The question of cyber-security, now cleared of its « glamorous-geek » panache, makes a significant return in the international political agenda. After a decade of hesitations and partial initiatives, decision-makers finally admit the necessity of putting in a global strategy of cyber-defence. If the United States opened the ball in 2012 with their Cyber Security Act project, Europe is catching up. After having announced in February their decision to forge a European strategy regarding...

Artur Mas, president of Generalitat de Catalunya, went to Paris on June 3rd, 2013 to sign a new cooperation agreement with UNESCO. This new agreement gives Catalonia new competences within the organization and will enable the regional government of Catalonia to send its own representatives to UNESCO, separately from the Spanish delegation.

Venice Beach is a stomping ground for skateboarders. It is an eccentric seaside resort, and the district of Los Angeles in Southern California. Venice is also the cradle of an underground culture which is now known worldwide. It is the journey in the heart of a seaside resort that has given the world some pioneering personalities. The most striking thing you notice when wandering around the streets surrounding the beach is the singular atmosphere. Venice is a quiet island right in the middle of...

The wave of this spring’s mass protests keeps going in the South-East Europe. Only few weeks after the rise of the Taksim square protests in Istanbul, it is Athens’ turn to be shaken by disappointed citizens. On Tuesday’s afternoon, while tourists came to enjoy the sun and the Greek beaches, lazing about on their sun beds, sipping some “freddo cappuccino” (frozen cinnamon cappuccino), tension is rising in Aghia Paraskevi –a North-East Athens’ suburb-  in the Greek public broadcaster’s...

A recent study conducted by the Guardian shows that students from London and South-East England are over represented in the two prestigious universities that British people call “Oxbridge”. According to Dan Hully, alumnus of Durham University, coming from a state school can represent an obstacle. Whether you come from the North or the South of the United Kingdom, your chances to enter the best universities are not the same. The two most prestigious schools, Oxford and Cambridge, are clearly...

The Israeli Embassy boycotts the visit of Israel‘s Prime Minister in Poland. The information comes from Israeli media which found out that the visit was organized by the military attaché in Warsaw, Poland and the Security agency Shin Bet. However, nobody officially confirmed the information. As a result, the statement -which was supposed to be signed by the Prime Minister of Poland and Israel- caused controversy before Benjamin Netanjahu started the visit. The confusion is a result of the...

Scotland is on its way to independence. The SNP, a devolutionist party in power in the Parliament, thinks that Scotland would be an economically viable option thanks to oil and gas concentration in the the North Sea. However, opinion polls referring to september of 2014's referendum are not in favor of the independence of one of the Highlands' countries.

To be or not to be a member of the European Union? That is the question that could be asked to British citizens if the conservative party of Prime Minister David Cameron is re-elected in 2015. Let’s take a look at the facts. In January 2013, Prime Minister David Cameron announced to the British population and to the rest of the world that he promises a referendum in 2017 on the United Kingdom’s membership in the European Union if the party is re-elected in the 2015 general election. The...

The mayor of Moscow, Sergey Sobyanin, announced his resignation on Tuesday, June 4th. Unsurprisingly, President Putin accepted it. This resignation is pretty much paradoxical as Putin himself will serve as “Acting Mayor”. So, is this a conspiracy or a carefully orchestrated strategy? Sergey Sobyanin, 54, Vladimir Putin’s former principal private secretary, decided to quit his job as mayor of Moscow for a better coming back. His resignation was accepted on the evening of Tuesday 4th June by the...

Between April 27 and 29 1993, the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the People’s Republic of China (China mainland) met in Singapore for the “Koo-Wang meeting”, three days of official bilateral negotiation over the “One China” dispute. 20 years after the talks, where are the negotiations heading between the two Chinas? Both the People’s Republic of China and Taiwan (or the Republic of China) claim to represent China to this day – thereby laying claim to each other’s territory. At the 20th...