TAMILNADU NEWS
1. ‘Greater Flamingo Sanctuary’:
Why in news?
Tamil Nadu notifies ‘Greater Flamingo sanctuary’ at Dhanushkodi
About the New Flamingo sanctuary and its Geographical location:
- Greater Flamingo Sanctuary is located in Dhanushkodi in Ramanathapuram district of Tamil Nadu.
- This sanctuary aims to protect migratory bird habitats and enhance biodiversity in the region.
- Recent surveys have recorded over 10,700 wetland birds, including 128 species.
- Notable species include Greater and Lesser Flamingos, herons, and sandpipers.
- Spanning 524.7 hectares, it is an important part of the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve.
IMPORTANT APPOINTMENTS
2. Director of Prime Ministers Museum and Library_(PMML):
Why in news?
Ashwani Lohani appointed as Director of Prime Ministers Museum and Library_(PMML)
About Prime Ministers Museum and Library:
- Ashwani Lohani will replace interim director Lily Pandeya.
- Ashwani Lohani is former Chairman and Managing Director of Air India and ex-Chairman of the Railway Board.
About Lohani and his career success rate:
- Lohani is a 1980-batch officer of the Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineering (IRSME) and is known for organisational turnarounds during his career.
- The seasoned bureaucrat also holds several notable acclaims.
- He had entered the Limca Book of Records for having four engineering degrees -mechanical, electrical, metallurgical, and electronics and telecommunication – from the Institution of Engineers (India), Kolkata.
- He also earned a place in the Guinness Book of World Records for successfully reviving and operating the ‘Fairy Queen’, recognised as the world’s oldest working steam locomotive.
AWARDS & HONOURS
3. Knighthood in King Charles III’s birthday:
Why in news?
David Beckham to receive Knighthood in King Charles III’s birthday
About the Knighthood award and its importance:
- On 09 June 2025, David Beckham is set to receive a knighthood in King Charles’s birthday honours, recognizing his contributions to football and charity.
- Beckham played football 115 times for his country, England.
- The former England football captain, aged 50, was appointed an officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2003.
- Beckham has been a UNICEF special ambassador for 20 years and recently received the World Economic Forum Crystal Award for his advocacy on children’s rights.
SCIENCE & TECH NEWS
4. India officially_grants Starlink access to India
Why in news?
- In a major boost to satellite-based internet connectivity in India, Elon Musk’s Starlink has secured the Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) licence from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT).
- With this approval, Starlink will become the third company authorized to provide satellite communication services in India, alongside Bharti Airtel-backed OneWeb and Reliance Jio’s Satellite Communications.
SPORTS NEWS
5. Norway chess 2025:
Why in news?
Magnus Carlsen clinches Norway Chess 2025
About Norway chess 2025 and its criteria:
- Norwegian grandmaster and world number 1, Magnus Carlsen, has won his seventh Norway Chess tournament 2025 title.
- American Grandmaster Fabiano Caruana secured 2nd spot.
- India’s D Gukesh finished the tournament with 3rd place.
- In the women’s event, Ukraine’s Anna Muzychuk clinched the title.
- China’s Lei Tingjie was second followed by India’s Koneru Humpy.
DEFENCE NEWS
6. Rafale Production Unit:
Why in news?
Dassault Aviation ties up with Tata for Rafale production
About the partnership in Rafale Production unit:
- French aerospace major Dassault Aviation and India’s Tata Advanced Systems Limited have signed four agreements to jointly manufacture the fuselage of Rafale fighter aircraft in Hyderabad, Telangana.
- This will mark production of the critical component of Rafale for the first time outside France.