Today's Current Affairs 2nd August 2023

NATIONAL

India to host World Coffee Conference in Bengaluru

• India is set to host the 5th World Coffee Conference (WCC) in Bengaluru from September 25 to 28, where it will present its diverse coffees to buyers from over 80 countries. This is the first time that the event will be held in Asia. The conference aims to create pathways for innovative opportunities and markets, with a special emphasis on benefiting coffee farmers who play a crucial role in the coffee production chain.
• The central theme of the event will be “Sustainability through Circular Economy and Regenerative Agriculture” The event will encompass various activities, including conferences, exhibitions, skill-building workshops, a CEOs & global leaders forum, and a growers conclave. Participants from over 80 countries are anticipated to take part in WCC 2023.
• The International Coffee Organization (ICO) organizes World Coffee Conference to discuss on crucial matters concerning the global coffee industry. With 77 Member Countries and over 900 attendees, including coffee growers and government representatives, the conference serves as a platform for a diverse range of discussions.

SPORTS

Stuart Broad announces retirement from all forms of cricket after the Ashes

• England pacer Stuart Broad has announced his retirement from cricket. He will call it quits from the game after the ongoing Ashes series. Broad announced the decision at the end of the third day of the fifth Ashes Test at the Oval. The 37-year-old has played 167 Test matches, picking 602 wickets. He has also featured in 121 ODIs and 56 T20Is.
• Broad, who made his Test debut against Sri Lanka in 2007, will go down as one of the great pacers in the sport – he sits at fifth on the all-time list of wicket-takers, and is one of only two fast bowlers to take over 600 wickets, alongside long-time bowling partner Jimmy Anderson.
• He is the only English player with two hat-tricks to his name in Test cricket. His finest hour in Test cricket came against his arch-rivals Australia when put himself in cricketing folklore with a stunning 8/15 at Trent Bridge in 2015. Broad was still firing at all cylinders even at 37 years of age but decided to call time on his career while he was still at the top of his game, informing his decision to the captain last night.
• Career: Broad made his Test debut for England in 2007 and went on to play 167 matches, taking 604 wickets at an average of 27.68. He also played 121 ODIs, taking 178 wickets at an average of 30.13, and 56 T20Is, taking 65 wickets at an average of 22.94.
• Retirement: Broad announced his retirement from cricket on July 29, 2023, at the end of the 5th Ashes Test against Australia. He said that he wanted to “finish at the top of the game”.

India beat West Indies by massive 200 runs in the 3^rd ODI, to win the 3 match series 2 – 1

• Team India defeated West Indies by a massive 200 runs in the third and final ODI to clinch the three-match series 2-1 on Tuesday. West Indies struggled during their chase, allowing India to dominate the game.
• The West Indies openers fell quickly, followed by their captain, who was caught out by Mukesh Kumar. Unadkat took out another batsman, leaving the West Indies in a difficult position at 35/4. Thakur then took two more wickets in quick succession. Some lower-order players tried to save the situation, but it wasn't enough.
• Thakur's four wickets and Mukesh Kumar's impressive bowling denied West Indies the chance to win their first ODI series against India since 2006. India's strong batting performance had already secured the victory, with four players scoring half-centuries to help them reach a total of 351.

Moeen Ali confirms his Retirement from Test Cricket and more

• England all-rounder Moeen Ali confirms his test cricket retirement after the end of the Ashes series and he will play in other formats of cricket. On the request of England Test captain BenStokes, he played the Ashes series. But he retired from test cricket in September 2021.
• He played for England in 68 test matches taking 204 wickets and scored 3094 runs. He was awarded the Order of the British Empire(OBE) in June 2023 for his services to cricket.
• Australia cricket team retained the 5 match test series ‘Ashes 2023’ after the 2-2 draw against England.It was held from 16th June to 31st July in the United Kingdom(UK). This marks Australia’s 4th consecutive win in the series. So far in the Ashes series, Australia won 34 Ashes and England won 33 Ashes, 5 series were drawn.

SCIENCE & TEHNOLOGY

Centre launches ULLAS mobile application to promote basic literacy

• The Akhil Bharatiya Shiksha Samagam 2023 witnessed its inauguration at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi gracing the event.
• The occasion also saw the Union Minister of Education and Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Dharmendra Pradhan, introducing the logo, slogan - "Jan Jan Sakshar", and mobile application of the ULLAS: Nav Bharat Saksharta Karyakram. The occasion coincided with the third anniversary of NEP 2020.
• The ULLAS initiative aims to revolutionise education and literacy across the nation by fostering a comprehensive learning ecosystem that caters to every individual, bridging gaps in basic literacy and critical life skills. Its focus extends to promoting functional literacy, vocational skills and essential life skills such as financial literacy, legal literacy, digital literacy and empowerment of citizens to participate in nation-building.

