Straits Times Interactive - Most Read Stories

Grammy party turns to tribute for late Whitney Houston

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 06:00:00 GMT

LOS ANGELES (REUTERS) - Music producer Clive Davis's pre-Grammy party is typically one of the most fun-filled highlights of the week leading to the music industry's top awards, but this year's event quickly turned into a tribute for Whitney Houston, who died earlier in the day.

Music world stunned by death of Whitney Houston

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 06:00:00 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AFP) - Stars and music industry leaders paid tribute on Saturday to singer Whitney Houston, who died aged 48 on the eve of the annual Grammys show.

Steering issue hits Singapore-bound Qantas A380 during take-off

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 06:00:00 GMT

SYDNEY (AFP) - A Singapore-bound Qantas A380 flight was delayed for safety checks after a steering problem during take-off from London which saw the superjumbo veer off course, a spokesman for the airline said on Sunday.

Troubled iconic singer Whitney Houston dies age 48

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 06:00:00 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Whitney Houston, who reigned as pop music's queen until her majestic voice and regal image were ravaged by drug use, erratic behaviour and a tumultuous marriage to singer Bobby Brown, has died. She was 48.

Whitney Houston broke records, barriers and hearts

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 11:53:00 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AFP) - Pop legend Whitney Houston, who was found dead Saturday, was the vocal star of a generation whose soaring voice broke records and inspired millions of fans before substance abuse sent her on a downward spiral.

'No retreat' for PAP from Aljunied GRC

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 06:00:00 GMT

Mr Victor Lye talks a mile a minute and gesticulates animatedly to drive home his points. At first blush, the stocky 49-year-old general manager of a health-care insurance company seems an unlikely replacement for former foreign minister George Yeo, noted for his cerebral bent, measured tones and runner's frame.

Number of Internet dating scams triple in 2011

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 06:00:00 GMT

Last October, Janet (not her real name) went to the airport, all eager to welcome an American she had befriended on a dating website. While she was waiting at the arrival hall, the 34-year-old's cellphone rang. An 'immigration officer' said that her friend had been detained for bringing in a large sum of money.

Charge phone for free as you shop at these stores

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 06:00:00 GMT

Running out of battery juice is a surefire way to trigger a dreaded 21st-century affliction: nomophobia, or the fear of being out of mobile phone contact.

Public servants questioned in prostitution ring investigation

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 06:00:00 GMT

The police are investigating an online prostitution ring, with a former principal of a popular school among scores of men said to have been hauled up for questioning.

Seeing red over UOB staff dinner 'blackface' photos

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 06:00:00 GMT

Several Chinese employees of United Overseas Bank have raised eyebrows online after posting pictures of themselves in 'blackface' at a Bollywood-themed staff dinner.

Super Lin-tendo scores 38 points against Kobe Bryant's Lakers

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 06:00:00 GMT

NEW YORK (AFP) - Jeremy Lin passed his biggest test since bursting onto the NBA scene last weekend, scoring a career-high 38 points to lead the Knicks to victory over Kobe Bryant's Los Angeles Lakers.

Police investigating suspected online vice operation

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 13:19:00 GMT

The police are investigating a suspected online vice operation as part of their enforcement efforts to clamp down on vice syndicates, a spokesman said on Saturday in response to media queries. It is believed that about 80 people, including public servants, are involved in the investigations.

Video of US dad shooting daughter's laptop goes viral

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 09:47:00 GMT

WASHINGTON (AFP) - A video of an angry American father pumping nine slugs from a handgun into his daughter's laptop has gone viral on YouTube and sparked an impassioned online debate over his parenting skills.

Saturday Special Report: A Hong Kong mum's anger

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 06:00:00 GMT

There is a popular joke in Hong Kong that couples should book a slot at a maternity ward the day they plan to conceive. That way, it is said, they would avoid the frantic hunt for a hospital place and obstetrician.

Masseur charged with molesting 17-year-old girl

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 06:00:00 GMT

A man was on Friday charged with outraging the modesty of a 17-year-old girl at the staircase landing of a block of flats. Koh Kah Yong, 27, is accused of using criminal force to molest the girl in Circuit Road on Monday. The masseur pleaded not guilty through a court interpreter.

Filipino civil servant earns $295 a month and drives a Porsche

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 06:00:00 GMT

MANILA - On the surface, it looked like any old road-rage case, except that this one escalated well beyond the everyday realm of fisticuffs.

14 diners hit by diarrhoea after buffet dinner at Mandarin Oriental

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 06:00:00 GMT

Fourteen diners suffered from severe bouts of diarrhoea after a buffet dinner last month at Mandarin Oriental hotel. They were from two separate groups who dined at Melt - The World Cafe international buffet restaurant on Jan 28.

Man found dead in rubbish chute in Lengkok Bahru

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 06:00:00 GMT

A man was found dead on Friday at the bottom of a rubbish chute in Lengkok Bahru housing estate. Paramedics pronounced Mr Lim Fook Sin, 47, dead at about 10am after the police were alerted to the case 20 minutes earlier.

One Catholic church says: Dressing like this is not okay

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 06:00:00 GMT

The Archdiocese of Singapore is looking into a dress code for Roman Catholic churches after a woman was told she could not wear three-quarter pants to church. The Archdiocese, which oversees all 31 Roman Catholic churches in Singapore, will approach churches to find out the attire guidelines they put out and how they are enforced.

Chalet deaths: Ex-schoolmates at wake of younger woman

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 06:00:00 GMT

The younger of the two women found dead in a chalet at the Aloha Changi resort on Thursday attended Dunman High School from 2005 to 2008. Former schoolmates of Ms Teo Wan Si, were seen crying at her wake, held at the Singapore Casket.

Case of body found under the CTE flyover classified as murder

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:59:00 GMT

The police have classified the case of a man found under the Central Expressway (CTE) flyover as murder.

89 drug offenders arrested in 48-hour operation

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:55:00 GMT

A total of 89 drug offenders were arrested in an intensive island-wide operation by the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) this week.

Facebook 'defriending' leads to double murder

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:56:00 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tennessee (REUTERS) - A Tennessee couple who 'defriended' a woman on Facebook was murdered in their home by the jilted woman's father and another man, police said on Thursday.

2 Bedok hawker centres to close for upgrading in mid Feb

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:04:00 GMT

Two hawker centres in Bedok will be closed for upgrading works in mid February under the National Environment Agency's (NEA) Hawker Centres Upgrading Programme (HUP), the NEA said on Friday.

Lawrence Wong explains ITE comment

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 06:00:00 GMT

Minister of State for Education Lawrence Wong on Thursday said his comment that not all Institute of Technical Education (ITE) graduates can go on to polytechnics was taken out of context.