S P O T L I G H T

Blackwill US envoy to India
Washington, March 22
Robert Blackwill will be the new US Ambassador to India, the White House has announced. “Bob Blackwill,” said President George W.Bush in a statement, “understands the important place India holds in my foreign policy agenda, and he will be an outstanding American Ambassador to India. He will bring a wealth of expertise to the position.” Mr Blackwill is the Belfer lecturer in international security at Harvard University’s John F.Kennedy School of Government. PTI

Dara acquitted in truck burning case
Baripada, March 22
Dara Singh, the main accused in the killing of Australian missionary Graham Stewart Staines, has been acquitted by a local court in a case relating to the looting of cows and burning of a truck. Subdivisional Judicial Magistrate, Karanja, Pravakar Mishra acquitted Dara and 10 others in the case yesterday for want of evidence. PTI

Contaminated water kills 18 animals
Damoh (MP), March 22
As many as 18 animals died after drinking contaminated water of Baildhana pond at Nagdari village in Damoh district. Official sources said the buffaloes had stopped eating after allegedly drinking water from the pond on March 8 and within five days all of them died. Veterinary doctor, Mr Srivastava, has confirmed that drinking contaminated water was the cause of death. UNI

PWG men blast two police stations
Hyderabad, March 22
Twenty armed extremists of the banned Peoples War Group (PWG) blasted two police stations in Srisailam town of Andhra Pradesh, assaulted constables on duty and decamped with weapons, including an SPBL gun belonging to the private security guard of the Lord Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple, around midnight on Wednesday. 

Delhi Budget
New Delhi, March 22
No increase in sales tax on any item has been proposed in the Delhi Budget for 2001-2002 presented in the state Assembly by Finance Minister M. S. Saathi today. Presenting the Rs 7575 crore Budget, Mr Sathi said that the proposed expenditure would be met through revenue receipt of Rs 5837.39 crore, share in Central tax, small savings, Central plan assistance of Rs 335 crore and other receipt of 236.61 crore. UNI