S P O T L I G H T

USA, Pak to resume military exercises
Islamabad, October 13
The USA and Pakistan will conduct joint military exercises on Pakistani soil this week, the first since Washington lifted sanctions against Islamabad late last year. A US infantry company and a Pakistani infantry battalion will hold three weeks of exercises starting sometime this week, US Embassy spokesperson Terry White said. The last joint exercises were held in 1997. AFP

Saddam's fate
Moscow, October 13
Iraqi President Saddam Hussein may be killed by one of his closest allies in December and the possibility of US-led military operation in the country is small, head of the Russian School of Astrology predicted today. “Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein may be removed from power as a result of a plot. The possibility of a military operation in Iraq is small,” Mr Alexander Zarayev told Interfax news agency. UNI

Ila Mitra dead
Kolkata, October 13
Veteran CPI leader Ila Mitra died at a city hospital here today after prolonged illness, party sources said. She was 77. Ila, who joined the CPI in 1943, is survived by her husband, CPI leader Ramendra Nath Mitra, and a son. She had been a CPI senate member for five consecutive years. She began her career as lecturer in Bengali at city college. PTI

3 IAF men killed
Siliguri, October 13
Three Indian Air Force personnel sightseeing in Darjeeling were killed and eight others seriously injured when their jeep hurtled into a gorge at Sonada, 16 km from the hill resort. The IAF personnel and their family members were en route to Tiger Hill to see the sunrise when their jeep skidded into a 800-foot-deep gorge, police sources said. PTI

PM returns
New Delhi, October 13
The Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee returned here tonight after a week-long visit to Cyprus, Denmark and the UK during which he attended the India-EU summit. In a statement, before his departure from London, he said “I return to India today after fruitful visits to Cyprus, Denmark and the UK.” PTI