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Zimbabwe rejects $350 million US health funding deal warns It threatens national sovereignty
Zimbabwe has ended negotiations on a US-backed health agreement after President Mnangagwa deemed the proposal a threat to national sovereignty, citing concerns over data access, mineral linkages and Washington’s retreat from multilateral health frameworks
The Politics of Wildlife Protection
At the latest Washington Convention meeting in Uzbekistan, countries, conservationists, NGOs and traders negotiated over the fate of the world’s endangered animals
Trump's Ukraine peace deal stalled as bloody war hits 4-year mark
Experts say Vladimir Putin has peruaded U.S. negotiators that he wants to cut a deal – even as Moscow rains missiles and drones on Ukrainian cities.
Trump Considers Targeted Strike Against Iran, Followed by Larger Attack
The top negotiators plan to meet in Geneva on Thursday for last-ditch talks, debating a new proposal that could create an off-ramp as two carrier groups massed within striking distance of Iran.
Trump Considers Targeted Strike Against Iran, Followed by Larger Attack
The top negotiators plan to meet in Geneva on Thursday for last-ditch talks, debating a new proposal that could create an off-ramp as two carrier groups massed within striking distance of Iran.
Trump demands Netflix fire Susan Rice from board amid deal talks
Donald Trump weighed in amid negotiations over the Warner Bros. deal, saying Netflix should fire Susan Rice from its board "or pay the consequences."
Will the US attack Iran? Trump weighs options, floats limited strike
'I guess I am considering that,' President Donald Trump said of as he weighed a limited strike on Iran amid nuclear negotiations.
Trump loses favorite negotiating tool he touted to make peace and money
President responds to Supreme Court ruling by announcing an immediate 10 percent global tariff under a different legal authority and warned that more drastic measures could follow.
Ohio, DOJ accuse OhioHealth of driving up local health insurance costs
A federal lawsuit the Ohio Attorney General and DOJ filed Feb. 20 alleges OhioHealth's reach and negotiating tactics are keeping insurance costs high.
4 issues to watch after Supreme Court ruling overturns Trump tariffs
Refunds for importers and negotiations for new trade deals are among issues to watch after the Supreme Court overturned Trump's tariffs.
St. Joseph Health nurses rally for safer work conditions ahead of contract negotiations
Union members gather outside Bryan hospital to voice concerns about patient safety and workplace conditions
President Trump extends his timeline for Iran negotiations to 10-15 days
Nestle reports better-than-expected Q4 sales growth, plans ice cream sale
Swiss consumer goods company Nestle reported better than expected fourth-quarter sales growth on Thursday and said it was in advanced negotiations over the sale of its remaining ice cream business to Froneri as it continues to streamline its portfolio.
2025 Full-Year results: Excellent financial performance reflecting the strengths of Nexans’ business model
2025 Full-Year results Excellent financial performance reflecting the strengths of Nexans’ business model Exceptional level of organic growth at +8.3% in 2025Strong Adjusted EBITDA margin increase at 11.9% of standard salesPortfolio rotation – Exclusive negotiations entered into for the sale of AutoelectricSolid balance sheet enabling to step-up M&A activityEntering 2026 with confidence with the full deployment of our Global Electrification Pure Player model Preliminary statement : In compliance
US military building up assets in the Middle East as negotiations over a deal with Iran continue
This Entertainment Lawyer to the Stars Shares His Best Negotiating Secret
Allen Grubman on why you should always overtip and why the media business is always seeking fresh blood.
Live updates: Trump administration news, US-Russia-Ukraine trilateral talks and DHS funding negotiations
Portuguese PM slammed over €20K TV sports contract
Luís Montenegro has ordered his team to renegotiate the price paid to stream football matches in his official residence and government offices.
Russia says Ukraine peace talks in Geneva were difficult, but business-like
Russia's chief negotiator Vladimir Medinsky said on Wednesday that U.S.-mediated peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in Geneva had been difficult but business-like, and that a new round of talks would be held soon.
She built a career in Japan and says one thing is non-negotiable
Lauren Rose Kocher never worked full-time in the US, so her understanding of corporate culture was formed almost entirely in Japan.
