After fascist terror attack, New Zealand and Australia stoke tensions with Turkey

Tom Peters 

Last week the Australian and New Zealand governments furiously attacked Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan over his response to the March 15 Christchurch mass shooting, in which Australian fascist terrorist Brenton Tarrant killed 50 people in two mosques.

Addressing a political rally on March 18, Erdogan likened Tarrant’s white supremacist ideology to the anti-Muslim views of Allied soldiers sent to fight the Ottoman Empire in World War I. His comments prompted immediate, belligerent denunciations from the Australian and New Zealand political establishment and media, which glorifies the role of the Anzacs (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) in WWI, especially the disastrous attempted invasion of Turkey via the Gallipoli Peninsula in the Ottoman Empire in 1915.

The Anzac “legend” is a central ideological tool used by Australia and New Zealand’s ruling elite to promote patriotism and militarism particularly amid acute social tensions over poverty and inequality. It has helped create the environment that fuelled the growth of fascist groups and led to the Christchurch massacre.

Speaking to a crowd near the Gallipoli battle site, Erdogan declared that Tarrant’s shooting “wasn’t an individual attack, this is organised,” contradicting claims by New Zealand police that Tarrant acted alone. Turkish authorities believe he was backed by a well-resourced organisation and may have been planning terror attacks in Turkey, which he visited twice in 2016.

Referring to the defeat of the Allies at Gallipoli, Erdogan said anyone travelling to Turkey with views like Tarrant’s would face the same fate. “Your grandparents came, some of them returned in coffins,” he declared. “If you come again like your grandfathers, be sure that you will be gone like your grandfathers.”

At several campaign rallies, Erdogan has shown excerpts of Tarrant’s video of his horrific attack, in which three Turkish nationals were injured. He demanded that New Zealand bring back the death penalty for Tarrant, otherwise Turkey would “make [him] pay one way or another.”

Erdogan’s statements are aimed at whipping up Turkish nationalism in order to divert growing working-class anger over social inequality in the lead-up to the March 31 local elections. The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) is desperately trying to cling to power amid an economic crisis and worsening tensions with the US, which backed a failed coup against Erdogan in 2016.

The outraged response to Erdogan from Canberra and Wellington, however, is just as reactionary. Neither government condemned or sought to differentiate themselves from Tarrant’s call in his manifesto for Christians to reconquer Istanbul and slaughter Turks, or his threat to “kill Erdogan.” Instead, they sought to whip up nationalist sentiment against Turkey and defend the Anzacs’ World War I campaign.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, in a bellicose rant, called Erdogan’s speech “highly offensive to Australians and highly reckless in this very sensitive environment,” and an “insult [to] the memory of our Anzacs.”

After speaking with the Turkish ambassador, Morrison told the media he was not satisfied with the “excuse” that Erdogan was engaged in a heated political campaign. He declared that “all options are now on the table,” including expelling Turkish diplomats.

In a highly provocative move, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern sent Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters to Turkey to “confront” Erdogan. Peters told journalists that Erdogan’s speech “imperils the safety of the New Zealand people,” even though the Turkish president did not threaten peaceful tourists, only violent anti-Muslim extremists like Tarrant.

Peters leads the right-wing nationalist New Zealand First Party, which has a major role in the Labour Party-led coalition government. It has repeatedly scapegoated immigrants for social inequality, low wages and unemployment and demonised Muslims as potential terrorists. Before departing, Peters told journalists he would not retract his previous anti-Muslim statements.

By Thursday Australia and New Zealand had received an “assurance” from Ankara that travellers would be welcome at Gallipoli on Anzac Day. Morrison said he was pleased Erdogan has “moderated” his rhetoric. The Australian, however, reported that some in the government “feared [Erdogan’s remarks] could... unleash a wave of jihadist attacks on Australians at home and abroad.”

Anzac Day, the April 25 holiday in Australia and New Zealand, marks the landing of soldiers at Gallipoli in 1915. The ruling class in both countries encourages citizens to make patriotic “pilgrimages” to Gallipoli on the day.

The Gallipoli campaign was a disastrous attempt by the Allies to seize control of the strategic Dardanelles shipping lanes. The battle cost the lives of 8,700 Australians, 2,700 New Zealanders, more than 21,000 British, 10,000 French, 1,300 Indians and more than 86,000 Ottoman soldiers. A further 262,014 people were wounded on all sides. After the war the defeated Ottoman Empire was broken up and its Middle Eastern territories divided between Britain and France.

The slaughter at Gallipoli was part of an imperialist war aimed at re-dividing the world between the major imperialist countries. Australia and New Zealand joined the war as part of the British Empire and as minor imperialist powers in their own right seeking a share of the plunder, especially of colonies in the Pacific region.

The battle is promoted by the Australian and New Zealand ruling class as a pivotal moment in the forging of national identity and militarist values. During the 2014-2018 centenary of World War I, governments in both countries poured hundreds of millions of dollars into museums, monuments, films, books and events glorifying the Anzacs, in order to inculcate respect for the military and prepare young people, in particular, for future imperialist wars.

Anzac Day ceremonies promote not only WWI and WWII, but all wars Australia and New Zealand have joined, including the Korean War, the Vietnam War and the US-led wars aimed at controlling resource-rich Iraq and Afghanistan, fought on the pretext of defeating terrorism.

