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Five Measles Cases Identified in Fremont County, Bringing Wyoming’s Total to Fourteen - Wyoming Department of Health
The Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) has identified five cases of measles among Fremont County residents. All five cases are part of the same chain of transmission, with the initial exposures to measles occurring outside the state and potential subsequent spread among close contacts. The five cases include both adults and children. All individuals were […]
Doctor explains health symptoms to watch for this holiday season
ABC7 was joined by Dr. Tiffany Hackett, who talked with us about symptoms not to ignore this holiday season - from heart and stomach concerns to colds, flu, and even mental health.
Meet the Identical Twins on Opposite Sides of the Political Divide
One is a Democratic city councillor, the other is an anti-immigration activist. Things got confusing when they appeared at the same public debate.
Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8 could bring two key upgrades in the camera department alone
The next big book-style foldable is shaping up to be a lot better than the Galaxy Z Fold 7.
Update to Good Lock's Theme Park bring six new features
Samsung has released an update to Good Lock's Theme Park module. It bring six new features. Here are more details.
Follow the Money Episode 2: Inside the Sports Media Biz with Sam McCleery and Steve Hellmuth
Welcome to the Sports Video Group’s new interview series, Follow the Money, designed to help SVG members and sponsors have a deeper understanding of ...
Galaxy Z Fold 8 tipped to upgrade two cameras next year
Galaxy Z Fold 8 is rumored to get major camera upgrades next year, including higher-resolution telephoto and ultrawide shooters.
Mentorship Provides Immeasurable Value to Faculty Members and Advances the Science
Dr. Laurie Wideman, Safrit-Ennis Distinguished Professor of Kinesiology, knows how much time, energy, and money goes into recruiting faculty members at UNC Greensboro. She believes those same resources should go into keeping them. At the School of Health and Human Sciences, that’s where mentoring comes in. The Department of Kinesiology and Department of Human Development and Family Studies have intentionally developed a program to ensure faculty mentoring for the success and retention of junior faculty.
A Filmmaker Made a Sam Altman Deepfake—and Got Unexpectedly Attached
The director of “Deepfaking Sam Altman” created a “Sam Bot” when he couldn’t get an interview with the OpenAI CEO. Watch an exclusive trailer for the documentary, which comes out in January.
Report: Apple Developing 24-Inch OLED iMac With 600 Nits Brightness
Apple is working on a 24-inch iMac featuring an OLED display, with the aim of completing development as early as 2027, claims a new report out of Korea. According to The Elec, Apple has sent requests for information to Samsung Display and LG Display regarding development of a 24-inch OLED panel for the iMac. Current 24-inch iMacs use a 4.5K Retina display, which is an LCD panel with LED backlighting. The specs apparently being discussed include 600 nits of brightness and a pixel density of 218 PPI.
NFL Week 16 picks: Rams defeat Seahawks; Broncos edge Jaguars
Sam Farmer makes his picks and score predictions for Week 16 of the NFL season, with the Rams sweeping the Seahawks and the Broncos extending their winning streak.
Column | Trump tweets, White House staff disruptions trigger 2017 déjà vu
GOP lawmakers are battling the same distractions as in Trump’s first term despite talk of stability in the West Wing.
Retirees Are Enjoying Life Amid Health and Financial Uncertainties
Four in 10 retirees indicate their enjoyment of life (44%) and happiness (41%) have improved since they retired, according to Retirement Realities: The Experience of Retirees, a survey report released today by nonprofit Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies® (TCRS) in collaboration with Transamerica Institute®.
Sam Houston wins 85-75 over Oregon State
CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) Kashie Natt scored 19 points as Sam Houston beat Oregon State 85-75 on Wednesday night.
Google Pixel adds Samsung's navigation button layout in latest Android 16 beta
In the latest Android 16 beta release, Google Pixel phones are adding support for the same navigation button layout as Samsung uses.
Midlands families face healthcare uncertainty as Cigna, Lexington Health split
Midlands families insured through Cigna are facing new uncertainty about their healthcare after an announcement that Cigna will no longer cover care at Lexington Health the same way.
