Atishi was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Delhi on Saturday along with her new Council of Ministers during a ceremony at the Raj Niwas.

Delhi's New CM: AAP's Atishi Takes Oath as Delhi's Chief Minister

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged his American&nbsp;counterpart&nbsp;Joe Biden to allow Ukraine&nbsp;to carry out long-range strike missiles inside Russia with US-supplied weapons and to earn “a place in history” by “strengthening Ukraine” before leaving the office in November.

Talking about his "victory plan", Zelensky was speaking ahead of&nbsp;his trip to the United States, where he will be meeting Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.&nbsp;

Zelensky, who will also be addressing the United Nations, said that he would present a "victory plan" to end the war.&nbsp;

In a media briefing with the Observer in Kyiv, the Ukrainian president said his plan involves carrying out deep strikes with Western missiles inside Russia, something London and Washington have so far refused.&nbsp;

However, Zelensky's vision for a "just peace" has not yet been made public.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-knew-about-ukraines-kursk-plans-was-preparing-for-months-report-760371">Also read:&nbsp;Russia knew about Ukraine’s Kursk plans, was preparing for months: Report</a>

The United Kingdom, earlier indicated&nbsp;that they are ready to allow Ukraine to use British Storm Shadow cruise missiles. But, the White House has been sceptical about it.&nbsp;

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer&nbsp;failed to resolve the issue when he held private talks with Biden last week in Washington.&nbsp;

Despite months of pushing the US to get their approval, Zelensky confirmed no green signal had been given.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;Russia-Ukraine War: Russia warns West of nuclear response on missile supply to Kyiv

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"Neither the US nor the UK has allowed us to use these weapons on the territory of Russia, against any targets and at any distance,” the Ukrainian president&nbsp;said.

Storm Shadows, the French equivalent, Scalp, and the US Atacms system have “not been provided in the numbers we need”, he added.

Responding to how he would persuade Biden during his meeting on Thursday, Zelensky cited the fact that the outgoing president had in the past "changed his opinions" after "difficult discussions".&nbsp;

Zelensky&nbsp;added, “Biden can strengthen Ukraine and make important decisions for Ukraine to become stronger and to protect its independence while he is US president. I think it is a historical mission after all.”

<h2>Zelensky to 'most likely' meet Trump</h2>

Along with Harris and&nbsp;Biden, Zelensky said he would "most likely" have a meeting with former US President Donald Trump on Thursday or Friday.&nbsp;

“Our teams are in contact. The main thing is to have time (together). I won’t look into the future, but I think it will be important for both of us,” Zelensky&nbsp;said.

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on Ukraine-Russia war on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos

(With inputs from agencies)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged his American counterpart Joe Biden to allow Ukraine to carry out long-range strike missiles inside Russia with US-supplied weapons and to earn “a place in history” by “strengthening Ukraine” before leaving the office in November.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged his American counterpart Joe Biden to allow Ukraine to carry out long-range strike missiles inside Russia with US-supplied weapons and to earn “a place in history” by “strengthening Ukraine” before leaving the office in November. Talking about his "victory plan", Zelensky was speaking ahead of his trip to the United States, where he will be meeting Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. Zelensky, who will also be addressing the United Nations, said that he would present a "victory plan" to end the war. In a media briefing with the Observer in Kyiv, the Ukrainian president said his plan involves carrying out deep strikes with Western missiles inside Russia, something London and Washington have so far refused. However, Zelensky's vision for a "just peace" has not yet been made public. Also read: Russia knew about Ukraine’s Kursk plans, was preparing for months: Report The United Kingdom, earlier indicated that they are ready to allow Ukraine to use British Storm Shadow cruise missiles. But, the White House has been sceptical about it. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer failed to resolve the issue when he held private talks with Biden last week in Washington. Despite months of pushing the US to get their approval, Zelensky confirmed no green signal had been given. Watch | Russia-Ukraine War: Russia warns West of nuclear response on missile supply to Kyiv × "Neither the US nor the UK has allowed us to use these weapons on the territory of Russia, against any targets and at any distance,” the Ukrainian president said. Storm Shadows, the French equivalent, Scalp, and the US Atacms system have “not been provided in the numbers we need”, he added. Responding to how he would persuade Biden during his meeting on Thursday, Zelensky cited the fact that the outgoing president had in the past "changed his opinions" after "difficult discussions". Zelensky added, “Biden can strengthen Ukraine and make important decisions for Ukraine to become stronger and to protect its independence while he is US president. I think it is a historical mission after all.” Zelensky to 'most likely' meet Trump Along with Harris and Biden, Zelensky said he would "most likely" have a meeting with former US President Donald Trump on Thursday or Friday. “Our teams are in contact. The main thing is to have time (together). I won’t look into the future, but I think it will be important for both of us,” Zelensky said. Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on Ukraine-Russia war on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos (With inputs from agencies)

Zelensky's plan to end war includes deep strikes inside Russia with US weapons

A clash broke out before jummah prayer at the national mosque Baitul Mukarram between followers of present Khatib Waliur Rahman and former kahtib Ruhul Amim, who has been in hiding since the fall of the Awami League government and arrived at the mosque.

Bangladesh: Followers of current and former leaders clash in Dhaka mosque, over 50 hurt

A political reporter for New York magazine allegedly had a "sexting" affair with former United States presidential candidate Robert F&nbsp;Kennedy Jr&nbsp;during which she reportedly also sent him nude pictures of herself. According to a report published by Puck News on Friday (Sep 20), Olivia Nuzzi and RFK Jr&nbsp;were in a digital relationship.

Nuzzi met 70-year-old Kennedy when he was in the race for the White House. She was interviewing him for a feature piece which was published in November. This is when the sexting began, New York Post reported.&nbsp;

She was placed on leave on Thursday after editors at the New York magazine came to know of the inappropriate relationship.&nbsp;New York mag said Nuzzi had violated the publication's standards and “had engaged in a personal relationship with a former subject relevant to the 2024 campaign”.

