Shock: Federica Mogherini arrested; Another high-ranking official also "falls"

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Federica Mogherini was arrested today in Brussels as part of a fraud investigation involving the College of Europe and the European External Action Service (EEAS), Belgian media report.

Izvor: Corriere della Sera, Politico

EPA/STEPHANIE LECOCQ

Mogherini is currently the Rector of the College of Europe and previously served as the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs.

In addition to her, the Director of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for the Middle East, North Africa, and the Persian Gulf, Stefano Sannino, has also been arrested.

As Politico reported earlier today, Belgian authorities have detained a total of three suspects and carried out raids at the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the College of Europe over an alleged fraud related to the establishment of the academy for training diplomats.

The raids were carried out at the request of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) and with the approval of the Belgian police, taking place at the EEAS in Brussels, the College of Europe buildings in Bruges, and private residences, the EPPO said in a statement.

The EEAS is the EU’s foreign policy arm, and until 2019, it was headed by former European Commission Vice-President Federica Mogherini.

She has been the Rector of the College of Europe, a training ground for future EU officials, since 2020.

The Belgian newspaper L’Echo reported that Mogherini is in custody, but the College of Europe declined to comment.

The European Public Prosecutor’s Office stated that it has “strong suspicions” that the rules on “fair competition” were violated when the EEAS awarded the tender for establishing the diplomatic academy to the College of Europe.

The investigation focuses on whether the college was informed about the criteria for the selection procedure before the official notice was published.

An EEAS official, speaking anonymously to provide an open account, said that the raids were carried out in the administrative building in Brussels, not in the main building at the Schuman roundabout.

Employees were asked to leave the premises and to leave the doors and furniture of their offices unlocked.

A senior EU official told Politico that the raids are linked to an investigation that began before Kaja Kallas assumed office as head of the bloc’s foreign policy branch.

European Commission spokeswoman Anitta Hipper confirmed that police carried out a raid at the EEAS on Tuesday as part of an “ongoing investigation into activities that took place… during the previous mandate,” meaning before Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was reappointed in December 2024.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán visited Subotica today

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Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán visited Subotica today

The ceremony began with the playing of the Serbian and Hungarian national anthems at the City Hall in Subotica, where the “István Pastor” Foundation will present awards to Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

Izvor: B92.net

TANJUG/ MILOŠ MILIVOJEVIĆ

Vučić earlier shared on his Instagram a photo of his visit to István Pastor’s grave, showing that he was accompanied there by Bálint Pastor, István Pastor’s son and the current president of the Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians (SVM).

“With Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, I paid tribute to István Pastor, a man whose work forever marked a new chapter in Serbian-Hungarian relations. István was a bridge of trust, understanding, and sincere cooperation, and through his dedication, he brought our communities closer than ever. His legacy endures, reflected in the relations between our countries, in the unity of our peoples, and in the respect he earned through his deeds,” Vučić wrote on Instagram.

A large number of citizens gathered in Subotica to welcome them.

The "István Pastor" Foundation stated in its citation that Vučić is receiving the award for his key role in building trust, cooperation, and strategic partnership between the two peoples. His name is also associated with the historic decision made during his tenure as Prime Minister on October 30, 2014, which removed the principle of collective guilt of the Hungarian people from the legal system.

Viktor Orbán is also being recognized for his indelible and decisive contributions to the historic reconciliation between the Hungarian and Serbian peoples, for deepening good-neighborly relations, and for building and strengthening strategic partnership.

Abel, the son of István Pastor, addressed the audience first.

“Today we are awarding these prizes for the second time. Today, we can proudly say that the ties between our peoples are at a historic peak. Viktor Orbán is being recognized for his exceptional merits, and Aleksandar Vučić receives the award for his key role in the development of relations between the two nations,” said Pastor.

Full text of European counter-proposal to US Ukraine peace plan

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By Reuters

November 23, 20255:50 PM GMT+1Updated 16 hours ago

Ukraine Peace talks in Geneva

Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak sits with other members of the Ukrainian delegation before closed-door talks with a U.S. delegation on ending Russia's war in Ukraine, at the U.S. Mission in Geneva, Switzerland, November 23, 2025. REUTERS/Emma Farge Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab

BRUSSELS, Nov 23 (Reuters) - Below is the text of a European counter-proposal to the United States' draft 28-point Ukraine peace plan, seen by Reuters on Sunday.

The counter-proposal, drafted by Europe's E3 powers of Britain, France and Germany, takes the U.S. plan as its basis but then goes through it point by point with suggested changes and deletions.

The text is as follows:

1. Ukraine's sovereignty to be reconfirmed.

2. There will be a total and complete non-aggression agreement reached between Russia and Ukraine and NATO. All ambiguities from the last 30 years will be resolved.

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(Point 3 of U.S. plan is deleted. A draft of that plan seen by Reuters said: "There will be the expectation that Russia will not invade its neighbours and NATO will not expand further.")

