Rohingya refugees in Delhi to be shifted to EWS flats and get police protection

• The Minister said “India respects & follows the UN Refugee Convention 1951 & provides refuge to all, regardless of their race, religion or creed.”
• The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) under Amit Shah issued a clarification saying that no such direction had been given to provide EWS flats to “Rohingya illegal foreigners”.
• India is not a signatory to the 1951 UN Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and the 1967 Protocol.
• All foreign undocumented nationals are governed as per the provisions of The Foreigners Act, 1946, The Registration of Foreigners Act, 1939, The Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920 and The Citizenship Act, 1955.

Merseyside park transformed with huge ''Mandala'' artwork

• Mandala patterns are a centuries-old motif that are used to depict the cosmos, and have been adapted by artists the world over, each of whom have added their own interpretation and painted it as their own.
• Literally meaning “circle” or “centre” in Sanskrit, mandala is defined by a geometric configuration that usually incorporates the circular shape in some form. While it can also be created in the shape of a square, a mandala pattern is essentially interconnected.
• It is believed to be rooted in Buddhism, appearing in the first century BC in India. Over the next couple centuries, Buddhist missionaries travelling along the silk road took it to other regions.
• By the sixth century, mandalas have been recorded in China, Korea, Japan, Indonesia and Tibet. In Hinduism, the mandala imagery first appeared in Rig Veda (1500 – 500 BCE).

Himachal Pradesh CM Jai Ram Thakur expresses concern over heavy loss due to torrential rains

• Excessive or continuous rainfall over a period of days, or during particular seasons can lead to stagnation of water and cause flooding.
• Flash floods refer to such a situation, but occurring in a much shorter span of time.
• For instance, the US’s meteorological agency, the National Weather Service, says flash floods are caused when rainfall creates flooding in less than 6 hours.
• It adds that flash floods can also be caused by factors apart from rainfall, like when water goes beyond the levels of a dam.

UN to end travel ban exemptions for 13 Taliban officials

• Under a 2011 UN Security Council resolution, 135 Taliban officials are subject to sanctions that include asset freezes and travel bans.
• In June this year, the 15-member UN Security Council''s Afghanistan Sanctions Committee removed two Taliban education ministers from the exemption list over the regime''s curtailment of women''s rights. At the same time, they renewed the exemption for the others till yesterday.
• China and Russia have called for an extension, while the United States has sought a reduced list of the officials allowed to travel.

Union government awards GI tag to Mithila Makhana

• Mithila Makhana or Makhan (botanical name: Euryale ferox Salisb.) is a special variety of aquatic fox nut cultivated in Mithila region of Bihar and Nepal.
• Once a product gets this tag, any person or company cannot sell a similar item under that name. This tag is valid for a period of 10 years following which it can be renewed.
• Makhana is the one of the three prestigious cultural identity of Mithila. Pan, Makhan and Machh (fish) are the three prestigious cultural identity of Mithila.
• In Mithila, Makhana is also termed as Makhan. It is also very famous in Kojagara festival of Maithil Brahmins celebrated for newly married couples.
• Makhana contains protein and fiber, along with micronutrients like calcium, magnesium, iron, and phosphorus.

Himachal Pradesh: 10th National Conference of Women Police to begin in Shimla

• More than two hundred women police officers and employees across the country are participating in this two-day National conference.
• The conference is being organised by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPRD) in collaboration with Himachal Police.
• The main objective of this conference is to enhance the leadership potential of women police officers and discuss their problems and challenges.
• State Director General of Police Sanjay Kundu said, at present the strength of women in the police force in Himachal is 13 percent and the women quota in the police has been increased to 25 percent.

Maharashtra govt to take Rs 4000 cr loan from Asian Development Bank

• Maharashtra govt to take Rs 4000 cr loan from Asian Development Bank to set up medical colleges in 12 districts
• There are 12 districts in the state without a single medical college. These districts include Jalgaon, Satara, Alibaug, Sindhudurg, Usmanabad, Parbhani, Amravati, Ratnagiri, Gadhchiroli, Bhandara and Ambernath.
• The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is a regional development bank established on 19 December 1966, which is headquartered in the Ortigas Center located in the city of Mandaluyong, Metro Manila, Philippines.

Ocean sailing expedition on insv tarini to mauritius

• Covering a distance of almost 2500nm (approx 4500 km) one way, the crew, over a period of 20 - 21 days is expected to face extreme weather and rough sea conditions of monsoons.
• In addition to sailing in these conditions the crew will also be undertaking boat upkeep, machinery routines and preparing their meals. The passage would be nonstop once they leave the Indian shores.
• The Indian Navy has six ocean going Indian Naval Sailing Vessels (INSVs) viz Mhadei, Tarini, Bulbul, Hariyal, Kadalpura and Neelkanth in her inventory.