Five-year-old Afghan amputee dances on new leg, dreams of becoming a doctor | South China Morning Post
A video of five-year-old Afghan amputee Ahmad Sayed Rahman dancing after he received a prosthetic leg has gone viral on social media.
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Korean beauty YouTuber’s cancer diary | South China Morning Post
After being diagnosed with lymphoma in February, South Korean beauty YouTuber Dawn Lee decided to chronicle her battle against the illness, to encourage people in similar situations.
China’s ongoing African swine fever epidemic is spreading across Asia | South China Morning Post
Millions of pigs have been slaughtered across Asia as African swine fever spreads since the first outbreak of the disease was reported in August 2018 in northeastern China – the world’s largest pork producer and consumer.
Man in Vietnam has cockroach removed from ear | South China Morning Post
A man arrived at a clinic in Vietnam, claiming to have an insect inside his ear that was causing him unbearable pain. A doctor investigated and found a tiny cockroach.
Frenchman sentenced to death for drug smuggling in Indonesia | South China Morning Post
A French man was sentenced to death by an Indonesia court on May 20, 2019, after he was found guilty of smuggling drugs.
Duterte fires Food and Drug Administration chief Nela Charade Puno
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Ineffective? 27 of 36 bets in Duterte drug list win in 2019 polls
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Chinese researchers test brain implants to help drug addicts | South China Morning Post
Chinese doctors are conducting their first clinical trials of deep brain stimulation (DBS) to treat methamphetamine addiction, as China outpaces Western countries to become a hub for research on the controversial procedure.
Injured foal’s parents follow it for 10km as it goes for treatment | South China Morning Post
When a farmer in northern China’s Hebei province sent an injured foal to be treated, the foal’s parents follow them for 10km.
Tiny spider found nesting inside man’s ear | South China Morning Post
A doctor in eastern China’s Jiangsu province flushed out a tiny live spider nesting in a man’s ear, after he complained of discomfort.
Top Hong Kong beach volleyball duo hit by unexpected health setback | South China Morning Post
Hong Kong beach volleyball duo Kelvin Lau Tsz-ho and Wong Pui-lam were hoping for Asian Games success in August 2018 when Lau was suddenly struck down by illness. The diagnosis was leukaemia, forcing them to rush home to Hong Kong to seek treatment. Lau is now recovering, and the pair say they are hoping to one day …
Grandma with Alzheimer's rescued unharmed after climbing out of high-rise building | South China Morning Post
After being locked inside her flat, an 84-year-old woman with Alzheimer's disease climbed 10 floors down the side of her residential building to get some fresh air.
Cats and dogs starved to death at Hong Kong ‘nightmare’ animal shelter | South China Morning Post
A total of 36 dead cats and dogs were found at an animal shelter in Hong Kong’s New Territories. They were thought to have died from thirst, starvation or disease. Authorities rescued another 74 dogs and 36 cats, many seriously malnourished. Just one day before the discovery, the government had proposed to strengthe…
World’s smallest baby boy going home at last | South China Morning Post
This tiny Japanese baby boy, who weighed just 258 grams (9 ounces) at birth, is finally going home. Born in October 2018 at a hospital in Azumino, Nagano Prefecture, central Japan, Ryusuke Sekino is the tiniest baby boy in the world to survive. He had to be delivered via emergency caesarean section at 24 weeks becau…
Hands-free sperm-collecting machine goes viral online | South China Morning Post
A sperm extractor from China went viral online recently. The machine promises a hands-free solution for donation and diagnosis alike.
Ai Weiwei unveils Lego portraits of missing Mexican students | South China Morning Post
Chinese artist Ai Weiwei unveiled a series of Lego portraits of 43 Mexican students who were allegedly abducted and massacred on their way to stage a protest in 2014. The multicolored, pop-art portraits were made with around one million Lego blocks, and are displayed above a timeline that chronicles the case of the …
Terminally ill father’s words of love for family live on with smart home assistant | South China Morning Post
When Wang Yu was diagnosed with late-stage lung cancer in late 2017, he knew he had limited time left with his family. He decided to prepare a special farewell gift for them, travelling from their home in China’s western autonomous region of Xinjiang to the capital Beijing to record his voice for use in a smart home…
Chinese firefighter uses heartwarming words to comfort girl trapped in crash | South China Morning Post
When a truck crashed into a house in the city of Enshi in China’s central province of Hubei on March 30, a young girl was trapped in the wreckage. Among those who came to her rescue was firefighter Zong Jiamin, who climbed into the damaged vehicle and sat next to the girl to soothe her while she was freed. Their hea…
Fruit surgeon helps onion ‘give birth’ | South China Morning Post
A woman from northwestern China’s Ningxia Hui autonomous region is gaining attention online for being a “fruit surgeon” to raise awareness of medical knowledge. She cuts into real fruits and vegetables, reenacting common operations that people undergo.