4. After a peace agreement is signed, a dialogue between Russia and NATO will convene to address all security concerns and create a de-escalatory environment to ensure global security and increase the opportunity for connectivity and future economic opportunity.

5. Ukraine will receive robust Security Guarantees

6. Size of Ukraine military to be capped at 800,000 in peacetime.

7. Ukraine joining NATO depends on consensus of NATO members, which does not exist.

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8. NATO agrees not to permanently station troops under its command in Ukraine in peacetime.

9. NATO fighter jets will be stationed in Poland

10. US guarantee that mirrors Article 5

a. US to receive compensation for the guarantee

b. If Ukraine invades Russia, it forfeits the guarantee

c. If Russia invades Ukraine, in addition to a robust coordinated military response, all global sanctions will be restored and any kind of recognition for the new territory and all other benefits from this agreement will be withdrawn.

11. Ukraine is eligible for EU membership and will get short-term preferred market access to Europe while this is being evaluated

12. Robust Global Redevelopment Package for Ukraine including but not limited to:

a. Creation of Ukraine Development fund to invest in high growth industries including technology, data centres and Al efforts

b. The United States will partner with Ukraine to jointly restore, grow, modernize and operate Ukraine's gas infrastructure, which includes its pipeline and storage facilities

c. A joint effort to redevelop areas impacted by the war to restore, redevelop and modernize cities and residential areas

d. Infrastructure development

e. Mineral and natural resource extraction

f. A special financing package will be developed by the World Bank to provide financing to accelerate these efforts.

13. Russia to be progressively re-integrated into the global economy

a. Sanction relief will be discussed and agreed upon in phases and on a case-by-case basis.

b. The United States will enter into a long-term Economic Cooperation Agreement to pursue mutual development in the areas of energy, natural resources, infrastructure, AI, datacenters, rare earths, joint projects in the Arctic, as well as various other mutually beneficial corporate opportunities.

c. Russia to be invited back into the G8

14. Ukraine will be fully reconstructed and compensated financially, including through Russian sovereign assets that will remain frozen until Russia compensates damage to Ukraine.

15. A joint Security taskforce will be established with the participation of US, Ukraine, Russia and the Europeans to promote and enforce all of the provisions of this agreement

16. Russia will legislatively enshrine a non-aggression policy towards Europe and Ukraine

17. The United States and Russia agree to extend nuclear non-proliferation and control treaties, including Fair Start

18. Ukraine agrees to remain a non-nuclear state under the NPT

19. The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant will be restarted under supervision of the IAEA, and the produced power shall be shared equitably in a 50-50 split between Russia and Ukraine.

20. Ukraine will adopt EU rules on religious tolerance and the protection of linguistic minorities.

21. Territories

Ukraine commits not to recover its occupied sovereign territory through military means. Negotiations on territorial swaps will start from the Line of Contact.

22. Once future territorial arrangements have been agreed, both the Russian Federation and Ukraine undertake not to change these arrangements by force. Any security guarantees will not apply if there is a breach of this obligation

23. Russia shall not obstruct Ukraine's use of the Dnieper River for purposes of commercial activities, and agreements will be reached for grain shipments to move freely through the Black Sea

24. A humanitarian committee will be established to resolve open issues:

a. All remaining prisoners and bodies will be exchanged on the principle of All for All

b. All civilian detainees and hostages will be returned, including children

c. There will be a family reunification program

d. Provisions will be made to address the suffering of victims from the conflict

25. Ukraine will hold elections as soon as possible after the signing of the peace agreement.

26. Provision will be made to address the suffering of victims of the conflict.

27. This agreement will be legally binding. Its implementation will be monitored and guaranteed by a Board of Peace, chaired by President Donald J. Trump. There will be

penalties for violation.

28. Upon all sides agreeing to this memorandum, a ceasefire will be immediately effective upon both parties withdrawing to the agreed upon points for the implementation of the agreement to begin. Ceasefire modalities, including monitoring, will be agreed by both parties under US supervision.

Reporting by Andrew Gra

Tensions rising: Turks breach border, Greeks fire shots

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Two Turkish fishing boats entered Greek territorial waters, ignoring warnings from the Greek Coast Guard, and began fishing in the presence of two Turkish Coast Guard vessels. In response, the Greek side fired warning shots, local media reported today.

B92

Tensions rising: Turks breach border, Greeks fire shots

The incident occurred last night, according to sources at the Greek Coast Guard headquarters, Katimerini reported.

Three Coast Guard vessels immediately set out to the scene to warn the Turkish fishing boats with repeated visual and audio signals to leave Greek territorial waters, but the boats ignored them.

One of the Turkish vessels performed a dangerous maneuver, risking a collision with one of the Greek patrol boats. The patrol crew then fired warning shots in accordance with regulations, after which the Turkish boats withdrew.

