Washington, May 28 (SocialNews.XYZ) A second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the US "could happen" but it was "not inevitable", America's top infectious diseases expert Anthony Fauci said.

The US can prevent another wave of COVID-19 as long as states reopen "correctly", Xinhua news agency quoted Fauci as saying in a CNN interview on Wednesday.

"Don't start leapfrogging over the recommendations of some of the guidelines because that's really tempting fate and asking for trouble."

Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, has previously warned that Americans need to prepare for the possibility of a second wave of the coronavirus in the fall, which would run alongside the flu season.

Stay-at-home orders intended to curb the spread of the coronavirus could end up causing "irreparable damage" if imposed for too long, Fauci said last week.

"I don't want people to think that any of us feel that staying locked down for a prolonged period of time is the way to go."

Fauci's remarks came as the US hit a grim milestone of over 100,000 COVID-19 deaths.

As of Thursday morning, the number of coronavirus deaths in the country stood at 100,418, while the overall cases surged to 1,699,126, both tallies account for the highest in the world, according to the Johns Hopkins University.

New York, the epicentre of the pandemic in the US, reported 364,965 cases and 29,370 deaths.

New Jersey, Massachusetts, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Illinois each reported over 5,000 deaths.

Source: IANS

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London, Feb 29 (IANS) Conservative ministers and senior backbenchers in the Parliament have threatened a "no confidence vote" if British Prime Minister David Cameron fails to stop the "blue on blue" attacks on fellow Conservatives

Cameron may face a leadership challenge after the "in or out" European Union (EU) referendum unless he tones down his attacks on pro-Brexit London mayor Boris Johnson and other Eurosceptics, Xinhua cited a report in the Sunday Times on Sunday.

Under the Conservative Party's rules, a vote of no confidence can be called if 15 percent of its members of Parliament (MPs) request such a vote.

"Cameron's position will be untenable even if he wins the referendum if he carries on like this. There will be no problem getting 50 names," a senior backbench MP was quoted by the newspaper as saying.

The ruling Conservative Party is now openly split over Britain's future in the EU, with a number of heavyweight cabinet ministers, leading conservative politicians and more than 120 MPs joining the "out" campaign.

On Monday, Cameron criticised Johnson, the London mayor who has announced his support for Brexit, by suggesting that the mayor's decision was simply driven by his own ambition to become the next prime minister.

In a column for the Telegraph newspaper on Monday, Johnson admitted that Cameron "has done his very best" in renegotiating British membership in the EU, but insisted that the only one way to get the change Britain wants is to vote to leave.

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to vote for real change in Britain's relations with Europe. This is the only opportunity we will ever have to show that we care about self-rule," he wrote.

"A vote to Remain will be taken in Brussels as a green light for more federalism, and for the erosion of democracy," he added.

Britain will hold a referendum on whether to remain in the EU on June 23.

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Netanyahu on Thursday accused Cameron of "forgetting" that the Israeli control was safeguarding the holy city from the radical Islam, Xinhua reported.

"Cameron, who is undoubtedly a friend of Israel, seems to have forgotten some basic facts about Jerusalem," Netanyahu said at a conference of his Likud party in the southern city of Ofakim.

"Only Israeli sovereignty in Jerusalem is preventing the Islamic State and Hamas from setting fire to the holy sites in the city, as they do elsewhere in the Middle East," he said.

On Wednesday, Cameron slammed the Israeli construction in east Jerusalem, a predominantly Palestinian area.

"I am well known for being a strong friend of Israel, but I have to say the first time I visited Jerusalem and had a proper tour around that wonderful city and saw what had happened with the effective encirclement of east Jerusalem, occupied east Jerusalem, it is genuinely shocking," Cameron told the British parliament during a question session.

Israel occupied the West Bank and the Gaza Strip during the 1967 Mideast War, and later annexed east Jerusalem, in a move condemned by the international community.

The Jewish settlements in the Palestinian territory are illegal under international law and the international community opposes them, saying their construction undermines prospects of establishing a Palestinian state alongside Israel.

A surge of Palestinian uprising, including frequent stabbing, car-ramming and shooting attacks, started in Jerusalem in mid-September over visiting rights to a site holy to both Muslims and Jews.

The violence quickly spread to Israel and the rest of the West Bank, and has so far claimed the lives of at least 170 Palestinians and 28 Israelis.

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London, Feb 20 (IANS) Britain will vote on whether to remain in the European Union on June 23, Prime Minister David Cameron has said.

Cameron made his announcement in Downing Street after briefing the cabinet, BBC reported.

He said that the government's position was to recommend that Britain remains in the EU once the referendum goes underway.

The decision to hold a referendum still has to be formalised by the British parliament, but it is widely expected to be adopted since Cameron's Conservative party holds the majority.

Cameron would campaign to remain in a reformed EU. He described the vote as one of the biggest decisions "in our lifetimes".

"My recommendation is clear. I believe that Britain will be safer, stronger and better off in a reformed European Union," he said.

A string of ministers have come out in favour of remaining -- but others will campaign against Cameron.

Cameron warned that leaving the European Union would be a "leap in the dark" as he urged voters to back his reforms deal.

Home Secretary Theresa May heads the list of those who have announced they will campaign to stay -- but Justice Secretary Michael Gove has signed up to the leave campaign.

Leave campaigners also hope London Mayor Boris Johnson will join their cause -- but he is yet to declare where he stands.

Cameron claims his EU reforms deal -- hammered out at a two-day summit in Brussels -- will give Britain "special status" within the bloc -- tackling concerns over migrants getting "something for nothing" from the benefit system and exempting the country from the EU drive for "ever closer union".

Despite vows by Cameron to campaign in full-out efforts for Britain to remain in the EU, the outcome of the referendum is far from certain as opinion polls indicated that British voters are evenly divided, and even many senior members of the Tory party declared support for the "Leave EU" campaign.

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Brussels, Feb 20 (IANS) European leaders on Friday reached a deal on British Prime Minister David Cameron's reforms to give Britain special status in the EU after marathon talks.

Donald Tusk, president of the European Council, said at the press conference following the two-day EU summit: "We have achieved a legally binding and irreversible deal decided on by all 28 leaders, strengthening Britain's special status in the EU."

"The settlement addresses all of PM Cameron's concerns without compromising our fundamental values," Tusk said.

Cameron told the reporters the deal delivered on the commitments he has made, outlining that, "Britain will be permanently out of ever-closer union. There will be tough new restrictions to our welfare system for EU migrants. Britain will never join the euro and we've secure vital protections for our economy."

"I believe that this is enough for me to recommend that the UK stays in the European Union," he said.

