President Donald Trump's Department of Justice (DOJ) released a report early Tuesday morning revealing how the Biden administration systematically targeted pro-life activists for FACE Act prosecutions, often at the behest of pro-abortion organizations.

The post DOJ FACE Act Weaponization Report: Biden Admin Targeted Pro-Lifers at Demand of Abortion Groups, Mocked Christian Views as ‘Culty’ appeared first on Breitbart.

On her first Holocaust Remembrance Day since realizing her dream of immigrating, Penina Zeitchik aims to gather with grandchildren also living in Israel to share what her family experienced in the war

The post Over 80 years after fleeing the Nazis, a survivor moves to Israel, finally home appeared first on The Times of Israel.

The good life in the United States is over for seven Iranian nationals linked to the brutal regime in Tehran after they were targeted for removal this month by a State Department and Homeland Security crackdown.

The post Iranian Nationals Connected to Brutal Regime No Longer Welcome in the U.S. appeared first on Breitbart.

IBM reached a settlement with the federal government on Friday, agreeing to pay $17,077,043 to resolve allegations of “woke unconstitutional” diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices in hiring and employment.

The post IBM Forks Over $17 Million to Settle DOJ Lawsuit for ‘Woke’ DEI Practices appeared first on Breitbart.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) took to social media, where they accused ABC7 Eyewitness News of ideological censorship for using artificial intelligence to edit DHS statements in their coverage of immigration enforcement actions carried out on Thursday. DHS accused the media outlet of using AI to mold their coverage to “edit DHS statements to conform to their narrative bias,” remove an illegal alien’s criminal background, and shamelessly lie.

The post DHS: California ABC News Using AI to Push Bias, Bury Facts from Immigration Coverage appeared first on Breitbart.

Residents of Seattle, Washington, are frustrated their Democratic Socialist Mayor Katie Wilson is focused on her battle with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) while repeat criminal offenders are terrorizing citizens.

The post Seattle’s Leftist Mayor Fights ICE as Crime Plagues Residents, Tells Immigrants: ‘You Should Be Safe Here’ appeared first on Breitbart.

Houston police officials say that a man was shot and killed by a police sergeant during an altercation resulting from a traffic stop on the city's northwest side. Sources told Breitbart Texas that the man struck the officer with an object prior to the shooting.

The post Texas Police Officer Shoots, Kills Resisting Suspect During Altercation appeared first on Breitbart.

An 18-year-old illegal alien student at Fairfax County High School in Virginia has been convicted on nine counts of groping girls in the hallways.

The post Illegal Alien Convicted on Nine Counts of Groping Girls at Virginia High School appeared first on Breitbart.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have arrested illegal aliens convicted of murder, child sex crimes, and sexual abusers, among others, on the one-year anniversary of President Donald Trump reopening the Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement (VOICE) office to help Angel Families, Breitbart News has learned.

The post Exclusive: ICE Arrests Illegal Alien Killers, Child Predators, Sexual Abusers on Anniversary of Victims Unit for Angel Families appeared first on Breitbart.

Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon made clear on Friday that President Trump's DOJ will sue if Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) signs a proposed "assault weapons" ban legislation into law.

The post Assistant AG for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon: Trump DOJ Will Sue If Virginia Gov. Signs ‘Assault Weapons’ Ban appeared first on Breitbart.

The media is having a meltdown over the U.S. Forest Service being "executed" by the Trump administration — ignoring the fact that it is just being consolidated and moved from Washington, D.C. to out west, where there are more forests.

The post USDA Debunks Establishment Media Reports on Forest Service Restructuring appeared first on Breitbart.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche is authorizing the death penalty to be used against two MS-13 gang members who are accused of murdering a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) informant.

The post AG Todd Blanche Authorizes Death Penalty Against MS-13 Gang Members Accused of Killing FBI Informant appeared first on Breitbart.

Während die große Gesundheitsreform Millionen deutscher Familien mit neuen Beiträgen zu belasten droht, bleibt eine alte Sonderregelung aus der Gastarbeiter-Zeit unangetastet. Die beitragsfreie Mitversicherung von Angehörigen in der Türkei läuft weiter – auf Kosten der deutschen Beitragszahler.

Die Finanzkommission Gesundheit, die von Bundesgesundheitsministerin Nina Warken (CDU) eingesetzt wurde, hat 66 Sparvorschläge vorgelegt, um das Milliardenloch von ca. 15 Milliarden Euro der gesetzlichen Krankenversicherung (GKV) zu stopfen (Report24 berichtete). Einer der zentralen Punkte: Die kostenlose Mitversicherung von Ehe- und Lebenspartnern ohne kleine Kinder (unter sechs Jahren) soll weitgehend abgeschafft werden. Betroffene sollen Beiträge von rund 225 Euro pro Monat zahlen – das ist etwa der Betrag, den Selbstständige mindestens zahlen müssen, wenn sie freiwillig gesetzlich krankenversichert sind.

Doch genau diese Regelung gilt nicht für eine große Gruppe: die Familienangehörigen türkischer Arbeitnehmer in Deutschland. Das deutsch-türkische Sozialversicherungsabkommen von 1964 bleibt von der Reform komplett verschont. In Deutschland sozialversicherungspflichtig beschäftigte Personen – oft Nachkommen der einstigen Gastarbeiter – können ihre nicht erwerbstätigen Ehepartner, Kinder und unter bestimmten Bedingungen sogar Eltern oder Großeltern in der Türkei weiterhin beitragsfrei mitversichern.

Die Angehörigen erhalten Leistungen der türkischen Krankenversicherung, die Kosten erstattet Deutschland pauschal an die Türkei – früher um die 5 Millionen Euro jährlich, in den letzten Jahren ca. 13 Millionen Euro pro Jahr laut GKV-Angaben. Das Abkommen war damals ein Lockmittel für die Anwerbung türkischer Arbeitskräfte: Wer in Deutschland arbeitete, sollte seine Familie in der Heimat sozial abgesichert wissen. Für viele Beitragszahler bedeutet das, dass eine deutsche Ehefrau oder ein deutscher Ehemann ohne Kleinkind in Gelsenkirchen, Berlin oder München künftig tiefer in die Tasche greifen muss – während der türkische Kollege aus derselben Firma seine Frau in Istanbul oder Antalya kostenlos mitversichern lässt. Die gleiche Regelung gilt für Versicherte aus den jugoslawischen Nachfolgestaaten. Die AfD hatte bereits 2018 die Kündigung des Abkommens gefordert, war damit jedoch gescheitert.

