New statistical data has highlighted the prevalence of domestic violence across different population groups in Switzerland, sparking a political debate over its root causes. SVP National Councillor Pascal Schmid argues that the figures identify this primarily as a migration problem, noting that even foreign women are accused of these offenses more frequently than Swiss men.
Schmid requested data from the Federal Council, which provided an analysis of domestic violence frequency broken down by gender and nationality. The results show that for every 10,000 foreign men in the permanent resident population, 33.3 were accused of domestic violence in 2024, compared to 12.6 for Swiss men. For women, the rate was 13.2 for foreign women and 4.4 for Swiss women.
The data shows that foreign women are accused of domestic violence at slightly higher rates than Swiss men, however, foreign men clearly dominate in this category of crime overall, according to Blick.
In response to the latest Swiss data, Schmit wrote: “Domestic violence is not simply a problem solely affecting men, but primarily a migration problem.”
This data comes after similar findings in Germany showed that women from certain foreign groups in 2024 were more violent than German men. The data showed that for 100,000 German men, 272 were suspected of a violent offense. For Syrian women, this figure per 100,000 was 336. Clearly, Syrian women were more violent than German men. Afghan women are also more violent, with a rate of 359, even more violent than Syrian women. Iraqi women have an incredible rate of 394, which is considerably more than that of German men.
In Switzerland, research indicates that approximately 1 in 10 women will be a victim of physical or sexual violence in a romantic relationship during her adult life.
Between 2011 and 2014, an average of 22 female and four male victims died on an annual basis due to violence in intimate partner relationships. In 2024, Switzerland recorded over 21,000 cases of domestic violence, representing a 6 percent increase from the previous year. This involves a wide variety of violent categories, including sexual assault, rape, stalking, abuse, physical assault, and murder.
However, other politicians see violence as a multifaceted phenomenon, SP National Councillor Tamara Funiciello stated: “Violence is multidimensional” and that “we must combat it at all levels – now and regardless of its origin.”
BREAKING: ‼️🇩🇪 Germany's worst-kept secret is out — straight from the horse's mouth.
"This year, we have to talk about non-German suspects," says Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, who admits that foreigners are significantly disproportionately represented in the country's crime… pic.twitter.com/KLZpwz6vH5
Funiciello successfully led a campaign for increased funding for women’s protection during the December budget debate, which resulted in an additional million Swiss francs towards prevention efforts.
SVP stated that instead of throwing more money at the problem, the left needs to stop “turning a blind eye to the problem of crime committed by foreigners.”
Schmid notes that “foreign women are thus more frequently violent than Swiss men. This proves that domestic violence is not simply a male problem, but primarily a migration problem.” He argues that “Instead of placing Swiss men under general suspicion, we must” address the issue through migration policy.
“We have to put a stop to immigration from Stone Age cultures that have a completely different relationship with women and don’t know the concept of equality,” he added.
The SVP is now demanding an expansion of offenses that trigger mandatory deportation to include all official domestic violence offenses. Schmid argues, “We have to crack down harder on perpetrators,” adding that “simply distributing flyers in 20 languages and employing even more social workers won’t achieve anything.”
Funiciello maintains that the SVP is avoiding the real issues, stating, “The SVP is once again shifting responsibility onto a group instead of rethinking its own role models and seeking solutions for society as a whole.”
She emphasizes that factors such as witnessing childhood violence and socioeconomic status are critical.
“Financial problems due to low wages or cramped living conditions, which disproportionately affect foreigners, are more likely to lead to conflict situations,” she notes. She concluded that because women often lack the financial safety net to leave abusive partners, “we must combat it at all levels — now and regardless of its origin.”
Of course, it could be argued that cramped living conditions in Switzerland are also a problem derived in large part due to mass immigration. There is currently a housing crisis in the country, with vacancy rates at a record low of less than 1 percent. This pattern of soaring housing prices tied to mass immigration has been seen throughout the Western world, including in Britain, Australia, Canada, and many other nations.
A 27-year-old immigrant of Moroccan origin is being accused of raping and murdering a Spanish woman, 54-year-old Josune M.D., in Barakaldo, near the city of Bilbao in the Basque region. The case has already caught the attention of the leader of the Vox party, Santiago Abascal, who said it shows the far-left government’s plans to regularize hundreds of thousands of migrants is a “crime.”
Police officers found the woman’s corpse inside her own apartment. The preliminary autopsy indicates that the probable cause of death was strangulation, although part of her body was found submerged in a bathtub.
Forensics also found a bruise on the head and injuries in the genital area. There was a clear lack of resistance on the part of the victim, but investigators believe a blow to the head rendered the victim stunned or unconscious before she was raped and murdered.
The alleged suspect, who worked alongside the woman in the delicatessen of a supermarket in the Cruces neighborhood, attended a Christmas dinner with her and other colleagues the night before. Although the incident happened nearly two months ago, it is only now being reported by Spanish newspaper La Gaceta.
After visiting several bars and entertainment venues in the Zaballa area, both left by taxi to the victim’s home in the Urban neighborhood. Footage shows that Josune was practically asleep during the ride, which ended shortly after six in the morning. However, both the man and the victim entered her home together.
According to the Basque police (Ertzaintza) report, after the alleged murder, the suspect left the home but went back to retrieve his mobile phone, which he had forgotten inside. He even managed to have a bus driver call a locksmith, who allowed him back into the apartment.
The apartment was flooded from a bathtub faucet he reportedly left running, but he picked up his device and left a few minutes later.
Meanwhile, one of Josune’s daughters, surprised because her mother was not answering any calls, went to the apartment with her sister. They had previously heard the voice of a man on a home app connected to their mother’s home and wanted to investigate.
It was the eldest daughter who found the lifeless body of her mother in the bathtub. A neighbor also arrived when he heard screams. Both of them then alerted the police.
After leaving the victim’s home, police say the Moroccan man returned to the same bar to charge the phone and observe the police, who were already busy collecting surveillance video from the same establishment. The Moroccan was reportedly present when this was taking place, but he said nothing to the police at that time.
Late,r he went to the police station in Getxo and told the police a version of events that left out any mention of murder or rape. He said he had only lost his wallet, reported it missing, and left.
However, police quickly made a connection between the woman’s corpse and the Moroccan suspect. A homicide detective from the Territorial Criminal Investigation Service of Bizkaia located him at his home in Sopela and arrested him, just 12 hours after the murder took place.
The court on duty ordered him to be placed in a provisional prison.
Responding to the case, Abascal wrote on X: “Regularization… a crime against Spaniards.”
He is referring to the recent drive by the Pedro Sanchez government to legalize over 500,000 migrants, without even a vote in parliament. The whole process was done through “royal decree.”
The statistics, which cover January 2025 to September 2025, are in many ways groundbreaking for Spain. It is the first time that the geographical origin of those arrested and under investigation was included in police data.
For serious crimes like intentional homicide or murder, foreigners committed 53.8 percent of all such crimes. A total of 13 people were arrested, and three were investigated. Six of those arrested were Spanish (either Basque or from other regions of Spain), and seven were foreigners. Two were from Maghreb and five from Latin America.
Authorities in Germany have uncovered a sophisticated fraud network that allegedly deployed paid operatives to take language and naturalization exams on behalf of migrants, with the fraud taking place on a nationwide scale.
The investigation, centered in Nuremberg, suggests a coordinated effort to bypass residency and citizenship requirements. Notably, potential applicants for citizenship must display a basic understanding of the German language.
Prosecutors say the network functioned by providing substitute test-takers who possessed a high command of the German language. According to investigators, candidates used forged identification documents that displayed the substitute’s photo but contained the personal data of the actual applicant, according to Welt.
Applicants reportedly paid between €2,500 and €6,000 per examination. Since the documents appeared legitimate, “the examiners were thus unable to detect the fraud,” resulting in the issuance of genuine certificates used to obtain residence permits or citizenship.
The Middle Franconia Police Headquarters announced on Monday that two individuals are currently in custody, including a 39-year-old Iraqi man, identified as the primary mediator, who is in pre-trial detention.
Additionally, a 22-year-old German man was arrested in January while actively “trying to take such a language examination.”
Furthermore, the scale of the network was highlighted in December when “10 people were also identified as operatives at a language school in North Rhine-Westphalia while they were taking exams for other schools.”
While the current arrests were made in Bavaria, the “investigations concern the entire federal territory.”
Police noted that while “proceedings for forged language certificates have already been underway in the past,” this specific method of using look-alike deputies represents a significant escalation. Following an initial review of the evidence, Bavarian investigators “assumed that there will be a high double-digit number of further investigations.”
Concerns about the mass naturalization of foreigners have already been raised, with potentially thousands or even theoretically tens of thousands of foreigners using fraud to obtain their citizenship.
Furthermore, many of the fraud cases have likely gone undetected. The language test required for German citizenship, which must show proficiency in only B1, hardly proves a strong command of the German language either. Nonetheless, there are numerous cases involving migrants paying thousands of euros for a forged certificate or for test takers to take the test for them.
Already, there have been broad concerns about foreign workers in Germany who lack an adequate level of German for their roles as doctors and police officers.
In a remarkable post on X, Hungarian opposition leader Péter Magyar said that once his Tisza party wins the upcoming election in April against incumbent Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, that he will immediately suspend all public media news broadcasts.
“After the change of government, we will immediately suspend public media news broadcasts until the conditions for objective and impartial operation are in place,” wrote Magyar on X.
After the change of government, we will immediately suspend public media news broadcasts until the conditions for objective and impartial operation are in place.
Magyar’s declaration reveals the zero-sum game seen in many European countries, where the right loses power and is immediately subjected to all the “illiberal” practices the left accuses the right of. In Poland, for example, after Prime Minister Donald Tusk won, the police raided public media buildings and shut them down in dramatic fashion.
Poland is seen as the template in many respects for the Hungarian opposition. In that country, many within the former conservative government were arrested and imprisoned.
Magyar openly stating he will immediately shut down all public media immediately calls to mind authoritarianism seen in many Third World countries. If, for example, a right-wing politician remarked that upon their victory, they would immediately shut down all public media in a country like France or Germany, the backlash would be incredible — despite public media in both countries being seen as extremely friendly to the ruling government and the left.
In addition, the EU would condemn “fascism” and a violation of the “free press” and the “rule of law.” Sanctions would almost certainly follow.
However, in Magyar’s case, he will be rewarded richly by the EU if he proceeds with dismantling nearly every aspect of the previous government, including the unlocking of Hungary’s frozen billions in EU funding.
Even if Magyar believes that the Hungarian media is entirely captured by Orbán’s government, it is telling that he is openly stating this even before victory. However, he appears to be ready to reveal this card well in advance of the first ballot.
Critics such as Philip Pilkington, a macroeconomist and author, are calling out what they see as the double standard.
Haha! The "liberal" Hungarian opposition are saying publicly that they will suppress the Hungarian media the moment that they are elected. Guys, there are no "liberals" left. Only war authoritarians who take orders from Brussels. 🇭🇺🗳️ https://t.co/H5lpQTHFU9
Ultimately, Magyar’s statement reveals what will happen should Orbán lose.
Courts seen as too friendly to the previous government will be liquidated, judges will be sidelined, organizations will be stripped of power, and public media will be gutted. Brussels wants a day of reckoning in Hungary following a Magyar victory. Orbán has been a thorn in their side for well over a decade.
He and his government will pay a dear price for their defiance.
France and Europe have four years to prepare for war, said Fabien Mandon, chief of the defense staff of the French Armed Forces, who cited Russia as Europe’s biggest threat.
His speech at a major naval conference outlined that France, as well as its allies, must take into account that this war will break out in the near future and that the French military must be ready by 2030.
“Today, we are preparing for war,” he said, according to BreakingDefense.
During his speech at the naval conference, Mandon stated that France is not prepared for war and the country had “an insufficient number of ships and armaments.” He stated the nation needs “more missiles with greater range and lethality.”
Mandon recently made headlines for stating that Europeans and the French must be ready to lose children in a war, stating: “You have to accept that you will lose your children,” which is necessary to defeat Russia during a November speech at the National Congress of French Mayors.
His words caused national shock, while the representatives of the parliamentary parties protested sharply in connection with his comment.
As in November, he named Russia as the main source of the threat of war.
Nobody appears to be safe from France’s tradition of homejackings, including celebrities, crypto CEOs, and athletes. Now, another high-profile case involved a high-ranking official from the Council of State and his family, who were subjected to a violent ordeal on the night of Jan. 30 in Ivry-sur-Seine. Currently, one suspect has already fled to Tunisia.
The targeted homejacking involved armed kidnapping and physical assault, resulting in a judicial investigation that has already led to one arrest.
The events began around 8:45 p.m. when the official’s wife was returning home. She was “violently pushed inside by three ‘African type’ men, hooded and armed” with knives and fake weapons. The intruders gathered the couple’s two children and their nanny, sequestering them in the living room.
The father, a master of requests at the Council of State, returned home several hours later at approximately 11 p.m. He was immediately targeted by the group, “beaten with rifle butts and sequestered in turn.” The victims reported that they had noticed “the repeated presence of a white van parked in front of their home” in the days leading up to the attack, and the suspects admitted they “had been sent to attack her.”
During the captivity, the kidnappers attempted to extract sensitive professional information, specifically “related to his role at the Council of State.”
Beyond the interrogation, the suspects systematically looted the home, stealing: cell phones and computers, jewelry, watches, and several paintings.
The family was forced to increase their bank withdrawal limits, allowing the suspects to make multiple cash withdrawals. The nightmare lasted until 1:45 a.m. when the perpetrators fled in the family’s vehicle. Police later found the car “charred by the police, in the town of Vitry sur Seine.”
When officers arrived at 2 a.m., they found “traces of blood” in the house and eventually “discovered the five occupants sequestered in the basement, the door being kept closed from the outside by a telephone cable.”
The entire family was transported to Kremlin-Bicêtre hospital for treatment, according to French news outlet Valuers Actuelles.
A judicial investigation has led to the identification of two primary suspects. On Feb. 3, police arrested 27-year-old Gueye E. at his residence. Authorities noted that he “would have a long criminal record, particularly in banditry and would have gone to prison.”
🇫🇷🇵🇱 After returning from Poland, French journalist @YOANNUSAI said:
"It’s true that after coming back from certain countries to France, you can say to yourself: 'My God, what have they done to our country?'"
During the arrest, the suspect allegedly “tried to get rid of some of the stolen loot by throwing it out the window.”
A second identified accomplice has reportedly “fled his home and France to take refuge in Tunisia” to evade capture. The judicial police continue to investigate the broader motivations behind the targeted kidnapping.
This is hardly the only homejacking in France, with many such incidents even ending in far worse scenarios. The country has a history of these violent home invasions, including well-known French figures, such as Vitaa, Bruno Guillon, Jean-François Piège, Anne-Sophie Lapix, and Nikos Aliagas.
For months in Germany, there has been a debate over the “cityscape” comment from Chancellor Friedrich Merz, referring to changing demographics and increased crime due to mass immigration. However, despite cries from the left that such claims are racist, the people actually having to run businesses in the city centers of Germany often find the problems are indeed real.
The operator of the Rewe-Richrath supermarket in Cologne’s city center, Lutz Richrath, says he is frustrated and says he may close the entire supermarket down. The supermarket has been in operation for 12 years, since 2014, but during that time, crime and violence have only increased.
In fact, Richrath directly refers to the “cityscape” in an interview with Lebensmittel Praxis, while saying that the “problems are really very clear —and they have only gotten worse.”
There is not only more shoplifting, but drug addicts openly consuming drugs even inside the store.
“And I have to close the customer restrooms because otherwise the addicts shoot up there,” he said.
Richrath said that without security, he can no longer run the store in the Opern-Passage shopping arcade.
Like other business owners, he cited drug use and violence, which he said is now spilling inside the actual supermarket. Richrath said he was considering not renewing the lease and instead opening a new location on the outskirts of the city.
Richrath, who co-owns three other stores in Cologne and 12 other in the region, also sits on the supervisory board of the Rewe Group and said he regularly receives guests from Germany and abroad in Cologne. Due to the conditions inside the city, he said he is ashamed, and it is not only drug problems.
He said the willingness for people to use violence has grown, and homelessness has exploded. In the city center, there are more and more vacant storefronts.
Even SPD mayor admits Cologne has major problems
Although just one supermarket, it serves as a sort of symbol of what many businesses are experiencing in major German cities.
Cologne itself has seen crime stagnate in some areas, such as in break-ins, over the last ten years, but other crime categories have seen notable increases, such as assaults. Since 2021, violent crime has risen significantly, recording approximately 6,200 incidents in 2024.
A survey from Numbeo shows that 72 percent of residents feel crime has increased in the last five years.
Notably, Mayor Henriette Reker, a politician from the far-left Social Democrats (SPD), made headlines in 2025 for acknowledging a visible decline in the city’s cleanliness and safety. She famously stated: “I see an increasing neglect of the city of Cologne.”
In particular, she was addressing growing drug consumption and disorder in public squares like Neumarkt and Ebertplatz. She acknowledged that the presence of the open drug scene, combined with increasing homelessness and litter, had reached a point that was no longer acceptable for residents and visitors.
In that case as well, pressure was coming from local business owners. In response, she has advocated for a “safety and cleanliness” plan, acknowledging that the area had become a “no-go area” for many citizens due to aggressive panhandling and open drug use.
A trial for an 18-year-old Tunisian national, who was a minor at the time he allegedly committed attempted murder, sexual assault, and robbery against a 66-year-old woman, has been paused after the judge ordered a psychiatric evaluation.
The victim was attacked while jogging on April 15 on a cycle path in Tabina di Magreta.
The defendant’s legal representation requested a psychiatric evaluation for the Tunisian migrant, who was a homeless guest at a local community center known as Don Orione 80 in Magreta.
This request was granted by the judge to determine the minor’s capacity to understand the situation at the time of the incident, as well as his maturity and awareness of the incident, according to Italian newspaper Modena.
If he is evaluated as being psychologically impaired, he may face no jail time at all.
While the defendant initially remained silent during the hearing, he eventually chose to answer the judge. He declared he did not know what happened during the incident, though he did identify the clothing seized by the Italian police during the investigation as his own.
Defendant acted with clear intent
Marco Pellegrini, the lawyer representing the injured woman, stated that there is no doubt about the defendant’s responsibility. Notably, the defendant acted in a manner that indicated he was aware of his actions and attempted to conceal them from police.
“I believe that the prosecution’s case is very solid –so does the lawyer– and that the attempt to attribute the accusation to a mistaken identity borders on ridicule. As for the’ psychiatric nature assessment I think that, on the part of a juvenile court, it is a due act on which we express no reservations, but that at the time of the act, the accused was completely lucid, said Pellegrini.”
“The lucidity. It is demonstrated by his behavior following the attack: He tried to hide traces of the crime by washing his clothes, washing himself, and running away. So he wasn’t confused, he was perfectly aware of the possibility of risking being identified. This, for me, cannot be questioned in any way by expert opinion.”
Théo, a 20-year-old student living in Lyon’s 7th arrondissement, has been forced to abandon his student accommodation following a series of violent assaults by the same group of teenagers. The case underlines growing impunity for violent youth offenders, who cannot be tried as adults.
The most recent attack on Jan. 31, which took place in his building’s lobby, was so severe that authorities believe Théo is lucky to be alive. The incident was caught on surveillance camera.
His mother, Florence, spoke to French news outlet Le Figaro about the trauma and the impunity of the underage perpetrators.
🇫🇷🔴A youth gang severely beat French student, Théo, in Lyon’s 7th arrondissement. He has now been forced to flee his student housing, while his mother says the police are doing little to help despite 3 separate attacks.
“The police arrested them, but they were all released because they are minors. We ourselves, as we were leaving the police station, came face to face with my son’s attacker. He’s known for 25 different offenses, including torture,” she said.
She further questioned why her son’s life must be upended by the circumstances of others:
“I’m told that his attackers come from troubled families. That their parents are overwhelmed. But is it up to me to deal with the consequences of that? My son is going to have to change his way of life for children aged 14 to 16 that no one wants to take care of. That’s the reality.”
The Jan. 31 incident was the third time the group, aged 14 to 16, targeted Théo in less than six months. Security footage captured the student being thrown to the ground and repeatedly kicked and punched in the head and body. He suffered a head injury and was prescribed 10 days of sick leave.
The harassment began in August when a boy attempted to steal Théo’s helmet. When Théo fought back, five other suspects emerged to beat him. Months later, while riding a scooter he purchased specifically to avoid walking alone, he encountered the same group. They threatened his life, saying, “Give me your phone or you’re dead,” according to Florence.
“That’s when we saw them pull up their hoods as they saw my son arrive. So they were waiting for him, and it was premeditated. The police told me, ‘If he hadn’t managed to get into the building, he would be dead.’ For now, the youths have been arrested for aggravated robbery, but for me, it’s attempted murder.”
Five suspects were eventually apprehended, all allegedly part of a gang terrorizing the Girondins neighborhood. According to Actu Lyon, the youth gang is thought to be involved in at least 13 different violent robberies. Despite their arrests, Florence claims the legal response has been insufficient because of their age.
“What are we waiting for to wake up? A silent march? I’d like us to wake up sooner! The first attack happened five months ago. What does that mean? That next July I’ll be at my son’s funeral saying, ‘I warned you!’?”
Théo has since moved back to his parents’ home and has been unable to return to school or his student job. While he recovers, his attackers continue to benefit from the theft.
“Meanwhile, these kids still have his phone. They used his card to eat at McDonald’s and Burger King right after the attack. They’re ordering Uber Eats with his meal vouchers,” Florence added.
Authorities in the 7th arrondissement acknowledged the group has been a known problem. Vincent Monot, the Green Party councilor in charge of public safety, previously stated: “These are minors, so there has been a legal response appropriate to their age. Unfortunately, for some, this doesn’t seem to be a deterrent.”
The Rhône prefecture confirmed that a specific meeting between the prefect and the police took place at the end of 2025 to address the rising unrest in the area.
Polish General Roman Polko, the former commander of GROM, said he rejects the concept of a common European army during an interview on Radio Zet.
Polko emphasized in the interview that European countries should do nothing to counter NATO.
The presenter asked, among other things, whether European countries should create a common European army, preferably together with Ukraine, as the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has proposed.
“I understand President Zelensky, he would probably like to implement it this way, but I don’t see such an option. Europe needs to integrate strongly into the NATO alliance, which is simply a proven pact,” said the former military official. “But Europe has shirked such obligations, and now it no longer shirks them.”
In his opinion, Europe could integrate with Ukraine in the future, which currently has the strongest army in Europe, but not in such a way as to build an alternative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
“I repeat, you cannot do anything against NATO. What is our strength and what Putin fears most is the cohesion and solidarity of the NATO alliance,” Polko said.
“We really need to strengthen this European leg of NATO, and we need to do everything to ensure that the transatlantic relations that exist, as well as relations with the American military, are as good as possible. This is the strongest army in the world. This is the basis of our security and deterrent potential,” Polko stated.
The same opinion was expressed by General Bogusław Samol, who a year ago stated how small the armed forces of European countries are compared to those of the United States.
Every time an asylum seeker’s case is not processed on time in the Netherlands, that asylum seeker is getting paid late fees, with this sum reaching a record-breaking €79 million in 2025.
The latest figure shows a staggering increase from the €36.8 million paid in 2024. This information was revealed in the Immigration and Naturalization Service (IND) agency’s annual figures released this Tuesday.
The agency is now calling for the Dutch government to abolish the practice of paying out asylum seekers with these late fees.
While the €79 million may not seem like an enormous figure, it only adds to the total €400 billion spent on migrants between 1995 and 2021, according to a landmark study from the University of Amsterdam.
In fact, one of the main problems facing the agency is that there are simply so many asylum seekers. The core of the issue lies in “exorbitant fines” triggered by massive backlogs. While the IND is legally mandated to process applications within six months, the average waiting time has now ballooned to 67 weeks.
Despite a slight dip in new applications last year, the total backlog grew to 51,000 people by the start of 2026. This has led to a massive spike in litigation, with legal proceedings involving the IND rising from 89,320 in 2024 to 110,990 in 2025. These cases include both penalty claims and appeals against rejections.
Under current law, if a decision is not reached within eighteen months, an asylum seeker can petition the court for a penalty payment. These are typically set at €15,000 per person, though they can go higher.
Rhodia Maas, director general of the IND, argues that these financial punishments do nothing to solve the underlying problem.
“Applicants have the right to timely processing by the IND. But as strange as it may sound, penalty procedures don’t help. We want to decide more quickly, but we simply can’t,” Maas stated.
She emphasized that the legal process itself drains resources from the agency, making it even more difficult to process applications in a timely manner.
“Every penalty procedure costs us not only money but also a lot of capacity. I think we could put that to much better use. Penalty payments should therefore be abolished as soon as possible,” she said.
The appeal comes as the new government cabinet — comprised of D66, CDA, and VVD — begins its term. The Reformed Political Party (SGP) has already introduced an amendment to the Asylum Emergency Measures Act aimed at ending what they say is “the circus of penalty payments.” However, the bill has not been passed yet by the Senate.
The IND also points out that cases are getting more complex, influenced by shifting geopolitical realities in countries like Syria, new political directives from The Hague, and evolving court rulings.
The upcoming implementation of the European Migration Pact in June 2026 is expected to overhaul the system further. While designed to speed up decisions on paper, the transition itself poses a challenge.
The social budget for the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg is facing significant upward pressure, with total spending rising from €2.62 billion euros in 2020 to €3.62 billion in 2024, totaling 38 percent over four years .
The information comes in Senate response to a parliamentary inquiry from the AfD. Preliminary data for 2025 indicates that expenditures through November have already reached roughly €3.4 billion.
In addressing the surge, the Senate pointed toward “significantly rising housing and energy costs” as the primary drivers of the increase. The Alternative for Germany (AfD), which requested the data, instead lays the blame at the feet of mass immigration.
Thomas Reich, the social policy spokesman for the AfD parliamentary group, challenged the Senate’s explanation for the budget expansion. In a press release, Reich stated: “Hamburg is increasingly suffocating from excessively rising social spending. The Senate’s justification that higher housing and energy costs alone are responsible is fundamentally wrong.“
Reich argues that the primary catalysts for the “cost explosion” are “an uncontrolled migration policy and the consequences of a left-green energy policy, which increases both the number of benefit recipients and the cost of living.”
When the 2024 total of €3.62 billion is broken down, it consists of €2.22 billion funded by Hamburg and €1.17 billion provided by federal funds. The city’s independent contribution of €2.22 billion now represents about ten percent of its total budget.
Data from August 2025 highlights a sharp rise in costs for benefits provided to foreign nationals, with over €1.2 billion euros paid to non-German recipients in 2024. These payments are distributed across three primary systems, including the citizen’s allowance, basic security, and the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act.
The figures further reveal that the number of German and foreign nationals receiving a citizen’s allowance in Hamburg is basically equal, despite foreigners representing only between 15 and 21 percent of the population.
In 2024, approximately 92,700 Germans were recipients, compared to roughly 93,800 foreigners, which shows that even more foreigners than Germans receive such benefits.
Additionally, there were over 20,500 foreign recipients of asylum seeker benefits.
However, the overall population of Hamburg features 40 percent with a foreign background, meaning that many German citizens have foreign origins.
The inquiry also shed light on substantial monthly payouts for large “need communities.” In 2024, 86 households with six or more children received citizen’s allowance payments exceeding €8,000 per month. Similar high-value payouts were noted within the asylum-seeker benefit system, particularly for families with many children.
A female arts teacher at La Guicharde school in Sanary-sur-Mer, Var, was brutally stabbed multiple times Tuesday afternoon. A police source said that the victim was given a “life-threatening prognosis” following the attack within the school grounds.
The teacher sustained three stab wounds—two to the abdomen and one to the forearm. According to Toulon prosecutor Raphaël Balland, the assailant, a 14-year-old student, was “apprehended in the playground by staff from the establishment” and subsequently placed in police custody for attempted murder.
Preliminary investigations suggest the violence stemmed from a dispute about the teacher’s punishments in class, according to Europe 1 news outlet. The 14-year-old student had reportedly received several warnings from the teacher, which he allegedly refused to accept. Before the attack, he reportedly threatened the teacher, stating that he “wouldn’t stay there.”
Prosecutor Balland provided further context during an afternoon press briefing, noting that there is “no religious or political connotation at this stage” and that “we only know that there had been tensions with this professor recently.”
The Interdepartmental Directorate of the National Police of Var (DIPN) and the Departmental Public Security Service (SDSP) were deployed to the scene immediately following the incident.
Minister of National Education Édouard Geffray arrived at the school on Tuesday evening to support the staff. He praised the “extraordinary composure” of the educational teams and remarked:
“This is, of course, an isolated act in an establishment rather regarded as an exemplary establishment in terms of school climate,” said Geffray
Regarding the victim’s health, the minister confirmed she had undergone surgery at the Sainte-Anne military hospital in Toulon. “We have to be very careful, but she is in stable condition this evening,” he added.
In the wake of the attack, the minister shared the “deep emotion” felt by the region: “My thoughts go immediately to the victim, his family and the entire educational community.”
A Greek national has been arrested in connection with the brutal assault on a German train ticket controller near Homburg, who has since passed away due to his injuries.
The ticket controller, 36-year-old Serkan C., reportedly leaves a family behind. The suspect, a 26-year-old Greek national, reportedly grew angry when Serkan C. asked him for his ticket. Upon discovering he had no ticket, Serkan C. tried to remove him from the train. Then, the Greek suspect began to violently assault him.
The 36-year-old railway employee suffered severe injuries and has since died, according to Bild newspaper.
The Greek national has no fixed address in Germany, according to a police spokesperson. Besides his age, no other details have been issued, nor has his first name been provided. He is being charged with attempted manslaughter, but this charge may be upgraded.
So far, few details have been provided about the actual assault.
“We cannot comment on the weapon or any possible tools used,” a police source stated.
The train conductor was resuscitated at the scene and was still alive when he was taken to the hospital, but doctors were not able to save his life.
Deutsche Bahn CEO Evelyn Palla commented on the employee’s death, stating: “This tragic death leaves me speechless and deeply saddened. My heartfelt condolences go out to Serkan C.’s family, his friends, and his colleagues. All of us at Deutsche Bahn condemn in the strongest possible terms this horrific act of violence and the completely senseless death of our colleague. We must all ask ourselves why such outbreaks of violence keep happening. We—politicians, society—must provide answers. Today is a dark day for all railway workers in the country. We at Deutsche Bahn are in mourning.”
The Railway and Transport Union (EVG) expressed its anger over the incident, especially in light of growing assaults on public transport workers over the last few years.
“Starting tomorrow, we will increase the pressure again,” EVG Chairman Martin Burkert stated. “This brutal attack must now initiate a change of thinking.”
Based on data received from the Federal Ministry of the Interior in response to an inquiry from the Left Party, for the first 10 months of 2025, on average, five employees of Deutsche Bahn are physically assaulted on duty every day. In addition, there are four cases of threats per day.
In total, 1,231 Deutsche Bahn employees were victims of physical assault, and 324 were victims of aggravated assault during this period.
In 2024, German train conductors in the state of Thuringia were given permission not to check the tickets of foreign passengers after an increase in threatening behavior from asylum seekers towards staff.
Data has shown that foreigners are vastly overrepresented in serious crimes at German train stations and on German trains. Foreigners only make up about 15 percent of the German population, but these same suspects account for a tremendous 59 percent of all sexual crimes at German train stations, according to federal police data obtained by the NIUS outlet.
The view in Germany that the Trump administration is allied with the Alternative for Germany (AfD) has been causing some to call for a reevaluation of intelligence sharing between Berlin and Washington. However, German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) has confirmed that Germany will continue its strategic cooperation with United States intelligence agencies.
The CSU politician emphasized that this partnership remains essential “regardless of the current political situation.”
This does not mean that the German government is not making moves to drive a wedge between the Trump administration and the AfD. In an interview with the news outlet Augsburg Allgemeine, Dobrindt argued that Berlin must change Washington’s perspective on the opposition party.
“We need to make it much clearer in the United States of America that the AfD is also a highly unreliable party for the USA,” he stated.
The minister intends to highlight that the party’s allegiances conflict with American interests. He noted that the AfD is “not only pro-Russian,“ but “also has close ties to China – the USA’s declared main competitor in the struggle for global influence.“
According to Dobrindt, this specific realization has “obviously not yet fully taken hold in the United States.“
Notably, the issue of a ban of the AfD has long been discussed in Germany. The clearly anti-democratic action could lead to a major crisis between Berlin and Washington.
Addressing the possibility of initiating formal ban proceedings before the Federal Constitutional Court, Dobrindt expressed personal conviction regarding the party’s nature while remaining cautious about the legal reality.
“Personally, I am convinced that the AfD is a right-wing extremist party – at least in its leadership structures,” Dobrint said. However, he said he is opposed to a ban. “All those who speak of a ban on political parties are themselves unable to provide sufficient reasons for doing so.“
However, that does not mean a ban is entirely off the table. Dobrint is currently waiting for the courts to settle a lawsuit regarding the BfV’s classification of the party as “certainly right-wing extremist.“ He clarified the government’s current stance: “We are awaiting the outcome of the court decision to consider further action.“
Germany cannot entirely cut intelligence sharing with the United States so easily. There are numerous privacy laws that make mass surveillance of Germans extremely difficult for the German intelligence services. That means that much of this work is quietly outsourced to foreign intelligence services, such as the United States and Israel.
However, the U.S. takes issue more with the fact that the powerful domestic spy agency, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), monitors the AfD for right-wing extremism, U.S. officials have historically viewed the surveillance of a political rival as a potential breach of democratic principles, making a formal ban a potential “test of nails” for transatlantic relations.
Beyond the AfD controversy, the Interior Minister announced plans to significantly “strengthen“ Germany’s security apparatus. He said he intends to transform the BfV into a “real secret service“ which will be “equipped with effective, operational capabilities.“
Parallel to these domestic reforms, Dobrindt confirmed that international cooperation with agencies in the United States and Israel is being further expanded to meet modern security threats.
The Hessian community of Kriftel is currently grappling with a climate of fear as massive threats from a 34-year-old Syrian asylum seeker, identified as Khaled K., have been mounting for months. His nighttime emails, sent from various Gmail accounts, number over 100 messages and contain violent fantasies, hatred toward Germany, Christianity, and women. In addition, he has also issued direct terror threats.
Since his messages are in broken German, it is difficult to translate them with complete accuracy. Many of them are extremely disturbing.
“I’ll f**k your child. German woman (sic) are sluts and Nazis, it’s a sultry country. I’ll f**k you in the district court… I’ll do it.“ Just hours later, he followed up with: “I’ll f**k you if they don’t hire me out then I’ll kill you.“
The threat scenario is based on more than 100 messages sent to the city administration over the last two years. While it was initially unclear who the specific targets were, Kriftel Mayor Christian Seitz confirmed that municipal employees are primarily affected.
According to police sources, the individual faces several criminal charges for insult and threats. Local authorities find themselves unable to respond to the various threats, according to a report from German outlet Nius.
In June 2025, Khaled K. wrote: “I know you want me to keep causing problems. I said last time. If I don’t get out of here, I’ll gladly break everything.”
By December, the messages turned more graphic: “I’ll f**k your child. German woman (sic) are sluts and Nazis, it’s a sultry country. I’ll f**k you in the district court and the month 12. I’ll do it, it has to because it’s sooooooooooo.“ Just hours later, he followed up with: “I’ll f**k you if they don’t hire me out then I’ll kill you.“
At the start of 2026, the rhetoric reached a peak following the scheduled, but ultimately canceled, visit of Syrian leader Abu Mohammad al-Jolani to Berlin.
K. announced: “I promise you: If the terrorist Golani (sic) comes to Berlin, then I will kill everything I see before me, women, children, and everything.“
He later expanded his targets, stating: “All countries that support the terrorist government in Syria […] are a goal for us.“ He concluded with a direct threat to the German population. “Now it is time to die…The most important thing is that the lives of all Germans are destroyed.“
Khaled K. arrived in Germany during the 2016 refugee wave and is a recognized refugee. Sources say his psychological state fell apart significantly following relationship problems and a breakup. Though he briefly left Kriftel after giving up social housing, he returned and currently resides in a home for the homeless. He is also frequently accused of having alcohol problems.
