate.
Neighborhood, Small Business Groups File Lawsuit Over San Francisco Rezoning Plan
Plaintiffs are looking to pause implementation of Mayor Daniel Lurie’s "Family Zoning Plan" while seeking stronger protections for renters, small businesses and infrastructure.
Judge finds illegal language in MDHHS proposal to restructure state mental health services
As state moves to possibly privatize some services, a judge ruled language now prevents Community Mental Health agencies from fulfilling statutory duties.
Search firm did not like health, structure of Falcons football operation
The Falcons' lack of success on the field was the driving force behind the search firm reviews and the conclusions to move in a new direction.
Small Town Politics: Proposed charter to change Nicholls city structure
WALB’s Investigative Reporter Brittanye Blake explains what this means for residents.
Penske Entertainment adds $11 million to IndyCar Leaders Circle
Penske Entertainment set aside $31.9 million in 2025 for structured payouts to IndyCar Series team owners in possession of Leaders Circle contracts, and has added $11 million to the total for 2026.Through the Leaders Circle program, which is exclusively available to IndyCar’s 25 charter entries, the top 22 finishers in...
WellSpan Health Announces Comprehensive Migration of Technology Portfolio to AWS
AWS selected as WellSpan’s preferred cloud provider to accelerate innovation and enable AI-driven care deliveryYork, Pa., Jan. 08, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WellSpan Health, the leading health care system serving Central Pennsylvania and Northern Maryland, today announced plans for a comprehensive cloud migration of its full technology infrastructure. Together with Amazon Web Services (AWS) as its preferred cloud provider, WellSpan will transition its applications, data and environments from trad
WellSpan Health Announces Comprehensive Migration of Technology Portfolio to AWS
Add to FavoritesWellSpan Health, the leading health care system serving Central Pennsylvania and Northern Maryland, today announced plans for a comprehensive cloud migration of its full technology infrastructure. Together with Amazon Web Services (AWS) as its preferred cloud provider, WellSpan will transition its applications, data and environments from traditional data centers to AWS. This migration will establish the foundation for delivering next-generation, AI-enabled health care solutions that reduce administrative burden and improve outcomes for patients across the region and beyond. Supercharging Innovation, Efficiency and Patient Outcomes WellSpan's migration of systems and clinical applications, which serve 1.2 million patients across nine hospitals and 250+ facilities, is expected to be complete by April 2026, one of the fastest full-scale migrations in the health care industry. This transformation enables WellSpan to unify disparate data systems for care teams and patients alike, achieving operational efficiencies and care improvements that fragmented systems are unable to deliver. “Our comprehensive migration to the cloud accelerates our ability to deploy new clinical capabilities that transform patient care while advancing our overall innovation strategy,” said Roxanna Gapstur, Ph.D., R.N., president and CEO, WellSpan Health. “When a physician can access complete patient imaging in seconds instead of hours, we're not just modernizing technology—we're improving patient outcomes. Our new cloud infrastructure also enables us to quickly implement solutions that will free our clinicians from thousands of hours of administrative work annually so they can focus on what they do best: caring for our communities.” The transition allows WellSpan to move away from a data center-based model and enables the rapid deployment and scale of AI technology. WellSpan’s strategic partner, General Catalyst’s Health Assurance Transformation Company (HATCo), facilitated the collaboration with AWS to support the migration. WellSpan’s transformation journey benefits from HATCo’s specialized technology solutions, as well as General Catalyst and AWS’s significant partnership to improve patient outcomes, which was announced in January 2025. “Our decision to go all-in on AWS will enable insights and innovations impossible in traditional siloed environments,” said Kasey Paulus, executive vice president and chief operating officer, WellSpan Health. “This is the largest health care technology transformation in our region's history, and it positions WellSpan to be a premier partner for technology leaders across the country.” “WellSpan is building a foundation with AWS that will improve care and outcomes for patients across their health system by bringing data together into standardized formats that are optimized for AI applications,” said Dan Sheeran, vice president and general manager, Healthcare and Life Science, AWS. “To do this, it is essential to have the most secure and compliant cloud when handling patient data, along with AWS’s built-in AI governance and responsible AI frameworks that follow the industry’s highest standards to protect patient information. We look forward to continuing to work alongside WellSpan as they unlock the cloud and AI’s full potential to deliver exceptional care to their patients.” Key Benefits of the AWS Collaboration Full Portfolio Migration: WellSpan will transition its