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Technology is also shaping many of our background assumptions or perceptions, and this in turn can shape our understanding of and attitude towards risks. We live in a world defined by both the accelerating pace of technological change and the uncertainty this speeding up causes. Anecdotally, at least, more and more of us feel that we are running to stand still – just about keeping pace with some technological developments that affect us but largely oblivious of many others and unsure of how they all fit together.

Do you understand the risks of technological progress?

By: EBR | Thursday, March 23, 2017

Any change can be unsettling, but changes as profound as those being unleashed by the current phase of technological development – known as the Fourth Industrial Revolution – are prone to be particularly destabilizing

These are what the THE calls powerhouse institutions, universities whose research output is exceptional, but in many cases hasn’t been reflected in their reputation scores. Make no mistake: these universities are good at what they do, and if they continue to perform well, their reputations will grow and grow.

These universities are poised to overtake Harvard and Cambridge

By: EBR | Friday, March 17, 2017

The most illustrious universities in the world have been the same for decades. Centuries even

So, this ambitious Earth Observation programme involves 60 companies across 20 European countries plus Canada and the USA, led by Airbus Defence and Space as the prime contractor company. And that’s not all. In a statement NASA said, “given the similar mission concept of the US Landsat Data Continuity Mission (LDCM), ESA and NASA entered into a collaborative agreement… The Sentinel-2 constellation also provides great opportunities for fusion with Landsat 8 and the Landsat constellation, and US researchers look forward to continuing work with European colleagues on characterizing both sensing systems.”

Space: Still an important Matter of National Prestige?

By: EBR | Wednesday, March 15, 2017

During the Cold War, space technology and manned space missions were seen as a matter of national prestige

On Sunday, Erdoğan claimed that “Nazism is still widespread in the West” in what Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said were inflammatory remarks. “We ended up in a totally unprecedented situation in which a NATO ally… with whom we have historic ties, strong trade relations, is acting in a totally unacceptable, irresponsible manner,” Rutter told reporters. Rather than the Netherlands apologising for refusing the Turkish ministers entry, Turkey’s president should apologise for comparing the Netherlands to fascists and Nazis, he said. The row risked spreading on Sunday as Denmark’s Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen proposed postponing a planned visit by Yıldırım this month due to the dispute.

Erdogan pledges to punish ‘Nazi remnant’ Netherlands ‘in harshest way’

By: EBR | Tuesday, March 14, 2017

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called the Netherlands a ‘Nazi remnant’ and said the country should face sanctions for barring Turkish ministers from speaking in Rotterdam, fuelling a row over Ankara’s political campaigning abroad

In addition, Erdogan seeks a constitutional amendment to overturn the presidency’s traditionally nonpartisan status, which would allow him to claim official leadership over the AKP. He no doubt hopes to avoid the fate that befell two past leaders, Turgut Ozal and Suleyman Demirel, who also aimed for the presidency and abandoned their powerful parties only to see them implode in subsequent parliamentary elections.

Why Erdogan is on a Nationalist Path

By: EBR | Monday, March 13, 2017

Erdogan' s embrace of nationalist rhetoric and actions could have important repercussions on Turkish foreign policy

As the U.N. learns to draw legitimacy from the people, it should involve those very same people in implementing the agenda they help to define. The network of global institutions needs to find a way to raise funds from actors other than nation states. That will help create more accountability in the system and foster greater inclusivity. When Warren Buffett “signed papers that give $31 billion to the Gates Foundation,” did it cross his mind that the U.N. could deploy those resources to advance public interest as well, if not better? If the answer is no, it’s time for a serious self-evaluation. By attracting funders other than Nation States, be it major gifts from philanthropists and corporations or micro-contributions from general public, the U.N. will not just secure financial resources – it will gain stakeholders vested in its success.

