S P O T L I G H T

Barak survives confidence motion
JERUSALEM, July 10 (AFP) — The Israeli Parliament today rejected a censure motion against the government of Prime Minister Ehud Barak, the same evening that Mr Barak was to leave for the Camp David peace summit in the USA. The motion, which needed an absolute majority of 61 in the 120-seat Parliament to bring the government down, received only 54 votes, with 52 voting against. There were seven abstentions.

Blast at Pak Embassy
KABUL, July 10 (AFP) — An explosion shook the Pakistani Embassy around dawn here today, damaging the building but causing no casualties, officials and witnesses said. A Pakistani official described the blast as “terrorist activity” .

278 kids hospitalised
SALEM, July 10 (PTI) — At least 278 children were admitted to various hospitals in the district today after they displayed symptoms of food poisoning, police sources said.