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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]
Hollywood and political world mourn Rob Reiner
Reactions to the death of actor-director Rob Reiner, who was found dead with his wife Michele Reiner at their home in Los Angeles on Sunday.
Scotland boss Steve Clarke urges fans not to go into debt for World Cup tickets
Steve Clarke is urging Scotland fans not to put themselves into debt to follow their team to the World Cup.
Marcus Lemonis is retiring from Camping World
Before becoming host of the TV show “The Profit," he built the largest RV retailer and took investors for a bumpy ride.
These Trump bets boomed. Now they’re huge busts
Donald Trump’s return to the White House set off a gold rush on Wall Street and in the crypto world.
AI materials discovery now needs to move into the real world
Startups flush with cash are spinning up AI-assisted laboratories with the hope of finding new materials much faster.
Is the sacred becoming political?
“Do you expect most of your donors to come from the political right?” The question caught me off guard. After more than 20 years in public-facing roles in the Jewish world, I’ve been asked just about everything. But this question,...
Quantum science research is full of promises. When will they happen? : Short Wave
This year, quantum science and computing came up a lot. There have been broad claims that quantum science and engineering could one day help cure diseases, design new materials, optimize supply chains -- or help in other ways not yet fathomable. And, while the Trump administration has made strides to cut scientific funding, quantum research is one of two things they’ve pledged to continue investing in – along with artificial intelligence. Meanwhile, scientists have been hard at work, pushing the research to move quantum engineering from sci-fi to real-world usefulness. All of this got science correspondent Katia Riddle wondering: When will all of this effort actually pay off? She talked to a lot of scientists to figure it out -- and to figure out how much scientist really understand about quantum science. She brings everything she learned onto the show today. To hear more Short Wave reporting on quantum clocks, check out this episode: Quantum Mechanics For BeginnersInterested in more quantum science? Email us your question at shortwave@npr.org.Listen to every episode of Short Wave sponsor-free and support our work at NPR by signing up for Short Wave+ at plus.npr.org/shortwave.
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.
JWST Catches Record-Breaking Planet Sprouting Two Enormous Tails
Tylos is one weird world.
Refugee and migrant health system review in Lithuania
Lithuania has experienced a substantial increase in the number of refugees and migrants, particularly following the 2021 Belarus border situation and the mass displacement from Ukraine in 2022. By late 2024, over 91,000 Ukrainians had been cumulatively registered in Lithuania, with about 47,000 holding valid temporary protection status. This increase, alongside sizeable communities of Belarusian nationals, Russian citizens and other regular migrants covered under compulsory health insurance contributions, has brought new challenges for Lithuania’s health system, especially related to continuity of care, interpretation support and equitable access across municipalities. This report presents the findings of a joint review of the health system in Lithuania, conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health of Lithuania, and other partners. The review examines the capacity of Lithuania’s health system to provide services for refugees and migrants. It focuses on the health challenges facing refugees and migrants, the policies and systems in place to address these challenges, and the opportunities to strengthen long-term health system capacity. Furthermore, the report offers practical recommendations for addressing the barriers refugees and migrants face in accessing health services.
WHO launches call for high-level experts to join the Science Council
The World Health Organization (WHO) is today soliciting the interest of internationally-renowned experts to serve on its Science Council, one of the Organization’s highest-level advisory bodies to the WHO Director-General.
COP 30: entrenching the crisis of climate politics
As the dust settles after COP30 in Belém, the scale of the failure becomes impossible to ignore. The world is on a path toward catastrophic warming, ecological systems are collapsing, and millions…
The world's largest truck stop makes 350,000 meals a year
Iowa 80 in Walcott, Iowa, is the Disney World for truckers. But why are family-owned truck stops like this one drying up across America?
World Cup 2026 ticket prices blow past original projections as FIFA embraces variable pricing
The cheapest ticket to attend the USA's opening 2026 World Cup match against Paraguay is $1,120 — a steep jump from initial estimates shared in 2018.
