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Our Chicago: Managing your mental well-being during the holidays and into winter
A Gallup poll found that nearly half of all Americans report that they are frequently stressed. That's up from 40% in the mid-1990s.
Alexander Isak injury: Liverpool striker feared to have suffered significant damage to lower leg, Sky Sports News understands
Alexander Isak is feared to have suffered a significant lower-leg injury, Sky Sports News understands; Isak scored the opener in the 2-1 win against Tottenham on Saturday but was unable to continue after being caught late by Micky van de Ven
Is it really better to give than receive? It depends, expert says
Research shows that giving time, money or support to others is associated with benefits to well-being. But doing so isn’t always beneficial. Dr. Leana Wen explains.
How this 30-year-old turned her junk journaling hobby into a business after being laid off from her dream job
Nandi Owolo started junk journaling in June 2024. A year and a half later, she's turning the crafting hobby into her full-time business.
Amy Sedaris Shares How She Stays Mentally Sharp and Young at Heart
Actor and comedian Amy Sedaris, known for her role in "Strangers With Candy," shares her approach to healthy aging and cognitive well-being.
Jordan Love injury: Packers QB being evaluated for concussion after hard hit
Love was drilled by Austin Booker on the goal line and his return was deemed questionable
RAM is so expensive they’re selling “prebuilt” PCs without it.
It’s no secret that RAM prices are absolutely Out. Of. Control. Paradox Customs is taking an interesting approach, selling “prebuilt” PCs that skip memory entirely. The idea being, if you happen to have spare sticks lying around, you can save some money. Of course, it’s also an alarming sign of what the PC market has come to. [Link: System integrator starts offering prebuilt PCs without RAM | https://videocardz.com/newz/system-integrator-starts-offering-prebuilt-pcs-without-ram | VideoCardz]
Vail Health recognized for commitment to safeguarding the well-being of its nurses
Four years after receiving its initial American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)’s Pathway to Excellence designation, Vail Health Hospital has earned a redesignation for creating a healthy work environment that empowers and values its more than...
The LCD Steam Deck is done
The Steam Deck LCD is out of stock on the US store and is no longer being produced.
Was 2025 the year that business retreated from net zero?
From retailers to banks, carmakers to councils, the bold pledges for carbon-neutral economies are being watered down or scrapped
This Tool Can Tell You If Your Home Network Has Been Compromised
If you think your router is being used to conduct malicious activity, try using IP Check, which alerts you if your IP address has been observed scanning the internet as part of a botnet or residential proxy network.
Kennedy Center gets new signage bearing Trump’s name
New signage is being installed at Washington, DC’s performing arts center on Friday to include President Donald Trump’s name.
Mikado to Reopen After Health Violations
Mikado Asian Bistro in Vineyard Haven will reopen Friday at 5 p.m. after being shut down by the Tisbury board of health Monday for failing a health inspection. Drew Belsky, health agent for Tisbury,
My kids are 37, 32, and 4 years old. Being an older mom is different.
Charisse Ellison has sons, aged 37 and 33, and a daughter, 4. She delivered the girl at 51 and compares her experiences as a younger and older mom.
EXCLUSIVE: James Van Der Beek Reacts to Concern Over His Appearance on 'Dawson's Creek' Reunion
The actor, who is being treated for colorectal cancer, said the weight he lost did not have to do with his cancer.
Former NFLPA head DeMaurice Smith: Why sports’ leaders must address growing gambling crisis
Fans must believe that games, and the actions within them, are authentic. That belief is being threatened by multiple gambling scandals.
‘Not clear’ who was behind FCDO hack, says minister, amid reports of China link
Chris Bryant confirms October cyber-attack as the Sun names Storm 1849, a Chinese hacker group, as being responsible
Jets-Saints Preview
NEW ORLEANS (AP) The New Orleans Saints and New York Jets have gone through major staff and roster changes in the past year, the result being seven victories between them 15 weeks into the season.
Mental health ratings hit new low, 5 years after pandemic turning point
A new Gallup survey showed just 29% of people rated their mental health or emotional well-being as "excellent," a new low in Gallup tracking.
