Persistence pays off for exam ‘topper’

Electrical engineer, Aditya Srivastava has secured the top rank in India’s 2023 Union Public Service examination, results of which have just been announced.

The 26-year-old quit his job in the private sector three years ago to prepare for the examination. At his first go in 2022 he finished 136^th and was selected for the Indian Police Service (IPS), but he wanted more, and qualifying in top place means he has an open invitation to join the prestigious Indian Administrative Service.

"In the initial years, I would like to implement, to the best of my abilities, schemes that the Government is making for the people,” Mr Srivastava (pictured) said.

“Later on, when I reach the stage where I can make policies, I would like to work on health and education, especially for children."

The first rank holder, known throughout India as the “topper” is a graduate of IIT Kanpur, and holds a degree in electrical engineering.

When the results were declared, congratulatory messages started pouring in, and his colleagues at the IPS Academy posted a video of the celebration on Instagram.

"It took a bit of a time to sink in, but when that happened I was ecstatic,” he said.

Animesh Pradhan and Donuru Ananya Reddy secured the second and third ranks respectively.

Mr Pradhan overcame adversity to achieve his high ranking, having lost both his parents in the past six years.

He lost his mother, Aruna to cancer in January while his father, Prabhakar, the Principal of a college in the colliery town of Talcher, died in 2017.

“My mother was battling cancer till her last moment for me. She so wanted me to crack UPSC, and it is so sad she is not here to see me finally make it,” Mr Pradhan, an Information Systems Officer with Indian Oil, said.

The third-placed getter and the highest-ranked woman, geology graduate Donuru Ananya Reddy, listed Indian cricketer, Virat Kohli as her inspiration.

“He is my favourite player, and I admire the never-give-up kind of attitude he has,” she said.

“Irrespective of results we must work and strive for our goals.”

A total of 1,016 candidates cleared the examination and have been recommended for different Central Government Services, with the top 25 candidates made up of 10 women and 15 men.

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Thousands of Canadian Federal jobs to go

OTTAWA (April 18): Canada’s Federal Public Service is expected to decrease by about 5,000 over the next four years as the Government looks to find savings through attrition.

The recent Federal Budget states that, based on historical rates of attrition, the number of full-time equivalent positions was anticipated to drop to around 363,000 from an estimated population of 368,000 as of the end of March.

“As our country grows and demographics shift, such as Millennials recently overtaking Baby Boomers as the largest age group, the Government must adapt to the changing needs of Canadians,” the Budget stated.

When asked by reporters whether attrition would affect any Departments in particular, President of the Treasury Board, Anita Anand said adjustments would be made and the impact would be Government-wide.

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IT trouble blunts Prosecutors’ work

THE HAGUE (April 22): The Netherlands Public Prosecution Service (OM) is struggling with long-running IT issues which a senior official described as “disastrous and only getting worse”.

Prosecutors often can’t access their files, open emails, or communicate with defence lawyers. They are increasingly unable to receive, send, or open emails and often can’t access their digitised files. Some are forced to work on weekends when the system seems to operate more smoothly.

In a statement, OM announced it had set up a task force to resolve the IT difficulties, which are now increasing the already large backlog in the overloaded judicial system.

It acknowledged the organisation currently could not offer its employees all the IT resources they needed, and that the disruptions had a negative effect on job satisfaction.

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China considers higher age for new bureaucrats

BEIJING (April 19) The impacts of China’s rapidly ageing society are being felt, with new proposals to raise the upper age limit for Civil Service applicants from 35 to 40 years.

However, observers pointed out that the challenge of removing the upper age limit was complex and based on practical factors. The Civil Service promotion system usually works with individuals beginning at the lowest level and rising through the ranks.

If new recruits were comparatively older when they entered at the bottom level, they might encounter difficulties and potential discomfort if they had to work with younger colleagues who have already moved up to higher positions, the observers said.

Researcher, Xiomg Bingqi also pointed out that for decades the age of 35 had served as a critical threshold for employment or reemployment in many sectors and changing this would require a considerable shift in attitudes throughout society.

