Latest news with #SorbonneUniversity
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
What would a French nuclear umbrella mean for Europe?
The story so far: On May 14, French President Emmanuel Macron stated that France is 'open to dialogue' on potentially stationing its nuclear weapons in other European countries. This development occurred amid security concerns in Europe due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. What lies behind France's offer? France's consideration of a broader European role for its nuclear deterrent aligns with its 'European strategic autonomy' policy, which aims to enhance the EU's capacity to act independently in security and defence matters. President Macron's Sorbonne University speech emphasised Europe's need to bolster its defence capabilities, in order to be a more 'sovereign Europe.' Moreover, U.S. President Donald Trump has questioned unconditional U.S. security guarantees to NATO allies, linking support to the 2% GDP defence spending target for security guarantees, prompting European nations to seek additional security assurances. Historically, France has fiercely guarded the independence of its nuclear deterrent, viewing it as a strictly national tool. This openness, thus, signifies an evolution in its strategic thinking. What is the nuclear sharing model? 'Nuclear sharing' involves a nuclear-weapon state stationing nuclear weapons on allied non-nuclear-weapon states' territory, with specific arrangements for potential use. Within NATO, the U.S. has maintained such arrangements for decades. Currently, U.S. B61 tactical nuclear gravity bombs are understood to be deployed in five NATO states: Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Turkiye. Under these arrangements, the U.S. retains legal ownership and custody of the warheads. The U.S. President also retains the power to make the decision to use these weapons, following NATO consultation. This Cold War-era posture aims to demonstrate alliance solidarity, and share nuclear risks. Does France have enough weapons? France's arsenal is around 290 nuclear warheads, deliverable by submarine-launched ballistic missiles and air-launched cruise missiles via Rafale jets. A 2023 Centre for Strategic and International Studies report analysed that extending France's nuclear deterrent by basing warheads abroad would pose logistical and doctrinal challenges with its current arsenal size, suggesting that an increase in warheads might be needed for credible extended deterrence. Such deployments would require stationing French Air Force units, including Rafales and support infrastructure, abroad. Establishing secure command and control systems in a multinational setting would be complex. Would it strengthen deterrence? Deploying additional nuclear weapons in Europe has varied security implications. Proponents argue it could enhance deterrence against Russia by increasing NATO's nuclear assets and demonstrating European resolve. Conversely, Russia would likely view such deployments as a significant escalation, potentially leading to 'military-technical measures' in response. Russian officials have repeatedly warned against NATO's eastward military expansion. Russia's 2023 stationing of tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus is cited by some as a preceding escalatory step. Is it legal under international law? The 1968 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) is the primary legal instrument for regulating nuclear weapons. Article I of the treaty prohibits nuclear-weapon states (like France) from transferring nuclear weapons or control over them. Existing NATO nuclear sharing is justified by participants as being NPT-compliant because no 'transfer' of legal ownership or control occurs in peacetime; the U.S. maintains custody. Non-proliferation advocates and various research institutions have consistently challenged this legality.
