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Belarus Pardons 123 Prisoners as US Lifts Potash Sanctions
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko pardoned 123 prisoners in response to the US lifting its sanctions on his country’s potash exports, the state-owned news agency Belta reported, citing Lukashenko’s press service.
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.
Washburn musician rocks StageNorth stage
Washburn native Yazmin Bowers performed at StageNorth Dec. 6 with her band Beat Zero, joined by the Havana Quartet and fellow Blue Canvas Orchestra member Scott Kirby.
Life expectancy is Summit County has declined. Here's why:
Life expectancy in Summit County has declined from 78.5 years to 76.3 years between the periods of 2014-2018 and 2019-2023, a drop of 2.2 years.
I run a $130,000-a-week burnout clinic for CEOs — and burned out myself
The founder of Paracelsus Recovery, a $130,000-a-week inpatient clinic for CEOs, missed the signs of his own burnout before seeking treatment.
MHSAA football: Free Press 2025 All-East team captained by top recruit
Here are the top Michigan high school football players in the 2025 season for the Eastern metro Detroit area.
Sherrone Moore’s firing and its shocking aftermath raises tough questions about the culture of Michigan’s athletic department
A series of scandals over the last several years begs a simple, yet critical question: Is what happened with Sherrone Moore a serious, but isolated, incident or a symbol of a broader, cultural problem within the walls of Michigan athletics?
Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua agree to fight in 2026
The long-awaited fight between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua has been signed for 2026.
Science news this week: Neanderthals made fire, orcas and dolphins team up, and the 'Star of Bethlehem' explored
Dec. 13, 2025: Our weekly roundup of the latest science in the news, as well as a few fascinating articles to keep you entertained over the weekend.
EXCLUSIVE: Inside Trump’s private schedule as media fixates on his health
Fox News obtained President Donald Trump's December schedule revealing back-to-back meetings and calls extending into evening hours throughout the month.
Michigan Science Center debuts "moonshot" planetarium renovation
After a year-long renovation, the Michigan Science Center reopened its planetarium Friday, showcasing technology upgrades and a new flagship show.
Pittsburgh's Black Market showcases local and Black-owned businesses
The Black Market, part of the Peoples Gas Holiday Market in Pittsburgh, is a venue where small businesses sell unique homemade gifts like purses, jewelry and body butters.
Trump was unable to insult his way to victory in Indiana redistricting battle
Indiana Republican senators turned down President Donald Trump's redistricting proposal this week.
Dueling Dem And GOP Health Care Bills Both Fail In The Senate— Now What?
Lynn Barr, founder of Caravan Health, joined "Forbes Newsroom" to discuss what's next and the best ways to bring down health care costs.
Clemson has five players invited to the upcoming Senior Bowl
Five Clemson players have earned the right to attend the Senior Bowl and make their case for NFL scouts.
San Mateo Medical Center Health Campus Completes Major Renovation & Expansion
San Mateo, California – San Mateo County’s public hospital has been transformed into a state-of-the-art health care campus, rebuilt to meet California’s seismic safety standards and reimagined to better serve patients and staff. Community leaders gathered today to celebrate the opening, calling it a major investment in public health and a welcome upgrade for the tens of thousands of residents who rely on the County for medical and other care.
Fintech, AI Very Strong in UK: British Business Bank CEO
The UK economy is at risk of its first quarterly contraction since Labour returned to power, after growth disappointed again by shrinking ahead of Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves' tax-raising budget. Can the UK's tech sector come to the rescue? British Business Bank CEO Louis Taylor weighs in with Ed Ludlow and Caroline Hyde to discuss on "Bloomberg Tech." (Source: Bloomberg)
MIT HEALS leadership charts a bold path for convergence in health and life sciences
MIT HEALS leaders outline a unified vision for advancing health and life sciences at MIT, emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration, translational research, and strengthened clinical partnerships to drive biomedical innovation and accelerate high-impact solutions across the Institute.
MIT HEALS leadership charts a bold path for convergence in health and life sciences
MIT HEALS leaders outline a unified vision for advancing health and life sciences at MIT, emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration, translational research, and strengthened clinical partnerships to drive biomedical innovation and accelerate high-impact solutions across the Institute.