applications and data from on-premises data centers to AWS, including full IT environments and specialized applications for functions such as nursing, cardiology, pharmacy and the company’s supply chain systems. This represents approximately 7.5 petabytes of clinical and non-clinical data and more than 300 applications—the most comprehensive health system cloud migration in the Mid-Atlantic region. Approved Architectures: AWS will deliver secure, WellSpan-specific architectures tailored to each build, ensuring compliance and reliability across the health system. Unified, AI-Ready Data: Migrating to AWS enables WellSpan to harmonize data across separate systems, transforming unstructured clinical notes and multi-modal datasets into standardized, AI-ready formats. Accelerated Results and Improved Outcomes: Automated data normalization and processing will enable the deployment of applications that reduce turnaround times for items such as analyzing medical imaging or patient records from days to minutes, helping clinicians get patient results faster and improving overall health outcomes. Reduced Administrative Burden: The transition to AWS will enable swift deployment of AI-powered solutions that reclaim thousands of hours for WellSpan’s clinical and corporate teams, allowing them to focus on patient care rather than paperwork. Elastic Infrastructure: Cloud architecture will enable WellSpan to scale computing resources dynamically, supporting seasonal demand fluctuations without infrastructure investments, as well as the rapid deployment of new services across multiple locations simultaneously. Most Secure, Compliant Cloud: AWS offers the highest network availability of any cloud provider, with more than 166 HIPAA-eligible services and certifications for global compliance standards, including HITRUST CSF. Built-in AI governance and responsible AI frameworks ensure that WellSpan’s data is protected under the industry’s most rigorous standards. Tags:News releaseInnovation and partnerships
Texas clears the way for petrochemical expansion as experts warn of health risks
Public Health Watch chronicles, in 13 scenes, a fossil-fuel infrastructure boom that could worsen air pollution in some areas and exacerbate climate change.
Texas clears the way for petrochemical expansion as experts warn of health risks
Public Health Watch chronicles, in 13 scenes, a fossil-fuel infrastructure boom that could worsen air pollution in some areas and exacerbate climate change.
How WHIT is building infrastructure for women’s health data
The Women's Health Impact Tracking platform was built to help make progress in closing the global women's health gap and is not being transitioned to NUS
Harrisburg Mayor Wanda Williams committed to revitalizing the city by modernizing infrastructure
Williams outlined her administration's priorities for the next four years, which include infrastructure projects such as repairing roads, bridges, and streets.
New Crowley Business Structure Accelerates Growth with Fowler and Fencil as Division Presidents
Strategic consolidation positions company to scale operations serving shipping, logistics and energy Key Facts: • James Fowler is named executive vice...
PENN Entertainment announces new corporate structure, eliminates 2 top executive positions
PENN Entertainment operates 42 gaming destinations across the U.S.
Penn Entertainment announces changes to organizational structure
Penn Entertainment this week announced a new corporate organizational structure, effective immediately, designed to reflect the company’s strategic priorities, including the realignment of its interactive focus on Penn’s digital omnichannel business assets in Canada and its Hollywood iCasino pro
Quantum structured light could transform secure communication and computing
Scientists are learning to engineer light in rich, multidimensional ways that dramatically increase how much information a single photon can carry. This leap could make quantum communication more secure, quantum computers more efficient, and sensors far more sensitive. Recent advances have turned what was once an experimental curiosity into compact, chip-based technologies with real-world potential. Researchers say the field is hitting a turning point where impact may soon follow discovery.
PENN Entertainment, Inc. Announces New Corporate Organizational Structure
PENN Entertainment, Inc. (“PENN” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: PENN) today announced a new corporate organizational structure designed to reflect the Company’s ...
4 Simple Activities That Will Jumpstart Your Health This January, According to Experts
For each week in January, hone in on one aspect of your health, and create the structure you need for lasting change.
Falcons shaking up entire power structure after firing HC, GM
The Falcons are creating a "president of football" role who the new GM and coach will report to
In effort to remain open, downtown business transitioning to nonprofit
A small business in downtown Springfield is struggling to remain open but hopes by changing its structure it can do just that.
Year in Review: Top 10 NWA stories of 2025 - Talk Business & Politics
Walmart’s new multibillion-dollar Home Office and CEO, more than $500 million in new infrastructure projects and over $250 million in university fundraising were among the top business stories of 2025....