However, according to Katimerini, Turkish media reported a different version of events, stating that the fishing boat had departed from the port of Didim in the Aydın region toward the Aegean Sea, and was then fired upon by the Greek Coast Guard.

Turkish media reported that the vessel was damaged in the incident, and the fishermen notified the Turkish Coast Guard, which confirmed damage to the boat.

The A Haber website reported that, according to the captain of the Turkish boat, the incident occurred in Turkish territorial waters, and that the Greek side fired six shots at the vessel, damaging the radar section.

News arrives from Kyiv: Has the Plan been accepted?

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Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Rustem Umerov has denied media reports claiming that certain points of a plan to end the war in Ukraine were allegedly approved or removed during consultations with the U.S. delegation currently in Kyiv.

Izvor: Tanjug

“As work with the U.S. delegation continues in Kyiv, various assumptions about the content of the consultations have appeared in the public. I want to clarify briefly and immediately. During my trip to the United States, my task was technical — organizing meetings and preparing the dialogue. I did not provide any assessments or, even less, approve any points. This is not within my authority and is not in line with procedure,” Umerov stated on Telegram.

He emphasized that work continues at the technical level between the teams in Kyiv.

Bahmut Pavlo/Ukrinform/Abaca / Abaca Press / Profimedia

“Yesterday, the President of Ukraine spoke with the U.S. delegation authorized by President (U.S. President Donald) Trump. Today, this work continues in Kyiv at the technical level between the teams. We are carefully studying all the proposals of our partners, expecting the same correct attitude toward the Ukrainian position,” Umerov explained, as reported by Ukrinform.

He stated that media reports about alleged “agreements” or “removal of items” do not correspond to reality.

“These are examples of unverified information that arose outside the context of the consultations. We are carefully reviewing our partners’ proposals within the framework of Ukraine’s unchanging principles — sovereignty, the security of the people, and a just peace,” Umerov concluded.

Europe is boiling with anger

The U.S. told Zelensky: Give up territory, army, weapons — you have to

According to the newspaper Hromadske, senior U.S. officials claim that Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Rustem Umerov allegedly agreed to a new U.S. peace plan.

The New York Post, citing its own sources, reports that officials received “positive feedback” from him during negotiations with U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff in Miami over the past weeks.

According to a source from the newspaper, Umerov agreed with most of the plan and made a few modifications to it.

U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Julie Davis stated that she and U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll held “extremely constructive talks” with the Ukrainian leadership on Thursday regarding ending the war.

Earlier, U.S. media reported that the Trump administration had conducted secret consultations with the Russians to develop a new plan to end the war in Ukraine. The plan contains 28 points grouped into four general categories: peace in Ukraine, security guarantees, security in Europe, and future relations between the U.S., Russia, and Ukraine.

US and Russian officials draft new peace plan for Ukraine

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Proposal envisages major concessions by Kyiv and rollback of American military assistance

The new peace plan was conveyed to Kyiv this week by US President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, seen here with Russian President Vladimir Putin in August © POOL/AFP via Getty Images

US and Russian officials draft new peace plan for Ukraine 

Christopher Miller in New York, Anastasia Stognei in London and Amy Mackinnon in Washington

The Trump administration and Russian officials have drawn up a sweeping new proposal to end Russia’s war in Ukraine that envisages major concessions by Kyiv, and have urged President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to accept it, according to people briefed on the effort.

A group of Russian and American officials were involved in the creation of the plan, which is still at a framework stage, a person familiar with the talks told the Financial Times. One of its architects is Kirill Dmitriev, the head of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund and a close ally of President Vladimir Putin, people familiar with the proposal said.

The plan was conveyed to Kyiv this week by US President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, who met the current secretary of the national security and defence council of Ukraine and former defence minister, Rustem Umerov, in Miami to go over its 28 points, two people familiar with the talks said. They added Witkoff had made clear he wanted Zelenskyy to accept the terms even though they included points that have long been red lines for Ukraine.

One of the people said it would amount to Ukraine giving up its sovereignty if Kyiv accepted the plan and called the effort a Russian attempt to “play” the Trump administration, which they added was eager to “show progress” on a deal.

According to people with knowledge of a document about the draft plan, it would require Ukraine to cede the remainder of the eastern Donbas region — including land currently under Kyiv’s control — and cut the size of its armed forces by half.

Crucially, it also calls for Ukraine to abandon key categories of weaponry and would include the rollback of US military assistance that has been vital to its defence, potentially leaving the country vulnerable to future Russian aggression.

Additionally, no foreign troops would be allowed on Ukrainian soil and Kyiv would no longer receive western long-range weapons that can reach deep inside Russia.

The plan would also stipulate that Russian be recognised as an official state language in Ukraine and grant formal status to the local branch of the Russian Orthodox Church — provisions echoing long-standing Kremlin political objectives.

One person familiar with the document described it as a very generic one that was “heavily tilted towards Russia”. Another person briefed on the plan called it “very comfortable for Putin”.

