Israel hits Hamas buildings, shoots down Tel Aviv-bound rocket

GAZA/JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli aircraft bombed Hamas government buildings in Gaza, and the "Iron Dome" defense system shot down a Tel Aviv-bound rocket on Saturday as Israel geared up for a possible ground invasion. Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist group that runs the Gaza Strip, said Israeli missiles wrecked the office building of Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh - where he had met on...

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Golf: Coetzee sets course record in SA Open

EKURHULENI, South Africa: South African George Coetzee hit a course-record 63 at the Serengeti Golf and Wildlife Estate to end the third round of the SA Open in second place on Saturday.At 13 under par, 26-year-old Coetzee is tied in second place with Sweden's Magnus A Carlsson, just three strokes behind leader Henrik Stenson, who had his worst round yet at 69 after 66 and 65 in the previous...

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Can Uddhav carry forward Bal Thackeray's legacy?

MUMBAI: Well before his death on Saturday, Shiv Sena patriarch Bal Thackeray had anointed son Uddhav Thackeray as the successor to his political legacy. Last year he went a step further and moved even grandson Aditya to the frontline, silencing any potential claimants to the party mantle. A clear message went down the rank and file and to allies Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Republican Party...

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GOP Mourning for Mitt Romney? Not So Much

Republicans are over it.And most of them aren't doing much mourning for Mitt Romney.Just over a week since the two-time Republican presidential hopeful failed to deny President Obama a second term, instead of offering up condolences for a candidate who garnered 48 percent of the popular vote, GOP leaders seem to be keeping Romney at arm's length."I've never run for president --...

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Israel moves on reservists after rockets target cities

GAZA/JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli ministers were on Friday asked to endorse the call-up of up to 75,000 reservists after Palestinian militants nearly hit Jerusalem with a rocket for the first time in decades and fired at Tel Aviv for a second day. The rocket attacks were a challenge to Israel's Gaza offensive and came just hours after Egypt's prime minister, denouncing what he described...

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Motor Racing: Vettel fastest in first practice in Texas

Austin, TEXAS: Sebastian Vettel, chasing his third consecutive world title, topped the times for Red Bull in Friday's opening free practice session for this weekend's United States Grand Prix.The 25-year-old German, who needs to outscore nearest rival Fernando Alonso by 15 points to become Formula One's youngest triple champion, produced his customary blistering pace in his first run at...

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UPA celebrating defeat, BJP says

NEW DELHI: In a scathing attack on the government on the 2G spectrum auction, the BJP on Friday said low bidding had vindicated the CAG's stand that not going for auction in 2008 had led to a huge loss. It claimed that the wrong policies of UPA were to be blamed for low collections. "This must be the first government in the world which is celebrating its defeat. The auction for 2G which did not...

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EU drug regulator OKs Novartis' meningitis B shot

LONDON (AP) — Europe's top drug regulator has recommended approval for the first vaccine against meningitis B, made by Novartis AG.There are five types of bacterial meningitis. While vaccines exist to protect against the other four, none has previously been licensed for type B meningitis. In Europe, type B is the most common, causing 3,000 to 5,000 cases every year.Meningitis mainly affects infants...

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Two Missing in Gulf Oil Rig Blast

Ships and helicopters are searching for two oil rig workers who disappeared when an explosion rocked a gulf oil rig off the coast of Louisiana and set it on fire, Coast Guard officials said.Eleven other crew members were flown to hospitals, and four of them are listed in critical condition. No one has been confirmed dead.Earlier reports by the Coast Guard that as many as 15...

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