Global Trade

Germany's Foreign Office has defended a decision to classify the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party as right-wing extremist, after sharp criticism from the White House.

US Vice-President JD Vance accused "bureaucrats" of rebuilding the Berlin Wall, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio slammed the designation as "tyranny in disguise".

In an unusual move, the foreign office directly replied to Rubio on X, writing: "We have learnt from our history that right-wing extremism needs to be stopped."

The intelligence agency that made the classification found AfD's "prevailing understanding of people based on ethnicity and descent" goes against Germany's "free democratic order".

The AfD came second in federal elections in February, winning a record 152 seats in the 630-seat parliament with 20.8% of the vote.

The agency, Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz (BfV), had already classed the AfD as right-wing extremist in three eastern states where its popularity is highest. Now, that designation has been extended to the entire party.

The AfD "aims to exclude certain population groups from equal participation in society", it said in a statement. The agency said specifically that the party did not consider citizens "from predominantly Muslim countries" as equal members of the German people.

Joint party leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla said the decision was "clearly politically motivated" and a "severe blow to German democracy".

Beatrix von Storch, the party's deputy parliamentary leader, told the BBC's Newshour programme that the designation was "the way an authoritarian state, a dictatorship, would treat their parties".

• AfD classified as extreme-right by German intelligence

The new classification gives authorities greater powers to monitor the AfD using tactics like phone interception and undercover agents.

"That's not democracy – it's tyranny in disguise," wrote Marco Rubio on X.

But the German Foreign Office hit back.

"This is democracy," it wrote, directly replying to the politician's X account.

The post said the decision had been made after a "thorough and independent investigation" and could be appealed.

"We have learnt from our history that right-wing extremism needs to be stopped," the statement concluded – a reference to Hitler's Nazi party and the Holocaust.

JD Vance, who met Weidel in Munich nine days before the election and used a speech to the Munich Security Conference to show support for the AfD, said that "bureaucrats" were trying to destroy the party.

"The West tore down the Berlin Wall together. And it has been rebuilt – not by the Soviets or the Russians, but by the German establishment," he wrote on X.

The Berlin Wall, built in 1961, separated East and West Berlin for nearly 30 years during the Cold War.

The new designation has reignited calls to ban the AfD ahead of a vote next week in the parliament, or Bundestag, to confirm conservative leader Friedrich Merz as chancellor. He will be leading a coalition with the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD).

Lars Klingbeil, the SPD leader who is expected to become vice-chancellor and finance minister, said that while no hasty decision would be made, the government would consider banning the AfD.

"They want a different country, they want to destroy our democracy. And we must take that very seriously," he told Bild newspaper.

Independent traders in Bradford say they hope the city's long-delayed new market can transform their ailing fortunes after what they see as years of decline.

Intended to be a key part of Bradford city centre's regeneration, Darley Street Market was originally scheduled to open in June 2023 but remains a work in progress.

The council has insisted it will open in 2025 – Bradford's City of Culture year – replacing the outdated Oastler and Kirkgate markets with a more modern offering.

Traders have now begun their final preparations, and say the move can't come soon enough.

Both the Oastler and Kirkgate markets appear to be in a state of decline when the BBC visits shortly after opening on a chilly Tuesday morning.

Kirkgate, located within the shopping centre of the same name, is largely deserted. More than half of traders are estimated to have vacated their stalls and those left easily outnumber the number of customers browsing.

"Sometimes there's not enough money to pay staff," admits Osman Ince, who sells leather goods including wallets, handbags and suitcases.

Osman, who is originally from Turkey, has traded in the market since 2018.

Large red signs advertising a clearance sale are dotted around his stall, but there are very few passers-by to see them.

'It's dead here'

Around us, the hustle and bustle you might expect to fill the space has been replaced by a dated music playlist.

"It's dead here," he admits.

Opened in 1976, Kirkgate Shopping Centre was once Bradford's main shopping hub and remains a popular example of Brutalist architecture.

The local authority plans to tear it down, along with the nearby Oastler Shopping Centre, to make way for the City Village development, with many traders heading to the new, purpose-built Darley Street Market.