Cameron has demanded EU reform in four areas, including economic governance, competitiveness, sovereignty and social benefits, and free movement, Xinhua news agency reported.

EU heads of state and governments met on Thursday and Friday to thrash out a legally binding agreement on EU reforms to keep UK in the 28-nation bloc.

Facing opposition from most member states to his demands on issues such as benefits for EU workers in Britain, Cameron's negotiation on reforms to UK's relationship with the EU has dragged out into a marathon battle.

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Amritsar: Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju addresses a press conference in Amritsar on Feb 1, 2016. (Photo: IANS)

New Delhi, Feb 15 (IANS) India will explore the possibility of signing an agreement with the United Kingdom on exchanging information on criminals, Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju said on Monday.

Interacting with visiting UK Minister of State for Immigration James Brokenshire here, Rijiji said New Delhi will "positively consider" a draft on the matter and advance the signing of the memorandum of understanding on information exchange.

"Rijiju raised the issue of as many as 131 pending requests from New Delhi on extradition of wanted persons under the Extradition Treaty," an official statement said.

Assuring of cooperation, Brokenshire, however, said these matters were for the British courts to decide.

Besides the provision of death penalty in India and the European Commission’s provisions on human rights proved to be hurdles in acceding to the requests, the UK minister said.

Brokenshire said a team of experts may examine the pending issues on case-to-case basis.

The British minister also voiced concern on Indian migrants overstaying their visas in the UK and pointed out that Indians constituted the largest such group. Rijiju assured of India's cooperation on this matter.

Addressing India's concerns on the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) of the UK, Brokenshire said the British government had not reached a conclusion yet on its recommendations.

He said: "The UK, in fact, encourages Indian students to visit Britain for higher education. Also, 20,000 jobs are being offered to students and this will largely benefit the Indian students."

Rijiju also assured the visiting UK delegation that making payment for online e-tourist visa to visit India will also be made hassle-free.

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Washington, Feb 15 (IANS) US President Barack Obama on Sunday urged Russia to play a constructive role in Syria by halting its air campaign against so-called Syria's moderate opposition forces.

Obama made the call in a phone conversation with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Sunday, the White House said in a statement, Xinhua reported.

The two leaders discussed the decisions and agreements made at the February 11 meeting of the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) and stressed "the importance of rapidly implementing humanitarian access to besieged areas of Syria and initiating a nationwide cessation of hostilities".

"In particular, President Obama emphasised the importance now of Russia playing a constructive role by ceasing its air campaign against moderate opposition forces in Syria," it said.

The two leaders agreed that the US and Russia will remain in communication on the important work of the ISSG.

Both the US-led coalition and Russia are conducting military campaigns in Syria.

Russia has been launching air strikes against targets of the terror group Islamic State inside Syria since last September, but the US has accused Moscow of bombing moderate opposition forces in Syria in order to help sustain the rule of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

The ISSG meeting, sponsored by the the US and Russia, agreed on a nationwide cessation of hostilities to be implemented soon in Syria, and on humanitarian aid delivery to besieged areas in the country.

Obama also urged "combined Russian-separatist forces to fulfill their Minsk obligations, especially adhering to the ceasefire and ensuring that the Special Monitoring Mission of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has full access to all areas of eastern Ukraine, including the international border".

"The president reiterated the importance of quickly reaching agreement on the modalities for elections in eastern Ukraine that comply with OSCE standards," the White House statement said.

On Ukraine, Putin expressed the hope that Kiev would take practical steps to meet its obligations under the Minsk deal as soon as possible, including constitutional reform, establishing direct dialogue with the two self-proclaimed republics in eastern Ukraine, and amendments to the law on special status of the Donbass region, according to an earlier Kremlin statement.

Relations between Russia and the Western countries have been undermined by disputes over the Syria and Ukraine issues, with both sides waging a sanction war and cutting dialogues.

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Kolkata, Feb 11 (IANS) Rubbishing a British website's revelations asserting that Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose perished in a plane crash in 1945, author-researcher Anuj Dhar has claimed that even the British and Indian authorities disbelieved the main witness of the alleged crash.

While the theory of Netaji's death in a plane crash is mostly based on accounts given by his aide-de-camp Lt. Col. Habibur Rahman Khan, Dhar citing documents available at the National Archives in New Delhi says both the British and Indian security officials who cross-examined him disbelieved Khan.

"The crash theory is mainly based on the accounts given by Rahman, supported by contradictory statements of a few Japanese. But according to documents, the officials who cross-examined Rahman found several loopholes in his claims and did not buy the crash theory," Dhar, whose 2012 book "India's biggest cover-up" triggered the demand of the declassification of the Netaji files, told IANS.

"IB Deputy Director W. McK Wright who led the probe into Bose's reported death, on March 25, 1946, was informed by Colonel G.D. Anderson, who had supervised Rahman's interrogation at the Red Fort, that even after months, Rahman still adhered to his earlier attitude of ingenuous denial," says Dhar.

"Even if Rahman was in the know of Bose's plans, he would not disclose them. His manner is not very convincing. He talks in a secretive way even if no one is about," reads a hand-written note by interrogating officer Major Hyat Khan to Anderson, that was accessed by Dhar.

Prompted by Anderson's report, a re-interrogation of Rahman was carried out by Capt. Habibullah Malik.

Malik in his report wrote: "Throughout the protracted questioning, resentment was visible from B1269's (Rahman's) face and he made no bones about it."

"The results obtained are far from satisfactory and do not take us much further from the original position," reads the report by Malik.

Dhar says that after Rahman was released, he was questioned at length by ace lawyer and Bose's elder brother Sarat Bose, who then made a public statement that "Rahman had orders from Netaji to come out with a fake story".

Referring to the documents suggesting the authorities disbelief of Rahman as well as the Justice Mukherjee Commission which debunkd the air-crash theory, Dhar questioned the claims made by the London website set up to catalogue the last days of the nationalist leader.

"At a time when the Narendra Modi government has begun the process of declassifying Netaji files and also has been urging foreign governments to follow suit, the motive behind the claims by the website needs to be questioned," asserts Dhar.

Describing the revelations as "trite, hackneyed and even misleading", Dhar along with a section of Bose family members have been questioning the motive of the website which incidentally has been set up by Netaji's grandnephew Ashish Ray.

Citing testimonies of two Japanese doctors and a Taiwanese nurse who treated Bose, his personal interpreter and Habibur Rahman, the www.bosefiles.info. has been ascribing to the plane crash theory.

