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The politics of being pro-Israel
Last week, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore stood before a crowded room of Jewish attendees just outside the nation’s capital, and proclaimed: “Today, I want to be loud and clear, that Maryland stands with the Israeli people and we support their right to exist in the region with the same sense of safety and security that... Read More
CNBC Sport: Utah breaks the private equity seal with historic $500 million investment
Utah may have designed a template for other schools to bring in private capital to help fund their athletic programs.
Lawmakers move to phase out health-specific retirement benefit
Lawmakers may instead bulk up Hoosier START, the state's defined benefit plans. They say that would offer retirees and current staff greater flexibility.
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
Hurricanes visit surging Capitals with first place on the line
In a crucial division rivalry, the Carolina Hurricanes travel to face the red-hot Washington Capitals on Thursday.
Private equity makes its first college sports play
The University of Utah has agreed to a for-profit deal with Otro Capital.
Howard Marks says AI is going to have a 'terrifying' impact on employment — and it goes well past lost paychecks
Howard Marks, cofounder of Oaktree Capital Management, said AI could strip people of the structure, purpose, and self-worth they gain from work.
Tech billionaires eye AI moonshots as Trump slashes science funding
Sam Altman, Mark Zuckerberg, and Jeff Bezos are trying to recreate what capitalism destroyed. The key difference is artificial intelligence
Safran Agrees to Sell In-Flight Entertainment Unit to Kingswood
French aircraft engine maker Safran SA, which supplies Airbus SE and Boeing Co., entered into a definitive agreement to sell its in-flight entertainment and connectivity business to private equity firm Kingswood Capital Management LP.
The search is on for Business Report's Influential Women in Business
Business Report is now accepting nominations for its 2025 Influential Women in Business recognition. The awards annually honor professional women in the Capital Region who have distinguished themselves in business or through government or nonprofit work. Get everything you need to know about nominating someone here. The deadline for nominations is 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7. Honorees will be profiled […]
Sequoia Capital partners share how they decide which startups get a yes
Strong opinions on startups are far more important than agreement at Sequoia's investment decision meetings.
Gov. Kotek, lawmakers call for streamlined permit, land use rules amid concern for Oregon business
While some Oregon lawmakers echoed her priorities, the governor’s Monday speech in front of industry leaders mainly defended her record.
Actress Kristen Stewart says entertainment industry is 'capitalist hell'
Actress Kristen Stewart called the entertainment industry a "capitalist hell" that creates barriers for people during an interview with The New York Times on Saturday (12/6/25)
Reclassifying professional jobs as non-professional is bad business for Idaho
What this plan will most likely do is decrease the already short supply of nurses, teachers, therapists, and other much needed workers, writes Rebecca Tallent.
Lawsuit accuses Ohio Department of Health of withholding public records on abortion licensure
Lawyers with a reproductive rights initiative in Ohio are asking the Ohio Supreme Court to intervene in a dispute against the Ohio Department of Health, in which they say the agency is withholding records related to the licensure of a clinic providing abortions.
Magnum Ice Cream valued at $9.1 billion in Amsterdam listing
Shares in the Magnum Ice Cream Company traded at 12.8 euros per share on Monday, implying a market capitalisation of 7.84 billion euros ($9.14 billion), as the company finalised its long-awaited spinoff from Unilever to list in Amsterdam.
Capitals Report Card: Caps Squeak By Blue Jackets
The Washington Capitals (18-9-3) returned home after a four-game road trip. They were able to squeak by the Columbus Blue […]
As farmers face trade wars and inflation, calls to mental health hotlines rise
As farmers face historic headwinds, calls to Iowa and national mental health crisis hotlines are increasing.
Idaho Congressman Fulcher introduces bill extending private, short-term health care coverage
Idaho Republican Congressman Russ Fulcher is hoping to expand the use of private, short-term health insurance.
Angst Turns to Anger in Hollywood as Netflix Hooks Warner Bros.
Much of the entertainment capital fears that Netflix’s deal will lead to more job losses and theater closings and fewer boundary-pushing movies.