Bisher soll es sich noch um eine „Empfehlung der Finanzkommission Gesundheit“ handeln. Sollte diese Regelung kommen, wäre das eine massive Ungleichbehandlung: Während bei inländischen Ehepartnern der Rotstift ansetzt wird, bleibt das alte Abkommen mit der Türkei unberührt, obwohl es in Zeiten von Haushaltskrise und Rekorddefizit längst auf den Prüfstand gehört. Eine Anpassung oder Kündigung steht jedoch nicht auf der Agenda.

Für viele Bürger dürfte sich die Frage stellen: Warum nimmt die finanzielle Belastung für deutsche Familien immer weiter zu, während überholte internationale Sonderregelungen tabu bleiben – besonders wenn gleichzeitig auch noch über höhere Zuzahlungen, Leistungskürzungen oder Steuern auf ungesunde Produkte diskutiert wird?

The State Department said it authorized the departure of some staff at its embassy in Nigeria over the "deteriorating security situation" in the African country. 

The development comes weeks after the U.S. military reportedly sent MQ-9 Reaper drones to Nigeria amid fears of a renewed insurgency by the terrorist group Boko Haram. The day before the authorization was issued, gunmen attacked two villages about 155 miles from Abuja, where the U.S. embassy is located, killing 20 people, residents told The Associated Press. 

"On April 8, 2026, the U.S. Department of State authorized the voluntary departure of non-emergency U.S. government employees and family members from U.S. Embassy Abuja due to the deteriorating security situation," the U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Nigeria said. "The U.S. Embassy in Abuja will remain open but will have limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in Nigeria." 

"The U.S. Consulate General in Lagos will continue to provide routine and emergency services to U.S. citizens in Nigeria," it added. "The Department of State Travel Advisory for Nigeria remains at Level 3, recommending travelers reconsider travel to Nigeria due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, armed gangs, and inconsistent availability of health care services."

GUNMEN ON BIKES STORM NIGERIA VILLAGE ON PALM SUNDAY, KILLING AT LEAST 20

The embassy also said, "U.S. citizens in Abuja should consider departing if you do not need to remain for emergency or essential purposes." 

The recent attacks occurred in the early hours of Tuesday in Bagna and Erena, located in the Shiroro area of Niger state. 

"They came on motorbikes and began shooting. It was a surprise attack, because it was in the early hours of the morning," Jibrin Isah, who lives in Erena, told the AP.

100 US TROOPS LAND IN NIGERIA AS ISLAMIC MILITANTS THREATEN WEST AFRICA REGIONAL SECURITY

Residents said at least 20 people were killed, with more missing. However, local police said only three people were killed. 

The State Department said in a travel advisory issued Wednesday that there is "risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity in Nigeria," adding, "Terrorists collaborate with local gangs to expand their reach" and "They may attack with little or no warning." 

The MQ-9 drones reportedly were deployed to Nigeria in late March after 200 U.S. troops arrived in February to provide training and intelligence. Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, is battling a complex security crisis, especially in the north of the country.

A spokesperson for AFRICOM, the U.S. Africa Command, had told the AP that U.S. troops "are working alongside their Nigerian counterparts to provide intelligence support, advisory assistance, and targeted training in support of the Nigerian Armed Forces."  

Among the most prominent Islamic militant groups active in Nigeria are Boko Haram and its breakaway faction, which is affiliated with the Islamic State and is known as Islamic State West Africa Province, or ISWAP.

There is also the ISIS-linked Lakurawa, as well as other "bandit" groups that specialize in kidnapping for ransom and illegal mining. 

President Donald Trump has spoken out against violence targeting Christians in Nigeria, telling Fox News Radio last year, "I’m really angry about it" and "What’s happening in Nigeria is a disgrace."

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth also met with Nigerian national security advisor Nuhu Ribadu last November amid threats from Trump to cut off aid to Nigeria if the country "continues to allow the killing of Christians." Nigerian officials have pushed back on the accusation.

Fox News Digital's Anders Hagstrom and The Associated Press contributed to this report.   

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Zwischen Eskalation und vorsichtiger Entspannung: Nach scharfen Drohungen von Donald Trump gegen den Iran scheint eine fragile Waffenruhe erstmals Raum für Diplomatie zu schaffen. Doch wie belastbar ist diese Pause – und kann sie tatsächlich der Anfang vom Ende eines gefährlichen Konflikts sein?

Im Interview analysiert der Militär- und Sicherheitsexperte Ralph Bosshard die strategische Lage: von Irans harten Forderungen über die innenpolitischen Spannungen in Washington bis hin zu möglichen militärischen Szenarien und den globalen Folgen eines regionalen Flächenbrands. Dabei geht es nicht nur um die Zukunft des Iran-Konflikts, sondern auch um die Rolle Israels, die Interessen der USA und die Auswirkungen auf Großmächte wie Russland und die BRICS-Staaten.

Das Interview führte Flavio von Witzleben.

Many local Jews, opposed to what would be country's first such institution, claim school board can't be trusted to vigorously defend state's secular education laws

The post Jewish families and a rabbi ask to join lawsuit to block Oklahoma Jewish charter school appeared first on The Times of Israel.

Banking giant had sought to expand $1.25 billion settlement from 1999 to encompass newly discovered ties between Nazi officials and UBS-owned Credit Suisse

The post US judge rejects bid by Swiss Bank UBS to limit its liability for Nazi-linked crimes appeared first on The Times of Israel.

Die Trump-Administration bringt einmal mehr den gesunden Menschenverstand in die US-Politik zurück. Mit einem massiven Deregulierungsschlag beendet man nun eine der wahnwitzigsten und teuersten Klima-Vorschriften der Geschichte und spart den US-Bürgern damit Billionen von Dollar. Der linksgrüne Kampf gegen die Grundbausteine des Lebens ist vorerst gestoppt.

