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Apple Unveils Functional Siri AI at WWDC 2026 Emphasizing Privacy and Trust

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Western Digital Stock Outlook 2026: Analysts Weigh Buy or Sell

CUPERTINO, Calif. — Apple took a measured step forward in artificial intelligence at its Worldwide Developers Conference on Monday, unveiling a more capable version of Siri that prioritizes on-device processing and user privacy rather than competing directly on raw intelligence with rivals like OpenAI and Google.

The update, part of the broader iOS 27, iPadOS 27 and macOS 27 releases, marks the third major attempt by Apple to revitalize its voice assistant. Early hands-on testing suggests the new Siri can handle multi-turn conversations, cross-reference personal data such as emails and calendars, and execute practical tasks more reliably than previous versions, though it still trails competitors in some advanced capabilities.

Siri AI Delivers on Core Promises

During demonstrations at Apple Park, the updated Siri successfully parsed calendar events from screenshots, diagnosed plant issues from photos, and built reminder lists and calendar entries from natural language prompts. It also consistently read on-screen content when asked to add events, showing improved context awareness.

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The Verge, granted hands-on access at Apple Park, described the experience as functional and reliable. “AI Siri is for real this time” and “so far it actually works,” the publication reported after testing features like multi-turn dialogue and proactive suggestions based on personal data.

Apple executives positioned the new Siri as the most trustworthy assistant rather than the most powerful. The system builds a local index of user data from email and messages stored on-device. When cloud processing is required, only relevant fragments are sent to Apple’s Private Cloud Compute servers, which the company says neither retain data nor allow Apple access after the session.

This privacy-first architecture stands in contrast to some competitors that request standing access to user accounts like Gmail or Google Calendar. Apple’s approach aims to give users confidence that their personal information remains protected while still delivering useful assistance.

Technical Foundation and Limitations

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The new Siri relies in part on models from Google’s Gemini family for certain capabilities, leading some observers to characterize it as “Gemini, circa 2025.” While not a direct quote from Apple, the integration reflects the company’s strategy of leveraging proven technology while maintaining control over the user experience and data handling.

Current limitations include English-only support at launch, unavailability in the European Union and China due to regulatory reasons, and daily usage caps on server-dependent features. Expanded access requires an iCloud+ subscription in some cases. These constraints narrow the initial audience but align with Apple’s cautious rollout philosophy.

Developer testing began this week, with a public beta expected next month and full consumer release in the fall alongside new hardware. The staged approach is designed to identify and resolve issues before widespread deployment.

Broader Platform Updates

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The iOS 27 family brings numerous refinements across Apple’s ecosystem. Performance improvements include faster app launches, enhanced AirDrop transfers and better responsiveness on older devices thanks to an optimized CPU scheduler. Search has been rebuilt with a new index for more relevant Spotlight results.

Photos gains the ability to share iCloud Shared Albums with Android and Windows users. Health receives advanced cycle tracking, while AirPods users will benefit from custom EQ settings. Apple Maps features richer Flyover imagery, and numerous smaller enhancements span Shortcuts, Freeform, Messages and other apps.

The updates extend support back to the iPhone 11 and second-generation iPhone SE, ensuring broad compatibility. This commitment to older hardware has become a hallmark of Apple’s software strategy, extending device lifespans and reducing electronic waste.

Tim Cook’s Legacy in Focus

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The WWDC 2026 keynote, reportedly one of Tim Cook’s final ones according to some observers though not officially confirmed, highlighted the tension between Apple’s traditional strengths in privacy and integration and the demands of the AI era.

Cook’s tenure has emphasized execution, supply chain mastery and ecosystem coherence. The AI push tests whether Apple can compete at the frontier of software intelligence rather than simply iterating on proven concepts. The measured approach to Siri AI — focusing on reliability and privacy rather than claiming industry leadership — reflects a philosophy of controlled innovation.

Panel discussions at Apple Park framed the event around both the product launch and its implications for Cook’s legacy. Observers noted Apple avoided buzzwords like “agentic AI” despite their prevalence elsewhere in the industry, choosing instead to demonstrate practical, trustworthy features.

Competitive Landscape

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Apple’s strategy differs markedly from rivals. While Google and OpenAI emphasize cutting-edge capabilities and broad access, Apple bets on seamless integration within its hardware-software ecosystem and strong privacy protections. The company does not need to outpace competitors feature-for-feature if users prefer its contained, reliable approach.

Early indications suggest the new Siri performs well for everyday tasks within the Apple ecosystem. Whether this proves sufficient to shift user behavior away from more powerful but less private alternatives will be determined in the coming months after wider release.

