February 25, 2021
Links International Journal of Socialist Renewal reposted from LeftEast This year the Turkish government’s campaign to stamp out dissent has broken new ground, but a new spirit of resistance is there to meet it, particularly at one of the country’s landmark public universities. In what follows, two participants in the oppositional student movement at Boğaziçi University in Istanbul tell us about their struggle against the imposition of a new rector aiming to put the university securely under the command of the ruling party.
Until recently, rectors at Turkish state universities were elected by their own faculty members. In two stages, the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government has put an end to that system. First the Higher Education Council (YÖK) decided that faculty members would submit a list of three candidates to the president of the republic, who would choose from among them; later, it decided that the president could choose anyone,
Feb 25 2021 08:20 Gmt+3
Last Updated On: Feb 25 2021 08:24 Gmt+3
Turkey unequivocally rejects any coup attempt in Armenia, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt told reporters on Thursday.
“We are absolutely against any and all coup attempts anywhere in the world,” state-run TRT World cited Çavuşoğlu as saying. “We strongly condemn this coup attempt in Armenia as well.”
While the people can call on government officials to resign, “a country’s military even calling for such a resignation is unacceptable, let alone enacting a coup,” he added.
Ömer Çelik, spokesman for the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), reiterated Turkey’s opposition to a military takeover in the neighbouring country. Çelik said:
2021-02-21 14:31:28 GMT2021-02-21 22:31:28(Beijing Time) Xinhua English
DAR ES SALAAM, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) Tanzanian President John Magufuli on Sunday urged the public to continue taking preventive measures against the COVID-19 pandemic as directed by health experts, including wearing face masks.
Speaking after he attended the Sunday church prayers in the capital Dodoma, Magufuli said the government has not prevented people from wearing masks as one of the preventive steps against the viral disease.
Meanwhile, a statement issued by the Directorate of Presidential Communications at State House, said the president encouraged the use of locally made face masks.
At the same time, the Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children, released a statement also urging people to continue taking precautions against the deadly disease.
Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar has urged the Catholic faithful to pray for the speedy recovery of Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma after contracting the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Published February 20, 2021, 1:23 PM
To show its commitment to the protection of human rights for all Filipinos, the Philippine government is pushing through its partnership with the United Nations for strengthening the UN Joint Program (UNJP) on Human Rights, the first-ever between the UN and a member-state.
Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar (PCOO / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
In a statement, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said on Saturday that “the government is pleased with the steady progress in the work of the UNJP.”
“The shape and substance of UNJP have become clearer over the last months – notwithstanding the constraints of public health measures – through the active and inclusive collaboration between and among government agencies, the UN Resident Coordinator (UNRC), the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and relevant civil society organizations,” he stressed.