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A groundbreaking flu vaccine developed by Moderna moved significantly closer to reaching the public on Thursday after an FDA advisory committee unanimously endorsed the company’s mRNA-based shot, marking a potentially major advancement in seasonal influenza prevention.

Members of the FDA’s independent vaccine advisory panel voted 9-0 in favor of the vaccine, concluding that its benefits outweigh its risks for adults ages 50 to 64 as well as those 65 and older.

Moderna is pursuing full approval for individuals between 50 and 64 years old, while seeking accelerated approval for those 65 and above. As part of that pathway, the company will be required to conduct an additional study after the vaccine becomes available to older adults.

Despite the panel’s endorsement, the vaccine’s future remains uncertain.

The recommendation is advisory rather than binding, and the FDA must still make a final determination by Aug. 5. Complicating matters, the agency currently lacks both a permanent vaccine chief and a confirmed commissioner, leaving questions about who will ultimately sign off on the decision.

Even if the FDA grants approval, the vaccine must still receive a recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s advisory committee. However, that panel is currently unable to meet after a federal judge blocked it from convening under its present membership.

Once the committee eventually issues a recommendation, the CDC director will decide whether to adopt, modify, or reject it. The CDC also lacks a permanent leader, with National Institutes of Health Director Jay Bhattacharya currently serving as acting CDC director.

Influenza claims tens of thousands of lives annually, with older adults facing the greatest risk of severe illness and death. Existing vaccines designed specifically for seniors are available, but they generally require longer production timelines and lack the adaptability offered by mRNA technology.

“Having this technology available puts us in a better position to be prepared for emerging strains or pandemic strains in the future,” said panelist Flor Munoz-Rivas, an infectious disease specialist at Texas Children’s Hospital.

Under the current system, vaccine manufacturers must select target strains many months before flu season begins. That delay allows viruses to mutate, which can reduce the effectiveness of the final vaccine.

By contrast, mRNA vaccines can be produced far more quickly and updated later in the season if necessary to better match circulating strains.

“I think that this particular platform adds exciting ways that we can actually move our vaccines to the future,” said panel member Hayley Gans, a professor of pediatrics at Stanford University Medical Center.

According to Moderna’s data, the vaccine lowered flu infections by approximately 27 percent compared with a standard-dose flu shot among adults aged 50 and older.

In a separate, smaller study involving adults 65 and above, the mRNA vaccine produced a robust immune response when compared with an existing high-dose flu vaccine already recommended for seniors.

“We appreciate the thoughtful review by the members of VRBPAC and their recognition of the clinical evidence supporting mRNA-1010,” Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel said in a statement. “We believe mRNA-1010 has the potential to provide an important new option for seasonal flu prevention and further demonstrate the versatility of our mRNA platform. We look forward to continuing to work with the FDA as it completes its review.”

The vaccine’s journey to Thursday’s vote was far from smooth. Earlier this year, a senior FDA official initially declined to review the application.

Vinay Prasad, who previously led vaccine efforts at the agency, said the application was turned down because Moderna compared its vaccine to a standard flu shot in adults 65 and older rather than to the high-dose vaccine commonly used for that age group.

Such refusals are uncommon, and critics argued that the decision reflected increasing skepticism toward mRNA technology under Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Kennedy has repeatedly criticized mRNA vaccines, previously describing Moderna’s COVID-19 shot as “the deadliest vaccine ever made,” while HHS last year canceled nearly $500 million earmarked for mRNA vaccine research.

Moderna challenged the FDA’s refusal, and the agency unexpectedly reversed its position just one week later, allowing the application process to move forward.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump announced Thursday that Apple has agreed to partner with Intel to design and manufacture computer chips in the United States, a move that could mark a significant shift in the tech giant’s supply chain strategy.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated that Apple would work with Intel on developing and producing chips domestically, highlighting the arrangement as a boost for American manufacturing.

The announcement follows a report by The Wall Street Journal in May indicating that Intel and Apple had reached a preliminary agreement under which Intel would produce certain chips for Apple. According to the report, negotiations between the two companies had stretched on for more than a year before a tentative deal was reached.

Neither Apple nor Intel immediately responded to requests for comment from Reuters after normal business hours.