In addition to his threatening emails, he has allegedly smashed glass bottles in the town hall parking lot and insulted residents and refugee aid workers. The West Hesse police confirmed that several cases for property damage are pending before the Frankfurt am Main public prosecutor’s office.
Many of his emails are full of misogyny and religious hatred.
In 2024, he wrote: “My penis, Kreftel Community, I’m Khaled K. I’m going to f**k you over religion. Because tomorrow is their day of hell. They’re basically garbage and hell.“
His insults toward women are constant, including phrases like “German women are sluts,” “Your ass is only for f**king slut,” and “You’re a slut because your ass wants to f**k.”
🇩🇪 Despite 18-year-old Mohammad I. being found guilty of torturing and assaulting a 13-year-old German boy, the convicted man will only receive probation for 2 years.
Judge Rüdiger Baumann of the Dresden District Court condemned the act as “sadistic and inhumane."
In late 2025, he called Christianity “the dirtiest and most disgusting religion pig. He further wrote: “I mean everything Christian pig and sultry and smut learn well who you read I f**k you (sic).“ On New Year’s Eve, he sent a message stating: “I f**k the back of the Virgin Mary. Then I f**k Jesus, the pig […] I will fuck everything that hurts inside and German woman is slut and Nazis (sic).”
Perhaps the greatest concern is that this long history of threats will materialize into a real attack, just like the December 2024 attack in Magdeburg, where a Saudi doctor killed six people after previously announcing acts of violence and hatred for Germans.
Police officials expressed concern that Khaled K. must be stopped before his “confused plans” can be implemented.
However, it is not easy to simply deport the man or place him in prison. The Main-Taunus District Immigration Office has initiated revocation proceedings with the BAMF regarding K.’s protected status. Mayor Christian Seitz confirmed that threatening emails occur “unfortunately repeatedly“ and were the subject of a community meeting. The Hessian Ministry of the Interior referred inquiries back to local police, who have conducted “threat interviews” but claim their hands are tied because the man has not yet committed a “serious crime.”
Remarkably, police advised concerned residents to simply change sides of the street if they encounter Khaled K. in the village. Until the administrative proceedings conclude, the man remains in the town, with a potential disaster on the horizon if the man decides to take action.
A police raid on X’s offices was conducted today, Tuesday, in the French offices of Elon Musk’s social media platform X, as part of an investigation opened in January 2025 by the cybercrime section of the Paris prosecutor’s office. The investigations are being carried out in the presence of Europol.
At the same time, summons for “voluntary interviews” were sent for April 20, 2026, in Paris to Elon Musk and Linda Yaccarino, in their capacity as the de facto and legal managers of platform X at the time of the events.
Prosecutors stated this was a “preliminary investigation” into a range of offenses, including “spreading child sexual abuse images and deepfakes.” The investigation, which the Paris prosecutors’ office opened last year, was looking into alleged “complicity” in spreading pornographic images of minors, sexually explicit deepfakes, and “manipulation” of an automated processing system as part of an organized group, in addition to other charges.
JUST IN: X's office in France was just raided.
"A search is being carried out today at the French premises of the platform X, as part of the investigation opened in Jan 2025 by the cybercrime unit of the Paris public prosecutor's office."@elonmusk is a target across the EU. pic.twitter.com/NKUCt7lV7A
X employees are also summoned between April 20 and 24, 2026, to be heard as witnesses. The move comes at a time when Europe is cracking down on free speech, with X being the biggest target of the Brussels establishment.
The EU has already hit X with a €120 million fine for what Brussels says were violations of its sweeping Digital Service Act (DSA), which critics say is designed to cut off free speech and prevent the spread of information that could threaten those holding power in the EU and various member states.
According to the prosecution, this investigation is described as “constructive,” with the aim of ultimately guaranteeing the compliance of platform X with French laws, as long as it operates on the national territory.
European Union police agency Europol spokesperson Jan Op Gen Oorth also said it ’’is supporting the French authorities in this.” However, there were no further details on what this support consists of.
Zalando, a major employer in the German city of Erfurt is closing its local site, raising the question of who is responsible when corporations make such decisions despite receiving millions in taxpayer money over the years. The Alternative for Germany (AfD) is now speaking of a system that privatizes profits, hires primarily foreigners, and then places the social burden on the German taxpayer.
The Zalando logistics center has approximately 2,700 employees and an additional 300 external workers, but they now face likely layoffs as the site is being closed down. Zalando, a major online clothing retailer, is the largest private employer in the city, and the state of Thuringia has supported the logistics site with millions for years.
AfD member of the Bundestag Robert Teske sees the announced closure as a strategy seen with many corporations, according to Austrian outlet Freilich Magazine.
“We see a large corporation that generates billions in revenue and yet has been funded with a seven-figure sum of taxpayers’ money to create jobs,“ the MP said in a social media post.
He stated that despite receiving funding from the local state government, Zalando moved to hire workers from abroad. With the coming layoffs, these workers may now fall into the social safety net provided by Germany.
According to the works council, people from 62 nations are employed at the Erfurt center. Notably, Thuringia is one of the states that is most ethnically homogenous and has a very low rate of immigration compared to the rest of Germany. However, only 38 percent of the workforce are even German citizens.
Many employees come from Poland and Romania, where they can earn in euros and then send money back home that can go further in terms of purchasing power than in Germany. In addition, there are many people from Afghanistan and Syria.
Teske sees the approach as a system that repeats itself over and over again. He calls it a “well-known model“ of corporations to “abuse foreigners as wage-crushing workers and then send them to the welfare state.“
He said this is not a “social market economy,“ but pure “profit maximization“ at the expense of Germany.
Indeed, when companies open sites in Europe, they usually demand a pool of cheap labor, with foreigners often recruited from abroad. These workers are also seen as far less likely to organize and are used to working for lower wages and worse conditions. Additionally, even with these lower wages, they often have an incentive to work in euros, as this money can be transferred home via remittances.
Previous studies have also shown that foreigners drive down wages for Germans. When remittances are factored in, it makes it even harder for a German family to survive on the same salary compared to a foreign worker.
Logistic hubs like Zalando’s are seen across Europe and employ tens of thousands of foreigners; however, these sites are rapidly being automated. In the future, warehouses and logistics hubs may have little to no humans working in them, raising questions about what happens to these people after automation slowly replaces them.
The long-standing debate over a unified European military has met a sharp new critic from within the EU’s top ranks. EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas has issued a stern warning against the establishment of independent EU armed forces, citing significant risks to regional security policy.
Speaking at a security conference in Norway, Kallas argued that a separate military structure would create chaotic overlaps with existing alliances.
“And if you have, like the European army, and then you have the NATO (one), then, you know, the ball just falls between the chairs. And this is extremely, extremely dangerous,” she said.
“Those who say we need a European army may not have really thought this through in practical terms,” Kallas stated. “If you’re already part of NATO, you can’t create a separate army.”
While the Estonian politician voices deep skepticism, the sentiment across the continent remains divided, with leaders in Poland and the Baltics offering vastly different visions for Europe’s defense future.
Her primary concern lies in the logistical nightmare of a dual hierarchy, while emphasizing that the most critical element in any military crisis is a clear chain of command.
Currently, NATO operations are overseen by U.S. military leadership, specifically Lieutenant General Alexus Grynkewich. This sentiment was echoed by Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, who noted that while NATO’s decision-making is complex, it is a proven system. He dismissed the push for an EU army, stating it is “not a path we should take.”
These voices from the top are in sharp contrast to many other establishment EU policymakers and politicians, who have long called for a unified EU army. Critics of the proposal have also cited a loss of sovereignty for EU nation states, especially on issues where there remain sharp divisions. Notably, the EU could end up dragging other nations into war against their will.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte recently reminded MEPs in Brussels that European defense remains inextricably linked to American support. He suggested that Europe would need to more than double its current spending to even consider independence.
“If anyone here believes that the European Union or Europe as a whole can defend itself without the USA, then keep dreaming. That is not possible,” Rutte warned.
Despite these warnings, Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski is pitching a middle-ground solution: a “European Legion.” Rather than a full-scale merger of national forces—which he dismissed as “pointless and unrealistic,” Sikorski envisions a brigade-sized unit of volunteers funded by the EU budget.
“It would not be a force that could deter Putin, but there are lower-level threats, such as in North Africa or the Balkans, where we should have the opportunity to act together,” Sikorski explained.
This view is in sharp contrast to the previous Polish government, which was extremely opposed to an EU army. The previous conservative government viewed such an army as a potential threat, also in part due to the leading role Germany would likely play in any such force.
Contrasting Kallas’s caution, EU Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius is pushing for a more robust 100,000-strong force. He argues that the current fragmented approach to European defense is inefficient compared to a federalized model.
“Would the United States be militarily stronger if it had 50 armies at the state level instead of a single federal army?” Kubilius asked, advocating for a total redesign of the continent’s defense architecture in the face of Russian aggression.
In France, Mohamed D., a nurse with Algerian training who has been working in France for 20 years, was sentenced by the court in Aix-en-Provence to four years in prison for sexually assaulting residents of nursing homes, including a 92-year-old woman.
In early July 2023, while working at a facility in Lambesc, a 72-year-old resident reported that “a monster tried to rape her.” She described a nurse matching Mohamed D.’s description kneading her breast for several minutes while telling her she was beautiful. The resident was certain the act was intentional, and medical staff found her testimony “entirely consistent.”
Mohamed D. offered a “bizarre version of events,” according to French newspaper La Provence. He claimed he felt dizzy after picking up medication and accidentally touched her. The facility immediately ordered him to leave and contacted authorities.
Following his arrest, investigations revealed a long history of offenses. During his trial in Aix-en-Provence this January, it emerged that he had prior convictions from 2021 in Rodez and Montpellier. Witnesses described him as someone who frequently made sexually suggestive remarks to colleagues, often staying at facilities for only a few days due to his behavior.
His history of harassment and assault included an incident in Orange, where he sent suggestive texts to an activities coordinator stating: “You really turned me on today, you’re so beautiful.”
In Bédarrides in June 2022, he sexually assaulted a 92-year-old resident who was crying; he reportedly grabbed her waist, pressed her against his erect penis, and tried to kiss her. Later, in Grans in June 2023, he sexually assaulted a fellow caregiver while they were assisting a resident.
Remarkably, these actions occurred despite an initial conviction that prohibited him from practicing as a nurse.
“I didn’t know,” Mohamed claimed during the hearing in response to the allegations. While he had previously denied all charges, he partially admitted to some during the trial, stating, “I behaved inappropriately, it’s regrettable. I’ve realized I have a pain inside me that I couldn’t control, I apologize,” though he characterized his urges as mere “language slips.”
The prosecution and plaintiffs highlighted the “multiplicity of the acts” and noted that he specifically “targets vulnerable people.” The Lambesc resident’s lawyer noted that while the assault lasted minutes, “for her, it lasts an eternity.”
The prosecution sought a seven-year sentence, citing “acts of undeniable gravity.” While the defense argued against “prison frenzy” and “social exclusion,” the court reached a firm verdict. Mohamed D. was sentenced to four years in prison with an immediate warrant for his arrest.
Beyond the prison term, the court imposed a permanent ban on him working as a healthcare professional or in any activity involving minors or people with disabilities. This was accompanied by eight years of post-release supervision, registration as a sex offender, and an order to pay €3,000 in damages to the victim at the Lambesc nursing home.
An immigrant of Moroccan nationality caused chaos at Valencia Airport in Spain after being involved in a serious incident on a commercial plane destined for Amsterdam. The action forced the flight to be delayed for more than two hours and led to extreme tension between passengers and airport staff.
The event took place on Saturday afternoon, when the aircraft—an Airbus A320 belonging to the Vueling company—was already prepared to begin its takeoff maneuver. It was then that the individual irregularly entered the area of the plane and managed to climb to the top of the fuselage carrying an object an unknown nature at the time, according to Las Provincias.
The situation immediately activated security protocols. Three officers of Spain’s Civil Guard moved to the scene and began a negotiation with the man, who remained in an elevated position and refused to descend.
JUST IN: A 24-year-old Moroccan climbed onto the roof of an Airbus A320 at Valencia's Manises Airport and began screaming and ranting.
His stunt delayed the Amsterdam-bound plane for nearly 3 hours.
During that time, the flight was completely paralyzed while the possible risk was assessed.
After several minutes of conversation, the agents managed to get him to leave the aircraft using the same ladder through which he had entered. Once on the ground, he was identified and subjected to an exhaustive search to rule out the presence of explosives or other dangerous devices. The search turned up negative.
During the intervention, the officers confirmed that the individual “he had an altered mental state.” According to witnesses, “he uttered insults and offensive comments directed at different groups.”
A number of individuals recorded the incident from their phones, with the footage spreading on social media.
The detainee was later treated at the airport itself by health personnel specialized in mental health, after personnel from the “Psychiatry Unit of the General Hospital of Valencia” traveled to the scene, according to medical sources.
Despite what happened, the authorities confirmed that at no time was there a real danger to passengers nor was air safety compromised. There were also no effects on the rest of the traffic at the airport, according to airport operator Aena sources.
Finally, the travelers were able to resume their itinerary and the flight took off approximately two and a half hours late. The aircraft landed in the Dutch capital at 11:15 p.m., with no further incidents recorded during the journey.
Muslims only contribute 0.1 percent to scientific progress, but make up 25-26 percent of the world’s population, stated Ferghane Azihari, columnist for Figaro Magazine and author of the new book “Islam against Modernity.” Citing data from Saudi Arabia’s own Islamic Development Bank, Azihari pointed to what he called severe deficits in Islamic societies during his appearance on Points de Vue with the host Vincent Roux.
“When you look at the Muslim world as a whole, it still falls far short of the standards we are entitled to expect from modern societies,” said Azihari. “You know, you’re talking about Saudi Arabia. The Islamic Development Bank, which is based in Saudi Arabia and which, I believe, is hardly suspected of being Islamophobic, lamented a few years ago that the Muslim world was responsible for only 0.1% of original scientific discoveries, even though the Muslim world accounts for a quarter of the world’s population. So the Muslim world’s contribution to human progress is not at all commensurate with its demographic weight.”
"The Muslim world is responsible for only 0.1% of original scientific discoveries, even though it represents a quarter of the world's population."
Ferghane Azihar, author of "Islam Against Modernity," cites Islamic Development Bank data.
Azihari also noted that when experts talk about progress and inventions from the Muslim world, they are forced to go back hundreds of years to Medieval times.
“I’m not saying that Muslim societies have never been hotbeds of creativity and ingenuity. There are two things I’d like to point out. The first thing is that every time we want to attribute prestigious achievements to Islam, we keep going back to the Middle Ages, a fairly late period. What happened in the meantime? Secondly, Islam has taken over the Middle East, ‘one of the oldest crossroads of civilized peoples in the world,’ to quote the historian Fernand Braudel. Given the incredible intangible heritage that Muslims have inherited, giving birth to Averroës was the least we could do, and it has to be said that today this ancient crossroads of civilized peoples and men, as Braudel called it, is in a lamentable state, and I believe that it is the causes of this catastrophe that we must try to understand.
“It took Muslims three centuries after Gutenberg to adopt the printing press”
When he is accused of perhaps being a victim of “colonial thinking,” during the interview, he said that he did not think this was the case, and that “Muslims were the first to deplore the decadence of their own society, except that they were unfortunately incapable of drawing the right conclusions from it.”
He notes that he himself was born in the Muslim world and that his parents come from Comoros, a hardline Muslim country.
“I simply think that I have drawn the right conclusions from the inability of these societies to offer their inhabitants a decent life, which is why there are now far more Muslims migrating to Europe than there are Europeans migrating to Muslim societies,” he stated.
Notably, he says that there are clear signs that Muslims’ predicament cannot be attributed to colonialism and that Muslim society, even before it was colonized in some parts, already had virtually no human rights.
“So there was Western colonization, you’re perfectly right, but to attribute the misery of today’s Muslim world to colonization would be to pretend that these societies were human rights El Dorados before the arrival of the Europeans. I don’t think we can blame Westerners for the fact that it took Muslims three centuries after Gutenberg to adopt the printing press,” he said.
Azihari’s findings about the lack of Muslim innovation, scientific achievement, and progress may be controversial, but they are generally supported by research. The Islamic world, mostly the Middle East and North Africa, contributes only 1.5 percent of global patents as well, with some research putting this as high as 2.2 percent. However, if those patents are examined, it can also be found that a significant number of them are actually from Western companies and individuals. For example, in Saudi Arabia, the top patent filer by far is the state oil and gas giant Saudi Aramco. However, the top engineers and technical talent in the company are often employees from countries like the United States and Great Britain.
Slavery and Islam
This point further segways to the topic of slavery, which Azihari stated was only ended due to European intervention and philosophy.
“Before Western colonization, most Muslim societies were totally authoritarian, stratified societies, which were, moreover, slave-owning societies that practised slavery in proportions sometimes higher than those we find in the United States. The Sokoto Caliphate in what is now Nigeria was one of the largest slave-owning societies of its time. What we need to remember is that these societies were incapable of abolishing slavery on their own initiative. There has never been, in Islamic lands, the equivalent of the Valladolid controversy which, in the 16th century, involved Spanish theologians challenging the very principle of slavery; there has never been the equivalent of a Condorcet; there has never been the equivalent of a Victor Schoelcher or a Lincoln, and so we cannot accuse Europeans of being responsible for evils which long predate their irruption into the Muslim world.”
Wealthy Muslim countries
The host further agues that there are certain economic powerhouses in the Middle East, and that they should not be discounted, stating: “You talk about a pitiful state, but this is the Arabian Peninsula, this is Saudi Arabia, this is the Emirates, this is Qatar, this is Dubai, this is Abu Dhabi, these are places that have become economic powerhouses and the place to be.”
Azihari does not even mention that much of the wealth of these areas is still almost entirely driven by energy, namely oil and gas, but does respond that much of the wealth is generated by autocratic means.
“So it’s true that there are rich places in the Muslim world, but in the same way that I think it would be wrong to use Kim Jong-un’s wealth as an excuse to say that North Korea is a prosperous country, I don’t think that exceptions invalidate an overall picture that is, after all, quite appalling, and I would add that Muslims did not wait for my book to take stock of the situation and make this rather deplorable observation, since they were the first to deplore the decadence and decline of their own society, long before Western colonial expansion,” he stated.
Practical implications for Europe
Islam may not be the only role at work, however, in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia, for instance, has the highest rates of inbreeding in the world, leading to a wide range of genetic diseases. Inbreeding has been common throughout the Middle East for many centuries, which can lead to societal-wide issues. Most of the world outside of parts of Asia (Japan, China, and South Korea), Europe, and the United States produces very little in terms of patents and scientific innovation. This is especially relevant when assessing whether the EU should pursue its current program of encouraging mass immigration from these regions. For example, the EU’s new Erasmus program could see millions of students from Africa and the Middle East arrive in Europe, with the argument that these students will boost Europe’s future innovation success.
The hope is that these students somehow create industries and technology that Europe has produced for decades; however, all data shows that these hopes are likely unjustified. Within Europe itself, the Arab and African populations have either been relegated to welfare or to low-income jobs, many of which still require welfare to survive. Germany’s Turkish population, for instance, has been in the country for decades and is still far behind in terms of academic achievement and innovation. In fact, by some metrics, it is still among the worst integrated for groups in the nation.
Much of the data about migrants opening new businesses in Europe is also fudged. For instance, every time a foreigner opens a döner store, a corner deli, a bar, a shisha shop, or a shop selling produce, these are all, of course, businesses. However, the reality is the hey are not high-value manufacturing and technologically innovative ventures that are going to fuel a country’s economic future. Arguably, countries like the United States, where Jason Huang and many other Asian entrepreneurs have launched world-changing businesses, are few and far between in Europe. Even in the United States, mass migration is costing state budgets tens of billions a year through healthcare, housing, and social benefits.
The same situation is playing out in Europe, costing nations tens of billions every year, and despite claims of economic renaissance, many migrants are a net drain on the fiscal health of nations, no matter what age they are, including prime working years.
More than 108 police officers were injured in Turin during clashes on city streets during a protest involving 15,000 people against the closure of a far-left social center. After a video showed officers being severely beaten, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni wrote on X that Italy was dealing with “enemies of the state.”
“We are not dealing with demonstrators, but with individuals who act as enemies of the state. Law enforcement forces are paying for this reality, who have to face a real street battle, as well as some journalists doing their job,” she wrote. “Now let me be clear. These are not protesters. These are organized criminals. When you hit someone with a hammer, you do so knowing that the consequences can be very, very serious. This is not a protest, these are not clashes. This is attempted murder.”
Questa mattina sono stata all’ospedale Le Molinette di Torino per portare, a nome dell’Italia, la solidarietà a due degli agenti rimasti feriti negli scontri di ieri e, attraverso loro, a tutti i militari e gli appartenenti alle Forze dell’ordine coinvolti.
The protests were sparked by the seizure and closure of the anarchist, anti-capitalist social center Askatasuna by law enforcement in December last year.
🇮🇹🔥"They act as enemies of the state."
After 108 Italian officers were injured in Turin during mass riots by far-left extremists, PM Giorgia Meloni has condemned the rioters as "enemies of the state."
Following a 15,000-strong demonstration in defense of the Askatasuna center, which has operated for 30 years, a group of aggressive demonstrators broke away in the capital of Piedmont, Italy. They threw bottles, flares, stones, smoke candles, and metal pipes at officers before attempting to break through the police cordon. A street battle took place, as reported by Italian media, alongside published recordings.
As the head of government assessed, the event was “blind and deliberate violence.” She stressed that defending the law “is not a provocation, but an obligation.” This was her reference to the closure of the Askatasuna center due to ongoing investigations into protests and attacks on institutions, including one targeting the editorial office of the daily La Stampa last year.
Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi stated that “what happened in Turin confirms who the perpetrators of violence are and who poses a genuine threat to civic coexistence and to our democracy; they are antagonists – guests of illegally occupied social centers that also have political support.”
The Italian government is convening today to discuss public order and to evaluate new provisions for security, wrote Meloni on X.
“We will do what is necessary to restore the rules in this Nation,” she wrote.
Slovakia is obliged to stop taking over Russian gas by Nov. 1, 2027, at the latest, and according to Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, the EU decision to ban all gas from member states amounts to “energy suicide.” As a result, Bratislava will file a lawsuit at the Court of Justice of the European Union (ECJ) against the newly adopted regulations.
On Monday, the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament formally adopted the new legislation on the gradual phase-out of Russian gas and oil imports. The move is part of the REPowerEU plan, which aims to become independent from Russian energy carriers.
Fico immediately criticized the move, calling it “energy suicide,” and said that “when the military conflict ends, everyone will be breaking their legs, rushing to go to Russia to do business.”
Fico announced that Slovakia will file a lawsuit against the adopted regulation at the Court of Justice of the European Union based in Luxembourg, writes Hlavnespravy.sk.
According to Fico, the country will argue that the regulation violates the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality. He added that the Slovak Ministry of Justice, together with the portfolio responsible for foreign and European affairs, had prepared a “very professional document” and that they would be asking for the regulation to be declared contrary to the basic principles of the EU.
Fico also announced that Hungary, which voted against the legislation together with Slovakia, is also filing a lawsuit. It is not possible to file a joint action, but the argument is coordinated with the Hungarian side.
Fico says the war in Ukraine will be over by Nov. 1, 2027, “and everyone comes to their sense.” He believed that detaching from Russian energy in this way was suicide, and that not only he, but also German economists, politicians, and other EU politicians see it that way. According to his claim, the decision was made on a meaningless, ideological basis, due to hatred towards the Russian Federation.
Fico has long called for a ceasefire in the war, leading some to criticize his position in the conflict. However, his point about Russian energy has been echoed across the political spectrum in Europe, especially during a time when European nations feel threatened by the U.S.’s increasingly dominant position in supplying Europe’s energy needs. If the U.S. were to decide to curtail liquified natural gas (LNG) deliveries, for instance, it could be disastrous for Europe.
Fico also criticized the fact that the decree was adopted by a qualified majority. According to him, the European Commission has circumvented the principle of unanimity, which should be applied in the event of sanctions. The Slovak prime minister assessed this as a violation of the basic principles of the EU treaties. Increasingly, decisions on immigration, foreign policy, and a range of other issues are being taken by “qualified majority,” but since the EU cannot reach this, it is now violating the founding treaties to pass through its agenda.
He also warned that Slovakia could find itself in a situation where the energy carrier concerned would not be sufficient due to the regulation. As he puts it, “one dependency will be replaced by another”, and Europe will have to obtain even higher quantities of liquefied gas from the United States.
According to Fico, Slovakia has already suffered significant damage when the transit of Russian gas on the territory of the country stopped. According to him, this was caused by the decision of the Ukrainian president and meant a loss of up to €500 million per year due to the lack of transit fees.
As reported in Hungarian outlet Hirado.hu, the situation of European gas supply continues to deteriorate after the Arctic cold in the United States significantly reduced LNG production. Due to the extreme frosts, American gas production decreased by about 11 percent, and prices more than doubled, while domestic consumption increased sharply. There is fear that exports, including shipments to Europe, may also decline.
The European market is particularly vulnerable, as the filling of gas reservoirs has already fallen below 45 percent and is in danger of falling below 25 percent.
In Germany, reservoirs are already under 41 percent filled and incoming LNG is used immediately, which means that strategic reserves are barely formed. All of this means price increases are coming at a time when the EU is urging complete separation from Russian natural gas.
The development of the situation depends crucially on how long the extreme cold lasts in the United States and when LNG plants can return to normal operation.
German taxpayer-funded NGO “Black Sheep,” Schwarze Schafe in German, is currently offering a six-month intensive seminar designed specifically for White individuals to examine their “alleged privileges,” which is modeled after the concept of “Critical Whiteness.” The organization, which identifies as a “post-migrant education initiative,” receives significant taxpayer funding from Germans and operates a reporting center for anti-Muslim racism.
As first reported by journalist Annabel Schunke in the Weltwoche, the seminar—dubbed the “Ally Lab”—runs from March to September with a participation fee of €2,290 euros.
The course is held both online and on-site in Hanover. According to the group’s Instagram, the program was developed following “numerous inquiries from people without their own experiences of racism.” Prospective students must go through a selective process, submitting both a “letter of motivation and a resume.”
The curriculum is built around the concept of “Critical Whiteness,” a framework suggesting that white people in majority-white societies enjoy unearned advantages because they are viewed as the societal norm.
The seminar aims to instill a “racially critical practice” in both private and professional spheres. It seeks to reflect how “power and social norms shape our actions and thinking.” Graduates of the “Ally Lab” are intended to be equipped to “subsequently conduct such courses themselves.”
🇩🇪🔴“Black bodies in German nature simply hits differently. You have to experience it.”
A hiking group only for Black people is being praised by public media in Germany.
Such a group could actually be illegal in Germany under the “General Equal Treatment Act,” which prohibits… pic.twitter.com/H57YptWiWT
“Black Sheep” extends its ideological training to various sectors of society, including early childhood education and law enforcement. On their website, the NGO argues that “even the smallest people experience a world in which differences are evaluated.” Their training for daycare professionals focuses on how “criticism of racism and empowerment can be anchored in early education” in a way that is “child-friendly, practical and heartfelt.”
The Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency has recommended their formats for school classes, which are described as “empowering” and “fun.” Additionally, the NGO provides training for the “police, administration and other authorities.”
The organization’s projects are heavily intertwined with government support, which focuses on a variety of topics, including anti-Muslim racism. The reporting center “Report! Lower Saxony,” which is involved in censorship in Germany, is a joint venture between the NGO “Claim” and “Black Sheep,” which is supported by the German Federal Ministry of the Interior and the German Islam Conference.
According to Schunke, the counseling center Amina, which also belongs to Black Sheep, is supported by the city of Hanover.
Another of the NGO’s projects, the exhibition “Afrotopia NDS. Black Lifeworlds Lower Saxony,“ is funded by the Ministry for Family Affairs through the program “Living Democracy.“ According to its own statements, the exhibition aims to make the reality of life for black people in Lower Saxony visible.
The initiative also offers long-term consulting for companies to help them “discuss experiences with racism and other inequalities, change perspectives and develop possible courses of action.”
Critical Race Theory growing in popularity in Germany
Critical Race Theory, which “Critical Whiteness” is a part of and was first popularized in the United States, comes in various permutations but is overall defined as an anti-White hate theory, which posits that White societies are inherently racist and systematically oppress minorities.
In the U.S., books like “Not My Idea” have been promoted in classrooms, which explains to readers that “whiteness” is what drives White people to make “deals with the devil” for “stolen land, stolen riches and special favors.”
The book also claims White people get to “mess endlessly with the lives of your friends, neighbors, loved ones, and all fellow humans of color for the purpose of profit.”
In Cupertino, California, third graders were required to rank themselves on a scale of “power and privilege” based on their race, and schools in Buffalo, New York, taught students that “all white people” perpetuate “systemic racism.” The program also required kindergarteners to view a video of dead Black children with the warning that “racist police and state-sanctioned violence” were responsible.
The education state department in Arizona also distributed “equity toolkits” to schools, claiming that infants as young as 3 months old begin to show signs of racism and “remain strongly biased in favor of whiteness” by the time they turn 5 years of age.
This racist theory and those like it caught on with Germans in recent years and have progressively spread through the school system, including in Berlin.
A 21-year-old leader of a juvenile gang in Italy is a notable example of how crime reporting in Italy and all of Europe is gravely distorted, while hiding the true scale of crime coming from citizens of foreign origin.
The 21-year-old suspect, who has Italian citizenship but a Tunisian background, has returned to court in the Italian city of Ancona for allegedly slashing the tires of seven vehicles at random. He was previously convicted of robbery just one year ago, was reportedly identified by the distinct white Nike logo on his sweatpants.
In this case and many others, the fact that the suspect is an Italian citizen means that all his crimes are lumped into the “Italian” category, despite his Tunisian origin. This reality helps obfuscate how integration is progressing over the course of generations, and which is why Denmark records and publishes this data.
In this case, the suspect has been a serial offender in the city, according to Italian newspaper Ancona Today. Just a year ago, he received a sentence of three years and eight months for his involvement as the leader of a minor gang. His previous convictions included two robberies, two attempted thefts, assault, and unlawful possession of a knife.
The current charges stem from an incident on Dec. 28, 2023. The suspect is accused of damaging seven vehicles parked on a public street for no apparent reason. The cars affected included a Toyota Yaris Cross, a Citroen Jumper, a Honda HRV, a Lancia Y, a Dacia Logan, and a Suzuki and Citroen Picasso belonging to the same individual. While other vehicles were also targeted, those owners chose not to file complaints.
The investigation utilized security camera footage to identify the perpetrator. The footage allegedly shows the man wearing tracksuit bottoms featuring a white Nike swoosh on one leg.
During a recent hearing at the Ancona courthouse, several vehicle owners provided testimony. One owner withdrew their complaint due to minimal damage, while a formal complaint from another victim was added to the case files.
Frankfurt am Main has long championed its reputation as a “melting pot of cultures,” priding itself on being Germany’s most international and diverse hub, but the reality is that crime has soared and the city is more unlivable than ever.
As Bild newspaper reports, “No German city is more diverse, more international, or more colorful. But here, too, something has slipped in the last ten years – the cityscape has changed noticeably.”
Frankfurt’s main train station neighborhood is now notorious
One of the first sights newcomers see is the 53-hectare area surrounding the main train station, known as the Bahnhofsviertel, which has transitioned from an upscale commercial district to a focal point for social friction.
Jens Spahn noted in a Bild interview: “Look at a main train station, in Duisburg, in Hamburg, in Frankfurt. Neglect, drug dealers, young men, mostly with a migration background, mostly from Eastern Europe or Arab-Muslim cultural areas. This also has to do with irregular migration, as it looks in our city centers, in the marketplaces,” he said.
Local business owners have felt this shift firsthand. Bernhard Hahn, who moved his historic music store “Cream Music” in 2017 after over a century in the district, previously stated: “The most accomplished figures are coming to Taunusstrasse, seriously addicted people, drug tourists. The dealers are waiting for them. Our customers have to run slalom to come to us,” he said.
Today, authorities estimate that roughly 5,000 addicts are supplied by 300 dealers in the area, leading to 36 major police raids since 2024.
Four months ago, public broadcaster BR launched a documentary about the chaos in this district detailing how police are dealing with violent offenders often willing to use a knife or weapon, including on the officers themselves.
Famed Youtuber Kurt Caz also descended on the area, revealing just how brutal, violent, and dirty it has become, with his video earning nearly 8 million views. In other words, the problems of Frankfurt have gone mainstream to the point that they are attracting a global audience.
Changing demographics
Frankfurt’s population has surged to over 776,000. While foreigners made up 27.3 percent of the population in 2015, that figure rose to nearly 32 percent by late 2024. When including those with a migration background, the proportion reaches 58 percent.
Religious demographics have also drastically shifted, with Muslim residents now totaling 137,000 people while Christian residents are 218,000, down from 300,000 in 2010.
The city’s culture is also rapidly changing, with Ramadan street decorations now in place while traditional Easter customs have largely faded from public areas.
Crime has soared
Since 2015, crime has soared in Frankfurt, with foreigners responsible for the vast majority of serious crimes, amounting to 57.4 percent. It must also be noted that all Germans with a migration background are also not counted in these statistics, underlining that the problem is likely far worse when second-generation migrants are taken into consideration.
Since 2015, the number of brutality cases has gone from 9,115 to 14,258 in 2024. At the same time, rapes have nearly quadrupled, going from 436 to 1,623.
In addition, 51.5 percent of all bodily harm cases, 61.5 percent of human trafficking cases, and 83.3 percent of all forced prostitution.
When it comes to murder, foreigners are also killing at extremely high rates relative to Germans. Foreigners are responsible for 60 percent of murder cases, 54 percent of manslaughter cases, and 100 percent of serious sexual assaults.
On the major shopping streets, including the famous Zeil, migrant youth gangs are making it more difficult for retailers to operate than ever.
Joachim Stoll of the Hessen-Süd Trade Association said that space is less and less in demand, with the famous Zeil now dotted with more and more vacancies.
In the evening, migrant youth gangs, known as “Talahons,” descend to these public areas, such as the Zeil, where they wear designer clothing and act “gangster” for TikTok videos.
A police investigator who spoke to build said it is “a completely new phenomenon that didn’t exist ten years ago. There were always teenagers, but this is different.“
Public spaces face increasing issues with littering and public urination. In response, Lord Mayor Mike Josef has significantly increased fines, including a €1,000 penalty for illegally dumping bulk waste.
The presence of police is now a common sight in these hot spots, leading to an atmosphere where residents often feel unsafe or even unwilling to venture out into shopping districts. The Frankfurt Christmas market is another once safe space that now requires millions of euros worth of bollards and security barriers.
“Frankfurt should become cleaner and more livable. Anyone who violates the rules will face noticeable consequences in the future,” claimed Mayor Josef.
However, for the people living in Frankfurt, there is little evidence of consequences.
Jewish life threatened
Jewish residents have also noted that there is an increasingly intense environment in the city. Since Oct. 7, 2023, there have been increasing anti-Israel demonstrations and anti-Semitic incidents.
“I pay close attention to what I wear – my clothes make it clear that I belong to the Jewish faith. There is an Islamist-motivated anti-Semitism that worries me. Because of this threat, I don’t always feel safe,” said Rabbi Zalmann Gurevitch.
Soaring rents
Frankfurt’s influx of hundreds of thousands of migrants has sent rent costs soaring to record levels while pushing many people to the periphery of the city. Although mass immigration is one factor of many, it is a primary driver of housing and rental price increases across Germany. After all, the population of Germany would have long since fallen to more sustainable levels if newcomers were not consistently arriving.
In fact, the rental situation is so bad in Frankfurt that documentaries from German public broadcasters declaring “Rental Madness” are appearing on Youtube.
Segregation is high
Frankfurt is often ranked inconsistently, with some surveys noting it is a great city to live in, while others, such as this one, report it is ranked as the second-worst city for expats to live in. However, like many cities across the West, there are tremendous differences between neighborhoods and living areas.
This has to do with segregation, with wealthier White Germans and other well-off foreigners, many from other EU countries, congregating in the suburbs and certain upscale neighborhoods. In fact, in one study from the journal Frontiers of Sociology, Frankfurt was determined to be the most segregated city in Germany, with foreigners tending to congregate in certain low-income neighborhoods.