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London, Feb 10 (IANS) Almost 3,000 operations were cancelled on Wednesday as second wave of industrial action by thousands of junior doctors started on Wednesday after negotiations over pay and new contracts failed.

The second 24-hour strike by doctors started at 8.00 a.m. (local time). Though the emergency care was still being provided, Xinhua reported.

About 38,000 junior doctors in England went on strike last month over the same issues. It was the first industrial action by British junior doctors in nearly 40 years.

The British government wanted to put the National Health Service (NHS) on a seven-day working basis and tried to introduce a new contract for junior doctors who were concerned about whether they could premium payments for work on Saturdays.

The British Medical Association (BMA), the trade union for 170,000 doctors in Britain, proposed accepting half of the 11 percent basic pay raise offered by the government in return for retaining extra payments for working Saturdays. However, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt reportedly rejected the proposed deal.

Junior doctors joined the walkouts on Wednesday in many cities around the country, including London, Sheffield, Manchester.

"Last weekend, thousands of us took to the streets of London and Bristol to show that our fight for a properly negotiated contract continues. (Today) we raise our voices again, on hundreds of picket lines across England," said Johann Malawana, BMA junior doctors committee chair, in a message to junior doctors ahead of the industrial action.

Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, said: "Our members are saying to us 'this really does need to reach a conclusion.' The ideal conclusion would be for employers to make a fair and final reasonable offer and for the BMA to accept it."

"If the BMA doesn't accept it, our members are saying to us that the secretary of state has to find a way to bring this to a conclusion. Three thousand operations are being cancelled today, we can't carry on like this."

Well-known British author J.K. Rowling, who is married to a doctor, said she supported the junior doctors' strike on her Twitter account Wednesday morning.

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credit: Twitter

London, Feb 6 (IANS) Britain on Friday rejected a UN working group's ruling which calls for an end to the "arbitrary detention" of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.

The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (UNWGAD) announced on Friday that Assange has been "arbitrarily detained" by Sweden and Britain since his arrest in London in 2010, and he should be afforded the right to compensation, Xinhua reported.

Speaking from the balcony of the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, where he has been taking refuge, Assange said: "How sweet it is. This is a victory that cannot be denied."

"It is a victory of historical importance, not just for me, for my family, for my children, but for the independence of the UN system," he added.

Holding a copy of the UN ruling, he continued: "What right do the governments of the US, UK or Sweden have to deny my children their father for five and a half years?"

However, British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond described the ruling as "a ridiculous finding" by the working group, and accused Assange of "hiding from justice."

"Assange is a fugitive from justice, voluntarily hiding in the Ecuadorian embassy. I reject the report from UNWGAD," Hammond tweeted.

Hitting back at Hammond, Assange accused the foreign secretary' s comments of "insulting the UN."

"I found those comments to be beneath the stature that a foreign secretary should express in this situation," The 44-year-old Australian said.

Edward Snowden, a US intelligence contractor-turned-whistleblower who has fled the US and taken refugee in Russia, criticised Britain's rejection to abide by the UN ruling.

"This writes a pass for every dictatorship to reject UN rulings. Dangerous precedent for UK and Sweden to set," he said on his twitter account.

British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) denied that Assange has been arbitrarily detained by Britain, and threatened to formally contest the opinion of the UN Working Group.

"This changes nothing. We completely reject any claim that Julian Assange is a victim of arbitrary detention. The UK has already made clear to the UN that we will formally contest the working group's opinion," an FCO spokesperson said.

The spokesperson noted that an allegation of rape against Assange is still outstanding with a European Arrest Warrant in place, and Britain "continues to have a legal obligation to extradite him to Sweden."

Assange has infuriated several governments, including the US authorities, by disclosing hundreds of thousands of secret files concerning Iraq, Afghanistan and diplomatic cables from US embassies around the world.

In June, 2012, Assange fled to the Ecuadorian Embassy in London and was granted political asylum by Ecuador two months later.

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Brussels, Feb 2 (IANS) European Council (EC) president Donald Tusk on Tuesday unveiled his proposals to retain Britain's membership in the European Union (EU).

According to a letter by Tusk to the members of the European Council, the proposal included the four areas of economic governance, competitiveness, sovereignty, and social benefits and free movement, Xinhua news agency reported.

"We need to fully respect the current treaties, in particular, the principles of freedom of movement and non-discrimination. Therefore, the proposed solution to address Britain's concerns builds on the clarification of the interpretation of current rules, including a draft commission declaration on a number of issues relating to better fighting abuse of free movement," Tusk said in the letter.

Also on Tuesday, the EU unveiled a draft decision of the heads of state or government concerning British referendum issue.

"The draft decision notes, in particular, the Commission's intention to propose changes to EU legislation as regards the export of child benefits and the creation of a safeguard mechanism to respond to exceptional situations of inflow of workers from other member states," said Tusk.

Concerning economic governance, Tusk said the draft decision of the heads set out principles to ensure mutual respect between the member states taking part in further deepening of the economic and monetary union and those which do not.

However, Tusk said the respect "cannot constitute a veto nor delay urgent decisions".

"To my mind, it goes really far in addressing all the concerns raised by Prime Minister Cameron. The line I did not cross, however, were the principles on which the European project is founded," Tusk added.

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London, Jan 31 (IANS) British Prime Minister David Cameron on Sunday announced that a new government law will require universities to publish statistical data on admissions by gender, class and ethnic backgrounds.

The move comes as a response to criticisms that students from the 'wrong' backgrounds were under-represented at elite universities such as Oxford and Cambridge, Xinhua news agency reported.

Downing Street said in a statement: "Under the proposal, all universities will have a new 'transparency duty', part of a drive to highlight those institutions failing to improve access."

"There are currently huge discrepancies in the offers made by universities to students from disadvantaged backgrounds. In 2014, just 27 black students entered Oxford University out of an intake of more than 2,500, and only one in ten of the poorest white working class boys enter higher education."

Under the duty, which will be introduced in legislation, wide-ranging data will be published showing the ethnic, gender and socio-economic breakdown for applications, entry, and retention in key disciplines at all higher education institutions.

Government Business Secretary Sajid Javid said: "This new transparency duty will highlight where progress is being made and where institutions could do much more. Only by working together can we tear down barriers and create a genuine level playing field for those with the potential to study at our world-class universities."

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Kolkata, Jan 22 (IANS)

"It has been 70 years since he died in the crash, I have interviewed people who mattered and written what I had to. People who know nothing, have no evidence, keep talking and create stories," Gordon told IANS on the sidelines of an event here.

A day ahead of the Narendra Modi government declassifying a set of files on Netaji on his birth anniversary, Gordon said he would be surprised if the files provide any information disproving that he died in the air crash in Formosa (now Taiwan) on August 18, 1945.

