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Avatar 3: The Mind-Blowing Budget of the Science-Fiction Sequel Finally Revealed
How big is too big for a sequel that has already rewritten box office history, twice? The price tag behind Avatar: Fire and Ash is daring Hollywood to decide whether scale still sells.
3 AI Applications Your Business Can Use This Year With Confidence
Chatbots, AI Assistants and Virtual Receptionists are ready for use by small business.
Letters to the Editor: Readers remember Rob Reiner’s contributions to both Hollywood and politics
'Rob Reiner's work has impacted generations of Americans. The characters, dialogue and visuals he brought to life in film and television are woven throughout our culture,' writes an L.A. Times reader.
Governor DeWine Announces Science of Reading Audit Results for Ohio Colleges and Universities
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine joined Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE) Chancellor Mike Duffey today to announce the results of a recent audit into educator preparation programs (EPPs) at colleges and universities across the state.
Chicago health information leader recognized for raising CPR readiness and blood pressure awareness
DALLAS, Dec. 16, 2025 — In the United States, more than 350,000 sudden cardiac arrests occur outside of the hospital every year, and 90% of them are fatal.[1] In an effort to save more lives, Laura Merrick, winner of the American Heart Association’s 2025...
UT, BGSU found noncompliant in state science of reading audit
COLUMBUS — The University of Toledo and Bowling Green State University are among the 10 schools found to be out of compliance with Ohio’s science of ...
Bluetooth 6.0: What You Need to Know About the Future of Wireless Headphones
Bluetooth got a major upgrade, and it's already showing up in phones and headphones. Here's what to expect and what we're still waiting for.
Albanese Treads a Toxic Political Path After Bondi Attack
The prime minster faces a far-right rush to blame migration.
Chincoteague Island featured in Business View Magazine
Chincoteague has been featured in Business View Magazine as part of the publication’s ongoing series highlighting economic growth and best practices in cities and towns across North America. The feature is based on an in-depth interview between Chincoteague Mayor Denise Bowden and Business View Magazine Editor-in-Chief Karen Surca, focusing on how the island community balances tourism-driven prosperity with long-term sustainability ... Read More
Study: Property tax cuts, elimination would hit Florida’s rural communities hardest
Rural cities already devote most of their property tax revenue to basic services, leaving little room to absorb new tax cuts.
Sunburn — The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics
Hit the ground running with Sunburn — your go-to tipsheet for all things Florida politics.
Ready for a whole lot more Silksong? Team Cherry casually unveils first "big" expansion Sea of Sorrow - and it's completely free
Team Cherry has unveiled Silksong's first big - and free - expansion, alongside a Switch 2 Edition of Hollow Knight.
“The faces of CERN” at the Globe of Science and Innovation
Originally created for the Cité des métiers, the exhibition “The Faces of CERN: People Advancing Science” will be displayed in CERN's Globe of Science and Innovation from December 17, 2025 to March 1, 2026. From 25 to 30 November, CERN was the guest of honour at the Cité des métiers, held at Geneva’s Palexpo. During the fair more than 112,000 visitors had the opportunity to discover the CERN stand and exhibition, talk to those who advance science on a daily basis and explore the world of CERN through a range of immersive activities. Designed by interior design students from IPAC Design Geneva, the exhibition was inspired by the birth of the World Wide Web at CERN. Woven together from reusable ribbons and modular structures, symbolises a living network where ideas, knowledge, and collaboration come together. Come and immerse yourself in this network, where each thread tells a story of curious collaboration and showcases your talents. Free admission | Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m
Preorder the Upcoming Book, Pokécology: An Illustrated Guide to Pokémon Ecology
Preorder the upcoming book, Pokécology: An Illustrated Guide to Pokémon Ecology, and get ready to learn about Pokémon in a whole new way.
Last Call for 12.15.25 – A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida
A digest of the day's politics and policy while the bartender refreshes your drink.
Resetting the QB transfer portal market after busy day of high-profile departures
The portal does not officially open until January, but the dominoes have already begun to fall
PayPal Deepens Small Business Lending Push With PayPal Bank
PayPal said it is ready to venture deeper into small business lending. The company applied to the Utah Department of Financial Institutions and the
Digital health companies are already courting ACCESS
The government program would pay participating Medicare providers and suppliers a fixed amount to manage patients' chronic issues.