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Argentina seeks closer links with NATO

BUENOS AIRES (April 20): Argentina’s Ministry of Defence has made a formal application to become a partner of NATO, underlining President Javier Milei’s determination to align his country with the West.

A letter of intent was delivered to NATO authorities by Defence Minister, Luis Petri who said the relationship would allow the country to “modernise and train our forces to NATO standards”.

Observers see this as President Milei making a further statement after he refused to join the BRICS bloc of nations, made up of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

Others fear this is another step in the gradual realignment of nations into two opposing and possibly hostile camps.

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‘Mundane’ workload frustrates young officers

TOKYO (April 18): Increasing numbers of young Japanese are becoming frustrated with the country’s ponderous bureaucratic system as the number of applicants for Public Service positions reaches record lows.

"I once believed I could join in policy discussions more freely, but reality proved otherwise. I still had a long way to go before being able to contribute meaningfully to policy planning. Instead I was overwhelmed with miscellaneous tasks of little importance,” one former career-track official said.

His complaint is echoed by many Government personnel who frequently express frustration over the mundane nature of their work, often attributing it to the increasing dominance of political leadership.

A common refrain is that young workers are so consumed by immediate issues that they struggle to allocate time and resources to draw up long-term visions.

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Finnish officers face redundancy in ‘restructure’ 

Finland's Public Service will undergo significant restructuring next year, according to a source within the Government that leaked the news to journalists.

The source said this could lead to thousands of workers being laid off, with the changes affecting officers at Ministries as well as Public Administration Agencies.

The planned cuts are part of the Government's wide-ranging austerity package, as it looks to find an additional €9 billion ($A14.75 billion) in tax rises and spending cuts.

According to the Government source, the number of public sector employees has increased by about 8,000 over the past decade, and the Government wants to trim overall staff numbers as the country faces a chronic labour shortage in other sectors.

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May Day date for Malaysian pay review

KUALA LUMPUR (April 20): Results of the long-awaited review of Malaysian Civil Service pay will be announced on May 1, Malaysian Labour Day, Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim says.

Announcing the date, the Prime Minister said that amidst the challenging economic conditions and global geopolitical uncertainties, the Government was aware of cost-of-living pressures, especially for low-income bureaucrats.

This latest announcement follows weeks of debate which began in mid-January when President of the Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public Service (Cuepacs), Adnan Mat said current salaries of Civil Servants could not cover the burden of expenses following the increase in the cost of living.

Then earlier this month, Mr Anwar admitted that the salary structure for the Civil Service had not been looked at for a long time and promised “good news before the end of this year”.

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Minister outlines hiring plan

LUXEMBOURG CITY (April 20): Luxembourg’s Civil Service Minister has announced that the small European State plans to hire almost 1,500 new bureaucrats over the coming year.

Presenting the Civil Service budget to Parliament, Serge Wilmes said it was proposed to spend roughly €1 billion ($A1.6 billion) over the next 12 months, a €47 million ($A77 million) increase on 2023.

“The new positions include 750 posts for education, 90 for the police, 52 for the army and 570 for other Ministries,” Mr Wilmes said.

He said more would also be spent on pensions with about 14,000 former Civil Servants receiving a pension from the State — roughly 4,000 more than in 2015.

 A regular update of Public Service news and events from around the world

 

 

Financial crime fighters debate tactics

The Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS) has held a two-day anti-financial crime training and networking event in Hong Kong.

Attendees were given expert guidance and practical insights, addressing how the region’s anti-money laundering professionals can prepare for the latest regulations while meeting compliance expectations. 

The event covered a range of topics, from complex sanctions that can leave financial institutions grappling with conflicts of law, to technological developments, including AI, that yield new opportunities and challenges.

Chief Executive of ACAMS, Neil Sternthal said the meeting offered invaluable anti-financial crime insights essential for compliance professionals grappling with growing regulatory requirements and emerging illicit-finance threats.

“However, in addition to highlighting the most significant threats and revealing best practices and pathways to capacity-building, the event facilitated meaningful conversations and networking opportunities." Mr Sternthal (pictured) said.