"I welcome the declassification of the files, it's a good step. But I believe there would be nothing to prove the contrary.

"I am waiting to be surprised, but I don't think I would be," Gordon, who penned "Brothers Against the Raj: A Biography of Indian Nationalist Leaders Sarat and Subhas Chandra Bose", said.

Gordon also disapproved of historians and a large section of the Bose family who have debunked the air crash theory.

"People who know nothing, have no evidence keep talking and create stories.

"How long will they keep creating stories? It has been 70 years since he died in the crash, so until they have evidence, they should stop talking," added Gordon.

Delivering a lecture here, Gordon said the Red Fort trials of 1945 played a large part in making Indians aware about the exploits of the Indian National Army (INA) and spread th sentiment of nationalism wide and across.

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Davos, Jan 22 (IANS) Prime Minister of the United Kingdom David Cameron reiterated his determination to secure the future of the UK in the reformed European Union.

He made the remarks on Thursday when addressing a special session during the ongoing World Economic Forum summit in Swiss ski resort of Davos, Xinhua reported.

Cameron outlined four key areas where he needs to see progress in Brussels in order to deliver on the concerns of the British people. The first area concerns Europe's economic competitiveness. Although he confessed that he found the single market of 500 million people "an absolutely thrilling prospect", the EU lags behind the US in technology and productivity.

Second, Cameron called for fair rules for countries that are not part of the Eurozone.

He referred to the situation last summer, when Eurozone countries wanted to help bail out Greece using a fund to which the UK contributes, saying that would be "completely unacceptable, to use the money of a non-Eurozone state to solve a Eurozone crisis."

However, he added, "I want the Eurozone to succeed -- the Eurozone is our biggest trading partner."

Third is the sovereignty issue. He said Britain has "never been happy with the idea that we're part of an ever-closer political union -- we're a proud and independent country."

Fourth are the twin issues of migration and welfare. He noted that the pressures from migration into the UK had become too great.

Cameron said he hoped to secure an agreement with the EU as soon as February, but he added that "If there isn't the right deal, I'm not in a hurry. I can hold the (EU membership in-out) referendum at any time up to the end of 2017. It's much more important to get this right than to rush it."

Over 2,500 leaders from business, government, international organisations, civil society, academia, media and the arts are participating in the 46th World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, on January 20-23.

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London, Jan 21 (IANS) The murder of ex-Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko in 2006 in Britain was "probably" approved by President Vladimir Putin, an inquiry has found.

Putin is likely to have signed off the poisoning of Litvinenko with polonium-210 in part due to personal "antagonism" between the pair, it said, BBC reported.

Home Secretary Theresa May said the murder was a "blatant and unacceptable" breach of international law.

But the Russian Foreign Ministry said the public inquiry was "politicised".

It said: "We regret that the purely criminal case was politicised and overshadowed the general atmosphere of bilateral relations."

Dmitry Preskov, Putin's spokesman, said Moscow's official response to the report will happen through "diplomatic channels", the Russian news agency Interfax was quoted as saying.

Prime Minister David Cameron said Britain would have to go on having "some sort of relationship with them (Russia)" because of the Syria crisis, but it would be done with "clear eyes and a very cold heart".

The long-awaited report into Litvinenko's death found that two Russian men - Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitry Kovtun - deliberately poisoned the 43-year-old in London in 2006 by putting the radioactive substance polonium-210 into his drink at a hotel.

Sir Robert Owen, the public inquiry chairman, said he was "sure" Litvinenko's murder had been carried out by the two men and that they were probably acting under the direction of Moscow's FSB intelligence service, and approved by the organisation's chief, Nikolai Patrushev, as well as the Russian president.

He said Litvinenko's work for British intelligence agencies, his criticism of the FSB and Putin, and his association with other Russian dissidents were possible motives for his killing.

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Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Chancellor George Osborne during the 8th India-UK Economic and Financial Dialogue in London

London, Jan 19 (IANS/RAY) Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has expressed support for enabling foreign lawyers to establish a presence in India.

Britain's Justice Minister Shailesh Vara welcomed the announcement.

Jaitley made the statement in course of the 8th UK-India Economic and Financial Dialogue which he held with his counterpart George Osborne.

Britain has been seeking access to the Indian market to offer legal services for several years.

Jaitley's support was for foreign lawyers to "provide legal advice on non-Indian law".

Such advice is to be rendered as per regulations to be framed, which are likely to include employing or entering into partnerships with Indian lawyers.

The implementation in the matter is subject to a memorandum of understanding being signed between the Law Society of England and Wales, the Bar Council of England and Wales and the Bar Council of India.

Justice Minister Vara commended the positive discussions on liberalisation of the Indian legal services sector at the Economic and Financial Dialogue.

Welcoming Jaitley's support for the process, Vara said: "I am delighted with the progress made in seeking to liberalise the Indian legal sector and I commend Finance Minister Arun Jaitley's commitment.

"This is a cause that I have been championing personally for many years, ever since I saw the value liberalisation would bring when working as a solicitor.

"The UK's experience of an open legal services sector has been a hugely positive one, giving business the access it needs to international legal advice and helping make London the global legal hub it has become.

"I am confident that India's decision to move down this path will benefit everyone, and be a real catalyst for bilateral trade and investment. My department stands ready to help the Indian government progress this important reform in any way that would be helpful."

--IANS/RAY

ray/pm/vd

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London, Jan 18 (IANS) At least 190,000 Muslim women living in Britain -- 22 percent of the local Muslim population -- are unable to speak English, British Prime Minister David Cameron said on Monday.

He announced the launch of a $30 million English language tuition fund to help combat social isolation of Muslim women.

Cameron said Muslim women aiming to live permanently in Britain must become fluent in English to qualify for a British passport, adding the "passive tolerance" of separate communities must end to help Britain build a strong society.

Cameron said issues like gender segregation and discrimination and the isolation of some women in society could lead to a slide towards radicalisation and extremism.

He added: "With English language and women's empowerment as our next frontier, I believe we can bring Britain together and build the stronger society that is within reach."

The proposed language classes for Muslim women will take place in homes, schools and community facilities.

New visa rules mean women coming to Britain on a spouse visa will have to become more fluent in English, with a new language test for those seeking a visa extension after two-and-a-half years in Britain.

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London, Jan 12 (IANS) Thousands of junior doctors in Britain on Tuesday began a 24-hour strike over pay and working hours disputes with the country's health authorities, a media report said.

