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A Chinese gym has recently launched a controversial weight-loss challenge, offering a luxury car as a reward to anyone who successfully loses 50kg in three months.

While the promotion has garnered significant online interest, it has also raised serious concerns among health experts regarding the dangers of extreme weight loss in a short time frame.

On October 23, a fitness training centre in Binzhou, Shandong province, northern China, announced the bold weight-loss challenge online, which quickly attracted major attention.

According to the promotional poster, the gym promised a luxury Porsche Panamera as a prize to anyone who can lose 50kg within three months. The latest Porsche model from this product line has an official starting price of around 1.1 million yuan (US$155,000) in mainland China.

A fitness coach, surnamed Wang, confirmed to Xiang Yang Video that the campaign is legitimate, stating: “The challenge is real and already underway, and registration will close once we reach 30 participants. So far, around seven or eight people have signed up.”

Wang noted that the registration fee is 10,000 yuan (US$1,400), which covers meals and accommodation in a fully enclosed training environment with shared rooms. However, the specific details of the training regimen, dietary plans and criteria for achieving the weight loss target remain undisclosed. Wang also mentioned that the Porsche being offered belongs to the gym owner and is a used 2020 model that he has driven for several years, not a new car.

The extreme weight-loss campaign has sparked medical concerns. A medical influencer known as “Dr Zeng, who performed the hernia surgery,” with nearly 3.5 million followers on Weibo, warned about the dangers of such rapid weight loss and emphasised the potential health risks associated with losing weight at that speed.

“Losing 0.5kg per day is far too fast,” he cautioned. “Unless someone is severely overweight, this pace leads to muscle loss rather than fat reduction, which can cause hormonal imbalances, hair loss, and even amenorrhoea in women. A safer target is losing around 0.5kg per week.”

Another expert, Pu Yansong, a gastrointestinal surgeon at Shaanxi Provincial People’s Hospital, also cautioned: “Losing weight at such a rapid pace can strain our organs and may even be life-threatening. Scientific weight loss should be gradual, allowing the brain, body fat, muscles, and organs to adapt to the new energy balance.”

The challenge has ignited a storm of online debate among Chinese netizens.

One person commented: “If I lose 50kg, I’ll only have 5kg left. Will I still be alive?”

Another wrote: “The point is, no one can actually achieve this. Losing 50kg in 3 months? You’ll lose the person, not just the weight. But with a 10,000-yuan registration fee, the organiser could buy a new car while still saving the used one. In the end, he makes a fortune. Such a smart marketing plan.”

(Source - scmp)

In a move that could reshape online content creation, China has introduced a new rule requiring influencers to have official qualifications before discussing “sensitive” subjects such as medicine, law, education, or finance online.

The new influencer law, which came into effect on October 25, mandates that creators must show proof of their expertise — such as a degree, professional license, or certification — if they wish to post about regulated topics, Morocco News reported.

According to the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), the regulation aims to curb misinformation and protect the public from false or misleading advice. Platforms like Douyin (China’s version of TikTok), Bilibili, and Weibo will now be responsible for verifying creators’ credentials and ensuring that posts include proper citations and disclaimers.

For instance, creators must clearly state when information is sourced from studies or when their videos use AI-generated content. The CAC has also banned advertising for medical products, supplements, and health foods, to prevent covert promotions disguised as “educational” content.

While officials say the new rule is about building trust and ensuring accuracy, many critics view it as a new form of digital censorship. By limiting who can discuss certain subjects, they warn, the government might be silencing independent voices and narrowing the scope of public debate.

Experts also point out that the definition of “expertise” remains vague and subjective, giving authorities greater power to decide who gets to speak online.

The debate comes at a time when influencer-driven information has become a powerful alternative to traditional experts. From health advice to financial coaching, creators often earn followers by appearing relatable and trustworthy — even without formal qualifications.

However, the downside is clear: misinformation spreads quickly when complex topics are oversimplified or misrepresented online.

Some Chinese users have welcomed the law, saying it could bring more credibility to online discussions. “It’s about time people with actual expertise led the conversation,” one Weibo user commented.

But others fear it could stifle creativity and limit open discussion, turning social media from a space of free exchange into one of state-controlled expertise.

The debate around the impact of social media influencers isn’t new — but a recent study by the University of Portsmouth has cast fresh light on the darker side of this booming digital culture.

