Is Facebook At It Again?


What is it? The number of device-markers such as Apple, Amazon, Blackberry, Microsoft and Samsung that Facebook has formed data-partnerships with in the last 10 years.

Why is it important? Facebook reportedly allowed these device firms to access data of users’ friends without their explicit consent, though it had declared that it would not share such information with outsiders. This comes a few weeks after the social media firm found itself in the centre of a dispute over the alleged harvesting and use of personal data of 87 million people, involving London-based elections consultancy Cambridge Analytica.

Tell me more: Facebook, however, has rejected the report and said that this is “very different” from the use of data by third-party developers such as Cambridge Analytica.

$350 million

What is it? The amount of funding raised by GitHub, in two funding rounds, since being formed in February 2008. The last was in 2015, when it was valued at $2 billion.

Why is it important? On Monday, the code repository company popular with the community of software developers for its championing of the open-source model, said it had reached an agreement to be acquired by Microsoft for $7.5 billion in stock. For GitHub, which has never made a profit, this is a way forward. For Microsoft, it’s a return to its earliest roots.

Tell me more: This is yet another significant acquisition by Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, who took charge in February 2014 and whose tenure has seen the Microsoft stock rise three-fold.


What is it? The number of months since MK Jain has been the managing director and chief executive officer of IDBI Bank. On Monday, the government appointed him as a deputy governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

Why is it important? Jain has over 30 years of experience in the banking industry and will be in-charge of the central bank’s supervisory department that is instrumental in cleaning up the banking system. However, his exit from IDBI Bank seems to be a negative for the lender as he was focused on cleaning up its balance sheet and divesting some non-core assets to generate capital. The lender’s shares fell to a two-week low after the announcement.

Tell me more: Jain was selected from nine candidates and after two rounds of interviews. The RBI deputy governor post fell vacant after SS Mundra retired at the end of July 2017.


What is it? The number of modern assault rifles the India Army will reportedly buy.

Why is it important? This is less than a third of its original requirement of 800,000 rifles and the reduced order size is said to be due to budgetary constraints and the need to increase the pace of deliveries. As of July 2017, a majority of the India’s troops were still using the outdated INSAS (Indian Small Arms System) rifles, though the Army had floated a tender for the supply of multi-caliber assault rifles to replace these in 2011.

Tell me more: Of the 450,000 infantry troopers in the defence force, about half of them go into the battleground and use the rifle as their primary weapon.


What is it? The number of singles matches won by Rafael Nadal of Spain.

Why is it important? On Monday, Nadal became only the fifth male tennis player to reach the milestone of 900 singles victories. This elite list is led by Jimmy Connors, who finished his career with 1,256 wins. He is followed by Roger Federer (1,149), Ivan Lendl (1,068) and Guillermo Vilas (949).

Tell me more: Of these five players, Nadal has the best winning percentage (82.8%). He is followed by Federer (82.0%).

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