The first meetings of peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority back in 2007 were very emotional.

Each of us — I, as Israel’s chief negotiator, and Ahmed Qurei, known as Abu Ala, the former Palestinian prime minister — tried to convince the other who has more rights to the land, the Jewish people or the Palestinians.

Unsurprisingly, we left these sessions frustrated and unconvinced. After two such meetings, we agreed that these discussions would lead us nowhere and that any peace agreement would not determine which narrative prevailed, and instead we should focus only on how to establish a peaceful future.

The argument over historical narratives hasn’t changed. It won’t. Those on both sides that insist on forcing their narrative on the other side, or turning the conflict into a religious war, cannot make the compromises needed for peace. This is true also for those from the international community supporting one side and denying the rights of the other. This is destructive and only strengthens extremists.

Peace based on the vision of two states for two peoples gives an answer to the national aspirations of both the Jewish people and the Palestinians and requires compromises by both.

The solution of a Jewish State and an Arab State has actually existed for some 75 years. It was laid out by the United Nations in 1947 as a just solution to the conflict between Jews (including my own parents) and Arabs who already lived between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea.

National conflicts cannot be resolved by wars and violence, but only by a political resolution, leadership and compromise. A religious conflict is not a conflict over rights, but a fight against the right of the other to live by their faith. For religious ideologists there is no compromise.

The past two weeks were a wake-up call. The message is not only that conflict is unsustainable, but also that the very nature of the conflict is turning into a religious one. That religious element has seeped into Israel itself and turned into violence between the Israeli citizens — Arabs and Jews — within Israeli cities.

We cannot and should not cede the floor to religious extremists.

The cease-fire in Gaza provides a window of time we must use to change the long-term reality. An essential decision is to return to the vision of two states for two people, to strengthen the pragmatic forces and weaken the extremists and end the terror.

Hamas is a radical Islamic terror organization that is fighting not to establish a Palestinian state but against the existence of Jewish “infidels” living in Israel.

In 2006 the so-called Quartet — the United States, the United Nations, the European Union and Russia — set forward parameters for Hamas that included acceptance of previous peace agreements between Israel and the Palestinians, commitment to nonviolence and recognition of Israel. Hamas refused.

These parameters were published after Israel withdrew from the Gaza Strip, uprooted the settlements and pulled out its military forces, and Hamas won the Palestinian elections. Had Hamas adopted these principles, the lives of the residents of the Gaza Strip might today look different, and Gaza could flourish. But for Hamas, “ending the conflict” is something to which it will never agree.

Without accepting these conditions, there’s no hope for peace with Hamas, therefore we cannot, and should not, give it legitimacy.

When one looks at any conflict from afar, it is only natural to identify with the weaker side. But there is no doubt, as President Biden rightfully expressed, that a country has the right to defend itself. In this case, we must defend ourselves against terror by a group that does not accept our very existence. Criticizing any government policy is legitimate (I myself was a political opponent of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu), but denying the right of a country to defend its citizens is not.

We must cooperate and support everything that strengthens pragmatism and weakens extremists. This seems so obvious as to appear basic. And yet the U.S.-Israeli policy in the past few years was completely the opposite. The Trump administration supported efforts of the Israeli government to move toward annexation of land. Had all those efforts come to pass, we would have reached the point of no return. The land would no longer be divisible, and the political future of two states would have been closed to us forever. Further, this policy weakened and delegitimized the Palestinian Authority and included cutting off financial support.

Indeed, the check on rampant expansion came from what would once have been a fantastical source: The Gulf States’ condition for normalization with Israel, through the Abraham Accords, was that Israel take annexation off the table. With President Biden’s inauguration in January, the vision of a two-state solution supported by the United States has made a comeback. The statements of President Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken send a message of hope to the pragmatic forces in the region.

The problem is that reaching two states has also never seemed farther away. That’s not for lack of effort, though all attempts to reach the finish line have always fallen short, including most recently in 2014, when the United States proposed parameters for negotiation in accordance with two states for two peoples.

This last missed opportunity and other political trends in Israel and the Palestinian Authority may lead to an understanding that it is a dream that is impossible to fulfill, and frankly if I had another idea how to end the conflict, I would have adopted it. The violence of the past two weeks with Hamas and within Israel gave all of us a taste of what one state between the river and the sea, with a violent domestic religious and national conflict, would look like. The two-state solution thus seems as important as ever.

Even if peace is not around the corner, the point of no return is closer than ever before. We must not go there. The most important thing for now is to keep the road open. We must create a joint policy among the United States, regional countries and of course, Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

After recharging our joint GPS with the two states as a destination, we need to support that goal with concrete steps, avoiding — and preventing — everything that puts obstacles on this road.

We can start by recognizing that supporting only one narrative and denying the other will lead us nowhere and will strengthen extremism on both sides. The solution must reflect both sides’ legitimate rights, aspirations and interests, with compromises that allow us both to fulfill our legitimate national aspirations and live side-by-side in peace and security.

An agreement will be possible when pragmatic leadership on both sides understand that the price of not having an agreement for their people is far higher than the price of compromise.

The first meetings of peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority back in 2007 were very emotional. Each of us — I, as Israel’s chief negotiator, and Ahmed Qurei, known as Abu Ala, the former Palestinian prime minister — tried to convince the other who has more rights to the land, the Jewish people or the Palestinians.