Zawya
27-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi and Burjeel Holdings forge partnership
The partnership aims to equip the new generation of healthcare professionals with industry knowledge through training programs, knowledge exchange, and advisory services The collaboration aims to enhance healthcare education, professional training, and research capabilities, preparing the next generation of healthcare leaders Abu Dhabi, UAE: Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi (SUAD), the French Emirati university recognized as one of the premier institutions for higher education in the Middle East, and Burjeel Holdings, a leading provider of super-specialty healthcare services in the MENA region, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to drive innovation and progress in medical education, research, and professional training. This partnership is designed to create significant advancements in the healthcare sector by offering a range of initiatives that bridge academia and clinical practice through joint research, training programs, and shared educational resources. The MoU was formally signed on May 23rd by Professor Nathalie Martial-Braz, Chancellor of Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, and Mr. John Sunil, Group CEO of Burjeel Holdings, in the presence of senior representatives from both parties, at Burjeel Headquarters. Through this collaboration, both institutions are committed to fostering academic excellence and enhancing professional development. The partnership will provide students with industry-relevant knowledge through specialized training programs, hands-on knowledge exchange, and advisory services. On the research front, both institutions will collaborate on pioneering studies and host workshops on research methodology, facilitated by Burjeel's experts, to deepen students' research skills and scientific inquiry. 'At Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, we are committed to developing future healthcare leaders through strong academic training, research, and industry collaboration. We are pleased to partner with Burjeel Holdings to bring real-world clinical insights into our learning environment and to advance joint research that supports the UAE's advancing healthcare sector. Together, we're preparing professionals equipped not only with advanced skills, but also with the mindset to think critically and respond to the evolving challenges of global healthcare.' said Professor Nathalie Martial-Braz, Chancellor of Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi. In addition to advancing knowledge exchange and offering shared access to world-class resources, the collaboration also includes student placements. It also covers the organization of educational events, conferences, and awareness programs to promote continuous learning and professional growth in the healthcare field. 'Our partnership with Sorbonne University highlights our commitment to advancing medical education and research. Insights from our global experts will help growing healthcare professionals understand the nuances of the healthcare industry and equip them with the skills required to excel in the field,' said Dr. Tahani Al-Qadiri, Group Director – Emiratization and Academics at Burjeel Holdings. This collaboration marks an exciting new chapter for Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi and Burjeel Holdings, as both institutions work together to shape the future of healthcare through academic excellence, advanced training, and innovative research. (ENDS) About Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi (SUAD) Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi was established in May 2006 under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al Nahyan, and is licensed by the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK). The French Emirati university draws on 760 years of academic excellence from the prestigious Sorbonne University in Paris. Featuring a state-of-the-art campus that spans 93,000 square metres and located on Al Reem Island, the university provides an inspiring and enriching environment for both students and faculty. Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi adheres to the French education system, with degrees awarded by Sorbonne Université and Université Paris Cité. SUAD programmes are evaluated by the Higher Council for the Evaluation of Research and Higher Education (HCERES) and accredited by the Ministère de l'Enseignement Supérieur, de la Recherche et de l'Innovation (MESR) in France. Furthermore, all programmes are accredited by the Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA). To date, more than 2800 students from more than 90 different nationalities have graduated from Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi. Sorbonne Université is ranked among the top 50 universities in the world, holding 41st position in the Shanghai ranking, 4th position for mathematics and 17th for physics in the same ranking. Its law programmes are ranked 19th by the Young University ranking. The School of Arts and Humanities at Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi is recognized as the 1st Humanities Education University by the Forbes Middle East Higher Education Awards 2019. For more information about Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi: About Burjeel Holdings Founded in 2007, Burjeel Holdings is a leading super-specialty healthcare services provider in the UAE and Oman, and it operates a growing specialized healthcare segment in Saudi Arabia. The Group operates an integrated and multi-brand healthcare ecosystem across primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary medical care, ensuring complex care delivery to patients across all socioeconomic groups. Its network comprises 110 assets across the UAE, Oman, and Saudi Arabia, including 20 hospitals, 36 medical centers, 29 physiotherapy and wellness centers, 15 pharmacies, and other allied services. Burjeel Holdings' brands include Burjeel, Medeor, LLH, Lifecare, PhysioTherabia and Tajmeel.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Who is Nicusor Dan, the pro-EU centrist who beat a nationalist in Romania's tense presidential race?
BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Nicusor Dan, the former civic activist and pro-European Union centrist politician who defied the odds to decisively defeat a hard-right nationalist in Romania's critical presidential race, has emerged as a counterforce to the right-wing populist wave sweeping across Europe. Final results from the presidential race showed Dan, the mayor of Bucharest, winning 53.6% of the vote over the hard-right candidate George Simion, who had been considered the favorite in the run-off, boosted in the first round by his nationalist messaging. Sunday's final vote was held months after the annulment of the previous election plunged Romania into its worst political crisis in decades, following the surprise first-round success of far-right outsider Calin Georgescu. In an emotional speech after he secured the presidency, Dan told thousands of supporters gathered outside his headquarters near Bucharest City Hall that 'Romania begins a new chapter, and it needs every one of you.' 'It needs experts to get involved in various public policies, it needs people in civil society, it needs new people in politics,' the 55-year-old said. 'We have a Romania to build together, regardless of political choices.' Who is Nicusor Dan? Born in 1969 in Romania's central town of Fagaras, Dan discovered 'a passion' for mathematics in middle school and excelled academically. In the late 1980s, he won gold medals at the International Mathematics Olympiad, and in 1998 he obtained a doctorate in mathematics from Paris' prestigious Sorbonne University. In the late 90s, he returned to Romania, saying he was convinced his country needed him. 'I started organizing meetings with Romanian students in Paris in which we discussed what we could do to ensure that Romania took the right path as a country,' he states on his official website. He then worked as a mathematics researcher at the Romanian Academy, the country's supreme scientific body, and later founded a school in Bucharest to meet the needs of Romanian students at an international level. Dan first rose to public prominence as a civil activist with his Save Bucharest Association. That was tasked with saving built heritage and fighting against illegal real estate projects in green spaces, in a system he described as a 'real estate mafia.' He won hundreds of lawsuits. He has two children with his partner, and is fluent in English and French. What does Dan stand for? More than a decade ago, Dan joined a protest movement against a controversial gold mining project by a Canadian company in a mountainous western region of Romania that contains some of Europe's largest gold deposits. He also joined a wave of anti-corruption protests that gripped Romania through the mid-2010s. In 2016, he then founded the reformist Save Romania Union party — at the time largely viewed as an anti-corruption party — but later left. In 2020, he successfully secured the mayorship of Bucharest and was elected for a second term last year. He has tackled some key infrastructure projects, such as modernizing Bucharest's ailing residential heating systems, which previous mayors have been accused of neglecting. In the presidential election rerun, Dan ran independently on an 'Honest Romania' ticket, reaffirming Western ties, support for Ukraine, and fiscal reform. He has also been vocal against endemic corruption and promised fiscal reforms. Romania's chaotic election cycle has exposed deep societal divisions, and Dan reached out in his speech Sunday evening to those who favored Simion. 'We have a Romania to build together, regardless of political choices,' he said. After Dan is sworn in as president, he will face the challenge of nominating a prime minister who can garner the support necessary to form a government, no small task in a country whose political landscape is now fragmented. Does he have the right experience? As winner of Sunday's race, Dan will be charged with nominating a new prime minister after Marcel Ciolacu stepped down following the failure of his coalition's candidate to advance to the runoff. The presidential role carries a five-year term and significant decision-making powers in national security and foreign policy. Many observers saw Sunday's vote as crucial to maintaining Romania's place within Western alliances, especially as the war continues in neighboring Ukraine and the continent scrambles to arm itself as the United States' commitment to European partners has waned under US President Donald Trump. While Dan is a staunch advocate for Romania's strong membership of the EU and NATO, his civic and political background means he has limited foreign policy experience. Claudiu Tufis, an associate professor of political science at the University of Bucharest, says what makes Dan unique in Romania is that he's 'not taken the traditional route to being a politician, he's coming from the civil society.' 'There are certain advantages, but there are also certain disadvantages,' he told The Associated Press. 'He doesn't really have any foreign affairs experience. I am not sure that he actually paid a lot of interest to what was happening outside Romania.' 'What I know for sure is that … even though he may not be the best, he's probably the best of what we had in front of us.'
19-05-2025
- Politics
Who is Nicusor Dan, the pro-EU centrist who beat a nationalist in Romania's tense presidential race?
