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Maryland launches Community Business Compass for entrepreneurs
Maryland unveils Community Business Compass with data tools and $10M in funding to boost child care and fresh food access.
US struck Islamic State targets in Nigeria after group targeted Christians, Trump says
A Defense Department official, who insisted on animosity to discuss details not made public, said the U.S. worked with Nigeria to carry out the strikes, and that they'd been approved by that country's government.
Opinion | Socialized medicine can’t survive the winter
The British government is begging sick people to stay away from hospitals during the holidays.
Pediatrics group sues U.S. agency for cutting funds for children's health programs
Earlier this month, the federal government 'abruptly terminated' grants to the group, the lawsuit says.
Federal Health Programs Will Cover Up To $500 Worth Of CBD For Certain Patients By April, Trump Official Dr. Oz Says
A top Trump administration health official said last week that his agency will soon launch a novel program to have Medicare cover the costs of CBD for certain patients. But while the administration has not yet released specific details about the initiative’s rollout, one cannabis company that says it’s partnering with the government on the […]
2025 Unfiltered: Moments that marked Colorado’s decidedly off-kilter political year
From the flurry of executive orders that ushered in President Donald Trump’s second term to a blizzard of lawsuits filed by the state’s Democratic officials, the state’s political year was marked by near-constant conflict between the GOP-controlled federal government and the Democrats who run Colorado. The year saw the Trump administration step up immigration enforcement […]
Public Health Informatics Specialist
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Analysis: Extreme redactions undercut Epstein files release
Rather than settling matters, the government’s release of the Epstein files has had the opposite effect.
Maine suspends payments to Portland health care provider accused of fraud
The U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is also seeking financial information about Gateway Community Services as part of its investigation into suspected fraud in Minnesota.
Rozier lawyers move to dismiss betting charges
Terry Rozier attorneys say the government overstepped when it accused his client of wire fraud stemming from his alleged involvement in a sports betting scheme and is asking a federal judge to dismiss the charges.
Duke Health nurse charged with additional sex crimes after third victim comes forward, police say
Jomil Tugado faces three felony counts each of sexual contact/penetration under the pretext of medical treatment and sex acts by a government or private institution employee. He also has three misdemeanor charges of sexual battery.
With the ‘Trump Class,’ Navy battleships join a long list of government entities named for the President
A Look Back at 2025 in Indiana Politics
From government reform to new data centers, we look back at 2025 in Indiana politics.
Companies collecting pennies on the dollar in market to recoup some tariff costs
Some U.S. companies are hedging their bets on the Supreme Court case against President Donald Trump's sweeping emergency tariffs by selling their rights to collect potential government refunds of the taxes to outside investors.
How the Trump administration is recasting government’s role in regulating health technology
Federal agencies that used to set up guardrails for health technology have transformed into cheerleaders for new risky technologies like AI.
Oregon Counties and State Strike Major Deal on Mental Health Care
Oregon’s state government and its main association of counties have settled on a plan that would empower the Oregon Health Authority to more closely monitor and shape mental health and addiction services at the local level.
US signs new health deals with 9 African countries that mirror Trump's priorities
The U.S. government has signed health deals with at least nine African countries. These new deals reflect the Trump administration's priorities and its focus on mutual benefits.
US Signs New Health Deals With 9 African Countries That Mirror Trump's Priorities
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — The U.S. government has signed health deals with at least nine African countries, part of its new approach to global health funding, with agreements that reflect the Trump administration’s interests and priorities and are geared toward providing less aid and more mutual ...
Governments Are Starting to Compete Like Startups — And That Changes Everything for Entrepreneurs
When states begin marketing citizenship and incentives, it often marks deeper shifts toward modernization and capital-friendly policy environments.
How Trump’s ‘crony capitalism’ has shaken up U.S. business
His policies are picking winners and losers — and blurring the lines between business and government.
