National:

Satellite data help in controlling forest fires

Forest fires are being controlled in Tamil Nadu with the help of satellite data. It can be
downloaded and overlaid with the administrative map of the forests to point the exact
location in which it occurs. Fire spots were detected using Moderate Resolution Imaging
Spectro-Radiometer Sensors (MODIS) and the data are available on a daily basis for the
entire world on the Fire Information for Resource Management Systems website. The
MODIS fire data provided geo coordinates such as latitude, longitude, date, time of
overpass of satellite and satellite name besides the fire spots. Once the beat is identified,
the information is immediately communicated to the district forest officer concerned or the
Conservator of Forests for necessary action on the field. An important advantage in the
MODIS data collection is that information about forest fire is immediately known to those
working in the Geomatics Centre than the field staff in the districts.
INS Viraat, Indian navy's lone aircraft carrier suffers collision off Kerala coast
A Kerala state owned boat ferrying about 100 passengers rammed into aircraft carrier INS
Viraat. However, no one was injured and there was no damage to Viraat, which is as part
of its periodic and scheduled maintenance. The incident occurred as German cruise liner
'Celebrity Solistice', which had arrived with about 2800 tourists and 1250 crew, was about
to embark on its journey for Port Klang, Malaysia. The boat was on its way to Ernakulam
jetty from Fort Kochi.
Mahatma Gandhi letters to hit auction block in London
Two letters written by Mahatma Gandhi, including one to Rabindranath Tagore's eldest
brother Dwijendranath, will go under the hammer in December 2012 at a Sotheby's auction
in London. The letters and a rare copy of the Indian Constitution will be among nearly 200
lots on offer at the sale of English Literature, History, Children's Books & Illustrations. In
1922, after being lodged in Sabarmati jail in Ahmedabad, Gandhi wrote an autograph letter
to Dwijendranath rejoicing that his incarceration has come at a time when he felt fully
prepared and expressing joy that "India's wonderful calm at this moment is significant of
her strength". Gandhi asked Dwijendranath to send messages of support to Young India in
the two-page letter, written in pencil. It has an estimate of 5,000-7,000 pounds. In the other
letter, with an estimate of 3,000-4,000 pounds, Gandhi sends condolences to an unknown
friend in 1922 on hearing from Charlie (Andrews) of the death of his or her mother, but
asking "should not birth and death be the same though".

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19th November 2012

NTPC to start training programme for J&K youth

State-run power producer NTPC will start a skill development programme for 144
youngsters from Jammu & Kashmir, under the central government's UDAAN
initiative.Initiated by the central government, UDAAN is aimed at imparting skills to youth
from Jammu & Kashmir to help them with their careers. Under the programme, NTPC aims
to train 200 youths from J&K every year for a period of five years. The company would also
assist them in getting placements. The programme is for both graduates and postgraduates from the J&K region. The power producer would be the first public sector
undertaking to implement UDAAN. After the induction programme, the participants will be
sent to four locations -- Rihand, Singrauli, Vindhyachal and Talcher. NTPC, the country's
largest power generator, has an installed capacity of 39,674 MW.

International:
Manmohan arrives in Cambodia to attend Asean, East Asia summits
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh arrived in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh to attend
the Asean and East Asia Summits which will provide an opportunity for India to enhance its
economic cooperation with the region amid lingering financial crisis in the western world.
Prime Minister said that India's partnership with 10-nation Asean is an important
component of the 'Look East Policy'. India's trade with Asean was over USD 50 billion in
2011-12 after a 30 per cent jump over the previous financial year.
Sierra Leone polling peaceful
After a peaceful day of voting in the presidential, parliamentary and local elections, locals
crowded around crackling radios releasing unofficial results from individual polling stations.
The poll is seen as a tight race between incumbent Ernest Bai Koroma of the All Peoples
Congress (APC), who has overseen a construction boom; and ex-military leader Julius
Maada Bio, of the Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP), who has amassed support among
many still struggling to survive in what is still one of the worlds poorest nations. While still
one of the worlds poorest countries, it is rich in mineral resources and massive iron-ore
stores are expected to add 21 per cent growth this year to its $2.2 billion Gross Domestic
Product, the (IMF) estimates. However, the country has one of Africas lowest life
expectancies at 47 years, according to the World Bank, and highest rates of maternal
mortality.

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19th November 2012

Eruption fears rise at New Zealand's 'Mount Doom'

A New Zealand volcano that featured as Mount Doom in "The Lord of the Rings" movies is
in danger of erupting as pressure builds in a subterranean vent. The Department of
Conservation (DOC) warned hikers to avoid the summit of Mount Ruapehu, saying that
temperature readings by scientists indicated there was an increased risk of eruption at
New Zealand's largest active volcano. The 2,797-metre mountain last erupted in 2007,
sending a lahar -- a fast-moving stream of mud and debris -- down the mountain but
causing no injuries. In 1953, a massive lahar from the mountain caused New Zealand's
worst rail disaster when it washed away a bridge at Tangiwai and a passenger train
plunged into the Whangaehu River, claiming 151 lives.

Business & Economy:

Vodafone, Telenor spectrum gain '+ive':Moody's
Vodafone and Telenor's successful bid in the recently held wireless spectrum auction is
"credit positive" for both the firms as it will help the former improve coverage and latter to
increase market share, says a report by Moody's. At present India accounts for about 5 per
cent of Telenor's revenues, which is likely to rise to to about 10 per cent by 2015. India is
the world's second-largest wireless market after China, and for Vodafone, the country is
one of the biggest markets with nearly 153 million subscribers.
World Bank warns of global warming
The World Bank has warned that global temperatures could rise by four degrees this
century without immediate action, with potentially devastating consequences for coastal
cities and the poor. World Bank tied the future wealth of the planet and especially
developing regions to immediate efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions from sources
such as energy production. "The time is very, very short. The world has to tackle the
problem of climate change more aggressively," World Bank President Jim Yong Kim.

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19th November 2012

Sport:
Priyanka bags world crown
Asian under-10 girls champion N. Priyanka (1576) won the girls under-10 title in the world
youth chess championship at Maribor (Slovenia). She finished with 9.5 points out of 11
rounds.Priyanka, who drew her penultimate round game against Wang Annie (1809) of
USA in 38 moves. However, lost to Badelika Olga (1653) of Belarus lost in 35 moves in the
final round.
Four year bans proposed under new WADA Code
Athletes guilty of serious doping offences will be suspended for four years from 2015
under proposals being considered by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), but there are
no plans for a specific rule to ban offenders from the Olympics. Currently, athletes found
guilty of a first major doping offense are handed a two-year ban with any subsequent
positive test incurring a life-ban.

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19th November 2012