GETTING to Bintan just got faster and more comfortable.

And those willing to pay a bit more will get airline-style business class treatment too.

Two new ferries will cut travelling time between Singapore and the Indonesian resort island by at least 15 minutes, making the trip from the Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal in 45 minutes.

TEHERAN - IRANIAN police fired tear gas on Monday as about 1,000 opposition demonstrators gathered in central Teheran in defiance of a ban by the authorities, witnesses said.

One witness said police in helmets and wielding clubs fired at least seven rounds of tear gas to disperse a group of about 200 protesters as they started to chant Allahu Akbar (God is Greatest).

THAI premier Abhisit Vejjajiva on a day-long official visit here - his first as prime minister - pledged to step up cooperation with Singapore and assured leading bankers and businessmen that Thailand would continue to welcome foreign investment.

Speaking to The Straits Times after a luncheon at the Istana with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and senior Cabinet members, Mr Abhisit said: 'I had a very good meeting with PM Lee; despite the (economic) downturn we are determined to step up cooperation on all fronts.'

FOR seven weeks, Singapore fought the good fight against the H1N1 virus and kept it at bay.

But over the past week, signs that the virus is spreading within the community have grown, and the country has now crossed the tipping point, beyond which local transmissions will grow rapidly.