If segregation is a sign of a failure of multiculturalism, then by this metric, Frankfurt is the greatest failure.
However, this is nothing new to the West. Often, the most multicultural and liberal cities, many of which pride themselves on being anti-racist, feature the highest levels of segregation. New York City, for instance, has the highest segregation in the educational system of any city in America, a fact that would surprise many who believe New York City is a “melting pot.”
If Frankfurt is the most diverse and international city in Germany, it does not bode well for the future of the country. Unless severe immigration policies restricting immigration come into play, this could be the norm in every corner of Germany within the next 10 to 20 years. In other major cities like Hamburg and Berlin, this reality is already mostly in place.
A 15-year-old French girl was found bloody and dazed wandering the streets by police, only for them to discover she had just escaped from a basement where she had been severely tortured, including being slashed, burned, and assaulted, by four minors. The four suspects have been arrested, including three girls. Another adult individual was also taken into custody, according to the Lyon public prosecutor, who issued a press release on Wednesday.
According to a source close to the investigation, “their violence and cruelty were totally incomprehensible.”
The victim, who lives in a shelter in Annecy, was contacted by her ex-boyfriend, who, “under the pretext of getting back together,” met her in Oullins-Pierre-Bénite. He then reportedly took her to an apartment where three other girls were waiting, including the ex-boyfriend’s new girlfriend.
The victim was led into a basement inside the apartment building, where one of the suspects stabbed her in her right thigh. Then, the suspects proceeded to slash the victim’s back and trace “X” shapes on her, as well as smiley faces and the number 69. The Liberation news outlet also reported that the victim received severe burns during the incident. The youths then sprayed her with a fire extinguisher and robbed the young girl’s phone.
According to police sources, the torture and assault lasted for hours and was filmed by one of the suspects.
Police quickly arrested “four minors,” including two 14-year-old girls, as well as a 17-year-old boy and another girl of an unspecified age. In addition, a 19-year-old adult was taken into custody, but it is unclear what role the adult played.
Two of the girls were arrested in the apartment where the victim was first left and placed into custody. They have been charged with kidnapping, extortion, robbery, torture, “intentional violence” and an “act of barbarity against a minor,” said Lyon prosecutor Thierry Dran.
The police reportedly recovered video of the torture from one of the suspects’ phones.
There is no information currently available about the nationality of the suspects, but none of them reportedly had a criminal history and the incident did not happen in a “troubled” neighborhood.
Knife-wielding suspects “only have White skin,” claims Jette Nietzard, the former leader of the German Green Party youth wing, in a monologue-style video.
In the video, Nietzard, a controversial Green Party member, is well known for triggering anger even in his own party, says knife controls in Berlin metro stations are targeting foreigners, which she says are the wrong people. Instead, she said that White people should be targeted because Nazi publications are telling readers to carry knives in self-defense.
🇩🇪🟢Knife-wielding suspects “only have White skin,” claims the former leader of the German Green Party youth wing, Jette Nietzard.
Nietzard says knife controls in Berlin metro stations are targeting foreigners, who she says are the wrong people. Instead, she said that white… pic.twitter.com/DGUQCe57jf
In many German states, over 50 percent of knife crime suspects are foreigners. For instance, North Rhine-Westphalia found that 51 percent of knife crime suspects were foreign offenders. Of the German citizen suspects, 33 percent had a first name that suggested a migration background.
NEW: 🇩🇪🔪 Knife crime in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia soared last year by 28 percent, and non-Germans were responsible for more than half the offenses.
Syrians, Turks, and Iraqis were the worst foreign offenders.
Every day in the German media, foreigners are committing stabbing and violence against victims, a fact represented in the statistics again and again and again and again. Following one wave last year, criminal attorney Udo Vetter stated: “We have imported knife violence. In other cultures, the knife is a kind of status symbol. This is changing the social climate here in the country. Knives have become an everyday companion for many people. And the barrier to using them is low.”
“Because if some people deliberately pack a knife as a murder weapon, more and more people will also resort to knives, supposedly to defend themselves,” stated Vetter. “Young people in particular have knives in their pockets just like their cell phones.”
If we narrow the statistics down merely to public transportation, since that is what Nietzard is talking about, it becomes clear that the vast majority of stabbings and cases of violence are coming from the foreign population, which is vastly overrepresented in such statistics relative to its size. Foreigners are responsible for 62 percent of all crimes in the German state on public transport, despite being only 16 percent of the population
Notably, German police union deputy head, Manuel Ostermann, stated: “Germany is no longer a safe country… The migration crisis is first and foremost a crime crisis.” No matter what Nietzard says, Ostermann is closer to the ground of what police officers and the victims of crime are experiencing every day in Germany.
It is not just the police saying this, though; it is the actual victims.
Michael Kyrath lost his 17-year-old daughter Ann-Marie due to a Palestinian migrant with a long history of stabbings. The migrant stabbed her and her boyfriend Danny to death at random on a train in 2023.
His daughter was murdered by an illegal Palestinian migrant, stabbed 38 times, along with her boyfriend.
17-year-old Ann-Marie is gone, but her father won't let her memory die. He delivered a message to Olaf Scholz's face:
Since then, Kyrath has become an activist and is in contact with hundreds of families who have suffered the same fate as him. He does not speak of “Nazis” targeting his daughter or any of these other families, either.
“People always talk about these as regrettable isolated incidents. But we’re in contact with more than 1,000 families who have lost loved ones to violent crimes in recent years. It’s always the same perpetrator profile. It’s almost always the same weapon. It’s nearly always the same sequence of events. It’s always the same motives. And it’s always the same platitudes from the same politicians, who, after such an act, tearfully cry into the cameras. Then nothing happens,” he told FAZ newspaper in a new interview. “There are people running around in this country whose origins we don’t even know. We don’t know if they’re willing to accept our way of life.”
Nietzard cites no facts, no statistics, and offers vague anecdotes that she has convinced herself of based on a narrative that falls to pieces once it is challenged.
Notably, the knife controls conducted on Berlin metros may be in response to rising knife crime brought on by mass immigration, but police are not actually allowed to profile based on race or ethnicity. However, Nietzard is demanding that officers actually start to conduct police controls based on race, and in her eyes, these officers should target White men.
🇩🇪🔴A Bulgarian man was arrested after pushing a German woman down a flight of stairs inside a Berlin train station.
The 26-year-old victim suffered a fractured arm and other injuries.
The man was convicted and sentenced to nearly 3 years in prison for the assault. pic.twitter.com/duj7Q1lUlt
This disconnect from statistical reality and facts is shared by millions of German men and women, along with millions of others in Europe. For them, reality is whatever narrative they are fed by the media, along with the pseudo-religious narrative they have adopted.
Regarding her specific allegations against a Nazi carrying knives, it is also unclear what court case she is referring to, but it very well could be the recent one involving Leander S., who belongs to the far-right Third Way group.
During a recent trial, Leander S. claimed that he always carries a knife with him for protection, and it turned out to have maybe saved his life. Two far-left Antifa activists have now been sentenced to prison in Berlin court after ambushing Leander S. at his own home with a hammer. Kolja B. and Konrad E. were given one year and six months’ imprisonment, suspended for four years, for grievous bodily harm against the far-right activist.
The court found he acted in self-defense when he seriously wounded both Antifa activists by stabbing them both. Leander S. also suffered wounds during the encounter. Essentially, the court ruled that Leander S. was the victim in the case and there was no question about his right to carry a knife for self-defense purposes.
As the French presidential election approaches, current Minister of Justice Gerald Darmanin is proposing a suspension of immigration for two to three years. Widely seen as a politician close to the establishment and French President Emmanuel Macron, his proposal is being viewed with skepticism but also as a sign of where the wind is blowing across Europe on the issue of migration.
Let’s imagine a suspension of immigration for 2-3 years,” he said, which would involve “legal immigration, therefore family reunification, and work immigration.” The minister adds that this measure would not apply to everyone, and “we can find some exceptions, notably for doctors, for researchers, for some students.”
Following this immigratioon suspension, France would establish an immigration quota policy, the volume of which would be defined in a French referendum.
The move has already been met with a certain level of cynicism given the context of upcoming elections. Poland’s Confederation party leader, Krzysztof Bosak, analyzed the proposal on X.
We Francji polityk głębokiego mainstreamu, minister sprawiedliwości Gérald Darmanin, proponuje zatrzymanie legalnej imigracji na 2–3 lata, a następnie ustalania w referendum jej skali. Taka propozycja pokazuje dwie kwestie.
Po pierwsze, skala problemu migracyjnego stała się tak…
“In France, a politician from the deep mainstream, Minister of Justice Gérald Darmanin, proposes halting legal immigration for 2–3 years, and then determining its scale through a referendum.
Such a proposal highlights two issues. First, the scale of the migration problem has become so obvious that even establishment politicians are no longer able to ignore it, especially under the constant pressure from political forces opposing mass immigration. As we can see, this pressure makes sense and is shifting the public discourse closer to the positions of national and sovereigntist circles. The fact that such ideas are being voiced by a member of the current government shows the extent of the shift in the previous narrative.
Second, this kind of proposal from a French minister is certainly a shock to the Brussels establishment and the Eurocratic consensus, which for years has remained far removed from any restrictions on immigration.
These are solutions that no one expected from mainstream politicians loyal to the dominant line in the EU. In the end, it’s worth keeping some distance. Most likely, this is a tactical proposal, calculated to build his position ahead of the 2027 presidential election, rather than a genuine intention to implement it. But it is also worth noting because in Poland, apart from Confederation, politicians from other parties cannot even imagine articulating such solutions in public debate, let alone attempting to put them into practice.”
French news outlet Europe1 also ran a column looking at Darmanin’s proposal also pointing out that this remains a mere proposal, one that is being made in mind with looming elections ahead.
“Even if he insists on a central bloc primary, Gérald Darmanin proposes stopping immigration for two or three years. How to interpret this exit of the former Minister of the Interior? The 2027 presidential election, Gerald Darmanin is thinking about it,” writes the paper.
The outlet adds that “If he is not officially a candidate, if he does not yet have a program, he has many proposals. A debate which consists of saying, for example, let’s imagine a suspension of immigration for two or three years. One could imagine that. It’s one more point for Gérald Darmanin who seeks to differentiate himself from Édouard Philippe and of Gabriel Attal, 15 months before the next presidential election.”
Last year, demographic researcher and data analyst Marc Vanguard reported that “the foreign population in France is growing FOUR times faster than the population of French nationality.”
The rapid demographic change has led academics, researchers, literary figures, and politicians to dub this trend the Great Replacement.
In 2022, famed French author Michel Houellebecq came out and said the Great Replacement is a “fact” during a wide-ranging discussion with influential French philosopher Michel Onfray.
“The Great Replacement, I was shocked it’s called a theory. It’s not a theory, it’s a fact,” said Houellebecq. “When it comes to immigration, nobody controls anything; that’s the whole problem. Europe will be swept away by this cataclysm.”
In 2025, France is seeing a significant shift in its non-EU immigration landscape, with first-time residence permits projected to reach 384,000 — an 11.2 percent increase from the previous year. This growth is uniquely defined by a massive 65 percent surge in permits granted on humanitarian grounds, primarily to refugees and those seeking subsidiary protection.
The legal foreign population in France is expected to hit approximately 4.5 million by the end of 2025, a 3.2 percent annual increase. However, previous reports have put the total population of foreigners at much higher levels, already reaching 6 million in 2024. While humanitarian reasons are the primary driver for new arrivals, the “stock” of residents remains heavily influenced by family ties and labor needs.
The purpose of residency varies drastically depending on the country of origin, reflecting France’s diverse historical and geopolitical ties. As French news outlet Fdesouche notes, “Nationals of the three Maghreb countries are more often issued with residence permits granted for family reunification reasons.” These countries consist of Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. However, these groups are also now being granted work permits, with the government arguing they can be used to fill labor shortages.
For China and the United States, most of the permits being issued are for studying and academic research.
Meanwhile, Afghans receive residence permits almost entirely based on humanitarian reasons. To a lesser extent, Ukrainians and Ivorians also receive such first-time permits.
Renewals are approaching a milestone of 1 million per year (955,000 projected for 2025). This trend confirms that a vast majority of non-EU immigrants who arrive in France are transitioning into long-term legal residents, despite stricter new integration requirements — such as the mandatory civic exam and A2-level French proficiency introduced in the 2024-2026 reforms. Notably, A2 is considered a rudimentary level of language understanding.
🇫🇷🔴 Paris is paying €1.2 billion per year on migrant accommodations, according to French politician @eciotti.
"An average of 50,000 hotel rooms are paid for by the (Paris) regional prefecture, mainly for foreigners seeking asylum. 1.2 billion euros a year." pic.twitter.com/fo5N7BLZvW
Last year, demographic researcher and data analyst Marc Vanguard reported that “the foreign population in France is growing FOUR times faster than the population of French nationality.”
The rapid demographic change has led academics, researchers, literary figures, and politicians to dub this trend the Great Replacement.
In 2022, famed French author Michel Houellebecq came out and said the Great Replacement is a “fact” during a wide-ranging discussion with influential French philosopher Michel Onfray.
“The Great Replacement, I was shocked it’s called a theory. It’s not a theory, it’s a fact,” said Houellebecq. “When it comes to immigration, nobody controls anything; that’s the whole problem. Europe will be swept away by this cataclysm.”
“It’s objectively what the figures say,” added Onfray, who said he thinks that the decline of the West is primarily a demographic decline.
The fact that France’s greatest living writer, as he is often described by the mainstream press, has said the Great Replacement is a fact will only add to the growing body of intellectuals, academics, and politicians who have increasingly been willing to describe the Great Replacement in public forums over the years.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán backed Alternative for Germany (AfD) co-leader Alice Weidel, who is demanding compensation from Ukraine for the explosion of the Nord Stream gas pipeline and tens of billions of euros in German financial support.
Orbán responded to the German politician’s statement with a short but clear sentence on X, writing, “Alice Weidel is right!”
The Hungarian prime minister also posted Weidel’s speech, where she stated: “If this party comes to power, we will demand compensation for the explosion of the Nord Stream gas pipeline, as well as the return of about 70 billion euros in financial and military support provided to Kyiv.”
Germany has provided tens of billions to Ukraine, all during a time when the country is facing surging company bankruptcies, budget cuts, and even cities all on the verge of bankruptcy. The enormous sums of money sent to Ukraine, especially in the light of massive corruption scandals facing the country, have led the AfD to be highly critical of Germany’s continued support. Now, the AfD considers recouping this money as essential.
“We will seek compensation. The Ukrainians and Zelensky have been paid by us to blow up our own pipeline. The country that has done this to us cannot be our friend, and this must be publicly acknowledged,” stated Weidel, emphasizing that Ukraine cannot be considered a friendly state.
As Weidel said, the recovery of tens of billions of euros in support and the restoration of Nord Stream are inevitable.
Weidel previously accused European leaders of double standards and believed that while Moscow faces serious accusations, similar criticism is not leveled against the United States. In her opinion, Donald Trump’s policy resembles Vladimir Putin’s actions on several points, notably in relation to Greenland.
Ukrainian anti-corruption authorities have appealed to Interpol to issue an international warrant against Ukrainian-Israeli Timur Mindich and his business partner Alexander Zuckerman, both considered fugitives from justice and both reported to hold Israeli citizenship.
The corruption scandal centers on bundles of money, a toilet made of gold, and threads leading to the Ukrainian president.
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) have officially submitted to Interpol the documents aimed at launching the international arrest of both Mindich and Zuckerman. The announcement was made by Oleksandr Klimenko, head of SAPO, wrote Ukrainian outlet Strana Today.
Mindich is currently in Israel, which he reportedly fled to an hour before anti-corruption officers raided his apartment, leading to suspicion someone in the government tipped him off that the raid was coming.
He is being tried in absentia for corruption crimes in the energy sector. The entrepreneur, who has a long history with Zelensky and played a key role in his rise to power, previously claimed that he was scapegoated in the scandal, while Zuckerman also denies the allegations.
“The case is particularly sensitive, as Mindich had close ties with President Volodymyr Zelensky for many years,” writes Starna Today.
During the house search, Ukrainian investigators seized bundles of cash from the fugitive businessman and also found a golden toilet in his home. Zelensky is reported to have celebrated his birthday in this apartment during the coronavirus pandemic.
"A golden toilet is in one of the bathrooms of the apartment of Zelensky's business partner Timur Mindich, where, according to media reports, NABU wiretapped the president himself. This was reported by MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak, who showed a photo, as he claims, from this apartment.… pic.twitter.com/LYtCFKlTcW
The investigation focuses on abuses surrounding state and semi-state energy companies. According to the authorities, inadequate procurement procedures, embezzled money, parallel management structures and “shadow” accounting were behind it.
The damage caused is estimated at about $100 million and led to 70 properties being searched and numerous arrests made. Ukraine’s Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) has conducted searches at the home of the driver of Andriy Yermak, the notorious figure in the Ukrainian corruption scandal known as “Ali Baba.” Another friend of Zelensky’s, former Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Chernyshov, was remanded into custody. Justice Minister German Galushchenko was also suspended after his house was searched. He had been serving as energy minister at the time of the events.
According to NABU, the group’s goal was to gain illegal benefits from Energoatom’s contractual partners and control personnel decisions, procurement and financial flows through informal contacts.
According to Die Welt newspaper, several top leaders, active and former politicians are involved in the case, as well as actors who can be linked to Moscow.
Mindich’s escape triggered separate speculations. According to the German newspaper, he was seen in Kyiv a day before the house search, which may indicate that he was warned in time. Since it would have been difficult to get out of the country by car, it was also suggested that he left Ukraine by helicopter, which “in wartime conditions would only have been possible with official permission.”
Foreigners are sending home billions of euros to their home countries, with the global remittance industry mostly seeing money flow from Western countries to second- and third-world countries on a global scale. In total, EU countries saw €52.4 billion sent abroad in 2024, according to the latest data from Eurostat.
These tens of billions being sent abroad may be benefiting foreign countries, but they are serving as a financial drag on European nations, many of which are already struggling with stagnating economic growth.
Before the advent of mass immigration, most European citizens had little or no connection with any non-EU countries. Wire transfers and remittances were much rarer, which meant that money stayed inside the country and circulated at home.
However, following the advent of mass migration to European nations, remittances have soared to record highs year after year.
In 2024, flows from EU resident households to non-EU resident households jumped to €52.1 billion, an increase of 6 percent compared to 2023, which saw €49.2 billion sent abroad. Far more is also sent out than is sent to EU resident households, totaling €14.8 billion.
There has been tremendous growth in remittances abroad, jumping 51 percent in just five years, dating back to 2019. Inflows have only grown 26 percent in the last five years, which means the difference between inflows and outflows has been growing every year, which now stands at €37.3 billion in 2024.
Germany is the biggest source of remittances headed outside of the EU, but many other countries are also sending billions. Italy, for instance, sent €8.29 billion overseas, with leading recipient countries including Bangladesh (€1.4 billion), followed by Pakistan (€600 million) and Morocco (€575 million).
These outflows across Europe and the broader West represent a major drag on economies. These wages could be used as disposable income within the host nation, i.e., money spent on domestic goods and services, but they are instead flowing overseas.
After a prior conviction by a religious tribunal, a state court has now ruled against a Berlin rabbi who sexually abused women under the pretext of providing spiritual guidance. During the trial, a witness provided shocking testimony, alleging he prescribed an “infusion“ with his semen to supposedly “cure” her.
The proceedings at the Tiergarten District Court concluded late last week against 49-year-old Rabbi Reuven Y. for sexual assault and sexual harassment. The court sentenced him to a 10-month suspended prison sentence. This follows a labor court ruling that confirmed his termination by the Jewish community was legal based on these allegations.
The joint plaintiff, whose testimony formed the backbone of the Public Prosecutor’s case, detailed an attack that occurred inside a synagogue. According to her account, the rabbi ordered her to close her eyes and then kissed her against her will.
“32 women who had reported sexual assaults”
Throughout the trial, numerous other witnesses came forward with similar stories. They described how the rabbi approached them under the guise of resolving psychological or religious blockages, using “pseudo-religious statements” to manipulate their trust.
One witness testified that she had discovered “32 women who had reported sexual assaults,” noting that for a long time, many victims lived in isolation, believing “they were the only ones affected.”
According to Bild newspaper, witnesses stated that the rabbi systematically targeted women who were Russian-speaking, lived alone in Germany, and had “little information about Judaism.” For many, these encounters were their first interaction with the Jewish faith, leading them to believe the rabbi’s actions were “religiously based.”
Suggestive remarks targeting a.12-year-old
The testimony revealed disturbing methods of manipulation. One victim reported that the rabbi told her he had to give her an “infusion“ with his semen in her mouth to “cure“ her.
Another witness testified that he made “suggestive remarks” about her daughter, who was only 12 at the time, following sexual acts.
The secular court ruling follows a summer 2023 decision by a “Beit Din“ (a Jewish religious court) in Berlin. The religious court ruled that his actions were fundamentally “incompatible with Jewish law, Halacha,” and barred him from performing any religious duties.
The Orthodox Rabbinical Conference of Germany issued a statement emphasizing that the community “should not remain silent” when sexual assault or abuse of office is committed “under the guise of religious authority.”
On Jan. 25, 2023, the life of Michael Kyrath was irrevocably shattered. A police officer arrived at his practice to deliver the unthinkable news: his 17-year-old daughter, Ann-Marie, had been stabbed to death on a regional train near Brokstedt. She was killed alongside her 19-year-old boyfriend, Danny, by a stateless Palestinian man who had been released from custody just days prior, despite a history of violent crime.
Since that day, Kyrath has emerged as a hauntingly articulate voice in the German political landscape — not as a partisan ideologue, but as a father demanding accountability for a system he believes is failing its citizens, including on immigration.
“People always talk about these as regrettable isolated incidents. But we’re in contact with more than 1,000 families who have lost loved ones to violent crimes in recent years. It’s always the same perpetrator profile. It’s almost always the same weapon. It’s nearly always the same sequence of events. It’s always the same motives. And it’s always the same platitudes from the same politicians, who, after such an act, tearfully cry into the cameras. Then nothing happens,” he told FAZ newspaper in a new interview.
His daughter was murdered by an illegal Palestinian migrant, stabbed 38 times, along with her boyfriend.
17-year-old Ann-Marie is gone, but her father won't let her memory die. He delivered a message to Olaf Scholz's face:
At the same time, he has become a voice for thousands of victims, making regular appearances on German television and speaking with media outlets. He says he is in contact with over 1,000 families, and he says it is always the same perpetrators and always the same weapon, and then over the same empty promises from politicians again and again.
A systemic failure
Kyrath’s criticism of German migration policy is rooted in the specific failures that led to his daughter’s death. The perpetrator, Ibrahim A., had a criminal record dating back to 2016, including multiple knife attacks. Due to bureaucratic lapses, these crimes were never properly reported to the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF).
“In 2014, he came to Germany via Turkey. His asylum application was rejected, but he received subsidiary protection. He used drugs and became involved in crime. In 2016, he injured a man with a sharp object in Bad Münstereifel. The Bonn public prosecutor’s office subsequently failed to report the crime to the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF). In 2022, Ibrahim A. stabbed a man in Hamburg, and two days later, he struck another victim on the back of the head with the handle of a knife.
He was remanded in custody, compared himself to the Breitscheidplatz attacker, and again, the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) was kept in the dark. On January 19, 2023, he was released from custody, despite exhibiting extreme psychological disturbances. A few days later, he stabbed people indiscriminately on the train near Brokstedt. In 2024, he was sentenced to life imprisonment, and the court determined that the crime was particularly heinous.”
However, Kyrath rejects the government’s tendency to categorize such violence as statistical anomalies or so-called “isolated cases.” Through his advocacy, he has connected with over 1,000 families who have suffered similar fates.
NEW: 🇩🇪🔪 Knife crime in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia soared last year by 28 percent, and non-Germans were responsible for more than half the offenses.
Syrians, Turks, and Iraqis were the worst foreign offenders.
He is especially critical of politicians who keep “repeating their mantras” after another murder.
“Then nothing happens. Two, three, four weeks later, with the next incident, the politicians are back again, reciting the same mantra. Anyone out there who works knows the burden of proof placed on us,” said Kyrath.
Kyrath’s frustration extends to the very philosophy of German integration. He argues that the current approach—housing migrants in container villages with allowances but little oversight or cultural education—is a moral failure for both the newcomers and the host society.
🇩🇪🔴 A young German teen ponders what Germany would be like if Merkel had not welcomed over 1 million migrants.
She was only 4 when the former chancellor made her decision, but life has dramatically changed.
“There are people running around in this country whose origins we don’t even know. We don’t know if they’re willing to accept our way of life. And then we cram them into some container villages, hand them a monthly allowance, and think that’s integration,” Kyrath says. “This has nothing to do with Christianity or integration, but solely satisfies the moral self-esteem of a spoiled, ideologically driven, and out-of-touch caste.”
He uses a simple domestic analogy to explain the strain on German infrastructure: “I can perhaps accommodate one or two in my house. If suddenly 30 people are standing in my living room, I have a serious problem.”
The changing “cityscape”
Kyrath also addresses the shifting reality of German public life, noting that the freedom he enjoyed as a youth in the 1980s has vanished behind security checkpoints and concrete bollards at Christmas markets. He defends politicians like Chancellor Friedrich Merz who have pointed out these changes, despite the backlash such comments often receive.
Regarding the political climate, Kyrath is particularly critical of the “firewall” (Brandmauer) strategy used by mainstream parties to exclude right-wing voices from discourse, namely the Alternative for Germany (AfD).
🇩🇪🚨 "I can no longer go out alone. I need a bodyguard."
A German woman is sexually harassed in Bad Dürrenberg.
"This happens to me so often. I have contact with people like that every day when I go out."
“I think there’s a lot of cosmetic work being done, but many problems aren’t being properly addressed. A clean break is needed when it comes to migration. But nobody’s taking the initiative. I’m a democrat through and through. I talk to all parties, without exception. That’s why I believe a firewall is something for stupid people who can’t defend themselves with arguments. We are a democracy, and arguments are what count here. But in recent years, we’ve forgotten how to have a good, hearty debate. All that’s left is stigmatization, polemics, and taking everything personally,” he said.
Kyrath also said that the population would be attracted to more and more parties that are deemed “radical” because establishment politicians appear unable to address the core issues. Those who do bring them up are politically and socially ostracized.
BREAKING: This is German girl Lena (14) along with her mother (32).
Lena was brutally beaten by a gang of migrant girls.
When Lisa Steude came into the school office, her daughter Lena was cryingin a chair.
“Fundamentally, we’ve noticed in recent years that things haven’t improved for us citizens, regardless of who’s in power. Everything is getting more expensive, and the formerly pacifist parties are driving us toward war. And anyone who dares to speak out is immediately stigmatized and shouted down, thus eliminating any democratic discourse that might be desperately needed.”
No organization or NGO for murder victims
Beyond political critique, Kyrath is focused on building a support network for victims. He highlights the “bubble” of trauma that follows a murder, where families are buried under legal paperwork and funeral costs—often exceeding €25,000—without state assistance.
“When your child is murdered, you’re in a bubble for the first four weeks. You have absolutely no idea what’s happening,” he says. He wants to create a system where victims are shielded from the press and guided through the financial and emotional wreckage of the first year.
🇩🇪 Germans will "perish" due to mass immigration, says German-Turkish TikToker "Based Girl 2.0."
"You wanted diversity, you have diversity."
"Call me whatever you want, I don't care. But this diversity will eventually drag you to the ground."
For Michael Kyrath, the goal is simple but profound: to ensure that the “morning silence” experienced by families like his is not ignored by the people who have the power to prevent it.
For the Kyrath family, the tragedy resulted in a house that is simultaneously too quiet and unexpectedly full. Ann-Marie was their only child, and Kyrath describes the “morning silence” as the hardest part of his day. However, every Wednesday, their home fills with Ann-Marie’s friends, whom they now call their “stepchildren.”
“Some are still in school, some are in vocational training… We play games, watch movies, go mini-golfing, or visit Ann-Marie’s grave,” Kyrath explains. “Julian, who was Ann-Marie’s best friend, once said, ‘There are many things you unfortunately won’t experience with Ann-Marie anymore, but we’ll make sure you get to experience them with us.’ I thought that was wonderful; it really touched me.”
In an extraordinary case that could decide the future of press rights in Europe, Berlin-based German-Turkish journalist Hüseyin Doğru is currently under European Union sanctions for his reporting, which left him completely unable to access his bank account for months. Under orders from the EU, his assets were frozen, and these sanctions were dispensed with no trial or appeal. Currently, Doğru says he is not even allowed to leave Germany.
As Berliner Zeitung reports, Doğru completely exhausted all financial means, telling the paper that his bank has completely blocked access to his previously approved minimum subsistence allowance of €506. He stated that he can no longer support his family or even buy food for his two newborn children.
“Not only I, but also my wife and my three children are effectively being sanctioned,” Doğru, a left-wing journalist, said in the interview.
“The sanctions themselves stipulate that I am entitled to access to essential funds. The fact that my bank is nevertheless blocking these funds violates applicable law in my view,” he told the Berlin newspaper.
Since then, he has won some reprieve and regained access to his account on Jan. 22 through the actions of his lawyer, but a legal battle over the sanctions is continuing.
UPDATE: Comdirect finally (and unwillingly) restored my account access—only after public and media pressure. Thank you ALL for supporting me. Next goal: lift the sanctions, not just against me, but against all punished for expressing their opinions. https://t.co/P6rdkNhCC8
There are now fears that the extraordinary case may be a sign of where the future is headed, where an authoritarian EU can censor and financially ruin dissidents and journalists with no oversight or judicial review. Notably, similar sanctions could also be deployed against others, such as Roger Köppel, the Swiss editor-in-chief of the weeklyDie Weltwoche.
Doğru has been on an EU sanctions list since May 2025, with Brussels arguing that his pro-Palestinian journalistic work incites “ethnic, political, and religious discord” and therefore, he allegedly supports “destabilizing activities by Russia.” Notably, he filmed a number of the occupations of Berlin universities by pro-Palestinian activists.
The basis for the sanctions was his alleged connections to Russia, but the Berliner Zeitung indicates that so far, no proof has been presented to confirm this accusation, and more importantly, there was no trial or evidence provided to support this accusation.
“Brussels justifies the measures by saying that he is using his pro-Palestinian journalistic work to stir up ‘ethnic, political and religious discord’ and thus allegedly ‘destabilizing activities that support Russia.’ The EU has not yet publicly provided any concrete evidence of a connection to Moscow,” wrote the paper.
Germany couldn’t do it, but the EU could
In a recent interview on Youtube, which included the Greek progressive Yanis Varoufakis, Doğru provided further details about his case, including why these sanctions came from the EU and not Germany.
“And this now all applied to me the first time in the form of a sanction, but the German government did not do it directly with me. They, as Yanis said, pass it over to the European Union because in Germany, they could not do that in a legal way, because the backlash is still there in this bourgeois democracy. The little backlash, if it comes to their own citizens, which I am, even though they don’t maybe accept me as such. But if a journalist is in court here, he has a lot of rights.
But if you go through the European Union, the European Commission, there is no judge, there is no hearing, there is no evidence. It’s an extrajudicial act of… and the EU says sanctions are not punishment, they are punitive to change your behavior for the benefit of the European Union, which is not a punishment. So, it’s an extrajudicial execution of a journalist.
But now coming back to the beginning, why is that happening? They’re all laid that out and they’re testing it with me for the first time. And what makes the whole situation unique is that the first time, if they can get away with it, this is going to soon happen to you guys as well, or even those who attacked us.”
The sanctions had a devastating effect on Doğru and illustrate how they could be used to silence nearly any journalist, whether on the left or the right.
“I’m not allowed to pay my lawyer. I’m not allowed to buy water. I’m not allowed to provide my child with food. I’m not allowed to work. I’m not allowed to buy medicine. Every single monetary transaction with me is forbidden. Technically, you’re not even allowed to give me a basket of food because I could turn that technically into money. And this is forbidden.
And if I violate or you do, I don’t know about you, but if I were to violate one of these things, I could face like five years of prison time by avoiding sanctions technically, but they went further. I’m sanctioned, I’m on that list, but they also technically sanctioned my wife and our unborn twins because they froze older accounts. She is not allowed to receive her salary right now.
So in this moment, we technically have no money that we can access to go and buy something. There is also the problem because a lot of activists, journalists, colleagues, politicians and family members even said, ‘Should we send you money?’ We said, ‘Don’t do that. Don’t do that because you would be maybe categorized as avoiding sanctions.’ And this is the problem here. Sanction, as the European Union describes on their website, is a tool that is aligned with humanitarian law, which is not deemed to punish, but rather to change your behavior.”
Notably, this is tool is being used on a journalist in Europe during a time when EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is claiming that Europe is a place where freedom of speech is valued, a point that Doğru is more than willing to point out.
The German-Turkish journalist stated during the interview that he does not understand what “behavior” is supposed to be changed by the sanctions, saying:
“To change behavior, what kind of behavior do they want to change? My behavior to use my rights as a citizen of Europe or of the world to express my opinion on certain events. Also, the right to survive because all my existential grounds are taken away from me. To be a bit more specific, maybe that sounds a bit crude, but just to make the point that I don’t want anyone to misunderstand me, someone in a prison currently technically has more rights than I have, because they can, in custody, buy something which I can’t even.”
The Russian accusations
For those on the right who dismiss this case because of Doğru’s pro-Palestinian coverage or maybe even dislike him because he’s a Muslim, it is clear that this is only a test case. Many of his views or the views of Varoufakis, such as their claims about European colonialism, can be contested, but that is besides the point. Conservatives, libertarians, and the right will all be targeted in the future, not only with this type of method, but other similar methods that are already being deployed.
Doğru indicates that the argument, as far as he can see, is not that he has any direct connection to Russia, but that the EU can interpret his reporting as beneficial to Russia, and therefore, it can legally use these extrajudicial sanctions. Notably, Doğru said he was openly criticizing Russia and its war in Ukraine long before these sanctions hit him.
“And I think this is unique as Yanis said at the beginning with my case, because for the first time ever, Europe sanctioned a journalist in the context of the Russian sanction packages and laws and regulations, who was criticizing Russian policies publicly, which I did, who was criticizing the war in Ukraine,” he said.
He added that he was targeted for “covering protests across Europe, which meant for the European Union that covering that, covering protests, covering violent protests, means for the European Union that only Russia can benefit from that because I’m creating social discord. I’m focusing on that, apparently, and Russia can benefit from that. Therefore, that makes me a Russian news outlet or pro-Russian journalist, which is, I can’t see you’re rolling your eyes. It’s exactly what happened to me as well.”
It is important to note that a report from German newspaper Tagesspiegel indicated that Doğru previously worked for Russian-linked news source Redfish Media. After the war in Ukraine broke out, Redfish closed down, and Doğru began a new outlet called Red, which included a number of former Redfish employees. Doğru indicated that the Red outlet, founded in Istanbul, was independent and received support from private individuals and organizations, without providing further details.
Even if this outlet, however, is connected to Russia in some manner, and so far no evidence has been presented in that direction, the EU’s ability to implement such powerful sanctions against an individual without due process should raise concerns for journalists everywhere.
Concerns expressed from many corners
It is not just the far left complaining about these sanctions against Doğru, but a broad political spectrum is taking issue with how they have been implemented. Here is what Berliner Zeitung wrote:
The Doğru case has been causing a stir for months. Critics see the sanctioning of a German journalist as a dangerous precedent for press freedom in the European Union. The criticism is particularly harsh in a legal opinion prepared by former European Court of Justice judge Ninon Colneric and international law professor Alina Miron. The opinion was presented to the European Parliament in the fall and addresses the new EU sanctions regime against so-called disinformation.
The authors conclude that the sanctions constitute a profound infringement of fundamental rights. The measures act like a “civil death” (“mort civile”): assets are frozen, access to banking services is effectively blocked, and the economic capacity of those affected is almost completely eliminated. This not only affects the sanctioned individuals themselves but also has a direct impact on their professional and private lives.
The report states that it is particularly problematic that sanctions are imposed without prior judicial review. Denying the right to a hearing before being placed on a sanctions list is disproportionate and violates European fundamental rights. The damage to freedom of expression and of the press is completely out of proportion to the stated goal of combating disinformation.