For Apple, a partnership with Intel could provide greater flexibility and reduce its dependence on a single supplier as demand for advanced semiconductors continues to surge.

The company currently relies heavily on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), whose cutting-edge fabrication facilities are also being used extensively by artificial intelligence chip leaders such as Nvidia and AMD. By adding Intel as a manufacturing partner, Apple would gain additional production capacity while broadening its supply chain footprint.

A previously undisclosed arrangement between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency could pave the way for renewed inspections of Tehran’s nuclear facilities, according to revelations made Thursday by President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, during a classified briefing with congressional leaders.

Witkoff told lawmakers that Iran has agreed to provide the United Nations nuclear watchdog with access to its atomic infrastructure and will assist inspectors in locating and identifying its stockpiles of enriched nuclear material, according to an Associated Press report citing two people familiar with the closed-door session.

The briefing was attended by senior members of Congress and lawmakers responsible for overseeing national security matters. During the presentation, Witkoff reportedly emphasized that the memorandum of understanding recently reached between Washington and Tehran contains no secret side agreements. However, he disclosed that a separate letter had been negotiated between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency to establish procedures for inspections.

According to the report, neither the existence of that supplemental document nor Iran’s invitation to inspectors had been publicly disclosed before Witkoff discussed them during the briefing. He further explained that a formal communication sent to IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi specifically authorizes the inclusion of American nuclear experts among the inspection teams entering Iran.

Although joint American and Israeli military operations last June inflicted extensive damage on Iran’s key enrichment facilities, intelligence officials believe that significant quantities of enriched uranium survived the strikes, including material enriched to levels approaching weapons-grade purity.

Iran has thus far declined to tell the IAEA where that material is currently being stored and has refused to grant inspectors access to evaluate conditions at the damaged sites.

An agreement reached between Tehran and the IAEA last September to restart inspections and verify uranium inventories has since collapsed. Iranian officials declared the arrangement void after Britain, France, and Germany moved to restore United Nations sanctions that had been lifted under the 2015 nuclear accord.

Grossi recently stated that he believes most of Iran’s highly enriched uranium remains at the Isfahan nuclear facility, which was among the sites targeted during last year’s strikes.

The IAEA chief also noted that inspectors are seeking renewed access to the nuclear installations at Natanz and Fordow, where additional nuclear materials are believed to remain.

President Donald Trump said Thursday that he would be inclined to support Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu in Israel’s next election, though he stopped short of offering a full endorsement and said he wants to see the rest of the field before making a final decision.

Speaking with Kan News, Trump said it is “very likely” that he would back Netanyahu, but noted that his ultimate position will depend on who else enters the race.

Trump also described his relationship with Netanyahu as positive overall, while suggesting that the Israeli leader needs to exercise greater restraint. Nevertheless, he indicated that he remains open to meeting with Netanyahu.

The comments came as The Wall Street Journal published fresh details about recent conversations between the two leaders, portraying a relationship that has become more strained than in previous years.

According to one source cited in the report, Trump was upset by the scale of destruction in Lebanon and directly challenged Netanyahu during a phone conversation.

“Why are you blowing up buildings? Stop blowing up buildings.”

The report also said that Trump voiced concerns during several discussions about the economic impact a broader conflict with Iran could have on the United States. As the tensions continued, he reportedly became increasingly worried about the financial consequences of an extended confrontation and less interested in arguments advocating further military escalation.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Trump privately told advisers that Netanyahu repeatedly pushed for additional military operations. One individual familiar with the remarks said Trump expressed frustration, saying that no one seemed able to manage Netanyahu and complaining that the Israeli prime minister “wants to bomb everyone.”

A senior administration official quoted in the report described a recurring dynamic in their conversations, with Netanyahu laying out the case for additional action while Trump listened to his concerns and proposals.

The report also shed light on discussions surrounding a possible agreement with Iran. During those conversations, Netanyahu reportedly questioned whether Tehran could be trusted to honor any future deal, raising concerns about how the United States would verify compliance and citing Iran’s past behavior as grounds for doubt.

The International Criminal Court is preparing for a dramatic decision next month, with member states scheduled to vote on July 24 on whether Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan should be removed from his post, according to a report Thursday by The Wall Street Journal citing diplomatic sources and internal documents.