A picture is emerging of how US sees its role ‘running’ Venezuela
President Donald Trump’s administration is working quickly to establish a pliant interim government in Venezuela following the dramatic capture of Nicolás Maduro, according to US officials, prioritizing administrative stability and repairing the country’s oil infrastructure over an immediate turn to democracy.
US oil giants mum after Trump says they’ll spend billions in Venezuela
Trump announces plans for U.S. energy companies to return to Venezuela and rebuild its oil infrastructure, targeting the world's largest oil reserves.
How fundraising helps shape Texas political races
Fundraising totals often shape Texas political races by signaling strength and supporting early campaign infrastructure.
Type 2 diabetes physically changes the human heart, study finds
Type 2 diabetes doesn’t just raise the risk of heart disease—it physically reshapes the heart itself. Researchers studying donated human hearts found that diabetes disrupts how heart cells produce energy, weakens the muscle’s structure, and triggers a buildup of stiff, fibrous tissue that makes it harder for the heart to pump. These changes are especially severe in people with ischemic heart disease, the most common cause of heart failure.
This ancient fossil could rewrite the story of human origins
Scientists may have cracked the case of whether a seven-million-year-old fossil could walk upright. A new study found strong anatomical evidence that Sahelanthropus tchadensis was bipedal, including a ligament attachment seen only in human ancestors. Despite its ape-like appearance and small brain, its leg and hip structure suggest it moved confidently on two legs. The finding places bipedalism near the very root of the human family tree.
Beyond silicon: These shape-shifting molecules could be the future of AI hardware
Scientists have developed molecular devices that can switch roles, behaving as memory, logic, or learning elements within the same structure. The breakthrough comes from precise chemical design that lets electrons and ions reorganize dynamically. Unlike conventional electronics, these devices do not just imitate intelligence but physically encode it. This approach could reshape how future AI hardware is built.
Higher fee for nonresidents among national park changes in 2026
Among the biggest changes is a new fee structure with a surcharge for nonresidents of the U.S. visiting America’s most frequented national parks.
Friday letters: Leadership and health care concerns
What kind of leader do we want for America? One passes a major infrastructure bill that benefits the states that voted against him slightly more than states that voted for him, but overall helps the...
Noles News: FSU officially announces its new front office structure
Duce Robinson and Landen Thomas are coming back to FSU
Lane Kiffin Earns $500K Bonus From Ole Miss Win Over Georgia
LSU is paying Kiffin's full bonus structure from Ole Miss—even though he's not coaching them anymore. He can earn up to $1 million total.
Ashville Business Taking Off, Considering Expansions
ASHVILLE – One of the newest businesses in Ashville has seen an incredible amount of success since the initial opening earlier this year. The family duo, inspired by the structure of a relative’s business, has begun expanding into online operations as a result of this success. The duo is hoping to see a continuous growth […]
The Houston Rockets Close 2025 With Five Hard Lessons
Houston's 2025 season reveals critical truths: urgency must be earned, defense is foundational, and structure fuels sustainable success.
Longtime MAGA ally Boebert lashes out at Trump over veto
The Colorado Republican said she hopes Trump’s action on a water infrastructure bill benefiting her district “has nothing to do with political retaliation.”
Brookfield to Start Cloud Business to Lower Cost of AI
Private-equity firm Brookfield is starting its own cloud business, going up against tech giants like Amazon by arguing it can bring down the costs of developing AI. The firm, which has long invested in infrastructure and energy, is becoming the first major investment firm to try to lease chips ...
Trump vetoes two bipartisan bills, marking first vetoes of second term
President Donald Trump issued the first vetoes of his second term Tuesday, blocking two bipartisan, infrastructure-related bills.
Scientists stunned by a massive hydrothermal field off Greece
Scientists have uncovered an extensive underwater vent system near Milos, Greece, hidden along active fault lines beneath the seafloor. These geological fractures act as pathways for hot, gas-rich fluids to escape, forming clusters of vents with striking visual diversity. The discovery surprised researchers, who observed boiling fluids and vibrant microbial mats during deep-sea dives. Milos now stands out as one of the Mediterranean’s most important sites for studying Earth’s dynamic interior.
Korea building national AI-ready health data infrastructure
The government will also fund hospital-based verification programs so AI tools can be tested and validated at scale before clinical rollout.
'Putting the servers in orbit is a stupid idea': Could data centers in space help avoid an AI energy crisis? Experts are torn.