Anzac mythology has always falsely justified the imperialist war as the defence of democracy and “our way of life.” Now, however, it is increasingly portrayed as a fight against Islamic “extremism” and a precursor to today’s wars. John King, chairman of the Returned Services League (RSL), told the Australian on Thursday that Erdogan’s speeches were “the sort of hate and extremism” Australian soldiers had fought against.

Damien Fenton, who wrote a state-funded book praising New Zealand’s World War I campaign, has described the war against the Ottoman Empire as “New Zealand’s first taste of jihad.” A Southland Times article in October 2014 reported: “Fenton says it is ‘chilling’ to reflect that Gallipoli was the cradle for the jihad the world is experiencing right now.”

The Australian far-right group United Patriots Front, which was a major influence on Tarrant, heavily promotes Anzac Day and portrays the Gallipoli campaign as part of an ongoing fight against Islam.

The fascist who carried out the March 15 attacks did not develop his views in a vacuum. He grew up during a quarter century of constant wars in the Middle East, accompanied by anti-Muslim racism and militarist propaganda, including the historical lies surrounding the Anzac legend.

French “yellow vest” protests defy threat of army repression

Anthony Torres 

Despite “yellow vest” protesters’ anger at French officials’ threats to have the army fire on them, their marches on Saturday overall unfolded peacefully and without violent incidents. On Friday morning, the military governor of the Paris area, General Bruno Le Ray, had said that soldiers deployed to confront the “yellow vests” would have “different means for action faced with all types of threats. That can go as far as opening fire.”

Ultimately, there were no confrontations between the army and the “yellow vests” this weekend, or soldiers opening fire on protesters. It was the police forces that committed the only major act of violence that marred the weekend. In Nice, they violently charged and beat over the head a 73-year-old woman who was not threatening the police forces, as footage from several video surveillance cameras has confirmed. She has been hospitalized with subdural hematomas and was reportedly for a time in a coma.

“The police prefect has given the hospital very firm instructions not to communicate with the exterior, including with the family, who finds it very difficult to obtain information,” said Arié Alimi, the lawyer for the victim’s family. The family intends to bring a lawsuit against police for “voluntary violence by individuals disposing of state authority on vulnerable persons.” The daughter of the victim raised the question of the president’s responsibility, stressing that police are under no obligation to “obey the orders of a little king.”

The “Yellow Number” Facebook page announced that there had been 123,000 “yellow vest” protesters in many cities across France. The Interior Ministry announced the absurd figure of 8,100 protesters across France, before changing its estimate to over 40,000.

The largely peaceful unfolding of the “yellow vest” demonstrations raises again serious questions on the role of the security forces in the violence on March 16. Hundreds of unidentified violent protesters pillaged dozens of shops or stores on the Champs Elysées avenue. The media and parties of the political establishment immediately reacted hysterically. The Macron government claimed that the violence of March 16 was carried out by hardened, far-left violent protesters who were unidentified but enjoyed the complicity of the “yellow vests.”

The government had announced the mobilization of the army as well as numerous measures including bans on protesting, raising fines for illegal protests from €38 to €115, mobilizing “anti-hooligan brigades” and the use of drones. Bans on protests hit Paris neighborhoods like the Champs Elysées, where the fighting had taken place on March 16, Capitole Square in Toulouse, where the protests have been strong, as well as neighbourhoods in Bordeaux. Nice and Marseille were also hit by protest bans.

The hardened violent protesters the government blamed for the violence, without identifying or arresting them, did not appear at all this weekend. This strongly raises again the question of the identity of the elements that carried out the pillage on March 16, particularly given that elements of the riot police were videoed participating in the pillage. The suspicion still remains that forces inside the state could have given their agreement, at least tacitly, to a provocation.

The threats of deadly violence that Macron and Le Ray were effectively making against the “yellow vests” come after four months of protests in France but only two weekends after mass protests began by Algerian workers and youth to bring down the Algerian government. The emergence of an international movement with revolutionary aspirations terrifies the French ruling class. Fearing the overthrow of General Abdelaziz Bouteflika’s regime, they are willing to turn to anyone to strangle the protests against the Macron regime in France.

WSWS reporters spoke to “yellow vests” at Saturday’s protests in Paris. Asked about the advisability of the presence of army units around the Paris protests, one “yellow vest” explained to the WSWS: “As far as I see, I don’t think the media and the military will come together to practice shooting civilians. It’s impossible, unimaginable. But given the orders that exist today, coming from the Interior Ministry and the current government, it is possible that the soldiers could in fact shoot civilians at point blank range if there are problems.”

About the violent criminals, he said that they “show up to try to blend in ‘yellow vest’ protests. That everybody knows and sees, including the police. But we can’t stop them because they come in large numbers, usually. We speak to them and they say: ‘We have a right to protest and to do what we want, so there, people should not be left by themselves to decide how to handle this problem.’”

About General Le Ray’s threat to fire, another “yellow vest” told the WSWS: “It’s really extremely shocking. It had not happened in France since 1947 that the army was called in against protests. There, it is getting into a quagmire. … They are there just to protect buildings, but they do not realize this has a terrible impact. It’s really an admission of impotence to call in the army against the population while continuing to claim one is a patriot supporting law and order. This is clearly a new attack on democratic rights. The army is supposed to be there to shoot at enemies, not at the people.”

