S P O T L I G H T

Jack Straw to visit India, Pakistan
London, July 7
Close on the heels of the visit of Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon, British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw will visit India and Pakistan later this month to maintain international efforts to defuse border tensions between the two countries. “The visit is intended to continue the process of dialogue with India and Pakistan,” a Foreign Office spokesman said. PTI

20 die in Bihar floods
New Delhi, July 7
At least 20 persons were killed in floods in Bihar and more than five lakh were affected in the state while in Assam the Army was asked to stand by the civil authorities today following the submerging of vast areas by the rise in water level of the Brahmaputra. PTI

Al-Jazeera scribe
New Delhi, July 7
Apparently unhappy with his reporting on some recent events in the country, the government is reported to have asked Al-Jazeera to replace its India correspondent Nasir M Shadid with another reporter, sources said today. The Qatari private channel will, however, continue to air its Indian news as another correspondent, Rifat, will take over from the outgoing reporter. UNI

Indefinite curfew
Vadodara, July 7
An indefinite curfew was imposed after one person was killed and three others were injured when the police opened fire to control mob violence in the predominantly tribal town of Chota Udepur taluka, about 100 km from here, late last night. UNI

2 US pilots held
New York, July 7 
Two pilots whose low-flying jaunt through restricted airspace spurred fears of a possible July 4 terrorist attack have been arrested at a New Jersey airport, the police said. Pilots Andre Morais and Daniel Oliveria were picked up by the Wall Township police yesterday after each landed at Monmouth Executive Airport. AP