News Today

Public shaming for absent civil servants
KUALA LUMPUR - MALAYSIA has found new ways to crack down on work-shy civil servants: naming in the media those who fail to show up for work and checking the homes of those who call in sick. The plan to publish... [Read more]

Arenas earns his first All-Star start
NEW YORK - TWO seasons ago, Gilbert Arenas filled out National Basketball Association All-Star ballots, in an unsuccessful effort to earn a starting spot. Last season, when the league announced the All-Star reserves, Arenas knew his name would not be called.... [Read more]

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]

Hog epidemic kills millions of pigs
BEIJING - WIDESPREAD hog disease in China has killed millions of pigs and spurred pork prices to an all-time high ahead of Chinese New Year, officials said yesterday.The highly-contagious disease, a variation of the Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome virus, or... [Read more]

Shark watch
Majestic whale sharks gliding through the waters of an aquarium hold visitors spellbound with their sheer magnificence and grace. The many species of marine life are housed behind the world's largest acrylic panel viewing window at the Churaumi Aquarium in Okinawa,... [Read more]

A royal touch for regional ties
TOKYO - JAPAN'S monarchy is actively doing its bit to improve ties with South Korea and China in ways that politicians find hard to beat. Late last month, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko attended the preview of a film based on... [Read more]

Funds go overseas
WINNERSInvestors could benefit from offshore unit trusts which are likely to be cheaper and offer better returns, due to lower overhead costs.LOSERSAffected parties include unit trust trustees - custodians of the money held in a unit trust - as well as... [Read more]

Indonesia not ready to prevent future disasters
JAKARTA - AS THE flood waters in Jakarta continued to recede yesterday, questions were being raised whether the government is doing enough to protect Indonesia from what seems like an unending series of disasters. The issue has assumed greater urgency in... [Read more]

Bak kwa store shows off Wireless@SG's potential
TECHNOLOGY is helping bak kwa sales in the heart of Chinatown zip right along, despite massive queues as Chinese New Year nears. The Bee Cheng Hiang store in Pagoda Street, which gets some 2,000 customers in a week as the festive... [Read more]

President Nathan: Build cultural, social ties
MANILA - SINGAPOREANS should not only seize investment opportunities in the Philippines, but also embrace social projects and cultural exchanges here, President SR Nathan said yesterday. In an assessment of his four-day state visit, he said his meeting with Philippine President... [Read more]

Homecoming kings
PHOTO: ALBERT SIMIt was a football homecoming to savour for Singapore skipper Aide Iskandar and the victorious Lions yesterday. They were mobbed by 300-odd fans at the airport upon their return from Bangkok, where they had clinched the Asean Football Championship... [Read more]