Malaysia and Indonesia blocked access to Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence chatbot Grok over the weekend due to concerns that the tool was being used to generate non-consensual, sexually explicit content.
Malaysian regulators ordered temporary restrictions be placed on the chatbot from xAI on Sunday following “repeated failures by X Corp” to address content risks associated with the AI tool.
The move came just one day after Indonesia stepped in to deny access temporarily to Grok due to similar concerns and summoned X officials on the matter, according to CNBC’s translation of the statement.
The Southeast Asian countries’ actions come after it was discovered that xAI’s Grok enabled users to easily generate and share images online that included non-consensual explicit images and child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Musk’s company had recently updated its Grok Imagine features, enabling easier image generation from text-based prompts on the chatbot, which is integrated with Musk’s social media platform X, giving it a wide reach.
Amid escalating concerns over Grok’s content moderation policy, xAI announced it would limit image generation and editing features to paying subscribers, in an effort to patch safeguard gaps that permitted sexualized outputs.
Musk, responding on X, has also asserted that users creating illegal content via Grok would face consequences equivalent to uploading such material directly to the social media platform.
CNBC attempted to reach xAI for comment regarding the developments over the weekend. A press email for the company returned an automatic message that read “Legacy Media Lies.”
“Insufficient” responses
X’s public and private responses amid the controversy have failed to satisfy the concerns of regulators in Indonesia and Malaysia, as well as others that have launched probes.
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission said that X’s “insufficient” replies have “relied primarily on user-initiated reporting mechanisms and failed to address the inherent risks posed by the design and operation of the AI tool.”
“Accordingly, the restriction is imposed as a preventive and proportionate measure while legal and regulatory processes are ongoing,” the watchdog said. “Access to Grok will remain restricted until effective safeguards are implemented, particularly to prevent content involving women and children.”
Both Indonesia and Malaysia maintain strict anti-pornography laws, which ban the sharing of obscene and sexual content online more broadly.
Meanwhile, Indonesia’s Ministry of Communications and Digital Affairs Meutya Hafid said that “The government views non-consensual sexual deepfakes as a serious violation of human rights, dignity, and citizens’ security in the digital space.”
Hafid also categorized the misuse of AI for creating fake pornography as a form of “digital-based violence,” according to statements shared by state-owned Antara News.
Authorities in other jurisdictions, including the European Union, the UK, Brazil, and India, have also called for probes into Grok’s role in facilitating obscene and non-consensual deepfakes.
A UK watchdog, the Internet Watch Foundation, said last week that it’s analysts had discovered “criminal imagery” of children aged between 11 and 13 which appears to have been created using Grok.
Some Democratic lawmakers in Washington have recommended that app stores suspend the AI tool, at least until Musk implements major changes.
In an email to CNBC last week, the Department of Justice said in a statement that “it takes AI-generated child sex abuse material extremely seriously and will aggressively prosecute any producer or possessor of CSAM.”
“We continue to explore ways to optimize enforcement in this space to protect children and hold accountable individuals who exploit technology to harm our most vulnerable,” it added.
World on edge as US–Russia nuclear treaty set to end in 2026
The New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) between the United States (U.S.) and Russia, signed in 2010, is set to expire on February 6, 2026. This has intensified worries about a possible arms race amid increasing geopolitical tensions.
New START limits the number of deployed strategic nuclear warheads and delivery systems maintained by each side. It also restricts each side from increasing their deployed warheads beyond the 1,550 mark.
New START is one of the eight such agreements between the two countries. In the wake of the Ukraine-Russia war and other geopolitical conflicts, if the treaty does not get renewed, it will mark the end to 50 years of nuclear arms control effects.
According to the Daily Mail, the U.S. and Russia collectively hold 87 percent of the world’s nuclear arsenal. If they decide to operate independently without mutual restrictions, this might start another arms race, prompting other great powers to expand their nuclear arsenals for security reasons.
