World Briefs

PAKISTAN-INDIA Pakistani and Indian border guards trade gunfire and mortar shells along their disputed border in the Himalayan region of Kashmir, killing two Pakistanis and an Indian. At least 14 civilians also are wounded by Indian fire, Pakistan says.

AFGHANISTAN’s Taliban urges followers to disregard “enemy propaganda” about internal fractures following the death of longtime leader Mullah Mohammad Omar and to unite behind his chosen successor.

PHILIPPINES About 20 communist rebels fire on a platoon of Philippine army troops and police on two trucks, triggering a 15-minute clash that kills four rebels and a soldier.

SINGAPORE U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry calls for countries negotiating a major Pacific Rim trade deal to overcome differences that have stalled its conclusion. Speaking in Singapore, Kerry said the so-called “Trans Pacific Partnership” would benefit the people of all nations involved and serve as a model for responsible global industry and commerce.

ISRAEL said yesterday it was interrogating the suspected head of a Jewish extremist group in the first arrest of an Israeli suspect following last week’s arson attack in the West Bank that killed a Palestinian toddler and wounded his brother and parents. According to the Shin Bet security agency, 23-year-old Meir Ettinger was arrested late Monday for “involvement in an extremist Jewish organization.”

GREECE’s left-wing government conceded yesterday that dissent within the ruling party was likely to force an early election, while markets fell again under the weight of plummeting bank shares. The government is relying on opposition party support for approval in parliament of new austerity measures demanded by bailout lenders, following a revolt by nearly one fourth of its own lawmakers. Government spokeswoman Olga Gerovasili said the government would not form a national unity government and described early elections as “likely.”

USA The big three U.S. airlines have all this week banned the shipment of hunting trophies, although it is unclear how many — if any — they have been carrying in recent years. Delta Air Lines was the first to announce the change Monday, saying that it would no longer accept lion, leopard, elephant, rhinoceros and buffalo trophies. American Airlines and United Airlines soon followed.

USA Firefighters were working aggressively to regain control after a raging California fire jumped a highway that had served as a containment line for the massive blaze — one of 20 wildfires burning in California. Cooler weather had helped crews build a buffer Monday between the wildfire and some of the thousands of homes it threatened as it tore through drought-withered areas.