The strike, which began at 8 a.m. (local time), is the first industrial action by the British junior doctors in nearly 40 years and hospital operations have been affected, Xinhua news agency reported.

About 37,000 of a total of 45,000 junior doctors took part in a vote in November last year and 98 percent of them voted for action.

The British government wanted to establish a "seven-day NHS" and proposed to introduce a new work contract for junior doctors, who believe the new contract would reduce protections for them.

The British Medical Association (BMA), the trade union and professional association for doctors and medical students in Britain, had tried to negotiate a new contract for junior doctors with the government but the talks failed to reach an agreement.

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London, Jan 11 (AFP) The Twitter account of the leader of Britain's main opposition party has appeared to have been hacked, judging by bizarre tweets including one calling Prime Minister David Cameron a "pie".

The out-of-character messages appeared on Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn's Twitter feed late yesterday but were soon erased.

No one has claimed responsibility for the prank.

"davey cameron is a pie" one of the messages read while another used foul language to make reference to Corbyn's opposition to Britain's nuclear defence system.

The tweets were shared hundreds of times before being erased and Internet users were soon sharing screenshots of the offending messages.

Britain's Press Association quoted an unnamed source close to Corbyn on the incident.

"At least they weren't subtle," the source said.

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London, Jan 8 (IANS) A majority of Britons want to leave the European Union (EU), while a growing proportion of British citizens "have felt further removed from Europe" over the last 12 months, according to an opinion poll by London-based research company ORB International.

New research from the company found that Britain is the only European country of the 15 members where a majority want to leave the bloc, and a growing number of people prefer their national currency to the euro, if given the choice, Xinhua reported.

Among the 15 countries, Britain shows the highest level of support for leaving the EU.

Other countries surveyed include France, Germany, Italy, Greece, the Netherlands, Ireland, Denmark, Finland, Romania, Bulgaria, Belgium, Spain, Sweden and Iceland. The survey interviewed more than 14,500 adults.

"If we discount those who 'don't know' (21 percent), the UK is the only country where a majority of those with an opinion would elect to leave -- 54 percent," ORB International said on Thursday.

Johnny Heald, managing director of ORB International, said the results show that Britain is "the black sheep of the family."

"Over the last twelve months, significantly more of us have felt further removed from Europe (38 percent) than closer to Europe (13 percent)," he added.

He noted that British Prime Minister David Cameron's negotiations with his European colleagues "appear to be crucial in avoiding Brexit."

There have also been notable changes in Italy, where 42 percent now want to leave the EU compared with 25 percent a year ago and in Belgium, the proportion has grown to 33 percent from 25 percent.

Across the countries polled, 64 percent said they would prefer to stay in the EU, unchanged from 12 months ago.

The research also shows an increase in respondents who, if given the choice, would reject the euro only 15 years after the launch of the currency.

A total of 47 percent of respondents would prefer to use their national currency, an increase from 44 percent last year.

Cameron has promised to hold an "in or out" referendum on Britain's EU membership by 2017. He has been working to renegotiate a better deal for Britain before the referendum takes place.

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London, Jan 6 (AFP) Britain's Prince George had his first day at nursery today, prompting his proud mother Kate to take his photograph as she and Prince William dropped him off.

The two pictures, released by royal officials, show the two-year-old prince in a navy blue quilted coat and with a sky blue rucksack on his back arriving at Westacre Montessori School Nursery in Norfolk, eastern England.

The nursery is near the family's country home at Anmer Hall, on Queen Elizabeth II's private Sandringham estate.

George, who is third in line to the throne after his grandfather Prince Charles and father William, will attend the nursery while his parents are staying at Anmer Hall but not when they are at their London home, Kensington Palace.

The nursery, located in a former chapel, reportedly costs 5.50 pounds an hour to attend.

While the older generation of British royals did not typically attend nursery, George is following in the footsteps of his father.

William was sent to an exclusive nursery school near Kensington Palace by his mother, the late princess Diana, who had herself worked at a nursery before her marriage to Charles.

Montessori schools are known for their liberal approach to education, which can include mixed age classrooms and encouraging children to act independently.

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New Delhi, Jan 6 (IANS) Priti Patel, Britain's minister for employment and Prime Minister David Cameron's Indian diaspora champion, will be on a three-day visit to India from January 7 during which she will take part in the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) here.

The British Indian politician, who will visit Ahmedabad, Kolkata and New Delhi from January 7 to 9, will be the first British minister to visit India in 2016, the British High Commission said in a statement on Wednesday.

"Her visit aims to build on the momentum created by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the UK in November 2015," it said.

Patel, according to the statement, will focus on strengthening people-to-people and cultural ties, and on expanding business links between Britain and India.

"She will also extend the UK's commitment to support Prime Minister Modi's Skills India project and formally open the United Kingdom's newest diplomatic mission in India," it stated.

In a statement, Patel said: "Prime Minister Modi's historic visit to the UK showcased the successful collaboration between the world's oldest democracy and the world's largest democracy, and it truly marked a new era in our relationship."

"It provided a genuine opportunity for our two great nations to come together to deepen our existing bonds in business, trade, education, defence, security, culture and much more and in every walk of life our cooperation is creating skills and opportunities for our people. I am delighted to be visiting India this week to build on this momentum and progress."

Patel will begin her visit in Gujarat, where she will inaugurate the new British deputy high commission in Ahmedabad. This will be the seventh British deputy high commission in India, the country with the largest British diplomatic network.

She will meet Gujarat Governor O.P. Kohli, parliament member Devusinh Chauhan and BJP youth leader Amit Thaker, according to the high commission.

Britain is the largest source of foreign direct investment into Gujarat and during her discussions with state government officials, Patel will discuss how bilateral trade and investment, innovation, technology and cultural ties between Gujarat and Britain can be enhanced.

In Kolkata, she will speak at the inauguration of the Bengal Global Business Summit and meet West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to take forward Bengal-Britain business and cultural ties.

While in Kolkata, she will also launch the "Roadmap on Low-Carbon and Climate-Resilient Kolkata Strategy".

Britain and the Kolkata Municipal Corporation have been collaborating for two years to prepare this strategy paper, which aims to create a "Future Climate Smart Kolkata", the statement said.

The roadmap contains recommendations across 20 sectors, including disaster management, health, low-carbon procurement, resource conservation and use of solar energy.

In New Delhi, Patel will participate in the launch of the new UK-India Skills Pledge agreed during Modi's visit to Britain.

Eleven British companies have committed to support skills development in India. They are: HSBC, Barclays, BG Group, Rolls Royce, OCS, Mott Macdonald, G4S, BP, Aviva, M&S, GSK.