Meadow Lane CEO on going viral, stirring controversy: It’s ‘very good for business’
The founder and CEO of New York City’s newest gourmet grocer Meadow Lane, Sammy Nussdorf, speaks to Fox News Digital about the intense and highly public opening of his small business.
Rams-Seahawks Preview
RENTON, Wash. (AP) Sam Darnold was far from his best the last time he and the Seattle Seahawks squared off against his hometown team and he is amply aware he will need to perform better than when he tossed four interceptions against the Los Angeles Rams on Nov. 16.
'Larian Said They Were Doing Something Absolutely Everyone Is Doing and Got an Insanely Crazy Sh*tstorm' - KCD 2 Dev Talks 'AI Hysteria'
Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 lead Daniel Vávra said Larian got embroiled in the 'AI hysteria', since 'absolutely everyone' is doing the same.
Galaxy Z Flip 8 rumors point to a thinner build, better display
Rumors claim that the Galaxy Z Flip 8 will introduce major upgrades, particularly a thinner build and performance improvements.
A new era for sports communication at UNC Hussman | UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media
As director of UNC Hussman’s Sports Communication Focus Program, Distinguished Associate Professor of Sports Communication Livis Freeman is building on the work of the school’s legendary Distinguished Professor for Sports Communication John Sweeney. Sweeney, who retired last year, developed one of the most respected sports communication programs in the country. Freeman, now in his 12th year at the school, is launching an ambitious expansion of the program that is transforming how UNC prepares students for careers in sports media. The most visible change came this fall with a reimagining of “MEJO 377: Sports Communication.” Previously offered as two sections with 30 students each, the course expanded to 96 students and welcomed former UNC basketball star and NBA veteran Tyler Hansbrough as the co-instructor with Freeman, bringing real world professional experience directly into the classroom every week. The course has been a huge success. Students have participated in recording a podcast with Hansbrough and learned from an impressive lineup of guest speakers. Steve Kirschner, UNC’s senior associate director of athletics for communications, was the first in the course’s guest speaker series, followed by UNC Hussman alumni including Kaitlyn Schmidt ’23 from Bleacher Report, Deaton Bell ’90 from Turner Sports and Becca Royer ’19 from the Philadelphia 76ers. Travis Tygart, CEO of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, also shared his insights with the class. The highlight of the semester came when Roy Williams, who coached Hansbrough and the Tar Heels to a national championship in 2009, visited the classroom. Former UNC men’s basketball players Luke Maye and Marcus Ginyard showed up to support their former coach and Hansbrough, creating an unforgettable experience as Williams entertained students with stories and insights that captivated the room. Student demand has been overwhelming. The course reached capacity within two days of registration opening, with more than 40 students on the waitlist. “Students want to learn from people who have actually lived these experiences,” Freeman said. “Tyler shares insights into media relations, broadcast production and athlete communications that you simply can’t get from a textbook.” The model proved so successful that the school secured funding to continue it for the next five years, with a different former professional athlete co-teaching each fall. The school’s curriculum committee approved a proposal to expand the course to 150 to 200 students starting in fall 2026. This change will make it an introductory course accessible to students from across the University, transforming it into a showcase course for the entire campus. The course redesign represents just one piece of a broader sports communication program overhaul. This fall, the curriculum committee approved “MEJO 390: Sports Play by Play,” the first course of its kind at UNC. Limited to 10 advanced students, the course will be taught by Matt Krause, the current voice of UNC women’s basketball and an ACC Network broadcaster. Students will call actual games across multiple sports including women’s softball, soccer, volleyball, field hockey and lacrosse, as well as men’s soccer and lacrosse. They will also shadow broadcasts of men’s and women’s basketball games. “The sports broadcasting industry is exploding with streaming platforms and conference networks creating unprecedented demand,” Freeman said. The course emerged directly from student advocacy, led by Anna Laible ’26 and others who pushed for hands-on broadcasting experience. Professional equipment has been acquired, partnerships with UNC Athletics are in place and a soft launch began this semester with three experienced students calling games to test the system. The program’s growth extends into other specialized areas as well. Last spring, Stembler