The first meetings of peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority back in 2007 were very emotional. Each of us — I, as Israel’s chief negotiator, and Ahmed Qurei, known as Abu Ala, the former Palestinian prime minister — tried to convince the other who has more rights to the land, the Jewish people or the Palestinians. Unsurprisingly, we left these sessions frustrated and unconvinced. After two such meetings, we agreed that these discussions would lead us nowhere and that any peace agreement would not determine which narrative prevailed, and instead we should focus only on how to establish a peaceful future. The argument over historical narratives hasn’t changed. It won’t. Those on both sides that insist on forcing their narrative on the other side, or turning the conflict into a religious war, cannot make the compromises needed for peace. This is true also for those from the international community supporting one side and denying the rights of the other. This is destructive and only strengthens extremists. Peace based on the vision of two states for two peoples gives an answer to the national aspirations of both the Jewish people and the Palestinians and requires compromises by both. The solution of a Jewish State and an Arab State has actually existed for some 75 years. It was laid out by the United Nations in 1947 as a just solution to the conflict between Jews (including my own parents) and Arabs who already lived between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea. National conflicts cannot be resolved by wars and violence, but only by a political resolution, leadership and compromise. A religious conflict is not a conflict over rights, but a fight against the right of the other to live by their faith. For religious ideologists there is no compromise. The past two weeks were a wake-up call. The message is not only that conflict is unsustainable, but also that the very nature of the conflict is turning into a religious one. That religious element has seeped into Israel itself and turned into violence between the Israeli citizens — Arabs and Jews — within Israeli cities. We cannot and should not cede the floor to religious extremists. The cease-fire in Gaza provides a window of time we must use to change the long-term reality. An essential decision is to return to the vision of two states for two people, to strengthen the pragmatic forces and weaken the extremists and end the terror. Hamas is a radical Islamic terror organization that is fighting not to establish a Palestinian state but against the existence of Jewish “infidels” living in Israel. In 2006 the so-called Quartet — the United States, the United Nations, the European Union and Russia — set forward parameters for Hamas that included acceptance of previous peace agreements between Israel and the Palestinians, commitment to nonviolence and recognition of Israel. Hamas refused. These parameters were published after Israel withdrew from the Gaza Strip, uprooted the settlements and pulled out its military forces, and Hamas won the Palestinian elections. Had Hamas adopted these principles, the lives of the residents of the Gaza Strip might today look different, and Gaza could flourish. But for Hamas, “ending the conflict” is something to which it will never agree. Without accepting these conditions, there’s no hope for peace with Hamas, therefore we cannot, and should not, give it legitimacy. When one looks at any conflict from afar, it is only natural to identify with the weaker side. But there is no doubt, as President Biden rightfully expressed, that a country has the right to defend itself. In this case, we must defend ourselves against terror by a group that does not accept our very existence. Criticizing any government policy is legitimate (I myself was a political opponent of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu), but denying the right of a country to defend its citizens is not. We must cooperate and support everything that strengthens pragmatism and weakens extremists. This seems so obvious as to appear basic. And yet the U.S.-Israeli policy in the past few years was completely the opposite. The Trump administration supported efforts of the Israeli government to move toward annexation of land. Had all those efforts come to pass, we would have reached the point of no return. The land would no longer be divisible, and the political future of two states would have been closed to us forever. Further, this policy weakened and delegitimized the Palestinian Authority and included cutting off financial support. Indeed, the check on rampant expansion came from what would once have been a fantastical source: The Gulf States’ condition for normalization with Israel, through the Abraham Accords, was that Israel take annexation off the table. With President Biden’s inauguration in January, the vision of a two-state solution supported by the United States has made a comeback. The statements of President Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken send a message of hope to the pragmatic forces in the region. The problem is that reaching two states has also never seemed farther away. That’s not for lack of effort, though all attempts to reach the finish line have always fallen short, including most recently in 2014, when the United States proposed parameters for negotiation in accordance with two states for two peoples. This last missed opportunity and other political trends in Israel and the Palestinian Authority may lead to an understanding that it is a dream that is impossible to fulfill, and frankly if I had another idea how to end the conflict, I would have adopted it. The violence of the past two weeks with Hamas and within Israel gave all of us a taste of what one state between the river and the sea, with a violent domestic religious and national conflict, would look like. The two-state solution thus seems as important as ever. Even if peace is not around the corner, the point of no return is closer than ever before. We must not go there. The most important thing for now is to keep the road open. We must create a joint policy among the United States, regional countries and of course, Israel and the Palestinian Authority. After recharging our joint GPS with the two states as a destination, we need to support that goal with concrete steps, avoiding — and preventing — everything that puts obstacles on this road. We can start by recognizing that supporting only one narrative and denying the other will lead us nowhere and will strengthen extremism on both sides. The solution must reflect both sides’ legitimate rights, aspirations and interests, with compromises that allow us both to fulfill our legitimate national aspirations and live side-by-side in peace and security. An agreement will be possible when pragmatic leadership on both sides understand that the price of not having an agreement for their people is far higher than the price of compromise.

There is a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

World Health Organisation's European Director Hans Kluge warned on Friday that coronavirus pandemic won't be over till at least 70 per cent of the population was vaccinated. He told this to news agency AFP in an interview. Kluge also said that his worry was increased contagiousness of the new variants of Covid.

"The pandemic will be over once we reach 70 percent minimum coverage in vaccination," he said in the interview.

The WHO's European director warned Friday that the Covid-19 pandemic won't be over until at least 70 percent of people are vaccinated, while deploring that the vaccine rollout in Europe is still "too slow".

"We know for example that the B.1617 (variant found in India) is more transmissible than the B.117 (variant found in Britain), which already was more transmissible than the previous strain," Kluge said.

According to the Belgian doctor, speed is "of essence" in pandemic.&nbsp;

"Even when WHO declared a pandemic, many countries were still waiting, we lost valuable time."

Hans Kluge has held the position of regional directors since February 2020. While he lauded calls for solidarity he underlined the need for speedy rollout of vaccines.

"Our best friend is speed, the time is working against us, the vaccination roll-out still goes too slow," Kluge said.

"We need to accelerate, we need to enlarge the number of vaccines."&nbsp;

In the 53 countries and territories that make up the WHO's European region -- including several in Central Asia -- &nbsp;26 percent of the population has received a first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine.&nbsp;

In the European Union, 36.6 percent of the population has received at least one dose, according to a count by AFP.

(With inputs from agencies)

World Health Organisation's European Director Hans Kluge warned on Friday that coronavirus pandemic won't be over till at least 70 per cent of the population was vaccinated.

