1. India to have its own space station: ISRO

• Dr. K. Sivan, Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announce that India plans to have its own space station, and modalities for it will be worked out after the first manned mission, Gaganyaan, scheduled for August 2022,
• Dr. Sivan said the proposed space station is envisaged to weigh 20 tonnes and serve as a facility where astronauts can stay for 15-20 days, and it would be placed in an orbit 400 km above earth.
• The time frame for launch is 5-7 years after Gaganyaan, he added.
• The ISRO would also join the international space community for a manned mission to moon and beyond.

2. Govt. Plans To Raise USD 84 Billion From Airwaves Auction In 2019

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA Government hopes to increase around $83.8 billion (Rs 5.83 trillion rupees) from its latest round of airwaves auction in 2019.
•  The Central government is planning to sell 8,600 megahertz of telecom airwaves across multiple frequency bands. Rs 65,789 crore was raised in the airwaves auction held by the government in 2016-17.
•  Recently, Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad announced the debut auction of fifth-generation (5G) spectrum this year along with trials within 100 days.

3.  2nd Moon Mission Chandrayaan-2 : Two Scientists  Ritu Kridhal And Vanitha

•  For the first time, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has appointed two women scientists – Ritu Karidhal (as mission director) and Muthayya Vanitha (as project director) – to head the India’s second Moon mission Chandrayaan-2.
•  ISRO Chairman K Sivan announced that close to 30 percent of the ISRO team working on Chandrayaan 2 are women.
•  Ritu Karidhal was referred as the ‘Rocket Woman of India‘. She became famous with the launch of the Mars Orbiter Mission where she was the deputy operations director.
•  Muthayya Vanitha received the Best Woman Scientist award in 2006 by the Astronomical Society of India.

4. Recent Reports Says The Global Internet Users Have Touched 3.8 Billion

•  According to the Mary Meeker’s 2019 Internet Trends Report that the global internet users have touched 3.8 billion which is more than half of the world’s population.
• China was found to have the largest internet user base at 21%. The internet users in India are 12%, and the United States are 8%.
•  The report said Asia Pacific region was found to be leading in terms of both the number of users and potential internet users with 53% of users coming from this part of the world.
• Global internet users making 51% of the world’s population is a considerable growth as compared to 29% of the world’s population using the internet in 2009. The report noted a slowdown in the year-on-year growth in the volume of global internet users.

5. World’s Highest Weather Stations Atop Mount Everest

•  Scientists from National Geographic Society and Tribhuvan University installed have installed two highest weather stations in the world in an expedition to Mount Everest that wrapped up in June 2019.
• The two weather monitoring stations are located at an altitude of 8,430 meters (27,657 feet) and 7,945 meters (26,066 feet). Also, three other stations have been set up across the Mount Everest.
•  The nearly two month expedition involved a team of more than 30 scientists from all over the world, including 17 Nepali researchers. The team also collected the world highest ice core sample at 8,020 meters, which will help the scientists study the deep record of precipitation on the mountain and composition of the atmosphere during pre-industrial times.

6. UNCTAD World Investment Report 2019

• According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) World Investment Report 2019, India received foreign direct investments (FDI) worth USD 42 billion in 2018.
• India attracted over 77% of the total foreign direct investments that came to the South Asian region.
•  India’s rank as a source country for FDI dropped one place to the 10th position as it was overtaken by Spain.

7. India Designated As Guest Country at Guadalajara International Book Fair In Mexico

• India designated as the Guest of Honour at the 33rd Feria Internacional del Libro de Guadalajara (Guadalajara International Book Fair) in Mexico, the National Book Trust.
• The book fair organized from November 30 – December 8, India pavilion at the fair will showcase over 35 Indian authors and artists, along with 15 publishing houses.
• India displays a wide array of its rich and composite literary and cultural heritage through literary and academic activities comprising conferences.
•  Ancient and rare manuscripts including “Mahabharata” and “Ramayana” will be put on exhibition, along with photo books, handicrafts, and paintings.
• The exhibition will run parallel to the book fair in the pavilion. They will feature art by 40 renowned Indian women artists including Arpana Caur, Paula Sengupta, and Seema Kohli.
• The “Festival of India” will showcase folk, classical and contemporary cultural programmes.

8. Muzaffarpur (Bihar): Death toll Rises to 66 in Due to Encephalitis

• Muzaffarpur district of Bihar reported death of 69 children due to Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES).
• 130 children have been hospitalised in the district Till now.
• The district Magistrate of Muzaffarpur has announced that for students till class eight, schools will remain closed till June 22 and for students in higher standards, classes will be held only till 10.30 am.
•  Encephalitis is an inflammation or swelling and irritation of the brain.
•  It is also called acute viral encephalitis or aseptic encephalitis.

9.  Virat Kohli is the Only Indian In The List Of Top Paid Athletes

• Indian cricketer Virat Kohli is the only Indian in the Forbes list of world’s highest-paid athletes.
• He has been estimated with an annual earnings of $25 million. According to the report, his earnings are $21 million from endorsements and USD 4 million from salary and winnings for the last 12 months.
• Kohli, the Indian captain, has dropped 17 spots to be 100th in the rankings  despite an increase of $1 million in endorsements. He was ranked 83rd in 2018.
• The list is topped by Barcelona and Argentina football superstar Lionel Messi. Retired boxer Floyd Mayweather has been dethroned by Messi as the sports world’s highest earner, raking in $127 million via salary and endorsement deals.
• Messi’s long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo, the Juventus and Portugal star is second with earnings of $109 million.

10. India Remained At 101 In The Latest FIFA Rankings, Belgium On Top

• The Indian men’s football team remained static at the 101 position in the latest FIFA rankings. India recently participated in King’s Cup in Thailand, in which it lost one match and won the other in the tournament.
• Belgium remained to top the overall FIFA world rankings, followed by France, Brazil, England, and Portugal.
• The Indian team is at the 18th spot among the Asian countries. Iran has become the only Asian country to feature in the top 20 as they moved one spot to finish at the 20th rank.
• FIFA President is Gianni Infantino and Headquarter is Zürich, Switzerland.