Riot Has a Secret Plan to Remake Its ‘League of Legends’ Game
A refreshed version being called ‘League Next’ is planned for 2027
GOP-led House passes bill to block the use of Medicaid funds for transgender care for minors
The GOP-controlled House passed a bill that would block Medicaid funds from being used for gender identity care to minors.
Santa Ragione's provocative horror Horses sells 18,000 copies - but it may not be enough to save the studio
Santa Ragione's controversial horror game, Horses, has sold over 18,000 copies despite being deplatformed from Steam an…
News & Rumors: The Crawfish Boil 12/18/2025
All the latest news and rumors on your Houston Astros and from around MLB – it’s in here! Today’s offseason Crawfish Boil for December 18, 2025: Cliff Notes: Passan identified the Astros as being in the mix for a top-tier starting pitcher. Rosenthal also goes on to say that trading Marte is the most likely […]
A Small Business Owner Noticed 'A Competitor 100x Bigger' Bought Their 'New Innovative Product.' Now They're Worried It's About To Be Copied
A small business owner selling on Amazon recently shared a dilemma that hit a nerve with the r/smallbusiness Reddit community: A massive competitor just bought their “new innovative product,” and now they fear it’s about to be copied. Fear Of Being Crushed By A Giant “A competitor 100x bigger than me just ordered my new product,” the seller wrote. “The name on the shipping label was ‘business name’ LLC and the business name is a billion dollar company… and the name of the person is someone whose
Las Vegas tech CEO lands on Forbes 30 Under 30
TensorWave CEO Darrick Horton has set out to do the impossible and is being rewarded for it.
Following controversial bans from Steam and Epic, Santa Ragione's Horses has sold 18k copies and repaid debts
Horses has sold over 18k copies, despite being banned from Epic and Steam.
Astronomers just watched a black hole twist spacetime
Astronomers have detected spacetime itself being dragged and twisted by a spinning black hole for the first time. The discovery, seen during a star’s violent destruction, confirms a prediction made over 100 years ago and reveals new clues about how black holes spin and launch jets.
Report: Apple Developing 24-Inch OLED iMac With 600 Nits Brightness
Apple is working on a 24-inch iMac featuring an OLED display, with the aim of completing development as early as 2027, claims a new report out of Korea. According to The Elec, Apple has sent requests for information to Samsung Display and LG Display regarding development of a 24-inch OLED panel for the iMac. Current 24-inch iMacs use a 4.5K Retina display, which is an LCD panel with LED backlighting. The specs apparently being discussed include 600 nits of brightness and a pixel density of 218 PPI.
Eliminated Bengals still focused on wins over final 3 games
For the first time since 2020, the Cincinnati Bengals are playing out the string in late December and are eliminated from postseason contention with multiple games left to play. The Bengals’ 4-10 record is a frustrating reality for a team that entered the year with playoff ambitions. “It comes down to being able to win when we need to and showing up in these big games and these big moments,” captain and left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. said.
Live updates: Rob and Michele Reiner’s son expected in court after being charged with their murders
Why Being a Black, Female Science Teachers Matters So Much to Students Like Me
Educator's view: Diversity in teaching and STEM is not just about who stands at the front of the classroom, but about who kids believe they can become
Fallout Season 3 is now being written, with future collaborations between the show and games being discussed
Todd Howard Fallout Season 3 is in the writing stage, and there are discussions around future game collaborations happening.
Jared Kushner’s Luxury Dreams Collide With Balkan Politics
His firm pulled out of a planned luxury hotel in Serbia after anti-government protests, while a resort in Albania is being overshadowed by local scandals.
Rural Health Transformation Fund to improve state's healthcare system
Improving West Virginia's rural healthcare system, that's what $500 million is going towards, with $100 million being allocated each year through the Rural Heal
Marjorie Taylor Greene warns the “dam is breaking” in the GOP and slams Trump for being tone deaf on multiple issues
GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene on Tuesday slammed President Donald Trump for his comments on the murders of Rob and Michele Reiner, as she predicted more Republicans will follow her lead in breaking with Trump.
