Backpacking reporter takes a trip from the past

The story of a young journalist backpacking around Scotland in order to get closer to her readers is an indication of just how much the task of news-gathering has changed in just a few decades since the introduction of the internet, social media, and now artificial intelligence.

The reason she feels she has to do this points to why traditional media is facing so many difficulties in the third decade of the 21st Century.

The Scotsman’s Rural Affairs Correspondent, Katharine Hay says she grew tired of reporting on stories from a desk in Edinburgh.

“I wanted to change my approach to gathering news and storytelling. I wanted to try doing journalism in a different way,” Ms Hay (pictured) said.

“Setting out on foot to gather stories isn’t anything new, but in the world of artificial intelligence-generated content and with home-working taking more of a hold, it just felt right to do the opposite.”

Ms Hay has realised what reporters of a different generation knew instinctively – that the best stories can be found by going out into the communities where they are generated.

In less hectic times journalists could afford the time to pick up scraps of information from fellow patrons in a pub, or from a chance meeting in the street that could lead to front-page stories.

They became so well known in their communities that even walking out to get a coffee could result in them running into a potential lead.

Savage cut-backs in staff have all too often left today’s journalists anchored to the office, ploughing through press releases, or trawling social media in the hope that a tweet or a Facebook posting can be developed into something newsworthy.

While this is a legitimate form of newsgathering in the technological age, it often means the journalist is only reacting to information controlled by the source.

It has also led to deteriorating relationships with councils, courts and the police as the media people now longer have the resources to develop relationships that come with the daily and often informal contacts that were the practice in earlier times.

Ms Hay has the full backing of The Scotsman’s editor, Neil McIntosh who says her initiative is already bringing previously-unheard stories to life.

“She is opening up communities which will be new to so many of our readers around Scotland, and the world,” Mr McIntosh said.

Full credit to The Scotsman for allowing Ms Hay six months to revive the once universal practice of beat reporting, but in these difficult times it is hard to see this as anything more than an anomaly that few others will have the ability, or the inclination, to follow.  

 

An occasional commentary on the state of modern journalism

 

Regional unease over crypto criminality

A new report from United States blockchain analyst, Chainalysis has revealed how public sector employees around the world feel about crypto-currency — both the technology itself and their own ability to understand and investigate it.

The State of Crypto Investigations Report found that the majority of those respondents from the Asia-Pacific region, including Australia, believed in the potential of crypto-currency to enhance the global financial system.

However, they also acknowledged the growing abuse of crypto by criminals as adoption increases. The region also stood out in having a lower level of understanding of crypto-currency generally.

Some 67.7 per cent of Asia-Pacific respondents strongly or slightly agreed that crypto-currency is mainly used by criminals and malicious actors.

The survey stated that this pessimism seemed to be tied to having a lower level of understanding compared to respondents from other regions — 42 per cent of respondents from the Asia-Pacific said they were not very knowledgeable on the subject.

The three types of crime respondents said they had experience of involving crypto-currency included financial fraud, scams, and cyber-crime.

A disproportionate share of respondents from the region named cyber-crime and threat to finance as forms of crime they had encountered that had crypto involvement.

This might be due to the region’s digital growth and the corresponding rise in cyber threats and financial crimes, as Asia Pacific respondents said they were seeing crypto-currency in more than a quarter of their investigations.

On the credit side, roughly half said they believed crypto-currency would become widely adopted by the general population. Roughly half also believed crypto-currency would advance the financial system in a positive way.

Principal Solutions Architect at Chainalysis, Hayato Shigekawa said crypto-currency was becoming increasingly intertwined with global economies.

“The public sector’s recognition of crypto as an asset class continues to grow, and as we’ve seen in this survey, many believe in its potential to transform finance,” Mr Shigekawa said.

“However, as crypto-currency joins the mainstream, it is also becoming a channel for all sorts of crime, not just crypto-crime.”

He said it was worth noting that the Asia-Pacific region had the highest dissatisfaction scores regarding adequate resources, training and educational opportunities, and a lower level of understanding of crypto-currency itself, compared to other regions.

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Broadcom systems pass ransomware test

Broadcom Inc. says its Symantec cyber-security solutions have been assessed to combat ransomware and emerging threats for Australian Government entities.