World Health Organisation's European Director Hans Kluge warned on Friday that coronavirus pandemic won't be over till at least 70 per cent of the population was vaccinated. He told this to news agency AFP in an interview. Kluge also said that his worry was increased contagiousness of the new variants of Covid. "The pandemic will be over once we reach 70 percent minimum coverage in vaccination," he said in the interview. The WHO's European director warned Friday that the Covid-19 pandemic won't be over until at least 70 percent of people are vaccinated, while deploring that the vaccine rollout in Europe is still "too slow". "We know for example that the B.1617 (variant found in India) is more transmissible than the B.117 (variant found in Britain), which already was more transmissible than the previous strain," Kluge said. According to the Belgian doctor, speed is "of essence" in pandemic. "Even when WHO declared a pandemic, many countries were still waiting, we lost valuable time." Hans Kluge has held the position of regional directors since February 2020. While he lauded calls for solidarity he underlined the need for speedy rollout of vaccines. "Our best friend is speed, the time is working against us, the vaccination roll-out still goes too slow," Kluge said. "We need to accelerate, we need to enlarge the number of vaccines." In the 53 countries and territories that make up the WHO's European region -- including several in Central Asia -- 26 percent of the population has received a first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine. In the European Union, 36.6 percent of the population has received at least one dose, according to a count by AFP. (With inputs from agencies)

Pandemic won't be over till 70 per cent of population is vaccinated: WHO

UK on Friday approved the single-shot Covid vaccine developed by Johnson &amp; Johnson, as per the announcement by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).&nbsp;

"This is a further boost to the UK's hugely successful vaccination programme, which has already saved over 13,000 lives, and means that we now have four safe and effective vaccines approved to help protect people from this awful virus," said Health Secretary Matt Hancock.

He added that the government hoped that the single-dose jab "will play an important role in the months to come". Britain has ordered 20 million doses of the vaccine.

Johnson &amp; Johnson Covid vaccine was found to be 72 per cent effective in preventing moderate to severe coronavirus infection, according to a US trial.

Britain has administered more than 62 million shots so far, mainly using the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines. It has also approved the use of the Moderna vaccine.

After months of falling cases, infections have started to rise again due to the emergence of the Indian variant, which has put in doubt plans for a full reopening of the country on June 21.

(With inputs from agencies)

UK on Friday approved the single-shot Covid vaccine developed by Johnson & Johnson, as per the announcement by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

UK on Friday approved the single-shot Covid vaccine developed by Johnson & Johnson, as per the announcement by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). "This is a further boost to the UK's hugely successful vaccination programme, which has already saved over 13,000 lives, and means that we now have four safe and effective vaccines approved to help protect people from this awful virus," said Health Secretary Matt Hancock. He added that the government hoped that the single-dose jab "will play an important role in the months to come". Britain has ordered 20 million doses of the vaccine. Johnson & Johnson Covid vaccine was found to be 72 per cent effective in preventing moderate to severe coronavirus infection, according to a US trial. Britain has administered more than 62 million shots so far, mainly using the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines. It has also approved the use of the Moderna vaccine. After months of falling cases, infections have started to rise again due to the emergence of the Indian variant, which has put in doubt plans for a full reopening of the country on June 21. (With inputs from agencies)

UK approves single shot Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine

Number of European Union citizens being prevented from entering the UK has gone up in last three months, figures with UK Home Office revealed.

This spike has been seen in spite of the massive reduction in travel due to Covid restrictions. However, post-Brexit rules have kicked in and this is clearly having an effect.

3,294 EU citizens were barred from entering the UK over last three months.

In the same quarter last year, 493 EU citizens were barred from entry. This was even when air traffic was 20 times higher.

The passengers are often being held in detention before being expelled.

The Home Office ordered earlier this month that EU citizens should not be locked up and should be given bail so that they can stay with their relatives and friends until the matter is resolved.

Experts have been quoted in media reports expressing fear that the number of EU citizens expelled would go up once restrictions for air travel are eased.

Number of European Union citizens being prevented from entering the UK has gone up in last three months, figures with UK Home Office revealed. This spike has been seen in spite of the massive reduction in travel due to Covid restrictions.

Number of European Union citizens being prevented from entering the UK has gone up in last three months, figures with UK Home Office revealed. This spike has been seen in spite of the massive reduction in travel due to Covid restrictions. However, post-Brexit rules have kicked in and this is clearly having an effect. 3,294 EU citizens were barred from entering the UK over last three months. In the same quarter last year, 493 EU citizens were barred from entry. This was even when air traffic was 20 times higher. The passengers are often being held in detention before being expelled. The Home Office ordered earlier this month that EU citizens should not be locked up and should be given bail so that they can stay with their relatives and friends until the matter is resolved. Experts have been quoted in media reports expressing fear that the number of EU citizens expelled would go up once restrictions for air travel are eased.

More EU citizens are being denied entry into UK after Brexit

The United States (US) and allies on Thursday called on International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to probe Belarus plane incident in which a Rayanair plane was forced to land, reported Reuters quoting a source. Belarus denies any coercion.

The 36-nation governing council of ICAO met&nbsp;in order to examine demands for a probe. Poland, Ireland, Britain, Germany and Canada also backed the call for a probe.

On Sunday, Belarus sent fighter jet to force Athens-Vilnius (Lithuania) passenger plane to land in Belarus. A dissident onboard the plane was then detained. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

The incident sparked international outrage and calls for sanctions against Belarus. Minsk accused the West of using the episode to wage "hybrid war."

Belarus told the meeting that the airliner had not been forced down.

The plane was ordered to land minutes before it was due to leave Belarusian airspace.

Lithuania asked why passengers on board the plane had not been evacuated after landing, which is the normal practice for bomb scares, said the source.

The ICAO meeting was due to end at 1 pm ET (1700 GMT) but might not have an agreed statement ready until Friday, spokesman Anthony Philbin said by email. The council has limited powers of investigation.