While Kennedy's team had earlier said that the two met only once for the interview, Puck News reported that there were several meet-ups. Nuzzi has not yet confirmed reports of sending nudes to Kennedy.&nbsp;

After reports of nudes being sent were revealed, a spokesperson for Kennedy said on Friday night in a statement that they were “unreservedly and unconditionally false”. He once again insisted that the two only met once.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-expands-team-with-unexpected-allies-kennedy-and-gabbard-as-he-eyes-white-house-return-753843">Trump expands team with unexpected allies Kennedy and Gabbard as he eyes White House return</a>

New York Post reported, quoting sources, that Nuzzi's top bosses were already aware of the affair and confronted Nuzzi. Other reports suggest that she had apparently also disclosed everything to them.

Nuzzi stresses that Kennedy and her were never in a physical relationship and neither was he used as a political source.&nbsp;

<h2>Nuzzi and Kennedy affair</h2>

In a statement, Nuzzi admitted she should have come clean on everything to avoid a conflict. “The relationship was never physical but should have been disclosed to prevent the appearance of a conflict. I deeply regret not doing so immediately and apologize to those I’ve disappointed, especially my colleagues at New York,” she said, without naming Kennedy.

Reports suggest that Kennedy and Nuzzi became involved with each other even though he was a married man and Nuzzi was engaged.

The New York Post reported that the nude photos were first shared around New Year's. A source told the publication that the reason New York mag found out about the affair is because the two “weren’t being particularly careful”. “There’s a reason New York mag found out,” the source explained.

Kennedy is currently married to actor Cheryl Hines, his third wife. Meanwhile, Nuzzi got engaged to political reporter Ryan Lizza in September 2022, but the two have now split, as confirmed by Lizza in a statement in Politico on Friday.

A political reporter for New York magazine allegedly had a "sexting" affair with former United States presidential candidate Robert F Kennedy Jr during which she reportedly also sent him nude pictures of herself.

A political reporter for New York magazine allegedly had a "sexting" affair with former United States presidential candidate Robert F Kennedy Jr during which she reportedly also sent him nude pictures of herself. According to a report published by Puck News on Friday (Sep 20), Olivia Nuzzi and RFK Jr were in a digital relationship. Nuzzi met 70-year-old Kennedy when he was in the race for the White House. She was interviewing him for a feature piece which was published in November. This is when the sexting began, New York Post reported. She was placed on leave on Thursday after editors at the New York magazine came to know of the inappropriate relationship. New York mag said Nuzzi had violated the publication's standards and “had engaged in a personal relationship with a former subject relevant to the 2024 campaign”. While Kennedy's team had earlier said that the two met only once for the interview, Puck News reported that there were several meet-ups. Nuzzi has not yet confirmed reports of sending nudes to Kennedy. After reports of nudes being sent were revealed, a spokesperson for Kennedy said on Friday night in a statement that they were “unreservedly and unconditionally false”. He once again insisted that the two only met once. Also Read: Trump expands team with unexpected allies Kennedy and Gabbard as he eyes White House return New York Post reported, quoting sources, that Nuzzi's top bosses were already aware of the affair and confronted Nuzzi. Other reports suggest that she had apparently also disclosed everything to them. Nuzzi stresses that Kennedy and her were never in a physical relationship and neither was he used as a political source. Nuzzi and Kennedy affair In a statement, Nuzzi admitted she should have come clean on everything to avoid a conflict. “The relationship was never physical but should have been disclosed to prevent the appearance of a conflict. I deeply regret not doing so immediately and apologize to those I’ve disappointed, especially my colleagues at New York,” she said, without naming Kennedy. Reports suggest that Kennedy and Nuzzi became involved with each other even though he was a married man and Nuzzi was engaged. The New York Post reported that the nude photos were first shared around New Year's. A source told the publication that the reason New York mag found out about the affair is because the two “weren’t being particularly careful”. “There’s a reason New York mag found out,” the source explained. Kennedy is currently married to actor Cheryl Hines, his third wife. Meanwhile, Nuzzi got engaged to political reporter Ryan Lizza in September 2022, but the two have now split, as confirmed by Lizza in a statement in Politico on Friday.

Olivia Nuzzi allegedly sent nudes to Robert F Kennedy Jr during 'sexting' affair: Report

At least 31 people died in an Israeli airstrike on a Beirut suburb on Friday, the Lebanese health ministry said on Saturday, including three children and seven women, in the deadliest strike in a year of conflict between Hezbollah and Israel.

Hezbollah said overnight that the dead included 16 of its members, including senior leader Ibrahim Aqil and another top commander, Ahmed Wahbi.

The strike sharply escalated the conflict between Israel and the Iran-backed group and inflicted another blow on Hezbollah after two days of attacks this week in which pagers and walkie-talkies used by its members exploded. The total death toll in those attacks has risen to 39, and more than 3,000 were injured.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/west-asia-crisis-hezbollah-names-second-commander-killed-in-israeli-air-strike-in-beirut-760669">West Asia crisis: Hezbollah names second commander killed in Israeli air strike in Beirut</a>

The attacks on communications devices were widely believed to have been carried out by Israel, which has neither confirmed nor denied its involvement.

Hezbollah-aligned transport minister Ali Hamieh told reporters at the scene of Friday's strike that at least 23 people were still missing.

“The Israeli enemy is taking the region to war,” he said. The ministry had dispatched vehicles and equipment to help rescuers dig through the collapsed buildings. “We’ve been taking out women and children from under the rubble,” he said.

Hezbollah confirmed Aqil's death in a statement just after midnight that called him "one of its top leaders".

It said overnight that 15 other members were also killed, including senior commander Wahbi, who oversaw the military operations of the Radwan special forces during the Gaza war until early 2024.

The Friday afternoon strike targeted a building next door to a nursery, which suffered impact from the strike, a security source said on Friday.

A second security source said multiple missiles slammed into the opening of a building's garage. The explosion tore into the building's lower levels as Aqil met other commanders inside.

In a brief statement on Friday evening carried by Israeli media, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel's goals were clear and its actions spoke for themselves.

Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, who said this week that Israel is launching a new phase of war on the northern border, posted on X: "The sequence of actions in the new phase will continue until our goal is achieved: the safe return of the residents of the north to their homes."

Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated from homes on both sides of the Israel-Lebanon&nbsp;border since Hezbollah began firing rockets at Israel in October in sympathy with Palestinians in the nearly year-old Israeli war against Hamas in Gaza.