"These British companies currently train around 350,000 people in India and invest around 12.7 million pounds ($18.6 million) in training both to meet internal training requirements and as part of our wide ranging CSR programmes," the statement said.

"By 2020, they expect to train 670,000 people and invest around 25 million pounds in skills training in India," it added.

While in Delhi, Patel will participate in this year's edition of the PBD, the annual conference of the Indian diaspora, to be held from January 8 to 10.

This year's PBD is being planned differently with an objective of developing a new paradigm for engagement with the diaspora over the next decade, according to an official statement.

After the inaugural session, there will be a plenary session, with Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Sushma Swaraj and union ministers and chief ministers of states attending it.

Participation in the PBD this year is through invitation only and not through online registration as was the practice. There would be an attempt to do an expert study on various issues concerning the diaspora and areas of mutual benefit to India and to them, which would help making new policies for the benefit of India and the diaspora.

The traditional PBD conference will be held every alternative year, with a partner state and the next such convention will be held in 2017.

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London, Jan 5 (IANS) British Prime Minister David Cameron on Monday condemned a new execution video by Islamic State (IS), calling it a "desperate stuff" from an organisation that is "losing anybody's sympathy".

In the video released on Sunday, a masked IS executioner with British accent threatened to invade the UK and called British Prime Minister David Cameron an "imbecile," before executing five men who appeared shackled and dressed in orange boiler suits. They were accused of spying against the IS for the UK.

"It's desperate stuff from an organisation that really does do the most utterly despicable and ghastly acts and people can see that again today," Cameron said during a visit to east London on Monday.

"But this is an organisation that's losing territory, it's losing ground, it's, I think, increasingly losing anybody's sympathy, and this again shows what an appalling organization we' re up against," he added.

"They hate us not for what we do but for what we are - the fact that we are a successful, tolerant, democratic, multi-faith, multi-ethnic nation," the prime minister continued.

Cameron also said that "Britain will never be cowed by this sort of terrorism".

"Our values are so much stronger than theirs. It may take a very long time but they will be defeated."

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Damascus, Jan 4 (IANS) The Islamic State (IS) group threatened to invade Britain in a new video on Sunday, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

In the video, an unnamed IS executioner with British accent called British Prime Minister David Cameron an "imbecile", before executing five men who appeared shackled and dressed in orange boiler suits. They were accused of spying against the IS for Britain.

The video was allegedly filmed in Raqqa, the de facto "capital" of the terrorist group in northern Syria.

Last month, Cameron said Britain has a moral and military duty to attack the IS in Syria, while the British military has already extended an air campaign against the group from Iraq to Syria.

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London, Jan 4 (IANS) British Minister for the Middle East Tobias Ellwood on Sunday expressed "disappointment" at the mass executions in Saudi Arabia, saying Britain will continue to raise these cases with the Saudi authorities.

Early on Saturday, Saudi Interior Ministry announced the execution of 47 people on terrorist charges, including the prominent Shiite Muslim cleric Nimr al-Nimr.

"I am deeply disturbed by the escalation in tensions in the last 24 hours in the Middle East," Ellwood said Sunday in a statement.

"The UK is firmly opposed to the death penalty. We have stressed this to the Saudi authorities and also expressed our disappointment at the mass executions," he noted.

"We have discussed with the authorities in Riyadh, and expect that Ali Al-Nimr and others who were convicted as juveniles will not be executed. The UK will continue to raise these cases with the Saudi authorities," the minister added.

Ellwood also expressed concern over the attack on the Saudi Embassy in Iran. Angry Iranian protesters against the execution of Nimr al-Nimr raided and set fire to the Saudi Embassy in Tehran late Saturday.

"We are deeply concerned to hear of the attack yesterday on the Saudi Embassy in Tehran. It is essential that diplomatic missions are properly protected and respected," he urged.

He continued that there are "those who will wish to exploit the situation and raise sectarian tensions higher."

"This would be against the wishes of the vast majority of those in the region. I urge all parties in the region to show restraint and responsibility," said the minister.

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London, Jan 3 (PTI) A UK-based website set up to chart the last days of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose has released documents relating to the day before his plane crashed in August, 1945.

The latest documents on www.bosefiles.info, launched by UK-based independent journalist and Bose's grandnephew Ashis Ray, trace his movements on the day before his plane crashed in Taiwan on August 18, 1945.

The website citing documents said that on August 17, 1945, Bose departed Bangkok and arrived in Saigon before midday.

Several Indian and Japanese witnesses testified this to the 1956 Netaji Inquiry Committee headed by Major General Shah Nawaz Khan, among them S A Ayer and Debnath Das of the Provisional Government of Free India (PGFI) and Colonel Habib ur Rahman of the Indian National Army (INA) both headed by Bose.

Maj Gen Bhonsle, INA's chief of staff, who was later interrogated by British military intelligence, concurred that Bose left Bangkok for Saigon on the morning of August 17, 1945.

In Saigon, though, in the immediate aftermath of Japan's surrender in World War II a couple of days earlier when this country's military headquarters were in a state of confusion - no plane was straightaway available to carry Bose to North-East Asia, as was the plan.

Ultimately, General Isoda of Hikari Kikan, the liaison body between Japanese authorities and the PGFI and INA, conveyed to Bose that only two seats would be available on a plane heading for Tokyo.

This meant a majority of his advisers and officers would not be able to accompany him.

According to the deposition of Colonel Pritam Singh of the INA to the Inquiry Committee, Bose was advised to accept the offer.

He selected his ADC Col Rahman to go with him. Before the flight took off, there was an issue of the aircraft being overloaded. The Committee recorded that Bose "discarded a part of his baggage containing books, clothes, etc."

Among the Japanese passengers on board was Lt Gen Shidei, a distinguished officer who was on his way to Manchuria in China near the Soviet border to take command of the Japanese forces there.

"General Shidei was supposed to be an expert on Russian affairs in the Japanese Army and was considered to be a key man for negotiations with Russia. It was suggested that Netaji should accompany him to Manchuria," Negishi, a Japanese interpreter attached to Bose's headquarters, told the Shah Nawaz Committee.

Therefore, it appears to have been agreed that Bose would go to Dairen, in Manchuria, with Gen Shidei.

Lt Col Shiro Nonogaki, an Air Staff Officer of the Japanese Army, who was also one of the passengers, independently corroborated to the Committee: "The plane was scheduled to carry General Shidei to Manchuria. Netaji agreed to go with him to Dairen in Manchuria." .

The plane was a 97-2 (Sally) twin-engined heavy bomber belonging to the Japanese Air Force. The route charted for it was: Saigon-Heito-Taipei-Dairen-Tokyo.