A Hidden Difference Between Dinosaurs and Mammals Is Changing Science’s View of the Past
New University of Maryland research suggests that dinosaur parenting strategies helped transform the Mesozoic world, as “latchkey kid dinosaurs” spread into ecological niches their parents left untouched. Imagine a young Brachiosaurus no bigger than a golden retriever, foraging alongside its sibl
‘Say Ja To Germany:’ 3 Top Business Schools Partner To Woo World’s Students
Mannheim Business School campus. Mannheim, along with ESMT Berlin and WHU, is calling international students and faculty to “Say JA to Germany” amid shifting global visa and academic freedom policies. As the U.S. and ... The post ‘Say Ja To Germany:’ 3 Top Business Schools Partner To Woo World’s Students appeared first on Poets&Quants.
‘Say Ja To Germany:’ 3 Top Business Schools Partner To Woo World’s Students
As the U.S. and UK toughen visa rules, Mannheim, ESMT & WHU unite to welcome global MBA students & scholars.
Nearly half of the 19,000 games released on Steam this year went almost unnoticed
Those numbers point to a widening gap between output and engagement on the world's largest PC game marketplace. Steam's open publishing model has dramatically lowered the barrier...
Nutrient deficiency linked to heart disease risk for millions, new study warns
Global omega-3 deficiency affects 76% of people worldwide, significantly increasing risks for heart disease, cognitive decline and chronic inflammation.
Trump Shares Russia’s Twisted Vision of ‘Peace’ in New National Security Strategy
The Donald Trump administration's new National Security Strategy codifies the United States' alignment with the world's autocracies, including Russia.
Mines Researchers Play Key Role in World-Leading Dark Matter Results from LZ Experiment at SURF
Nearly a mile beneath the surface of Western South Dakota, one of the world’s most sensitive physics experiments is quietly listening for signals from the unseen universe with researchers from South Dakota mines and technology is helping guide every pulse it records, including the newest record-breaking results.
Apple Releases Emergency Patch For Two Zero-Day Flaws Used In Highly Targeted Attacks
Apple has issued urgent security updates to address two critical zero-day vulnerabilities that have been exploited in sophisticated real-world attacks targeting specific individuals, the company confirmed this week. The patches are part of a broader emergency update that spans iOS, iPadOS, macOS, wa
Strange, 7-hour explosion from deep space is unlike anything scientists have seen — Space photo of the week
Astronomers used major telescopes across the world to probe a cosmic explosion 8 billion light-years from the solar system.
United States: Antonee Robinson Back for Fulham in Boost to World Cup Hopes
Recovering United States left back Antonee Robinson was handed his first Premier League start of the season by Fulham.
UT Health East Texas child psychiatrist weighs in on Australia’s under-16 social media ban
As Australia welcomed the world-first social media ban for children younger than 16 on Wednesday, a UT Health East Texas child and adolescent psychiatrist weighed in on the ban.
Klæbo makes shock exit as Russians return; Prevc family celebrates
Norwegian superstar Johannes Høsflot Klæbo failed to get beyond the quarter-finals of a cross country sprint race for the first time since his World Cup debut almost a decade ago. Klæbo has ruled the sprint over the years by winning the last two Olympic golds and four world titles, and he came into Saturday's race at the Swiss venue of Davos with 18 straight World Cup victories in the discipline.
Tomb Raider Co-Creator Doesn't Seem Too Impressed With Legacy Of Atlantis
"Personally I'd prefer exploring new lost worlds than another remake/remaster/reimagining."
