Current affairs 18 June 2024

Chinese scientists discover new pattern of solar rotation.

• Chinese scientists, using the Chinese H-alpha Solar Explorer (CHASE) satellite, discovered a new pattern in solar atmospheric rotation, finding that the sun's rotational speed increases with altitude.
• The CHASE satellite was launched in October 2021 and has a design life of three years.
• It is in place in a locked orbit around Earth keeping it in the same fixed position relative to the sun.

India to host its first-ever multination air exercise "Tarang Shakti".

• The Indian Air Force will host its first-ever multination air exercise Tarang Shakti 2024.
• The countries sending their air force combat contingents are the US, the UK, Australia, France, Germany, Japan, Singapore and the UAE.
• The exercise will be held in two phases.
• 1st Phase: Southern part of India on August
• 2nd Phase: mid-September

Punjab police launch "Mission Nishchay" in border villages of Punjab.

• Punjab Police, in collaboration with BSF and VDCs, is conducting a one-week anti-drug drive, Mission Nishchay, in Fazilka district, targeting 42 border villages to gather intelligence on drug demand and supply.
• The initiative focuses on community participation, particularly involving youth and women, to combat drug issues along the 108 km Fazilka section of the India-Pakistan border.

Gretchen Walsh breaks world record in 100m butterfly.

• Gretchen Walsh Sets World Record in 100m Butterfly at 2024 US Olympic Swimming Trials.
• Walsh clocked 55.18 seconds in the 100-meter women's butterfly.
• Walsh's time beat out Swedish swimmer Sarah Sjöström, who recorded the previous fastest time of 55.48 seconds at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, by more than half of a second.

VP Dhankhar inaugurates Prerna Sthal to honor Indian icons.

• Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar inaugurated the Prerna Sthal — a dedicated area in the Parliament complex for statues of freedom fighters and other country icons.
• The main objective of the construction of Prerna Sthal is that these statues within the Parliament complex should be installed in one place.
• Congress President: Mallikarjun Kharge
• Lok Sabha Speaker: Om Birla