But because of the delay in departure from Saigon, the pilot decided on an unscheduled halt for the night at Tourane on the Indo-China coast instead of going as previously planned all the way to Taiwan.

There were an estimated 13-14 persons on board - Bose and Rahman and the rest of them Japanese.

Rahman described to the Committee: "Immediately behind the pilot was sitting Netaji, and nobody opposite to him, as the space was restricted by the petrol tanks. I was sitting immediately behind Netaji. The co-pilot's seat occupied by Lt Gen Shidei was offered to Netaji, but he did not accept, as it was too small for him."

When taking off at Saigon, the plane needed almost the entire length of the runway to get airborne. This suggested it was still overloaded.

Therefore, on arrival in Tourane, the crew and other Japanese officers off-loaded "no fewer than 12 anti-aircraft machine-guns" and ammunition as well as other baggage, the Inquiry Committee noted, which reportedly reduced the weight by 600 kilos.

In Tourane, Bose spent the night at a hotel, probably Hotel Morin, the website said citing documents.

The remaining future revelations on the site aim to lay the facts behind the plane crash the next day that is believed to have killed Netaji, the website said.

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Indore, Jan 2 (PTI) RSS supremo Mohan Bhagwat today claimed that Britain aped the traditional education system of India during the colonial era in order to establish a "county education system".

Speaking at the conclusion of 'Vishwa Sangh Shivir' here, Bhagwat said that while doing so, the British systematically destroyed the old education system in India to emasculate the Indians mentally.

"The British destroyed the traditional education system of India. But they took it to Britain with them and replicated it in the form of county education system there," he said.

Bhagwat also claimed that before the British came, 70 per cent of Indians were literate, while only 17 per cent of people in Britain were literate. Through the county education system, Britain achieved 70 per cent literacy, while Indians fell behind because of the education system imposed by the British.

The British believed that the education system in India should undermine the natives' confidence and they should become "mentally emasculated", the RSS chief said.

Former ISRO chairman G Madhavan Nair said in his speech at the function that India must exploit the science and technology more and more for the development of agriculture and the rural areas.

Nair also expressed concern about rising costs of medical treatment in the country.

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London, Jan 2 (IANS) British soldiers who fought in the Iraq War may face prosecution for war crimes, the media reported on Saturday.

According to Mark Warwick, head of a unit investigating alleged abuses, there were "lots of significant cases" and that discussions would be held over whether they met a war crimes threshold.

"We would look at the credibility of the allegation in the first instance and, when we've looked at a lot of these extra cases coming to us, some of them are duplicates of cases, some of them we've already identified as part of our own investigation process, and some are multiple allegations, where we would investigate a single allegation," Warwick said.

Lawyers are continuing to refer alleged abuse cases by soldiers to the Iraq Historic Allegations Team (IHAT).

The ministry of defence said it took such allegations "extremely seriously".

Two public inquiries have already looked at claims against British troops in Iraq.

"Over the next 12 to 18 months, we will review all the caseload to better understand the picture and then I think we can say whether 2019 seems realistic," Warwick added.

The inquiries have considered at least 1,515 possible victims, of whom 280 are alleged to have been unlawfully killed.

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London, Jan 2 (IANS) British Prime Minister David Cameron in his New Year message for 2016, said his country was in "one of the great reforming decades in history".

In his message on Friday, Cameron outlined a plan for the government in 2016, setting out his priorities, including low home ownership, poverty, poor social mobility and extremism, Xinhua reported.

"For me, there are no new year's resolutions, just the resolve to continue delivering what we promised in our manifesto," the prime minister said.

"If we really get to grips with these problems this year, we won't just be a richer nation, but a stronger, more unified, more secure one," he said.

"It won't be easy. These problems have been generations in the making. And many of them are tangled together."

In an article published by Downing Street, Cameron said: "I genuinely believe we are in the middle of one of the great reforming decades in our history -- what I would call a 'turnaround decade', where we can use the platform of our renewed economic strength to go for real social renewal."

Cameron also said he wanted to tackle the extremism and hatred which led some Britons to "turn against their country."

"When our national security is threatened by a seething hatred of the West, one that turns people against their country and can even turn them into murderous extremists, I want us to be very clear: you will not defeat us," he said.

Cameron has promised to hold an "in or out" referendum on British membership in the EU by 2017.

He said he was fighting hard to negotiate a better deal for Britain's membership of the EU.

"In the end, you will decide whether we are stronger and better off with our European neighbours as part of the European Union, or on our own," he said.

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London, Dec 29 (IANS) Britain's opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn on Tuesday challenged Prime Minister David Cameron to hold annual televised "state of the nation" debates.

Announcing the plan on his Twitter account, Corbyn said he wants to take "politics to the people", Xinhua news agency reported.

Corbyn hoped Cameron would sign up to a cross-party initiative to debate the dominant issues of the year and allow party leaders to be questioned by voters, the Labour leader said.

"People are entitled to know more about their political leaders and to have their government held to account by the elected opposition in every way possible," he said.

"It is crucial that the prime minister and government are held to account, both inside and outside Parliament, throughout their period in office - not just at election time," added Corbyn.

No political leader should "shrink from the chance to engage more fully with the public," the Labour Party leader stressed.

Scottish National Party (SNP) leader Nicola Sturgeon and the Liberal Democrats leader Tim Farron said they would take part in the debates if Downing Street agreed.

Downing Street also wanted to "look at the formal details" of the proposal before Cameron agreed to participate.

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London, Dec 27 (IANS) An Indian-origin corporate banking worker has set up his own political party and called for Britain to throw open its borders, a media report said.

Harjinder Singh, a former UK Independence Party (UKIP) candidate for Birmingham's Perry Barr constituency, has set up the Open Borders Party as he disagrees vehemently with his former Eurosceptic party's immigration policy, the Birmingham Mail reported on Saturday.

"I wanted to leave the EU, but I'm a libertarian and I believe in independence and freedom," Singh was quoted as saying.

He added that he wants an open border, as long as new arrivals do not have a criminal record or contagious disease, pay an entry fee, are denied state benefits and pay higher tax rates for several years.

According to him, the policy would bring huge economic benefits, boosting the economy with new labour and saving the taxpayer a fortune spent trying to keep migrants out.

He said UKIP did not entirely share his views. "I was a little bit naive with regard to some of their other policies, as they've bolted some on, and those don't represent me."

"That for me is where I draw the line, but with regard to the main core party view, which is to leave the EU, UKIP were the only party saying that, which is why I joined."