Einer der wohl anmaßendsten und dreistesten Machtmissbräuche der Ära Barack Obama betraf die Regulierungen der sogenannten “Treibhausgase”. Wir sprechen hier von Gasen, die von nahezu allem auf dieser Welt emittiert werden, allen voran von atmenden Lebewesen – uns Menschen eingeschlossen. Für fanatische Klimahysteriker ist Kohlenstoff, immerhin die absolute chemische Grundlage allen Lebens auf unserem Planeten, jedoch ein massives Umweltproblem, das man bekämpfen muss.

Im Grunde genommen versuchte die linksgrün durchseuchte Obama-Administration damals nichts Geringeres, als das Leben selbst und die gesamte physische Welt zu regulieren, indem man behauptete, die Regierung könne Treibhausgase einfach unter dem Deckmantel des Clean Air Act durch ein Gutachten der US-Umweltschutzbehörde (EPA) kontrollieren. Dass eine staatliche Regulierung von “Treibhausgasen” faktisch ein Ding der Unmöglichkeit und obendrein absolut nutzlos ist, stört die Klimafanatiker natürlich nicht.

Als Reaktion auf einen Bericht der New York Post über genau diese Vorschriften aus der Obama-Ära und Trumps Pläne, sie endgültig auf den Müllhaufen der Geschichte zu befördern, kommentierte der Präsident trocken: “Erledigt!”. Die Zeitung hatte vorgerechnet, dass diese realitätsfernen Regeln die Amerikaner unvorstellbare Billionen von Dollar gekostet haben. Indem Trump diesen bürokratischen Wahnsinn ausradiert, rettet er gewaltige Summen an Volksvermögen. Das Hauptziel dieser demokratischen Gängelei, die Joe Biden in seiner Amtszeit sogar noch auf die Spitze trieb, war stets der Automobilsektor: Man schnürte Besitzern von Verbrennungsmotoren mit drakonischen Regeln die Luft ab, um ineffiziente, überteuerte und unbeliebte Stromer in den Markt zu drücken.

Doch die neue Trump-Administration konzentriert sich darauf, dem Konsumenten zu dienen, anstatt ihn bluten zu lassen. Der neue EPA-Chef Lee Zeldin verkündete soeben voller Stolz den nächsten Schlag gegen das Biden-Erbe: “Heute hat die Trump-EPA unsere deregulierende Entscheidung (…) finalisiert und die Öl- und Erdgasvorschriften der Biden-Ära korrigiert. Diese Maßnahme spart schätzungsweise 2,5 Milliarden Dollar, was dazu beitragen wird, die Benzin- und Energiekosten auf breiter Front zu senken – zugunsten der amerikanischen Familien.”

Zeldin legte sogleich nach und knöpfte sich ein Ärgernis vor, das jeden normalen Bürger zur Weißglut treibt: die völlig überregulierten und dysfunktionalen Benzinkanister. “Der erste Schritt: Die Trump-EPA hat den Herstellern bereits im vergangenen Sommer klargestellt, dass Benzinkanister selbstschließende Ventile haben dürfen, die einen reibungslosen Kraftstofffluss gewährleisten”, so Zeldin. Der nächste Schritt liege nun beim US-Kongress, denn um das vollkommen absurd konstruierte Zapfventil durch die Verbraucherschutzkommission wieder benutzbar zu machen, müsse ein Bundesgesetz geändert werden. “Es sollte keine drei Hände und fünf Minuten erfordern, um Benzin aus einem Kanister zu gießen!”, kommentierte Zeldin treffend. Hier zeigt sich: Die Exekutive tut, was sie kann, nun sind die Gesetzgeber am Zug.

Und dann kam das Sahnehäubchen: Als Teil der größten Deregulierungsaktion in der US-Geschichte eliminierte die Trump-EPA kurzerhand alle abstrusen Gutschriften, mit denen Autohersteller dafür belohnt wurden, dieses überall verhasste Start-Stopp-System in Fahrzeuge einzubauen. Es gibt für die Autoindustrie ab sofort keine grünen Fleißbildchen mehr dafür, dass die Autos an jeder verdammten roten Ampel und an jedem Stoppschild sinnlos abwürgt werden.

Iran and its proxy terrorist militias have issued targeted threats against universities in Lebanon, and the State Department has warned Americans to get out now while commercial flights are still available, U.S. officials said.

Officials said Iran has "specifically threatened" American universities across the Middle East.

The U.S. Embassy in Beirut described the security situation in Lebanon as "volatile and unpredictable."

"Airstrikes, drones and rocket attacks occur throughout the country, especially in the south, the Beqaa, and parts of Beirut," officials wrote in a security alert.

STATE DEPARTMENT URGES AMERICANS TO LEAVE MIDDLE EAST AS AIRSPACE CLOSURES DISRUPT TRAVEL 

The U.S. Embassy in Beirut added that it strongly encourages U.S. citizens in southern Lebanon, near the border with Syria, in refugee settlements and in the southern suburbs of Beirut — including Dahiyeh — to depart those areas immediately.

"We recommend that U.S. citizens in Lebanon who choose not to leave prepare contingency plans for emergency situations and be prepared to shelter in place should the situation deteriorate further," according to the State Department.

HEZBOLLAH, IRAN UNLEASH COORDINATED CLUSTER BOMB STRIKES ON ISRAEL IN MAJOR ESCALATION

Commercial flights are being offered by Middle East Airlines, operating out of Beirut Rafic Hariri airport. 

Officials said Americans should strongly consider departing on one of the flights "if they believe it is safe to do so."

The U.S. Embassy in Beirut is providing limited passport services on an emergency basis to U.S. citizens.

All routine consular services, including visa operations, are suspended until further notice.

Those who have plans to travel to Lebanon should cancel them, officials said.