“It’s not a plan but a mix of real, practical proposals with good intentions,” a Russian person familiar with the matter said. “Part of it is absolutely unacceptable for the Ukrainians.”

Officials in Kyiv briefed on the plan said it closely aligned with the Kremlin’s maximalist demands, adding it would be a non-starter for Ukraine without significant changes.

But one of the people briefed on the proposal was less pessimistic, saying “the Americans are pressing Moscow to clearly articulate what their expectations actually are to . . . start the negotiations”.

The proposal comes as Zelenskyy’s political position in Ukraine has weakened amid a widening corruption scandal involving several close allies.

The fallout has emboldened opposition figures and triggered dissent within his Servant of the People party. Some MPs have publicly called for the dismissal of the president’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, and proposed a unity government that would dilute Zelenskyy’s authority.

But it has also given Washington a window of opportunity to apply renewed pressure on Kyiv to reach a deal on terms that would be less than favourable.

The Kremlin and a spokesperson for Dmitriev did not immediately reply to requests for comment. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The existence of the plan was first reported by Axios.

Oil prices fell sharply on reports of the proposal, as traders bet that peace talks would reduce oil supply risks linked to the announcement last month of US sanctions on Russian oil companies Rosneft and Lukoil.

Brent crude prices fell almost 3 per cent to $63.17 during morning trading in New York, while US West Texas Intermediate, the benchmark for US crude, traded to a low of $58.77.

“Oil prices have been supported by the threat of sanctions and any move towards peace talks and less stringent enforcement by Washington is likely to shift the market focus towards oversupply concerns,” Kevin Book, head of research at ClearView Energy Partners, a Washington-based consultancy, said.

Dmitriev visited Washington in late October, after the US imposed sweeping sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil and cancelled a bilateral summit with Putin that was due to take place in Budapest, as Trump had been growing frustrated with the Russian president.

The last straw was a tense call between the two countries’ top diplomats, which convinced Washington that Moscow was not prepared to negotiate.

Additional reporting by Phil Georgiadis and Jamie Smyth in New York

Albanian dealers arrested in Brussels; they tried to kill the chief Belgian prosecutor

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Belgian police have arrested eight members of a drug trafficking network in connection with a possible conspiracy to assassinate the country’s chief prosecutor, the Office of the Public Prosecutor announced today.

Izvor: Tanjug

Albanian dealers arrested in Brussels; they tried to kill the chief Belgian prosecutor

EPA-EFE/OLIVIER MATTHYS

The arrests were carried out following raids at 18 locations, mostly in Brussels, the statement added, Reuters reported.

In July 2025, Brussels police informed the public prosecutor’s office about a conspiracy aimed at assassinating the chief prosecutor in Brussels.

According to the prosecutor, the main suspects in the conspiracy have criminal records related to drug trafficking and are active within the Albanian criminal mafia.

In recent years, Brussels has been shaken by violence linked to drug gang activity, and officials note that more than 100 of Europe’s most dangerous criminal networks operate in Belgium, Reuters recalled.

In February this year, authorities were forced to close several metro stations in the capital while a manhunt was underway for two suspects following a shooting linked to drug traffickers.

Για δεύτερη φορά, η προδοσία των δικαιωμάτων της Βορείου Ηπείρου από την Αθήνα

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STAMA

Τον Φεβρουάριο του 2009, η Ελληνική Βουλή ψηφίζει υπέρ της ένταξης της Αλβανίας στο ΝΑΤΟ, χωρίς κανένα αίτημα προς την κυβέρνηση των Τιράνων, για τα δικαιώματα αυτοδιάθεσης των Ελλήνων της Βορείου Ηπείρου. Αυτό που ζητήθηκε ως αντάλλαγμα ήταν τα νεκροταφεία των Ελλήνων στρατιωτών που σκοτώθηκαν στον Ιταλο-Ελληνικό Πόλεμο, 1940 - 1941, καθώς και η εγγύηση για την Επικύρωση των θαλάσσιων συνόρων της Αλβανίας, η οποία ακόμη και σήμερα δεν έχει ολοκληρωθεί, λόγω του Βέτο των Τιράνων.

Τον Νοέμβριο του 2025, η Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση ανοίγει επιτέλους τα Κεφάλαια για την επακόλουθη ένταξη της Αλβανίας στην ευρωπαϊκή οικογένεια. Η κυβέρνηση των Τιράνων, υποστηριζόμενη από την ιταλική, ως διπλωματικός θεματοφύλακας των Τιράνων, έχει εγγυηθεί ότι δεν θα υπάρξουν εμπόδια από κανένα μέλος της ΕΕ, συμπεριλαμβανομένης της Ελλάδας. Μένει να δούμε στην βαθιά του παγόβουνου τι παζάρι έχει παίξει η Ελλάδα σε αυτή την περίπτωση.