Singh plans to contest next elections and hopes to attract some like-minded people to join his party and support him.

The 38-year-old made headlines during the British general elections campaign by waving at thousands of cars a day passing through the busy Scott Arms junction in Great Barr.

He finished third behind Labour Party MP Khalid Mahmood and Conservative candidate Charlotte Hodivala.

His unusual campaigning style secured 5,032 votes, which was an improvement on UKIP's previous performance in the Perry Barr constituency.

Indian-Origin Harjinder Singh Starts Own Political Party in Britain

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London, Dec 26 (PTI) A new academic study into the legal rights of Prince Charles has revealed that the heir to the British throne has the authority to set off nuclear explosions without criminal punishment.

John Kirkhope, a visiting research fellow at Plymouth University, studied UK legislation and government archives and deployed the Freedom of Information Act to unveil the legal privileges of Charles.

He discovered that the Prince of Wales is exempt from sanction over a range of laws, including the UK's Data Protection Act, and enjoys significant protection for his property compared with other landowners.

"It is suggested that most people would find it odd that the Duchy of Cornwall (Prince Wales' royal property) can cause a nuclear explosion without criminal sanction," Kirkhope writes in the study titled 'Is the Duchy free to break the law without criminal sanction?', which is to be published in the 'Plymouth Law and Criminal Justice Review'.

According to The Times, he found a range of laws which contain provisions that the Duchy will not be made criminally liable for contraventions.

They include the Data Protection Act 1998, the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009, the Water Industry Act 1991, the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, the Nuclear Explosions (Prohibition and Inspections) Act 1998, the Transport Act 2000, the Licensing Act 2003 and planning acts.

Britain's parliamentary draughtsmen give the Crown immunity to the Duchy based on a law officer's opinion written in 1913.

The law officer stated that the lands of the Duchy were "in the hands" of the sovereign whenever there was no eligible male heir to the throne, but in the hands of the Prince of Wales when there was one.

Since the monarch sometimes held the land, the estate had crown immunity.

Kirkhope argues that this "fundamentally misunderstands" the nature of the royals' interest in the Duchy.

"They have no right whatsoever to its land or other property. Their sole entitlement is payment of the income which the Duchy generates," he writes.

A spokesperson for Clarence House, Prince Charles' royal office, said "Statutes are a matter for Parliament".

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Brussels, Dec 18 (IANS)

"I believe that 2016 will be the year we achieve something really vital, fundamentally changing Britain's relationship with the EU and finally addressing the concerns of the British people about our membership," Cameron told a press conference after a two-day summit, Xinhua reported.

The possible timing could mean Britain may decide its EU membership much earlier ahead of the two-year deadline for the referendum.

"A lot of work has been done, what matters is that these changes are legally binding and irreversible, and I believe we can find ways of setting that out, demonstrating that, in the coming months," he said.

Cameron also expressed the hope that a reform deal with the EU could be clinched at the next summit scheduled for February, which could lead his government push for a "yes' vote to stay in the EU in the referendum.

He held the first talks with European counterparts in details over the past two days on the four-area demands on the reforms for Brussels, which as he said, to address the concerns of the British people over Britain membership of the EU.

Early in the day, Cameron said there was "a pathway to an agreement" after his some 45-minute speech at Thursday's dinner. And the EU leaders have agreed to seek ways for a deal in the next summit scheduled for February.

"Obviously, I want a deal in February but I have set a deadline for the referendum as the end of 2017, I always wanted to give myself time to get this right. What matters is the substance in getting it right rather than the timing."

"I firmly believe... the best future for Britain is a reformed EU," he said.

In November, Cameron set out reform demands made up of four key objectives, including protecting the single market for Britain and others outside the eurozone; exempting Britain from "ever-closer union" and bolstering national parliaments; enhancing competitiveness in the EU and limiting EU migrants' benefits in Britain.

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London, Dec 18 (IANS) Membership of the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as "a possible indicator of extremism", but the group will not be banned altogether in Britain, according to a statement by British Prime Minister David Cameron on Thursday.

In a written statement to parliament, Cameron said: "Parts of the Muslim Brotherhood have a highly ambiguous relationship with violent extremism," Xinhua reported.

He said Britain would keep the Islamist organisation's views and activities "under review", but did not go as far as banning the movement completely in his country.

Cameron's remarks came after the British government on Thursday published a long-awaited policy review on the Muslim Brotherhood and its links to extremism.

The review said: "The Muslim Brotherhood has not been linked to terrorist-related activity in and against the UK." However, the review asserted: "People associated with the Muslim Brotherhood in the UK have applauded suicide bombing by Hamas, in some cases against civilians."

The report stated that "aspects of Muslim Brotherhood ideology and tactics, in this country and overseas, are contrary to our values and have been contrary to our national interests and our national security".

"The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism," Cameron said in his statement.

The prime minister noted that Britain "will keep under review the views that are promoted and activities that are undertaken by Muslim Brotherhood associates in the UK", and "refuse visas to members and associates of the Muslim Brotherhood who are on record as having made extremist comments".

But he did not ban the Muslim Brotherhood altogether as hoped by countries like Egypt, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates, which have listed the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organisation.

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London, Dec 17 (IANS) India's 48 million widows need a government-appointed commission that will help them and protect them from abuse, says Raj Loomba, an Indian-origin member of Britain's House of Lords and a campaigner for the rights of widows.

"For extending financial and security help to these people, there must be a proper system to deliver services. A commission for the widows is an ideal forum to shelter and protect widows in India," Loomba told British newspaper, Asian Lite.

Panchayati Raj institutions should be at the centre of the proposed system to help widows, since they suffered mostly in rural areas "which was 70 percent part of India," said Loomba, whose Lord Loomba Foundation campaigns for the rights of widows across the world.

"In the rural area, widows are abused physically, psychologically, emotionally and even sexually. In fact, they are slaves in their own homes. They are uneducated and poor. They do not know who to turn to."

Therefore, if there was a special person dedicated to listen to and address widows' complaints, it would help them enormously, he said.

"In addition, it will be a deterrent to people who abuse widows."

Loomba recently launched a project to help 5,000 widows in Vrindavan in Uttar Pradesh.

His foundation is engaged in educating children of poor widows and empowering impoverished widows by providing them with vocational skills training in tailoring, computers, hair and beauty care and hospitality sector.

It has claimed to have educated over 10,000 children and supported over 60,000 family members in 29 states in India.

Loomba said he was also seeking the help of the United Nations to alleviate the grievances of millions of widows spread across the world.

Cherie Blair, wife of former prime minister Tony Blair, is the president of the foundation.

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