Experts have warned that at times when both the Russian and U.S. governments are unpredictable, the absence of a vital global arms control framework can prove catastrophic for the world.
The treaty itself cannot be extended as it allowed only one extension, that was availed by Russian President Vladimir Putin and former U.S. President Joe Biden in 2021 for five years.
President Trump has however expressed hopes to formulate a new and “better” agreement. In an interview with New York Times on Wednesday, he said, “If it expires, it expires. We will just do a better agreement.”
Trump added that since China has the fastest growing nuclear arsenal it should also be included in the new treaty.
Dr Amir Hamid said he was “lucky” to get treated and recover quickly
A London-based eye-surgeon has described how he himself underwent emergency surgery for a detached retina after a blind spot appeared in his right eye.
Dr Amir Hamid, 51, has performed more than 10,000 cataract and laser refractive surgeries in his career, but found himself in the patient’s chair last year with the condition, which could have left him with permanent vision loss.
Due to his knowledge and quick action, he was treated the same day and recovered within weeks.
Hamid is now urging people to look out for the signs of various eye conditions so they can be treated before they become irreversible.
“At the end of July, I noticed that there was a blank patch in the field of vision in my right eye and immediately realised that it could be the start of a detached retina,” Hamid said.
“I very quickly went down to the hospital to get my eyes tested and scanned…within three hours I was scheduled for surgery on my right eye,” he recalled.
“As an eye surgeon, it could have been a very stressful and frightening time, but I know some very good surgeons and I trusted the process.
Hamid, who is chief medical officer for eye hospital group Optegra, said he was “very lucky”, as his condition was slow moving.
“I had the treatment done in time to preserve all my sight and after a couple of weeks’ recovery I could go back to work.”
What is a detached retina?
Retinal detachment occurs when the thin layer at the back of the eye – the retina – becomes loose.
Symptoms include:
Floaters (dots and lines) or flashes of light in your eye
A dark “curtain” or shadow in your vision
Changes to your eyesight, such as blurred vision
Anyone experiencing these symptoms is advised to contact NHS 111.
A detached retina is usually caused by changes to the jelly inside the eye, which can happen as we age.
It is more likely to happen in people who are short-sighted or those who have had eye surgery, according to the NHS.
The condition needs to be treated quickly to prevent permanent damage to eyesight, the NHS says.
PA Media
Dr Hamid said he “trusted” the process of having eye surgery, which made it less stressful
As a side effect of his surgery, Hamid said he later developed a cataract in his right eye and chose to have it treated privately before it affected his vision.
However, NHS surgery was available in England to those with more advanced cataracts.
After his own experience, the father-of-two is urging people to be aware of any unusual eye symptoms and seek treatment quickly.
“You certainly shouldn’t ignore the symptoms of retinal detachment, because it can lead to loss of vision, and if it’s left too late, it may be difficult to recover that vision,” he said.
“With a cataract, you’ll start to notice your vision getting blurred for different distances and it’s important to get a diagnosis, because cataracts are completely reversible.
“Cataract surgery is one of the best procedures that has ever been created because it can actually make your vision better than it was before.”
Although the condition can be detected in routine eye tests, Hamid said he had seen a increase in patients with advanced cataracts since the pandemic.
“Remember that it’s always better to have a diagnosis, because then we know what it is and how we can fix it.
“The older population in particular are often more accepting of certain changes or compromises in their lifestyle and health, but that shouldn’t be the case because things can be done.”
Vets have told BBC Panorama they feel under increasing pressure to make money for the big companies that employ them – and worry about the costly financial impact on pet owners.
Prices charged by UK vets rose by 63% between 2016 and 2023, and the government’s competition regulator has questioned whether the pet-care market – as it stands – is giving customers value for money.
One anonymous vet, who works for the UK’s largest vet care provider, IVC Evidensia, said that the company has introduced a new monitoring system that could encourage vets to offer pet owners costly tests and treatment options.
