The Alternative for Germany (AfD) has launched a legal challenge against Germany’s domestic intelligence agency for designating the far-right party an “extremist” organisation.
A spokesperson for the administrative court in Cologne confirmed on Monday that the AfD had submitted both a lawsuit and an emergency petition in response to the decision by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV).
Germany, meanwhile, hit back at President Donald Trump’s administration in the United States over its criticism of the classification, suggesting officials in Washington should study history.
The Cologne court will begin reviewing the case once the BfV confirms that it has been notified of the filings.
The AfD had earlier denounced the designation as a politically driven attempt to marginalise the party.
“With our lawsuit, we are sending a clear signal against the abuse of state power to combat and exclude the opposition,” party co-leaders Tino Chrupalla and Alice Weidel said on Monday, alleging that the classification was an effort to “distort democratic competition and delegitimise millions of votes”.
Pivotal moment
The classification, announced on Friday, gives Germany’s intelligence agency the power to surveil the AfD, the largest opposition party in parliament.
These powers include deploying informants and intercepting internal party communications.
A 1,100-page report compiled by the agency – that will not be made public – concluded that the AfD is a racist and anti-Muslim organisation.
The move came at a pivotal moment in German politics as the mainstream grapples with the continued rise of the far right.
Centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leader Friedrich Merz is expected to be sworn in as chancellor on Tuesday after his party struck a coalition deal with the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD).
The agreement was driven by a longstanding understanding among mainstream parties to sideline far-right political forces. The AfD came second to the CDU in February’s snap elections. The SPD finished third.
SPD leader Lars Klingbeil said last week that the coalition would review the situation to decide whether to revive efforts to ban the AfD.
History lessons
The new government will also have to deal with criticism from abroad over Germany’s approach to the AfD, in particular from the governments of the US and Russia, both of which are swift to condemn any “foreign interference” in their own affairs.
US Vice President JD Vance, who met with Weidel after the elections in February, insisted on Friday that the AfD was “by far the most representative” party in the formerly communist eastern Germany, adding: “Now the bureaucrats try to destroy it.”
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio branded the designation of the party “tyranny in disguise”.
In response, Germany’s Federal Foreign Office posted on Monday, “This is democracy,” and said the decision was “the result of a thorough & independent investigation to protect our Constitution & the rule of law”.
The ministry said independent courts will have the final say, adding: “We have learnt from our history that rightwing extremism needs to be stopped.”
The Met Gala has one thing on its calendar for May 1st, which means one thing: it’s upon us. The Met Gala, the hosts, and where to watch are listed below, along with a list of entertainment options.
3am
LEANNE ITALIE, Assistant Celebrity and Entertainment Editor, and Daniel Bird
Pharrell Williams is co-hosting the event(Image: GC Images)
Numerous well-known names are set to appear on the red carpet at The Met Gala. The history books will be the subject of this year’s extravaganza, which will feature a men’swear theme for the first time in more than 20 years and focus solely on Black designers.
Pharrell Williams could barely contain his excitement. Speaking to Vogue, he revealed, “I want it to feel like the most epic night of power, a reflection of Black resiliency in a world that continues to be colonized, by which I mean policies and legislation that are nothing short of that,” adding confidently, “It’s our turn.” And so begins the iconic first Monday in May.
How to watch
Vogue isn’t missing a beat and plans to stream the gala live from 6 p. m. Eastern on Vogue.com, its YouTube channel, and other digital outlets. Hosting duties for the stream fall to Teyana Taylor, La La Anthony and Ego Nwodim, with Emma Chamberlain conducting carpet interviews.
The Met Gala takes place tonight at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Image: AP)
The Associated Press will also be watching the celebrities leave the Mark Hotel at 5 p.m., followed by delayed coverage of the gala carpet starting at 6:30 p.m., via YouTube and APNews.com.
E! is available for those who prefer their red carpets to be televised. begins live coverage at 6 p.m. Peacock, E!, and other channels to catch the glamour YouTube and the network’s additional social media channels are available online.
Continue reading the article.
The 2025 Met Gala will be held by who?
Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton is co-hosting the event this year(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
This year’s fundraising gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art is being hosted by a cohort of Black male celebrities, including musical artist and Louis Vuitton menswear director Pharrell Williams, Lewis Hamilton, Colman Domingo, and A$AP Rocky, with NBA legend LeBron James serving as honorary chair. They’re accompanied by Vogue’s Anna Wintour, the brains behind the gala, which is regarded as the most glamorous and star-studded event of the year.
