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The 'Health Nerd’ on what we get wrong about science
Epidemiologist Gideon Meyerowitz-Katz, who writes the “Health Nerd” blog, talks with Geoff Bennett about bad scientific data, misconceptions around what we eat, and RFK’s “Make America Healthy Again” crusade.
North Carolina opens grant applications for small businesses in research, tech development
North Carolina is now accepting applications for a new round of grants through the One North Carolina Small Business Program, a key funding source for small com
French Health Tech Unicorn Plans Secondary Investment Of Hundreds Of Millions
Doctolib, once France’s most valuable startup, was worth $6.4 billion at its previous funding round in 2022.
I visited Japan for a week. From missed experiences to money mistakes, I should've done these 6 things differently.
After spending a week traveling around Japan and Tokyo for the first time as an American, I have regrets about how I planned my trip and spent money.
I'm Happy the 2026 Moto G Power Is $300 but Bummed It Lacks Wireless Charging
Motorola switches up some of the features on its lower-cost phone while adding an improved selfie camera and a larger battery.
Guardians Need Internal Improvement for Success Next Season
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
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.
The Groundbreaking Political Legacy of Theodore Roosevelt
American presidents occasionally perform roles that extend well beyond the formal obligations of their office. Thomas Jefferson’s tenure (1801–1809) embodied the broader progress of antebellum sout…
Sunburn — The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics
Hit the ground running with Sunburn — your go-to tipsheet for all things Florida politics.
Barcelona XI vs Guadalajara – Predicted lineup and team news
Barcelona make the trip to Estadio Pedro Escartín to take on third-tier outfit CD Guadalajara in the Copa del Rey Round of 32 on Tuesday, as the holders begin the defence of the trophy they lifted la...
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.
Innovation, evolution, revolution - golf's new faces championing change
With an influx of new people at the head of the sport's most important bodies, the groundwork is being laid for rapid change, writes Iain Carter.
Erika Kirk and Candace Owens meet amid an escalating feud over Charlie Kirk’s assassination
Erika Kirk, the widow of slain conservative influencer Charlie Kirk, met Monday with podcaster Candace Owens amid an intensifying public feud over Owens’ promotion of conspiracy theories surrounding Kirk’s death.
Akron's Time Traveler Records' future uncertain after 46 years in business
As one of Northeast Ohio’s longest-running independent record stores, Akron’s Time Traveler Records has been around for some time.
iOS 26.3 Beta 1 Features: What's New So Far
Apple is testing iOS 26.3, the next version of iOS 26 that will launch around January. Since iOS 26.3's testing is happening over the holidays, it is a smaller update with fewer features than we've seen in prior betas. We've rounded up what's new so far, and we'll add to our list with subsequent betas if we come across any other features.