Das Paul-Ehrlich-Institut steht seit den Corona-Jahren stetig unter Beschuss: Kritiker werfen dem PEI mangelhafte Qualitätskontrollen und eine unzureichende Überwachung der Impfstoffsicherheit vor. Doch die nächste Pandemie soll kommen – zur Vorbereitung darauf hat das Gesundheitsministerium extra ein eigenes Zentrum im PEI geschaffen. Das sucht nun vorsorglich schon einmal einen neuen Juristen, der sich mit Impfstoffverträgen, Verschlusssachen und unbequemen Transparenzforderungen auseinandersetzen soll.

Das ZEPAI (“Zentrum für Pandemie-Impfstoffe und Therapeutika”) sei “verantwortlich für den Aufbau nachhaltiger Infrastrukturen sowie für die konzeptionelle Vorbereitung auf zukünftige pandemische Ereignisse”, liest man als Selbstbeschreibung in der Stellenausschreibung. Eingerichtet wurde es im Auftrag des Bundesgesundheitsministeriums im Jahr 2021, um die Entwicklung und Herstellung von Impfstoffen und ihre Verteilung im Pandemiefall zu unterstützen und zu koordinieren.

“Das erklärte Ziel ist es, gemeinsam mit Partnern auf nationaler und internationaler Ebene Lösungen zu entwickeln, mit denen im Pandemiefall in nur wenigen Monaten sichere und wirksame Impfstoffe in ausreichender Menge zur Verfügung stehen, damit die Bevölkerung zeitnah durch Impfung geschützt werden kann”, hieß es 2021 in einer ersten Pressemitteilung. Ein Verschwörungstheoretiker könnte das so lesen: In Kooperation mit Big Pharma und anderen Profiteuren sollen bei der nächsten ausgerufenen “Notlage” möglichst schnell neue, mangelhaft getestete Pharmaprodukte auf den Markt geworfen, Steuergelder umverteilt und die Bevölkerung durchgeimpft werden. Aber man will ja kein Verschwörungstheoretiker sein, oder?

Die Corona-Jahre beschäftigen die Gerichte noch immer – auch und gerade wegen der Klagen von Impfgeschädigten. Dass der Staat und seine Institute sich für den nächsten realen oder angeblichen Pandemiefall juristisch bestmöglich absichern wollen, verwundert wenig. Laut Stellenausschreibung werden das die Aufgaben des neuen Mitarbeiters (sprich: Mitarbeitenden / m / w / d) sein:

• Prüfungen und Beratungen im Zusammenhang mit bestehenden und zukünftigen Verträgen der Bundesrepublik zur Beschaffung, Lagerung und Verteilung pandemischer Impfstoffe
• Musterverträge für pandemische Situationen, einschl. rechtlicher Risikobewertung (Redline-Dokumente) erstellen
• Weiterentwicklung der vertraglichen Konzepte zur Verbesserung der Pandemiebereitschaft im Rahmen von öffentlich-privaten Partnerschaften
• Mitwirkung beim EU-geförderten Projekt „European Vaccines Hub“ (EVH)
• Rechtliche Beurteilung und Beantwortung von Fragen aus den Bereichen Vergaberecht, Datenschutz, Verschlusssachen, Geheimhaltung betrieblicher Geheimnisse von Geschäftspartnern
• Bearbeitung von Anfragen nach dem Informations­freiheitsgesetz

Bis 1. April konnte man sich bewerben. Rechtsprofessor Martin Schwab teilte in den sozialen Netzen seine Einschätzungen:

Das Aufgabenprofil, das das Paul-Ehrlich-Institut in dieser Stellenausschreibung
https://jobs.stellenpool24.de/44621/320.html
beschreibt (Screenshot), zeigt, wohin die Reise geht: Der Pandemie- und Impf-Zirkus soll weitergehen, und “Geheimhaltung betrieblicher Geheimnisse von Geschäftspartnern” sowie “Bearbeitung von Anfragen nach dem Informations­freiheitsgesetz” lesen sich nicht unbedingt wie der Auftakt zu einer neuen Transparenzoffensive. Die Vertuschung von Impfschäden wird vielmehr, so steht zu befürchten, gerade so weitergehen wie bisher.

Aber was wundern wir uns, wenn die ausgeschriebene Stelle bei einer Einrichtung angesiedelt ist, die u.a. “die konzeptionelle Vorbereitung auf zukünftige pandemische Ereignisse” leisten soll…

Obwohl nur Verschwörungstheoretiker behaupten würden, dass die nächste “Pandemie” schon in Planung ist, bekommt die Person, die auf dieser Stelle arbeiten wird, jetzt schon genug zu tun, um bis zum 31.12.2027 (bis dahin ist die Stelle befristet) in Vollzeit das obige Tätigkeitsprofil zu bedienen.

Kein “Auftakt zu einer neuen Transparenzoffensive”: Damit könnte Prof. Schwab richtig liegen. Leider haben Institutionen wie das RKI und das PEI durch die Corona-Jahre massiv Vertrauen verloren. Dass man aus vergangenen Fehlern gelernt hat und die Bevölkerung davon überzeugen will, dass man in ihrem Dienste handelt, zeichnet sich bislang nicht ab.

Iranian officials pushing for negotiations with the United States risk being labeled traitors and "most likely eliminated," according to a policy expert, as internal fractures emerge inside Iran’s new regime.

Hooshang Amirahmadi, president of the American Iranian Council, said moderates advocating engagement with Washington are increasingly vulnerable at a moment when the Trump administration says it is in contact with elements of a "new" leadership.

"If the moderates were to push toward negotiation and a ceasefire, they will be considered traitors and will most likely be eliminated," Amirahmadi told Fox News Digital.

MEET IRAN'S HARDLINE SPEAKER WHO THREATENED TO BURN US FORCES — REPORTEDLY TEHRAN'S POINT MAN FOR TALKS

Amirahmadi’s warning came as Washington also appears to be navigating internal "fractures" amid the ongoing conflict.

President Donald Trump on Monday said the U.S. is engaged in serious talks with a "new" and "more reasonable" regime in Iran as the war enters its fifth week, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio declined to say who exactly the U.S. is negotiating with but cited "fractures."

"Well, I'm not going to disclose to you who those people are, because it probably would get them in trouble with some other groups of people inside of Iran. Look, there are some fractures going on there internally," Rubio said on "Good Morning America."

