Top stories from The Straits Times on Saturday, Feb 17

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kickstart your Saturday, Feb 17.


Video: US charges 13 Russians with 2016 election tampering; Trump says 'no collusion' between campaign and Russia

Rod Rosenstein, deputy attorney-general, briefs the media on the indictments in Washington. PHOTO: BLOOMBERG

A Russian Internet agency oversaw a criminal and espionage conspiracy to tamper in the 2016 US presidential campaign to support Donald Trump and disparage Hillary Clinton, said an indictment released that revealed more details than previously known about Moscow's purported effort to interfere.

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PM Lee Hsien Loong's Chinese New Year wish: Broader productivity growth, train improvements

PM Lee and Madam Ho Ching joined workers in their Chinese New Year celebrations on Feb 16, 2016. PM Lee started off his morning with a visit to workers at SBS Transit's Gali Batu MRT Depot and SMRT's Tuas Depot. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO

Singapore's economic performance last year was healthy, marked by a better-than-expected expansion and encouraging productivity growth.

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Video: Sengkang LRT train breaks down on first day of CNY, passengers get down and walk on tracks

A file photo of the Sengkang LRT. A power fault caused a stall on the Sengkang LRT on Feb 16, 2018.PHOTO: ST FILE

Another light rail vehicle was used to push the defective one out of the line so that services could resume on the Sengkang West inner loop. Service was back up at about 1pm.

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Video: 3...2...1... and first CNY baby arrives right on the stroke of midnight

A file photo of the Sengkang LRT. A power fault caused a stall on the Sengkang LRT on Feb 16, 2018. PHOTO: ST FILE

Right after the Tays watched the countdown to Chinese New Year on a hospital delivery room television, they welcomed their firstborn.

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HDB urges Aljunied-Hougang Town Council to resolve outstanding issues

The Housing Board has urged the Aljunied-Hougang Town Council "resolve all these issues fully and without further delay". PHOTO: ST FILE

The Housing Board has called on the Worker's Party-run Aljunied-Hougang Town Council to settle outstanding issues related to financial and governance lapses.

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Man arrested for murder after prime mover accident along Jurong Town Hall Road

Preliminary investigations revealed that a dispute between the deceased and the suspect could have caused the accident.

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Video: FBI admits mishandling January tip about accused Florida gunman

Cruz stands with assistant public defender Melisa McNeill as he makes a court video appearance. PHOTO: EPA-EFE

The Federal Bureau of Investigation said it failed to act on a tip that the teenager accused of killing 17 people in Florida had guns and the desire to kill, drawing calls from Florida's Republican governor for the FBI director to resign.

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Video: Blackface skit in China's new year gala sparks racism accusations

The actress, Lou Naiming (centre), appeared on stage in colourful garb with her face and arms coloured brown, carrying a fruit basket on her head, and accompanied by someone costumed as a monkey. PHOTO: REUTERS

The actress, Lou Naiming, appeared on stage in colourful garb with her face and arms coloured brown, carrying a fruit basket on her head, and accompanied by someone costumed as a monkey.

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India suspends passport of celebrity jeweller Nirav Modi over bank fraud case

An activist of the youth wing of India's main opposition Congress party holds a cut-out with an image of billionaire jeweller Nirav Modi during a protest in New Delhi, India on Feb 16, 2018. PHOTO: REUTERS

India's financial crimes agency is investigating allegations that Nirav Modi - one of India's richest men and jeweller to top Hollywood stars including Kate Winslet and Naomi Watts - and his business partner were involved in defrauding the Punjab National Bank.

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Malaysia sorry for Chinese New Year rooster ad cock-up

The full-page advert showed a rooster emitting the word "wang", used to represent a dog's bark in Mandarin. PHOTO: FACEBOOK/KPDNKK-LAMAN RASMI

Malaysia has apologised after a government ad in Chinese-language newspapers featuring a picture of a barking rooster to mark the Year of the Dog sparked a flood of mockery.

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