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Britain vows to tackle foreign meddling in politics after Reform’s Russia bribes case
Ministers launch a review into foreign financial inference in Britain after a senior Reform UK politician was jailed for taking pro-Russia bribes.
Veterinarian and Animal Science Graduate James F. Dougherty Named to Rutgers Hall of Distinguished Alumni
The Class of 2026 inductees into the Rutgers Hall of Distinguished Alumni have excelled in a varied range of fields—obstetrics and gynecology, addiction prevention and treatment, veterinary medicine, football and entrepreneurship, and government and insurance industry leadership—but they all share a uniquely Scarlet bond: A significant, unwavering devotion to supporting the university where they began […]
Larian's Last Engine Held Baldur’s Gate 3 Back
In fact, Act III was split up because the engine couldn’t stream well enough for a contiguous city.
Commission proposes new measures to improve health and the healthcare sector
European Commission proposes new measures to create an innovative and resilient health sector that delivers for patients across the EU. Find out more.
Entertainment lineup released for county fair
After holding just the youth exhibitor event last year, the Washington County Fair has released the entertainment lineup with multiple award-winning American country music artists for its 153rd edition.
Business leaders agree AI is the future. They just wish it worked right now
By Deepa Seetharaman, Supantha Mukherjee and Krystal Hu SAN FRANCISCO/STOCKHOLM, Dec 16 - Last spring, CellarTracker, a wine-collection app, built an AI-powered sommelier to make unvarnished wine
Business leaders agree AI is the future. They just wish it worked right now
Last spring, CellarTracker, a wine-collection app, built an AI-powered sommelier to make unvarnished wine recommendations based on a person’s palate. The problem was the chatbot was too nice. “It's just very polite, instead of just saying, ‘It's really unlikely you'll like the wine,’” CellarTracker CEO Eric LeVine said.
Deacon Sports Xtra: Dr. Herman Eure Utilized Values and Principles to Break Barriers as a University Trailblazer - Wake Forest University Athletics
The distinguished faculty member and 2017 Wake Forest Medallion of Merit recipient played an integral role in building the university's foundation.
Global Business Activity Growth Slows as Tariffs Bite
Business activity in the U.S., Europe and parts of Asia continued to grow as 2025 draws to a close, but at a slower pace as higher barriers to trade and uncertainty about relations between major powers took their toll.
Cardiff City vs Chelsea – Match Preview and Team News
The first semi-finalist of the Carabao Cup will be decided in the Welsh capital on Tuesday night as League One leaders Cardiff City host Chelsea. This is the only non-all-Premier League tie of the qua...
Barcelona XI vs Guadalajara – Predicted lineup and team news
Barcelona make the trip to Estadio Pedro Escartín to take on third-tier outfit CD Guadalajara in the Copa del Rey Round of 32 on Tuesday, as the holders begin the defence of the trophy they lifted la...
“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
Woods: Women’s sports have a home in Iowa
On Dec. 10, the 10th-ranked nationally Iowa State Cyclones faced off at Hilton Coliseum against the 11th-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes for the 2025 rendition of the women’s basketball Cy-Hawk series. The game was an absolute nailbiter. Entering the half, the Cyclones and Hawkeyes were tied at 35 points apiece, but the Cyclones came out of the...
Events from Across the Smithsonian's Museums and Zoo
Talks, tours, performances, and more...
Erika Kirk and Candace Owens meet amid an escalating feud over Charlie Kirk’s assassination
Erika Kirk, the widow of slain conservative influencer Charlie Kirk, met Monday with podcaster Candace Owens amid an intensifying public feud over Owens’ promotion of conspiracy theories surrounding Kirk’s death.
LG will debut its first Micro RGB television at CES
LG is getting in on one of the newest trends for televisions with the introduction of Micro RGB.