With Witkoff and Kushner, Trump Bets on Diplomacy Without Diplomats
President Trump’s most trusted envoys are at the center of the Iran and Ukraine negotiations, an approach that has sidelined the State Department and the National Security Council.
A major question in Iran talks: How long will Trump keep the diplomatic window open?
Iranian and American negotiators departed their indirect talks in Geneva with an agreement to keep talking, doing little to ease fears of an impending regional war.
St. Joseph Health nurses to hold rally for patient safety
RNs from St. Joseph Health in Brazos Valley, Texas, will hold a rally on Thursday, Feb. 19, as they prepare for upcoming negotiations for their first contract since forming a union last December. Nurses say safe staffing, workplace safety, and a strong voice for bedside nurses will be their top priorities as they start negotiations.
Trump Required Hospitals To Post Their Prices for Patients. Mostly It’s the Industry Using the Data.
Politicians have pushed for price transparency in health care. But instead of patients shopping for services, it’s mostly health systems and insurers that are using the information, as fodder for negotiations over pay.
US Homeland Security Department’s funding negotiations stall
Democrats have called for a ban on immigration agents wearing masks and are pushing for more oversight of operations.
US increases military pressure on Iran ahead of high-stakes talks
The US military is continuing a significant buildup of air and naval assets in the Middle East ahead of planned talks with Iran in Geneva on Tuesday. The pieces are being moved into place both to intimidate Tehran and to have options to strike inside the country should negotiations over its nuclear program fail, multiple sources familiar with the matter told CNN.
Hapag-Lloyd in Advanced Talks Over Potential Acquisition of Israeli Rival Zim
Negotiations over a deal for all shares in the Israeli competitor haven’t yet resulted in any binding deals.
Government shutdown, immigration demands and midterm politics collide as funding fight continues
The federal government entered another partial shutdown after negotiations over funding for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security stalled.
Government shutdown, immigration demands and midterm politics collide as funding fight continues
Lawmakers left Capitol Hill for recess as the federal government entered another partial shutdown after negotiations over funding for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security stalled, leaving thousands of federal workers and travelers facing uncertainty.
Katie Britt on DHS shutdown negotiations: ‘We won’t walk away from enforcing the law’
The Department of Homeland Security shut down Friday night after lawmakers failed to reach a deal to fund the agency.
Minneapolis upends WA lawmakers’ political playbook, DHS funding
The fallout halted the final stretch of negotiations as Democrats demanded restrictions on immigration agents in exchange for votes for DHS funding.
Congress Jets Off as D.H.S. Shuts Down
Despite a deadlock over funding for the agency, lawmakers left town and left Democratic and White House negotiators to try to work out a deal in their absence.
Video San Francisco schools close as teachers strike over pay and health care
SFUSD schools will be closed on Tuesday as negotiations between the district and the union continue, according to officials.
Hospitals are posting prices for patients. It's mostly industry using the data
The Trump administration pushed for price transparency in health care. But instead of patients shopping for services, it's mostly health systems and insurers using the information for negotiations.
INTEGRIS Health could be 'out-of-network' for some Oklahomans starting March 9
If negotiations with United Healthcare fall through, Oklahomans using UnitedHealthcare would lose access to INTEGRIS Health doctors, clinics and hospitals.
INTEGRIS Health could be 'out-of-network' for some Oklahomans starting March 9
If negotiations with United Healthcare fall through, Oklahomans using UnitedHealthcare would lose access to INTEGRIS Health doctors, clinics and hospitals.
Redding nurses and health care workers announce Feb. 19 strike
Shasta Regional staff have been in negotiations since August, 2025 for a new contract with little to no movement on key issues. The staff urges management to agree to a contract that provides safe staffing and a commitment to practices that recruit and retain workers.
How fights over ICE funding are playing out on the Hill and in midterm races : The NPR Politics Podcast
Lawmakers on Capitol Hill are running out of time to reach an agreement over funding for the Department of Homeland Security, which includes Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection. We discuss the state of negotiations, plus how calls to “abolish ICE” are playing out in congressional races.This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, congressional reporter Sam Gringlas, political correspondent Ashley Lopez, and political reporter Elena Moore.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.
