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Trump has vowed to strike Venezuela ‘soon’ for months
In President Donald Trump’s telling, a land strike on Venezuela could come “soon.”
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.
Russia gave Putin its annual review of the Ukraine war. Here are 10 highlights.
Russia disclosed several new figures on Wednesday, including how much it's specifically spent on the war and how many soldiers it hired in 2025.
Fact-checking Trump: Economy, wages, immigration and more
The president made a wide variety of claims Wednesday night. Some were true, some were misleading, and others were false.
Basketball box scores, other sports scores for Wednesday, December 17, 2025; Thursday's schedule
WEDNESDAY’S RESULTS Boys Basketball NON-SECTION Charleroi 62, Steel Valley 27 Steel Valley 0 17 5 5 — 27 Charleroi 29 13 10 10 — 62 High...
Chargers vs. Cowboys: LA debuts loaded Wednesday injury report
With the Chargers taking on the Cowboys, the Bolts have revealed a loaded injury report ahead of their Week 16 matchup.
Analysis: 4 takeaways from Trump’s primetime address
President Donald Trump delivered a rare 20-minute primetime speech from the Oval Office on Wednesday night.
West Georgia takes down Brewton-Parker 70-49
CARROLLTON, Ga. (AP) Shelton Williams-Dryden's 18 points helped West Georgia defeat Brewton-Parker 70-49 on Wednesday.
Troops will receive $1,776 checks before Christmas, Trump announces
President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that he would be issuing checks to members of the United States military for $1,776 – in honor of the country’s founding – calling the payment the “Warrior Dividend.”
Syracuse takes care of business in win over Mercyhurst
The Syracuse Orange hosted Mercyhurst on Wednesday at the JMA Wireless Dome.
Patriots Wednesday Week 16 injury report: Multiple starters out
Multiple starters were listed as non-participants at the Patriots' practice on Wednesday, ahead of their Week 16 showdown with the Ravens.
US military strikes another boat in the Pacific Ocean, killing 4
The US military conducted a strike against another alleged drug-trafficking boat in the eastern Pacific Ocean on Wednesday, killing 4 people, according to US Southern Command.
‘People business first and the food business second.’ Artie T. testifies in court battle to regain Market Basket post.
Deposed Market Basket chief executive Arthur T. Demoulas took the stand Wednesday, vigorously refuting the case that the company's board made for firing him.
House Republicans vote to let Obamacare subsidies lapse
A House GOP-authored health care bill passed the chamber Wednesday night but won’t be the final word on the future of the enhanced tax credits.
House GOP passes narrow health care package, letting key Obamacare subsidies expire
House Republicans on Wednesday approved a narrow package designed to lower health care costs for some Americans in the coming years – marking a win for leadership even as some of their own members complain it falls woefully short of tackling rising prices in 2026.
House passes GOP health care bill without ObamaCare subsidy extension
House Republicans on Wednesday passed a partisan package of health care policies designed to provide a conservative alternative to extending the expiring ObamaCare subsidies. The legislation …
Trump attempts domestic reset with White House address Wednesday evening
The president’s approval ratings reached their lowest numbers in late November. Even some supporters say he has done too little to improve their lives.
Judge blocks ICE policy restricting congressional oversight visits
A federal judge on Wednesday temporarily blocked US Immigration and Customs Enforcement from enforcing new rules limiting congressional oversight visits, finding that Democratic lawmakers are likely to succeed in their claim that the policy violates federal law governing congressional access to detention facilities.
Watch Gainesville vs. Thomas County Central in Georgia 5A football championship: Live stream
The game begins at 8 p.m, on Wednesday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
House advances GOP health care package that doesn’t include ObamaCare subsidy extension
The House advanced a GOP health care bill Wednesday, even as moderate Republicans signed a Democratic discharge petition to extend the Affordable Care Act subsidies in an act of defiance against le…
A giant in Monroe County politics and government honored by Morelle on the House floor
In a one-minute speech on the House floor , Congressmember Joe Morelle paid tribute Wednesday to Lucien Morin, Monroe County's first elected executive.