Google’s proposal to explore space-based AI infrastructure raises fundamental questions about energy, physics and feasibility – and whether Earth has really run out of options.
The brain has a hidden language and scientists just found it
Researchers have created a protein that can detect the faint chemical signals neurons receive from other brain cells. By tracking glutamate in real time, scientists can finally see how neurons process incoming information before sending signals onward. This reveals a missing layer of brain communication that has been invisible until now. The discovery could reshape how scientists study learning, memory, and brain disease.
2025: AI and AR Transform Communication and Entertainment
In 2025, communication and entertainment sectors evolve through AI-driven personalization, immersive technologies like AR/VR, and interactive social platforms, fostering seamless hybrid experiences and authentic content. Challenges include privacy concerns and infrastructure needs. Ultimately, these innovations amplify human connections while demanding ethical adaptations.
Something fundamental about black holes may be changing
New observations reveal that the relationship between ultraviolet and X-ray light in quasars has changed over billions of years. This unexpected shift suggests the structure around supermassive black holes may evolve with time, challenging a decades-old assumption.
Scientists Make Material That Can Morph Into Anything With the Pull of a String
Inspired by kirigami, a type of Japanese paper art, researchers have created a new material that transforms from a grid into any 3D structure you'd like.
Astronomers discover one of the Universe’s largest spinning structures
Scientists have discovered a giant cosmic filament where galaxies spin in sync with the structure that holds them together. The razor-thin chain of galaxies sits inside a much larger filament that appears to be slowly rotating as a whole. This coordinated motion is far stronger than expected by chance and hints that galaxy spin may be inherited from the cosmic web itself. The finding opens a new window into how galaxies formed and how matter flows across the Universe.
Kaballos Demolition Makes Way for Possible New Business | Geauga County Maple Leaf
Kaballos Mexican Restaurant was gutted by a fire the morning of April 13, 2025, leaving a blackened shell in the center of Middlefield Village’s largest commercial district. Last week, demolition of the charred structure on 0.8 of an acre at 15585 W. High Street began with giant green containers parked on the snowy asphalt parking
This tiny peptide could help stop brain damage after injury
A four–amino acid peptide called CAQK has shown powerful brain-protective effects in animal models of traumatic brain injury. Delivered through a standard IV, it zeroes in on injured brain tissue, calming inflammation and reducing cell death while improving recovery. The peptide worked in both mice and pigs, whose brains are closer to humans in structure. Researchers are now preparing to move toward early human clinical trials.
LG Display’s new 240 Hz RGB stripe OLED panel could fix one of OLED’s biggest monitor issues
LG Display is set to showcase the world’s first 240 Hz OLED panel with an RGB stripe pixel structure at CES 2026. The new 27-inch 4K display arranges its red, green, and blue subpixels in a straight line and drops the white subpixel to help improve text clarity and color accuracy.
THE WEEK OF DEC 22, 2025
- NCAR to be broken up - NSF alters org structure - Grant review requirements loosened
This cancer-fighting molecule took 50 years to build
MIT scientists have achieved the first-ever lab synthesis of verticillin A, a complex fungal compound discovered in 1970. Its delicate structure stalled chemists for decades, despite differing from related molecules by only two atoms. With the synthesis finally complete, researchers created new variants that showed strong activity against a rare pediatric brain cancer. The breakthrough could unlock an entire class of previously unreachable cancer-fighting molecules.
Mahmood Mamdani’s 'Slow Poison' centers politics of belonging in postcolonial Uganda : NPR's Book of the Day
Mahmood Mamdani — a professor of government at Columbia University and the father of Zohran Mamdani, NYC’s next mayor — has spent decades researching colonialism and its effects on the African continent. His work is both political and personal, influenced by his own experience in Uganda as an exiled citizen deemed nonindigenous by colonial structures. In today’s episode, Mamdani talks to NPR’s Leila Fadel about his newest book, Slow Poison, an account of colonial legacy in Uganda, the rise of the country’s modern autocrats, and the politics of belonging that surround it all.To listen to Book of the Day sponsor-free and support NPR's book coverage, sign up for Book of the Day+ at plus.npr.org/bookoftheday
Zorts Sports Announces Strategic Partnership With GAME Network to Expand Youth and Amateur Sports Visibility
LAS VEGAS, Dec. 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Zorts Sports, a leading sports-technology platform powering youth and amateur tournaments nationwide, today announced a strategic partnership with GAME Network, a rapidly growing sports-streaming and athlete-driven content network. The partnership brings together Zorts’ tournament infrastructure and GAME Network’s media and broadcasting capabilities to create a more connected ecosystem for athletes, event operators, families, and fans. Zorts provides
N.J. Chamber: Let’s help small businesses make their goals for the World Cup
Tom Bracken: New Jersey has the talent and infrastructure to deliver an exceptional experience. Local and state government need to engage to support local economies.