He said with more than 100,000 members across 180 jurisdictions, ACAMS was committed to the mission of ending financial crime through the provision of anti-money laundering/counter-terrorism financing and sanctions knowledge-sharing.

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Robot welds its magic in Sydney

Novarc Technologies Inc. has demonstrated its Spool Welding Robot (SWR) during the recent Australian Manufacturing Week in Sydney.

Novarc’s welding automation technology has revolutionised manufacturing processes and is a productivity game-changer for pipe fabrication shops serving sectors such as the oil and gas, mining, construction, and shipbuilding industries.

The SWR uses a floating long-reach manipulator, with a three-axis robotic arm at the end, designed specifically for pipe, small pressure vessel, and other types of roll welding, and is capable of welding flanges, tees, elbows, and reducers.

Chief Executive of Canadian-based Novarc, Soroush Karimzadeh said the SWR was helping fabricators and engineering companies across Australia, helping to address the shortage of skilled human welders.

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New partners to promote coal power phase-out

Sustainability Economics, a Singapore-based provider of global net-zero solutions, has chosen the Asia Carbon Institute (ACI) as a partner for evaluating its procedures to expedite the phase-out of coal-fired power plants in the Asian region.

Chief Executive of Sustainability Economics, Kasu Venkata Reddy said ACI was an independent non-profit organisation dedicated to establishing voluntary carbon credit standards and a registry.

“With Sustainability Economics as a leading global provider of end-to-end net-zero solutions across multiple sectors, our joint expertise is a blend of extensive domain knowledge with state-of-the-art digital platforms and advanced technologies,” Mr Reddy said.

"We are thrilled to partner with Asia Carbon Institute in our shared mission to accelerate the transition towards clean energy sources in Asia.”

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Fluence reports progress on energy storage

Fluence Energy, Inc., a global provider of energy storage products and services, and optimisation software for renewables and storage, has issued its annual Sustainability Report.

 Announcing the report, President and Chief Executive of the Arlington-based company, Julian Nebreda said Fluence operated with sustainability principles at its core, and the pressing need to address climate change imparted urgency to its work.

“The speed at which we are moving towards our sustainability commitments is a testament to the dedication of our employees, and partnerships with our suppliers and customers,” Mr Nebreda said.

“By increasing our disclosures, we continue to foster trust, drive accountability, and provide our stakeholders with a transparent insight into our sustainability journey.”

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Bumblebee X a better guide for factory robots

Teledyne FLIR IIS says its Bumblebee X series, an advanced stereo vision product for guiding robots in factories and warehouses, is now operational.

General Manager, Sadiq Panjwani said the Bumblebee X tackled complex depth-sensing challenges with ease across a large range of distances.

“Its low latency makes it ideal for real-time applications such as autonomous mobile robots, automated guided vehicles, pick and place, bin picking, and palletisation,” Mr Panjwani said.

Teledyne FLIR IIS provides innovative sensing solutions through machine vision, spherical imaging, and stereo-imaging technologies, serving industrial, medical, geospatial, and advanced robotics markets.

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Partnership a boost for global law enforcement

Generative AI company, Trellis Data has announced a partnership with CCL Solutions Group, Europe’s largest digital forensics provider.

The collaboration will integrate Trellis Data’s AI-powered solutions with CCL's powerful existing platform, offering intelligence officers a toolkit of AI-enhanced digital forensics capabilities to deliver faster evidence-gathering and analysis.

Chief Executive of CCL Solutions Group, Noel McMenamin said the partnership would involve the provision of innovative and secure solutions, designed for law enforcement Agencies and organisations with investigative, security and privacy needs.

His opposite number at Trellis Data, Michael Gately said CCL would now have access to Trellis’ new Secure Chat application, enabling intelligence officers to make queries and draw connections from across numerous streams of information, providing unparalleled oversight of surveillance data.