YOUR INPUT WANTED: Help shape the 2026 Delta Science Plan
The Delta Stewardship Council’s Delta Science Program has released the third iteration of the Delta Science Plan for public review. The Delta Science Plan outlines the vision, principles, and strategies guiding science in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. All members of the Delta science community and interested stakeholders are encouraged to provide input. This includes federal, state, and local agency scientists, tribes, non-governmental organizations, academic researchers, and members of the public who care about the future of the Delta. The Delta […]
2025 was a tumultuous year in New Orleans politics
2025 was full of historic events, including a deadly terrorist attack, a snowstorm and hosting Super Bowl LIX. But ironically enough, it was the inability of city government to perform seemingly simple duties, like following through on deals and staying on budget, that revealed the true dysfunction at City Hall.
Science Platform Sustainability 2030: Bridging science and policy for sustainable transformation
Julian Trutz Müller, Scientific Officer at GERICS/wpn2030, discusses the importance of bridging science and policy for sustainable transformation
Politics Is Fandom; Fascism Is Fanfic
From Zohran Mamdani’s campaign to the US government’s “Halo” memes, fandom has become the defining language of US politics.
Politics Is Fandom; Fascism Is Fanfic
From Zohran Mamdani’s campaign to the US government’s “Halo” memes, fandom has become the defining language of US politics.
How President Trump reshaped capitalism in 2025
His policies are picking winners and losers — and blurring the lines between business and government.
The DOGE mindset is still central to the Trump administration's agenda as 2025 ends
The Department of Government Efficiency effort was one of the most consequential and controversial – if not entirely successful – changes the Trump administration made in 2025.
Ministers defend ‘most ambitious animal welfare strategy in generation’ before publication
Conservatives claim government’s plan for higher welfare standards for farmed animals could undermine British agriculture
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
California businesses continue to shoulder state's $20 billion debt to the federal government
Businesses large and small across California are paying even more on their payroll taxes to the federal government this year because of spending decisions the state's Legislature and governor made within the last few years.
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.
Countries across the world have faced this polarizing debate. Now it’s America’s turn
The Republican-appointed Supreme Court justices last year famously immunized President Donald Trump against criminal prosecution for his official actions. But the ruling did not extend the same protection to the people who work for him in government.
The year Trump broke the federal government
How DOGE and the White House carried out a once-unthinkable transformation of the nation’s sprawling bureaucracy.
Coupang faces possible business suspension after massive data breach
The government is signaling that it may suspend Coupang’s operations following a massive customer data breach affecting 33.7 million users of the U...
Iraq's political future in limbo as factions vie for power
Political factions in Iraq have been maneuvering since the parliamentary election more than a month ago to form alliances that will shape the next government
Hand on Government: Rising health insurance costs and subsidy expiration threaten coverage for 1.5 million Floridians
As 2026 approaches, affordability remains a dominant concern for Americans, with health insurance costs poised to rise sharply, especially in Florida. Government law attorney Chris Hand explained on This Week in Jacksonville that the end of COVID-era subsidies for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) could have severe consequences.
US Health Agency Announces Two Medicare Pilot Programs on Drug Pricing
Dec 19 (Reuters) - The U.S. government on Friday announced pilot programs to start in 2026 and 2027 that are aimed at reducing out-of-pocket drug costs under the Medicare healthcare program for older and disabled Americans to prices on par with economically comparable countries. The Centers ...
Vermont cannabis businesses react to Trump directive
Vermont cannabis business owners are cautiously optimistic about a new directive from President Trump that could change how the federal government classifies marijuana.
More Americans list health care as top priority for government in 2026: Poll
More Americans are listing health care as a top priority with Affordable Care Act subsidies set to expire by the end of the year, according to a new poll. Almost 4 in 10 U.S. adults named health ca…
Letters to the Editor: For-profit healthcare, not the ACA, is to blame for our sky-high costs
'Until we stop hiding behind euphemisms and take steps to change, our healthcare costs will continue to escalate,' writes an L.A. Times reader.
Where Americans want the government to focus in 2026, according to a new AP-NORC poll
A new AP-NORC poll finds that Americans are more likely to prioritize health care than they were last year.
Personnel note: Kevin Jogerst named Government Affairs Advisor at GrayRobinson
'Since joining GrayRobinson, he has consistently gone above and beyond for our clients and colleagues ...'