Professor Charlie Tuggle launched a new sports event management and hospitality course in partnership with On Location, a company that manages major sporting event experiences. The course provided students with opportunities to travel to the Super Bowl and NFL Draft, and Tuggle plans to take a group to the 2026 Milan Olympics this spring. Looking ahead to spring 2026, Associate Professor Ryan Thornburg will debut a sports data visualization course, adding another dimension to the program’s skill-building offerings. The curriculum expansion reflects the increasingly diverse career paths available in sports media, from traditional journalism and broadcasting to digital analytics and strategic communication. The program is also diving into one of college athletics’ most transformative developments: Name, Image and Likeness rights. Freeman’s “MEJO 466: Sports Marketing” class collaborated last spring with Associate Professor Gary Kayye’s “MEJO 371: Advertising Creative” class on a project with UNC’s Carolina NIL group to help rebrand their organization. That same semester, Kayye’s class envisioned Chapel Thrill, UNC football’s new pregame concert and entertainment experience. And Shaun Anderson, the school’s Knight Chair in Sports, Race and Media, continues to explore the broader implications of NIL through his research and teaching. These NIL-focused initiatives give students direct exposure to the business side of college athletics at a moment when the landscape is rapidly evolving. “Our students aren’t just learning about these changes,” Freeman said. “They’re actively helping shape how schools and athletes navigate them.” The transformation of UNC Hussman’s sports communication program reflects a broader philosophy about how to prepare students for careers in a rapidly changing industry. By bringing in professional practitioners like Hansbrough and Krause, partnering with industry leaders like On Location and ACC Network, and engaging with current issues like NIL, the program ensures students graduate with both theoretical knowledge and practical experience. For alumni who remember the foundations John Sweeney built, the expansion represents an evolution rather than a departure. The program still emphasizes strong reporting, strategic communication, ethical communication and critical thinking. But now it also offers students the chance to call live games, work on real NIL campaigns and learn directly from former professional athletes. “We’re not just teaching students about sports media,” Freeman said. “We’re giving them the tools, experiences and connections to actually build careers in it.” With new courses launching, professional partnerships deepening and enrollment expanding, UNC Hussman’s sports communication program is positioning itself as a national leader in preparing the next generation of sports media professionals. For current students, the message is clear: if you’re interested in sports communication, there’s never been a better time to be at UNC Hussman. And for the hundreds of students trying to get off waitlists and into these new courses, the school is working to create more opportunities. The program John Sweeney built is growing in ways that honor his legacy while meeting the demands of a new era in sports media.
Samsung will show off its expanded Micro RGB TV series at CES
Samsung has announced that it will be showing off an entire lineup of Micro RGB TVs at CES 2026 ranging from 55- to 115-inch models.
Children’s Miracle Network reaches historic fundraising milestone
Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) has reached a historic milestone, surpassing $100 million raised to support lifesaving care at Golisano Children’s Hospital at Penn State Health Milton S.
NVIDIA Plans to Reduce RTX 50 Production by Up to 40% in Early 2026
Reports from Asian supply chain sources suggest that NVIDIA might cut back on making GeForce RTX 50 series GPUs in the first six months of 2026, Videocardz reports. According to Board Channels, overall supply during H1 2026 could be down by roughly 30-40% compared to the same period in 2025, althoug...
Samsung new Micro RGB TVs make a compelling argument to switch from OLED - especially in these sizes
Samsung is expanding its Micro RGB TV lineup next year to include six new sizes, each equipped with Vision AI features.
Samsung may respond to the iPhone 18 Pro by copying the Galaxy S9 camera
Apple may have prompted Samsung to go down memory lane and bring back a long-forgotten camera feature.
Samsung Expands Premium Micro RGB Lineup for 2026 With New Sizes and Advanced Features
From 115-inch cinematic displays to 55-inch premium formats, the new lineup offers enhanced color precision and intelligent processing capabilities
New Samsung Micro RGB TVs are sized for your living room
But will prices be sizes for your bank account?
Get a 65-inch 4K QLED Samsung Smart TV for less than $500 at Walmart right now
Right now, you can score this 65-inch Samsung TV at Walmart for just $448 — that is $152 off.
