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Caltrans to Host Contracting and Partnership Fresno Summit to Connect Businesses with State Contracting Opportunities
State of California
‘The Black Affair’ showcases Black-owned businesses at ETHS
“The Black Affair,” a Black-owned vendor and business showcase, took place at Evanston Township High School Saturday. This is the first time “The Black Affair,” sponsored by the school’s Black History Month Committee, has welcomed outside community members, according to the event’s founder, ETHS Administrative Assistant Ebony Redmond. Last year, Redmond said the event was...
Business Alliance Affair celebrates Black firms
Event organized by ETHS alumna as part of Black History Month programming.
AIPAC faces test of its power in Illinois primary as Democrats debate future of Israel relationship
A crowded Democratic primary in Illinois is shaping up as the next test for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, a powerful advocacy organization that has stirred anger and frustration while exacerbating tensions over the war in Gaza
Calls grow for Texas Rep. Gonzales to resign over allegations of affair
House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters that he would talk to Gonzales on Tuesday.
Live updates: Trump to give State of the Union speech after Supreme Court tariffs ruling
Get the latest news and live updates on Trump’s 2026 State of the Union address as he speaks before Congress on the current U.S. state of affairs.
GOP Rep. Tony Gonzales faces pressure from party over affair allegations
The Texas Republican is facing calls from fellow House Republicans to resign, following allegations of an affair with a staffer who later died by suicide.
House speaker tells GOP Rep. Gonzales to promptly address affair allegations
House Speaker Mike Johnson on Monday said he’s spoken with Rep. Tony Gonzales about the “very serious” allegations against him and told the Texas Republican to address the claims.
The College of Education and Human Sciences to honor 45 Seniors of Distinction
The College of Education and Human Sciences has recognized 45 students as 2026 Seniors of Distinction. The Student Affairs committee selects students each year who represent leadership; academic excellence and service; and have shown commitment to Oklahoma State University’s land-grant mission.
Rep. Tony Gonzales had affair with aide who lit herself on fire, lawyer alleges
The congressman from Texas, who is facing a tough primary battle, has denied having an affair.
United States and Madagascar to Implement $175 Million Five-Year Health MOU - U.S. Embassy in Madagascar
United States and Madagascar to Implement $175 Million Five-Year Health MOU U.S. and Malagasy health officials are convening in Antananarivo for a two-day joint review process, marking the first major step in implementing the strategic health cooperation framework established in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the two countries in December 2025. The MoU outlines the structure and terms of U.S. support to Madagascar’s health sector from 2026 through 2030, with a total commitment of $134,305,000 from the U.S. Government and $41,216,252 from the Government of Madagascar working jointly to address malaria, maternal and child health, polio and global health security issues. This approach reflects the America First Global Health Strategy by prioritizing effective, results-driven cooperation that advances mutual health security and supports Madagascar’s progress toward self-reliance and independence from foreign assistance. The events bring together U.S. Government health experts and Madagascar’s Ministry of Public Health leadership to conduct a comprehensive review of seven major health programs currently supported by United States funding, discussing current activities, and developing recommendations for programs to align with the signed Memorandum of Understanding, which advances both the America First Global Health Strategy and the Government of Madagascar’s goals. “This memorandum sets the course for U.S. strategic cooperation and support to Madagascar’s health sector over the next five years,” said Chargé d’Affaires Stephanie Arnold at the workshop’s opening. This review will help determine how to maximize the effectiveness and impact of these programs, ensuring resources provided by U.S. taxpayer dollars are used wisely,” she added. “By working together to address global health challenges, we demonstrate America’s leadership and commitment to a safer, healthier world, making both the United States and Madagascar healthier and stronger.” Under President Trump’s leadership, the United States is implementing a Global Health Strategy for foreign assistance that emphasizes increased host country ownership, resilient health systems and human resource capacity to reduce dependency, maintaining frontline support to reduce infectious disease threats, and strong performance monitoring systems for accountability and service delivery. “Diseases do not respect borders, and when we support Madagascar’s capacity to detect, prevent, and respond to infectious disease threats, we are contributing to global health security that benefits communities both here and in the United States,” Arnold emphasized, noting that “The MoU represents a commitment to transparency, accountability, and results.” The United States recognizes the commitment of Malagasy leadership in prioritizing investment of time and significant resources on the healthcare of their own citizens. With recent changes in leadership, Madagascar has an opportunity to strengthen governance, improve performance, and move forward toward greater self-reliance, particularly in the healthcare sector. Through strategic focus and thoughtful collaboration under this MoU, U.S. health programs in Madagascar will deliver meaningful results that advance both countries’ interests while supporting Madagascar’s journey toward greater self-reliance and a healthy future.