RELEASE: DELAWARE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONSORTIUM HIRES ADMINISTRATOR - State of Delaware News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | Wednesday, December 17, 2025 Media Contact: Alexis Wrease Email: alexis.wrease@delaware.gov Phone: (302) 622-2677 Delaware Behavioral Health Consortium Hires Administrator Wilmington — The Delaware Behavioral Health Consortium (BHC) is excited to welcome Katie Leibel-Marin as its Administrator. With extensive experience in strategic development, budget management, community engagement, and board management, Leibel-Marin […]
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.
Google's vibe-coding tool Opal comes to Gemini
The company on Wednesday said it is integrating the tool, which lets you build AI-powered mini apps, inside the Gemini web app, allowing users to create their own custom apps.
DraftKings promo code: Get $200 in bonus bets for Bulls-Cavaliers, Delaware-Louisiana, Timberwolves-Grizzlies
DraftKings offers a $200 bonus on a $5 winning wager for Wednesday NBA and college football betting
Wilkes Weekly: Two wins and a dud
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins won their first two games last week before the rare blowout loss took them down a notch. Nick Hart at WBSPenguins with more: Wednesday, Dec. 10 – PENGUINS 3 at Hartford 0Sergei Murashov thwarted a first-period barrage from the Wolf Pack, earning to a 34-save shutout. Phil Tomasino and Avery Hayes scored on […]
Faith-based entertainment sees a revival in Hollywood. Defining what it is can be a challenge
Faith-based films are gaining traction in Hollywood, with recent successes sparking renewed interest. Angel Studios' animated biblical film "David" has already exceeded $14 million in pre-sale tickets. "The Chosen," a popular drama about Jesus, has grossed over $116 million domestically since Fat...
Faith-based entertainment sees a revival in Hollywood. Defining what it is can be a challenge
Faith-based films are gaining traction in Hollywood, with recent successes sparking renewed interest.
Live updates: GOP health care bill comes to House floor; Senate takes up NDAA
The House is set to vote Wednesday on a narrow, GOP-crafted health care bill, having shut down any chance of an amendment that includes an extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies. A contentious …
The week in politics (Dec. 17, 2025)
On Wednesday's show: We discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup. And soprano Sarah Brightman discusses her career and previews an upcoming holiday concert in Sugar Land.
Wednesday BP: How is Vitello preparing for his new role?
What is new manager Tony Vitello prioritizing as he prepares for his new role with the Giants?
House to vote on GOP health care bill that doesn't address expiring tax credits
The House will vote Wednesday on a Republican-backed bill that aims to reform health care. Despite mounting pressure, the vote fails to address Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax subsidies set to expire this month.
Jack Smith testifies in closed-door House Judiciary Committee session as GOP ramps up probe of Trump prosecution
Former special counsel Jack Smith is set to testify Wednesday in a closed-door deposition before the House Judiciary Committee regarding his prosecutions of Donald Trump.
FIFA Women’s Champions Cup tickets on sale now
Tickets are now on sale for the FIFA Women’s Champions Cup semi-finals, hosted at Brentford's stadium on Wednesday 28 January.Juniors can attend for £5 and adults for as little as £13, with discou...
Finally off the schneid, Oregon squares off with Portland
Oregon looks to build off the momentum of ending a five-game losing streak last time out when it hosts Portland on Wednesday night in Eugene, Ore.
Analysis: What Trump can learn from Vance ahead of his national address
President Donald Trump could do worse than stick to JD Vance’s script in his primetime national address on Wednesday night.
Jared Kushner’s Luxury Dreams Collide With Balkan Politics
His firm pulled out of a planned luxury hotel in Serbia after anti-government protests, while a resort in Albania is being overshadowed by local scandals.
Tomball businesses brace for planned power outage during critical holiday week
Tomball businesses face disruption due to a planned power outage on Wednesday, impacting holiday sales. Utility upgrades aim to prevent future extended outages.