China to ban all fentanyl variants | South China Morning Post
China announced it will classify all fentanyl variants as controlled substances starting May 1, following a pledge made by President Xi Jinping to crack down on the deadly synthetic opioid under the request of President Trump in 2018. The US has blamed China for exporting fentanyl-related substances that have led to…
Trump wants Mueller report to be made public, amid feud with advisor Kellyanne Conway’s husband | South China Morning Post
US President Donald Trump said he wants a report by Special Counsel Robert Mueller into his 2016 election campaign and administration’s possible collusion with Russian to be released. Trump is also in a dispute with George Conway, the husband of his adviser Kellyanne Conway, after he questioned Trump’s mental fitnes…
Philippines water shortages hit more than 6 million people | South China Morning Post
More than 6 million people in the Philippines have been hit by water shortages in capital Manila and nearby Rizal province. Water supply has been cut off for at least six hours each day, and authorities have appealed to hospital patients to limit visitors to reduce water use. Many water-dependent businesses have als…
Chinese toddler miraculously survives being dragged under vehicle | South China Morning Post
A three-year-old girl survived a brush with death after she was struck by a vehicle and dragged about a dozen metres. The accident in the central Chinese province of Hunan happened as an SUV was turning into a petrol station to avoid a police checkpoint. The driver claimed to have not seen the girl, who was squattin…
In Canada, some mums say cannabis makes them better parents despite doctors’ warnings | South China Morning Post
In many countries, cannabis or marijuana is illegal. Canada has become the second country in the world to legalise recreational cannabis. Tired of being stigmatised and hiding their cannabis use, hundreds of women in Canada welcomed the legalisation of the drug and formed support groups. They proudly say weed makes …
Delays on Hong Kong’s MTR after trains collide in overnight test, and separate incident of a person on tracks | South China Morning Post
Two trains of Hong Kong’s railway system the MTR collided near Central station during an overnight test of a new signal system. Both drivers of the trains were taken to hospital after the crash. MTR Corp officials say the railway will suspend all testing until the crash has been thoroughly investigated.
Hong Kong police shoot dead a knife-wielding man | South China Morning Post
Hong Kong police on Saturday (March 16) shot dead a knife-wielding man in Yau Ma Tei after he attacked a manager at Kai Bo Food Supermarket. There was a dispute between the man and the shop manager just minutes before the attack. The attacker was certified dead at 1.21pm at Kwong Wah Hospital, while the supermarket …
“He can’t help but be scared”: two-year-old chopstick pro’s cancer ordeal | South China Morning Post
Haihai, a two-year-old boy in northern China’s Inner Mongolia, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia when he was just one. Since falling sick, he has learnt to be independent, using chopsticks like a seasoned pro. His family’s story is a sad one.
The Beijingers braving icy waters in winter | South China Morning Post
Swimming in icy waters is popular among Beijing locals. “Winter swimming”, as enthusiasts call it, refers to taking a dip in outdoor lakes or rivers in sub-zero temperatures. Some believe it has great health benefits. But the sudden drop in body temperature can also put participants at great risk if they do not prep…
Doctor in China scopes his own stomach | South China Morning Post
A doctor in eastern China’s Zhejiang province was filmed performing a gastroscopy on himself. He had been feeling unwell, so spent more than an hour performing the procedure.
Fighting fentanyl: the drug from China destroying American lives | South China Morning Post
Overdoses linked to fentanyl, a synthetic opioid up to 50 times stronger than heroin, killed nearly 30,000 people in the United States in 2017. Authorities say most fentanyl sold in the state of Pennsylvania can be traced back to China. We went to Kensington, an area considered a “ground zero” of America’s opioid cr…
World’s tiniest baby boy, born weighing 268 grams, discharged from hospital | South China Morning Post
The world’s smallest baby boy is finally going home after months in Keio University hospital. He weighed just 268 grams at birth after he failed to gain weight during pregnancy. The boy was born through Caesarean-section last August and doctors feared his life was in danger. Even his mother didn’t think he would sur…
Fat rat rescued from manhole cover | South China Morning Post
A fat rat caused an odd emergency in a small German town after it became trapped in a manhole cover. After lifting the manhole cover, volunteer firefighters were able to push the distressed rodent through the hole. The freed rat seemed to be in good health as it scampered back down the drain.
Angry woman slaps nurse for not giving her husband ‘right treatment’ | South China Morning Post
A woman slapped a nurse in eastern China’s Shanghai because she thought her husband didn’t receive the right treatment. Though she was told her husband’s reactions were normal, she still vented her anger on the nurse.