Texas Congressman’s Aide Told Co-Worker of Affair Before Killing Herself
The co-worker, who no longer works for Representative Tony Gonzales, shared screenshots of the text exchange with The New York Times. Mr. Gonzales accused his Republican primary challenger of being behind the revelation.
Roughly 1 in 4 hold negative opinion of both major political parties: Survey
A new survey found that 1 in 4 Americans have a negative opinion of both major political parties ahead of midterm elections. Poll results from the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research f…
AIPAC accused of covert campaigning as Democratic support falters
Democrats in Illinois have accused the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, the powerful pro-Israel organization, of meddling in competitive primary races.
Democratic contenders look to boost political profiles in Munich
Fox News senior foreign affairs correspondent Greg Palkot explores the American foreign policy voices at the Munich Security Conference on ‘Special Report.’
How to Avert the Tragedy of Great-Power Politics
Germany knows the costs of a world governed by power alone.
VA cut health care hiring times in half. A House Democrat says it’s using different metrics
The Veterans Health Administration took 108 days to hire employees in May 2025. But in the following months, time-to-hire fell by more than 50%.
Crossler named Carson College of Business senior associate dean for academic affairs
A longtime WSU professor and information security scholar, Robert Crossler will guide Carson College’s undergraduate programs and help lead the integration of AI into student learning.
Sooo ... About Last Night
Last night (Sat., Feb. 7, 2026), Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returned home to the Meta APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada for UFC Vegas 113. Luckily, the first “Fight Night” event of 2026 was a step up from the average APEX affair. There were intriguing bouts booked throughout the evening featuring some quality prospects and familiar […]
Highlights! Figueroa Knocks Out Ball In Final Round!
Nick Ball and Brandon Figueroa went to war earlier today (Sat., Feb. 8, 2026) in Liverpool, England for Ball’s WBA Featherweight title in what was an absolute back-and-forth affair. Going into the twelfth and final round, the scores were very tight and it was anyone’s fight to win at that point. But just five seconds […]
New Orleans City Council panel signs off on Steve Nelson as Public Works director
The New Orleans City Council’s Governmental Affairs Committee gave its seal of approval to Mayor Helena Moreno’s appointment of Steve Nelson as the director of the city’s Department of Public Works. The full council will still need to vote to confirm Nelson’s appointment.
Lee H. Hamilton, a Foreign Policy Power in Congress, Dies at 94
A moderate Democrat from Indiana for 34 years, he led the House Foreign Affairs and Intelligence committees and helped investigate the Iran-contra scandal and the Sept. 11 attacks.
Johns Hopkins Health Plans Executive Elected Chair of Medicare Advantage Plan Alliance Compliance Forum
Melissa Mohon to Lead National Organization Dedicated to Improving Regulatory Compliance and Quality Care for Medicare BeneficiariesHANOVER, Md., Feb. 02, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Melissa L. Mohon, Executive Director of Compliance, Privacy and Regulatory Affairs at Johns Hopkins Health Plans, has been elected Chair of the Medicare Advantage Plan Alliance (MAPA) Compliance Forum. In this role, Mohon will lead the national organization’s efforts to advance regulatory compliance and strengthen coll
Tigers Drop Close Section Battle To Rams
By: Jared Barton The North Allegheny girls’ basketball team hosted Pine-Richland for a section clash Saturday night from UPMC Court. Despite a back-and-forth battle, the Rams prevailed with a 33-30 win. The first half was a low-scoring affair, as senior Maddie Williams hit a triple for the Tigers, giving NA a brief 3-2 lead. Pine-Richland… More »
State Affairs Florida launches with Dara Kam, Jim Saunders
'Opening a Tallahassee bureau lets us bring depth, context and institutional knowledge to coverage that too often gets flattened by daily churn.'