Strengthening U.S.-Nigerian Health Cooperation under the America First Global Health Strategy - U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Nigeria
Strengthening U.S.-Nigerian Health Cooperation under the America First Global Health Strategy The United States signed a five-year, $5.1 billion bilateral health cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Federal Republic of Nigeria December 19 to advance the America First Global Health Strategy, supporting resilient, self-reliant, and durable health systems while promoting accountability and shared responsibility. Under the five-year MOU, the United States intends to commit nearly $2.1 billion in health assistance, with nearly $3.0 billion in new domestic health expenditures by the Government of Nigeria over the same five-year period. This represents the largest co-investment any country has made to date under the America First Global Health Strategy and underscore Nigeria’s commitment to greater national ownership of its health system. Under the MOU, the United States will continue to support surveillance and outbreak response, laboratory systems, health commodities; frontline healthcare workers, and data systems. Nigeria faces significant health challenges, including one of the highest maternal and child mortality rates globally and approximately30 percent of the global malaria burden. U.S. assistance under the MOU will expand access to affordable, preventive and curative services for HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB), malaria, polio, and maternal and child health, strengthening health outcomes across Nigeria. The MOU places a strong emphasis on Christian faith-based healthcare providers, recognizing their indispensable role in delivering care to communities in need. Nigeria’s more than 900 faith-based clinics and hospitals serve more than 30 percent of the country’s 230 million people, often in areas where healthcare facilities are limited or absent. The MOU provides approximately $200 million in dedicated support to strengthen and support these Christian facilities, enhance workforce capacity, and expand access to integrated HIV, TB, malaria, and maternal child health services. Investments in Christian faith-based health institutions are uniquely positioned to complement public-sector facilities and reinforce Nigeria’s overall health infrastructure. The MOU was negotiated in connection with reforms undertaken by the Government of Nigeria to prioritize the protection of Christian populations from extremist violence. As with all U.S. foreign assistance, the President and Secretary of State retain the right to pause or terminate programs that do not align with U.S. national interests, and the United States expects Nigeria to continue making measurable progress in combating religiously motivated violence against Christian communities. This five-year MOU is the latest of several health cooperation MOUs signed in Africa this month. The United States will continue to sign multi-year Bilateral Agreements on Global Health Cooperation with countries receiving U.S. health assistance to advance the America First Global Health Strategy.
What scientists found inside Titan was not what anyone expected
For years, scientists thought Saturn’s moon Titan hid a global ocean beneath its frozen surface. A new look at Cassini data now suggests something very different: a thick, slushy interior with pockets of liquid water rather than an open sea. A subtle delay in how Titan deforms under Saturn’s gravity revealed this stickier structure. These slushy environments could still be promising places to search for life.
Mysterious Structure Identified Beneath Bermuda Could Explain Its Weird Geology
A massive discovery.
