CIOReviewIndia Team | Saturday, 24 October 2020, 10:46 IST
Let's have a look at the top technology news of the week. Yesterday, on 24th October 2020, NASA said that its robotic spacecraft OSIRIS-Rex was successful in collecting a large sample of particles from the Bennu asteroid. It was to an extent that it started leaking.
The mission chief, Dante Lauretta, said, “A substantial fraction of the required collected mass is seen escaping.”
For stowing the remaining samples, which will be delivered to earth, the team in charge is working on that.
In September 2023, OSIRIS-Rex is set to come home, with the largest sample returned from space since the Apollo era, as hoped. This will help in unraveling the origins of our solar system.
As assumed, the probe should have collected around 400 grams of fragments, which is more than the minimum requirement of 60 grams.
Lauretta said, “My big concern now is that the particles are escaping because we were almost a victim of our success here."
Thomas Zurbuchen, the Associate Administrator of NASA, said, “Bennu continues to surprise us with great science and also throwing a few curveballs.”
Thomas added, “And although we may have to move more quickly to stow the sample, it's not a bad problem to have. We are so excited to see what appears to be an abundant sample that will inspire science for decades beyond this historic moment."
Flipkart, now owned by Waltmart, is set to invest Rs. 1500 crore, in Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail (ABFRL) for buying a 7.8 percent stake. It is said by the fashion apparel company.
The deal parts ABFRL in issuing shares on a preferential basis to Flipkart at Rs 205 per share, with a 37 percent premium over the last closing price.
Entering into a commercial agreement with Flipkart for the sale, the deal will give the much-needed fund to ABFRL for reducing debt and creating a strong global partnership and for Flipkart, it provides a portfolio of established fashion brands and a strong local partner.
ABFRL said, “The investment agreement inter-alia provides for some rights such as preemption rights and right of first refusal which are for a limited period of between 1-5 years from the date of allotment of equity shares or if the equity shareholding of the investor falls below a certain threshold.”
From a plethora of Indian app developers, Google has received a request on lowering its fee by 30 percent on in-app purchases for digital goods.
Conducting its first industry meeting with the Indian app developers on October 21, Google conducted it after the strong protest by the Indian startup community on the Play Store billing policy. The Indian app developers also stated it to the IT Ministry and the Competition Commission of India. A concerned person said, “Some developers who joined the webinar did raise a concern about the 30 percent commission, and asked if it can be lowered."
According to a source, Google said that it was listening to the issues raised by developers and will be holding further meetings to discuss the policy.
In the presence of Kunal Soni, Director of Business Development, Apps and Games for India, Southeast Asia and Australia and New Zealand, Google Play, Christina Schaengold, Senior Policy Specialist, Google Play and Saikat Chatterjee, Senior Policy Program Manager, the webinar was conducted.
Google said, “We are committed to working closely with the developer ecosystem, to help them better understand and implement our policies. As conveyed earlier, we are kicking off policy workshops with developers across India to enable greater access to our teams, and to get a deeper understanding of the unique needs of developers in India. These efforts are in line with our objectives to work together with the ecosystem, and grow together."
Amazon, the renowned e-commerce giant, refused to appear in front of the Joint Committee of Parliament for stating on Data Protection Bill on October 28. The Panel Chairperson and BJP MP, Meenakshi Lekhi said that it breaches the privilege to Amazon. Lekhi said to PTI, ““The panel is unanimous in its opinion that coercive action can be suggested to the government against the e-commerce company. Amazon has refused to appear before the panel on October 28 and if no one on behalf of the e-commerce company appears before the panel it amounts to breach of privilege."
In between, Facebook’s policy chief, Ankhi Das appeared in front of the panel on the data security issue on 23rd October, 2020.
The panelists asked some tough and detailed questions to Facebook India.
A panelist also stated that social media giant should not confer inferences in line with the data from the users for commercial benefits for its advertisers.
On October 28, the panel has called upon officials from micro-blogging site Twitter and on October 29, the officials from Google and Paytm.
Maharashtra has invited U.S. electric car manufacturer Tesla Inc following the announcement by its Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk to enter India the next year.
The State Tourism and Environment Minister, Aaditya Thackeray said, “Along with the Industry Minister Subhash Desai, a video call was conducted with Tesla executives previously this day for inviting them to the state.”
Musk replied on Twitter saying, “Next Year for Sure” and posted it with a photograph of T-shirt with the tweet message “India wants Tesla”.
This might come at a time when the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi is fervently focusing on the promotion of the use of electric vehicles.
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