When we weaponize government to eliminate a political opponent, that's fascism: GOP lawmaker
Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Wis., discusses the Mar-a-Lago raid on 'The Evening Edit.'
Trump's CMS is all-in on health tech
The federal government is quietly building a fast lane for chronic care tech, with the help of several entrepreneurs.
D.C. auditor finds advisory neighborhood commissioner misused public funds
The auditor found that Salim Adofo, the ANC 8C chair who ran for D.C. Council twice, used government funds for politics and referred the case to the D.C. attorney general.
Kennedy, US health officials outline new rules, warnings to block transgender care for youth in the US
US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and other health officials said Thursday that the federal government will block hospitals and doctors from providing transgender care to children, saying, “this is not medicine, it is malpractice.”
Rand Paul criticizes National Science Foundation for wasteful grants and irresponsible spending
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., joins ‘Varney & Co.’ to criticize U.S. pressure on Venezuela, reject military escalation, warn that extreme gerrymandering fuels unrest and unveil alarming examples of government waste.
The Trevor Project Condemns Federal Government Efforts to Restrict Health Care for Transgender Youth
Your Support Saves LGBTQ+Youth's Lives Every DayDonateResearch shows that access to transition-related care is associated with significantly lower rates of […]
What Can U.S. Employers Do About Rising Healthcare Costs?
U.S. employers are grappling with surging healthcare costs as healthcare prices and service volumes rise. Provider consolidation, high drug prices, labor shortages, and growing chronic disease are fueling the cost increases. Employer have largely responded by shifting expenses to workers. Their track record in pursuing aggressive options—including collective purchasing, tiered plans, value-based care, and advocating for changes in government policies—is poor. The big question is whether they have the will to become more aggressive in pursuing remedies. The outlook is not promising. The reasons include the complexity of the problem, employee resistance to some solutions, and the fact that most employers just don’t have sufficient “skin in the game” to take on the disruption and risk that would be required to bend the healthcare cost curve significantly or sustainably.
The Bravofication of American government
What reality TV can tell us about Trump’s second term.
Americans Facing Soaring Health Insurance Costs May Get a Lifeline in 2026, Experts Say
By Amina Niasse and Ahmed Aboulenein NEW YORK/WASHINGTON, Dec 18 (Reuters) - Americans facing skyrocketing Obamacare health insurance premiums could still get a break from expanded government subsidies in 2026 through retroactive legislation and possibly a special enrollment period, investors,
As dangerous eugenic ideas spread, NIH falls silent
Federal research agencies are pulling back from fostering public discussions about science after the hollowing out of government communications offices.
Potential lack of funding for plan to prevent violence against women ‘deeply concerning’, says victims’ commissioner
Claire Waxman warns government’s delayed strategy to halve violence against women and girls could end up ‘less than the sum of its parts’
American Academy of Pediatrics loses government funding after criticizing RFK Jr
Cuts, which affect projects focused on issues including early identification of autism, made without prior notice to AAP
A giant in Monroe County politics and government honored by Morelle on the House floor
In a one-minute speech on the House floor , Congressmember Joe Morelle paid tribute Wednesday to Lucien Morin, Monroe County's first elected executive.
Scientists Denounce Trump's Plan to Kill Crucial Atmospheric Science Center
The U.S. government is dismantling the National Center for Atmospheric Research, jettisoning key climate science projects in the process
Musk’s doubts about DOGE spotlight political risks for U.S. Rep. Jen Kiggans
Republican U.S. Rep. Jen Kiggans of Virginia Beach is heading into the 2026 election cycle with one of the most precarious political balancing acts in the country, as her strong support for the Department of Government Efficiency collides with new doubts about the program — and the realities of representing a district heavily reliant on federal jobs.The challenge sharpened last week when Elon Musk, the billionaire tech executive who helped architect DOGE, told GOP podcaster Katie Miller that the initiative had been only “somewhat successful” and said bluntly that he would not do it again. In the interview, Musk acknowledged the political and practical blowback from DOGE, which was launched early in President Donald Trump’s second term with the stated goal of slashing government spending and reshaping the federal workforce.