Evaluation of WHO’s coordination in health emergencies helps guide humanitarian reforms
The recent evaluation of the Global Health Cluster sheds new light on how WHO, in its unique role as the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Cluster Lead Agency (CLA) for health, coordinates life-saving health responses in humanitarian crises. It highlights how WHO works through partnerships to reach the most vulnerable crisis-affected populations and strengthen collective action in increasingly complex emergencies. Serving both learning and accountability purposes, the evaluation provided timely and actionable recommendations that are helping to strategically position WHO during the ongoing IASC Humanitarian Reset and the broader UN 2.0 reforms, where prioritization and new ways of working are taking shape. The evaluation was conducted between 2024 and 2025, at a time when humanitarian action funding was plummeting by more than 50%, triggering the launch of the IASC Humanitarian Reset. While restructuring and prioritization across the humanitarian landscape were underway, the evaluation, through iterative feedback loops, shared emerging findings that helped identify the most crucial coordination functions needed. This was especially important at a time when humanitarian needs and health risks due to armed conflict and natural hazards were increasing, while the capacity of health partners to support Member States to equitably reach all populations affected by crises and deliver response was at risk. The evaluation found that the Global Health Cluster (GHC) remains a highly relevant mechanism for strengthening health coordination in crises and has delivered efficiently despite limited resources. It noted strong collaboration with partners and highlighted opportunities to deepen integration within WHO structures and further enhance inter-cluster cooperation. The evaluation also identified areas where greater emphasis on transition planning, national coordination capacity and linkages between humanitarian response and health system strengthening would bring added value. While the GHC has achieved many of its strategic objectives, improvements in monitoring systems would help better demonstrate collective impact. The recommendations will help strengthen the IASC CLA coordination function across WHO, at all levels, and with all partners. It is noted that going forward WHO needs to continue to support capacity to fulfil coordination functions, in line with the IASC Humanitarian Reset whilst ensuring collective prioritization of health cluster action and quality coverage of the health response. The evaluation will help WHO strengthen locally-led action, national ownership and leadership of the sector, and linkages between health system strengthening activities. Additionally, the evaluation evidence will be used to optimize resource mobilization for the GHC and strengthen WHO’s capacity to deliver, plan for and monitor and evaluate results across the Organization. Read the evaluation Global Health Cluster https://healthcluster.who.int/ WHO’s work in health emergencies https://www.who.int/emergencies/overview
The big wrinkle in the multi-trillion-dollar AI buildout
There’s a giant question mark hanging over the tech industry’s future: How long will its massive investments in AI infrastructure really last?
The top 10 game industry trends of 2025
Generative AI, reshaping company structures, and far-right bigotry are among the most defining trends of 2025.
Scientists Intrigued by Huge Structure Under Bermuda
Scientists say they've found an unexpected, 12.4-mile-thick layer of rock lurking below Bermuda's oceanic crust.
OpenAI is the latest in Silicon Valley to hire a former British politician
The ChatGPT maker has hired former British Chancellor George Osborne to run the global arm of its "Stargate" AI infrastructure initiative.
Ramanujan’s 100-year-old pi formula is still revealing the Universe
Ramanujan’s elegant formulas for calculating pi, developed more than a century ago, have unexpectedly resurfaced at the heart of modern physics. Researchers at IISc discovered that the same mathematical structures behind these formulas also describe real-world phenomena like turbulence, percolation, and even black holes. What once seemed like pure mathematics now appears deeply intertwined with the physical laws governing the universe.
Business owners should consider these strategies to reduce their future taxes
In the wake of a tax and spending bill, business owners should reconsider how they invest and how their companies are structured.
“The faces of CERN” at the Globe of Science and Innovation
Originally created for the Cité des métiers, the exhibition “The Faces of CERN: People Advancing Science” will be displayed in CERN's Globe of Science and Innovation from December 17, 2025 to March 1, 2026. From 25 to 30 November, CERN was the guest of honour at the Cité des métiers, held at Geneva’s Palexpo. During the fair more than 112,000 visitors had the opportunity to discover the CERN stand and exhibition, talk to those who advance science on a daily basis and explore the world of CERN through a range of immersive activities. Designed by interior design students from IPAC Design Geneva, the exhibition was inspired by the birth of the World Wide Web at CERN. Woven together from reusable ribbons and modular structures, symbolises a living network where ideas, knowledge, and collaboration come together. Come and immerse yourself in this network, where each thread tells a story of curious collaboration and showcases your talents. Free admission | Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m
Prominent Peoria business files for bankruptcy to restructure COVID-related debt
A statement from Peoria Charter owner and CEO James Wang said the company will continue “normal business operations” as it restructures its debt.
Bermuda's waters are hiding a mysterious giant structure that's...
The Bermuda Triangle may not be the biggest mystery of the Atlantic.
THE WEEK OF DEC 15, 2025
- NSF seeks input on new funding structure - Academies propose Mars mission plans - Science Republicans investigate civil rights offices
Palantir CIO Jim Siders leaves to become head of Thrive Capital's new IT services business
Siders spent more than 12 years at Palantir, recently overseeing its global IT operations, business applications and infrastructure.
Silhouette Shoppe receives $200k small business grant from state
QUINCY — The Silhouette Shoppe, an intimate apparel boutique located at 117 N. Sixth St., was awarded a $204,010 small business grant last month through the Small Business Capital and Infrastructure Grant Program. Nearly $10 million in total was awarded to 47 businesses throughout the state to support capital improvement and infrastructure projects. The Silhouette...