Israel's military said on Saturday that airspace in northern Israel - from the city of Hadera north - was closed to private flights, but said the measure did not affect international flights.

"These restrictions were set in place to maintain the security of flights and in accordance with operational activity," the military said.

<h2>'Dangerous cycle of violence'</h2>

With at least 70 people killed in&nbsp;Lebanon&nbsp;this week, the death toll in the country since October has surpassed 740. The current conflict between Israel and Hezbollah is the worst since they fought an all-out war in 2006. &nbsp;

The UN&nbsp;Special Coordinator for&nbsp;Lebanon, Jeanine-Hennis Plasschaert, said on Friday that the strike in a densely populated area of Beirut's southern suburbs was part of "an extremely dangerous cycle of violence with devastating consequences. This must stop now."

Friday's strike marked the second time in less than two months that Israel has targeted a leading Hezbollah military commander in Beirut. In July, an Israeli airstrike killed Fuad Shukr, the group's top military commander.

While the current conflict has largely been contained to areas at or near the frontier, this week's escalation has heightened concerns that it could widen and further intensify.&nbsp;

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION&nbsp;audience. 
&nbsp;

At least 31 people died in an Israeli airstrike on a Beirut suburb on Friday, the Lebanese health ministry said on Saturday, including three children and seven women, in the deadliest strike in a year of conflict between Hezbollah and Israel.

At least 31 people died in an Israeli airstrike on a Beirut suburb on Friday, the Lebanese health ministry said on Saturday, including three children and seven women, in the deadliest strike in a year of conflict between Hezbollah and Israel. Hezbollah said overnight that the dead included 16 of its members, including senior leader Ibrahim Aqil and another top commander, Ahmed Wahbi. The strike sharply escalated the conflict between Israel and the Iran-backed group and inflicted another blow on Hezbollah after two days of attacks this week in which pagers and walkie-talkies used by its members exploded. The total death toll in those attacks has risen to 39, and more than 3,000 were injured. Also read | West Asia crisis: Hezbollah names second commander killed in Israeli air strike in Beirut The attacks on communications devices were widely believed to have been carried out by Israel, which has neither confirmed nor denied its involvement. Hezbollah-aligned transport minister Ali Hamieh told reporters at the scene of Friday's strike that at least 23 people were still missing. “The Israeli enemy is taking the region to war,” he said. The ministry had dispatched vehicles and equipment to help rescuers dig through the collapsed buildings. “We’ve been taking out women and children from under the rubble,” he said. Hezbollah confirmed Aqil's death in a statement just after midnight that called him "one of its top leaders". It said overnight that 15 other members were also killed, including senior commander Wahbi, who oversaw the military operations of the Radwan special forces during the Gaza war until early 2024. The Friday afternoon strike targeted a building next door to a nursery, which suffered impact from the strike, a security source said on Friday. A second security source said multiple missiles slammed into the opening of a building's garage. The explosion tore into the building's lower levels as Aqil met other commanders inside. In a brief statement on Friday evening carried by Israeli media, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel's goals were clear and its actions spoke for themselves. Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, who said this week that Israel is launching a new phase of war on the northern border, posted on X: "The sequence of actions in the new phase will continue until our goal is achieved: the safe return of the residents of the north to their homes." Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated from homes on both sides of the Israel-Lebanon border since Hezbollah began firing rockets at Israel in October in sympathy with Palestinians in the nearly year-old Israeli war against Hamas in Gaza. Israel's military said on Saturday that airspace in northern Israel - from the city of Hadera north - was closed to private flights, but said the measure did not affect international flights. "These restrictions were set in place to maintain the security of flights and in accordance with operational activity," the military said. 'Dangerous cycle of violence' With at least 70 people killed in Lebanon this week, the death toll in the country since October has surpassed 740. The current conflict between Israel and Hezbollah is the worst since they fought an all-out war in 2006. The UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine-Hennis Plasschaert, said on Friday that the strike in a densely populated area of Beirut's southern suburbs was part of "an extremely dangerous cycle of violence with devastating consequences. This must stop now." Friday's strike marked the second time in less than two months that Israel has targeted a leading Hezbollah military commander in Beirut. In July, an Israeli airstrike killed Fuad Shukr, the group's top military commander. While the current conflict has largely been contained to areas at or near the frontier, this week's escalation has heightened concerns that it could widen and further intensify. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Israeli strike on Beirut: Lebanon ministry says at least 31 killed including 3 kids

A man born in the Indian state of Kerala is under investigation regarding the recent pagers and walkie-talkie explosions in Lebanon, according to media reports on Saturday (Sep 21).

A man born in the Indian state of Kerala is under investigation regarding the recent pagers and walkie-talkie explosions in Lebanon, according to media reports on Saturday (Sep 21). The man was identified as Rinson Jose, a 39-year-old entrepreneur and a Norwegian citizen. Jose migrated to Norway from Kerala's Wayanad. He currently lives in Oslo. A report by The Indian Express said that Jose is the owner of Norta Global Limited, a Bulgarian shell company allegedly involved in supplying pagers to Hezbollah. The preliminary investigation As per the report, a preliminary investigation suggested that the pagers were provided by Norta Global Limited. Jose’s company received components from Taiwan, which were then used to manufacture the devices. Also read | How Israel used shell companies to execute pagers attack across Lebanon Citing international media, the report said that the 39-year-old man might have fled to the United States (US) or the United Kingdom (UK). Jose's family back in Kerala expressed shock at the allegations. The report said that the man's uncle denied any suspicion of illegal activity, stating that Rinson had been in touch with the family just a week ago and had always been a well-behaved individual. Wayanad District Police Chief Taposh Basumatary confirmed that local authorities were aware of the sensitive nature of the issue and have provided protection to Jose's family in Mananthavady. Death toll due to explosions at 37 The death toll in explosions targeting pagers and handheld radios across Lebanon on Tuesday and Wednesday has risen to 37, whereas the injuries came at 2,931, Lebanese Health Minister Firas Abiad said Thursday (Sep 19). Tensions along the Lebanon-Israel border have been escalating since October 8, 2023, when Hezbollah launched rockets at Israel in support of Hamas. Israel retaliated with artillery fire into southeastern Lebanon. The conflict has resulted in hundreds of deaths in Lebanon, and Hezbollah claimed its attacks have inflicted casualties in Israel. The recent explosions add a new layer to the ongoing 11-month clashes between Israel and Hezbollah. (With inputs from agencies) Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, Syria, Iraq and non-state actors like Islamic State, among others. In this context, claims and counterclaims are being made online and offline. WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.