The upcoming vote follows a decision last week by the ICC’s oversight body to temporarily suspend Khan from carrying out his duties while officials determine his future. The action came after an extensive investigation into harassment allegations lodged against him.

According to a diplomatic source familiar with the proceedings, the executive bureau of the court’s governing assembly concluded that Khan had engaged in serious misconduct. Reuters reported that the determination marks the end of an 18-month probe into the accusations.

Khan has consistently denied wrongdoing and has rejected the allegations throughout the investigation.

The controversy has drawn additional attention because of Khan’s role in seeking arrest warrants against Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. The Wall Street Journal reported last year that Khan announced his pursuit of those warrants less than three weeks after the first sexual harassment allegations surfaced, fueling claims by critics that the legal action may have been politically influenced.

Although Khan did not directly suggest that Israel was responsible for the accusations against him, he referenced outside pressure in a public response, stating that both he and the ICC had been subjected to “a wide range of recent attacks and threats” in recent months.

At the same time, an extensive investigation conducted by The Guardian found no evidence linking Israel—or any other foreign government—to the central allegations made against Khan.

Israel’s ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, made clear Thursday that while Israel intends to uphold the ceasefire arrangement in Lebanon, it will not hesitate to act militarily if Hezbollah launches attacks or poses a threat to Israeli security.

“Israel remains committed to the ceasefire agreement reached between Israel, Lebanon and the US. If Hezbollah does not violate the agreement, it will be kept,” Leiter stressed in a post on social media.

He emphasized that Israel’s commitment to the agreement does not come at the expense of its ability to defend itself.

“Under all circumstances, Israel retains its right to respond to attacks against it and to thwart threats to its territory, citizens and soldiers.”

Leiter’s remarks followed comments from Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, who indicated that Hezbollah intends to continue observing the ceasefire, provided Israel does the same.

“I reaffirm Lebanon’s position and Hezbollah’s commitment to the ceasefire as long as Israel fully and comprehensively adheres to it,” Berri, an ally of Hezbollah, said in a statement.

Berri suggested that maintaining calm along the border could help advance broader diplomatic efforts involving Tehran and Washington.

This position “aims to facilitate the success of the Iranian-US negotiations in Switzerland,” he added.

Earlier Thursday, President Donald Trump voiced optimism that hostilities throughout the region would come to an end, including along the Israel-Lebanon front.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote, “The United States is committed to PEACE, and we encourage everyone in the Middle East Region to maintain their commitment to allowing our negotiations to beautifully unfold. The Markets are loving what is happening with Oil Prices way down, and Stocks way up.”

He added, “We expect a complete Ceasefire on all fronts, including Lebanon, Hezbollah, and Israel. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

The memorandum of understanding recently signed between the United States and Iran states that the agreement marks “the immediate and permanent termination” of armed conflict throughout the region, including in Lebanon, while also “ensuring the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Lebanon.”

The document further notes that a final agreement is expected to formally cement those commitments, stating that, “The final deal will confirm the permanent termination of the war on all fronts, including in Lebanon, and other provisions of this paragraph.”

Knicks owner James Dolan appeared to take a public shot at Mayor Zohran Mamdani during Thursday’s championship festivities, delivering pointed remarks from the stage at City Hall and later seeming reluctant to participate in a photo opportunity as he accepted a ceremonial key to the city.

The moment unfolded at the conclusion of the Knicks’ parade through the Canyon of Heroes, following an extended speech by Mamdani in which the mayor recounted memorable moments from the franchise’s history and celebrated the team’s title run.

“I don’t need your vote, I don’t need to quote to you, right, about what happened here because if you’re real Knicks fans, you know it already,” Dolan said in a pointed remark that drew attention, though he never directly referenced Mamdani.

A short time later, Dolan was the first member of the organization to receive a key to the city from the mayor, but the exchange appeared somewhat awkward.

Wearing a Knicks cap and an orange team jacket, Dolan shook Mamdani’s hand and accepted the honor. As the mayor appeared ready to pose for a commemorative photograph, Dolan quickly turned away and headed back toward his seat, only briefly glancing back before continuing on.

