1.   Defence ministry sources said last night that officials were aware of the tanker refitting scheme.

2.   A front page story in the Nihon Keizai newspaper yesterday purporting to outline the plan, citing ministry sources, failed to impress banking analysts.

3.   Prefectural governments and municipalities are cooperating in the ministry swoop, which ministry sources say is the first time such tough action gas been taken against pharmacies.

4.   Sakakibara has pressed Japanese banks to cooperate to help Korea, a finance ministry source said Thursday.

5.   The IMF and Washington believe a permanent Asia fund would be too independent of the IMF, the report said, citing a ministry source.

6.   Penalties for neglecting to report information about defects will also be stiffened, the newspaper quoted ministry sources as saying.

7.   Private television Channel D quoted interior ministry sources as saying that a special Turkish security team was sent to the region to launch an operation.

8.   A foreign ministry source, who was briefed on the talks, said, however, that Rugova brought up no new new proposal from Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic.

9.   A ministry source said Rugova mentioned no new proposal from Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic.