JERUSALEM: The US ambassador has said Israel has the right to annex at least “some” of the occupied West Bank, in comments likely to deepen Palestinian opposition to a long-awaited US peace plan. The Palestinians have rejected the plan before it has even been unveiled, citing a string of moves by US President Donald Trump that they say show his administration is irredeemably biased. They are likely to see the latest comments by US ambassador to Israel David Friedman as new nail in the coffin of a peace process that is already on life support. In the interview published by the New York Times on Saturday, Friedman said that some degree of annexation of the West Bank would be legitimate. “Under certain circumstances, I think Israel has the right to retain some, but unlikely all, of the West Bank,“ he said. Senior Palestinian official Saeb Erekat has said any such policy would be tantamount to “US complicity with Israeli colonial plans.” The … [Read more...] about US envoy says Israel has ‘right’ to annex West Bank land
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Russia, China to show united front at economic forum
MOSCOW: Chinese President Xi Jinping appears on Friday (Jun 7) as guest of honour at Russia's showcase economic forum, as the two neighbours present a united front in the face of shared troubles with the US.Xi arrived in Moscow on Wednesday for a three-day visit with Vladimir Putin and described the Russian leader as his "best friend" during a cosy meeting at the Kremlin.To end the trip, Xi and his host will appear at a plenary session of the annual Saint Petersburg Economic Forum, which Moscow hopes will woo foreign investors despite an uncertain business climate.Xi is set to present China's ideas on sustainable development and multilateral cooperation, Beijing said ahead of his appearance.The 2019 forum "will illustrate very clearly just how bi-polar the world has become," said Chris Weafer, a senior partner at the Macro Advisory consulting firm."In the same week that President Trump will be having tea with the Queen in London, President Putin will be hosting President Xi in Saint … [Read more...] about Russia, China to show united front at economic forum
West must accept eastern countries are catching up: Mahathir
TOKYO: Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (pix) said western countries must accept that years of research and development has improved the capability of countries in the East, which no longer imitate products from the West. “Initially they copied products from the West, then they produced better products and their research enables them to produce even better products ... in the telephone field, for example, Korea, Japan and China spent much more money on research and development than probably Europe and the US. By investing more, the East has improved the products and the world must accept that new reality, he said. “(For instance), I understand Huawei has a tremendous advantage over American technology. “But if you want to have a situation where you are always ahead and when you are not ahead I will ban you and send warships to your country, that is not a competition, that is threatening people and that is not the approach to use. “As much as (before) we … [Read more...] about West must accept eastern countries are catching up: Mahathir
As measles returns, US states look to cut vaccine exemptions
NEW YORK: Maine could soon prohibit parents from citing religious or personal beliefs to avoid vaccinating their children, making the US state one of a half dozen cracking down during the nations' largest measles outbreak in 25 years. State legislatures in New York, New Jersey, Oregon, Vermont, Minnesota and Iowa, are looking at similar bills, that would only allow exemptions from vaccinations for medical reasons as determined by the child's doctor.The United States has recorded at least 704 measles cases so far this year in outbreaks that US Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar has called "completely avoidable." Azar and other officials have largely blamed the outbreaks on the spread of misinformation, including a belief debunked by scientific studies that vaccine ingredients can cause autism. This has led to pockets of lower-than-normal vaccination rates in some communities.US public health officials declared measles eliminated in 2000, meaning the … [Read more...] about As measles returns, US states look to cut vaccine exemptions
Islamic State group chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi appears in first video in 5 years
BAGHDAD: The Islamic State group's elusive supremo Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi made his first purported appearance in five years in a propaganda video released on Monday (Apr 29), acknowledging IS defeat at Baghouz while threatening "revenge" attacks.The world's most wanted man was last seen in Mosul in 2014, announcing the birth of IS much-feared "caliphate" across swathes of Iraq and Syria - but appears to have outlived the Islamic proto-state.In the video released on Monday by IS's Al-Furqan media outlet, the man said to be Baghdadi referred to the months-long fight for IS final bastion Baghouz, which ended in March."The battle for Baghouz is over," he said, sitting cross-legged on a cushion and addressing three men whose faces have been blurred.He referred to a string of IS defeats, including its onetime Iraqi capital Mosul and Sirte in Libya, but insisted the militants had not "surrendered" territory."God ordered us to wage 'jihad.' He did not order us to win," he … [Read more...] about Islamic State group chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi appears in first video in 5 years