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1.  The US and Japan are close to agreement on a new regional military role for Japan. AUS Defence Department official announced this after both countries revealed tentative plans to strengthen their military ties.

2.  North Korea will receive much needed food aid from the South from Thursday. South Korean media reports say North Korean Red Cross officials are preparing to accept more than 11 thousand tonnes of food, which will arrive via China. It's the first despatch of food aid to arise from a deal signed last month in which Seoul agreed to ship 50 thousand tonnes of supplies to the famine threatened North. Under the accord, the aid would be transported through two ports in North Korea and also by land across its border with China.

3.  Rescuers in the southern Indian town of Thanjavur are today sifting through the debris of a fire which killed at least 40 people yesterday. More than 100 others were injured in the tragedy at an important 11th century temple. The incident happened as thousands gathered for the temple's consecration ceremony which takes place every 12 years. Authorities looking into the cause of the blaze have already ruled out negligence.

They think the fire was started by fire crackers and the situation made worse by a makeshift tent which collapsed on the devotees. Many of the casualties were believed to have been trampled on in the ensuing stampede. Yesterday's blaze was the third major fire in India in two years.

4.  A Pakistani judicial tribunal has exonerated President Farooq Leghari of involvement in the killing of Murtaza Bhutto, estranged brother of former Premier Benazir Bhutto. Ms Bhutto had accused Mr Leghari of hatching the plot to kill her brother in order to oust her from power. The tribunal rejected the accusation but ruled Murtaza's death an illegal killing. It said the policeman involved had intended to kill Murtaza but tried to make it look like they had fired in self defence. But the tribunal did not say who was to blame for the killing.

5.  Government funding for human cloning in the United States is likely to be banned, at least for the next three to five years. This after a special commission established by President Bill Clinton called it morally unacceptable.

6.  Once they were enemies but now, with the Cold War confined to history the US and Russia are working towards joining forces for peacekeeping missions.

7.  2.4 million tourists are expected to visit Hong Kong in June and July to catch a glimpse of the territory in transition. The handover has generated unrivalled worldwide attention and the tourism industry is expected to reap huge profits from the event. Tourism receipts are forecast to top 13 billion US dollars. But as Angela Ee finds out, it's after the handover that the party begins.

8.  Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong and Mrs Goh leave tomorrow for a three day visit to the Philippines at the invitation of President Fidel Ramos. A statement from the Prime Minister's office says the visit is to strengthen relations between Singapore and the Philippines. The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Law, Prof S. Jayakumar and the Minister for Information and the Arts and Second Minister for Trade and Industry, Brigadier General George Yeo will be part of the official delegation to the Philippines. During PM Goh's absence, Deputy Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will be Acting Prime Minister.

9.  Both National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University are making preparations to beef up their postgraduate programmes. All this, in anticipation of more science and engineering students who may take up further studies in disciplines like business. The government recently announced, both universities will Up their science and engineering student intake to 60 per cent of the total by the year 2000.

10. The English literature syllabus for secondary and junior college students will be revised to include more works by local authors. The National Institute of Education told TCS News it's working with the Education Ministry on this. The review comes amid talk at a recent education seminar of the link between Singaporean literature and National education.

11. A poor turnout for the first talk on the Advance Medical Directive. Only 8 members of the public, all Mandarin speakers, were present this afternoon, to find out what the directive entails. Many felt the poor turnout was due to the lack of publicity. The talks, organised by the Health Ministry, aim to help Singaporeans understand the AMD and the steps involved in making one. The AMD Act designed to help patients when they're terminally ill takes effect next month.

12. A medical screening, and a back to work programme for senior citizens. These are just some of the projects the Tanjong Pagar Community Development Council has in store for its older residents.

13. Professor Maureen Tsakok, Head of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Singapore General Hospital has been suspended from duties. Medical sources said she is under internal investigation and will not resume work until the investigation is completed. The SGH said Professor Tsakok is on leave but declined to comment on whether she is under investigation. Professor Tsakok is well known for her work with fertility programmes and has been with SGH for more than 10 years.

14. You'll soon be able to send faxes in public places and use pay phones in taxis and on the MRT. All made possible through new technology on show at the Asia Telecom 97 starting here tomorrow.

15. Singapore's top athletes in the past year were honoured at this evening's Sports Awards Night. Topping the list of winners were Sportsman and woman of the year bowler Sam Goh, and table-tennis player Jing Junhong. The ceremony was jointly organized by the Singapore National Olympic Council and Singapore Sports Council.

16. The 4th Singapore National Special Olympics. The first day of competition was held at the Ngee Ann Polytechnic Sports Complex.

17. Perennial favourites, Indonesia broke the national record at the Dragon Boat races today, the twentieth year the event's being held here.

18. Next, another water sport - Board sailing and the Mark Tan Cup. Today saw the close of the 2 day event held at the People's Association East Coast Sea Sports Centre. Besides being a competitive race, the event is also the final stage of the selection trials for the SEA Games national board sailing squad.

19. Motor racing enthusiasts gathered at the National Stadium carpark to watch top local drivers compete in the Supersprint event. The races attracted more than a hundred drivers and nearly double that in racing cars.

20. We move next to the international scene. And World Champions Brazil meet Italy in a much awaited match in Lyon tomorrow morning. In an earlier match a risky gamble with a lineup change cost France a rare defeat on home ground.

21. And over in Paris, the French open continues to throw up surprises. The dream run of virtual unknown Gustavo Kuerten looks set to finish in victory. The unseeded Brazilian is currently leading twice champion Sergi Bruguera 6-3, 6-4 and 1-all in the third, and is in a strong position to win the title. In the women's competition, where a new generation of teenage stars took centre court, the biggest starlet of them all fell hard. In a stunning upset, Croatia's Iva Majoli ended the unbeaten run of the world number one Martina Hingis to take the French Open title easily.