A spokesperson for IVC told Panorama: “The group’s vets and vet nurses never prioritise revenue or transaction value over and above the welfare of the animal in their care.”
Over the past few months, hundreds of pet owners have contacted BBC Your Voice with concerns about vet bills.
One person said they had paid £5,600 for 18 hours of vet-care for their pet: “I would have paid anything to save him but felt afterwards we had been taken advantage of.”
Another described how their dog had undergone numerous blood tests and scans: “At the end of the treatment we were none the wiser about her illness and we were presented with a bill of £13,000.”
UK pet owners spent £6.3bn on vet and other pet-care services in 2024, according to the CMA
Mounting concerns over whether pet owners are receiving a fair deal prompted a formal investigation by government watchdog, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).
Whether vet companies are being transparent about the ownership of individual practices and whether pet owners have enough information about pricing
The concentration of vet practices and clinics in the hands of six companies – these now control 60% of the UK’s pet-care market
Whether this concentration has led to less market competition and allowed some vet care companies to make excess profits
‘Hitting targets’
A vet, who leads one of IVC’s surgeries (and who does not want to be identified because they fear they could lose their job), has shared a new internal document with Panorama. The document uses a colour code to compare the company’s UK-wide tests and treatment options and states that it is intended to help staff improve clinical care.
It lists key performance indicators in categories that include average sales per patient, X-rays, ultrasound and lab tests.
The vet is worried about the new policy: “We will have meetings every month, where one of the area teams will ask you how many blood tests, X-rays and ultrasounds you’re doing.”
If a category is marked in green on the chart, the clinic would be judged to be among the company’s top 25% of achievers in the UK.
A red mark, on the other hand, would mean the clinic was in the bottom 25%. If this happens, the vet says, it might be asked to come up with a plan of action.
The vet says this would create pressure to “upsell” services.
For instance, the vet says, under the new model, IVC would prefer any animal with suspected osteoarthritis to potentially be X-rayed. With sedation, that could add £700 to a bill.
While X-rays are sometimes necessary, the vet says, the signs of osteoarthritis – the thickening of joints, for instance – could be obvious to an experienced vet, who might prefer to prescribe a less expensive anti-inflammatory treatment.
“Vets shouldn’t have pressure to do an X-ray because it would play into whether they are getting green on the care framework for their clinic.”
IVC has told Panorama it is extremely proud of the work its clinical teams do and the data it collects is to “identify and close gaps in care for our patients”.
It says its vets have “clinical independence”, and that prioritising revenue over care would be against the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons’ (RCVS) code and IVC policy.
The vet says a drive to increase revenue is undermining his profession.
Panorama spoke to more than 30 vets in total who are currently working, or have worked, for some of the large veterinary groups.
One recalls being told that not enough blood tests were being taken: “We were pushed to do more. I hated opening emails.”
Another says that when their small practice was sold to a large company, “it was crazy… It was all about hitting targets”.
Not all the big companies set targets or monitor staff in this way.
The high cost of treatment
UK pet owners spent £6.3bn on vet and other pet-care services in 2024 – equal to just over £365 per pet-owning household, according to the CMA.
However, most pet owners in the UK do not have insurance, and bills can leave less-well-off families feeling helpless when treatment is needed.
Many vets used not to display prices and pet owners often had no clear idea of what treatment would cost, but in the past two years that has improved, according to the CMA.
Rob Jones has told Panorama that when his family dog, Betty, fell ill during the autumn of 2024 they took her to an emergency treatment centre, Vets Now, and she underwent an operation that cost almost £5,000.
Twelve days later, Betty was still unwell, and Rob says he was advised that she could have a serious infection. He was told a diagnosis – and another operation – would cost between £5,000-£8,000.
Betty’s owners were told an operation on her would cost £12,000
However, on the morning of the operation, Rob was told this price had risen to £12,000. When he complained, he was quoted a new figure – £10,000.
