10th APRIL CURRENT AFFAIRS IN ENGLISH

1. President Kovind holds delegation-level talks with Swaziland King Mswati III in Mbabane

President Ram Nath Kovind, on a three-nation Africa visit, held delegation-level talks with Swaziland King Mswati III in Mbabane.

• India and Swaziland signed two agreements on health and visa waiver in the presence of President Kovind and King Mswati.
• President Kovind was conferred with Order of the Lion, the highest award of Swaziland.

2. UNSC holds an emergency meeting on suspected use of chemical weapons in Syria

The UN Security Council held an emergency meeting on the suspected use of chemical weapons in Syria, at the request of the United States and 8 other countries.

• The UN special envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, took part in the meeting via a video link from Switzerland. He denounced the alleged use of chemical weapons as a grave violation of international law.

3. Conference on Water, Environment and Climate Change to begin in Nepal

An international conference on ‘Water, Environment and Climate Change: Knowledge Sharing and Partnership’ will start in Kathmandu.

• The three-day event is being organised by the Department of Water Supply and Sewerage, Govt of Nepal in association with the Society of Public Health Engineers Nepal (Sophen) and Nepal Engineers Association.
• The basic objective of the conference is to bring together professionals, academicians, researchers, entrepreneurs, government and non-government institutions to discuss and deliberate on challenges, opportunities and strategies related to water and environmental issues.
• Capital: Kathmandu
• Currency: Nepalese rupee
• Prime minister: Khadga Prasad Oli
• President: Bidhya Devi Bhandari

4. World Homoeopathy Day: 10 April

A two-day scientific convention is being organised in New Delhi by Ministry of AYUSH on the occasion of World Homoeopathy Day, on 10-11th April 2018.

• The Vice President Shri. M. Venkaiah Naidu will be the chief guest at the function while Minister of State (I/C) for AYIJSH Shri Shripad Yesso Naik will preside.
• This day is observed to commemorate the birth anniversary of the founder of Homoeopathy Dr. Christian Friedrich Samuel Hahnemann.
• The theme of this convention is "Innovate: Evolve; Progress: Exploring Science since 40 years”.

5. 8th Theatre Olympics Concludes in Mumbai

After a glorious run of 51 days across 17 cities of India, the historic event 8th Theatre Olympics drew to a colourful close in Mumbai.

• The 8th Theatre Olympics was inaugurated by Hon’ble Vice President of India, Shri Venkaiah Naidu on 17th February 2018 at the majestic Red Fort in New Delhi. This edition of Theatre Olympics brought together around 25,000 artists under the theme “Flag of Friendship”. The event witnessed 450 shows from more than 30 countries performed across 17 cities
• The 51-day long 8th Theatre Olympics, the biggest international theatre festival held in India for the first time.

6. Over-the-counter sale of 14 steroid creams banned by Health Ministry

To prevent the indiscriminate sale of ointments containing steroids and antibiotics without prescription, the Union Health Ministry has banned over-the-counter sale of 14 such products. The preparations were included under the Schedule H of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945.

• The decision was taken following consultation with the Drugs Technical Advisory Board, which had recommended a ban on the sale of such creams without a prescription and also submitted their recommendations to the Central Drugs Standards Control Organisation.
• Some ointments that have been banned are alclometasone, beclomethasone, desonide and fluocinonide.

7. 11 public sector banks placed under RBI’s PCA Framework

At present, 11 weak PSBs out of the 21 State-owned banks are under the PCA, which kicks in when banks breach regulatory norms on issues such as minimum capital, amount of non-performing assets and return on assets.

• The 11 banks already under the NPA framework are IDBI Bank, Bank of India, UCO Bank, Central Bank of India, Indian Overseas Bank, Oriental Bank of Commerce, Dena Bank, Bank of Maharashtra, United Bank of India, Corporation Bank and Allahabad Bank.

8. UN body names Messi responsible tourism ambassador

The UN World Tourism Organization said it has appointed FC Barcelona's Argentine star Lionel Messi as an ambassador to promote responsible tourism.

• The UN body defines “responsible tourism” as tourism that “helps maximise the sector's benefits while minimising its potentially negative impact on the environment, cultural heritage and societies across the globe”
• World Tourism Organization chief: Zurab Pololikashvili