Jared Kushner’s Luxury Dreams Collide With Balkan Politics
His firm pulled out of a planned luxury hotel in Serbia after anti-government protests, while a resort in Albania is being overshadowed by local scandals.
Safeguarding Global Health Security in Cameroon through the America First Global Health Strategy - United States Department of State
The United States and the Government of Cameroon signed a bilateral health Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to expand significant health gains and advance global health security under the landmark America First Global Health Strategy. The MOU puts Americans first by safeguarding our nation from infectious disease threats, while also supporting Cameroon to build robust, self-reliant […]
ACA subsidy fraud is 'rampant,' Republicans say. Some health policy experts disagree
The GOP is pointing to a new Government Accountability Office report on subsidy fraud to argue against extending enhanced ACA subsidies.
Veterinarian and Animal Science Graduate James F. Dougherty Named to Rutgers Hall of Distinguished Alumni
The Class of 2026 inductees into the Rutgers Hall of Distinguished Alumni have excelled in a varied range of fields—obstetrics and gynecology, addiction prevention and treatment, veterinary medicine, football and entrepreneurship, and government and insurance industry leadership—but they all share a uniquely Scarlet bond: A significant, unwavering devotion to supporting the university where they began […]
How cryptocurrency is changing politics
From electoral campaigns to government investments, crypto is everywhere and looks like it’s here to stay
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.
World leaders adopt a historic global declaration on noncommunicable diseases and mental health
Leaders from across the world at the Eightieth United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) have adopted the political declaration to combat noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health challenges through a fully integrated approach. This is the outcome of the intergovernmental negotiations in advance of and considered by the fourth high-level meeting of the UNGA on the prevention and control of NCDs and the promotion of mental health and well-being, held on 25 September 2025.
Digital health companies are already courting ACCESS
The government program would pay participating Medicare providers and suppliers a fixed amount to manage patients' chronic issues.
FDA commissioner on growing public mistrust of government health advice
FDA Commissioner Martin Makary discusses vaccine policy, COVID-era decisions and the erosion of trust in government health guidance.
John Crace on his book, The Bonfire of the Insanities
Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey speak to the Guardian’s sketch writer, John Crace, about his latest book, The Bonfire of the Insanities: How Does This Government Thing Work Again?
Government shutdown in January? Senate braces for health care subsidies fight
Unbiased Politics News
UK Wants All iPhones to Block Explicit Images Unless You Prove Age
Apple and Google will soon be "encouraged" to build nudity-detection algorithms into their software by default, as part of the UK government's strategy to tackle violence against women and girls, reports the Financial Times. According to the report, Home Office officials want device operating systems to prevent any nudity from being displayed unless users can verify that they're adults through biometric checks or official ID.
Germany warns rejecting Ukraine loan would harm EU countries' finances
Krichbaum's claim is the opposite of Belgian PM Bart De Wever's, who argues the 'reparations loan' would actually increase EU government borrowing costs
Apple and Google will be asked to block nude photos unless age verified
A new report says that the British government will be asking Apple and Google to block the taking and sharing...
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.
Staff complaints, financial pressures roil Planned Parenthood in Minnesota
Planned Parenthood faces external pressures from federal budget cuts and hostile state governments. But current and former employees at the organization’s Minnesota-based Midwest affiliate complain that management is making matters worse.
Government announces extra funding for safe housing for domestic abuse survivors
As part of the violence against women and girls (VAWG) strategy councils will receive a further £19m
West Virginia Secretary of State warns business owners about third-party annual report solicitations
West Virginia Secretary of State Kris Warner is warning business owners about third-party solicitations that resemble official government forms but are private advertisements. He urges businesses to file directly through Business4.WV.gov and notes the 2026 Annual Report filing period runs from January 1 to June 30, 2026.
Bulgaria’s rocky road to the euro
Government has resigned just 20 days before the nation joins the eurozone
Two-thirds of Americans say government should ensure health care for all: poll
The poll comes as more than 22 million Americans brace for significantly higher health care costs next year.