According to the research, social media influencers — or SMIs — can pose psychological, health and security risks, suggesting that tighter regulations may be needed to protect users and consumers.

While influencers have transformed global marketing by shaping buying behaviour, brand strategies and even social trends, the study highlights the growing ethical and psychological costs behind the glamour.

Researchers found that influencer-driven content often promotes misinformation, unrealistic beauty ideals, harmful products, and a toxic comparison culture, leading to deceptive consumption patterns and increased privacy vulnerabilities.

The report arrives at a time when influencer marketing is projected to reach $480 billion by 2027, with brands increasingly depending on creators to build trust and engagement online. Yet, experts warn that without proper oversight, the influence of these digital personalities could come at a high emotional and social price.

(Source - Dailymirror)

The Maldives has introduced a historic generational tobacco ban, making it illegal for anyone born after January 1, 2007, to smoke, buy, or sell tobacco. The measure, effective from Saturday, aims to protect public health and create a tobacco-free generation, according to the Ministry of Health.

Globally, smoking causes over seven million deaths annually, and a 2021 survey showed more than a quarter of Maldivian adults and nearly double that of teens aged 13–15 used tobacco.

The Maldives is the first nation to implement such a nationwide ban, though similar proposals have been debated in countries like New Zealand and the UK, with mixed results.

This move follows the Maldives’ ongoing anti-tobacco efforts, including a 2024 ban on electronic cigarettes. Authorities also plan to expand anti-smoking clinics and have proposed incentives, such as cash rewards, to eliminate smoking across islands.

In 2022, 1.72 million deaths in India were linked to air pollution, a 38 per cent jump since 2010, according to the 2025 Global Report of the Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change. The grim finding underscored how the country's dependence on fossil fuels and sluggish transition to clean energy are costing millions of lives each year.

The report, prepared by University College London in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), estimated that around 1.72 million Indians died from anthropogenic air pollution, primarily due to exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5).

In 2024, India endured an average of 19.8 heatwave days, 6.6 of which would not have occurred without human-driven climate change. Each Indian faced 366 extra hours of extreme heat compared to the 1990s, the report revealed.

The toll was devastating: the country lost 247 billion potential labour hours, translating to income losses worth USD 194 billion, the Lancet report stated. Agriculture accounted for two-thirds of this total, leaving millions of farm workers and outdoor labourers exposed to both economic and health shocks.

The climate impacts went well beyond heat. Between 2020 and 2024, smoke from wildfires killed an average of 10,200 people a year in India, marking a 28 per cent jump since the early 2000s. Extreme droughts have worsened, too. The share of land hit by severe dry spells has risen by 138 per cent since the 1950s, with over a third of the country now experiencing at least one month of drought every year.

Rising temperatures have also made India more vulnerable to disease. The potential for dengue transmission has nearly doubled since the 1950s, while the coastline suitable for Vibrio bacteria, which is responsible for severe waterborne infections, has expanded by 46 per cent. More than 18 million Indians now live within one metre of sea level, at growing risk from storm surges and rising seas, the report added.

Fossil fuels remained the central culprit. India spent USD 48.5 billion on fossil fuel subsidies in 2023, outstripping its carbon revenue. Coal continued to dominate, powering 72 per cent of the country's electricity and nearly half of total energy supply.

In 2022 alone, fossil fuels were responsible for nearly half of the 1.72 million pollution-related deaths, including 3,94,000 attributed specifically to coal burning. The resulting economic loss from outdoor air pollution was valued at USD 339.4 billion, or 9.5 per cent of GDP.

Household air pollution, mostly from solid biofuels used in rural kitchens, continues to claim thousands of lives silently. The mortality rate stood at 113 deaths per 1,00,000 people in 2022, and rose to 125 per 1,00,000 in rural India, where 58 per cent of energy still comes from wood, dung, and crop residue.

Furthermore, livestock and dairy production accounted for 65 per cent of agricultural emissions, which have risen 13 per cent since 2000. India lost 2.33 million hectares of tree cover between 2001 and 2023, including 1,43,000 hectares last year alone. Urban areas are greying, too. Of 189 major cities, 124 now have low or very low greenness, and average city vegetation has declined by 3.6 per cent since 2015.

Even as climate awareness continues to grow, the pace of India's clean energy transition appeared to be slowing. The country's preparedness for a low-carbon future slipped by 2 per cent in 2024. Fossil fuels still supply 96 per cent of energy for road transport, while electricity contributes just 0.3 per cent, the Lancet report highlighted.

