Henley Passport Index 2024

• In geopolitics, the potency of a nation's passport serves as a crucial indicator of its soft power.
• The Henley Passport Index evaluates countries' passport strength.
• In 2024 France is leading the Index, granting visa-free entry to 194 nations.
• India, however, dropped one spot to 85th this year, despite an increase in the number of countries offering visa-free access to its citizens.

NASA and JAXA Set to Launch World’s First Wooden Satellite

• In a partnership between National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) have decided to launch world’s first wooden satellite.
• The name of the wooden satellite is LignoSat probe.
• It is crafted by researchers from Kyoto University in collaboration with Sumitomo Forestry.
• This initiative aims to transform space exploration practices by placing sustainability at the forefront.

India Wins Gold at 2024 Badminton Asia Team Championships

• On 18^th February 2024 in Selangor, Malaysia, the Indian women's badminton team etched their names in history by clinching the Badminton Asia Team Championships.
• It marks India's first-ever win of the esteemed continental team championship title in the sport's championship.
• PV Sindhu, Gayatri Gopichand-Treesa Jolly, and the teenager Anmol Kharb each secured victories in their respective matches, propelling India to a 3-2 triumph in the final held in Shah Alam.
• Despite a tense back-and-forth battle, India surged to a 2-0 lead before Thailand leveled the score at 2-2, setting the stage for a decisive showdown.

MS Dhoni Named Captain of IPL's All-Time Greatest Team

• To honour the success of the Indian Premier League (IPL) since its establishment in 2008, the former Indian captain and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) icon MS Dhoni has been named as the captain of the all-time greatest IPL team.
• A selection committee consisting of former cricketing stars Wasim Akram, Matthew Hayden, Tom Moody, and Dale Steyn, in addition to input from 70 journalists, has finalized the 15-member squad.
• As the IPL prepares to commemorate 16 years since its inaugural auction on February 20, 2024, it reflects on the remarkable ascent of Dhoni within the league.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti 2024

• Every year 19^th February marks the commemoration of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti.
• This year signifies the 394th birth anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
• Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, originally named Shivaji Bhosale, hailed from the Bhonsle Maratha clan and was born in 1630 at Shivneri Fort.