* Huawei says its partners subject politically motivated pressure

* Other firms have targeted Indonesia and Thailand (Add comments from Cambodia Ministry of Commerce)

China stocks fell on Thursday, almost hitting three-month lows, as investors dumped technology shares amid worries the Sino-U.S. trade conflict was fast morphing into a technology cold war that will victimize a growing number of Chinese companies.

China is to blame for much of the increase in illegal ozone-depleting substances (ODS) since 2013, according a study published by the journal Nature on Thursday, with domestic companies accused of violating a global production ban.

Australian lithium miner Kidman Resources on Thursday agreed to be acquired by Wesfarmers for A$776 million ($534 million) in a deal that will give the retail conglomerate entry into the booming electric vehicle market.

Mexico's government has punished the former chief executive of state oil firm Petroleos Mexicanos for misuse of public funds in the purchase of fertilizer business Fertinal, according to three people with knowledge of the matter.

A U.S. judge on Wednesday appointed prominent attorney Kenneth Feinberg as mediator for court-mandated settlement talks in the federal litigation over allegations that Bayer AG's glyphosate-based Roundup weed killer caused cancer.

Rare earth elements are used in a wide range of consumer products, from iPhones to electric car motors, as well as military jet engines, satellites and lasers.

Barrick Gold Corp's proposal to take full control of its Acacia Mining Plc unit to resolve a long-standing tax dispute with Tanzania has drawn the ire of Acacia's minority shareholders, who may have the ultimate vote on a deal.

Libyan eastern commander Khalifa Haftar, speaking on Wednesday with French President Emmanuel Macron, ruled out a ceasefire and said he wanted to rid the capital of militias that had "infested" the U.N.-backed government, a French presidential official said.