Vice President and General Manager of the Enterprise Security Group at Broadcom, Rob Greer said the Government’s Information Security Registered Assessors Program (IRAP) had assessed that the Symantec security solutions met the stringent security standards required.

“Stealthy, persistent attacks targeting Australian Government Agencies and other critical infrastructure are both costly and extremely disruptive,” Mr Greer said.

“With the successful IRAP assessments, security practitioners and other key stakeholders can be assured that the most rigorous protection standards have been met to secure their most important data and assets.”

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Robex gold production targets West Africa

Quebec-based Robex Resources Inc. has announced a strategic plan designed to realise its goal of becoming a leading gold producer in West Africa.

This plan includes securing equity financing of $C55 million ($A61 million) and an extension of the company’s $US35 million ($A53 million) bridging loan with Taurus Mining Finance Fund.

Robex has also refreshed its board with the appointment of James Askew as Chair and Matthew Wilcox as Managing Director and Chief Executive.

It is also selling its entire assets in Mali, including the Nampala mine, and will seek to explore a listing on the Australian Stock Exchange.

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MyBudget switches e-signing providers

Australian specialist in budgeting, debt solutions and money management, MyBudget has announced its successful transition to the Australian e-signing company, Annature.

This partnership involves MyBudget using Annature for all formal internal and external client-facing documents across its businesses, at a significantly lower cost than its previous e-signing provider, DocuSign.

Chief Marketing and People Officer at MyBudget, Danielle Puntureri said switching to Annature would reduce MyBudget’s e-signing costs by more than 280 per cent a year.

“Our newfound partnership with Annature now sees our costs reduced enormously to $A13,000 per year. For us, this is a far more cost-effective and commercially sensible arrangement,” Ms Puntureri said.

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Shoals launches new systems for solar

Shoals Technologies Group, which specialises in electrical balance-of-system (EBOS) solutions for the energy transition market, has launched a range of system-solutions focused on international developers and engineering, procurement and construction contractors.

The new product launch, at the Intersolar Europe conference in Munich, included solutions that enabled unobstructed rows, agri-solar, as well as North-South configurations in addition to existing East-West configuration solutions.

Vice-President of International Sales, Josep Tienda said the new suite of solutions brought exciting innovations in the utility scale solar industry.

“These new plug-and-play solutions were developed leveraging Shoals DNA and maintain the high standard we have set over the past two decades,” Mr Tienda said.

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Mutual benefits in VCI-TGL link

VCI Global Limited says it has entered into a strategic collaboration with Treasure Global Inc. (TGL) aimed at enhancing TGL’s e-commerce platform, ZCITY App.

In return, VCI Global will benefit from TGL’s extensive base of approximately three million users, gaining immediate market access to expand its comprehensive suite of financial services.

Group Executive Chair and Chief Executive of VCI Global, Victor Hoo said the partnership marked a significant advance towards enhancing financial inclusion across South-East Asia by leveraging cutting-edge technology to deliver seamless financial services.

“This strategic decision grants VCI Global swift access to a diverse and dynamic user base, accelerating the company’s full range of financial services and reinforcing its strategic position in the South-East Asia fintech and e-commerce landscape,” Mr Hoo said.

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Shire award for Mountain Assets

Mountain Assets has been awarded for Most Outstanding Professional Services at the Sutherland Shire Local Business Awards held at Sylvania Waters, in southern Sydney.

Receiving the award, Chief Executive, James Gardner said the event was a celebration of exceptional businesses in the Sutherland Shire who had made significant contributions through their services, innovation, and commitment to excellence.

“This recognition motivates us to continue striving for excellence and to serve our clients with the highest standards of professionalism and integrity,” Mr Gardner said. 

An occasional round-up of international business stories

 

 

 

 

US fall in Government trust ‘alarming’

WASHINGTON (June 13): A new poll has found that nearly two-thirds of Americans do not trust the Federal Government, marking a near record-low confidence in the country’s political institutions.

The Partnership for Public Service poll of 800 US adults shows just 23 per cent trust the Government, compared to 35 per cent in 2022.

Chief Executive of the Partnership for Public Service, Max Stier (pictured) said the decline in the public’s trust in the Federal Government — “our most important democratic institution” — was alarming.

