Author: Grace Johnson

Agency Refuses Application and Flags Clinical Trial Structure The US Food and Drug Administration refused to accept Moderna’s application to review its first mRNA seasonal flu vaccine. The company disclosed the decision on Tuesday. The refusal adds another obstacle for mRNA vaccine development in the United States. Several health officials in the Trump administration have recently criticized the technology. The FDA said the application lacked an adequate and well-controlled trial. The agency said the control group did not reflect the best available standard of care in the United States during the study. Moderna said the agency raised no safety or…

Discord will soon require users worldwide to verify their age before accessing adult content. Users must confirm their age with a face scan or upload an official ID document. The chat platform says it has more than 200 million monthly users. Discord says the new safety system will place everyone into a teen-appropriate experience by default. The platform already requires age checks in the UK and Australia to comply with safety laws. Discord will expand the system globally from early March. Savannah Badalich, Discord’s policy head, said teen safety remains a priority. She said teen-by-default settings will strengthen protections while…

The Seattle Seahawks dominated the New England Patriots with a punishing defensive display, winning the Super Bowl 29-13 at Levi’s Stadium. The victory secured Seattle’s second championship in franchise history. Two of the NFL’s toughest defences clashed in the season’s biggest game, and Seattle imposed their will from the first whistle. Briton Aden Durde made history as the first overseas coach to lift the sport’s top prize in the United States. Seattle’s Defence Shines on the Biggest Stage Durde, Seattle’s 46-year-old defensive coordinator, has built the league’s most feared defence, nicknamed “the Dark Side.” On Super Bowl Sunday in Santa…

A South Korean cryptocurrency exchange accidentally sent customers more than 40 billion dollars in bitcoin. The mistake briefly turned some users into multimillionaires. The company had planned to send a small reward of 2,000 won, worth about 1.37 dollars. Instead, it sent 2,000 bitcoins to customers on Friday. The platform Bithumb apologised for the error. The company said it quickly realised its mistake and recovered almost all the missing tokens. It restricted trading and withdrawals for 695 affected customers within 35 minutes of the glitch. Exchange Recovers Nearly All Mistaken Transfers Bithumb said it recovered 99.7 percent of the 620,000…

US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order that threatens additional tariffs on countries that continue to trade with Iran. The order does not set a fixed tariff rate but uses 25 percent as an example. It says the tariff could apply to goods imported into the United States from any nation that directly or indirectly purchases goods or services from Iran. Trump did not comment directly on the order but repeated that Iran must not obtain nuclear weapons. He spoke from Air Force One while senior US and Iranian officials held talks in Oman after weeks of escalating…

The European Union has warned TikTok to overhaul its platform design or face severe fines. The European Commission said the video app violated EU online safety laws. Officials reached this view after an investigation launched in February 2024. Regulators analysed how TikTok’s features influence user behaviour. The Commission said TikTok failed to properly assess risks to mental health. Investigators focused on autoplay and continuous content recommendations. They said these features can harm users, especially children. Regulators also said TikTok failed to reduce the identified risks. TikTok rejected the findings through a company spokesperson. The firm described the assessment as inaccurate…

For two months, the US Department of Justice released millions of Epstein-related records. The files detail alleged sex trafficking by financier Jeffrey Epstein. President Donald Trump now urges the nation to move on. Political momentum points firmly in the opposite direction. Justice department shuts the door on prosecutions Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the government review has concluded. Congress required the review through legislation passed in November. Blanche said prosecutors found no basis for additional criminal cases. He confirmed the files contain emails, photographs, and written correspondence. He said such material alone fails to meet legal prosecution standards. The…

Netflix faced renewed pressure in Washington over its $82bn (£61bn) plan to buy Warner Bros Discovery. Lawmakers questioned whether the merger would help consumers or workers. Senators from both parties expressed deep scepticism during an antitrust hearing. Senators warn of weaker competition and higher prices Members of the Senate antitrust subcommittee raised concerns about shrinking competition in entertainment markets. Several senators warned consumers could face higher subscription prices. Others questioned how cinemas would survive after the merger. The Department of Justice is reviewing the proposed transaction. Approval would hand Netflix control of Warner Bros film and television studios. The deal…

China has banned hidden door handles on electric vehicles over safety concerns. The move makes China the first country to outlaw the design. Regulators acted amid rising scrutiny of electric vehicle safety worldwide. Several deadly incidents raised alarm among authorities. Two fatal crashes in China involved electric cars produced by Xiaomi. Investigators suspected power failures stopped passengers from opening the doors. Regulators Demand Reliable Emergency Access The new regulations permit sales only for cars with mechanical door releases inside and outside. State media outlined the requirements in detail. Officials want to guarantee access during accidents and power failures. Regulators aim…

Gold and silver prices fell sharply as investors accelerated an exit from once-popular safe-haven assets. The downturn extended losses from Friday and marked a decisive break from January’s record-setting rally. Markets shifted focus toward a stronger dollar and easing policy fears. During Asian trading on Monday, spot gold dropped more than nine percent to roughly $4,403 per ounce. Silver slid about 15 percent to below $72 per ounce. Both metals had surged earlier this year amid heightened geopolitical tension. Market confidence returns after US policy signal Investors previously piled into precious metals to hedge against political and economic risk. Doubts…