SCROLL NEWS / DISCOVERY
Search headlines
Find the stories shaping the conversation.
Results for " ’ " 74,078 found 🔀 AI-powered Shuffle
‘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.”
Rumor Replay: AirTag 2, iPhone 18 upgrade, Studio Display 2
This week’s Rumor Replay covers: iPhone 18’s Face ID upgrade, AirTag 2 rumors, the latest on Apple’s new Studio Display, and more.
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...
Comcast and Amazon Bring Amazon Luna Cloud Gaming to Xfinity’s Entertainment Devices
Comcast and Amazon announced the launch of Amazon Luna, a cloud gaming service, on millions of Xfinity TV and streaming devices across the U.S.
AETH Entertainment and Kartoon Studios Partner to Launch TaleSphere Studios
New Live-Action Banner to Produce Family and Youth Entertainment; First Project, “Real Santa” BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., Dec. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kartoon Studios (NYSE American: TOON), a global producer and distributor of children’s and family entertainment, and AETH Entertainment, a full service entertainment studio, today jointly announced they have teamed up to launch TaleSphere Studios, a joint venture that will produce live-action youth and family focused entertainment. “This marks an
Pokémon Legends: Z-A Mega Dimension: 7 Tips For Its Roguelike Mode
Time is not on your side in the Mega Dimension DLC, so here’s a few tricks to help you out in Hyperspace
West Palm Beach is at the 'epicenter’ of Florida’s business growth, leaders say
Related Ross Executive Vice President Jordan Rathlev and health-tech firm Visium CEO John Rajchert speak to Fox News Digital about the influx of businesses and employees moving to West Palm Beach and how their companies are leading the charge.
Can Jasmine Crockett’s Vibes-Based Politics Work in Texas?
The champion of the clapback is the ultimate advocate of base mobilization as a path to victory. It’s not clear it will work statewide.
Turkey’s Largest City Is Threatened by a Lurking Earthquake
Escalating activity along a fault line in the Sea of Marmara is moving closer to Istanbul, seismologists warn.
Early Earth's belly held onto its water
When the early Earth’s magma ocean crystallized 4.4 billion years ago, the deep mantle trapped an ocean’s worth of water, scientists say.
Big Play Entertainment opens Dunwoody center in time for holiday break
Brandon and Ray Wooldridge, the father and son who own Big Play Entertainment Atlanta, picked a spot in Dunwoody after a tornado demolished the family’s business outside of Nashville.
AETH Entertainment and Kartoon Studios Partner To Launch TaleSphere Studios; Will Focus On Live-Action With ‘Real Santa’ As Debut Film
TaleSphere Studios, a joint venture of Kartoon Studios and AETH Entertainment, has launched with 'Real Santa' as its first project.
After a year of Trump-inspired inaction, some Republicans in Congress are growing restless
A year after President Donald Trump’s election and with next year’s midterms looming, congressional deference to the White House is showing signs of wearing on some Republicans.
Ars Live: 3 former CDC leaders detail impacts of RFK Jr.’s anti-science agenda
Join us Tuesday, December 16, at 2 pm ET to hear from leaders who resigned in protest.
SpaceX’s possible $1.5 trillion IPO could be big business for Texas
SpaceX, the Elon Musk-owned aerospace company, is planning to go public next year with a potential $1.5 trillion IPO, which would set a new record for a new public offering and have a huge impact on the Texas economy.
Blame Republicans for our health insurance mess
Conservatives haven’t taken health policy seriously for decades.
Nothing Phone (4a) series leaks with surprising processor details
Nothing’s new mid-range devices may be more prepared to clash with the likes of the iPhone 17e, Pixel 10a, and Galaxy A57.
He Was a Typical Gen Z TikTokker. Then His Mom Got Deported.
How ICE turned Tony Vara’s whole world upside down.
Navy delivers report to Hegseth on potential punishment for Sen. Mark Kelly over ‘illegal orders’ video
The US Navy has submitted its recommendations on potential punishments for Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly over his participation in a video that reminded US troops they have a duty to refuse illegal orders, a Pentagon official told CNN on Thursday.
Google is building an experimental new browser and a new kind of web app
Meet the GenTab, nothing like the plain ol’ browser tab.
