Why in news?

• Solomon has signed an agreement with China which could allow Chinese soldiers and police to be deployed in the Pacific nation.

About Solomon Islands

• It is an archipelagic state in Melanesia, located in southwest Pacific Ocean. It is geographically positioned in the Southern and Eastern hemispheres of the Earth.
• Neighborhood: Located to the southeast of Papua New Guinea and to the northwest of Vanuatu.
• Geographical Features: A wide-spread archipelago of mountainous, heavily forested volcanic islands (some active) and a few low-lying coral atolls.
• The highest point in the Solomon Islands is Mount Popomanaseu and lowest point is the Pacific Ocean.

Why in news?

• The Nurpur Blood Donors Club (NBDC) has received the International Life Saver Award for collecting 353 blood units at a camp on March 23 2021.
• The Club has also been felicitated with the World Book of Records London by the National Forum of Artists and Activists (NIFAA).

Why in news?

• A 10-day Saras Mela, in which self-help groups (SHGs) from across the Kangra district would showcase and sell their products, started at the police ground.
• Himachal’s Kangra paintings and ‘Chamba rumal’ was being appreciated all over the country, along with many other products, and every effort was being made to promote them.
• With Rural Skill Development and Rural Livelihood Mission, financial help was also being provided to the self-help groups by the Government.

Why in news?

• Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur inaugurated the 10-day Kullu carnival .
• He visited the craft market and cuisine stalls at Rath Maidan, Exhibition Ground and Dasehra Ground.
• He also witnessed the fashion show in which, apart from traditional attire of the district, costumes of other parts of the state and country were also displayed.
• A cultural programme was presented in the evening by various artistes at the Atal Sadan.

About KULLU

• Kullu is a municipal council town that serves as the administrative headquarters of the Kullu district of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh.
• It is located on the banks of the Beas River in the Kullu Valley about 10 kilometres north of the airport at Bhuntar. Kullu was ruled by Koli rulers of Badani dynasty

Why in news?

• It will monitor ambient air quality parameters, like particulate matter (2.5 and 10), nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, ozone, ammonia, carbon monoxide, benzene.
• It will be monitored on a real-time basis now with the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) having installed the state’s first continuous ambient air quantity monitoring station at Baddi.
• The station has been set up at a cost of Rs 1.75 crore, of which Rs 96.70 lakh was provided by the National Clean Air Programme

Why in news?

• BJP candidate Sikander Kumar, former Vice-Chancellor of Himachal Pradesh University (HPU), who filed his nomination today, is all set to be elected unopposed for the Rajya Sabha seat from Himachal.
• He is the only candidate in the fray as no other candidate filed nominations on the last day.
• Himachal Pradesh represents four seats in Rajya Sabha.

Why in news?

• Abel prize for 2022 goes to American mathematician Dennis P. Sullivan.
• It is an international prize presented by King of Norway to one or more outstanding mathematicians.
• It is named after 19th century Norwegian mathematician Niels Henrik Abel.
• It was instituted in 2002, to commemorate his 200^th birth anniversary.
• Prize consists of a citation and a prize money of 7.5 million Norwegian Kroner.
• First Abel Prize was awarded in 2003.
• It helps to raise the status of mathematics in society and to stimulate the interest of young people in mathematics.

Why in news?

• Tamil Nadu government has recently passed a resolution against move to build the dam.

About the Dam

• To be built across the Cauvery River by Karnataka as a reservoir and drinking water project. It will also recharge the aquifers in the region.
• However, Tamil Nadu has been opposing the project as it violates the final award of the Cauvery River Water Tribunal of 2007 and SC judgement of 2018.
• Also, the dam would disrupt the natural flow of water from the upper riparian state and affect its agrarian community.
• The project is now before the Cauvery Water Management Authority.

Why in news?

• In a UNSC meeting Indian foreign secretary called for greater policy alignment between the U.N. and the LAS (League of Arab States).

About League of Arab States or Arab League

• It is an intergovernmental organization (IGO), a voluntary association of independent African and Middle East countries whose peoples are mainly Arabic speaking.
• Purpose: To strengthen ties among the member states, coordinate their policies, and promote their common interests.
• Founded in 1945.
• Headquarters: Cairo, Egypt

Why in news?

• Commerce ministry has put emphasises on state specific agri-products to boost agricultural exports.

About Naga chilli

• The chilli from Nagaland is also referred as Bhoot Jolokia and Ghost pepper, got Geographical Indications (GI) certification in 2008.
• It belongs to genus Capsicum of family Solanaceae.
• It has been considered as one of the world’s hottest chilli and is constantly on top five in the list of the world’s hottest chilies based on the SHUs (Scoville Heat Units).
• SHU measures pungency (spiciness or ‘heat”) of chilli peppers, and number of times capsaicin needs to be diluted by sugar-water.
• It was used as chili grenades to immobilize terrorists and other criminal suspects.