“That was the absolute point where I lost faith in them,” he says. “It was like, I don’t believe that you’ve got our interests or Betty’s interests at heart.”
The family decided to put Betty to sleep.
Rob did not know at the time that both his local vet, and the emergency centre, branded Vets Now, where Betty was treated, were both owned by the same company – IVC.
He was happy with the treatment but complained about the sudden price increase and later received an apology from Vets Now. It offered him £3,755.59 as a “goodwill gesture”.
Rob Jones says he lost faith in the vets treating his pet dog Betty
Vets Now told us its staff care passionately for the animals they treat: “In complex cases, prices can vary depending on what the vet discovers during a consultation, during the treatment, and depending on how the patient responds.
“We have reviewed our processes and implemented a number of changes to ensure that conversations about pricing are as clear as possible.”
Value for money?
Independent vet practices have been a popular acquisition for corporate investors in recent years, according to Dr David Reader from the University of Glasgow. He has made a detailed study of the industry.
Pet care has been seen as attractive, he says, because of the opportunities “to find efficiencies, to consolidate, set up regional hubs, but also to maximise profits”.
Six large veterinary groups (sometimes referred to as LVGs) now control 60% of the UK pet care market – up from 10% a decade ago, according to the CMA.
They are:
Linnaeus, which owns 180 practices
Medivet, which has 363
Vet Partners with 375 practices
CVS Group, which has 387 practices
Pets at Home, which has 445 practices under the name Vets for Pets
IVC Evidensia, which has 900 practices
When the CMA announced its provisional findings last autumn, it said there was not enough competition or informed choice in the market. It estimated the combined cost of this to UK pet owners amounted to £900m between 2020-2024.
Corporate vets dispute the £900m figure.
They say their prices are competitive and made freely available, and reflect their huge investment in the industry, not to mention rising costs, particularly of drugs.
The corporate vets also say customers value their services highly and that they comply with the RCVS guidelines.
A CMA survey suggests pet owners are happy with the service they receive from vets
A CMA survey suggests pet owners are happy with their vets – both corporate and independent – when it comes to quality of service.
But, with the exception of Pets at Home, customer satisfaction on cost is much lower for the big companies.
“I think that large veterinary corporations, particularly where they’re owned by private equity companies, are more concerned about profits than professionals who own veterinary businesses,” says Suzy Hudson-Cooke from the British Veterinary Union, which is part of Unite.
Proposals for change
The CMA’s final report on the vet industry is expected by the spring but no date has been set for publication.
Companies would have to reveal if vet practices were part of a chain, and whether they had business connections with hospitals, out-of-hours surgeries, online pharmacies and even crematoria.
IVC, CVS and Vet Partners all have connected businesses and would have to be more transparent about their services in the future.
Pets at Home does not buy practices – it works in partnership with individual vets, as does Medivet. These companies have consistently made clear in their branding who owns their practices.
The big companies say they support moves to make the industry more transparent so long as they don’t put too high a burden on vets.
David Reader says the CMA proposals could have gone further.
“There’s good reason to think that once this investigation is concluded, some of the larger veterinary groups will continue with their acquisition strategies.”
The CMA says its proposals would “improve competition by helping pet owners choose the right vet, the right treatment, and the right way to buy medicine – without confusion or unnecessary cost”.
For Rob Jones, however, it is probably too late.
“I honestly wouldn’t get another pet,” he says. “I think it’s so expensive now and the risk financially is so great.”
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is becoming home to some aquatic species. AI-generated
Plastic drifts across the Pacific in no particular hurry. Some pieces have been moving for years, thinning and softening as the sun and salt work on them. Far from land, where the sea usually offers little to cling to, those fragments have started to matter differently. Small animals have found them. They stay. They grow. Some even reproduce. This was not what scientists expected to see when they began pulling plastic from the middle of the ocean. The open sea was meant to be too exposed, too empty. But the plastic remains. It floats. It lasts. And slowly, almost quietly, it is being used. The garbage patch is still polluted. It is also now inhabited.