"Anyone in Iran who speaks of negotiation is suspected of paving the way for more war and destruction," Amirahmadi said before stating that the moderate reformers are thought of as "infiltrators and deemed traitors."

Amirahmadi also confirmed Rubio’s comments and highlighted an internal struggle within Tehran’s power structure, where remnants of what he called the "old regime," or the Khamenei-era system, still exist.

"Many of them support negotiation or a ceasefire. But the emerging new regime is made up of more hard-line elements and views the others as traitors," he said.

"For a long time, there has been a serious gap — what we call a cleavage — between the hardliners or radicals and the moderates or reformists."

PAKISTAN'S AMBASSADOR WARNS IRAN TOO 'WAR-TORN' TO RESPOND QUICKLY AS TRUMP EXTENDS STRIKE DEADLINE

Amirahmadi also described how "assassination in the Islamic Republic is not a new phenomenon. It has been there for a long time."

Amirahmadi spoke ahead of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth saying Tuesday that Washington remains firm on reaching an agreement to end the monthlong conflict involving the U.S., Israel and the Islamic Republic.

Speaking at a news conference, Hegseth reiterated that Trump is willing to make a deal to end the war, adding the new regime is now in place.

"If Iran is smart, it will make a deal. The new Iranian regime should already know that. This new regime, having undergone a regime change, should be smarter than the previous one. President Trump does not bluff and will not back down. He will make a deal, he is willing and the terms of the deal are known to them," Hegseth said.

"The field and the war are in the control of the radical colonels, and that is what matters at this point," Amirahmadi added.

"The established bureaucracy is still run by the same old moderate regime, but then that is not a new regime. The new regime is certainly more radical."

WHO ACTUALLY RUNS IRAN RIGHT NOW? THE KEY POWER PLAYERS AS TRUMP CLAIMS TALKS TO 'TOP' OFFICIAL

Since the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the succession of his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, the regime appears more reliant on the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Iran’s power structure is increasingly dominated by IRGC figures like Ahmad Vahidi and Qods Force chief Esmail Qaani, alongside judicial figures such as Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Ayatollah Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei.

While President Masoud Pezeshkian’s influence could have waned, figures like Saeed Jalili, Guardian Council insider Ayatollah Alireza Arafi and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi continue shaping Iran’s security posture.

"There are basically the colonels; there are the Revolutionary Guards, people that are in the military. A few non-military hardliners are in universities, in government and places," Amirahmadi added.

"They have changed the regime into a very radical regime," Amirahmadi warned, "I don’t even think Khamenei’s son would favor negotiation, at least initially.

"His position and condition are not entirely clear. His leadership appears symbolic — a reaction, even a gesture against figures like Trump.

"Trump and Netanyahu wanted regime change, and they have already achieved it, but the regime has just become more radical," Amirahmadi concluded.

The United States stood alone at the United Nations in early March after a European-led procedural move blocked a vote on defining gender in biological terms at one of the world’s leading forums on women’s rights.

At the conclusion of the U.N. Commission on the Status of Women, the U.S. was the only country to oppose the body’s annual "Agreed Conclusions," citing concerns that the language departs from biological definitions of women and girls. No other member state voted with the United States.

At the center of the dispute is how the United Nations defines "gender." Current U.N. frameworks, rooted in the 1995 Beijing Declaration, do not provide a fixed definition and instead rely on evolving interpretations tied to broader concepts of gender identity, according to EU officials. 

The U.S. proposal sought to anchor the term explicitly in biological sex.

UPROAR AFTER IRAN NAMED VICE-CHAIR OF UN BODY PROMOTING DEMOCRACY, WOMEN’S RIGHTS

The U.S. introduced a resolution titled "Protection of women and girls through appropriate terminology," which sought to clarify how gender is understood across U.N. policy.

The draft states that the term "gender" should be interpreted "according to its ordinary, generally accepted usage, as referring to men and women." 

The proposal never reached a vote. Belgium, speaking on behalf of the European Union, introduced a "no action motion," a procedural tool that blocks debate and prevents a proposal from being considered. 

The motion passed, halting the U.S. resolution before it reached the floor.

That distinction carries practical implications. U.N. language shapes global standards tied to development funding, humanitarian programs, education policy and anti-discrimination frameworks.

Bethany Kozma, director of global affairs at the Department of Health and Human Services, told Fox News Digital the move reflects a broader effort to shut down debate at the U.N.

STATE DEPT MOVES TO EXPAND MEXICO CITY POLICY, TARGETING ABORTION, DEI AND GENDER IDEOLOGY IN FOREIGN AID

"While our redlines were ignored, the United States Government will not stand by and watch as malicious forces misuse multilateral organizations to promote their ideologies and social agendas, obstructing nations’ abilities to exercise their national sovereignty," Kozma said. "We will always protect women and girls from dangerous gender ideology and affirm biological truth."

She added that the decision to block the vote was driven by political calculation.

"The EU blocked our resolution to define gender to mean men and women at the U.N. because they feared we would win and they would lose," Kozma said. "We will not give up on doing what is right for women and girls. Even if we stand alone like we did at the U.N. last week, we will always stand to protect women and girls from dangerous radical gender ideology and always affirm biological truth."

STATE DEPARTMENT DECLARES 'INTERNATIONAL BUREAUCRACIES' WILL NO LONGER GET 'BLANK CHECKS' FROM THE US

A State Department official, speaking on background, described the move as part of a broader coordinated effort led by European countries.

"These are procedural games that these countries are not prepared for," the official said, referring to smaller delegations that may lack guidance on complex procedural votes.

The official said the maneuver allowed opponents to block a vote despite what the U.S. believed was growing support. These claims could not be independently verified.

The European Union rejected the U.S. criticism, saying the proposal was flawed and rushed.

"The draft resolution presented by the U.S. was factually incorrect," said David Jordens, spokesperson for Belgium’s foreign ministry, adding that it "misquotes and contradicts" language agreed to in the 1995 Beijing Declaration.

"While the EU respects member states’ prerogative to put forward new initiatives for consideration, CSW members should not be forced to rush a decision on an issue of this importance by the unilateral initiative of one member state, without any prior consultations or negotiations," Jordens said.