3 ways to reboot globalization

By: EBR | Friday, March 3, 2017

Last week, Mark Zuckerberg announced “Facebook's plan to bring the global community together

This dramatic decline is primarily down to the US having been demoted to a “flawed democracy,” in the classification of the EIU - as a result of low public confidence in the government. The report stresses that this was strongly in evidence prior to the presidential election that saw Donald Trump become president. Similar trends were also in evidence in many other developed economies.

Which are the world’s strongest democracies?

By: EBR | Friday, March 3, 2017

Democracy is in decline

Kazahstan has a great chance to shine globally in 2017 by its Expo on Future Energy, the Winter Universiade and other initiatives. As mentioned in the ”100 concrete steps”, the infrastructure build in the context of Astana 2017 will lay the ground for a larger build-up: Astana International Financial Center. For all these ambitious plans to succeed, Kazakh leaders need to build a multicultural alliance of passionate nationals and enthusiastic foreign friends who want to see Kazahstan succeed in all traits of international leadership: in terms of will, values, vision, success anchored in 21st century’s needs. Kazahstan no longer needs the Singapore model, it is shaping its own.

Kazahstan reforms: ambition and vision beyond the Singapore model

By: EBR | Wednesday, March 1, 2017

There is no such thing as a perfect country or perfect political leadership: they all have their faults. So, it's important to focus on qualities, vision and the ambition to carry that vision forward despite setbacks of all kinds

The communists are keeping the globalization faith; but the capitalists seem to have lost theirs. This is bizarre – and entirely out of sync with past performance and current facts. We have every reason to be confident in a process that has delivered more prosperity to more people than anyone could have dreamed of just a few decades ago. We must not be shy in defending globalization and combating reactionary nostalgia.

Carl Bildt: In defence of globalization

By: EBR | Friday, February 24, 2017

I must confess that I am a firm believer in the benefits of globalization. To my mind, the gradual interlinking of regions, countries, and people is the most profoundly positive development of our time

While taking an individual approach to extending and saving lives is effective, think about what a dramatic impact we can make by casting a bigger net and creating a culture of health. This means designing infrastructures so “the healthy choice is the easy choice”. For instance, nations can prioritize creating or maintaining safe spaces for exercise, low-cost options to purchase healthy foods, and clean-air laws that protect people from the dangers of secondhand smoke. It doesn’t even have to be an entire nation. It could happen in a company or in a neighbourhood. Every little bit helps.

How can we create a healthier world?

By: EBR | Friday, February 17, 2017

No matter who you are or where you are from, your health is sacred. It’s the ultimate key as it opens the door to all else in our lives

Like Obama, we all are eager to see how Trump’s approach plays out. If a deal is made, then Trump, in his words, ”will like the one that both parties like.” No deal, and Trump, who fears being a loser more than he cares about Israel, will wash his hands of the Middle East and leave the parties to do whatever they like.

Israel - Palestine: will Trump succeed, where Obama failed?

By: EBR | Friday, February 17, 2017

In his last press conference before leaving office, President Obama reiterated his support for a two-state solution as the most viable way to settle the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Europe’s history and experience make it imperative that it uses its influence to prevent the rise – both at home and abroad – of unwise nationalisms, destructive conflicts and confrontation.

Europe-Asia relations become a priority in the age of Trump

By: EBR | Thursday, February 16, 2017

Asian governments are still trying to make sense of Donald Trump’s unpredictable approach to their region

President Trump announced in the mean time to go to Brussels NATO summit in May, when he will officially open the new build NATO headquarters. He discussed with NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg ’how to encourage all NATO members to meet their defence spending commitments’ and the potential for a peaceful resolution of the conflict along the Ukrainian border, according to the White House. During his campaign, Trump set off alarm bells in Europe suggesting that he might set conditions for defending members of the alliance under attack. Trump told the New York Times last July that the United States was shouldering too much of the cost for the security alliance.

Is unconventional international politics the new way of America?