Harvard Replaces Leader of Health Center Said to Have Focused on Palestinians
The center at the university’s public health school was also a focus of the Trump administration after having been examined in a Harvard antisemitism report earlier this year.
FDA approves first new antibiotics to treat gonorrhea in decades, with hope to combat drug resistance
For the first time in decades, the US Food and Drug Administration has signed off on new antibiotics to fight gonorrhea. The approvals come at a critical moment: The sexually transmitted infection is growing harder to treat, and cases continue to climb nationwide.
NASA’s Webb, Curiosity Named in TIME’s Best Inventions Hall of Fame
Two icons of discovery, NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope and NASA’s Curiosity rover, have earned places in TIME’s “Best Inventions Hall of Fame,” which
Historic preservation group sues over Trump’s White House ballroom plans
The nation’s top historic preservation group said Friday it was suing the Trump administration to block construction of President Trump’s planned 90,000 square-foot ballroom until review boards weigh in on the massive project.
'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.
NSF announces new initiative to launch and scale a new generation of transformative independent research organizations to advance breakthrough science
The U.S. National Science Foundation Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (NSF TIP) on Friday announced the launch of a new initiative designed to launch and scale a new generation…
These new 2026 health care laws are taking effect in Pa., N.J. and Del.
Bills on diagnostic breast cancer testing, GLP-1 medications, lead paint and breastfeeding were signed into law.
The AI race is pushing up Dell computer prices. Here's what to expxect, and what the PC giant is telling its sales staff.
Dell is increasing its prices on December 17 amid a global memory chip supply crisis. Business Insider obtained a list of price changes.
A Seized Oil Tanker Off Venezuela and the Big Business of Dark Fleet Smuggling
The U.S. seizure of a vessel off Venezuela is likely to squeeze the country’s government, but do little to counter the tankers that secretively move oil from sanctioned countries.
New mental health crisis center planned for Lewiston
Spurwink, which opened Maine's first Crisis Receiving Center in 2022, has been awarded a grant to open the new facility
Supporting Breakthrough Health Advancements in Eswatini Under the America First Global Health Strategy - United States Department of State
Today, the United States and the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on global health cooperation that includes strategic investments to strengthen national health efforts, leverage American technology, and facilitate the long-term sustainability of Eswatini’s health system. The Department of State, working with Congress, intends to provide up […]
Netflix, Warner, Paramount and antitrust: Entertainment megadeal’s outcome must follow the evidence, not politics or fear of integration
Even President Trump is concerned about this situation. But the answers aren’t obvious.
Netflix, Warner, Paramount and antitrust: Entertainment megadeal’s outcome must follow the evidence, not politics or fear of integration
Even President Trump is concerned about this situation. But the answers aren’t obvious.
Netflix, Warner, Paramount and antitrust: Entertainment megadeal’s outcome must follow the evidence, not politics or fear of integration
Even President Trump is concerned about this situation. But the answers aren’t obvious.
Innovation Requires Striking The Right Balance
Innovation takes time. It requires a sustained commitment to trying — and often failing — to forge breakthroughs.
‘Bit by the Research Bug’ Defense Health Employee Recognized for Contributions to Science, Love for Supporting the Warfighter
From her first steps into the world of research as an intern to her current role as a principal investigator, Danielle Zimmerman has built a career defined by curiosity, dedication, and commitment to protecting those who serve.
Trump calls affordability a "hoax"; Democrats take note
In the first year of his second term, President Donald Trump has focused his attention on foreign policy and made numerous trips abroad – with an eye toward the Nobel Peace Prize. But as he discusses peace deals with foreign leaders, his ratings domestically have fallen. Critics say that he isn’t doing enough to ease American’s economic concerns. So, this week, Trump returned his attention stateside and kicked off his affordability tour in Pennsylvania, while simultaneously branding “affordability” as a democratic “hoax.” Today on the politics roundtable, we discuss why Trump’s tour signals the administration’s concerns about the politics of affordability, and how some Democrats could use this as a way to gain an edge during the 2026 midterms. Host Colby Itkowitz speaks with Dan Merica, the co-anchor of our politics newsletter, The Early Brief, and White House Bureau Chief Matt Viser.