He added that "there is no universally agreed definition of the term ‘gender’. As reflected in the outcome of the Fourth World Conference on Women, the term was understood in accordance with its ordinary and generally accepted usage, without establishing a fixed or exhaustive definition. The United Nations should continue to approach gender equality in an inclusive and forward-looking manner, respectful of diversity. Any effort to revisit or reinterpret internationally agreed language must take place through broad, transparent consultations with the full membership."

Die Hamburger Sparkasse hat dem Russland-Korrespondenten Ulrich Heyden das Konto gekündigt. Der Herausgeber der NachDenkSeiten, Albrecht Müller, hat über diesen Vorgang mit Ulrich Heyden gesprochen. Man spürt in dem hiermit veröffentlichten Video etwas von der langen und bitteren Erfahrung mit Aktionen und mit der Propaganda gegen ein gutes und friedliches Verhältnis zwischen unseren Völkern. Schon zu Beginn der Existenz der alten Bundesrepublik Deutschland war das Verhältnis zur damaligen Sowjetunion und damit eng verknüpft die Propaganda gegen Russland und die Russen ein ergiebiges Thema für die innenpolitische Auseinandersetzung. Diese Pflege der Feindseligkeit hat die Verständigung von 1990, den Fall der Mauer und den Deutschland-Besuch des russischen Präsidenten Putin im Jahr 2001 überdauert. Die Feindseligkeit lebt und die Freundschaft leidet. Nicht zu fassen!

Anlässlich der Kontokündigung hat Ulrich Heyden einen Offenen Brief an den Bundespräsidenten Frank-Walter Steinmeier verfasst. Wir dokumentieren hiermit den Wortlaut des Briefes und das Kündigungsschreiben der Bank.

Offener Brief

Moskau, 13.03.26

Sehr geehrter Herr Bundespräsident, Frank-Walter Steinmeier,

ich bin Russland-Korrespondent und schreibe ihnen, weil ich seit heute von einer Kontokündigung betroffen bin. Diese Maßnahme ist nicht nur geeignet meine Existenz zu zerstören, sie widerspricht auch den Grundsätzen der Demokratie und der Pressefreiheit. Ich bitte Sie, sich dafür einzusetzen, dass die Kontokündigung rückgängig gemacht wird.

Mein Konto bei der Hamburger Sparkasse habe ich seit Anfang der 1990er. Am Telefon erklärte mir gestern ein Mitarbeiter der Sparkasse, die Kündigung habe mit den EU-Sanktionen gegen Russland zu tun. Der Mitarbeiter der Sparkasse meinte, ich würde in einem „Hochrisiko-Land“ leben.

Wenn ich in einem „Hochrisiko“-Land lebe, müsste die Bundesregierung und die EU-Kommission mich dann nicht unterstützen? Stattdessen wirft man mir Knüppel zwischen die Beine.

In dem Kündigungsschreiben, das ich heute erhielt, ist nur die Rede von einer „Überprüfung“ aller unserer „Geschäftsverbindungen zu Kunden, die ihren Wohnsitz in Russland haben.“ Konkrete Vorwürfe gegen mich werden nicht erhoben.

Ich bin nicht der Erste, in Russland lebende deutsche Journalist, der von einer Kontokündigung betroffen ist. Vor mir wurde schon meinen Kollegen Thomas Röper und Alina Lipp die Konten gekündigt und damit die Existenzgrundlage entzogen.

Dass man ausgerechnet uns drei für Kontokündigungen auswählt und nicht die Moskau-Korrespondenten der Zeit, der FAZ, des ZDF und der ARD liegt auf der Hand. Wir drei berichten über Russland mit Verständnis und nicht mit Schaum vor dem Mund. Doch Verständnis passt nicht zu der von der Bundesregierung geforderten Kriegsertüchtigung.

Wie geht das an, Herr Steinmeier? Projekte russischer Oppositioneller und Journalisten, die in Deutschland leben, werden durch Förderprogramme des Auswärtigen Amtes unterstützt und ein deutscher Journalist, wie ich, der in Moskau lebt und seit 34 Jahren für deutsche Leser und Radiohörer, Informationen und Hintergrundberichte aus Russland, der Ukraine und Zentralasien und dem Kaukasus liefert, wird die Existenzgrundlage entzogen?

Ich lebe ausschließlich von Einkünften deutscher, Schweizer und österreichischer Medien, die ich auf meinem Konto bei der Hamburger Sparkasse sammelte. In den letzten zwei Jahren ließ die Hamburger Sparkasse online-Überweisungen nach Moskau schon nicht mehr zu, mit der Begründung, sie sei eine „Regionalbank“.

Ich werde in diesem Jahr 72 Jahre alt. Was soll ich meinem Großonkel, Ulrich Wilhelm Graf Schwerin von Schwanenfeld, sagen, wenn ich ihn im Himmel treffe? Er wurde im September 1944 in Berlin-Plötzensee als Widerstandskämpfer gegen das Hitler-Regime mit einer Drahtschlinge ermordet. Ich trage meinen Vornamen zu seinen Ehren. Was wird mein Großonkel sagen? Er wird sagen, dass es Mord und Terror gegen Andersdenkende auch in der Nazizeit gab, und dass er sich nicht hätte vorstellen können, dass sich so etwas in Deutschland wiederholt.

Zu meiner Person: Zehn Jahre lieferte ich als freier Mitarbeiter Radio-Features zu Russland-Themen für den Deutschlandfunk. 13 Jahre war ich Moskau-Korrespondent der Sächsischen Zeitung. 30 Jahre berichtete ich für die Wochenzeitung „der Freitag“. Außerdem schrieb ich für den Tagesspiegel, den Rheinischen Merkur, die Financial Times, die Märkische Allgemeine, die Thüringer Allgemeine und die Mittelbayerische Zeitung. Heute arbeite ich für die Nachdenkseiten und andere deutsche Internetportale. Ich bin Autor mehrerer Bücher zu den Themen Russland, Ukraine und deutsche Nachkriegsgeschichte. 2024 erschien von mir im Promedia-Verlag das Buch „Mein Weg nach Russland. Erinnerungen eines Reporters.“

mit freundlichen Grüßen
Ulrich Heyden
Mail: [email protected]
Telefon: +7 916 165 25 50

Titelbild: NachDenkSeiten

Russia is covertly shipping oil to Cuba using deceptive shipping tactics to bypass U.S. sanctions, according to maritime intelligence reports, and as the island grapples with fuel shortages and power outages.