In short, the EU took a sledgehammer to this case, and with the other issues such as Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) and efforts to fight so-called “disinformation,” it is clear that these tools and terms can be weaponied within the EU establishment against any reporting they do not agree with or find to be a threat.
The history of these sanctions
While the main points of this text has been addressed, some readers may be interested in how these sanctions were implemented and their background.
Doğru addresses the history of these sanctions in his interview with Varoufakis.
“How did we come to this point? It’s going to be a little bit technical, like using technical words, but I think for the audience it is very, very important because that did not just happen from nowhere. It technically started with the annexation of Crimea by Russia. So that’s when the European Union created the European External Action Service (EEAS), which was tasked to combat disinformation and Russian influence in Europe.
After around 2018, that body was extended with more rights, which created a kind of like an action plan against this information. And then we first heard like these words, and I think everyone knows that now. It’s like undermining European democracy, the European values, the European project and about strategic threats, and at some point about disinformation.”
He goes on to address terms like “disinformation” and “hybrid threat,” saying these terms were first coined around 2020. He said that disinformation, in particular, does not have to be a lie, but simply information that is categorized as a threat by the EU.
“That means technically information is now categorized by the EU as a threat, as long as it does not serve their benefit. In that case, as long as a journalist does not report on behalf of or for the benefit of the European Union. This might be a protest, that might be, if I criticize in the context of the Ukraine war, Russia and Europe, for example. So it’s kind of militarizing and criminalizing information, and by fighting disinformation and shutting down information, the EU started to use this (term),” he said.
He then delves further into the history of these sanctions and how the Digital Service Act (DSA) raised the stakes because it allows the EU to punish and sanction individuals, including journalists.
So what happened after that is also like the EAS created or introduced the FIMA, I think it is called, the foreign information manipulation and interference. This was very, very unique and very, very important because that gives the EEAS the right to punish, sanction everyone who is also, how should I work that now, involved in, this is very important: non-illegal suspicious behavior. So they say you have maybe a suspicious behavior and it is no illegal but we judge that as a threat to us, and we can’t punish you. That’s what the FIMA says. So this is very important. The only evidence is look at EEAS, look at FIMA. That’s the template for that…And that brings us to the last point, the Digital Service Act.
The Digital Service act says that in a state of emergency, whatever that is, they don’t announce that or explain that, that they technically can sanction, punish or whatever punishment they have in their mind, journalists and information.
Varoufakis closes by addressing how dangerous this threat now is for European citizens and journalists.
“And we need to emphasize this. I’m glad we have Hüseyin (Doğru) here because this innovation by the German government on the one hand and of course the European Commission on the other is a vile and dangerous precedent, as Hüseyin said. Today, they choose to use anti-Russian or Russian related decrees in order to stop a journalist, a German citizen, from writing about Palestine.
Tomorrow, they can do exactly the same thing regarding any issue, any topic that they do not want people to talk about. It could be anything from the investigation of an accident, a railway accident, an airplane crash. Once we have allowed them to use extrajudicial cancellation methods of European citizens, then that is the thin edge of the wedge. And we go back to really before Magna Carta, before Magna Carta. We’re not talking about democracy now in big domains. We’re going, no, we are digging ourselves into a hole, a wormhole that brings us out like a time machine before the time of Magna Carta.”
After French authorities arrested a Tunisian migrant for the brutal rape of a 90-year-old woman in the Madeleine district this past Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, information has now been revealed that the man had an open deportation order.
“The individual who committed the abominable rape of a 90-year-old woman on Boulevard de la Madeleine in Nice was under an OQTF (deportation order)! Once again, someone who had no business being in France commits an abomination. When are we going to put an end to this criminal policy!?” wrote Eric Ciotti, President of the UPA party and a representative in Nice.
L’individu qui a commis le viol abominable d’une femme de 90 ans au boulevard de la Madeleine à Nice était sous OQTF !
Une nouvelle fois, quelqu’un qui n’avait rien à faire en France commet une abomination. Quand allons-nous mettre fin à cette politique criminelle !? pic.twitter.com/rfVF38U5e3
According to reliable police sources, a 90-year-old woman was reportedly raped after an intruder gained access to her home. A suspect was apprehended shortly after the incident.
According to a communique issued about the incident, “The victim stated that around 4:00 or 5:00 a.m., an individual forced his way into her apartment and violently penetrated her multiple times. She was hospitalized with injuries to her hands, arms, and legs, resulting in a five-day period of total incapacity for work.”
According to French news outlet Nice Matin, when the stranger knocked on the victim’s door, “she thought it was a visit from a nurse” and opened it without hesitation.
Once inside, the man immediately turned violent. The suspect allegedly forced the woman to perform “one blowjob” and subjected her to “various physical abuses.”
The victim’s daughter alerted the national police just after 6 a.m., triggering an immediate manhunt. Officers successfully located a suspect, who was “arrested in a squat” nearby.
The elderly victim was treated by emergency responders and “driven to Pasteur 2 hospital” for medical care. She is reportedly suffering from severe physical wounds and psychological damage.
The Criminal Brigade of the Nice Local Judicial Police Service (SLPJ) is currently interrogating the individual under a flagrante delicto investigation for the rape of a vulnerable person.
The individual also apparently was intoxicated during the incident, with the communiqué further reading: “At the time of his arrest, the suspect had a blood alcohol level of 0.86 mg/l and tested positive for cannabis and cocaine. While he admitted to entering the victim’s apartment, he denied the rape. Born in Tunisia in 1997, the suspect had been issued a deportation order and placed under house arrest by the Saône-et-Loire prefecture on January 11, 2026. Unknown to the police and with no prior criminal record, he will be brought before a judge tomorrow morning as part of a preliminary investigation for rape of a vulnerable person.”
A harrowing trial in the Italian city of Treviso is unfolding. The case involves a 41-year-old Moroccan national who is accused of brutally assaulting and raping a 49-year-old disabled woman in January 2025.
During the hearing on Jan. 22, 2026, the victim provided shocking testimony detailing a night of torture and sexual violence that left her unconscious and severely injured.
The victim confirmed the extent of the torture, saying in court: “I was beaten, tortured with a box cutter, and then he also raped me with a bottle.”
The relationship between the victim and the accused man, who has a history of drug and alcohol addiction, began years ago. Despite the man having a prior conviction for mistreating both the woman and their young son, the victim allowed him to return to her home after his release, according to Italian news outlet Treviso Today.
She reportedly hoped he would help her manage her disability, believing his promise: “I’ve changed, you’ll see that things will work between us now.”
However, the situation deteriorated rapidly by September 2024. The defendant allegedly became increasingly aggressive, punching the woman in the head and threatening her with a kitchen knife while declaring, “We’re both going to die here tonight.”
The violence reached its peak on January 5, 2025. Driven by alcohol and cocaine, the man is accused of brutally beating his partner before dragging her into the bathroom. The court heard testimony that he “slammed her against the bidet until she lost consciousness.”
After that, police found the woman had been sliced open with a box cutter, and investigators found the bottle that prosecutors say the man raped her with.
When emergency services arrived the following morning after the woman managed to call 118 saying, “Come, he massacred me,” they discovered a scene of “authentic horror.”
Blood was found throughout the apartment—on the floors, furniture, and the terrace. The defendant was found lying on a bed surrounded by drug paraphernalia, including tinfoil and a crack pipe.
The defendant, currently held in Santa Bona prison, continues to deny the charges. He claimed that a significant wound on the victim’s neck was simply an accident she suffered while walking to the bathroom.
However, biological evidence appears to contradict his story. While some DNA evidence from a vaginal swab was excluded from the trial file due to procedural issues, other “biological evidence frames him.” Investigators found the defendant’s blood on the handle of the box cutter used in the attack, while the victim’s blood was found on the blade.
Facing charges of mistreatment, aggravated personal injury, and sexual violence, the 41-year-old remains in custody. The victim, fearful of her alleged attacker, was permitted to testify behind a protective screen.
A verdict will be reached and a sentence issued on Feb. 19.
Germany stores nearly €200 billion in gold reserves in the United States, but now there are renewed calls to send this gold back to Germany. Free Democrats (FDP) politician Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann has ignited a debate over Germany’s economic sovereignty, calling for the immediate repatriation of German gold reserves currently held in the United States.
She argues that the present geopolitical climate makes foreign storage a liability.
Germany’s gold reserves in the United States, valued at approximately €194 billion, are partially held abroad for historical reasons. However, Strack-Zimmermann believes that relying on American custody is no longer a safe strategy.
“At a time of growing global uncertainty and under President Trump’s unpredictable US policies, it is no longer justifiable that around 37 percent of Germany’s gold reserves, more than 1,230 tons, are stored in Federal Reserve vaults in New York,” the chair of the Defense Committee in the European Parliament told Spiegel magazine.
The central concern raised is the distinction between legal ownership and physical access. Strack-Zimmermann contends that the inability to exercise direct control over these assets during international crises is a “growing risk.”
“Against this background, I call on the German government to present a clear timetable for the complete return of German gold reserves to Germany as soon as possible,“ she stated.
Beyond the physical transfer of the gold, the FDP politician is calling for a rigorous investigation into the risks of offshore storage. She insists that the Bundesbank and the Ministry of Finance are “obliged to present a transparent risk assessment that presents political and legal risks of foreign storage in a differentiated manner.”
Furthermore, she is pushing for the issue to be elevated to the highest level of domestic politics.
“The Bundestag must discuss the future of our reserves and ensuring our economic independence in a special session,” Strack-Zimmermann stated.
Other countries, such as Italy, also have activist politicians and organizations demanding that their countries repatriate their gold from the U.S.
The economic commentator Enrico Grazzini recently told the Il Fatto Quotidiano newspaper that “leaving 43% of Italy’s gold reserves in America under the unreliable Trump administration is very dangerous for the national interest.”
While the German Green Party frequently parade themselves as climate protectors who support organic food and eating local, their recent maneuvering over the Mercosur trade agreement has exposed a staggering level of environmental hypocrisy. Despite a platform built on reducing carbon footprints and protecting biodiversity, the party is fracturing over a deal that would facilitate shipping food halfway across the globe, flood European markets with products grown with high pesticide loads, and further incentivize the destruction of the South American rainforest.
The Green delegation in the European Parliament recently voted to delay the agreement by referring it to the European Court of Justice (ECJ). While they frame this as a “legal review,” critics see a party that is happy to champion environmental standards at home while entertaining a trade deal that lacks binding controls for violations in the Amazon rain forest, along with plenty of other vulnerable environments in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
🇫🇷🇪🇺 26-year-old French organic farmer, Anaïs Foulquier, says that the EU's new Mercosur free trade deal with South America will destroy her farm.
"We are young organic farmers. We rear our own goats, dairy cows and laying hens. We respect everything, the standards, the… pic.twitter.com/UyJjN0cWY8
This internal rift in the Greens has sparked public infighting. German Green Party leader Felix Banaszak is attempting to balance the party’s “firewall against the right” with the reality that his own MEPs effectively voted with many right-wing parties in the EU parliament. The vote means that the Mercosur agreement could be delayed by up to 18 months.
The Greens are notorious for betraying their party roots, including their previous anti-war stance that the party was founded on. However, their latest positioning on the Mercosur agreement is truly astounding, as nearly every aspect of the free trade agreement violates their core tenets.
Studies and government analyses cited by critics estimate that the agreement could increase deforestation in the Mercosur region by at least 5 percent per year over a period of six years. One study suggested up to 700,000 hectares of forests could be destroyed in the first year alone due to increased beef exports, according to a Veblen Institutestudy.
According to Earth.org. “Globally, 80 percent of the land cleared for cattle grazing and animal feed monocultures is used for meat production. In Brazil, the world’s largest beef exporter, cattle farming is the single largest driver of Amazonian deforestation and conversion of native vegetation to areas of pasture. Here, the rate of deforestation increased by 60 percent between 2016 and 2020, with approximately 580,000 hectares (5,800 square kilometers) of forest cut down in one year to create pastures.”
Pesticides
Any Green Party voters are notorious for being opposed to pesticides, which have been linked to a threat to human health, environmental destruction, and the ongoing eradication of insect populations.
In fact, former German Minister of Agriculture Cem Özdemir, who is now locked in an election battle to lead Baden-Württemberg, has now turned on his own colleagues for their “lack of pragmatism.”
“Apparently, too many still don’t understand the seriousness of the situation. European sovereignty must prove itself in concrete action, the time for cheap lip service is over,” Özdemir posted on X.
Incredibly, he wants to bypass the EU parliament, the only real democrtically elected body in Brussels, and explicitly encourage EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to bring the agreement into force provisionally. In other words, he wants no delay to Mercosur and believes von der Leyen should bypass the parliament’s vote.
There is big business at stake for Europe, after all. Germany accounts for 16 percent of the sales of pesticides to Mercosur, while France accounts for 37 percent, according to Greenpeace. Brazil is the largest consumer of pesticides in the entire world, and much of that pesticide use is being deployed on former rainforest, which has been burned and clear-cut to make room for massive monoculture crops and cattle farming. Greenpeace further writes:
“Brazil‘s agriculture model is based mainly on large-scale monoculture systems producing agriculture commodities. This agriculture business model is dominated by large corporations and is closely linked to the destruction of natural ecosystems such as forests. It requires large amounts of natural resources, emits greenhouse gases and is especially dependent on the use of pesticides that pose great risks to humans and the nature.According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) 20, around 380,000 tonnes of toxic substances ended up on Brazil‘s farmland in 2017 (around 634,000 square kilometers at that time 21). To meet the high demand for pesticides, Brazil imports large quantities of pesticide active ingredients, which are subsequently further processed in the country.”
Remarkably, Özdemir has previously been a central figure in efforts to restrict and ban various pesticides, both within Germany and at the European Union level. As the former federal minister of food and agriculture, he has championed several key initiatives aimed at reducing chemical pesticide use.
Özdemir was a vocal supporter of the EU’s Sustainable Use Regulation (SUR), which aimed to cut chemical pesticide use by 50 percent across the EU by 2030.
Now, his promotion of Mercosur would flood Europe with the same chemicals he was previously trying to ban or greatly reduce. Özdemir is, in short, a remarkable hypocrite.
The deal would create one of the world’s largest free trade zones, yet it offers little to address the “boomerang pesticides” that are banned in the EU but used in Mercosur states. The lack of enforceable safeguards means that while the Greens talk about “EU standards,” they are implicitly backing a system where environmental protections are compromised for market access.
After all, the deal is labeled the “cows-for-cars” trade deal for a reason. German companies, including automobile manufacturers and chemical companies, want access to South America, and for the Greens in Germany, business interests, lobbyists, and mega agricultural corporations now come first. The Mercosur agreement will tighten the screws on organic farmers, who will find it even harder to compete against cheap and substandard South American food.
The left turns its back on climate change
Özdemir is far from the only high-ranking German Green Party official slamming the Greens who voted against the deal. Current MP and former Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety Jürgen Trittin criticized the EU parliament voting bloc as being “without a compass.” He even went so far as to say that the Green MEPs contributed “to the right-wing farmers’ lobby and anti-Europeans blocking a step towards greater EU sovereignty by a 10-vote majority.”
Ohne Kompass: 8 deutsche #Grüne und 3 deutsche #Linke haben dazu beigetragen, dass rechte Bauernlobby und Anti-Europäer mit 10 Stimmen Mehrheit einen Schritt zu mehr Souveränität der #EU blockieren konnten #Mercosurhttps://t.co/hRH5k6QeSB
While the Greens often attack Chancellor Friedrich Merz for accepting AfD votes in the Bundestag, Banaszak found himself making excuses for the same behavior in Brussels. He argued that „The situation is complex,“ and tried to distance the Greens’ coordination from Merz’s past actions: „What Friedrich Merz did in the German Bundestag last year: He knew he would ultimately have a majority with the AfD. And he accepted that.“
Banaszak admitted he was “not happy“ with the optics, stating: „I deeply regret that such a vote has now been held and that this result has been achieved. But one must acknowledge that the situation in the European Parliament is different.“
It is not just the Greens either. Other left-wing parties that claim that climate change is at the top of their agenda, such as the Social Democrats (SPD), are slamming the move to temporarily block the Mercosur deal.
“The fact that some Greens, together with AfD and Left Party, are delaying the entry into force of the Mercosur agreement in the current political situation is politically stupid and instinctless,” stated Dirk Wiese, the first parliamentary secretary of the SPD.
On a broader scale, the fact that much of the left in Europe voted for Mercosur should bury the idea once and for all that any of these people care about the rainforest, local food production, the environment, or climate change.
Remarkably, it is now the European right that played the decisive role in stopping the Mercosur agreement.
Do we now live in a world where the right cares more about climate change and farmers’ rights than the Greens? Looking at this monumental vote against Mercosur, it certainly looks like it.
Polish police have confirmed the capture of a 29-year-old Turkish national wanted in connection with a violent 2024 homicide of a bus driver during a robbery in the French city of Metz. The suspect, who was the subject of a European arrest warrant, was apprehended in the city of Lodz after more than a year on the run.
The charges against the man stem from a fatal robbery that took place on September 5, 2024. The incident occurred in the parking lot of a Cora supermarket in the Borny district of Metz, where a Bulgarian-registered tourist bus had stopped to allow passengers to dine, according to Polish news outlet RMF24.
Polish police also released a video of the man being taken into custody.
🇵🇱🇫🇷A Turkish national has been arrested in Poland for the murder of a bus driver in the French city of Metz during a robbery attempt in 2024.
The case raises questions about how foreign criminals move freely across Europe.
According to a press release from the Bydgoszcz police, the suspect, “on September 5, 2024, in the company of four other people and in a car with stolen license plates, took part in a robbery targeting a tourist bus.” Tragically, the confrontation turned deadly, as “the coach driver died” during the assault.
The suspect is facing charges for murder in France for his alleged role in the heist, among other crimes.
The Bydgoszcz police stated that he is being investigated for “a case of murder, armed robbery and participation in a criminal organization on French territory.”
The “end of run” for the suspect came this past Monday. Polish authorities reported that the man was “surprised” when officers moved in to take him into custody.
With the suspect now in Polish hands, the legal process to return him to the scene of the crime is underway. “The procedures for its handover to the French authorities… have been launched,” the official statement concluded.
China’s ascent to global industrial dominance is being solidified through long-term strategic planning and domestic mobilization, rather than a reliance on external migration. By focusing on homegrown technical expertise and the execution of decades-long industrial policies, China has officially ended Germany’s era of dominance in the machine tool sector—the “equipment industry” that serves as the backbone for all industrial production in Germany.
This new reality undermines decades of propaganda issued by Western elites, which posits that mass immigration is essential for economic growth and industrial success. China is essentially blowing up this myth.
In 2025, China surpassed Germany to become the world’s premier export champion in machine tools. According to the Association of German Machine Tool Factories (VDW), China now commands a 21.6 percent share of global exports, while Germany has slipped to 16.7 percent.
While German exports plummeted by 10 percent last year, Chinese manufacturers achieved an 18 percent increase, driven by domestic self-reliance.
As the Welt newspaper writes, it is not just machine tools, but China is instead “ending another key export branch” for Germany and ending the country’s former global dominance.
Notably, Germany and other European countries were promised an economic boon, driven by migrants who would become doctors, engineers, tech specialists, and lawyers. However, that reality has not played out. Instead, anti-immigration China, which has fewer migrants in its entire country than just one German city, Berlin, is pulling ahead in nearly every industrial category.
This shift was not accidental but the result of deliberate internal development. VDW chairman Franz-Xaver Bernhard noted that the transition was inevitable: “We all read the Chinese five-year plans. And the machine tool has been one of the most important topics in there for 20 years,” says Bernhard. “In this respect, we were already warned and prepared that Chinese industry wants, perhaps even needs, to push this issue forward so that it itself becomes more independent from imports.”
China’s dominance is no longer restricted to low-end production. Through a strategy of integrating high-quality components into their own systems, Chinese manufacturers are climbing the value chain. As Bernhard explains, “Most Chinese manufacturers now use European-style components: controls, for example, drive systems or measuring instruments. All that we don’t build ourselves, but buy from specialized manufacturers.”
The significance of this sector to China’s broader economic sovereignty is immense. Machine tools are essential for automotive manufacturing, the production of wind turbines, aviation and weapons, and high-tech and complex consumer electronics.
In that piece from last year, Remix News reported on a Bloomberg article detailing how Western venture capitalists traveled to China to determine firsthand what threat — or opportunity — Chinese companies pose to the renewable and clean tech sectors.
This group of Western investors visited Chinese factories and told Bloomberg the shocking verdict, which is that Europeans and Americans are remarkably behind China in terms of solar panels, wind turbines, electric vehicles, battery technology, and hydrogen. In fact, so much so that it is no longer even worth investing in Western startups focused on these areas.
Instead, these Western investors are choosing to work with and invest in Chinese firms. These same Chinese firms are entirely reliant on homegrown talent, and certainly are not importing millions of Indians, North Africans, and Middle Easterners to drive the amazing success they are seeing across nearly all industries.
One of the venture capitalists told Bloomberg: “It’s very clear that Western investors live in a bubble in their misconceptions about China.”
Bloomberg news further wrote that these venture capitalists “knew China had raced ahead in sectors like batteries and ‘everything around energy,’ but seeing how big the gap was firsthand left them wondering how European and North American competitors can even survive, says Talia Rafaeli, a former investment banker at both Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Barclays Plc who’s now a partner at Kompas VC.”
Germany’s growing contraction
While China leverages its massive domestic population and educational system to fill its factories, Germany is facing a contraction. German machine tool production fell by 8 percent to €13.6 billion in 2025, leading to significant workforce reductions. The German workforce in this sector was reduced by 4 percent, and “one in three companies is planning further reductions in their permanent workforce.”
The VDW indicates that German stagnation is rooted in domestic policy failures rather than a lack of labor influx. Bernhard argues that “the market won’t start if everyone is unsettled,” insisting that “decisions are needed now, a clear stance is needed.”
China is also successfully expanding its market share across Asia, South America, Africa, the Middle East, and Europe by offering competitive pricing that traditional powers struggle to match. However, it is not just cheaper prices, but also innovative products. In areas such as electric vehicles, China features more advanced batteries,
Even within Germany, Chinese imports are rising disproportionately.
Looking toward 2026, German experts admit their own forecasts are on “shaky ground.” VDW economist Sonna Pelz points out that “the critical point is primarily domestic developments.” Meanwhile, China continues to execute its internal roadmap, proving that industrial dominance can be achieved through disciplined national planning, immigration restriction, and the modernization of its own industrial base.
In France, a 24-year-old man, Mohammed D., has now been sentenced to nine years in prison after he snuck through a window and raped a building caretaker at knifepoint in a case that dates back to the summer of 2023.
The Paris Assize Court sentenced the man to nine years in prison on Jan. 16, 2026, for an incident that dates back to Aug. 7 to Aug. 8, 2023, in the 12th arrondissement of Paris.
The victim, a woman in her sixties who served as the caretaker of the building on Boulevard de Charonne, had left her apartment window open due to the summer heat.
Mohammed D., who was 22 at the time, entered the residence illegally. The victim discovered him as he was “rummaging in his living room.” Following this confrontation, the accused raped the woman at knifepoint. The victim eventually managed to escape the apartment and alert authorities.
The perpetrator was apprehended four days after the attack by municipal police near the station “from Argenteuil” in Val-d’Oise. Upon his arrest, he admitted to the crimes and provided a full confession.
A judicial source confirmed the man received nine years in prison, a ban on French territory, a 15-year ban on carrying a weapon, and registration a sex offender.
Following the verdict, French newspaper Actu Paris reported that it offered closure in a case that has “frozen” the local community due to the horrific nature of the rape.
Remarkably, the case is very similar to a more recent case from just last month, which involved an unknown man raping a 72-year-old woman. The elderly French woman was simply trying to close the window to her apartment when an unidentified individual slipped into her home to rape and rob her in the “sensitive” Mureaux district in Yvelines, outside Paris. The neighborhood is known for its extremely high number of North African residents.
The incident, which happened on Dec. 15, involved an unidentified suspect who, according to police, “hit her and then dragged her to her room before tying her up. He pinned her to the ground, took off her clothes and penetrated her vaginally. The attacker then stole several objects from the victim’s home before leaving the scene.”
DNA in the case was retrieved by police and an investigation is ongoing.
Other cases involving men crawling in through victim’s windows and often sexually assaulting a victim, have been widespread, including in Switzerland.
Despite a long list of global wars and threats, as well as a domestic economy dealing with a slew of bankruptcies, data from a new Insa poll shows that half of Germans believe migration is “Germany’s biggest problem.”
Overall, the Insa poll shows 50 percent of respondents agree that migration is Germany’s biggest problem, while 38 percent reject this position.
Broken down by party, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) clearly sees migration as the biggest problem, with 83 percent naming it as the biggest issue. However, other parties also recognize it as the nation’s biggest problem, including the left-wing BSW, with 58 percent of the party’s voters naming it the number one issue.
For the Christian Democrats (CDU), 50 percent of voters named it the biggest problem, while 38 percent said it was not the biggest problem.
On the left, only 23 percent of Greens and 24 percent of Left Party voters named it the biggest problem, while only 36 percent of SPD voters ranked it as the top priority.
However, these results are still notable, with sizable shares of left-wing voters still seeing migration as the biggest issue. Similar polls have shown that many left-wing voters are gravely concerned with immigration, even as they continue to vote for parties that support open borders.
They also come after a major poll from YouGov showed that the majority of Germans support an immigration moratorium and mass deportations. The poll also found that a majority of Germans believed that too many legal migrants had arrived.
Beyond migration, Germans are increasingly wary of the country’s economic health. A substantial 65 percent of respondents to a new Insa survey agree with the statement that the German economy is currently experiencing a significant decline. Only 21 percent disagree. This economic anxiety crosses party lines, with even half of Green and SPD voters acknowledging a downturn.
The Insa poll also shows that a majority of Germans believe freedom of opinion is threatened. The survey found that 56 percent express great concerns about freedom of expression in Germany, while 33 percent disagree. This sentiment is particularly strong in the eastern part of the country (63 percent) compared to the west (54 percent).
While AfD and BSW voters are highly concerned about their ability to speak freely, supporters of the Greens and FDP generally do not share these fears at the same rate.
The poll also showed that the AfD leads with 26 percent, followed closely by the CDU/CSU at 25 percent. The governing parties continue to struggle. The SPD is at 14 percent, the Greens at 12, and the Left Party at 10.5 percent.
While the Union (CDU/CSU) holds the highest theoretical “potential” at 41 percent, the AfD maintains the most loyal base. Insa notes that the AfD has the “highest proportion of so-called secure votes” at 20 percent, compared to 18 percent for the CDU/CSU.
Let’s start from the beginning. At the Einaudi-Chiodo vocational institute in La Spezia, last Friday, the 19-year-old Egyptian Abanoub Youssef, a Coptic Christian with Italian citizenship, was stabbed to death in class by the 18-year-old Moroccan Zouhair Atif, who arrived in Italy in 2017 thanks to a family reunion. The murderous rampage was apparently triggered by childhood photographs exchanged by the victim with a girl of Indian origin whom Atif was dating.
One professor described Atif as a student who “loved poetry and study, could be generous but had the abyss inside”. According to schoolmates, it was a tragedy foretold. The Moroccan man used to walk around armed with a knife and had already threatened another student outside the institute. A schoolmate said the Moroccan “he went around asking what happens in Italy to someone who kills a person.” “During a meeting with a teacher, everyone had to express a dream. When it was Atif’s turn, he came out saying ‘I’d like to see what a thrill it feels like to kill someone’ but she didn’t do anything,” another student said.
50 per cent of juvenile detainees are foreigners
All this should have led to a profound reflection on what has now become a real emergency: the violence of the so-called “maranza”. In juvenile prisons, almost 50 percent of detainees are foreigners, despite the fact that foreigners represent 12 percent of residents in Italy for that age group. Moreover, the “new Italians”, approximately 1 million minors of foreign origin who have acquired Italian citizenship, are counted as Italians.
Furthermore, according to the report of the Ministry of the Interior’s Department of Public Security, in 2023, out of 315 minors reported for the crime of sexual violence, 177 were foreigners, a full 56 percent.
The French “model”
Italy is following exactly and at great speed the same path as France where, as well explained in the investigative book “Racism against whites” Of François Bousquet (published in Italy by Passaggio al Bosco), native students have been subjected to violence by their classmates of foreign origin for decades, in complete institutional silence. Indeed, a sort of assimilation is taking place in reverse: to save themselves from attacks by allogeneic animals, young French people are becoming Africanized, becoming gods “maranza” themselves.
Besides, a few years ago, Rokhaya Diallo, a French journalist of African origins, stated: “White France no longer exists and those who do not appreciate it must leave.”
Meanwhile, French children and young people are beaten, robbed, bullied and humiliated at school by peers with a migration background. They are often not even protected by families because they are too clouded by progressive ideology.
“If by adventure the children of non-European immigrants indulge in racist insults or attacks, it will never be their fault, but ours, because their misdirected youth is the product of our systemic oppression,” writes Bousquet.
In fact, Italian progressives justified Abanoub’s murder, speaking of a lack of inclusion and accusing the language of hatred against immigrants.
The “knife culture”
It’s obvious now. Left and progressive media will never do serious mea culpa on the imported crime emergency. This is because, with the open ports policy and the apologetic propaganda of multicultural society, they have changed the Face of our Nation in a decade or so. Thus, for every bloody event, every rape, every violent robbery, they censor the news and, when that is not possible, justify those brutalities perpetrated by immigrants through ridiculous accusations of the absence of inclusion policies.
What made the progressive world jump out of its seat, was Pierluigi Peracchini, mayor of La Spezia, who declared that “the use of the knife is only of certain ethnic groups”. In August 2024, after multiple stabbings perpetrated by immigrants in Trieste, the chief prosecutor Federico Frezza he had talked about “knife culture,” stating: “It’s a never-ending phenomenon that we’re struggling to respond to, I’m starting to get worried”.
For progressives, the problem is the lack of emotional education in school
After Abanoub’s murder, on Republic, Concita De Gregorio he wrote that it is indispensable “to disarm words.” The journalist made a specific reference to center-right newspaper headlines about the violence of young immigrants: “Knives arm the boys’ hands after other blades have armed their way of thinking and acting.” Moreover, at least for the moment, Zouhair Atif cannot be acquitted in the media under the pretext of mental illness or a life on the margins of society.
To throw the ball into the stands, the director of Fanpage, Francis Cancelled, wrote about the sabotage of affective education in schools: “Kids of foreign origin are the perfect scapegoat for 2026.” That these subjects live in their bubble is obvious but they have never been in front of a station or in a park? The progressive spin has left, too Saverio Tommasi attacked the government, writing: “The fact that this government doesn’t even have the manners to consider the need for courses on affectivity and sexuality will remain one of the indelible stains on the reputation of every single person in this government who is part of or supports it.”
From La7 to Silvia Salis
During a broadcast of La7, John Floris he said that in school, one should study effective education to relate to others but, without parental consent, it cannot be done. Then, turn your attention to the racism of Italian families who would warn their children like this: “Be careful, those are the children of Africans who have blades.” So, North Africans stab you because you think they stab you? Then, Floris has a brilliant solution: “If people come from other nations, we welcome them and tell them: violence is not used here.” Guest of the same show, Massimo Gianninidismissed the Abanoub murder with the need to use “language that includes and respects.”
Second Silvia Salis, mayor of Genoa, to stop the violence of the “maranza,” we should listen to the discomfort of the children, also by strengthening sexual-effective education in schools. To answer her on La Verità, he thought about it Francesco Borgonovo: “The most educational measure is to repatriate the foreigner who does not respect the law.” On To come, Maurizio Ambrosini He wrote that the answer is the integration of foreign boys, not “deleterious remigration.”
Sara Funaro, the Democratic mayor of Florence, stated: “We have a security problem in our country and we have a security problem in our cities.” But, until three years ago, wasn’t the lack of security just a misperception of citizens?
While immigrants and second generations continue to be held accountable, justifying their every wickedness by the lack of measures aimed at inclusion, the native white male is being exposed and efforts are being made to re-educate him. And that’s precisely what the sex-effective education so much called for by progressives is for.
Francesca Totolo is an Italian independent researcher, reporter, and writer. Its investigations, reported by several international media. She has written on topics such as globalism, non-governmental organizations, political movements, and government false flags against so-called rogue states. With Altaforte Edizioni she has published five books: “Inferno Spa”, “Coronavirus: everything that doesn’t add up to the epidemic that has shaken the world”, “Left Morality”, “Anti-Fascist Emergency” and “Women’s Lives Matter”.
Despite sparking global news coverage documenting violence, sexual assaults, and drug-related crimes in the shared living integration project “Stek Oost,” the city of Amsterdam refuses to shut the project down. According to public broadcaster BNNVARA, the municipality has rejected calls to shutter the facility early and plans to run the project until its scheduled end in April 2028.
The project, which launched in 2018, was the subject of a recent NPO 2 report where residents detailed an environment of frequent violence. Records indicate that the housing association responsible for the site, Stadgenoot, had requested an intervention plan from police and city officials as early as 2019 to address sexual abuse.
The news report highlighted serious cases and interviewed the victims in some instances, which has been translated by Remix News.
🇳🇱🔴Nightmare multiculturalism experiment was supposed to be a uptopia.
In Amsterdam, 125 young students were placed with 125 refugees to live together. This video details how sexual assaults, rapes, knife threats, and harassment ensued.
A Syrian resident was linked to a rape in 2019, but the case was initially closed due to insufficient evidence. However, the individual remained at the dormitory until March 2022, when a second sexual offense led to his expulsion and a subsequent prison sentence.
The former resident said that a Syrian raped her after she went to his room to watch a film and he would not let her leave. He then raped her. The woman, Amanda, said: “He wanted to learn Dutch, to get an education. I wanted to help him.”
In addition, students living in the shared spaces reported being threatened with kitchen knives. One student described a 20-centimeter-long blade.
Stadgenoot reportedly considered pulling out of the project in 2023 after its own employees faced threats.
“Stek Oost” was designed to foster social cohesion by housing asylum seekers and Dutch students together. Initially, the 250 apartments were split in half between the two groups, so 125 places for each group. However, the ratio of asylum seekers was later reduced to 30 percent. A “buddy system” was implemented to connect the groups and promote integration.
Despite the controversies, the City of Amsterdam has blocked attempts to close the project. District President Carolien de Heer (PvdA) defended the decision to the broadcaster, stating that “250 people could not be put on the streets at once.”
However, what he does not note is that the refugees could simply be removed to another facility, which would not total 250 people.
The project has long been a source of political friction. In 2022, Green Mayor Femke Halsema acknowledged she was aware of the ongoing problems. By 2024, parties including the VVD and JA21 called for the project’s termination.
A scheduled debate on the facility was recently removed from the Municipal Council’s agenda, despite a request for discussion from Anton van Schijndel of the nationalist FvD party (Forum for Democracy).
Now, there are potential political implications to closing the project early, which could be seen as a failure of integration, even when forced and facilitated by the state in a controlled environment.
The World Economic Forum opened in Davos in a turbulent geopolitical environment, where EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen spoke simultaneously about massive financial and military support for Ukraine as well as tensions around Greenland.
“We all want peace for Ukraine. We recognize President Trump’s role in pushing the peace process forward, and we will work closely with the United States. We all agree that Ukraine must therefore be in a position of strength to go to the negotiation table. This is why we Europeans have decided to provide Ukraine with a loan of €90 billion for 2026 and 2027,” she said.
The EU and its member states have given approximately €197 billion to Ukraine in total, all at a time when the Zelensky government has faced a massive corruption scandal, which led to multiple top ministers resigning and being arrested. In the case of Ukrainian oligarch and close Zelensky associate, Timur Mindich, he fled the country to Israel hours before his apartment was raided by anti-corruption NABU police, where they discovered his golden toilet and bundles of cash.
“With this support, we make sure that Ukraine can: bolster its defence on the battlefield; strengthen its defence capabilities for a peace agreement; and keep basic services running,” she said. “Above all, it reaffirms Europe’s unwavering commitment to the security, defence, and European future of Ukraine.”
Von der Leyen emphasized that the European Union must adapt to a rapidly changing world, especially in the field of security policy.
One of the central elements of his speech was Ukraine: he reminded that the war is now entering its fourth year and that it must end.
She added that the EU may still come after Russia’s frozen assets.
“In parallel, we decided to permanently immobilize the Russian assets and that we reserve the right to make use of them,” she said.
