SmartSat in space partnership with NZ

Adelaide-based SmartSat Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) has announced the first four jointly-funded space research projects in partnership with New Zealand’s Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. 

The projects, beginning next month, involve research into monitoring methane emissions and enhancing real-time monitoring of greenhouse gases; managing free space optical communication nodes across Australia and New Zealand; improving the tracking of space objects, and developing a joint concept for maritime domain awareness.

Chief Executive of the CRC, Andy Koronios said the projects were a significant advance in Trans-Tasman space collaboration.

“This partnership between Australia and New Zealand in the space sector demonstrates our commitment to leveraging our combined strengths and resources,” Professor Koronios (pictured) said.

“The projects are a testament to our shared vision of driving innovation and developing capabilities that will not only benefit our respective countries, but also contribute to global advances in space technology.”

He said the research addressed major environmental, economic and social challenges through scientific collaboration, while leveraging the unique geographical advantages of Australia and New Zealand, such as their Southern Hemisphere location, clear skies, and varied topography.

In addition to these initial projects, SmartSat has opened a call for submissions on funding opportunities for further research activities under the program.

The partners are inviting proposals for collaborative six-month feasibility studies in both countries, with funding for innovative research and development projects in the area of Earth observation that will drive the growth of their space industries. 

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FDH Aero to boost Korean space ambitions

Supply-chain consultant for the aerospace and defence industries, FDH Aero has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the South Korean city of Sacheon.

The southern coastal city is the headquarters of the Korea AeroSpace Administration, established earlier this year to support the Korean Government’s goal of sending missions to the Moon and Mars within the next two decades.

Regional Managing Director for FDH Aero, Cody Ho said the company would play a critical role in promoting and growing South Korea’s aerospace-related projects.

“We will provide consulting services such as training seminars, site visits and the development of joint projects both in the region and across the globe. The agreement takes effect immediately and will last for at least two years,” Mr Ho said.

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Malaysia promotes healthcare achievements

The Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC) is producing a series of videos promoting the technological breakthroughs within the country’s healthcare industry to potential patients around the world.

In a statement, the MHTC said Experience Malaysia Healthcare (EMH) involved stories aimed at demonstrating the expertise and specialisation within Malaysia’s healthcare system.

“The EMH series showcases the dedication and expertise of medical professionals in Malaysia, celebrating their commitment to patient care, research, and healthcare management,” the statement said.

“By putting a face to Malaysia's healthcare system, the series highlights their achievements, inspires future healthcare professionals, and explores both the challenges and innovations within the industry.”

It said the series would spotlight patient treatment success stories, from overcoming life-threatening illnesses to regaining quality of life.

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Italian museums recover attraction for tourists

After several years of pandemic-induced doldrums, the summer of 2023 saw a bounce-back for Italy’s museum sector with growth in visitor numbers and record ticket sales.

According to data produced by the Digital Innovation Observatory for Culture of the Milan Polytechnic School of Management, the number of visitors to Italian museums, monuments and archaeological sites rose by 16 per cent last year compared to pre-pandemic 2019, with ticket sales up 27 per cent in the same period.

Among the world’s most popular museums, the Uffizi Gallery in Florence had more than five million visitors in 2023, an increase of 27.8 per cent on the previous year, while the Vatican Museums in Rome also continued to welcome huge numbers of tourists from around the world.

However, the range of Italian museums extends from large cities to lesser-known treasures scattered around the country from Lombardy to Sicily.

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Heilind Electronics on show at Hanoi Expo

Heilind Electronics Asia Pacific has announced that it will be exhibiting at the Vietnam Manufacturing Expo in Hanoi from August 7-to-9.

In a statement, the Hong Kong-based distributor of interconnect devices, said it would be displaying hardware, electro-mechanical components, connectors, switches, sensors, relays, terminal blocks, and wire and cables.

“These devices form the backbone of electronic products, ensuring seamless connections and optimal performance,” the statement said.

“Our robust logistics network, with strategically-located warehouses across the Asia Pacific region, ensures quick and efficient product delivery.”