Ο χαιρετισμός που απηύθυνε η Ελληνίδα Υφυπουργός Αλεξάνδρα Παπανδρέου στον Αλβανό Πρωθυπουργό Έντι Ράμα, δείχνει ότι οι δηλώσεις του Προέδρου του αλβανικού ναρκοκράτους, σε Αθήνα και Θεσσαλονίκη, ότι «η Βόρεια Ήπειρος είναι νεκρή», έχουν αποδυναμώσει τις θέσεις της ελληνικής διπλωματίας, ώστε να προδίδει συνεχώς τα εθνικά συμφέροντα της Ελλάδας.

Αυτό δεν είναι αρκετό, αλλά το Υπουργείο των ΗΠΑ, στην τελευταία του Έκθεση Στρατηγικών Επενδύσεων για το Ξέπλυμα Χρήματος, την Καλπάζουσα Διαφθορά και το Λαθρεμπόριο Ναρκωτικών, έχει εκφράσει ανοιχτά τον λόγο για τον οποίο δισεκατομμύρια ευρώ επενδύσεων στην Ακτή, οδηγούν σε μαζική κλοπή περιουσίας και διατάραξη των εθνοτικών ισορροπιών, δημιουργώντας μια κατάσταση μετανάστευσης για την ελληνική κοινότητα, η οποία έχει βρεθεί χωρίς καμία υποστήριξη, και στοχοποιώντας και διώκοντας πολιτικούς και μιντιακούς εκφραστές εντός της κοινότητας, οι οποίοι υποστηρίζουν τις Ελευθερίες και τα Ανθρώπινα Δικαιώματα.

Η εμπλοκή του Βαθύ Κράτους και του «Ιδρύματος Σόρος» από την ελίτ των ευρωπαϊκών χωρών, για να ευνοηθεί το «Ναρκοκράτος Αλβανία» στην ΕΕ, στο οποίο η Ελλάδα έδωσε τη συγκατάθεσή της προδίδοντας τους συμπατριώτες της από τη Βόρεια Ήπειρο, ως αντιαμερικανική πρόκληση, για να σώσει τον ηγέτη της Έντι Ράμα, από πιθανή σύλληψη από το FBI, δείχνει βαθύτερα την ύποπτη σύνδεση Ράμα - Μητσοτάκη, σε σκανδαλώδεις υποθέσεις εις βάρος των Ελλήνων που επιβιώνουν στην περιοχή της Χειμάρρας και όχι μόνο....

High-power microwave ‘force field’ knocks drone swarms from sky

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Working like an EMP weapon, microwaves change the counter-UAS mission from one-to-one to one-to-many.

By   Breaking Defense

on February 18, 2025 at 8:24 AM

Soldiers from the U.S. Army’s Air Defense Artillery community stand in front of the IFPC-HPM system alongside Epirus support staff following New Equipment Training in March 2024. (Epirus photo)

In the mix of counter-UAS systems under development today like kinetics, lasers, and jamming, only one technology, high-power microwave (HPM), is specifically designed to take out swarms of drones all at once.

Attacking swarms have become a common feature in Russia’s war on Ukraine. Defensive systems, however, can only shoot down one threat at a time. To address that gap, the Defense Department is experimenting with high-power microwave (HPM) to disable drone swarms and other devices dependent on electronics.

A defensive concept known as “one-to-many”, the U.S. Army is developing these systems with Epirus, a “neo prime” focused on asymmetric warfare. Epirus has delivered four prototype HPM counter-swarm systems under a $66 million OTA issued by the Army’s Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office in early 2023 under the Integrated Fires Protection Capability High Power Microwave (IFPC-HPM) program. Epirus delivered the first IFPC-HPM system nine months after contract award and finalized delivery of all four systems in March 2024. The Army followed in October with an approximately $17 million contract modification for the development and integration of an upgraded sensor suite in support of IFPC-HPM.

Breaking Defense discussed HPM with Epirus CEO Andy Lowery.

Breaking Defense: What’s the idea behind using HPM to counter drone swarms and the concept of one-to-many short-range air defense?

Andy Lowery: This is an idea that changes the paradigm of how we think about defense of critical assets from a one-to-one thought process to a one-to-many thought process. It could be from a detection point of view, a command-and-control perspective, or in the case of Epirus, an effector perspective.

There aren’t many other types of systems that have one-to-many effects. Kinetics you rule out. They’re all one-to-one.

The counter-UAS strategy that the DoD published recently describes a need for this one-to-many philosophy of going after threats like what’s seen in network attacks, which are one-to-many attacks. When I talk to cyber experts, they are bored with me talking one-to-many. They say we’ve been talking about this for 20 years. So, we’re not actually alone in this idea or concept.

In electronic warfare, there’s an interesting comparison with the Next Generation Jammer (NGJ). One of my chief engineering accomplishments at Raytheon was to design the NGJ system, which is a cousin or even a brother to Leonidas, the high-power microwave systems that Epirus specializes in.