NWSL players dig into grass vs. turf debate and more at media day
At NWSL media day, players gave their thoughts on the general state of affairs, from fresh starts with new teams to the growth of the league.
Hearing on Veterans Affairs Health Care System
The Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee will hear testimony from Secretary Doug Collins on proposed changes to the department's health care system.
Investment and Statecraft: The International Politics of Sovereign Wealth Funds - Georgetown Journal of International Affairs
In 1953, Kuwait established the world’s first sovereign wealth fund to invest the country’s oil revenues and generate returns that would reduce its reliance on a single resource. Since then, over 100 separate funds have been created to preserve national wealth and ensure long-term fiscal sustainability. Today, they manage over $10 trillion in global assets. In this discussion with GJIA, political economist Kathryn Lavelle explains the increasingly novel dynamics that surround fund behavior and what the world can come to expect from their growing presence in international financial markets. GJIA: When it comes to the roles sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) play in global markets and politics, what would you say makes them unique? Kathryn Lavelle: Sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) operate on behalf of governments as investors. That in itself is a strange relationship. Within them, a core contest takes place between the state’s interests (or sovereign) part of the dynamic, and the money interests (or wealth) part of it, and these two aspects are frequently in contradiction, serving fundamentally different goals. SWFs are also quite fascinating because when you talk to the people who manage these funds, they have an interest in convincing you that the decisions are made almost exclusively on a financial basis—they really will go to great lengths to differentiate their government owners and those who make the management decisions. At the same time, these people ultimately answer to someone in power. Therefore, for most SWFs, it remains deeply unclear who is actually making the investment decisions and for what purposes. Of course, it is not always clear how other vehicles, such as hedge funds and private equity make the decisions they do, but I think what a lot of people find particularly disconcerting about SWFs is that they seem to act on behalf of people who have a different identity from their own. People who could be trying to manipulate politics and markets in a way that would have a long-term effect on their own populations. Regular investors come and go at will, and they only share an interest in profit as far as most of us understand. However, SWFs have that extra “sovereign” part right behind them that obscures their true interest. GJIA: These funds can be found in countries all across the globe, in both authoritarian states and democracies. Would you say SWFs differ in their goals and structures between regime-type? KL: It is not necessarily regime type that makes the goals and structures of SWFs different. It has to do with their economies. Let’s look at a country like China. There’s going to be a debate about exactly how to characterize the regime, but it is a country with many different kinds of sovereign wealth funds, and a particularly opaque state connection to each. At one time, some of the state-owned Chinese oil companies created specialized investment vehicles listed outside Chinese markets that excluded parts of the firms that were more associated with human rights violations. At the same time, the China Investment Corporation (CIC)—China’s largest SWF—draws a lot of concern, not necessarily because of its investment activities, but because of the dynamics of global politics. So, I wouldn’t really tie differences to regime types themselves in a wholesale way, but rather to how such funds are perceived and how they are structured. Saudi Arabia’s SWF is getting all kinds of attention for its involvement in Hollywood, and this takes me right back to when I was a student in the 1980s, when people were concerned about Japanese investment entities buying assets in Hollywood. They aren’t quite the same in financial terms, but it’s the same kind of concern about foreign investment that drives people to be suspicious, and the whole idea that “foreigners are influencing Hollywood.” This holds true across industries, and it reflects where politics are in places like the United States right now. One metric we can try to look at is transparency, where all the funds will tell you, “we are transparent.” The problem you’ll keep running into with this approach is how you value things. When trying to do comparative studies of equity markets, you’ll find that every country doesn’t use Generally Accepted Accounting Principles like we do in the United States. A fund may appear opaque politically and not want people to show what they’re invested in or what their intent with that investment is, but they could also just not be able to report it because of the way it was purchased, or the kinds of shares they purchased. There are some assets out there that really are difficult to put a monetary value on. GJIA: To what extent do domestic politics shape SWF behavior in both the investing “home” country and the recipient “host” country? KL: This depends on the type