WHO highlights health risks and opportunities in the global waste crisis
A new World Health Organization (WHO) report, Throwing away our health: the impacts of solid waste on human health – evidence, knowledge gaps and health sector responses, warns that poorly managed solid waste is driving a public health crisis and calls for urgent action to protect people and the environments they live in.Globally, the volume of municipal solid waste is growing at an unprecedented rate. Yet, many countries still lack the systems and resources to manage this waste safely. “Solid waste reflects how our societies produce and consume, and how we treat people and the environment in the process,” said Dr Ruediger Krech, Director a.i., Department of Environment, Climate Change, One Health & Migration at the World Health Organization. “If we continue to treat waste as an afterthought, we will lock in avoidable disease, climate pollution and deep social inequities. This report is a clear call to put health and equity at the centre of how we design, manage and ultimately reduce waste.”The report summarizes evidence on how solid waste – especially municipal solid waste – affects health through polluted air, water, soil and food. When waste is not collected, or is dumped, burned or not poorly treated, it can release hazardous chemicals, contaminate drinking-water sources and create breeding grounds for insects and rodents.Communities underserved by waste management services, those living near dumpsites and poorly managed landfills and incinerators, children and pregnant women, as well as waste workers – particularly those working informally – face the greatest risks. For the water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) community, the report underlines that safe management of municipal and health care waste is integral to safely managed, climate-resilient systems.A large share of municipal solid waste is still not collected or is disposed of in uncontrolled conditions, including open dumpsites and open burning. These practices damage ecosystems, contribute to climate change and undermine efforts to build healthy cities. When waste is properly managed, however, it can become a resource – generating energy and creating green jobs. The report calls for a coordinated, multisectoral response grounded in the waste hierarchy: preventing waste where possible, then reducing, reusing and recycling, with safe recovery and disposal.Key actions for governments and partners include reducing waste generation at source; expanding affordable and reliable waste collection services, especially in underserved communities; improving control at recovery and disposal facilities; and eliminating open dumping and burning, including hazardous waste. The new report identifies a central role for the health sector in addressing solid waste as a public health threat. The health sector can prevent and minimize health-care waste at source, improve segregation and safe treatment, invest in cleaner climate-resilient technologies, and advocate for health-protective policies and standards. The report also encourages more surveillance, research and biomonitoring to strengthen the evidence base, and promotes social protection and inclusion of informal waste workers.“This report gives countries and health authorities a very practical agenda,” said Mr Bruce Gordon, Head, Water, Sanitation, Hygiene and Health Unit, WHO. “Health ministries can start now by ensuring safe management of health-care waste, developing strong occupational health programmes for waste workers, and working with municipalities to reduce health risks from solid waste by closing open dumps and burn sites and gradually improving towards safe services. These concrete steps save lives today and will make cities cleaner and healthier in the future.
TeraWulf says A.I. data center is for science and education in zoning appeal. Critics call it a work around.
ITHACA, N.Y. — The land-use moratorium that would have halted the construction of a proposed data center has been withdrawn, but the company behind the project still has more bureaucratic […]
‘Landman’ star ‘never leaves’ set, even when he’s not working
A 'Landman' star enjoys hanging around set and watching his costars perform
30 models of the universe proved wrong by final data from groundbreaking cosmology telescope
The Atacama Cosmology Telescope (ACT) in Chile has released its final batch of data after 15 years — and it proves that the Hubble tension, a rift in our understanding of the universe, is very real.
Trump’s ugly Rob Reiner post undercuts the GOP’s post-Charlie Kirk claims to civility
One of the downsides of serving in President Donald Trump’s movement is that the moral high ground is extremely unsteady terrain.
Waterville business accelerator's new program manager brings business, policy experience
Jeff Frank brings a diverse background in private-sector innovation, public policy and community development to his new role at Dirigo Labs.
Myles Garrett Compares QB Caleb Williams to Patrick Mahomes
Flu is rising around the US. Experts advise eating these four foods for better immune health
There have been nearly 3 million cases and 30,000 hospitalizations so far this season
College Football Playoff odds, picks, predictions for first-round games
CBS Sports experts Brad Crawford and Chris Hummer reveal their picks for the playoff's opening round
Steelers Announce Huge Injury News Before Dolphins Game
Why xAI Has an Uphill Battle Selling Grok to Businesses
Elon Musk’s xAI wants companies around the world to buy its Grok AI models as it tries to build a moneymaking business. To get there, xAI has created an enterprise AI sales group over the past half-year that has expanded to more than a dozen people. But xAI’s lack of experience in selling to big ...
Steelers Face Dolphins Trying to Continue Monday Night Home Magic
Latest round of talks between Ukraine, U.S. conclude as Trump seeks swift peace
There were no immediate comments on the talks in Berlin that involved Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner
How mammograms could transform to predict the future
And other health news from the Morning Rounds newsletter
Mirelo raises $41M from Index and a16z to solve AI video's silent problem
Mirelo, a German startup that is building AI to add synced sound effects to videos, has raised a $41 million seed round led by Index Ventures and Andreessen Horowitz.