Waymo is another example. They have a different mission to navigate a car automatically, but they are processing one-to-many threats: a bicycle, a car, a commuter, a red light. How do they take in all of those 10,000 things at the same time and produce a meaningful objective?

That’s what we have to think about — HPM for high-value asset protection, short-range air-defense protection. The ways of protecting our guarded assets now need to evolve because swarms have manifested into the physical realm and are being developed by the Russians, Chinese, and Iranians.

Do we still need kinetics? Absolutely. We need the kinetics because there’ll be high-value targets that they are assigned to. Then there’ll be swarms – cheap, attributable, and autonomous in the not-too-distant future. Ask any counter-drone warfighter what’s the first thing that pops into their head when they hear the word ‘autonomy’, and they’ll tell you ‘swarms’. Like a Waymo vehicle, each one of them can be sent out with no signals or attachment to anything. The future of autonomy is no outside connectivity.

This is where we come in because it isn’t just counter swarms, it’s counter electronics in a sector-defense way. HPM will affect anything with electronics in it: boat and car motors, night-vision goggles, computers, and switches. That’s all vulnerable. Those all are hypersensitive to this type of electromagnetic radiation.

Tell us about your HPM solution called Leonidas.

Leonidas spins on a gimbal and generates a persistent field of electromagnetic energy in the sky. As you push it into the airspace, incoming drones come into that energy field and begin to get confused. Different parts of the electronics are starting to pull energy onto the boards and they begin to overload.

Epirus HPM basically cyber-attacks a target through an analog vector of absorption, meaning we don’t move in through an antenna through an RF chain and then into the digital part of the system that pushes out some kind of effect. We come straight into the analog pieces like a servo motor or wires that run down the wing of an aircraft. These things become vectors of attack for this type of entry with high-power microwave.

The CONOPs would be to find the exposed area of whatever asset you’re protecting. If it is a base totally out in the open you can’t beam these HPM systems over the base, so you would need to have maybe five or six of our systems positioned in a way that gives you 360-degree coverage. Remember that they’re additive; as you scan off angle, you’re adding the two together in order to give you a homogeneous bubble – really like a force field of energy with five or six of these.

Once Leonidas is installed, it becomes a permanent way to generate an HPM shield that can go defend against any number of drones indefinitely at just the cost of electricity.

The Army has tested our HPM technology upways and downways with all their threats that are relevant to these fights overseas – not to mention the fights domestically starting to happen – and we have 100-percent effectiveness.

Final thoughts?

Epirus is a formidable neo prime or next-generation prime. We work directly with the government, DoD, international agencies, and foreign governments in order to employ one-to-many defensive systems that are geared toward high-value asset protection. That could be bases, military airfields, civilian airports, stadiums, and refineries. As we zoom in, there could be local protection for JLTVs, Strykers, Abrams tanks, and C-17 transports.

What we’ve, in fact, done is create a forcefield of sorts, which by nature is a one-to-many system that can effectively counter swarms, as well as attacks coming from the consumer electronics and the irregular/asymmetric warfare vectors.

In order to defend that adequately, we need to do a lot of ‘me too’ and ‘better than’ the other guys – like companies such as Anduril and Saronic are doing. We’ve got to keep up, but we also have to flip it on its head and create capabilities in areas where the United States still bears a strong advantage.

The folks at Epirus were largely trained by the primes. Many of us also have dual backgrounds in consumer electronics and big data. Our CTO has Waymo, Raytheon, and AFRL in his background. By fusing advanced technologies with bold thinking informed by decades of leadership at A&D primes, Epirus is positioned at the forefront of this new neo-prime ecosystem.

We’re thrilled to be part of the equation.

Sufi leader plans for Vatican-like state in Albania

SManalysis

Tirana (AFP) – In Albania's capital, Baba Mondi envisions a Vatican-like state for his Bektashi faith on a tiny scrap of land that would serve as a model for love and tolerance.

Issued on: 26/02/2025 - 08:41

AFP

Baba Mondi is leader of the Bektashi order of Sufi Islam

Last year, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama announced plans to establish a sovereign Muslim microstate within the country's borders run by the Sufi sect with roughly 100,000 members.

"Our state will be a really small spiritual and administrative state... but with a big heart," the Bektashi leader told AFP in Tirana, draped in a white tunic and wearing a green jacket and cap, his face framed by a flowing white beard.

"The whole world will be able to see the light of the Bektashis."

The creation of a religious state in Albania would have been unimaginable during the four decade communist dictatorship of Enver Hoxha who banned religion outright and persecuted clerics and priests.

Hundreds of clergy from all faiths were executed, jailed, or sent into exile, while places of worship were demolished.

But since the fall of communism in the early 1990s, there has been an outpouring of religious expression in many corners of Albania.

The Bektashi are ranked as the fourth-largest religious community in Albania, after Sunni Muslims, Orthodox Christians, and Catholics.