of fund present and also on the extent to which voters’ political views are able to influence the fund. For example, in a democratic home state like Norway, the SWF doesn’t invest in nuclear weapons or tobacco because of social concerns, but there is a continuing debate over whether it should invest in oil, even though that’s where most of the money comes from. The degree to which Norway will continue to make those investments, and whether they contradict the government’s overall climate goals, is an open question in Norwegian politics. Because of the way the fund’s governance is structured, it may not be easy to resolve. On the other hand, some people consider pension funds, like the State Teachers Retirement System (STRS) in Ohio, to be quasi-SWF. They have a very strict separation between the people who make up the management division and the fund owners. No teacher or professor would want to invest in things that may harm the future of their students. At the same time, a fund manager might see an opportunity in a diversified multinational corporation that offers a good return, despite it deriving part of its revenue from e-cigarettes. These contests are very apparent. Domestic politics can work in host countries too. A good example is Singapore’s SWF, Temasek, investing in Thailand’s telecommunications sector. If you study political economy, you already know that countries everywhere are uncomfortable with foreign ownership of their telecom sectors because a foreign entity could monitor or manipulate our communications with each other. In the case of Temasek, there was significant pushback from Thai citizens surrounding the deal, which went on to influence national political sentiment toward Singapore as a whole, underscoring the risks some SWFs may face with their investment choices. In this case, fund behavior led to the dissolution of the entire Thai government in 2006 and a subsequent coup d’état. GJIA: To address some of this unease, the Santiago Principles were established in 2009 to ostensibly promote trust and transparency. From your perspective, have these mechanisms actually changed fund behavior? KL: In international relations theory, we always like to have a clear set of norms and best practices—the orientation we want the proverbial ship to be going in. In that regard, the Santiago Principles at least got the discussion going about which direction SWFs should take at a time when people were very skittish about the growing size of these funds. Nobody wanted them to be out there and potentially destabilizing economies, so talks about disclosure, conditions for withdrawal, and the independence of managers were helpful when initiated. The biggest stumbling block was that there wasn’t exactly a good way to measure compliance with the Principles, let alone how to hold funds to them. If you read the Principles, they’re overall quite vague. In general, a fund doesn’t want to reveal how and why they make certain investment decisions because that information is proprietary—a fund makes money off of how and why it makes decisions—so how do you reconcile that with loosely-defined ideas of openness? Some decisions might have a political purpose. The bottom line is that trying to figure out and assign a score to compliance is not easy, and it is therefore the reason why the Santiago Principles never really got off the ground to the point where they could truly direct fund behavior. GJIA: Many emerging markets are looking to build their own SWFs from mineral and oil revenues. Historically, have funds shaped development trajectories in these countries? KL: I think the big story in international emerging markets investment is that the investment is increasingly no longer unidirectional. In the past multinational corporations of primarily Western background were the main form of foreign direct investment in a country. That has changed dramatically, to the point where you have companies from so-called “developing countries” taking over companies in the United States. Therefore, the landscape of international investment has changed, and I think SWFs are certainly a possibility to be the next step in the game. Historically, you didn’t need an entire financial vehicle to reinvest commodity revenues in your country, but as emerging markets get more financially sophisticated, their capacity to operate such funds has increased. SWFs would allow treasuries to move from relying on holding foreign exchange assets like cash or government bonds to having broader financial markets and targeted growth areas, while easing pressure on welfare expenditures. GJIA: With their increasing financial weight, do you see the presence of SWFs being a factor in the political choices leaders will have to make with regard to domestic and foreign policy? KL: It will depend on just how big the funds get. One of the reasons people are already apprehensive is because of their scale, and if certain SWFs in certain countries achieve a large-enough size, the presence will absolutely be cause for concern. The other factor political leaders will have to consider are their objectives. It’s not always clear how to define a SWF, or even where its activity is concentrated, but it is certainly a worry from the perspective of national security of opaque external investment. More than that, I think one of the most interesting questions going forward is whether the United States, the