I’m 24. I learned up close that politics isn’t intimidating
My earlier trepidation dissipated after covering a campaign visit
57 things that happened to Rory McIlroy in 2025
A fast-paced look back at Rory McIlroy's eventful—and historic—year.
Cook County property tax incentives need a refresh: study
A new study could lay the groundwork for big changes to Cook County's incentive programs designed to spur economic development.
Why America gave up on economists
Both parties have turned their backs on traditional economic advice. Is the country paying the price?
First look at One UI 8.5 on Galaxy S23 Ultra: What’s new and what’s missing
Samsung has started working on One UI 8.5 for Galaxy S23 Ultra, which was confirmed through the software server’s listing. The update will bring plenty of new features to the device, and the first hands-on video has just arrived. Folks over at SamMobile gained access to internal One UI 8.5 and installed the firmware on […]
Which blockbuster movies defined 2025's year in film?
A year of daring originals and audience-favorite franchises top the list of 2025's most memorable films of the year.
15 Big Ten sports scandals (including Rutgers) from the last 15 years
In the past decade and a half alone, the Big Ten has been marred by massive scandals at its most renowned institutions.
After more than a year in business, this Morton restaurant has closed
The Tazewell County Health Department learned of the permanent closure in late November.
The Grinch is surprisingly more popular than ever. Here's how that happened.
The Grinch seems to be everywhere lately. At McDonald's. In the aisles at Walmart. In memes online. It's a sign of our times.
Thailand dissolves parliament, heightening political turmoil as Trump seeks to salvage ceasefire with Cambodia
The escalation broke the ceasefire brokered in July by Trump who threatened to halt trade talks with the two countries unless they ended the fight.
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.
Falcons vs. Buccaneers: Tampa loses playoff footing after getting stunned by monster games from Kirk Cousins and Kyle Pitts in 29-28 defeat
If the Buccaneers miss the playoffs, they’ll wonder how Cousins knocked them out of a division title.
Science and Innovation | Medical Technologies Designed for All
Abbott’s strong culture of science and innovation in the service of human health makes us one of the most innovative healthcare companies in the world.
Amazon Game Studios announces two new ‘Tomb Raider’ games coming in 2026 and 2027
Lara Croft returns in a reimagined version of her 1996 debut and an all-new adventure that builds on her iconic legacy, both powered by Unreal Engine 5.
The Legacy of Lara Croft Continues in Two New Tomb Raider Games
30 years after it all started, Lara Croft returns in one new adventure, Tomb Raider: Catalyst (2027) and a complete reimagining of her first, Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis (2026). Learn more inside:
Capcom Finally Confirms Leon S. Kennedy Is In Resident Evil Requiem | The Game Awards 2025
After months of speculation and a revealing leak earlier this week, Capcom has finally, officially confirmed what we all knew: Leon S. Kennedy is in Resident Evil Requiem, and he's here to kick butt.
City Colleges of Chicago Director and ISU Health Sciences alumna becomes first Black person in Illinois to hold a doctorate in Clinical Laboratory Science
When she learned she was the first Black person in Illinois to hold a *Doctorate in Clinical Laboratory Science (DCLS) she was “flabbergasted,” and not because she earned the doctorate, but because she knows it’s a catalyst for “something much bigger than me."
China Is Heading for Another ‘Lackluster’ Economic Health Check
Key economic data for November are set to show China’s domestic demand remained subdued — or even weakened further — offsetting the country’s solid performance in exports.
WATCH: Trump criticizes Indiana Senate Republicans' rejection of redistricting effort
After Republican legislators in Indiana joined with Democrats to vote down a plan to redraw the state's congressional map on Thursday, President Donald Trump said he would support a primary against a GOP state Senate leader.
Buss: Are politics better with s---?
Ideas and the law — bedrocks of our society — are not sharpened by the use of profanity; they are exposed for their weakness.
Trump seeks to cut restrictions on marijuana through planned order
The president is expected to attempt to classify marijuana similar to some common prescription painkillers and other drugs.
Analysis: How the White House is using misleading comparisons to make inflation sound better
The year-over-year inflation rate in January, the month President Donald Trump returned to the White House, was 3.0%.