A second tier of hosts from different disciplines is expected to attend, including actors Doechii, Usher, Tyla, Janelle Monáe, and André 3000, playwrights Jeremy O. Harris and Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, and fashion icons Grace Wales Bonner, Edward Enninful, Dapper Dan, and Olivier Rousteing.
The Costume Institute’s curation budget is primary focus for the museum’s annual gala.
Dress code for this year is strict.
Dame Anna Wintour is believed to have come up with this year’s dress code(Image: GC Images)
Consider this a strong recommendation, courtesy of Anna Wintour. The theme of tailoring and suiting this year is based on the annual spring exhibition’s inspiration, which looks at Black dandyism throughout the Atlantic diaspora.
With Miller serving as the guest curator for “Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity,” the show has a lot of influence.
According to Miller, “Whether a dandy is subtle or spectacular, the self-conscious display, the reach for tailored perfection, and the occasionally subversive self-expression,” the exhibition catalog explores the historical expressions of dandyism, highlighting their range from meticulous tailoring to extravagant flair.
One can assume that the dress code will remain within certain parameters given Wintour’s influence, but individual taste and creativity have yet to be tested on it. She recently clarified on “Good Morning America” that she doesn’t approve of all appearances but will defend a rumor that has been rife.
The exhibit, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” is divided into 12 sections, each incorporating various sources besides Miller’s book. Each embodies a particular dandy style, as Zora Neale Hurston’s 1934 essay, “Characteristics of Negro Expression” lacked.
The gala’s theme includes a variety of ideas, including ownership, presence, distinction, disguise, freedom, respectability, and heritage. These elements are anticipated to be displayed on the museum steps, which double as the event’s red carpet, for those who want to explore the details (or have their stylists do the homework).
Who will be appearing this year?
Around 450 names from various sectors such as technology, sports, arts, entertainment and beyond makeup the exclusive guest list. Williams emphasises the diversity of this assembly.
Continue reading the article.
He spoke to Vogue and said it was crucial for him to have successful Black and brown people from all walks of life: “Not just athletes, actors, actors, entertainers, but also authors, architects, people from the fintech world,” Williams said. We must make an investment in one another. We need to communicate because everyone will need to unite the strength of Black and brown genius into a single, trustworthy force.
As his ex Ella Thomas’ new romance progresses with footballer Lloyd Jones, reality TV star Tyrique Hyde has made an enigmatic comment about her ex-boyfriend.
Tyrique Hyde and Ella Thomas had an on-off romance before their split(Image: Image Press Agency/NurPhoto/REX/Shutterstock)
Love Island star Tyrique Hyde appeared to share his true thoughts on his ex Ella Thomas moving on with a footballer. The reality TV stars came third on the tenth series of the hit ITV2 dating show, yet things weren’t ever steady.
They had an on and off romance but later fizzled out once and for all. However, Tyrique appears to be keeping tabs on his ex as Ella debuted her new romance.
She had been linked with Charlton Athletic footballer Lloyd Jones and they finally went public over the weekend. Lloyd made their romance Instagram official as he shared a snap of Ella supporting him as he accepted his club’s Player of the Season award.
However, shortly after Lloyd’s post Tyrique shared a cryptic post on his own account. He posted a throwback snap of himself on Love Island as he smiled while talking to the camera.
Tyrique shared a cryptic comment on his account(Image: Instagram/tyriquehyde)
Nah, I’m very sad, trust me, that’s what the subtitle of his audio read. Additionally, Tyrique made sure to promote both a party and a livestream he was hosting.
Continue reading the article.
In 2023, Ella and Tyrique won numerous fans’ delights when they completed the show as a couple. As they split up in November, their romance experienced a bumpy patch, but they eventually reconciled.
However, the relationship ended when the pair ended their romance in February 2024. After the split, a source said, “Ultimately, they want different things, and it’s too difficult to make it work.” They claim that this is over for the moment and that there is no turning back.
Ella herself made a quick comment regarding the ending of the romance. She responded to a fan’s question online, “Just to clear things up, we’re not together…
“We weren’t talking about it while we were sorting it out and dealing with it privately,” he said. We both agree that it is best for him, and we wish him the best. Love at first sight. Thank you to everyone who has stepped up for us both collectively and personally.