I sold my company for hundreds of millions and have more money than I'd ever need. Yet at 66, I have no plans to retire.
David Chung shares how his mother's immigrant journey inspired him to build a multimillion-dollar beauty business from the ground up.
National Avenue businesses losing customers to construction
A major reconstruction project hasn't even begun, but work moving underground utilities has made access to parking and some businesses difficult.
FDA commissioner on public's growing mistrust in the government's health advice
NPR's Steve Inskeep asks FDA Commissioner Marty Makary about recent controversies around the COVID and Hepatitis B vaccines, and the lack of trust in the government's medical advice.
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.
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.
The impact of the EU's CBAM on business and the carbon-pricing landscape
With the EU's CBAM about to come into full effect, other jurisdictions around the world are exploring introducing border carbon adjustments of their own.
AI Is Getting Dangerously Good at Political Persuasion
For a while last year, scientists offered a glimmer of hope that artificial intelligence would make a positive contribution to democracy. They showed that chatbots could address conspiracy theories racing across social media, challenging misinformation around beliefs in issues such as chemtrails and the flat Earth with a stream of reasonable facts in conversation. But two new studies suggest a disturbing flipside: The latest AI models are getting even better at persuading people at the expense o
Looking at the Narrative for Golden Entertainment After Go Private Deal and Activist Pressure
Golden Entertainment's stock narrative has shifted as the market recalibrates around a go private deal that effectively anchors fair value at about $30.50 per share. While the fair value estimate and revenue growth outlook remain steady, the slightly higher discount rate signals a modestly increased required return that aligns with the deal driven risk profile. Investors can track these evolving assumptions and stay updated on the changing story behind the stock. Stay updated as the Fair...
Scientists Find the Strongest Evidence Yet of an Atmosphere on a Molten Rocky Exoplanet
Researchers using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope have detected the strongest evidence yet for an atmosphere on a rocky planet outside our solar system. Observations of the ultra-hot super-Earth TOI-561 b suggest that the exoplanet is surrounded by a thick blanket of gases above a global magma ocean.
Santa Maria Police catch suspected burglar behind closed business
On Saturday, December 13, 2025, around 5:28 p.m., a Santa Maria Police Department officer spotted a man trying to leave a secured parking lot next to a closed business.
Business Ins and Outs: Sushi place, Round the Clock, Honey Jam, Jimmy John's, Dunkin' and Tsunami Express opening
Business Ins and Outs: Sushi place, Round the Clock, Honey Jam, Jimmy John's, Dunkin' and Tsunami Express opening
CNET’s Complete Pet Tech Roundup: We Tested Every Device With Our Pets
CNET explored every kind of pet technology to see what we -- and our four-legged friends -- liked the most.
Westwood High Computer Science Club Named National Winner
Westwood High School’s Computer Science Club has been named the winner of a nationwide high school...
A Grip on Sports: Picking the right college coach, and keeping them, may be the best harbinger of success no matter the sport
A GRIP ON SPORTS • If you want to be successful, long term, in college basketball, you have to be able to win games in a variety of ways. If you want to be successful, long term, in college football, it helps to be able to keep your coach around. Both were on display, in different ways, Saturday night.
Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham Hotspur – Match Preview and Team News
Tottenham Hotspur travel to the City Ground on Sunday afternoon, aiming to secure three consecutive wins in all competitions for the first time under Thomas Frank.They face a Nottingham Forest side lo...
Mike Yastrzemski Makes First Comments After Joining Braves
Twins Must Move Quickly to Address Bullpen in Free Agency
Carson Sisler leads after first round of Platinum Coast Invitational
Carson Sisler shot a 2-under-par 69 to grab the first round lead in the 65th Annual Platinum Coast Invitational at Rockledge Country Club on Dec. 13.