Experts worry deepening mistrust could impact voting and engagement, ultimately acting as a disincentive for citizens to engage with and provide feedback to their Government altogether.

This also comes at a time when Federal Agencies are trying to use modern technology to improve their relationship with constituents through more user-friendly websites, digital filing systems and in-person recruiting.

That seems to have made an impact given about half of respondents said they were satisfied with their personal interactions with the Government.

Even so, concerted efforts made by Agencies to hire young workers may be stunted by levels of mistrust, particularly among those ages 18-to-34, where data shows trust has fallen from 30 per cent to 15 per cent since 2022.

The survey also supports findings that Republicans are even less likely to have confidence in their Government.

Members of Congress and expert organisations that watch the Government have noted that attacks on the Civil Service have gained steam in conservative circles.

The survey found that almost two-thirds of respondents said there were “many” Civil Servants that refused to cooperate with policies they disagreed with, with almost 79 per cent of Republicans affirming that statement compared to 55 per cent of Democrats. Fewer than a quarter said Civil Servants were non-partisan.

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Top UK bureaucrat gets nuclear job

LONDON (June 13): Former Permanent Secretary at the United Kingdom Cabinet Office, Sir Alex Chisholm has been appointed UK Chair of EDF Energy after having previously run the Department that contracted it to build a nuclear power station in Britain.

Mr Chisholm was head of the UK Department of Business which worked on the Government deal for EDF to proceed with the Hinkley Point C nuclear plant in Somerset, struck in 2016.

The projects costs have since soared from an estimated £18 billion ($A34.7 billion) to at least £31 billion ($A59.7 billion) and is due to be completed in 2031.

The French State-owned company is a specialist in nuclear power, and one of the ‘big six’ energy providers that have been criticised for huge profits during the energy crisis sparked by the war in Ukraine.

Mr Chisholm’s departure is one of a number of high-profile exits from the Civil Service before the General Election and a likely change of governing party.

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Japan’s private sector winning jobs battle

TOKYO (June 15): The shortage of Civil Servants in rural areas of Japan is raising serious concerns.

As the country’s population dwindles and ages, private-sector businesses are becoming increasingly aggressive in recruiting young talent, promising job applicants their assignments even before extending formal job offers — a previously unheard-of practice in Japan.

Researcher at the Recruit Works Institute, Kenji Hashimoto said fewer students were considering a Civil Service career than in recent years.

“With career advancement still largely based on seniority, Local Government personnel often have to wait until they are around 50 years old before being promoted to management levels,” Mr Hashimoto said.

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Cuts bring fears for NZ digital safety

WELLINGTON (June 19): New Zealand’s largest Public Service union, the Public Service Association (PSA) has described job cuts at the Department of Internal Affairs as “reckless and disturbing”, especially after the Department’s digital safety teams had advised of a concerning rise in objectionable content online.

Minister in charge of the Department, Brooke van Velden said Department bureaucrats had assured her they would be able to meet “the same service delivery” as currently expected after the job cuts.

A total of 76 roles have been cut from the Department’s Regulation and Policy Branch, with a further 22 jobs to go across digital safety and anti-money-laundering groups.

Assistant Secretary of the PSA, Fleur Fitzsimons said as a result of the cuts more New Zealanders would be scammed, exposed to violent extremism and sexual exploitation at a time of rising harm online.

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Maltese PM’s criticisms of officers rejected

VALETTA (June 13): Malta’s Opposition Nationalist Party says it stands by Civil Servants after Prime Minister, Robert Abel blamed them for his Labour Government’s poor performance in European Parliamentary elections. 

Mr Abela had said that those bureaucrats “who thought they had a cushy job and were not prepared to serve the people in their legitimate demands should move on before the decision was taken for them”.

In a statement, the Nationalists said the Prime Minister was in a panic and fearful of a party revolt, so was trying to blame others for Labour's poor result.

The statement urged Civil Servants to “follow the truth”, saying only they could stop abuses by Mr Abela and his colleagues.

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Joint backing for Fiji pay rise

The Fiji Public Service Association and the Fiji Council of Social Services are calling for an across-the-board pay rise for Civil Servants and the implementation of a new national minimum wage rate.