Teen’s video a ‘Breakthrough’ in science communication
Seventeen-year-old Grace Lee from Chula Vista is gaining national attention as a finalist in the global Breakthrough Junior Challenge, an annual competition that invites students to create original videos explaining complex scientific ideas in creative and engaging ways. Founded in 2015, the contest encourages young people to break down advanced scientific theories using imagination and storytelling— “Steven Spielberg meets Albert Einstein,” as organizers describe it. Lee’s submission centers on the principle of least time in physics, a concept that explains why light always travels the path that takes the least amount of time. To bring the idea to life, she used intricate origami characters and stop-motion animation, along with simple at-home experiments, she said. “The fact that light always travels via the path that takes the least amount of time sounds simple at first, but nature is full of surprises,” she said. “This principle is actually very profound and underlies many different fields in physics that seem completely unrelated, from optics to Newton’s laws to Einstein’s theory of relativity.” Also, origami has long been one of her passions and integrating it into her project felt natural. She often makes origami gifts for friends and teaches origami in her school clubs. “A single 10-second scene would take hours to craft,” she said, noting the mixture of stop-motion and post-production editing required to animate expressions and movement. To ensure the science remained accurate and accessible, she spent time reading books and online resources, writing a script, creating a storyboard, and filming and editing repeatedly until the visuals worked.The experiments were among the biggest challenges. To demonstrate water waves, she used everyday household items — “a spatula and an electric toothbrush to vibrate the waves, glass in a baking pan for different depths, and an iPhone flashlight so the waves would be visible.” She also put careful thought into explaining the principle through analogies, including a gingerbread man and a fox. “Analogies and visuals are incredibly important,” she said. “Visual demonstrations allow viewers to see how the science actually works.” Beyond the competition, Lee is deeply involved in science leadership and advocacy. She serves as International President of miRcore, the world’s largest student computational biology organization, with 136 chapters across five countries. She leads a 20-member executive board, organizes outreach connecting schools worldwide, and has helped run workshops at locations including Scripps Research Institute and the University of Michigan. “I used to be intimidated,” she said, but she gradually grew her skills and confidence. “Now I am no longer afraid to use my voice and enthusiasm to bring out the best in others.” Her research experience includes two peer-reviewed papers on asthma and vaping. Misconceptions around vaping, she said, show why clear science communication matters. “Our research shows that there is long-term harm to your lungs on the cellular level that isn’t obvious unless you come down with an illness like the flu,” she said. Lee also founded Full Hearts at Eastlake High School, transforming the small club into one of the school’s largest, with hands-on service projects in partnership with local nonprofits. She continues mentoring younger students to sustain the mission. If she wins the Breakthrough Junior Challenge, Grace hopes the $100,000 science lab prize for her school will expand opportunities for students who have limited access to equipment and hands-on science outside the classroom.
We’re running out of good ideas. AI might be how we find new ones.
What if the best use of AI is restarting the world’s idea machine?
Saturday Sports: Michigan's football coach fired; World Cup downhill skiing win; NFL
NPR's Rob Schmitz and sportswriter Howard Bryant discuss the latest on Sherrone Moore's case after his firing as head coach of Michigan football and subsequent arrest for assault.
Commentary: What the Dodgers are doing isn't normal in pro sports. Be sure to appreciate it
The Dodgers are perfectly fine with spending more money than anyone else to win championships, and fans should appreciate it considering what's happening in Anaheim.
EV sales are up everywhere in the world
Sales of EVs in North America fell by 1% compared to last year, while China was up, confirming the fears of some US auto execs.
Roundup: Indiana rejects redistricting, Trump bashes immigrants in Pennsylvania : The NPR Politics Podcast
It’s been a busy week in the political world. We discuss the Indiana state Senate's rejection of President Trump's push to redraw the state’s congressional districts, President Trump's speech on the economy in Pennsylvania in which he denigrated immigrants, and the United States' seizure of an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela.This episode: political correspondent Sarah McCammon, senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro.This podcast was produced by Casey Morell and Bria Suggs, and edited by Rachel Baye.Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unlock access to bonus episodes with more from the NPR Politics team, and support public media when you sign up for The NPR Politics Podcast+ at plus.npr.org/politics.Please let us know what you think of our show and how we can make it better by filling out this quick survey. As a token of our appreciation, three respondents will be randomly selected to receive a $25 gift card.
Steve Adelstein: PFAS water contamination has met its match
PFAS-free drinking water is finally achievable through fast, scalable, lab-verified technology.
NASA Satellite Images Could Soon Lead to Safer Bridges Worldwide
Researchers are turning to satellite data to monitor the world’s longest bridges. Due to high costs and logistical challenges, fewer than 1 in 5 bridges
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.
Powerful men in politics and media shown in new Epstein estate images
Newly released photographs from Jeffrey Epstein's estate do not reveal wrongdoing, but do show Epstein in the company of powerful men from the worlds of politics, business and entertainment.
‘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.
Framework Raises DDR5 Memory Prices By 50% For DIY Laptops
Framework Computer had worked to keep their memory prices lower than other laptop vendors amid the ongoing memory shortages throughput the industry worldwide
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.
Theresa May and the Brutality of Politics
Former UK Prime Minister Theresa May speaks with Francine Lacqua about Vladimir Putin and her approach to leadership in a world seeing a rise in "strongmen." (Source: Bloomberg)
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.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's expansion is available right now, adding a photo mode and vibrant new world
The previously revealed expansion to Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has finally been properly unveiled, plus the game is heading to Switch 2.