Saturday Sports: Basketball, wrestling, volleyball and track from around the North Country
Here’s a recap of your North Country sports this Saturday.
Round 15: Juventus vs. Bologna match preview
Juventus play their second straight away fixture in Serie A where they’ll line up against a direct rival for the top four.
A Kinect for kids is outselling Xbox to become the hot toy this holiday
The Nex Playground is basically Kinect for kids, and it’s outselling Microsoft’s Xbox, shaking up the console market this holiday.
The Best Games of 2025 — The Windows Central team ranks our favorite titles across Xbox and Windows PC
Hey gang, Jez here with a round-up of our favorite Xbox and PC games for 2025, alongside some strong honorable mentions you should definitely check out.
Video Weekend health roundup
ABC News medical contributor Dr. Alok Patel breaks down the biggest medical stories you may have missed in this weekend's health roundup.
Affable comedy acting legend Dick Van Dyke turns 100 years old
As part of the celebration this weekend, theaters around the country are showing a new documentary about his life
Teen’s video a ‘Breakthrough’ in science communication
Seventeen-year-old Grace Lee from Chula Vista is gaining national attention as a finalist in the global Breakthrough Junior Challenge, an annual competition that invites students to create original videos explaining complex scientific ideas in creative and engaging ways. Founded in 2015, the contest encourages young people to break down advanced scientific theories using imagination and storytelling— “Steven Spielberg meets Albert Einstein,” as organizers describe it. Lee’s submission centers on the principle of least time in physics, a concept that explains why light always travels the path that takes the least amount of time. To bring the idea to life, she used intricate origami characters and stop-motion animation, along with simple at-home experiments, she said. “The fact that light always travels via the path that takes the least amount of time sounds simple at first, but nature is full of surprises,” she said. “This principle is actually very profound and underlies many different fields in physics that seem completely unrelated, from optics to Newton’s laws to Einstein’s theory of relativity.” Also, origami has long been one of her passions and integrating it into her project felt natural. She often makes origami gifts for friends and teaches origami in her school clubs. “A single 10-second scene would take hours to craft,” she said, noting the mixture of stop-motion and post-production editing required to animate expressions and movement. To ensure the science remained accurate and accessible, she spent time reading books and online resources, writing a script, creating a storyboard, and filming and editing repeatedly until the visuals worked.The experiments were among the biggest challenges. To demonstrate water waves, she used everyday household items — “a spatula and an electric toothbrush to vibrate the waves, glass in a baking pan for different depths, and an iPhone flashlight so the waves would be visible.” She also put careful thought into explaining the principle through analogies, including a gingerbread man and a fox. “Analogies and visuals are incredibly important,” she said. “Visual demonstrations allow viewers to see how the science actually works.” Beyond the competition, Lee is deeply involved in science leadership and advocacy. She serves as International President of miRcore, the world’s largest student computational biology organization, with 136 chapters across five countries. She leads a 20-member executive board, organizes outreach connecting schools worldwide, and has helped run workshops at locations including Scripps Research Institute and the University of Michigan. “I used to be intimidated,” she said, but she gradually grew her skills and confidence. “Now I am no longer afraid to use my voice and enthusiasm to bring out the best in others.” Her research experience includes two peer-reviewed papers on asthma and vaping. Misconceptions around vaping, she said, show why clear science communication matters. “Our research shows that there is long-term harm to your lungs on the cellular level that isn’t obvious unless you come down with an illness like the flu,” she said. Lee also founded Full Hearts at Eastlake High School, transforming the small club into one of the school’s largest, with hands-on service projects in partnership with local nonprofits. She continues mentoring younger students to sustain the mission. If she wins the Breakthrough Junior Challenge, Grace hopes the $100,000 science lab prize for her school will expand opportunities for students who have limited access to equipment and hands-on science outside the classroom.
This Week in Science: Cats Meow More at Men, Depression Relief, And More!