In a joint statement, the two bodies said the salary increase was long overdue and must be a top priority for the Coalition Government due to the high cost of living, and an inflation rate of more than seven per cent.

They said the last salary increase for Civil Servants was in 2017 while the national minimum wage of $F4 ($A2.74) an hour was in need of an urgent increase.

“The implementation of these measures is crucial to enhance accountability, transparency, and public trust in the Parliamentary system,” the joint statement said.

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Chinese military secrets ‘sold’ for a dollar

BEIJING (June 14): A Chinese military history enthusiast who picked up four discarded books for less than a dollar at a neighbourhood recycling station found they contained confidential military documents.

This follows a Ministry of State Security announcement in a social media post, praising the retired man for calling a hotline to report the incident. It identified him only by his family name, Zhang, and did not say what the documents were about.

“Mr Zhang thought to himself that he had ‘bought’ the country’s military secrets and brought them home, but if someone with ulterior motives were to buy them, the consequences would be unimaginable,” the Ministry said.

The post is the latest in a series from the Ministry that appears to be trying to draw in new audiences with dramatic stories designed to raise awareness of the importance of national security at a time when confrontation with the United States is rising.

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Belgian officer accused of green fraud

BRUSSELS (June 15): An official in the Belgian Wallonia Region’s Public Service has been accused of embezzling funds from the sale of green certificates.

The official worked in the Office for Sustainable Energy Promotion, responsible for the management of green certificates, which are issued for the sustainable generation of energy.

The suspect allegedly manipulated the encoded data, resold the certificates, then lodged the proceeds in different bank accounts to avoid detection by the computer system or colleagues, netting an estimate haul of around €150,000 ($A246,000).

The official is now under suspension and the Namur Public Prosecutor’s Office has been informed. Legal proceedings are under way.

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Spicy noodles too hot for Danish regulators

COPENHAGEN (June 13): The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration has recalled several spicy ramen noodle products produced by South Korean company, Samyang, claiming the capsaicin levels in them could poison consumers.

The Agency urged consumers to abandon the product, even as Samyang produced a statement saying there was no problem with the quality of the food.

"We understand that the Danish food authority recalled the products, not because of a problem in their quality but because they were too spicy," Samyang said.

"The products are being exported globally and this is the first time they have been recalled for the above reason."

It's unknown if any specific incidents in Denmark had prompted the Agency to take action.

 

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

 

 

Zymeworks’ cancer therapy licenced in China

Biotechnology company, Zymeworks Inc. has received a licence from China’s National Medical Products Administration for its zanidatamab treatment for biliary tract cancer.

Under the terms of Zymeworks’ Asia Pacific license and collaboration agreement with BeiGene for the development and commercialisation of zanidatamab, it is now entitled to receive a $US8 million ($A12.2 million) milestone payment.

Chair and Chief Executive of Zymeworks, Kenneth Galbraith said acceptance by China marked a significant milestone in the global effort to bring effective, targeted treatment options to those affected by locally advanced or metastatic biliary tract cancer.

“We are grateful to all of the stakeholders who have worked tirelessly to help us reach this milestone, including our dedicated teams in manufacturing, quality control, regulatory affairs, and clinical research — as well as our collaboration partner in Asia Pacific, BeiGene,” Mr Galbraith (pictured) said.

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Disability housing investment opened

Mountain Assets, in partnership with Sumo Managed Funds, has launched a new investment opportunity in the Queensland city of Bundaberg focused on developing specialist disability accommodation.

This venture marks the second collaborative effort between Mountain Assets and Sumo, following their successful fundraising effort for the Cranbourne project in Victoria.

The partners aim to raise $A6.4 million for the housing project in central Bundaberg, which will be developed in two stages.

Stage one will see the construction of three houses, each with two bedrooms and one carer's overnight accommodation. The second stage involves two more houses with similar configurations.

Director and Co-Founder of Sumo Managed Funds, Simon Robinson said the development would provide high-quality, compliant accommodation designed to meet the specific needs of individuals requiring significant support, enhancing their quality of life and integration into the community.

