Category: Science & Technology

Vodafone Idea pays first instalment for 5G spectrum  The telco confirmed that it has paid ₹1,701 crore to the Department of Telecommunications including interest, towards the 2022 Spectrum Auction instalment.  It appears that Vi was able to collect funds to pay the dues without the promoters’ help.  The promoter group entity of Vodafone Idea Ltd (VIL) had assured assistance of Rs 2,000 crore to the company in case it needed financial support to meet the impending payment obligations.  VIL had cleared about 10 percent of its dues for the April-June…

ISRO’s Aditya-L1 begins collecting scientific data on Solar exploration efforts.  The Indian Space Research Organization on Monday announced that Aditya-L1 has commenced collecting scientific data, marking a milestone in India’s solar exploration efforts.  The sensors of the STEPS instrument have begun measuring supra-thermal and energetic ions and electrons at distances greater than 50,000 km from Earth,”  STEPS, equipped with six sensors observing in various directions, is responsible for measuring supra-thermal and energetic ions ranging from 20 (kiloelectronvolt) keV/nucleon to 5 (mega electron volt) MeV/nucleon, as well as electrons exceeding 1…

The IMF plans to tell China to boost weak domestic consumption, address its troubled real estate sector and rein in local government debt.  The Fund will strongly urge Beijing to shift its growth model away from debt-fuelled infrastructure investment and real estate.  China’s aging population and falling productivity are playing a ‘suppressing role’ in its growth rate, along with companies in the US and Europe shifting supply chains away from China.  The new forecasts are expected to reflect concerns about anaemic GDP growth around the world, as largest economies are…

Google’s co-founder Sergey Brin has quietly finalized his divorce from Nicole Shanahan, after allegations that she had an affair with billionaire Elon Musk,  As per court documents, the couple’s divorce was confirmed on May 26.  Though Mr Shanahan did not contest the divorce, she asked the court to award her spousal support, the court papers said.  They will now split legal and physical custody of their 4-year-old daughter.   However, both Mr Musk and Ms. Shanahan denied their alleged affair.  Meanwhile, Ms. Shanahan called the scandal ‘utterly debilitating’. She insisted…

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), approved a total of nine acquisition proposals totalling Rs 45,000 crore.  Among the proposals, the ministry okayed the procurement of 12 Su-30MKIs for the Indian Air Force, which would be manufactured in India by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).  These would be the most modern Su-30 MKI aircraft of the Indian Air Force; they will come mounted with multiple Indian weapons and sensors, Defence officials said.  The Indian Air Force will also be getting avionic upgradation of Dornier aircraft to improve the accuracy and reliability of…

IT giant Infosys Ltd is the only Indian company to find a place in the top 100 list of the World’s Best Companies of 2023, compiled by TIME Magazine and online data platform Statista.  TIME and Statista named a total of 750 companies changing the world in a new statistical ranking, throwing some light on the world economic order.  Infosys was placed at the 64th spot in a list that was topped by tech companies like Microsoft, Apple, Alphabet, and Meta Platforms.  Besides Infosys, seven other Indian companies found their…

NEC Corporation has been selected to participate in a vaccine/new modality research and development project.  NEC will utilize cutting-edge AI technologies in order to identify immunogenic regions that are effective against a wide range of influenza virus strains and to design a universal vaccine.  In this research project, a universal vaccine will be designed for influenza using a proprietary computer analysis technology based on several state-of-the-art AI technologies.  in Japan, the “Strategy for Strengthening Vaccine Development and Production Systems” was formulated in June 2021 as part of a long-term national…

Apple’s iPhone 15 drew mixed reactions in its third-largest market in China, with many online users liking its faster chip and improved gaming capabilities.  The company occupies a leading position in China’s premium smartphone market, in part due to the decimation of Huawei Technologies’ smartphone business by U.S. export controls  Beijing is reportedly expanding a ban on the use of iPhones in sensitive government departments and state-backed agencies.   China on September 13 claimed it had found ‘security issues’ with the Apple iPhone.  France’s radiation watchdog ANFR notified Apple of…

Tech giant Apple is going to hold the ‘Wonderlust’ event, the company is to introduce the new generation of iPhones, and other products.  The most talked about gadget is the iPhone 15, which will have updated hardware and display for Apple lovers.  This will include the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max.  Apple may ditch the Lightning port and reportedly shift to USB Type-C charging with the iPhone 15 series due to European Union regulations.  The Apple Watch Series 9 and all-new Ultra…

Scientists at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have made a significant breakthrough in cancer research by developing a new method to detect and kill cancer cells.  The team has created hybrid nanoparticles  The hybrid nanoparticles exhibit photothermal, oxidative stress, and photoacoustic properties.  When exposed to light, these particles absorb it and generate heat, effectively killing cancer cells.  So far, the nanoparticles have been tested on lung and cervical cancer cell lines in laboratory settings.  Findings are detailed in a study published in ACS Applied Nano Materials  Scientists at the…