Scientists find unexpected marine life living on plastic garbage in the Pacific
The study published in Nature, came from a close look at 105 large pieces of plastic collected from the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre. This is the slow-moving system of currents where floating debris tends to gather. Nearly all of the items carried life. Barnacles were common. So were crabs, amphipods, sea anemones and other small invertebrates. In total, researchers counted 46 different kinds of animals. Many of them were not supposed to be there at all. They normally live near coasts, attached to rocks or harbour walls. Yet here they were, thousands of kilometres from shore.
Coastal animals should not survive there
For a long time, scientists assumed the open ocean was off limits to coastal species. There is no seabed to anchor to and little shelter from waves or predators. Food is less predictable. Conditions change fast. The idea was that coastal animals lacked the ability to cope with this. What the plastic shows is something simpler. The problem may never have been the water. It may have been the lack of a surface. Once that surface appeared, in the form of floating waste, the rules shifted.
Plastic is working as a home for these species
Not all debris is equal. Nets and ropes turned out to host the most life. Their twisted shapes create pockets and shade. They offer grip. Some pieces had clearly been at sea for many years, worn down to a thin and brittle state. Still, they held on. These objects act like small rafts. Over time, they collect layers of organisms, some feeding, some sheltering, some just staying put. It is not a reef. It is not land. But it is enough.
Are these animals just passing through
They are not only clinging on. Many are breeding. Scientists found females carrying eggs and signs of different growth stages on the same object. Young people and adults shared the space. Sea anemones showed several size classes living together. This suggests more than chance arrival. It points to persistence. Some species reproduce without needing a mate or release young that settle quickly. Those traits may help them survive long journeys on drifting plastic.
Some of these species are related to Japan
Most of the animals identified trace back to the western Pacific. Several are known from the coast of Japan. A few pieces of debris even carried markings from East Asia, though most plastic had lost any clear sign of origin. Tsunami-related debris from past events may have played a role, but the broader picture is movement. Plastic travels easily. Life goes with it. Over time, species from one coastline can end up established far beyond their usual range.
What this means for the ocean
This new floating community is sometimes called neopelagic. It exists because the plastic exists. It does not replace natural ecosystems. It alters them. Coastal species now mix with open ocean ones on the same debris. How that affects food webs, or competition, is still unclear. There is no neat ending here. The plastic problem remains. What has changed is the understanding. The high seas are not as empty as they once seemed. They are being reshaped, slowly, by what we leave behind.
US President Donald Trump said on Sunday he was considering potential military action against Iran, amid mounting mass anti-government protests in the country.
“They’re starting to, it looks like,” Trump said, when asked by reporters aboard Air Force One if Iran had crossed his previously stated red line of protesters being killed.
“We’re looking at it very seriously. The military is looking at it, and we’re looking at some very strong options. We’ll make a determination,” he said.
He also said that Iran’s leadership had called seeking “to negotiate” after his threats of military action.
“The leaders of Iran called” yesterday, Trump said, adding that “a meeting is being set up… They want to negotiate.”
However, Trump added that “we may have to act before a meeting.”
Trump to meet senior advisers
Trump was to meet with senior advisers on Tuesday to discuss options for Iran, a US official told Reuters on Sunday.
The Wall Street Journal had reported that options included military strikes, using secret cyber weapons, widening sanctions and providing online help to anti-government sources.
Earlier, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned Washington against “a miscalculation.”
“Let us be clear: in the case of an attack on Iran, the occupied territories (Israel) as well as all US bases and ships will be our legitimate target,” said Qalibaf, a former commander in Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards.
Iranian president calls for ‘national resistance march’
The Iranian government declared three days of national mourning for “martyrs” including members of the security forces killed in two weeks of protests, state television reported on Sunday.
The government described the fight against what it has termed “riots” as an “Iranian national resistance battle against America and the Zionist regime”, using the clerical leadership’s term for Israel, which the Islamic republic does not recognise.