(With inputs from agencies)

The United States (US) and allies on Thursday called on International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to probe Belarus plane incident in which a Rayanair plane was forced to land, reported Reuters quoting a source.

The United States (US) and allies on Thursday called on International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to probe Belarus plane incident in which a Rayanair plane was forced to land, reported Reuters quoting a source. Belarus denies any coercion. The 36-nation governing council of ICAO met in order to examine demands for a probe. Poland, Ireland, Britain, Germany and Canada also backed the call for a probe. On Sunday, Belarus sent fighter jet to force Athens-Vilnius (Lithuania) passenger plane to land in Belarus. A dissident onboard the plane was then detained. The incident sparked international outrage and calls for sanctions against Belarus. Minsk accused the West of using the episode to wage "hybrid war." Belarus told the meeting that the airliner had not been forced down. The plane was ordered to land minutes before it was due to leave Belarusian airspace. Lithuania asked why passengers on board the plane had not been evacuated after landing, which is the normal practice for bomb scares, said the source. The ICAO meeting was due to end at 1 pm ET (1700 GMT) but might not have an agreed statement ready until Friday, spokesman Anthony Philbin said by email. The council has limited powers of investigation. (With inputs from agencies)

UN aviation body may probe Belarus plane forced landing incident

Russian space agency Roscosmos said on Thursday that the launch of Soyuz rocket was postponed. Now, the lift-off would take place on Friday. The rocket is due to carry 36 UK &nbsp;telecommunication and internet satellites into space.

OneWeb, a London-headquartered company, is working to complete the construction of a constellation of low earth orbit satellites providing enhanced broadband and other services to countries around the world.

The rocket launch operated by European company Arianespace was scheduled for 1743 GMT on Thursday. It was to take place from the Vostochny cosmodrome in Russian Far East.

"For technical reasons, the launch...has been postponed to the reserve date," Roscosmos said in a statement on Thursday.

The launch will now take place on Friday (May 28) at 1738 GMT.

So far two batches of 36 OneWeb satellites have been placed into orbit from Russia this year.

The UK company is planning to make its global commercial internet service operational by next year. It is to be supported by about 650 satellites.

The Vostochny launch site is one of Russia's most important space projects, designed to reduce reliance on the Baikonur space centre Moscow currently rents from Kazakhstan.

The project has been consistently behind schedule, with its construction marred for years by multiple controversies including corruption.

(With inputs from agencies)

Russian space agency Roscosmos said on Thursday that the launch of Soyuz rocket was postponed. Now, the lift-off would take place on Friday. The rocket is due to carry 36 UK telecommunication and internet satellites into space.

Russian space agency Roscosmos said on Thursday that the launch of Soyuz rocket was postponed. Now, the lift-off would take place on Friday. The rocket is due to carry 36 UK telecommunication and internet satellites into space. OneWeb, a London-headquartered company, is working to complete the construction of a constellation of low earth orbit satellites providing enhanced broadband and other services to countries around the world. The rocket launch operated by European company Arianespace was scheduled for 1743 GMT on Thursday. It was to take place from the Vostochny cosmodrome in Russian Far East. "For technical reasons, the launch...has been postponed to the reserve date," Roscosmos said in a statement on Thursday. The launch will now take place on Friday (May 28) at 1738 GMT. So far two batches of 36 OneWeb satellites have been placed into orbit from Russia this year. The UK company is planning to make its global commercial internet service operational by next year. It is to be supported by about 650 satellites. The Vostochny launch site is one of Russia's most important space projects, designed to reduce reliance on the Baikonur space centre Moscow currently rents from Kazakhstan. The project has been consistently behind schedule, with its construction marred for years by multiple controversies including corruption. (With inputs from agencies)

Soyuz rocket launch postponed, to take place on Friday

Nepal PM KP Sharma Oli on Thursday called on international community to supply the nation with Covid vaccines. He said that the Himalayan nation would need about 40 million vaccines.&nbsp;

The country of nearly 30 million people has so far received just over three million doses from various sources, with another million promised by Beijing.

A new wave of infections has overwhelmed hospitals in Nepal.

"We appeal to the international community to make vaccines available... We are ready to purchase if donations are not possible," KP Sharma Oli told reporters.

"It is difficult to take small numbers because double doses are required. So we hope that vaccines arrive in large quantities. We have to vaccinate about 20 million people, so we need almost 40 million vaccines."

Number of Covid infections started soaring in Nepal in early April and peaked in mid-May. At this time, the country was recording more than 9000 infections a day.

The healthcare system in Nepal remains under pressure though the daily rises have declined slightly.

"The situation is heading towards being controlled but we are not yet in a situation where we can say (the cases) are decreasing," Oli added.

Nepal began its vaccination campaign in January with a gift of one million doses of AstraZeneca-Oxford jabs from India.

The government had ordered two million more AstraZeneca-Oxford shots from India but a spike in cases saw New Delhi freeze its exports, leaving Nepal with only the million delivered in January.

China donated 800,000 Sinopharm shots, while a further 348,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine had arrived under the Covax programme to help poorer countries in March. Media reports said up to 13 million shots were meant to be sent by Covax.

China said on Wednesday that it would send another million vaccine doses under a grant.

Epidemiologist Lhamo Sherpa said developing countries like Nepal badly needed more shots.

"It is important to pressure the international community for vaccines," he told AFP.

Western nations "are talking about wearing or not wearing masks or vaccinating children, while here even the old, vulnerable population have not received it," Sherpa said.

(With inputs from agencies)

Nepal PM KP Sharma Oli on Thursday called on international community to supply the nation with Covid vaccines. He said that the Himalayan nation would need about 40 million vaccines.