A look back at the top 10 Capital Region business stories of 2025
From political shake-ups to billion-dollar industrial bets, the Capital Region’s biggest business headlines this year delivered plenty of suspense, as Business Report highlights in its latest issue. Baton Rouge’s arena dreams faced a plot twist when Oak View Group—the partner LSU wants for the job—got pulled into a federal indictment tied to bid-rigging allegations in […]
AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc. Transfers the Majority of its Equity Investment in Hycroft Mining Holding Corporation to Sprott Mining for a Net Consideration of $24.1 million
AMC converted the majority of its Hycroft investment into cash, receiving an amount approximately equal to the original capital invested in…...
The top 10 Capital Region business stories of 2025
1. The arena drama Community dreams of a sparkling new arena are looking more like a Netflix drama than a construction project. A coalition backing the project is pushing forward with plans for a key part of a billion-dollar entertainment district that pairs neatly with the big ideas in Plan Baton Rouge III. But the […]
A New York to Scotland flight got all the way across the Atlantic before diverting to Ireland
Delta Air Lines Flight 208 from New York to Edinburgh diverted to Dublin, after the Scottish capital's airport halted flights due to an IT issue.
Google’s Year in Search 2025: Cricket, IPL teams among trends and most-searched sports topics
Asia Cup, ICC Champions Trophy, Women’s Cricket World Cup and two IPL teams, Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals, were among the top trends in Google’s Year in Search 2025.
China’s unlikely new entertainment capital
Zhengzhou is emerging as the Hollywood of micro-dramas
From Crops to Capital: Training New Farmers in Business Basics
UConn Extension provides new and beginning farmers with resources to ensure their businesses grow and thrive
Sonny Milano with a Goal vs. San Jose Sharks
Sonny Milano (Washington Capitals) with a Goal vs. San Jose Sharks, 12/03/2025
Idaho judge rules state can cut mental health service that many warn risks public safety
The cut to a critical Idaho Medicaid mental health service for people with severe mental illness took effect Monday, Magellan says.
Idaho sheriffs worry Medicaid mental health cuts pose ‘significant public-safety concern’
The Idaho Sheriffs' Association warned elected officials of public safety risks from cuts to Medicaid mental illness services.
Shultz named CEO of Radial Entertainment
Oaktree Capital Management, parent company of Radial Entertainment, the newly formed global entertainment company managing the FilmRise and Shout! Studios brand
Tenpin Entertainment acquires Fairgame
/PRNewswire/ -- Tenpin Entertainment ("Tenpin"), backed by Trive Capital ("Trive"), the Dallas-based private equity firm, announced that it has acquired...
Indiana maps drawn 'purely for political performance' of GOP, bill author says
The author of Indiana's new congressional redistricting bill acknowledged the maps are "politically gerrymandered" but defended them against accusations of illegal racial gerrymandering.
Business Trades Support Bank Capital Rule Reform to Boost Economic Growth
“Now is the time to modernize our capital framework to unleash economic growth for American businesses and consumers across the country.” WASHINGTON, D.C. — A coalition of leading business trade organizations urged prudential regulators to examine and modernize large bank capital requirements to ensure they support consumers, businesses, and the…
Indiana hospital officials point to new studies showing decreased health care costs
Indiana hospitals are making progress toward lowering health care costs, according to new national rankings and reports.
Map unveiled as Indiana House gets down to redistricting business
Millions of Hoosiers would have different representation in the U.S. House under a proposed redrawing of Indiana’s congressional maps that aims to produce a 9-0 GOP delegation.
Hochul signs bill into law to build first New York state Holocaust memorial
Public officials and the Capital District Jewish Holocaust Memorial are trying to bring it to Albany.
Newport business works to reduce Oregon’s fish waste
The Newport restaurant has become a local staple known for serving locally-caught seafood to tourists visiting Oregon’s Central Coast.
Michael Burry says Tesla is 'ridiculously overvalued'
"Tesla's market capitalization is ridiculously overvalued today and has been for a good long time," Burry wrote.
Column: L.A. exploded into a world art capital. I was lucky to be here to witness it
Los Angeles' ascension coincided with the 46-year career of art critic Christopher Knight. In his final column for The Times, he cites three important factors in that rise.
Ryman Healthcare (NZSE:RYM) Could Be Struggling To Allocate Capital
When researching a stock for investment, what can tell us that the company is in decline? Businesses in decline often...
Montpelier Celebrates Small Business Saturday with Music, Carriage Rides, Sales, and More
Vermont's capital City resounded with the clop of horse's hooves during "Small Business Saturday," a national tradition.