Von der Leyen also talked of defending the Arctic and said the EU shares American concerns about security, but that security can only be achieved together.
She also criticized the new tariffs proposed by the United States, especially among what she said were allies.
According to the chairman of the committee, Europe must develop its own security strategy, which will include an updated approach to the Arctic. At the heart of this is the basic principle that sovereign peoples can decide for themselves about their own future – be it Ukraine or Greenland.
The Austrian city of St. Pölten illustrates how, in even smaller European cities, the social and financial burden of foreigners is incredible, the latest sign that foreigners on welfare is not just a problem for major cities, but also in smaller cities, towns, and even rural areas.
The data shows that 49 percent of all social assistance paid out in the small city of approximately 56,000 people is going to just two groups of origin: Syrians and Afghans, according to the Austria Press Agency (APA).
The data shows that a total of 1,278 people in the Lower Austrian capital receive social benefits, as of January 2026. Nearly half of these recipients, 528 people, are from Syria, which amounts to 41 percent of recipients. In addition, Afghans receive another 8 percent, which amounts to 99 recipients.
In total, 72 percent of all recipients are foreigners, when factoring in all recipients, which includes other foreign countries besides Afghanistan and Syria.
Of those with Austrian citizenship, there are 359 beneficiaries, amounting to just 28 percent of the fund, despite this group making up the vast majority of people in the small city.
The Austrian Freedom Party (FPÖ), known for its opposition to mass immigration and a proponent of remigration, has reacted negatively to the welfare data.
State Councillor and top candidate Martin Antauer stated in a press release: “Social assistance is there to help Austrians in need through no fault of their own so that they can get back on their feet and not for Syrians and Afghans who have never paid a cent into the system and are making themselves comfortable in the social hammock.“
Antauer says that social assistance must be linked to Austrian citizenship.
Austria, like many other European countries, is facing billions in costs linked to mass immigration, including social benefits, housing, and education costs. Notably, nearly all cases of welfare fraud are linked to foreigners.
“More than 70 percent of the suspects are not Austrian citizens,” said Gerald Tatzgern, head of the department for combating welfare fraud. One common form of fraud is couples registering at different apartments to receive higher benefits, while still living in the same house or apartment.
At the same time, these same foreign groups are committing an extremely disproportionate amount of crime in the country, committing nearly half of all crimes.
🇦🇹‼️ 534,193 criminal cases were reported in Austria last year.
The tremendous costs of migrants are being felt across Europe, including one landmark study from the University of Amsterdam, which showed that migrants had cost the Netherlands an incredible €400 billion between 1995 and 2019.
Meanwhile, researchers in France estimate that migrants cost the French state €25 billion a year.
A Dutch volunteer who fought in the war in Ukraine is sharing his experience with Dutch media and is sharply critical of the ruling Zelensky government.
“Ukraine is ruled by a corrupt gang. I was there for the citizens. They can do nothing about these abuses,” said Dutch war volunteer Hendrik.
For several months now, the volunteer has been back in the Netherlands, where he has returned to work and is rebuilding his life. He claims there is no point in being in Ukraine anymore. After his participation in the fight and his relationships with his colleagues, only memories remain.
Although he says returning to Ukraine is not an option at this time, he cautions, “Never say never.” He emphasizes that the most important thing is that the war does not spill over into Europe.
As he points out, if he returned, he would not do so out of sympathy for the Ukrainian government, which has been enveloped in corruption scandal after corruption scandal, including the “golden toilet” scandal, which continues to rock the nation.
During his time in Ukraine, he came into contact with Bandera supporters, Colombians, a commander who threatened him with a gun and wanted to send him to a trench despite suffering a serious wound, as well as with other foreigners and Ukrainians who became his dear friends.
In the Netherlands, Hendrik worked as a ship mechanic, and he says he enjoyed the job. As he reports, it was for his colleagues from the units in which he fought that he decided to return to Ukraine twice.
“When you are so deeply involved in this war, normal life is difficult. It’s a topic I’ve often talked about with other boys who have been through the same thing,” Hendrik said. “When you enter this machine, the rest of the world ceases to exist. Just this moment. And what happens when you come home: it’s nice to see your family again. Your body is here, but your mind is there,” he told De Telegraaf.
A group of thugs severely beat an aspiring medical student, 23-year-old Paul S, fracturing his knee in seven different places and severely damaging his leg to the point that he needs a new knee. Now, after weeks of police failures, four suspects have finally been arrested.
Notably, three have German citizenship, but all come from foreign countries, namely Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
Paul S. had left a bar with friends in Essen’s Rüttenscheid district when he and his friends were attacked by a mob of “Southern-looking men.” For the full details of the story, read this Remix News report here.
The beating was so severe that Paul now has his leg held together by screws and plates. It remains uncertain whetherhe will ever walk again, and doctors say it is likely he will need a new knee. His mother details how his dream job of being a surgeon now appears to be gone forever.
However, after the attack, just about every institution failed Paul. An emergency room doctor told him that there was nothing wrong, and she even denied him painkillers before another hospital took him in and revealed that he had one of the worst cases of damage to the knee they had ever seen.
Her decision to send him away without painkillers had a cascading effect on his case, as police were told there were light injuries. As a result, they did not search for witnesses or acquire surveillance footage. However, the police were reportedly quickly made aware of how serious the injuries were, but still did not seek out witnesses or other evidence.
Paul’s mother offered a €10,000 reward for information about the perpetrators, and it was only thanks to her efforts that the case is being cracked open.
“My son wants to become a surgeon,” said 46-year-old Jeanine S. when speaking with Bild.
She notes that doctors have to stand for long hours at an operating table, and now it is unclear if he will ever be able to do that.
“With these lifelong consequences, nobody knows,” she said.
On Jan. 10, around 12:15 a.m., two witnesses called the police and said they knew several of the thugs int the case. The suspects were tracked down in Christinenpark, where police pursued them while they tried to hide in a bush, according to Bild.
One suspect was a 17-year-old German citizen with Iraqi nationality, another was an 18-year-old German citizen with Afghan nationality, and another was a 19-year-old with German citizenship and Syrian nationality.
However, the fourth suspect is a 19-year-old German known as a serious and intensive offender. However, just the fact that he is German says nothing about his nationality background. While the other suspects are dual citizens, the fourth one may have a migration background, but that data is not made available to the public.
A homeless Algerian man has been jailed for a violent assault of a woman with whom he had a brief relationship. During the attack, the man struck her multiple times with brass knuckles on her belly, all while a passerby filmed the scene.
The 29-year-old man, Ihabd M., already had a deportation order when he began assaulting the woman in the city of Montauban on Jan. 9, 2026. He has now been sentenced to six months in prison for the vicious assault, along with numerous break-ins to houses in the area.
The most serious crime, the assault on the pregnant woman, occurred near the Ingres Museum, where police discovered a pregnant woman in shock on the sidewalk. She reported being struck in the abdomen. A neighbor captured the assault on video and alerted authorities, leading to the discovery of brass knuckles nearby.
The defendant was found in the vicinity with an extremely high blood alcohol level of 1.16 grams. While he first attempted to provide police with a false identity, DNA testing on the suspect linked him to a previous aggravated robbery in Bordeaux.
During the trial, the suspect’s story shifted as evidence mounted. “I didn’t hit her. I didn’t have brass knuckles,” he first claimed. However, after the court reviewed the footage, his denials transitioned into partial confessions, according to French news outlet La Depeche.
The victim, a mother of four from Villeneuve-sur-Lot, testified about a brief relationship with the defendant that turned violent during a night of drinking. She suggested her drink may have been tampered with, stating, “I know they put something in my vodka,” before the judge steered the testimony back to the physical assault. The woman detailed being slapped and kicked, resulting in a nosebleed and three days of total incapacity for work.
The court also addressed two incidents from late December, one where a homeowner caught the suspect and a female companion breaking into his residence. After a brief confrontation where the owner was struck, the pair fled.
In another case, police found individuals had broken into a property, which contained a mattress and traces of blood, linking the defendant to the site.
Despite his lawyer’s plea for a suspended sentence based on “precarious circumstances,” the court sided with the prosecution. He was sentenced to six months in prison, a five-year ban on entering French territory, and financial compensation to the homeowner and assault victim.
Following a series of sexual assaults, groping incidents, and knife attacks in the Havel Thermal Baths in the city of Werder, it has now become clearer who was actuallly behind these after initial reports of “male groups” of suspects.
Like many other such incidents in Germany, in particular at swimming pools, foreign males are once again the suspects again be fingered as the main suspects.
In a segment from Welt news, Andreas Schauer, the managing director of Havel Thermal Baths in Werder, said, regarding the need for new gender quotas and increased security: “Of course, this is extremely regrettable. Of course, it also costs a lot of money, but on the other hand, it is simply necessary. They may also be groups of men from a culture or country where there may not be baths or saunas where people are naked.”
🇩🇪After a series of sexual assaults and knife attacks at a thermal bath spa in Germany, a director of the spa is now being clear that foreign men were behind the attacks and sexual violence.
“Of course, this is extremely regrettable. Of course, it also costs a lot of money, but… pic.twitter.com/97JtBlxXyA
The Havel Thermal Baths in Werder, located close to the city of Potsdam, made national news after putting in place stricter controls and gender-based restrictions after a series of incidents involving groups of men committing sexual harassment, violence, and stabbings. Remix News originally reported that “groups of men” were involved in these various criminal incidents, but their identities and nationalities were not disclosed initially.
“We had big problems, especially with groups of men, some of whom were also drunk,” Schauer told Berliner Zeitung after the attacks.
“Even groping guests and staff and even stabbings in the parking lot,” said the managing director.
As a result of these incidents, external security services were hired at the location. In addition, in order to limit gender imbalances, no gender may outnumber the other gender by more than 20 percent. If this limit is reached, entry may be temporarily restricted even if the thermal bath is not at full capacity.
🇩🇪 "I was at the outdoor pool in Zeitz (Germany) yesterday. What can I say?"
"The obvious migrant guests there, who are perhaps from Syria, Afghanistan or whatever, were always romping around in the children’s pools. The men were lying around in the children’s pools, sitting on… pic.twitter.com/Muih5UqhQv
The fact that once again foreign men are involved raises serious questions within Germany about societal and security adaptations that were never necessary before the advent of mass immigration. Whether it’s mass surveillance, riot police at swimming pools, or concrete barriers at Christmas markets, European society has to introduce an entirely different security environment due to mass immigration.
The incidents at the Havel Thermal Baths have echoes of the various incidents at German and Austrian pools in recent years involving sexual assault, mass brawls, acts of disrespect towards pool staff, and groping attacks, which led to a massive increase in police presence and increased security. However, this time, the attacks are taking place in the mostly indoor and upscale Havel Thermal Baths, according to Berliner Zeitung.
Last year, crime statistics showcased just how prevalent foreigners are in crimes against sexual determination in German swimming pools in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany’s largest state by population.
Crime also soared 65 percent in Lower Saxony’s swimming pools, and foreigners account for a huge share of these crimes, according to German government data released in response to a parliamentary inquiry from the Alternative for Germany (AfD).
The data shows that crime at swimming pools in the German state went from 780 cases in 2023 to 1,286 in 2024.
For sexual crimes, foreigners made up 41.67 percent of perpetrators in 2024, with 13 Syrian suspects and seven Afghan suspects among the foreigners arrested. In total, there were 116 sexual crime cases in 2024 in Lower Saxony swimming pools.
President Donald Trump’s push to annex Greenland is sparking backlash from a European right that is usually rooting for the U.S. president. Parties such as France’s National Rally and the Alternative for Germany (AfD) are coming out in opposition to not only Trump’s plan to acquire Greenland, but there is also calls to scrap the tariff deal that was signed between the European Union and the United States.
Following Trump’s calls to place a 10 percent tariff on European nations he argued are hostile to his plans to acquire Greenland — which incldudes nations like Germany, Norway, and France — these nations released a statement. They argue that this tariff, which will jump to 25 percent in June, can “undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral.”
In France, MEP Jordan Bardella, president of Marine Le Pen’s National Rally party, posted that the EU should suspend last year’s tariff deal with the U.S.. He said Trump’s threats amount to “commercial blackmail.”
“The threats issued by Donald Trump against the sovereignty of a state, all the more so a European one, are unacceptable. Commercial blackmail is no more tolerable. We call on the European Union to suspend the agreement concluded last July, which we had denounced at the time, that commits our interests without sufficient counter-parties,” wrote Bardella on X.
Les menaces proférées par Donald Trump à l’encontre de la souveraineté d’un État, a fortiori européen, ne sont pas acceptables.
Le chantage commercial n’est pas davantage tolérable. Nous appelons l’Union européenne à suspendre l’accord conclu en juillet dernier, que nous avions…
His comments were not so far off his rival, French President Emmanuel Macron, who wrote on social media that “no intimidation or threats will influence us, whether in Ukraine, Greenland or anywhere else in the world when we are faced with such situations.” He added that “tariff threats are unacceptable and have no place in this context.”
In Germany, the AfD co-leader Alice Weidel was sharply critical of Trump’s foreign policy interventions, including Venezuela and now Greenland.
“Those who for years criticized and protested against Putin for violating international law are now silent when Trump does the same thing in Venezuela and Greenland. This hypocritical silence in the face of sovereignty violations is striking,” she said.
🚨BREAKING NEWS
Alice Weidel, leader of the AfD party in Germany:
“Those who for years criticized and protested against Putin for violating international law are now silent when Trump does the same thing in Venezuela and Greenland.
In Italy, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Sunday said she had spoken to him about his proposed tariffs, which she said were “a mistake.”
She told reporters that the deployment to Greenland of dozens of troops from eight nations was misunderstood by Washington. She claimed the deployment was not aimed at the U.S. but instead directed at other “actors” who she did not name.
Trump appears to be primarily targeting nations that sent troops to Greenland, albeit in very small numbers. These nations include NATO allies, Denmark, France, Norway, Sweden, Germany, the United Kingdom, Finland, and the Netherlands, which joined the Danish military training exercise “Arctic Endurance.”
Greenland is a semiautonomous territory of Denmark that Trump says is critical to U.S. national security and which he argues is unable to be defended by Denmark from Russia and China.
“We stand in full solidarity with the Kingdom of Denmark and the people of Greenland,” the group of eight nations said. “Building on the process begun last week, we stand ready to engage in a dialogue based on the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity that we stand firmly behind. Tariff threats undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral.”
Recently, Remix News has experienced increasing censorship on the X social media platform. This is nothing new for Remix News, as we have a long history of being censored, whether it is Facebook, TikTok, or even old Twitter, where our account was banned for two years for a completely contrived reason. However, this latest bout of censoring comes after a recent speech delivered by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
In the speech, she compared free speech to a “virus” that needs to be inoculated — all through the use of so-called “prebunking.”
”If you think of information manipulation as a virus. Instead of treating an infection once it has taken hold—that is debunking—it is much better to vaccinate so that the body is inoculated. Prebunking is the same approach. Because disinformation relies on people passing it on to others,” she stated.
So here we have Ursula von der Leyen describing free speech as a virus and censorship as its vaccine……. pic.twitter.com/ApIUT4UMPq
Essentially, under Orwellian terms like “disinformation,” the EU is now supposedly throttling reach on content that does not fit its narrative. This new term for censorship is “prebunking.”
It cannot be proven who is censoring Remix News, as both the EU and X itself are not transparent about how censorship takes place or how it is enacted. However, through the Digital Services Act (DSA), there is no doubt that censorship is taking place.
None of the Remix News posts being censored are factually incorrect and none of them are “fake news” or “disinformation.” However, they do showcase the incredible crime problem brought on by mass immigration, and that is exactly the kind of topic that the EU is desperate to stamp out. This is especially true at a time when the EU’s establishment parties are increasingly threatened due to their own disastrous policies, with immigration only one of many, but perhaps the topic most likely to be censored.
How is Remix News being censored?
Before noting some of these recent posts that are being censored, it must first be established how Remix News is aware that posts are being censored. It is actually quite straightforward. When a post has been censored on X, it is not just a matter of reduced reach, but there are also a number of other tell-tale signs. This includes the inability to link posts outside of X or embed them into third-party apps or websites, including this one.
Most posts facing censorship on X are related to crimes involving foreigners, and this is just a small sampling of the posts that have been censored over the last two months.
The first one involves a 5-year-old girl being the victim in a heinous sexual assault inside a toilet at an Austrian playground, which also showcased the suspect’s description while he was still on the run. The man also beat the young girl’s elderly caregiver. In the post, Remix News shared a composite sketch and description of the man, who still has not been apprehended.
In other words, censoring this X post not only had nothing to do with the facts of the case, which are not disputed, but also occurred as an act of censorship pertinent to public safety information.
Algerian arrested for rape of 15-year-old Frenchgirl
Just days ago, a Remix News post was censored involving an Algerian migrant who raped a 15-year-old girl in France, despite the man having an open deportation order and multiple crimes on his record. Remix News simply provided a translation of the news report, which was then censored on X.
French youth has his faced carved into the Joker’s smile by African migrant
In another post, a video report showcases how a young Frenchman who had his faced carved up into a “Joker’s smile” in Paris by a rampaging African illegal migrant with a long criminal record, who should have already been deported.
While running from police, the suspect also seriously injured another tourist in their face in a stabbing attack. Here is the link to the X post, which cannot be embedded into the website because it is censored.
This was just one of many posts that were censored on this specific attack that were published on X.
African man’s lawyer argues in court that he raped and beat his wife because of his ‘culture’
In another incident in Belgium, an African man placed a trash bag over his wife’s head before raping and strangling her, but his lawyer argues in court that he “comes from a culture where a woman has to satisfy her husband.” Again, this post was censored on X.
Convicted Afghan child rapist avoids jail
Another post described how a convicted Afghan child rapist, Irshad Ahmad, avoided prison in Sweden due to his age but was then charged again with raping a child, this time at gunpoint. He was convicted in July 2024 for the aggravated rape of a 13-year-old girl in Malmö. He and a friend held a knife to the girl and forced her to perform oral sex on them, threatening to kill her if she refused.
They filmed the attack. As Ahmad was 15 at the time, he was sentenced to just 10 months of youth supervision. The second attack took place in November last year, with prosecutors believing some form of firearm was used to coerce another minor into performing sex acts. As Ahmad, who arrived with his family from Afghanistan, is now a Swedish citizen as of 2022, he cannot be deported. Again, the post was censored, despite all this information being factual.
Brutal rape of German elderly woman
This post was also censored. A 24-year-old Algerian migrant is on trial in Germany for breaking into a disabled 66-year-old woman’s apartment in Stendal and brutally raping her — all while filming. The case, dating back to February 2025, involves the Algerian man threatening the woman with a knife. He then began raping the woman while filming much of the rape on his smartphone. The rape reportedly lasted for hours.
Eventually, the woman was able to call for help, at which time the perpetrator fled before being arrested. The Algerian migrant has no fixed address and has a long criminal record. He was also facing charges in Bielefeld for another crime.
No appeal process, no transparency, and no recourse. The EU’s pre-bunking protocol could be responsible, but it would also be appropriate if X was more transparent with how and why these posts are being censored, which could also shed more light on the issue.
In general, most posts being censored tend to be about serious crimes involving migrants, many who were often already ordered to be deported for various past crimes but never were. These are the same type of crimes and incidents that are fueling support for right-wing parties across Europe, the same parties the EU is determined to keep from power. They will use censorship, lawfare, and of course, the DSA, to ensure this happens.
If these were “one-off” incidents and did not point to a broader trend seen across Europe, which is showcased by countless crime statistics, and even pointed out by police unions as the driving factor behind Europe’s soaring crime problem, then of course Remix News could be accused of some form of “promoting a fake agenda.” However, this is a broad and daily societal problem that is wreaking havoc across Europe, and these stories deserve to be heard and seen — no matter what the power structure in the EU, along with their various NGOs and activists, desire.
AI systems play an increasing role in censorship
To be clear, not every post is being censored on X, but whoever is behind these censorship efforts appears to be targeting certain posts, many of which are likely to spread to a larger audience. These posts are also censored incredibly quickly, which assumes either someone is assigned to watch Remix News, or AI systems are at work, or a combination of both.
Presumably, the EU’s Digital Service Act (DSA) and its enforcers are employing AI systems across the EU to target accounts like @RMXnews. There could even be a situation where “trusted flaggers” are watching the news flow across Europe, identifying which stories could attract the public’s attention, and then run keywords into their trackers that flag any account posting about them.
However, due to how opaque this process is, which organizations or individuals are behind these censorship efforts remains entirely hidden behind the curtain. How much X itself is involved in this censorship directly can only be speculated on as well.
Regardless, von der Leyen’s claim that “free speech” is alive and well in the EU is a flat-out lie and a perhaps a form of “disinformation” all in itself. It is only alive and well for pre-approved narratives that benefit the class that currently controls the political levers. For those who speak out of line, their houses can be raided and they can face prosecution. German law is even preparing for the ability for authorities to raid editorial offices without a warrant.
Freedom of speech is the foundation of our strong and vibrant European democracy.
Remix News may be yet again facing censorship, but it is important to continue reporting on the reality facing Europeans and the global West. The victims deserve to have their stories told after their lives were shattered and their security stolen. Only a very few ever come forward, likely terrified at being called racist, but some, after paying the ultimate cost, find their voice. They also deserve to have their story told.
His daughter was murdered by an illegal Palestinian migrant, stabbed 38 times, along with her boyfriend.
17-year-old Ann-Marie is gone, but her father won't let her memory die. He delivered a message to Olaf Scholz's face:
The left will likely never be held accountable for the disaster that has been open borders, but even some on the leftists voicing opinions that would be commonplace on Remix News. It is important to remember this is not just a “right-wing” talking point, but a grave concern, even among those on the left, and certainly among the general population, as polling has shown.
🇩🇰🚨 Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen used her New Year's address to promise ramped-up deportations for foreign criminals.
"We do not want your culture of dominance. You are destroying the most beautiful country in the world." pic.twitter.com/XKdbTmNXRn
Remix News, despite its incredibly small size, has caught the attention of larger influencers, including the likes of Elon Musk, who has shared or commented on our content on more than one occasion. This makes us targets, along with journalists and other outlets that publish content the EU elite do not approve of.
While Musk does not desire to have mass censorship on his platform, the EU is turning the screws and Western countries are increasingly threatening to ban the platform entirely. There appears to be no easy solution going ahead for free speech and the free flow of information, especially when the elite are in a desperate struggle to maintain their power.
Growing violence in German schools is an issue facing the entire country, in large part due to mass immigration. Now, after the Cottbus public prosecutor’s office launched an investigation into 18 specific cases of serious violence in the migrant-dominated Regine Hildebrandt Primary School in the south of Cottbus, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) is speaking out against the violence.
The revelation that so many criminal investigations are ongoing at just one school was shared by Brandenburg’s Interior Minister René Wilke on Wednesday during the Interior Committee of the Brandenburg State Parliament. There are also seven additional investigations pending before the police.
The school has drawn national attention due to the levels of violence being seen inside, with parents writing an open letter seeking help from authorities as their children become targets. In the letter, which was first reported on by German news outlet Junge Freiheit, the parents reported physical attacks with serious injuries, including one student who suffered a concussion. In addition, students were using pepper spray, as well as fighting with kicks and punches.
A father at the Regine Hildebrandt Primary School told Junge Freiheit that there were “at least two to three attacks” a week before he took his children out of school. He said that the names of the perpetrators were “for example, Ali, Mohammed, and Ahmed.”
The data show that 43 percent of students at Regine Hildebrandt Elementary School have a migration background.
Dennis Hohloch, an Alternative for Germany (AfD) politician, said in response: “Immigration is the biggest problem, the biggest safety risk for our children in our schools. We had 3,209 violent offenses at our schools in 2024. If you take the 190 school days a year, that’s 17 violent offenses a day. This figure is 20% higher than 4 years ago. Violence in schools, especially here in Brandenburg, can no longer be minimized or glossed over, even if the SPD and the Ministry of Education keep trying.”
🇩🇪🔴German schools face increasing violence due to mass immigration.
In the city of Cottbus, the public prosecutor has launched 18 criminal investigations into cases of serious violence in the migrant-dominated Regine Hildebrandt Primary School.
He added that his party’s solutions include: “First and foremost, we would like to lower the age of criminal liability to 12 years. We will enforce the principle of German before regular schooling. We will implement migration caps at our schools. We will ban indoctrination by law. We will return to the principle of performance in accordance with the principle of encouraging rather than demanding and will once again focus on teaching basic cultural skills.”
🇩🇪🔴 A young German girl spoke of the nightmare she experiences from her Muslim classmates.
"Sometimes they say to me that I’m German. And yeah, then they laugh at me, curse at me and tease me. Others are always Muslim, and they ask me why I am not a Muslim. I said I am a… pic.twitter.com/gggVOm9IPs
While the AfD is the top polling party in Brandenburg by a large margin, the party is still far from power. Meanwhile, the chaos is only growing in the school system.
The interior minister described a serious crisis in the school and announced that “these acts would also have consequences very quickly.” However, what consequences remain to be seen, as under current laws, minors cannot be charged as adults, and in many cases, very little can be done criminally. While transferring them to other schools is possible, those schools will then face the same problems.
The minister affirmed that the list of criminal offenses is “very, very long and varied.” He described dangerous bodily harm, threats, insults, and coercion. Wilke described “aggressiveness and willingness to use violence as a prominent dimension.”
Now, in response to the violence, a security team has begun patrolling the school at a cost to taxpayers. In addition, police are conducting “threat” interviews with known perpetrators. Authorities are also meeting with Cottbus Mayor Tobias Schick (SPD).
The mayor, who belongs to the far-left SPD, which has been a prominent proponent of mass immigration, said during a press conference in August 2025 that the problem is a consequence “of partly unregulated, partly uncontrolled immigration in recent years.”
This situation is also hardly unique to Cottbus, as the issue is hitting German schools across the country, including major cities like Berlin. Approximately 40 percent of all violence in German schools is committed by foreigners; however, how much of the remaining 60 percent is committed by Germans with a migration background is not reported.
A Somali man is now on trial for rape and attempted murder of a 20-year-old Dutch woman in a case that was not previously reported, despite the case occuring in May 2024 in the Westerpark neighborhood of Amsterdam.
The Public Prosecution Service (OM) has demanded a five-year prison sentence combined with TBS (mandatory treatment) for of the suspect, Mohammed H., who was brought to the Netherlands when he was seven.
Mohammed H., who was apprehended at the scene by police, appeared in court yesterday for the substantive hearing. The Somali previously told police he would never want to commit a sex crime, but has a long criminal record consisting of eight pages, primarily for theft. He is a frequent cannabis user and continued to use drugs even while detained for the latest rape case.
The incident began late one night in May 2024, following a café visit, according to AT5.nl.
🇳🇱First, a Dutch woman was raped and beaten. It was all caught on surveillance camera, but police never released the footage or an image of the suspect.
A few days later, the African migrant Chris Jude raped and murdered 17-year-old Lisa.
As the victim walked along the Spaarndammerstraat, she realized a man was following her. The assailant grabbed her by the neck, dragged her into the park, and physically abused her. According to the OM, he also choked her during the assault.
“The worst nightmare has been experienced by the complainant,” the Public Prosecutor stated.
Despite being unable to breathe properly, the woman attempted to fight back and scream for help. She testified to the police that the suspect repeatedly threatened to kill her. The district attorney emphasized the trauma of the event.
The attack was interrupted only thanks to two local residents who heard the woman screaming. One of them immediately dialed 911, reporting that it sounded as though the victim was fighting for her life. After placing the call, the witness heard nothing for several minutes.
The victim’s lawyer, Chris Sent, emphasized that while these locals acted, others did not.
“She is very grateful to the witnesses,” says Chris Sent. “She lay there at some point. She saw cyclists passing by there, who stopped. Then she screamed too. But they continued driving. And it was a few minutes later that these witnesses, these two people who woke up, had the presence of mind to call 911. And that is also her message: ‘Don’t look away, call 911.’”
“It’s just because of the declarant’s incredible fighting spirit, the adrenaline that apparently came loose on her, and the police’s intervention that she’s still alive,” the prosecutor said. “All of the defendant’s actions were focused on death, and there was a significant chance of that consequence.”
Mohammed H. has been in pre-trial detention since his arrest. Throughout the hearing, he remained largely unresponsive. Aside from confirming his date of birth, he refused to speak, only occasionally nodding or shaking his head.
🇳🇱🇩🇪 Women in the Netherlands and Germany are now trying to defend themselves with "Smurf spray" after an asylum seeker raped and murdered 17-year-old Lisa.
"Since Lisa’s death, many of (self-defense) products have been sold out, including the Smurf spray."
According to the lawyer, this behavior was particularly distressing for the victim. “That’s really, really tricky for her. She is still looking for explanations. And he doesn’t give anything at all. He doesn’t even say, ‘I invoke my right to remain silent.’ Apparently, he’s there with his eyes closed. With a hoodie on.”
Judges and prosecutors made several attempts to engage him, but were unsuccessful. H. had also been uncooperative with the Probation Service and the Pieter Baan Center (psychiatric observation clinic) prior to the trial.
🇳🇱🔥 A Dutch woman being harassed on the streets of Amsterdam by a Black male films herself for safety.
Then, her hero shows up. He pulls up his bike and holds her hand.
She's now asking TikTok to help her find the unknown man who came to her aid. pic.twitter.com/ljFnjDI1Yi
The defense argued that alcohol and drugs played a role in the events of that night. However, the judge and the public prosecutor expressed a lack of confidence that H. would not re-offend in the future.
The Amsterdam-Amstelland Sexual Violence Center was also present during the hearing, with coordinator Aukje Bosman praising the courage of the victim.
Nigerians have a reputation for committing massive internet scams from Nigeria, but as they move into Western countries through mass immigration, these scams are also being direclty commited in their new home nations. This time, a high-profile trial at the Dresden Regional Court has concluded with the sentencing of a Nigerian fraud network that specialized in laundering money stolen from lonely women.
The group, consisting of three men and one woman, who all operated as the financial backbone for a notorious “Lovescamming” mafia.
Throughout the proceedings, the defendants—Hamsik E. (24), Sylvester E. (27), Ayomide N. (25), and Precious O. (25)—maintained a defiant display of wealth. Even while arriving from prison, they wore luxury labels such as Louis Vuitton. On paper, three were employed in vague professions, such as “designer,” while one was officially unemployed and collecting social benefits. Precious, the woman, was allegedly a “part-time waitress.”
The Presiding Judge Karl-Dietmar Elser did not seem to be impressed with their luxury clothing or accessories and handed down sentences of nearly four years each for aiding and abetting commercial and gang-related fraud. The judge noted that Precious O., specifically, earned the nickname “Gangster-Doll“ for her “behavior,” which included laughing at her victims in chats and conversations.
“In sentencing, it was taken into account that Precious O. laughed at the victims’ statements. Her nickname ‘Gangster Doll‘ is no coincidence,” said the presiding judge.
Defrauding lonely women
The court highlighted the case of a blind woman from Dresden who was defrauded of €30,000. She believed she was in a relationship with “Dr. Daniel Steven,” a 47-year-old widowed American doctor allegedly stationed in Syria.
Bild newspaper highlights that the scam had many layers of sophistication, and in fact, the woman appears to still have trouble believing it is a scam. During the trial, Bild stated that she was still in contact with the fake doctor and continued to value his “attention and kind words.” During the scam, various problems were presented with the alleged doctor’s efforts to reach Germany, which left the woman paying to help him, which led to her financial losses.
However, it appears that there are more people involved in the scam who were not in the trial, including suspects who may still be in Nigeria.
The four defendants managed accounts across Italy, Lithuania, and Germany, processing a total of €140,000. To evade investigators, they withdrew roughly €600 in cash daily or transferred funds using deceptive labels like “Gift” or “Family Support.”
The court revealed that the defendants were allowed to “keep 10 percent” of the stolen funds as their commission for handling these European accounts.
Nigerian scammers in Germany
This is not the only case of Nigerian scammers operating in Germany, even though Germany’s Nigerian population remains extremely low.
In 2024, German police arrested 11 suspected members of a Nigerian mafia group behind a large-scale marriage and dating scam network, known as the Black Axe gang. They were especially focused on romance scams targeting German women
“Using false identities, the fraudsters, for example, signalled their intention to marry and in the course of further contact repeatedly demanded money under various pretexts,” police said.
The money was sent back to the Black Axe gang in Nigeria “via financial agents,” according to the report.
As noted by The Local, “Some 450 cases of romance scamming had been reported in the region of Bavaria in 2023 alone, with the damages rising to €5.3 million ($5.7 million).” However, that is just one German state, and as has been reported consistently, many victims of such romance scams never go to the police out of embarrassment.
Nigerians known for “409” scams
Nigerians are notorious for their web scamming, to the point that an entire musical genre has sprouted up around it, celebrating successful scams and the culture behind this practice.
The country also happens to be a country with one of the world’s fastest-growing populations. A lack of infrastructure, security, and widespread corruption means the country will likely continue to pose a serious global threat in the future.
In Bremen’s Überseestadt district, a Moroccan man allegedly sexually assaulted a 17-year-old boy after the teen visited a gym on Baumstrasse.
The man, who later identified himself as Moroccan, reportedly approached the 17-year-old boy after he left a gym in Bremen’s Überseestadt district on Monday evening.
After a brief conversation, the suspect suddenly kissed the boy. The police report notes that he then committed “sexual acts” on the youth; however, the Bremen police have not specified the exact nature of these acts. The suspect eventually stopped and fled.
An investigation into the sexual assault has been launched.
During the incident, the man told the boy that he was from Morocco and spoke English. The suspect is described as between 30 and 40 years old, 175 centimeters tall, and with a slight paunch. He had black hair, a black-gray beard, and was wearing dark clothing, according to the police report.
Police are currently conducting a manhunt for the suspect, but so far, no arrest has been made.
Bremen has a major crime and immigration problem
Bremen, a notoriously left-wing city, has had serious problems due to the influx of newcomers. In fact, an incredible 73 percent of all crime suspects are foreigners, and by some metrics, it was labeled the “most dangerous city in Germany” in 2023.
Bremen’s Interior Senator Ulrich Mäurer of the far-left Social Democrats (SPD) even stated that the city’s immigration policy has been a disaster and is contributing to housing and social problems, including an exploding crime rate.
The city is “completely overwhelmed with taking in so many people,” said Mäurer while speaking with German newspaper Weser-Kurier, adding that the problems have “worsened.”
Mäurer has been there since the start, helping guide the city’s radical policy towards immigration. The 73-year-old has been in office for 16 years. It is only now that he blames “massive immigration” for the housing shortage and “enormous difficulties” in daycares, schools, and at job sites.
Bremen has been one of the most open cities to mass immigration over the last decade. In 2018, the city declared itself a “safe haven,” and that designation is still in place. The declaration signed at the time states: “We welcome refugees – and are ready to take more people.”
“If the problems are not solved,” said Mäurer, “it is no wonder that more and more people are turning away from our democratic community.”
Mäurer also spoke of a spiraling crime crisis in his liberal bastion of a city.
“We have seen a massive increase in robberies since the summer of 2023, which we can clearly attribute to migration,” said Mäurer: “The majority of these crimes are committed by young men from North Africa.”
In fact, the problem had grown so serious by the end of 2024 that Bremen’s police initiated a special force called “Young Robbers” to target these foreigners. The new force has opened 1,000 investigations and identified 350 suspects.
A report from the Serbian website Vaseljenska has published two leaked documents, purportedly from the Security Service of Ukraine (SZBU), detailing a high-stakes plan to manipulate the upcoming Hungarian elections in favor of the Tisza Party.
According to the report, the Zelensky government established a “Special Working Group for Hungarian parliamentary elections” as early as September 2025 to ensure a victory for the opposition at any cost.
Notably, Hungarians living abroad can vote in Hungary’s national elections, and among those voters are ethnic Hungarians who live in Western Ukraine. This group may play a key role in the upcoming national elections.
The leaked strategy, which cannot be confirmed in regard to its authenticity, allegedly involves aggressive measures against Transcarpathian Hungarians, ranging from alleged electoral fraud to even a “false flag” operation.
The documents suggest that Kyiv views a shift in Hungarian leadership as vital for Ukraine’s strategic interests. Certainly, this is a reality for the Zelensky government.
