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• The U.S. FDA has approved Moderna's first mRNA-based influenza vaccine specifically for adults aged 50 and older. • This decision follows a reversal of a previous refusal and leverages mRNA technology that was rapidly accelerated and proven safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. • The approval is significant as it expands the use of mRNA technology to combat seasonal diseases, while Health Canada is currently considering its own approval of the shot.

• The FDA has approved mFlusiva, the first mRNA-based influenza vaccine developed by Moderna, specifically targeting adults aged 50 and older. • The regulatory strategy includes full approval for adults aged 50 to 64 and accelerated approval for those 65 and older, pending a postmarketing study using a high-dose comparator. • This approval follows a unanimous recommendation from the FDA’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee in June 2026.

Abdul El-Sayed is latest leftwing candidate to capture nomination for November’s midterm elections. Plus: gender parity in Latin America’s city of cyclingGood morning.The progressive candidate Abdul El-Sayed has won the Democratic primary for the US Senate in Michigan. Despite many backing his opponent, Haley Stevens, in the race, leading Democrats are now uniting behind the former public health official with the goal of retaking control of the chamber in November’s midterm elections.What does El-Sayed’s victory mean for the Democratic party? Though a contentious general election, in a battleground state, awaits, his rise could serve as a revision to the political establishment’s prior playbook of requiring candidates to run from the center in swing-state politics.What do the Democrats need to retake the Senate? Republicans currently control the chamber with 53 lawmakers. The easiest path for Democrats to take back the Senate requires holding on to their seats in Michigan and Georgia while ousting Republicans from blue state Maine as well as three other red states.What was the vote? Schwartz was confirmed by a ⁠51-44 vote that broke largely along party lines, with Tim Kaine of Virginia the sole Democrat to support her nomination. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Louisiana firm awarded tender to build rudimentary outpost to house Moroccan troopsDonald Trump’s Board of Peace, which was set up in January to oversee the reconstruction of Gaza, has finally issued its first construction contract in the devastated territory: a project to build a rudimentary 150-person military outpost to house Moroccan troops, a source familiar with the matter told the Guardian.The contract, which has not yet been finalised, was awarded to Arkel International, a Louisiana-based firm that has previously carried out work with the US government in countries such as Iraq. Continue reading...

• Myanmar's military leader has conducted his first official visit to Thailand since the coup, marking a significant break in his diplomatic isolation. • While Western nations have barred the leader and accused him of crimes against humanity, Thailand is pursuing "calibrated re-engagement" to manage their shared 2,400 km border. • The visit highlights a divide within ASEAN, as Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore demand more concessions to end Myanmar's civil war and humanitarian crisis before restoring ties.

• Former junta chief and current Myanmar president, installed in April after disputed elections, is visiting Thailand for the first time as a civilian leader. • The visit occurs as fighting between the Myanmar military and rebel factions spills over the border, impacting Thailand, which hosts millions of refugees. • Thailand is currently leading efforts to normalize relations with Myanmar both bilaterally and through the 11-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

• Former junta chief Min Aung Hlaing arrived in Bangkok on Thursday for his first official visit to Thailand since transitioning to a civilian leader. • The trip marks a strategic effort by Min Aung Hlaing to reintegrate Myanmar into the international diplomatic community after being treated as a pariah state. • This visit is significant as it signals Thailand's willingness to engage with the Myanmar leadership despite ongoing regional instability and international sanctions.

• The FDA has approved Moderna’s mFlusiva, marking the first time a licensed influenza vaccine has been developed using messenger RNA (mRNA) technology. • This approval represents a significant milestone for mRNA, a platform that gained global prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic but has faced scrutiny from vaccine skeptics. • The shift to mRNA for flu shots is critical because the technology allows for faster production and potentially better matching to evolving seasonal virus strains.