By: EBR | Monday, February 13, 2017

President Donald Trump has already spoken twice with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe

Like Erdogan, the Chinese leadership certainly has a strong penchant for authoritarianism. Both countries’ leadership are actively dismantling whatever degree of media freedom used to exist previously.

How Turkey and China undermine their future prosperity

By: EBR | Wednesday, February 8, 2017

Ruling by oppression stunts human development and significantly reduces an economy’s ability to advance

Taiwan and the world have changed since 1979. Taiwan, with only 23 million inhabitants, has become a prosperous and democratic polity integrated in the world economy. Its economy is the 5th largest in Asia, the 22nd largest in the world and is a full member of the Word Trade Organisation. Taiwan has developed its own democratic tradition rules right under China’s nose.

The phone call from Taiwan that shook the world

By: N. Peter Kramer | Monday, February 6, 2017

The world has to get used to a US President breaking the rules of diplomatic convention.

Having open access to space-derived data is a good example of how countries can benefit from space activities. This kind of accessible and transparent data contributes to equal distribution of opportunities, broadens economic gain, fosters research and innovation, and supports decision-making processes. The global challenges the world faces today, from the impact of climate change to the fair distribution of food resources, can only be collectively addressed if there is open and fair access to data. In this sense, access to space-based data can contribute directly to sustainable development.

To Space2030 and beyond: space as a driver for sustainable development

By: EBR | Wednesday, February 1, 2017

Space activities are a crucial part of our everyday lives: they influence and enable many of the things we do and take for granted, be it using a mobile phone or checking the weather forecast, or the things we need urgently and reliably, such as disaster relief

If anybody can make the difference, if anybody can face up to these tremendous challenges, it is António Guterres. He fights for values, has strategic insight and has an abundance of political courage. Given the transparent process to which he was submitted, he has legitimacy and responsibility.

The new UN chief is an ambassador of hope

By: EBR | Monday, January 30, 2017

Hope, when so many despair, has been rekindled by the choice of António Guterres as the United Nations’ new Secretary-General. Hope in a reinforced UN that is more efficient and able to intervene against whoever wages war

Technology can create, inform and drive global change. The social sector can use it to find and connect with more people who need their services, understand their communities on a deeper level, predict outcomes to make them better prepared and possibly prevent certain situations, and even measure the impact they’re making against their cause.

Five ways the Fourth Industrial Revolution will transform NGOs

By: EBR | Thursday, January 26, 2017

The Fourth Industrial Revolution will arguably become the most disruptive and transformative shift in history, and it's happening at a rapid pace

Clear dialogue and strong partnership between governments, international organisations and the private sector is the only way to allow modern advances to facilitate “fantastic increase in the well-being of people” and prevent them from turning into “a nightmare for mankind.”

Guterres: Businesses “best allies” to fight climate change & poverty

By: EBR | Tuesday, January 24, 2017

Addressing the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called for a new generation of partnerships with the business community to reduce the effects of climate change and combat poverty.

Considering the growing commercialisation of space exploration, EU leaders now have the chance to inspire and support a new form of CSR that will lead to responsible behaviour in space.

Min(d)ing the Asteroids

By: EBR | Monday, January 23, 2017

As it is part of the human nature to explore, space exploration is undoubtedly a human internal need that is constantly keeping active the human beings in a vast range of sectors

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EU Actually

Russia and China warn the EU about Euroclear billions

By: N. Peter Kramer

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin went on a working visit to Cina. After a meeting with his Chinese colleague Li Qiang in the city of Hangzhou, an extensive press release was published yesterday.

Europe

Can the EU Meet the Trump Moment?

The second term of U.S. President Donald Trump is pushing Europeans to strengthen their capacity for collective action. But their biggest challenge comes from within: U.S.-backed radical-right parties that want to weaken the EU.

Business

China to loosen chip export ban to Europe after Netherlands row

Beijing has said it will loosen a chip export ban it imposed after Dutch authorities took over Nexperia, a Chinese-owned chipmaker based in the Netherlands.