And while the bureaucratic details of the state are still being ironed out along with an official date for its launch, Baba Mondi has ambitious plans for his future nation.

"This state will have neither police, nor army, nor taxes; it will be spiritual," said the leader.

"Its purpose will be the organisation and defence of the Bektashis around the world."

The Bektashi state would also advocate for persecuted members living in countries where they do not have the right to practise their religion "like in Turkey or Iran", according to its leader.

Baba Mondi envisions a microstate like the Vatican in Albania's capital, Tirana

Baba Mondi envisions a microstate like the Vatican in Albania's capital, Tirana © Adnan Beci / AFP

The future state would be located on land where a Bektashi temple already stands in Tirana, and will occupy just 0.11 of a square kilometre (0.04 square miles) -- making it the smallest country on earth.

The Vatican currently holds the title with just 0.44 square kilometres of territory.

Peace and love

The Bektashi order was founded in the 13th century in the Ottoman Empire and is regarded as a tolerant, mystic branch of Islam open to other religions and philosophies.

Some key leaders relocated to Albania after they were banned in Turkey by the modern state's founding father Mustafa Kemal Ataturk in the early 20th century.

Unlike more conservative denominations of Islam, the Bektashi faithful -- men and women -- worship together and the consumption of alcohol is allowed, if not encouraged.

"Raki, like mother's milk, has benefits because it goes straight to the brain without passing through the stomach," said Baba Mondi, referring to the popular fruit brandy that is widely imbibed across the Balkans.

The practice is part of an overall vision of tolerance and promoting harmony that is central to Bektashi thought, according to Baba Mondi.

"Wherever they are, the Bektashis have always expressed love, generosity, and respect for humans as the most perfect creatures in this world," he added.

"We are against conflicts triggered by extremists, we are for peace and love."

For Albania's premier, providing the Bektashi with their own government is in part about protecting that spirit of tolerance.

"We must take care of this treasure that is religious tolerance, so we can preserve and promote it," Rama said during a speech in January, marking the 95th anniversary of the transfer of the Bektashi sacred seat from Turkey to Albania.

He has yet to unveil a timeline for the state's creation.

But for Baba Mondi and his Sufi followers, the future is brimming with possibilities.

"Bektashism has been and will remain a bridge between East and West," Baba Mondi told AFP.

"We have always been a middle ground in this world to show that we can live with love, peace, and kindness."

© 2025 AFP

Ο Μπερίσα ρίχνει στο τραπέζι τον ΑΟΖ, για συμπαράσταση, από την Αθήνα

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Σταύρη Μάρκο

Συνεχίζει όμως να μην αναγνωρίζει τους Έλληνες της Χειμάρρας και να σταματά τις στρατηγικές επενδύσεις, τις οποίες ξεκίνησε πρώτος.

Γνωρίζετε ότι κάποιες κινήσεις εκτός της εσωτερικής πολιτικής της Αλβανίας, τις οποίες έχει υπογράψει ο σημερινός Πρωθυπουργός Έντι Ράμα, Τρεις Διεθνείς Συμφωνίες, ο Μπερίσα δεν απαγόρευσε λόγω υποστηρικτικών υποθέσεων για την εξωτερική πολιτική, όπως η Συμφωνία Μετανάστευσης με την Ιταλία (παραβιάζεται η εδαφική ακεραιότητα της Αλβανίας, για να συνεννοηθεί με την Ιταλία) ή η στρατηγική παρέκκλιση του Σαζάνο  και της Διοίκησης Τραμπ (ο Γαμπρός του, Στρατηγικών Επένδυσης) αντιτίθεται μόνο σε ένα στόχο, το κράτος των Μπεκτασήδων, όπου και εδώ "παραβιάζεται" η εδαφική ακεραιότητα της Αλβανίας?

Έτσι, ο Μπερίσα μπλόκαρε μια πρωτοβουλία του κοινοβουλίου της Αλβανίας, να ψηφίσει τις Συμφωνίες που έκανε η κυβέρνηση Ράμα, διαφοροποιώντας μία από αυτές, ενώ είναι πακέτα Συνταγματικών Τροποποιήσεων, όπου χρειάζονται τουλάχιστον 94 ψήφοι. Έτσι ο Μπερίσα γίνεται πατριώτης ενάντια στο κράτος των Μπεκτάσι και όχι πατριώτης ενάντια στις Συμφωνίες με την Ιταλία και το Γαμπρό Τραμπ για το νησί Σαζάνο.

Συλλαλητήριο της Αθήνας, ο Μπερίσα υπόσχεται να επιστρέψει στην ΑΟΖ με την Ελλάδα που απαγορεύεται από το Συνταγματικό Δικαστήριο της Αλβανίας.

