Current affairs 18 July 2023

Carlos Alcaraz beat Novak Djokovic to win his first Wimbledon title in 2023.

• World number one tennis player, Carlos Alcaraz has won his first 2023 Wimbledon Men's Single title, held in All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London.
• In the final, he defeated Novak Djokovic.
• Other winners:
• Women's Single: Markéta Vondroušová (Czech Republic)
• Men's Doubles: Wesley Koolhof (Netherlands) and Neal Skupski ( United Kingdom)
• Women's Doubles: Hsieh Su-wei (Chinese Taipei) and Barbora Strýcová (Czech Republic)

Ruturaj Gaikwad to lead India men’s squads for 19th Asian Games.

• The BCCI has confirmed that Ruturaj Gaikwad would lead India's men’s squads for the 19th Asian Games, held in Hangzhou, China from September 23 and October 8, 2023.
• While Harmanpreet Kaur will lead the women’s cricket competition, which will take place from September 19-28, 2023.
• Both competitions will be played in T20 formats.
• Team India (Senior Men) squad also include Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rahul Tripathi, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma (wk), and many more.

UK signs treaty to join Trans-Pacific free trade bloc.

• The United Kingdom formally signed the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) trade bloc.
• The UK also become the first European country to join the CPTPP.
• Aim: To grow the country's economy and provide access for British businesses to a market of over 500 million people
• CPTPP: It is a free trade agreement between 11 nations (Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam).

Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde inaugurates PM MITRA Park in Amravati.

• Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde inaugurated the PM Mega Integrated Textile Regions and Apparel Park (PM MITRA Park) at Amravati.
• The event was also attended by Piyush Goyal (Union Textiles Minister) and Darshana Jardosh (Minister of State of Textiles).
• The Government of India aims to set up 7 PM MITRA Parks for the Textile industry.
• The PM MITRA Parks was inspired by the 5F (Farm to Fibre to Factory to Fashion to Foreign) vision of PM Modi.

Annual Bonalu Festival celebrated in Hyderabad.

• Bonalu is celebrated in Hyderabad especially in parts of the Old city, usually during Ashada Masam which falls in July/August.
• Bonam literally means Meal in Telugu, which is an offering to the Mother Goddess.
• During the first and last day of this festival, special poojas are performed for goddess Yellamma.
• Bonalu involves worship of Kali in her various forms such as Mysamma, Pochamma, Dokkalamma, Pedamma, Poleramma, Ankalamma, Maremma etc.