9th JUNE CURRENT AFFAIRS IN ENGLISH

1. World Oceans Day: 8 June

World Oceans Day is held every year on 8th June to raise awareness of the vital importance of our oceans and the role they play in sustaining a healthy planet.

• The conservation action theme for World Oceans Day 2018 is “Preventing Plastic Pollution and Encouraging Solutions for a Healthy Ocean”. 

2. QS World University Rankings 2019: IIT Bombay, IISc move up

Three Indian universities feature in the top 200 universities of the QS World University rankings 2019.

• These includes-Indian Insitiute of Technology (IIT), Bombay, Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore and IIT Delhi.
• IIT-Bombay is now the top institute in the country at 162 rising 17 positions from 2018, IIT-Delhi retained its 2018 position with a rank of 172 while the Indian Institute of Science has overtaken IIT-Delhi and is ranked 170.
• The list has been topped by Massachusetts Institute of Technology for the seventh year in a row.

3. Andhra Pradesh now is Open Defecation Free (ODF) State

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has announced that the state was now Open Defecation Free (ODF) as it had achieved its goal of constructing 2.77 lakh individual toilets.

• With this achievement, Andhra Pradesh becomes the first large state in the country to be declared as Open Defecation Free.

4. Indian PM leaves for China to attend SCO Summit

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi left for China to attend the two-day Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit that begins Qingdao.

• This will be India's first SCO Summit as a full member.
• Modi will be interacting with leaders of SCO nations and discussing a wide range of subjects with them.

5. Sikkim gets its longest tunnel

Minister of State for Defence Subhash Ramrao Bhamre has inaugurated 578-metre-long Theng Tunnel, the longest in Sikkim.

• Constructed on Gangtok-Chungthang State Highway by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), the double-lane tunnel bypasses a treacherous stretch of road between Sikkim's capital Gangtok and Chungthang, which frequently remains closed due to land slides and shooting stones.
• The tunnel would provide all-weather connectivity, said a Defence Ministry spokesperson.

6. Kalinga Literary Festival begins in Odisha

The 5th edition of the Kalinga Literary Festival kick-started in Bhubaneswar in the presence of eminent personalities from Indian literature, politics, media, and public services.

• Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated the three-day festival.
• He said the event could be a perfect opportunity to showcase the rich heritage of Odia literature and litterateurs.

7. West Bengal Governor KN Tripathi to Hold Additional Charge of Tripura

West Bengal Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi was given the additional charge of Tripura, according to a statement issued by the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

• The President of India has appointed Keshari Nath Tripathi to discharge the functions of the Governor of Tripura, in addition to his own duties, during the absence on leave of Tathagata Roy.

8. Anupam Kher to be given Lifetime Achievement honour at upcoming IIFA awards

Veteran film actor Anupam Kher will be given the prestigious Lifetime Achievement honour at the upcoming International Indian Film Academy awards ceremony in Bangkok.

• He will be presented with the honour on June 24 at the 19th edition of IIFA.
• The 63-year-old actor, has worked in over 500 films spanning across languages along with projects both in India and abroad for over three decades.