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1.  Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew says he has asked his counsel, Mr Davinder Singh to have the offending words made about Johor in his affidavit filed in a defamation suit against Tang Liang Hong be removed from the record. In a statement, Mr Lee says Mr Davinder has advised him that as the statements were made in an affidavit filed in court they cannot be deleted without permission of the court. Accordingly, Mr Lee says his counsel will apply to court for permission to delete the offending statements so that they will no longer remain on the record.

Mr Lee says he will do so at the next application against Mr Tang, which will be for assessment of damages. The Senior Minister noted that Malaysian government leaders have expressed their wish that statements in his affidavit which have caused offence to the Malaysian people, not remain on the record. Mr Lee said he has already apologised unreservedly and repeats his unreserved apology in a signed statement today. The Senior Minister said his counsel will explain to the court that when the affidavit was made, it was intended for a hearing in Chambers, not in open court. It had been anticipated that subsequent events would bring the affidavit into open court.

Mr Davinder will state that it was never the Senior Minister's intention to cause offence. And that Mr Lee has instructed him to seek the court's permission to have the offending sentences deleted. Speaking to TCS News on his handphone from Johor Bahru, Mr Tang said he would be seeking legal advice on Mr Lee's latest instruction to his counsel. Mr Tang said he would also look into applying to strike out the other plaintiff's affidavits too. The Malaysian Cabinet is discussing the Senior Minister's apology when it meets on Wednesday.

2.  Another step towards closer economic cooperation between Singapore and Indonesia with the opening of the Karimun Marine and Industrial Complex. Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong expressed confidence that there'll be more such new business ventures. While President Suharto noted that through cooperation, neighbouring countries can create a peaceful and prosperous region.

Maria Siow was at the launch of the project this morning. And in Singapore today, the first talks to enhance defence relations were held between Singapore and Indonesia. The Defence Ministry and Indonesia's Ministry of Defence and Security or HANKAM met for what is known as the Policy Talk. Mindef says the annual talks aim to promote mutual understanding and rapport.

3.  A confidant of South Korean President Kim Young-Sam has implicated 2 presidential aides in the Hanbo scandal, by his testimony. He said today two presidential advisers had pressured banks to extend improper loans to the crumbling Hanbo Business Group. Hong In-Gil, a ruling New Korea Party lawmaker is one of 10 accused of graft in the Hanbo trial, which began today.

Hanbo collapsed in January under a 5.7 billion U.S dollar debt. Outside the court, the president's second son, Kim Hyun-Chul made a public apology, and said he was ready to face punishment for any wrongdoings. The apology was his second since he was questioned by prosecutors last month.

4.  North Korea's most senior defector Hwang Jang Yop is still believed to be in Beijing. But South Korean officials said Mr Hwang will fly to a third country this week after China and South Korea finalise departure details. Earlier, a Japanese television station reported Mr Hwang had left China. It was speculated this morning's increased activity around the consulate building meant Mr Hwang had been taken from the compound. Both Chinese and South Korean officials remained silent about the report.

If Mr Hwang leaves China, it's believed he'll head to Seoul through the Philippines. Philippine Foreign Secretary Domingo Siazon said talks are underway to facilitate Mr Hwang's transit in the Philippines. Mr Hwang became North Korea's highest ranking asylum seeker when he walked into Seoul's embassy in Beijing five weeks.

5.  In Thailand, thousands of demonstrators staged a massive rally to drum up support for their cause. They're demanding social justice and equality for all people of Thailand. Most of them are villagers from the poor north-eastern region of Thailand. The peaceful group, organised by a movement called the Assembly of the Poor waved colourful flags and carried banners saying they would stay in Bangkok until their problems are resolved.

6.  In Japan, this morning, a false alarm at a nuclear fuel reprocessing plant caused a temporary alert. Last week the same plant northeast of Tokyo was the site of Japan's worst nuclear accident on record. A fire and explosion left 37 workers exposed to low-level radiation. An inspection team was sent to the site yesterday. Reports indicate lapses in safety standards including outdated firefighting equipment and delays in alerting both residents and central authorities. Today's false alarm is the latest incident to raise questions about safety standards at the plant.

7.  In Hong Kong - 36 people have been detained in connection with alleged illegal book making and horse race fixing. Among those detained are five jockeys and two trainers. The Independent Commission Against Corruption said it made the arrests over Sunday and today. Five people have been released on bail, while the remaining 31 were still being detained. No charges had been brought against the 36.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club said it would keep a close eye on proceedings and take action to ensure the integrity of racing in the territory. Sunday's swoop was the biggest since 1986 when 22 people were arrested for alleged involvement in a syndicate controlling more than 75 horses and a number of jockeys and trainers.

8.  Malaysia's ruling National Front coalition has retained its seat in a by-election in the East Malaysian state of Sarawak. Incumbent Mong Dagang defeated independent candidate Jack Bujang by well over 4 thousand votes to retain his seat in the Bukit Begunan constituency. The by-election was called on grounds that there was general bribery in the earlier state assembly poll. Mr Mong was later cleared of the charges of excessive spending and vote buying. With the win, the National Front government's 57 seats in the 62-member Sarawak state assembly remain unchanged.

9.  Earthquake this afternoon hit Indonesian capital Jakarta. The quake sent people scurrying out of high-rise buildings. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.

