As is well known, simultaneous rational approximations to the values of smooth functions of real variables involve counting and/or understanding the distribution of rational points lying near the manifold parameterised by these functions. I will discuss recent results in this area regarding lower bounds for the Hausdorff dimension of $\tau$-approximable values, where $\tau\geq \geq 1/n$ is the exponent of approximations. In particular, I will describe a very recent development for non-degenerate maps as well as a recently introduced simple technique based on the so-called Mass Transference Principle that surprisingly requires no conditions on the functions except them being $C^2$.