Asked about events in Algeria, this “yellow vest” applauded the demonstration: “It is extremely beautiful what they are doing. They have succeeded much more than we have from early on, to expand the movement while remaining totally peaceful. And I think that for the time being they have better chances than us. Bouteflika has already given in once, I think that the masses are still mobilized and that they will succeed in forcing the government to turn around.”

David, an IT professional, stressed his hostility to Macron’s anti-democratic measures: “I am here first of all because everything that is happening with France today is attacking liberty with anti-violent protester laws, given what is happening with the soldiers. They are trying to frighten us and today the people are hungry. There are people who cannot make it to the end of the month, who are having real trouble. … Today the only response we have had from Mr. Macron is repression, it is to send more and more police against us. Now he is sending military men against us, he is issuing threats via the media and television.”

There was similar opposition from a “yellow vest” and student, who cited police brutality to explain why he had decided to come to the Paris protest: “We are rather often told that this movement is running out of steam. But it is not the army’s role to preserve law and order and to fire on the people. We have already had enough of riot police who hit people, who live difficult lives. I think the issue of people firing live ammunition now, it’s just talk to frighten us. … But then why send in the army? This movement has really scared those at the top. It’s just to scare people, try to shift public opinion, but now public opinion is really behind us.”

Asked about workers’ struggles in Algeria and beyond, he compared that struggle with that of the “yellow vest” movement: “I have full solidarity with them on everything. … We know very well whatever happens in other countries.”

Forced Labour and the Impact of History on Japan-South Korea Relations

Sourina Bej & Prakash Pannerselvam

The issue of forced labour has long been a major source of tension between Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK). On 30 October 2018, the ROK Supreme Court upheld the lower court verdict that “the right to compensation for forced labour is not subject to the treaty,” and that the plaintiffs hold the right to compensation. The apex court ordered Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation and Mitsubishi Industries - both Japanese companies - to pay compensations to the complainants. This verdict has initiated a new diplomatic spat. What elements have contributed to a further deterioration in the bilateral relationship? What is the political and economic fallout?

Legal vs. Public Reconciliation

While there exists a strong legal foundation for the resolution of historic bilateral issues, domestic audience pressures in both countries have stymied the relationship.

Japan views the ROK Supreme Court ruling as undermining the legal basis of its bilateral relationship which is bound by the San Francisco Peace Treaty. Japan has historically emphasised Article II of the 1965 treaty to argue “that every bilateral problem of the colonial past has already been settled by virtue of the treaty.” The ROK government formed an inter-agency task force on 4 December to look into the Supreme Court rulings on Japanese wartime forced labour issues. The task force, comprising of the foreign, justice and interior ministries, will examine legal issues relating to the verdict while also taking into account domestic public opinion. The setting up of the task force has also been interpreted by Japan as undermining the sanctity of the 1965 treaty.  

At the core of the treaty is the 1965 Agreement on settlement of problems concerning property and claims and economic cooperation. As per the Agreement, Japan provided the ROK government with US$ 300 million in grants, and loans of up to US$ 200 million. The ROK government was thereafter to be responsible for every individual claim from Korean nationals. For Japan, the Agreement settled the issue of claims between the two countries completely and finally.

In 2005, ROK in fact reconfirmed that the issue of claims was covered by the Agreement. Essentially, the disagreement lies in the interpretation of the formula of a “once-and-for-all” settlement, an element of the San Francisco Peace Treaty. Japan maintains that the Agreement is binding on ROK's judiciary as well. Thus for Japan, the verdict is a violation of the Agreement, which in turn is the bedrock of its relationship with ROK.  

Tokyo has suggested the possibility of raising the issue at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in case of a diplomatic deadlock. Citing the ICJ ruling on Germany vs. Italy over state immunity as a precedent for wartime forced labour lawsuits, Japan has sought protection from being sued in the courts of other states. However, state immunity is not applicable to cases involving individuals and corporations. Since the plaintiffs in this case are Korean people and not the government, Japan may not be able to appeal to the ICJ, whose jurisdiction extends to dealing with legal disputes between states.

Following the 1965 treaty, Japan publicly apologised as another step towards reconciliation. In effect, a public reconciliation was attempted in the aftermath of the legal resolution. Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi's apology to ROK President Kim Dae-jung for Japan's occupation of Korea was seen as a major breakthrough, particularly as it was included in the 1998 Japan-ROK Joint Declaration.

Despite this development, public opinion in both countries remain contrarian. In fact, elderly victims of forced labour have pursued their own claims through the courts for years, and ROK President Moon Jae has supported their right to compensation since taking office in 2017. Public opinion has thus impacted the course of the bilateral relationship despite the existence of a solid legal foundation.

Political and Economic Setbacks

According to a report, as many as 80 Japanese companies are facing similar damage suits in South Korean courts. Japan fears that the Supreme Court ruling will adversely affect the economic future of these companies in South Korea. Japanese media coverage suggests heightened political rhetoric, with companies threatening to pull out of ROK if their business interests are jeopardised. The rising tensions have led the Japanese and ROK Chambers of Commerce to postpone their annual meeting. In fact, the Japanese decision to file a complaint against ROK in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) over the shipbuilding subsidy issue is being seen as a result of Seoul’s decision on forced labour.  The response in ROK has been equally vehement. Hong Ihk-pyo, a spokesman for the ruling Democratic Party, has called for an apology and compensation from both companies as well as the Japanese government.