Control Resonant steps into a larger world that's inspired by Neon Genesis Evangelion
Just ahead of the reveal at The Game Awards, we got an early look at Control: Resonant, the next game in the Remedy Connected Universe.
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.
Warlock: Dungeons and Dragons Is a New Single-Player RPG That Leans Into 'Expressive Magic' | The Game Awards 2025
The Dungeons & Dragons franchise has been steadily making more attempts to expand into video games, and we're seeing that next effort with Warlock: Dungeons & Dragons, a new open-world single-player action-RPG that's all about wielding dark magic to battle foes.
iOS 26 Code Leak Reveals Apple Smart Home Hub Details
Apple is working on a smart home hub that will rely heavily on the more capable version of Siri that's coming next year. We've heard quite a bit about the hub over the last two years, but a recent iOS 26 code leak provides additional insight into what we can expect and confirms rumored features. Macworld claims to have access to an internal version of iOS 26 that references several upcoming Apple devices, including the home hub.
First-year Huskers boost MotoAmerica through inaugural Business Battle
"Most business schools wait until junior and senior year before introducing students to industry professionals, but we wanted to do that for our freshmen. Day one, we introduced them to corporate partners, real-world business challenges and mentors from our business community." —Laurie Miller, associate dean of undergraduate programs and curriculum, College of Business
Exciting spectacle awaits enthusiasts at science city | Lucknow News - The Times of India
Lucknow: If you're in Lucknow and eager to experience vibrant underwater world of Australia's coral reefs, nature and history, like ‘Journey to Space,.
Apple AirTag 2: Four New Features Found in iOS 26 Code
The AirTag 2 will include a handful of new features that will improve tracking capabilities, according to a new report from Macworld. The site says that it was able to access an internal build of iOS 26, which includes references to multiple unreleased products. Here's what's supposedly coming: An improved pairing process, though no details were provided. AirTag pairing is already fairly simple, but there's room for improvement with the naming and emoji selection.
He Was a Typical Gen Z TikTokker. Then His Mom Got Deported.
How ICE turned Tony Vara’s whole world upside down.
Runway releases its first world model, adds native audio to latest video model
Runway debuts a physics-aware world model that simulates reality to train agents and power video, robotics and avatar applications.
IOC urges sports bodies to let Russian youth teams and athletes compete again with flag and anthem
LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — The IOC took a big step toward reintegrating Russia and Belarus into world sports Thursday by advising governing bodies to let the countries’ youth teams and athletes…
IOC urges sports bodies to let Russian youth teams and athletes compete again with flag and anthem
The IOC has taken a big step toward reintegrating Russia and Belarus into world sports. It’s advising governing bodies of Olympic sports to let youth teams and athletes compete with their full identity of national flag and anthem.
World of Warcraft Players Figured Out How to Make Flying Houses, and Blizzard Has Given Them Its Official Seal of Approval
World of Warcraft players have discovered a trick that makes their houses float in the air, which a number of people have used to make wild flying creations. Better yet, instead of patching it out, Blizzard has surprisingly given its blessing for airborne abodes.
NASA’s Webb Detects Thick Atmosphere Around Broiling Lava World
Researchers using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope have detected the strongest evidence yet for an atmosphere on a rocky planet outside our solar system, as
I'm a millennial tech nerd. Here are 15 geeky gifts and gadgets I'd buy for myself!
'Tis the season to get the perfect gift. It could be for your nerdy self or even your geeky friends. I have ideas.
Pets dream just like humans, and the science behind it will surprise you | - The Times of India
Witnessing pets twitching in their sleep sparks curiosity about their inner worlds. Scientific studies reveal mammals, including our pets, exhibit bra
Superbet Group becomes Super Technologies, shaping the future of digital entertainment ecosystems
BUCHAREST, Romania, Dec. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Superbet Group, a leading company in the global technology and entertainment space, announces its rebrand as Super Technologies. The new identity, which will be simply known as Super, reflects the company’s evolution, its expanded vision for the future, and its commitment to building innovative solutions for a rapidly changing world. At the same time, the company will continue to operate its commercial brands across existing territories, with
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.”