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VCI Global plans AI data centres

VCI Global Limited has announced a strategic plan to build the first of several artificial intelligence (AI) computing data centres, designed to meet the intense computational demands of AI workloads.

The initial AI Centre will be equipped with advanced water-cooled H200 Graphic Processing Units (GPUs) to support complex computing and big data processing.

It will deliver unparalleled computing power services, including GPU rental and storage solutions, offering GPU as a service for Governments, financial institutions, and businesses.

VCI plans to have the first AI Centre in Malaysia operating by the first quarter of 2025. Building on this, it aims to have additional centres operating in Europe and the United States by the end of 2025.

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Bangladesh awarded for climate finance plan

Bangladesh has become the first Government to receive the Global Centre on Adaption’s Local Adaptation Champions Award, won in the Innovation in Devolving Finance category for a Local Government Initiative on Climate Change.

The award was made to the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives for its system for accessing and managing climate finance from various sources.

Accepting the award on behalf of the Ministry, Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina said it underscored the nation’s commitment to sustainable development and climate resilience.

Chair of the GCA’s Board, Ban Ki-moon said Bangladesh “stood at the forefront of supporting the most climate-vulnerable populations, demonstrating leadership in channelling essential climate finance to those in dire need”.

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Infocom’s 30-year service to clients recognised

Infocom has been recognised in the Customer Service Management Planning and Practice category at the annual Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards in Manila.

Chief Operations and Sales Officer, Rommel Regino said the award reflected the company’s 30-year commitment to delivering exceptional service to telecom and banking clients.

In a statement with the award, judges said: “By employing a unique strategy combining innovation, people, and analytics, Infocom was able to drive client success. Its use of AI and analytics helped it consistently rank as a top vendor.”

The Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards are the only business awards program to recognise innovation in the workplace in all 29 markets of the Asia-Pacific region.

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Pythian appoints new Chief Executive

Canadian Data, analytics, and AI services provider, Pythian Services has appointed Brooks Borcherding as its Chief Executive and board member.

Current Chief Executive, Keith Angell will return to Mill Point Capital as an operating partner, but will remain a Pythian board member. 

Mr Borcherding has previously held senior roles at companies, including Navisite, Datto, and Cloudreach, and his expertise spans cloud solutions, enterprise software, data protection, and managed services.

He has successfully navigated three transactions, including the sales of Navisite to Time Warner Cable, Datto to Vista Equity Partners, and Cloudreach to Atos.

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Valeura buys vessel for offshore field

Valeura Energy Inc. has acquired the Floating Storage and Offloading vessel Aurora, on location at its Nong Yao field, offshore in the Gulf of Thailand.

The Aurora had previously been leased from the seller, the Omni Offshore Terminals group, with Valeura exercising its option to purchase for $US19 million ($A28.8 million).

Valeura expects that owning, as opposed to leasing the Aurora, will provide operational flexibility and allow the company to optimise and reduce operating expenses.

An occasional round-up of international business stories

 

 

Controversy over Chinese officer’s plight

BEIJING (June 10): A Chinese Public Servants’ complaint about her job in a remote area of the Gobi Desert has sparked a debate in the country over public duty and individual freedom.

The female Wuhan University literature graduate, identified only as ‘Gu’, has generated some sympathy along with fierce criticisms of her “arrogance” and “disrespect”.

Ms Gu shared her thoughts about her posting in Jiayuguan in Gansu Province on the social media platform of Wuhan University, where she had studied German literature to Master’s Degree level.

In the now-deleted post, Ms Gu complained about feeling trapped in the industrial city, dominated by iron and steel works, and worried that she had “sold her freedom and soul”.

She said she accepted the job last year despite having other offers because she was being pressured by her parents who felt it offered the best chance of job security.

Ms Gu was recruited via a program, where students are selected from elite universities to work in twin Government and Community Party roles, assigning them to grass-roots positions as part of training for cadres who will eventually go on to higher level jobs.

In the article, Ms Gu, who is from Lanzhou, also in Gansu Province, wrote that she was hoping to be assigned a position in her home city, and was surprised when she was given a position in a small city about 800 kilometres away.

She said Jiayuguan (pictured) had a harsh environment with dust and howling wind and she was required to work “endless hours of overtime”.  