Office Hours: Computer Science Professor and Researcher Sam Siewert
From a curious kid in Berkeley to a NASA engineer, Sam Siewert’s lifelong fascination with how things work now fuels his teaching at Chico State.
Ahead of Fallout Season 2, Samsung Exec Understands Where Stranger Things Creator's Hate for 'Garbage' TV Settings Comes From — Meanwhile Todd Howard Wants to Know 'Backlight 20 or 11?'
Ahead of the hotly-anticipated launch of Fallout Season 2 on Prime Video, a Samsung executive has discussed the optimal TV picture settings for watching the show — and even got Bethesda development chief Todd Howard asking questions of his own.
PayPal quietly makes bigger moves into business banking
Small businesses have always faced the same brutal truth: banks don't want to lend to them. They're too risky, the loan amounts are too small, and the
Apple Best Positioned to Weather DRAM Price Surge, Says Counterpoint
Apple and Samsung are best equipped to handle rising memory chip costs that could drive down global smartphone shipments by 2.1% in 2026, according to new data from Counterpoint Research. Image credit: iFixit In its latest projection for the smartphone market next year, the firm has downgraded its forecast from a previously expected 0.45% growth, citing a memory shortage that has pushed component costs up 10% to 25%.
Ramanujan’s 100-year-old pi formula is still revealing the Universe
Ramanujan’s elegant formulas for calculating pi, developed more than a century ago, have unexpectedly resurfaced at the heart of modern physics. Researchers at IISc discovered that the same mathematical structures behind these formulas also describe real-world phenomena like turbulence, percolation, and even black holes. What once seemed like pure mathematics now appears deeply intertwined with the physical laws governing the universe.
Galaxy Watch 4 now getting One UI 8 Watch with Wear OS 6, likely its last major update
Samsung is now rolling out One UI 8 Watch, its Wear OS 6 update, to the Galaxy Watch 4 series...
What’s worse for us, sugar or sweeteners?
We all know eating too much sugar is bad for our health – but would we be better off replacing it with artificial sweetener? It’s a question Science Weekly listener Marion posed recently and, as Madeleine Finlay tells Ian Sample, the answer is complicated. She explains what the science says about sugar v sweeteners with the help of Prof Havovi Chichger, from Anglia Ruskin University, and Prof Jim Krieger, from the University of Washington’s school of public health
Samsung's P9 microSD Express card for Switch 2 is 40 percent off right now
You can pick one up for $33 on Amazon.
Rob Reiner used his fame to advocate for progressive causes. 'Just a really special man. A terrible day'
The Hollywood director known for 'Stand by Me' and 'When Harry Met Sally' was also a political force and an outspoken voice for same-sex marriage and early childhood education.
New Galaxy S23 update makes it more secure
Samsung has released a software update to the Galaxy S23 series in Korea. It offers the December 2025 security patch.
Jasmine Crockett's Senate campaign makes first Houston stop
She stopped in at the same church she attended when she was a student at the University of Houston law school.
Billy Bob Thornton's Tommy slams 'The View' on 'Landman': 'Pissed off millionaires bitching'
On the latest episode of 'Landman,' Billy Bob Thornton's gruff oil exec Tommy Norris described 'The View' to Sam Elliott's T.L. Norris as 'a bunch of pissed off millionaires bitching' about 'Trump.'
The Galaxy Z TriFold is an impressive feat of innovation, but here's why it leaves me concerned
Samsung is finally releasing the Galaxy Z TriFold, but it might not be a slam dunk
Samsung's Galaxy S26 series may offer a couple of software surprises
And we now know about one of them
How does salt help melt snow on the roads?
Did you know that not all roads are treated with the same salt? Ryan Miller explains the different types and how it can harm the environment.
Star Trek Fans Need To Watch This Underrated Sci-Fi Series On Peacock
This sci-fi series streaming on Peacock isn't trying to copy the Star Trek franchise, but it should appeal to Trekkies for many of the same reasons.