One alleged delivery came amid one of Cuba’s worst energy crises and ahead of a grid collapse on March 16 which left roughly 10 million people without electricity, according to Cuban authorities and the U.S. Embassy in Cuba.

"The Hong Kong-flagged tanker, which is not sanctioned, has AIS patterns that suggest the tanker spoofed its location and likely sailed to Cuba to discharge its cargo in early March," Windward AI said.

The Financial Times also reported March 18 that another Russian-flagged tanker, Anatoly Kolodkin, carrying crude oil, was expected to reach Cuba by April 4.

"We are ready to provide all possible assistance," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov had told reporters at a briefing on Cuba on March 17, The Moscow Times reported.

PROTESTERS TORCH COMMUNIST PARTY HQ IN CUBA AS VIDEO APPEARS TO CAPTURE GUNFIRE

The alleged shipments came as senior officials at the State Department told Fox News that, under existing law, there are ways for Cuban companies and citizens to purchase oil, but said the Cuban regime is making that impossible. 

The U.S. oil embargo prevents the Cuban regime from purchasing oil only, the official confirmed.

Windward AI first identified the tanker, Sea Horse, as the key vessel in the suspected clandestine oil delivery in its report on March 18.

The firm said the vessel was thought to have transported around 190,000 to 200,000 barrels to Cuba while engaging in behavior consistent with sanctions evasion. Although the vessel is not under sanctions, Windward analysts flagged several suspicious activities.

These included switching off its Automatic Identification System (AIS) during a ship-to-ship transfer near Cyprus — where it likely loaded its cargo — and sailing without Western insurance, both common indicators of sanctions circumvention.

The tanker also repeatedly altered its stated destination, initially signaling Havana before changing to "Gibraltar for orders," a tactic often used to obscure final delivery points.

CUBAN ACTIVIST TO TRUMP: ‘MAKE CUBA GREAT AGAIN’ BY ENDING COMMUNIST RULE

After crossing the Atlantic, it appeared to drift while broadcasting that it was "not under command," with analysts suggesting its AIS signals may have been manipulated to conceal its true location and activities.

These movements strongly indicate that the vessel may have completed an unreported delivery to Cuba before resuming normal transmissions.

Since Jan. 29, U.S. measures — effectively creating an oil blockade — have disrupted fuel shipments to the island.

The policy shift followed major changes in Venezuela and the arrest of Nicolás Maduro, further tightening supply to Cuba and discouraging other tankers from approaching its ports.

President Donald Trump had warned that countries supplying oil to Cuba could face tariffs, while Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel condemned the measures as an "economic war" and pledged continued resistance in a post shared on X.

"The only way for Cuba to fix its energy crisis is to address the root cause of its economic failures: total government control of economic life," a U.S. official told Fox News on March 17.

RUSSIA TO SUSPEND FLIGHTS TO CUBA AS TRUMP SANCTIONS CUT FUEL SUPPLY

"The regime must make significant changes, allowing for privatization and for the Cuban people to provide for themselves," they said.

Otherwise, another senior State Department official said Cuba's blackouts have "sadly become common for many years in Cuba — a symptom of the failing regime’s incompetence and inability to provide even the most basic goods and services for its people."

"This is the tragic result of over 60 years of Communist rule. An island that was once the crown jewel of the Caribbean has plunged into extreme poverty and darkness.

"As President Trump has said, what is left of the regime should make a deal and finally let the Cuban people be free and prosperous, with the help of the United States," the official said.

"Cuba right now is in very bad shape. They’re talking to Marco," Trump told reporters March 17 before adding that "we’ll be doing something with Cuba very soon."

A former Syrian prison official was convicted by a U.S. federal jury in Los Angeles Monday on torture and immigration fraud charges after prosecutors said he oversaw and at times personally carried out brutal abuses against detainees under the now-ousted regime of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Samir Ousman Alsheikh, a former brigadier general who once headed Damascus Central Prison, also known as Adra Prison, was found guilty after a nine-day trial of conspiracy to commit torture, immigration-related fraud offenses and three counts of torture, according to the Justice Department.

The case marks a historic step toward accountability, with Alsheikh becoming the first Assad-era official to be tried and convicted in a U.S. federal court.

Prosecutors said the 73-year-old ordered and oversaw the torture of political prisoners between 2005 and 2008, including beatings, suspension from ceilings and the use of devices such as the so-called "Magic Carpet," which folded victims’ bodies to inflict extreme pain.

TEXAS FAMILY SUES SYRIA FOR DEATH OF LOVED ONE: ‘PLAN TO HOLD THE REGIME FULLY ACCOUNTABLE FOR ITS CRIMES'

He entered the United States in 2020 after lying about his past on his visa application and later attempted to become a U.S. citizen, authorities said.

Alsheikh, who was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport in 2024 as he attempted to board a one-way flight to Beirut, faces up to 20 years in prison for each torture-related count when he is sentenced at a later date.

"Samir Ousman Alsheikh ordered, directed, and directly participated in heinous acts of torture designed to inflict excruciating mental and physical pain with the goal of punishing and silencing political dissent," said Tysen Duva, assistant attorney general for the Justice Department’s criminal division in a statement.

"For many years, he evaded responsibility for his crimes in Syria, including by lying to U.S. immigration authorities in order to reside in the U.S. with the hope of obtaining citizenship. Thanks to the courage and perseverance of the victims and the dedication of Department of Justice prosecutors, along with their law enforcement partners, justice has prevailed, and Alsheikh can no longer run from his past."

‘HIGH STAKES DIPLOMACY’: NEW BOOK GIVES AN INSIDE LOOK AT EFFORTS TO BRING HOME AN AMERICAN DETAINED IN SYRIA

According to a federal criminal complaint filed in July 2024, Alsheikh was an associate of Maher al-Assad, the younger brother of Bashar al-Assad, who led the Syrian military's elite Fourth Division.