Our weekly science news roundup.
The next generation of heirs is rewiring family offices — and triggering a talent war
Wealthy heirs are reshaping family offices around impact and innovation, but the talent to run them is scarce, a new IMD report says.
Report: Lakers' future first-round picks have become less valuable
The Lakers don't have that many attractive trade assets they could use to upgrade their roster in the coming months.
Friday Night Roundup: High school basketball across the state line
TRI-CITIES, Tenn. (WJHL) – A full slate of Friday night hoops brought tight battles and milestone moments across the region. Science Hill boys’ basketball picked up a hard-fought win at home, edging Jefferson County 56–50 in a defensive battle. Unicoi County boys’ basketball delivered one of the most dominant performances of the evening, rolling past Johnson County 76–43 behind […]
Science news this week: Neanderthals made fire, orcas and dolphins team up, and the 'Star of Bethlehem' explored
Dec. 13, 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.
Shop Taylor Swift-Worn Brand Forme
Shop Taylor Swift-worn activewear brand Forme. We rounded up the best Forme pieces you can buy online, including the best-selling Forme power bra
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
Roundup: Indiana rejects redistricting, Trump bashes immigrants in Pennsylvania : The NPR Politics Podcast
It’s been a busy week in the political world. We discuss the Indiana state Senate's rejection of President Trump's push to redraw the state’s congressional districts, President Trump's speech on the economy in Pennsylvania in which he denigrated immigrants, and the United States' seizure of an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela.This episode: political correspondent Sarah McCammon, senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro.This podcast was produced by Casey Morell and Bria Suggs, and edited by Rachel Baye.Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unlock access to bonus episodes with more from the NPR Politics team, and support public media when you sign up for The NPR Politics Podcast+ at plus.npr.org/politics.Please let us know what you think of our show and how we can make it better by filling out this quick survey. As a token of our appreciation, three respondents will be randomly selected to receive a $25 gift card.
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.
GOP health care chaos spills into battleground midterm races
Republican Senate candidates aren’t on the same page about extending Obamacare subsidies, reflecting a broader tension that is creeping into House and Senate races.
Mosquitos use it to suck blood. Researchers used it to 3-D print
A mosquito proboscis repurposed as a 3-D printing nozzle can print filaments around 20 micrometers wide, half the width of a fine human hair.
High school sports roundup for Dec. 10, 2025
Boys Basketball Snohomish defeated Lynnwood 58-54 No details reported Records: Snohomish 4-2; Lynnwood 0-3 Lynnwood next game: at Edmonds-Woodway; Friday, Dec. 12; 8 p.m. Edmonds-Woodway defeated Kamiak 50-43 No details […]
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.
Scientists reveal the real benefits and hidden risks of medical cannabis
A sweeping review of more than 2,500 studies reveals that despite booming public enthusiasm, cannabis has strong scientific support for only a few medical uses, leaving most popular claims—like relief for chronic pain, anxiety, and insomnia—on shaky ground. The findings spotlight a persistent gap between what people believe cannabis can do and what clinical evidence actually shows.
Ghost particles slip through Earth and spark a hidden atomic reaction
Scientists have managed to observe solar neutrinos carrying out a rare atomic transformation deep underground, converting carbon-13 into nitrogen-13 inside the SNO+ detector. By tracking two faint flashes of light separated by several minutes, researchers confirmed one of the lowest-energy neutrino interactions ever detected.
Mid-Michigan entertainment for the weekend of Dec. 12-14 and beyond
Check out what’s going on around the region.
What's on the agenda for Toure today?
Yes, that's right - Manchester City assistant Kolo Toure will be facing the cameras this lunchtime to preview Sunday's Premier League game at Crystal Palace. Boss Pep Guardiola has a "personal matter" to deal with so is not around today but is expected to return to work on Saturday and will be in the dugout at Selhurst Park. Toure is likely to field questions about City's magnificent win at Real Madrid during the week and the title race as it reaches an important juncture.