Nepal PM KP Sharma Oli on Thursday called on international community to supply the nation with Covid vaccines. He said that the Himalayan nation would need about 40 million vaccines. The country of nearly 30 million people has so far received just over three million doses from various sources, with another million promised by Beijing. A new wave of infections has overwhelmed hospitals in Nepal. "We appeal to the international community to make vaccines available... We are ready to purchase if donations are not possible," KP Sharma Oli told reporters. "It is difficult to take small numbers because double doses are required. So we hope that vaccines arrive in large quantities. We have to vaccinate about 20 million people, so we need almost 40 million vaccines." Number of Covid infections started soaring in Nepal in early April and peaked in mid-May. At this time, the country was recording more than 9000 infections a day. The healthcare system in Nepal remains under pressure though the daily rises have declined slightly. "The situation is heading towards being controlled but we are not yet in a situation where we can say (the cases) are decreasing," Oli added. Nepal began its vaccination campaign in January with a gift of one million doses of AstraZeneca-Oxford jabs from India. The government had ordered two million more AstraZeneca-Oxford shots from India but a spike in cases saw New Delhi freeze its exports, leaving Nepal with only the million delivered in January. China donated 800,000 Sinopharm shots, while a further 348,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine had arrived under the Covax programme to help poorer countries in March. Media reports said up to 13 million shots were meant to be sent by Covax. China said on Wednesday that it would send another million vaccine doses under a grant. Epidemiologist Lhamo Sherpa said developing countries like Nepal badly needed more shots. "It is important to pressure the international community for vaccines," he told AFP. Western nations "are talking about wearing or not wearing masks or vaccinating children, while here even the old, vulnerable population have not received it," Sherpa said. (With inputs from agencies)

Nepal PM sends SOS to the world for Covid vaccines

The government on Thursday slammed as "baseless and false" a statement by Twitter that had alleged intimidation by police over the 'manipulated media' tags issue and threat to freedom of expression, with IT Ministry terming the company's stance as an attempt to dictate terms to the world's largest democracy.

The ministry asserted that representatives of social media companies, including Twitter, "are and will always remain safe in India", and that there is "no threat to their personal safety and security".

In a hard-hitting statement, the ministry said India has a glorious tradition of free speech and democratic practices dating back centuries.

"Protecting free speech in India is not the prerogative of only a private, for-profit, foreign entity like Twitter, but it is the commitment of the world's largest democracy and its robust institutions," it said.

Twitter's statement is an attempt to "dictate its terms" to the world's largest democracy, the ministry said, adding that through its actions and deliberate defiance, the company is seeking to undermine India's legal system.

Twitter refuses to comply with the very regulations in the Intermediary Guidelines on the basis of which it is claiming a safe harbour protection from any criminal liability in India, the ministry contended.

It questioned Twitter on why it did not set up a robust mechanism of its own in India, and said the company's officials in India routinely claimed that they have no authority and that "they and the people of India need to escalate everything to Twitter headquarter in USA".

The purported commitment of Twitter to its Indian user base thus not only sounds hollow but completely self serving, the ministry said.

Despite having a large user base in India and earning significant revenue from its operations here, Twitter is "most reluctant" to appoint India-based grievance redressal officer and mechanism, chief compliance officer and nodal officer to whom its own users can complain when they are subjected to offesive tweets, the ministry argued.

The government said it respects the right of people to ask questions and also criticise on these social media platforms, including Twitter. The government equally respects the right of privacy, it said.

"The only instance of scuttling free speech on Twitter is Twitter itself and its opaque policies, as a result of which people's accounts are suspended and tweets deleted arbitrarily without recourse," the ministry pointed out.

It asked Twitter to "stop beating around the bush" and comply with laws of the land.

"Law making and policy formulations is the sole prerogative of the sovereign and Twitter is just a social media platform and it has no locus in dictating what India's legal policy framework should be," the ministry said.

The government said although Twitter claimed that it is committed to people of India, that commitment has been "most invisible in recent times".

Flagging some instances, it said Twitter chose to show the geo-locations of certain locations in Union&nbsp; 
Territory of Ladakh as part of China, and took several days to rectify "this blatant disrespect to India's sensitivity and territorial integrity".

The ministry also called out Twitter for delay in taking action on its order to block provocative content that could impact public law and order, even though the company had been quick to act on similar instance during violence at US Capitol Hill.

The ministry said that Twitter's "lack of responsibility" had led to rampant proliferation of fake and harmful content against India and Indians.

"Twitter Inc., a USA based private company, in its communique says that it seeks 'constructive dialogue', 'collaborative approach' from the Government of a sovereign democratic republic to 'safeguard interests of the public'. It is time that Twitter disabuses itself of this grandiosity and comply with laws of India," it said. 
Earlier on Thursday, Twitter had called the recent visit by Delhi Police to its offices a form of "intimidation" and said it was concerned about its employees and the potential threat to freedom of expression.

Twitter had marked tweets by ruling BJP leaders on the alleged strategy document of Opposition to target the government over COVID as containing 'manipulated media', which prompted the police to visit its offices late on Monday. Opposition Congress has disputed the document, calling it fake.

In its first official statement after the Delhi Police visited the company's offices in Delhi and in Gurugram to serve notice to its country managing director as part of its investigation into the 'manipulated media' tag, Twitter said it will continue to be strictly guided by principles of transparency and protecting freedom of expression.

"Right now, we are concerned by recent events regarding our employees in India and the potential threat to freedom of expression for the people we serve," Twitter said in the statement.

"We, alongside many in civil society in India and around the world, have concerns with regards to the use of intimidation tactics by the police in response to enforcement of our global Terms of Service, as well as with core elements of the new IT rules," Twitter had said.

The government on Thursday slammed as "baseless and false" a statement by Twitter that had alleged intimidation by police over the 'manipulated media' tags issue and threat to freedom of expression, with IT Ministry terming the company's stance as an attempt to dictate terms to the world's largest democracy.