 An occasional round-up of international business stories

 

 

 

NZ Government targets senior jobs

WELLINGTON (April 12): The New Zealand Public Service Commission has been asked for details of how many  people are employed in senior management positions as Finance Minister, Nicola Willis steps up the Government’s cost-cutting exercise.

Ms Willis (pictured) said her focus was on Tier Two and Three management roles. Heads of Department are in Tier One.

“What I have said to the Public Service Commission is, give me some advice on how many Tier Two and Three managers we have, so I can see whether it looks like there are any issues in terms of making sure the Public Service is the right size,” Ms Willis said.

“If I just focus on head count, what I worry about is that Agencies would just cull a lot of lowly-paid staff. It’s not just about head count, it’s about cost.”

While she has committed to not cutting front-line staff as part of the Government’s drive to find savings of at least 6.5 per cent within Ministries, there has been criticism that key jobs are on the line.

Ministries have so far between them announced that more than 1,000 jobs are up for consultation.

The Māori arm of the Public Service Association says a prediction that as many as 7,500 jobs could eventually go in the cull would mean irreplaceable skills and cultural expertise would be lost to Australia.

Kaihautu (leader) of the Māori arm, Janice Panoho says the Coalition Government is acting like a jobs wrecking ball.

She said many Māori and Pasifika Public Servants will flee to Australia — “where they will be welcomed with open arms”.

“It’s really those back-office staff they are talking about. These are communications people, advisors, analysts, IT people. You lose that level of expertise, it’s very hard to get back” Ms Panoho said.

She said the current influx of immigrants don’t have the expertise to work with, or to understand, indigenous communities.

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Ministry cuts teacher jobs as students decline

SEOUL (April 13): The South Korean Ministry of Education says it will cut the enrolment quota for teachers’ colleges by 12 per cent, citing a decline in student numbers.

The reduction plan comes amid rising concerns over the employment of teachers, as the number of graduates from teaching colleges exceeds the number of teaching places available at elementary schools.

The number of newly-hired teachers this year declined by more than 50 per cent compared to 2014, but the enrolment quota for related universities has remained stable over the same period.

This ‘appointment crisis’ comes as more than 150 elementary schools across the nation had no new first graders enrolling this year. In total, some 369,000 children have enrolled at elementary school, the lowest number of new first graders since the Ministry began recording such statistics in 1970.

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Belgium says EU elections under threat

BRUSSELS (April 13): Belgian Security Agencies are investigating reports that pro-Russian hackers are trying to influence elections to the European Parliament, due in June.

Prime Minister, Alexander de Croo said Moscow’s aim was to get more pro-Russian candidates elected, leading to weakened support for Ukraine in the war with Russia.

This follows a statement from the Czech Government that it had broken up a pro-Kremlin network, alleging the Voice of Europe news website had been funded by Moscow to spread propaganda and funnel cash to sympathetic European politicians.

“Belgian intelligence had confirmed that spy networks are operating in Belgium and several other European countries,” Mr de Croo said.

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Union mobilises support for remote working

LONDON (April 13): The United Kingdom Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union is urging Civil Servants to step up their opposition to the Government’s back-to-the-office drive, and possibly follow officials at the Office for National Statistics (ONS) , who have voted to strike over the issue.

The ONS dispute is over the handling of a requirement for full-time staff to spend the equivalent of two days a week in the office.

"In a survey we carried out late last year, 83 per cent of members said they believed that hybrid working made them more productive and 100 per cent said they would lose valuable time with the extra commuting, as well as facing increased travel costs," the union said in a statement.

However, the action is unlikely to get support from the Opposition Labour Party after Shadow Chancellor, Rachel Reeves said that while office-working decisions should be made by individual managers, “spending more time in the office is good for productivity and morale”.

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Government scales back research on junta crimes

BUENOS AIRES (April 11): Argentina’s right-wing Government has been criticised for sacking 10 of 13 researchers who have been investigating armed forces archives for crimes against humanity, most of which date back to the 1976-83 military dictatorship.

After Human Rights Director at the Defence Ministry, Lucas Miles Erbes confirmed the sackings, the Government insisted the program was continuing.