The celebration came after weeks of tension between the two men, who publicly clashed over New York City Police Department security restrictions surrounding Madison Square Garden during Finals watch parties.

Dolan’s remarks followed directly after Mamdani’s speech, which stretched close to ten minutes and featured references to a wide range of iconic moments and figures from Knicks history.

The mayor highlighted Bernard King’s 60-point Christmas Day performance in 1984, Willis Reed’s legendary effort in the 1970 NBA Finals, and Patrick Ewing’s memorable playoff battles against the Indiana Pacers.

Mamdani also mentioned Charles Oakley, the former Knicks enforcer whose long-running feud with Dolan dates back nearly a decade, even as the team owner sat nearby.

The mayor continued by naming numerous former Knicks players, including Jared Jeffries, Renaldo Balkman, and Mardy Collins, while Dolan remained seated behind him.

He also revisited several defining moments from New York’s championship run, including the team’s stunning comeback victory against the Spurs in Game 4 of the NBA Finals.

The conflict between Dolan, 71, and Mamdani, 34, intensified before Game 4 when the Knicks owner criticized city officials for imposing restrictions that he believed diminished the atmosphere outside Madison Square Garden.

“They’re sitting there trying to say, ‘Well, we’re big Knicks fans,’ but they’re not Knicks fans,” Dolan said on WFAN on June 10.

“He’s not a Knick fan,” he added in reference to Mamdani.

During his speech, Mamdani noted that Knicks supporters had endured “53 long years” without a championship. Dolan later joked that many in attendance appeared too young to have lived through the entire drought.

“But we’re very, very happy to have brought you a championship,” Dolan said. “I’m very proud of our team.”

“Thank you for supporting our team,” the owner added. “We’re gonna keep working to bring you even better basketball.”

{Matzav.com}

An unusual moment involving Joe Biden at the grand opening of the Barack Obama Presidential Center in Chicago drew attention Thursday after the former president appeared to remain on stage by himself after the ceremony had concluded.

As music played and attendees began to depart, Barack Obama exited the stage in high spirits, with Jill Biden following close behind. Biden, meanwhile, remained standing alone, offering a subdued wave to the audience after the event had ended.

At one point, the 83-year-old walked back toward the lectern, removed his sunglasses, and looked out toward the crowd with what appeared to be a bewildered expression.

“Where’s my granddaughter?” he shouted.

Moments later, Biden appeared to begin leaving the stage, though video footage of the event ended before showing what happened next.

The scene prompted comparisons to episodes during his time in office when critics frequently pointed to instances in which he appeared uncertain about where to go after public appearances.

Biden joined fellow former presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, along with their spouses, at Thursday’s celebration marking the opening of the Obama Presidential Center. Former Vice President Kamala Harris was also among those in attendance.

The appearance was notable because Biden has rarely been seen in public in recent months as he continues to battle prostate cancer that has spread to his bones.

During the ceremony, Obama shared a warm exchange with Biden, walking over to him, patting him on the back, and laughing together before recognizing him during his remarks.

“Thank you to your steadfast partnership for eight years. Joe, we started as running mates, and ended as family. And we would not be here without you, and we are grateful,” Obama said.

Many Democrats continue to view the final chapter of Biden’s presidency as politically painful, with some arguing that he should have withdrawn from the 2024 race sooner and allowed another candidate to emerge.

“He made a terrible mistake,” Hillary Clinton told New Yorker editor David Remnick earlier this week. “He made a terrible mistake for himself, his legacy, and for the country.”

Reflecting on what might have happened had Biden stepped aside, Clinton argued that Democrats would have been better positioned in the election.

“We would have had a real contest,” she added about how events would’ve unfolded if Biden didn’t run. “And very sadly I believe whoever emerged from that contest, whether it was the vice president or a governor or a senator or anybody else, would have beaten Donald Trump.”

Jill Biden has also acknowledged that, given another opportunity, she would have urged her husband not to pursue a second presidential campaign.

She further revealed that during Biden’s widely criticized 2024 debate performance against Trump, she feared he might be suffering a stroke as he struggled through portions of the event.

Biden entered office as the oldest president in American history. However, President Trump, who celebrated his 80th birthday on Sunday, is on track to surpass that mark by the time his current term concludes.

{Matzav.com}