"MicroProse and Geoff Crammond Reunite to Revive a Racing Legend"
MicroProse is excited to announce its renewed partnership with legendary game developer Geoff Crammond, creator of some of the most influential racing simulation games of the 1990s and early 2000s. Together, we are bringing back his groundbreaking racing game engine in a re-release of the original game technology, enhanced with updates, new tools, and Steam Workshop support, through the upcoming Geoff Crammond Racing series: GCR1, GCR2, GCR3, and GCR4, scheduled to release in 2026. These titles are being reintroduced under new names to reflect our independent direction and to ensure full separation from any official motorsport licensing. While the names are new, the core simulation engine, physics systems, and pioneering gameplay features developed by Geoff Crammond remain at the heart of each release. Geoff Crammond’s original work helped define the foundations of modern racing games, introducing innovations such as advanced real-time physics, highly configurable driving assists (including the ideal racing line, steering help and auto braking), realistic AI driver behaviour, deep telemetry analysis, comprehensive car setup systems, extensive wet weather system, and the list goes on. The GCR series proudly carries this legacy forward. Steam Workshop support will enable the community to create and share custom tracks, cars, liveries, teams, drivers and more. This reunion marks the beginning of a long-term partnership between MicroProse and Geoff Crammond, with further announcements in the series to come. MicroProse is officially back on the track at full speed. GCR1 Steam Page GCR2 Steam Page GCR3 Steam Page GCR4 Steam Page -- MicroProse, founded in 1982, is a world-famous simulation software company known for developing groundbreaking classics and new blockbuster titles such as Falcon, HighFleet, B-17 The Mighty Eighth, Ground Branch, Gunship and many more! Today, MicroProse is not only remaking select classics from its past but also paving the road to next-generation, state of the art games that will create the memories and experiences of new generations of gamers.
12/17 Big Ten basketball preview: Arizona State at UCLA
UCLA battles an old conference foe, USC takes on UTSA and Oregon welcomes in-state Portland all on Wednesday.
Ole Miss continues quest for season turnaround vs. Alabama A&M
Ole Miss, coming off a self-described "must-win" victory over Southern Miss on Saturday, will strive to keep the momentum going when it faces Alabama A&M in a neutral-site matchup Wednesday night in Tupelo, Miss.
Marquette eager to find range vs. Georgetown
Marquette will be looking to rediscover its shooting touch when it hosts Georgetown on Wednesday night in Milwaukee in the Big East opener for each team.
4 takeaways from the final jobs report of the year
Here's what unemployment, wage growth, and other newly released data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed.
House plans Wednesday vote on Republican health care bill
The bill proposes reducing health insurance premiums through cost-sharing reduction payments, among other reforms
House plans Wednesday vote on Republican health care bill
The bill proposes reducing health insurance premiums through cost-sharing reduction payments, among other reforms
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Gabby Thomas among those owed six figures by bankrupt Grand Slam Track
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Gabby Thomas, Melissa Jefferson-Wooden and four other Olympic medalists are among those owed six-figure sums by Grand Slam Track, the racing league that filed for bankruptcy earlier this month.
US added 64K jobs in November after losing 105K in October, delayed report shows
The Labor Department released the highly anticipated November jobs report which showed the U.S. economy added jobs despite uncertainty over inflation.
