Isolated Gujral likely to dump Laloo, 3 ministers
Prime Minister I K Gujral has shown signs of reversing his stand on retaining 3 controversial ministers in his government after majority of United Front partners made it amply clear that Rashtriya Janata Party's entry into the Front could be considered only after Bihar Chief Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav resigned.

Kesri to call the shots in V-P elections
With the Janata Dal split leaving Prime Minister I K Gujral even more of a passive approver, it is Congress chief Sitaram Kesri who has all the aces up his sleeve on who the country's next Vice President will be. And he is playing his cards close to his chest.

Karnataka to discuss Cauvery authority issue with PM today
Karnataka is preparing a case to convince the Centre that the constitution of the proposed Cauvery River Authority is not necessary as a mechanism to oversee the implementation of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal's interim order is already in place.

Whose forests are they?
The Ministry of Environment and Forests is contemplating changes in the forest policy to ensure more involvement of the local communities in guarding and managing the forests.

South Korea plans $4.6 bn charge into domestic power sector
Four South Korean corporate giants have finalised participation in as many as seven power projects in India, committing a total investment of over $4.57 billion to these ventures.

Steel magnate Mittal plans $2.8bn float
Lakshmi Mittal, one of Britain's wealthiest businessman who made a fortune out of turning around loss-making steel companies worldwide, is planning a $2.8-billion stock market flotation.

Three banks set to raise Rs 500 crore
Three commercial banks -- the Corporation Bank, the ICICI Bank and the IndusInd Bank have firmed up plans to storm the capital market in the next two months to mop up Rs 500 crore.

Sara Lee acquires majority stake in Godrej HIcare
Sara Lee Corporation of USA has acquired majority control in Godrej HIcare, the household insect-repellant joint venture of the American company and the Mumbai-based Godrej group.