10. Britain will go to the polls on May the first. Prime Minister John Major said the Queen had agreed to the date, and to the dissolution of parliament early next month. Mr Major who is trailing opposition Labour leader Tony Blair in all polls is confident of victory. He told a news conference he expects to be in around after the election. Referring to the change that Britain is looking for, Mr Major promised to provide the change. Mr Major's conservative party has been in power for nearly 18 years.

11. An high-level European Union delegation is headed for Albania to help the country get back on its feet and to stem the large flow of refugees into neighbouring Italy. The chaos was sparked by the collapse of pyramid investment schemes and the loss of savings of hundreds of thousands of Albanians. Reports now say at least the capital Tirana is appearing calmer after two months of violent unrest.

12. A bomb exploded at a mosque in Paris today slightly injuring one person. Residents in the north east Parisian district were awaken by the noise of the blast. Windows in nearby buildings were shattered. Police said the bomb with a slow fuse, was hidden in a fire extinguisher at the entrance to the mosque. So far no-one's claimed responsibility for the explosion. But anti-terrorist police are investigating. A wave of bombings hit Paris two years ago, Muslim extremists were responsible for that. They're accusing France of backing Algeria's military authorities in a war against them.

13. Venezuela's infamous Catia Prison has been demolished. Technicians from a military office worked for a month to install about 4,600 dynamite detonators to bring the building to the ground in seconds. For years, the jail was the scene of the country's most violent prison riots. In the last five years more than 200 prisoners died during violence at the jail. The prison built just over 30 years ago was meant for 800 people but in the end it housed up to 2,000. For many Venezuelans, the demolition is a symbolic act. A message the time's come for the government to reform its jail system.

14. Israeli Prime Minister and Palestinian President Arafat are expected to hold a summit sometime this week. Expected on the agenda tensions resulting from Israel's plan to build Jewish homes in East Jerusalem. Jordan's King Hussein who was instrumental in arranging this meeting, hopes his talks with Israeli leaders will keep the peace process alive.

15. U.S. President Bill Clinton has been released from hospital after emergency surgery on his knee. The surgery has delayed by one day a crucial U.S.- Russian summit in Helsinki. The summit will now be held on Thursday to discuss NATO expansion, arms control and Russia's economic plans.

16. Cambodia's Deputy Prime Minister is visiting Singapore from today until Friday. He is here at the invitation of Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng. Mr Sar Kheng who's also the Minister of Interior will visit the Police, Central Narcotics Bureau and Immigration Departments.

17. Deputy Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has arrived in Wellington for the first leg of his 5 day visit to New Zealand. General Lee, an honorary advisor to New Zealand's Asia 2000 Foundation, will be attending its special board meeting tomorrow. He will also be the guest of honour at a Festival of Asia reception hosted by Governor-General Sir Michael Hardie. General Lee will meet other political leaders including Prime Minister Jim Bolger and Deputy Prime Minister and Treasurer Winton Peters.

18. The case of an injured Bangladeshi worker allegedly dumped in a drain went to court today. 2 men, 38-year-old Koh Tiong Watt and 44-year-old Lau Chin Hock were charged with committing an act endangering human life and safety. As Clarence Chang reports, they were accused of dumping the worker in a monsoon drain last December.

19. A principal contractor, Chuang Uming Pte Ltd was fined 145,200 dollars on 11 charges of permitting illegal workers to enter and remain at its construction site. 22 other charges were taken into account in the sentencing. The Labour Ministry said Chuang Uming was contracted in April 1995 to build 11 HDB blocks at Choa Chu Kang. A raid last September led to the arrest of 33 illegal foreign workers without valid work permits. TCS News has learnt the Managing Director of Chuang Uming, Chuang Shaw Peng, is also the President of the Singapore Contractors' Association Ltd.

20. A warning to motorists: traffic police are about to get tougher on parking. From next month vehicles illegally parked will be clamped. And as Lionel Skinner reports, getting the clamps removed will cost more too.

21. A report just in, Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister has responded to Senior Minister's decision to remove all offending words on Johor from his affidavit. Mr Anwar Ibrahim described it as "more positive" than Mr Lee's earlier statement," Asked if the removal of the offending statements was good enough Mr Anwar said the matter will be discussed at the weekly Cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

22. A third group today made known its intentions to bid for Singapore's two basic telephone licences. They are Maritime Group Sembawang Corporation and the Singapore Mass Rapid Transit. The two local partners say they're now in discussions with potential foreign players.

23. Singapore shares ended almost unchanged with investors sidelined as the corporate season rolled on. The benchmark STI index ended a fraction lower while Malaysian shares traded here were sharply down. Most active stocks was debut counter GUL Technologies which closed 21 cents above its offer price of 58 cents. Gainers were led by North Borneo Timbers, while losers were topped by First Capital Corporation warrants. In regional markets, shares in Kuala Lumpur ended weaker, as funds moved out from Malaysia to Thailand.

While in Hong Kong, a rebound in the property sector swept the Hang Seng firmer after heavy losses last week. In forex markets, the sing dollar finished little changed against major currencies. Gold in London is trading at - dollars - cents an ounce, up/down cents from its asian close. In international markets, stocks in Tokyo rose on bargain hunting. In London shares are weaker after a large batch of companies declared ex-dividend.