Ο Μπερίσα υποσχέθηκε στο συλλαλητήριο της Αθήνας με τους μετανάστες ότι θα επιστρέψει τη Ναυτική Συμφωνία με την Ελλάδα, για να έχει στήριξη από την Αθήνα, αλλά ξεχνά ότι είναι σχεδόν δύσκολο μετά από απόφαση του Συνταγματικού Δικαστηρίου της Αλβανίας. Τονίζουμε ότι η Ναυτική Συμφωνία ΑΟΖ με την Ελλάδα και η Ανοικοδόμηση των Ταφικών Τόπων των Ελλήνων Στρατιωτών Πεσόντων κατά τον Δεύτερο Παγκόσμιο Πόλεμο, είναι μέρος της Συμφωνίας για τον Όρο Ένταξης της Αλβανίας στο ΝΑΤΟ το 2009 με την Ελλάδα. Ωστόσο, η αλβανική κυβέρνηση του Έντι Ράμα και η σημερινή ελληνική κυβέρνηση, φαίνεται πως θα βρουν λύση στο Δικαστήριο της Χάγης, μια διαδικασία που συνεχίζεται, αλλά όχι βέβαιη τελικά.

Μπερίσα, καμία αναγνώριση της ομογένειας της Χειμάρης, ενώ η σιωπή του για στρατηγικές επενδύσεις και ληστείες ακινήτων, δεν μιλάει.

Όπως παρατήρησα κατά τη διαδικασία Μπελέρι, ο Μπερίσα αρνήθηκε να αναγνωρίσει τους εθνικούς Έλληνες στη Χειμάρρα και σε κάποιο βαθμό εκφράζεται ως δίγλωσσος στη Χειμάρρα, αλλά ποτέ δεν κατέταξε την περιοχή της Χειμάρης που κατοικείται από Έλληνες και υποστήριξε τη διαδικασία ιδιοκτησίας, όντας ο πρώτος το 2013, που ευνόησε τη χορήγηση των Αλβανών ολιγαρχών της Χειμάρης. Ας μην ξεχνάμε ότι ο Μπερίσα δεν συμφώνησε ποτέ να επιστρέψει τα εδάφη της Χιμάρας στην κληρονομιά τους, όπως  ήταν φανατικός του νόμου 7501.

Ας θυμηθούμε ότι ο Μπερίσα επιτέθηκε στον Πρωθυπουργό Ράμα επειδή λήστεψε εκατοντάδες εκτάρια γης στην Γκιπέα και ξεχνά ότι το 2007 κατέστρεψε τα σπίτια των κατοίκων των Χιμαριών, επειδή ήθελε να επενδύσει στη Τζάλα, μια συμφωνία στην οποία συμμετείχε η Παγκόσμια Τράπεζα, 1 μίλι μακριά από τον κόλπο της Γκιπέα. Ποιο λοιπόν να πιστέψουμε, το σημερινό ναρκωτικό κράτος ή το ολοκληρωτικό του χθες;

Στο σωστό πλαίσιο, ο Μπερίσα χρειάζεται κοινή δράση με ΚΕΑΔ του Ντούλε και Μπελέρι, λόγω των προσωπικών τους συμφερόντων και καθόλου στη στρατηγική της Ελληνικής Κοινότητας Βοριο-Ηπειρωτών. Το παζάρι που προσφέρει συγκεκριμένα ο ευρωβουλευτής Μπελέρι με τον Μπερίσα, είναι τα συμφέροντα του άλλου που έχουν να κάνουν με τον Μπερίσα, όπως οι Νον Γκράτα και Μπελέρι για τη δικαστική διαδικασία που επηρεάζεται πολιτικά από τον Ράμα. Οπος εγλέπαμε χτες ένα παράδοξο στην Αθήνα, δύο συγκεντρωσες μια από τους βοριοεπιριώτες και αλί από Βερισα με αλβάνους μετανάστες,  και στο τέλος, τα μικρά πολιτικά συμφέροντα... 

Ένα τραπέζι Μπελέρι-Μπερίσα, θα ήταν απαραίτητο να δούμε τι πρόσφερε ο Μπερίσα στην Ελληνική Κοινότητα της Χειμάρης σε αντίθεση με τις ελευθερίες και τα δικαιώματα ιδιοκτησίας και αυτοδιάθεσης για τα οποία, ο Μπερίσα, συμφωνεί ότι η Ιταλία πρέπει να τσιμπήσει εδάφη στο Βορρά και για τους Χιμαριώτες σιωπά.

Κατά τη γνώμη μου, το ΚΕΑΔ και η Ομόνοια θα ωφεληθούν από τον Μπερίσα ότι θα είναι πρωθυπουργός, αν κερδίσει, μια υπουργική έδρα όπως πάντα στο παρελθόν αυτού του κόμματος, μια θέση στη Βουλή (Ευάγγελος Ντούλες) και στη Χιμάρα, ξεχαστεί για τα επόμενα 8 χρόνια, μέχρι να ελαχιστοποιηθεί ο πληθυσμός του.