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Synopsis :

1.  Singapore: The employer's Central Provident Fund (CPF) contribution rate is likely to be restored by 3 percentage points next January. This is provided the economy continues to grow strongly and growth exceeds 8.5% this year. Sound bite of Lim Boon Heng, Minister without Portfolio and National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) Secretary- General.(00:01:55)

2.  Singapore: Adults can also catch the hand, foot and mouth disease even though it is deemed a childhood illness. Family physicians said the virus attacks when the body's defences are down. Sound bites of family physicians Dr Hu Wen Wey and Dr Ajith Damodaran.(00:02:50)

3.  Singapore: Childcare centre operators are hoping that the government can help them cope with parents' requests for refunds through the form of rental rebates. Sound bite of Marini Khamis, Operations Manager of Learning Vision.(00:05:04)

4.  Singapore: Pre-university students will be using revised syllables from next year to prepare them for the revised Advanced (A) Level examinations in the year 2002. That is when the Education Ministry will assume greater control over the General Certificate of Education Advanced Level (GCE-A Level) examinations. Sound bite of Education Minister Teo Chee Hean.(00:06:50)

5.  Singapore: Junior colleges and educationists have welcomed Ministry of Education (MOE)'s announcement as they have been preparing for such a move and the fine-tuning of the assessment is not a major change but a logical one. Sound bite of educationist Eugene Wijeysingha. (00:09:26)

6.  Palestine: A young Palestinian was shot dead in the Gaza Strip as clashes erupted again in the Palestinian territory despite a ceasefire agreement. (00:10:35)

7.  Taiwan: Taiwan's Premier Tang Fei said he is quitting his post due to health reasons. Mr Tang said Taiwan's President Chen Shui-bian has accepted his resignation.  (00:13:43)

8.  India: Russia and India have forged a strategic partnership and signed cooperation agreements in economic and other fields with the aim of reviving relations that have wilted since the end of the Cold War.(00:13:58)

9.  Israel: Israeli opposition leader Ariel Sharon has rejected US criticism of his controversial visit to a Jerusalem shrine. He insisted that he had no part in igniting a spasm of Arab violence. (00:15:18)

10.  Indonesia: Tommy Suharto, the youngest son of former president Suharto, appealed for a presidential pardon on an 18-month jail sentence for graft. A Supreme Court ordered Tommy to be jailed for his involvement in a US$11 million corrupt property deal. (00:16:12)

11.  India: There were celebrations across India to mark the 131st birthday of Mahatma Ghandi.  (00:16:48)

12.  Germany: Germany is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its reunification with street parties and official ceremonies across the country. (00:17:21)

13.  Singapore: Shangri-La Hotel said that 19 more people have complained of food poisoning after attending a dinner function there. Sound bite of Dexter Chia, Marketing Director of Shangri-La Hotel.(00:18:08)

14.  Singapore: Two million people worldwide die from Hepatitis B each year and at least 350 million people are carriers. Statistics by the Singapore Academy of Medicine also showed that 1 in 20 Singaporeans is chronically infected with the disease. Singapore will hold a major awareness event to educate the public on the need for early treatment. Sound bite of Dr Lawrence Ho, Chairperson of "B Aware Weekend" organising committee. (00:23:16)

15.  Singapore: The oil patch near the tanker which ran aground in the Singapore Straits has dispersed. Meanwhile, preparations have been made for a ship-to-ship transfer of the remaining oil.(00:24:3)

16.  Singapore: National bodybuilder Tan Yew Heng has been found guilty of using banned substances during a random, out-of-competition doping control exercise conducted by the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) and Singapore Sports Council (SSC). (00:25:23)

17.  Singapore: Teo Chee Hean, President of the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC), said the Singapore Olympics team has done well and can use the experience gained for the coming Southeast Asian (SEA) Games. Sound bites of Mr Teo and Yeo Guat Kwang, President of Singapore Table Tennis Association (STTA).(00:25:50)

18.  Malaysia: Queen Termite is an insect that is said to bring relief to those who suffer illnesses especially impotency. Sound bite of termite specialist Michael Chia.(00:27:29)