The political fallout was visible at the 26th Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leadership Meeting, with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and ROK President Moon Jae-in skipping bilateral talks. The leaders also did not met on the sidelines of the G20 meeting in Argentina. ROK's decision to close down the “Reconciliation and Healing Foundation” established as part of the 2015 Japan-ROK agreement to offer support to former comfort women is another diplomatic setback, and a result of the escalating tensions. Yet another recent example of the deteriorating relationship is video footage released by Japan on December 20 a South Korean warship locking its fire-control radar on a Japanese patrol plane.

This political fracture has had a debilitating impact on ROK's economy. For example, the number of newly hired workers in July 2018 was only 5,000, the lowest on record over the past eight years. Negative domestic economic indicators have certainly contributed to Moon's pursuit of better relations with Japan as a way to sustain foreign investment in the country. However, other external circumstances are also playing spoiler. Given that the Trump-Kim Summit did not result in the relaxation of sanctions that ROK was hoping for, the proposed joint economic zone between the two Koreas has come to a standstill.

Historical issues continue to be a major challenge towards meaningful rapprochement between ROK and Japan. While Japan's stand is clear, ROK perhaps faces more obstacles resulting from the economic fall-out of escalating tensions, and domestic audience pressures to extract concessions from Japanese companies. Ultimately, any new policy or attempt at reconciliation would be a direct comment on how the government approaches past issues, which puts it in an unenviable position.

Google Maps Local Guides Connect Training 2019 (Fully-funded to California, USA)

Application Deadline: 30th April, 2019 at 11:59 p.m. UTC.

Eligible Countries: All

To be taken at (country): San Jose, California, USA.

About the Award: All over the world, Local Guides are on a mission to help people find the places worth discovering. To celebrate the stars of our global community, Connect Live is back and will be bigger than ever. The event will be held November 12 to 15 in a show-stopping new location in San Jose, California. There, Google will host 200 Local Guides Levels 5 and above from around the world. Before you apply, please note that the event will be delivered entirely in English to best serve our global community.

Type: Training

Eligibility:

• To apply to attend Connect Live, you must be an active Local Guide Level 5 or higher and submit an application that includes a 1-minute video.
• Successful applicants will be selected based on their applications, active contributions on Google Maps, and involvement in the Local Guides community (like being active on Local Guides Connect or hosting meet-ups).
• Before you apply, please note that the event will be delivered entirely in English to best serve our global community.

Selection Criteria: Applications are open to Local Guides Levels 5+ during the application period.

Applicants will be selected based on a number of factors including, but not limited to:

• The submission of a complete application including:
  • A 1-minute video message responding to ONE of the prompts provided. Prompts are: Tell us about your favorite place and what makes it special; What’s one thing you want everyone to know about your community?; or Why are you proud to be a Local Guide? Here are tips for creating your Connect Live 2019 application video.
  • A new post on Connect that describes a cause you care about sharing on Google Maps and why. Whether you’re passionate about finding the world’s best French fries or making the map more eco-friendly, we want to know about it! Post your response using the Local Stories topic. Here’s how to write a great Connect post for Connect Live 2019.
  • A new list created on Google Maps about any theme, including a title, description, and at least five places.
• We’ll also be looking for:
  • High-quality, well-rounded, and consistent contributions on Google Maps over the past 12 months
  • Consistent involvement with the Local Guides community such as actively contributing on Connect or hosting meet-ups

Number of Awards: Not specified

Value of Award: Fully-funded

Duration of Programme: November 12-15, 2019

How to Apply: 

• It is important to go through all application requirements on the Programme Webpage (see link below) before applying

Visit Programme Webpage for Details

Learn Africa Scholarships 2019/2020 for African Women to Study in Spain and Portugal (Fully-funded)

Application Deadline: 7th April 2019

Eligible Countries: African countries

To Be Taken At (Country): Spain, Portugal.

About the Award: After the success of previous programs, Women for Africa Foundation launches the third public edition of the scholarship program for African women students universities Learn Africa, thanks to which a hundred students have already enjoyed studies in Spanish universities.
This program, promoted by the Women for Africa Foundation, aims to promote the transfer of knowledge, exchange and training of African women undergraduate and graduate students through scholarships in Spanish universities that collaborate in this initiative. Thanks to these scholarships, the selected students can complement their university education in our country, and then invest what has been learned to benefit their communities, thus contributing to the progress of African societies.
The scholarships are funded mostly by the universities participating in the program – all of them, members of the Conference of Rectors of Spanish Universities (CRUE) – and cover round trips, tuition and fees, accommodation and food, and medical insurance

Type: Masters, PhD, Undergraduate

Eligibility: In general, any person who meets the following requirements:

• Be a woman and have the nationality of an African country.
• Be enrolled in an African university or have a university degree issued in an African country. For Postgraduate Scholarships, the Degree title is required. The required degree can vary depending on the requested scholarship (See details of each scholarship).
• Meet the specific requirements of each type of scholarship.
• Only one application per person

Number of Awards: Not specified

Value of Award: 

• The scholarship includes one return ticket to-from the student’s country of origin, university fees, health insurance, accommodation and food.
• Cost coverage for other extra expenses, such as the cost of opening a bank account, transport in the city and pocket money, is not guaranteed.
• Responsibilities:  Once the scholarship has been completed, they are committed to returning to their place of residence and to providing a report on their personal and academic experience – on the basis provided by the Women for Africa Foundation – so that an evaluation of the outcomes can be carried out and, if necessary, make changes in the scholarship program as appropriate. Likewise, The Foundation and the Spanish universities of destination may make full or partial use, on their website or in some of their publications, regarding the content of the report prepared by the scholarship holders after their stay in Spain. In this case, the Women for Africa Foundation may mention the author (s) of said content.

