Defence
ASEAN INDIA MARITIME EXERCISE (AIME-2023)
- The AIME-2023, held in two phases from May 2 -8 and two Indian Naval Ships (INSs) Satpura and Delhi also reached Singapore to participate in the exercise.
- The Harbour Phase of the exercise held at Changi Naval Base from May 2 to 4 and the Sea Phase conducted from May 7 to 8 in the South China Sea.
- The exercise will provide an opportunity for Indian Navy and ASEAN navies to work closely and conduct seamless operations in the maritime domain.
- The ships, during their port call at Singapore, will also participate in the International Maritime Defence Exhibition (IMDEX-23) and International Maritime Security Conference being hosted by Singapore.
- INS Delhi, India’s first indigenously-built guided missile destroyer and INS Satpura, an indigenously-built guided missile stealth frigate are a part of Indian Navy’s Eastern Fleet based at Visakhapatnam.
About ASEAN
- The Association of South East Asian Nations
- Established – 1967 in Bangkok (Thailand)
- To accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development and to promote peace and stability in the region
- ASEAN Countries – Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam
Sports
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty won historic gold at Badminton Asia Championships
- India’s top men’s doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty won gold after beating the Malaysian pair of Ong Yew Sin and Teo Ee Yi.
- The final of the Badminton Asia Championships held in Dubai.
Awards & Honours
- Art critic, writer, translator and Sahitya Akademi Award winner Indran (B.G. Rajendran) received the Verchol Dalit Literary Award.
- The award was instituted by Neelam Cultural Centre (NCC) as a part of Vaanam Arts Festival to commemorate Dalit History Month and entails a ₹1-lakh cash prize.
- His most important work, is Araikul Vandha Africa Vaanam (1982), a book of essays, stories and poems of 31 African countries.
- In 1986, he published, Katrukku Thisai Illai, an introduction to Indian literature.
- In 1994, he published a work of poems from third world countries (apart from India) called Pasitha Thalaimurai. His translated works created an impact.
Australia’s highest civilian honour – the Order of Australia
- Ratan Tata, the Chairman Emeritus of Tata Sons, was conferred with Australia’s highest civilian honour, the Order of Australia, for his efforts in strengthening the India-Australia bilateral relations.
