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1.  The long term security of Singapore's water supply is a top priority of the Government. Minister for Trade and Industry Lee Yock Suan says this has been emphasised by recent events. He was speaking in Parliament, in response to MPs' questions on Singapore's water supply.

2.  The House today defeated an amendment, proposed by NCMP, JB Jeyaretnam during the debate on the President's address. Mr Jeyaretnam said the speech does not say how Singaporeans will be prepared to meet the challenges ahead.

3.  MPs continued into the third day of debating the President's address. One suggestion raised, was to make Singapore law an "international commercial law", so that it can be used in international transactions.

This is because Singapore law has qualities of being clear, predictable and commercially relevant. MPs were also concerned that social cohesion should not be lost in the pursuit of economic affluence. And the elderly and youths were singled out. One MP suggested neighborhood youth centres, to help youths spend their time after school, while another called for more lift landings at HDB flats to help the elderly move around.

4.  The Education Ministry is taking steps to lighten the workload of teachers. Minister for Education Teo Chee Hean says his ministry is looking at further reducing their administrative tasks. And he's confident successful recruitment will ease shortage of teachers.

5.  World News is next. Congressional leaders in the US are gearing up for a debate on the renewal of China's MFN status. In an indication of the stiff battle to come, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman, Jesse Helms and three other senators passed a resolution to block the trading privileges to China.

They cited Beijing's human rights record, its huge trade deficit with the US, and its history of sending weapons to countries such as Iran, as the main reasons. Last month, President Clinton recommended the renewal of China's MFN status for another year. But the renewal cannot go into effect, until congress gives the go-ahead.

6.  Today marks the eighth anniversary of the Tiananmen Square crackdown on pro-democracy student demonstrators. In Hong Kong, thousands of people gathered for a candlelight vigil to commemorate the event but as Angele Ee reports, there are fears this could be the last time the people would be allowed to mark the event.

7.  And in Beijing, where the crackdown took place, the atmosphere was far more relaxed than in the past seven years. Tourists and locals came to visit the square like on any other day. Families of students killed in the military crackdown paid their tributes quietly, but under the watchful eyes of the plain clothes police.

8.  But it was a different story in Japan. Dozens of demonstrators, marking the Tiananmen massacre, staged a protest outside the Chinese embassy in Tokyo demanding a full account of the incident. The protest turned violent as one of the protestors tried to ram a van through a police cordon around the embassy. The van driver and one other protestor were finally arrested. The man responsible for the protest was one of China's exiled pro-democracy leaders.

9.  Indonesian authorities have started counting votes, at 86 locations on the east Java island of Madura. New polls were ordered, after violence sparked by allegations of vote-rigging. Police say the new polls, which took place yesterday and today, were held under tight security. Indonesia's main opposition, the United Development Party boycotted the new elections. The party wanted the government to conduct re-elections in the entire district, and not just sections of it. Despite tension in Madura, police said there was no report of violence.

10. Philippine vice-president Joseph Estrada has resigned as head of an anti-crime commission. Observers say this marks his formal break from President Ramos' government. Mr Estrada says he's stepping down to focus efforts on his presidential bid. He's expected to be the main opposition candidate in next May's Presidential election. The President and vice-president are elected separately in the Philippines.

11. In South Korea, prosecutors are to indict a son of President Kim Young Sam, in a high-profile corruption scandal. 38 year old Kim Hyun Chul will be indicted tomorrow on graft and tax evasion charges. The second son of the president was arrested last month, after being accused of taking bribes worth some 4 million US dollars from two business firms, in return for favors.

He's also accused of raising about 16 million US dollars in slush money. Prosecutors have been working on a series of corruption scandals, involving high level officials since the collapse of Hanbo steel company early this year. The cases have raised questions, about President Kim Young Sam's campaign funds and spending.

12. Israel's Labour Party has a new leader. Former top soldier Ehud Barak is the first new face at the helm of the party in 20 years. Mr Barak won 57 percent of the vote, in the party ballot to find a successor to Mr Shimon Peres.

13. Law enforcement officers agree Ecstasy abuse, is a serious problem in ASEAN countries. That's why combating it was one of the major topics discussed by ASEANAPOL, the region's combined police, at its Singapore conference.

14. Two local schools have welcomed a government plan, for them to play a major role in developing the arts here. Deputy Prime Minister Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam announced the scheme in Parliament yesterday, for Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts and La Salle - SIA College of the Arts.

15. The Registry of Marriages has seen larger than usual crowds over the past 3 days. Sharon Tong finds out what's fuelling the marriage rush.

