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1. China launches the first private rocket capable of carrying satellites A Chinese startup successfully launched the country’s first commercial rocket capable of carrying satellites into orbit. Beijing-based Interstellar Glory Space Technology, also known as iSpace, said it launched two satellites into orbit from Jiuquan, a state launch facility in the Gobi desert. The three-year-old company is one of the dozens of Chinese rivals jostling for a slice of the global space industry, estimated to be worth about $1 trillion by 2040 according to Morgan Stanley. The sector is currently dominated by SpaceX and Blue Origin in the US. 2. Pakistan to send its first man to space in 2022 Pakistan announced that it will send its first astronaut to space in 2022 using close ally China's satellite launching facilities. Pakistan's decision came as India successfully launched its second lunar mission Chandrayaan-2. Fawad Chaudhry, Minister for Science and Technolo...

1. 20th Anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas: 26 July 2019 The 20th Anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas is being celebrated on 26 July 2019. The day is named after the successful Operation Vijay in 1999 when India regained the control of the high outposts which had been stealthily taken over by Pakistan. The Kargil war was fought for more than 60 days and ended with India regaining control of all the previously held territory. The central theme of this year's celebrations is ‘Remember, Rejoice and Renew’. 2. President Kovind to visit 3 West African nations from July 28 President Ram Nath Kovind will embark on a week-long visit to three West African nations- Benin, The Gambia and Guinea- from July 28 to August 3. India's diplomatic relations with Africa have undergone an unprecedented transformation in the last five years. This will be the first high-level visit for our Head of State from India to all the three countries in West Africa. Points to remember...

        1. Facebook slapped with 5 billion US Dollar fine for users' privacy violation US regulators formalized a record 5 billion US Dollar fine on Facebook for violation of users' privacy in the Cambridge Analytica data scandal involving 87 million users.  The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) said the penalty was the largest ever imposed on any company for violating consumers' privacy and one of the largest penalties ever assessed by the US government for any violation. The FTC initiated the investigation after a scandal involving former British consulting firm Cambridge Analytica, which was accused of illegally accessing data of more than 87 million Facebook users without their prior knowledge. 2. India jumps 5 places to 52nd rank in global innovation index 2019 India improved its rank in the Global Innovation Index to 52nd, in 2019, making a significant jump of 5 places in a year. It was at 57th position in 2018. The Index rank...

1. Bangladesh scientists develop a method to convert Jute fibre into low-cost bio-degradable cellulose sheets Scientists in Bangladesh have developed a method to convert Jute fibre into low-cost bio-degradable cellulose sheets named 'Sonali'. These sheets can be used as wrapping material and carrying bag. The physical qualities of the invented jute fibre and plastic are quite similar. The Eco-friendly jute poly bags made up of Sonali can be used in garments and food packaging work and they are not harmful to human health. 2. National Income Tax Day: 24 July July 24 is celebrated as the 'Income Tax Day'. This tax was first levied as a duty on this day in the year 1860 and the authority to levy it came into force on July 24 of that year. The income tax department is one of the largest organisations of the central government with over 58,000 personnel spread across 745 offices in 540 locations throughout the country. 3. Lok Sabha passes Motor...