User Experience and Privacy Debate

For users already invested in Apple’s ecosystem, the improvements could represent meaningful daily enhancements. Cross-device continuity, on-device processing and careful data handling offer practical benefits that many may value over raw intelligence.

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Privacy advocates have welcomed Apple’s emphasis on local processing and limited data sharing. However, independent verification of the company’s Private Cloud Compute claims remains limited, and some experts urge continued scrutiny of these assurances.

The debate reflects broader tensions in the AI industry between innovation speed and responsible development. Apple’s more deliberate pace may appeal to users concerned about data security and unintended consequences of rapidly advancing AI systems.

Market and Industry Implications

The updates position Apple to maintain its premium positioning while addressing long-standing criticisms of Siri. Success could strengthen the company’s services revenue and ecosystem lock-in, key drivers of its financial performance.

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Developers will gain new tools and APIs to build experiences that leverage the improved Siri capabilities. The broad platform support across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Watch and other devices creates opportunities for innovative applications that span multiple form factors.

As the public beta approaches and fall release nears, real-world usage data will provide the ultimate test of Apple’s AI ambitions. Early developer feedback and hands-on impressions suggest meaningful progress, though the competitive gap with more advanced systems remains.

Apple’s approach at WWDC 2026 reflects confidence in its privacy and integration strengths while acknowledging the need to deliver functional AI experiences. The new Siri represents progress on previous attempts, focusing on reliability and user trust rather than frontier capabilities.

For millions of Apple users, the updates promise more helpful and private digital assistance integrated across their devices. The coming months will reveal whether this vision resonates strongly enough to shift behavior and solidify Apple’s position in the evolving AI landscape.

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The measured strategy aligns with Apple’s long-standing philosophy of delivering polished, user-friendly experiences. As Siri AI moves from keynote demonstrations to everyday use, its real-world impact will shape perceptions of both the product and the company’s direction under Tim Cook’s leadership.

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Stellantis swings to profit on rising demand in North America

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Stellantis swings to profit on rising demand in North America

A new Jeep Wrangler 4-Door Sahara 4×4 vehicle displayed for sale at a Stellantis NV dealership in Miami, Florida, US, on Saturday, April 5, 2025.

Eva Marie Uzcategui | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Auto giant Stellantis on Thursday swung to profit in the second quarter, boosted by rising demand in North America as the company showed tentative signs of benefitting from CEO Antonio Filosa’s turnaround plan.

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The multinational conglomerate, which owns household names including Jeep, Dodge, Fiat, Chrysler and Peugeot, posted second-quarter net profit of 293 million euros ($335.3 million), versus a loss of 1.87 billion euros a year earlier.

Adjusted operating income more than tripled in the second quarter to 773 million euros in the April to June period, from 213 million euros a year earlier. That was below an analyst consensus estimate from Reuters of 914 million euros, however.

Milan- and New York-listed shares of Stellantis fell sharply on the news, with shares in Italy falling more than 8% before paring losses. U.S. shares were off roughly 3% during trading Thursday morning.

Even with posting a profit, Wall Street analysts Thursday questioned why there wasn’t more growth for the company in the U.S. after significant price cuts and the launch of new models such as the Jeep Cherokee SUV.

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Milan-listed shares of Stellantis so far this year.

Filosa said the Cherokee, which is made in Mexico, is ramping up production but the company is intentionally limiting some models due to U.S. tariff costs, which are expected to add at least 1 billion euros this year.

“It is very exposed to tariffs. So we are balancing volumes with profit generation,” he said of the Cherokee during the company’s quarterly earnings call. “We are doing that by limiting some trims and mixing on the highest and more profitable trims.”

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Filosa many times noted that his FaSTLAne 2030 turnaround plan is well underway, but the “road is long” and the company needs time for the strategy to fully take hold.

Stellantis posted industrial free cash flows of 1 billion euros at the end of June, comfortably beating Citi’s forecast of 600 million euros.

Analysts at the Wall Street bank said that while this figure reflects improved operating performance, the auto giant’s adjusted operating income margin remains at a “very low” level of 1.8%.

Positive free cash flow is obviously welcome, analysts at Citi said in a research note to clients. “Nevertheless, we expect investors will await more evidence of positive operating performance before revisiting STLA,” they added.

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Danone to ‘press the acceleration button’ on innovation

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Danone to ‘press the acceleration button’ on innovation

The company’s North American brands will see changes this year and next. 

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Riviana Foods expands pulse, whole grain ingredients line

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Riviana Foods expands pulse, whole grain ingredients line

Company launches flour gels and extruded micropellets.