President Masoud Pezeshkian urged people to take part in a “national resistance march” of nationwide rallies on Monday to denounce the violence, which the government said was committed by “urban terrorist criminals”, state television reported.
Protests have swelled in recent days despite an internet blackout that has lasted more than 72 hours, according to monitor Netblocks.
Activists have warned that the shutdown is limiting the flow of information and that the actual toll risks being far higher.
Meanwhile, unrest in Iran has killed more than 500 people, a rights group said on Sunday
According to its latest figures – from activists inside and outside Iran-US-based rights group HRANA said it had verified the deaths of 490 protesters and 48 security personnel, with more than 10,600 people arrested in two weeks of unrest.
Iran has not given an official toll and Reuters was unable to independently verify the tallies.
Scooter Braun addresses public backlash over romance with Sydney Sweeney
Scooter Braun is “unfazed” by the negative reactions to his new relationship with actress Sydney Sweeney.
On Sunday, an insider spilled to People magazine that the 44-year-old music producer and the Anyone But You actress are “totally comfortable” in their relationship.
“He finds the headlines comical,” the source said. “He seems to be unfazed, as he finds them all very funny.”
The confidant further said, “Sydney and Scooter are totally confident and comfortable in their relationship, and there are no trust issues going on.”
“Things between them are stronger than ever, and they’re in a great place,” a tipster added.
Recently, Scooter and Sydney took a New Year’s trip together to Europe, where they were spotted in Finland and France.
For those unversed, the couple confirmed their romance in September last year when they were seen holding hands in Los Angeles.
Three months into their relationship, an insider told the outlet that Scooter and Sydney were “going strong.”
“Things between them are great,” the insider said on December 1. “They’re in a committed relationship, and things are serious.”
The potential for a major nurses strike in New York City is growing by the minute, after major hospitals and the New York State Nurses Association failed to negotiate a deal before Sunday’s midnight deadline.
As a result, nearly 15,000 nurses could walk off the job Monday at Montefiore Medical Center, Mount Sinai Hospital, Mount Sinai Morningside, Mount Sinai West and NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center, unless something happens during the overnight hours and an agreement is reached.
The union said Sunday at a news conference that a strike would begin Monday at 6 a.m. at Mount Sinai and 7 a.m. at other facilities without a new contract.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani acknowledged the potential strike Sunday evening, posting a message on social media that reads, in part, “We are prepared for any and all scenarios, including a strike … No New Yorker should have to fear losing access to health care — and no nurse should be asked to accept less pay, fewer benefits or less dignity for doing lifesaving work.”
Key issues for the union
Leaders for NYSNA have said key sticking points in contract negotiations with Montefiore, Mount Sinai and NewYork-Presbyterian involve wage increases, health benefits, protection from workplace violence, and safe staffing and patient safety.
“Instead of guaranteeing health care for nurses, these wealthy hospitals are pushing to cut health benefits for nurses who put their own health on the line to care for New Yorkers,” Nancy Hagans, president of NYSNA, said on Saturday.
In a joint statement, the hospitals called the potential strike “reckless” and asked union leadership to reconsider.
“NYSNA leadership has chosen to abandon patients in their time of need, but Montefiore Medical Center, Mount Sinai, and NewYork-Presbyterian will not. Their decision to walk out on our patients can only be described as reckless,” the hospitals said.
A strike could last weeks, hospital says
Montefiore said it was preparing for what could be a multi-week strike, while Mount Sinai and NewYork-Presbyterian said they’re ready to safely care for patients if a strike occurs.
“Patients should not delay going to the hospital if they need care, while we are on strike,” Hagans said.
“NYSNA leadership’s reckless and irresponsible demands totaling $3.6 billion, including a nearly 40% wage increase, clearly put patients at risk; we are resolute in devoting whatever resources are necessary to safe and seamless care for our community,” Joe Solmonese, Montefiore’s senior VP of strategic communications, said in a statement last week.
