World Briefs

CHINA’s economy czar will visit Washington next week for the signing of an interim trade deal, the government said yesterday. Vice Premier Liu He, Beijing’s chief envoy in talks with Washington over their tariff war, had been expected to attend the signing but the Commerce Ministry’s statement was the first official confirmation. Washington postponed planned tariff increases following the announcement of the “Phase 1” deal in October.

CHINA A preliminary investigation into viral pneumonia illnesses sickening dozens of people in and around China has identified the possible cause as a new type of coronavirus, state media said yesterday. Chinese health authorities did not immediately confirm the report from state broadcaster CCTV.

JAPAN One of the creative directors for this year’s Tokyo Olympics has resigned following allegations of what are being termed “power harassment.” Kaoru Sugano stepped away from the position last month and his resignation was confirmed yesterday by the Tokyo organizing committee. Tokyo organizers said Sugano had been disciplined for conduct at his employer Dentsu, the giant Japanese advertising and marketing agency that is handling much of the promotion for the Tokyo Olympics.

INDIA Envoys from 15 countries including the United States arrived in Indian-controlled Kashmir yesterday, the first visit by New Delhi-based diplomats since the government stripped the region of its semi-autonomous status and began a harsh crackdown five months ago. The diplomats were driven by Indian authorities in a motorcade amid tight security from the airport to the military headquarters in Srinagar, where they were briefed on the security situation, an army officer said.

AUSTRALIA Residents in the path of wildfires razing southeast Australia were urged to evacuate yesterday if they don’t intend to defend their homes as hot and windy conditions are forecast to escalate the danger over the next two days. The Rural Fire Service in New South Wales state has told fire-weary community meetings south of Sydney in the coastal towns of Nowra, Narooma and Batemans Bay that northwesterly winds were likely to once again drive blazes toward the coast.

LEBANON Prosecutors issued a travel ban for fugitive ex-Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn and asked him to hand in his French passport yesterday, following an Interpol-issued notice against him, a judicial official said. The travel ban comes after Ghosn was interrogated by prosecutors for nearly two hours over the notice about the charges he faces in Japan over financial misconduct.

SPAIN’s Supreme Court has ruled that an imprisoned Catalan politician will remain behind bars despite a European court ruling that his election to the European Parliament gave him immunity. A lawyer had requested Oriol Junqueras’ release so the separatist leader could travel and take his seat in the EU legislature.