Author: arabcolumnist.com
MENA Newswire, SAN FRANCISCO: Apple has entered into a multi year agreement with Google to integrate Google’s Gemini artificial intelligence models into Siri, marking one of the most significant partnerships between the two technology companies in recent years and a major shift in how Apple powers its digital assistant. The deal will see Google’s Gemini models used to support a range of Siri functions and other artificial intelligence features across Apple devices, according to people familiar with the agreement and public disclosures by the companies. The integration is expected to roll out beginning in 2026 as part of Apple’s broader artificial intelligence platform,…
MENA Newswire, WASHINGTON: U.S. regulators have approved SpaceX to deploy an additional 7,500 Starlink satellites, expanding the company’s low Earth orbit broadband network under conditions set by the Federal Communications Commission. The decision increases the number of second generation Starlink satellites SpaceX is authorized to launch to 15,000 and marks a further step in the continued buildout of the largest satellite constellation currently operating. The Federal Communications Commission said the approval covers 7,500 satellites from SpaceX’s second generation Starlink system, known as Gen2. SpaceX had previously sought authorization for nearly 30,000 additional satellites, but the commission approved only part of that request. Consideration of the remaining…
MENA Newswire, HANOI: Vietnam’s tourism sector is accelerating a transition toward greener and more sustainable development as authorities position the industry to support national economic growth in 2026. The shift follows a strong recovery in visitor numbers and revenues in 2025 and reflects a broader government push to align tourism expansion with environmental protection, service quality improvement and long term sector stability. Green tourism development becomes central to Vietnam’s national travel growth strategy. Official targets set by Vietnam’s tourism authorities project the country will welcome about 25 million international visitors and serve roughly 150 million domestic tourists in 2026. Total tourism revenue is expected…
MENA Newswire, SAN FRANCISCO: Google has begun rolling out a set of new in-line artificial intelligence features in Gmail that replace the Gemini side panel for some users, marking a shift in how AI assistance is delivered within the email platform. The update is being introduced gradually and affects a limited group of personal Gmail accounts using the web version of the service. The change removes the dedicated Gemini side panel, previously accessed through a spark-shaped icon in the upper right corner of the Gmail interface. That panel allowed users to interact with Gemini in a chat-style format while remaining inside their inbox. Instead…
MENA Newswire, SEATTLE: Amazon Pharmacy is now filling prescriptions in the United States for a newly approved pill version of Wegovy, the weight loss medicine made by Novo Nordisk. Amazon said eligible customers with commercial insurance can pay as little as $25 for a one month supply when manufacturer savings are applied, while a cash pay option for customers without insurance coverage starts at about $149 per month. Amazon Pharmacy said the Wegovy pill can be ordered through its online pharmacy platform in the same way as other prescription drugs it offers. Customers can have a prescriber send a prescription to Amazon Pharmacy or transfer…
NEW YORK: The global economy is experiencing a period of subdued economic performance marked by weak momentum and limited expansion, according to the latest assessment by the United Nations. The organisation said current conditions reflect an environment in which economic activity is restrained and operating close to stagnation in many regions, with growth levels too low to generate meaningful improvements in employment, income levels, or development outcomes. Global economic output is projected to increase by about 2.7 percent in 2026, a rate the UN described as modest and significantly below historical averages. The figure represents a continuation of muted performance rather than a…
MENA Newswire, BEIJING: Researchers in China have reported evidence that non-invasive sound therapy can induce measurable biological changes linked to Alzheimer’s disease, marking a potential advance in non-drug approaches to the condition, according to findings published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal. The study focused on the effects of low-frequency auditory stimulation on aged non-human primates and adds to a growing body of research examining how sensory-based interventions may influence brain function associated with neurodegenerative disorders. The research was conducted by scientists at the Kunming Institute of Zoology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences and involved the use of a 40-hertz sound frequency, which lies within the…
EuroWire, WASHINGTON: Scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have successfully synthesised verticillin A, a complex fungal compound first identified more than 50 years ago and long recognised for its anti-cancer properties. The achievement marks the first laboratory synthesis of the compound and resolves a longstanding challenge in organic chemistry that had limited scientific study of the molecule since its discovery. Verticillin A was originally isolated from fungi in the early 1960s and drew attention due to its biological activity, including its ability to interfere with cancer cell growth. Despite this early promise, researchers were unable to reproduce the compound synthetically because of its highly intricate…
EuroWire, SAN FRANCISCO: Apple has introduced faster wireless connectivity for select Mac and iPad models through recent software updates, improving Wi-Fi performance without a formal announcement in consumer-facing release notes. The enhancement is delivered as part of iPadOS 26.2 and macOS Tahoe 26.2 and affects devices equipped with Wi-Fi 6E hardware. The update increases the maximum supported channel bandwidth on 5 GHz Wi-Fi networks, enabling higher data throughput when paired with compatible wireless routers and network configurations. The performance gain comes from enabling support for 160 MHz channel widths on the 5 GHz band, doubling the previous 80 MHz limit available on supported Apple devices.…
MENA Newswire, LAS VEGAS: Nvidia on Monday outlined a series of developments in artificial intelligence and autonomous vehicle technology during the opening days of the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, detailing new software models, simulation tools and computing platforms intended for use in self driving systems. The announcements were presented by chief executive Jensen Huang as part of the company’s broader push to extend its core AI computing business into transportation and robotics. At the center of the updates was the introduction of the Alpamayo family of open source artificial intelligence models and development tools for autonomous vehicles. Nvidia said the release includes a vision language…