ASUS claims No. 1 OLED monitor market share at 21.9%, citing TrendForce
ASUS surpasses samsung to take top OLED monitor share in Q3 2025 ASUS says it has reached the No. 1 position in global OLED monitor market share after a
Samsung Is in Talks With AMD to Supply 2nm Chips, Potentially for EPYC Venice CPUs, as the Foundry Emerges as a Serious TSMC Challenger
Samsung is now in talks with AMD to supply its SF2 (2nm) process for next-gen CPUs, as the Korean giant aims for a massive foundry comeback.
Elon Musk just hit Sam Altman with an $800 billion counterpunch
OpenAI overtook SpaceX as the most valuable private company. SpaceX could soon reclaim the title. It's the latest in the rivalry between Musk and Altman.
2025 NFL Odds: Best Bets for Ravens-Bengals, Bills-Patriots
Sammy P has three NFL games on his slip this weekend. See how he's betting Ravens-Bengals, Bills-Patriots and Browns-Bears.
I used the Galaxy Z TriFold and it has some catching up to do
Samsung's first tri-folding would have been super-impressive, if it wasn't for Huawei's Mate XT.
Galaxy S26 Ultra Release Details: Samsung Confirms Powerful Upgrade
Ahead of the Galaxy S26 Ultra's launch in January, Samsung's filings with the FCC reveal the answer to a long-standing community question... Exynos or Snapdragon?
Slab is the first MIDI controller built exclusively for Serato Studio
Slab gives Serato Studio users an MPC-like hands-on controller for chopping samples and building beats
Arts and entertainment calendar
Events coming up in the Greenville area offer music, arts, theater and family fun. Here is a sampling. In this events listing, “today” refers to Dec. 13.
Full-length Replay: Palermo vs Sampdoria
From Renzo Barbera Stadium in Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
Here's how much Galaxy Z TriFold's displays cost to replace
A report reveals how much you will have to pay to replace the outer and inner screens of the Galaxy Z TriFold in Korea.
Best Packers vs Broncos Same Game Parlay for Week 15
Between Jordan Love & Bo Nix, there'll definitely be plenty of offense in the Mile High City as we dish on it all in our Packers vs. Broncos same-game parlay for Sunday, December 14.
Samsung's new camera sensor could make motion blur issues a thing of the past
Samsung is working on a new camera sensor, and once it finds its way into a next-gen Galaxy S-series device,...
Producers Guild Awards’ Children’s, Sports and Shortform Nominees Revealed
Winners will be announced at East and West Coast celebrations in February.
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.
The $2,400 Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold sold out in minutes
It went on sale today in South Korea, which is the only country where it's being sold. The Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold, announced last week, went on sale in...
Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Week 15 lineup picks (and benches) from Justin Boone
Samsung's Galaxy Z TriFold already sold out in South Korea ahead of US launch
Samsung’s long-awaited Galaxy Z TriFold will hit store shelves in the US early next year, but if its Korean launch...
December 12, 2025
Over the past century, most cancer research has focused on the tumor itself. Rakesh Jain focused on the tumor’s environment instead. Plus, a glacier’s edge can be a dangerous place to do research. One team is using robots and sound samples to monitor the melting ice. And, when cases of plague pop up in the US, it can feel straight up medieval. It’s treatable, but how and why does it persist?
Total asset finance new business in October 2025 rises by 7%: FLA
Over the first ten months of 2025, total new asset finance business was 2% higher than in the same period in 2024.
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
First look at One UI 8.5 on Galaxy S23 Ultra: What’s new and what’s missing
Samsung has started working on One UI 8.5 for Galaxy S23 Ultra, which was confirmed through the software server’s listing. The update will bring plenty of new features to the device, and the first hands-on video has just arrived. Folks over at SamMobile gained access to internal One UI 8.5 and installed the firmware on […]
E-Sports Week in Review
On December 2 and 9, Fortnite No Build finals took place. Each day had four matches, and the results each week stayed the same. Albion dropped Game 1 and were killed immediately. Each game saw better improvement, resulting in a top place of 13th for Game 4 for both weeks. Overall, the Britons placed 33rd in the finals.