Gaza’s maternal and newborn health system ‘decimated’, UN warns
Gaza’s health system for mothers and newborns has been “decimated”, the UN said on Thursday, with Israeli attacks destroying almost all hospitals, cutting off medical supplies and driving sharp rises in maternal deaths, miscarriages and newborn fatalities amid mass displacement and hunger.
Google announces experimental ‘Disco’ browser with ‘GenTabs’ powered by Gemini 3
Google today announced “Disco” as an experiment to “shape the future of web browsing.” GenTabs are the first flagship feature...
Exodus Looks To Fill The Space-Opera RPG Void Left By Mass Effect
Our first look at gameplay for Archetype’s space epic has arrived.
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.
Goldman on Lander challenge: ‘Politics will have to wait ’til 2026′
Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.) on Wednesday declined to comment on New York City Comptroller Brad Lander’s (D) decision to challenge him in the party primary, instead homing in on legislative tasks to c…
Michael Jordan's 23XI Racing Settles Lawsuit with NASCAR: 'Going to Grow the Sport'
Michael Jordan’s race team will continue to compete in NASCAR after Thursday's settlement. Here's what to know.
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.
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
Elon Musk calls DOGE ‘only somewhat successful,’ rules out return
WhatsApp is trying to reinvent voicemail
It’s now easier to send a voice or video message when someone doesn’t answer their phone.
Mayor Adams weighs in on his legacy, achievements
He will leave as New York City’s second Black mayor, and the first one-term mayor in more than three decades.
A Philly restaurant came clean about its Health Department shutdown. Was that the right call?
Cafe Michelangelo’s management chose to explain, point by point, the issues that led the city to close it temporarily. The restaurant also has vowed to improve its sanitation practices.
Asked about The Donald’s national security strategy, the Commons was remarkable for its absences
You’d think MPs would be lining up to decry the US president’s threat to destabilise Europe. Instead, only backbenchers and a few junior ministers bothered to turn up
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.
Universal Orlando’s New Year’s Eve celebrations feature live entertainment, characters, countdowns
NASA’s Parker Solar Probe Spies Solar Wind ‘U-Turn’
Images captured by NASA’s Parker Solar Probe as the spacecraft made its record-breaking closest approach to the Sun in December 2024 have now revealed new
Ayaneo Pocket Play is a reincarnation of the Xperia Play
Ayaneo’s first smartphone is set to launch soon. Ayaneo is entering the smartphone market, and its first device will take a different approach from the...
Clair Obscur Wasn’t Just Good, It Was Also Cheap To Develop
Sandfall Interactive made a GOTY contender for a fraction of what most companies spend
Cleveland’s Independent Music and Comedy Venues Drive $742.5 Million in Economic Impact, New Study Finds
A kernel from the study: The city’s venues account for nearly 50 percent of the indie live entertainment GDP of the Buckeye State, more than 28 states.
Entergy Texas earns J.D. Power award
The recognition underscores the company’s commitment to exceptional service and affordable power
SC minority business leaders say paperwork 'quotas' in state law never met their goal
SC business groups don’t see the governor's pause of minority set asides as much of a loss since many agencies weren’t meeting quotas.
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
AT&T’s new home security system is powered by Google Home and Abode
AT&T shut down its previous security system in 2022.
Former Trump White House official warns new CBP social media rule would ‘devastate’ tourism industry
Disney Accuses Google of Using AI to Engage in Copyright Infringement on ‘Massive Scale’
Disney is accusing Google of copyright infringement on a "massive scale" using AI models and services to "commercially exploit and distribute" infringing images and videos.
Senate Deadlocks Over Obamacare Subsidies in Dueling Votes
Republicans blocked Democrats’ effort to extend the expiring subsidies while Democrats thwarted a G.O.P. proposal to replace them with direct payments for basic health coverage.
