1. International Dance Day: 29 April 2019
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International Dance Day is a global celebration of dance, created by the Dance Committee of the International Theatre Institute (ITI), the main partner for the performing arts of UNESCO.The event takes place every year on 29th April, the anniversary of the birth of Jean-Georges Noverre (1727–1810), the creator of modern ballet.Every year a message from an outstanding choreographer or dancer is circulated throughout the world.This year message has been created by Karima MANSOUR of Egypt, who is a Dancer, Choreographer & Educator
2. South Korea set to hold ASEAN maritime drills
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A two-part maritime exercise by the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its partnering countries is slated to start in South Korea’s port city of Busan.The exercise aims to counter maritime crime, including illicit transactions of weapons and other banned items.The drills are scheduled to take place from 29 April to 2 May in South Korea, following which they will be held in Singapore from May 9 to May 13.The maritime exercise involves 18 countries of the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting plus six other countries are slated to send military personnel.Naval forces from India, Brunei, China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and the United States are scheduled to practice rescuing ships hijacked by armed groups, amongst other maritime security operations.
3. Sri Lankan President bans all types of face coverings
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Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has issued an order for a ban on burqa, veil or covering of the face in a manner which prevents anyone from being identified.Any garment or item which obstructs the identification of a persons face would be barred.It follows 21 April 2019, Easter attacks in which more than 250 people were killed.Some Muslim organisations had also come forward and suggested a ban on burqa to help stabilize the security situation
- Capital: Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
- Currency: Sri Lankan rupee
- Prime minister: Ranil Wickremesinghe
- President: Maithripala Sirisena
4. Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to attend SCO Defence Ministers’ meet in Bishkek
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Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ meeting in the Kyrgyzstan capital Bishkek.Mrs Sitharaman will also hold bilateral meetings with her counterparts from some SCO member countries on the sidelines of the conclave.The SCO Defence Ministers will explore ways to further boost defence and security cooperation among the member countries.
The SCO was founded at a summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the Presidents of China, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. India and Pakistan became its full members in 2017. Kyrgyzstan is the Chair of the SCO at present.
5. Valtteri Bottas wins the Azerbaijan Grand Prix
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Valtteri Bottas won the Azerbaijan Grand Prix to retake the Formula One world championship lead from teammate Lewis Hamilton.Mercedes set an all-time record of four consecutive one-twos at the start of a season.Sebastian Vettel was on able to score the third position for Ferrari.
6. China’s Ma Long captures the third world title
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China’s Ma Long captured a third ITTF-World table tennis championships completing a dream comeback after six months on the sidelines with a knee injury.The 30-year-old, nicknamed the ‘Dragon’, defeated Sweden’s Mattias Falck 4-1 in the final.Ma Long now joins the elite club of male paddlers, who have won the Worlds singles for three consecutive times: Victor Barna and China’s Zhuang Zedong being the others.Ma Long, current World No. 11, won the Worlds crown in 2015 (Suzhou), 2017 (Dusseldorf) and 2019 at Budapest.
7. Ajinkya Rahane to play county cricket for Hampshire
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India Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane becomes first Indian to play county cricket for Hampshire.He will play in the County Championship throughout the months of May, June, and July.The right-handed batsman will replace South Africa’s Aiden Markram.
8. Bajrang Punia to become first Indian to compete at Madison Square Garden wrestling event
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Asian champion Bajrang Punia is to become the first Indian wrestler to fight at New York’s iconic Madison Square Garden.Punia, who won the 65kg men’s freestyle gold at the recent Asian championships, will be among top wrestlers selected by the American governing body for the May 6 tournament.The 25-year-old will take on two-time US national champion Yianni Diakomahlis in the “Grapple at the Garden” Beat the Streets event.Punia has eight gold medals from his previous nine international tournaments including last year’s Commonwealth and Asian Games.