Duration of Program: 

• The scholarships included in this call have a variable duration depending on the modality agreed with each of the host universities and the training program offered, comprising of periods ranging from short stays, as is the case of some research projects, or to four years for those aiming to Master and Doctorate.
• The majority of the scholarships that are offered in this program are for the 2019-2020 academic year.

How to Apply: To apply you will need the following documents:

• Passport or Identity Card
• Photo
• CV
• University diploma or certificate
• Academic records
• Personal motivation letter
• Reference letters
• Language Level Required
• Research Project (necessary only in the case of doctoral student scholarships)

Also:

• For scholarships where Spanish is the main language, a high command of the language is required. This high level of Spanish is to be proven by submitting an internationally recognised certificate or through a phone conversation.
• The student must be aware that she is expected to submit a copy of her university degree duly attested by her country’s ministry.
• The student must remember that certain administrative procedures require payment at her country of origin (visa, certificate/records ratification and translation, etc.)

Selection:
The selection process will be coordinated by the Women for Africa Foundation and will take place between April 8th and the 30th, according to the following criteria:

• CV (academic record, previous education, languages spoken, professional experience)
• Reference letters
• Personal motivation letter
• Language Requirement
• Research Project (necessary only in the case of doctoral student scholarships)

The final selection will be agreed with each of the participating universities, the results of the selection process will be available at the end of June on the Foundation’s website and will be personally communicated to each of the selected applicants.

Apply here

Visit the Program Webpage for Details

Government of China MOFCOM Scholarships 2019 for Developing Countries (Masters & PhD)

Application Deadline: 30th April 2019

Offered annually? Yes

Eligible Field of Study: Each applicant can choose one same major in three universities out of the 26 designated universities as their desired option.

About Scholarship: MOFCOM Scholarship is set up by Ministry of Commerce of People’s Republic of China to further strengthen the communication and cooperation between China and other countries as well as to develop talents for developing countries. Starting from 2015, MOFCOM Scholarship mainly sponsors the young and the middle-aged talents from recipient countries to pursue their postgraduate degree education in China and entrusts China Scholarship Council to administer the Scholarship.

Offered Since: 2015

Type: Masters and PhD Scholarships

Selection Criteria and Eligibility: To be eligible, applicants must:

• be a citizen of a country other than the People’s Republic of China, and be in good health;
• be a bachelor’s degree holder when applying for master’s program;
• be a master’s degree holder when applying for doctoral program;
• be under the age of 45 when applying;
• have sufficient English or Chinese proficiency which meets the academic requirements of the program.

Number of Scholarships: several

Value of Scholarship:

• -tuition waiver;
• -teaching material fee waiver;
• -research and survey fee waiver;
• -dissertation guidance fee waiver;
• -one-off resettlement fee:
• 3000RMB per master student,
• 3000RMB per PhD student;
• -on-campus accommodation;
• -stipend:
• 3000RMB per month per master student,
• 3500RMB per month per PhD student;
• -medical insurance
• -one-time round-trip international airfare for all the students （First time fly to China after enrollment, and Fly back to home country while graduation）, and a maximum of “n-1” （“n” is for the length of schooling year which is set while the student was enrolled by the program） round-trip international airfares for home visits （one time per year set at the end of an academic year）.

Duration of Scholarship: Master’s program for 2-3 years or PhD program for 3-4 years.

Eligible Countries: developing countries

To be taken at (country): Each applicant can choose one same major in three universities out of the 26 designated universities as their desired option. CSC will place each applicant in one university only based on their desired option and universities’ requirements.

Application Requirement (in Chinese or English)

1. Application Form for MOFCOM Scholarship;
2. Photocopy of highest diploma;
3. Photocopy of academic transcripts;
4. A Study Plan or Research Proposal with a minimum of 400 words;
5. Photocopy of Foreigner Physical Examination Form;

How to Apply:

• Application Form for MOFCOM Scholarship
• Ensure you have both submitted it online and printed the hard copy via www.csc.edu.cn/studyinchina or  www.campuschina.org

• It is important to go through all application requirements on the Programme Webpage (see link below) before applying

Visit Scholarship Webpage for details to apply

Sponsors: Ministry of Commerce of People’s Republic of China

Important Notes: Scholarship winners must register for English-taught program if such program is available. When only Chinese-taught program is available, students should take Chinese language training courses for one to two years before moving on to their degree study.

Scholarship winners will get the admission package from ECCO of the Chinese Embassy by the end of August, 2016, and must register at the host university before the deadline which is usually September, 2016.

United Nations (UN) Reham Al-Farra Memorial Fellowship Program 2019 for Journalists in Developing Countries

Application Deadline: 15th April 2019

Offered Annually? Yes

Eligible Countries: See list below

To be taken at (country): United Nations Headquarters in New York City.

