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PUP students want resumption of classes moved to January 8
Students on all campuses of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines are asking the PUP administration to move the resumption of classes to Jan. 8, citing transportation difficulties and overwhelming academic workload......»»
Celebrated Syrian author Khaled Khalifa dead at 59
Syrian writer and veteran government critic Khaled Khalifa has died of cardiac arrest at the age of 59 at his home in Damascus, a close friend told AFP. Khalifa, who hailed from Maryamin in northwestern Aleppo province, was celebrated for his novels, television screenplays, and newspaper columns, and honored with several of the Arab world's top literary awards. He "died in his home alone in Damascus" on Saturday, said journalist Yaroub Aleesa, who had spent time with the author during his final days. "We called him repeatedly and he didn't respond. When we went to his home, we found him dead on the sofa." Doctors at the Abbassiyyin Hospital in Damascus said the cause of death was a heart attack. Khalifa gained fame as a writer of several popular Syrian TV series in the early 1990s. He was known as a staunch opponent of the ruling Baath party and his columns criticizing the authorities. But despite his well-known stance, he chose to remain in the country after the 2011 civil war broke out with the repression of protests against the government. "I am staying because this is my country," he said in a 2019 interview. "I was born here, I live here and I want to die here!" His 2006 novel "In Praise of Hatred" was shortlisted for the International Prize for Arab Fiction -- often dubbed the Arab Booker Prize -- and was translated into six languages. The novel recounts the story of a young Syrian woman from Aleppo who escapes her sequestered life by joining a jihadist organization. In 2013, his novel "No Knives in the Kitchens of this City" won the Naguib Mahfouz Literature Prize, Egypt's top accolade for writers. It focuses on the lives of Syrians under the rule of the Baath party headed by President Bashar al-Assad. The writer's death sparked a wave of condolences on social media from fellow writers and members of Syria's exiled opposition. "Goodbye, you kind man," wrote Syrian writer and academic Salam Kawakibi. Khalifa was expected to be buried later on Sunday in Damascus, though details of the funeral had yet to be disclosed. The post Celebrated Syrian author Khaled Khalifa dead at 59 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Total lawfare’: Ukraine’s other front in the war
On 26 February 2022, while Russian tanks were barrelling towards Kyiv, Ukrainian lawyers were fighting on a different front, submitting a case against Moscow at the International Court of Justice. The gilded halls of the Peace Palace in The Hague, where the court sits, are a world away from the trenches of Donbas but Ukraine believes its legal attacks on Russia are a critical part of the fight. What cases are open in Ukraine's campaign of all-out "lawfare" against Moscow and, with little chance of Russian compliance, what's the point? Where are the legal front lines? The Hague, Strasbourg, and Hamburg. Ukraine has dragged Russia before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which rules on disputes between nations, arguing that President Vladimir Putin abused the UN Genocide Convention when he used an alleged "genocide" in eastern Ukraine as a pretext for invasion. The final arguments in this case will be heard later Wednesday. Also in The Hague, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant for Putin, accusing him of unlawfully deporting Ukrainian children, a war crime. Neither of these courts, however, can try Russian leaders, including Putin, for the crime of "aggression", defined as an attack on one state by another in breach of the UN charter. So a special group of prosecutors from Ukraine, the EU, the United States, and the ICC has been set up in The Hague with a view to establishing a special tribunal to bring senior Russians to trial. Ukraine also has cases open at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg over alleged Russian human rights abuses. Finally, Ukraine also brought cases to the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague and the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea in Hamburg over what it says is Russia's disregard for international maritime law. Will Russia comply? It seems unlikely that Russia would comply with any ruling from an international court -- for example, in March 2022, the ICJ ordered Moscow to immediately halt its invasion. Russia didn't even turn up to the hearings in that case. But it's far from an academic exercise, said Cecily Rose, assistant professor of public international law at Leiden University. "There are examples of cases in which Russia has complied at least partially with an adverse ruling by an international court," Rose told AFP, citing a 2015 verdict in which Moscow reportedly stumped up half the cash it was ordered to. "It shows that non-compliance cannot be cynically assumed. Most of the time, states do comply with awards and judgments rendered by international courts and tribunals." What's the point? Even if Russia doesn't comply, Kyiv and most legal experts think the international community needs to draw a line in the sand. "Some countries do not comply with the law, including Russia. However, it is still important to call them out and to bring a case against them when they do breach the law," said