Some hospitals in the area have already reached a deal with NYSNA, including all of Northwell Health facilities in Nassau County, while others pulled back their strike notices.
“Northwell Health is pleased to have reached tentative agreements with NYSNA … at Huntington, Plainview and Syosset hospitals. From the start of negotiations, our goal has been to reach a fair contract that supports our valued nurses and upholds the high standard of care our patients and community trust,” a statement from Northwell said.
Hochul signs executive order
In a video posted Friday on social media, Gov. Kathy Hochul encouraged both sides to remain at the bargaining table and strike a deal. The governor also signed an executive order for the Department of Health to ensure hospital contingency plans in the event of a strike. She later released the following statement:
“My team and I have been in regular communication with both NYSNA and hospital leadership for weeks, and that work has led to real progress. Eleven hospital systems have either reached agreements or agreed not to proceed with strikes at this time,” Hochul said.
“While negotiations will continue, we expect strikes to begin tomorrow at three hospital systems in Manhattan and the Bronx. If strikes move forward, the Department of Health will have staff on site at all affected hospitals beginning tomorrow morning and for the duration of the strike to ensure patient safety and continuity of care.
“My top priority is protecting patients and ensuring they can access the care they need. At the same time, we must reach an agreement that recognizes the essential work nurses do every day on the front lines of our healthcare system.
“This weekend, I signed a two-week Executive Order allowing hospital systems to access resources to maintain patient care. “I continue to urge both sides to remain at the table and reach an agreement as soon as possible.”
Public supportive of nurses’ demands — to a point
Some New Yorkers who spoke to CBS News New York said they are are supportive, but others worry about what a work stoppage would mean for patients.
“A strike is a last resort. So when it comes down to decisions to strike, that’s a big deal and the public should be paying attention to that and realizing that we depend on health care workers,” said Kaidee Akullo, who was visiting New York City from Philadelphia.
“I would say I support their decision to fight for what they deserve, but not at the cost of lives,” an Upper West Side resident said.
“I hope they settle the contract because they deserve it. They’re hard workers,” one person said.
“We shouldn’t have the strike. It’s in the interest of everyone,” Harminder Bhatia said.
“The nurses have every right to strike, and they should be striking because they’re overworked and underpaid,” a woman added.
When one thinks of tea in India, the image that instantly comes to mind is of endless green plantations rolling gently under misty skies. That visual leads straight to Assam, the Indian state famously known as the Tea Garden of India. Producing more than half of the country’s tea, Assam is not just a geographic region on the map, it is the very heartbeat of India’s tea culture and a global name in the world of black tea. (Image: Pexels)
Assam’s association with tea dates back to the early 19th century when indigenous tea plants were discovered growing wild in the region. This find transformed Assam into one of the world’s most important tea-producing belts. Today, the state is home to over 800 tea estates, sprawling across the fertile valleys of the Brahmaputra and Barak rivers. (Image: Pexels)
What makes Assam tea distinctive is its bold flavour, deep amber colour, and malty richness. The region’s unique climate – high rainfall, humid weather, and nutrient-rich alluvial soil – creates ideal conditions for tea cultivation. These factors give Assam tea its unmistakable strength, making it a favourite for breakfast blends across India and abroad. From everyday household brews to premium single-estate teas exported internationally, Assam’s output plays a crucial role in shaping both domestic consumption and global demand. (Image: Pexels)
In Assam, tea is more than an industry, it is a way of life. Entire towns and communities have grown around tea estates, many of which date back over a century. The tea garden workforce, with its own traditions, festivals, music, and cuisine, forms a vibrant cultural layer of the state. (Image: Pexels)
