WORLD 

1. Zimbabwe Crisis: inflation rate has reached 11.2 million percent—unemployment 80%---45% people malnourished---extreme scarcity of food—a loaf of bread is now as costly as US $150!!---that’s how Zimbabwe today is. 

2.Dead Zone: According to a report published in the journal Science, the number of dead zones—areas of the ocean with oxygen levels so low that marine life can barely survive—has doubled every 10 years since the 1960s as a result of a runoff polluted with nitrogen-rich crop fertilizer. There are now more than 400 such zones—from the Gulf of Mexico to the Black Sea—which pose as a great threat to coastal ecosystems as over fishing and habitat loss.
 
3 Mekong Flood: worst flooding in a century has hit Vietnam that has left160 dead. Water level surged as high as 45 ft above the river’s dry season lows. 

4. U.S. Presidential elections: Republican Party has put the nation on the threshold of yet another history. The party has nominated the Alaska Governor Ms. Sarah Palin as the vice-presidential candidate for the November National elections. Already the country is on the verge of creating history, provided it votes for the Democrat Mr. Barak Obama as the first black president. Obama on his part had his share in this history too, as he has trounced Ms Hillary Rodham Clinton in his party’s preliminaries. Otherwise Ms. Clinton would have been a contender for the presidency of the world’s oldest democracy, the first woman to do so. 

5. Mayhem at Pak Marriott: Terrorist attack struck Islamabad on September 20 as a truck bomb crashed into heavily guarded Marriott Hotel, engulfing it in its flames and killing at least 60 people. Among them was the Czech ambassador. 

6. Pak political Turmoil: President Pervez Musharaff quit his post in the face of impeachment. His popularity was at all time low, and the nation called for his ouster which he tried but failed to defy. After him PPP leader Mr Zardari, widower of former Prime Minister Ms Benazir Bhutto took over. In the process the coalition of arch-rivals PPP & PML(Nawaz) collapsed. The coalition was an outcome of the nationwide anti-Musharaff movement. With his departure, the coalition has also collapsed. 

INDIA 

1. Terrorist attack: Terrorist attack shook India in a row. First it was Ahmedabad and then it was Delhi that fell prey to the militants. This is not the first time that general people are suffering from these repeated attacks. But everything seems to be undeterred. Be the ruling or the opposing parties, all remain busy making the best out of these situations. That may fetch them a few votes, but it’s a sorry fact that it is done at the cost of the lives of the poor citizens. 

2. List of 13 Terrorists: Delhi police has come up with a list of 13 suspected. According to them a single module of 13 school friends had carried out the Delhi, Ahmedabad and Jaipur blasts. So far police has gunned down 2 and arrested 2. According to the list, for the Dalhi blasts, Atif and Junaid had planted bombs at Greater Kailash I, Saif and Khalid at Regal cinema, Shakil at Gaffar market, Malik and Papu at Central Park, Sajid and Zeeshan at Barakhamba Rd. 

3. Extended CWC meeting at Delhi: The extended Congress Working Committee met at New Delhi this month to chalk out their campaign policies for the up coming Assembly polls and the General elections due next year. Other than the CWC members, all the chief ministers of the Congress ruled states, heads of all the wings of the party including the Youth Congress and NSUI attended the meeting. Party president Mrs. Sonia Gandhi called for a united fight to combat anti-incumbency factor. Also she and other leaders including the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh gave the blue print of how to package the “success” of Nuke deal to the common man. Checking inflation and advertising the “achievements” of the UPA government were also discussed. 

4. BJP National Executive meeting at Bengaluru: Almost at the same time when the Congress party met at the national capital, the major Opposition party the Bharatiya Janata Party met at Bengaluru. But its national executive meeting or “chintan-baithak” as popularly known was not altogether a happy picture. With issues like price rise, and nuke deal at hand, the party meeting could not get over its internal problems even when it has the opportunity to take control of the situation and make a come back bid after 5 years stint at the opposition benches. Nuke deal or terrorist attack and security or cultural nationalism or inflation---- which one would be the focus of their attack on the government, was the major point to discuss. Also the coming elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, where it runs the government were discussed. But leaders like Ms Sushma Swaraj were conspicuous by their absence. 

5. Taare Zameen Par at the Oscars: The Aamir Khan directorial venture Taare Zameen Par has been selected as India’s entry in this years Oscars in the best foreign film category. Aamir Khan took the nation to his side by his awesome presentation of a touchy subject in his very debut venture as a director. The child actor Darsheel also touched a million hearts by his performance. It’s to be seen whether it remains the same with the jury at the Academy Awards. It’s not the first time though, for Aamir. His Lagan was selected among the best 5 films ot the Oscars in the past. 

BENGAL 

1. Singur Impasse: The turmoil prevails over the TATA NANO project at Singur. The question is now the return of the land. After the Opposition leader Ms Mamata Banerjee led siege at the NANO plant, the governor called her for a meeting with the Chief minister Mr. Buddhadeb Bhattacharyya at Raj Bhavan. After a few rounds of talks, an agreement was signed between the government and the opposition that land will be returned to tha “unwilling” land-givers. When the state sighed in relief, came another blow. Tussle broke out on what was there in that agreement. While the opposition claims the government said 300 acres would be given to from within the project area, government refutes it saying it said maximum land will be given. Now it remains to decipher what was actually written, while Tata is planning a shift and the land losers are also having a no good time at all. 

2. One year of Rizwanur’s death: One year has passed since the boy from Tiljala lane has died. Rizwanur Rahman’s death still is shrouded in mystery, whether it was a suicide or a murder being the pivotal question. Problem started when the poor man loved and married Priyanka Todi, a girl from rich business family. No, the story never went the fairy tale way, as Priyanka’s family members, including her father industrialist Ashoke Todi was charge sheeted in this case. Though Rizwanur’s family claimed it was a murder, the charges were framed for pressurizing one to suicide. Kolkata saw an unprecedented candle light protest. Police involvement was also castigated by the court. 

3. State Gears up for the coming festivities: Durga puja approaching and the whole state is gearing up to celebrate this festive season with aplomb. People are now in full shopping spree. Its time to be happy and it’s the time that calls for a celebration cutting across communities, religion and economic disparity. 

SPORTS
 
1. Beijing Stuns the World: China stunned the whole world in the opening ceremony of the Olympics using its sheer man power. The world’s most populated country used its people and the Olympics were indeed a gala affair. 2008 Beijing Olympics will be remembered for its pomp and grandeur. 

2. Individual Gold at the Olympics: Yes, its was a dream come true Olympics for the Indians. Abhinav Bindra, the introvert shooter bagged Gold, and thereby hoisting the tri colour at Beiging. The stadium sang with our national anthem. It was his day. It was India’s day. A GOLD for this medal starved country---that’s what this 25 year old actually did. 

3. 2 Bronzes too: Wrestler Sushil Kumar and Boxer Vijender Kumar also made India proud as they bagged bronze medals at the games. In all it was India’s one of the beat performances at the Olympics. 3 medals, including a gold was surely a fact to celebrate for this medal-starved country. 

4. Nadal Number 1.: Rafael Nadal is now world number one in tennis men’s ranking. After a four years stint at the top of the list Roger Federer slipped to the second position. Nadal won the gold in the Olympics too. Federer has won his 5th US Open. He now has 12 grand slams.