Two-thirds of Americans say government should ensure health care for all: poll
The poll comes as more than 22 million Americans brace for significantly higher health care costs next year.
Anti-immigrant politics move from Europe’s fringe to the mainstream
From London marches to hardening government policies, rising migration and economic anxiety are fuelling a surge in nationalist rhetoric and reshaping Europe’s political centre.
Column | More money, more corruption requires more attention, nonprofit says
OpenSecrets, which started four decades ago, is renewing its drive to help voters follow the money between special interests and government officials.
Trump 'willing to put the federal government behind' changes to NIL
President Donald Trump spoke on NIL and college athletics during a bill signing ceremony honoring the "Miracle On Ice" hockey team on Friday.
How Mass Anti-Graft Protests Pushed Bulgaria Into a Political Crisis
Bulgaria is in political turmoil after the largest anti-corruption demonstrations in decades triggered the resignation of Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov’s minority government just weeks before the country is due to adopt the euro currency.
A Seized Oil Tanker Off Venezuela and the Big Business of Dark Fleet Smuggling
The U.S. seizure of a vessel off Venezuela is likely to squeeze the country’s government, but do little to counter the tankers that secretively move oil from sanctioned countries.
Supporting Breakthrough Health Advancements in Eswatini Under the America First Global Health Strategy - United States Department of State
Today, the United States and the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on global health cooperation that includes strategic investments to strengthen national health efforts, leverage American technology, and facilitate the long-term sustainability of Eswatini’s health system. The Department of State, working with Congress, intends to provide up […]
COGE report recommends New Hampshire split apart health department, embrace AI
It was one of Gov. Kelly Ayotte’s earliest priorities this year: A “Commission on Government Efficiency” that would review ways to reduce cost and waste in the New Hampshire government and whose acronym, COGE, bore a striking resemblance to DOGE, the controversial federal effort led by Elon Musk.
The federal government is blurring the lines between politics and medicine
As a family physician, I work every day to earn the trust of my patients. I see lines being blurred between politics and medicine and, despite the high trust the public has in their own physician, it is becoming harder to separate medical and scientific information from misinformation. I hear this concern from my patients, […]
The year-end Obamacare crunch is yet another failure of America’s political system
Americans are being failed by their government.
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
Japan: Promote Safe Sports by Ending Abuse, Discrimination
The Japanese government’s Japan Sports Agency (JSA) should adopt policies to promote safe sports in Japan by ending abuses and discrimination against athletes, 12 nongovernmental organizations and individuals said in a joint letter to Junichi Kawai, the JSA’s commissioner.
Trump takes steps toward demolishing four federal buildings, preservationist alleges
After demolishing the White House’s East Wing, President Donald Trump is now eying four federal buildings for the same treatment and is circumventing a key government agency with his plans, according to a historic preservationist raising the alarm.
Bulgarian government resigns after mass protests
Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov says cabinet stepping down before parliament had been due to hold no-confidence vote.
Chico's big fashion and entertainment show on Dec. 13 benefits FUR's cat rescue work • Chico News & Review
We are a group of award-winning free alternative weekly newspapers published by Chico Community Publishing, Inc. We publish the Chico News & Review in Chico, California, the Sacramento News & Review in Sacramento, California and the Reno News & Review in Reno, Nevada. In addition to the 3 weeklies, we also have a Custom Publication division dedicated to producing high quality publications for government agencies, nonprofits and more.
New metro coalition taps businesses to solve homelessness
The group aims to unite businesses, advocacy groups and governments.
Moderna Founder Warns US Doubts on Science Threaten Biotech Edge
The US risks falling behind in biotechnology as the government cuts funding and skepticism over vaccines grows, according to Moderna Inc.’s co-founder and Chairman Noubar Afeyan.
Peers told they risk ‘constitutional crisis’ after surprise vote to continue blocking employment rights bill
Government lost Lords vote on employment rights bill by 24 votes, just hours after the creation of 25 new Labour peers
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’
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
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