Lebanon explosions: Man born in India's Kerala under investigation. Who is he?

Iran-aligned Lebanese militant group Hezbollah said on Saturday (Sept 21) that a second senior commander was among 15 of its fighters killed in an Israeli air strike on its Beirut stronghold the previous day.

Iran-aligned Lebanese militant group Hezbollah said on Saturday (Sept 21) that a second senior commander was among 15 of its fighters killed in an Israeli air strike on its Beirut stronghold the previous day. Hezbollah said Ahmed Mahmud Wahbi led the military operations of its elite Radwan Force in support of Hamas between October 7 when the Palestinian militant group attacked Israel, triggering the Gaza war at the start of this year. The Israeli military said that its air strike on Beirut's southern suburbs on Friday eliminated Radwan Force chief Ibrahim Aqil and several other commanders. Who was the first Hezbollah commander killed in Israeli strike? On Friday, the Israeli military said citing sources that Aqil had been killed with other senior members of an elite Hezbollah unit in the airstrike. The Lebanese militant group confirmed Aqil's death in a statement just after midnight that called him "one of its top leaders," without providing details of how he died. Also read | Who was Ibrahim Aqil, chief of Hezbollah's elite Radwan Force, killed in Israeli strike In a second statement issued later, Hezbollah said Aqil was killed in Beirut's southern suburbs of Dahiyeh in what it called a "treacherous Israeli assassination." According to Lebanon's health ministry, at least 14 people were killed in the strike and the death toll was expected to rise as rescue teams worked through. The ministry did not reveal whether the toll included Aqil or any other Hezbollah commanders. 66 people injured in strikes Earlier, the ministry said at least 66 people were injured, nine of whom were in critical condition. Till now, only Wahbi and Aqil are the commanders Hezbollah said that had been killed in Friday's strike. Citing a security source, a report by the news agency Reuters said at least six other Hezbollah commanders died in the strike. The militant group said that several of its members were killed but it did not disclose whether they were commanders or its foot soldiers. (With inputs from agencies)

West Asia crisis: Hezbollah names second commander killed in Israeli air strike on Beirut

Voting for Sri Lanka's presidential election has begun, with 17 million voters set to decide the country's next leader. As the nation votes, the election promises to be a turning point for Sri Lanka's future. Watch in for more details!

Sri Lanka elections: Ranil Wickremesinghe seeks reelection

Keir Starmer has said he will not accept any more free clothes from donors after days of negative headlines over “wardrobe-gate”. Angela Rayner and Rachel Reeves have also made the same pledge, in an abrupt policy change just before Labour’s annual conference opens this weekend. But the move still leaves Labour’s top team free to accept thousands of pounds worth of other gifts and hospitality.

Wardrobe-gate in UK: Labour Party takes U-turn on freebies

Some Japanese companies in China have offered to send their staff and their families back home after a 10-year-old Japanese boy was fatally stabbed in the Chinese city of Shenzhen, a Japanese executive and employees of Japanese firms in Beijing said on Friday. Wednesday's stabbing was the second such attack near Japanese schools in China in recent months, and took place on the anniversary of an incident in 1931 that triggered war between China and Japan.

Japanese boy's killing in China's Shenzen sparks fears among Japanese expats

Voters lined up to cast their ballots in Sri Lanka’s crucial presidential election today (Saturday), in the island country’s first major polling exercise since its economic collapse in 2022.

Sri Lanka Presidential Election: Sri Lanka votes to elect nation's next President

TikTok has banned an influencer for sharing controversial weight loss advice after critics called her content &nbsp;“dangerous” and “harmful.” Liv Schmidt has nearly 700,000 followers on her channel where she talks about the importance of being thin.&nbsp;

Experts and dietitians say that her videos demonstrate an "unhealthy devotion to being thin". They argue that her videos should be removed as she has been "glamourising disordered eating" by telling people that “it is important to stay skinny” –

TikTok took the decision to delete her account after stating that her “disordered eating” posts violated community guidelines.

Schmidt, who lives in New York, has now responded to the controversy and the critics. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, she said, "For me and my personal aesthetic, I like to be skinny and there’s nothing wrong with that."

“Weight is a touchy topic, but that’s what the viewers want.”

She further stressed that she wants to “save America from obesity one person at a time” because of her own personal struggles with feeling confident in her body, as per WSJ. The tagline about obesity was also mentioned in her TikTok bio.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/utah-woman-suffers-cardiac-arrest-due-to-tear-in-artery-while-on-treadmill-760601">Utah woman suffers cardiac arrest due to tear in artery while on treadmill</a>

Telling the publication that she was "trying to build a genuine thing,” Schmidt said that she was "confused, upset" and "felt misunderstood" about the decision to remove her account.&nbsp;

<h2>People slam&nbsp; Liv Schmidt for promoting 'skinny'</h2>

However, several others feel that Schmidt was peddling the wrong notions about food on girls who are too young to decide what is right for them. Experts say that Schmidt’s “what I eat in a day” TikTok videos propagated the use of such foods that were “incredibly harmful”. They say that the videos linked to a curated Amazon storefront containing dietary supplements, ankle weights and protein powders.&nbsp;

A “Skinny Group Community Chat” with a subscription fee of $9.99 per month was also linked to her videos.&nbsp;

Social media users have slammed Schmidt for promoting the idea that being thin is important.&nbsp;

One of the users wrote, "There’s something so deeply sinister about a ‘regular’ influencer posting food like this and pretending like it’s normal, ESPECIALLY because there’s a massive population of girls on TikTok who are too young to realize that eating like this isn’t okay.”

TikTok has banned an influencer for sharing controversial weight loss advice after critics called her content “dangerous” and “harmful.” Liv Schmidt has nearly 700,000 followers on her channel where she talks about the importance of being thin.