After Ella had spoken out in front of a crowd, Tyrique then criticized him for keeping quiet about the split. The reality TV host wrote, “Tf you want me to say?” I’m living my life now.
Don’t feel like I have to, just because people on Love Island typically make statements. That’s not my area. Thank you to all of my loving followers. LATAA”.
Just last month, revealed how he looks back on his romance to OK! Magazine. He said: “Ella’s a lovely person – there’s no bad blood. She taught me a lot about myself and relationships, especially when it comes to emotional intelligence.
She’ll always be so kind to me for that. It’s crazy to leave Love Island because your entire life changes over the course of a year. We both struggled to identify ourselves outside of the villa and make sense of that new world.
The timing just wasn’t right, according to the couple, who were so concerned about each other. We gave it a good chance, which is a big sign that we are still at our cool now.
Continue reading the article.
READ MORE: Amazon slashes price of Samsung Galaxy Watch to rival Samsung in flash deal
Thomas Tuchel, England’s head coach, is in a quandary about letting his players out until the club world cup is in early February.
His team will play two games in June, one of which will be a World Cup qualifying match against Andorra on June 7 in Barcelona, and the other, a friendly game against Senegal at Nottingham Forest three days later.
Just four days before the club tournament in the USA begins, the game will take place at the City Ground on June 10th.
For the international double-header, Tuchel’s squad could include players from Manchester City, Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Real Madrid, and Atletico Madrid. All of these players are involved in the inaugural Club World Cup.
After the Andorra game, clubs involved in the Fifa event are eager to release players, but it is assumed that Tuchel will continue to lead his team to a Senegal friendly.
Tuchel told his players that they only have a short time to work together before the World Cup in the summer of 2019 in his first meeting with his players since being chosen Gareth Southgate’s replacement.
Up to 12 players could be affected by Tuchel and the FA’s decision to release players.
Tuchel might choose Cole Palmer, Reece James, Levi Colwill, and Noni Madueke as their starting players.
For the international double-header, Tuchel’s squad could include players from Manchester City, Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Real Madrid, and Atletico Madrid. All of these players are involved in the inaugural Club World Cup.
While Jude Bellingham and Conor Gallagher play for Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, respectively, are Bayern Munich’s captain Harry Kane and Conor Gallagher’s fellow midfielder.
Chelsea could suffer the most if all players are left in England.
No later than three days before their opening game are teams required to arrive in the USA.
Before departing for international duty on May 28 – three days after the end of the Premier League season, Enzo Maresca’s side will face a potential Europa Conference League final in Poland.
Six days after their encounter with Senegal, the club will play against Leon in its first match of the Club World Cup.
On June 18th, Manchester City will face Wydad AC in their first match of the tournament.
Real face Al Hilal on June 18, while Bayern travel to Auckland City and Atletico face Paris St-Germain on June 15.
Tuchel made a hint about his reluctance to act favorably toward club managers in a March interview, saying, “I take care of the players. The schedule is important to us. However, a player would send the wrong message by now, “hey, you have tough]club] matches coming up so I rest you.”
We follow the tenet of “good for us.” We keep tabs on them, keep in touch with the clubs, and conduct high-level monitoring where necessary. We won’t take any unprofessional risks. Because I consider the players to be first and foremost. The player should not suffer any injuries.
“So that’s where it is, and in the end, the clubs take care of themselves, and the main focus is the care of the players,” he said.
Players from South American countries don’t even consider dropping a second because they want to play for their country, they’re proud to play for their country, as I have many, many times in clubs. We must also be able to comprehend and accept this.
Who: Barcelona vs. Inter Milan What: UEFA Champions League semifinal, second leg Where: San Siro stadium, Milan, Italy When: Tuesday at 9pm (19:00 GMT)
Follow Al Jazeera Sport’s live text and photo commentary stream.
In a tantalizing second and decisive leg of their semifinal match on Tuesday night, five-time champions Barcelona travel to northern Italy to face three-time champion Inter Milan.
The Catalan Giants are on track to win a rare treble, including LaLiga, Copa del Rey, and Champions League titles, but they were only able to draw against Inter in the opening game of their Champions League semifinal, leaving them with nothing to do on the road in Milan.
