Presidents

UK's Prince Harry calls for return of national service | Reuters

LONDON Britain's Prince Harry called for the return of national service in the country, crediting a military career for helping to keep himself and the soldiers he commanded on the right track. Harry, 30, fifth in line to the throne, told The Sunday Times, that his 10-year career in the British Army had done "amazing things" for him

U.S. Box Office: 'Pitch Perfect 2' races past 'Mad Max: Fury Road' with outstanding $70.3 million | Reuters

LOS ANGELES (Variety.com) - "Pitch Perfect 2" hit all the right notes at the box office, snagging first place on the charts with a smashing $70.3 million debut despite fierce competition from "Mad Max: Fury Road." Universal's acapella sequel earned more in its first weekend than the $65 million that the original "Pitch Perfect" pulled in during its entire North American theatrical run. The only comparable performance is the way that "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me" opened with $54.9 million, more than the $53.9 million that the first spy satire racked up during its domestic engagement

WHO chief says Ebola out of control but can be stopped

CONAKRY (Reuters) - An outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus in West Africa is out of control but can be stopped with more resources and tougher measures, World Health Organization chief Margaret Chan said on Friday. The outbreak is the worst since the disease was discovered in the mid-1970s, with 729 deaths in four different countries

As Mideast trip nears end, Pope navigates minefield of symbols

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Pope Francis navigated the minefield of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and humbly bowed to kiss the hands of Holocaust survivors on Monday, the last day of a Mideast trip laden with bold personal gestures. "Never again, Lord. Never again!" he said in the dimly lit Hall of Remembrance in the Yad Vashem Museum which commemorates six million Jews killed by the Nazis in World War Two.

Meet on rising crime against women in Bengal Feb 23

Kolkata, Feb 20 (IANS) Blaming West Bengal's Mamata Banerjee government for the rise in rape cases in the state, a coordination body of Left-affiliated women's organisations in the state Thursday said they would hold a convention in the city Feb 23 on the issue. Nari Swadhikar Samanway (Coordination Committee of Women's Rights), that includes representatives of parties like the Communist Party of India-Marxist, Communist Party of India, Revolutionary Socialist Party and the All India Forward bloc, demanded the government take immediate steps to stop the atrocities

Warm Thursday in Delhi, similar Friday expected

New Delhi, Feb 20 (IANS) Delhi experienced a warm Thursday with the maximum temperature recorded at 24.5 degrees Celsius, average for this time of the year. The Met office forecasts similar weather Friday. "The day will remain clear with the maximum temperature likely to hover around 25 degrees Celsius and the minimum around 9 degrees Celsius," said an India Meteorological Department (IMD) official

Belarus concerned over Ukraine's worsening situation

Minsk, Feb 21 (IANS) Belarus is concerned about the worsening situation in Ukraine which has led to casualties, Belarusian foreign ministry said Thursday in a statement. In a statement, a spokesperson of the ministry said Belarus considered illegal methods of resolving domestic disputes in Ukraine unacceptable, Xinhua reported. Belarusian diplomats drew attention to the assessment of the events in Kiev by Western politicians, who turn a blind eye to the extremist outrage, he said

Britain, Iran revive direct diplomatic ties

London, Feb 21 (IANS) Britain and Iran Thursday resumed direct diplomatic relations as the Iranian embassy in London restored part of its consular operations. Britain has agreed with Iran that from 20th February bilateral relations will be conducted directly through non-resident Charges d' Affaires and officials," Xinhua quoted the British Foreign Office as saying in a statement.

Bihar official's house raided over disproportionate assets

Patna, Feb 20 (IANS) The Economic Offences Unit (EOU) of police conducted a raid at the house of a Bihar government official over his disproportionate assets, an official said Thursday. The EOU team raided the house of Ishwar Dayal, block development officer (BDO) of Mohiuddin Nagar in Samastipur district Wednesday and seized disproportionate assets worth Rs.91 lakh

UN resumes food supply to Palestinian refugees in Syria

United Nations, Feb 21 (IANS) The UN agency for Palestinian refugees has resumed its food distribution to Palestinians at Yarmouk camp in Damascus, following after an 11-day hiatus, a UN spokesman said here Thursday. The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) had been forced to halt its distribution of food and other essential supplies to civilians at Yarmouk camp since Feb 8 when clashes between rebels and government forces erupted at the rebel-held district, Xinhua reported