TikTok has banned an influencer for sharing controversial weight loss advice after critics called her content “dangerous” and “harmful.” Liv Schmidt has nearly 700,000 followers on her channel where she talks about the importance of being thin. Experts and dietitians say that her videos demonstrate an "unhealthy devotion to being thin". They argue that her videos should be removed as she has been "glamourising disordered eating" by telling people that “it is important to stay skinny” – TikTok took the decision to delete her account after stating that her “disordered eating” posts violated community guidelines. Schmidt, who lives in New York, has now responded to the controversy and the critics. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, she said, "For me and my personal aesthetic, I like to be skinny and there’s nothing wrong with that." “Weight is a touchy topic, but that’s what the viewers want.” She further stressed that she wants to “save America from obesity one person at a time” because of her own personal struggles with feeling confident in her body, as per WSJ. The tagline about obesity was also mentioned in her TikTok bio. Also Read: Utah woman suffers cardiac arrest due to tear in artery while on treadmill Telling the publication that she was "trying to build a genuine thing,” Schmidt said that she was "confused, upset" and "felt misunderstood" about the decision to remove her account. People slam Liv Schmidt for promoting 'skinny' However, several others feel that Schmidt was peddling the wrong notions about food on girls who are too young to decide what is right for them. Experts say that Schmidt’s “what I eat in a day” TikTok videos propagated the use of such foods that were “incredibly harmful”. They say that the videos linked to a curated Amazon storefront containing dietary supplements, ankle weights and protein powders. A “Skinny Group Community Chat” with a subscription fee of $9.99 per month was also linked to her videos. Social media users have slammed Schmidt for promoting the idea that being thin is important. One of the users wrote, "There’s something so deeply sinister about a ‘regular’ influencer posting food like this and pretending like it’s normal, ESPECIALLY because there’s a massive population of girls on TikTok who are too young to realize that eating like this isn’t okay.”

Influencer who 'likes being skinny' banned by TikTok. 'Weight is a...'

Israel said it had conducted a "targeted strike" in Beirut, where an air strike had hit Hezbollah's stronghold in the south of the city. This airstrike on Beirut on Friday killed a senior Hezbollah commander and several other high-ranking members of the Lebanese group.

Israel-Hezbollah War: Top commander Ahmed Wahabi also killed

British politician Rachel Reeves has acknowledged receiving donations for clothing, amid rising criticism over senior Labour figures accepting gifts, just as the Labour Party conference was about to begin.&nbsp;

Reeves, who has taken nearly £7,500 ($9,991) for clothing from her friend Juliet Rosenfeld since 2023, now faces scrutiny along with Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, who have also accepted clothing donations.

<h2 bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:135,&quot;w&quot;:723,&quot;h&quot;:26,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:1822}">Donations for clothes</h2>

The revelation comes as Labour figures shift their stance, announcing they will no longer accept donations for clothing while in office.&nbsp;

On Friday (Sep 20), The Prime Minister, Rayner, and Reeves all made clear that they would stop taking donations for clothes now that they were in office.

Also read |&nbsp;<a bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:88,&quot;y&quot;:279,&quot;w&quot;:637,&quot;h&quot;:16,&quot;abs_x&quot;:121,&quot;abs_y&quot;:1966}" data-ved="2ahUKEwie5qnyxtOIAxXYiK8BHe4nDAsQxfQBKAB6BAgREAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/british-pm-keir-starmers-wife-attended-two-taylor-swift-concerts-without-paying-a-penny-759730" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/world/british-pm-keir-starmers-wife-attended-two-taylor-swift-concerts-without-paying-a-penny-759730&amp;ved=2ahUKEwie5qnyxtOIAxXYiK8BHe4nDAsQxfQBKAB6BAgREAE">British PM Keir Starmer`s wife attended two Taylor Swift concerts without paying a penny</a>

However, Starmer's decision does not extend to other forms of hospitality, such as corporate football tickets or concerts like the Taylor Swift show he attended with his wife.&nbsp;

Recently, Sir Keir Starmer's wife, Lady Starmer, became the source of controversy after it was revealed that she received £5,000 worth of clothing and personal shopping from the donor. Starmer himself accepted £16,200 worth of "work clothing" from Lord Alli in April, three months before he won the election. 
&nbsp;&nbsp; 
This follows a backlash from Labour MPs, who argue that such actions could harm the party's reputation, calling for stricter limits on gifts and hospitality.

One Labour MP told the Telegraph, "Loads of us are livid. This is what hypocrisy looks like – and most of us have been fighting the 'they're all the same' rhetoric for our whole careers. Keir’s double standards just prove it's entirely accurate."

Also read |&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwie5qnyxtOIAxXYiK8BHe4nDAsQxfQBKAB6BAgREAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/british-pm-keir-starmers-wife-attended-two-taylor-swift-concerts-without-paying-a-penny-759730" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/world/british-pm-keir-starmers-wife-attended-two-taylor-swift-concerts-without-paying-a-penny-759730&amp;ved=2ahUKEwie5qnyxtOIAxXYiK8BHe4nDAsQxfQBKAB6BAgREAE">British PM Keir Starmer`s wife attended two Taylor Swift concerts without paying a penny</a>

<h2 bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:551,&quot;w&quot;:723,&quot;h&quot;:26,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2238}">Reeves' clothing donations</h2>

As per The Telegraph, donations received by Reeves were declared on the Register of Members' Financial Interests. However, no mention of clothing specifically was mentioned, and her team states that no updates to the declarations are needed.

Nonetheless, the timing of these revelations threatens to overshadow the Labour Party’s conference, as party members and the public question the appropriateness of accepting such gifts while in government.

(With inputs from agencies)

British politician Rachel Reeves has acknowledged receiving donations for clothing, amid rising criticism over senior Labour figures accepting gifts, just as the Labour Party conference was about to begin.

