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'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.
Award of Merit, Sports/Entertainment: New Alamein City Tourist Promenade
Located along the Mediterranean coast, the $36.6-million project transforms the waterfront into a vibrant public promenade.
Mounts of Mayhem challenges
Take on two challenges in the Mobs of Mayhem drop and earn dashing rewards! Defeat five mobs with a spear, or help the community spawn 75 million zombie horses! The challenges run from Friday Dec 12, 8:00 AM PT to Monday Dec 15, 10:00 AM PT.
Taylor Swift's Eras Tour Ensemble? Forme Science
Taylor Swift was seen in her latest Eras Tour documentary wearing Forme Science's Power Bra. We're debreifing on the bra and where you can buy it now.
Stephen Colbert questions Paramount's Warner Bros. bid
Stephen Colbert, whose show was canceled by Paramount, wondered about the company's finances amid a $108 billion bid to buy Warner Bros. Discovery.
Doogan, O’Neil, Roussell, Men Lacrosse Named Finalists for the 2026 RVA Sports Awards - University of Richmond Athletics
RICHMOND, Va. – Maggie Doogan , Aidan O'Neil , Aaron Roussell and the Richmond men's lacrosse program have been named finalists for the 2026 RVA Sports Award...
New photos released from Epstein’s estate showing Trump, Bannon, Bill Clinton and other high-profile people
Democrats on the House Oversight Committee have released photos from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate Friday showing the many powerful figures in the late sex trafficker’s orbit, including President Donald Trump, former President Bill Clinton, Bill Gates, Richard Branson and others.
Embracing Entrepreneurship: Zoë Tsoukalas - Mays Business School News
From Lemonade Stands to Ledgers “I’ve always had the mindset of entrepreneurship. At a very early age, I began my journey towards entrepreneurship with the typical lemonade and snow cone stands. In high school, I launched a clothing and jewelry business, where everything I sold was handmade and one of a kind. I continued with
AI-powered FFR-CT software linked to considerable cost savings, accurate predictions
According to Heartflow, its AI offering saves health systems nearly $1,400 per patient thanks to reductions in unnecessary cardiovascular testing.
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
Plans for outdoor entertainment center along I-40 move forward
Pacific Elm Properties drafts a term sheet for an entertainment center on 136 acres near RDU Airport, shaped by public feedback despite controversy.
The 4 most innovative tech products we tested this year (includes a surprise tri-fold phone)
From AI glasses with digital overlays to robot vacuums that can pick up your leftover laundry, here are ZDNET's Breakthrough Award winners for 2025.
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.
AMD launches FSR SDK 2.1.0 to speed up adoption of FSR Redstone
Implementation-ready Software Development Kit for FSR Redstone now available AMD has released FSR SDK 2.1.0, the first public package that lines up with
What's on the agenda for Toure today?
Yes, that's right - Manchester City assistant Kolo Toure will be facing the cameras this lunchtime to preview Sunday's Premier League game at Crystal Palace. Boss Pep Guardiola has a "personal matter" to deal with so is not around today but is expected to return to work on Saturday and will be in the dugout at Selhurst Park. Toure is likely to field questions about City's magnificent win at Real Madrid during the week and the title race as it reaches an important juncture.
Watch West Broward vs. West Boca Raton in Florida 6A football championship: Live stream, tickets
The game begins at 12:30 p.m. on Friday at Pitbull Stadium in Miami.
Dick Van Dyke Credits His Longevity to One Habit, And It's Backed by Science
He turns 100 on December 13.
Round Up: Everything Announced At The Game Awards 2025 - All Switch 1 & 2 Reveals
The Leon and Winding Road
Review: 'Stereophonic' at the Pantages can't hit Broadway's high notes
The Hollywood Pantages presents the L.A. premiere of David Adjmi's Tony-winning play 'Stereophonic.' The work, which includes original music by Will Butler, exposes the behind-the-scenes drama of a 1970s rock band recording a new album while on the brink of massive superstardom.
Real estate's rising stars: 18 top young realtors, architects, and executives to watch
From making real estate investing more attainable to developing 500-square-foot homes to fit in your backyard, here's why these rising stars of real estate are the ones to watch in 2025.
Guardant Health and Trial Library to expand access to US cancer trials
Trial Library’s platform is said to provide access to trials within community-based settings, spanning over 320 clinics.
