Author: Grace Johnson

US Regulator Refuses to Start Review of New Flu Shot The US Food and Drug Administration refused to accept Moderna’s application to review its first mRNA seasonal flu vaccine. The company confirmed the decision on Tuesday. The refusal marks another setback for mRNA vaccine development in the United States. Several health officials in the Trump administration have recently targeted 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 did not…

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 framework 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 is a key priority. She said teen-by-default settings will strengthen protections…

The Seattle Seahawks crushed the New England Patriots with a commanding defensive performance, winning the Super Bowl 29-13 at Levi’s Stadium. The victory marked Seattle’s second championship in franchise history. Two of the NFL’s strongest defences met in the season’s biggest game, and Seattle controlled the action from the first snap. Briton Aden Durde made history as the first overseas coach to claim the league’s top prize. Seahawks’ Defence Shines on the Biggest Stage Seattle’s 46-year-old defensive coordinator has built the league’s most feared unit, known as “the Dark Side.” On Super Bowl Sunday in Santa Clara, California, the Patriots…

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 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 and explained how it happened. The company said it quickly noticed the mistake and recovered almost all 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…

US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order that threatens new tariffs on countries that continue to trade with Iran. The order does not set a fixed 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 buys 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 threats.…

The European Union has warned TikTok to change its platform design or face heavy financial penalties. The European Commission said the video platform breached EU online safety legislation. Officials reached this conclusion after an investigation launched in February 2024. Regulators focused on how TikTok’s design influences user behaviour. The Commission said TikTok failed to properly assess risks to mental wellbeing. Investigators examined autoplay and continuous content delivery. They said these features can harm users, particularly children. Regulators also said TikTok failed to introduce effective safeguards. TikTok rejected the findings through a company spokesperson. The firm described the conclusions as inaccurate…

For two months, the US Department of Justice released millions of documents tied to Jeffrey Epstein. The files describe years of alleged sex trafficking by the disgraced financier. President Donald Trump now wants the country to move on. Washington shows no willingness to close the chapter. Justice department ends its investigation phase Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the government review has finished. Congress required the review through legislation passed in November. Blanche said prosecutors found no grounds for new criminal cases. He said the files include emails, photographs, and extensive correspondence. He added that such material alone cannot justify…

Netflix faced heavy criticism in Washington over its $82bn (£61bn plan to acquire Warner Bros Discovery. Lawmakers questioned whether the merger would benefit consumers or workers. Senators from both parties raised concerns during an antitrust hearing. Senators warn merger could weaken markets Members of the Senate antitrust subcommittee warned the deal could reduce competition across entertainment markets. Several senators said 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 give Netflix control of Warner Bros film and television studios. The deal would also…

China has banned hidden door handles on electric vehicles due to safety concerns. The decision makes China the first country to prohibit the design. Regulators acted as electric vehicles face increased scrutiny worldwide. Several deadly incidents raised alarms among safety authorities. Two fatal crashes in China involved electric cars made by Xiaomi. Investigators suspected power failures stopped occupants from opening the doors. New Regulations Focus on Emergency Access The new regulations allow sales only for cars with mechanical door releases inside and outside. State media detailed the new requirements. Authorities want to ensure access during accidents and power failures. Regulators…

Gold and silver prices dropped sharply as investors rushed to unwind crowded safe-haven trades. Losses accelerated on Monday after a brutal sell-off late last week. The retreat marked a dramatic shift from the record-breaking rally seen in January. During Asian trading, spot gold slid more than nine percent to roughly $4,403 per ounce. Silver fell about 15 percent to below $72 per ounce. Both metals had surged earlier this year as investors sought protection from global uncertainty. Policy clarity weakens demand for safe assets Strong gains earlier in the year reflected fears over geopolitics and monetary policy stability. Investors also…