Scientists have been studying the exoplanet TRAPPIST-1 e. Could it harbor alien life? : Short Wave
Want to be a top notch candidate for hosting alien life? Then there's a few key requirements you should be aware of: Ideally, you're a large object like a moon or a planet; scientists suspect you also have an atmosphere and water; plus, you should orbit your star from a nice mid-range distance — in the "Goldilocks Zone" of habitability. Until recently, you would be competing against TRAPPIST-1 e. It's a planet outside of our solar system. TRAPPIST-1 e is also only 40 light years away, rocky and the same size as Earth, which prompted researchers to investigate whether it also has an atmosphere — and the potential for alien life. A team of researchers has been investigating TRAPPIST-1 e to learn more about its potential. Their answers, recently published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters, say a lot not just about this exoplanet, but about how scientists should refocus their hunt for alien life.Interested in more space science? Email us your question at shortwave@npr.org.Listen to every episode of Short Wave sponsor-free and support our work at NPR by signing up for Short Wave+ at plus.npr.org/shortwave.
Surprise: Samsung has a new camera sensor for its next flagships after all
Samsung is apparently working on a new smartphone camera sensor that might solve shutter lag woes on future flagships.
Metro Atlanta doctor warns health insurance premiums could spike 800%, leaving thousands at risk of losing coverage
A metro Atlanta physician says her monthly insurance bill is set to jump from $100 to $800 — and she fears millions of Americans may soon face the same impossible choice.
Google launched its deepest AI research agent yet — on the same day OpenAI dropped GPT-5.2
For the first time, developers can embed Google's Deep Research tool, based on Gemini 3 Pro, into their own apps.
Nail tech shares negative impact salon chemicals had on her son’s health
Multiple studies have identified correlations between harsh chemicals used in nail salons and health issues including skin, respiratory, cancer and birth defects. NBC News’ Zinhle Essamuah spoke to a nail salon tech about the health repercussions she faces as a result of her job.
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.
A guide to self-employment tax for small business owners
Self-employment tax isn't an "extra" tax — it's the same payroll tax that was always there, now just fully visible to new small business owners.
I went hands-on with the Galaxy Z TriFold at Dubai Mall — Samsung's tri-fold has a distinct advantage over the Huawei Mate XT, and the design is much better than I expected
It costs an absurd amount of money, but the Galaxy Z TriFold isn't just a tech demo — this is a tablet-sized foldable you can actually use.
Capitol agenda: GOP’s health revolt heads to the Senate
John Thune and Mike Johnson can’t get Republicans on the same page on health care.
Superbet Group becomes Super Technologies, shaping the future of digital entertainment ecosystems
BUCHAREST, Romania, Dec. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Superbet Group, a leading company in the global technology and entertainment space, announces its rebrand as Super Technologies. The new identity, which will be simply known as Super, reflects the company’s evolution, its expanded vision for the future, and its commitment to building innovative solutions for a rapidly changing world. At the same time, the company will continue to operate its commercial brands across existing territories, with
Brain science, social media and a modern moral panic
In brain scans, social media addiction looks the same as gaming and gambling addictions and substance abuse, says grad student Kylie Falcione at UCSB's Media Neuroscience Lab
Scientists find a massive hidden CO2 sponge beneath the ocean floor
Researchers found that eroded lava rubble beneath the South Atlantic can trap enormous amounts of CO2 for tens of millions of years. These porous breccia deposits store far more carbon than previously sampled ocean crust. The discovery reshapes how scientists view the long-term balance of carbon between the ocean, rocks, and atmosphere. It also reveals a hidden mechanism that helps stabilize Earth’s climate over geological timescales.
Samsung makes progress on One UI 8.5 for Galaxy S23, Z Flip 6, and Z Fold 6
The first test firmware for the Galaxy S23 Ultra, Galaxy Z Flip 6, and the Galaxy Z Fold 6 have been spotted on Samsung's servers.
Social media and ADHD diagnosis, new mpox strain in England and early firestarters
Science editor Ian Sample sits down with co-host Madeleine Finlay to discuss three eye-catching stories from the week
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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