Melanie O'Brien, assistant professor at the University of Western Australia Law School. "The case demonstrates that other countries do not view Russia's conduct as acceptable -- but rather, as unlawful," O'Brien told AFP. A ruling from the ICJ against Russia would be a further element in isolating Moscow and confirming it broke international law, she said. "It is also an important acknowledgment for victims of human rights abuses and international crimes such as war crimes that what happened to them and their loved ones was not lawful," she added. Proving that Russia's actions were in contravention of international law could also be key in future peace negotiations, including over potential reparations, noted Rose. How long will it take? The wheels of justice grind slowly. The ICJ "genocide" case is only about whether the court even has jurisdiction. A special tribunal is politically sensitive and will take a long time to establish. But the wheels of justice also grind exceedingly fine. "Just because Putin won't comply with a ruling now, he won't be in power forever," said O'Brien. "At some point, a change of regime will occur and may lead to compliance with international law." The post ‘Total lawfare’: Ukraine’s other front in the war appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Conflict’s dark realm
The unseen struggle behind the seething conflict in the West Philippine Sea may be more intense than what has been playing out daily in the open, as recounted by global media. Jamestown Foundation, a Washington-based adviser to US policymakers, has identified several groups in the Philippines conducting so-called foreign influence operations, or FIOs, which it identified as groups that have direct lines to the hierarchy of the Communist Party of the People’s Republic of China, or PRC. The conservative think tank, which is often consulted on the sea conflict said an aspect of “PRC statecraft that has garnered comparatively less attention, is the use of covert, coercive and corrupting practices to distort the national Filipino debate on sovereign competition in the (West Philippine Sea, or WPS).” The report stated that the policy falls under the ambit of the Chinese government’s United Front Work Department, or UFWD, which “squares clearly with the ruling Chinese Communist Party’s, or CCP, general emphasis on achieving information dominance.” The function of the UFWD overlaps and interlinks with the intelligence community. It also works closely with the CCP International Liaison Department and the Central Propaganda Department in promoting “political influence inside and outside of the PRC.” The body is on top of an elaborate network of proxies and front organizations “to reward, intimidate, surveil and ‘positively’ influence the overseas Chinese community as well as foreign academic institutions, political parties, and other influential bodies and personalities.” According to the report, the overarching goal is to win the hearts and minds of “targeted entities and unite them in supporting the Communist Party’s goals while neutralizing critics.” It revealed that the UFWD’s battle cry, “To rally our true friends to attack our true enemies,” came directly from China’s Great Leader Mao Zedong, and President Xi Jinping has himself referred to united front work as an “important magic weapon to win the cause of revolution, construction, and reform, and also realize the greatness of the Chinese nation.” The bulk of the foreign influence operations is now focused on the Philippines amid the heightened rift in the WPS. Based on the report, China’s United Front Work has three broad goals: 1) Sow discord in domestic Philippine politics to encourage the population to focus on internal conflict and tensions rather than on China as a main threat; 2) Weaken the US-Philippine defense alliance and promote a pro-PRC government in Manila, and; 3) Shape Philippine public opinion in support of Beijing’s claims in the South China Sea. The report admitted that much remains unknown about the overall bureaucracy of the UFWD in the Philippines, but its affiliated groups are present and active in the country. The Jamestown Foundation said that UFWD proxies have a specific remit to coopt influential Filipinos and “Chinoy” or Chinese-Filipino community members into backing the PRC’s position on regional affairs. “Concerning the South China Sea, the department focuses on manipulating businessmen, civic leaders, academics, journalists, and politicians to act as pliable conduits for promoting and endorsing Beijing’s presence in this littoral area,” the report said. On the American interest in the covert operations of Beijing, it indicated that an uptick in such operations in the Philippines is of immediate concern “given its sensitivity to any Chinese endeavor that could endanger freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.” The report urged Washington to develop and prioritize proactive initiatives to help Manila identify and counter foreign interference that China is specifically using to expand and entrench its littoral presence around the archipelago’s northwestern waters. An active role by the US in the “development of a robust and resilient counter interference network in the Philippines would not only assist in stemming Chinese territorial adventurism in the WPS but in doing so would also contribute to weakening the Chinese Communist Party’s drive to recalibrate Asia’s power structure in Beijing’s favor,” the report noted. The battle for the minds would thereon be expected to be fiercer than what transpires on the disputed waters. For Filipinos, vigilance and discernment to separate lies from the truth are essential. The post Conflict’s dark realm appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Training the trainers’: Teachers undergo English language workshops