About the Award: The Programme is sponsored annually since 1981 by the United Nations Department of Public Information as a fellowship programme for junior and mid-level broadcasters and journalists from developing countries and countries with economies in transition.
It also provides journalists with an opportunity to gain first hand experience in the work of the United Nations. It is also an opportunity to meet journalists from other countries and exchange ideas with UN communication professionals.
Upon completion of the Programme, participants are expected to continue working in journalism or broadcasting and help promote better understanding of the United Nations in their home country. The Programme is not intended to provide basic skills training to broadcasters and journalists as all participants are already working as media professionals. The Programme also does not lead to employment by the UN.

Type: Fellowship

Eligibility: The Reham al-Farra Memorial Journalism Fellowship is open to junior and mid-level media professionals from countries with developing economies or economies in transition.

To meet the eligibility requirements, candidates must:

• be between 22 and 35 years old
• be a fulltime working journalist
• be proficient in English
• possess a passport valid for at least 6 months beyond the start of the Programme (programme begins September 2018)
• be a national of a developing country or country in transition, as defined by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs

Number of Awards: Up to 8

Value of Fellowship:  

• It provides journalists with an opportunity to gain first hand experience in the work of the United Nations.
• It is also an opportunity to meet journalists from other countries and exchange ideas with UN communication professionals.
• Upon completion of the Programme, participants are expected to continue working in journalism or broadcasting and help promote better understanding of the United Nations in their home country.
• The Programme is not intended to provide basic skills training to broadcasters and journalists as all participants are already working as media professionals. The Programme also does not lead to employment by the UN.

Duration of Fellowship: 4 Weeks (15 September to 5 October 2019)

Eligible Countries: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Russia, Rwanda, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syria, Taiwan (Province of China), Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How to Apply: Apply Here

Visit Fellowship Webpage for details


Award  Provider: United Nations

UNIDO ITPO Italy Contest 2019 for Innovative Ideas and Technologies in Agribusiness

Application Deadline: 31^st March 2019 GMT

Eligible Countries: Developing Countries

To be taken at (country): Rome, Italy

About the Award: The international contest is aimed at identifying “Innovative Ideas and Technologies in Agribusiness” that could lead to social, environmental and economic improvements if implemented in Developing Countries (DCs).
The contest offers an opportunity at international level to highlight and promote new solutions to upgrade food security and safety requirements in DCs while creating links with the business world to establish positive synergies with the opportunity to submit the project to potential partners in the UNIDO network.
The initiative is promoted by UNIDO ITPO Italy, Investment and Technology Promotion Office of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, in collaboration with the Future Food Institute.

Field of Study: Specifically, priority will be given to the following themes:

• Cultivation, harvesting, processing, conservation, packaging and distribution of agricultural, livestock and fishery products;
• Valorization of agricultural products of local communities and aimed at fighting food waste and losses;
• Logistics management and access to international markets of agricultural products of DCs;
• Improvement of life and economic conditions of workers in the agricultural and similar sectors in DCs;
• Development and qualification of a local market for food and agricultural goods and byproducts;
• Environmental solutions for agribusiness waste treatment & management, and production of energy and water from alternative sources for agricultural, human and zoo technical use;
• Smart and Urban Agriculture and ICT & big data application.

Type: Contest, Entrepreneurship

Eligibility: The proposal submitted by participants to the tender must be from applicants belonging to the following categories:

1. Micro, small, medium, and large enterprises;
2. Startups operating in the relevant sectors;
3. Research centers, incubators, Technology Transfer offices, university spin-offs, and academia;
4. Public-Private Partnerships;
5. Associations, business consortia and networks, NGOs, as well as public and private foundations linked to the business world and international cooperation;
6. Researchers, innovators and smallholders farmers.

The joint participation of candidates belonging to different admissible categories, with the adequate indication of the leading applicants, will represent an added value to the project. Belonging to a team will have to be a well-motivated decision.
The organizers encourage the participation of proposal at any level of development, from early stage ideas to scaling up projects, but also innovative technologies under testing and evidence collection. Participation to the initiative is free of charge.

Number of Awards: At the end of the selection process the jury will select 7 winners for the following categories:

• #3 Overall
• #1 Women
• #1 Young – Under 35
• #1 Agrofood & Climate Change
• #1 Agrofood & Biodiversity

Moreover, among the news for this edition, also a mention of honor will be assigned to the most disruptive innovative proposal.

Value of Award: Winners will be contacted in the days following the date of closure of the call for proposals and invited to the Award Ceremony scheduled on 15 May 2019 in Rome within the framework of EXCO 2019, the first ever international expo of Development Cooperation to be held in Italy this year.
The winners will also be offered the following services:

• Opportunity to participate as a keynote speaker and guest of honor within EXCO 2019 to be held in Rome next 15 May 2019;
• Realization of an ad hoc web page on the winner innovative idea and / or technology within the UNIDO ITPO Italy’s institutional website (www.unido.it) and assistance in defining a project’s promotional strategy;
• Honest brokering services to access, through ad hoc promotional activities, to the worldwide UNIDO, ITPOs and FFI network with the aim to guarantee the maximum visibility to the winner proposal and foster the conclusion of international technical, financial and academic partnerships;
• Opportunity to be involved to the international initiatives organized by Future Food Institute in Europe, United States, China, Japan and Thailand;
• Advisory and mentorship services concerning the awarded project;
• Opportunity to test the winning ideas and technologies in the 70 hectares field of the Future Farm in Italy.