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Gritzy debuts flagship stone-ground grits

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Gritzy debuts flagship stone-ground grits

The product is available in two varieties.

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NBCUniversal-YouTube deal could jumpstart next streaming wars chapter

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NBCUniversal-YouTube deal could jumpstart next streaming wars chapter

A general view of the Peacock logo on a microphone during the BIG EAST Women’s Basketball Tournament Championship game between the UConn Huskies and the Villanova Wildcats on March 9, 2026 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT.

Erica Denhoff | Icon Sportswire | Getty Images

NBCUniversal’s announcement this week that it’s struck a content deal with YouTube Premium could jumpstart a new chapter of the streaming wars — one that could be titled, “Aggregation.”

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Under the agreement, which starts early next year, YouTube Premium subscribers in the U.S. will get Peacock Premium baked into their subscription. Peacock content, including wildly popular shows like “Love Island USA” and the Real Housewives franchise, will be available directly via YouTube — as will NBC’s portfolio of live sports like the NFL and NBA.

At launch, YouTube Premium’s $15.99-per-month price won’t change. Customers will get Peacock Premium content for no additional charge.

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YouTube Premium — the platform’s subscription, ad-free video product — is separate from YouTube TV, its bundle of live TV networks. The company says there are 125 million global users of YouTube Premium. It doesn’t break out U.S. subscribers.

The deal cements a new strategy for NBCUniversal — agreeing to a streaming wholesale deal with a distribution partner that ingests Peacock content. NBCU did a similar deal with Apple TV late last year, but that bundle required customers to opt into the offering, at a cost of $14.99 per month as opposed to $12.99 per month just for Apple TV. The YouTube deal allows its existing subscriber base to get access to all Peacock content instantly without paying any more money.

NBCU’s decision to allow Peacock content to appear on other streaming services could serve as a template for other media companies that similarly decide they’re willing to partner with other streaming services.

“Other strategies are a little more walled gardens,” Comcast co-CEO Mike Cavanagh said during the company’s earnings conference call last week, referring to other media companies. “Our approach is to build great businesses that serve our own platforms, but look for opportunities to partner.”

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Mike Cavanagh and Donna Langley at the 81st Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 7, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California.

Elyse Jankowski | Golden Globes 2024 | Getty Images

The point of the deal for NBCU, which is set be to spun off as a separate publicly traded company from Comcast next year, is to get Peacock in front of more eyeballs. There’s a large, younger audience that spends most of its “TV” time on YouTube. Now these people can stumble upon NBCU programming in their viewing ecosystem of choice – translating into more advertising revenue. 

For YouTube, the deal means a more robust subscription offering in Premium. This may help YouTube in its quest to buy more live sports rights. The company lost out to Netflix to stream several live NFL games earlier this year. 

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Still, it remains to be seen how quickly NBCU will strike deals with other platforms. The risk in striking these sorts of deals is the potential to cannibalize a company’s own subscriber base by making the content available elsewhere. NBCU executives felt YouTube offered the right deal economics to assuage those concerns, according to people familiar with the matter.

Aggregator vs. aggregated

The NBCU-YouTube deal could help set a precedent for future streaming distribution deals.

Both Netflix and Disney are considering striking wholesale deals with other media companies to bring fresh content onto their streaming services, according to public comments and media reports.

ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro spoke to his interest in this concept on stage at CNBC’s Game Plan conference earlier this month.

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“As a part of a bundle or a partnership with a third party, we are very much focused on including the content or ingesting it within the ESPN app,” Pitaro said. “It’s like going back full circle to the pay TV bundle. There’s almost no friction. It’s all right there. It’s one app or one service and one username and password.”

ESPN has already struck a deal with the CW to ingest its sports into ESPN’s recently launched standalone streaming app. 

Yet, so far, NBCU hasn’t been satisfied with offers for ingesting its content from Netflix or Disney – or the potential overlap among existing subscribers — according to the people familiar with the matter, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the conversations were private.

Jimmy Pitaro, CEO of ESPN, speaking at the CNBC Game Plan Summit in New York City on July 16th, 2026.

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Shea Kastriner | CNBC

If the first stage of the streaming wars was media companies launching their own services, and the second was about getting them to profitability, the third iteration of this battle is poised to be about aggregation.

Netflix, Disney, YouTube and Amazon are clear aggregators. They all already have the size and scale to reach hundreds of millions of viewers.

If Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery come together as they’ve been attempting to, they’ll clearly be in that camp, as well.  