RWS Global entertains over 7.5 million guests at worldwide attractions this winter
The company has created more than 150 custom holiday experiences, including concept, decor, show production, casting and operations
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.
Democrats voice concerns about Venezuelan tanker seizure: ‘sounds a lot like the beginning of a war’
Senator Rand Paul said it was ‘not the job of the American government to go looking for monsters around the world’
It’s not just Americans who are feeling US tariffs. Five charts show their global impact
There are signs steeper US tariffs, introduced by US President Donald Trump, are feeding through to higher prices for Americans. But they are also inflicting pain beyond US borders. We look at examples from around the world.
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
Wario World has just arrived on Nintendo Switch 2 for Switch Online members
We have news about another classic game on Nintendo Switch Online, as Wario World has now gone live on Switch 2. The GameCube title first debuted in 2003. Now if you have a membership to Nintendo Switch Online’s Expansion Pack tier, you can play the game now. Here’s an official overview: Go on a garlic-fueled rampage in this action title...
These plants can heat themselves up—scientists finally know why
Since the time of the dinosaurs, cycad plants may have attracted insects using infrared light. It may be the world's oldest form of pollination.
iPad 12 Rumored to Get iPhone 17's A19 Chip, Breaking Apple Tradition
The next-generation low-cost iPad will use Apple's A19 chip, according to a report from Macworld. Macworld claims to have seen an "internal Apple code document" with information about the 2026 iPad lineup. Prior documentation discovered by MacRumors suggested that the iPad 12 would be equipped with an A18 chip, not an A19 chip. The A19 chip was just released this year in the iPhone 17, and it would be unusual for Apple to use a current-generation chip in the low-cost iPad due to cost.
Musk reportedly plans record IPO for SpaceX. Here’s what that means
Elon Musk, already the world’s richest man, could soon be much richer. Bloomberg reports he’s planning one of the largest initial public offerings in history for SpaceX.
According to 'Forbes,' Taylor Swift is the most powerful woman in entertainment
Who's the most powerful woman in media and entertainment? It's not the head of a TV network or a movie studio — it's Taylor Swift.That's according to Forbes, which has published its annual list of The World's 100 Most Powerful Women, based on four main metrics: money, media, impact and spheres of influence. Taylor comes in at #21 on the list, which makes her the highest-ranked, and therefore the most powerful, woman in the Media & Entertainment category.
2026 iPads revealed: A19 base model, M4 Air with Apple’s N1 chip coming soon
A new leak details Apple’s 2026 iPad strategy, bringing flagship-level chips to more affordable models.
Machado’s daughter accepts Nobel Peace Prize for Venezuelan opposition leader
She said Wednesday in a speech written by Machado that Venezuela shows the world “we must be willing to fight for freedom"
Unfinished business (part 2): fixing the “biggest problem” in physics
Our podcast on science and technology. This week, physicist Vlatko Vedral on how to bridge the quantum and classical worlds
Surging healthcare costs reshaping millionaires' migration
The United States ranks as the most expensive private healthcare market in the world.
LastPass Brings Secure Access to Businesses and Individuals Alike With New Capabilities in 2025
BOSTON, December 10, 2025--LastPass, a leader in password and identity management trusted by over 100,000 businesses worldwide, announced a series of major advancements in 2025 designed to give users greater security, visibility, and control across work and life. Key updates include Passkeys, now available to all customers, and Business Max, a new SKU that introduces easy-to-use SaaS visibility and access control capabilities alongside other improvements that strengthen security and simplify use
Accrete Health Partners Launches Partnership with Atalan to Co-develop Groundbreaking Patient Experience Intelligence Module
Strategic Co-Development Partnership Expands Relationship between Bon Secours Mercy Health and Atalan to Unify Workforce and Patient Experience AnalyticsPHILADELPHIA, Dec. 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Atalan, the world’s first Clinical Retention Intelligence (CRI) platform, today announced a strategic partnership with Accrete Health Partners, the venture arm of Bon Secours Mercy Health (BSMH), one of the top 20 largest health systems in the U.S. The partnership will focus on accelerating the dev
Wafer set for Quins debut after World Cup injury
Ireland's Aoife Wafer is expected to play her first game since breaking her collarbone and rupturing a medial ligament in September.