How to Apply:  Applications must be received by 31st March 2019, at the following link: www.unido.it/award2019

• It is important to go through all application requirements on the Programme Webpage (see link below) before applying

Visit Programme Webpage for Details

Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation in Sub-Saharan Africa 2019/2020

Application Deadline: 22nd July 2019 4pm BST

Offered annually? Yes

Eligible Countries: Countries within Sub-Saharan Africa. For the purposes of the competition, sub-Saharan countries include:
Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Crucial commercialisation support is awarded to a shortlist of innovative applicants through a six-month period of training and mentoring. Following this period of mentorship, finalists will be invited to present at an event held in Africa and a winner will be selected to receive £25,000 along with runners-up, who will each be awarded £10,000.

Eligibility: To be eligible,

• Applicants must be individuals or groups of no more than three people.
• Individual applicants must be citizens of a country within sub-Saharan Africa and currently reside there. For teams of two or three, the lead applicant must be a citizen of a country within sub-Saharan Africa and currently reside there.
• Applicants must have an engineering innovation and provide a letter of support from a university of research institution.
• Industrial researchers and establishments are not eligible.
• The applicant’s innovation can be any new product, technology or service, based on research in engineering defined in its broadest sense to encompass a wide range of fields, including: agricultural technology, biotechnology, chemical engineering, civil engineering, computer science, design engineering, electrical and electronic engineering, ICT, materials science, mechanical engineering, and medical engineering. If you are in any doubt that your area of expertise would be considered engineering then please contact the Academy to discuss your application.
• Applicants should have achieved the development of, and be in the early stages of commercialising, an engineering innovation that:

1. will bring social and/or environmental benefits to country/countries in sub-Saharan Africa;
2. has strong potential to be replicated and scaled up;
3. is accompanied by an ambitious but realistic business plan which has strong commercial viability.

Number of Awardees: not specified

Value of Prize: Finalists will be invited to present at an event held in Africa and a winner will be selected to receive £25,000 along with runners-up, who will each be awarded £10,000

Duration of Program: Crucial commercialisation support is awarded to a shortlist of innovative applicants, through a six month period of training and mentoring.

How to Apply: All applications must be submitted via the online grants system, applicants should ensure they read the guidance notes before submitting their application.

Visit Program Webpage for Details

Award Provider: Royal Academy of Engineering

POGO-SCOR Visiting Fellowships in Oceanic Research 2019 for Developing Countries

Application Deadline: 30th April 2019

Eligible Countries: Developing Countries

About the Award:This programme is designed to promote training and capacity building leading towards a global observation scheme for the oceans. The Programme has been a success for over fifteen years, with over 160 fellowships awarded since 2001.
The Partnership for Observation of the Global Oceans, POGO, is a forum created in 1999 by directors and leaders of major oceanographic institutions around the world to promote global oceanography.

Type: Fellowship

Eligibility:

• The fellowship program is open to scientists, technicians, postgraduate students (preferably of PhD level) and post-doctoral fellows of developing countries and countries with economies in transition and involved in oceanographic work.
• Applicants must be citizens of developing countries or economies in transition, as defined by the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) of the OECD,
• The main purpose of the program is to advance sustained ocean observations and their applications.  Priority is given to applicants in early stages of career development.
• This fellowship is intended to support training in oceanographic observations, not to learn research techniques. Its main purpose is to advance sustained ocean observations and their applications; it offers the opportunity to visit other oceanographic centres for a short period (1 to 3 months) for training on any aspect of oceanographic observations, analyses, and interpretation.  

Selection Criteria: The Selection Criteria involve a number of factors including:

1. Quality of the application;
2. Relevance of the application to the priority areas identified in the Fellowship Announcement (Argo Floats and gliders; fixed-point time-series observations; large-scale, operational biological observations including biodiversity; emerging technologies for ocean observations; data management; coastal observations/ coastal zone management; ocean and coastal modelling; oxygen and other biogeochemical sensors on floats and gliders; optical measurements of living and non-living particles; time series measurements of N₂O and CH₄); ocean observations and modelling in the Indian Ocean (contributions to IIOE-2).
3. Evidence that the training will lead to capacity-building with potential lasting impact on regional observations; and,
4. The need to maximise regional distribution of the awards.

Number of Awards: Not specified

Value of Award: Fellowship covers:

• 1-3 month visit to another oceanographic institute anywhere in the world.
• Training on any aspect of oceanographic observations, analyses, and interpretation.
• International airfare.
• Transport from airport to host institution.
• Contribution towards living expenses.

Duration of Programme: 1 to 3 months

How to Apply: Applications for 2019 are open from 6 March 2019 to 30 Apr 2019, and should be made via the marinetraining.eu website, at this link:
http://www.marinetraining.eu/POGOSCOR19

• It is important to go through all application requirements on the Programme Webpage (see link below) before applying

Visit Programme Webpage for Details

Mozilla Fellowships in Technology, Activism and Policy 2019/2020 for Emerging Leaders

Application Deadline: 8th April 2019 at 5:00pm ET.