A council spokesperson says City Village would be "a transformational regeneration programme, which alongside delivering 1,000 new homes, will also create independent retail and leisure opportunities, business spaces, and high-quality public realm".

On the other side of the market hall, Abdul Ghafoor's mobile phone stall is just as quiet, although he is "optimistic" about the future at Darley Street.

"Everything's going to be open from nine to five, all the shops are occupied," he says.

"Since The Broadway opened, it's affected us with the bigger shops moving."

Mr Ghafoor's business has been run by his family for 21 years. He recalls them paying "close to six figures" for the plot "back in the day", but says they have been given rent discounts in recent years to help with the drop-off in footfall.

"We are talking about probably 80% less footfall," he says.

Jim Fewtrell, who runs a neighbouring stall selling perfume, says the market has "died" because people "generally assume it's shut".

"Businesses here have gone out of business because of the delay and the footfall going.

"The council are trying, but it hasn't been good for my business. I'm sympathetic but frustrated."

Mr Fewtrell, who has been trading in Kirkgate Market since 1998, says he currently breaks even, "if that", and admits his business is "hanging in" until Darley Street opens.

He admits he considered mothballing it until that point, with an new opening date still unknown.

"What it won't stand is delaying for another year, everyone will have gone by then.

"Our biggest fear is yet more delay. It's supposed to be City of Culture but half the shops aren't even open," adds the 59-year-old.

"We are going to see how it goes in Darley Street. Hopefully it will see us through to retirement."

While Darley Street offers hope for some, not every trader has been so lucky.

Kasiano Wonzer, a tailor originally from South Sudan, is on the waiting list for a stall there and unsure what the future holds.

"My life depends on this," he says from behind his sewing machine.

"I don't have any place to go. I don't want to depend on benefits, I have to work."

The council spokesperson says they will "continue to support the small number of remaining tenants to either find new premises or be compensated if appropriate".

Meanwhile, over in the nearby Oastler Shopping Centre, footfall appears to be a struggle.

The only sound in the entrance foyer is a jingle coming from a claw machine, with shutters down on many of the units on the dimly lit shop floor.

"It's taken way to long for us to actually get into this market," says one trader, who described the ongoing delays as "a nightmare".

"Everything has been regenerated towards the bottom end of town. We have had changes to public transport routes, numerous roadworks, which has all caused a detrimental effect to the small business at the top end of town.

"It's been very stressful for us having to try and stay afloat when you have got hardly any footfall. Markets thrive on footfall.

"There seems to be a silver lining. We seem to be at the final hurdle now."

A council spokesperson says they are "working hard with contractors and traders on the final stage of fit-out".

They did not provide a date for reopening, but add that they "hope to be in a position to make an announcement about the opening shortly".

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A woman who discovered she had a higher risk of developing breast cancer has praised the facility where she was tested.

Abbie Yorke, from Bishop Auckland, County Durham, was diagnosed with a BRCA gene variant by a team at Newcastle Hospital's Northern Genetics Service, based at the International Centre for Life, in 2022. The variant increases a person's risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer.

"It almost felt like I could act upon it to safeguard me but also my little boy," she said. Ms Yorke went on to have a preventive double mastectomy in 2024.

She said she was "very proud" of the centre – which has celebrated its 25th anniversary – and called the team who helped her "life saving".

Life was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II in May 2000 and has since been home to medical research and treatment, spanning fertility to diseases including cancer.

Lindsey Power, from Newcastle, said whenever she drives through the city she always points out the site to her triplets.

"It was always my dream to have a baby and I knew that I would have to go down the IVF route or the fertility route," she said.

After seeking help from the Newcastle Fertility Centre, she recalled seeing the first scan of her children in 2022.

"I'll never forget," she said. "There were two sacs there… it was confirmed just before Christmas – there's triplets there."

She said the team "from start to end were fantastic".

Linda Conlon, chief executive of Life, said: "Over that quarter century there have been numerous breakthroughs in medical research, which have enhanced the lives of so many people.

"It's been a rollercoaster of a 25 years."

People living in a tower block have spoken of their uncertainty after the property was evacuated for safety reasons.