Apple releases first iOS 26.3 beta for iPhone
Apple has released the first iOS 26.3 developer beta for iPhone. One change we already expect is a joint collaboration...
Threads adds new communities, tests badges for highly engaged members
Threads, which has more than 150 million daily active users, adds more communities to its platform.
On Politics: Republicans are giving Kathy Hochul a re-election gift
It was already going to be hard for Elise Stefanik, the Republican congresswoman, to beat Gov. Kathy Hochul next year.Now she’ll have to contend with Bruce Blakeman, who recently announced his plans to run for governor and will, at the minimum, make life more difficult for her in the Republican primary. Stefanik has come out swinging against the Nassau County executive, attacking him as a perennial candidate who is too liberal for Republican primary voters.Stefanik should win. A large chunk of the GOP primary vote is concentrated north of the New York City suburbs, where she is strongest. She has the support of the state party chair, Ed Cox, and a wide array of politicians and local organizations. She is a loyal ally of Donald Trump and a frequent presence on cable TV.
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.
Warning: Apple’s iOS 26.2 Update Is Quietly Changing A Key iPhone Feature For Some Users
The latest iPhone update is here, and it’s already proving controversial, with some users finding an unrequested change being made. Here’s what to do.
Readers respond: Business-friendly Oregon falters on land development
Letters to the Editor can be submitted to letters@oregonian.com with full name and place of residence.
Philips to acquire AI-enabled intravascular imaging specialists SpectraWAVE
Massachusetts-SpectraWAVE has gained considerable momentum in recent years, planting its flag in some of cardiology’s biggest trends. The company was co-founded by cardiologists and has already secured multiple FDA clearances.
Steelers vs. Dolphins Prediction, Odds, Picks for Monday Night Football
Preview the Week 15 matchup between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Miami Dolphins with predictions, odds, over/under, spread, betting lines and more.
Widespread diaper need poses serious health threats to families
Researchers found that 41 percent of babies screened in urban health centers lack consistent access to the diapers they need.
10 New Customers a Day: The Global Success of SAP Business One
In enterprise software there is no “one size fits all.” That’s why over 83,000 customers rely on SAP Business One to be ready for growth.
AI in entertainment: The real revolution is operational
Discussions about AI in the entertainment industry often conjure images of algorithm-generated scripts and digitally ... Read More
LG webOS TVs are now installing Microsoft Copilot automatically with no option to remove it
Reddit users say LG webOS update added Microsoft Copilot and locked it in place An owner of an LG TV has started a Reddit thread claiming that a recent
Last-minute gift ideas for Florida sports fans? Check out our books
The USA TODAY Network in Florida stands ready to provide the perfect holiday gift for the sports fan in your life.
Apple and Google forced into emergency patching 0-day
: Both admit attackers were already exploiting the bugs, with scant detail and hints of spyware-grade abuse
As anti-ICE Nativity scenes spark outrage, faith leaders grapple with politics at the pulpit
As Nativity scenes depicting ICE draw attention and outrage, faith leaders are grappling with politics in religion and urging a closer reading of the Christmas story.
Bills seek to promote telemedicine and regulate AI in New Hampshire’s health insurance industry
A Nashua lawmaker has filed two bills related to New Hampshire’s health insurance industry: one would prohibit health insurers from using artificial intelligence to overrule doctors while the other would prevent insurers from reimbursing providers less money for equivalent services provided via telemedicine.
Sunburn — The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics
Commentary and links on Florida politics as crisp as your morning bacon.
Chelsea 2-0 Everton
We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League defeat at Chelsea. Here are some of your comments: Jack: As David Moyes has already said, not a bad performance but no real goal threat. Jack Grealish looked a bit off and losing Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall was s big blow.
Kernel Graphics Driver Changes Already Begin Lining Up For Linux 6.20~7.0
Even before the Linux 6.19 merge window wrapped up this weekend with the Linux 6.19-rc1 release, there was already the first pull request to DRM-Next of the first batch of new material to be queued for Linux 6.19's successor.