"MicroProse and Geoff Crammond Reunite to Revive a Racing Legend"
MicroProse is excited to announce its renewed partnership with legendary game developer Geoff Crammond, creator of some of the most influential racing simulation games of the 1990s and early 2000s. Together, we are bringing back his groundbreaking racing game engine in a re-release of the original game technology, enhanced with updates, new tools, and Steam Workshop support, through the upcoming Geoff Crammond Racing series: GCR1, GCR2, GCR3, and GCR4, scheduled to release in 2026. These titles are being reintroduced under new names to reflect our independent direction and to ensure full separation from any official motorsport licensing. While the names are new, the core simulation engine, physics systems, and pioneering gameplay features developed by Geoff Crammond remain at the heart of each release. Geoff Crammond’s original work helped define the foundations of modern racing games, introducing innovations such as advanced real-time physics, highly configurable driving assists (including the ideal racing line, steering help and auto braking), realistic AI driver behaviour, deep telemetry analysis, comprehensive car setup systems, extensive wet weather system, and the list goes on. The GCR series proudly carries this legacy forward. Steam Workshop support will enable the community to create and share custom tracks, cars, liveries, teams, drivers and more. This reunion marks the beginning of a long-term partnership between MicroProse and Geoff Crammond, with further announcements in the series to come. MicroProse is officially back on the track at full speed. GCR1 Steam Page GCR2 Steam Page GCR3 Steam Page GCR4 Steam Page -- MicroProse, founded in 1982, is a world-famous simulation software company known for developing groundbreaking classics and new blockbuster titles such as Falcon, HighFleet, B-17 The Mighty Eighth, Ground Branch, Gunship and many more! Today, MicroProse is not only remaking select classics from its past but also paving the road to next-generation, state of the art games that will create the memories and experiences of new generations of gamers.
Opinion | Academic Politics at Their Most Counterproductive
The American Historical Association is being torn apart over members’ views on Israel.
Being a Huge Asshole Is Not Good Politics
It would be one thing if Trump was delivering for the average person. But when he isn't, his complete lack of human virtue becomes a bigger problem.
Warning: Apple’s iOS 26.2 Update Is Quietly Altering A Key iPhone Feature
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.
Youth Mental Health Spotlighted at U.S. Launch of the Second Lancet Commission on Adolescent Health and Wellbeing | Johns Hopkins Center for Global Mental Health
In October 2025, global health leaders, policymakers, youth advocates, and researchers convened in the nation’s capital for a two-day A Call to Action for Youth Mental Health. The event served as the U.S. launch of the report of the Second Lancet Commission on Adolescent Health and Wellbeing, an international effort to address the urgent and escalating challenges facing adolescents worldwide. Hosted by the Johns Hopkins Center for Global Mental Health, the convening followed the World Health Assembly launch in May 2025. The next steps will be to continue collaborating with partners across the U.S. and the world to support the actions responsive to youth needs, including, Integrate youth lived experience expertise into mental health research, policy, and practiceApply data-driven accountability for equitable access to quality careShape urban environments to promote youth mental healthUnderstand gendered drivers and tailored responses to support youth mental healthCatalyze intersectoral engagement for youth mental health: health, education, and social support systems
Innovation, evolution, revolution - golf's new faces championing change
With an influx of new people at the head of the sport's most important bodies, the groundwork is being laid for rapid change, writes Iain Carter.
Some Republican lawmakers call for mass expulsion of American Muslims
Comments from Rep. Randy Fine (R-Florida) and Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama) reflect a brazen Islamophobic sentiment being voiced by some in the party.
World leaders adopt a historic global declaration on noncommunicable diseases and mental health
Leaders from across the world at the Eightieth United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) have adopted the political declaration to combat noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health challenges through a fully integrated approach. This is the outcome of the intergovernmental negotiations in advance of and considered by the fourth high-level meeting of the UNGA on the prevention and control of NCDs and the promotion of mental health and well-being, held on 25 September 2025.
