Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the United Arab Emirates' national security adviser, is traveling to the United States to seek approval for the purchase of additional artificial intelligence accelerators from Nvidia (NVDA,Financials) and other U.S. chip manufacturers,according to sources familiar with the matter, Bloomberg reported.
Planned talks with top Trump administration officials including Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz comprise the visit. Whether Sheikh Tahnoon will see President Donald Trump is still unknown.The proposal coincides with continuing U.S. limits on AI chip exports to several Middle Eastern countries. The Biden government banned the sale of sophisticated electronics, including Nvidia's high-performance AI processors, in August 2023. Nvidia revealed the limits in a Securities and Exchange Commission regulatory disclosure.According to reports, Sheikh Tahnoon's journey fits conversations within the Trump administration about maybe loosening these limitations. Though no ultimate decision has been taken, the policy review might result in revisions to the present restrictions on AI chip exports.Nvidia has maintained commercial contacts in the area despite the limitations. September saw the corporation announce a partnership with artificial intelligence startup G42 located in the United Arab Emirates to improve global weather prediction and climate technologies.The UAE is promoting itself as a regional powerhouse for sophisticated computing by making large expenditures in artificial intelligence infrastructure. Supported by UAE investment company MGX, the nation started "Project Stargate," in January, to increase AI capabilities and create data centers with an eye on artificial intelligence.With Washington restricting the sale of sophisticated technology to foreign countries, the conversations between Sheikh Tahnoon and U.S. officials reflect the global AI chip business under growing geopolitical scrutiny.
Needham downgraded Dentsply Sirona and ZimVie to Hold from Buy, citing a lack of near-term catalysts and continued weakness in the dental market.
The firm noted an ongoing debate over whether the dental market’s long-term growth profile has shifted lower post-COVID.
“We no longer believe XRAY and ZIMV can outperform relative to our broader coverage leading us to downgrade both to Hold ratings
While some industry players expect normalized growth of 3-5%, several structural headwinds, including declining market access expansion, stronger pricing power among dental support organizations, and increased penetration of clear aligners, could be limiting future upside.
Recent indicators suggest that consumer sentiment is softening, which could weigh further on the dental market. U.S. consumer sentiment declined in February, and global sentiment in regions like the Euro Area and China remains well below pre-COVID levels, Needham analysts say.
The report also highlighted persistent staffing issues in the provider market and higher interest rates, which could dampen demand for capital equipment purchases typically financed over $20,000.
For Dentsply Sirona, Needham cited continued market share losses in its implants business and weakness in the equipment segment due to pricing pressure from low-cost competitors. The firm also noted that a potential sale of XRAY’s Wellspect unit could be a long-term strategic positive but might leave an earnings gap in the near term.
Similarly, ZimVie is expected to see limited upside in a flat-to-low growth market. Needham sees no clear path for either company to outperform relative to its broader coverage.
Apple Inc. is planning a new AirPods feature that allows the earbuds to live-translate an in-person conversation into another language, according to people with knowledge of the matter.
The capability will be offered as part of an AirPods software upgrade due later this year, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the effort is private. It will be tied to iOS 19, the upcoming update to Apple’s mobile-device operating system.
Rival earbuds, such as Google Pixel Buds, have had the option for years. And Apple has offered its in-house Translate app on the iPhone since 2020.
Still, the move promises to bring a Star Trek-like experience to AirPods users. The capability will work like this: If an English speaker is hearing someone talk in Spanish, the iPhone will translate the speech and relay it to the user’s AirPods in English. The English speaker’s words, meanwhile, will be translated into Spanish and played back by the iPhone
A spokeswoman for Cupertino, California-based Apple declined to comment.
The AirPods upgrade is part of a broader overhaul of Apple’s software this year. The company is planning its biggest-ever revamp for iOS, in addition to a redesign of macOS, aiming to refresh the operating systems for a new generation of users, Bloomberg News reported earlier this week. Apple also is bolstering the translation technology in iOS 19, beyond the new AirPods feature.
The company has steadily added new features to AirPods via software updates, which means users don’t have to buy new pairs to take advantage of enhancements. Last year, Apple introduced options related to hearing health to the second-generation AirPods Pro. That included a hearing aid and test features that don’t require a doctor’s visit.