British politician Rachel Reeves has acknowledged receiving donations for clothing, amid rising criticism over senior Labour figures accepting gifts, just as the Labour Party conference was about to begin. Reeves, who has taken nearly £7,500 ($9,991) for clothing from her friend Juliet Rosenfeld since 2023, now faces scrutiny along with Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, who have also accepted clothing donations. Donations for clothes The revelation comes as Labour figures shift their stance, announcing they will no longer accept donations for clothing while in office. On Friday (Sep 20), The Prime Minister, Rayner, and Reeves all made clear that they would stop taking donations for clothes now that they were in office. Also read | British PM Keir Starmer`s wife attended two Taylor Swift concerts without paying a penny However, Starmer's decision does not extend to other forms of hospitality, such as corporate football tickets or concerts like the Taylor Swift show he attended with his wife. Recently, Sir Keir Starmer's wife, Lady Starmer, became the source of controversy after it was revealed that she received £5,000 worth of clothing and personal shopping from the donor. Starmer himself accepted £16,200 worth of "work clothing" from Lord Alli in April, three months before he won the election. This follows a backlash from Labour MPs, who argue that such actions could harm the party's reputation, calling for stricter limits on gifts and hospitality. One Labour MP told the Telegraph, "Loads of us are livid. This is what hypocrisy looks like – and most of us have been fighting the 'they're all the same' rhetoric for our whole careers. Keir’s double standards just prove it's entirely accurate." Also read | British PM Keir Starmer`s wife attended two Taylor Swift concerts without paying a penny Reeves' clothing donations As per The Telegraph, donations received by Reeves were declared on the Register of Members' Financial Interests. However, no mention of clothing specifically was mentioned, and her team states that no updates to the declarations are needed. Nonetheless, the timing of these revelations threatens to overshadow the Labour Party’s conference, as party members and the public question the appropriateness of accepting such gifts while in government. (With inputs from agencies)

UK freebies controversy: Rachel Reeves faces scrutiny over £7,500 clothing donations

Israel-Hezbollah War: Hezbollah commander Ibrahim Aqil 'eliminated' in Beirut

The woman whose company is linked to thousands of pager blasts that rocked Lebanon and Syria this week is under the protection of the Hungarian secret services, her mother told The Associated Press on Friday.

Hezbollah and the Lebanese government say that Israel is behind the attacks which have killed at least 37 people and injured more than 3,000. However, Israel has yet to confirm or deny its involvement in the attacks.&nbsp;

Cristiana Bársony-Arcidiacon has been listed as the CEO of Budapest-based BAC Consulting, which, as per the Taiwanese trademark holder of the pagers, was behind the manufacture of the devices.

She is reportedly receiving unspecified threats, her mother Beatrix Bársony-Arcidiacono told the AP. She "is currently in a safe place protected by the Hungarian secret services."

Talking on the phone from Sicily, she told AP, that the "Hungarian secret services advised her not to talk to media."

Hungary's national security authorities have not yet responded to AP's request for a comment, and the news agency says it has not independently verified the claim.

Gold Apollo, a Taiwanese firm, has said that it had authorised BAC Consulting to use its name on the pagers that were used in the first attack but the responsibility for the manufacturing and design was entirely on the Hungarian company.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/heres-what-we-know-about-budapest-based-company-linked-to-hezbollah-pagers-760436">Here's what we know about Budapest-based company linked to Hezbollah pagers</a>

Meanwhile, both the Hungarian government and Cristiana's mother Beatrix say that BAC was merely an intermediary and the pagers were not produced in Hungary.

A Hungarian government spokesman said on Wednesday that the pagers were never in Hungary.&nbsp;

Beatrix Bársony-Arcidiacono, talking about her daughter, said, "She is not involved in any way, she was just a broker. The items did not pass through Budapest. ... They were not produced in Hungary."

Reports suggest that BAC Consulting has no physical offices and simply shares a ground floor in a building with other companies, using it merely as an official address.

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&nbsp;

<h2>About Cristiana Bársony-Arcidiaco</h2>

Cristiana was born in Sicily, studied at the University of Catania and later pursued a Ph.D. in London, her mother says. She went on to work in Paris and Vienna and later moved to Budapest in October 2016.&nbsp;

She incorporated BAC Consulting in May 2022.&nbsp;

On her social media profile, she describes herself as a strategic adviser and business developer. It reads that she has worked for major international organisations as well as for venture capital firms. She says she speaks English, French, Italian and Hungarian. On her website, she mentioned having a doctorate in physics.&nbsp;

According to her LinkedIn page, she got her degree from University College London in the early to mid-2000s. Ákos Kövér, a Hungarian physicist and now-retired professor, used to work with her there and has confirmed that she was enrolled there.&nbsp;

Kövér told AP, "At the time, we also published some joint articles. I am not aware of her other activities."

She also worked as an intern at the International Atomic Energy Agency in 2008 and 2009 and co-authored a paper for a UNESCO conference discussing the management of underground water.&nbsp;

The woman whose company is linked to thousands of pager blasts that rocked Lebanon and Syria this week is under the protection of the Hungarian secret services, her mother told The Associated Press on Friday.

The woman whose company is linked to thousands of pager blasts that rocked Lebanon and Syria this week is under the protection of the Hungarian secret services, her mother told The Associated Press on Friday. Hezbollah and the Lebanese government say that Israel is behind the attacks which have killed at least 37 people and injured more than 3,000. However, Israel has yet to confirm or deny its involvement in the attacks. Cristiana Bársony-Arcidiacon has been listed as the CEO of Budapest-based BAC Consulting, which, as per the Taiwanese trademark holder of the pagers, was behind the manufacture of the devices. She is reportedly receiving unspecified threats, her mother Beatrix Bársony-Arcidiacono told the AP. She "is currently in a safe place protected by the Hungarian secret services." Talking on the phone from Sicily, she told AP, that the "Hungarian secret services advised her not to talk to media." Hungary's national security authorities have not yet responded to AP's request for a comment, and the news agency says it has not independently verified the claim. Gold Apollo, a Taiwanese firm, has said that it had authorised BAC Consulting to use its name on the pagers that were used in the first attack but the responsibility for the manufacturing and design was entirely on the Hungarian company. Also Read: Here's what we know about Budapest-based company linked to Hezbollah pagers Meanwhile, both the Hungarian government and Cristiana's mother Beatrix say that BAC was merely an intermediary and the pagers were not produced in Hungary. A Hungarian government spokesman said on Wednesday that the pagers were never in Hungary. Beatrix Bársony-Arcidiacono, talking about her daughter, said, "She is not involved in any way, she was just a broker. The items did not pass through Budapest. ... They were not produced in Hungary." Reports suggest that BAC Consulting has no physical offices and simply shares a ground floor in a building with other companies, using it merely as an official address. × About Cristiana Bársony-Arcidiaco Cristiana was born in Sicily, studied at the University of Catania and later pursued a Ph.D. in London, her mother says. She went on to work in Paris and Vienna and later moved to Budapest in October 2016. She incorporated BAC Consulting in May 2022. On her social media profile, she describes herself as a strategic adviser and business developer. It reads that she has worked for major international organisations as well as for venture capital firms. She says she speaks English, French, Italian and Hungarian. On her website, she mentioned having a doctorate in physics. According to her LinkedIn page, she got her degree from University College London in the early to mid-2000s. Ákos Kövér, a Hungarian physicist and now-retired professor, used to work with her there and has confirmed that she was enrolled there. Kövér told AP, "At the time, we also published some joint articles. I am not aware of her other activities." She also worked as an intern at the International Atomic Energy Agency in 2008 and 2009 and co-authored a paper for a UNESCO conference discussing the management of underground water.