Apple’s iPhone 20 To Feature A ‘Four-Sided Bending Design’ And Fully Bezel-Less Display; LG Reportedly Investing Nearly $300 Million As Production Line Requires Overhaul
A new report states that the iPhone 20 is already being prepared as the 20th-anniversary release, and will sport a new ‘four-sided bending display’
Grok gets the facts wrong about Bondi Beach shooting
Grok, the chatbot built by Elon Musk’s xAI and popularized on his social media platform X, appears to have repeatedly spread misinformation about today’s mass shooting at Bondi Beach in Australia.
Grok is spreading misinformation about the Bondi Beach shooting
Grok has repeatedly misidentified video of the Bondi Beach shooting and the hero who disarmed a gunman.
A Hidden Difference Between Dinosaurs and Mammals Is Changing Science’s View of the Past
New University of Maryland research suggests that dinosaur parenting strategies helped transform the Mesozoic world, as “latchkey kid dinosaurs” spread into ecological niches their parents left untouched. Imagine a young Brachiosaurus no bigger than a golden retriever, foraging alongside its sibl
'Knives Out 4'? Director Rian Johnson shares update on his next Benoit Blanc mystery
'Knives Out' filmmaker Rian Johnson has already thought about another Benoit Blanc mystery after 'Wake Up Dead Man': 'I have some basic, elemental, conceptual ideas.'
Week 15 Early Games Open Thread
We open with an interesting slate of games while we wait for the Saints to face Carolina later today. Let’s chime in until then!
Warning: Apple’s iOS 26.2 Update Is Quietly Changing A Key iPhone Feature For Some Users
The latest iPhone update is here, and it’s already proving controversial, with some users finding an unrequested change being made. Here’s what to do.
Researchers turned a hamster into a hybrid creature that feeds on light—half animal, half plant - Futura-Sciences
A team from the University of Tokyo has achieved a breakthrough that sounds straight out of science fiction: they’ve created living cells that are part hamster, part plant — and capable of performing photosynthesis. Imagine ... Read more
Readers respond: Political noise is drowning out proven science
Letters to the Editor can be submitted to letters@oregonian.com with full name and place of residence.
iOS 26.2—Update Now Warning Issued To All iPhone Users
Apple has released iOS 26.2, fixing 26 iPhone flaws, two of which are already being used in real-life attacks. Here's what you need to know.
There’s a New Kind of Social Media App People Are Obsessed With. You’ve Probably Used It Already.
Apple’s Find My is Gen Z’s newest social media app. And it’s a dang good one at that.
This Week in Gaming (Week 51)
Welcome to the second to last full week of 2025 and most likely the last week of any kind of interesting new game releases. This week's major release is a first person MMO set in a post Soviet-era universe. If that's not your ginger bread flavour, how about a top-down mix between a MOBA and an RPG, ...
Exclusive: Is America ready for a woman president? Nancy Pelosi's surprising take.
Exit interview: After four decades, the most powerful woman in the history of the United States heads home. She's still defiant.
Carman: Hickenlooper owes Colorado voters answers, not threats
The Democratic campaign machine is already mobilizing to crush Julie Gonzales’ bid to unseat Sen. Hickenlooper
Pa. adopts science-of-reading reforms after years of reading struggles
A few years ago, educators at the Canon-McMillan School District saw an alarming trend: 14% of fourth graders were not reading at grade level as they headed...
Without quantum physics, you wouldn't be reading this. Scientist explains the mind-blowing concept that underpins all our lives | BBC Sky at Night Magazine
Paul Davies, a prominent British scientist and one of the biggest authorities on quantum physics, reveals how it affects all our lives.
LG Update Installs Unremovable Microsoft Copilot on Smart TVs, Ignites Backlash
LG's recent software update has forcibly installed Microsoft Copilot, an AI assistant, on smart TVs without removal options, sparking widespread user backlash over privacy, bloatware, and loss of control. This highlights growing tensions in smart devices, where monetization often overrides user preferences.
Opinion: Pro-business in Bristol Bay means salmon, not mines
Rather than propping up a foreign mining corporation, Alaska should look after the businesses that already anchor Bristol Bay communities.
