Gadget-spy dual use

Televisions, smartphones and Internet-connected vehicles are all vulnerable to CIA hacking, according to the Wikileaks documents released Tuesday. Crowd-sourced find in #Vault7 discovers CIA tool to make Android phones bulk-spy on WiFi networks around them https://t.co/GRqriXMU4H pic.twitter.com/cNfEIv4qLP — WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) March 7, 2017 The capabilities described include recording the sounds, images and the private text…

Concerns over North Korea missile programme

Today North Korea fired four ballistic missiles into the sea off Japan’s northwest, angering South Korea and Japan, days after it promised retaliation over U.S.-South Korea military drills it sees as a preparation for war. North Korea missile test Stirs ICBM fears https://t.co/kBrL6PTnLT — The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) March 6, 2017 South Korea’s military…

Pence visit -"threat" in Brussels

Anna van Densky, OPINION   Taking into consideration the anti-Trump rethoric of president Donald Tusk naming the new US administration an ‘existential threat’ to the  EU one can not expect much from vice-president Mike Pence visit to Brussels. The myopia of the EU leaders, from the moment of taking sides in the US elections, fiercely defending…

Battle for Mosul liberation

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi  announced a launch of an offensive against Islamic State to liberate the western part of Mosul (pictured). Hundreds of military vehicles, backed by airforce, started the movement across the Hadesert towards Mosul positions early morning hours on Sunday. Iraqi forces retook several villages south of Mosul in the first hours…

Gen.Mattis dual-track approach towards Russia

NATO HQ, Brussels.  In his frist speech to NATO allies  US Defense Secretary Gen.Mattis defined the strategy towards Russia, reminiscent of the end of Cold War, and hopes for better world everyone had. However in 2014 Russia used force to “alter the borders of one of the sovereign neighbors”, he reminded,  also mentionng some allies,…

Gen.Mattis: NATO stays a bedrock of security

NATO HQ, Brussels: US Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis reconfirmed the  US engagement in NATO, as a “bedrock” of the Transatlantic security, however the issue of budget stays as a priority. The current practise of a number of the NATO members to act as security-consumers does not correspond to the vision of the fair burden-sharing of…

Stoltenberg: NATO focus on budget

  Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg press-conference on upcoming meeting of NATO Defense ministers in Brussels HQ, opening remarks: ‘Over the next two days, NATO Defence Ministers will address the Alliance’s response to a more challenging security environment. This is a pivotal time for NATO. We face great security challenges. But the strength and the unity…

Pence to visit Brussels in February

The Prime Minister Charles Michel, confirmed this week that the US Vice-President Mike Pence will come to Brussels this month. The two men will meet on Sunday February 19th, over a working dinner given over to the bilateral relationship between Belgium and the US, as much as the institutions in Europe. On Thursday, the White…

Mogherini to meet Lavrov

The EU top diplomat Federica Mogherini to meet Russian Foreign minister Sergei Lavrov in coming weeks, according to communication of the European External Action Service (EEAS). In view of the upcoming Foreign Affairs council on Monday,  6/2/2017, Mogherini discussed with Minister Lavrov a range of international issues, starting with the situation in Libya, and the perspectives…

Mogherini: "Islam belongs in Europe"

The European Union disagrees with the travel restrictions introduced last week by the U.S. President’s Executive Order and will remain open to all those with the right to international protection, EU top diplomat Federica Mogherini told the European Parliament at plenary session in Brussels 1/02/2017. “As a good friend of the United States, I believe…