For one, Hungary currently refuses to ship weapons to Ukraine. Second, Budapest has been instrumental in holding up weapons packages from the EU, while also criticizing the amount of taxpayer money being sent to Kyiv, which has often ended up being used for corrupt purposes. Third, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has also blocked Ukraine’s EU membership accession process.
While countries often have a strategic interest in the election outcomes in other countries, Ukraine’s current state of war means the country may pursue its interests more aggressively than a country at peace. In short, even if these leaked documents cannot be authenticated or even if they are outright fabricated, it is clear that Zelensky has a vested interest in seeing Orbán out of power.
One document, reportedly sent to Prime Minister Yulia Sviridenko, notes that the Tisza Party “supports Ukraine’s accession to the EU and NATO.” The Ukrainians allegedly believe that “if the [Hungarian] opposition gains 3-4 more seats in the new parliament, it could be a decisive factor and ensure that the forces supporting Ukraine come to power in Hungary.”
To achieve this, the SZBU reportedly recommended conducting three key actions.
The first is voter surveillance, which means identifying Ukrainian citizens of Hungarian descent who cast mail-in ballots in 2022 to “define and control” them.
The second alleged method would involve postal fraud, which means intercepting the mail sent to the Hungarian Central Election Commission, with the intent “to destroy 40% of the letters containing the ballots cast in favour of Fidesz.”
The third method would involve targeted mobilization efforts, which would place political pressure on ethnic Hungarians.
It is also worth noting that support for Orbán has been extremely high in past elections from this population.
The alleged report further details a campaign of intimidation targeting Transcarpathian Hungarians, whose support for Viktor Orbán was assessed by Ukrainian intelligence as “alarmingly high.” Proposed measures for activists in cities like Beregsász and Ungvár include wiretapping, surveillance, and “further mobilization measures” — often interpreted as a euphemism for sending political opponents to the front lines.
The most shocking revelation involves a potential terrorist act intended to intimidate the population and disrupt the election.
The alleged attack would utilize drones assembled from captured Russian parts to ensure they are identified “as aircraft of the aggressor state.”
The goal would be a strike on a civilian facility near the border to provide a pretext for a stricter state of war in Transcarpathia. This would allow for the closing of borders and the suspension of postal services, effectively blocking the electoral process.
The Serbian report frames these leaks against a backdrop of increasing tension between Kyiv and Budapest. It notes that the Ukrainian security forces have shifted their focus toward ethnic Hungarians because “Kyiv has long distrusted this community because of its proximity to Budapest,” following Viktor Orbán’s refusal to support Ukrainian war efforts at the expense of Hungarian citizens.
Again, this document cannot be verified. However, given that the country is at war and given their willingness to conduct assassinations and other covert operations, Hungarian authorities may be worried about the electoral integrity of the election in Transcarpathia.
Regardless of any potential Ukrainian actions, the role of this ethnic Hungarian population may be significantly diminished in the upcoming election. Before the war, the population numbered approximately 150,000. However, since the war broke out, some estimates indicate the population may have been cut in half, with some dying at the front but many fleeing to other countries, including neighboring Hungary.
A 40-year-old Tunisian man has been convicted and sentenced after a massive theft spree which targeted over 100 vehicles in the matter of just one week.
The events date back to Jan. 3 to Jan. 8, 2024, in the city of Angers and then from Jan. 8 to 10 to Cholet, where Tunisian man Wajdi Bokadi smashed parked cars near the city train stations to steal personal belongings.
Although there were a total of 103 victims, but only 15 civil parties participated in the criminal court case.
🇫🇷🚨Thank God they're locking up Marine Le Pen.
We wouldn't want Le Pen to stop moms from being robbed outside their own kids' schools or other such crimes.
"I can’t stand this bum France anymore… It’s a really just a mom’s car, like I’ve only got children’s things," pic.twitter.com/AsAZXw0WqB
The Tunisian man, Wajdi Bokadi, did not appear for his hearing on Jan. 12, but he was still sentenced to 12 months in prison for the thefts. In addition, he received a six month suspended sentence for committing similar acts related to the case, according to French news outlet Ouest France.
Although the man committed significant damage to numerous victims, France features well-organized car theft rings with ties to North African criminals.
Last year, five individuals were imprisoned for their roles in the criminal enterprise, which has raised concerns about security measures in vehicle storage, French news outlet L’est Républicains reported.
In 2023, an Algerian national, already the subject of a deportation order, was sentenced to 18 months in prison after being found guilty of committing approximately 80 thefts and burglaries across France in the space of just three months.
The Dutch social housing market shows that refugees are gaining access to certain key areas of this market, including refugees receiving 78 percent of all “starter homes” allocated to families with children in 2023.
The data, from the CBS, shows that refugees receive roughly 8 percent of all vacant social rentals in 2023. However, this figure jumps to 20 percent for those seeking social homes for first-time buyers.
While more and more social homes to buy and rent are going to refugees every year in the Netherlands, in certain specific narrow segments, the figures really stand out. With refugees receiving 78 percent of starter homes for families with children, this amounts to 1,450 houses out of the 1,860 designated for this purpose, according to Dutch news outlet de Volkskrant.
“The unfairness in the allocation of social housing appears to be even greater than previously thought. New figures from de Volkskrant show that nationally, not 8% but 20% of starter homes go to status holders. As many as 78% of single-family homes are sold (!) to status holders with children,” the party wrote in a press release.
Councilor Michaël van Soest stated that “the council and all other parties in the municipal council look away from this problem and hide behind the government’s task of housing asylum status holders. But nowhere is it laid down that scarce social housing must be used for this. Status holders can also easily be accommodated in flexible homes or other facilities, so that they do not impinge on residents who have been registered for a new home for 10 years or more. That is unfair and completely inexplicable.”
His comments about refugees receiving expedited social housing are a hot topic in the Netherlands. Despite the ongoing housing crisis, refugees can gain access to social housing in a mere 14 weeks, while the average Dutch citizen must wait up to 12 years. Last year, efforts were being made to right this injustice for Dutch citizens with a new bill, but the Council of State, the country’s highest legal advisory body, criticized any attempt to block housing access to refugees. The authority claims refugees should receive equal treatment, as required by the Dutch constitution.
Of course, the fact that there is no equal treatment currently, and that refugees are gaining access to social housing years before Dutch on waiting lists, did not appear to factor into the Council of State’s concerns, according to Dutch news outlet NOS.nl.
The minister behind the proposal, Mona Keijzer of the BBB party, said she is not backing down. Keijzer’s plan aims to create more affordable housing by ensuring that refugees, or “status holders,” no longer receive priority for housing solely because of their status.
The CBS data clarifies that for this specific segment, “the clearer the demarcation of the group of homes, the higher the share of a specific group, such as status holders, can be.”
While the total number of homes involved decreases as definitions narrow, the impact on local starters remains a central point of the housing debate.
When this is broken down, the specific figures look like this:
Total Social Housing: 12,730 units (7.9% of total vacancies).
General Starters: 8,190 units (20% of the starter segment).
Starter Families with Children: 1,450 units (78% of this specific segment).
The total number of homes allocated to refugees reached nearly 13,000 in 2023, an increase from the approximately 11,000 per year seen in 2021 and 2022. This rise follows the post-pandemic increase in asylum applications with a slight delay.
Distribution also varies wildly by geography. In the Alkmaar region, refugees received 13 percent of available social housing, whereas in the Delfzijl region, that figure dropped to just 2 percent.
The debate over these figures was a focal point during the House of Representatives election campaigns, where different definitions were used to quantify the pressure on the housing market.
After a completely random attack in the German city of Dresden, a 37-year-old Tunisian man is now standing trial for physically assaulting an entire family, which included the father, mother, and two children, who were two and seven weeks old. The family is traumatized, and both parents are undergoing therapy after the heinous attack from the man, who has a massive criminal record.
On June 4, 20025, at around 11:30 a.m., in Dresden’s Friedrichstadt, the Tunisian man, Stili M., began raining countless blows on a 37-year-old father before turning to the 38-year-old mother and striking her numerous times. Then, Stili M. knocked the 2-year-old son off her arm and knocked over the stroller, which contained a baby that was only 7 months old, according to Bild newspaper.
The incident began with the father trying to pull the Tunisian man from his wife and children during the brawl. Several witnesses ran to aid the victims and overpowered the Tunisian.
All four victims arrived at the hospital with injuries. The father suffered from a broken nose and had various wounds and hematomas. He was unable to work for six weeks. The mother also had numerous wounds, while the 2-year-old son suffered a skull contusion. The 7-week-old daughter had a hematoma on her temple.
The mother and father are both in therapy with severe psychological trauma, and the son, who is now three, has constant fears of the “bad man.”
The trial also saw numerous pieces of evidence, including a video provided by a witness who filmed the attack, which forms the main piece of evidence in the case.
A police officer who testified about the police operation said, “I was thinking of a terror attack scenario.”
The Tunisian man appeared in court with a belly belt and handcuffs since he is so dangerous. In the psychiatric hospital, the Tunisian man beat up two nurses, illustrating the threat he presents.
Stili M. first entered France after leaving his home country of Tunisia in 2011. He moved between various European countries, including Spain, the Netherlands, and Italy.
He explained that he eventually chose Germany because “a friend told me that if I enter Germany, I will get accommodation for free.“ He never formally trained for any vocation, either.
The man has an incredible criminal record, including rape, assault, resisting arrest, and insults. He was quickly arrested as he moved around Germany, including in Bavaria and North Rhine-Westphalia.
While in prison, he set fire to a detainment room and used a knife to attack other inmates.
After being released, he was given supervision due to his high “risk of relapse.”
An expert states that the Tunisian man has schizophrenia and megalomania and has communication problems even with the use of an interpreter. All medications he has taken have so far failed to remedy the man’s issues, but he does not drink alcohol or do drugs.
“We don’t know what would have happened if the father hadn’t resisted sufficiently,” said Dr. med. Sebastian Spirling in court.
The judge has now ordered Stili M. to be placed in a closed facility, with the judge stating the man is “a danger to the general public.”
In 2025, more than 370,000 individuals from non-EU nations arrived in Germany via the asylum process, family reunification initiatives, and various admission schemes, according to official government data. The Alternative for Germany (AfD) is sharply criticizing this development, indicating it amounts to the equivalent of a major German city in terms of population.
Critiquing these figures, AfD MP Sebastian Münzenmaier told German outlet Nius: “(Interior Minister Alexander) Dobrindt’s alleged asylum policy turnaround turns out, upon closer inspection, to be nothing more than a sleight of hand.”
“At least 300,000 social migrants and so-called refugees, more like 400,000, in one year: that’s equivalent to a major German city. Anyone who fantasizes about a turnaround in view of this magnitude wants to deceive the citizens.“
He added that there will only be a real turnaround “when more migrants leave than arrive.”
Regarding how people came, initial asylum requests for the previous year totaled 113,236. This represents the lowest volume since 2020, when 102,581 applications were recorded, and is less than half of the 229,751 applications seen the year prior.
For context, 329,120 people sought asylum for the first time in 2023. The government is touting this figure while ignoring that the overall numbers are still extremely high, mainly due to legal migration.
Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) stated: “We are managing migration with clarity and consistency. Those who have no right to protection should not come – those who commit crimes must leave. The clear signal from Germany that migration policy in Europe has changed has been received worldwide.”
EU-wide decline in asylum seekers
This downturn in asylum seekers is not unique to Germany; it reflects a broader trend across the European Union. During the first nine months of 2025, EU-wide applications dropped by roughly 27 percent compared to the same timeframe in 2024. Certain nations, including Bulgaria and Cyprus, saw even steeper declines exceeding 60 percent.
Meanwhile, immigration for the purpose of family reunification remains at steady levels.
Diplomatic outposts under the German Foreign Office, led by Johann Wadephul (CDU), processed 110,400 visas for family reunification. When asked for comment, the Foreign Ministry informed NIUS that: “The most frequently represented countries were Turkey, Syria, India, Kosovo, and Albania.”
In 2024, family reunification accounted for 123,675 arrivals, meaning last year’s levels were nearly maintained. A June parliamentary decision to pause family reunification for individuals with subsidiary protection for two years, effective July 24, 2025, had a negligible impact on these figures. To qualify for these visas, sponsors must typically possess a valid residency permit, adequate housing, and independent financial means.
Looking at the broader historical context since 2015, approximately 2.8 million individuals have applied for asylum, while 1.2 million have arrived through family channels, totaling 4 million migrants.
A majority of Germans, 57 percent, believe that too many people have entered the country legally, with only a quarter of respondents considering the numbers appropriate.
When it comes to illegal immigrants, Germans are even more likely to be opposed. The poll showed that 81 percent of Germans state that illegal immigration was “far too high” or “rather too high” over the last 10 years. Only 5 percent view the levels as appropriate.
Another 75 percent say illegal migration has been bad for Germany.
Resettlement and humanitarian initiatives
Beyond the standard asylum and family paths, other entry routes are also playing a role in Germany’s immigration system.
In response to a query from AfD deputy Sebastian Münzenmaier, the government noted that: “As part of the Federal Reception Program for Afghanistan, a total of 1,137 people entered Germany between January 1 and December 31, 2025.”
Additionally, “a total of 1,093 people entered Germany in 2025 through the resettlement procedure (pursuant to Section 23 Paragraph 4 of the Residence Act).”
The arrival of people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine also persisted throughout 2025. The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) confirmed to Nius that 145,222 individuals entered the country under Section 24 of the Residence Act between January and December.
Nius tallied the various figures, including 113,236 asylum seekers, 110,400 family visas, 1,137 Afghan arrivals, 1,093 resettlement participants, and at least 145,222 Ukrainian refugees. The total immigration from third countries reached at least 371,088 people.
Furthermore, roughly 50,000 people enter Germany annually via the Western Balkans Regulation. This specific pathway allows citizens from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia to obtain residency based on a job offer, regardless of formal qualifications. According to the Federal Employment Agency: “Due to high demand, the quota for 2025 has already been fully exhausted.”
The Havel Thermal Baths in Werder, located close to the city of Potsdam, are now putting in place stricter controls and gender-based restrictions after a series of incidents involving groups of men committing sexual harassment, violence, and stabbings.
“We had big problems, especially with groups of men, some of whom were also drunk,” Managing Director Andreas Schauer told Berliner Zeitung, while also referring to repeated attacks.
“Even groping guests and staff and even stabbings in the parking lot,” said the managing director.
As a result of these incidents, external security services were hired at the location. In addition, in order to limit gender imbalances, no gender may outnumber the other gender by more than 20 percent. If this limit is reached, entry may be temporarily restricted even if the thermal bath is not at full capacity.
The incidents have echoes of the various incidents at German and Austrian pools in recent years involving sexual assault, mass brawls, acts of disrespect towards pool staff, and groping attacks, which led to a massive increase in police presence and increased security. However, this time, the attacks are taking place in the mostly indoor and upscale Havel Thermal Baths, according to Berliner Zeitung.
Although “large groups of men” are described in the report, no description is given about their nationality or whether there are police reports available about the various incidents.
Groups of three or more now must register by email more than two days before their planned visit, and they are only admitted if they receive a confirmation email. However, families with children are exempt from this rule.
The blackout has been a major black eye for the ruling government, including Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner, who, despite previous attacks from the Vulcangruppe (“Volcano Group”) dating all the way back to 2011, did little to stop the latest disastrous attack in the middle of winter.
Government incompetence had a high price, though, with one elderly person reportedly losing their life due to hypothermia, along with hospitals, schools, nursing homes, daycares, and businesses all being paralyzed due to the blackout crisis.
In response, 400 officers are now on a “mission” to guard power boxes, cable ducts, and essential wires.
Taggespiegel reports that the large-scale operation will see 300 officers patrol in southwest Berlin, and another detachment will protect power poles and cable bridges. Some officers will be in plainclothes as well. The goal is to prevent other power outages, and so far, the deployment is scheduled for an “indefinite” period.
Notably, the police unions are already slamming the move.
“The fact that our colleagues now have to push completely pointless guard duty and object protection at cable ducts is a disgrace,” says GdP state chief Stephan Weh. “There are private security services that the responsible companies could hire.“
Weh said politicians have failed to protect infrastructure for years, including after the terror attack in Berlin-Adlershof in September 2025, which produced a massive blackout.
He said that “no effort was made on equipping key points of the power supply with video and sensor technology.“ Now, Wegner and Berlin authorities are using an ad-hoc measure that involves taking hundreds of police away from patrol and security and using them as a makeshift security detail.
GdP leader Weh added: “Given the other tasks in this city, it is slowly but surely enough for our colleagues to have to pay the price for the political inaction in protecting critical infrastructure.“
🇩🇪 In this video, a cancer patient living through the Berlin blackout says he is sleeping in the hallway of his apartment complex because it’s the warmest part of the building.
The German Police Union (DPolG) is also sharply criticizing state policy, with State Chief Bodo Pfalzgraf describing a loss of control.
“One wonders with which reserve large-scale operations in Berlin are to be managed,” he said, a clear reference to the lack of manpower the Berlin police are facing.
“My colleagues are rightly completely stunned by such excessive and senseless politically motivated hyperactivity,” said Pfalzgraf.
However, Berlin’s mayor knows the political consequences will be massive if the Volcano Group manages to take out the power again, although the group has since claimed that they would not again launch such an attack during winter.
In his annual address to the diplomatic corps at the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV—the first American to be elected to the papacy—issued a stern warning regarding the erosion of civil liberties and the rise of ideological conformity in Western nations. The Pontiff expressed deep concern over what he perceives as a systematic retreat from open dialogue.
“It is painful to see how, especially in the West, the space for genuine freedom of expression is rapidly shrinking,” the Pope said during his address.
“At the same time, a new Orwellian-style language is developing, which, in an attempt to be increasingly inclusive, ends up excluding those who do not conform to the ideologies that are fueling it,” he added.
✝️ Right as the UK considers banning X, Pope Leo XIV speaks out against mass censorship.
"It is painful to see how, especially in the West, the space for genuine freedom of expression is rapidly shrinking."
The forceful remarks come at a time when multiple Western governments are looking to ban X, a platform committed to free speech. At the same time, the EU and many Western European governments are already partaking in broad censorship and mass surveillance efforts.
In fact, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen recently said that Brussels is now partaking in “prebunking,” which means censoring information before it spreads online, even if that information is accurate.
So here we have Ursula von der Leyen describing free speech as a virus and censorship as its vaccine……. pic.twitter.com/ApIUT4UMPq
“And finally, it takes resilience. As technology evolves, we need to build up societal immunity around information manipulation. Because research has shown that prebunking is more successful than debunking… in short, prevention is preferable to cure.
Perhaps if you think of information manipulation as a virus. Instead of treating an infection once it has taken hold—that is debunking—it is much better to vaccinate so that the body is inoculated.
Prebunking is the same approach. Because disinformation relies on people passing it on to others. It is essential that people know what malign information influence is and what the techniques are that are behind it…
And as the knowledge goes up, our chances of being influenced goes down, and that builds up the societal resilience that we will need.”
Regarding Orwellian terms, the EU and various leading governments and NGOs often invoke terms such as “disinformation,” “misinformation,” and “influence networks,” without even referencing any specific evidence, giving them broad leeway to define these terms to their benefit. Now, these terms are being used to wield a massive censorship crackdown, which is only building in intensity on a nearly monthly basis.
“In the current context, we are seeing an actual ‘short circuit’ of human rights,” he said, as fundamental freedoms, including speech, conscience, religion, even life, face new restrictions “in the name of other so-called new rights.” He said this creates space for force and oppression.
According to Leo XIV, these trends not only impoverish discourse but also actively “threaten the right to freedom of conscience.“
Moving from the subject of language, the Pope addressed fundamental rights that are increasingly under threat in modern societies, specifically focusing on freedom of conscience and religious freedom. He defended conscientious objection as a vital safeguard for human dignity, stating that “Conscientious objection is not rebellion, but an act of fidelity to oneself.”
He argued that this principle reflects the truth that a free society “does not impose uniformity but protects the diversity of consciences,” a stance that he believes prevents authoritarian tendencies and encourages ethical dialogue.
In this regard, he insisted that healthcare professionals must be able to refuse participation in abortions or active euthanasia.
The Pope warned that religious freedom is also in jeopardy across the globe. Quoting Pope Benedict XVI, he described it as “the first of all human rights.”
He explicitly rejected the concept of a “right to abortion,“ emphasizing that the protection of human life remains the “indispensable foundation of all other human rights.“
He highlighted the alarming scale of the issue, noting that “64 percent of the world’s population” currently suffers from serious violations of this fundamental right.
The Holy See, he continued, demands full respect for Christians and “the same for all other religious communities.” On the sixtieth anniversary of Nostra Aetate, he reaffirmed a “categorical rejection of all forms of antisemitism,” while emphasizing the necessity of Jewish-Christian dialogue and the recognition of their deep common roots.
Despite these calls for harmony, the Pope pointed out that the persecution of Christians remains one of the most widespread human rights crises in the world today. This crisis affects “over 380 million believers worldwide,” many of whom face high or extreme levels of discrimination and violence.
He specifically honored the victims of violence in Bangladesh, the Sahel, and Nigeria, as well as those killed during the June terrorist attack on the parish of Saint Elias in Damascus and victims of jihadist violence in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique.
Finally, he identified subtler forms of discrimination targeting Christians even within majority-Christian societies in Europe and the Americas. He noted that in these regions, believers may face restrictions when proclaiming the Gospel, particularly when they speak out to defend “the dignity of the weakest, the unborn, refugees and migrants, or promote the family.”
Regarding conscientious objection, he advocated for the right to refuse military service on moral grounds.
Beyond social issues, the Pope criticized the current international political climate. He noted a dangerous shift where the diplomacy of dialogue is being abandoned in favor of a policy of strength. In a somber assessment of global tensions, he warned that war has “become fashionable again“ and that a “warlike mood is spreading“ across the globe. He lamented the relative weakness of international organizations in the face of these escalating crises.
Finally, addressing specific regional conflicts, the Pope turned his attention to South America, calling on the international community to respect the “will of the Venezuelan people“ and to ensure the protection of their fundamental human and civil rights.
In the French city of Melun, a 22-year-old Algerian man who has an open deportation order was arrested for the rape of a 15-year-old girl.
The man, named Hakim Daoudi, is accused of grabbing the teenager, forcibly kissing her, and then raping her on Jan. 11 at 10:15 p.m., according to French news outlet Valeurs Actuelles.
The teenager had been walking home when Daoudi allegedly began harassing her on a bus and then later at the bus stop. When the young woman approached Beauregard Square, the Algerian reportedly grabbed her and attempted to kiss her with force. He then dragged her down and raped her, according to police sources.
Once he fled the scene, he continued messaging the girl on Snapchat until he was traced back to a city gymnasium housing migrants. Police arrested him there and ran an identity check.
The 22-year-old Daoudi is homeless and already had two entries in the Criminal Records Database (TAJ), according to police sources.
He has already been issued with a deportation order (OQTF) and had open warrants for his arrest at the time of the rape. Police continue to investigate.
BREAKING: This shocking video shows Algerian migrant Dahbia Benkired carrying a suitcase into a bar containing the body of 12-year-old French girl Lola.
Benkired raped and tortured Lola.
This video was leaked and played in court today during the first day of Benkired's trial. pic.twitter.com/O0N88A0RAx
In the past, cases involving Algerians raping minors have made headlines across France, including the famed case of the 12-year-old Parisian girl Lola. The young girl was tortured, raped, and murdered, and then had her body stuffed into a briefcase by an Algerian migrant who had an open deportation order.
Notably, Algerians with a deportation order were only deported in 0.2 percent of cases, according to data examined by Remix News at the time of Lola’s murder.
After a brawl between 30 to 40 youths was reported in the French city of Antibes, a 21-year-old man who ran from police lost his life after getting stuck on a spiked fence while fleeing from police.
The initial brawl occured at 37 rue Dulys on Saturday night at 11:10 p.m., at which point a police pursuit occured, which took place over several kilometers, ending at the Allée des Mimosas.
There, four to five of youths jumped over a gate to escape police, but the last individual to jump up was tasered by police police, but they were still unable to handcuff him.
“A few minutes later, he called the fire department himself,” the prosecutor stated, apparently from serious blood loss.
Upon arrival, paramedics found the man was bleeding tremendous amounts from his femoral artery, at which point he went “in cardiac arrest. Resuscitation attempts were not successful, according to Grasse Public Prosecutor Eric Camous
An autopsy on the man will now be performed to determine whether one of the spikes on the gate the victim jumped over pierced his artery. In addition, authorities were also investigating the assault that led to the police chase.
According to media outlet France 3, “the Grasse public prosecutor’s office has also activated the ‘victim support pathway’ so that the family of the deceased young man can receive psychological support in the face of this tragedy.”
There were two murders in the area in 2024, notes France 3.
“In September 2024, a young man was stabbed to death in the chest after a fight on Boulevard Édouard Baudoin, near Le Village, a nightclub in Juan-les-Pins. Two weeks later, another homicide of an 18-year-old occurred on Chemin des Colombes,” the paper wrote.
The latest economic figures for Berlin are dramatic, revealing that 2025 saw more companies file for bankruptcy than at any point in the last two decades, all despite a promised economic turnaround from the Christian Democrat (CDU) government.
The wave of insolvencies grew significantly toward the end of the year, affecting the lives of thousands of employees. According to the Leibniz Institute for Economic Research Halle, the annual total reached a historically high 17,604 bankruptcies. This translates to an average of 48 partnerships and corporations going out of business every day in Germany, according to Bild newspaper.
Instead of embracing mass immigration, China is rapidly replacing its workforce with robotics at an incredible pace.
Meanwhile, the pro-immigration EU is floundering. Macron was just in China calling for technology transfers, support and investment. pic.twitter.com/gmT26Udcx4
“Even in the wake of the major financial crisis in 2009, the number was around 5 percent lower,” the institute explained.
December was particularly severe, with 1,519 insolvency applications filed. This figure was 75 percent higher than the average for December between 2016 and 2019, prior to the pandemic.
Jonas Eckhardt, an economic expert from the transformation consultancy Falkensteg, told Bild that “the German economy is no longer just struggling with headaches. She’s got a fever. That won’t change anytime soon.“
Professor Dr. Steffen Müller, Head of IWH Insolvency Research, observed that the “increase was broad and no one was spared, though sectors like hospitality, construction, and real estate suffered particularly heavily.”
He noted that the interest rate increase at the end of 2022 has put a stop to some of the plans in those industries.
Bild goes on to cite a number of companies hit with bankruptcies.
In Saxony, a sausage company dismissed its entire staff, while the Leifert bakery chain in Lower Saxony affected 220 employees with its insolvency. Other large bakeries like Hansen Mürwik also filed for bankruptcy, impacting 145 workers.
Large corporations are also struggling. A survey by Falkensteg found that 471 companies with annual sales exceeding 10 million euros filed for insolvency, a 25 percent increase over the previous year. Since 2021, these major insolvencies have nearly tripled.
Less than a week ago, Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that parts of the German economy are in a “very critical state.” In the article from Bloomberg, it notes that while Merz did not specify which sectors, the car industry is seen as especially hard hit. This is due in large part to Chinese competition slowly crushing German companies, a topic Remix News has written extensively on.
While Müller points out that insolvency can be a market adjustment that makes room for future-proof companies, many businesses continue to struggle for survival. Jonas Eckhardt emphasized to Bild that for many medium-sized companies, the situation is no longer just an economic downturn but a question of survival. Experts do not anticipate a turnaround in 2026 and instead expect a further increase in bankruptcies among large companies.
Germany is not the only country struggling in Europe. Last month, French President Emmanuel Macron went to China essentially to beg for help, saying, according to Politico, that “European industry is facing a ‘life or death’ moment.”
“I am trying to explain to the Chinese that their trade surplus is untenable and that they are killing their own customers, mainly by not importing much from us,” Macron said, according to Politico.
Now, after Europeans complained about Trump issuing tariffs against China and Europe, Europe is considering pursuing the same tactic. At least, that is the threat Macron just issued China if the country does not refrain from relentlessly outcompeting the EU on trade, exports, and innovation.
Following the meeting in China, notably, no major business deals were signed, and on most key points, analysts say Macron walked away mostly empty-handed in regard to the major issues.
Remarkably, China almost completely rejected mass immigration and has about as many foreigners in the country as just one German city, Berlin.
In Germany, Schleswig-Holstein’s Minister-President Daniel Günther has ignited a fierce national debate following an appearance on the German talk show “Markus Lanz,“ where he advocated for a social media ban for minors and stricter “quality criteria” for media outlets. His comments have drawn accusations of authoritarianism and threats to constitutional freedoms from across the political spectrum.
During the broadcast, Günther insisted that a social media ban for those under the age of 16 is a necessity for the protection of the state.
“This must come,“ Günther asserted.
He further argued for a digital levy on tech giants to fund traditional journalism, stating, “A democracy only works if these institutions work.“
Das ist absolut inakzeptables, autoritäres Geschwurbel von Daniel Günther. Finger weg von der Presssfreiheit! WK pic.twitter.com/buqf5wHRO4
When Lanz joked that such comments might draw the ire of U.S. officials like JD Vance, Günther countered that the United States uses these platforms to „simply to represent its power interests“ rather than to strengthen democracy.
Günther expressed deep concern over the blurring lines between social media agitation and traditional journalism. He lamented that even members of his own political circles fall victim to “such nonsense“ found online.
“Many media outlets are now also orienting themselves towards all this social media by engaging in political agitation themselves and no longer doing journalism,“ Günther remarked.
The minister-president argued that if an entity wields the same level of influence as traditional media, “then you have to adhere to certain quality criteria.“ He specifically targeted the German portal Nius, claiming that in their articles, “there is usually nothing right in it“ and that their work is “completely devoid of facts.“
However, he did not cite a single fact to back up his hyperbolic claim, with Nius only growing in influence due to its on-the-ground reports, such as during the recent massive blackout in Berlin caused by a left-wing terror attack. Analysts have noted that the blackout has further harmed the image of Günther’s party. Notably, Berlin’s mayor, Kai Wegner (CDU), was slammed for his response to the crisis, including playing tennis during the first hours of the blackout in what has been described as a “lie” by Bild’s news editor.
On top of that, Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) did not make a single remark on social media for five days about the left-wing terror attack, instead wishing different political figures “Happy Birthday,” and commenting on international affairs.
🇩🇪 In this video, a cancer patient living through the Berlin blackout says he is sleeping in the hallway of his apartment complex because it’s the warmest part of the building.
“I think we need to wake up much, much more to the fact that these are our opponents and also the enemies of democracy, and if we do not pull ourselves together and join forces with civil society organizations to defend ourselves against such excesses, then we will not recognize our democracy in Germany for the next ten years,” said Günther.
Backlash from politicians and experts
The push for state-defined media quality met immediate resistance. FDP deputy Wolfgang Kubicki labeled the performance as “This is absolutely unacceptable, authoritarian gibberish from Daniel Günther. Hands off press freedom!”
Das ist absolut inakzeptables, autoritäres Geschwurbel von Daniel Günther. Finger weg von der Presssfreiheit! WK pic.twitter.com/buqf5wHRO4
FDP party leader Christian Dürr described it as a “terrifying understanding of freedom of the press.“
The AfD’s Stephan Brandner accused Günther of exposing himself as the “real enemy of the constitution.”
Even within the CDU, Potsdam’s Jan Jacobi expressed being “appalled“ by the suggestions.
“I’m appalled at how a CDU MP is rambling about which expressions of opinion should still be permissible in our country and wants to subject the press freedom of alternative media to certain requirements. That is not protection of democracy, but the exact opposite,” he wrote on X.
Ich bin entsetzt, wie ein CDU-MP darüber fabuliert, welche Meinungsäußerungen in unserem Land noch zulässig sein sollen und die #Pressefreiheit alternativer Medien bestimmten Vorgaben unterwerfen möchte. Das ist kein Schutz der Demokratie, sondern das genaue Gegenteil. #Lanzpic.twitter.com/qwFjMWpSfF
Constitutional lawyer Volker Boehme-Neßler characterized the demands as an „attempt at psychological censorship,“ noting that the right to “talk nonsense“ is protected under freedom of expression.
However, Günther did find some allies.
Green Party MP Till Steffen accused the FDP of a deliberate misunderstanding, noting that “Daniel Günther wants the media to pay attention to quality criteria,“ a sentiment echoed by former CDU General Secretary Ruprecht Polenz.
The ambassadors of the European Union member states are moving forward with the Mercosur free trade agreement. Following years of complex negotiations, the agreement is now set for signature, marking a major defeat for Europe’s farmers and food security across the continent. For conservatives across Europe, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s role in helping pass the agreement will be remembered as a bitter betrayal.
The European Commission is not passing it with any real semblance of democracy either, and as with many other topics, it is bypassing the democratically elected European Parliament entirely. The commission intends to “omit the European Parliament from the further procedure,” which grants European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen the authority to sign the deal directly.
While a significant coalition of nations opposed the move—specifically Poland, France, Ireland, Hungary, and Austria, with Belgium abstaining—they failed to reach the required “blocking minority.” Italy, despite previous signals that it might join the opposition. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni gave earlier signals she would not back the deal but ultimately aligned with von der Leyen despite mass protests by farmers.
🇪🇺🔴The true face of the EU.
Protesting farmers from across the EU are hit with water cannons and tear gas, all while the elite inside the European Commission surround their HQ with barbed wire.
The deal creates a massive trade zone between the EU and the Mercosur nations of Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay. The primary goal is to facilitate economic exchange by slashing or abolishing customs duties.
This creates a reciprocal trade dynamic: European industrial giants gain access to South American markets, while Mercosur countries gain a pathway to export agricultural products into the EU at scale.
However, the deal is going to be a major catastrophe for European farmers and for food safety.
Europeans will be exposed to pesticides, farmers will go bankrupt
Now that Mercosur is almost certain to go into effect, food containing massive amounts of pesticides banned in Europe will flow into Europe. A documentary on the subject produced by a French-German team had been deleted from its website, but clips from the documentary have been circulating on social media. The film highlights the various threats.
The documentary reveals that in 2018, European companies sold over 80,000 tons of pesticides banned in Europe. Ninety percent of the products originate from European factories in the U.K., Italy, the Netherlands, Germany, France, Belgium, and Spain. It notes that banned chemicals such as atrazine and metolachlor are used.
The film, which at the time of publication has a copy available on DailyMotion, is one of a number of news reports raising the alarm to no effect in recent years, including from Matador, which is a program from the German public broadcaster ARD. A link in auto-translated English is also available here.
In the run-up to the deal, Polish MEP Ewa Zajączkowska-Hernik wrote that the deal is being rushed through and that very important clauses are not included, including balancing regulations and standards between Europe and Mercosur.
“And now a very important piece of information for all our health – the package of clauses that is to go to the vote tomorrow does not include the extremely important element known as reciprocity, which would force Mercosur countries to meet the same standards as EU farmers, in terms of pesticide and antibiotic use! This agreement will directly harm consumer health!” she wrote.
Another MEP, Anna Bryłka, wrote that the deal is incredibly dangerous.
“It’s not safe because no safeguard clauses will protect against mass imports from South America. The safeguard clauses, which the prime minister largely invokes, have been significantly weakened. This means that the conditions that must be met to even initiate an investigation, regarding disruptions in the agricultural market, are, in my opinion, virtually impossible to meet,” she said.
Bryłka has also outlined how the pesticide use in South America also represents not only a health risk, but also a competitive risk for Polish farmers.
Bryłka argues that “farmers from Mercosur countries produce food according to standards that are banned in the EU: other plant protection products, growth hormones, lack of real environmental standards.” This forces European farmers to compete with cheaper production that is legally prohibited within their own borders. She further characterizes the import of food with unknown standards as a “risk to the health of millions of Europeans.”
The risks are enormous. Brazil alone allows the use of as many as 3,669 pesticides. Europe’s emphasis on “eating local” to reduce carbon emissions associated with transportation will become a joke, as food from halfway around the world will often be cheaper than locally produced goods. European chemical companies will reap massive profits.
The documentary cited earlier shows how one Brazilian state features the most “agrotoxicity” in the world. Soon, this food will be on Europeans’ plates.
“Mato Grosso. This Brazilian state is the kingdom of the agricultural industry. Cotton, rice, sugarcane, corn, massive production of transgenic soybeans, and record pesticide use. Mato Grosso wins every global competition in the field of agrotoxicity. That’s the term used by those who condemn the chemical empire. Brazil allows the use of 3,669 pesticides. It’s a veritable Eldorado for corporations, primarily European ones. Products banned on the Old Continent are sold here,” said the narrator in the film.