16. Sport and Soccer. Host nation, France drew One-all with Brazil, in the opening game of the four nations tournament. The other two teams in the tournament, Italy and England will play early tomorrow morning.

17. The motion to thank the President for his address took a different turn today when a proposal was made to amend it. After debate, the motion moved by Non-Constituency MP, Mr. JB Jeyaretnam, was defeated overwhelmingly. The House also discussed the issue of Singapore's water supply; Singapore-Malaysia ties and the need to help the have-nots level-up.

18. Concern for lower-income families led to the question raised at the start of the day by Mr. Leong Horn Kee, MP for the Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC. He wanted to know what the HDB has in-store for low-income families who wish to buy their rental flats.

19. When the house turned to the motion to thank the President for his address. Non-Constituency Member of Parliament, JB Jeyaretnam moved for an amendment to it. He wanted the House to express regret, as he felt the President's address had made no mention on how Singaporeans can prepare for the 21st Century. He stressed that it will be the people who will see Singapore through the 21st Century. And they need to be able to take responsibility for the future.

20. Speaking in support of the points made by the NCMP, was the member for Hougang, Mr. Lau Thia-Khiang. He agreed that there is a need to review the defamation law: and that there exists a fear among the people: citing the Workers Party's difficulties in recruiting candidates.

21. When debate on the proposed amendment got underway, several MPs refuted the remarks made by Mr. Jeyaretnam. First in line - Mr. Lim Swee-Say, of the Tanjong Pagar GRC, who dismissed the allegations that Singaporeans vote for the PAP because they are denied the freedom to choose their leaders. He added that Mr. Jeyaretnam should not try to impose his own views on Singaporeans.

22. Rejecting Mr. Jeyaretnam's suggestion that the President's address did not highlight measures for future challenges MP for the Cheng San GRC, Zainul Abidin Rasheed.

23. MP for the Sembawang GRC Associate-Professor Ho Peng Kee, in taking the floor, explained the need for the Internal Security Act and Detention without trial. Mr. Jeyaretnam had suggested these laws be amended or removed to eliminate fear among Singaporeans. The NCMP also said the laws were put in place when Singapore was in a state of emergency, which does not exist now. Prof Ho also spoke in support of Singapore's defamation laws, which Mr. Jeyaretnam said had to be amended, and the rule of law.

24. An MP for the West Coast GRC Mr. Bernard Chen, criticised Mr. Jeyaretnam for calling the recent General Election a sham.

25. The debate to amend the motion was rounded-up by Mr. Chay Wai-Chuen of the Tanjong Pagar GRC, who took to task Mr. Jeyaretnam's claim that Singapore still had the baggage of '18 Century politics'.

26. When discussion continued on the original motion to thank the President, the issue of Singapore-Malaysia relations was again raised. Speaking in Malay, Mr. Hawazi Daipi, of the Sembawang GRC, said the criticism of Singapore's leaders by Malaysia had unified Singaporeans at all levels. He added that Singaporean Malays who shared the same views as all Singaporeans had expressed their unhappiness over the current stalemate in relations. And the hope is that ties will normalise soon.

27. Expressing similar sentiments, Mr. Charles Chong, a member of the Pasir Ris GRC he called for an early resolution to the outstanding issues with Malaysia, but without having to adopt a policy of appeasement.

28. Often raised in relation to the issue of Singapore-Malaysia Relations - the topic of water. Minister for Trade and Industry Lee Yock Suan told the House today that the long-term security of Singapore's water supplies is a top priority for the government. Responding to queries, he said Singapore's water agreements with Malaysia expire in the years 2011 and 2061. These were guaranteed under the 1965 Separation Agreement between Singapore and Malaysia and neither side could freeze the agreements without consulting the other.

Still, he said, the government is looking at alternative water sources. One of them is desalination. Mr. Lee said, contrary to figures presented yesterday by the MP for Chua Chu Kang, Associate Professor Lau Seow-Chay, PUB studies show that desalination is an expensive exercise. Bearing in mind the high cost of alternative water sources, the Minister said revisions to the water tariffs and water conservation tax will be announced soon.

29. Making his maiden speech, Mr. Ong Kian-Min, of the Pasir Ris GRC said that, if Singapore wants to advance into the 21st Century, its value system has to be built-up to bond the people.

30. Another new member who also spoke on building up society was Mr. R Ravindran, of the Bukit Timah GRC. He suggested the setting up of a one-stop Welfare Agency. He said there is a need for safety nets to help people from falling between the cracks, and also trampolines so they can spring back.