Google spinout proposes Oakland County data center nearly as large as Oracle megaproject
While controversy stirs around OpenAI’s Stargate data center project in Saline Township, another data center complex nearly as big is being quietly planned 45 miles northeast in Lyon Township.Sidewalk Infrastructure Partners, a spinout of Google parent company Alphabet Inc., has submitted plans to…
A new dawn in global health: UHC as the path toward national health stewardship
The UHC High‑Level Forum in Tokyo marked an unmistakable turning point. It signaled a shift from dialogue to pragmatic action, with health and finance ministries jointly designing country‑owned, fiscally grounded UHC strategies to move beyond fragmented, crisis‑driven responses toward resilient, durable health systems that can make Universal Health Coverage (UHC) a reality. UHC means ensuring...
Fort Scott’s 2026 goals: Revitalization and business support
Fort Scott is looking to honor its long-standing businesses in 2026 while also encouraging the growth of new businesses that have opened in 2025.
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 […]
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.
School of Science welcomed new faculty in 2024
Shaoyun Bai, Abigail Bodner, Jacopo Borga, Linlin Fan, Whitney Henry, Gian Michele Innocenti, Christoph Kehle, Aleksandr Logunov, Lyle Nelson, Sergey Ovchinnikov, and Shu-Heng Shao joined the MIT School of Science in 2024.
In a setback for Trump, Indiana lawmakers defeat redistricting plan
Republicans resisted the call by President Trump for redistricting. He and the state's Republican governor threatened to back primary challenges against Senators who wouldn't get on board.
Lurie expands inpatient psychiatric unit amid ongoing youth mental health care shortage
The four new beds and 20 new staffers are designed for kids with autism and intellectual and developmental disabilities. The $4.5 million addition is a first for the state but can't fill the major dearth in youth psychiatric beds across Illinois.
Inside the 2025 UVA Conference on Ethical AI in Business
The University of Virginia convened faculty, technologists, economists and even fiction writers at The Forum Hotel on the Darden School of Business Grounds to explore “minding the gap” between AI’s promise and shortcomings.
Truth Beer Company to close as owners announce plans to sell business
The owners of Truth Beer Company have announced plans to close their taproom and brewery near the Lancaster Amtrak station ahead of a planned sale of the business.
How Investors May Respond To Elevance Health (ELV) Expanding AI Assistant Access And Adding Schulman To Board
Elevance Health recently expanded access to its AI-powered Virtual Assistant for about 22 million commercial members and announced that Amy Schulman, a senior healthcare executive and governance expert, will join its board and sit on the Audit and Finance Committees in January 2026. Together, these moves highlight Elevance Health’s push to blend digital-first member support with strengthened board oversight in healthcare innovation and regulatory strategy. We’ll now examine how the broader...
Justice Department fails to reindict Letitia James for a second time
A grand jury, for a second time, declined to bring a new indictment against Letitia James, the New York attorney general who defeated President Donald Trump and his company in court, according to multiple sources.
Turkey’s Largest City Is Threatened by a Lurking Earthquake
Escalating activity along a fault line in the Sea of Marmara is moving closer to Istanbul, seismologists warn.
It abandoned DEI but it's still accused of being 'woke.' Here's why.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is accused of protecting “woke political goals" because of its support for diversity, equity and inclusion.
Ars Live: 3 former CDC leaders detail impacts of RFK Jr.’s anti-science agenda
Join us Tuesday, December 16, at 2 pm ET to hear from leaders who resigned in protest.
SpaceX’s possible $1.5 trillion IPO could be big business for Texas
SpaceX, the Elon Musk-owned aerospace company, is planning to go public next year with a potential $1.5 trillion IPO, which would set a new record for a new public offering and have a huge impact on the Texas economy.
He Was a Typical Gen Z TikTokker. Then His Mom Got Deported.
How ICE turned Tony Vara’s whole world upside down.
Sports360, the newest immersive exhibition at the Science Center, opens this weekend
The 9,500-square-foot Sports360 exhibition is designed to immerse visitors in the science of athletic performance.
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…
CNBC Sport: Utah breaks the private equity seal with historic $500 million investment
Utah may have designed a template for other schools to bring in private capital to help fund their athletic programs.
