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Synopsis :

1.  Singapore: The Singapore Budget has been announced today - Singapore is running a budget deficit for the third consecutive year and it is likely to be ten times larger than last year. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lee Hsien Loong is expecting the economy to grow 2-5% this year. Summary of 2003 Singapore Budget. (00:03:20)

2.  Singapore: The Government will not restore employer Central Provident Fund (CPF) contributions for the next two years in a move that was widely expected. Sound bite of Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lee Hsien Loong. (00:04:17)

3.  Singapore: There were no cash shares like Economic Restructuring or New Singapore Shares in the 2003 Budget but most of the needy will continue to receive help. The government is spending $75 million on rebates. Focus on Nor Mohammed, a retrenched store assistant and his reaction to the Budget. Sound bite of Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lee Hsien Loong. (00:07:30)

4.  Singapore: There have been mixed reactions from Members of Parliament (MPs) to the Budget - some believed that more could be done to help the needy whilst others felt that the Government cannot be giving out handouts year after year. Sound bites of S Iswaran, MP of West Coast Group Representation Constituency (GRC); Charles Chong, MP of Pasir Ris- Punggol GRC; Inderjit Singh, MP of Ang Mo Kio GRC; Chiam See Tong, MP of Potong Pasir; and Low Thia Khiang, MP of Hougang.  (00:11:48)

5.  Singapore: Cigarette and alcohol taxes will be further increased. This will earn the Government $203 million a year. (00:13:20)

6.  Business: Corporate tax at 22% was left untouched despite calls for it to be cut in the 2003 Budget. (00:18:07)

7.  Business: Traders in the stock market ignored the new budget as it offered nothing new. (00:18:45)

8.  Business: United Overseas Bank (UOB)'s net profit rose 15% to just under one billion dollars which was slightly below market expectations. Electronics contract manufacturer Venture Corporation saw net profit jump 34.5% and is confident of improving its market share. (00:19:17)

9.  Singapore: National Parks Board (NParks) has assured its staff that there will be no retrenchment in its restructuring exercise but some jobs will go to the private sector. It was forced to hold a press conference after a newspaper reported that the parks board will be "next up for scrutiny", sparking fears of retrenchment. Sound bite of Dr Tan Wee Kiat, CEO of NParks. (00:19:55)

10.  Singapore: Three of the top six "O" level students are from Raffles Girls' School (RGS). Sound bites of the top three students from RGS, Audry Lee Shan Yin, Christelle Tan Xian Ting and Pamela Yeo Li Ping. (00:21:33)

11.  Singapore: Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei had a packed day in his state visit to Singapore which consisted of a museum tour, the gracing of a children's hospital, an army base visit and a state dinner. He leaves for Brunei on Sunday. (00:22:52)

12.  Indonesia: Indonesian prosecutors are preparing treason charges against alleged Jemaah Islamiyah leader, Abu Bakar Bashir. Prosecutors have two weeks to prepare their indictment. (00:24:31)

13.  East Timor: Prosecutors have indicted the territory's former police chief and military officials for crimes against humanity. (00:25:07)

14.  Hong Kong: Heavy vehicle drivers have taken to the streets demanding that the Hong Kong government continue to subsidise the fuel tax. (00:25:39)

15.  Sports: Liverpool is through to the quarter finals of the UEFA Cup after a 2-0 win over Auxerre. (00:29:55)

16.  Sports: Andy Flower smashed an impressive 71 as Zimbabwe scored 301- 8 in 50 overs in the Cricket World Cup Group A match today against the Netherlands. This places the home side in early control.(00:30:32)