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Lifestyle Clotheslines expands into laundry care

Lifestyle Clotheslines is making a strategic expansion into the laundry care space, with the introduction of a laundry bag range, protecting customers’ delicate laundry items during the washing cycle.

Managing Director, Gary Nickless said the new range was designed after requests from customers and signified the company’s devotion to offering practical, robust, and high-quality solutions.

"Focusing on Australian-made products is a key concern so product quality and standards can be maintained and is a welcome addition to our outdoor clothing range,” Mr Nickless said.

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Zymeworks names financial expert as VP

Canadian biotechnology company, Zymeworks has appointed Leone Patterson to the roles of Executive Vice President, and Chief Business and Financial Officer, effective from September 1.

Chair and Chief Executive, Kenneth Galbraith said Ms Patterson brought more than 20 years of public company biotech experience with a proven track record of guiding strategy, finance, operations, and governance through multiple phases of growth.

“She has the financial leadership qualities to support Zymeworks as we continue to make progress in achieving our goal of having five novel antibody-drug conjugates or novel T cell engagers in clinical studies by 2026,” Mr Galbraith said.

Ms Patterson previously served as Chief Financial and Business Officer at Tenaya Therapeutics where she led corporate finance, investor relations, corporate communications, strategy and business development teams.

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Prota Therapeutics appoints new Chair

Patrick Machado has been appointed Board Chair of Australian biotech company, Prota Therapeutics.

Mr Machado brings more than 30 years of experience in the biotech sector, specialising in the scientific and regulatory processes involved in bringing new treatments to market.

Chief Executive, Mimi Tang said Mr Machado’s extensive experience and dedication to patient wellbeing perfectly aligned with Prota’s mission.

“We are confident that his insights and guidance will be instrumental in pushing Prota forward as we strive to bring our life-changing peanut allergy treatment to patients,” Professor Tang said.

An occasional round-up of international business stories

 

 

 

 

 

New term for advocate of ‘strong Europe’

STRASBOURG (July 20): Lawmakers at the European Parliament have re-elected Ursula von der Leyen to a second five-year term as President of the European Union’s Executive Commission, giving her a comfortable majority and heading off a possible leadership vacuum.

Ms Von der Leyen’s victory ensures leadership continuity for the 27-nation bloc as it wrestles with crises ranging from the war in Ukraine to climate change, migration and housing shortages.

She said she and her supporters were working for a strong Europe, citing themes of prosperity, security and defence.

The Greens/European Free Alliance group in the Parliament voted for von der Leyen (pictured) after receiving assurances of her commitment to Europe’s climate initiatives, improving social policies — including moves to provide affordable housing — and to not do deals with the far right.

In the end a clear majority of 401 lawmakers in the 720-seat legislature voted for the German Christian Democrat after a speech in which she pledged to be a strong leader for Europe in a time of crisis and polarisation.

In the speech she pledged to strengthen the EU economy, its police and border Agencies, tackle migration, and pursue policies tackling climate change while also helping farmers who have staged protests against what they call stifling EU bureaucracy and environmental rules.

She also vowed to tackle housing shortages across Europe and said she would appoint a Commissioner for the Mediterranean Region due to the multiple challenges it faces.

At the side of Ms von der Leyen are two new faces: Antonio Costa of Portugal as European Council President and Estonia’s Kaja Kallas as the top diplomat of the world’s largest trading bloc.

Ms Kallas, previously Estonian Prime Minister, is a staunch supporter of Ukraine and a fierce critic of Russia within both the European Union and NATO.

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UK bureaucrats legally required to be honest

LONDON (July 18): The United Kingdom Government will introduce a duty of candour for Public Servants, King Charles III has stated.

In his speech at the State Opening of Parliament, the King confirmed the long-demanded reform to standards in public life would be established in law. 

“My Government will take steps to help rebuild trust and foster respect. Legislation will be brought forward to introduce a duty of candour for Public Servants,” he said.

Staff at the National Health Service are currently the only Public Servants who have a professional duty of candour.

This duty, introduced in 2014, requires them to be open and honest with patients and families when something goes wrong with their treatment or care that causes, or has potential to cause, harm or distress.

