Daily Updates 30th July

1. Microsoft launches most awaited Windows 10

• US Software giant Microsoft launched its new operating system Windows-10 with a host of new features. It was launched by Microsoft’s CEO Satya Nadella at Kenya.
• Windows-10 will be available in 190 countries as a free upgrade or with new PCs and tablets.
• Cortana: Microsoft’s voice-based smart assistant similar to Apple’s Siri and Google’s Iris.
• Xbox app:for gaming
• Microsoft Edge: new web browser which has replaced Microsoft’s Internet Explorer.
• Windows Hello: It will offer a fast, password-free, secured way to log in with face recognition.
• Enhanced Windows Defender and SmartScreen : It will help to safeguard against viruses, malware and phishing.

2. Kotak bank launches ‘Kotak Bharat’ mobile banking app

• Kotak Mahindra Bank (KMB) launched a mobile banking app ‘Kotak Bharat’ to provide mobile banking services to customers in the remote region of India.
• The Android-based app is specifically designed to provide banking service to customers in the under-banked and un-banked regions with provision to use service in their preferred language.
• Initially the service will be provided in Hindi and English language and would also be available in Marathi, Gujarati, Tamil and Kannada in few months.
• Customers can manage their savings/current accounts and credit cards through this app.

3. Debjani Ghosh takes charge as new MAIT President

• Debjani Ghosh took charge as new president of MAIT (the Manufacturers’ Association for Information Technology), the apex body of India’s Information technology hardware industry.
• Ghosh is the first woman President of MAIT since its inception 32 years ago.  She will succeed Amar Babu the chief operation officer at Lenovo for Asia Pacific and chairman of Lenovo India.
• She was among the 25 Most Powerful Women by Fortune India in 2013.Gosh also chairs the IT Committee at the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).
• MAIT was set up in 1982, is the top most IT hardware body in India which is associated with Hardware design, training and research and development of IT hardware sector.

4. Gujarat makes voting compulsory in local body polls

• Gujarat became the first state to have a provision for compulsory voting with the state government on Monday putting out a notification in this regard.
• Besides making voting mandatory in the local body polls, the communiqué announced the reservation of 50 per cent seats for women in municipal corporations, municipalities, and village panchayats.
• With the government notifying the Gujarat Local Authorities Act(Amendment) 2009, a voter in the state would now invite punitive action in case he or she fails to vote in the local body elections without any acceptable reason.

5. 1993 Mumbai serial blast convict Yakub Memon hanged

• Yakub Abdul Razak Memon, the only covict in 1993 Mumbai blast has been put to death in Nagpur jail around 7:00 AM IST on 30 July 2015.
• Yakub Memon was the brother of one of the prime suspects in the bombings, Tiger Memon. He was a Chartered Accountant.
• According to Indian authorities, Memon financially assisted his brother Tiger Memon and Dawood Ibrahim in planning and executing the bombings.
• While in prison, he has studied at Indira Gandhi National Open University and earned two master’s degrees. The first, in 2013, in English literature and the second degree, in 2014, in political science.

6. Eminent vocalist Vasundhara Komkali passes away in Dewas

• Prominent Indian classical vocalists Vasundhara Komkali (85- years) passed away on her residence in Dewas, Madhya Pradesh.
• She is the wife of eminent musician late Pandit Kumar Gandhrav.
• She received training in Indian classical music by Pt. Kumar Gandharva (her husband) and Dr. BR Deodhar. She was recognized with several awards, including prestigious Padma shri award.