Delhi Metro has introduced smart lockers at 50 of its stations

 Delhi Metro has introduced smart lockers at 50 of its stations, allowing commuters to safely store their belongings for a few hours.

This service can be accessed via a new mobile app called 'Momentum 2.0,' launched by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC). The app offers various features beyond locker rentals, including online purchasing from listed e-commerce companies through 'virtual stores,' sending couriers via smart lockers (digi-lockers), and buying QR code-based tickets. DMRC plans to expand these facilities to the majority of its stations by June 2024.

Commuters using 'Momentum 2.0' can rent a 'smart box' (digi-locker) at 50 stations on Lines 1-7 and the Airport Line. The app provides flexibility in rental durations, and users are charged penalties for exceeding the specified time limits.

The digital lockers aim to enhance the commuter experience, offering a convenient and secure place to store belongings during travels. DMRC's collaboration with AutoPe Payment Solutions enables these services, providing commuters with a range of options beyond traditional travel. The digital lockers are app-powered and eliminate the need for physical locks or keys, making the process seamless.

Additionally, the app offers the convenience of making online purchases from virtual stores, courier services, buying QR code-based metro tickets, and even paying utility bills. It also provides information about station-related details, facilities, transportation options, food outlets, ATMs, and more.

Delhi Metro's initiative seeks to make the commuting experience more efficient and user-friendly, incorporating digital solutions for various services.

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.