Turkey bans academics from travelling abroadJuly 20, 2016 - 13:39 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkey's higher education council has banned academics from work trips abroad and urged those overseas to quickly return home, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported on Wednesday, July 20, AFP reports. Turkey has widened its massive post-coup purge from the military and police to the education sector to root out supporters of U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom it accuses of orchestrating the attempted putsch. The council asked university rectors to "urgently examine the situation of all academic and administrative personnel linked with FETO" -- or the "Fethullah Terrorist Organisation", as it labels Gulen's supporters -- and report back by August 5. It also told universities that academics who are already abroad on work or study missions should return home "within the shortest possible time," AFP says On Tuesday, the government suspended 15,200 state education employees and demanded the resignation of almost 1,600 deans from private and state universities over alleged links to Gulen. Gulen lives in Pennsylvania but retains vast interests in Turkey ranging from media to finance to schools and wields influence in various apparatus including the judiciary and police. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations. Aram I supports Karekin II’s “patriotic position” Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I has expressed support for the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. |