(Source - Indiatoday)

A 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck near the northern Afghan city of Mazar-e Sharif early on Monday, killing at least 20 people, injuring hundreds and damaging the city's historic Blue Mosque, authorities said, with the death toll likely to rise.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake hit at a depth of 28 km (17.4 miles) near Mazar-e Sharif, which has a population of about 523,000.

At least 20 people were killed and around 320 were injured, Health Ministry spokesperson Sharfat Zaman said, but officials warned the toll could rise as rescue teams reached remote villages in the worst-hit provinces of Balkh and Samangan.

https://www.theguardian.com/

Videos shared on social media platform X showed emergency responders searching the rubble for survivors. One video showed rescuers pulling what appeared to be dead bodies from collapsed buildings. Reuters could not immediately verify the footage of rescue efforts.

"Our rescue and health teams have arrived in the area, and all nearby hospitals have been put on standby by the leadership to treat the injured," Zaman said.

BLUE MOSQUE

The earthquake damaged part of the Blue Mosque, the holiest shrine in Mazar-e Sharif, Balkh province spokesperson Haji Zaid said.

The mosque is considered one of the holiest sites in Afghanistan and is believed to be the burial site of the cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Mohammad. The current structure was built in the 15th century.

Footage shared on social media and verified by Reuters showed broken masonry and tiles lying in the courtyard of the mosque, though the main structure remained standing.

The disaster is the latest challenge for war-torn Afghanistan's Taliban administration, already grappling with crises including an August quake that killed thousands, a sharp drop in foreign aid and mass deportations of Afghan refugees by neighbouring countries.

The quake disrupted power across the country including to the capital Kabul, national power supplier Da Afghanistan Breshna Company said in a statement.

The USGS said "significant casualties are likely and the disaster is potentially widespread".

https://www.reuters.com/

ACTIVE FAULTS

Afghanistan is particularly vulnerable to quakes as it lies on two active faults that have the potential to rupture and cause extensive damage.

More than 2,200 people were killed and thousands more injured after a quake and strong aftershocks in the southeast of the war-shattered Islamic country at the end of August.

Past events with this alert level have required a regional or national level response, the system's alert added.

(Source - reuters)

Paul Biya, the world’s oldest serving head of state, has been re-elected as President of Cameroon for an unprecedented eighth term.

In the recently concluded presidential election, Biya secured 53.7% of the vote, reaffirming his decades-long political dominance.

Now 92 years old, President Biya expressed gratitude to the people of Cameroon for once again placing their trust in his leadership.

In an official statement issued following his victory, Biya pledged to continue working with unwavering commitment to build a peaceful, united, and prosperous Cameroon.

Over 700 people have reportedly been killed in Tanzania during three days of election-related protests, according to the country’s main opposition party.

Foreign media reports stated that internet access in Tanzania has been restricted.

As a result, the death toll is expected to rise further, the reports added.

The protests erupted following allegations of irregularities in the presidential election held on October 29.

Protesters claim that the ruling government is suppressing democracy by persecuting opposition leaders.

A state of emergency has been imposed in Tanzania in an effort to control the unrest.

Meanwhile, the foreign ministers of the United Kingdom, Canada, and Norway have issued a joint statement urging the authorities to exercise maximum restraint and respect freedom of expression.

A tragic incident has been reported from Maharashtra, India, where a female doctor has died by suicide after accusing two police officers of repeatedly raping and harassing her over a period of five months.

In a message written on her left arm, she blamed Police Inspector Gopal Badge for her death, stating that his continuous physical and mental torture had driven her to take her own life. She also mentioned another police officer, Prashant Banker, accusing him of subjecting her to mental harassment.

She further stated that over the past five months, one of the police officers had raped and sexually harassed her multiple times.

Although she had filed a complaint with the police regarding these incidents in June this year, no action had reportedly been taken.

Following her death, the duties of the accused police officers have been suspended, and reports state that they have fled the area. Authorities are currently conducting investigations based on the details found in the note on her arm.

The Maharashtra State Women’s Commission has ordered an inquiry into the police’s negligence and has instructed that strict action be taken against the accused.

The British government is calling on travelers to Japan to watch out for bears. This comes amid an increase in bear attacks across the country.