The government on Thursday slammed as "baseless and false" a statement by Twitter that had alleged intimidation by police over the 'manipulated media' tags issue and threat to freedom of expression, with IT Ministry terming the company's stance as an attempt to dictate terms to the world's largest democracy. The ministry asserted that representatives of social media companies, including Twitter, "are and will always remain safe in India", and that there is "no threat to their personal safety and security". In a hard-hitting statement, the ministry said India has a glorious tradition of free speech and democratic practices dating back centuries. "Protecting free speech in India is not the prerogative of only a private, for-profit, foreign entity like Twitter, but it is the commitment of the world's largest democracy and its robust institutions," it said. Twitter's statement is an attempt to "dictate its terms" to the world's largest democracy, the ministry said, adding that through its actions and deliberate defiance, the company is seeking to undermine India's legal system. Twitter refuses to comply with the very regulations in the Intermediary Guidelines on the basis of which it is claiming a safe harbour protection from any criminal liability in India, the ministry contended. It questioned Twitter on why it did not set up a robust mechanism of its own in India, and said the company's officials in India routinely claimed that they have no authority and that "they and the people of India need to escalate everything to Twitter headquarter in USA". The purported commitment of Twitter to its Indian user base thus not only sounds hollow but completely self serving, the ministry said. Despite having a large user base in India and earning significant revenue from its operations here, Twitter is "most reluctant" to appoint India-based grievance redressal officer and mechanism, chief compliance officer and nodal officer to whom its own users can complain when they are subjected to offesive tweets, the ministry argued. The government said it respects the right of people to ask questions and also criticise on these social media platforms, including Twitter. The government equally respects the right of privacy, it said. "The only instance of scuttling free speech on Twitter is Twitter itself and its opaque policies, as a result of which people's accounts are suspended and tweets deleted arbitrarily without recourse," the ministry pointed out. It asked Twitter to "stop beating around the bush" and comply with laws of the land. "Law making and policy formulations is the sole prerogative of the sovereign and Twitter is just a social media platform and it has no locus in dictating what India's legal policy framework should be," the ministry said. The government said although Twitter claimed that it is committed to people of India, that commitment has been "most invisible in recent times". Flagging some instances, it said Twitter chose to show the geo-locations of certain locations in Union Territory of Ladakh as part of China, and took several days to rectify "this blatant disrespect to India's sensitivity and territorial integrity". The ministry also called out Twitter for delay in taking action on its order to block provocative content that could impact public law and order, even though the company had been quick to act on similar instance during violence at US Capitol Hill. The ministry said that Twitter's "lack of responsibility" had led to rampant proliferation of fake and harmful content against India and Indians. "Twitter Inc., a USA based private company, in its communique says that it seeks 'constructive dialogue', 'collaborative approach' from the Government of a sovereign democratic republic to 'safeguard interests of the public'. It is time that Twitter disabuses itself of this grandiosity and comply with laws of India," it said. Earlier on Thursday, Twitter had called the recent visit by Delhi Police to its offices a form of "intimidation" and said it was concerned about its employees and the potential threat to freedom of expression. Twitter had marked tweets by ruling BJP leaders on the alleged strategy document of Opposition to target the government over COVID as containing 'manipulated media', which prompted the police to visit its offices late on Monday. Opposition Congress has disputed the document, calling it fake. In its first official statement after the Delhi Police visited the company's offices in Delhi and in Gurugram to serve notice to its country managing director as part of its investigation into the 'manipulated media' tag, Twitter said it will continue to be strictly guided by principles of transparency and protecting freedom of expression. "Right now, we are concerned by recent events regarding our employees in India and the potential threat to freedom of expression for the people we serve," Twitter said in the statement. "We, alongside many in civil society in India and around the world, have concerns with regards to the use of intimidation tactics by the police in response to enforcement of our global Terms of Service, as well as with core elements of the new IT rules," Twitter had said.

India slams Twitter's concerns over threat to free speech

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Thursday that there were no indications that Belarusian KGB or any other secret service agents were on the Athens-Vilnius flight that was diverted to Minsk in order to arrest a dissident on board. He was speaking during an interview with German tabloid

"We have no indication there were KGB agents or any security service agents on board the plane. None. Zero. And we investigated it very carefully," Kyriakos Mitsotakis told Germany tabloid Bild.

Last Sunday, Belarus sent a fighter jet to force the Ryanair passenger flight to land in Mink. Roman Protasevich, a dissident activist who was onboard was then detained by Belarus authorities.

Mitsotakis said the plane diversion, which Belarus claimed was due to a supposed bomb threat, was "an act of state-sponsored piracy" with the sole purpose of arresting Protasevich.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/g7-calls-for-immediate-and-unconditional-release-of-belarus-journalist-387858">G7 calls for 'immediate and unconditional' release of Belarus journalist</a> 
 
Belarus opposition figures and Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary have suggested that members of the Belarusian security agency, still known as the KGB, were on the flight and also deboarded in Minsk.

But Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has dismissed the claim.

Detention of Roman Protasevich led to strong condemnation from western countries.

(With inputs from agencies)

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Thursday that there were no indications that Belarusian KGB or any other secret service agents were on the Athens-Vilnius flight that was diverted to Minsk in order to arrest a dissident on board.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Thursday that there were no indications that Belarusian KGB or any other secret service agents were on the Athens-Vilnius flight that was diverted to Minsk in order to arrest a dissident on board. He was speaking during an interview with German tabloid "We have no indication there were KGB agents or any security service agents on board the plane. None. Zero. And we investigated it very carefully," Kyriakos Mitsotakis told Germany tabloid Bild. Last Sunday, Belarus sent a fighter jet to force the Ryanair passenger flight to land in Mink. Roman Protasevich, a dissident activist who was onboard was then detained by Belarus authorities. Mitsotakis said the plane diversion, which Belarus claimed was due to a supposed bomb threat, was "an act of state-sponsored piracy" with the sole purpose of arresting Protasevich. Also Read | G7 calls for 'immediate and unconditional' release of Belarus journalist Belarus opposition figures and Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary have suggested that members of the Belarusian security agency, still known as the KGB, were on the flight and also deboarded in Minsk. But Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has dismissed the claim. Detention of Roman Protasevich led to strong condemnation from western countries. (With inputs from agencies)

'No indication' KGB agents were on flight diverted to Belarus: Greece

An international firefighting effort is on to douse fire on an oil container off Sri Lankan coast. The country's navy on Thursday said that it may take 'days' to completely douse the fire. There are fears of a major oil leak.