Her article went viral in late May, by which time she had already resigned her position.

Many criticised the graduate for being selfish, saying Public Servants should be dedicated to the country, but others expressed sympathy and said she was just expressing her personal feelings.

It also highlights a dilemma for many young Chinese people who face pressure from their families to try to secure a Government job, which is seen as offering stability and respectability.

This has only intensified in recent years as the Chinese economy faltered in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic following decades of rapid growth.

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UK Institute warns of ‘collapsing services’

LONDON (June 8): The Institute for Government (IFG) has warned that the next United Kingdom Government will have to deal with a “long and painful list of problems”, including a fragile Civil Service and public services on the brink of collapse.

In a new report, the IFG says under-performing public services, battered public finances, a strained Civil Service, and tensions within the country "will dominate and define the first years of the next Government, if not the entire Parliament".                                                  

The paper warns that, to provide a credible vision for the country, parties must set out a plan to address these “state of the State” challenges which, for the winner, will be waiting for them on their desks from day one.

Deputy Director of the IFG, Emma Norris said many of the problems would require immediate attention “almost all, from stagnant growth to a fragile Civil Service, will require serious reform over the next Parliament and beyond”.   

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Mexico Mayor dies in deadly ambush

MEXICO CITY (June 4); The female Mayor of a town in Mexico has been gunned down just hours after the country marked the election of former Mayor of Mexico City,  Claudia Sheinbaum as the nation's first woman President.

Yolanda Sánchez was ambushed by gunmen in the town centre of Cotija, where she served as Mayor since September 2021.

Local media say she was shot 19 times and died in hospital shortly after the attack. Her bodyguard was also killed in the gun battle. No arrests have been made so far.

Ms Sánchez had reported receiving death threats shortly after taking office. She was held for three days by armed men who had seized her at gunpoint during a visit to the neighbouring State of Jalisco in 2023.

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Ministry suspends Chinese miner

BANGUI (June 11): The Central African Republic’s Ministry of Mines has suspended the activities of a Chinese mining company, accusing it of cooperating with armed militias.

In a statement, the Ministry said Daqing SARL, a Chinese gold and diamond mining company, had "intelligence with armed groups, mined illegally, introduced foreign subjects into mining areas without permission, failed to pay taxes, and failed to file activity reports".

The company operated in Mingala, a town in the southern Central African Republic plagued by fighting between the country's armed forces and the Coalition of Patriots for Change, an anti-government armed group.

The country has been in conflict since 2013 when predominantly Muslim rebels seized power and forced President François Bozize from office. Predominantly Christian militias fought back.

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Agency opposing gender violence closed

BUENOS AIRES (June 10): The Argentine Government has announced it will shut down a Government Agency dedicated to halting gender violence.

Media reports stated that the head of the Under-Secretariat for Protection Against Gender Violence, Claudia Barcia was informed in a WhatsApp message that her Agency, which oversees an emergency telephone hotline and programs assisting those at risk of gender violence, would be shut with immediate effect.

The reports stated that Ms Barcia immediately tended her resignation.  

Last month, oversight of the Agency was transferred from the Human Capital Ministry to the Justice Ministry.

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Agencies told to ‘address redundant tasks’

PHNOM PENH (June 4): Cambodia’s Minister of Civil Service, Hun Many has called for a review of the structure and function of Ministries, institutions, and sub-national administrations in order to address redundant tasks and responsibilities.

Mr Many, who is also a Deputy Prime Minister, said his Ministry had established three steps towards the reform of public administration.

“First there will be major changes in the Civil Service recruitment system; second an emphasis on capacity building and achievement for institutions to increase the quality of jobs, and third the adoption of incentives to encourage success in public administration,” Mr Many said.

He said his Ministry has instructed all Agencies to review their structures and to analyse their duties and functions, to be completed by the third quarter of the year.

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Code sets out core values for bureaucrats

HONG KONG (June 8): Hong Kong’s Civil Service Bureau has issued a circular announcing a revised Civil Service Code, spelling out the constitutional roles and responsibilities of bureaucrats and the core values and standards of conduct that they  should uphold.

The Code contains 12 core values, including upholding the constitutional order and national security, being people-oriented, having a passion for public service, a commitment to the rule of law, political neutrality, and professionalism, among others.

