CURRENT AFFAIRS SEPTEMBER 12

Vietnam opens Southeast Asia's largest solar power farm

Vietnam has inaugurated Southeast Asia's largest solar power farm which has the capacity to produce 688 million kWh of electricity annually.

• The Dau Tieng Solar Power Complex, a joint venture with the Thai industrial group B.Grimm Power Public Company, occupies 540 hectares in Tay Ninh province.
• The complex was constructed on the Dau Tieng Reservoir - the largest artificial lake in Vietnam - and is expected to generate 10 per cent of the country's solar energy to guarantee supply to 320,000 homes.
• It will also prevent the emission of 595,000 tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere every year.

Israel PM announces intention to annex Jordan Valley

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced his intention to annex the Jordan Valley, a large swathe of the occupied West Bank if he wins next week's election.

• Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967 but stopped short of annexation.
• Palestinians claim the whole of the West Bank for a future independent state.
• Netanyahu previously insisted Israel would always retain a presence in the Jordan Valley for security purposes.

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib birth Centenary: 2 International Awards, 5 Academic Chairs to be set up

Bangladesh government has made elaborate plans to celebrate the birth anniversary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

• Sheikh Hasina said that the government will set up two international awards and establish five international chairs to commemorate the birth centenary of Bangabandhu.
• The Foreign Ministry of Bangladesh has initiated a process to set up five 'Bangabandhu Chairs' abroad including at the University of London and Visva Bharti University in India.
• Prime Minister Hasina said that a Bangabandhu centre will be established at the University of Cambridge and sculptures of Bangabandhu will be installed at Madame Tussauds Museum in London and the United Nations Headquarters in the New York.
• The government of Bangladesh has decided to celebrate the ‘Mujib Year’ from March 17, 2020, to March 17, 2021, to mark the centenary year of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the first President of  Bangladesh.

DRDO successfully flight-tests indigenously developed MPATGM missile

In a major boost for Indian Army, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully flight tested indigenously developed low weight, fire and forget Man-Portable Antitank Guided Missile (MPATGM) in the ranges of Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh.

• The missile was launched from a man-portable Tripod launcher and the target was mimicking a functional tank.
• The missile hit the target in top attack mode and destroyed it with precision. All the mission objectives were met.
• This is the third series of successful testing of MPATGM.
• The missile is incorporated with state-of-the-art Infrared Imaging Seeker along with advanced avionics.

India's 2nd Scorpene-class submarine to be commissioned on September 28

India's second Scorpene-class attack submarine INS Khanderi will be commissioned into the Navy by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in Mumbai on September 28.

• The conventional diesel-electric submarine has been manufactured by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd in Mumbai.
• The first Scorpene-class submarine INS Kalvari had been commissioned into the Indian Navy on December 2017.
• Under the Project 75 programme, India is committed to building six Scorpene-class submarines that also includes INS Kalvari and INS Khanderi.

Indian Railways across the country is observing “Swachhta-Hi-Seva Pakhwada” from 11th September to 2nd October

Ministry of Railways is observing ‘Swachhta-Hi-Seva Pakhwada’ across its entire network from 11th September to 2nd October.

• Indian Railways also undertook massive Shramdaan with participation from all stakeholders on plastic waste collection on the first day of SHS.
• Focus on plastic waste collection shall continue throughout the Swachhta Pakhwada.
• Earlier the Minister of Railways has instructed for 10 days cleanliness drive for trains and stations starting 2nd September 2019.

Madhya Pradesh govt to allow people to adopt cows online

The Madhya Pradesh government has decided to turn to the state’s people to seek donations for its ‘Project Gaushala’ by letting them adopt cows online.

• People can adopt a cow for a minimum of 15 days and can go on supporting it till the animal’s lifetime.
• While a lifetime adoption costs Rs 3 lakh, those willing to adopt a bovine for a year will have to pay Rs 21,000.
• Those adopting for a month will have to pay Rs 2,100 and those willing to adopt for 15 days will have to pay Rs 1,100.

PK Mishra appointed as Principal Secretary to PM Modi

The government has appointed PK Mishra as the Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

• The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved the appointment of Dr PK Mishra, who was currently serving as the Additional Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister.
• He replaces Nripendra Misra, who stepped down last month as the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister.

Track Asia Cup cycling: Ronaldo Laitonjam wins the fourth gold

In Cycling, India's Ronaldo Laitonjam won his fourth gold medal on the concluding day of Track Asia Cup competition in New Delhi.

• India emerged overall champions as its players picked up three medals in the day, two gold and one bronze.
• Overall, India topped the medals tally, with 10 gold, 8 silver and 7 bronze as the tournament came to an end at the IGI Sports Complex.
• Uzbekistan finished second, with 4 gold and 3 silver. Malaysia secured third place, with 4 gold and 1 silver.

Mary Kom, Amit Panghal among 10 boxers in TOPS scheme

The Sports Authority of India (SAI) Mission Olympic Cell has included 10 boxers in the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

• The boxers include M.C. Mary Kom (women’s 51 kg), Amit Panghal (men’s 52 kg), Sonia Chahal (women’s 57 kg), Neeraj (women’s 57 kg), Nikhat Zareen (women’s 51 kg), Kavinder Singh Bisht (men’s 57 kg), Lovlina Borgohain (women’s 69 kg), Vikas Krishan (men’s 75 kg), Shiva Thapa (men’s 63 kg) and Manish Kaushik (men’s 63 kg).
• India has so far won two Olympic medals in boxing i.e. Vijender Singh won the bronze in the 2008 Beijing Games while Mary Kom won the bronze in the 2012 London Games.
• Apart from the boxers, the committee has also included 22-year-old women’s 10m air pistol shooter Yashaswini Singh Deswal in the TOPS scheme.