Nine Sri Lankan ships and three Indian vessels have been working with international salvage experts to douse the eight-day-old inferno on the Singapore-registered X-Press Pearl. The crew of 25 persons has been evacuated.

Fire on the ship broke out when it was waiting to end the Colombo port. The vessel was carrying nearly 1,500 containers including 25 tonnes of nitric acid.

It is believed that the fire was sparked by a leak of nitric acid on the 186 metre (610 feet) long ship. Monsoon winds fanned the flames.

But easing winds in the Indian Ocean will make firefighting efforts easier, Sri Lanka navy chief Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne said, describing the sea and wind conditions as "favourable".

"I hope in another few days we can extinguish this fire completely," he told AFP.

Sri Lanka's Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) has expressed fears that the vessel could break up and leak oil onto coastal beaches.

"The hull may not be stable for us to tow the ship away from our waters," MEPA chairman Dharshani Lahandapura told AFP.

The vessel is now anchored. It is carrying 278 tonnes of bunker oil and 50 tonnes of marine gas oil, she said.

Avoidable disaster

Lahandapura said the crew of the ship knew about a nitric acid leak on May 11 before entering Sri Lankan waters. She said if the crew had acted properly, the fire could have been avoided.

The ship's operator, X-Press Feeders of Singapore, confirmed they knew about the acid leak, but said attempts to leave the leaking container in India and Qatar had failed.

It said port authorities in the two countries had rejected requests because they did not have specialist facilities.

Sri Lankan authorities have lodged a formal complaint with police ahead of initiating legal action against the ship's captain.

Lahandapura said a large quantity of oil threatens to leak and pollute the tourist and fishing region of Negombo, 40 kilometres (25 miles) north of the capital.

"Our best option is to clean the beach and we suspect any clearing operation will take a few weeks, if not months," she said.

Sri Lankan soldiers were deployed Thursday to clean Negombo beach as debris from eight containers that fell into the sea after the explosion washed ashore.

Police also arrested eight people who had been scavenging for plastic raw materials and cosmetics that washed up for violating coronavirus lockdown regulations.

In September last year, an oil tanker caught fire off Sri Lanka's east coast after an engine room explosion that killed one crew member.

The fire on the New Diamond tanker took more than a week to put out and left a 40 kilometre (25 mile) long oil spill. Sri Lanka has demanded the owners pay a $17 million clean-up bill.

(With inputs from agencies)

An international firefighting effort is on to douse fire on an oil container off Sri Lankan coast. The country's navy on Thursday said that it may take 'days' to completely douse the fire.

An international firefighting effort is on to douse fire on an oil container off Sri Lankan coast. The country's navy on Thursday said that it may take 'days' to completely douse the fire. There are fears of a major oil leak. Nine Sri Lankan ships and three Indian vessels have been working with international salvage experts to douse the eight-day-old inferno on the Singapore-registered X-Press Pearl. The crew of 25 persons has been evacuated. Fire on the ship broke out when it was waiting to end the Colombo port. The vessel was carrying nearly 1,500 containers including 25 tonnes of nitric acid. It is believed that the fire was sparked by a leak of nitric acid on the 186 metre (610 feet) long ship. Monsoon winds fanned the flames. But easing winds in the Indian Ocean will make firefighting efforts easier, Sri Lanka navy chief Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne said, describing the sea and wind conditions as "favourable". "I hope in another few days we can extinguish this fire completely," he told AFP. Sri Lanka's Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) has expressed fears that the vessel could break up and leak oil onto coastal beaches. "The hull may not be stable for us to tow the ship away from our waters," MEPA chairman Dharshani Lahandapura told AFP. The vessel is now anchored. It is carrying 278 tonnes of bunker oil and 50 tonnes of marine gas oil, she said. Avoidable disaster Lahandapura said the crew of the ship knew about a nitric acid leak on May 11 before entering Sri Lankan waters. She said if the crew had acted properly, the fire could have been avoided. The ship's operator, X-Press Feeders of Singapore, confirmed they knew about the acid leak, but said attempts to leave the leaking container in India and Qatar had failed. It said port authorities in the two countries had rejected requests because they did not have specialist facilities. Sri Lankan authorities have lodged a formal complaint with police ahead of initiating legal action against the ship's captain. Lahandapura said a large quantity of oil threatens to leak and pollute the tourist and fishing region of Negombo, 40 kilometres (25 miles) north of the capital. "Our best option is to clean the beach and we suspect any clearing operation will take a few weeks, if not months," she said. Sri Lankan soldiers were deployed Thursday to clean Negombo beach as debris from eight containers that fell into the sea after the explosion washed ashore. Police also arrested eight people who had been scavenging for plastic raw materials and cosmetics that washed up for violating coronavirus lockdown regulations. In September last year, an oil tanker caught fire off Sri Lanka's east coast after an engine room explosion that killed one crew member. The fire on the New Diamond tanker took more than a week to put out and left a 40 kilometre (25 mile) long oil spill. Sri Lanka has demanded the owners pay a $17 million clean-up bill. (With inputs from agencies)

Firefighting on ship off Sri Lankan coast can take 'days', says navy chief

Delhi Police on Thursday termed Twitter's statements in the 'toolkit' case "mendacious" and said that the statements from the social media giant were "designed to impede a lawful inquiry".

An official statement issued by Delhi Police PRO Chinmoy Biswal said, "Prima facie, these statements are not only mendacious but designed to impede a lawful inquiry by a private enterprise. Twitter Inc. Has taken upon itself, in the garb of terms of service, to adjudicate the truth or otherwise of documents in public space."

As per Delhi Police, Twitter was purporting to be both investigating authority and adjudicating authority, but has no legal sanction to be either.