The research unit, made up of experts from different disciplines, has produced more than 170 detailed reports on crimes against humanity since it was formed in 2010.

However, the Government of President Javier Milei has sparked controversy by claiming that an estimate of 30,000 people who disappeared under the junta was manufactured by human rights groups.

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Danes lead fight against underwater sabotage

COPENHAGEN (April 10): The Danish Ministry for Climate, Energy and Utilities has hosted a meeting of six countries bordering the North Sea that agreed to work together to protect underwater infrastructure from sabotage.

The agreement, involving Denmark, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Germany, Norway and the Netherlands, comes after the as yet unsolved 2022 explosions that damaged the Nord Stream gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea.

Minister for Climate, Energy and Utilities, Lars Aagaard said the North Sea had the potential to become the cradle of a renewable and secure energy supply in Europe, while supporting the road to a fossil-free future.

“Our nations must stand united and coordinated in our efforts to protect critical infrastructure across borders. This understanding is an important step in that direction,” Mr Aagaard said.

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Ukraine cracks down on draft evaders

KYIV (April 11): Ukraine’s Parliament has passed a controversial law devised by the Ministry of Defence that will make it easier to identify every draft-eligible man in the country. Previously many have dodged conscription by avoiding contact with authorities.

Under the law, men aged 18 to 60 will be required to carry documents showing they have registered with the military and present them when asked. Also, any man who applies for a Government service at a Consulate abroad will be registered for military service.

Oksana Zabolotna, an analyst for the watchdog group, Centre for United Actions, said it remained unclear how the measure would ensure all draft-eligible men were registered. “In that way, it does not fulfil the main declared goal,” Ms Zabolotna said.

She said it was also unclear whether Ukraine, with its continuing ammunition shortages, would be able to arm large numbers of new soldiers without a fresh injection of Western aid.

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No pay rise — officers urged to be patient

NAIROBI (April 16): There will be no pay increase for Kenyan Public Servants this year, Chair of the Salaries and Remuneration Commission, Lyn Mengich says.

Citing affordability and fiscal sustainability considerations, Ms Mengich advised Agencies not to consider any upward increases for their staff “unless there is a demonstration of the ability to afford it”.

Head of the Public Service, Felix Koskei urged officers to exercise patience as the Government attempted to find a remedy to the ailing economy.

“The nation has to live within its means as the Government lacks extra money to pay Civil Servants as it grapples with a high wage bill,” Mr Koskei said.

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Purr-fect world for Palace pusses

MEXICO CITY (April 10); Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has declared that some 19 cats prowling the Presidential Palace and its grounds are ‘living fixed assets’ the first animals in Mexico to receive the title usually reserved for buildings or furniture.

A Presidential spokesperson said the declaration effectively made the cats Public Servants, obligating the Treasury to provide feed and care for them for the rest of their lives.

“They have access to every part of the palace, so they walk in on meetings, interviews and wander onto camera.  The cats are now a symbol of the National Palace,” the spokesperson said.

Mr López Obrador is often pictured at official functions accompanied by some of the cats. “They have no respect…they often walk in front of me during official ceremonies,” the President said.

A regular update of Public Service news and events from around the world

 

 

Advertiser links with global gaming platform

California-based digital advertising company, PubMatic has announced a partnership with Roblox, a global platform that allows users to create and play their own games.

The partnership will allow more advertisers to reach Roblox’s global community of more than 71 million daily active users, nearly half of them representing the highly-coveted Gen Z demographic.

Roblox will gain access to premium brand advertising.

Since 2006, Roblox has built a global community featuring gaming, but also concerts, sports, fashion shows, education, and entertainment.

Roblox Vice President of Global Partnerships, Stephanie Latham said the company was committed to making it easier for brands to foster connections with its highly engaged community.

“Partnering with PubMatic unlocks the opportunity for more advertisers to seamlessly engage with this community through preferred content formats, like video, while providing advertiser controls around brand suitability,” Ms Latham (pictured) said.

“The ad experience we offer on the platform is built to be immersive instead of disruptive, and true to the Roblox experience that our community of creators, users, and brands know and love."