Dallas Cowboys: Reading between the lines (defense)
Looking at the Cowboys d-line versus the Vikings
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.
Cows forgotten on an island survived alone for 130 years — their story fascinates scientists - Futura-Sciences
In the late 19th century, a small group of cattle was left behind on Amsterdam Island, a remote spot in the subantarctic region. Against the odds, the herd survived and adapted to the island’s harsh ... Read more
Higher cost, worse coverage: Affordable Care Act enrollees say expiring subsidies will hit them hard
Americans are feeling the strain already with less than three weeks to go until the expiration of COVID-era tax credits that have helped many people pay for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act.
Democrats want to win back Congress. First they need to weather their primary battles
At least a dozen US House Democrats are already facing primary challenges, as progressives seek to transform a party regaining its footing after 2024 by tapping into voters’ frustration with its leaders ahead of next year’s midterm elections.
These are the 2 worst pains you can feel, according to science - Futura-Sciences
Pain is a universal experience — but some types push the human body to its absolute limits. So, what are the most intense physical pains known to science? A Canadian study has pinpointed two particularly ... Read more
US set to lose measles elimination status: The ‘house is on fire’
Measles outbreaks are spreading across the U.S., and the nation is likely to lose its status as a country where the disease is eliminated, something that infectious disease specialists say is direc…
iOS 26.2—Update Now Warning Issued To All iPhone Users
Apple has released iOS 26.2, fixing 26 iPhone flaws, two of which are already being used in real-life attacks. Here's what you need to know.
Pacers Sports & Entertainment, JAKKS Pacific Toys bring 16th annual Big Toy Giveaway to Noblesville
As part of the 16th annual statewide Big Toy Giveaway, Pacers Sports & Entertainment and JAKKS Pacific Toys teamed up with the City of Noblesville on Friday, Dec. 12 to…
Business owner loses money over USPS shipping delays, Congressman demands answers
If you have a package on the way from USPS, you may have to wait a little longer, and several say they are already in that position. And, it’s been especially hurtful for business owners who rely on fast shipping for their products.
Game thread: St. John’s men’s basketball vs. Iona
The Red Storm take on Rick Pitino’s former team in a Saturday matinee at the Garden
Enquirer names Cincinnati high school athletes of the week, Dec. 12
Cincinnati.com readers selected the Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine's Athletes of the Week from high school sports action through Dec. 7.
College Football Playoff betting line movement, including Alabama at Oklahoma
SportsLine college football expert Gene Menez tracks the biggest point spread moves for the College Football Playoff
DHS rule could limit international student visas
As immigration advocates warn a proposed rule could dissuade international students from studying in the United States, enrollment has already dropped 17% from last year
Space Force officials fear program delays from small business fund fight
The Space Rapid Capabilities Office already is seeing an impact from the congressional impasse on reauthorizing Pentagon use of Small Business Innovation Program grants, Director Kelly Hammett said.
Award of Merit, Sports/Entertainment: New Alamein City Tourist Promenade
Located along the Mediterranean coast, the $36.6-million project transforms the waterfront into a vibrant public promenade.
Samsung's Galaxy Z TriFold already sold out in South Korea ahead of US launch
Samsung’s long-awaited Galaxy Z TriFold will hit store shelves in the US early next year, but if its Korean launch...
'There's a fear': How Bills fans are reacting to Patriots' resurgence with Maye
Has the AFC East's balance of power already shifted back to the Patriots? NFL insider Tyler Dunne explains how Bills fans are feeling about New England's rise.
AMD launches FSR SDK 2.1.0 to speed up adoption of FSR Redstone
Implementation-ready Software Development Kit for FSR Redstone now available AMD has released FSR SDK 2.1.0, the first public package that lines up with
The politics of being pro-Israel
Last week, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore stood before a crowded room of Jewish attendees just outside the nation’s capital, and proclaimed: “Today, I want to be loud and clear, that Maryland stands with the Israeli people and we support their right to exist in the region with the same sense of safety and security that... Read More
The nation’s cartoonists on the week in politics
Every week political cartoonists throughout the country and across the political spectrum apply their ink-stained skills to capture the foibles, memes, hypocrisies and other head-slapping events in the world of politics. The fruits of these labors are hundreds of cartoons that entertain and enrage readers of all political stripes. Here's an offering of the best of this week's crop, picked fresh off the Toonosphere. Edited by Matt Wuerker.