12 Days of Regulatory Insights: Day 6 – Sports Wagering, Player Proposition Bets, and Prediction Market Battles
In this episode of our special 12 Days of Regulatory Insights podcast series, Stephen Piepgrass is joined by Cole White from our RISE Practice Group's
Red Wings take lessons learned into encounter vs. Oilers
Red Wings take lessons learned into encounter vs. Oilers
The New Orleans businesses we lost — and gained
Farewell to Langenstein's. Hello to Delacroix.
Lawmakers move to phase out health-specific retirement benefit
Lawmakers may instead bulk up Hoosier START, the state's defined benefit plans. They say that would offer retirees and current staff greater flexibility.
Video Senate poised to cast votes on competing health care proposals
Both plans, one put forward by Democrats and the other championed by Republicans, are almost certain to fail.
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.”
EXCLUSIVE: Prediction markets launch coalition amid sports betting fight
Several major prediction markets are forming a coalition to promote and defend their political interests amid a growing fight over sports betting, Axios has learned.
Devlin playing 'best football of his life'
With rival fans and a few pundits claiming the air had been seeping out of Hearts' bubble after a few dropped points, the victory over champions Celtic may make them reconsider their opinion. While the spotlight has been on Hearts' new recruits this season - the likes of Claudio Braga and Alexandros Kyziridis have claimed much of the attention - the standout player is now in his fifth season at Tynecastle. Few people had heard of Cammy Devlin when he joined the club in summer 2021.
Mamdani and top New York rabbis will meet privately, but their core divide remains unresolved
The Friday after Zohran Mamdani won, Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch gave a sermon saying that he believed the incoming New York mayor’s criticisms of Israel aligned with Hamas and that critics of Israel wanted to separate “good Jews” from “bad Jews” in a way that endangers the city’s Jewish community.
Steelers sign fourth-year offensive tackle ahead of Week 15
The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed OT Dylan Cook to the active roster off the practice squad ahead of the Week 15 matchup against the Miami Dolphins.
From classroom to community: Student’s journey exemplifies ‘public health in action’
When Waveney Brooks transferred to the University of Kentucky as a sophomore, she never imagined that a classroom experience would open the door to real-world public heath practice across Kentucky. What started as a broad introduction to the many disciplines of well-being soon grew into a purposeful public health career path defined by mentorship, community engagement and purpose.
🎧 Bournemouth 'will be hurt' if Semenyo leaves
Jordan Clarke was joined by former AFC Bournemouth defender Joe Partington on the Cherries: Unpicked podcast. Bournemouth's star attacker Antoine Semenyo has received interest from six Premier League clubs over a January move.
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
Rena Striegel and Transition Point Business Advisors Announce New National Succession Planning Initiative for Family Businesses
DES MOINES, IA / ACCESS Newswire / December 10, 2025 / President of Transition Point Business Advisors, has introduced a national initiative designed to help family-owned businesses approach succession planning with more structure, clarity, and unity. ...
The Herald's weekly entertainment picks
Looking to be entertained from Thursday, Dec. 11, through Wednesday, Dec. 17? Check out the Skagit Valley Herald’s weekly recommendations.
Deadly shooting near Horseshoe Casino raises safety concerns in entertainment hub
A deadly shooting outside a Royal Farms store near the Horseshoe Casino in south Baltimore has left residents concerned about safety.
Chiefs Travis Kelce Delivers Brutal Take on His Own Struggles
On the "New Heights" podcast with his brother Jason, Travis Kelce opened up about his struggles this year on the field.
🏆Champions: Huachipato crowned in the 2025 Copa Chile
Huachipato was crowned champion of the 2025 Copa Chile in a thrilling final against Deportes Limache, which was decided by penalties after a dramatic draw. The hero of the day was Carlo Villanueva, wh...
At the Intersection of Science and Faith: Institute for Water and Health and 12 community leaders unite to protect Brunswick’s waterways
In a remarkable collaboration, residents of Brunswick, Georgia, have joined forces with scientists and faith leaders to address critical water quality issues. Their innovative approach, centered on community involvement, is not only protecting local waterways but also setting a precedent for other cities facing similar challenges.