CURRENT GK
1.Mumbai’s Taj Mahal Palace Hotel acquires ‘Image Trademark’ :-
Mumbai’s Taj Mahal Palace hotel has acquired an ‘image trademark‘ under the Trademark Act of 1999, making it is the first building in the country to acquire intellectual property rights protection for its architectural design.
Henceforth, the image of Taj Mahal Palace hotel’s dome and exterior can be used only with the consent of Taj Hotels Palaces Resorts Safaris.
The hotel which was opened on December 16, 1903, has a distinctive red-tiled Florentine Gothic dome and sits 240 feet above the street level.
- Australia announces online visa applications for Indians from 1 July :-
The Australian government has announced that Indian nationals can apply for a visitor visa online starting 1 July.
There has been a significant increase in demand for Australian visas in India with the rising popularity of Australia as a holiday destination, an official statement said.
It will offer benefits like 24/7 accessibility, electronic payment of the visa application charge and the ability to check the status of applications lodged online, all through the department’s ImmiAccount portal.
3.ISRO to launch Earth Observation Satellite :-
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is all set to launch earth observation satellite Cartosat-2 series weighing 712 kg and 30 nano-satellites using Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).
Out of the 30 nano-satellites, 29 will be of foreign origin and one will be of India’s.
The 29 nano-satellites will be from 14 countries such as Austria, Belgium, Britain, Chile, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, and the US.
These 29 satellites will be launched by ISRO as part of the commercial arrangements between ISRO’s commercial arm, the Antrix Corporation Ltd with these nations.
4.UN chief set to lobby US Congress next week to save funding :-
Drastic cuts in US funding to the United Nations would create an “insolvable problem” for the world body, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said today as he announced plans to lobby US lawmakers to reject the cutbacks.
Guterres will travel to Washington next week to make the case directly to US members of Congress who have the power to amend President Donald Trump’s budget proposals.
- Dr. Harshvardhan Launches Mobile App “Celebrating Yoga”.
Minister for Science & Technology Dr. Harshvardhan launched a Mobile App “Celebrating Yoga” developed by Department of Science & Technology, Ministry of Science & Technology in New Delhi.
The Mobile App has been developed by DST on the occasion of International Yoga Day 2017.
The purpose of the APP is to popularise Yoga and encourage people to participate in it for a scientifically healthy living.
Celebrating Yoga provides a platform to share information and insights about peoples’ participation in Yoga activities on the occasion of the International Yoga Day 2017; create awareness and encourage a scientifically healthy living.
6.Anil Kumble quits, but lines with Virat Kohli snapped long ago :-
Announcing his resignation as head coach of the Indian cricket team, Anil Kumble late Tuesday night said he was informed about the reservations captain Virat Kohli had with his working style “for the first time yesterday”.
But those in the know say communication lines between the two had more or less snapped during the past few months.
7.India and Portugal inks Agreement to Promote Cooperation in The Field of Archives :-
India and Portugal have signed a protocol of cooperation in the field of archives.
The agreement has been signed between the National Archives of India and the Ministry of Culture of the Portuguese Republic in Lisbon, Portugal.
As a part of the Cooperation, the Torre do Tombo (National Archives of Portugal) has handed over digital copies of 62 volumes of the collection known as ‘Moncoes do Reino’ (Monsoon correspondence) to the National Archives of India.
These volumes were originally part of over 456 volumes which is the largest of all record collections in the Goa State Archives.
8.International Yoga Day 2017 :-
Marking the third International Yoga Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took part in the festivities along with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath at Ramabai Rally Ground in Lucknow.
The UN International Day of Yoga is celebrated every year on June 21.
In one of the biggest events in the country, the Prime Minister performed asanas along with other participants in Lucknow.
9.Reliance Defence inks Pact with Serbia’s Yugoimport to Manufacture Ammunition in India :-
Anil Ambani’s Reliance Defence Ammunition which is a subsidiary of Reliance Infrastructure has entered into a strategic partnership with Serbia’s state-run Yugoimport to manufacture ammunition in India.
The joint venture is expected to target business opportunities worth Rs 20,000 crore from Indian armed forces in the next 10 years.
10.Odisha boy punches his way to Guinness record :-
Odisha’s Satyapira Pradhan on Tuesday claimed to have registered his name in Guinness World Records for delivering most number of punches with one hand in one minute.
The record was previously held by Pakistan’s Muhammad Rashid, who had displayed his prowess in Karachi on October 22 last year.
11.Energy Conservation Building Code 2017 Launched :-
Minister of State for Power, Coal, New and Renewable Energy and Mines has launched the Energy Conservation Building Code 2017 (ECBC 2017).
This updated version of the Code prescribes the energy performance standards for new commercial buildings to be constructed across India.
12.Anil Kumble quits as India coach; out of running for contract extension :-
Anil Kumble has quit as Team India cricket coach after leading the team for a little over a year.
The former India spinner and captain did not travel with the team to West Indies where the Men in Blue are scheduled to play five ODIs and a T20I.
The BCCI, in a release, revealed that Cricket Advisory Committee had endorsed Kumble’s extension but the former Indian skipper decided not to continue as coach.