BUCHAREST, Romania -- Nicusor Dan, the former civic activist and pro-European Union centrist politician who defied the odds to decisively defeat a hard-right nationalist in Romania's critical presidential race, has emerged as a counterforce to the right-wing populist wave sweeping across Europe. Final results from the presidential race showed Dan, the mayor of Bucharest, winning 53.6% of the vote over the hard-right candidate George Simion, who had been considered the favorite in the run-off, boosted in the first round by his nationalist messaging. Sunday's final vote was held months after the annulment of the previous election plunged Romania into its worst political crisis in decades, following the surprise first-round success of far-right outsider Calin Georgescu. In an emotional speech after he secured the presidency, Dan told thousands of supporters gathered outside his headquarters near Bucharest City Hall that 'Romania begins a new chapter, and it needs every one of you.' 'It needs experts to get involved in various public policies, it needs people in civil society, it needs new people in politics,' the 55-year-old said. 'We have a Romania to build together, regardless of political choices.' Born in 1969 in Romania's central town of Fagaras, Dan discovered 'a passion' for mathematics in middle school and excelled academically. In the late 1980s, he won gold medals at the International Mathematics Olympiad, and in 1998 he obtained a doctorate in mathematics from Paris' prestigious Sorbonne University. In the late 90s, he returned to Romania, saying he was convinced his country needed him. 'I started organizing meetings with Romanian students in Paris in which we discussed what we could do to ensure that Romania took the right path as a country,' he states on his official website. He then worked as a mathematics researcher at the Romanian Academy, the country's supreme scientific body, and later founded a school in Bucharest to meet the needs of Romanian students at an international level. Dan first rose to public prominence as a civil activist with his Save Bucharest Association. That was tasked with saving built heritage and fighting against illegal real estate projects in green spaces, in a system he described as a 'real estate mafia.' He won hundreds of lawsuits. He has two children with his partner, and is fluent in English and French. More than a decade ago, Dan joined a protest movement against a controversial gold mining project by a Canadian company in a mountainous western region of Romania that contains some of Europe's largest gold deposits. He also joined a wave of anti-corruption protests that gripped Romania through the mid-2010s. In 2016, he then founded the reformist Save Romania Union party — at the time largely viewed as an anti-corruption party — but later left. In 2020, he successfully secured the mayorship of Bucharest and was elected for a second term last year. He has tackled some key infrastructure projects, such as modernizing Bucharest's ailing residential heating systems, which previous mayors have been accused of neglecting. In the presidential election rerun, Dan ran independently on an 'Honest Romania' ticket, reaffirming Western ties, support for Ukraine, and fiscal reform. He has also been vocal against endemic corruption and promised fiscal reforms. Romania's chaotic election cycle has exposed deep societal divisions, and Dan reached out in his speech Sunday evening to those who favored Simion. 'We have a Romania to build together, regardless of political choices,' he said. After Dan is sworn in as president, he will face the challenge of nominating a prime minister who can garner the support necessary to form a government, no small task in a country whose political landscape is now fragmented. As winner of Sunday's race, Dan will be charged with nominating a new prime minister after Marcel Ciolacu stepped down following the failure of his coalition's candidate to advance to the runoff. The presidential role carries a five-year term and significant decision-making powers in national security and foreign policy. Many observers saw Sunday's vote as crucial to maintaining Romania's place within Western alliances, especially as the war continues in neighboring Ukraine and the continent scrambles to arm itself as the United States' commitment to European partners has waned under US President Donald Trump. While Dan is a staunch advocate for Romania's strong membership of the EU and NATO, his civic and political background means he has limited foreign policy experience. Claudiu Tufis, an associate professor of political science at the University of Bucharest, says what makes Dan unique in Romania is that he's 'not taken the traditional route to being a politician, he's coming from the civil society.' 'There are certain advantages, but there are also certain disadvantages,' he told The Associated Press. 'He doesn't really have any foreign affairs experience. I am not sure that he actually paid a lot of interest to what was happening outside Romania.' 'What I know for sure is that … even though he may not be the best, he's probably the best of what we had in front of us.'
Hamilton Spectator
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Who is Nicusor Dan, the pro-EU centrist who beat a nationalist in Romania's tense presidential race?
BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Nicusor Dan, the former civic activist and pro-European Union centrist politician who defied the odds to decisively defeat a hard-right nationalist in Romania's critical presidential race, has emerged as a counterforce to the right-wing populist wave sweeping across Europe. Final results from the presidential race showed Dan, the mayor of Bucharest, winning 53.6% of the vote over the hard-right candidate George Simion , who had been considered the favorite in the run-off, boosted in the first round by his nationalist messaging. Sunday's final vote was held months after the annulment of the previous election plunged Romania into its worst political crisis in decades, following the surprise first-round success of far-right outsider Calin Georgescu . In an emotional speech after he secured the presidency, Dan told thousands of supporters gathered outside his headquarters near Bucharest City Hall that 'Romania begins a new chapter, and it needs every one of you.' 'It needs experts to get involved in various public policies, it needs people in civil society, it needs new people in politics,' the 55-year-old said. 'We have a Romania to build together, regardless of political choices.' Who is Nicusor Dan? Born in 1969 in Romania's central town of Fagaras, Dan discovered 'a passion' for mathematics in middle school and excelled academically. In the late 1980s, he won gold medals at the International Mathematics Olympiad, and in 1998 he obtained a doctorate in mathematics from Paris' prestigious Sorbonne University. In the late 90s, he returned to Romania, saying he was convinced his country needed him. 'I started organizing meetings with Romanian students in Paris in which we discussed what we could do to ensure that Romania took the right path as a country,' he states on his official website. He then worked as a mathematics researcher at the Romanian Academy, the country's supreme scientific body, and later founded a school in Bucharest to meet the needs of Romanian students at an international level. Dan first rose to public prominence as a civil activist with his Save Bucharest Association. That was tasked with saving built heritage and fighting against illegal real estate projects in green spaces, in a system he described as a 'real estate mafia.' He won hundreds of lawsuits. He has two children with his partner, and is fluent in English and French. What does Dan stand for? More than a decade ago, Dan joined a protest movement against a controversial gold mining project by a Canadian company in a mountainous western region of Romania that contains some of Europe's largest gold deposits. He also joined a wave of anti-corruption protests that gripped Romania through the mid-2010s. In 2016, he then founded the reformist Save Romania Union party — at the time largely viewed as an anti-corruption party — but later left. In 2020, he successfully secured the mayorship of Bucharest and was elected for a second term last year. He has tackled some key infrastructure projects, such as modernizing Bucharest's ailing residential heating systems, which previous mayors have been accused of neglecting. In the presidential election rerun, Dan ran independently on an 'Honest Romania' ticket, reaffirming Western ties, support for Ukraine, and fiscal reform. He has also been vocal against endemic corruption and promised fiscal reforms. Romania's chaotic election cycle has exposed deep societal divisions, and Dan reached out in his speech Sunday evening to those who favored Simion. 'We have a Romania to build together, regardless of political choices,' he said. After Dan is sworn in as president, he will face the challenge of nominating a prime minister who can garner the support necessary to form a government, no small task in a country whose political landscape is now fragmented. Does he have the right experience? As winner of Sunday's race, Dan will be charged with nominating a new prime minister after Marcel Ciolacu stepped down following the failure of his coalition's candidate to advance to the runoff . The presidential role carries a five-year term and significant decision-making powers in national security and foreign policy. Many observers saw Sunday's vote as crucial to maintaining Romania's place within Western alliances, especially as the war continues in neighboring Ukraine and the continent scrambles to arm itself as the United States' commitment to European partners has waned under US President Donald Trump. While Dan is a staunch advocate for Romania's strong membership of the EU and NATO, his civic and political background means he has limited foreign policy experience. Claudiu Tufis, an associate professor of political science at the University of Bucharest, says what makes Dan unique in Romania is that he's 'not taken the traditional route to being a politician, he's coming from the civil society.' 'There are certain advantages, but there are also certain disadvantages,' he told The Associated Press. 'He doesn't really have any foreign affairs experience. I am not sure that he actually paid a lot of interest to what was happening outside Romania.' 'What I know for sure is that … even though he may not be the best, he's probably the best of what we had in front of us.'