Philippine health officials declare Measles outbreak in Metro Manila | South China Morning Post
A nationwide outbreak of measles is blamed for more than 70 deaths in the Philippines. The nation’s Department of Health declared an outbreak of the disease after cases in Metro Manila spiked from January 1-19, 2019. The capital and nearby suburbs experienced a nearly ten-fold increase in the number of cases over th…
More than a dozen Chinese tourists injured in two speedboat accidents in Thailand | South China Morning Post
Thirteen Chinese tourists were injured in two separate speedboat accidents days apart in Thailand. On February 9, 2019, a speedboat boat crashed into an oil tanker injuring 11 holidaymakers, five of whom remain in hospital. Two days earlier (February 7, 2019), two others suffered minor injuries when another speedboa…
A 'take two' at life : Organ-donation in Hong Kong | South China Morning Post
Hong Kong’s organ-donation rate is among the lowest in the world. According to Hong Kong’s Department of Health, only 298,442 of the seven million people living in the city are registered as donors. That poor showing has prompted calls from both recipients and relatives of donors for more people to sign up for donat…
Addicted to fentanyl: how a drug from China is fuelling America’s opioid crisis | South China Morning Post
Overdoses linked to fentanyl, a synthetic opioid 50 times stronger than heroin, killed nearly 30,000 people in the United States in 2017. Authorities say most fentanyl sold in the state of Pennsylvania can be traced back to China. We spoke to Anja Lesniak, a 21-year-old woman living in an area considered a “ground z…
Emma Yang: The 14-year-old app creator making waves in the tech industry | South China Morning Post
When Emma Yang learned her grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, she was determined to use her coding skills to create an app that would empower patients suffering from the disease. Emma is now the founder of 'Timeless,' a STEM advocate and an award-winning innovator at the age of 14.
Chinese scientists clone five baby monkeys with genes edited to induce mental illness | South China Morning Post
A team of Chinese researchers say they have successfully cloned five baby monkeys after modifying their genes to create mental illness. The announcement on January 23, 2019, raised fresh questions about biomedical ethics in such genetic research. The researchers said their experiment on macaques was designed to crea…
Robotic ‘swimmers’ being developed to deliver drugs in human blood vessels | South China Morning Post
Hong Kong researchers are developing a soft magnetic robot that moves like a caterpillar on hair-like legs to deliver drug treatments. The device being developed at City University of Hong Kong can be cut into various shapes and sizes, and ultimately will be miniaturised to travel along blood vessels in human patien…
South Asia | South China Morning Post
Why a man from Pakistan spent 20 years unaware of how sick he wasMany patients who know little English or Chinese are left in the dark about their diagnoses because they don’t know interpreters are available. A move to give patients the initiative in booking interpreters aims to make better use of the service, which…
Chinese surgeon films ‘fruit operations’ to raise medical awareness | South China Morning Post
A Chinese surgeon has become an online media sensation for posting videos of fruit operations to raise medical awareness. Wang Yexiao, 31, based in Heilongjiang province, first filmed short videos of fruit surgeries for his two-year-old son. He now regularly posts them on video-sharing platform Kuaishou to help educ…
New app gives throat cancer patients their voice back | South China Morning Post
Vlastimil Gular’s life took a turn for the worse one year ago when minor surgery on his vocal cords revealed throat cancer. Doctors had to remove his larynx, and with it, his voice. But the 51-year-old father of four is still chatting away using a recreation of his own voice rather than the tinny timbre of a robot –…
China sentences Canadian to death for drug smuggling | South China Morning Post
A Chinese court sentenced Canadian Robert Lloyd Schellenberg to death for drug trafficking on Monday, January 14. The case further escalates China’s diplomatic conflict with Canada following the arrest of Huawei CFO Sabrina Mengin Vancouver in December 2018.
From Seoul to Bangkok, unhealthy smog hits Asian cities | South China Morning Post
Heavy smog shrouded a wide area of Asia in late January 2019, with health-threatening levels of pollution reported in India, South Korea, Thailand and China.
Stranded sea turtle rescued in Hainan, south China | South China Morning Post
A sea turtle was rescued after it was found stranded on a beach in China’s southern island province of Hainan. Tourists called police after spotting the reptile flipped on its back on the shoreline near the city of Sanya. Rescuers protected the turtle from the sun and kept it hydrated while a health check was done. …
Dying dad has last dance with daughter at wedding | South China Morning Post
A cancer sufferer in Alabama, in the United States, was determined to dance with his daughter on her wedding day, despite having to use a wheelchair. He died two weeks after the wedding.
Chinese official appears to be beaten in protest over vaccine scandal | South China Morning Post
Thousands of Chinese parents gathered outside a local health centre and government office in Jinhu, Jiangsu province. Dissatisfied with the way the government handled a vaccine scandal, they urged government officials to apologise and investigate the matter seriously.
China completes world’s first 5G remote surgery in test on animal | South China Morning Post
China has successfully tested the world’s first remote-surgery equipment using 5G mobile network technology. In the January 8 procedure, a doctor in the southeastern province of Fujian removed the liver of a laboratory test animal at a remote location, by controlling robotic surgical arms over a 5G connection.
Living with kidney failure in China | South China Morning Post
Sun Wenjuan has been fighting for her life for the past 16 years, while her parents have been scraping by so they all can survive. Both of Wenjuan’s kidneys failed while she was still a teenager and ever since she’s had to undergo dialysis treatment two to three times a week. Thanks to the kindness of strangers and …