The 31 households were left without power after an internal flood damaged the electrical system at Priory Court, on Gateshead's Hopper Street, on Friday.

Some went to stay with family members while others were offered accommodation in nearby hotels, but said they were left unclear about their long-term future.

The council said it was assessing the full extent of the damage, with a view to returning residents to their home as soon as possible.

Resident Maurice Birdsall told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "It was like a waterfall going down the landing, then the electricity blew, there was nothing.

"It is in a state like, and it still smells, off the electrics."

The 71-year-old added: "We are being told different stories, some are saying we will be in the Ramada Hotel for a week.

"I thought we would be there by now, it happened on Friday."

'Struggles with walking'

Lesley Stanners, who took her 80-year-old-father into her home in Stoneygate, said: "My dad phoned me on Friday and said the water had gone off and they had to evacuate.

"I told him to come to mine…with my brother who also lives there.

"Nobody from the council has contacted me at all – I rang and they said they were in a meeting and would be in touch.

"My dad struggles with walking and with living in a house he struggles to get up and my bathroom is upstairs.

"He doesn't want to go to a hotel, he is 80."

A council spokesperson said temporary facilities were opened at the civic centre, with people relocated to hotels or with family and friends within hours of the flood.

"Investigations are ongoing…and we are currently assessing the full extent of the damage, with a view to returning residents to their home as soon as possible," they said.

"Immediate next steps include continuing support for affected residents, and notifying neighbouring blocks about related works and car park impacts."

A 17-year-old boy who ordered a late-night McDonald's had to abandon his takeaway when he noticed a fire was ripping through his neighbour's home and he rushed to save her.

Joel, of Altrincham, Greater Manchester, said he had begun tucking into his food at about 02:00 BST on Friday when he heard screaming outside.

The sixth-former said he went downstairs to investigate and saw smoke pouring out of the windows of the house.

Without thinking he ran over to help, ran upstairs and got the elderly woman out before calling the fire service.

Joel said: "She was stuck in the hallway because she couldn't get down the stairs.

"I ran in, got her out and into a safe place then called the fire service."

His dad Dean said his son was "absolutely amazing" and it was a "proud dad moment".

Joel said it was "just how I responded in the moment".

"When I heard the screaming, I had no clue what it could have been, it could have been anything but I just thought it was the right thing to do, go out and have a look," he said.

Once he had got his neighbour to safety, Joel said he woke his dad and step-mum up.

"By the time he woke me up he'd already got the lady to safety," Dean said.

"I just helped get her further away from the house. He'd already called the fire brigade."

'Cold Maccies'

"He's always been a great lad, myself my partner and his mum couldn't be any more proud of him and how he conducts himself," he added.

Dean said his neighbour's niece had said she was expected to make a full recovery.

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said three fire engines went to the scene.

Joel said: "I was disappointed the Maccies was cold, but other than that, I feel like I did the morally right thing."

"It's what anyone would do in that situation," he added.

Repeated failures in mental health care have seen "avoidable deaths" continue in places people should be safe, an inquiry has heard.

The Lampard Inquiry is analysing the deaths of more than 2,000 patients under NHS care in Essex between 2000 and 2023.

Deborah Coles, director of the charity INQUEST, said lessons were not being learned from deaths and were instead left to "disappear into the ether".

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT) has apologised to those affected.

The public inquiry is England's first into mental health deaths, with evidence being heard in London after sessions in September and November.

Islay isn't the obvious location for the frontline of cyber crime but the picturesque island famous for its wildlife and whisky distilleries is dealing with the real world impacts of the major supermarket hack.

The targeting of retailers including Marks and Spencer and Co-op has led to sporadic empty shelves across UK stores as the companies slowed deliveries and shut down parts of their IT systems in response to cyber attacks.

In most places, disappointed customers at least have the option of visiting other supermarkets to pick up supplies. But Scotland's island communities generally don't have that luxury.

In this part of the country, Co-op is often the only large store, with some smaller independent retailers operating.

No fresh food

"The Co-op is so important here," said Brian Palmer, editor of local newspaper, The Ileach.

"We don't think because we live here that we should have every convenience you get on the mainland but I think a lack of food is probably stretching it a wee bit."

