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Arabic Language Excluded from Google Assistant

Google Assistant. (Google)
Google Assistant. (Google)
    San Francisco, London - Asharq Al-Awsat
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Arabic Language Excluded from Google Assistant

Google Assistant. (Google)
Google Assistant. (Google)

Google intends to add more than 20 languages to its voice-command based digital assistant app by the end of this year. The voice assistant will be available in more than 30 languages by the end of 2018, but noticeably absent is Arabic.

In the next few months the Google Assistant will be able to respond by text in Danish, Dutch, Hindi, Indonesian, Norwegian, Swedish and Thai on Android phones and Apple iPhones, the CNET.com website reported.

Nick Fox, Google's vice president of product, said in a blog post that the assistant will be available in more than 30 languages, reaching 95 percent of all eligible Android phones worldwide, reported the German news agency.

The assistant currently responds in eight languages by text on Android phones: English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese.

Fox said Google Assistant will also gain multilingual speech later this year, allowing the assistant to understand you fluently in multiple languages, instead of just one. This feature will start with English, French and German.

"If you prefer to speak German at work, but French at home, your assistant is right there with you," he added.

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Ministry of Interior Launches 'Ezz AlWatan' Event in Celebration of Saudi National Day

Saudi Arabia marks National Day on September 23. (SPA)
Saudi Arabia marks National Day on September 23. (SPA)
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Ministry of Interior Launches 'Ezz AlWatan' Event in Celebration of Saudi National Day

Saudi Arabia marks National Day on September 23. (SPA)
Saudi Arabia marks National Day on September 23. (SPA)

The "Ezz AlWatan" events kicked off on Monday in Riyadh to mark the Kingdom’s 95th National Day.

The event is organized by the Ministry of Interior in collaboration with the General Entertainment Authority (GEA).

Running until Tuesday, the program features a creative, dramatic, and military performance simulating security operations and showcasing advanced tactics and skills.

The event also boasts an exhibition highlighting the ministry's efforts, its security system, and the development of its services.

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French Zoo Returns Poorly Panda and Partner to China

Huan Huan ("happy") and Yuan Zi ("chubby"), two Chinese pandas are seen in their enclosure at Beauval zoo in Saint-Aignan central-western France, on January 17, 2012. (AFP)
Huan Huan ("happy") and Yuan Zi ("chubby"), two Chinese pandas are seen in their enclosure at Beauval zoo in Saint-Aignan central-western France, on January 17, 2012. (AFP)
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French Zoo Returns Poorly Panda and Partner to China

Huan Huan ("happy") and Yuan Zi ("chubby"), two Chinese pandas are seen in their enclosure at Beauval zoo in Saint-Aignan central-western France, on January 17, 2012. (AFP)
Huan Huan ("happy") and Yuan Zi ("chubby"), two Chinese pandas are seen in their enclosure at Beauval zoo in Saint-Aignan central-western France, on January 17, 2012. (AFP)

Two pandas at a zoo in central France will return to China in November after the female was diagnosed with kidney failure, the park's director told AFP on Monday.

Huan Huan and her partner Yuan Zi arrived at the Beauval Zoo in 2012 as part of China's "panda diplomacy" program, which sees the black-and-white bears dispatched across the globe as soft-power ambassadors.

The two pandas, both 17, had been due to stay in France until January 2027 but they will return to the Chengdu panda sanctuary, said zoo director Rodolphe Delord, adding that the zoo had been in touch with the Chinese authorities.

"The female has kidney failure, a chronic disease common in ageing carnivores. We therefore prefer to transport her to China before her condition worsens," he told AFP, adding she still showed a good appetite and normal behavior.

Delord said Huan Huan and Yuan Zi were expected to return to China in November 2025 "so they can live out their retirement in peace".

The pair produced three cubs while in France -- the first pandas to do so in the country -- and became star attractions at the Beauval zoo in Saint-Aignan-sur-Cher.

The eldest of the offspring, Yuan Meng, left France in 2024, while twins born in 2021 are expected to remain at the Beauval zoo for the time being "to raise visitors' awareness of the need to protect this iconic species", Delord said.

The giant panda was downgraded last year from "endangered" to "vulnerable" on the global list of at-risk species.

Delord said he hoped to extend the zoo's partnership with China beyond 2027.

"And perhaps bring more pandas in the future," he added.

The Beauval Zoo welcomed some two million visitors in 2023, generating revenues of around 113 million euros ($133 million).

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Makkah's Parks, Gardens Transformed for National Day Celebrations

Efforts are being exerted to enable visitors to enjoy the celebrations in a safe, attractive, and fully serviced environment for Saudi National Day- SPA
Efforts are being exerted to enable visitors to enjoy the celebrations in a safe, attractive, and fully serviced environment for Saudi National Day- SPA
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Makkah's Parks, Gardens Transformed for National Day Celebrations

Efforts are being exerted to enable visitors to enjoy the celebrations in a safe, attractive, and fully serviced environment for Saudi National Day- SPA
Efforts are being exerted to enable visitors to enjoy the celebrations in a safe, attractive, and fully serviced environment for Saudi National Day- SPA

Holy Makkah Municipality announced the completion of preparations across public parks and gardens in Makkah to receive residents and visitors during the 95th National Day celebrations.

According to SPA, technical teams have been formed to carry out maintenance and inspections of facilities, playgrounds, and rides to ensure they are fully ready to welcome guests.

The municipality emphasized its commitment to providing high-quality services for the residents and visitors by overseeing the readiness of public spaces and presenting them in a manner that reflects the city’s distinguished image.

The efforts aim to enable visitors to enjoy the celebrations in a safe, attractive, and fully serviced environment.

Preparations included equipping seating areas, restrooms, and other amenities, in addition to providing expansive green spaces for leisure and recreation.

Makkah is home to more than 290 public parks of various sizes, offering a wide range of children’s playgrounds, as well as over 11 walkways with a total length of 16,410 meters.

The city also features football, volleyball, and tennis courts, in addition to public squares, shaded seating areas, fountains, walking tracks, and sports equipment for both children and adults.