16 May 2016 Current Affairs
World Bank Approved $625-million Aid For India’s Solar Programme
The World Bank’s Board has approved $625 million loan to support India’s grid connected rooftop solar programme to generate clean energy. The Board also approved a co-financing loan of $120 million on concessional terms and a $5 million grant from Climate Investment Fund’s (CIF) Clean Technology Fund.
Han Kang Won 2016 Man Booker Prize
South Korean author, Han Kang, on 16 May won the 2016 Man Booker International Prize for her novel ‘The Vegetarian’. With this Han becomes the first South Korean to win this prestigious literary prize. The writer and her British translator Deborah Smith will share the 72,000 dollars prize money. The prize ceremony was held at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. Han’s novel ‘The Vegetarian’ tells a story of a wife (Yeong-hye lead character) who decides to become a vegetarian. The decision provokes cruelty from her husband, and from her father, and obsession from her sister’s husband, as the woman, she dreams obsessively about becoming a tree. The novel was picked unanimously by the panel of five judges chaired by Boyd Tonkin.
5 Indians Posthumously Honoured with UN’s Dag Hammarskjold Medal
“The United Nations announced that four Indian peacekeepers and a civilian will be honoured along with other 124 personnel with a prestigious U.N. medal. Head Constable Shubhkaran Yadav, Rifleman Manish Malik, Havildar Amal Deka, Naik Rakesh Kumar and Gagan Punjabi will be honoured with the Dag Hammarskjold Medal awarded posthumously. The 124 personnel will be honoured on the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers. The day, observed annually on 29 May, will be commemorated this year on 19 May 2016”
India’s Oldest Test Cricketer Shodhan Died
Former Test cricketer Deepak Shodhan, the first Indian to score a memorable ton in his debut innings, died on 16 May 2016. He was 87. India’s oldest living Test cricketer died due to cardiac arrest after a brief battle with lung cancer at his residence in Ahmedabad. He was left-handed batsman and could bowl medium pace. He played just three Tests in all averaging 60-plus. He rescued India from dire straits by scoring 110 not out in his debut innings against Pakistan in the fifth and final drawn Test at Eden Gardens, Kolkata in 1952-53.