Fresno city workers 'stuck in the middle' of Community Health negotiations with Blue Shield CA
Thousands of employees for the city of Fresno are now cut off from their health care as Community Health Systems and Blue Shield of California hammer out an agreement.
WATCH LIVE: White House briefing may address DHS funding negotiations, National Prayer Breakfast
Editorial: Pa. politicians must not let national politics delay the state's budget
Fewer than three months after last year’s Pennsylvania state budget negotiations ended, this year’s budget process began yesterday with Gov....
Trump, Changing Course, Throws Harvard Deal Talks Into Chaos
In the latest example of his mercurial negotiating style, President Trump went from dropping his ask for a $200 million fine to demanding $1 billion from the university.
House passes budget bill to end partial government shutdown
The measure funds most of the federal government through Sept. 30, while providing the Department of Homeland Security with short-term funding for two weeks. Lawmakers will return to negotiate potential changes for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement as Democrats demand more restrictions on its operations.
Union, Marathon meeting as strike deadline looms for US refineries
Negotiators for the United Steelworkers union (USW) and Marathon Petroleum continued to meet on Saturday, just hours ahead of a deadline for possible strikes at multiple U.S. refineries and chemical plants, the union said.
Senate Passes Deal to Fund Government and Negotiate ICE Limits
Democrats agreed to fund the Department of Homeland Security for two weeks while they negotiate with President Trump on restricting his immigration crackdown.
Shutdown nears as lawmakers brace for next round of ICE negotiations
Over the next two weeks, Democrats and Republicans will weigh competing demands on changes to Department of Homeland Security operations.
901Women and Tiger Women’s Athletics to Celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day - University of Memphis Athletics
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Memphis Athletic Department and 901Women will celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day with its women's programs and staff membe...
Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries provides an update on the latest government funding negotiations
Talks intensify to avert shutdown as White House and Senate leaders eye last-ditch deal
The White House and Senate leaders are moving closer to a deal to avert a government shutdown but are seeking to resolve final sticking points in eleventh-hour negotiations ahead of Friday’s deadline, according to several sources familiar with the talks.
Healthy Returns: Botox, Trulicity among 15 drugs added to Medicare price negotiations
The Trump administration kicked off another round of Medicare drug price negotiations, while Kaiser Permanente agrees to pay a historic settlement.
Japan Business Lobby Warns of Tariff Impact as Wage Talks Start
The head of Japan’s biggest business lobby warned that the impact of US tariffs on the nation’s industry needs to be carefully monitored, in comments signaling caution as formal wage negotiations between employers and labor unions get underway.
Thousands of Bay Area Kaiser workers to go on strike starting Monday: Here's what we know
Kaiser Permanente said in a statement that negotiations were resuming Sunday with unionized nurses and other workers who are planning an open-ended strike starting Monday at dozens of locations in California and Hawaii.
Rodman adds soccer maturity to celebrity stardom
Rodman returns after signing a new Washington Spirit contract following a lengthy negotiation, and the young player is moving forward with newly-forged maturity
Barcelona complete signing of highly-rated African talent talent
Barcelona can finally relax after securing the signing of Hamza Abdelkarim, a move that had required patience, calm negotiation and, above all, the player’s desire to wear the Blaugrana shirt. Acco...
Donald Trump, CEO-in-Chief: How the president's dealmaking instincts are shaking up business and the government
In his second term, President Trump has doubled down on his favorite tactics: one-on-one negotiations and unpredictability. He's made big changes; will they endure?
Zelensky to Meet Trump at Davos Forum to Discuss Ukraine Peace Deal
President Trump and Ukraine’s leader, Volodymyr Zelensky, are expected to talk about sticking points in negotiations to end the war with Russia.
Trump has tariffs. Europe has a ‘trade bazooka.’ This Greenland standoff could get ugly, fast
President Donald Trump threatened Saturday to impose new 10% tariffs on imports from several European countries. It could unravel months of progress made during trade negotiations settled after Trump’s trade war last year.
Video: Trump Threatens New Tariffs To Force Sale of Greenland
On Saturday morning, President Trump announced in a social media post his latest strategy to seize control of Greenland: He is slapping new tariffs on a group of European nations until they come to the negotiating table to sell Greenland.