Who is the woman listed as CEO of Hungary company linked to pager blasts?

A US soldier who crossed into North Korea last year pleaded guilty to desertion as part of a plea agreement Friday and was sentenced to 12 months of confinement, his lawyer said.

Because of good behavior and time served, the soldier was released, according to the lawyer.

Travis King was facing 14 charges related to him fleeing across the border from South Korea into the North in July 2023 while on a sightseeing tour of the Demilitarized Zone that divides the Korean Peninsula, and prior incidents.

But he pleaded guilty to just five -- desertion, assault on a noncommissioned officer, and three counts of disobeying an officer -- as part of a deal that was accepted on Friday by a military judge.

"The judge, under the terms of the plea deal, sentenced Travis to one year of confinement, reduction in rank to private (E-1), forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and a dishonourable discharge," a statement from King's attorney Franklin Rosenblatt said.

"With time already served and credit for good behavior, Travis is now free and will return home," the statement said.

"Travis King has faced significant challenges throughout his life, including a difficult upbringing, exposure to criminal environments, and struggles with mental health," Rosenblatt said. "All these factors have compounded the hardships he faced in the military."

In a statement, the US Army's Office of Special Trial Counsel confirmed King's guilty plea as part of a deal and said that "pursuant to the terms of the plea agreement, all other charges and specifications were dismissed."

"The outcome of today's court martial is a fair and just result that reflects the seriousness of the offenses committed by Pvt. King," prosecutor Major Allyson Montgomery said in the statement.

At the time of the incident, King had been stationed in South Korea, and after a drunken bar fight and a stay in South Korean jail, he was supposed to fly back to Texas to face disciplinary hearings.

Instead of doing so, he walked out of the Seoul-area airport, joined a DMZ sightseeing trip and slipped over the fortified border where he was detained by the communist North's authorities.

Pyongyang had said that King had defected to North Korea to escape "mistreatment and racial discrimination in the US Army."

But after completing its investigation, North Korea "decided to expel" King in September for illegally intruding into its territory.

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION&nbsp;audience. 
&nbsp;

A US soldier who crossed into North Korea last year pleaded guilty to desertion as part of a plea agreement Friday and was sentenced to 12 months of confinement, his lawyer said.

A US soldier who crossed into North Korea last year pleaded guilty to desertion as part of a plea agreement Friday and was sentenced to 12 months of confinement, his lawyer said. Because of good behavior and time served, the soldier was released, according to the lawyer. Travis King was facing 14 charges related to him fleeing across the border from South Korea into the North in July 2023 while on a sightseeing tour of the Demilitarized Zone that divides the Korean Peninsula, and prior incidents. But he pleaded guilty to just five -- desertion, assault on a noncommissioned officer, and three counts of disobeying an officer -- as part of a deal that was accepted on Friday by a military judge. "The judge, under the terms of the plea deal, sentenced Travis to one year of confinement, reduction in rank to private (E-1), forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and a dishonourable discharge," a statement from King's attorney Franklin Rosenblatt said. "With time already served and credit for good behavior, Travis is now free and will return home," the statement said. "Travis King has faced significant challenges throughout his life, including a difficult upbringing, exposure to criminal environments, and struggles with mental health," Rosenblatt said. "All these factors have compounded the hardships he faced in the military." In a statement, the US Army's Office of Special Trial Counsel confirmed King's guilty plea as part of a deal and said that "pursuant to the terms of the plea agreement, all other charges and specifications were dismissed." "The outcome of today's court martial is a fair and just result that reflects the seriousness of the offenses committed by Pvt. King," prosecutor Major Allyson Montgomery said in the statement. At the time of the incident, King had been stationed in South Korea, and after a drunken bar fight and a stay in South Korean jail, he was supposed to fly back to Texas to face disciplinary hearings. Instead of doing so, he walked out of the Seoul-area airport, joined a DMZ sightseeing trip and slipped over the fortified border where he was detained by the communist North's authorities. Pyongyang had said that King had defected to North Korea to escape "mistreatment and racial discrimination in the US Army." But after completing its investigation, North Korea "decided to expel" King in September for illegally intruding into its territory. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

US soldier Travis King who entered North Korea pleads guilty to desertion, receives one-year sentence

A massive sinkhole appeared on a road in the Samadhan Chowk area of Pune, swallowing a truck and two two-wheelers on Friday, a Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) Fire officer said. The fire brigade rushed to the spot immediately and tried to retrieve the truck using JCB.

Pune Sinkhole swallows up truck: Two cranes retrieve truck in four hours

US Senator Suhas Subramanyam speaks about the rise of Indian diaspora in America's political system. Watch in!

Indian diaspora in America's political system Suhas Subramanyam speaks to WION

Lebanon is in shock after Israel targeted Hezbollah's telecom devices, injuring and maiming thousands. The international community is condemning these attacks. Israel has not explicitly taken responsibility for attacks on Hezbollah's communication devices.

Lebanon Blasts: Second Wave of Blasts Across Lebanon Stuns Hezbollah

Minutes after Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah delivered his first speech in the aftermath of pager and walkie-talkie explosions, Israel launched a full-scale attack in Lebanon by targeting the militant group's targets.