He was appointed by Assad in 2011 as governor of Deir ez-Zor after anti-government protests that spread across the country during the Arab Spring.

The Syrian Emergency Task Force (SETF), a Washington-based advocacy group, assisted investigators in bringing the former regime official to justice. The organization first identified Alsheikh in Los Angeles through a tip and conducted its own verification using open-source material and leaked Syrian government data.

It then alerted U.S. authorities and worked with the FBI and Justice Department to help build the case, including connecting investigators with key witnesses who testified about abuses at Adra Prison. According to SETF, it pushed for torture charges rather than solely immigration violations to ensure broader accountability.

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO…SYRIA'S CIVIL WAR?

Mamoun al-Homsi, a former independent member of the Syrian Parliament, was arrested in 2001 for demanding democratic reforms and spent five years in Adra Prison. He told Fox News Digital in an interview, through a translator, that Alsheikh stood out from other prison directors for his brutality.

Al-Homsi said that while previous prison heads largely adhered to prison rules and did not target detainees for their political views, Alsheikh's arrival in 2005 marked a shift. 

"The toughest torture for me wasn't anything done to me physically as much as it was what was done to others on my behalf," said al-Homsi.

SETF Executive Director Mouaz Moustafa, who attended the trial, told Fox News Digital that testimony revealed Alsheikh ordered another prisoner, Khaled Abdul Malek, to poison al-Homsi.

"Khaled Abdul Malek had come so close to Mamoun al-Homsi, so he told him about this plan and told him don't eat anything from anyone to the point where Mamoun al-Homsi would go to the trash if there was any and wash whatever is left," Moustafa said.

Malek refused Alsheikh’s demand to poison the prominent political figure, leading to him being placed in Wing 13, a notorious part of the prison where people were tortured.

"Khaled Malik then had his back broken," Moustafa said, adding that he arrived in court with a cane and could barely walk.

Al-Homsi said he survived on olive pits and lost more than 60 pounds. He was released in 2006 and later fled to Canada.

WHY SYRIA PLAYS A KEY ROLE IN TRUMP'S PLANS FOR MIDDLE EAST PEACE

The former parliament member told Fox News Digital the verdict sends a message that former regime officials cannot evade accountability, even if they leave Syria and attempt to rebuild their lives abroad.

Al-Homsi called the verdict a signal that justice, though long delayed, is finally taking hold, an outcome he described as essential for the future of a free Syria.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday that U.S. sanctions on Cuba are tied to political change on the island, as the country faces widespread blackouts, unrest and a worsening economic crisis.

"Suffice it to say that the embargo is tied to political change on the island," Rubio told reporters at the White House. "The law, it's been codified. And, but the bottom line is their economy doesn't work. It's a nonfunctional economy. It's an economy that has survived.… That thing they have, has survived on subsidies from the Soviet Union and now from Venezuela. They don't get subsidies anymore. So they're in a lot of trouble. And the people in charge of them don't know how to fix it. So they have to get new people in charge."

Rubio’s comments come as Cuba faces a deepening energy crisis that has fueled protests and instability. 

A nationwide power grid collapse left roughly 10 million people without electricity, according to U.S. Embassy statements and Cuban authorities.

PROTESTERS TORCH COMMUNIST PARTY HQ IN CUBA AS VIDEO APPEARS TO CAPTURE GUNFIRE

President Donald Trump indicated his administration is actively engaged. 

"Cuba right now is in very bad shape. They're talking to Marco," Trump told the reporters, "We’ll be doing something with Cuba very soon.… We’re dealing with Cuba."

Trump escalated his rhetoric against Cuba Monday, saying ‌he expected to have the "honor" of "taking Cuba in some form" and that "I can do anything I want" with the neighboring country.

A senior State Department official rejected claims that U.S. sanctions are responsible for the humanitarian situation, saying, "Widespread blackouts have sadly become common for many years in Cuba — a symptom of the failing regime’s incompetence and inability to provide even the most basic goods and service for its people."  

"This is the tragic result of over 60 years of Communist rule," the official added. "An island that was once the crown jewel of the Caribbean has plunged into extreme poverty and darkness. 

"As President Trump has said, what is left of the regime should make a deal and finally let the Cuban people be free and prosperous, with the help of the United States," the official told Fox News Digital.

TRUMP DECLARES NATIONAL EMERGENCY OVER CUBA, THREATENS TARIFFS ON NATIONS THAT SUPPLY OIL TO COMMUNIST REGIME

Cuban human rights activist Rosa María Payá argued that the current crisis reflects systemic collapse inside the regime, not external pressure. 

"The blackout is the regime's collapse made visible: 65 years of totalitarianism finally consuming itself," Payá told Fox News Digital. "The protests are Cubans refusing to disappear into that darkness." 

She rejected claims that U.S. sanctions are driving the humanitarian situation. 

"Cubans are not suffering because of American policy," she said. "They are suffering because of a dictatorship. Pressure on the regime works. What hurts the Cuban people is legitimizing it." 

"The only way to end the humanitarian catastrophe is to end the regime," Payá added. "That’s the demand of the Cuban people." 

Recent blackouts and shortages have been linked to failures at key infrastructure, including the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric power plant, as well as fuel shortages following U.S. actions to curtail oil shipments from Venezuela, one of Cuba’s primary energy suppliers.

At the same time, Pentagon officials told lawmakers there are no plans to invade Cuba, even as they described it as a long-standing security concern.

Joseph Humire, performing the duties of assistant secretary of defense for homeland defense and Americas security affairs, said he was "not familiar with any plans on Cuba" when asked during a House Armed Services Committee hearing Tuesday.

He described Cuba as "one of the strongest intelligence adversaries that we've had in the United States," adding that Cuban officials have operated across the region and were "defending Nicolás Maduro… in Caracas" during past operations. 

Cuba’s government has blamed U.S. sanctions for worsening the crisis, while U.S. officials argue it stems from decades of economic mismanagement and reliance on foreign subsidies.