IN BRIEF

Dprk

Kim praises test of rocket engine

Kim Jong-un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, watched the ground test of a newly developed rocket engine, the official news agency KCNA reported on Sunday morning. Kim visited the Sohae Satellite Launching Ground at dawn to learn about the technical features of the engine as well as preparations for the test, the agency said. Kim said that the success of the test "marked a great event of historic significance", KCNA said.

Japan

Abe heads to Europe for talks

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe set off on Sunday on a four-day visit to Germany, France, Belgium and Italy for talks on trade and security issues. He is set to meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande, European Council President Donald Tusk, and the new Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni during the trip. "We hope to work with the European Union on issues the international community is facing such as the problems on North Korea and free trade," he said.

Germany

Schulz set to challenge Merkel

Germany's center-left Social Democratic Party is holding a special convention to confirm Martin Schulz as the party's top candidate to challenge Chancellor Angela Merkel in the country's upcoming general election. Party leaders unexpectedly nominated Schulz after longtime chairman Sigmar Gabriel stepped aside in January. The party has since experienced a surge in the polls not seen in a decade.

India

Workers get life for factory riots

A court in north India has sentenced 13 factory workers to life imprisonment for taking part in violence at the country's largest automobile factory that led to the death of a manager nearly five years ago. Four other workers were sentenced to five years in prison for the rioting that broke out at the Maruti Suzuki manufacturing unit in Manesar in Haryana state in July 2012 following a dispute between workers and management.

France

Teens charged over shooting

A 16-year-old boy who opened fire at his school in southern France, slightly wounding four fellow pupils and a teacher, was charged over the attack on Saturday along with an alleged accomplice. The heavily armed teen appears to have been motivated to launch the assault by "bad relationships" with his classmates and aimed to kill up to 14 of them, authorities said.

Australia

Swimmer makes 'miracle' escape

An Australian teenager is lucky to be alive, paramedics said on Sunday, after he reportedly escaped the jaws of a crocodile by punching it in the head during a late night swim in a river. The 18-year-old, who suffered extensive injuries to his left arm in the attack in Queensland, had jumped into the river as a dare while "reveling with friends", authorities said.