Rajeev Chandrasekhar announces that the prestigious Tata Group will now be crafting iPhones in India

 

Apple is forging a strategic alliance with India's Tata Group, designating the nation as its trusted hub for both manufacturing and nurturing top-tier talent. This dynamic partnership is poised to craft iPhones on Indian soil, marking a significant and exciting step forward.

Highlights:

• Electronics and Technology Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar said today that the project will be completed within two and a half years, and that the government will support the Tata Group and other Indian electronics companies in their efforts to partner with global brands.
• Tata Group will hold a 100% stake in Wistron InfoComm Manufacturing (India) Private Limited (WMMI).
• Tata Group to manufacture iPhones in India for global market.

India has swiftly risen as a prime contender for Apple's iPhone production, with the Tata Group poised to manufacture these coveted devices for both the domestic and international markets.

Revealing this exciting development, Electronics and Technology Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar affirmed that the project's completion is expected within two and a half years. The Indian government, he added, is firmly committed to supporting the Tata Group and other prominent Indian electronics companies as they collaborate with global brands.

Chandrasekhar, in a tweet, emphasized the government's dedication to nurturing the growth of dynamic Indian electronics firms, which, in turn, will serve as valued partners for global electronic brands seeking to establish India as their trusted hub for manufacturing and talent, aligning with the Prime Minister's vision of transforming India into a global electronics powerhouse.

This groundbreaking initiative took shape after Taiwan-based Wistron Corp., a key Apple contract manufacturer, granted approval for the sale of its Indian unit to the Tata Group for a substantial $125 million. Upon board approval, Tata Group will hold a 100% stake in Wistron InfoComm Manufacturing (India) Private Limited (WMMI). The deal is set to advance through the necessary regulatory channels, pending confirmation from all relevant stakeholders.

This strategic move signifies a noteworthy departure from Apple's traditional production strategy, which heavily leaned on Chinese manufacturing facilities. The ongoing US-China trade tensions and rising labor costs in China have compelled Apple to diversify its production sources. India, renowned for its vast consumer base, skilled workforce, and favorable government policies, has now emerged as an enticing and forward-looking choice for Apple's future production endeavors.

Notably, Apple has been assembling iPhones in India since 2017, commencing with the iPhone SE. Since then, the company has steadily expanded its operations, leading up to the local assembly of the highly sought-after iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus models.

Nasa James Webb Space Telescope gazes into a galactic garden of budding stars

 

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has captured a stunning image of the galaxy M83 (NGC 5236) using its Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI). M83 is a barred spiral galaxy located about 15 million light-years from Earth and is of particular interest to astronomers studying star formation.

The image reveals various features of M83:

• Bright blue regions in the center of the galaxy indicate areas with dense concentrations of stars.
• Bright yellow tendrils extending from the center represent stellar nurseries, where new stars are actively forming.
• Orange-red splashes mark regions rich in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, carbon-based compounds that MIRI's wavelengths are well-suited to detect.

This stunning spiral isn’t a gateway to the abyss. It’s the galaxy M83, as seen through the eyes of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). More specifically, the spaceborne observatory captured this image by tapping into one of its powerful infrared devices, the  Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI).

Also known as NGC 5236, M83 is a barred spiral galaxy located about 15 million light-years from us. It's of particular interest to astronomers trying to learn more about star formation. The James Webb Space Telescope's MIRI is their current tool of choice in that quest because, as its name suggests, it observes the universe through infrared wavelengths between 5,000 and 28,000 nanometers. (By comparison, visible light, or the light human eyes are built to see, has wavelengths between 380 and 750 nanometers.)

This observation of M83 is part of the Feedback in Emerging Extragalactic Star Clusters (FEAST) program, which aims to understand the connection between star formation and stellar feedback in galaxies. Stellar feedback refers to the process in which stars release matter and energy as they form.
By studying this relationship, astronomers can refine their models to gain a better understanding of how stars are born and how they evolve. The FEAST program will include observations of a total of six galaxies, with previous observations, including the galaxy M51, conducted using JWST.

Ahead of Diwali, India's largest commercial bank has joined forces with Reliance to introduce a special card.

 

In Greeting Ocassion of Diwali, SBI Card and the Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Retail have introduced a collaborative venture in the form of a co-branded card, the Reliance SBI Card. This innovative card not only provides an array of enticing rewards but also boasts an eco-friendly feature, being crafted entirely from 100% recycled plastic.

The Reliance SBI Card comes in two distinct variants, namely the Reliance SBI Card and the Reliance SBI Card Prime. The official announcement highlights that customers can look forward to exclusive benefits and offers when making transactions at Reliance Retail stores. These benefits encompass a wide range of sectors, from lifestyle and grocery shopping to consumer electronics, pharmaceuticals, and many more.
Key features and rewards of the Reliance SBI Card include:

• An annual renewal fee of Rs 499, plus applicable taxes.

• Renewal fee waiver upon achieving an annual spending milestone of Rs 1,00,000.

• Earn 1 Reward Point for every Rs 100 spent on various retail purchases, excluding fuel, property rental, and wallet top-ups.

• Receive a Reliance Retail voucher worth Rs 500 upon payment of the joining fees.

• Acquire 5 Reward Points for every Rs 100 spent at participating Reliance Retail Stores (except for UPI payments).

• Get 5 Reward Points for every Rs 100 spent on dining and movie expenses.

• Enjoy additional discount vouchers worth Rs 3,200 from various participating Reliance Retail Stores, delivered within 45 days after the realization of joining fees.

• Qualify for a waiver of renewal fees upon achieving annual spending of Rs 1 Lakh in the previous year.

• Benefit from a 1% fuel surcharge waiver at all petrol pumps.

For the Reliance SBI Card Prime, the rewards and features are even more extensive, including:

• An annual renewal fee of Rs 2,999, plus applicable taxes.

• Renewal fee waiver upon reaching an annual spending milestone of Rs 3,00,000.

• Earn 10 Reward Points for every Rs 100 spent at participating Reliance Retail Stores (except for UPI payments).

• Gain 5 Reward Points for every Rs 100 spent on dining, movies, entertainment, domestic airlines, and international expenditures.

• 
  Earn 2 Reward Points for every Rs 100 spent on various retail purchases, excluding fuel, property rental, and wallet top-ups.

• Receive a Reliance Retail voucher worth Rs 3,000 upon payment of the joining fees.

• Enjoy additional discount vouchers worth Rs 11,999 from various participating Reliance Retail Stores, delivered within 45 days after the realization of joining fees.

• Qualify for a renewal fee waiver upon achieving annual spending of Rs 3 Lakh in the previous year.

• Benefit from a 1% fuel surcharge waiver at all petrol pumps.

• Receive 8 complimentary visits at domestic airport lounges per calendar year, along with 4 complimentary visits at international airport lounges per calendar year.

• Enjoy one movie ticket worth Rs 250 every month when booking through BookMyShow.