Syrian shells hit Israeli-occupied Golan: army

JERUSALEM: Mortar rounds believed to be have been fired from Syria hit the southern Israeli-occupied Golan Heights on Saturday without causing damage or casualties, the army said."Several shells landed and were found in an open area in the southern Golan Heights, most likely due to the fighting in Syria," a spokesman told AFP."No injuries or damages were caused. The incident was reported...

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Motor Racing: Button sets pace on second day of testing in Barcelona

  BARCELONA: Britain's Jenson Button, of McLaren, was quickest on a wet second morning of the final pre-season testing of the winter in Barcelona on Friday.Button, the 2009 world champion, was 0.216 seconds quicker than Germany's Adrian Sutil, driving for Force India in conditions that started off very wet before beginning to dry up.Sutil's impressive performance came a day after...

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US economy grows 0.1% in Q4

WASHINGTON: The US economy grew slightly in the fourth quarter last year, the government said Thursday, revising its prior estimate of a small contraction.Gross domestic product grew at an annual rate of 0.1 per cent in the October-December period, the Commerce Department said in its second official estimate. In its initial estimate in January, GDP contracted by 0.1 per cent.The revision...

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Study finds donkey meat in South African burgers

JOHANNESBURG: Unlike Europeans, South Africans do not unwittingly eat horsemeat in their beef burgers and sausages, but they do eat donkey, water buffalo and goat meat, according to a study by the Stellenbosch University.Over two thirds of meat products tested contained undeclared ingredients, according to a recent research study, prompted by revelations about food production in Europe."Our...

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Mobile makers set sights on grandparents

BARCELONA: As smartphone giants Apple and Samsung battle for the wallets of tech-savvy youngsters, a growing number of manufacturers is trying to lure a fast-growing new market: their grandparents.Handset makers at the world's biggest mobile fair in Barcelona, Spain, showed off a slew of new devices aimed at the hundreds of millions of older people put off by the complexity of the latest...

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Syria opposition threat clouds first Kerry overseas tour

LONDON: New US Secretary of State John Kerry met British Prime Minister David Cameron on Monday at the start of a get-acquainted tour of Europe and the Middle East, but the Syrian conflict threatened to taint the trip.US officials were trying to persuade the Syrian opposition to reconsider its threat to boycott an international meeting in Rome on Thursday, which was to be the centrepiece...

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John Kerry embarks on sweeping tour of Europe, Mideast

WASHINGTON: America's top diplomat John Kerry began his first official trip as secretary of state on Sunday, a marathon get-acquainted tour of America's closest allies in Europe and the Middle East.A plane carrying the news US secretary of state and his team took off from Joint Base Andrews outside Washington at around 7:15 am local time (1215 GMT).Kerry will visit the United Kingdom,...

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Football: Singapore's Adam Swandi secures 2-year contract with FC Metz

SINGAPORE: Sixteen-year-old Adam Swandi has secured a two-year deal with French Football Club FC Metz.He was the Most Valuable Player of the Singapore National Football Academy Under-16 team at the Lion City Cup tournament last June.Adam Swandi, recently underwent training stints with top European clubs such as Newcastle United, Chelsea, FC Metz and Atletico Madrid. His latest move to...

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Gossip scandal erupts in Vatican ahead of Pope's exit

VATICAN CITY: With just days to go before Pope Benedict XVI's resignation, the Vatican is battling persistent rumours that his decision was triggered by an explosive report on intrigue in its corridors of power.The secret report compiled by a committee of three cardinals for the Pope's eyes only was the result of a wide-ranging investigation into leaks of confidential papers from the Vatican...

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Genting Singapore's Q4 net profit drops 38%

SINGAPORE: Casino operator Genting Singapore's fourth quarter net profit fell 38 per cent to S$162.2 million, due mainly to one-time property write-offs. Its adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization slipped 6 per cent to S$369.3 million. The group reported a revenue of S$792 million in the October to December period, up from S$786 million from a year ago. ...

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China octogenarian on trial for four decade-old murder

BEIJING: A man in his eighties has gone on trial in a Chinese court for a murder he allegedly committed during the tumultuous Cultural Revolution over four decades ago, state media reported Wednesday.A court in the eastern province of Zhejiang this week tried the man for the 1967 murder of a doctor suspected of being a spy, the state-run China News Service reported.It said the defendant...

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Foul smelling tap water at Yishun HDB block

SINGAPORE: Residents at an HDB block in Yishun Avenue 11 reported that their tap water has been giving off a foul smell.Water agency PUB said tests on water samples from the block show the water is safe for drinking.It has since given the block's three water tanks a thorough cleaning.Residents said the problem started on February 14. One resident who stayed at the ninth floor said she...

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Iberia strikers clash with police at Madrid airport

MADRID: Strikers at Spanish airline Iberia clashed with police at Madrid-Barajas airport on Monday as they launched a five-day action against job cuts.Thousands of strikers tried to force their way into one of the terminals at the airport before being pushed back by police, an AFP reporter at the scene said.After several charges by police armed with batons, the Iberia staff finally entered...

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More youths doing volunteer work in North West District

SINGAPORE: More youths have stepped up to do volunteer work in Singapore's North West District. Last year, the number more than doubled, from about 470 to some 1,000.Volunteers' Night was held on Sunday evening to show appreciation to those who have helped.Members of Parliament from Holland-Bukit Timah GRC were present to show their support. This year, the district aims to boost the number...

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PM Lee urges couples to have confidence in S'pore's future

SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said it is important for couples to have confidence in Singapore's future and ultimately want Singapore to be the best place to settle down and raise children.He was speaking at the Lunar New Year dinner at his Teck Ghee ward on Saturday evening.He said: "Here, your children will get good education, will have good opportunities, that here we can...

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TCM slowly gaining popularity in Middle East

EAST JERUSALEM: Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is slowly gaining popularity in North Africa and the Middle East.But advocates still face an uphill task of convincing governments to accept it as an alternative form of medical treatment.Dr Adi Fromm's hospital ward is well known throughout Israel.Patients disheartened with Western painkillers come here looking for relief.An example is...

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Football: Barcelona's Villa taken back into hospital

MADRID: Barcelona striker David Villa has returned to hospital due to kidney stone pain just two days after being released for the same problem, the club confirmed on Thursday.Villa has been taken into Barcelona hospital on the advice of the club's medical services due to the "persistent pain caused by the nephritic colic he has suffered and to control his progression", said a statement...

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Former Romanian diplomat's trial resumes in Bucharest

SINGAPORE: The trial of former Romanian diplomat Silviu Ionescu resumed on Wednesday in Bucharest.The judge handling the trial has expressed displeasure with the defence lawyer for dragging the case over three years.He noted that the submission of evidence should have been long finished, but Ionescu's lawyer has asked for yet another witness to be heard.Ionescu's lawyer replied that the...

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Syrian rebels seize military airport

DAMASCUS: Rebels on Tuesday overran a military air base, a watchdog said, a day after seizing control of Syria's largest dam as they pushed an assault on strategic targets in the north of the country.The military advance came as prospects for a political solution to Syria's civil war faded and as UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urged President Bashar al-Assad's regime to accept an offer...

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Football: Bookmakers pay out early on United winning title

LONDON: Rival betting firms Betfred and Paddy Power have seen enough of the Premier League race to take the gamble of paying out early on Manchester United winning the title, despite the fact there are still 12 matches to play.Betfred boss Fred Done has risked facing the wrath of his fellow United supporters, paying out early again despite twice having his fingers burnt by making such...

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