Hospitalized COVID-19 patients fare worse when they have high blood sugar

Patients hospitalized with COVID-19 have worse outcomes if they have high blood sugar, or hyperglycemia, regardless of whether they have diabetes, a new study finds. The researchers will present their results, of the first known study of the impact of hyperglycemia on a largely Black patient population with the novel coronavirus, at ENDO 2021, the Endocrine Society's annual meeting.

Musk tells China data gathered by Teslas remain secret: report

Tesla boss Elon Musk strongly denied Saturday that his cars, which gather large amounts of data, could ever be used to spy on China despite fears raised by Beijing, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Meteor streaks over Cuba, causes explosion

What is believed to be a meteor lit the sky over eastern Cuba and caused an explosion, scientists on the island said Saturday. There were no reports of damage or injury.

Eruption of Iceland volcano easing, not affecting flights

The eruption of a long-dormant volcano that sent streams of lava flowing across a small valley in southwestern Iceland is easing and shouldn't interfere with air travel, the Icelandic Meteorological Office said Saturday.

Chile records highest daily COVID-19 numbers yet

Chile has reported its highest daily count of new coronavirus infections since the start of the pandemic despite widespread restrictions and widely praised progress on vaccinations.

Increased risk of hearing impairment with new thyroid eye disease treatment

More patients than previously reported may experience hearing symptoms such as hearing loss or muffled hearing from a new treatment for thyroid eye disease, teprotumumab (Tepezza), according to a small study presented virtually at ENDO 2021, the Endocrine Society's annual meeting.

'Hunger hormone' ghrelin affects monetary decision making

Higher levels of the stomach-derived hormone ghrelin, which stimulates appetite, predict a greater preference for smaller immediate monetary rewards over larger delayed financial rewards, a new study finds. The study results will be presented at ENDO 2021, the Endocrine Society's annual meeting.

Spanish-speaking children experience higher rate of obesity than English-speaking children

Nearly one in five U.S. children and teenagers has obesity, and statistics show a higher prevalence of obesity in certain ethnicities, such as Hispanics and Blacks. Now results of a study being presented at ENDO 2021, the Endocrine Society's annual meeting, suggest that Spanish as a family's primary language is a predictor of childhood obesity, regardless of ethnicity.

In Brazil, COVID increasingly hitting the young

Leading the morning medical meeting at an intensive care unit in Sao Paulo, Jaques Sztajnbok reviews his COVID-19 patients.

Fresh lockdowns in Europe as EU threatens AstraZeneca export ban

France, Poland and Ukraine introduced new lockdown measures Saturday to fight a surge in coronavirus infections, as the European Union threatened to block exports of AstraZeneca jabs in an escalating row over vaccines.

Japan lifts tsunami advisory after strong quake off northeast

Japan's meteorological agency lifted a tsunami advisory around an hour after a strong 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck off the country's northeastern coast on Saturday, causing no immediate damage or injuries.

How Finland embraced being 'world's happiest nation'

Once notorious for its bland food and long, harsh winters, Finland's repeated success in the annual happiness rankings has helped transform the country's global reputation, boosting tourism and business.

UK vaccine drive 'huge success' after jabbing half of all adults

The British government on Saturday hailed its coronavirus vaccination programme as "a huge success" after announcing half of the adult population had now received a jab.

An easy way to reduce socioeconomic disparities

Researchers from Columbia University and Temple University published a new paper in the Journal of Marketing that examines how choice architecture can reduce socioeconomic disparities.

Volkswagen suspends production in Brazil over COVID

Volkswagen said Friday it was suspending production at its four plants in Brazil for 12 days because of a new surge of COVID-19 in the hard-hit country.

Twitter to establish legal entity in Turkey, comply with law

Twitter has announced it will establish a legal entity in Turkey in order to continue operating in the country, which passed a controversial social media law last year.

As vaccinations lag, Italy's elderly again pay a price

One year ago, Bergamo's state-of-the-art Pope John XXIII Hospital verged on collapse as doctors struggled to treat 600 patients, with 100 of them in intensive care. Army trucks ferried the dead from the city's overtaxed crematorium in images now seared into the collective pandemic memory.

Lava eruption from long-dormant Icelandic volcano

Glowing red lava spewed Saturday from a volcano that has erupted near Iceland's capital Reykjavik after being dormant for more than 900 years.

Iceland's main volcanic eruptions

A volcano erupted just 40 kilometres (25 miles) from Iceland's capital Reykjavik on Friday, turning the sky crimson as streams of red lava spewed from the ground.

Paris enters new lockdown as Europe resumes AstraZeneca jabs

A third of France's population was under a new partial lockdown Saturday to stop the spread of COVID-19, as some European countries resumed AstraZeneca vaccinations following an all-clear from EU regulators and the WHO.

Record rains, flooding prompt evacuations in Australia

Record rains and widespread flooding prompted evacuations along Australia's east coast Saturday and threatened the most serious overflow of Sydney's main reservoir in 30 years, officials said.

Carbon pawprint: is man's best friend the planet's enemy?

Is your adorable puppy as bad for the planet as a gas-guzzling SUV?

UK gamers and politicians take aim at console 'scalpers'

Furious British gamers and lawmakers are training their sights on "scalpers" who are buying up coveted PS5 and Xbox consoles and selling them online at vastly inflated prices.