Information gathered by NHK shows that by noon on Thursday at least 86 people in Japan had been attacked by bears during the month of October.

By Thursday, the British government had updated its foreign travel advisory for people traveling to Japan for sightseeing, business and other purposes.

The advisory says that bear sightings and attacks have increased in parts of Japan, especially in mountainous and forested areas. It notes that there have been sightings near populated zones as well.

It urges travelers to research places in advance to learn about the local wildlife and avoid walking alone in areas where bears have been sighted. The advisory also calls on people to take food waste and other rubbish with them. Such garbage could attract bears.

Japan has become a popular destination country for British people, due in part to the weak yen. The Japan National Tourism Organization says more than 400,000 people from Britain visited Japan last year.

(Source - NHK World)

Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother of Thailand, has passed away at the age of 93.

She was the mother of the current King, Maha Vajiralongkorn, and had been receiving treatment at a hospital in Bangkok when she passed away last night (24).

According to foreign reports, she had been in ill health since 2019.

She was the wife of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Thailand’s longest-reigning monarch, who passed away in 2016.

Former US First Lady Michelle Obama offered a glimpse into her marriage of over three decades as she revealed that her idea of a perfect date night with Barack Obama is one spent quietly at home with good food, candles, and conversation.

In an exclusive interview with People Magazine, Michelle said, “We’ve been married 32, 33 years...I always forget. Sorry, honey.”

She explained that after years of working and living together, their most meaningful moments are simple and intimate.

“When we’re both happy about date night, we’re at home. We just have a nice dinner, candles lit, music, we talk. We don’t talk for the whole day because we’re in the house together all day, right? We work from home,” she added.

Michelle said that to keep things special, she and Barack deliberately save their conversations for dinner. “When we are going to have a really special night, it’s like, ‘Don’t talk to me. Save it for dinner.’ He’ll be like, ‘Did you talk to the girls?’ and I’ll say, ‘I did, but we’re not going to talk about it until date night.’”

Occasionally, the couple steps out for dinners in Washington, DC, but Michelle added: “I am too old; I can’t do dinner and a movie. I will fall asleep in the movie. So it’s like, ‘Let’s pick one’.”

The interview comes months after Michelle, in April, addressed speculation about her marriage to the former US president. In April, she publicly pushed back against rumours of a split, calling out how people assume relationship troubles when women choose independence or time apart.

Rumours of a rift began earlier this year when Barack Obama attended former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral without Michelle, followed by her decision not to attend Donald Trump’s second presidential inauguration. But the former First Lady made it clear that was just her setting personal boundaries.

(Source - India Today)

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a recall on thousands of cans of Coca-Cola products on Thursday, Oct. 23.

The FDA said in a report that the recall is due to a "potential presence of foreign material (metal) in the product." The sodas being recalled are 12- and 35-packs of Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, 24- and 35-packs of Coca-Cola and 12- and 35-packs of Sprite. As of publication, the recall is only in effect for Texas.

The potential metal fragments found in the cans can lead to illness or injuries when ingested, according to EatingWell.

PEOPLE has reached out to Coca-Cola for comment.

The recall falls under Class II, so the impacted products could lead to temporary health issues, the outlet reported. People who have ingested the contaminated soda products listed are advised to contact their healthcare provider immediately.

The recall was initiated by Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages on Oct. 3. The FDA did not provide guidance on how to properly discard the recalled products, and Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages did not issue a news release with the recall. However, customers are advised not to consume the products, per USA Today.

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The following UPC and lot codes are affected by this recall:

• Coca-Cola Zero Sugar (12-pack) with UPC 49000042559 and lot code FEB0226MAA
• Coca-Cola Zero Sugar (35-pack) with UPC 49000058499 and lot code FEB0226MAA
• Coca-Cola (24-pack) with UPC 49000012781 and lot code JUN2926MAA
• Coca-Cola (35-pack) with UPC 49000058468 and lot code JUN2926MAA
• Sprite (35-pack) with UPC 49000058482 and lot code JUN2926MAA
• Sprite (12-pack) with UPC 49000028928 and lot code JUN2926MAA or JUN3026MAB

Coca-Cola recalled additional products in March. 864 units of 12-packs, meaning more than 10,000 cans, were included in the recall. The recalled products were distributed in Illinois and Wisconsin, per the report, with product codes listed on the FDA’s website. The March recall also fell under the Class II category.

(Source - People.com)