Explosion Militants struck again the Pakistani capital Islamabad on Saturday evening, September 20 when a suicide bomber blew himself up outside of the Marriott Hotel. According to the reports the suicide bomber had come with a explosives laden truck and blew it off in front of the gates. It is being said that almost 1000kg of explosives were used in the blast. It was so powerful explosion that Marriott’s lobby and reception which is almost 100 meeters away from the explosion site was totally destroyed and a 20 feet deep and 100 feed wide crater has been left at the explosion site. Timing When the bomb blast occurred an Iftaar party was going inside the hotel and many dignitaries including some Americans were inside the hotel. It must be noted that the hotel is located in the high security zone. Security is always kept tight as it is mostly visited by foreigner dignitaries. The explosion happened after some hours of President Asif Ali Zardari’s maiden address to the Parliament in which he had promised to root the terrorism and extremism. When the explosion came President, Prime Minister and other important Pakistani leaders and Generals were attending a party that was very near to the explosion site. Impact At least 60 persons were killed and more than 200 have been reported to be injured in the explosion. After the explosion, hotel building had caught fire which turned it into an inferno. Many people died while they jumped form the six-storey building to save them selves from the fire. Investigating agencies have suspected the Al-Qaida hand behind the bomb attack. Ever since Pakistan’s initiation o f military action against the Taliban militants hiding in the NWFP, incidents of suicide bomb attacks have increase inside Pakistan. Almost 1000 people have been killed in less than six months in such incidents. War Pakistan is reaping what is has sown. Its successive governments fueled militancy in India and Afghanistan but it also provided a ground for the Islamic fundamentalists’ backed Taliban to grow inside Pakistan. Now its own brainchild, Taliban have become the biggest threat to the world and for Pakistan. Coalition forced have started the attacks inside Pakistani territory in pursuit of Taliban militants. In such circumstances it becomes necessary for the Pakistani government to wage a war against the terrorists who have become the biggest threat to its unity. But this war will [...]
Archive for September 21st, 2008
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Taare Zameen Par’ In Oscar Race
September 21st, 2008 
krishna Nomination Aamir Khan’s directorial debut film ‘Taare Zameen Par’ has been chosen to represent India at the Oskars. Aamir himself had produced, directed and acted in this film. It must be borne in mind that after a many years of gap a film was made in which a child was in main lead. Aamir himself had paid the supporting role in the film. Before it, his first home production ‘Lagaan’ had been nominated for the Oscars in 2002. In that film, too, Aamir himself had played a role. Taare Zameen Par was released last year in December. Since then it was widely appreciated and had won various awards in the country. During the selection process ‘Jodha Akbar’ and two Marathi films ‘Valu’ and ‘Tingya’ had given a tough challenge to the ‘ Taare Zameen Par’ but in the end it won the support of all the selectors. Controversy Last year, ‘Ekalavya’ had been selected to represent India in the Oscars and this decision had triggered a controversy as some sections of the Indian entertainment industry termed the selection as unfair and biased. Even a filmmaker had challenged Film Federation of India’s (FFI) decision in the high court following which High court had set up some guidelines regarding the selection of the films to represent India at international levels. Because of such controversies Aamir has always kept himself away from the award ceremonies held in India. Universal Appeal Taare Zameen per has a universal appeal as it deals with the problems faced by a dyslexic child. Educational as well as the social systems rejects him as a failure. The hero of the film, a school going child is rejected by his parents as well as by the educational system but his teacher (Aamir Khan) understands the problem faced by the dyslexic child. Whole of the story revolves around the child and his teacher who defeat all the difficulties and the artistic qualities of the child student are brought to surface by the motivation of the teacher. Everyone had ridiculed Aamir’s new idea of making a child-centric film but when it got released, every section of the society had appreciated it. Amitabh Bachchan had rebuked Aamir Khan when he had not done any effort to send his film to participate in an international event.
Uninterrupted Fuel Supply A ‘Political Commitment’
September 21st, 2008 krishna Efforts Bush administration is trying hard to get the Indo-US nuclear agreement cleared by the Congress before September 26, a day when this session of the Congress will end. Bush administration has said that uninterrupted fuel supply to India is only a ‘political commitment’. Bush administration is trying very hard to get the clearance by 25 September when Indian Prime Minister will meet the US president. It is being expected that on that day both the countries will sign some agreement that will resume the nuclear trade between both of the countries. Agreement Elections are scheduled to be held in both of the countries by the end of this year. Neither Washington nor New Delhi want to leave the fate of the nuclear deal in the hands of the next governments and for it both the governments are trying hard to start the nuclear trade as early as possible. Voting was held on the deal in the US Congress on Friday. To assure the US lawmakers, various US government officials have said that if India conducts a nuclear test successor US government will react according to the US laws. Many US lawmakers had raised questions regarding India’s claims on n-tests. In answer to these questions, US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs William Burns told lawmakers that India has the sovereign right to test and US has the sovereign right to respond. He told that if India violates the IAEA safeguards agreement the deal will end with it. Visits The agreement will become operational with the approval of US Congress and both the sides are determined to sign the deal in the September 25 meeting. If Congress does not approve the agreement then US will be the biggest loser as India has got the right to do business in civil nuclear energy with other countries after the NSG waiver and France and Russia are very keen to resume nuclear trade with New Delhi. France has even offered uninterrupted fuel supply and reprocessing rights to India. Prime Minister will visit Paris on September 30 and Russian President will visit New Delhi in the first week of December. It is being expected that India will sign some agreements with both these countries during this time.