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Hope of better health for HIV victims

A team at the Wistar Institute in Philadelphia has identified sugar abnormalities in the blood that may promote biological aging and inflammation in people living with HIV.

Team leader, Associate Professor Mohamed Abdel-Mohsen said despite advances in HIV treatment, HIV remains incurable, with the virus persisting in a dormant state within the body.

“This chronic presence is linked to long-term health issues, including persistent inflammation and a higher prevalence of aging-related diseases such as cancer and neurocognitive disorders,” Associate Professor Abdel-Mohsen said.

"Utilising glycan signatures to predict early onset of diseases in people living with HIV marks a pivotal shift towards proactive healthcare. This could significantly alter clinical outcomes, allowing for timely interventions and personalised treatment plans.”

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Big profit boost for Italian transporter

 

Italy’s State-owned transport company, Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane has reported 2023 revenues of €15 billion ($A24.6 billion) up eight per cent from 2022.

 

Chief Executive, Luigi Ferraris said net profit was €100 million ($A164 million), was more than six times the 2022 figure.

 

He said this growth was driven by an increase in passenger numbers on the trains and buses of the Passenger Business Unit, whose revenues were up 11.2 per cent on 2022. 

 

“Freight transport also performed well, despite the difficult international situation in the Red Sea and tensions in the Middle East, with revenues rising six per cent,” Mr Ferraris said.

 

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Chinese EV company moves into Hong Kong

Chinese smart electric vehicle company, Xpeng Motors has signed a dealer partnership which will see it expand into Hong Kong.

The agreement with Sime Darby Motors will enable Xpeng to introduce its latest smart electric vehicles (EVs) to consumers in Hong Kong with branded showrooms and after-sales support.

Vice Chairman and President of Xpeng, Brian Gu, said the company had experienced rapid growth in the 10 years since its establishment in 2014 and saw entry into Hong Kong as the next strategic step, serving as an important springboard for further global expansion.

“Xpeng is fully committed to bringing innovation that serves our customers’ evolving needs as well as realising a future of human-first intelligent mobility in Hong Kong, and around the world,” Mr Gu said.

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Singapore finance festival ‘biggest yet’

The seventh annual Seedly Personal Finance Festival has wound up in Singapore with organisers describing it as a “rousing success and the biggest yet”.

During the event, Seedly launched a new app, ShopHero, where users can get instant alerts for discounts, personalise deals and maximise rewards with best-fit credit cards.

Chief Executive of event organiser, MoneyHero, Rohith Murthy said the festival was a cornerstone the company’s commitment to educating and empowering individuals in South-East Asia through financial literacy.

“Our success is a testament to our enduring mission to serve as the region’s premier resource and advocate in personal finance,” Mr Murthy said.  

 

An occasional round-up of international business stories

 

 

Civil Servants revolt over Israel arms sales

LONDON (April 8): Civil Servants in three European countries have called on their Governments to end arms deliveries to Israel because of the prolonged Gaza conflict.

The strongest reaction has been in the United Kingdom where the powerful Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union has warned the Government it is "seriously considering" taking legal action to allow Departmental officials to cease involvement in the export of arms to Israel.

The PCS is understood to be seeking an urgent meeting with senior officials at the Department for Business and Trade over concerns that the supply of UK weapons to Israel is illegal under international law because of its conduct in Gaza.

In Germany, a group of Civil Servants has written to Chancellor, Olaf Scholz and other senior Ministers calling on the Government to “cease arm deliveries to the Israeli Government with immediate effect”.

“Israel is committing crimes in Gaza that are in clear contradiction to international law and thus to the Constitution, which we are bound to as Federal Civil Servants and public employees,” the letter states.

It cites the International Court of Justice’s ruling in January that Israel’s military actions are “plausible acts of genocide”.

Former Netherlands diplomat, Angelique Eijpe said she had resigned from the Dutch Foreign Ministry over Gaza policy.

“The framework of international humanitarian law was completely cast aside in Gaza, which will damage the Netherlands’ standing in the world,” Ms Eijpe said.