Science-minded artisans help WHOI move forward at Woods Hole shop
Three Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution employees make ocean-inspired art to support organization's mission. Here's where to find it.
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, […]
New study reveals effects of COVID school closures on students' mental health
A new study is providing hard data about just how bad school closures during the COVID-19 pandemic were for children's mental health.
Lampard wins second manager of the month award
Coventry City boss Frank Lampard is named the Championship's manager of the month for November with striker Ellis Simms winning the player award.
4 Takeaways From the Falcons' Win Over the Buccaneers
The Bucs' stunning collapse to Atlanta puts their playoff hopes in jeopardy despite controlling their NFC South destiny at 7-7. Here are my takeaways.
Awards season is back: Acclaimed actors dish on their buzzy roles in roundtable
Jacob Elordi and more join the discussion
The Game Awards’ grand finale reveal was a game you’ve never heard of coming out in a month
Highguard comes from the creators of Apex Legends and Titanfall
Everything announced and all the winners at The Game Awards 2025
This year at The Game Awards, if your game wasn’t melodramatic, mechanically innovative, beautifully presented and aggressively French, it really didn’t stand a chance.
The Game Awards 2025 – Every Winner and Xbox Reveal Plus New Details on Control Resonant, Diablo IV, Tomb Raider, and More
On behalf of the creative teams at Xbox, Bethesda Softworks, Activision, and Blizzard, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to this year’s winners and nominees at The Game Awards!
Policies | Business Conduct and Decisions
Abbott's transparent policies and standards guide our business decisions, ethical conduct and commitment to the environment.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Storms The Game Awards 2025, Wins Coveted Game of the Year
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 stormed The Game Awards 2025, winning all but one category it was nominated in, including the main prize: Game of the Year.
Game Awards Declares ‘Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’ Game Of The Year
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Hollow Knight: Silksong, No Man's Sky take home wins from 2026 Game Awards. Amazon Games announces new Tomb Raider games
Mega Man: Dual Override Revealed by Capcom With First Gameplay Trailer and 2027 Launch Plans | The Game Awards 2025
As revealed at The Game Awards 2025, Capcom is bringing the Blue Bomber back with a new video game called Mega Man: Dual Override.
Trump announces pardon for Tina Peters, increasing pressure to free her though he can’t erase state charges
President Donald Trump announced Thursday he is granting Tina Peters a full federal pardon, which is likely to increase the pressure campaign to free the former Colorado clerk from state prison even though he cannot erase her state charges.
Total War: Warhammer 40,000 Announced From Creative Assembly | The Game Awards 2025
Creative Assembly has finally confirmed one of the worst-kept secrets in video games: Total War: Warhammer 40,000.
Gabriel Vilardi with a Powerplay Goal vs. Boston Bruins
Orbitals announced exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2
During The Game Awards 2025 tonight, was announced exclusive for Nintendo Switch 2. The title launches sometime in 2026. Orbitals, a co-op space adventure game, comes from Kepler and Shapefarm. The goal of the game involves going on a search for the crumbling station home of Maki and Omura. Here’s a bit of additional information: Grab a friend and launch...
LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight Release Date Announced | The Game Awards 2025
LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight emerged from the shadows this evening at The Game Awards with a new trailer, revealing the anticipated adventure's release date.
Two Spenard businesses are shutting their doors
Two Spenard businesses announce they are closing their doors, they say the economy is impacting them both
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.
Control: Resonant Announced by Remedy for 2026 Release | The Game Awards 2025
Remedy Entertainment has announced Control: Resonant, the follow-up to IGN’s 2019 Game of the Year, Control at the 2025 Game Awards. It’s due out in 2026 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X and S, and it aims to be anything but a straightforward sequel.
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.
The Witness and Braid Creator Jonathan Blow Announces New 250-Hour Puzzle Game, Order of the Sinking Star | The Game Awards 2025
Order of the Sinking Star is an upcoming puzzle game that features 1,000 puzzles that can take up to 500 hours to complete, and we saw it in a live demo.
The Game Awards statue was for Larian's new game, Divinity, a new RPG that's "even larger than Baldur's Gate 3
Larian has announced Divinity.