WHO highlights health risks and opportunities in the global waste crisis
A new World Health Organization (WHO) report, Throwing away our health: the impacts of solid waste on human health – evidence, knowledge gaps and health sector responses, warns that poorly managed solid waste is driving a public health crisis and calls for urgent action to protect people and the environments they live in.Globally, the volume of municipal solid waste is growing at an unprecedented rate. Yet, many countries still lack the systems and resources to manage this waste safely. “Solid waste reflects how our societies produce and consume, and how we treat people and the environment in the process,” said Dr Ruediger Krech, Director a.i., Department of Environment, Climate Change, One Health & Migration at the World Health Organization. “If we continue to treat waste as an afterthought, we will lock in avoidable disease, climate pollution and deep social inequities. This report is a clear call to put health and equity at the centre of how we design, manage and ultimately reduce waste.”The report summarizes evidence on how solid waste – especially municipal solid waste – affects health through polluted air, water, soil and food. When waste is not collected, or is dumped, burned or not poorly treated, it can release hazardous chemicals, contaminate drinking-water sources and create breeding grounds for insects and rodents.Communities underserved by waste management services, those living near dumpsites and poorly managed landfills and incinerators, children and pregnant women, as well as waste workers – particularly those working informally – face the greatest risks. For the water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) community, the report underlines that safe management of municipal and health care waste is integral to safely managed, climate-resilient systems.A large share of municipal solid waste is still not collected or is disposed of in uncontrolled conditions, including open dumpsites and open burning. These practices damage ecosystems, contribute to climate change and undermine efforts to build healthy cities. When waste is properly managed, however, it can become a resource – generating energy and creating green jobs. The report calls for a coordinated, multisectoral response grounded in the waste hierarchy: preventing waste where possible, then reducing, reusing and recycling, with safe recovery and disposal.Key actions for governments and partners include reducing waste generation at source; expanding affordable and reliable waste collection services, especially in underserved communities; improving control at recovery and disposal facilities; and eliminating open dumping and burning, including hazardous waste. The new report identifies a central role for the health sector in addressing solid waste as a public health threat. The health sector can prevent and minimize health-care waste at source, improve segregation and safe treatment, invest in cleaner climate-resilient technologies, and advocate for health-protective policies and standards. The report also encourages more surveillance, research and biomonitoring to strengthen the evidence base, and promotes social protection and inclusion of informal waste workers.“This report gives countries and health authorities a very practical agenda,” said Mr Bruce Gordon, Head, Water, Sanitation, Hygiene and Health Unit, WHO. “Health ministries can start now by ensuring safe management of health-care waste, developing strong occupational health programmes for waste workers, and working with municipalities to reduce health risks from solid waste by closing open dumps and burn sites and gradually improving towards safe services. These concrete steps save lives today and will make cities cleaner and healthier in the future.
Australia’s Star Entertainment CEO Steve McCann steps down
Dec 16 (Reuters) - Embattled casino operator Star Entertainment said on Tuesday that Steve McCann, the group's chief executive officer and managing director, will be leaving the company effective immediately. McCann will be leaving Star after navigati...
Judge expresses skepticism toward Epstein victim lawsuit against big banks alleging they facilitated sex-trafficking
The Jeffrey Epstein victims' lawsuits resembled two others, against JPMorgan Chase and Deutsche Bank, which settled for hundreds of millions.
Cardiff v Chelsea: Pep proteges Barry-Murphy and Maresca reunite
Pep Guardiola proteges Enzo Maresca and Brian Barry-Murphy will reunite when Chelsea face Cardiff City in their EFL Cup quarter-final.
Featured Chrome Browser Extension Caught Intercepting Millions of Users' AI Chats
Urban VPN extensions collect AI prompts, responses, and browsing data from millions through hidden code.
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.
The Business of Flip-Flops: Inside the Rise of Dallas-based Hari Mari
Entrepreneurs Jeremy and Lila Stewart built Hari Mari into a premium flip-flop brand with purpose—and profit. Now, the husband-wife duo is stepping on the gas.
Famous phallic tapestry may have entertained monks during meals
The 770-pound Bayeux Tapestry depicts the Norman conquest of England in 1066.
Shedeur Sanders news: Bears defense calls out rookie Browns QB after ugly game
What Chicago's defense said about Shedeur Sanders after the Bears dominated the Browns
Trump’s Business Model Is to Break Europe
Washington wants a free hand for Silicon Valley and Russia investment. The EU is an obstacle—and the far right is an ally.
Farmers and politics threaten to put EU's free-trade deal with South America on ice
France is creating a last-minute hurdle for a major trade deal between the European Union and the Mercosur bloc.
