National News

“10 Years of PMSMA – A Decade of Care” Campaign

• Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda launched nationwide celebrations to commemorate “10 Years of PMSMA – A Decade of Care”, in New Delhi, which marks the completion of ten years of successful implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan.

Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan

Zojila Tunnel

• The Zojila Tunnel achieved its final breakthrough blast, marking the completion of the most challenging excavation phase of the 13.15-km project and bringing year-round all-weather connectivity between the Kashmir Valley and Ladakh significantly closer to reality.

Highlights

• Length: It is a 13.15-kilometer passage, making it Asia's longest bi-directional road tunnel.
• Altitude: Situated at a staggering elevation of 11,578 feet above sea level beneath the treacherous Zoji-La Pass.
• Design: Built as a 9.5-meter wide, horseshoe-shaped single-tube with a two-lane road and dedicated emergency walkways.
• Methodology: Constructed by Megha Engineering & Infrastructures Limited (MEIL) using the advanced New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM) to navigate fragile Himalayan geology.

STATE SPECIAL NEWS

Regional Meteorological Centre at Lucknow

• Union Minister of State Dr. Jitendra Singh and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched India's 8th Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) in Lucknow.
• The facility upgrades the existing India Meteorological Department (IMD) Meteorological Centre in Amausi to full regional status and it will also cater directly to the weather monitoring, forecasting, and warning needs of both Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
• The upgrade aligns with the central government's newly initiated 'Mission Mausam'. Under this vision, India is targeting the deployment of nearly 100 Doppler Weather Radars nationwide within the next two years to build a highly climate-resilient and weather-ready nation.

Uttar Pradesh

Special Court of National Investigation Agency in Manipur

• Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh inaugurated Exclusive Special Court of National Investigation Agency (NIA) at Thoubal District Court Complex in Khangabok of Thoubal district.

CSIR-CRRI, Haryana Govt Signed Agreement

• The CSIR-Central Road Research Institute (CSIR-CRRI) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with the Government of Haryana for the implementation of a project titled the Implementation of the Standard Framework for Paving and Greening of Urban Roads for Haryana in New Delhi.
• The project will be implemented jointly by CSIR-CRRI and the School of Planning and Architecture in collaboration with the Government of Haryana under the guidance of the Commission for Air Quality Management.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Armenia's parliamentary election

• Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s ruling Civil Contract party has secured victory in Armenia's parliamentary election, capturing 49.81% of the total vote.
• This election serves as a pivotal moment for the country, reinforcing its recent geopolitical shift toward Western alliances and away from its traditional ties with Russia.

Armenia

Chinese President Xi Jinping visited North Korea

• Chinese President Xi Jinping undertook a two-day state visit to Pyongyang, North Korea, from June 8–9, 2026, marking his first visit to the country in seven years and his first overseas trip of the year.

Strategic Pledges and Cooperation

• "New Historical Starting Point": Marking the 65th anniversary of the 1961 China–North Korea Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance (China’s only active mutual defense pact), both leaders declared that bilateral ties have entered a new era.
• Expanded Collaboration: President Xi stated China's willingness to significantly boost strategic coordination and expand practical cooperation in commerce, trade, agriculture, technology, and defense infrastructure.
• Omission of Denuclearisation: Observers noted that public readouts completely omitted any mention of the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula. This underscores a structural shift where Beijing increasingly treats Pyongyang as a strategic asset to buffer regional U.S. alliances.

China (People's Republic of China)