Labour pledged in its General Election manifesto to introduce a law placing a legal duty of candour on Public Servants and authorities, and to provide legal aid for victims of disasters or other State-related deaths. 

The duty of candour “will address the unacceptable defensive culture prevalent across too much of the public sector”, the manifesto stated.  

Campaigners called for the introduction of such a law in the wake of the Hillsborough disaster, in which 97 football fans died in a crush at Hillsborough football ground in Sheffield in 1989.

In the immediate aftermath of the disaster, police officers were told to blame "drunken, ticketless Liverpool supporters".

However, an inquest in 2016 found the victims had been unlawfully killed and that their deaths were down to failures by police, the ambulance service and defects in the stadium.

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‘Significant flaws’ in UK pandemic response

LONDON (July 19): The United Kingdom Government and the Civil Service failed the public due to significant flaws in preparing for the COVID-19 pandemic, a public inquiry has found.

The COVID-19 Inquiry said there had been a damaging absence of focus on the measures and infrastructure that would be needed to deal with a fast-spreading disease, even though an outbreak at pandemic scale was foreseeable.

The inquiry said there was a lack of a system that could be scaled up to test, trace and isolate people.

“Despite reams of documentation, planning guidance was insufficiently robust and flexible, and policy documentation was outdated, unnecessarily bureaucratic and infected by jargon,” the report stated.

The inquiry, Chaired by Baroness Heather Hallett, published its 217-page report in which she said lessons must be learned and “never again can a disease be allowed to lead to so many deaths and so much suffering”.

In her recommendations, Lady Hallett called for a new pandemic strategy to be developed and tested at least every three years with a UK-wide crisis response exercise.

She said the Government and political leaders should be properly held to account on a regular basis “for systems of preparedness and resilience”.

She also said external experts from outside the Civil Service and Government should be brought in to challenge and guard against “the known problem of group-think”.

There were more than 235,000 deaths involving COVID-19 in the UK up to the end of 2023.

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Public Service chief’s early exit ‘personal’

NEW DELHI (July 22): The resignation of the Chair of India’s Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), Manoj Soni, has been revealed, almost five years before his tenure was due to end in 2029.

A source told The Hindu newspaper that Mr Soni had resigned a month ago, citing personal reasons, and the resignation was not linked to the controversy over candidates for the examinations run by the UPSC securing employment by presenting fake certificates.  

Trainee Indian Administrative Service officer, Puja Khedkar allegedly forged identity papers and presented a disability certificate to get into the service.

The UPSC has registered a criminal case against Ms Khedkar and issued a show-cause notice for the cancellation of her candidature from the 2022 edition of the Civil Services Examination.

After Ms Khedkar’s case surfaced, social media posts stated there were more cases of officers, presently in service, who allegedly forged documents to get benefits reserved for Scheduled Castes/Tribes, Other Backward Classes, Economically Weaker Section, and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities.

The cases raised questions about the security of the UPSC’s examination and selection processes.

Mr Soni is considered close to Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, who as Chief Minister of Gujarat had picked him as the Vice-Chancellor of Vadodara’s MS University in 2005 when he was 40 years old, making him the youngest Vice Chancellor in the country.

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Cost concerns over German conscription

BERLIN (July 21): Reintroducing military conscription in Germany could cost up to €70 billion ($A115 billion), a study commissioned by the Federal Ministry of Finance has found.

The research, by the IFO Institute, explored a number of scenarios to assess the macroeconomic impact of military conscription.

In the most comprehensive scenario, where conscription affects the entire age cohort Germany’s gross national income could decrease by 1.6 per cent it found, the significant costs stemming from young people delaying the accumulation of human capital and assets.

Director of the Centre for International Institutional Comparisons and Migration Research at the IFO, Panu Poutvaara suggested increasing financial resources for the full-time German Armed Forces to make military service more attractive as an alternative.

“Higher salaries for soldiers could be a more sensible solution,” Mr Poutvaara explained.

The study also highlighted the uneven distribution of conscription costs across society, primarily affecting the conscripts themselves.

“Military service forces individuals to alter their educational and career plans, leading to long-term negative economic consequences for their income and consumption,” Mr Poutvaara said.