“The poisoned kingdom is primarily a market of international corporations, including three European giants: the Swiss company Syngenta, and the German companies BASF and Bayer, which absorbed Monsanto in 2018,” the film states.
Loss of food security
The deal is also viewed by many as a threat to national security. Bryłka warns that becoming dependent on imports risks a “loss of food sovereignty,” leaving nations unable to recreate local production during a crisis. Economic reports, such as “Geopolitics on a Plate” by Pekao SA, suggest that the Polish agri-food sector will suffer the “greatest losses in the entire EU.” In this context, agriculture is seen as the “tender currency” in Brussels’ broader trade strategy.
So much for climate change protection
The MEP also points to a contradiction in EU policy: while Brussels imposes “increasingly stringent climate and environmental requirements” on its own citizens, it is simultaneously opening markets to countries where such standards are nearly non-existent. Ultimately, the deal is framed as a trade-off favoring large industrial economies.
As Bryłka concludes, “For Germany and the largest EU economies, this is a new market and space for economic expansion. For Poland, liquidation of farms and decline of villages.”
In a courtroom in Vienna’s”Landl district, a judge presented disturbing video evidence against five young mostly migrant defendants accused of a series of violent crimes and humiliations. The footage, recorded in September 2025 in a Kagran park, captured a 16-year-old victim with fear-filled eyes being forced to take turns kissing the feet and hands of his tormentor right before they severely beat him.
The humiliation was followed by an “explosion of violence” in which the perpetrator knocked the victim down and continued a brutal assault. The clip was later uploaded to Snapchat, accompanied by Arabic music, smileys, and the triumphant caption: “I broke his nose…, so awesome.“
The 15-year-old main defendant, standing alongside Iraqi, Romanian, and Austrian co-defendants, offered a blunt justification for the coercion and physical harm, according to Austrian newspaper Kronen Zeitung.
“I just wanted to protect my friend, but he gave a cheeky answer,” said the defendant.
🇩🇪🔴Germany: A young boy on a bike was surrounded and beaten by youths with a migrant background.
One boy, Yassar, slaps the victim, punches him, and screams, "Cry!"
The presiding judge expressed perplexity at this line of reasoning, asking who he was trying to protect. The charges include serious robbery, bodily harm, and at least one incident involving a knife.
The court heard that the group’s violence was not limited to their peers. In one instance, a random adult victim was so severely beaten that he suffered multiple fractures to his facial skull and lost four teeth.
During the trial, the first defendant attempted to make amends by handing over €2,800 in damages. In contrast to the severity of the injuries inflicted, the loot in another robbery mentioned in the indictment amounted to a mere €15.
While four of the five defendants had been held in pre-trial detention, the trial concluded with varying degrees of leniency. Two defendants received suspended sentnces..Another three received partial prison sentences.
The 15-year-old perpetrator behind the foot-kissing video was sentenced to 15 months in prison, with 12 of those months suspended.
The party says the brutal abuse of a 15-year-old boy over several months by five older classmates — all aged 20 and reportedly of Afghan, Turkish, and Albanian origin — represents “systematic abuse” and a failure of the state to protect its citizens, in particular minors in Austrian schools.
“What happened at an Upper Austrian school is not a triviality, but systematic abuse,” said FPÖ education spokesman Hermann Brückl. “This is pure violence.” He condemned the initial handling of the case by school staff, particularly the German teacher who reportedly assigned the perpetrators to write an essay on violence as punishment. “Instead of justice for the affected student, an essay was decreed,” Brückl added.
“If it turns out that the migrant perpetrators of violence do not have Austrian citizenship, they must be sent back to their country of origin,” he declared.
Four Algerians were arrested for a burglary in the French city of Yvelines on Dec. 25, right as the owners of the targeted house went to celebrate Christmas with their family. However, the men, all illegal migrants, have all already been released after they claimed they were minors.
On Dec. 25, all four men are alleged to have broken through shutters, the family’s French doors, and entered the house. However, a surveillance camera inside the house detected movement, and the family quickly notified the police.
Police arrived on scene and two of the suspects were arrested after police found them hiding under a bed on the third floor. The other two were apprehended at an RER train station nearby.
Once in custody, all four men claimed they were born in 2009 and therefore were all allegedly 16. Since they were illegally in France and had no documents, the claim allowed them to walk free immediately due to their alleged age.
French news outlet Valeurs was skeptical, noting that they all appear much older in the photos, even with blurring.
According to Valuers journalist Amaury Bucco, “To get an idea of the gap between their real age and their claimed age, we showed these photos (unblurred) to the artificial intelligence software ChatGPT, asking it to provide an age range for each of them. Here is its response: for the first suspect (top right), the software gives an age range between 23 and 28 years. For the second: between 27 and 34 years. For the third, between 24 and 30 years. And for the fourth: between 19 and 24 years.”
“In other words, according to this software, they would all be adults, with no possible ambiguity, with an age range from 19 to 24 years for the youngest, and 27 to 34 years for the oldest,” he added.
He goes on to state that prosecutors have the burden of proving the age of suspects, and since none of these Algerians had papers, this was not possible.
“A convenient way to claim a younger age and benefit from more lenient justice,” wrote Bucco, who added the judge let them “walk into the wild.”
Migrants undoubtedly receive many benefits from claiming they are minors, including social benefits, educational opportunities, and restrictions on deportations, just to name a few.
However, the French left are now putting safeguards on what many have called a scheme, after bone tests across Europe have consistently shown that migrants lie about their age.
On Dec. 15, French left-wing deputies voted in favor of extending the presumption of minority for migrants on the administrative level. Among the goals of the bill, “it would include schooling upon arrival in France, even if the minority status still needs to be recognized, and the prohibition of bone tests (and dental examinations) to determine age, deemed scientifically contested, intrusive, and an attack on dignity by several elected officials.”
Notably, a Senate report dating from September 2021 showed that 90 percent of young illegal migrants declared themselves minors upon their arrival in France, whereas after they were reviewed by medical professionals, 70 percent were actually determined to be adults.
The mantra is that foreigners will come to Germany to be doctors and engineers, but what happens when they are busy beating the young aspiring German doctors?
In the case of 23-year-old Paul S., there appears to have been a failure at every level, including from the police and the medical establishment. The young medical student was beaten by a group of eight men of “Southern European” appearance, with curly hair, beards, and goatees, but there is little chance they will now be apprehended.
The incident happened in the city of Essen, and the incredible violence against medical student Paul S. may ruin his medical career, and even may leave him unable to walk.
Bild described how Paul wanted to “become a doctor to help injured people, but whether he will ever be able to stand in the operating room for long periods himself has been uncertain since Christmas.”
The paper describes how he had his knee shattered in seven different places, which is being held together by screws and plates. He remains in the hospital, and due to an “incorrect assessment” by an emergency physician, no witnesses were questioned and no video recordings were secured by police after the attack.
The man was attacked on Dec. 20 after leaving an Irish pub with two friends. At around 3 a.m., they wanted to grab a drink at a kiosk in the Rüttenscheid district of Essen.
🇸🇾🇩🇪 German politicians are spreading misleading information about Syrian doctors working in Germany.
5,000 Syrian doctors may sound like a lot, but there are 420,000 doctors in Germany. The number of Syrian doctors is approximately just enough to cover the 1 million Syrian… pic.twitter.com/fHJh9945y9
“There were probably 20 people standing in front of it, everything seemed relaxed, people were chatting,” says Paul. “But suddenly, a guy insulted first my friend and then me. I told him to please stop.”
That was when Paul was jumped, with one of the young men striking Paul in the temple, while his friends were beaten when they tried to step in to help Paul.
“Then at least eight people piled on top of me. Punches and kicks came from all sides, and I went down. Luckily, the assailants then let go of me and fled,” he told Bild reporters from a hospital bed.
Despite the mass of witnesses nearby, nobody called emergency services, and nobody came to aid the young men who were being beaten by a mob. During the assault, the assailants shattered Paul’s knee with incredible force.
All evidence points to the assailants being foreigners or men with a migration background.
Bild states that police sources indicate the suspects are between 16 and 20 years old and between 1.75 and 1.85 meters tall. Both are said to have black, curly hair and a “southern European appearance.” During the incident, they were wearing black jackets and dark pants.
Two other accomplices had mustaches and goatees. According to witnesses, there were also two women in the group who did not participate in the assault. One of the women had long, dark hair.
After the severe beating, Paul managed to call emergency services himself.
His hell was only just beginning, though. The emergency physician did not recognize how severe his injury was and sent him away.
“She even refused to give me painkillers,” he said. She even told him not to “make such a fuss,” saying it was only a bruise.
This outright incompetence would be revealed shortly after, when Paul arrived at the Krupp Hospital in Essen, where doctors revealed his knee was fractured in seven different places, his meniscus was torn, and his cruciate ligaments had severe damage.
“You can’t injure a knee more severely,” the doctors told Paul. They conducted an operation on the young man for five hours, but it became clear that Paul needed a knee replacement.
It is very likely he will never be able to jog or play football ever again.
His mother, who is also a doctor, has issued a €10,000 reward for information leading to the capture of her son’s attackers.
“My son wants to become a surgeon,” said 46-year-old Jeanine S.
She notes that doctors have to stand for long hours at an operating table, and now it is unclear if he will ever be able to do that.
“With these lifelong consequences, nobody knows,” she said.
Remarkably, the first police report of the incident was kept from the public because the first emergency physician classified his injury as “minor.” Therefore, police did not work to secure footage or interview witnesses. Now, the footage has been overwritten.
It took a whole two weeks for police to issue a public appeal for witnesses despite realizing shortly after the beating how severely Paul was injured.
Now, all of those blunders may add up to a life of pain and injury for a young German man.
Paul’s mother has no choice but to offer a reward after security services failed her.
“I can only urgently appeal to witnesses and anyone with information: Please come forward, anonymously if necessary, we need your help!” she said.
An African man from the country of Ghana has been convicted for placing a trash bag over his wife’s head, raping her, and strangling her. Now, the Ghanaian man’s lawyer is arguing that he should have a more lenient sentence because of his culture, where a man “must” satisfy her husband.
“They come from a culture where a woman has to satisfy her husband, even if she doesn’t want to,” the lawyer said at the hearing.
The female victim, a resident of Mol, in Kempen, woke up on Aug. 27 with a trash bag wrapped around her head. She was then raped and strangled by her husband, known by his initial of JS. The man now faces three years in prison but requested leniency from the Turnhout Criminal Court on Wednesday morning.
Police were called to the house on Aug. 27 for a domestic violence call.
“The rape was discovered in a special way. The case began as a case of domestic violence, but it was the defendant himself who put us on the trail of rape,” said prosecutor Hanne Hendrickx.
The victim told police she woke up with a trash bag wrapped around her head. Her husband, JS, was on top of her and tried to strangle her.
“She explained that she was afraid of her husband and that this needed to change,” said the prosecutor.
Despite his conviction, JS denied the facts of the case, saying he “only” raped her that night but did not commit other acts of violence.
“He said he only raped her and sometimes forced her to have sex when she didn’t want to,” the prosecution representative added.
The Belgian newspaper 7sus7 described the case, writing: “Visibly unaware of the seriousness of his actions, JS tried to minimize his comments to the police and the courts.”
Prosecutor Hendrickz stated: “He claimed that it was not coercion, but sexual relations intended to calm an argument. He is very jealous and never accepts a refusal from his wife on a sexual level.”
However, the victim now hopes that JS finally understands that they “do not live in Africa.”
“You cannot demand sex at any time, even while married,” said Hendrickx. “If he does not understand this, he will have to receive support to understand the norms and values of Western culture.”
The African man said he regrets the incident; however, his lawyer did most of the speaking.
“His wife works nights, so they sometimes don’t have sex for several weeks. They come from a culture where men can expect more from women, a culture where women must satisfy their husbands even if they don’t want to,” she said in court.
According to the defense lawyer, the victim wants her husband home again. They are scheduled to begin couples therapy on Jan. 12.
Following the terror attack on Berlin’s energy infrastructure, which police say has led to at least one elderly person dying, Mayor Kai Wegner is under intense pressure. Following revelations he was playing tennis on Saturday, there are calls from a number of opposition parties for him to resign.
“Yes, I was playing tennis on Saturday,” Wegner said on Wednesday evening on RBB. “Looking back, I should have said what I did on Saturday on Sunday.”
After he originally said he was working from his home office all day, newspapers like Bild are slamming him, alluding that he was not entirely honest. In fact, the chief editor from Bild, Peter Tiede, called him a “flat out liar,” in a video segment. Politicians like Alternative for Germany (AfD) leader Alice Weidel even posted an AI-generated image mocking his tennis match.
Of course, the optics look bad. Berliners were left out in the cold while Wegner played tennis.
However, put into context, it is clear that it was an hour of exercise, on a Saturday no less. Even leaders during a crisis situation may need lunch or exercise, and in some cases, that can actually make them better at their job.
So, resigning over a match of tennis, even if he was not entirely truthful about it, seems overblown. He is also a public figure, but if he went out for a run for an hour, would there be as much uproar? He is a human, after all, and even an attempt to fudge exactly what he was doing can be forgiven.
🇩🇪BREAKING: The left-wing terror attack on energy infrastructure in Berlin has "claimed a life" after a 83-year-old "woman was found lifeless in her apartment" with severe hypothermia.
A relative found the woman, and rescue workers tried to unsuccessfully resuscitate her.
Others will obviously see it differently, especially some of those in southwest Berlin who are already furious at his role in the crisis. And of course, politicians are also going to take their shots at him. That is politics, and they sense the PR moment for Wegner has left him extremely vulnerable.
The highlighting of the tennis match, though, shows how much of politics is driven by PR and “image” and not necessarily policy.
Indeed, there are other concrete policy areas where Wegner could be criticized. For one, there appeared to be a significant lack of preparedness from authorities to deal with the crisis, at least in the early hours.
Second, it is true that Wegner is not responsible for the fact that the left-wing group claiming responsibility for the attack, the Vulcangruppe (Volcano Group), has been able to attack Berlin’s energy infrastructure with impunity for 15 years. However, many of the most high-profile attacks happened under his term as mayor, including the massive attack on the Tesla plant in Grünheide. More certainly could have been done to stop this group, no doubt.
As a number of commentators have noted, left-wing terrorism is treated entirely differently than right-wing terrorism, and in turn, the authorities may have never been pressured to take these cases as seriously as if it had been a group of neo-Nazis running around cutting the power to Berlin hospitals and daycares.
🇩🇪"Why are there always left-wing attacks in Berlin?"
After a terror attack from the left-wing "Volcano Group" in Germany's Berlin, which left 45,000 households without power, there are questions about how far left-wing violence is legitimized by the media, state, and society… pic.twitter.com/ZtdSusqorW
Finally, there are various policies from Wegner that I do not personally agree with, along with mayors from many of the major cities in the West, including London Mayor Sadiq Kahn or Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo. However, it is very clear that the voting populations of these cities do. They vote for these policies.
Left-wing actions, and even terror, are deeply romanticized in cities like Berlin. There is a wink and a nod towards such actions, and in many cases, it is even glorified or actively supported by actual politicians, or at least activists in the political parties. Even Wegner, who is ostensibly a “conservative,” is not immune to this social reality.
This also feeds into the topic of mass migration. Wegner has spent a record amount of money on migrant accommodations in Berlin, amounting to nearly €1 billion last year. Once the blackout hit 45,000 households, he initially formulated that those affected would still need to pay €70 for a hotel room per night, a move that he backtracked on when it was met with outrage.
However, the affected wealthy districts in the southwest of Berlin, many of whom are more conservative than the average, did indeed vote for Wegner in large numbers. DId Wegner ever say he was going to substantially enact immigration restrictionist policies? No. So, this is, in a manner, what they were also voting for. Berlin has a fiscal problem, and even as budget cuts hit cultural, education, and transport sectors, money towards migrants goes up every year.
Again, you get what you vote for, so why should Wegner resign over a lack of accommodations available in an emergency?
We could also raise the fact that 2025 marked a major year in terms of escalating gang violence, another Wegner policy failure, as he is the “CDU guy” who is supposed to be “tough on crime.” By the end of 2025, public discourse in Berlin frequently referred to “almost daily gunfire” in connection with organized crime, clan rivalries, and drug trafficking in districts like Lichterfelde, Neukölln, and Kreuzberg. The Turkish Mafias are especially responsible for this incredible amount of gunfire in the capital. This uptick in high-profile street shootings led many officials to describe the current era as one of the most violent for the city in recent memory.
Again, this should not be a surprise. In fact, it is all very predictable.
Even if I would like to personally see Wegner out of office along with a number of Western politicians, society has an entirely different opinion about what they want. Berlin has elections later this year, where the populace will likely choose a left-wing mayor this time around. They certainly are not going to choose an immigration restrictionist, regardless of soaring crime, school and housing crises, or the many parallel societies that have arisen. In addition, action against left-wing terror groups is of very low priority overall. There will be no demonstrations against the Vulkangruppe, for instance, and no public mantras from Berliners about the “threat to democracy” the left-wing groups represent.
In fact, the Left Party has been polling second-highest in Berlin for the upcoming elections, which has the highest number of former or even current Antifa activists and apologists for outright left-wing violence.
The reality is that Western society in the cities is increasingly multicultural and liberal. Many of the residents, such as Turkish migrants, would vote for extremely conservative candidates like Erdoğan in their own home countries, but are choosing left-wing parties in Western nations, in large part due to their high social spending and support for more mass migration. Wegner, the supposed “conservative,” only won because he shifted towards the electorate, which means supporting immigration and going soft on left-wing causes as well. He needs coalition partners like the SPD, after all.
In other words, there are far bigger problems than a game of tennis, and there is little hope in the near term that anything will be done about them.
A top Berlin police official has confirmed that the power outage terror attack on Berlin, which police believe was committed by a left-wing terror group, has claimed at least one life.
According to Berlin Police Vice President Marco Langner, who spoke during a press conference, an 83-year-old woman was found inside her apartment with severe hypothermia.
🇩🇪🚨 Officials in Berlin initially told families and pensioners affected by the ongoing power and heating outage that they could stay in a hotel at a discounted rate of €70 a night.
Many slammed the proposal, reminding the city-state government that it's spending nearly €1… pic.twitter.com/8Csh5mCzX9
“This relative had already cared for her for months and then found her alive in the apartment. She was then resuscitated –unfortunately unsuccessfully– in the ambulance and subsequently died,” said Langner.
“Regardless of the possible cause of death, this is of course a very regrettable – very regrettable for the relatives – incident,” said the police chief. “The colleagues of the criminal investigation department who arrived at the scene could not immediately determine that the cause of death was caused by a fall.“
🇩🇪"Why are there always left-wing attacks in Berlin?"
After a terror attack from the left-wing "Volcano Group" in Germany's Berlin, which left 45,000 households without power, there are questions about how far left-wing violence is legitimized by the media, state, and society… pic.twitter.com/ZtdSusqorW
The fact that the police are now confirming that one death is tied to the blackout could raise the stakes for any criminal investigation. Already, the Vulkangruppe (Volcano Group), which claimed responsibility for the attack, has been active since 2011 with major terror attacks on Berlin energy infrastructure.
Their latest attack in the southwest of Berlin left 45,000 households without power, along with 2,200 businesses. Also affected were retirement homes, daycares, and schools.
Numerous commentators and journalists are now criticizing the government and security services for failing to stop this terror group.
A 15-year-old girl was dragged into a bush on Saturday evening, Jan. 3, in the Wiesbaden district of Biebrich and raped by two men “speaking broken German,” who remain on the run from police.
The attack occurred around 6:30 p.m. in the area of Kasteler Straße in the Wiesbaden district of Biebrich. According to the victim, the two suspects held her down, pulled her into a bush, and one began raping her while the other one stood nearby.
The men then fled on foot towards Mainz-Kastel, while the teenager managed to get herself to a police station to report the incident, according to Wiesbaden Aktuell.
The suspects are described as being approximately 20 years old and standing about 1.85 meters tall with narrow to average builds. The first perpetrator reportedly had short black hair, a three-day beard, and spoke broken German with a heavy accent. He was seen wearing a black fanny pack and a dark brown and black tracksuit consisting of a sweater and sweatpants.
The second suspect was noted for having a broader face, short medium-brown hair, and a patchy three-day beard with gaps near the neck. He also did not speak German well and wore a black tracksuit that included a hoodie and sweatpants.
The Wiesbaden Criminal Investigation Department has officially launched a rape investigation and is appealing to the public for assistance. They are asking anyone who was traveling in the Kasteler Straße area at the time of the incident, whether on foot, by car, or on a bicycle, to come forward if they observed any suspicious behavior or individuals matching the descriptions.
The Ministry of the Interior ordered a national-level red code valid until the measure is revoked from 8 a.m. on Wednesday due to the snow and extreme winter weather, announced Attila Fülöp, the state secretary responsible for care policy at the ministry.
At a press conference, the state secretary emphasized that under such weather conditions, the state has the duty to protect the personal integrity and property of citizens, and all necessary resources are provided for this.
Due to the emergency situation, special measures have also been introduced in the social welfare system, the primary purpose of which is to protect human life.
“This is a special procedure, the essence of which is the protection of lives in need,” explained Attila Fülöp.
“From 8 a.m., therefore, all social institutions and residential institutions are obliged to receive our compatriots in trouble, homeless, struggling with any problems due to the cold, who temporarily need crisis care,” he explained.
Ordering a code red means that social institutions must provide assistance even more widely and that they cannot reject anyone who is in danger because of freezing weather.
Europe has already been hit with cold weather in recent days, and snow has accumulated in a number of countries, such as Germany and Hungary. Heavy snowfall led to delays at Budapest Airport and a number of severe road accidents. However, more heavy snowfall is expected in the coming days, including temperatures reaching deeper into minus territory.
Now, up to 10 to 20 centimeters of fresh snow are predicted in the east of the country, with more forecast for certain locales.
Drivers are especially cautioned for more difficult road conditions in Tiszántúl, the Borsod area, the Tisza area, as well as in the western part of Transdanubia and Bakony.
Following claims spreading that Russians were responsible for the catastrophic attack on energy infrastructure in some of Berlin’s wealthiest neighborhood, the Berlin police are refuting these claims. Notably, a Christian Democrat (CDU) politician appeared on public media outlet ZDF and said the Russians are likely responsible.
CDU MP Roderich Kiesewetter is being accused of spreading rumors, or so-called disinformation, on Monday that Russia might be behind the attack on Berlin’s power grid. Berlin police are now calling it “fake news.”
“There is absolutely no evidence of this so far.” said Deputy Police Chief Marco Langner at a press conference on Tuesday. “These are the usual fake news stories we always encounter in such situations, intended to unsettle people.”
🇩🇪🚨 Officials in Berlin initially told families and pensioners affected by the ongoing power and heating outage that they could stay in a hotel at a discounted rate of €70 a night.
Many slammed the proposal, reminding the city-state government that it's spending nearly €1… pic.twitter.com/8Csh5mCzX9
The attack hit Berlin on Saturday, and responsibility has been claimed by the well-known left-wing Vulcangruppe (Volcano Group). The group has been active with major attacks on Berlin energy infrastructure since 2011, which also knocked out power to the Tesla plant outside Berlin, along with surrounding settlements. That attack alone is estimated to have cost €100 million. The group has never been apprehended.
Langer said that security authorities are once again attributing this latest attack to the Vulkangruppe. However, police are conducting their investigation in all directions.
🇩🇪 In this video, a cancer patient living through the Berlin blackout says he is sleeping in the hallway of his apartment complex because it’s the warmest part of the building.
However, Kiesewetter is not the only one claiming Russians were behind the attack. Rumors were spread that the statement from the left-wing terror group — which cited climate change, among other reasons, as the reason behind its attack — might have been translated from Cyrillic script.
A linguistic analysis of the statement allegedly showed “that a back-translation into Russian provides a much better linguistic representation than the clunky German one reads there,” CDU politician Kiesewetter also explained to Welt. “We know that Russia carries out a number of attacks and acts of sabotage.”
So far, the Berlin police have debunked this claim of Russians being behind the terror incident
The attack, which took out power to 45,000 households in areas such as Wannsee and Zehlendorf, is still ongoing for many residents, many of whom are still without power. The attack has also been highly embarrassing for not only the CDU-led Berlin government of Mayor Kai Wegner, but also for the entire federal security apparatus, which has failed to catch the terror groups for well over a decade.
Additionally, scenes of elderly victims being carted into gym halls while refugees are transferred to warm hotels has created a shocking juxtaposition for many Berlin residents.
The demographic landscape of Vienna is shifting rapidly, with a record number of newborns lacking Austrian citizenship despite being born within the country. According to recent data from Statistics Austria, 40.5 percent of babies born in the capital do not have Austrian citizenship — a figure that has doubled from 20 percent just two decades ago.
In several Viennese districts, the statistics are even more striking. In areas such as Favoriten, Ottakring, and Rudolfsheim-Fünfhaus, the share of non-Austrian newborns has surpassed 50 percent. While these children are born on Austrian soil, they are not legally considered citizens, according to data from Heute newspaper.
This data comes at a time when 40.9% of all of Vienna’s population is foreign-born. Over 50 percent have both parents born overseas.
Those born without a passport do not automatically receive Austrian citizenship, as they do in the United States. Instead, there is a process, and in a number of cases, these people do not go on to obtain Austrian citizenship and have issues with voting and sometimes even staying in the country. Leftist politicians have called for these citizens to receive automatic citizenship.
In addition, of the approximately 60 percent of those born in Vienna with an Austrian passport, many of these births are to those with a migration background who also have Austrian citizenship.
🇦🇹Austria
Vienna has seen incredible demographic changes, especially in the last decade.
40.9% of its population is foreign born. Over 50% have both parents born overseas.
This year, for the first time ever, over half of first-graders do not understand German (50.9%). pic.twitter.com/P0P7dJVj5Q
In short, the demographics of Vienna are rapidly changing. As Remix News reported last month, for the first time ever, over 50 percent of first-graders do not understand German, a major milestone in the troubled Vienna school system.
Muslim students now account for 41.2 percent of all students, while Christian students fell to 34.5 percent. The trend is only growing, and is accompanied by rising problems, including violence in schools, anti-Semitism, and contempt for women.
Meanwhile, the right-wing Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) is raising the alarm about the rapid demographic change in Austria and Vienna.
“Austrians will soon be strangers in their own country,” said Hannes Amesbauer, security spokesman for the FPÖ.
FPÖ National Council member Maximilian Weinzierl, the FPÖ youth spokesperson and federal chairman of the Freedom Party Youth said:
“What we as the FPÖ have been warning about for decades, but which was always dismissed as right-wing scaremongering, is now reality: Immigration has completely overrun our country….41.2 percent of Muslim students – that’s no longer a minority, that’s the new majority. And it’s not just that Austrian children have become a minority in schools. Even together with other Christian European migrants, they are fewer than non-European Muslims. This is the direct result of replacement migration, asylum abuse, and the denial of reality by the SPÖ, ÖVP, and Greens.
In more and more school classes, German is a second language, and our values are becoming increasingly secondary. Our children are being marginalized by migrants. This is no longer immigration, this is displacement.”
Vienna has seen an incredible demographic transformation in recent decades, with an extreme acceleration in just the last 10 years.
The forint had an outstanding year in 2025; the Hungarian currency was one of the stars of the market globally, writes the Portfolio news outlet. The reason for this is the high interest rate difference: while the MNB kept the base interest rate at 6.5 percent throughout the year, the developed central banks and regional institutions significantly reduced their own interest rates. And the widening interest rate differential has stirred the imagination of carry trade investors, who seek to profit from the difference between borrowing at low rates and investing at higher rates.
This process led to the Hungarian currency appreciating by more than 6 percent against the euro and by 17.5 percent against the dollar in just one year.
In the former case, there has not been a greater strengthening against the dollar since 2012, and since 2002, that is, the forint has not had such a good year in more than 20 years. There is a relatively small chance that even this will be surpassed by the domestic currency in 2026.
In 2026, a significant additional capital inflow is no longer expected, and the question may be when investors will close these positions. If the capital goes out en masse, it may even bring a sudden significant weakening of the forint. Several analysts have warned that at the end of the year, we could already see signs that some investors are closing their positions and pocketing profits.
According to experts, inflation may drop to close to 2 percent at the beginning of the year, and from the point of view of the central bank, it will be crucial how the traditional January repricings and the basic processes develop. Margin stops will continue to reduce inflation by 1-1.5 percentage points; however, if the basic inflation processes develop favorably in the first months, the central bank may even try to reduce interest rates regardless. This, in turn, might lead to a weakening of the forint.
The most important event of the year could be the April parliamentary elections. Several international analysts have already mentioned the so-called Tisza-bet, which may indicate that a significant part of the market expects the victory of the opposition Tisza Party.
As Portfolio writes, the fact that a significant number of investors evaluate the possible victory of the party currently in opposition as a realistic option may have played a role in the strengthening of the forint last year.
The Tisza Party is openly campaigning to improve access to EU funds and even put the introduction of the euro on the agenda for the longer term. What Tisza would achieve in the event of a possible victory is another question. As known, Péter Magyar, Orbán’s main political rival, is careful not to say anything specific on important issues, but the leaked Tisza budget package has revealed that significant budget cuts and austerity would lie ahead for Hungary were the party to come to power.
A nationwide farmers’ protest against the EU-Mercosur agreement began today in Poland at 10:00 a.m., with protests happening at over 190 locations across the country. Today’s protest is just a prelude. On Jan. 9, 2026, a large farmers’ protest will take place in Warsaw.
“This isn’t a show of support for the government, as the Polish People’s Party (PSL) or the Russian narrative portrayed it yesterday. If we were satisfied with the government’s actions, we wouldn’t have to be here today,” Kamil Szymański, co-organizer of the protest near Żyrardów, told Telewizja wPolsce24.
Farmers from all over Poland took to the roads to protest against a trade agreement with Mercosur countries that is detrimental to European agriculture.
“Today’s campaign is under the slogan ‘Stop Mercosur.’ As farmers, we strongly oppose the signing of the agreement. We refuse to allow products of much lower quality to enter our market. We produce the highest quality food, and it’s unclear why anyone would want to destroy so many years of hard work,’ said Kamil Szymański, co-organizer of the protest near Żyrardów.
“Safeguard clauses cannot protect agriculture because the EU lacks such instruments. This is a ploy to prevent us from protesting. People in Poland say one thing and those in the EU say another. This is not a show of support for the government, as the Polish People’s Party (PSL) or the Russian narrative presented yesterday. If we were satisfied with the government’s actions, we wouldn’t have to be here today,” added Szymański.
“This is a signal protest. We have banners that we will hang on the viaduct so that participants in the movement know why we are protesting,” said one of the protest coordinators, Janusz Terka, in an interview with Telewizja wPolsce24.
“Tractors are parked in such places that they do not obstruct traffic,” he added.
Mercosur could destroy Polish agriculture
Farmers have long warned that signing an agreement with Mercosur countries would mean the annihilation of agriculture across the EU. The Covid-19 pandemic has demonstrated that disruptions to supply chains negatively impact society. If Poland were to lose its own agriculture and the ability to produce healthy food locally, it could find itself in mortal danger, at the mercy of the EU, which could use food rationing as a form of pressure.
🇪🇺🔴The true face of the EU.
Protesting farmers from across the EU are hit with water cannons and tear gas, all while the elite inside the European Commission surround their HQ with barbed wire.
Farmers and experts point out that having our own food production is a Polish national interest, which must be defended; otherwise, the country’s independence will be threatened. Furthermore, the quality of Mercosur food is a crucial issue, which, according to experts, will lead to an increase in the incidence of serious diseases and the threat of ingesting illegal pesticides and chemicals.
Farmers do not obstruct traffic
Deputy Commissioner Barbara Poznańska from the Częstochowa Municipal Police Headquarters confirmed to PAP that although farmers are protesting in several locations in the Częstochowa district, their actions are not impeding traffic. Farmers gathered in Święta Anna, near the roundabout on provincial road No. 786, near the Volunteer Fire Department station in Łabędź in the Koniecpol commune, in Drochlin in the Lelów commune, in Bolesławów in the Przyrów commune, near the viaduct in Wyrazowo, and near gas stations in Mykanów and Mokrzesz in the Mstów commune.
A similar protest is being conducted near Lubliniec, where farmers gathered near the intersection of DK11 and DK46, on an asphalt technical road.
“They don’t obstruct traffic in any way, they’re located along National Road 46, and they’re visible to passing drivers. Everything is done legally,” Police Officer Monika Wacławek from the Lubliniec police told PAP.
“We want to put pressure on those in power, not make life harder for drivers. We’re fighting not only for the future of Polish agriculture, but also for consumer safety,” said Jakub Buchajczyk, one of the protest leaders.
“Pressure makes sense. It worked on December 18th in Brussels (where a large protest by European farmers took place – PAP). We hope it will work this time too,” he concluded.
Christian Klar, the 63-year-old headmaster of the Franz Jonas European School in Vienna-Floridsdorf, has released a provocative new book titled: “How Do We Save Our Children’s Future?” Following his previous work on the state of the education system, Klar uses his latest publication to highlight what he describes as a growing “clash of cultures and religions” within the classroom, with Islam playing a major role.
One of the most notable cases he cited in his book is the example of a gay teacher who was asked to leave the school because of his sexuality, which illustrates friction between conservative religious values and Western liberal standards. Klar describes the man as a successful young teacher at a public elementary school, and despite being beloved by his students as a “class dad,” the atmosphere shifted instantly when his sexual orientation became public knowledge.
According to Klar, a Muslim father approached the administration to protest the teacher’s presence. The father claimed the teacher’s orientation was “incompatible with Islamic principles” and demanded his immediate dismissal. After requests for a dismissal and a transfer were denied, the school ultimately allowed the man’s son to switch classes to avoid the teacher, in the report covered by Austrian outlet Heute.
Klar questions the precedent this sets.
“A de-escalating and therefore perhaps wise decision, but where do such incidents lead? When is it time to say ‘Stop!’? I think we should have done that a long time ago!” says Klar.
Klar stated that the solution found to the so-called “problem” is a mere band-aid for a much larger problem, saying that secularism is losing ground to Islam. He observes that Islamic social codes are becoming the primary lens through which students view their daily lives.
“The topic of religion permeates the entire school day: Islam is omnipresent, everything is ‘haram’ or ‘halal’… Islamic rules are discussed by the children,” Klar explains.
He points to a visible shift in student attire, noting that “more and more girls wear headscarves or now niqabs and abayas,” and calls for a stricter enforcement of headscarf bans to maintain a neutral learning environment.
The principal concludes with a firm demand for policy reform, insisting that schools must remain a “religiously neutral space.” He emphasizes that while personal faith is private, the school system must be anchored in the “fundamental values of our liberal, democratic and social society.”
Klar is not the only one raising the alarm bell. Just last month, teachers’ union representative Thomas Krebs of the Christian Trade Unionists Group (FCG) said Viennese teachers are reporting growing challenges with students from immigrant backgrounds who are increasingly unwilling to learn German or adapt to local values.
Speaking to Heute, Krebs said many of those arriving from conflict or crisis regions now bring radical beliefs that pose problems in Austrian classrooms.
“In the past, people fled from extremism. Now, many people come to us radicalized by extremism and spread these ideas here as well,” said Krebs. He cited incidents of female teachers being disrespected or assaulted by male students and parents, saying such behavior reflects imported attitudes that reject gender equality. “This disrespect ranges from refusing to shake hands to insults and physical assaults,” he added.
Krebs said the problem also affects staff relations, with reports of some male teachers refusing to shake hands with female colleagues for similar reasons. He warned that children from Western or secular families are sometimes treated as inferior by classmates, while those from conservative backgrounds who wish to integrate face pressure to conform.
“Students from Western cultural backgrounds are not seen as equals,” Krebs said, adding that liberal democratic values are often dismissed in favor of religious rules.
Dutch migration researcher and social scientist Ruud Koopmans has described the current rapid naturalizations as a “demographic time bomb” that could lead to 7 million Syrians in Germany within 50 years. Koopmans says that family reunification is the main factor, and with many relatives of these newly naturalized migrants having the right to reunification, it could transform Germany.