Yup, That Weird Statue Was Teasing a New Divinity Game | The Game Awards 2025
After some unusual teases and a trademark inadvertently showing Larian Studios' hand, the Baldur's Gate 3 developer's next game has been officially revealed at The Game Awards with one heck of a disturbing trailer. It's Divinity. Just Divinity.
Everything announced at The Game Awards 2025 — Xbox, gaming handhelds, PC, and more
Here's a complete overview of everything from The Game Awards 2025 announced for Xbox, PC, and handhelds.
BLOG: Who won big? Inside the Best of Central Valley Business 2025
It was an evening of firsts at Pardini’s in Fresno on Tuesday as the 2025 winners of the Best of Central Valley Business Readers’ Choice Awards were announced. Nearly 200 people attended the event to
Mario + Rabbids Creator Davide Soliani Announces New Platforming Game Bradley the Badger | The Game Awards 2025
Davide Soliani, the lead creator behind Mario + Rabbids games, has revealed Bradley the Badger — his first new project since leaving Ubisoft and forming a new studio.
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.
Public Health Faculty Slam Harvard’s Removal of FXB Center Director Mary Bassett | News
Public Health Faculty Slam Harvard’s Removal of FXB Center Director Mary Bassett | News | The Harvard Crimson
Announcing Total War: Warhammer 40,000!
Award-winning strategy franchise moves into the 41st Millennium
Alabama board of education approves mandatory computer science courses
Schools have 18 months to implement the digital literacy and computer science course.
DC Wrap: Indiana Republicans say no to redistricting despite pressure from Trump
Also, the Senate rejected two health care reform bills and an update on a National Guard member wounded last month in Washington
Taking Stock of Elevance Health (ELV)’s Valuation After Digital Health Push and Board Refresh
Elevance Health (ELV) just paired a broader rollout of its AI powered Virtual Assistant with the appointment of veteran healthcare deal maker and governance expert Amy Schulman to its board, a combination investors should parse carefully. See our latest analysis for Elevance Health. Those digital health moves and the Schulman appointment are landing against a clear shift in sentiment, with the share price up 14.3 percent over the past month but a three year total shareholder return still...
Instead of fixing WoW’s new floating house exploit, Blizzard makes it official
“We all kinda immediately agreed this was way too cool to change.”…
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...
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.
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.
Video Health care in jeopardy for millions as Senate votes down competing proposals
Cynthia Cox, vice president of health policy group KFF, says premiums will likely increase next month for people who buy their health insurance on the ACA marketplace.
‘I didn’t want to tear it down.’ Michael Jordan, Jim France see a new day in NASCAR
Michael Jordan and Jim France stood opposed for over a year. On Thursday, they were united, “moving forward instead of moving separately.”
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...
Stand up and take a stand, ACC. Call Notre Dame's bluff after CFP brouhaha
After brouhaha with the College Football Playoff selection of Miami, the ACC must play hardball with Notre Dame and regain respectability.
Weekend Entertainment | Holiday Spirit at Stage Left’s ‘Trailer Park’
The annual onslaught of holiday shows has overtaken local stages, and they’re a cherished part of the season for many folks.
CBS Sports college football awards: Best player, coach, freshman from 2025 season
College football's best and brightest are honored after an incredible 2025 season
Reimbursement expected to drive implementation of CCTA, coronary plaque analysis
For years, imaging experts have predicted that CCTA may become the primary imaging modality for coronary artery disease and eliminate the need for invasive diagnostic catheterizations. That prediction is now coming true.
Trump takes steps toward demolishing four federal buildings, preservationist alleges
After demolishing the White House’s East Wing, President Donald Trump is now eying four federal buildings for the same treatment and is circumventing a key government agency with his plans, according to a historic preservationist raising the alarm.
The fact-checking mandate evolves from politics to personal security
"Online scams, phishing attempts, and fraudulent schemes have grown in both volume and sophistication, creating a new front in the war on falsehoods."
Game Awards 2025 LIVE — latest leaks, rumors, predictions and all the build-up to the biggest night in gaming
Geoff Keighley’s Game Awards 2025 are almost here
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.
NJ senator declares war on Dem ‘machine,’ pledges primary battles against old-guard power brokers
Sen. Andy Kim, D-N.J., breaks with the Democratic Party establishment, citing corruption concerns after state Sen. James Beach allegedly dismissed a constituent at a hearing.
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.