Paul Pogba partners with world’s first professional camel racing team
The 32-year-old Monaco midfielder, formerly of Manchester United and Juventus, has joined Al Haboob as an ambassador and shareholder.
I Watched Science Change the World. Here's What Could Stop It.
As we mark the 45th anniversary of Bayh-Dole, we must remember its origins: a bipartisan solution that allowed science and taxpayer-funded research to deliver public benefits.
A widely popular racket sport has made its way to New York
Padel is a game taking parts of the world by storm, and now it has reached New York.
iPhone Fold Expected to Claim 22% of Foldable Market, 34% of Revenue in First Year
Apple's upcoming foldable iPhone is expected to spur strong growth in worldwide foldable smartphone shipments in 2026, according to new estimates shared by IDC. IDC believes the iPhone Fold will capture over 22 percent unit share and 34 percent of the foldables market value in its first year due to an expected $2,400 starting price point. Right now, the foldable market is dominated by Samsung and Google.
The U.S. Needs a Better Strategy for Sports Diplomacy
The U.S. has never had a cohesive approach to sports diplomacy — which could be a problem while hosting the World Cup and the Olympics over the next decade.
WATCH: Sen. Ossoff Urges Republicans to Put Politics Aside, Extend Affordable Care Act Tax Credits
“In this building, maybe it’s about the politics, but in the real world and in Georgia, this is life or death,” Sen. Ossoff said In June, Sen. Ossoff offered an amendment to the Trump budget bill to extend key Affordable Care Act tax credits, but Republicans blocked Sen. Ossoff’s amendment Washington, D.C. — Ahead of this week’s Senate […]
Earth's crust hides enough 'gold' hydrogen to power the world for tens of thousands of years, emerging research suggests
Reservoirs of hydrogen gas that form naturally in Earth's crust could help humans decarbonize. The challenge now is finding these accumulations and working out how best to mine them, experts say.
Five Health System Hospitals Named To U.S. News & World Report 2026 Best Hospitals For Maternity Care - NYC Health + Hospitals
New York, NY — NYC Health + Hospitals today announced that five of its hospitals were recognized by U.S. News & World Report as 2026 Best Hospitals
BAFTA Games Awards 2026 Longlists Unveiled
The BAFTA Games Awards ceremony will take place in London on April 17, with the longlists containing the likes of 'Indiana Jones and the Great Circle,' 'F1 25' and 'Jurassic World Evolution 3.'
Pebble's founder introduces a $75 AI smart ring for recording brief notes with a press of a button
After rebooting the Pebble smartwatch, founder Eric Migicovsky is expanding his company's device lineup with a new smart wearable: an AI-powered smart ring known as Index 01. Named for the finger where the ring is meant to be worn, the new $75 ring is not meant to be a competitor to the always-on, always-listening AI devices, like the AI pendant Friend, but instead offers a way to record quick notes and reminders with a press of a button on the ring's side. AI only comes into play via the open source, speech-to-text, and AI models that run locally on your smartphone, via the open source Pebble mobile app. That is, if the Ring's button is not being pressed, it's not recording. (And this is a press-and-hold gesture, too, which means you can't start the ring's recording and then let go to surreptitiously record a conversation.) You can wear the stainless steel ring while in the shower, washing hands, doing dishes, or in the rain, but you would have to take it off for other water-related activities, like swimming. At launch, it's water-resistant to 1 meter. The ring is also not a fitness tracker or sleep monitor. It doesn't record details about your heart rate or health. And it's not there to be your AI friend. "I'm not trying to build some AI assistant thing," Migicovsky told TechCrunch in an interview. "I build things that solve one main problem, and they solve it really well," he explains. "I think of as external memory for my brain...that's what this is. It's always with you." Plus, the ring has been designed to be highly reliable and privacy-preserving, he says, as all your thoughts are stored on your phone, not in the cloud. There is no subscription. Migicovsky has been wearing the ring for three months now and says he cannot imagine going back to a world where he doesn't always have a memory device with him. "The problem is that, during the day, I get ideas or I remember something, and if I don't write it down that second, I forget it," he says. The ring solves this problem, he adds, without becoming another device you need to charge. "The battery lasts for years," Migicovsky claims. Technically, the ring is said to support roughly 12 to 14 hours of recording. On average, the founder says he uses it 10-20 times per day to record 3-6 second