From 8 to 26 May, the United States government is hosting a series of intensive training workshops for more than 100 English teachers from across the Philippines to enhance their teaching methods and skills in English language instruction. The workshops employ a “training the trainers” curriculum designed specifically for the Philippines by US-sponsored English language specialists Donna Brinton and Jan Frodesen. The program is expected to benefit more than 7,000 teachers and 250,000 students in the Philippines by preparing participants to lead follow-on training sessions with colleagues in their local communities. According to Brinton and Frodesen, the program shares information, strategies and techniques that enable participants to train fellow educators in their home communities. [caption id="attachment_135092" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Carlson greets US government-sponsored English language specialists Donna Brinton and Jan Frodesen, who created the training materials for the workshops.[/caption] During the first two weeks of workshops in Manila, more than 60 teachers from academic institutions in Mindanao — including public high schools in Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi — received training. Twelve teachers from the State Department’s English Access Microscholarship Program, including participants from Fiji, also joined the Manila program. More than 50 educators from various campuses of Palawan State University are scheduled to join the final set of workshops from 22 to 26 May in Puerto Princesa, Palawan. On 17 May, US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson met with workshop participants to reaffirm the United States’ commitment to working with Philippine partners to support quality education in the country, especially in language learning. “We know that having a strong educational system is the key to prosperity,” Carlson said. “The United States looks forward to seeing the positive results of this program as dedicated Filipino educators share these methods with their peers and students.” For these workshops, the US government collaborated with the Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, National Commission on Muslim Filipinos, non-government organization Synergeia Foundation Inc. and Palawan State University. The post ‘Training the trainers’: Teachers undergo English language workshops appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Malaysia, your good neighbor
Editor’s note: The ambassador has the refreshing modesty of Mr. Fix It, the proverbial heart of a statesman, and an outstanding track record, the last being his visionary representation of Malaysia in Italy. The newly minted head of mission shares his overtures in improving Malaysia’s kindred ties with the Philippines and communal aspirations for the region, with the same bounded optimism that inspired Kuala Lumpur’s winning deeds in the development of the Bangsamoro. While Malaysia’s foreign-policy approaches may have differed over the years due to changing domestic and external factors, the basic principles have continued since independence. Asean remains the cornerstone of Malaysia’s foreign policy; the establishment of the Asean community in 2015 has significantly elevated the country’s approach and engagement regionally. Malaysia has shared to countries like the Philippines its experience and knowledge through various foreign-policy mechanisms, including the Malaysian Technical Cooperation Program, and linkages such as the Langkawi International Dialogue and bilateral humanitarian assistance. The country advocates the “Prosper thy neighbor” policy to enhance economic relations and cooperation with its adjacent countries through Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-the Philippines East Asean Growth Area, Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle and other entities. The predominantly Muslim country and the Philippines have been friendly nations since the establishment of the diplomatic relations in 1959. Bilateral cooperation between Malaysia and the Philippines covers education; culture, arts and heritage; communication; defense; health; youth and sports; trade; agriculture; labor, and security. Malaysia’s last high-level visit was when Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim met with President Marcos in March this year. Malaysia regards the Philippines as a very important trading partner, the 15th-largest globally and 5th-largest among Asean countries, with total bilateral trade reaching almost $8 billion. Our close and long-existing relations provide a strong foundation for a more active and meaningful economic cooperation in the future that would bring tremendous benefits to our people. Two practical and viable areas that would benefit from closer cooperation are the halal industry and digital economy. In 2022, total trade between the two countries increased by 27.3 percent to $9.42 billion, compared to $7.85 billion in 2021. Malaysia’s exports to the Philippines increased by 24.6 percent to $6.41 billion. Main exports include electrical products, petroleum, palm oil and ancillary agricultural products. Malaysia remains a major global leader in the halal economy, sustaining its top position in the Global lslamic