Israel hits Hezbollah targets: Israeli unleashes heavy strikes on Hezbollah

The Department of Employment and Labour in South Africa has warned that it will crack down on restaurants flouting the law. This comes after the department conducted a "blitz" inspection at a restaurant in Menlyn, Tshwane.

Labour law raids hit South African restaurants

Outgoing NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg cautioned the United States and Europe against "isolationism" in his parting speech on Thursday.

Departing NATO chief calls for unity | Jens Stoltenberg addresses 'isolationism

As the devastating floods continue Central European union has announced 10 billion funds for flood hit countries. Watch to know more.

EU announces $11 BN aid to flood hit nations

Close ally of Putin, Volodin is warning western government for a nuclear war. Watch to know more.

Russia-Ukraine War: Volodin warns EU of approval for weapons for Ukraine

COVID-19 most likely originated from infected animals at a Chinese market, a new study has found almost after five years the virus first emerged. Published in the Cell journal (peer-reviewed), the study cites strong evidence, based on the 800 samples collected from Wuhan's Huanan Seafood Market. The samples were collected by Chinese authorities in January 2020 when the market was closed down.

<h2>Strong evidence</h2>

The study found that several parts of one stall from the Wuhan market tested positive for Covid, including "animal carts, a cage, a garbage cart, and a hair/feather removal machine."

It also established that “there were wild animals at this market at the end of 2019, notably belonging to species such as raccoon dogs and civets."

Interestingly, the presence of these animals was first disputed, despite photographic evidence.

"And these animals were in the southwest corner of the market, which also happens to be an area where a lot of SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes Covid-19, was detected," the study noted.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwi-zKXr3NCIAxWVUGwGHSYIEe8QxfQBKAB6BAgJEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/much-better-scenario-world-better-positioned-against-mpox-than-for-covid-says-vaccine-alliance-759938" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/world/much-better-scenario-world-better-positioned-against-mpox-than-for-covid-says-vaccine-alliance-759938&amp;ved=2ahUKEwi-zKXr3NCIAxWVUGwGHSYIEe8QxfQBKAB6BAgJEAE">`Much better scenario`: World better positioned against mpox than for Covid, says vaccine alliance</a>

The research also found a genetic similarity between the original pandemic strain and the "most recent common ancestor" of the Covid virus strain found in the market samples.

Study co-author Florence Debarre said, “This means that the early diversity of the virus is found at the market - as would be expected if this is the site where it emerged.”

<h2>Two theories</h2>

Now, based on the recent evidence, scientists are floating two possibilities that led to the overlapping genetic evidence.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwi-zKXr3NCIAxWVUGwGHSYIEe8QxfQBKAB6BAgIEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/covid-scare-back-in-europe-as-contagious-xec-variant-becomes-dominant-759557" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/world/covid-scare-back-in-europe-as-contagious-xec-variant-becomes-dominant-759557&amp;ved=2ahUKEwi-zKXr3NCIAxWVUGwGHSYIEe8QxfQBKAB6BAgIEAE">Covid scare back in Europe and US as new contagious variant XEC becomes dominant</a>

One likely scenario is that animals infected with COVID-19 were first brought to the Wuhan market, and the virus then jumped to humans. The second possibility is that an infected human, who may have got the virus from some other source, visited the Wuhan market and shed some of it behind. Then, it may have jumped to mammals as well as humans.

Michael Worobey, head of the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Arizona and a co-author of the new paper, said, “It doesn't 100% prove that those animals had SARS-CoV-2, but it shows that you can just say goodbye to the idea that these [coronavirus-susceptible] animals weren't even there at the time the pandemic started. The ghosts of their DNA and RNA were certainly there. [The animals] were observed there in November by Chinese colleagues. And it becomes yet another piece of evidence that you can throw against any hypothesis for the origin."

(With inputs from agencies)

COVID-19 most likely originated from infected animals at a Chinese market, a new study has found almost after five years the virus first emerged. Published in the Cell journal (peer-reviewed), the study cites strong evidence, based on the 800 samples collected from Wuhan's Huanan Seafood Market.

COVID-19 most likely originated from infected animals at a Chinese market, a new study has found almost after five years the virus first emerged. Published in the Cell journal (peer-reviewed), the study cites strong evidence, based on the 800 samples collected from Wuhan's Huanan Seafood Market. The samples were collected by Chinese authorities in January 2020 when the market was closed down. Strong evidence The study found that several parts of one stall from the Wuhan market tested positive for Covid, including "animal carts, a cage, a garbage cart, and a hair/feather removal machine." It also established that “there were wild animals at this market at the end of 2019, notably belonging to species such as raccoon dogs and civets." Interestingly, the presence of these animals was first disputed, despite photographic evidence. "And these animals were in the southwest corner of the market, which also happens to be an area where a lot of SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes Covid-19, was detected," the study noted. Also read: `Much better scenario`: World better positioned against mpox than for Covid, says vaccine alliance The research also found a genetic similarity between the original pandemic strain and the "most recent common ancestor" of the Covid virus strain found in the market samples. Study co-author Florence Debarre said, “This means that the early diversity of the virus is found at the market - as would be expected if this is the site where it emerged.” Two theories Now, based on the recent evidence, scientists are floating two possibilities that led to the overlapping genetic evidence. Also read: Covid scare back in Europe and US as new contagious variant XEC becomes dominant One likely scenario is that animals infected with COVID-19 were first brought to the Wuhan market, and the virus then jumped to humans. The second possibility is that an infected human, who may have got the virus from some other source, visited the Wuhan market and shed some of it behind. Then, it may have jumped to mammals as well as humans. Michael Worobey, head of the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Arizona and a co-author of the new paper, said, “It doesn't 100% prove that those animals had SARS-CoV-2, but it shows that you can just say goodbye to the idea that these [coronavirus-susceptible] animals weren't even there at the time the pandemic started. The ghosts of their DNA and RNA were certainly there. [The animals] were observed there in November by Chinese colleagues. And it becomes yet another piece of evidence that you can throw against any hypothesis for the origin." (With inputs from agencies)

‘Strong evidence’ hints COVID-19 originated from Wuhan market

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