home to the world’s largest financial markets, will develop its own fund, for which the Trump administration announced a plan. There have also been several proposals in Congress. Were it to come into being, it would have tremendous weight. At the same time, one of the hallmarks of U.S. capitalism is a lack of government ownership of shares, so it would not be clear how such a fund would be received in domestic politics, or which direction it would take. Given how politically fragmented the country is, a Democratic administration would likely be concerned about different sectors of the economy, such as healthcare, and want investment there, rather than a Republican administration, which might prefer defense industries. No investment vehicle could thrive under conditions of such instability. Moreover, it remains unclear where the money to fund a theoretical U.S. SWF would come from. It would be a fundamentally different entity depending on whether it is financed with debt, economic surplus, commodities, or the sale of state companies, as in the case of Singapore. If it is debt, or government borrowing of some form, then the fund would have to outperform whatever the cost of that debt is, which is not an easy thing to do. I think our political leaders have enough on their plate. Our system has worked well keeping political and investment functions generally separate. We have seen different forms of business rise and fall, and even the perception of different countries, all of which funds are tied to. Unless a major SWF either starts—like in the case of the United States—or collapses—an issue that concerns the Saudis, I don’t see any political tsunamis on the horizon. . . . Kathryn Lavelle is the Ellen and Dixon Long Professor of World Affairs at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. Her research explores the exchange between domestic and international and political institutions with a particular emphasis on political economy and multilateralism. Dr. Lavelle’s first book, The Politics of Equity Finance in Emerging Markets, explored the political circumstances that surround large issues of stock in the developing world. After being granted tenure at Case Western, she was awarded an American Political Science Association Congressional Fellowship and named the William A. Steiger fellow, a designation given to the most promising political scientist in her class of fellows. While in Washington during 2006-2007, she worked on the staff of the House Committee on Financial Services on issues related to domestic and international monetary policy. Dr. Lavelle holds a PhD in political science from Northwestern University; an M.A. in government and foreign affairs from the University of Virginia; and a bachelor’s degree in international economics from Georgetown University. She is a permanent member of the New York Council on Foreign Relations. This transcript has been lightly edited for clarity and length. Interview conducted by Sid Mehrotra. Image Credit: Jason Leung, Unsplash Content Licenses, via Unsplash
Syria advances a nationally led public health response to substance use through inter-ministerial action
27 January 2026, Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic: Syria is taking a significant step forward in addressing substance use as a public health priority, following a high-level inter-ministerial meeting hosted by the...
Hong Kong’s Constitutional Minister Resigns for Health Reasons
Hong Kong’s minister overseeing constitutional affairs Erick Tsang resigned, citing health reasons.
Chipotle is getting more serious about politics, forming a new PAC
Ahead of the midterms, Chipotle has filed to form a political action committee, in a departure from its prior "Government Affairs Engagement Policy."
Barbara Lee Bass Announces End of Tenure as Vice President for Health Affairs and Dean of the School of Medicine and Health Sciences | GW Today | The George Washington University
GW’s leader of academic medicine reflects on six transformational years at the helm.
News and current affairs from Germany and around the world
News, off-beat stories and analysis of German and international affairs. Dive deeper with our features from Europe and beyond. Watch our 24/7 TV stream.
Former Senator Kyrsten Sinema Accused of Affair With Member of Security Team
In a lawsuit, the ex-wife of Ms. Sinema’s onetime staff member accused her of showering him with gifts and breaking up their marriage.
Big problems in a big world : The NPR Politics Podcast
Between pledging support for protesters in Iran, calling once again for the U.S. annexation of Greenland, and meeting with Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, it's been a busy week for President Trump on the global stage. We look at why the White House wants to be involved in so many geopolitical issues despite the president's campaign pledges to be less invested in global affairs, and what outcomes the Trump administration wants in each location.This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, White House correspondent Franco Ordoñez, and national security correspondent Greg Myre.This podcast was produced and edited by Casey Morell & Bria Suggs. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unlock access to bonus episodes with more from the NPR Politics team, and support public media when you sign up for The NPR Politics Podcast+ at plus.npr.org/politics.