thoughts. At that rate, he'll get about two years of usage. When the ring's battery dies, you can ship it back to the company for recycling. When using Index, you can record up to five minutes of audio, which can be saved to the ring and synced to your phone later. This makes sense for recording briefer, personal thoughts and notes, even when you don't have your phone handy, but it wouldn't work for recording a longer chat, like a presentation, meeting, or in-person interview of some kind. The ring also supports 99+ languages and has a bit of on-device memory, in case you're not in Bluetooth range of your device, where the recording is ultimately saved and transcribed. (The raw audio is retained, too, in case the speech-to-text is garbled due to loud background noise). If you own a Pebble smartwatch or one from another brand, your recorded thought can even appear on the watch's screen so you can verify it's correct. The ring works with Pebble's mobile app, which offers notes and reminders, but can optionally integrate with your phone's calendaring system, too, or other apps, like Notion. And the ring's software is open source, which makes it hackable by the community, the founder points out. Because of its open nature, the ring's button is already programmable. In addition to the press-and-hold gesture, you can program the ring to do other things with a single or double press, like play or pause your music or control the shutter on your phone's camera. You could use it to send a message through the universal chat app Beeper, which Migicovsky also created, or you could add your own voice actions via MCP. A new approach to hardware Migicovsky acknowledges that hardware can be difficult to get right -- as the previous exit of Pebble to Fitbit showed. (Fitbit, too, was later acquired by Google in 2021). "I didn't earn any money during Pebble -- we exited, but it was not a great exit," Migicovsky admits. This year, however, he decided to reboot the Pebble project after Google open sourced the PebbleOS, which opened up the door to new hardware. With his new company, Core Devices, Migicovsky plans to do things differently. Still, the founder doesn't regret his previous choices, he clarifies. "I wouldn't have gone back and changed anything. I loved what we built. I loved what we did. I love the company that we built, but it's not the only way to build a company," he told TechCrunch. " And, speaking as an ex-YC partner, there are -- there's a time and a place for building a venture-backed startup. Some companies are phenomenal when they raise money and build a big team, and I tried that...I think what I'm doing now is trying an alternative path, which is start from profitability," he says. The new company is a small team of five, self-funded, and focused on sustainability. So far, Core Devices has shipped the Pebble 2 Duo smartwatch with a black-and-white display. Its first run sold out, and the company is now preparing to ship the upgraded version, the Pebble Time 2. The newer device, which has seen 25,000 pre-orders, is a stainless steel watch with a larger, color e-ink screen. As for the Index 01, the ring's pre-order offer ends in March 2026. After that, the price increases to $99. It currently comes in silver, polished gold, and matte black and works with iOS and Android devices. Customers can select from eight ring sizes and three colors.
In Pictures: Sporting photos of the week
A selection of some of the most striking sports photographs taken around the world over the past seven days.
Optum Golf Channel Games: Scottie Scheffler
Watch the reigning World No. 1 and four-time major champion Scottie Scheffler tee it up at the Optum Golf Channel Games on December 17 at 7:00 p.m. ET on USA Network and Golf Channel.
UC San Diego Health Earns Highest Ranking for Obstetric, Infant Care
For the fourth year in a row, UC San Diego Health is recognized as a Best Hospital for Maternity Care by U.S. News & World Report.
Discuss ethical issues in the world of sports | CWRU Newsroom | Case Western Reserve University
Members of the Case Western Reserve University community are invited to enroll in Siegal Lifelong Learning Program’s “Fair Play: The Ethics of Spo...
UK Charts: Metroid Prime 4 Debuts Behind Mario Kart World And EA Sports FC 26
While Octopath Traveler 0 almost doesn't chart at all
Integrity and good governance are vital to business success
On International Anti-Corruption Day, here's why companies that build robust internal integrity processes are best placed to thrive in an uncertain world.
World Sport Star of the Year 2025: Vote for nominees Caldentey, Crawford, Duplantis, McLaughlin-Levrone, Ohtani, Salah
Voting is open for the BBC Sports Personality's World Sport Star of the Year 2025 award.
Ghana World Cup 2026 Schedule: Locations, Dates, Times
Here is Ghana's World Cup group stage opponents, which stadiums they will play at, and the times for the games.