The company is still working on new AirPods hardware, including a third-generation version of the AirPods Pro. It’s also developing a model with built-in cameras that use artificial intelligence to analyze the surrounding environment. Last year, Apple rolled out new colors for the AirPods Max headphones and low-end AirPods 4 models.
Elon Musk's Tesla said in a letter to the US trade representative Jamieson Greer that President Donald Trump's trade war could make it a target for retaliatory tariffs against the U.S.
"As a U.S. manufacturer and exporter, Tesla encourages USTR to consider the downstream impacts of certain proposed actions taken to address unfair trade practices," the electric automaker said in a letter dated March 11.
Tesla did not immediately respond to Reuters request for a comment
U.S. PresidentDonald Trumpwould like to waive taxes for Americans earning under $150,000 once he balances the budget, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told Fox News on Thursday.
"It's aspirational," he said on 'The Story with Martha MacCallum'.
A Long Island hospital said it administered life-changing Lyfgenia gene therapy treatment and successfully wiped away sickle cell disease from a Laurelton man.
Cohen Children’s Medical Center said patient Sebastien Beauzile, 21, is the first New Yorker to have received the breakthrough treatment, The Post was first to report.
Sebastien Beauzile is the first New Yorker to receive the Lyfgenia gene therapy treatment.Stephen Yang
“This is a fix,” said Dr. Jeffrey Lipton, the center’s director of pediatric hematology oncology and stem cell transplantation. “Other drugs modify the disease, but this is a cure … I suspect this will replace bone marrow transplants in time.”
Beauzile, had his first of many crises from his extremely severe case of sickle cell as a 4-month-old baby. Since then, he has consistently been in and out of the Northwell facility in New Hyde Park, he said.
“Lots of times, the pain was 10 out of 10,” he said. “My back felt like somebody was either pulling on it or hanging on it, my chest would feel like somebody is sitting on it.”
He couldn’t travel without going to a hospital, had a hard time working a job, and had to stop going to Queens Community College because of recurring issues with the disease, which made his life substantially challenging.
Since having sickle cell as a 4-month-old baby, he has consistently been in and out of the Northwell facility in New Hyde Park.Stephen Yang
“Although he had tried several treatments, none of them were working,” Dr. Banu Aygun, associate chief of hematology, said.
“So when gene therapy became available when it was FDA approved [in late 2023], Sebastien was the first patient in our minds…so that he can dramatically change his life.”
An easy cell
Lyfgenia creates a new, healthy gene inserted into parent cells that connect to the stem cells of red blood cells afflicted by the illness instead of more painful procedures like bone marrow transplants, officials said. Aygun explained that the newly approved treatment costs “millions” through insurance.
Beauzile had mixed emotions in early 2024 when told about the option that would take close to a year of treatments. He was certainly excited about a chance for a brighter future but was anxious about needing to go through a week of chemotherapy to clear out his old stem cells.
Beauzile had mixed emotions in early 2024 when told about the option that would take close to a year of treatments.Courtesy of Northwell Health
“At first, it was a little nerve-wracking. But the doctors spoke to me about it, told me what the side effects would be, and I was like, ‘why not?'” Beauzile, who passed time in the hospital building Lego and playing “Dragon Ball Z” video games, said.
“Honestly, it wasn’t that bad.”
For months, cells were periodically drained from Beauzile’s blood and sent to a lab for the gene insertion.
Lyfgenia creates a new, healthy gene inserted into parent cells that connect to the stem cells of red blood cells afflicted by the illness instead of more painful procedures like bone marrow transplants, officials said.Courtesy of Northwell Health
In late December, they were successfully re-infused back into him in a matter of minutes.
“Now he’s producing normal adult hemoglobin in his parent cells. You see it in his blood as well,” Dr. Aygun said. “That’s why he’s not having any symptoms related to his sickle cell disease.”
For assurances, Beauzile had to stay in the hospital for about another month and said that Jan. 13 was the day he felt like a new man as things kicked in.
For months, cells were periodically drained from Beauzile’s blood and sent to a lab for the gene insertion.Stephen Yang “When I got my cells, it was like an out-of-body experience…like a second birthday,” he said.
“I’m not in pain anymore. I’ve been able to do a lot of new things,” Beauzile added of working out with no problems and having the first chance for a carefree vacation.
He is also looking to re-enroll in school to pursue a medical career, inspired by his own journey.
“Especially with children who have sickle cell, I feel like if they had somebody that experienced what they are experiencing, went through what they go through, then I could be that role model.”