International Day of Sports for Development and Peace | Division for Inclusive Social Development (DISD)
The Department of Economic and Social Affairs is pleased to announce that the 2026 International Day of Sport for Development and Peace will spotlight the theme “Sport: Building Bridges, Breaking Barriers,” underscoring sport’s unique capacity to foster connection, inclusion, and peace in an increasingly fragmented world. As a universal language that transcends cultural, social, and boundaries, sport serves as a powerful catalyst for social transformation.
Dr. Nannette C. Turner appointed interim dean of College of Health Professions
Dr. Nannette C. Turner has been appointed interim dean of Mercer University’s College of Health Professions, effective immediately, executive vice president for academic affairs and provost Lisa…
Personnel note: Brian Hughes joins Mercury Public Affairs
'Brian’s leadership will immediately translate into wins for our Florida clients.'
How Trump's 'Don-roe Doctrine' is different than Bush-era GOP foreign policy : The NPR Politics Podcast
The Republican Party’s approach to world affairs has shifted from attempting to spread democratic values during the George W. Bush administration to “America First” in President Trump’s first term and now to something else entirely. We discuss what to make of Trump’s foreign policy agenda. This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, White House correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben, and senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson.This podcast was produced by Casey Morell and Bria Suggs, and edited by Rachel Baye.Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unlock access to bonus episodes with more from the NPR Politics team, and support public media when you sign up for The NPR Politics Podcast+ at plus.npr.org/politics.
What's ahead in Wisconsin politics in 2026?
Madison politics reporters discuss their perspectives on WORT-FM's "A Public Affair."
U.S. Navy veteran and VA health care executive appointed as Department of War’s top medical leader
Keith Bass, a retired U.S. Navy commander and health care leader, was sworn in Jan. 12, 2026, as the assistant secretary of war for health affairs.
Abby Zeltser Promoted To SVP Corporate Communications At Sony Pictures Entertainment
EXCLUSIVE: Sony Pictures Entertainment has upped Abby Zeltser to SVP Corporate Communications, Corporate Affairs. Zeltser has been at Sony Pictures collectively for seven years. She re-joined the studio last year as VP, Corporate Communications after leading corporate and executive communications for Tubi. She worked in corporate comms for Sony Pictures’ motion picture group and in …
2025 NFL Odds: Why Eagles-49ers Will be Low-Scoring Affair
Is low scoring in the forecast for Eagles-49ers? Will Hill believes the Under is the play. Here's why.
Warner Bros Motion Picture Group Names Erik Ellner To Lead Business Affairs
Former MGM exec Erik Ellner has been named to lead Warner Bros Business Affairs after Steve Spira's departure
U.S. occupation not good for Venezuela, America or Chicago, says UChicago expert Robert Pape
Pape, an international security affairs and political violence expert, shared four key takeaways in conversation with WBEZ's Sasha-Ann Simons on 'In the Loop' Monday.
Lawmakers mourn Ben Nighthorse Campbell, former U.S. senator and proud Native American
Campbell served as the first Native American to chair the Senate Indian Affairs Committee. He also was known for his endeavors outside politics.
Mercer Health announces the retirement of Dr. Thangaraj Amaran, Vice President of Medical Affairs
Dr. Amaran began his tenure at Mercer Health in July 1981 as a Board Certified Urologist, dedicating nearly four decades to patient care until January 2018. His clinical expertise was matched by his leadership, serving as Vice Chief of Staff (1983), Chief of Staff (1985, 1986, 1991), and Past Chief of Staff (1992). During this […]
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 ...'
VA to launch largest reorganization of health care system in 30 years
The Department of Veterans Affairs will slash the number of networks that support VA medical centers and realign policy offices to promote consistency.
U.S. Veterans Affairs agency plans as many as 35,000 health-care job cuts this month, Washington Post reports
The Department of Veterans Affairs plans to eliminate as many as 35,000 health-care positions this month, the Washington Post reported, citing an internal memo.
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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