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But if the Paramount-WBD deal doesn’t happen — held up by a state-led antitrust challenge — both companies probably fall into the licensing camp, alongside NBCU. That would really jumpstart the re-evolution of the cable bundle, as Pitaro suggested.

Fox, which announced its acquisition of Roku last month, could find itself on either side of the equation. Its streaming service, Fox One, doesn’t have the scale of the biggest streaming services, but Roku gives Fox a large aggregation platform if it wants to move in that direction. 

CNBC Sport: ESPN's Jimmy Pitaro outlines the network's next era
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Evergreen expands breakfast portfolio with protein waffles

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Evergreen expands breakfast portfolio with protein waffles

The waffles are formulated with Greek yogurt and eggs.

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The Campbell’s Co. debuts Chunky prepared meals

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The Campbell’s Co. debuts Chunky prepared meals

The line features eight frozen meals.

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Thangamayil Jewellery shares crash 19% in 2 days on weak Q2 outlook. What did the company say?

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Thangamayil Jewellery shares crash 19% in 2 days on weak Q2 outlook. What did the company say?
Shares of Thangamayil Jewellery tumbled 10% to hit a lower circuit of Rs 5,815 on Thursday to slump 19% in two sessions after the company guided for a weak second quarter of financial year 2027.

Thangamayil Jewellery said that it saw no visible improvement in sales during the first 28 days of the second quarter of FY27. The company attributed this to continued uncertainty around the war and customer expectations of a moderate decline in international gold prices, which led to further postponement of purchases.

The company expects this deferred demand to return once the war and gold price situation improves. It remains hopeful of seeing a recovery in demand in the second half of FY27.

Thangamayil Jewellery reported same-store sales (SSS) growth of 44.4% for the three months ended June 30, 2026, compared with 72.3% growth on a quarter-on-quarter basis. The company said gold volumes were relatively lower during the quarter despite international gold prices being more benign compared with the previous quarter, when prices had remained elevated.

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According to the company, the slowdown was primarily due to a steep increase in import duty from 6% to 15% from May 13, 2026, along with significant depreciation in the Indian rupee. These factors led customers to postpone purchases in anticipation of a future decline in gold prices in U.S. dollar terms.


The uncertainty caused by the West Asia war also weighed on demand. The company said the resulting slowdown in gold purchases by expatriates, driven by lower inward remittances in the areas where it operates, further contributed to the sluggish offtake on a quarter-on-quarter basis.

Thangamyil Jewellery Q1 results

The company reported a net profit of Rs 85 crore for the first quarter of FY27, marking an 86% growth from Rs 45.7 crore posted in the same period last year.
The company’s revenue from operations jumped 71.2% in the June quarter to Rs 2,666.4 crore from Rs 1,558 crore posted in the corresponding quarter of the previous financial year.
Further, EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization) rose 66.2% to Rs 144.6 crore from Rs 87 crore. Margins for the quarter under review stood at 5.4%, compared with 5.6% in the corresponding period last year.

(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of Economic Times)

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Megan Moroney Cuts Denver Concert Short After Three Songs, Citing Illness in Tearful Apology to Fans

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Megan Moroney

Country singer Megan Moroney ended her concert at Ball Arena in Denver early Tuesday night, stopping the show after just three songs due to illness and offering a tearful apology to fans in the hours that followed.

Moroney performed three songs, “Stupid,” “Medicine” and “Bless Your Heart,” before leaving the stage, according to Billboard and setlist-tracking site Setlist.fm. Before exiting, she told the crowd she was sorry and promised to make up for the cut-short performance, according to CBS affiliate KCNC. Fans began filing out of the arena around 9 p.m.

Ball Arena confirmed the cancellation in a statement posted to its official social media account shortly after the show ended. “Megan is unable to continue her performance this evening due to illness, and we must end the show at this time,” the venue wrote. “Please allow event staff to direct you to the nearest exit, and we will follow up with more information as soon as we’re able.”

Moroney offered a more personal explanation in a post to her own social media account later that night, describing the decision as one of the most difficult of her career. “Denver. That was the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make & I’m so sorry to cancel the show tonight,” she wrote. She went on to explain the reasoning behind stopping so early into the performance. “I never ever will give you guys a show that is not 100% and by song 3 I knew that I was not capable of giving that to you guys tonight.”

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The singer described the emotional toll the decision took on her in the moments immediately following the show. “I’m typing this as I’m quite literally bawling my eyes out in my dressing room & it hurts me so much to disappoint you all,” she wrote.

Moroney is set to return to Denver on Aug. 27 to make up the canceled performance, according to Billboard, with tickets purchased for Tuesday’s show remaining valid for the rescheduled date. Fans unable to attend the rescheduled concert will be eligible for refunds, according to Fox affiliate KDVR.

