The Justice Department and a group of US states have argued that Google should be forced to sell off its popular Chrome browser.

Internet company Yahoo Inc. — backed by owner Apollo Global Management Inc. — would bid for the Chrome web browser if a federal court orders Google to divest it as a remedy for maintaining an illegal monopoly, a senior executive said.

Brian Provost, the general manager for Yahoo Search, testified Thursday during Google’s trial in Washington that his company estimates the browser would have a sale price in the tens of billions of dollars.

Chrome is “arguably the most important strategic player on the web,” Provost said. “We would be able to pursue it with Apollo.”

Provost testified as part of a three-week hearing in the Justice Department’s case against Alphabet Inc.’s Google to determine how to remedy the company’s monopoly in internet search. Judge Amit Mehta ruled last year Google illegally monopolized the market and is contemplating a package of changes proposed by antitrust enforcers.

Also Read | OpenAI would buy Google’s Chrome browser, says ChatGPT chief Nick Turley

The Justice Department and a group of US states have argued that Google should be forced to sell off its popular Chrome browser.

Yahoo was the leading search engine in the early 2000s before losing that position to Google. The company has changed hands several times; Apollo purchased it in 2021 from Verizon Communications Inc.

Since the Apollo takeover, Yahoo has been seeking to “revitalize” its search engine, and started building its own browser that remains in development, Provost said. The company has also considered buying a browser and became interested in purchasing Chrome as soon as the Justice Department’s proposal became public, he said.

Yahoo would likely have competition. OpenAI also would be interested in buying Chrome browser, the head of ChatGPT said during the trial Tuesday.

“Yes, we would, as would many other parties,” Nick Turley, OpenAI’s ChatGPT chief, said in response to a question about whether the company would seek to buy Google’s browser.

News / Technology / Yahoo ready to buy Chrome browser if Google is forced to sell

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Can insulin-dependent diabetics stay in space? This will be one of the areas of research by astronauts who will fly to the International Space Station (ISS), probably this May, as part of the Axiom 4 mission. Indian Air Force pilot, Shubhanshu Shukla, will be among the four astronauts part of the space-flight – the first time an Indian will fly to the ISS.

The larger thrust of the experiment is to demonstrate that astronauts with insulin-dependent diabetes can be supported for short duration stays in microgravity. This can be done by demonstrating accurate blood glucose testing, data transmission, and insulin viability on the ISS. This research will also help enable people with diabetes to participate in future space missions, thus expanding the eligibility of crew and expanding access to space to more people. The project is being undertaken in partnership with Burjeel Holdings PLC, a United Arab Emirates-based healthcare services provider, said a statement from Axiom. The company organises commercial flights to the ISS and is also in the process of building the first private space station. The lead investigators on the study are John Marshall and Alex Rubin, affiliated to Axiom.

Beyond the “micro-gravity” environment in a space station, the insights gained could potentially improve healthcare delivery on earth, particularly in remote and extreme environments. The technology used in orbit could enable remote monitoring and treatment of oil rig workers with chronic conditions at sea, adventurers with chronic conditions in extreme environments, and even patients receiving care at home, Burjeel said in a statement.

Astronauts on the ISS spend a substantial amount of time conducting a slew of experiments and gathering data on how ordinary biological process are altered by micro-gravity. “Studying biological processes in microgravity offers unique opportunities to understand diseases in ways that are impossible to replicate on Earth. The absence of gravity alters cellular behaviour, enabling deeper insights into conditions such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and cancer. Previous research in space has already contributed to significant insights in protein crystallization and cellular ageing,” it added.

Shamsheer Vayalil, Founder and Chairman of Burjeel Holdings, underscored the significance of this collaboration, stating, “Burjeel Holdings is proud to collaborate on this groundbreaking study aboard Ax-4, which marks a milestone in medical research and diabetes management. The findings from this study have the potential to not only benefit future astronauts but also translate into meaningful advancements in patient care here on the ground.”

The moment underscored something essential: seeing (and feeling) is believing. The iPhone 17 Air, by all early impressions, is not just another iteration. It’s something else, perhaps the first visually exciting iPhone since the X.

A Threat to the Pro Line?

Here’s the catch: the iPhone 17 Air likely won’t be Apple’s most expensive phone. That title will still belong to the Pro and Pro Max. But if the Air proves as seductive in hand as it appears in leaks, Apple risks cannibalising its own high-margin flagship line.

Why spend more on the Pro when the Air is thinner, sleeker, and just as capable for most users?

It’s a fair concern. But also, potentially, a calculated one.

Betting on Excitement Over Margins

The truth is, Apple needs a hit, not financially, but culturally. For years now, iPhone design has plateaued. The 15 Pro is a phenomenal device, but it doesn’t feel new. The last time Apple truly reset expectations was in 2017 with the iPhone X. The iPhone 17 Air won’t be quite as revolutionary. But it could deliver something Apple hasn’t achieved in years: buzz. The kind of buzz that fuels lines outside stores, envious stares across cafe tables, and the irresistible need to upgrade.

In short, the Air could reignite passion for the iPhone.

And if it means shaving a few billion off Pro model sales in the short term? Apple may be willing to take the hit—because the long-term gain is loyalty, excitement, and momentum heading into the next big thing (iPhone Fold, anyone?).

Will It Cannibalise Pro Sales?

The Pro line has long justified its price with features like ProMotion, triple lenses, and titanium builds. But if the Air looks and feels fresher, lighter, and more “2025,” casual buyers and even some power users could opt for form over function. The wild card will be pricing and performance. If Apple gives the Air a high-end chip and flagship-level display, all while keeping it competitively priced, the Pro models might feel redundant to all but the most hardcore enthusiasts.