Current affairs 28 August 2024

India ranked 31st in JLL's Global Real Estate Transparency Index.

• For the first time, India's top real estate markets have entered the transparent zone in Jones Lang LaSalle's Global Real Estate Transparency Index 2024.
• India now ranks 31st out of 89 countries with a composite score of 2.44, marking significant progress.
• The improvement is attributed to the institutionalization of commercial assets and enhanced data access in India's tier-I markets.

Gopichand Thotakura, India's First Civilian Space Tourist, Returns.

• Gopichand Thotakura, India’s first civilian space tourist, receives a warm welcome in New Delhi after his space journey.
• Thotakura was part of Blue Origin’s New Shepard-25 (NS-25) mission, becoming the second Indian citizen to travel to space.
• His successful mission marks a significant milestone in India's space exploration history.

Microplastics Detected in Human Brains Raise Health Concerns.

• Recent studies have found microplastics in human brains, lungs, placenta, reproductive organs, and bone marrow, with the brain showing the highest levels.
• Microplastics make up about 0.5% of brain weight on average, and their presence has increased by 50% over the years, raising concerns about links to diseases like dementia and Alzheimer’s.
• Scientists call for urgent research and action.

NASA Extends Stay of Astronauts Wilmore and Williams Until Feb 2025.

• NASA announces astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams will remain on the ISS until Feb 2025 due to safety concerns with Boeing's Starliner capsule.
• The Starliner will return uncrewed to continue testing, while Wilmore and Williams will return aboard a SpaceX Crew-9 mission.
• NASA Administrator - Bill Nelson

ONGC opened fifth oil-extraction well in Krishna Godavari basin.

• ONGC has commenced production from its fifth well in the KG-DWN-98/2 (KG-D5) deep-sea project in the Krishna Godavari basin, Bay of Bengal, further enhancing oil and natural gas output.
• The project aims to reach peak production of 45,000 barrels of oil per day and 6 million standard cubic meters of gas by March 2025, with a total of 13 oil wells and six gas wells to be operational by then.