Weekly roundup of world briefs

US health, human services secretary appears to recognize ‘Palestine’

(JNS) — Xavier Becerra, the U.S. secretary of health and human services, appeared to recognize “Palestine” as a formal entity and referred to a “cycle” of violence between Israelis and Palestinians during a speech at the 77th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland.

“The health and security of each nation is irrevocably connected to the health and security of people everywhere,” the former California attorney general said at the gathering of the body which is part of the World Health Organization, a United Nations agency...