The Emerging Science of Being Hangry
The Emerging Science of Being Hangry: Your ability to tune into your body’s internal signals shapes hunger-driven mood swings.
Chicago business owner sues city and mayor, claims Riverwalk license revoked due to racial bias
Beat Kitchen owner Robert Gomez is suing the city, alleging his Riverwalk license was not renewed due to racial discrimination, despite being the most qualified applicant under city rules.
Trump's religious freedom nominee is being held up by a former political foe, his allies say
Eight months after being nominated for an ambassadorship, former Rep. Mark Walker hasn’t had a hearing because of a senator he once ran against, sources say. Now, Trump is involved.
Florida Poly tops state in computer science, with data science program in top 20 nationally
'Being among the nation’s best and most affordable programs strengthens our ability to attract ambitious students who want to innovate and lead.'
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.
Paid parking pinches Arts District businesses
Arts District business owners are outraged over once-free parking lots and streets being transitioned to a paid parking system, as well as a parking fee increase.
Ant Group Announces Major Upgrades to Its 15-Million-MAU AI Health App AQ Amid Wider Push into Health Sector
HANGZHOU, China, December 15, 2025--Ant Group today announced major upgrades to its AI health app AQ, with a new Chinese name "Ant A-Fu." The character "Fu" conveys good wishes and well-being, reflecting the app’s goal to promote better health and quality of life.
UK Wants All iPhones to Block Explicit Images Unless You Prove Age
Apple and Google will soon be "encouraged" to build nudity-detection algorithms into their software by default, as part of the UK government's strategy to tackle violence against women and girls, reports the Financial Times. According to the report, Home Office officials want device operating systems to prevent any nudity from being displayed unless users can verify that they're adults through biometric checks or official ID.
Director Rob Reiner and his wife found dead in their Los Angeles home
Investigators believe they suffered stab wounds and a family member is being questioned, according to police sources
The US-China science race that isn't a race
Science’s center of gravity is moving—but the real story isn’t who “wins.” Rather, it’s how the global research network is being rewired and what that
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’
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…
Mom says viral video shows her being booted from Georgia restaurant for breastfeeding her baby
Heated exchange at Georgia restaurant caught on camera as nursing mother says she was confronted by the owner, adding to the venue’s controversial history with families.
Staying safe in the cold: How to protect older adults from health risks and loneliness
Taking these steps can help ensure the safety and well-being of older loved ones during the cold winter months.
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.
Data center boom creates political conundrum for the GOP
President Donald Trump is all in on the artificial intelligence build-out. Other Republicans are being more cautious.
FamFS Hopes To Go Upstream In 2026
The FamFS file-system being developed by Micron hopes to go upstream for Linux in 'early-ish 2026'.
Week in politics: Crunch time for new health insurance plans, Trump sued over White House renovations, Americans killed by ISIS
Despite being in control of the White House and Congress, Republicans have been unable to pass their health care agenda. We look at why that's the case, as well as a new lawsuit against the president.
Week in politics: Crunch time for new health insurance plans, Trump sued over White House renovations, Americans killed by ISIS
Despite being in control of the White House and Congress, Republicans have been unable to pass their health care agenda. We look at why that's the case, as well as a new lawsuit against the president.
Week in politics: Crunch time for new health insurance plans, Trump sued over White House renovations, Americans killed by ISIS
Despite being in control of the White House and Congress, Republicans have been unable to pass their health care agenda. We look at why that's the case, as well as a new lawsuit against the president.
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.
Florida's Latino families being squeezed financially by high health care, child care costs
The findings, released by Abriendo Puertas/Opening Doors and UnidosUS, the nation's largest Hispanic civil rights group, paint a portrait of a rapidly growing electorate that is highly engaged on economic and social issues but increasingly strained by the rising cost of living in the Sunshine State.
Small Business Technology News This Week: Does Microsoft Have “Shoddy” Products?
Also: Agents are increasingly being used in the enterprise and some think AI could replace seasonal workers.
