News Today

Ad agencies put more effort into public relations
ADVERTISING agencies are boosting the role of public relations as a way of drumming up business and enhancing their visibility in a competitive industry. Where PR was once an afterthought, these agencies are now employing skilled operators for tasks that range... [Read more]

Match summary
Thailand 1 (Pipat Thonkanya 37)Singapore 1 (Khairul Amri 81)Thailand: Kittisak Rawangpa, Suree Sukha, Jetsada Jitsawad, Niweat Siriwong, Hadthporn Suwan (Jakkrit Bunkham 79), Natthaphong Samana, Suchao Nutnum, Sutee Suksomkit, Datsakorn Thonglao, Pichitphong Choeichiu (Khwanchai Phuangprkob 90), Pipat Thonkanya.Singapore: Lionel Lewis, Mohamed Noh... [Read more]

Revenue from ERP 20% lower than in previous scheme, says minister
ELECTRONIC Road Pricing was not introduced to generate revenue, Transport Minister Raymond Lim said yesterday.It actually rakes in less than the Area Licensing Scheme (ALS), the previous plan to manage peak-hour traffic.He was responding to opposition MP Low Thia Khiang (Hougang),... [Read more]

Go online first to apply for US visa
APPLYING for a visa for a trip to the United States? >From March 5, the waiting time to get one will be shortened - from the current maximum of four hours to between one and two hours. The US embassy said... [Read more]

Thailand starts talks to reduce price of Aids drug
BANGKOK - THAILAND yesterday said it had opened talks with US drugmaker Abbott Laboratories on lowering the price of an Aids medicine, a move which could avoid the need for a generic version Bangkok approved last week. Thailand has issued a... [Read more]

Lions' main concern was staying cool
CONFUSION, frustration and, finally, relief. Those were the emotions some of the Lions experienced during the 15 second-half minutes that marred Wednesday's Singapore-Thailand clash. Boos rang around the National Stadium when the Thai team staged an 82nd-minute walkout to protest referee... [Read more]

Floods cripple much of Jakarta
JAKARTA - MUCH of Jakarta was crippled yesterday as the worst deluge in five years cut road, rail and telecommunications links to the Indonesian capital. Three-quarters of the sprawling city of 12 million people was under water, and officials now face... [Read more]

Why insist on just one method of solving a mathematical problem when others achieve the same result?
I thank Mr Lim Boon Tong for addressing the bugbear of many parents who are anxious to track the progress of their kids in primary schools. By insisting on the so-called model-drawing methods of solving a maths problem, the schools have... [Read more]

'Zap' a print ad and stand to win a phone
FROM today, readers of The Straits Times and three sister newspapers can try out ZapCode and win prizes.This is the new mobile technology that will bring extra content to cellphone users - and be a boon to advertisers at the same... [Read more]

Coaches become shooters
THEY came to Singapore to coach the national air-pistol team two years ago.But China-born Fan Xiaoping, 35, and her husband Gai Bin, 38, will soon be donning Singapore colours - as athletes.They received their citizenship a fortnight ago, and have been... [Read more]

Tampines v Home pre-season cracker
TWO Sundays ago, they were the toast of Singapore after being crowned Asean champions. But, for national-team stalwarts S. Subramani, Lionel Lewis, Noh Alam Shah and Indra Sahdan Daud, it is back to domestic action. All four should feature when Tampines... [Read more]