Inter, who are attempting to reach the second Champions League title in three seasons, will enjoy their home-based rivals’ chances of defeating the flamboyant LaLiga leaders. However, the Nerazzurri’s 1-0 home victory over 15th-placed Verona on Saturday night marked their departure from their best performance.
Before the semifinal match between two of Europe’s top football superclubs, everything is revealed:
What took place in the first leg of the semifinal?
On April 30 at home against Inter Milan, Barcelona came away with a compelling 3-3 draw.
With superb strikes from Marcus Thuram and Denzel Dumfries, the Italian side jumped out to a two-goal lead before Lamine Yamal, the unstoppable, resurrected the situation with a sublime solo effort.
Ferran Torres leveled for the five-time champions, and a Yann Sommer own goal put the tie in the second leg as Inter soared past Dumfries once more.
In the return leg of Inter Milan’s UEFA Champions League semifinal on May 6, 2025, the star French forward #9 Marcus Thuram will be counted on to score more goals.
Why is Yamal the subject of such discussion?
At age 17, playing his 100th game as he did against Inter on Wednesday, Yamal broke the record set by Kylian Mbappe, who was 18 at the time of his tying of the feat in 2017.
Talents like those found in the Barcelona teenager only appear once every 50 years, according to Inter Manager Simone Inzaghi.
After Yamal helped Barcelona rally in the action-packed first leg, the Inter coach said, “He’s the kind of talent that is born every 50 years, I have never seen him live.
After the game, Barcelona coach Hansi Flick described his attacking winger as “a genius.”
Yamal himself was forced to ignore comparisons to the legendary Lionel Messi, who also played the same position at Barcelona, before the first leg.
Yamal told reporters, “I don’t compare myself to him because I don’t compare myself to anyone, and much less Messi.”
“So I don’t believe the comparison makes sense,” he added. I’m going to be myself and enjoy myself.
Yamal claimed that he thought the Argentinian forward was the greatest player ever.
He continued, “I admire him obviously as the best player in history, but I don’t compare myself to him.”
[Fran Santiago/Getty Images] Lamine Yamal of FC Barcelona celebrates winning the Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid at the Estadio de La Cartuja on April 26, 2025, in Seville, Spain.
Barcelona team news
Jules Kounde, who started for Barcelona in the Champions League semifinals against Inter, will miss Thursday’s game due to a hamstring injury.
Unexpectedly, Flick might be able to bring in Robert Lewandowski, who is recovering from a leg injury for three weeks ahead of schedule. After being sidelined for about two weeks, Lewandowski made an addition to the team on Monday.
Despite Marc-Andre ter Steg’s return to the first team in a LaLiga game over the weekend following a lengthy injury layoff, goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny is expected to start against Inter.
Inter Milan team news
Lautaro Martinez’ availability, who is the star player from Argentina, is highly doubtful going into their second leg showdown at the San Siro after the Argentina star suffered a leg injury against Barcelona last Wednesday. Martinez will be replaced in the starting lineup by Inzaghi with Marko Arnautovic or Mehdi Taremi on standby.  ,
However, according to Italian media reports from Monday, Martinez’s position at Inter is gaining more confidence. A photo of Luautaro performing exercises in the gym was posted by himself, and it features emojis of an e-cigarette and a battery.
Important defender Benjamin Pavard, who missed the first leg of the semifinal against Barca, is set to start for Inter in a different positive way, according to reports from the Italian media outlet Gazzetta. it.
Hakan Calhanoglu, a star midfielder, will miss Inter’s 1-0 victory over Verona with a suspension.
Will he play, or won’t he? Lautaro Martinez, Inter Milan’s leading goal scorer and captain, is battling with injury to make it to the second leg of the UEFA Champions League semifinal against Barcelona on Tuesday.
Possible starting lineups:
Possible Barcelona XI: Szczesny, Eric, Araujo, Cubarsi, Inigo, de Jong, Pedri, Yamal, Olmo, Raphinha, Ferran.
Possible Inter Milan XI: Sommer, Acerbi, Pavard, Bastoni, Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco, Arnautovic, Thuram
Head-to-head:
The teams have previously engaged in 13 games:
Barcelona defeats: 6
Inter Milan wins by 2
Draws: 5
What the managers said:
Inter can’t just defend, says Barcelona manager Hansi Flick. They must also try to score. The four best teams in Europe will compete in the UEFA Champions League semifinals. We possess the ability to play with style and confidence. Next week’s 90 minutes should be enough time to make the final. We will fight for that, and that is our goal.