Life in the tea estates follows a rhythm shaped by the plucking seasons. Women tea pluckers, often seen skillfully selecting the finest two leaves and a bud, are an iconic sight in Assam. Their contribution is central to the tea-making process, preserving techniques passed down through generations. The tea estates themselves are like self-contained worlds, with colonial-era bungalows, factories, schools, and hospitals, offering a glimpse into Assam’s layered history. (Image: Pexels)
Assam’s tea landscape is spread across several well-known belts, each adding its own character to the brew. Together, these regions make Assam the undisputed leader of India’s tea industry. Upper Assam: Known for premium orthodox and CTC teas, with estates around Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, and Sivasagar. Lower Assam: Produces robust teas with strong liquor, supporting large-scale production. Barak Valley: Located in southern Assam, this region contributes a smaller but significant share of high-quality tea. (Image: Pexels)
Assam tea enjoys Geographical Indication (GI) status, underscoring its uniqueness and authenticity. It is a staple in global blends like English Breakfast and Irish Breakfast teas. The strong, full-bodied nature of Assam tea has made it indispensable to tea drinkers who prefer a powerful cup, often enjoyed with milk. International auctions, especially those held in Guwahati, place Assam teas alongside the world’s finest, reinforcing the state’s reputation as a global tea powerhouse. (Image: Pexels)
For travellers, Assam’s tea gardens offer more than scenic beauty; they promise immersive experiences steeped in history, nature, and slow living. A visit to the tea estates feels like stepping into a postcard, with emerald fields stretching as far as the eye can see. Many heritage tea bungalows have been converted into boutique stays, allowing visitors to wake up to misty plantation views and birdsong. Guests can take guided walks through tea gardens, interact with planters, and learn firsthand about tea processing. (Image: Pexels)
Destinations like Jorhat, often called the “Tea Capital of India,” serve as ideal gateways for tea tourism. Nearby, travellers can combine tea trails with river cruises on the Brahmaputra, wildlife safaris in Kaziranga National Park, or cultural explorations of Assam’s temples and villages. Tea festivals, plantation picnics, and tasting sessions add to the charm, making Assam a rewarding destination for those who enjoy experiential travel. (Image: Pexels)
Assam’s title as the Tea Garden of India is well-earned; not just because of its production figures, but because tea here shapes identity, economy, and everyday life. From energising morning cups to leisurely estate stays, Assam’s tea story blends heritage with hospitality. For anyone who loves tea, or simply seeks landscapes that calm the soul, Assam offers the rare pleasure of sipping a world-famous brew right where it is born. (Image: Pexels)
Notre Dame has denied that Marcus Freeman made physical contact with anyone after the football coach was accused of battery in a police report filed Jan. 3 following an incident at his son’s high school wrestling match.
No charges are expected against Freeman, university sources told ESPN on Sunday.
According to the South Bend Tribune, which first reported the news, the alleged incident involved Freeman and New Prairie High School assistant wrestling coach Chris Fleeger. Freeman and his family were at the Al Smith Wrestling Invitational to support his son, Vinny, a senior who is heading to Cornell.
Fleeger filed a police report this past week accusing Freeman of battery.
“Vinny Freeman, head coach Marcus Freeman’s son, was verbally accosted during and after his wrestling match by a local wrestling coach,” Notre Dame said in a statement issued Sunday. “Marcus and Joanna Freeman intervened and removed Vinny from the situation. At no point did Coach Freeman physically engage with anyone. We believe that the police report, which includes video evidence, fully exonerates Coach Freeman and makes clear these accusations are totally unfounded.”
The Mishawaka Police Department on Sunday said in a statement that its investigation is complete and a report was given to the St. Joseph’s County Prosecutor’s Office to determine whether charges will be filed.
According to the Tribune, the incident allegedly occurred after Vinny Freeman lost his match and was being escorted out of the gym by his father and Penn High School coach Brad Harper. That’s when Fleeger allegedly began to “exchange words” with the group, according to the newspaper.
Once in the hallway, Fleeger and Freeman’s wife, Joanna, were shouting at each other before local law enforcement and Mishawaka school officials separated the two groups, according to the Tribune.
Freeman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