“I felt like I had no choice but to resign.”

In the UK, former National Security Adviser, Lord Peter Ricketts added his voice to the call for his country to stop selling arms to Israel.

"I think the time has come to send that signal," he told BBC Radio. “There's abundant evidence now that Israel hasn't been taking enough care to fulfil its obligations on the safety of civilians."

Lord Peter (pictured) said halting arms sales would send a powerful political message to Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu that could spark debate about the United States following suit.

The moves come after seven aid workers were killed in an Israeli strike in Gaza.

A UK Government spokesperson said: "We keep advice on Israel’s adherence to international humanitarian law under review and will act in accordance with that advice.”

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Mexico goes to ICJ over embassy invasion

 

MEXICO CITY (April 10): Mexico is to file a complaint against Ecuador at the International Court of Justice after the raid on its embassy in Quito, during which former Ecuadoran Vice President, Jorge Glas, granted diplomatic asylum by Mexico, was arrested.

 

The two countries have already severed diplomatic ties, with the raid prompting international condemnation.

The incident came a day after Ecuador expelled Mexico’s Ambassador after Mexican President, Andrés Manuel López Obrador insinuated his Ecuadorian counterpart, Daniel Noboa had benefited from the assassination of a rival candidate during last year’s Presidential elections.

Former journalist and Presidential candidate, Fernando Villavicencio was assassinated in August 2023.

Mr Noboa said the granting of diplomatic asylum to Mr Glas, who is facing corruption charges, was an "illicit act”.

 

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Biden’s PS protection may not stop Trump

WASHINGTON (April 5): United States President, Joe Biden will not be able to shield Federal Public Servants from political retaliation should his election rival, Donald Trump, win the election in November, a former official in the Trump White House says.

Former President Trump has promised to dismantle the so-called ‘deep state’ of entrenched Federal bureaucrats he says resisted his policies during his previous Administration.

Under Mr Biden’s orders, the Office of Personnel Management has announced a rule to strengthen Public Service protections, aiming to stymie Mr Trump’s plan to revive Schedule F, a class of Federal employees he created that could be fired more easily.

However, former Trump official, James Sherk said a Trump Administration could roll back the rule. “This is something that can slow down a Schedule F but only by six months to a year,” Mr Sherk said.

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Troops in face-off with sacked workers

BUENOS AIRES (April 5): The Argentine Government his initiated mass lay-offs of State workers, deploying security forces to block dismissed officers from re-entering their former workplaces.

Minister for Security, Patricia Bullrich said she had authorised the deployment of troops to guard public buildings in response to industrial action by the State Workers’ Association, which has called for an all-out strike in protest at the Government’s latest moves.

Demonstrations and meetings were held at various sites around the capital, Buenos Aires amid reports that as many as 15,000 contracted workers had been let go as part of President, Javier Milei’s  austerity push.

Mr Milei says he plans to cut around 70,000 jobs from the Civil Service over the next year. Argentina has more than 332,000 State workers.

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EU woos Armenia with project funding

YEREVAN (April 5): The European Union is to allocate €270 million ($A443 million) to Armenia over the next four years for electrification and new renewable energy projects.

The move comes as Armenia continues to cut ties with its former ally, Russia, which owns much of its energy network and infrastructure but has failed to step in amid a worsening confrontation with neighbouring Azerbaijan.

In recent weeks Armenia has suspended its membership of the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organisation, has invited United States troops to train in the country, dispatched aid to Ukraine and even suggested it could try to join the European Union itself.

European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen praised these measures. “They show that the European Union and Armenia are increasingly aligned in values and interests,” she said.

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Georgia returns to controversial law

TBILISI (April 4): Georgia’s Ministry of Justice is reviewing a controversial law that will brand charities, pressure groups and opposition media outlets as agents of foreign influence.

The move comes just over a year after the law was dropped in the face of a public outcry and street protests in the capital, Tbilisi.

