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1.  Plans to automate the Road Pricing System next year with the launch of Electronic Road Pricing were announced today. The Land Transport Authority says it'll begin installing ERP devices for cars at the end of this year. The announcement comes after what LTA says was a successful first day for the extended RPS along the Central and Pan Island Expressways. It kicked off with an average 20 percent drop in the number of cars during rush hour this morning.

2.  Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew and Deputy Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong testified in the High Court today. They were giving evidence at the start of a 5-day hearing to assess the damages to be awarded to PAP leaders in their defamation suits against Mr Tang Liang Hong. For one and a half hours this afternoon, SM Lee backed his claim that Mr Tang is a Chinese chauvinist, one who's anti-English educated and anti-Christian. Mr Tang, he said, had suggested 45 percent of school curriculum time be devoted to learning Chinese.

Something SM Lee said would take Singapore back to the 1960s, leaving it with a difficult problem to solve. He also gave detailed evidence, showing how various PAP members had strong reservations about Mr Tang. Some from as early as 1992, which led to Mr Tang's rejection as a Nominated Member of Parliament. SM Lee said Mr Tang then complained bitterly to Hong Kong-based magazine Yazhou Zhoukan that the Singapore government was against the Chinese-educated.

3.  Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong, who's in Hongkong, said the future of the territory lies in the hands of its people. And PM Goh added that the outlook for Hongkong is good.

4.  Singapore's Navy must be able to retain and recruit its share of the island's talent, says Navy chief Rear Admiral Richard Lim. This is to ensure that it continues to fulfil its mission as Singapore's maritime defence. Speaking at the Navy's 30th anniversary parade this evening, he said the Navy will begin to develop an integrated manpower development, placement and training system. Under the scheme, each naval staff will be well provided for and his talent, well-channelled. He added as the Navy moved towards the next millenium, it'll strive to achieve its vision of world class standards of excellence in all its core activities.

5.  The Public Works Department says the cause of the lift accident at Textile Centre over the weekend is being investigated. The building owner has also been asked to submit a report on the accident. Four people were hospitalised when the lift plunged 19 floors. The PWD said the accident is an isolated one and that all lifts in Singapore are required by law to undergo monthly maintenance. In addition, all lifts must be equipped with safety features to stop them, should their suspension cables break. The PWD noted that the life maintenance certificate for the fallen lift is due to expire on 15th October.

6.  The fourth executive condominium development, Windermere, is ready for inspection - and it'll be offered at an average of 440 dollars a square foot. Despite the cost - the highest so far developer Singapore Technologies Properties still expects an overwhelming response.

7.  Well, it looks like it'll cost more to remove refuse from next month. For landed homes, it'll be up two dollars to 22 dollars. While for hawker stalls it'll cost 20 dollars. For flats and apartments, it's 70 cents more, to 8 dollars 70 cents. A statement from SEMAC the company which took over refuse collection from the Environment Ministry, says the increases are needed to offset higher charges that will be levied at the refuse disposal facilities.

8.  In world news. What was to be a joyous event turned into a nightmare for many Rwandan refugees in Zaire. They were crushed to death in a stampede as they were being repatriated after spending 3 years away from home. The UN refugee agency said 91 Hutu refugees were killed. 78 others were in hospital 3 in critical condition. Apparently, too many people had tried to board the train to Kisangani, from where they were going to be flown home. But when the train arrived after a two-hour journey, many were discovered to be dead either trampled or suffocated to death. The UN has suspended such railway repatriations.

9.  Thai police have begun investigations into the sinking of a crowded passenger ferry off the beach resort of Phuket. The ferry, heading for Phi Phi island yesterday, went down after hitting a coral reef. Fortunately none of the 600 tourists on board was killed. Many of the terrified passengers jumped overboard, while those who didn't get on the emergency lifeboats were picked up by local fishermen and a Thai navy boat. Most suffered minor injuries such as bruises and scratches.

10. Over in Japan, the latest effort to ease traffic congestion has taken travelling within the city to new heights.

11. Sydney's spectacular Bondi Beach coastline sported a new look over the weekend with an artsy addition to nature's own masterpiece.

12. In Chess, it's now one for man and one for machine. Supercomputer Deep Blue has outsmarted world champion Garry Kasparov in the second of their six-game rematch. The Russian grandmaster resigned after Deep Blue's 45th move and some 3 hours and 42 minutes of play. The two will match skill and wits again tomorrow.

13. The Finance Ministry has told TCS News it's referred a report on listed electronic firm Cam International to the Commercial Affairs Department for further investigations. The report, submitted by auditors Ernst & Young in an unusual move, is said to contain details of fraud against the company. In a separate development, electronic components maker Uraco Holdings, which owns a 6.3 percent stake in Cam International, told TCS News it's going to seek board representation at Cam International. Uraco's company secretary says this will help safeguard the company's investments against any irregularities at Cam International.

Uraco bought some 15 and a half million shares last year, as a long term investment. Its share price went down more than 7 percent today to close at 88 cents. Meanwhile, TCS News has also been informed by the Stock Exchange of Singapore - that it's releasing a 100-page document on Cam International this evening.

14. Property group, City Developments, has made its first foray into Japan by acquiring a 60 percent stake in a commercial property for some 55 million dollars. Together with Japanese conglomerate Ito-chu Corporation, CDL bought the eleven storey Umeda Mitsui building, which is situated in the Osaka Business District. CDL said it bought the property because it believed the Japanese property market had bottomed out. Adding the acquisition was also in line with its regional diversification.

15. IPO news now, Automotive component distributor, Tye Soon Limited today launched its initial public offering of almost 60 million shares. Of these, some 42 million shares will be offered to the public at 31 cents each. That makes its price earnings ratio of ten times. Applications for the shares close on the 15th of May. Trading starts 4 days later on a 'when issued basis'.

16. Regional news and it's confirmed the Busang gold find in Indonesia was a hoax. An independent report released today said the so-called discovery was based on falsified data, and that the gold deposits there were negligible.

17. The Malaysian government has launched the country's first life reinsurance company. Called the Malaysia Life Reinsurance Group, it's to stem the outflow of millions of dollars in premium payouts and boost the country's aim to be a regional financial hub. Officials say the local reinsurance firm would help save Malaysia some 20 million ringgit over the next decade. The government also has plans to liberalise the insurance market by licensing more professional reinsurers to underwrite life reinsurance in the country. Most of the reinsurance business is presently channelled to Singapore.

18. In corporate news. Hotelier YTC Corp. has bought a 30 percent stake in Equinox Concepts, the operator of Stars restaurant and Spinelli Coffee chain in this region. The company, which owns Peninsular and Excelsior hotels, bought the stake from the leisure arm of Singapore Technologies some one month ago at an undisclosed price.

19. The Stock Exchange of Singapore will soon provide interim financial reports, latest corporate development news and past annual reports through online access and CD-Roms. Called the Sky AR Directory, it'll be ready for public subscription by the end of the year.