World Briefs

HONG KONG An activist and member of the pro-democracy Civic Party, allegedly beaten by police during the 2014 protests, has been found guilty of assault and resisting police officers. Seven policemen, who are to stand trial for the assault, deny the charges.

CHINA The latest hot topic for Chinese rappers is a bearded 19th century German philosopher who wrote a book called “The Communist Manifesto.” Chinese state media are promoting a new rap song praising Karl Marx, in the latest attempt to leverage popular culture in support of the ruling Communist Party.

G7 SUMMIT Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe urges fellow leaders of the Group of Seven advanced economies to avert another global crisis by acting to rescue the faltering global recovery.

CAMBODIA Armed security forces raid the headquarters of Cambodia’s main opposition party and surround the car of its No. 2 leader in an apparent attempt to apprehend him, but leave empty-handed after not finding him in either place.

AUSTRALIA’s deputy prime minister is criticized for suggesting that a temporary ban on cattle exports to Indonesia five years ago hindered ties with Jakarta that contributed to an influx of asylum seekers arriving by boats from Indonesia.

NEPAL A helicopter retrieves the body of a Dutch climber who died last week on Mount Everest, while attempts are being made to retrieve the bodies of two other climbers and to locate two more who went missing on the world’s tallest mountain.

SRI LANKA’s Cabinet approves setting up an office to learn the fate of several thousand people who went missing during the civil war that ended seven years ago.

PAKISTAN’s influential Council of Islamic Ideology has outlined the circumstances in which it believes men are permitted to beat their wives. The council rejected a bill to protect women in Punjab, branding it un-Islamic, and has instead proposed its guidelines on when husbands can use violence against their wives.

FRANCE Strikes led by France’s union workers threaten to cripple the country and its travel network as refineries, ports and air traffic control are affected in the eighth non-consecutive day of protest against a controversial labor bill. The legislation is designed to facilitate hiring by curbing workers’ rights and loosening France’s statutory 35-hour week.

SOUTH AFRICA President Jacob Zuma has pledged his support to Palestine during a meeting with his counterpart, Mahmoud Abbas, in Cape Town. The two leaders met to strengthen sociopolitical ties, trade and economic relations.