NFL Week 15 Bet of the Week
FTN’s NFL Week 15 Bet of the Week is powered by our advanced model that simulates every game 10,000 times. Find this week’s top edge, complete with true odds and expert analysis. FTN’s NFL Bet of the Week: Cowboys -6…
Pittsburgh’s Strength as Business Center Fuels Aer Lingus Entry into Market
With today’s announcement that Aer Lingus is introducing nonstop flights from Pittsburgh International Airport to Dublin Airport, Pittsburgh and Ireland have the opportunity to build on the powerful business and cultural connection that drives economic development in both regions. Flights on Aer Lingus, the Irish flag carrier, start on May 25, 2026, on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays
Final Fantasy 7’s Nier Crossover Has Aerith Fans Acting Up
The look’s an odd choice considering Aerith and Kaine could not be more different
The Hidden Toll of Holiday Stress on Women’s Health
A recent survey suggests a widening gut-health gap, with women—often the default planners and hosts—bearing the brunt of holiday strain.
There’s no room for hunger at UC Berkeley School of Public Health
In 2021 UCBPH launched a food pantry run by the Dream office, which quickly grew to encompass direct stipends, and personal and home care products.
The Last Days of Matthews Arena, Boston’s Overlooked Sports Cathedral
Northeastern’s 115-year-old Matthews Arena will host its final game this weekend before demolition begins for a new facility.
Live updates: Dueling Senate health care plans come up for votes; US, Venezuela tensions rise
Senators will go on record Thursday on competing health care plans that try to address enhanced ObamaCare tax subsidies set to expire at the end of the year. A vote on the Democrats’ three-ye…
Kelly Osbourne has a NSFW response to those commenting on her dramatic weight loss
Kelly Osbourne has seen the many comments about how thin she looks these days and she’s not happy about it.
Trump’s affordability argument just got the unlikeliest champion
The main reason Americans are upset about the economy: They are still adjusting to high prices that surged during years of runaway inflation that took place during former President Joe Biden’s term.
Capitol agenda: GOP’s health revolt heads to the Senate
John Thune and Mike Johnson can’t get Republicans on the same page on health care.
Despite Chiefs’ 2025 struggles, the Chargers still respect their rival
Los Angeles expects a competitive Week 15 game against Kansas City.
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.
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
Game Preview: Montreal Canadiens @ Pittsburgh Penguins 12/11/25
Who: Montreal Canadiens (15-11-3, 33 points, 4th place Atlantic Division) @ Pittsburgh Penguins (14-7-7, 35 points, 4th place Metropolitan Division) When: 7:00 p.m. eastern How to Watch: Broadcast locally Sportsnet Pittsburgh, streaming on ESPN+ Pens’ Path Ahead: The long homestand rolls on with matinee games at PPG Paints this weekend against San Jose (3pm on Saturday) and Utah […]
Penn State College of Ag Sciences to offer food science short courses
In 2026, food inspectors and sanitarians, quality assurance managers, food plant managers and food engineers can learn the latest developments in food science with short courses offered by Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences.
Scientists find a massive hidden CO2 sponge beneath the ocean floor
Researchers found that eroded lava rubble beneath the South Atlantic can trap enormous amounts of CO2 for tens of millions of years. These porous breccia deposits store far more carbon than previously sampled ocean crust. The discovery reshapes how scientists view the long-term balance of carbon between the ocean, rocks, and atmosphere. It also reveals a hidden mechanism that helps stabilize Earth’s climate over geological timescales.
Healthy disagreement | Latest US politics news from The Economist
The latest news in US politics, with coverage of Donald Trump’s second term.
Could Georgia’s 2026 statewide races be runoff free?
The Libertarian Party of Georgia is having trouble qualifying for the ballot. Without their candidates, statewide races would likely be settled on Election Day.
Islanders Gameday News: Here come the Ducks
They’re not your father’s Ducks! Or at least not your older brother’s Ducks, or something. Tonight the Islanders host a Fairly Strong Ducks of Anaheim team that is first in its division at a very respectable 19-10-1. After years of “very tough negotiator” Pat Verbeek at the helm, it seems he just needed to hire […]
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.”
Analysis | Warnock: Dems have ‘ceded’ to Republicans on religion
The Washington Post’s essential guide to power and influence in D.C.
Ed and Linda Whitacre contribute $7M to support health research, engineering and athletics at UT San Antonio - UT San Antonio Today
The Whitacres’ continuous investment in UT San Antonio demonstrates how philanthropy can advance education, discovery and health.
