HELSINKI (February 2): Finland’s Health Ministry is considering a recent survey that reveals a clear majority of citizens support the introduction of a tax targeting products high in sugar content, such as candies and biscuits.
The initiative, backed by 60 per cent of respondents and opposed by 31 per cent, showcases bipartisan support among both men and women.
Conducted by research institute Verian, the survey collected responses from 1,023 individuals, indicating a slight increase in support from a similar exercise three years ago, which showed 58 per cent in favour.
Chair of Terve Paino, a lobby group calling for a reduction in obesity rates in Finland, Pertti Mustajoki said a sugar tax was the key to combatting the growing obesity epidemic.
“The proposal for a sugar tax comes at a time when obesity rates among adults have doubled and tripled among children over the past four decades, with the trend continuing upward,” Professor Mustajoki said.
“Obesity disrupts metabolism and leads to dozens of diseases, causing significant human suffering and imposing billions of euros in costs on Finland's healthcare system and society at large.”
Currently, a tax is applied only to sugary drinks, which account for about 20 per cent of the sugar intake among Finns.
Expanding the tax to include other high-sugar products could generate more than €500 million ($A825 million) in annual revenue, adding to the approximately €220 million ($A363 million) already collected from the soda tax.
Vice Chair of Terve Paino, Pekka Puska said the tax was a no-brainer.
“A clear majority of the population supports it; it would improve public health and generate additional revenue to the State,” Professor Puska said.
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Brazilian Agency accused of illegal spying
BRASILA (January 30): Brazilian President, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has sacked the Deputy Director of the National Intelligence Agency and four Department heads as investigations continue into claims the Agency illegally spied on ex-President, Jair Bolsonaro's enemies.
The Deputy Director, Alessandro Moretti, is accused of passing information to the Agency’s former head, Alexandre Ramagem, a politician in Mr Bolsonaro's party.
The scandal was revealed when the Supreme Court unsealed documents in which the Agency was accused of carrying out surveillance on key political and judicial figures critical of the former President.
Among the alleged targets of the illegal eavesdropping were three Supreme Court justices and the Speaker of Brazil's Lower House of Congress.
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Irish workers settle on new pay deal
DUBLIN (January 30): More than 385,000 Irish Public Servants will get a 10.25 per cent pay rise in a new €3.6 billion ($A5.94 billion) wage agreement after Government officials and union leaders finalised a deal.
The breakthrough was made after lengthy negotiations at the Workplace Relations Commission headquarters in Lansdowne House in Dublin that went into the early hours of the morning.
Officials had previously offered unions a €2.9 billion ($A4.78 billion) package which was rejected.
Minister for Public Expenditure, Paschal Donohoe welcomed the proposed agreement, saying he believed it would provide certainty and stability for Public Servants, the Government and the public in the coming years.
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Teachers warn on proposed pension curb
KUALA LUMPUR (February 1): The Malaysian Government’s plan to abolish the pension scheme for new permanent Public Servants would result in a flight to the private sector, a teachers union leader has predicted.
President of the Malaysian Muslim Teachers Association, Mohd Azizee Hassan said the consequences would do lasting harm to the public sector.
"On behalf of the teachers' union, we urge this matter be reconsidered and a new pension scheme introduced,” Mr Azizee said.
Under the proposal, new hires in the Public Service will have to contribute to private schemes if they want a pension on retirement.
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Assembly returns amid crumbling services
BELFAST (February 3): The Northern Ireland Assembly has resumed control of affairs in the Province following a two-year stand-off with Westminster during which public services have been crumbling.
This is not the first suspension of the Government at Stormont, the one from 2017-20 was actually longer, but this one occurred within the mounting disruptions throughout the United Kingdom in the wake of the exit from the European Union.
Nowhere has the damage been greater than in the healthcare sector, where more than 420,000 people are currently waiting for their first consultant-led outpatient appointment following referral, a more than fivefold increase since 2008.
While some individuals may appear on the list more than once awaiting separate treatments, this is still a huge figure in a population of 1.9 million.
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Fiji proclaims Civil Service Day
SUVA (January 31): The Fijian Government has officially designated the last Friday of every June as Civil Service Day, with the inaugural celebration set to take place on the 28th of that month.
The initiative aligns closely with the aims and objectives of the United Nations Public Service Day, also observed every June.
Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka, who is also head of the Civil Service, said it was an occasion to recognise the unwavering dedication and hard work of Civil Servants in helping to build a better nation.
He said it would not be a day off for Government workers, but a series of events would be organised “to celebrate achievements and stimulate a dialogue about the evolution of a modernised Civil Service in the 21st century”.
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