Youth Mental Health Spotlighted at U.S. Launch of the Second Lancet Commission on Adolescent Health and Wellbeing | Johns Hopkins Center for Global Mental Health
In October 2025, global health leaders, policymakers, youth advocates, and researchers convened in the nation’s capital for a two-day A Call to Action for Youth Mental Health. The event served as the U.S. launch of the report of the Second Lancet Commission on Adolescent Health and Wellbeing, an international effort to address the urgent and escalating challenges facing adolescents worldwide. Hosted by the Johns Hopkins Center for Global Mental Health, the convening followed the World Health Assembly launch in May 2025. The next steps will be to continue collaborating with partners across the U.S. and the world to support the actions responsive to youth needs, including, Integrate youth lived experience expertise into mental health research, policy, and practiceApply data-driven accountability for equitable access to quality careShape urban environments to promote youth mental healthUnderstand gendered drivers and tailored responses to support youth mental healthCatalyze intersectoral engagement for youth mental health: health, education, and social support systems
Senate health care talks flicker to life as ObamaCare deadline nears
A bipartisan group of senators is making a renewed push toward finding a health care solution as the hour-glass winds down to the end-of-month deadline to extend the enhanced Affordable Care Act (A…
The FBI is investigating a startup founder accused of using VC money to pay for her house and a Caribbean wedding.
Shiloh Luckey faces SEC charges for using VC funds to pay for her home, Super Bowl tickets, trips to Aspen, and a wedding. The FBI is also investigating.
PayPal applies to form its own bank to expand small-business lending
The move follows a broader push for financial deregulation under President Trump that has allowed digital asset companies to obtain preliminary banking charters.
Chicago business owner sues city and mayor, claims Riverwalk license revoked due to racial bias
Beat Kitchen owner Robert Gomez is suing the city, alleging his Riverwalk license was not renewed due to racial discrimination, despite being the most qualified applicant under city rules.
Who was the best boys athlete on the Northshore for the week of Dec. 7-13? Vote Now!
Help choose the best boys athlete in St. Tammany Parish for the week of Dec. 7-13. You have until Wednesday at noon to vote!
Trump’s plan to bolster Europe’s nationalists is already underway
The U.S. administration vowed in its recent National Security Strategy to boost “patriotic European parties” to the detriment of the EU.
iOS 26.2’s Home app has a new upgrade for adding accessories
Apple is rumored to launch five new Home products in the year ahead, and ahead of that renewed smart home...
Horse Tracks: Broncos are the ‘overdogs’
Immediately following the Broncos’ playoff-clinching win over the Packers, CBS’ lead sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson asked Bo Nix what the “underdog Broncos team showed against a really difficult Packers team?” “That we’re the overdogs,” the quarterback said without skipping a beat. Yeah. Take that, sports pundits. The Denver Broncos are the overdogs. “Every unit played […]
Japan business mood hits 4-year high
TOKYO >> Big Japanese manufacturers’ business sentiment hit a four-year high in the three months to December, a closely watched survey showed on Monday, reinforcing market expectations the central bank will raise interest rates this week.
AI Is Getting Dangerously Good at Political Persuasion
For a while last year, scientists offered a glimmer of hope that artificial intelligence would make a positive contribution to democracy. They showed that chatbots could address conspiracy theories racing across social media, challenging misinformation around beliefs in issues such as chemtrails and the flat Earth with a stream of reasonable facts in conversation. But two new studies suggest a disturbing flipside: The latest AI models are getting even better at persuading people at the expense o
“The Bus” Keeps Rolling – Hurricanes 3, Flyers 2
The Carolina Hurricanes won their third straight shootout game as they outlasted the Philadelphia Flyers, 3-2 on Sunday night at the Lenovo Center. The win allowed Carolina to sweep the back-to-back and home-and-home series. The Canes now have a 21-9-2 record as they sit three points ahead of the second place New York Islanders in […]
Instant reaction: Broncos deliver monumental victory over Packers
The Denver Broncos defeated the Green Bay Packers 34-26 to secure their twelfth victory of the season.
Making sense of the risky Netflix-Warner Bros. deal
Netflix's $82.6 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. encapsulates a fraught moment for Hollywood, as the entertainment business is increasingly overshadowed by tech giants.
Mass weddings and political power: Why Unification Church keeps resurfacing in Korean politics
Long known for its stadium-scale mass weddings that drew global attention — and for its followers’ widely used nickname, “Moonies” — the Unification Church has
Figure AI CEO says over 170,000 people have applied to his robot company in the last 3 years. He hired fewer than 500.