Communicators know business acumen matters. Most don’t feel ready.
There's a sizable gap between what communicators think they should know and what they feel comfortable with.
Brazil’s Business Elite Keeps Hope Alive for Centrist Candidate
A key member of one of Brazil’s most prominent business groups is holding out hope for a centrist candidate to emerge in next year’s presidential election, criticizing the left and right for failing to address the South American nation’s economic and social challenges.
Business leaders make their 2026 predictions for the Magnificent 7: ‘I’d rather be in Jensen’s seat than anywhere else’
Also: All the news and watercooler chat from Fortune.
Business leaders make their 2026 predictions for the Magnificent 7
'I’d rather be in Jensen’s seat than anywhere else'
Monster Hunter Wilds finally gets PC optimisation roadmap to coincide with Title Update 4, but players still aren't really happy
"They’re even drip feeding optimization lmao," says one player.
Kenya Court Halts $1.6 Billion Health Deal as US Courts Uganda
A Kenyan court temporarily froze the nation’s health deal with the US after a lobby group raised data-privacy concerns, even as President Donald Trump courts more African countries with similar pacts.
Moderna Founder Warns US Doubts on Science Threaten Biotech Edge
The US risks falling behind in biotechnology as the government cuts funding and skepticism over vaccines grows, according to Moderna Inc.’s co-founder and Chairman Noubar Afeyan.
Mamdani and top New York rabbis will meet privately, but their core divide remains unresolved
The Friday after Zohran Mamdani won, Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch gave a sermon saying that he believed the incoming New York mayor’s criticisms of Israel aligned with Hamas and that critics of Israel wanted to separate “good Jews” from “bad Jews” in a way that endangers the city’s Jewish community.
Republicans worry Trump is missing the mark on affordability
President Donald Trump’s high-profile economic speech on Tuesday night was meant to alleviate Americans’ concerns about the cost of living. Instead, it mainly appeared to deepen fears within the GOP that he’s not quite getting it.
Poppin' Tags Free Store owner extends mission with funds, new business
Sonya Dembowski remembers the moment she decided to begin her Poppin’ Tags Free Store in West Deer. She was driving through Coraopolis in the height of the pandemic shutdown. She remembers seeing piles of donations left outside a closed store. Dembowski later saw on the news that because the donations
Cup of Cavs: News and links for Thursday, Dec. 11
This won’t be the best night for basketball.
‘A new era’: Miami voters resoundingly reject the city’s political dynasties
After Tuesday’s election, four out of five Miami commissioners are serving their first term in any elected office.
Mental health needs of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities can't be ignored
William Skipworth’s three-part investigation in the New Hampshire Bulletin has laid bare the ongoing traumas experienced by people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The community’s response has been swift — shock, grief, and a collective demand for action to prevent future harm. As the dust settles, pressing questions are emerging about oversight and accountability: Which […]
A dream come true: how Pöpperl sees his Schalke future
With Paul Pöpperl, Miron Muslic recently helped another young Schalke player make his professional debut. If the 22-year-old has his way, it shouldn’t stop there. He hopes for a royal blue future.�...
Maker’s Mark nets first sports league sponsorship with Unrivaled
The bourbon brand will have a significant presence around the women's basketball league both on-premise and digitally.
Disappointing Oracle results knock $70bn off value amid AI bubble fears
Weaker-than-forecast quarterly data for Larry Ellison’s tech company shows slowdown in revenue growth but big rise in spending
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.
Peers told they risk ‘constitutional crisis’ after surprise vote to continue blocking employment rights bill
Government lost Lords vote on employment rights bill by 24 votes, just hours after the creation of 25 new Labour peers
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’
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.
907 Sports: An in-depth look at the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2026
The Alaska Sports Hall of Fame announced it’s Class of 2026 earlier this week, inducting three people and two moments.
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
Science for Living: Examining hidden risks of cannabis use among older adults
Emergency visits tied to cannabis use are surging among older adults. Jerry H. Gurwitz, MD’83, led a nationwide study that is shedding light on the trend.
Analysis: What Trump’s latest dramatic Venezuela move means
The Trump administration’s seizure of an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela is one of the most dramatic twists yet in a military pressure campaign against Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro.
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