Koopmans criticizes Germany’s rapid naturalization of migrants, which was initiated under the last far-left German government of Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
“One must consider whether refugees should be given access to German citizenship so quickly. If they are German nationals, there is no limit on family migration. Then any possibility of managing these migration flows is gone,“ he said in an interview with Cicero.
“This rapid naturalization can be considered a demographic time bomb in the long run,” he added.
He stated that the so-called “turbo naturalization“ after three years was removed by the current ruling government. The reality is that this option for receiving German citizenship after three years applied to very few people, sometimes numbering less than 10 people in certain German states.
However, standard naturalization is still possible after five years.
“I see a problem with naturalization. This limitation on family reunification only applies to those granted subsidiary protection as long as they don’t yet have German citizenship. While the federal government’s reform abolished accelerated naturalization after three years, standard naturalization after five years—even for people who came as refugees—remains,” he said.
Foreigners in Germany can receive citizenship after five years if they prove legal residence and an independent economic livelihood, have no criminal record, and have sufficient knowledge of German. However, there have also been widespread reports of cheating on the German-language tests.
Many of these new citizens are men, and they will want to bring their families to Germany.
“It is essential to consider the consequences this will have for the future. These (approx.) one million people are heavily overrepresented by men. They will largely seek their marriage partners in their country of origin. This is highly likely because marriage in these countries is typically within extended families. Marriage in these societies is also an economic transaction between families, and the ticket to Europe is an important means of exchange,” said Koopmans.
He then cited the rapid growth of previous immigrant populations, who used family reunification to grow their numbers by millions. Turks are a good case study, who are now over 6 million in number in Germany. They also remain extremely poorly integrated, and in fact, the recent gang war in Berlin, which has helped fuel a record number of shootings in the capital city this year, is due in large part to a feud between Turkish Mafia gangs.
“We only need to look at the past: How much has the population of guest workers from Turkey or Morocco grown over time through family reunification and reproduction? From 1973, the year recruitment was halted, to the present day, this group has increased sixfold or sevenfold. If we assume the same for the Syrians—and there is no reason not to—then in 50 years we will have seven million Syrians or citizens of Syrian origin in Germany. And I’m only talking about Syrians, but the same applies to people from Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, and so on,” the researcher added.
🇩🇪🔴German police say members of an extended Syrian clan family are said to have committed at least 160 crimes in Stuttgart.
They have cost Germany nearly €500,000 in prison detention fees alone, and that is just for 5 of the highly criminal family.
Koopmans then claims that after 10 years, people should be allowed to stay in Germany, but five years is too soon.
“If that’s still the case after 10 years, at some point you have to say: Okay, people have been here so long now that we have to offer them a lasting perspective,” says Koopmans. “But I think it’s wrong to do this after just five years.”
Koopmans makes a distinction between immigrants, however.
“These problems, both regarding integration into the labor market and high crime rates, affect very specific immigrant groups. They are a consequence of the fact that we don’t have truly controlled migration. It’s not the case that all immigrants are significantly overrepresented in crime statistics. Many migrants in Germany come from other EU member states. These are not significantly overrepresented in crime statistics. In terms of labor market participation, migrants from other member states are even better off,” he said.
However, given demographic trends, any number of naturalizations may present a serious demographic crisis for the German population moving forward due to the sheer number of people who arrived over the last few decades.
Notably, a majority of Germans now support an immigration moratorium, according to a new YouGov poll. The poll shows just how deeply Germans have turned against mass immigration in the past 10 years.
The Polish gas and oil giant Orlen has started exploiting the Różańsko natural gas field, located in West Pomeranian Voivodeship, which has natural gas resources estimated at 1.2 billion m3, the company announced.
The investment in Różańsk will contribute to increasing domestic natural gas production by up to 130 million m3 per year. Orlen will continue to extract from this deposit for the next 20 years, i.e., at a time when the domestic economy’s demand for natural gas will be greatest.
“Gas from Różańsk will primarily power the combined heat and power plants in Kostrzyn nad Odrą and Gorzów Wielkopolski. Crude oil and liquid sulfur, produced, among others, thanks to a new gas desulfurization installation, will flow to Polish industry,” the press release stated.
Mining begins
“Domestic gas and oil extraction is one of the pillars of our energy security. Currently, we obtain about one-fifth of the natural gas we need in Poland – that’s nearly 3.5 billion m3 per year. In the coming years, as demand for this raw material increases, our production will systematically increase to reach 4 billion m3 in 2030,” said Wiesław Prugar, member of the Orlen management board for Upstream.
“The raw materials we extract work for the benefit of the entire economy – gas powers the energy and heating sectors, oil goes to domestic petrochemical and refinery installations, being the basis for the production of fuels and plastics, among other things, and sulfur is an important component in the production of artificial fertilizers and tires,” he added.
New gas field
Orlen said that the development of the deposit included the modernization of three existing production wells with the expansion of the installation, as well as the construction of a new pipeline allowing the connection of the deposit with one of the largest mining installations in the country, the Dębno Oil and Natural Gas Mine.
It was expanded with an 8 MW cogeneration unit, powered by gas from nearby deposits. This will ensure that the mines fully meet their electricity and process heat needs, with surpluses reaching the market. The expansion also enabled increased production from the nearby Cychra deposit.
“Strengthening domestic production is part of the Orlen 2035 strategy, which assumes an increase in gas production in Poland to 4 billion m3 per year in 2030. At the same time, the Orlen Group is developing projects on the Norwegian Continental Shelf and plans further foreign investments to reach 12 billion m3 of gas from its own deposits by the end of the decade,” the company said.
The Orlen Group manages refineries in Poland, the Czech Republic and Lithuania, conducts retail operations in Central Europe, mining operations in Poland, Norway, Canada and Pakistan, and is also involved in energy production, including renewable energy and natural gas distribution.
As part of the construction of the multi-energy concern, the company finalized the acquisitions of Energa, Grupa Lotos and PGNiG. Its consolidated sales revenues reached PLN 296.95 billion in 2024. The company has been listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange since 1999 and is part of the WIG20 index.
While the mantra remains that Germany needs to import millions to fill “job roles,” the reality is that there are fewer job opportunities for the unemployed than ever before, according to Federal Employment Agency head Andrea Nahles.
She said the labor market has been “stagnant for months,” and “no momentum is coming in,” said Nahles in a Web.de interview.
Notably, the number of vacancies has decreased for seven consecutive quarters, showing signs of a labor market consistently cooling.
“We have an indicator that shows how likely unemployed people are to find a job again. The value is usually around seven, but now at 5.7 – the lowest it has ever been,” she said.
Notably, job losses are being felt across the spectrum, and nobody is “immune” from being hit.
“But the well-educated still have the best opportunities in the job market,“ said Nahles.
Notably, those at the entry-level are facing among the worst prospects. “We have had fewer young people placed in training than we have in 25 years,” she said.
Nahles also pointed to a new reform of the citizen’s benefit, which is the term used for German social welfare, that would give priority for job placements to the unemployed. However, Nahles said that the unemployed do not always have the skills that employers are searching for.
“The citizen’s income discussion must not ignore the labor market,” she said. “Qualification remains important, otherwise people will be back at the job center after three months.”
In August, Germany announced that there are now more than 3 million people without a job, a record that was last achieved in 2015.
However, unlike 2015, artificial intelligence is now a factor, with German firms looking to increasingly replace labor inputs with computers, robotics and automation. While economic rebounds may come and go, AI is set to be here for the long term, and experts predict more and more jobs will be replaced by the technology.
Immigration could actually worsen the situation. While there are certain high-skilled jobs that economists claim can only be performed by immigrants, China has bucked this trend, as Remix News has noted, pulling ahead of Europe in terms of manufacturing and innovation in a number of key areas, including clean energy, automobile production, and other industries, all without mass immigration.
However, Nahles remains sanguine on artificial intelligence.
“Sure, (artificial intelligence) will shake up some industries quite a bit. Activities will change. This causes stress for people, I understand that. But the forecasts of our scientists at the IAB (Institute for Labour Market and Occupational Research of the Federal Employment Agency; is that AI will create even more new jobs than it will eliminate. It is a transformation, with all the opportunities and risks,” she said.
Germany’s new government promised a “migration turnaround,” but it turns out, this was mostly a pack of lies, half-truths, and misinformation, all designed to disguise the ongoing wave of unceasing immigration.
In response to a parliamentary inquiry from the Green Party in the German Bundestag, the Interior Ministry has indicated that only 993 asylum seekers were stopped at Germany’s borders between May and October and turned back.
He points out that 157,436 asylum applications were already submitted in Germany from January to November 2026, according to the BAMF. In addition, the Federal Foreign Office indicates that 102,000 visas for family reunification were issued for children and spouses of recognized asylum seekers during the same period.
In total, that is 259,436 new migrants for Germany.
However, that is not all, with an additional 37,000 Afghans flown into the country due to an admissions program that has come under fire, especially due to the poor integration record of Afghans in Germany.
Despite this disastrous track record, the ruling Christian Democrats (CDU), who claim to be conservatives, are trying to put lipstick on their track record.
German Interior Minister noted that asylum applications fell by 50 percent compared to the previous year. He said this is a “migration turnaround” that was promised.
“We have succeeded – especially at the beginning of my term in office – in reducing the pull factors for refugees by strengthening border controls, refoulement, but also by suspending family reunification and abolishing turbo-naturalization,” he said.
Notably, much of the reduction in asylum seekers has been achieved on the Europe-wide level, including the tightening of land borders and sea routes. However, hundreds of thousands are still entering Europe, and much of the migration now besetting Germany has to do with family reunification and legal migration.
Overall, data from late 2024 and early 2025 indicate that approximately 545,000 first residence permits were issued in 2024. In that number are also family reunifications and other legal migrants, but Germans also want those numbers sharply restricted.
Two brothers, Turkish nationals Gürkan and Ismail U., are on trial for allegedly killing two young women in an illegal street race in the German city of Ludwigsburg, with Gürken the suspected driver of the vehicle that struck the women.
Notably, both men have already been convicted 26 times for various serious crimes.
In the Stuttgart court, Gürkan is on trial for murder for reportedly driving his Mercedes S-Class into the women at 150 km/h. The prosecutor’s office accuses the men of conducting a street race on March 20, at which point Gürkane slammed into the two young women, 22-year-old Selin K. and 23-year-old Merve K., as they drove their Ford Focus out of a gas station. The women were thrown into a tree and died at the scene.
According to Bild newspaper, Gürkan U. has 14 convictions. Already in school, he was arrested for punching, choking, and sexually abusing his classmates. He has multiple traffic and violent offenses on his record, including rape, fraud, theft with a weapon, driving without a license, hit-and-run, and violating insurance laws. He also tried to sell €65,000 worth of cocaine to an undercover officer. Gürkan lost his driver’s license in 2015, but two years later, he got it back and was back on the road.
His brother, Ismail U., is on trial for attempted murder and was previously arrested for drunk driving in 2018, when he sped away from the police with a blood alcohol level of 1.4 per mille, blew through a red light, smashed multiple vehicles, and blew through a police trap, nearly hitting an officer. Officers fired shots at him during the incident, but he continued speeding away even with two tires blown out.
Amazingly, he only received a two-year suspended sentence. He had to give up his license twice and only received a two-month suspension before the deadly speeding accident in Ludwigsburg.
Ismail U. also has a long criminal record for rape, extortion, various traffic violations, drunk driving, weapons possession, assault, trespassing, and other offenses.
The demographic changes across Europe are immense, with ethnic, indigenous Europeans rapidly being replaced. As Remix News has noted, this is apparent in cities like Vienna, Austria, but perhaps some of the most stark developments are taking place in Brussels, Belgium.
The data there shows that in Brussels, 72.9 percent of children and youth aged 0-17 have a migration background from outside the European Union or were born outside the EU, according to StatBel, the official government statistic organization.
Remarkably, only 10.56 percent in this age group are Belgians of exclusively Belgian origin.
In response, Belgian MP Filip Dewinter has referred to “population replacement,” which he argues is not a “conspiracy,” but clearly demonstrated by the data.
Many critics have stated that Brussels had such a high percentage of foreign youths because citizens from other EU nations had moved to the capital. However, the data shows that nearly all the youth in the capital city now belong to non-EU nations.
Overall in Belgium, there are remarkable differences between the regions. StatBel notes, “At the Belgian level, approximately two-thirds of the population was Belgian of Belgian origin as of Jan. 1, 2025. This varies from 22.0 percent in the Brussels-Capital Region to 63.6 percent in the Walloon Region, and 71.9 percent in the Flemish Region.”
In Belgium as a whole, 64 percent are of Belgian origin, 22.1 percent are Belgian of foreign origin, and 13.8 percent are foreigners with no Belgian citizenship.
In practice, this means that as of Jan. 1, 2025, the “Belgian population numbered in absolute figures 7,571,338 Belgians of Belgian origin, 2,619,289 Belgians of foreign origin and 1,634,924 non-Belgians,” according to BelStat.
Belgium clearly indicates that there are many Belgians of “foreign origin” in Brussels overall as well, amounting to 40.8 percent in the Brussels-Capital Region.
That means in Brussels, 78 percent of the population is of non-Belgian origin.
Since 2018, the annual average has fluctuated around 56,000 new family reunifications. The sole dip was seen in 2020, during the coronavirus pandemic. The peak was in 2024, with 59,873 family reunifications.
In a new column in Liberium, Filip Dewinter, a leading member of the right-wing Flemish nationalist party Vlaams Belang and currently Belgium’s longest-serving member of parliament, referred to a new 33-page Trump administration memo related to Europe. Among other issues, the memo cited that Europe’s demographics are changing and that this development could represent a threat to the United States. Dewinter wrote this:
Isn’t Trump simply right when he asserts that Europe is in decline, weakly led, and losing its identity, social cohesion, cultural identity, and ethnic homogeneity due to immigration, wokeism, and Islamization? In the 33-page memo—of which, incidentally, only two pages are about Europe—the Trump administration refers to ‘migration policies that are transforming the continent and creating strife.’
This supports the obvious assertion that the native European population is being replaced. By linking the immigration invasion to “cratering birthdates” and “the loss of national identities and self-confidence,” Trump fully endorses the population replacement analysis, and the concept of “population replacement” has evolved from “conspiracy theory” to American government policy.
The lawmaker for the Flemish nationalist Vlaams Belang party, which sits with the Identity & Democracy group in the European Parliament, commented on the remarks by Johansson, the EU’s commissioner for home affairs, who said last month that the European Union needs at least 1 million migrants every year to replenish its depleting labor force and called for the bloc to further “invest in legal channels for regular migration.”
🇦🇹Austria
Vienna has seen incredible demographic changes, especially in the last decade.
40.9% of its population is foreign born. Over 50% have both parents born overseas.
This year, for the first time ever, over half of first-graders do not understand German (50.9%). pic.twitter.com/P0P7dJVj5Q
“These are Commissioner Johansson’s literal words: ‘We need migration,’” Vandendriessche said of the comments on Jan. 16.
“She wants to bring an additional 1 million migrants to Europe, on top of the many millions we already have.
“In doing so, she wants to combat the aging of Europe’s shrinking population. So she literally wants non-European peoples to replace shrinking European peoples.
“That is, by definition, replacement migration, a synonym for repopulation,” the Belgian MEP added.
In Poland, the controversial Grzegorz Braun is enjoying an increase in support, with more and more Poles turning to his party. Deputy Speaker of the Sejm and Confederation party co-leader Krzysztof Bosak believes that this is the result of disappointment among existing Law and Justice (PiS) voters, with more conservative voters turning to the right-wing Braun.
A poll by Opinia24 for “Fakty” TVN and TVN24 indicates that the largest increase in support was recorded by Grzegorz Braun’s group, which is the Confederation of the Polish Crown. The left-liberal KO still tops the list, ahead of PiS and Confederation. Based on the current polling results, there would only be four parties in the Sejm.
The poll shows that 32.8 percent of respondents currently want to vote for Donald Tusk’s party, a 1.1-percentage point increase more than the previous study. PiS earned 25.4 percent of support, an increase of 0.3-percentage points. The Confederation obtained a result of 10.7 percent, a drop of 3.9-percentage points.
Quickly rising is the Confederation of the Polish Crown, with 8.6 percent support, an increase of 2.4-percentage points. Other parties did not earn enough to pass the electoral threshold of 5 percent, including by the Left (4.9 percent), Razem (3.5 percent), PSL (2.6 percent) and Polska 2050 (2.1 percent).
Bosak: Braun’s party is growing thanks to PiS disappointment
Deputy Speaker of the Sejm Krzysztof Bosak commented on Tuesday on the increase in support for Grzegorz Braun’s group.
“It seems to me that Grzegorz Braun’s party is largely growing thanks to disillusionment with PiS and the shift of PiS voters to its support base,” said the Confederation politician on Telewizja Republika.
“Perhaps, I do not rule out that there are also a few voters who voted for Confederation because of Grzegorz Braun and now want to vote for him,” he added.
Confederation politician: Those in power are simply lying
The parliamentarian sharply criticized the actions of those in power.
“Generally, those in power just lie. They lie regularly. The worst thing is that they not only lie as a result of tactics. I talk to them privately or unofficially many times, and some of them are, especially people unfortunately responsible for decisions on economic and energy matters, these are indoctrinated people who believe their lies,” said Bosak.
“They are like young communists in the Stalinist period. For example, they believe that if they connect more renewable energy sources to the Polish power system, the price of energy will fall,” he added.
The Confederation politician cited the issue of Russian assets as an example. “The strongest European countries were in favor of freezing these assets, but they were never in favor of transferring them [to Ukraine]. And to my knowledge, Polish politicians who say publicly that it was possible are simply lying,” he said.
Four Syrian youths robbed, beat, and racially insulted another group of youths on a Düsseldorf commuter train, calling them “shitty Germans.” The youth suspects are accused of demanding money, assaulting one youth, robbing all the victims of cash, and sexually assaulting two more victims.
The suspects allegedly kissed two of the female victims against their will, punched one youth in the face, and stole cash. After a public appeal went out for their arrest, the Syrians turned themselves in to the police.
The suspects have already been released by police and, due to their age, are unlikely to face any serious consequences.
The case received widespread attention due to surveillance footage of the youths, which was released across Germany.
“The police are searching for this group of young men who are said to have threatened, assaulted, and robbed passengers on an S-Bahn train. In Düsseldorf, on Friday evening. One of them even brazenly poses for the surveillance camera! We can no longer feel safe in our own country. Nowhere,” wrote Gerhard Papke, president of the German-Hungarian Society in the Federal Republic of Germany and former FDP parliamentary group leader.
Die Polizei sucht diese Gruppe junger Männer, die in einer S-Bahn Fahrgäste bedroht, geschlagen und beraubt haben sollen. In Düsseldorf, am Freitagabend. Einer posiert sogar noch frech für die Überwachungskamera! Wir können uns im eigenen Land nicht mehr sicher fühlen. Nirgendwo. pic.twitter.com/sTDjIL2AcC
The incident occurred on Dec. 19, 2025, at approximately 9:45 p.m. on the S28 suburban train from Düsseldorf Central Station running towards Gerresheim. The suspects initially racially insulted the other group, including using the terms “fucking Germans” and “Shitty Germans.”
Afterwards, they demanded money from the victims. When the victims refused, the youths attacked one of them, according to German news outlet Apollo News.
“The aggressors then separated one of the youths from his companions. One suspect punched him in the face; at the same time, the victim’s wallet was pulled from his jacket pocket, and cash was stolen,” the police reported.
“Two of the suspects also kissed two youths from the other group,” the police report read.
The footage, which went viral in Germany, shows the youths walking directly toward the surveillance camera. One of them looks straight into the lens and makes a pistol gesture with both hands, in what appeared to be an arrogant pose after the robbery.
After their photos went viral, the suspects, 14, 16, and two 15-year-olds, turned themselves in at a police station in Wuppertal, according to police. Some of them were accompanied by their guardians. The suspects are four Syrian nationals who have prior criminal records.
“Since there are no grounds for detention, the four youths were not arrested. They face criminal proceedings,” police added. The State Security Criminal Investigation Department is leading the investigation.
Crimes by Syrians are extraordinarily high in Germany. A new report released in October detailed how in the last 10 years, Syrians have committed over 135,000 crimes against German victims. However, this group has also committed many crimes against non-German victims.
The Socialist Youth of Austria (SJ) has filed a criminal complaint against the co-governing Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) and Integration Minister Claudia Plakolm, alleging incitement to hatred over an Instagram post that noted two-thirds of Austrians currently find co-existence with Muslim refugees to be problematic.
The post was citing the recent findings of the Integration Barometer commissioned by the Austrian Integration Fund (ÖIF).
The study found that 68 percent of respondents believed Austria to be unable to cope with the current influx of asylum seekers, while 72 percent considered the level of integration among newcomers into Western society to be generally poor. Similarly, 66 percent of those surveyed perceived co-existence with Muslims to be poor or very poor.
The ÖVP Instagram post in question included a graphic that asked, “Did you know that two-thirds find living together with Muslims difficult?” The accompanying caption read, “Integration is not an option, it is an obligation.”
SJ chairwoman Larissa Zivkovic said the post crossed from political messaging into criminally relevant hate speech. She accused the ÖVP and Plakolm of deliberately sowing division with anti-Muslim rhetoric in order to distract from broader political failures. “Anti-Muslim hate speech has no place in our society,” Zivkovic said, warning that Muslims, particularly women, were already exposed to daily hostility and exclusion.
Senior ÖVP figures have rejected the accusation. Interior Minister Gerhard Karner said the post did not express a political judgment but quoted the results of a scientific study conducted by a reputable institute. As reported by Exxpress, Karner said the Integration Barometer reflected perceptions that already existed in society and that acknowledging those perceptions was necessary for effective integration policy. “This is not criticism of a religious community, but the result of a scientific study,” he said.
ÖVP Secretary General Nico Marchetti accused the Socialist Youth of attempting to “fight reality with lawsuits.” He said the survey findings were valid and reflected widespread concerns about immigration and integration. Marchetti argued that politicians had a responsibility to address those concerns rather than dismiss them as prejudice, and pointed to surveys among Social Democratic Party members in Carinthia showing strong support for tougher asylum and integration measures. He questioned whether the SJ would also consider legal action against those positions.
Plakolm said she was unconcerned by the criminal complaint, but warned that there were increasing attempts to adopt lawfare to shut down legitimate political debate. She said the public mood captured by the Integration Barometer had developed because of unresolved problems in social cohesion and insisted that integration would only succeed if expectations of newcomers were clear and consistently enforced.
Speaking last week about the government’s new integration program, Plakolm said, “Anyone who wants to live in Austria must fulfill three requirements to be considered successfully integrated: They must have sufficient command of our language, they must integrate into the labor market, and they must prioritize self-sufficiency, abide by our rules and values, and live accordingly. Anyone who rejects this must expect consequences and, conversely, is not welcome in Austria.”
The integration minister has been outspoken about the need for radical reform regarding the integration of Muslims into Austrian society, recently calling the wearing of headscarves by girls oppressive.
“I want girls, regardless of their religion, to have the same opportunities in our free and Western society. And that’s why I see the headscarf for girls under 14 as a sign of oppression,” she told Bild back in September.
A 14-year-old extremist Muslim girl is considered so dangerous that the German government is building its own “high-security container” to house her. Currently, she resides in the city of Paderborn, but will be transferred to the new site in the coming months.
The secure site will be fenced in, monitored by cameras, and strictly controlled.
In August, the 14-year-old girl, then 13, stabbed a caregiver in the back inside a psychiatric hospital in Paderborn. Now, no facility in Germany wants her due to her threat level.
Before arriving at the first clinic, she was under around-the-clock police surveillance due to suspicions she was planning a terror attack.
Currently, the Paderborn prosecutor says the 14-year-old will be “cared for there by specialists and security personnel, shielded from the public.”
The container has not yet been built, but once completed, inside her “high-security container,” the 14-year-old girl will “receive intensive educational support,” according to German public news media WDR.
It remains unclear how much just this one girl has cost German taxpayers, on top of the psychological and physical cost to the victim she stabbed in the back. However, another Islamist who required 24-hour surveillance and police escort had cost the German state €5 million, including 95,000 man-hours that were spent on him. In addition, over the course of one year, 99 percent of serious terror cases were Islam-related in Germany, with many of these cases involving enormous court and administrative resources.
Shakir Mahmoud Shakir, a 38-year-old Iraqi home care worker, has been sentenced to four years in prison for the rape of a 100-year-old woman in Stockholm. While the Swedish court delivered a guilty verdict for the assault committed during his service, Shakir was acquitted of a separate rape charge involving a 94-year-old woman and avoided deportation.
“There will likely be an appeal,” says prosecutor Linn Nyberg regarding the outcome.
The incident occurred in October when the 100-year-old victim was suffering from chest pains. Instead of receiving an ambulance, she was visited by Shakir, who was employed in the home service sector. According to the woman’s interrogation testimony, Shakir told her, “They have said that you should be anointed.”
He proceeded to use an ointment and an unknown object to assault her. Despite her yelling at him to stop, he continued the abuse for approximately 10 minutes without responding to her.
“Then I was ready to cry. And I thought, you work here. And then you do this to people. And against women,” the 100-year-old woman recounted in her statement.
Following the emergence of suspicions, Shakir took sick leave and was subsequently dismissed by the City of Stockholm.
Although Shakir is a citizen of Iraq and the prosecutor had requested his expulsion, the district court rejected this measure. Judge Mohamed Ali, newly appointed in June 2025, refused to issue the deportation order, saying there are “strong reasons that speak both for and against a deportation.”
He said that Shakir is “established” in Sweden and “has good contact with his daughter, who is a Swedish citizen,” according to Swedish news outlet Expressen.
The court also found that there were no ‘humiliating or degrading elements’ when Shakir Mahmoud Shakir raped the woman.
Acquittal of second rape
Shakir was also facing charges for the suspected rape of a 94-year-old woman in September. The victim recalled standing by her toilet needing assistance when she was assaulted and passed out from pain. When she awoke, Shakir was present.
While the district court assessed the woman’s story as credible and agreed that the investigation suggests abuse by home care staff, they ruled that it could not be proven that Shakir was the perpetrator. Consequently, he was acquitted of this specific charge.
The court classified the rape for which he was convicted as “serious,” acknowledging the victim’s defenseless position. However, it was not deemed “aggravated” because the course of events was considered limited and “neither threats nor violence have occurred.”
Prosecutor Linn Nyberg expressed disagreement with aspects of the verdict. “I don’t share the assessment, but have to go through how they have reasoned more properly,” she stated.
Shakir has a criminal record already
Shakir Mahmoud Shakir has denied all wrongdoing, admitting only to being present at the homes on the dates in question. “She thanked me when I walked out of here. I work from the heart, feel sorry for them,” he said during his interrogation.
This is not Shakir’s first encounter with the law. In 2021, he was convicted of document forgery and pretending to hold public standing after using a forged security guard ID. Additionally, last spring, he was fined and had his license suspended for driving with drugs in his blood.
Despite this criminal record, he was hired to care for the elderly.
Foreigners raping or abusing seniors in Sweden is hardly a rare occurrence. Just two months ago, a 20-year-old Iraqi migrant who had previously served prison sentences for drug offenses was discovered to have filmed and mocked elderly dementia patients while employed as a caregiver at a municipal care home in Ängelholm, southern Sweden.
The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation to assess whether the public support Czechia plans to provide for the construction and operation of two new nuclear power units at Dukovany complies with EU state aid rules, saying it has doubts about the appropriateness and proportionality of the proposed measures.
In a press release published on Monday, the Commission said it would focus on whether the aid package goes beyond what is necessary and on the impact the measures could have on competition in the electricity market. Prague plans to support the project through three instruments: a low-interest, repayable state loan currently estimated at between €23 billion and €30 billion to cover construction costs; a two-way contract for difference with a proposed duration of 40 years to ensure stable revenues; and a mechanism to protect the project company against adverse long-term policy changes.
“At this stage, the Commission, based on a preliminary assessment, finds the project necessary and considers that the aid facilitates the development of economic activity. However, the Commission has doubts as to whether the measure is fully compliant with EU state aid rules,” the Commission said.
Brussels said the combination of several aid measures could excessively limit risk for the beneficiary and potentially transfer too much risk to the state. “As there are several aid measures which together can limit the risk for the beneficiary, it is important to ensure that no more aid is ultimately granted than is necessary,” the Commission said.
The Commission is also examining the potential impact on competition, noting that it could not yet conclude whether there are sufficient safeguards to ensure that ČEZ’s, the largest utility company in the country, existing market power is not consolidated or indirectly strengthened, or that the aid will not be passed on to consumers or specific market participants.
As reported by Echo24, the two new units, scheduled to come online in 2036 and 2037, are intended to strengthen electricity supply security in Czechia and neighboring countries, support decarbonization, and diversify the national energy supply.
The investigation comes after Prague formally signed final contracts in June with South Korea’s KHNP for the construction of the two new reactors, shortly after the Supreme Administrative Court lifted an injunction that had temporarily blocked the deal. The signing followed a prolonged legal and political dispute, including a challenge by France’s EDF after losing the tender and earlier Commission concerns over possible foreign subsidies.
The Commission had previously urged Prague to delay finalizing the contract, citing concerns that KHNP may have received state support distorting the EU internal market. In May, Commission Vice-President Stéphane Séjourné penned a letter to Prague, warning of “significant indications” that the company had been “granted foreign subsidies that may distort the internal market.”
Czech officials suggested the letter, sent by the French European Commissioner, had been politically motivated following France’s failure to secure the contract.
During the recent election campaign, the ANO movement led by now-Prime Minister Andrej Babiš pledged to respect the original tender outcome and vowed not to reopen the process under foreign pressure.
After a knife-wielding African migrant, 26-year-old Muhamed Gueye, was shot dead by French police last week in the French city of Ajaccio, which is on the island of Corsica, Senegalese media has labeled the shooting racist. At the same time, Gueye’s parents, who still live in the country of Senegal, have filed a complaint against France for “aggravated voluntary homicide.”
The video of Gueye being shot shows him wielding a knife as police approach on Saturday, Dec. 20, at 12:30 p.m. According to reports, police deployed a taser against the suspect, which was ineffective. When he continued to rush them with a knife, he was shot dead by police.
Video of the shooting quickly went viral.
🇫🇷🔴The knife-wielding suspect killed by French police in Ajaccio has been identified as Muhamed Gueye.
His parents, who live in Africa's Senegal, have now filed a complaint for aggravated intentional homicide against the French police who killed the suspect. https://t.co/8CRUS5eXYJ
Prosecutors have already ruled out a terrorism motive in the case and have said the police shooting was justified, but some Senegalese media outlets see it differently.
“This Saturday, in Corsica, the police killed a black man, a Senegalese-Belgian named Mouhamed Gueye. He was strolling down a well-known avenue in Ajaccio, looking erratic. They say he had a bladed weapon, a knife. The images indeed show this man, his gait shaky. I can understand how scary he could have been. But I can’t understand why we had to shoot him, like a dog, in broad daylight. And again, even a dog would have had better treatment.
This man is the laughing stock of social networks, where far-right, racist and odious testimonies pop the champagne at the announcement of the death of a man. Moreover, many deny the humanity of the latter, rather pity the knife, the real victim of the affair.
Since the last European elections, France has fallen into uninhibited racism, and not a week goes by without politicians and their followers sending words of rare violence in the face of so-called different people. The famous immigration which is seen as the cause of everything. France’s debt has exploded, national education is going through a crisis, we are struggling to vote on a complete budget, we are worried about retirement, entrepreneurs are jumping ship, just like young people; but all this, of course, is the fault of immigration. The immigrant has become the scapegoat of a restricted, frustrated, impoverished French society, and this cannot continue like this.”
According to the Ajaccio prosecutor, the individual was driving on a scooter from the Ring Road towards the city center. Once he was approached by police, he brandished a knife.
“The police tried to control him with, a priori, one and two taser shots, without success,” specifies Nicolas Septe, the prosecutor, according to Europe3.
“When the person concerned continues his progress, he would brandish a knife in the direction of one of the police officers, threatening him. The second police officer present in this patrol of three police officers will protect his colleague and use his service weapon three times, hitting the person concerned in the chest. He died of injuries caused by these shots,” said the Ajaccio prosecutor.
Witnesses also backed the police story. Anthony Bezard, the owner of a nearby bakery, said the police “couldn’t stop him, they tased him, they tased him, but couldn’t neutralize him.” Bezard was so close by that he says he was accidentally tasered by the officers by mistake.
Another witness, Félix Bonardi, said: “The police were trying to arrest someone very tall and very strong. I saw a knife with a very long blade.”
Another witness, Krimau El-Majouti, also attacked the knifeman, saying: “I was afraid he would touch a mother or a child. I took a table to hit him on the head and finally hit him on the feet…There were other people next to me who threw chairs at him. He tripped and fell to the ground.”
It has been revealed that Muhamed Gueye had a student visa and Belgian identity papers, and in January 2025, he was already arrested for possession of a knife and committed to a psychiatric institution. Apparently, he was homeless in Ajaccio.
His parents have filed a complaint for aggravated homicide. He is the oldest of eight children who obtained a degree in medicine in 2020, according to Corse Matin.
The reason? The parents say the complaint is “above all, to find out what happened.”
A Rwandan migrant is accused of dragging a Belgian woman off her bicycle, pulling her into bushes, and raping Wednesday morning before sunrise in the Belgian city of Kortrijk. A passersby called the police, who arrested the suspect shortly after the rape.
The woman was cycling to work along the Bruyningpad, a cycle path that connects the Marke district and the Hoog Kortrijk district. At 6:50 a.m., she was surprised by the man, who dragged her into bushes near the E17 motorway and raped her before fleeing on foot.
“Attentive passersby noticed an abandoned bicycle along the bike path and alerted the emergency services at Groeninge Hospital,” said Griet De Prest, spokesperson for the West Flanders public prosecutor’s office. “Paramedics then discovered the victim near the path.”
After a brief manhunt, the perpetrator was arrested by police, according to news outlet 7sur7.
“He is a 25-year-old man of Rwandan origin, residing in Brussels,” stated Griet De Prest. “An investigating judge has been assigned to the case for rape and sexual assault. A forensic pathologist has been appointed, and the laboratory, accompanied by a tracking dog, went to the scene to conduct an investigation. The investigating judge and the public prosecutor’s office also visited the location.”
The victim was taken to Groeninge Hospital for treatment. She is also receiving psychological care. The African man is in custody and faces charges for rape.
Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov, head of the Operational Training Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, has died after a car explosion in southern Moscow, according to the Investigative Committee of Russia.
According to the Latvian-based Russian news website Meduza, an investigation has been opened for both murder and the illegal trafficking of explosive substances.
The explosion occurred on Monday morning in a parking lot on Yasenevaya Street in the south of the Russian capital. The Investigative Committee said an explosive device had been planted beneath Sarvarov’s vehicle. According to the business daily Kommersant, investigators believe a magnetic proximity mine was used. The committee said several possible motives are being examined, including the involvement of Ukrainian special services.
Telegram channels reporting from the scene said residents heard a loud explosion at around 6:50 a.m., which was audible several blocks away.
Baza, which is closely linked to Russian security services, reported that Sarvarov initially survived the blast but was seriously injured, suffering multiple shrapnel wounds, severe leg injuries, and a facial fracture. Baza and the Telegram channel Shot said Sarvarov managed to drive his Kia Sorento several meters before the explosion, large enough to also damage several nearby vehicles. Photographs from the scene suggest the blast hit the front section of the vehicle. Sarvarov died later in hospital.
🇷🇺🚨 Top-ranking Russian general killed in car bomb attack in southern Moscow.
Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov, head of the Operational Training Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, was killed in the explosion outside his home early on Monday morning.… pic.twitter.com/QjVWXL63KV
According to leaked databases cited by the independent television channel Dozhd, a 2013 Kia Sorento was registered in Sarvarov’s name. It reported that the explosion occurred roughly 150 meters from a residential building housing several officers from the GRU military intelligence service.
Sarvarov was 56 years old. He was born in Russia’s Perm region and graduated from the Kazan Higher Tank Command Red Banner School in 1990, the Malinovsky Military Academy of Armored Forces in 1999, and the Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in 2008. He had served as head of the Operational Training Directorate since 2016.
Emergency services continued to work at the site throughout the morning as investigators examined debris and searched for evidence. The Investigative Committee said it is continuing to assess all versions of the killing, including possible foreign involvement.
