Six more states ban sale of mustard oil: Six more states on Saturday banned the sale of mustard oil and cautioned people against its use, as the dreaded dropsy claimed two more lives in the national capital, where 200 fresh cases were reported since last evening. Maharashtra, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Tripura, Meghalaya and Manipur have joined several states in banning the sale.

Kapur appointed special secretary, home: In a major reshuffle involving a dozen senior officials, the government on Saturday appointed RD Kapur, special secretary, ministry of home affairs and Indrajit Khanna as special secretary, department of economic affairs.D Dasgupta has been made chairman of the National Highway Authority of India and MP Pinto, chairman of Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust in the rank and pay of secretary, an official release said.

Prasar Bharati ordinance promulgated: President KR Narayanan on Saturday promulgated the controversial Prasar Bharati ordinance bringing into operation the original act which would automatically terminate present chief executive officer SS Gill tenure as it fixes the age limt for the post at 62 years.

BHEL, Oswal Chemicals forge pact: The Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) has signed an agreement with Oswal Chemicals and Fertilisers Ltd for meeting all high voltage AC motor requirements for their upcoming fertiliser project at Paradeep in Orissa.

Globalstar unlikely to get certificate: Globalstar India Satellite Services Private Limited is unlikely to get a no objection certificate from the DoT for setting up a satellite telephone service in India in the near future.

AIADMK stands isolated: The AIADMK has been isolated on the issue of its oft-repeated `review of support' to the Vajpayee ministry, with the three major constituents of the AIADMK front - PMK, MDMK and the Tamizhga Rajiv Congress- firmly declaring their support to the ministry. While the PMK founder, S Ramadoss, told reporters in Chenai on Saturday that his party would not withdraw support to Vajpayee ministry, even if AIADMK sought to do so, MDMK general secretary Vaiko disassociated his party from Jayalalitha's stand that the question of support was still being reviewed.

Clinton again stops short of apologising for affair: United States president Bill Clinton told on exuberant crowd that he was becoming "quite an expert" in asking forgiveness but stopped short of apologising for the sex scandal plaguing his presidency. Clinton appeared subdued as he sat on the dais at an event commemorating the 35th anniversary of Martin Luther King's civil rights march on Washington on Friday.