OBITURY

Senior Congress leader and former Speaker Vakkom Purushothaman passes away

• Former two-time Kerala Assembly Speaker Vakkom Purushothaman, 96, passed away. Mr. Purushothaman commenced his political life as a Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) activist in 1952. He won a seat in the Vakkom panchayat council on the party ticket. When practising as lawyer at the Thiruvananthapuram Bar, former Chief Minister R.Shankar spotted Mr. Purushothaman’s flair for politics and persuaded him to quit the RSP and join the Congress.
• He served as Minister for Agriculture and Labour in the Achutha Menon government (1971-77) and drMr. Purushothaman retained Attingal for Congress in the 1977, 1980 and 1982 State elections. After the ‘A’ group split from the Congress, he joined as Health and Tourism Minister in the 1980 E.K. Nayanar government. He aligned himself with the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government.
• In 1984, he bagged the Alappuzha Lok Sabha constituency for the Congress by defeating CPI(M) leader Susheela Gopalan.
• Purushothaman bid farewell to electoral politics and assumed charge as Lieutenant Governor in Andaman Nicobar. He later served as Mizoram and Meghalaya Governor.afted laws ensuring the welfare of farm and headload workers.

SUMMIT'S & MOU's

G20 Ministerial Conference on Women’s Empowerment to begin today at Gandhinagar in Gujarat

• G20 Ministerial Conference on Women’s Empowerment will begin in Gandhinagar, Gujarat today – August 2 . Prime Minister Narendra Modi will deliver a special video address at the beginning of the Conference. The three-day conference will be chaired by Union Minister of Women and Child Development, Smriti Irani. The theme of the conference is ‘Women-led Inclusive Development as Cusp of Inter-Generational Transformation’.
• AIR correspondent reports that the deliberations and discussions during the conference will focus on priority areas such as Education; Women’s Entrepreneurship, Creating a Partnership for Promoting Women’s Leadership at all Levels; Women and Girls as Change-makers in Climate Resilience Action, and Digital Skilling for Women’s Empowerment. The three-day Ministerial meeting will witness the participation of more than 150 delegates led by their respective Heads of Delegations from G20 members, invitee countries, and International Organisations.

NHPC and ALIMCO sign MoU for providing aids and assistive devices to Divyangjans

• NHPC Limited and Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, under which NHPC will provide CSR support for distribution of aids and assistive devices to around 1,000 Divyangjans (Persons with Disabilities) in the vicinity of NHPC Projects located in North and North Eastern states.
• The MoU was signed at NHPC Corporate Office, Faridabad, today, August 1st 2023, under the CSR initiative of NHPC. The MoU was signed by Group Deputy General Manager (HR), CSR & SD, NHPC and General Manager - Marketing, ALIMCO in the presence of Shri Uttam Lal, Director (Personnel), NHPC; Executive Director (CSR & SD), NHPC, and other senior officers from NHPC CSR&SD Division and ALIMCO.

BOOKS & AUTHOR

Kargil: Ek Yatri Ki Jubani” a book by Rishi Raj

• Ajay Bhatt, Minister of State (MoS), Ministry of Defence (MoD), released the book and illustrations titled “Kargil: Ek Yatri Ki Jubani” (Hindi Edition) authored by Rishi Raj at the Constitution Club of India, New Delhi, Delhi. The book which pays tribute to the Martyrs of Kargil War was published by Prabhat Prakashan.
• About: Rishi Raj - Rishi Raj has authored as many as 21 books, out of which four bagged the Rahul The event was graced by Subedar Major (Then Rifleman) Sanjay Kumar, who was awarded Param Vir Chakra in the Kargil War. Sankrityayan Award from the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India (GoI).
• Kargil War also refered as “Operation Vijay” was fought between India and Pakistan from May to July 1999 to 26th July 1999 in the Kargil district of Jammu and Kashmir(J&K). July 26th has been observed as ‘Kargil Vijay Diwas’, which annually commemorates the sacrifices made by soldiers in this war.

BANKING AND ECONOMY

Record number of over six crore 77 lakh Income Tax Returns filed for financial year 2023-24

• A record over six crore 77 lakh Income Tax Returns, ITRs have been filed for 2023-24. The Central Board of Direct Taxes, CBDT said, the total number of ITRs filed till yesterday is 16 per cent more in comparison to the previous financial year of five crore 83 lakh. On the last day, that is 31st July, over 64 lakh ITRs were filed on a single day. It said, the department also received over 53 lakh ITRs from first time filers. The CBDT said, over 46 per cent of these ITRs have been filed using the online ITR utility available on the e-filing portal,