Farmers and politics threaten to put EU's free-trade deal with South America on ice
France is creating a last-minute hurdle for a major trade deal between the European Union and the Mercosur bloc
Science in a French City, Which I Shall Not Name
It has a beautiful historic center with typical old European streets and an impressive number of museums. It is a delightful area of narrow cobbled streets, small charming squares, and beautiful old buildings. It is a very old city—more than 2,000 years old. It is a green city with many parks. There are 14 churches and cathedrals in this city, although over the years it has become less Christian and more Muslim. [Alex Gordon]
Germany warns rejecting Ukraine loan would harm EU countries' finances
Krichbaum's claim is the opposite of Belgian PM Bart De Wever's, who argues the 'reparations loan' would actually increase EU government borrowing costs
Fallout Shelter Seasons officially launches with Viva New Vegas!
Overseers, the time has come! Since Fallout Shelter launched in 2015, over 230 million players have built, managed and protected their Vaults. Today, we’re thrilled to announce that our biggest update yet, Seasons, is now available in Fallout Shelter!
Pacific adds stunt program as 21st NCAA sport
University of the Pacific is adding stunt as a varsity sport, making it the university's 21st NCAA Division I program.
Nelson Returns As Assistant Sports Information Director - University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Athletics
Ricky Nelson, who owns a decade of experience with UW-Oshkosh Athletics, has returned to the Titans' sports information office as announced by UW-Oshkosh Sports Information Director Brady Halverson on Monday.
Microsoft: December security updates cause Message Queuing failures
Microsoft has confirmed that the December 2025 security updates are breaking Message Queuing (MSMQ) functionality, affecting enterprise applications and Internet Information Services (IIS) websites.
Banking and Finance Quarterly: BMO Cementing its role - Los Angeles Business Journal
As we prepare to bid adieu to 2025 – a year defined by economic uncertainty, high interest rates and fear of a possible recession – mark your calendars
Windows Remote Access Connection Manager Vulnerability Enables Arbitrary Code Execution
A critical security issue involving the Windows Remote Access Connection Manager (RasMan) that allows local attackers to execute arbitrary code with System privileges.
Meloni’s rise and Italian political stability
Giorgia Meloni is emerging as Europe’s unexpectedly resilient leader, reshaping Italy’s politics and influencing continental dynamics.
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.
Frameshift: Shari Wiseman reflects on her pivot from science to publishing
As chief editor of Nature Neuroscience, Wiseman applies critical-thinking skills she learned in the lab to manage the journal’s day-to-day operations.
The impact of the EU's CBAM on business and the carbon-pricing landscape
With the EU's CBAM about to come into full effect, other jurisdictions around the world are exploring introducing border carbon adjustments of their own.
Sunday Night Football: Cowboys, Vikings tied 17-17 at halftime
Inside California Politics: Dec. 13, 2025
(Inside California Politics) — Tech entrepreneur Jon Slavet has announced his candidacy for the 2026 California gubernatorial race, running as a Republican after previously being a Democrat. Slavet…
Bulgaria’s rocky road to the euro
Government has resigned just 20 days before the nation joins the eurozone
Sanford Health celebrates organ donors
Sanford Health is honoring those who have given the gift of life to others.
How NIH-Funded Science Supports US Biopharmaceutical Innovation
NIH-funded research supports the foundation for industry to develop vaccines and therapies, exemplifying deep public-private R&D complementarity. As global competition intensifies, expanding NIH funding will be key to protecting American health, supporting U.S. biopharmaceutical competitiveness, and ensuring national power and security.
A shakeup not seen in a decade is taking over NFL standings
The rise of once-lowly teams, and the regression of established powers, has combined to turn the playoff picture upside down
Top 5 memories for 2025 bring Skattebo, Suarez, Cardinals into the mix
Cam Skattebo's swan song, Eugenio Suarez says goodbye, WNBA watch parties and the Arizona Cardinals top my Top 5 sports memories from 2025.
Rust Coreutils 0.5 Released - Inching Toward Full GNU Compatibility
Rust Coreutils 0.5 is now available as the latest milestone for this Rust-based alternative to GNU Coreutils
A Trump-touted drug for autism is now in demand, but doctors see a dilemma
Pediatricians debate leucovorin for autism treatment after Trump’s endorsement of the drug.
Pols & Politics: Louijeune out as Boston City Council president, Council to cement rubber-stamp status
Ruthzee Louijeune ended her tenure as Boston City Council president by congratulating herself on the way out the door.