Scientists Detect Huge Rotating Structure in Space
An international team of researchers says it has spotted the largest rotating structure of dark matter and gas-rich galaxies.
Roof to rise soon on Mobile Entertainment Arena; hockey rink moves forward
Steel beams now outline the massive structure, and concrete is being poured across multiple levels.
Giant structure discovered deep beneath Bermuda is unlike anything else on Earth
A thick layer of more than 12 miles of rock may explain why Bermuda seems to float above the surrounding ocean.
Are we in a new era for EHRs?
The healthcare industry is experiencing a fundamental shift in digital health infrastructure, one that prioritizes interoperability, clinician efficiency and patient-centered care – and where AI and advanced analytics play key roles.
BMW crashes into Santa Monica business, leaving driver seriously injured
A vehicle crashed into a building in Santa Monica late Thursday night, causing significant damage to the structure and sending the driver to the hospital.
Scientists Created Hydrogel ‘Micromachines’ That Could Revolutionize Medicine
The extracellular matrix, a complex 3D structure made of proteins and sugars, is essential for healing wounds and homeostasis.
Health and safety rules holding UK infrastructure back, says writer of government report
Exclusive: John Fingleton says regulators need to change their attitude to risk to end the country’s economic stagnation
Google spinout proposes Oakland County data center nearly as large as Oracle megaproject
While controversy stirs around OpenAI’s Stargate data center project in Saline Township, another data center complex nearly as big is being quietly planned 45 miles northeast in Lyon Township.Sidewalk Infrastructure Partners, a spinout of Google parent company Alphabet Inc., has submitted plans to…
House GOP axes $645M from funds aiding infrastructure, children, vets
House Republicans invoked a rarely used tool that allows a committee to deny administration requests to carry over funding from one year to the next.
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
Rena Striegel and Transition Point Business Advisors Announce New National Succession Planning Initiative for Family Businesses
DES MOINES, IA / ACCESS Newswire / December 10, 2025 / President of Transition Point Business Advisors, has introduced a national initiative designed to help family-owned businesses approach succession planning with more structure, clarity, and unity. ...
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Vanderbilt University and EPB launch innovation institute to accelerate quantum science and technology breakthroughs
Vanderbilt University and EPB of Chattanooga, home of America’s most comprehensive quantum commercialization infrastructure, announced plans to establish the Institute for Quantum Innovation, further positioning Chattanooga—and Tennessee—as a national hub for advancing quantum science and technology.
Disney’s Entertainment Model Stumbles as Amazon Doubles Down on AI Infrastructure Spending
Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) and Disney (NYSE: DIS) just reported earnings revealing two companies moving in opposite directions. Amazon delivered 13.4% revenue growth and accelerating cloud momentum. Disney posted flat revenue, down 0.5% year-over-year, as streaming gains failed to offset legacy media weakness. Is it odd that I’m comparing what are now two drastically different companies ... Disney’s Entertainment Model Stumbles as Amazon Doubles Down on AI Infrastructure Spending
Brain health tips: Neurosurgeon shares 5 simple habits that help
The brain works tirelessly to help us think, remember, decide, and feel. Neuroscience suggests that the overall ‘fitness’ of the brain highly depends on daily habits. As it turns out, seemingly simple lifestyle patterns can shape the structure, connectivity, and resilience of the brain over time. Highlighting the importance of consistency, balance, and protection for long-term brain resilience, US-based neurosurgeon Dr. Jay Jagannathan shared 5 simple habits that help improve brain health and function, when done consistently. Let’s take a closer look:
MediaKind and Harmonic’s Video Business to Combine, Creating a Leading Streaming-Infrastructure Platform
Denver, COLORADO – 8 December, 2025 – MediaKind, a global leader in cloud-based video streaming technology, today announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire the Video Business of Harmonic Inc. (NASDAQ: HLIT) for approximately $145 million. Following a French employee works council consultation process, the parties would immediately execute a purchase agreement, and… Continue reading MediaKind and Harmonic’s Video Business to Combine, Creating a Leading Streaming-Infrastructure Platform
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Cosmic knots may finally explain why the Universe exists
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Science news this week: A human population isolated for 100,000 years, the biggest spinning structure in the universe, and a pit full of skulls
Dec. 5, 2025: Our weekly roundup of the latest science in the news, as well as a few fascinating articles to keep you entertained over the weekend.
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