Cook County property tax incentives need a refresh: study
A new study could lay the groundwork for big changes to Cook County's incentive programs designed to spur economic development.
The top 10 gadgets of 2025
A tiny sunlight emulator, a video player for your dreams and a vest for listening to trees feature in this roundup of our favourite gadgets.
Round Up: Everything Announced At The Game Awards 2025 - All Switch 1 & 2 Reveals
The Leon and Winding Road
'Entertaining' or 'irresponsible'? The rise of bare-knuckle boxing
As Derby's Vaillant Live arena prepares to host a Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) event, BBC Sport looks at the debate around the controversial combat sport.
Awards season is back: Acclaimed actors dish on their buzzy roles in roundtable
Jacob Elordi and more join the discussion
Reds Named Biggest Losers at MLB Winter Meetings
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…
A new dawn in global health: UHC as the path toward national health stewardship
The UHC High‑Level Forum in Tokyo marked an unmistakable turning point. It signaled a shift from dialogue to pragmatic action, with health and finance ministries jointly designing country‑owned, fiscally grounded UHC strategies to move beyond fragmented, crisis‑driven responses toward resilient, durable health systems that can make Universal Health Coverage (UHC) a reality. UHC means ensuring...
Roundup: Mortgage rates / Health care legislation / Jazz Fest lineup
Ticking up: Mortgage rates increased slightly, adding to cost pressures for buyers. The average for 30-year, fixed loans rose to 6.22%, up from 6.19% last week, Freddie Mac said in a statement Thursday. A year ago, the average was 6.6%. Read more from Bloomberg. A subscription may be required. Stalling: The U.S. Senate failed to […]
Inside the 2025 UVA Conference on Ethical AI in Business
The University of Virginia convened faculty, technologists, economists and even fiction writers at The Forum Hotel on the Darden School of Business Grounds to explore “minding the gap” between AI’s promise and shortcomings.
Expert shares best bets, predictions for College Football Playoff
College football expert Thomas Casale breaks down his picks for the first round of the CFP, as well as two futures bets for the entire playoff
NASA’s Webb Detects Thick Atmosphere Around Broiling Lava World
Researchers using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope have detected the strongest evidence yet for an atmosphere on a rocky planet outside our solar system, as
Wetzel: Beware, college sports, private equity has arrived
The University of Utah approved a groundbreaking private equity deal. Dan Wetzel writes that big changes could follow.
A SWFL holiday entertainment preview
Whether you are a fan of musical theatre, improv or a classic symphony, Southwest Florida is home to some of the best holiday performances around.
Maker’s Mark nets first sports league sponsorship with Unrivaled
The bourbon brand will have a significant presence around the women's basketball league both on-premise and digitally.
Is the universe ending sooner than we thought? New physics suggests a much shorter lifespan | - The Times of India
Science News: A groundbreaking study from Radboud University suggests the universe may end in approximately 10^78 years, significantly earlier than the previously assumed 10^1100 years. By revisiting Hawking radiation, researchers argue that all compact massive objects will evaporate, altering our understanding of cosmic lifespans.
Democrats voice concerns about Venezuelan tanker seizure: ‘sounds a lot like the beginning of a war’
Senator Rand Paul said it was ‘not the job of the American government to go looking for monsters around the world’
Washington Nationals active in Rule 5 Draft, select Phillies pitcher
Ukrainian 'Droid' lay in wait on a road at night and ambushed Russians with an M2 Browning
The ground drone is seen blasting a Russian MT-LB with .50 caliber rounds, in a rare extended look at how fighting robots are being used in the war.
It’s not just Americans who are feeling US tariffs. Five charts show their global impact
There are signs steeper US tariffs, introduced by US President Donald Trump, are feeding through to higher prices for Americans. But they are also inflicting pain beyond US borders. We look at examples from around the world.
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