Cursor Launches an AI Coding Tool For Designers
The 300-person startup hopes bringing designers aboard will give it an edge in an increasingly competitive AI software market.
Penske Entertainment establishes formal Independent Officiating Board for IndyCar
Comprised of three members tasked with presiding over the IndyCar Series and its Indy NXT development series, the IOB reports to a new non-profit entity, IndyCar Officiating, Inc, created by Penske Entertainment.
Chico's big fashion and entertainment show on Dec. 13 benefits FUR's cat rescue work • Chico News & Review
We are a group of award-winning free alternative weekly newspapers published by Chico Community Publishing, Inc. We publish the Chico News & Review in Chico, California, the Sacramento News & Review in Sacramento, California and the Reno News & Review in Reno, Nevada. In addition to the 3 weeklies, we also have a Custom Publication division dedicated to producing high quality publications for government agencies, nonprofits and more.
Entergy Texas earns J.D. Power award
The recognition underscores the company’s commitment to exceptional service and affordable power
Devils' Meier taking leave for family health matter
The New Jersey Devils said Thursday that forward Timo Meier is taking a personal leave of absence from the team to attend to a family health matter.
Major Tomb Raider announcement leaks ahead of The Game Awards
A number of Tomb Raider leaks have started circulating ahead of tonight's The Game Awards show.
NHL Rumors: 3 Blackhawks On Latest Trade Board
The Witness, Braid Creator Teases New Game Reveal at The Game Awards
Jonathon Blow to show off next project
The Game Awards are losing their luster
A lot of flash concealing increasingly shrinking substance.
Q&A: What does the Netflix-Paramount bidding war mean for your streaming future?
Netflix and Paramount, entertainment companies known for promoting drama within the shows and movies on their platforms, are now caught up in their own theatrics. What’s it all mean? And how could the result affect how you consume your favorite movies and shows? We asked the University of Virginia’s Anthony Palomba, an assistant professor of business administration at the Darden School of Business and an expert in the media and entertainment industry, to share his insights.
Meet the 77-year-old Vietnam pilot still in love with lacrosse — and scoring on opponents 50 years younger (photos)
Jon Ryan was awarded a Purple Heart in Vietnam, has kept bees for nearly 50 years and never misses a week in a lacrosse league where many of the players are young enough to be his grandchildren.
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.
Oracle and the hard truths about software
Running a giant digital business is not as fun as it used to be
Braid and The Witness Creator Jonathan Blow Teases The Game Awards Announcement
Jonathan Blow has just "announced an announcement," teasing he just may be getting on a plane today to join a "gaming industry event coming up." All roads lead to The Game Awards!
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.
BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2025: Six contenders announced for SPOTY shortlist
A shortlist of six contenders has been announced for the 2025 BBC Sports Personality of the Year award. Footballers Hannah Hampton and Chloe Kelly, rugby union player Ellie Kildunne, darts player Luke Littler, golfer Rory McIlroy and Formula 1 driver Lando Norris are the nominees.
UK Sports Cardiology helps marathoner back to chasing 50-state goal
After a midrace cardiac arrest, Brian Rice was advised not to run again. But with help from UK HealthCare’s Sports Cardiology Program, Rice is back chasing his dream of running a marathon in every state.
Sports Personality of the Year shortlist announced
Find out who is on the shortlist for the 2025 BBC Sports Personality of the Year award.
Senate to question military leaders on Trump's National Guard deployments
The Senate is set to question military leaders over President Donald Trump’s deployment of the National Guard to American cities
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
UFC BJJ 4 Results: Tackett vs. Dorsey
Three UFC BJJ titles are up for grabs on the main card
Mets showing interest in Cardinals' Willson Contreras: reports
The Mets reportedly approached the Cardinals with interest regarding a potential trade for three-time All-Star Willson Contreras.
Republicans barrel toward health care cliff while Democrats claim messaging war victory: ‘The American public knows’
Bargy named 2025 Michigan 4-H Animal Science Youth Sportsperson of the Year - 4-H Animal Science
Antrim County 4-H member Wyatt Bargy wins prestigious sportsmanship award for his involvement in 4-H animal science projects.
AYANEO teases Pocket PLAY slide-out gaming phone with Android
AYANEO launches its first gaming phone which looks like old Xperia phones Their first phone. AYANEO has announced Pocket PLAY, a smartphone with a