Current affairs AUGUST 6TH

1. July 2019 confirmed as the hottest month ever recorded

According to scientists at the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service, July 2019 was the warmest month on record for the planet.

• Citing the Climate Change Programme, which analyses temperature data from around the planet, CNN reported that July was around 0.56 ℃ warmer than the global average temperature between 1981-2010.
• That is slightly hotter than July 2016, when the world was on the receiving end of the El Nino effect.
• The effects of El Nino are characterised by warming of the ocean waters in the Pacific Ocean and have a pronounced warming effect on the Earth's average temperature.

2. Article 370 and 35-A revoked from Jammu & Kashmir

The government revoked Article 370 which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir and proposed that the state be bifurcated into two union territories, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

• Union Home Minister Amit Shah moved a resolution in the Rajya Sabha that Article 370, which allowed Jammu and Kashmir to have its own Constitution, will no longer be applicable.
• Shah also moved a bill proposing bifurcation of the state of Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories -Jammu and Kashmir division and Ladakh.
• The union territory in Ladakh will have no legislature like Chandigarh. The other union territory of Jammu and Kashmir will have a legislature like Delhi and Puducherry.

3. Bill to increase the number of SC judges passed in Lok Sabha

The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha.

• The bill proposes an increase in the number of judges in Supreme Court from 30 to 33 excluding the Chief Justice of India.
• It seeks to address the rising pendency of cases in the apex court.
• The Judges will also be entitled to the use of the rent-free official residence.

4. International Army Scout Masters Competition kicks off in Jaisalmer

The fifth edition of "International Army Scout Masters Competition" was kicked off in Jaisalmer.

• Jaisalmer military station is hosting the competition, which is happening as part of the international Army games.
• A total of eight countries comprising of China, Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Sudan are participating in the event including the Indian Army team.
• The event commenced on August 5 and will continue till August 16, 2019.

5. 2nd All India annual conference of IIS officers held in New Delhi

2nd All India Annual Conference of Indian Information Service Officers was held in New Delhi. 

• Over 150 senior IIS officers from across the country attended the conference.
• The conference discussed integrated communication approaches, regional expansion of social media, and impact assessment of Govt communication.
• IIS Officers are the eyes and ears of the government.

Points to remember

• Union I&B Minister: Prakash Javadekar

6. Lalit Kala Akademi celebrates 65th Foundation Day

National Academy of Art, Lalit Kala Akademi, celebrated its 65th Foundation Day in New Delhi on 4 August 2019.

• The event was inaugurated by Culture and Tourism Minister Prahlad Singh Patel.
• Lalit Kala Akademi or National Academy of Art was established in New Delhi in 1954 by the government to promote and propagate understanding of Indian art, in and outside the country. 
• The Academy provides scholarships, fellowship programmes and organizes art-related exhibitions in India and overseas.

7. Mohali gets a first 3-D traffic signal

In a first-of-its-kind initiative in the country, Mohali traffic police have launched 3-D Smart Traffic Signal devised by the students of a Chandigarh university.

• The wireless system, called 'Intelights', has been installed at the traffic crossing near the Airport Road.
• The system will regulate traffic signals with a smart bird's eye view wireless sensor system.
• The system, which was devised by the students over three years of intensive research, was in the test trial phase for the last eight months before its final launch.
• The system uses existing CCTV cameras to gather live traffic video feed, and automatically evaluates the traffic density using Artificial Intelligence, and sets the signal timers accordingly.

8. Lewis Hamilton wins F1’s Hungarian GP

Lewis Hamilton regained the momentum in the world championship with a memorable strategic victory on over Max Verstappen to win the Hungarian Grand Prix.

• The 34-year-old defending five-time world champion started third on the grid in his Mercedes.
• It was Hamilton's record seventh win in Hungary, his eighth this year and the 81st of his career.

9. Former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum retires from all forms of cricket

Former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum will retire from all forms of competitive cricket after the conclusion of the ongoing Global T20 Canada.

• McCullum, who is playing for Toronto Nationals, had retired from all forms of international cricket in 2016 but continued to ply his trade in various T20 leagues across the globe.
• The 37-year-old former New Zealand skipper has played 101 Tests in which he scored 6453 runs with 12 hundred and the highest score of 302.
• In 260 ODIs, he scored 6083 runs with five hundred while 71 T20 Internationals fetched him 2140 runs.

10. New Zealand retires Vettori's ODI jersey No.11

New Zealand Cricket on retired spin legend Daniel Vettori's jersey no. 11 as a mark of respect to the much-admired former captain's achievements.

• In fact, it's not just Vettori, NZC will retire the jerseys of all those cricketers who have represented the Black Caps in more than 200 ODIs.
• Players that represent New Zealand in 200 ODIs have their shirt number retired.
• Daniel Vettori who wore number 11 has played the most ODIs for New Zealand with 291 matches.
• Vettori was the captain of New Zealand from 2007 to 2011.