Ripple is expanding its Middle East push by deepening ties with UAE bank Zand, integrating stablecoins, cross-currency liquidity, and on-chain issuance as regulated institutions move dollar- and dirham-linked assets onto blockchain rails.
Ripple and Zand Expand Stablecoin and On-Chain Strategy in UAE
Ripple Senior Executive Officer and Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa Reece Merrick…
Tecno Pova Curve 2 5G First Impressions: Stands Out With its Design and a Huge Battery
February 16, 2026
Tecno Pova Curve 2 5G has been announced in India with a starting price of Rs 27,999 and is being touted as the “world’s slimmest 8000mAh Curve Display Smartphone.” While some of these terms may look appealing on paper, do they also translate well in the…
Airbnb has taken its time to launch AI features within the app, but CEO Brian Chesky on Friday said the company is now planning to bake in features powered by large language models that would help users search for listings, plan their trips, and aid hosts in managing their…
Airbnb says a third of its customer support is now handled by AI in the US and Canada
February 16, 2026
Airbnb says its custom-built AI agent is now handling roughly a third of its customer support issues in North America, and it’s preparing to roll out the feature globally. If successful, the company believes that in a year’s time, more than 30% of its total customer support tickets will be handled by AI voice and chat in all the languages where it also employs a human customer service…
Elon Musk suggests spate of xAI exits have been push, not pull
February 16, 2026
Elon Musk is addressing a wave of departures from xAI, including two more co-founders who left this week, bringing the total to six out of the original 12.
At an all-hands meeting Tuesday night, Musk suggested the exits were about fit, not performance. “Because…
Kia's EVs come to life at its new flagship store
February 16, 2026
Kia opened the doors to its futuristic flagship store, where you can test drive, build, and personalize its newest EVs virtually before you decide to buy.
Kia showcases new EVs at flagship store opening
The Siheung Service Center has been reborn as Kia’s newest flagship…
Glydways looks to 'redefine mass transit' with autonomous electric vehicles on dedicated guideways [Video]
February 16, 2026
A company called Glydways is marking two significant milestones in bringing its Automated Transit Network (ATN) of autonomous vehicles to the masses. Glydways has announced new public transit projects in the US and the United Arab Emirates, where it plans to introduce its unique form of guided autonomy.
While 2026 may be the first time you’re hearing of Glydways and its autonomous, on-demand…
Tesla announces Powerwall 3P with native three-phase inverter
February 16, 2026
Tesla has announced the Powerwall 3P, a new variant of its home battery with a native three-phase inverter built into a single unit. The product, announced for the German market first, eliminates the clunky workaround that previously required European homeowners to install…
MANILA, Philippines — Negotiations between Lockheed Martin and the Philippine government over the potential purchase of F-16s continue, but the deal remains in limbo while officials here seek ways to break the fiscal deadlock that has hounded the fighter jet acquisition…
India clears the way for landmark deal to acquire French Rafale jets
February 16, 2026
NEW DELHI — India has cleared a proposal to buy 114 Rafale multirole fighter jets from France to bolster its air force in its largest-ever military hardware procurement.
The push to acquire the jets comes amid a critical shortfall in the combat capability of the Indian Air Force at a time when the country has witnessed heightened tensions with Pakistan and China.
The Rafales were the biggest and…