Parliamentary Leader of the ruling Georgian Dream Party, Mamuka Mdinaradze said  the legislation would be virtually unchanged, requiring organisations receiving funding from overseas to declare they were carrying out the interests of a foreign power.

Critics say the Bill will impose additional onerous reporting requirements, inspections, and administrative and criminal liability, including up to five years in prison for violations by what were, in most cases, civil society groups.

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Audit uncovers widespread fraud at Agency

MONROVIA (April 2): A damning audit of Liberia’s Civil Service Agency has prompted its newly-appointed Director-General, Josiah F. Joekai, Jr., to order a comprehensive overhaul.

The report, by the General Auditing Commission (GAC), found instances of fraudulent payments made to individuals for services not rendered and payments to ghost employees, resulting in “significant financial losses due to fraud and mismanagement of funds”.

The findings uncovered other irregularities, including the payment of full salaries to employees on study leave and unauthorised absences, highlighting serious flaws in payroll management. 

Mr Joekai, who took over the role earlier this year, said he was shocked by the report and especially the “astronomically” high expenditure on consultants that did not reflect the quality of consultancy provided. “This undermines the integrity and efficiency of the Civil Service and will be corrected,” he said.

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Civil Service exam critic slammed

NEW DELHI (April 4): Former senior Indian bureaucrats have slammed comments by a member of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi’s Economic Advisory Council, Sanjeev Sanyal, that up to eight years of preparation for the Civil Service examination by tens of thousands of students “is a waste of youthful energy”.

Former Finance Secretary, Arvind Mayaram said that while Mr Sanyal was welcome to his views, they were off the mark and smacked of gross ignorance.

"I believe that there is no service in the world that offers the wide canvas of experience of public policy and governance that determines the lives of common people,” Mr Mayaram said.

His criticisms were echoed by former Indian Administrative Service officer, M.G. Devasahayam who said Mr Sanyal had little knowledge of the Civil Service, seeing it through a corporate prism “and that is a mistake”.

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 Ministry seeks better product safety standards

TOKYO (April 7): In a move aimed at improving the safety of foreign-made products in Japan, the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry will require overseas businesses that sell via the internet to appoint a person in Japan to supervise safety management and troubleshooting.

In a statement, the Ministry said with that person in place, it would be able to request the removal of products not meeting Japanese safety standards. The new law is expected to come into force next year.

In recent years, products that violate national safety standards have been sold directly to consumers online.

According to the Ministry, the number of serious incidents caused by products obtained online has increased from 73 in 2019 to 103 in 2022. These included fires caused by mobile batteries and damage to a child’s internal organs after they accidentally swallowed a toy that contained powerful magnets.

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Flexible work to ease Manila congestion

MANILA (April 4): The Philippines Civil Service Commission (CSC) says it will encourage flexible work arrangements across Government Agencies, recognising that rigid office working is prone to disruption and hinders productivity. 

The CSC cited the need to ease Metro Manila's road congestion by adopting remote work alternatives.

“Limiting physical reporting to offices can significantly reduce road congestion stemming from daily commutes. Allowing more personnel to accomplish tasks from home or remote locations will take pressure off the metro’s transportation infrastructure,” the CSC said in a statement.

“Adopting flexible work arrangements enables Agencies to become more resilient against disruptions, while promoting a better work-life balance for officials,” the statement said.

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PM backflips over Ramadan payment

KUALA LUMPUR (April 5): Malaysian Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim has done a backflip over an end-of-Ramadan (Aidilfitri)  payment to the country’s Civil Servants, just days after saying there would be no such payment this year.

Mr Anwar announced a RM500 ($A159) special financial assistance Aidilfitri payment to Government employees on Grade 56 and below. He also agreed to distribute a similar amount to all Government retirees.

President of the Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs), Adnan Mat said Mr Anwar’s change of heart proved the Prime Minister was always open to listening to the union’s views, even though he had initially refused a special Aidilftri payment.

“Therefore, Cuepacs expresses the highest appreciation and gratitude to the Government for agreeing to give the Aidilfitri,” Mr Adnan said.

 

A regular update of Public Service news and events from around the world.