No one is starving as a result of shortages but there is clear frustration with the lack of fresh food available.

Staff at the Bowmore Co-op said the last full delivery was at the start of May. There have since been smaller deliveries, but not of what is required.

The first aisle of the shop usually stocked with chilled meat, fruit and vegetables was almost completely bare on Friday afternoon. As was the bread section shortly after a morning delivery.

"It's easy to shop when there's nothing to pick from," one customer joked as they left the store.

A Co-op worker said they had dealt with red weather warnings and covid but "no one understands a cyber attack."

The company told the BBC last week that the attack on its systems meant store deliveries had been hit and the hack had resulted in "significant" amounts of customer data being stolen.

Co-op said "remote lifeline stores" will receive extra deliveries soon.

A "spokesperson said: "We take our responsibility to our Scottish island stores and communities very seriously.

"As a result of the Cyber-attack, and the steps we took to keep our systems safe, we currently have a temporary contingency stock ordering and delivery process, where we have prioritised the quantity of stock and deliveries to these lifeline stores.

"From Monday, 12 of the most remote lifeline stores will receive treble the volume of available product, and another 20 lifeline stores will get double the volume.

"We would like to thank all members, customers and our amazing store colleagues for their support and goodwill through this time.

'Get the people fed'

Construction business manager Donald Gillies said he's been unable to provide a good lunch for his site workers in Port Ellen throughout the last week.

Asked if enough was being done to deliver food he said: "That's tosh (rubbish)."

"It's poor, it's really poor. Something has gone wrong in the IT system and like everything else in society it's all computer-driven and no one can make a bloomin' decision to send food over.

"Get the people fed."

When will disruption end?

Jude McCorry, chief executive of the Cyber and Fraud Centre based in Edinburgh, said it can take a long time for companies to fully recover from cyber attacks.

"Even companies we don't think of as tech firms rely heavily on complex systems that take time to recover," she said,

"We know from past experience that some cyber attacks are debilitating for months.

"I'm not saying there'll be this level of disruption for weeks and months, but it can take a long time for organisations to get back to the way they were before an attack."

On Islay, people are full of praise for the local Co-op workers, they know it's not a local issue.

Sheena MacKellar from Islay Gaelic Centre took aim at the group behind the hack.

"These people are selfish. They are affecting the wrong people.

"We're hard working honest people and we're the ones who are suffering and having to work round it.

"But we're islanders, we're made of stronger stuff."

Dale Vince's High Court claim against a newspaper publisher has been thrown out.

Mr Vince, industrialist and founder of Stroud-based energy firm, Ecotricity, brought legal action against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL) over a Daily Mail article headlined "Labour repays £100,000 to sex pest donor", published in June 2023.

The story said Labour was handing back money to donor Davide Serra with a picture showing Mr Vince holding a Just Stop Oil banner.

Mr Vince claimed ANL misused his personal data, but the judge said it should have been heard with the defamation claim in July 2024 as "any ordinary reader would very quickly realise Mr Vince was not being accused of sexual harassment".

A mother and her six-year-old son are taking part in a 10km (6.2 miles) race in Wiltshire for a military children's charity they say became their "beacon" during difficult times.

Teddy and his mum Rachel will take part in the Tidworth 10k hosted by Little Troopers – a charity supporting children with parents in the military.

The family has been supported by the charity for years, but Rachel said they were particularly helpful when Teddy suffered a severe reaction to mosquito bites after they relocated to Cyprus.

Rachel said the charity had helped her son "believe in himself" since her partner joined the Royal Air Force as an engineer.

A West Yorkshire Police officer has admitted to drink-driving his car before starting work.

PC Lewis Goddard drove his personal vehicle to a shift at Stainbeck Police Station in north Leeds under the influence of alcohol on 17 February this year, the force said.

He was arrested at the station before being suspended from duty.

The 32-year-old pleaded guilty to driving while over the prescribed limit and was banned from driving for 18 months at York Magistrates' Court earlier. He was also fined £250.

The court heard PC Goddard's driving ban would be reduced by 18 weeks if he completed a course.

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