The Denver stop was part of Moroney’s Cloud 9 tour, which has approximately two dozen additional shows scheduled across the United States and Europe in the months ahead. No additional tour dates had been announced as canceled or postponed as of Wednesday, suggesting the Denver stop was treated as an isolated interruption rather than the start of a broader pause in the tour schedule.

Moroney has built a rapidly growing profile within country music in recent years, known for songs blending sharp, conversational lyrics with contemporary country production. She performed at the 2026 NCAA March Madness Music Festival’s Capital One JamFest in Indianapolis earlier this year, part of a schedule of high-profile appearances that has accompanied the rising popularity of her music.

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Concert cancellations due to illness have become an increasingly visible topic within the touring music industry in recent years, as artists face mounting scrutiny over the physical demands of extensive tour schedules that often involve travel across multiple cities and time zones in rapid succession. Performers across genres have periodically had to cut shows short or cancel performances entirely due to illness, vocal strain or exhaustion, with many artists, including Moroney in her Tuesday night statement, emphasizing a desire to avoid delivering a performance they view as falling short of what fans deserve rather than pushing through and risking a diminished show.

Moroney’s handling of the cancellation, including her direct, emotionally candid explanation to fans through social media, reflects a broader trend among contemporary musicians of communicating openly and immediately with audiences following unexpected show disruptions, rather than relying solely on official statements issued by tour promoters or venues. That approach has generally been well received by fans in similar situations involving other artists, who have often expressed appreciation for direct communication and transparency about the reasons behind a canceled or shortened performance.

As of Wednesday, Moroney had not provided additional public details about the specific nature of her illness beyond the general references made in her sitewide statement and the venue’s own announcement. Representatives for the singer had not issued any further public statement beyond the information already shared directly by Moroney and Ball Arena in the immediate aftermath of Tuesday night’s show.

With the rescheduled Denver date now set for Aug. 27 and the remainder of the Cloud 9 tour continuing as planned across the United States and Europe, fans who attended Tuesday’s shortened performance, along with those holding tickets for the makeup date, are expected to receive further updates directly from either Moroney’s team or Ball Arena as additional details about the rescheduled show become available in the coming weeks.

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Griffin’s $16m Applecross project pushes through despite city challenge

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Griffin’s $16m Applecross project pushes through despite city challenge

Planning authorities have approved local developer Griffin Group’s plan to build a $16.27 million six-storey apartment building in Applecross, despite pushback from the City of Melville.  

The Metro Inner Development Assessment Panel greenlit the project on 5a and 5b Macrae Street on Thursday morning, with three members supporting the application and two against it. 

Menora-based Griffin’s vision for the development features 21 apartments of two and three bedrooms, with a ground floor car park of 32 bays and a rooftop garden. 

City of Melville councillor Nicole Robins opposed the application, stating at the DAP meeting there were too many discretions sought in regards to the Canning Bridge Activity Centre Plan.

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She cited the proposed building exceeded the required height of 20 metres at 20.2 metres, did not meet the minimum 10 per cent requirement of dwellings being one-bedroom with no one-bedroom options, did not meet setback, visitor bay and driveway length requirements.

Ms Robins also expressed concerns with the plan omitting waste collection onsite and the length of community consultation for the revised plan. 

When the plan was initially introduced to receive public feedback, it had been advertised as short-term accommodation.

There were 43 objections, mostly surrounding residents concerned the accommodation would be used as an AirBnB. 

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“There are too many cases where assessment is being sought against the desired outcomes,” she said. 

MIDAP deputy presiding member Dale Page, however, disagreed with the councillor.

“The number of discretions sought is not a valid consideration,” she said. 

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Ms Page acknowledged the discretions sought but said it overall aligned with the desired outcomes of the precinct plan. 

“I’m happy to support the proposal,” she said. 

“It’s a preferred use in this precinct and it aligns with the desired outcomes of both the current and drafted versions of the Canning Bridge Activity Centre Plan. 

“I note and I endorse the pragmatic approach of the city in having due regard to the draft of the activity centre plan but not requiring significant design changes to ensure full compliance with it.”

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The site fronting Macrae Road has been vacant since 2022.

Griffin has two other projects in Applecross underway. 

Astoria Applecross – comprising six townhouses on 4 Tweeddale Road – is set to complete construction in quarter one of next year. 

Over at 65a Canning Beach Road, five full-floor apartments in a project called Manhattan Residences Applecross are estimated to finish in quarter three of 2027. 

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