Doctors in France have described what they said was the first confirmed case of a newborn infected in the womb with COVID-19 by the mother.The baby boy, born in March, suffered brain swelling and neurological symptoms linked to COVID-19 in adults, but has since recovered, they reported Tuesday in the journal Nature Communications. Earlier research had pointed to the likely transmission of the virus from mother to foetus, but the study offers the first solid evidence, said senior auth

The global music landscape has enabled consumers to discover a wide range of genres, sound and artists via music streaming apps such as Spotify, Apple Music and SoundCloud – thanks to digital technology.

Indonesian doctor Susana Somali and her staff cut tightly-bound plastic ropes off dozens of whimpering dogs rescued from the butcher's block after being sold or abandoned during the coronavirus pandemic.Somali's sprawling Jakarta complex, home to about 1,400 canines, has become a refuge for at-risk animals as cash-strapped owners sell them into the Southeast Asian nation's controversial dog meat trade.Mostly acting on tip-offs, Somali and her team hit the streets looking for st

According to a study conducted by Singapore-based research company ValueChampion, Indonesia is the second-most dangerous country for women in the Asia Pacific region after India, while the Philippines is the third most dangerous. Singapore is the safest country across the region. The 2019 study also ranked Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia as the 8th, 9th, and 10th safest countries for women, respectively, out of 14 countries in the Asia Pacific.

A United Nations (UN) rights expert called Wednesday for a global ban on "conversion therapy" aimed at changing the sexuality of LGBT people, calling such practices "degrading and discriminatory".Victor Madrigal-Borloz, the independent expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, made the call as he presented a report to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.In a statement, he said such practices "inflict se

The Cambodian tourist town of Siem Reap has banned the dog meat trade, a victory for animal rights campaigners who describe the area as the "lynchpin" of an industry that slaughters millions of creatures each year.Dog meat, a cheap source of protein, is eaten in several Asian countries, including Cambodia, although it is much more popular in neighbouring Vietnam. But animal rights group Four Paws has identified Siem Reap province - home to the famed Angkor Wat temple comple

A few days ago, the world was shocked by media reports of a suspected case of the bubonic plague – named the deadliest pandemic in human history, in the Chinese region of Inner Mongolia.

Abortion is an extremely taboo topic in some parts of conservative Southeast Asia.ASEAN member states such as the Philippines and Lao do not permit abortion. Whereas Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand only allow abortion if a medical practitioner deems that continuing the pregnancy poses a danger to the mother’s life and health. As many countries criminalise abortion, some women and girls with unwanted pregnancies could resort to unsafe abortions to terminate their pregnancies.

Five Yay Ma Hsay - or 'unwashed' as the jade miners of northern Myanmar are known - arrived early Thursday at the pit to scrape out a living on a scraggy hillside, lured by the prospect of finding a stone that could transform their lives. But only three would return, the others victims of Myanmar's worst-ever mine disaster after a landslide in heavy rains entombed at least 174 people, with scores more feared missing. Sai Ko, 22, survived the spin-dryer of rock

In Southeast Asia, long hair is esteemed as a mark of beauty with deep religious and social meaning.Hair extensions have become an essential segment in the multi-billion-dollar hair industry, with estimated annual sales ranging in value from US$250 million to over US$1 billion.