No. 18 Florida hopes to right ship vs. George Washington
The Florida Gators went 36-4 last season, winning their third national championship. This season, the 18th-ranked Gators have already equaled their loss total from all of last year.
Get Ready to Ride the Light: Diablo 4's Next Expansion Adds Paladin Class, Revamps the Endgame
A second new class will also be included in the expansion, which focuses on the fight against Mephisto.
BLOG: Who won big? Inside the Best of Central Valley Business 2025
It was an evening of firsts at Pardini’s in Fresno on Tuesday as the 2025 winners of the Best of Central Valley Business Readers’ Choice Awards were announced. Nearly 200 people attended the event to
A political year in review with Melissa Clarke and Michael Read
In the final episode for 2025, political editor Tom McIlroy speaks with Melissa Clarke from ABC RN Breakfast and Michael Read from the Australian Financial Review about criticisms of Albanese’s ambition for reform and the future of Sussan Ley’s leadership
Michael Jordan was already a basketball legend. Now, he’s one in NASCAR too
Thursday's settlement was that significant for NASCAR's teams that Jordan just made himself a transformative figure in yet another sport.
The future of American science and a dispatch from ASH
This week on "The Readout LOUD": Is a new obesity drug making people lose too much weight? Plus catch up on #ASH25 and hear how the country's scientific institutions have had a bruising year.
Roundup: Mortgage rates / Health care legislation / Jazz Fest lineup
Ticking up: Mortgage rates increased slightly, adding to cost pressures for buyers. The average for 30-year, fixed loans rose to 6.22%, up from 6.19% last week, Freddie Mac said in a statement Thursday. A year ago, the average was 6.6%. Read more from Bloomberg. A subscription may be required. Stalling: The U.S. Senate failed to […]
Expanding our newsletter lineup with five new must-reads
Business Insider launches five new newsletters: Work Shift, Inside Business, Driverless, Side Hustlers, and Desk Confessions.
Apple AirTag 2: Four New Features Found in iOS 26 Code
The AirTag 2 will include a handful of new features that will improve tracking capabilities, according to a new report from Macworld. The site says that it was able to access an internal build of iOS 26, which includes references to multiple unreleased products. Here's what's supposedly coming: An improved pairing process, though no details were provided. AirTag pairing is already fairly simple, but there's room for improvement with the naming and emoji selection.
FMOL Health has purchased this property near Our Lady of the Lake
FMOL Health has acquired a kidney care facility property on Flanders Drive near Essen Lane. The system purchased the site through Our Lady of the Lake Hospital Inc. from Flanders Building LLC f… Already an INSIDER? Sign in. We are glad you enjoy reading Business Report. Continue reading this story and get ACCESS to all […]
HB 289 could expand wrongful death act to unborn children in the Sunshine State
Two possible abortion bills already sparking debate.
Buccaneers vs. Falcons Prediction, Odds, Picks for Thursday Night Football
Preview the Week 15 matchup between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Atlanta Falcons with predictions, odds, over/under, spread, betting lines and more.
Read Todd Combs' goodbye letter to Geico employees after he quit Berkshire Hathaway to join JPMorgan
Todd Combs, Warren Buffett's longtime deputy and Geico's CEO since 2020, thanked his employees and heralded his successor in an internal email.
Communicators know business acumen matters. Most don’t feel ready.
There's a sizable gap between what communicators think they should know and what they feel comfortable with.
Trump calls affordability crisis a "hoax," touts the economy ahead of midterms
As Democrats campaigning on affordability pick up wins, Trump's messaging about a strong economy is at odds with widespread voter sentiment that he's not doing enough to tackle rising costs.
Tiny tracker following monarch butterflies during California migration
When this monarch butterfly hits the sky it won't be traveling alone. In fact, an energetic team of researchers will be following along with a revolutionary technology that's already unlocking secrets that could help the entire species survive.
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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