Figure AI CEO Brett Adcock said on X that his company reviewed 176,000 resumes but most of them were "slop." Less than 450 people were hired, he said.
UT Health East Texas child psychiatrist weighs in on Australia’s under-16 social media ban
As Australia welcomed the world-first social media ban for children younger than 16 on Wednesday, a UT Health East Texas child and adolescent psychiatrist weighed in on the ban.
Teen’s video a ‘Breakthrough’ in science communication
Seventeen-year-old Grace Lee from Chula Vista is gaining national attention as a finalist in the global Breakthrough Junior Challenge, an annual competition that invites students to create original videos explaining complex scientific ideas in creative and engaging ways. Founded in 2015, the contest encourages young people to break down advanced scientific theories using imagination and storytelling— “Steven Spielberg meets Albert Einstein,” as organizers describe it. Lee’s submission centers on the principle of least time in physics, a concept that explains why light always travels the path that takes the least amount of time. To bring the idea to life, she used intricate origami characters and stop-motion animation, along with simple at-home experiments, she said. “The fact that light always travels via the path that takes the least amount of time sounds simple at first, but nature is full of surprises,” she said. “This principle is actually very profound and underlies many different fields in physics that seem completely unrelated, from optics to Newton’s laws to Einstein’s theory of relativity.” Also, origami has long been one of her passions and integrating it into her project felt natural. She often makes origami gifts for friends and teaches origami in her school clubs. “A single 10-second scene would take hours to craft,” she said, noting the mixture of stop-motion and post-production editing required to animate expressions and movement. To ensure the science remained accurate and accessible, she spent time reading books and online resources, writing a script, creating a storyboard, and filming and editing repeatedly until the visuals worked.The experiments were among the biggest challenges. To demonstrate water waves, she used everyday household items — “a spatula and an electric toothbrush to vibrate the waves, glass in a baking pan for different depths, and an iPhone flashlight so the waves would be visible.” She also put careful thought into explaining the principle through analogies, including a gingerbread man and a fox. “Analogies and visuals are incredibly important,” she said. “Visual demonstrations allow viewers to see how the science actually works.” Beyond the competition, Lee is deeply involved in science leadership and advocacy. She serves as International President of miRcore, the world’s largest student computational biology organization, with 136 chapters across five countries. She leads a 20-member executive board, organizes outreach connecting schools worldwide, and has helped run workshops at locations including Scripps Research Institute and the University of Michigan. “I used to be intimidated,” she said, but she gradually grew her skills and confidence. “Now I am no longer afraid to use my voice and enthusiasm to bring out the best in others.” Her research experience includes two peer-reviewed papers on asthma and vaping. Misconceptions around vaping, she said, show why clear science communication matters. “Our research shows that there is long-term harm to your lungs on the cellular level that isn’t obvious unless you come down with an illness like the flu,” she said. Lee also founded Full Hearts at Eastlake High School, transforming the small club into one of the school’s largest, with hands-on service projects in partnership with local nonprofits. She continues mentoring younger students to sustain the mission. If she wins the Breakthrough Junior Challenge, Grace hopes the $100,000 science lab prize for her school will expand opportunities for students who have limited access to equipment and hands-on science outside the classroom.
Jasmine Crockett's campaign launch for U.S. Senate in Texas and the political dominoes that followed
Game Preview: San Jose Sharks @ Pittsburgh Penguins 12/13/25
Who: San Jose Sharks (15-14-3, 33 points, 5th place Pacific Division) @ Pittsburgh Penguins (14-8-7, 35 points, 5th place Metropolitan Division) When: 3:00 p.m. ET How to Watch: Broadcast locally on Sportsnet Pittsburgh and NBC Sports California, streaming on ESPN+ Pens’ Path Ahead: The homestand continues Sunday against the Utah Mammoth, followed by what could be a reunion with […]
Starmer to pick new US ambassador as relations with Trump tested
Exclusive: a trio of candidates have been interviewed by the PM, but he could still decide to directly appoint someone else
Political power and profitable trades in the US Congress
The debate over whether US members of Congress should be allowed to trade individual stocks has become a mainstream policy concern. This column uses data on every US congressional stock trade from 1995 to 2021 to reveal that while rank-and-file members do not systematically beat the market, once some of them assume leadership positions their portfolios start to look very different and outperform those of regular members. The pattern raises uncomfortable questions about how political power, corporate access, and personal wealth interact.
