COPENHAGEN (Reuter) - An opinion poll published yesterday showed a clear majority of Danes would vote 'yes' to the Maastricht treaty in a second referendum on 18 May. The poll by Gallup Denmark showed 54 per cent would vote 'yes' and 25 per cent 'no' while 21 per cent were undecided or would not vote.

COPENHAGEN (Reuter) - The Danish government announced that the country's second referendum on the Maastricht treaty would be held on 18 May. The referendum will be on whether to accept a revised deal which allows Danes to opt out of the treaty's long-term plans for a common currency and joint defence.

HOPES of lower interest rates drove sterling to record lows yesterday for the second successive day, while the European exchange rate mechanism was hit by another wave of speculation after Saturday's devaluation of the Irish punt, writes Peter Torday.

EIGHTY-SEVEN per cent of the 135,000 subscribers to the soft-porn Adult Channel want it to be more explicit and erotic, according to a survey by the channel. Unlike the unregulated Red Hot Dutch, whose hard-core material is transmitted from Denmark, the Adult Channel is regulated by the Independent Television Commission, which demands heavy cuts in its mainly American material. Viewers - women as well as men - say they would like to see more sex.

COPENHAGEN (Reuter) - Denmark's Social Democrat leader, Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, suffered setbacks in his attempt to form Denmark's first majority government since 1971. Mr Rasmussen - who is trying to take over from Poul Schluter, who resigned as prime minister last week - planned new talks with possible coalition partners today.

COPENHAGEN - The Danish Prime Minister, Poul Schluter resigned yesterday in the wake of a political scandal, risking a delay in Denmark's second referendum on the Maastricht treaty, and prolonging uncertainty within the EC, writes Sarah Lambert.

HOWDEN Group, which makes industrial fans and tunnel-digging equipment, increased pre-tax profits to pounds 6.1m ( pounds 5.8m) in the six months to the end of October 1992, writes Tom Stevenson.

COPENHAGEN - Denmark took over the rotating leadership of the European Community yesterday, outlining its goals for the six-month presidency under the headline 'The Open Europe'.

HOWDEN Group, the Glasgow- based engineer, has settled the long-running dispute over the Danish Great Belt tunnelling contract, writes Heather Connon.

Brian: Symphony No 4, 'Das Siegeslied'. Symphony No 12 - Czecho-Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra and Choruses / Adrian Leaper (Marco Polo 8.223447)

THE SHADOW Cabinet meets tomorrow to decide how Labour MPs should vote at the end of next week's paving debate reintroducing the Maastricht treaty Bill to the Commons for its third reading. Yesterday the party's foreign affairs spokesman, Dr Jack Cunningham, suggested that Labour should vote against the Government. He drew a distinction between the motion, a primarily technical measure, and the party's position on the treaty, which it supports with the proviso that Britain's opt-out on the social chapter and monetary union should be renounced. Dr Cunningham also reiterated Labour's view that the Bill should not go back to the Commons while the position of the Danes, who rejected the treaty in a referendum last summer, remains unclear.

BRUSSELS - Europe's monopoly telephone companies criticised a European Commission attack on the prices they charge for international calls, writes Tim Jackson.

Copenhagen (AFP) - A slim majority of Danes - 55 per cent - would support European union in a new referendum if Denmark were given special status, according to an opinion poll published on Saturday in the conservative Jyllands-Posten daily.

COPENHAGEN (AFP) - A majority of the Danish parliament said yesterday that the Maastricht treaty would have to be renegotiated and re-ratified by other countries to include important changes sought by Denmark.