Senate bipartisan health care talks on thin ice
Senators left town Thursday sounding pessimistic about any breakthroughs in negotiations to extend expired Obamacare subsidies.
Temporary health insurance resolution for 6000+ FUSD retirees
Over 6,000 Fresno Unified retirees have gone without in-network healthcare coverage since the start of the year as negotiations stalled between Community Medical Centers and insurance company Aetna.
Thousands of nurses go on strike in New York City
Nurses were joined by elected leaders, including the city’s new mayor, Zohran Mamdani, as contract negotiations failed.
WNBA, WNBPA call moratorium on league business as CBA negotiations go on
Late Friday, the WNBPA asked for the moratorium on league business and it was accepted by the league on Monday afternoon.
The US must take Greenland, whatever the cost
The U.S. is considering buying Greenland to secure its strategic interests in the Arctic, as Russia and China invest heavily in the region, and a negotiated transfer with compensation for Denmark w…
Google and Character.AI negotiate first major settlements in teen chatbot death cases
The settlements are among the first tied to lawsuits accusing AI companies of harming users.
Nine MLB teams’ TV money in jeopardy as FanDuel networks continue to struggle
The troubled broadcaster is trying to renegotiate its payments to nine MLB teams, and recently missed a payment to the St. Louis Cardinals.
Exclusive | Rubio Tells Lawmakers Trump Aims to Buy Greenland, Downplays Military Action
The secretary of state said the White House is using rhetoric to pressure Denmark into negotiations.
The Phillies should re-think their stance on opt-outs
Is it actively hurting them in negotiations?
"Caught on Camera" — Popular New Jersey Car Dealer Thought It Was Business as Usual… Until the Cops Called
It would’ve been no more than another day in a life of a YouTube famous car dealer in New Jersey. Instead, the events of that day quickly spiraled into a chaotic mix of tense negotiations, ... Read more
Ukrainian Politics Has Reawakened. Zelensky Must Tread Carefully.
The Ukrainian leader is reshuffling his cabinet as a corruption scandal reshapes the political landscape at a pivotal point in peace negotiations.
Friday Headlines: Cutter Boley leaving and transfer portal opens
Portal season has arrived
Dybala wants to stay at Roma, ready to accept paycut
Paulo Dybala, La Repubblica reports today, has no intention of parting ways with Trigoria and has reportedly expressed his willingness to substantially renegotiate his salary in order to stay. An init...
SSM Health and UnitedHealthcare Reach Temporary Deal to Keep Missouri Patients In-Network
Missourians covered by UnitedHealthcare can breathe a sigh of relief. SSM Health and UnitedHealthcare have signed a letter of agreement, extending their contract for 30 days after months of negotiations and a looming December 31st deadline. The temporary deal means more than 140,000 Missourians with UnitedHealthcare commercial or Medicaid plans can continue seeing SSM Health […]
EA-War on Politics 24 VideoCast: Can Ukraine and Europe Break Putin's Invasion?
32 minutes on negotiations and state of Kyiv's resistance of Russian invasion: can Ukraine and Europe get US support to halt Vladimir Putin?
Unions sue Baltimore City for refusal to negotiate health benefits
Baltimore City’s major unions sued the city, alleging it is refusing to negotiate aspects of health benefits in violation of a 2022 ordinance.
Health care will get more expensive for some in 2026 – and cheaper for others
People covered by Obamacare and Medicaid may see health care costs rise, but for people on Medicare, Biden-era negotiated drug prices are set to go into effect.
Obama Foundation partner expands vendor network for small businesses
Emerald South Economic Development Collaborative said more than 75 Chicago area organizations have joined its network to collectively negotiate service contracts, which will help lower costs.
From AI to Venezuela: Why 2026 is a hinge year for global power
One year ago this week, Joe Biden was president. I was in Doha, Qatar, negotiating with Israel and Hamas to finalize a ceasefire and hostage release deal. The incoming Trump team worked closely with us, a rare display of nonpartisanship to free hostages and end a war. It feels like a decade ago. A lot can happen in a year, as 2025 has shown.
US health agency to negotiate prices for GLP-1 weight-loss drugs
The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said on Tuesday it will negotiate drug prices with manufacturers of GLP-1 medications, in an attempt to expand access to the weight-loss treatments.
USC and Notre Dame will not play football rivalry game in 2026
After months of stalled negotiations and clashes over contract terms, longtime rivals USC and Notre Dame will not face off in college football in 2026.
Sources: Notre Dame, USC rivalry series ending next year as Irish finalize 2-year deal with BYU
Despite months of negotiations, USC and Notre Dame officials have failed to reach an agreement on playing what would be the 97th game in the series next year.
Senate stares down fraught health care battle with ObamaCare subsidies set to expire
Senate negotiators are set for a high-wire act on health care in the coming weeks after leaving Washington for the holidays without a resolution on the expiring enhanced subsidies, with lawmakers i…
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.
Mystery solved: Amazon is the tenant in talks with data center developer rocked by stock plunge
"The lead negotiator for Amazon called me on Thursday," Fermi CEO Toby Neugebauer told Business Insider. The deal would pay more than $20 billion over the next 20 years, he said.
Amid extremist attacks, Senate must stop playing politics with Walker nomination
Each delay sends a message — not only to victims, but to their persecutors — that religious freedom is negotiable.
Roundtable: Did COP30 do enough for health?
As the world heats up, human health needs to be much more firmly on the climate negotiations agenda, say four experts
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.
County commissioners in negotiations with Creoks Behavioral Health Services as new mental health provider
Oklahoma County negotiates with Creoks Behavioral Health Services for new mental health center, aiming to address homelessness and reduce incarceration for nonviolent offenders. Opening planned for 2026.
Big 12 negotiating capital partnership that would allow schools to opt in to more funding: Sources
The partnership would focus on expanding commercial and business operations while offering a capital line of credit to 16 universities.
Islanders Gameday News: Here come the Ducks
They’re not your father’s Ducks! Or at least not your older brother’s Ducks, or something. Tonight the Islanders host a Fairly Strong Ducks of Anaheim team that is first in its division at a very respectable 19-10-1. After years of “very tough negotiator” Pat Verbeek at the helm, it seems he just needed to hire […]
Plan for new business jet hangars could boost revenue at underused Sikorsky Airport
The city's airport commission approved negotiations with Sky Harbour to build and manage business plane sites at the Stratford-based facility.
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
YouTube TV is planning to launch a cheaper 'skinny' sports bundle following its battle with Disney
YouTube TV will offer a cheaper sports-focused package in 2026, which it can offer after tough negotiations with Disney and other media companies.
YouTube TV is planning to launch a cheaper 'skinny' sports bundle following its battle with Disney
YouTube TV will offer a cheaper sports-focused package in 2026, which it can offer after tough negotiations with Disney and other media companies.
Two of Trump's peace deals at risk as fighting surges in Congo and at Cambodia-Thailand border
At least two of several agreements aimed at ending global conflicts that President Donald Trump has hailed as evidence of his negotiating prowess are in trouble and at risk of collapsing
Nurses association welcomes mediation as Legacy Health returns to negotiation table
After four days of striking, Legacy Health has agreed to enter mediation with the Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) and return to the bargaining table.
Louisiana’s secret business negotiations need to stop, critics say
Louisiana leaders have touted new industrial projects that promise to create thousands of jobs, but critics say these secret business negotiations need to stop.
Opinion | Studying Science in an Anti-Scientific Time
Peter Dear’s new book struggles to negotiate our polarized present.
TriHealth and UnitedHealthcare negotiations could disrupt health insurance
Thousands of people in Cincinnati face potential disruptions in their health insurance or may need to switch providers due to ongoing negotiations between TriHealth and UnitedHealthcare, with critical procedures and birthing plans hanging in the balance.
Patients in limbo as Aetna changes coverage for UConn Health
Thousands of people are caught in the middle of a contract fight between UConn Health and Aetna. Now, the health system is considered out-of-network for many patients with Aetna insurance. Months of negotiations have so far failed to reach a deal. And now it means a lot of frustrations and uncertainties for what we’re told is about 15,000 patients who…