Eligible Countries: All

About the Award: Mozilla Fellows work on the front lines of internet health, at a time when the internet is entwined with everything from elections and free expression to justice and personal safety. Fellows ensure the internet remains a force for good — empowerment, equality, access — and also combat online ills, like abuse, exclusion, and closed systems.
Mozilla is particularly interested in individuals whose expertise aligns with our 2019 impact goal: “better machine decision making,” or ensuring the artificial intelligence in our lives is designed with responsibility and ethics top of mind. For example: Fellows might research how disinformation spreads on Facebook. Or, build a tool that identifies the blind spots in algorithms that detect cancer. Or, advocate for a “digital bill of rights” that protects individuals from invasive facial recognition technology.
During a 10-month tenure, Mozilla Fellows may run campaigns, build products, and influence policy. Along the way, Fellows receive competitive funding and benefits; mentorship and trainings; access to the Mozilla network and megaphone; and more. Mozilla Fellows hail from a range of disciplines and geographies: They are scientists in the UK, human rights researchers in Germany, tech policy experts in Nigeria, and open-source advocates in New Zealand.

Type: Fellowship (Professional)

Eligibility: Mozilla is currently seeking Fellows that fit three particular profiles:

• Open web activists: Fellows who work in the realm of public interest technology, addressing issues like privacy, security, and inclusion online. These open web activists will embed at leading human rights and civil society organizations from around the world, lending their technical expertise. Check out the list of this year’s featured host organizations, and apply to work with them.
• Scientists and researchers: Fellows who infuse open-source practices and principles into scientific research. “Science” is defined broadly; Fellows may work in the natural sciences, formal and applied sciences, or humanities, social sciences and library and information sciences. Fellows are based in the research institution with which they are currently affiliated.
• Tech policy professionals: Fellows who examine the interplay of technology and public policy, and craft legal, academic, and governmental solutions. These tech policy professionals are independent researchers and are not necessarily matched with a host organization or an institution.

Value of Award: 

•  Fellows expand their network and sphere of influence; design impactful projects with the potential to reach millions; and learn from and collaborate with a global community of thousands of Mozillians.
• Mozilla Fellows are also awarded competitive funding and benefits.

Duration of Program: 10 months (The Mozilla Fellowship runs from October 2019 through July 2020)

How to Apply: Learn more about Mozilla Fellowships, then apply.

Visit the Program Webpage for Details

African Palliative Care Nursing Scholarships 2019 for Nurses and Social Workers in Africa

Application Deadline: 19th April 2019.

Eligible Countries: African countries

To be taken at (country): Any African country

About the Award: APCA and GPIC recognise the important role nurses and social workers play in providing holistic palliative care services for people with life threatening and life limiting illnesses and their families.
Despite this, the inadequate incorporation of palliative care into the pre-service (undergraduate) training for nurses and social workers, the lack of clear career pathways for those interested in specialising in palliative care and lack of recognition of palliative care qualifications by local ministries of health and education continues to be a challenge.
The Palliative Care Education Scholarship Fund for Nurses and Social Workers aims to provide an opportunity for nurses and social workers involved in palliative care provision or those determined to lead the development of such services in their settings to undergo specialist training. Palliative care is a growing area of practice in Africa, and nurses and social workers often feel unprepared to deal with the complex issues it encompasses.
The Palliative Care Education Scholarship Fund for Nurses and Social Workers can be taken in any recognised institution of higher learning offering palliative care training in Africa. Examples include: Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care in Africa/Hospice Africa Uganda, Mildmay Uganda, Nairobi Hospice/Oxford Brooks University in UK, University of Malawi and University of Cape Town in South Africa.
For Social Workers, study can also be in form of a fellowship/experiential learning from an institution such as a hospice or palliative care programme with well-established social work services. Such a fellowship will be undertaken from a recognised hospice and palliative care institution and APCA will verify eligible programs through the national palliative care association and/or Ministry of Health.
Training opportunities through this Fund are expected to enhance skills, knowledge, attitudes, values, methods, and sensitivities needed to work effectively in palliative care with patients, families, health care providers, and the community. This year, APCA UK has joined GPIC to contribute towards the Scholarship Fund.

Type: Training

Eligibility:

• A qualified nurse or social worker with a degree or diploma residing and working in Africa
• Has obtained a place on a desired palliative care course in an institution in Africa recognised by APCA or a hospice recognised by the national palliative care association or Ministry of health for social workers who apply to undertake experiential learning.
• Currently licensed in nursing or social work, where applicable
• Able to legibly complete the application
• Able to obtain full support from place of work to undertake the course
• Able to serve the institution of work for at least a year after completion of the training
• Willing to provide support towards future fundraising for the scholarship fund. This may be in form of thank you letter, sharing experience through articles, video testimonial, or skype interview with GPIC and APCA.

Level/Field of study:

• Diploma, degree or master level studies in palliative care. For degree and master level studies, those in the final year of study will be given preference.
• Social workers can also undertake clinical fellowship/experiential learning.

Number of Awards:

• Five (5) scholarships for nurses
• Four (4) scholarships for social workers

Value of Award: 

• USD 2,500 each for nurses
• USD 1,500 each for social workers. This amount will however vary depending to the option of study, either formal course or experiential learning at a hospice.

Duration of Programme: This amount will vary depending to the option of study, either formal course or experiential learning at a hospice.

How to Apply: 
Nurses’ Application Form 
Social workers’ Application Form

• It is important to go through all application requirements on the Programme Webpage (see link below) before applying

Visit Programme Webpage for Details