We watched a fantastic match [in the first leg], and we all knew the challenge of the semifinals. Even so, we might have triumphed. The impact made by our subs a lot to me. Our supporters are aware that Tuesday will be the “final” of our efforts in trying times, and we are aware of this.
[Carl Recine/Getty Images] Simone Inzaghi yells from the touch line during the UEFA Champions League semifinal first leg encounter between Barcelona and Inter at the Olympic Stadium on April 30, 2025.
When did Inter Milan and Barcelona last claim a victory in the UEFA Champions League?
Inter Milan last won in 2010 while Barcelona most recently won in 2015, respectively.
The UEFA Champions League final will take place in 2025, when and where?
The Champions League final will take place on May 31 in Germany for the winner of this semifinal.
The 75, 000-capacity Allianz Arena in Munich will host the biggest annual showpiece of European football.
The 2024-2025 UEFA Champions League final will be held at Germany’s Allianz Arena, one of the best football stadiums in the world.
Although Scottie Scheffler and Bryson DeChambeau both won in the strongest of the field, Rory McIlroy is not the only player who is enjoying the second-high men’s major of the year.
With his 31 under par win over Erik van Rooyen at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson, Scheffler put on a masterclass by winning by eight strokes. The world’s number one effectively brought his position at the top of the rankings to mind.
We’ll be engaged in combat, it’s said.
Scheffler posted rounds of 61, 63, 66, and 63 last week, posting a total of 66 points in his hometown tournament, which put Dechambeau in the lead after McIlroy finished fourth behind McIlroy at the Masters. His total of 253 at TPC Craig Ranch was on par with the PGA Tour record.
The 28-year-old Texan won 14 straight statistical awards, including best in 14 of those categories. On par three, four, and five holes, they included average scores, strokes gained from green to green, approach, putting average, total birdies, and average scoring.
Scheffler won 2025 with the complete package. It was his final appearance before the US PGA Championship, which will take place on May 15, and the next major.
Everything points to a determined response to McIlroy’s accomplishment, which was his first major victory over Scheffler last month.
“I believe we’re all excited to come out here and compete,” Scheffler said.
“I was the best player this week.” The week is off for me, and we’ll see who is the PGA’s best player in the following week.
This year, Rory has been playing some incredible golf. Really impressive to watch the career Grand Slam. I was happy to be present for it.
“I believe that whenever you’re beat, you’re just a little bit more upbeat to go out and practice,” she said. My game seems to be heading in the right direction. The season’s upcoming start is exciting to me.
DeChambeau must be feeling similarly optimistic after three weeks of declining when playing in McIlroy’s final group at Augusta. His 75 helped him finish tied for fifth at Augusta, beginning to pile up after the closing round failures.
The 31-year-old wasted opportunities at the LIV event in Mexico last week and again at Doral in early April. Although the viability of the 54-hole, limited field breakaway tour is frequently questioned, winning is still a useful habit.
DeChambeau has demonstrated his main credentials by participating in LIV’s limited schedule. He finished second to Xander Schauffele at the US Open last year before overcoming McIlroy’s faltering opponent to win the US Open in Pinehurst in June.
DeChambeau noted that there is a lot of star-studded talent in the pipeline for the PGA Championship. We will be engaged in combat.
Spieth has confidence, and it’s good.
Images courtesy of Getty
The sport is in for a long time looking forward to DeChambeau, Scheffler, and McIlroy’s all being in tune as the calendar approaches the end of the major season, to say the least.
Perhaps we should be considering the completion of another Grand Slam of our own. At the Byron Nelson last Sunday, Jordan Spieth’s lowest round in four years came to a bogey-free 62.
After recovering from wrist surgery last year, the Dallas native, who is only 31 years old, is starting to look more like his former self. He claimed that “my mechanics are only getting a little better each week.”
“I’m able to do something I wasn’t able to do last year that I can’t.”
Since winning the Open eight years ago, the 2015 Masters and US Open champion has not recorded a major increase. His set at the US PGA would be completed, joining McIlroy at the Grand Slam.
