NORTH KOREA: Leader Kim Jong Un claimed his nuclear-armed country could “completely destroy” South Korea if its security is threatened, reiterating his refusal to engage with Seoul, local media said today. However, he left the door open to dialogue with Washington as he concluded a Workers’ Party congress outlining his policy goals for the next five years.

GERMANY: A court said today it has barred the country’s domestic intelligence agency from labelling far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD) a proven right-wing extremist group while it considers a complaint by the opposition party against last year’s designation.

The court said it has issued an injunction blocking the BfV from designating and treating AfD as a proven right-wing extremist group until it has issued a definitive ruling on the party’s lawsuit. 

FRANCE: Far-right National Rally leader Marine Le Pen said on Wednesday she won’t run for president next year if a Paris appeals court orders her to wear an electronic bracelet over alleged misuse of European Union funds.

Ms Le Pen said she hopes the appeals court clears her in a key verdict set for July 7.

BRAZIL: A Supreme Court panel has found five men guilty of involvement in the 2018 assassination of popular politician Marille Franco and her driver, Anderson Gomes.

Chiquinho Brazao and his brother Domingos Brazao were sentenced to 76 years each on Wednesday for murder, while Robson Calixto Fonseca received nine years for criminal conspiracy. Police officer Ronald Paulo Salves Pereira was given 56 years for murder and former police investigator Rivaldo Barbosa received 18 years for corruption.