CURRENT AFFAIRS AUGUST 23

1. International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition: 23 August

International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition is observed every year on 23 August.

• The day designated by UNESCO to memorialize the transatlantic slave trade.
• The day provides a chance to think about the historic causes and the consequences of the slave trade.

2. UN chief Guterres says 'deeply concerned' by Amazon fires

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that he was "deeply concerned" by wildfires that have devoured large sections of the Amazon rainforest, blanketing several Brazilian cities in thick smoke.

• Amazon, the world's largest rainforest and a bulwark against climate change, has been ravaged by thousands of fires in the last week.
• The smoke from the resulting fires hangs at the horizon like a fog.
• About 73,000 fires have been detected by Brazil's space research centre. It's a record number - and an 85% increase compared to last year.
• Points to remember
• Amazon forest location: Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Guyana, Suriname, France (French Guiana)

3. Russia launches a rocket carrying life-sized robot to International Space Station

Russia launched a rocket carrying life-sized robot to the International Space Station (ISS) from Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

• The robot, named Fedor is the first-ever sent into space by Russia.
• In order to test a new emergency rescue system, the robot was the Soyuz rocket's only passenger.
• During its 10 days at the ISS, Fedor will learn new skills such as connecting and disconnecting electric cables, using standard items from a screwdriver and a spanner to a fire extinguisher.

4. Government to launch ‘Bharatcraft’ portal to help MSMEs

The government is planning to launch an e-commerce project called 'Bharatcraft' for micro small and medium enterprises (MSME).

• The proposed platform could generate a turnover of Rs 10 trillion over the next few years.
• MSME sector is likely to contribute 50 per cent to the total GDP in the next five years.
• At present, the sector currently contributes 29 per cent to the country's GDP and employs 110 million people.
• The government had launched the 'Udyog Mitra' portal to ease of access to MSMEs financial and non-financial service needs.

5. Shripad Yesso Naik inaugurates two-day National Conference on Varmam Science in Chennai

Shripad Yesso Naik inaugurated the two-day National Conference on Varmam Science, a part of the Siddha system of medicine in Chennai.

• He said that all Indian traditional medical systems are being promoted by the Centre to ensure holistic health care.
• 'Varmam' is a constituent of the Siddha system of medicine, that also doubles up as a martial art.
• The national conference is being organized by the National Institute of Siddha in Chennai.

6. Amit Shah chairs 24th meeting of Western Zonal Council in Goa

Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired the 24th meeting of Western Zonal Council at Panaji in Goa.

• It is a forum for the Centre and states to exchange ideas on issues like health, security and social welfare.
• Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, Goa Chief minister Pramod Sawant and representatives from the Union Territories of Daman and Diu, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli attended the meeting.
• Resolution of Transfer of Land issues with Maharashtra, Gujarat and UT of Daman Diu, and Utilisation of funds for police modernisation were discussed in the meeting.

7. Akshay Kumar 4th on Forbes highest-paid actors list

National Award-winning actor Akshay Kumar has made it to the fourth position on the Forbes magazine's Worlds Highest-Paid Actors Of 2019 list.

• According to the list on forbes.com Akshay has raked in $65 million.
• Hollywood star Dwayne 'Rock' Johnson tops the Forbes list of the 10 highest-paid actors, collecting $89.4 million between June 1, 2018, and June 1, 2019.
• Australian actor Chris Hemsworth took the second spot with $76.4 million.

8. WADA suspends the accreditation of NDTL for six months

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has suspended the accreditation of India's National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL) for six months.

• It is understood that National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) can still carry on with sample collection of blood and urine but will have to get it tested by a different WADA accredited laboratory outside India during the suspension period of NDTL.
• This suspension has been imposed due to non-conformities with the International Standard for Laboratories (ISL).
• The suspension, which took effect on 20 August 2019, prohibits the NDTL from carrying out any anti-doping activities, including all analyses of urine and blood samples.

9. Ajay Kumar Bhalla appointed as new Home Secretary

The government-appointed Ajay Kumar Bhalla as new Home Secretary.

• He belongs to 1984 batch of Assam Meghalaya cadre of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and is currently serving as Officer on Special Duty in Home Ministry.
• He succeeds Rajiv Gauba who will move out as Cabinet Secretary.

10. Vikram Rathour to replace Sanjay Bangar as India's new batting coach

Former opener Vikram Rathour will replace Sanjay Bangar as India's new batting coach.

• Also, Bharath Arun and R. Sridhar were retained as bowling and fielding coaches.
• The 50-year-old Rathour has played six Tests and seven ODIsin 1996 without much success but was a domestic heavyweight for Punjab.
• Till 2016, he was a senior national selector under Sandeep Patil's chairmanship.