Photos: Best images from Thunder's 111-109 loss to Spurs
The best photos from the Oklahoma City Thunder's 111-109 loss to the San Antonio Spurs.
Anti-immigrant politics move from Europe’s fringe to the mainstream
From London marches to hardening government policies, rising migration and economic anxiety are fuelling a surge in nationalist rhetoric and reshaping Europe’s political centre.
Anti-immigrant rhetoric and policies intensify across Europe
In the past year, tens of thousands hostile to immigrants marched through London chanting “send them home!”
Universal Orlando theme park coaster death ruled accidental
Universal Orlando roller coaster death ruled accidental after investigation into Kevin Rodriquez-Zavala's fatal Epic Universe incident on Stardust Racers.
Trump Has Stomped Out the Holiday Spirit in European Embassies
At a series of Christmas parties this week, diplomats were still struggling to come to grips with the uncertain future of the transatlantic relationship.
An international relations expert explains U.S.-Europe political split over Ukraine war
There are tensions between the U.S. and Europe over how to end the Ukraine war. NPR's Rob Schmitz talks to Nathalie Tocci from Johns Hopkins University about what's fueling these political divisions.
Houston Museum of Natural Science's Foucault Pendulum has stopped after decades of swinging. Here's what happened.
Houston Museum of Natural Science's Foucault Pendulum has stopped after decades, and here's why.
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 […]
The Trump Effect: How One Man’s Politics Rewired Europe
From defense to trade to climate policy, Trump’s second term has shaken Europe’s foundations and forced leaders across the continent to adapt to a new transatlantic reality.
The Wear-Tyne Derby: Bring It On!
“A win would be the biggest indication yet that Sunderland AFC is back in business; back where we belong!”
Apple Issues Security Updates After Two WebKit Flaws Found Exploited in the Wild
Apple fixes two exploited WebKit bugs targeting specific users, issuing security updates across iOS, macOS, and Safari.
Global Space Award winners 2025: Playmakers, innovators, and science breakthroughs
The inaugural ceremony was held at London's Natural History Museum on Dec. 5.
This Stellantis Brand Is Quietly Preparing Its Most Radical Steering Wheel Yet for Production
The Hypersquare steering wheel and steer-by-wire technology are headed for a production car soon, as Peugeot begins early prototype testing
'Necessary for the future of humankind': Who was honored at the first-ever Global Space Awards?
The winners of the inaugural Global Space Awards were recently announced at a star-studded ceremony at London's Natural History Museum. The event championed innovation and sustainability, while also celebrating the life of a late NASA astronaut.
How Mass Anti-Graft Protests Pushed Bulgaria Into a Political Crisis
Bulgaria is in political turmoil after the largest anti-corruption demonstrations in decades triggered the resignation of Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov’s minority government just weeks before the country is due to adopt the euro currency.
Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Week 15 lineup picks (and benches) from Justin Boone
Your Business Will Eat You Alive If You Don't Do This Step First
A company cannot outperform the psychology, clarity and health of its leader.
Embracing Entrepreneurship: Zoë Tsoukalas - Mays Business School News
From Lemonade Stands to Ledgers “I’ve always had the mindset of entrepreneurship. At a very early age, I began my journey towards entrepreneurship with the typical lemonade and snow cone stands. In high school, I launched a clothing and jewelry business, where everything I sold was handmade and one of a kind. I continued with
Kids Start Up Business Fair
Enjoy an exciting evening of creativity, innovation, and fun as young entrepreneurs showcase their products, inventions, and creative services!
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.
SFA students blend pop culture, business innovation at Swift-Mas Showcase
NACOGDOCHES, Texas –– Students in Stephen F. Austin State University’s Nelson Rusche College of Business stepped into the spotlight during finals week for the Swift-Mas Showcase, an event supported by SFA’s Arnold Center for Entrepreneurship that highlighted student innovation and creative problem-solving throughout the fall semester.
Ghost particles slip through Earth and spark a hidden atomic reaction
Scientists have managed to observe solar neutrinos carrying out a rare atomic transformation deep underground, converting carbon-13 into nitrogen-13 inside the SNO+ detector. By tracking two faint flashes of light separated by several minutes, researchers confirmed one of the lowest-energy neutrino interactions ever detected.