All Civil Servants and other Government employees, including Non-Civil Service contract staff, post-retirement Civil Service contract staff, and staff appointed on other non-Civil Service terms, must observe the code which takes effect immediately.

Secretary for the Civil Service, Ingrid Yeung Ho Poi-yan said the Government was committed to enhancing Civil Servants' awareness of national security and establishing a set of shared values and standards of conduct for the Civil Service.

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City plays Cupid as birth rate plunges

TOKYO (June 7): Tokyo’s city administration is launching its own dating app in an effort to counter the plunging birth rate in Japan’s capital.

A Tokyo official in charge of the app said users would be required to submit documentation proving they were legally single and must sign a letter stating they were willing to get married.

Stating one's income is common on Japanese dating apps, but the Tokyo Government app will require a tax certificate slip to prove annual salary.

"We learned that 70 per cent of people who want to get married aren't actively joining events or apps to look for a partner, so we want to give them a gentle push to find one," the official said.

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Biden names new political affairs specialist

WASHINGTON (June 6): United State President, Joe Biden has nominated Julianne Smith to serve as Under-Secretary of State for Political Affairs, the State Department’s fourth-ranking job, and one of the most important, given the fraught state of politics worldwide.

 

Ms Smith is currently US Ambassador to NATO and while stay in that job while she goes through the confirmation process.

Prior to that, she was a Senior Advisor to the Secretary of State at the Department of State and has served as Director of the Asia and Geopolitics Programs at the German Marshall Fund of the United States.

 

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

VCI Global boost for secure messaging

VCI Global Limited has launched a consumer version of a military-grade secure messenger platform, currently serving European governments and businesses, called Socializer.

Chief AI Officer at VCI Global, Pascal Lauria said Socializer aimed to protect data privacy and facilitate digital asset storage.

“This initiative, in collaboration with a Switzerland-based provider, includes the development of a secure digital asset wallet, extending robust security features to consumers worldwide,” Mr Lauria said.

“Socializer stands out with its military-grade end-to-end encryption, ensuring that user communications and media remain private and secure.”

He said a highlight of the platform was its advanced facial recognition technology that instantly concealed chats with ‘private status’ contacts when someone other than the user was looking at the phone, adding an extra layer of privacy.

“In addition to secured messaging, Socializer offers comprehensive media management tools, including secure local file storage, editing tools for documents and photos, document signing, and a secure back-up system,” Mr Lauria said.

“The platform also integrates a decentralised wallet, enabling users to store, swap, receive, and transfer multiple fiat and crypto-currencies seamlessly and globally.”

Group Executive Chair, Victor Hoo said Socializer was a pivotal addition to VCI Global’s portfolio “reflecting our commitment to innovation and security”.

“This platform not only safeguards user privacy, it also expands our reach across various markets and enhances our service offerings in fintech and cyber-security,” Mr Hoo (pictured) said.  

The beta version of Socializer will be available for download on Android and Apple App Stores beginning in July, with the launch of the full version expected in October.

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Manufacturers unhappy with online ordering

A survey conducted by specialist business-to-business platform, Sana Commerce has revealed that while 77 per cent of manufacturing buyers shop online three or more times per week, persistent order errors have left many unhappy with the process.

Chief Executive of Sanna Commerce, Sebastiaan Verhaar said in the wake of the findings, it was clear that the manufacturing sector's e-commerce platforms were not meeting the critical needs of their buyers.

“As manufacturing continues to push forward with digital transformation, accuracy and precision in e-commerce solutions are not just nice-to-have features, but indispensable assets,” Mr Verhaar said.

“More than any other, the manufacturing industry requires efficiency and resilience to thrive amidst constant challenges. This report underscores advanced technology's pivotal role in navigating these challenges and turning them into opportunities for growth and innovation.”

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Hope of new treatment for kidney cancer

Scientists at the Wistar Institute in Philadelphia have developed a new antibody treatment for advanced clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), a deadly form of kidney cancer with few treatment options.

The researchers have built on existing antibody therapies, known as bispecific T cell engagers to develop new and improved recombinant and synthetic DNA versions of therapeutic antibodies that show promise in pre-clinical models as a potent, long-lasting treatment against ccRCC.

