Author: OMN AI

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…

A return to traditional Nepali foods could help reverse soaring rates of type 2 diabetes, researchers say. In Nepal, around one in five people over 40 lives with the condition, while medication remains largely unaffordable. Doctors warn diabetes brings serious complications, including kidney disease, blindness, and early death. Studies suggest that lentils and rice, long staples of Nepali diets, can help put diabetes into remission. A pilot study in Kathmandu found that 43% of patients achieved remission after following a calorie-controlled traditional diet. An ongoing community trial shows similar results, with about half of participants diabetes-free after four months. The…

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 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…

Warming Waters Open the Arctic to More Ships As global temperatures rise, Arctic sea ice is melting faster than ever, opening waterways that were once frozen year-round. This has triggered a surge in shipping traffic through the region, from cargo vessels to fishing boats and cruise liners. While these new routes shorten travel times between continents, they come with a hidden cost: black carbon, or soot, released from ship engines. When it settles on snow and ice, it darkens the surface, absorbs more sunlight, and accelerates melting — creating a dangerous feedback loop. “It ends up in a never-ending cycle…

People who drink a few cups of tea or coffee each day may face a lower risk of dementia.A US study followed more than 130,000 adults for up to 40 years.Those drinking two to three coffees or one to two teas daily had 15–20% lower dementia risk. Caffeinated coffee drinkers also showed slightly less cognitive decline.Decaffeinated coffee showed no such link.Researchers published the findings in Journal of the American Medical Association. The study cannot prove caffeine protects the brain.Lifestyle factors may explain some of the difference.Lead author Yu Zhang from Harvard University said the results fit known biology. Tea and…

Team USA men’s ice hockey is set to compete at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan‑Cortina, bringing a roster full of talent, experience, and determination. The squad is focused on securing a medal while showcasing strong defensive play and disciplined teamwork. The team has trained rigorously leading up to the Olympics, emphasizing speed, coordination, and strategic plays. Coaches have stressed the importance of defense, noting that preventing goals will be key against highly competitive opponents like Canada, Sweden, and Finland. Captain Ryan Donato leads the team with experience from previous international tournaments. His leadership, combined with skilled forwards and solid…

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…

Dominating the polls Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is on track for a major victory in Sunday’s snap elections, with early estimates suggesting her ruling bloc has secured around 300 of 465 seats in the lower house. If confirmed, this would give the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) its strongest showing since 2017, under the leadership of Takaichi’s mentor, the late Shinzo Abe. The projected two-thirds majority could allow the LDP to govern without relying heavily on its junior partner, the Japan Innovation Party (JIP). LDP Secretary General Shunichi Suzuki highlighted that voters had endorsed Takaichi’s fiscal policies and efforts to…

BP faces mounting pressure to end a turbulent period as it prepares to publish full-year results this week. Analysts expect weaker profits after oil prices fell for a third straight year, with forecasts of about $7.5bn, down from nearly $9bn in 2024. The decline follows a sharp drop in crude prices late last year. Incoming chief executive Meg O’Neill is expected to outline a clearer strategy as investors question BP’s recent shift back toward fossil fuels. Activist shareholders, including groups linked to pension funds, want the company to explain how it will manage future oil and gas spending as long-term…