Author: Web Desk

Jakarta: Grok has returned to service in Indonesia after the government allowed access to resume under strict conditions and ongoing supervision. The artificial intelligence chatbot, operated by xAI and owned by Elon Musk’s X Corp, was suspended three weeks ago over concerns that it could generate pornographic and sexually explicit material, prompting Indonesia to become the first country to block the tool. According to a statement from the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs, the restoration of Grok access has taken place on a conditional basis. Authorities have confirmed that approval was granted only after X Corp submitted a written…

Berlin: Potato surplus has reshaped food distribution across Berlin after Germany recorded its largest harvest in more than 25 years. Exceptional growing conditions across northern Europe have driven yields far beyond expectations, leaving farmers with excess produce and limited storage or commercial outlets. Dubbed the Kartoffel-Flut, or potato flood, the bumper harvest has overwhelmed traditional supply chains despite Germany’s strong consumption of the staple. Official statistics show Germans consume an average of 63 kilograms per person annually, yet the scale of production has exceeded demand. In response, one farmer near Leipzig offered 4,000 tonnes of surplus potatoes after a planned…

New Delhi: South Asia’s definitive thought leadership dialogue, The Times Group’s ET NOW Global Business Summit 2026, co-powered by Spark Capital and Bennett University, is back. The Summit will be held on February 13 and 14, 2026, in New Delhi under the theme ‘A Decade of Disruption, A Century of Change’. The past decade has been marked by unprecedented disruption, driven by major shifts in geopolitics, climate, capital and technology, with disruption now viewed as a constant rather than an exception. A more complex global order has taken shape, while Artificial Intelligence has reshaped how people live and work. At…

Sydney:  Heatwave conditions have continued across Australia’s south-east, extending into an eighth day as large parts of the region have remained under extreme temperature warnings. Forecasts have indicated that a long-awaited cool change is expected to arrive over the weekend, bringing an end to prolonged blistering conditions that have pushed temperatures well above 40C in several areas. Despite the expected shift, the heat has persisted through Saturday. Heatwave warnings have remained active for parts of every state and territory except Tasmania. Canberra has been forecast to reach a maximum of 41C, while inland areas of New South Wales, including Broken…

New York: Serena Williams has once again become the focus of comeback speculation after confirming that the necessary administrative steps linked to professional competition have been completed. The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion retired following the 2022 US Open, bringing an end to one of the most successful careers in tennis history. However, recent developments have suggested that the door may not be fully closed on a return. In December, the International Tennis Integrity Agency confirmed that Williams had been added back to the registered testing pool. Players in this pool are subject to strict anti-doping protocols, including providing daily…

San Francisco: Tesla has confirmed a strategic realignment of its business model after reporting that annual revenue declined by 3 percent in 2025, marking the first yearly drop in the company’s history. Profits also fell sharply, declining by 61 percent in the final quarter of the year, reflecting rising costs and a transition towards emerging technologies beyond electric vehicles. Tesla has announced plans to end production of the Model S and Model X vehicles. The California manufacturing plant that previously produced these models will now be repurposed to build the company’s humanoid robots, known as Optimus. This move has highlighted…

Manchester: The Guinness World Records has confirmed that Manchester toddler Jude Owens has become the youngest person to perform two separate trick shots in snooker, earning two official world records before turning three. Jude completed a pool bank shot at the age of two years and 302 days on October 12, followed by a snooker double pot just five weeks earlier when aged two years and 261 days. The successful completion of both shots has made Jude the youngest individual ever to achieve each of these specific trick shots, setting a remarkable benchmark for junior cue sports. Guinness World Records…

Tokyo: Japan snap election preparations have been taking place against the backdrop of one of the harshest winters the country has experienced in years, with snow and freezing temperatures shaping both campaign activities and voter participation. The snap general election, called by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi less than four months after taking office, is scheduled for February 8 and is being viewed as a key test of public support for the new administration. Large parts of northern Japan have already been buried under heavy snow, with Aomori prefecture among the worst affected areas. Election billboards displaying candidate information have been…

New Delhi: Nipah has placed health authorities in India and across Asia on high alert following a cluster of confirmed infections in West Bengal. Five healthcare workers linked to a private hospital in Barasat have tested positive for the virus, with one patient remaining in critical condition. Around 110 people who came into contact with the infected individuals have been quarantined as part of containment measures. The outbreak has prompted several Asian countries to tighten screening protocols at points of entry. Thailand has begun health checks at three international airports in Bangkok and Phuket that receive flights from West Bengal.…

New Delhi: Trade deal negotiations between India and the European Union have reached a decisive conclusion, marking one of the most significant economic agreements in recent years. The development has come after sustained diplomatic engagement and reflects a shared intention to expand strategic and commercial cooperation beyond traditional partnerships. India’s Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agarwal has confirmed that negotiations have been completed and the agreement has been finalised. The announcement is expected in New Delhi during the visit of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Luís Santos da Costa, who have attended India’s Republic Day…