16 June 2012 Current Affairs
Saudi Crown Prince Nayef dies
Crown Prince Nayef, the hardline interior minister who spearheaded Saudi Arabia's fierce crackdown crushing Al Qaeda's branch in the country after the 9/11 attacks in the United States and then rose to become next in line to the throne, has died. He was in his late 70s.
Across the Niagara Falls on a tightrope
Daredevil Nik Wallenda completes historic high-wire walk, braving blustering winds, heavy spray A daredevil American, Nik Wallenda, became first person in the world to walk on a tightrope across the roaring Niagara Falls, separating U.S. and Canada.
China launched its Fourth Human Spaceflight Shenzhou-9 into Space
China on 16 June 2012 launched its fourth human spaceflight Shenzhou-9 from the Jiuquan satellite launch centre in north-western Gansu state. The 30.3 feet long and 9.1 feet diameter, Shenzhou -9 spacecraft will conduct the first manned docking mission and set the foundation for Chinese plans to build a space station by 2020.
China Sent Its First Woman Astronaut Liu Yang Into Space
Shenzhou-9 space mission also holds significance as its crew members comprise three astronauts including China’s first woman astronaut Liu Yang.Liu Yang, a cargo pilot in the People's Liberation Army air force, is the first Chinese female astronaut, who has been sent on the space mission.
PM Manmohan Singh departs for G-20, Rio+20 summits
Singh will attend the seventh summit of the Group of 20 developed and developing countries (G-20) starting in the Mexican resort town of Los Cabos on June 18 and the Rio+20 Summit in Rio De Janeiro.
Pak Taliban not to allow anti-polio campaign in N. Waziristan
Over 16,000 children below the age of five will miss their polio vaccines in North Waziristan tribal region of Pakistan due to a ban on vaccination campaigns by a powerful Taliban commander.Hafiz Gul Bahadur, the alleged host of the Haqqani network in North Waziristan Agency,militants had decided to ban the vaccination drive as long as US drone strikes continued in the region. This ban is beacause the vaccination campaign was a cover for American spies. The ban will seriously impact polio eradication efforts in Pakistan, which is among three countries where polio is still prevalent.