World briefs

EU-CHINA European Union and Chinese leaders kick off a summit yesterday at a time of global uncertainty over Brexit and pressure from European companies for better access to China’s market. EU leaders are expected to press their Chinese counterparts to accelerate their efforts to reduce overcapacity in sectors including steel amid complaints in Europe that low-cost Chinese competition is putting European steelworkers’ jobs at risk.

NORTH KOREA  A U.S. website that monitors North Korea says satellite imagery shows a high level of activity at the isolated nation’s nuclear test site. The website says it is unclear whether this activity is for maintenance, excavation or preparation for a fifth nuclear test.

AUSTRALIA The first person charged in Australia with recruiting and sending fighters to Syria was convicted yesterday of recruiting seven foreign fighters. At least two of the recruits died in Syria.

CONGO’s leading opposition candidate for president said Monday he was poisoned as part of a government plot to kill him, a dramatic claim almost certain to escalate tensions even further over upcoming elections in one of Africa’s largest countries.

PORTUGAL-SPAIN Portugal and Spain face the prospect of fines for failing to meet European Union budget rules. At a meeting in Brussels, finance ministers from the 28-country EU agreed that both countries haven’t taken “effective action” to get their borrowing down to prescribed levels. Under EU rules, countries have to get their budget deficits down below 3 percent of their annual gross domestic product.

HUNGARY Human Rights Watch says some migrants sent back to Serbia from Hungary have been severely beaten by Hungarian police and soldiers. They added that Hungary is accepting only 30 claims daily at border transit zones, leading to hundreds of refugees being stranded at the border in precarious conditions.

GERMANY Germany is affirming its growing role on the world stage in new security guidelines that mark another step away from its caution after World War II. A draft defense policy paper, due to be presented today, states that “Germany is a globally highly connected country […] which has a responsibility to actively shape the global order.”