Biden offers Covid-weary US hope for summer, but says 'fight' not over

President Joe Biden on Thursday offered his COVID-weary nation a tantalizing glimpse of an almost normal July 4th, outlining in a speech how the United States can defeat the coronavirus if people stay united on prevention measures and get vaccinated.

Novavax COVID vaccine highly effective against severe Covid: company

US biotech firm Novavax's COVID-19 vaccine was shown to be 100 percent protective against severe cases of the disease, including hospitalization and death, the company said Thursday following trials.

Thailand delays AstraZeneca vaccine roll-out

Thailand abruptly delayed its roll-out of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine on Friday, stopping Premier Prayut Chan-O-Cha from getting the first jab as several European nations suspended their programmes over blood clot fears.

Large asteroid to pass by Earth on March 21: NASA

The largest asteroid to pass by Earth this year will approach within some 1.25 million miles (two million kilometers) of our planet on March 21, NASA said Thursday.

Glamorous and worldly: Five things to know about Vikings

In popular culture they're depicted as ruthless warriors who pillaged and plundered. That reputation is not totally undeserved, but is only part of the picture.

From 'Minecraft' to 'Valheim', Sweden conquers gaming world

Sweden has given the world music stars like ABBA and Robyn, but its biggest cultural export these days is video games, which now rival the country's traditional shipments of iron ore and paper.

Airtime: Flight simulators keep pilots sharp during pandemic

The coronavirus crisis has clipped the wings of airline pilots but those who have kept their jobs are doing what they can to stay sharp—using flight simulators when they're not in the few planes in the air.

Latin America's police dogs turn noses to COVID

Their highly superior sense of smell has long been used to sniff out drugs, weapons and dead bodies. Now Latin America's crime-fighting police dogs are being trained to detect COVID-19.

Japan Post, Rakuten tie-up in digital delivery, cashless pay

Japan's postal system is investing 150 billion yen ($1.4 billion) in an 8% stake in the e-commerce venture Rakuten to strengthen a partnership in deliveries, fintech and other areas.

Honda of America plans to sell 2 fully electric SUVs in 2024

Honda has plans to sell two all-electric SUVs in the U.S. for the 2024 model year, and it soon will offer hybrid gas-electric versions of its top-selling models.

COVID-19 vaccine: A shot at redemption for J&J?

US health care giant Johnson & Johnson, beset by recent scandals over talcum powder and the opioid crisis, is poised for a reputational lift with its pathbreaking coronavirus vaccine.

Sanofi to start human trials of its second COVID vaccine candidate

French pharmaceutical firm Sanofi on Friday announced the launch of human trials of its second COVID-19 vaccine, with its first still in the testing phase after having fallen behind in development.

Thailand suspends vaccine rollout as Biden eyes Independence Day

Thailand on Friday joined several European nations in suspending the AstraZeneca vaccine over blood clot fears, despite a range of health authorities around the world insisting it was safe.

China denies mulling near-$1 bn fine for Alibaba in monopoly case

China denied on Friday it was planning to hit e-commerce giant Alibaba with a fine of almost $1 billion for allegedly flouting monopoly rules, as authorities put the screws on the firm as part of a crackdown on the technology sector.

Heart attack diagnosis missed in women more often than in men

Chest pain is misdiagnosed in women more frequently than in men, according to research presented today at ESC Acute CardioVascular Care 2021, an online scientific congress of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). The study also found that women with chest pain were more likely than men to wait over 12 hours before seeking medical help.

Climate change damaging North America's largest temperate rainforest, harming salmon

New research released in Bioscience found that a remote region of North America's largest temperate rainforest is experiencing changes to its ecosystem due to climate change. Brian Buma, a researcher and professor of integrated biology at University of Colorado Denver, co-leads the research network that outlined the changes in a new paper.

How India's rice production can adapt to climate change challenges

As the global population grows, the demand for food increases while arable land shrinks. A new University of Illinois study investigates how rice production in India can meet future needs by adapting to changing climate conditions and water availability.

Preterm birth, prolonged labor influenced by progesterone balance

New research by the National Institutes of Health found that unbalanced progesterone signals may cause some pregnant women to experience preterm labor or prolonged labor. The study in mice—published online in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences—provides novel insights for developing treatments.

Head injuries may worsen cognitive decline decades later

People who experienced head injuries in their 50s or younger score lower than expected on cognitive tests at age 70, according to a study led by UCL researchers.

Twin Peaks: more twinning in humans than ever before

More human twins are being born than ever before, according to the first comprehensive, global overview published today in Human Reproduction, one of the world's leading reproductive medicine journals.

Fatal police violence nearby increases risk of preterm birth

Black women have 80% higher risk of preterm birth between 32 and 33 weeks of pregnancy if a Black person who lives in their neighborhood is killed by police during the pregnancy, according to a study by researchers at UC San Francisco and UC Berkeley.