World briefs

CHINA pressed Washington yesterday to roll back punitive tariffs in a tentative trade deal. A tariff cut is an “important condition” for the agreement that is part of talks on ending a costly trade war, said Commerce Ministry spokesman Gao Feng. More on p11

CHINA invited observers to a successful test yesterday of its Mars lander as the country pushes for inclusion in more global space projects.

MALAYSIA An international team of investigators piecing together a criminal case in the July 2014 shooting down of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over eastern Ukraine said yesterday that evidence suggests links between Russia and separatists in the region were closer than previously believed.

CAMBODIA Officials have ordered that elephants that serve as tourist attractions at the country’s famed Angkor temple complex be moved to a new home in a suitable jungle area. The agency that oversees the Angkor site said in a statement yesterday it is important for the animals to be able to live in their natural habitat, and there are other ways to provide attractions and rides for tourists.

INDIA The Supreme Court said yesterday it will set law on women’s entry into temples and mosques after being asked to review its decision lifting a ban on some women entering the Sabarimala temple in Kerala state. The court deferred a decision on petitions seeking a review of its 2018 ruling to lift a ban on women of menstruating age entering the temple’s grounds.

AUSTRALIA The death toll for wildfires raging across Australia’s most populous state has risen to four as authorities warned yesterday of worsening weather conditions to come.

AFGHANISTAN An official says the results of the country’s presidential election held nearly two months ago are being delayed once again. Spokesman for the Independent Election Commission Zabi Sadat didn’t explain the new postponement. The results were supposed to be announced yesterday in Kabul. There was no new date for the results.

GAZA Militants fired a barrage of rockets into Israel hours after a cease-fire was declared to bring to an end to two days of intense fighting. Air raid sirens went off in several communities yesterday near the Gaza Strip as at least five rockets could be seen blasting out of the territory.

VATICAN CITY Pope Francis yesterday appointed a fellow Jesuit to be the Vatican’s finance minister, filling a crucial position left vacant for more than two years after Cardinal George Pell left Rome to stand trial on sex abuse charges in his native Australia.