The only legal entity to investigate is the police and to adjudicate is the courts, the statement said,

The Delhi Police said that it has registered a preliminary inquiry in the 'toolkit' case at the instance of a complaint filed by the representative of the Indian National Congress.

"Hence, the efforts by Twitter Inc. That portray that this as an FIR filed at the behest of the Government of India is wholly and completely incorrect," it stated.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/whatsapp-goes-to-court-over-indian-governments-new-it-rules-387479">WhatsApp goes to court over Indian government's new IT rules</a>

The statement further said that Twitter was seeking to gain "dubious sympathy" &nbsp;when they themselves not only refuse to comply with the law of the land but also claim to be in possession of material evidence but refuse to share it with the legal authority.

(With inputs from agencies)

Delhi Police on Thursday termed Twitter's statements in the 'toolkit' case "mendacious" and said that the statements from the social media giant were "designed to impede a lawful inquiry".

Delhi Police on Thursday termed Twitter's statements in the 'toolkit' case "mendacious" and said that the statements from the social media giant were "designed to impede a lawful inquiry". An official statement issued by Delhi Police PRO Chinmoy Biswal said, "Prima facie, these statements are not only mendacious but designed to impede a lawful inquiry by a private enterprise. Twitter Inc. Has taken upon itself, in the garb of terms of service, to adjudicate the truth or otherwise of documents in public space." As per Delhi Police, Twitter was purporting to be both investigating authority and adjudicating authority, but has no legal sanction to be either. The only legal entity to investigate is the police and to adjudicate is the courts, the statement said, The Delhi Police said that it has registered a preliminary inquiry in the 'toolkit' case at the instance of a complaint filed by the representative of the Indian National Congress. "Hence, the efforts by Twitter Inc. That portray that this as an FIR filed at the behest of the Government of India is wholly and completely incorrect," it stated. Also Read | WhatsApp goes to court over Indian government's new IT rules The statement further said that Twitter was seeking to gain "dubious sympathy" when they themselves not only refuse to comply with the law of the land but also claim to be in possession of material evidence but refuse to share it with the legal authority. (With inputs from agencies)

Delhi Police calls Twitter's statement 'mendacious', issues strongly-worded letter

India welcomed Israel-Hamas ceasefire at a special session on Palestine at&nbsp;the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). The ceasefire was announced earlier this month after 11 days of violence from both sides.

The India statement said that (we) "welcome the diplomatic efforts of the international community and regional countries that have resulted in bringing ceasefire between Israel and armed groups in Gaza."

Significantly, India did not directly refer to Hamas in its statement but mentioned them as "armed groups".&nbsp;

Egypt played an important role to establish ceasefire and was the main channel of communication between Hamas and the West and Israel in bringing about the present situation. &nbsp;

The situation escalated after violence in Jerusalem and over possibility of eviction of Palestinians in Sheikh Jarrah and Silwan neighbourhoods. Over 200 Palestinian died in Gaza and 10 Israelis died in the rocket firing and violence.

The statement called for "all parties to show extreme restraint, desist from actions that aggravate tensions and refrain from any further attempts to unilaterally change the existing status-quo, including in East Jerusalem and its neighbourhoods."

India lost a national in Israel's Ashkelon in the firing from Gaza by Hamas. Soumya Santhosh, an Indian caregiver in Israel, died in the rocket attack and is survived by a 9-year-old son and her husband. In a warm gesture, Israeli diplomats were present at the airport when her mortal remains arrived and visited her house in Kerala to pay homage as well.

At the UNHRC statement, India expressed its "concern" over violence in Jerusalem and "indiscriminate rocket firings" from Gaza targetting the civilian population in Israel and "retaliatory air strikes into Gaza" &nbsp;that has caused "immense suffering".

New Delhi called for "dialogue" as it "remains the only viable option that can effectively address the issues confronting the region and its people", underscoring the "need for immediate resumption of dialogue between Israel and Palestine".

India had made the statement at the United Nations Security Council as well on the issue. The Israel-Palestine issue was also discussed at the top UN body, of which India is a non-permanent member for a two-year term period.

India welcomed Israel-Hamas ceasefire at a special session on Palestine at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). The ceasefire was announced earlier this month after 11 days of violence from both sides.

India welcomed Israel-Hamas ceasefire at a special session on Palestine at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). The ceasefire was announced earlier this month after 11 days of violence from both sides. The India statement said that (we) "welcome the diplomatic efforts of the international community and regional countries that have resulted in bringing ceasefire between Israel and armed groups in Gaza." Significantly, India did not directly refer to Hamas in its statement but mentioned them as "armed groups". Egypt played an important role to establish ceasefire and was the main channel of communication between Hamas and the West and Israel in bringing about the present situation. The situation escalated after violence in Jerusalem and over possibility of eviction of Palestinians in Sheikh Jarrah and Silwan neighbourhoods. Over 200 Palestinian died in Gaza and 10 Israelis died in the rocket firing and violence. The statement called for "all parties to show extreme restraint, desist from actions that aggravate tensions and refrain from any further attempts to unilaterally change the existing status-quo, including in East Jerusalem and its neighbourhoods." India lost a national in Israel's Ashkelon in the firing from Gaza by Hamas. Soumya Santhosh, an Indian caregiver in Israel, died in the rocket attack and is survived by a 9-year-old son and her husband. In a warm gesture, Israeli diplomats were present at the airport when her mortal remains arrived and visited her house in Kerala to pay homage as well. At the UNHRC statement, India expressed its "concern" over violence in Jerusalem and "indiscriminate rocket firings" from Gaza targetting the civilian population in Israel and "retaliatory air strikes into Gaza" that has caused "immense suffering". New Delhi called for "dialogue" as it "remains the only viable option that can effectively address the issues confronting the region and its people", underscoring the "need for immediate resumption of dialogue between Israel and Palestine". India had made the statement at the United Nations Security Council as well on the issue. The Israel-Palestine issue was also discussed at the top UN body, of which India is a non-permanent member for a two-year term period.

At UNHRC, India welcomes Israel-Hamas ceasefire

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