Current affairs 19 July 2024

NASA discovered 6 new planets outside Solar System, creates history.

• Scientists have discovered six new exoplanets — HD 36384 b, TOI-198 b, TOI-2095 b, TOI-2095 c, TOI-4860 b, and MWC 758 c. All of them are outside the Solar System.
• HD 36384 b, a super-Jupiter, orbits an enormous M giant star nearly 40 times the size of our Sun.
• By March 2022, the number of discovered exoplanets surpassed the 5,000 mark and now it stands at 5,502.

India Inaugurates First Overseas Jan Aushadi Kendra in Mauritius.

• S Jaishankar has inaugurated India's 1st overseas Jan Aushadi Kendra in Mauritius.
• Jaishankar, along with Mauritian PM Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, inaugurated the Jan Aushadi Kendra as part of India's commitment to provide affordable, Made-in-India medicines.
• The Mediclinic at Grand Bois, also inaugurated during the visit, symbolizes strengthened India-Mauritius relations in healthcare.

Belarus to Implement Visa-Free Policy for 35 European Countries.

• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus will introduce a visa-free policy for 35 European countries.
• Citizens from 35 countries, including members of the EU and the UK, can stay in Belarus for 30 days without a visa.
• Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko supports citizens of European countries to temporarily enter and stay in Belarus through road and rail checkpoints without a visa.

FIFA Rankings: India Holds 124th Position, Argentina Leads.

• India remains at 124th in FIFA men's rankings despite recent setbacks in World Cup qualifiers.
• Argentina secures top spot after successful defense of Copa America title.
• India's ranking has slipped since last year's peak at 99, currently 22nd in Asia, trailing Lebanon, Palestine, and Vietnam.
• The top 5 ranked nations:Argentina, France, Spain, England, Brazil.

Indian Scientists Prahlad Agrawal and Anil Bhardwaj Honored at COSPAR.

• Prahlad Chandra Agrawal receives the Harrie Massey Award for leadership in space research at COSPAR's 45th scientific assembly.
• Anil Bhardwaj, director of Ahmedabad's Physical Research Laboratory, was awarded the Vikram Sarabhai Medal for outstanding space science research in developing nations.
• This medal was instituted jointly by COSPAR and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).