Economic Indicators for the 9th consecutive year. It has exported $13.51 billion to the world in 2022, up by 63.8 percent from the previous year. Major exports of halal products include food and beverages, ingredients, cosmetics and healthcare. Thus, with the Philippine government encouraging more halal business expansion and investment to serve 12 million Muslims, as well as non-Muslims, here, it is definitely one of the areas where Malaysians and Filipinos can collaborate. Acquiring quality education through world-class institutions is essential, from undergraduate to postgraduate levels. Malaysia is home to more than 200 universities and colleges with 10 international university branch campuses. Malaysian universities are not only ranked top in Asia; it is also progressing in international world rankings, providing a conducive academic environment with affordable international exposure and global career gateways. The country also takes pride in being one of the global pioneers in Islamic banking. Leveraging on existing capacities and expertise, Malaysia is offering tertiary education in Islamic banking and finance through International Center for Education in Islamic Finance. INCEIF has been collaborating with government institutions, such as the Malaysian Technical Cooperation Program, in providing training on Islamic banking products like Islamic securities, unit trust funds, stock broking and financial derivatives. Since Philippines and Malaysia have so many common denominators, Filipinos would feel at home studying in Malaysia. In tourism, last year we saw 80,046 Filipino tourists coming to Malaysia and 46,805 Malaysians coming to the Philippines. We have high hopes that the numbers will increase this year, looking forward to working together with the Philippine government on this front. Asean remains the cornerstone of Malaysia’s foreign policy and the establishment of the Asean community in 2015 has significantly elevated the country’s approach and engagement at the regional level, the nation’s well-being founded on the strong and friendly relations with other countries and its commitment to the multilateral system. The country’s record in peacekeeping under the UN is a testimony of its dedication in carrying out the mandate of the international community in advancing global peace and security. The post Malaysia, your good neighbor appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘A grave attack on academic freedom,’ PUP decries termination of Prudente-Ramos accord
"For the longest time, the Accord served as our vanguard and sanctuary of our peace and wisdom in the University." The post ‘A grave attack on academic freedom,’ PUP decries termination of Prudente-Ramos accord appeared first on Bulatlat......»»
PUP-DND pact already revoked, says lawyer
The Polytechnic University of the Philippines recently revealed the termination of the more than three-decades-old pact between the university and the Department of National Defense — also known as the 1990 Prudente-Ramos Accord — in January last year. The agreement prohibited military or police entry and activities inside the various campuses of PUP without prior notification, “except in cases of hot pursuit and similar occasions of emergency.” It also prohibited authorities to “interfere with peaceful protest actions by PUP constituents within PUP premises.” In a letter addressed to the top leaders of the PUP Sentral na Konseho ng Mag-aaral, PUP chief legal counsel Atty. Joanna Marie Liao said that the accord had been terminated by then-Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on 19 January last year. At the time, Lorenzana publicly vowed to crackdown suspected communist movements inside campuses through accords between DND and schools which, he claimed, is being used as a “shield” by perceived “enemies of the state,” specifically the Communist Party of the Philippines. Prior to this, the DND abrogated their 1989 accord with the University of the Philippines in January 2021 with a similar purpose, despite strong contention from the academic community. Liao expressed disapproval over the termination of the accord, revealing that they have told DND in a 7 February 2022 letter that they were “saddened” by the revocation of the document. “Rather than resolving the issues, PUP believes that repudiating the agreement will only cause more confusion and unrest. While we recognize and value the role of our law enforcers in the preservation of peace and order in our society, we renounce any form of restriction to free expression, inquiry and discussion in the PUP academic community,” she said. The letter was made public by PUP SKM late Tuesday, with a caption calling for the PUP community to protect the campuses against perceived “state attacks.” Prior to the announcement, the PUP Sentral na Konseho ng Mag-aaral have sent a letter addressed to PUP president Manuel Muhi for an update on the status of the PUP-DND Accord amid the ongoing student handbook revisions in their campus, as well as the ongoing power outage that brought back online classes in the university. The post PUP-DND pact already revoked, says lawyer appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Some US universities, schools reimpose indoor mask mandates
NEW YORK - As coronavirus cases have increased across the United States, some universities and public school systems have reimposed indoor mask mandates on their campuses, a sign that while the academic year may be coming to a close, the pandemic is still not, The New York Times reported on Wednesd.....»»