After 3 tech layoffs, I knew I had to lean into being a founder
After going through multiple layoffs as a UX designer, Kelly Withers used her savings to fund her startup, Carmu, which sells yoga mats.
Florida's Latino families being squeezed financially by high health care, child care costs
The findings, released by Abriendo Puertas/Opening Doors and UnidosUS, the nation's largest Hispanic civil rights group, paint a portrait of a rapidly growing electorate that is highly engaged on economic and social issues but increasingly strained by the rising cost of living in the Sunshine State.
I'll never forget my roots, says Angry Ginge
The content creator is back coaching at his football club after being crowned King of the Jungle.
Is Fresno on an entertainment hot streak? Here are bands, comedians with new shows
Spring tours are being announced now. Could another big stadium show be coming, too?
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.
Roof to rise soon on Mobile Entertainment Arena; hockey rink moves forward
Steel beams now outline the massive structure, and concrete is being poured across multiple levels.
Tunisia sentences opposition leader Abir Moussi to 12 years in jail
Dozens of opposition figures being targeted in nation once seen as beacon for democracy after sparking the Arab Spring.
Amazon Pulls AI Recap Video After 'Fallout' Mess
Amazon is being forced to repeatedly learn a lesson: use AI slop, and get people yelling at you until you don't.
Exposed: the business linked to baby deaths across the world
A year-long investigation into the Free Birth Society reveals how mothers lost children after being radicalised by uplifting podcast tales of births without midwives or doctors.Lucy Hough talks to the investigative correspondent Lucy Osborne about her reporting.
Want To Know What The Last 2 Minutes Before Being Swallowed By A Volcanic Eruption Look Like? Now You Can
RIP Camera V3.
The $2,400 Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold sold out in minutes
It went on sale today in South Korea, which is the only country where it's being sold. The Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold, announced last week, went on sale in...
‘Pig butchering’ cryptocurrency scam cheats Minnesota business owner out of $500K
The scam’s target went to law enforcement after being asked for another $240,000, according to a court filing.
Da'Realyst Clark named Hero Sports G5 All-American - Kent State Golden Flashes
KENT, Ohio – Da'Realyst Clark continued to earn national recognition, being named to the HERO Sports Group of Five All-American Third Team.
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.
Owls Receive HERO Sports Group of Five All-America Honors - Kennesaw State University Athletics
KENNESAW, Ga. – Highlighted head coach Jerry Mack being named HERO Sports Group of Five Coach of the Year, Kennesaw State football received two All-America honors on Friday.
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 federal government is blurring the lines between politics and medicine
As a family physician, I work every day to earn the trust of my patients. I see lines being blurred between politics and medicine and, despite the high trust the public has in their own physician, it is becoming harder to separate medical and scientific information from misinformation. I hear this concern from my patients, […]
The year-end Obamacare crunch is yet another failure of America’s political system
Americans are being failed by their government.
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…
Hochul signs several bills into law on artificial intelligence regulations
One piece of legislation aims to stop artificial intelligence from being used to essentially recreate people who have died.
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.
How prioritizing wellbeing can boost retention, innovation, and your business's bottom line
Workplace wellbeing, energy, and belonging drive retention, innovation, and higher profits, as revealed by Indeed's employee happiness survey.
Data center boom creates political conundrum for the GOP
President Donald Trump is all in on the artificial intelligence build-out. Other Republicans are being more cautious.
One Critical Factor Predicts Longevity Better Than Diet or Exercise, Study Says
It's vital for almost every aspect of our well-being.
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.
Ask a doctor: Should I trust health advice on social media?
Not all health advice online is legit. Learn how to spot reliable info and make smart choices for your well-being.
Ukrainian 'Droid' lay in wait on a road at night and ambushed Russians with an M2 Browning
The ground drone is seen blasting a Russian MT-LB with .50 caliber rounds, in a rare extended look at how fighting robots are being used in the war.
No one is safe from the world’s next superbugs. Is this new science the solution?
Old antibiotics are losing effectiveness — and new ones aren’t being discovered fast enough. Our best hope to save lives may be AI.
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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