Janata Dal in a bind as Laloo refuses to quit as CM
Bihar Chief Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav's refusal to quit his chair in the wake of the Governor's sanction for his prosecution in the fodder scam is causing tremors in the United Front Government. Even though the UF leaders would like to see Laloo out, they can do very little about it.

Bill to provide public access to govt information
"Secret", "confidential" and "top secret" are words that have often been invoked to deny public access to government information. Not for long. A Freedom of Information Bill is on the anvil with the Centre keen to enact a law for an open, transparent and accountable government.

Sabotage in Hoogly cargo ship accident ruled out
The local agent of the cargo ship M V Opal Green, which sank on Thursday morning in Hoogly River near Mayapore in South 24-Paragans has ruled out the likelihood of a sabotage. The company was still carrying out investigation.

Popular dissent against ULFA on the rise
The United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) seems to be losing its grip on the state. It's mass base, which has been the mainstay of the banned militant organisation so far, is gradually seen to be slipping.

India pins hopes on $6.5 bn external assistance at IDF
India expects aid commitments to be retained at least at last year's level of $6.5 to $7 billion for 1997-98 at the India Development Forum (IDF) meetings scheduled to be held in Paris on June 24 and 25.

172 scrips shifted to B1 group
The Bombay Stock Exchange has decided to promote 172 B2 stocks to the B1 group of non-specified segment with effect from June 23. With this transfer, the B1 group will comprise 650 odd stocks.

Tidco sets the ball rolling for LNG project
The Tamil Nadu Industries Development Corporation (Tidco) has set the ball rolling for the liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal at Ennore by floating a global tender inviting pre-qualification bids for the project.

Four-pronged strategy to spruce up of Registrar of Companies
The Department of Company Affairs (DCA) has set up two committees to revamp the functioning of the 19-odd Registrar of Companies (RoCs) located in various states to bring their operations in line with those proposed under the new Companies Bill.