NATIONAL NEWS
1. Model temple for turtle conservation:
why in news?
Assam’s Nagshankar temple designated a model temple for turtle conservation
About the Model temple for Turtle Conservation in brief:
- Nagshankar Temple is situated in Biswanath district, near Sootea town, approximately 70 km from Tezpur, Assam.
- Nagshankar Temple is an ancient Hindu shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva
- It is situated on the north bank of the river Brahmaputra.
- It is said to have been built by King Narasankar of Nagakha in the 4th century AD.
- Later on it was repaired by Ahom king Su-sen-pha in 1480.
- The temple premises feature a large pond, which houses 250-300 of the world’s rarest species of turtles.
- The pond also houses critically endangered black softshell turtles.
2. New Electric Locomotive Plant:
Why in news?
India’s first 9000 horsepower (HP) electric locomotive plant of the fridian Railways inaugurated at Dahod in Gujarat
About the Electric Locomotive Plant and its special features in detail:
- This has been built at a cost of Rs 21,405 crores.
- The plant can produce 120 electric engines per year.
- It can be increased to 150 per year.
- The locomotive will be used for freight trains and can transport up to 4600 tonnes of goods.
ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS
3. ‘Kumram Bheem Conservation Reserve’:
Why in news?
Tiger corridor of Kawal notified as ‘Kumram Bheem Conservation Reserve’ by Telangana
About the Kumram Bheem Conservation Reserve in brief:
- The Telangana State government has issued orders declaring the tiger corridor area connecting the Kawal Tiger Reserve in the State with the Tadoba-Andhar
- Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra as ‘Kumram Bheem Conservation Reserve’, as per the provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
- The proposed conservation reserve will be covering the total area of 1492.88 square kilometres.
4. Two wetlands included in Ramsar sites:
Why in news?
Two wetlands in Rajasthan included in Ramsar Sites
About the details of two new Ramsar sites:
- Two more wetlands-Khichan in Phalodi and Menar in Udaipur, both in Rajasthan, have been added to the prestigious list of Ramsar Sites.
- With these additions, India’s total count of Ramsar Sites now stands at 91.
- Bhupender Yadav, Union Cabinet Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, announced the news on X
- Wetlands are areas where water covers the soil or is present either seasonally or throughout the year.
- These ecosystems are vital for maintaining biodiversity, mitigating floods, and filtering pollutants.
- They serve as habitats for a rich variety of plant and animal species-especially birds, fish, and amphibians-and are crucial to the health of the planet.
SCIENCE & TECH NEWS
5. ‘XChat’:
Why in news?
Elon Musk launches ‘XChat’
About the development of ‘XChat’ app and its features:
- The XChat is the in-app direct messaging feature, which will enable users to communicate with friends and followers seamlessly, similar to how we do on WhatsApp, Telegram, Instagram DMs, and others.
- Musk shared an X post revealing the XChat with advanced features such as Bitcoin-style encryption, disappearing messages, and cross-platform audio/video calls.
- This new DM feature could compete with several instant messaging platforms, and could also transform the way we use messaging on the platform.
IMPORTANT DAYS
6. World Environment Day:
Why in news?
World Environment Day is celebrated on June 5th
About the day and its importance:
- The day raises global awareness about environmental issues and encourages action to protect the planet.
- World Environment Day was first established in 1972 during the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment, which marked the beginning of global environmental consciousness.
- The first celebration took place in 1973, and since then, June 5 has become a cornerstone for environmental action.
- The theme of World Environment Day 2025 is ‘Beat Plastic Pollution.’
- For 2025, the Republic of Korea will serve as the global host country for World Environment Day.