28 December 2017 - Daily Current Affairs

28 December 2017 - Daily Current Affairs

Anushka Sharma named PETA’s Person of the Year

• Bollywood actress ‘Anushka Sharma’ has been named PETA's Person of the Year by animal rights organization People for Ethical Treatment of Animals.
• Anushka’s recent efforts to protect animals include launching her cruelty-free NUSH clothing line, visiting an animal shelter and promoting its work on her social media platforms, launching a campaign called PAWsitive to raise awareness of the suffering fireworks cause to animals.
• In 2015, she was named PETA's Hottest Vegetarian Celebrity.

Note:

• People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is an American animal rights organization based in Norfolk, Virginia.
• Its slogan is ‘Animals are not ours to eat, wear, experiment on, use for entertainment, or abuse in any other way’.

K S Chitra bags 'Harivarasanam' Award

• Veteran playback singer K S Chitra has been selected for prestigious 'Harivarasanam' award 2017'.
• She has been selected for the award in recognition of her contribution to propagating the spirit of secularism, equanimity and universal brotherhood
• The award carrying a cash prize of Rs. one lakh, citation, and plaque would be presented at a function on 14^th January 2018.

Note: 'Harivarasanam' awards were instituted in 2012 by the Kerala government.

Abhay appointed Director General of Narcotics Control Bureau

• Senior IPS officer Abhay (1986-batch of Odisha Cadre) has been appointed as the Director General (DG) of Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) till 18^th November 2019.
• Currently, he is working in Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
• The post was lying vacant after R R Bhatnagar took over as DG of CRPF in April this year.

Note:

• The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) is the nodal drug law enforcement and intelligence agency of India responsible for fighting drug trafficking and the abuse of illegal substances.
• It is Headquartered in New Delhi.

Music legend Robbie Malinga passes away

• Legendary South African musician Robbie Malinga passed away.
• In 2016, he announced his retirement as a solo artist, after more than 20 years in the industry.
• The musician is known for his hit songs such as, ‘Sobabili’, ‘Mthanda’ and ‘Baby Please’.

The creator of Bug Bunny Bob Givens passes away

• Bob Givens (99-year), one of the animators behind designing the iconic characters Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd passed away in Burbank, California.
• He is known for his work as a storyboard artist on the TV series Linus! The Lion Hearted and as a graphic designer on the show Baggy Pants and the Nitwits.
• Givens served in the US army during the Second World War, before returning to the animation industry.

Gujarat CM inaugurates National Children Science Congress in Ahmedabad

• The Chief Minister of Gujarat Vijay Rupani has inaugurated the five-day National Children Science Congress (25th) in Ahmedabad.
• The theme of the Congress is 'Science and Innovation for Sustainable Development' with the special focus on persons with disabilities.
• The event has witnessed various activities such as hands-on demonstrations, presentations by child scientists, poster session, and cultural programmes.
• This year around 50 children and teachers from Asian nations have participated in the event.

Govt not to levy GST on disbursement of Viability Gap Funding extended to select airlines

• The union govt. has decided not to levy the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on disbursement of Viability Gap Funding (VGF) extended to select airlines under the regional connectivity scheme (RCS).
• Disbursement of the VGF will be exempt from the GST for a period of one year since the commencement of RCS operations to any of the 13 airports which have been connected since the scheme came into effect.
• The ministry is levying Rs. 5,000 per flight on key routes and proceeds from this route are estimated to be around Rs. 200 crores annually towards the VGF.

Note:

• VGF is a one-time grant provided to support infrastructure projects that are economically justified but fall short of financial viability.
• The RCS with an objective is to make flying affordable for the masses with airfares capped at 2,500 rupees per hour of flight.

India and Afghanistan launch second air cargo route, linking Kabul with Mumbai

• Mumbai received the first cargo of fruit from Kabul, Afghanistan.
• Now, Afghanistan has been connected through long-distance trade with the western part of India.
• The first consignment comes after Kabul-New Delhi the second air corridor between Afghanistan and India was opened by sending fruits from the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul.
• It will allow Afghan businessmen to leverage India's economic growth and trade networks for its benefit.

Note:

• Earlier in 2016, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Afghanistan leader had decided on opening direct air corridor.
• Afghanistan has so far exported 1,640 tons fresh and dried fruits, carpets and medical herbs in 56 flights to India.

Anisa wins women's 25m pistol with new national record

• Haryana shooter ‘Anisha Sayyad’ has won the women’s 25m pistol gold with a new record at the 61^st national shooting championship competitions in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
• She shot a new finals national record score of 33 in the eight-woman final.
• Shital Shivaji Thorat (silver medal) shot 30, claim a new finals national record while Rahi Sarnobat (bronze medals) finished with 28.

Association of Indian Football Coaches (AIFC) launched in Mumbai

• The Association of Indian Football Coaches (AIFC) has been launched with the recognition of the All India Football Association (AIFA) to provide a platform for the coaches in Mumbai.
• The objective of the AIFC is to make it 65,000 coaches in the next five years.
• It is not a union and they will work with AIFF and supported by Sporting Lions Foundation.
• The board of directors of the newly floated coaches body comprises I M Vijayan (former India captain), former international players Derrick Pereira, Sanjoy Sen and Thangboi Singto.