The Wistar scientists also demonstrated that the more potent therapy could be delivered using synthetic DNA, which allows therapeutic production directly in patients.

First author of the study, Ryan O’Connell said the big takeaway from the project was that it could lead to a promising new therapy for kidney cancer.

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Kaleris improves Thai port’s sustainability

Thailand’s Kerry Siam Seaport has announced a series of operational improvements that have achieved significant improvements in the reduction of carbon emissions.

A partnership with Kaleris, a provider of supply chain technology solutions, including Navis Terminal Operating Systems, has reduced truck driving distances by 20 per cent and container rehandles by 10 per cent.

The Kaleris Optimisation Services team worked closely with the port to identify improvements in yard strategy, terminal truck operations, and vessel planning.

Chief Operating Officer at Kaleris, Molly Harrison said the company had devised creative solutions to address the port’s distinct challenges, making it well positioned to continue delivering the best service to its customers.

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Deriv builds quality of life in Paraguay

Online trading platform, Deriv is marking its 25^th anniversary by launching a series of initiatives aimed at driving meaningful social betterment.

It has partnered with TECHO, a youth organisation in Paraguay, to provide housing to under-served communities in the San Francisco Settlement, just outside Asunción.

Deriv is involved in the construction of 10 new houses for families in dire need. The initial planning phase, now complete, saw Deriv lead on the timeline for construction of the houses as well as identifying communities, families most in need, and the allocation of resources.

In addition to housing, Deriv is committed to improving the community's overall quality of life and future prosperity. Initiatives include providing access to technology like laptops, hosting community forums, and offering mentorship and training programs.

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LINK business broker opens in Cairns

LINK Business Brokers is expanding its presence in Australia with a new North Queensland office, based in Cairns.

The office, led by father-and-son team Wim and Marc Janssen, aims to leverage the growing market for business brokerage in the region, enhance economic development, and offer expert brokerage services.

Wim Janssen has more than two decades of experience in the business broking industry. Together with Marc, he has been instrumental in expanding the brokerage’s footprint across Regional Queensland.

Marc Janssen said LINK’s expansion recognised that the use of business brokerages in Australia had surged. “Business owners now recognise the value of seeking professional advice and speciality services when the time comes to exit,” he said.

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Freshworks’ acquisition enhances IT service

Software provider Freshworks has acquired Device42, a company that provides up-to-date views of assets across an organisation’s entire IT infrastructure.

The acquisition marks a significant milestone for California-based Freshworks, reinforcing its commitment to empowering IT teams with robust IT asset management solutions.

Chief Executive, Dennis Woodside said in today’s ever-changing digital world, IT teams played a major role in delivering business value, with speed and responsiveness being critical for success.

“Upon the integration of Freshworks and Device42 solutions, customers will be able to benefit from a unified platform that delivers enhanced IT service management and IT asset management software capabilities,” Mr Woodside said.

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Duck Creek names new Asia-Pacific GM

Sydney-based Duck Creek Technologies, a specialist in intelligent solutions, for the insurance industry, has appointed Christian Erickson as General Manager for the Asia-Pacific region.

In this role, Mr Erickson, a specialist in enterprise software and professional services, will oversee a new phase of investment in the region and further strengthen the deep relationships with existing customers and partners.

He joins Duck Creek from digital transformation consultant, Versent, where he was General Manager of Growth, collaborating with top public and private sector companies in Australia.

Previously, Mr Erickson held leadership positions at Cognizant, overseeing the banking, financial services, and insurance team, and at Accenture, as part of the financial services leadership team.

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Double award for Canadian explorer

Canadian petroleum and gas explorer, Valeura Energy has been named Upstream Company of the Year, and Chief Executive, Sean Guest, Executive of the Year, at the Asia-Pacific Energy Capital Assembly and Awards Dinner in Singapore.

Mr Guest said being named Upstream Company of the Year “energises us to continue pursuing our objectives with passion, for all stakeholders who stand to benefit from our ongoing success”. 

“I am also humbled to have been selected as Executive of the Year and grateful to our exceptional team of professionals, who have made both of these awards possible," Mr Guest said.

An occasional round-up of international business stories