Briefly

MIDDLE EAST

UN envoy cautions over West Bank grab

UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov on Wednesday warned of the grave consequences of Israel's planned annexation of occupied Palestinian territory. Mladenov also called on the US, Russia and the EU to work with the UN to quickly come up with a proposal to enable the four parties to take up their mediation role and work with countries in the region for peace.

JAPAN

Games to be canceled if not held in 2021

International Olympic Committee chief Thomas Bach says the Tokyo Games would have to be scrapped if the event cannot be held next year due to the COVID-19 crisis. In March, the IOC and Japanese government took the unprecedented decision to delay the Games for a year. However, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has said the multi-sports event cannot take place in 2021 unless the virus is contained, and Bach said he understood his position.

UNITED STATES

Two alleged Ghosn accomplices arrested

US authorities on Wednesday arrested a former US Army Special Forces soldier and another man in Massachusetts wanted by Japan on charges that they enabled the escape of former Nissan Motor Co boss Carlos Ghosn out of the country. Former US Green Beret Michael Taylor, 59, and his son, Peter Taylor, 27, are accused by Japanese authorities of helping Ghosn last year flee to Lebanon to avoid trial over alleged financial wrongdoing.

Xinhua - Agencies