Freedom is not academic
Academic freedom is much debated today. It is on record that the University of the Philippines (UP) and the Department of National Defense (DND) entered into a pact in 1989 to govern the conduct of military and police operations in school campuses. It was to defend dissent and to allow protest actions rooted in the […] The post Freedom is not academic appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Threat to academic freedom—from inside UP
The University of the Philippines community is gearing up to fight a threat to its academic freedom with the unilateral abrogation by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana of the Memorandum of Agreement between the Department of National Defense and UP which delineates the terms and conditions under which the military can enter UP campuses (the police […] The post Threat to academic freedom—from inside UP appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
It& rsquo;s all propaganda
This is not gonna sit well with some of my friends. But I don’t believe the abrogation of the UP-DND Accord is an attack against academic freedom. Thus, I can’t see anything to stand for if their call for action is based on that......»»
Belmonte assures UP of academic freedom protection
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte yesterday assured the faculty and staff of the University of the Philippines of the city government’s support for academic freedom amid concerns over the unilateral abrogation of an agreement preventing uncoordinated entry of military personnel in its campuses......»»
UP hits military over illegal use of its seal, hues
Officials of the University of the Philippines Diliman on Tuesday asserted academic freedom as they denounced the red-tagging that followed the end of the accord that kept the military out of its campuses for three decades......»»
Academic freedom
Even for this administration, the recent attack on academic freedom is a low point. It is a good illustration of “isip pulis patola” that minimizes basic principles that are the basis of civilized society. The end does not justify the short cuts they take......»»
Academic excellence, freedom
I hope there was a miscommunication somewhere that led Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana to abrogate, unilaterally, an agreement that barred the military and the police from entering any of the University of the Philippines campuses without prior notification and permission of UP authorities. The agreement goes back to martial law, when both the university and […] The post Academic excellence, freedom appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
US reaffirms support for Philippines sovereignty amid its tensions with China
Washington, DC [US], March 28 (ANI): US Secretary of Defence Llyod Austin has reaffirmed Washington's commitment to Manila in defending its sovereignty while criticising China's "dangerous" water cannon attack at the Philippine supply mission vessel on Saturday. In a telephonic conversation between Austin and his Philippine counterpart Gilberto Teodoro, the US Secretary reiterated the US-Philippines Mutual Defence Treaty.....»»
Church visits are allowed only until 10 p.m. – Police chief
CEBU CITY, Philippines – Church visits on Maundy Thursday will only be allowed until 10 p.m. the chief of the Cebu City police announced on Thursday, March 28. Police Colonel Ireneo B. Dalogdog, City Director of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) said that the public is not allowed inside religious places past 10:00 p.m......»»
2 nabbed for possession of shabu, explosives, guns in Zamboanga City
The police arrested two men after authorities discovered explosives, firearms and shabu from their hideout in Barangay Quiniput, Zamboanga City on Wednesday afternoon......»»
Kaspersky Shares Cybersecurity Tips for a Peaceful Getaway during the holy week
As the holiday season approaches, the urge to unwind and kick back is natural. And it’s all too common for people to let their guard down completely when connecting to the Internet too– but shouldn’t. Recently, the Philippine National Police (PNP) Anti-Cybercrime Group shared its findings on identity theft cases in the country. Between November […].....»»