‘This place will win’: Business leaders say West Palm Beach is becoming America’s next big boomtown
West Palm Beach has evolved from its retirement haven days, as tech firms, financial giants and entrepreneurs flock to one of the country's most sought-after business destinations.
Germany news: More people lack health care, aid group says
An aid charity says access to health care in Germany is failing the most vulnerable, with many excluded from medical care. Meanwhile, most Germans don't want the US to meddle in Europe's politics. DW has more.
Germany news: More people lack healthcare, aid group says
An aid charity says access to healthcare in Germany is failing the most vulnerable, with many excluded from healthcare. Meanwhile, most Germans don't want the US to meddle in Europe's politics. DW has more.
The real reason behind Trump’s nasty breakup with Europe
Jonathan Freedland speaks to the US military scholar Joseph Stieb about the Trump administration’s national security strategy
Omaha business owners frustrated by Streetcar construction
An open house held by the city at the Durham Museum tonight to answer questions about ongoing streetcar construction, but what business owners want is solutions.
Full-length Replay: Big 12 Men's: Iowa at Iowa St.
From James H. Hilton Coliseum in Ames, IA
Science sleuths raise concerns about scores of bioengineering papers
Nature - Prominent bioengineer Ali Khademhosseini has so far corrected more than 40 of the papers in question, but critics say some should have been retracted.
Local business owner introduces monthly hands-on AI workshops
GRAND JUNCTION Colo. (KREX)- A local business owner and educator is launching a new AI training series designed specifically for small business owners in Grand Junction. Nick Gumpert, owner of the UPS Store on 12th Street and Patterson Road, is introducing a monthly lineup of hands-on artificial intelligence workshops beginning in February. Gumpert said after […]
Alexei Navalny’s wife and political heir still has ‘big hopes’ for Russia
The exiled widow of Russia’s late opposition leader Alexei Navalny told POLITICO on Thursday that remaining hopeful about her home country is part of her job. “I really have big hopes for Rus…
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.
Bulgaria Faces More Political Turmoil Just as It Adopts the Euro
Bulgaria faces a fresh wave of political turmoil after street protests over rampant corruption led to the resignation of the prime minister just weeks before the country joins the euro.
Palantir says its 'Neurodivergent Fellowship' has received 2,000 applications and counting
Palantir's new fellowship for neurodivergent talent draws 2,000 applications, showing demand for merit-based, unconventional hiring in tech and AI.
Asked about The Donald’s national security strategy, the Commons was remarkable for its absences
You’d think MPs would be lining up to decry the US president’s threat to destabilise Europe. Instead, only backbenchers and a few junior ministers bothered to turn up
A guide to self-employment tax for small business owners
Self-employment tax isn't an "extra" tax — it's the same payroll tax that was always there, now just fully visible to new small business owners.
Gallatin College MSU student uses certificate to bolster his business
Dan Hill, a 55-year-old entrepreneur, will graduate on Friday, Dec. 12, with a professional certificate in business management.
Bulgarian government resigns after mass protests
Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov says cabinet stepping down before parliament had been due to hold no-confidence vote.
Burton entrepreneur delivers salt to area businesses
Christina Berry started a new winter business delivering buckets of sidewalk salt to businesses in the Burton area.
Brain science, social media and a modern moral panic
In brain scans, social media addiction looks the same as gaming and gambling addictions and substance abuse, says grad student Kylie Falcione at UCSB's Media Neuroscience Lab
Analysis: The Civil Rights law that Stephen Miller says ruined America
Trump’s key aide thinks the country was better off with strict quotas that sought to preserve the racial makeup of the country in the 1920s and so favored immigrants from Western and Northern Europe over what he called “third world countries.”
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
Bulgarian Protests Throw Euro Area’s Next Member Into New Crisis
A wave of street protests against ruling class graft is destabilizing Bulgaria just weeks before the Balkan nation is set to join the euro.
Denver’s science museum sold out their Thanksgiving meal this year
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Louisville women's basketball routs Ball State ahead of North Carolina
Louisville women's basketball, behind its deep frontcourt, routed Ball State on Wednesday in its tuneup for an ACC game Sunday against North Carolina.
Full-length Replay: Clarksville #2
Tristar MX Amateur Racing Arenacross.