Author: OMN AI

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…

A return to traditional Nepali foods could help reverse the country’s growing type 2 diabetes crisis, researchers say. In Nepal, about one in five people over 40 has diabetes, while medication remains largely unaffordable. Doctors now hope that simple dietary changes and community support can offer an effective alternative. Studies show that meals based on lentils and rice, known as dal bhat, have helped many patients achieve remission. A pilot study in Kathmandu saw 43% of long-term diabetes patients reverse the condition on a calorie-controlled traditional diet. A larger community trial has reported similar results within four months, with modest…

Refusal to Testify, Offer of a Pardon Trade Ghislaine Maxwell, the longtime associate of Jeffrey Epstein, declined to answer questions from the US House Oversight Committee on Monday as part of renewed investigations into Epstein’s network. Appearing via video link from a federal prison camp in Texas, where she is serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking, Maxwell repeatedly invoked her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. Her legal team said she would only be willing to testify if granted clemency by President Donald Trump. Claims Involving Trump and Clinton Maxwell’s attorney, David Oscar Markus, told lawmakers that his client is…

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…

Melting Ice Opens the Arctic to More Ships As global temperatures rise, Arctic sea ice is disappearing faster than ever, allowing ships to navigate routes that were previously frozen year-round. While this opens new opportunities for cargo, fishing, and even cruise vessels, it comes with a hidden cost: black carbon, or soot, emitted by ships. This pollution settles on snow and ice, darkening the surface and accelerating melting by absorbing more heat from the sun. “It ends up in a never-ending cycle of increased warming,” says Sian Prior, lead adviser for the Clean Arctic Alliance. Faster Arctic melting can influence…

People who drink tea or coffee daily show a lower risk of dementia, scientists report.Researchers analysed health data from more than 130,000 US adults followed for up to 43 years. Those who drank two to three cups of caffeinated coffee or one to two cups of tea daily had a 15–20% lower dementia risk.Caffeinated coffee drinkers also showed slightly less cognitive decline than non-drinkers. The study appeared in the Journal of the American Medical Association.No protective effect emerged for decaffeinated coffee. Lead author Yu Zhang from Harvard University said the results could not prove cause and effect.Caffeine drinkers may differ…

Team USA successfully defended its Olympic gold in the team figure skating event at the 2026 Winter Games in Milan‑Cortina. The American team delivered strong performances across all disciplines, ensuring victory despite fierce competition from Russia, Japan, and Canada. The event featured skaters competing in men’s and women’s singles, pairs, and ice dance. Team USA’s athletes displayed technical skill and artistic flair, earning high scores from judges and securing a comfortable lead by the final segment. Standout performances included Alexandra Trusova in women’s singles, whose triple-triple combinations wowed the audience, and Nathan Chen in men’s singles, whose clean jumps and…

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…

Landslide victory for the LDP Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is on track for a sweeping win in Sunday’s snap elections, with early estimates suggesting her ruling bloc has secured a two-thirds majority in the lower house. If confirmed, this would be the Liberal Democratic Party’s strongest showing since 2017 under her mentor, the late Shinzo Abe. Media projections indicate the LDP could capture around 300 of 465 seats, up from 198, giving the party the possibility of a super-majority even without its junior partner, the Japan Innovation Party. “We received voter support for Prime Minister Takaichi’s proactive fiscal policies…

BP faces mounting pressure to outline a clear strategy as it prepares to publish full-year results expected to show weaker profits. Analysts forecast earnings of about $7.5bn, down from nearly $9bn last year, after falling oil prices hit fourth-quarter results. Incoming chief executive Meg O’Neill must reassure investors after BP shifted back toward fossil fuels and approved seven new oil and gas projects. Shareholder groups including Follow This and the Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility want limits on future fossil fuel spending and clearer plans for declining demand. Citi said BP’s recent share performance suggests a possible change in narrative,…