Everything Greg Gard said after blowout loss to Nebraska
The Badgers had a tough day on the road on Wednesday.
Analysis: 24 hours that showed the limits of Trump’s power
The Indiana state Senate’s vote against a new congressional map that President Donald Trump had pressured it to adopt was one of the most extraordinary examples to date of Republicans standing up to Trump.
The Search for Life Tops NASA's Science Goals for the First Human Mars Mission
A new report identifies searching for life as the top science priority for humanity's first landing on Mars, ranking it above understanding water cycles, mapping geology, or even studying how the Martian environment affects astronaut health. The report outlines four possible exploration campaigns, with the highest ranked approach calling for missions totalling 330 sols at a single scientifically rich site where crews could investigate everything from ancient lava flows to active dust storms. By placing the search for extraterrestrial life at the centre of human Mars exploration, the report reimagines the first crewed mission not just as a milestone for spaceflight but as humanity's best chance to answer whether we're alone in the universe.
Want To Know What The Last 2 Minutes Before Being Swallowed By A Volcanic Eruption Look Like? Now You Can
RIP Camera V3.
I visited an underrated city in Sweden before heading to Copenhagen, and it ended up being a highlight of my Europe trip
Malmö, Sweden, is just 20 minutes from Copenhagen, Denmark, via train. Affordable and fun, it's totally worth adding to your trip to Scandinavia.
Virginia Sports Hall of Fame announces Class of 2026
The Virginia Sports Hall of Fame has announced its Class of 2026 on Wednesday.
Several Subway shops in Maine close as state revokes business certificates
Several Subway restaurants in Maine, owned by MTF Subs, were abruptly closed after the state revoked their business registration certificates Wednesday.
CDC study says Covid shots continue to protect healthy kids from severe illness
Researchers found that Covid vaccines reduced the risk of emergency room and urgent care visits by 56% to 76%. It comes as some federal health officials have sowed doubt in the shots.
Einstein was right: Time ticks faster on Mars, posing new challenges for future missions
Clocks on Mars tick faster by about 477 microseconds each Earth day, a new study suggests. This difference is significantly more than that for our moon, posing potential challenges for future crewed missions.
Goldman on Lander challenge: ‘Politics will have to wait ’til 2026′
Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.) on Wednesday declined to comment on New York City Comptroller Brad Lander’s (D) decision to challenge him in the party primary, instead homing in on legislative tasks to c…
A Philly restaurant came clean about its Health Department shutdown. Was that the right call?
Cafe Michelangelo’s management chose to explain, point by point, the issues that led the city to close it temporarily. The restaurant also has vowed to improve its sanitation practices.
Pittsburgh’s Strength as Business Center Fuels Aer Lingus Entry into Market
With today’s announcement that Aer Lingus is introducing nonstop flights from Pittsburgh International Airport to Dublin Airport, Pittsburgh and Ireland have the opportunity to build on the powerful business and cultural connection that drives economic development in both regions. Flights on Aer Lingus, the Irish flag carrier, start on May 25, 2026, on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays
High school basketball: Boys' and girls' scores from Wednesday
CIF City and Southern Section boys' and girls' basketball results from Wednesday.
Crooks: 11-0 ISU 'battle-tested' after win vs. Iowa
Audi Crooks had another huge game in leading No. 10 Iowa State past in-state rival and No. 11 Iowa on Wednesday. After the win, which kept the Cyclones undefeated at 11-0, Crooks said, "I feel like now we're officially battle-tested."
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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