“If only a small proportion of an age cohort is conscripted, it raises significant fairness concerns due to the unequal burden distribution.”

Conversely, a market solution with higher salaries for the armed forces would distribute the financial burden more evenly, as everyone would contribute to the taxes needed for higher Government spending.

The study’s findings are expected to play a crucial role in the debate about the future of military conscription in Germany, amid rising tensions after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

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French Olympians tied to Civil Service rules

PARIS (July 23): The French Government says it considers members of its national Olympic team to be Civil Servants, and therefore bound by Civil Service rules banning the display of any religious symbols while performing their duties.

In short, this means that female Muslim athletes will not be allowed to wear hijabs or headscarfs while competing.

The decision has caused anger is some quarters with critics pointing out that it is seemingly in contrast with the Olympic Charter’s calls for respect of religion and protection of human rights.

A recent report from Amnesty International has called the restrictions on religious attire blatant discrimination and a researcher for the human rights non-profit organisation said that beyond being unfair, the move could cause systemic issues for women athletes in France.

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NATO considers Indo-Pacific foothold

BRUSSELS (July 13): Member nations of NATO are reviving the idea of putting an office in Tokyo to give the Alliance its first-ever permanent footprint in the Indo-Pacific region.

The idea was first floated last year, at the urging of Secretary-General, Jens Stoltenberg, but was rejected at the time by French President, Emmanuel Macron, who worried that putting a NATO office in China’s backyard would raise tensions with Beijing.

The office isn’t seen as a game-changer for foreign policy in the Indo-Pacific, but it would give NATO a toehold in a region that it has historically avoided, but has become more strategically important, because of both China’s sabre-rattling and it and North Korea’s support of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Observers believe that Mr Macron, who has taken a much more hawkish turn against Russia in recent months, may now also accept that NATO should pay more attention to China.

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Officer sacked over call for racist apology

BUENOS AIRES (July 17): Argentina's Government has sacked Under-secretary for Sport, Julio Garro for suggesting the nation's football team and skipper, Lionel Messi should apologise for a racist and homophobic song broadcast on social media.

The chant was heard during a live video posted on social media by Chelsea and Argentina midfielder, Enzo Fernández from the team bus in the wake of Argentina's Copa América victory over Colombia in Miami. FIFA, football’s governing body, has opened an investigation.

Mr Garro’s suggestion of an apology outraged Argentine President, Javier Milei, who announced the sacking.

“No Government can tell the world champions and double champion of the Americas what to comment, what to think or what to do," Mr Milei’s Office said in a statement.

"For this reason, Garro is no longer Sports under-secretary.”

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Bureaucrats promised ‘best ever’ pay system

KUALA LUMPUR (July 15): Malaysia’s new Public Service Remuneration System (SSPA), expected to be announced in the next few weeks, will be among the best ever implemented by the Government, Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim has promised.

"I want to ensure that when I announce the SSPA, all gaps are filled," Mr Anwar said in an address to the golden jubilee conference of the National Union of Teaching Professionals.

“Despite the Government being burdened with a debt of RM1.5 trillion ($A48 billion), it remains committed to ensuring that Civil Servants' salaries are increased by more than 13 per cent starting this December.”

However, many economists say Mr Anwar doesn’t have the funds for such an increase and is merely seeking popularity and votes from the all-powerful bureaucracy.

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Years-long wait for State jobs goes on

CHANDIGARH (July 17): The statement by the Punjab Public Service Commission that it has no plans to conduct an examination for the Indian State’s Civil Service in 2024 has come as devastating news for thousands of potential aspirants.

It is the fourth consecutive year that no examinations have taken place.

During a press conference, Chair of the PPSC, Jatinder Aulakh said the State Government had not requested the Commission to hold an examination, saying it would fill any existing senior vacancies from within its own ranks.

One potential candidate, Amrinder Singh (29) said he had been waiting for the examination for the past four years, and was gradually losing hope.

 

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

 

 

SPEED3D seeks West African expansion

Additive manufacturer, SPEE3D has announced a partnership with integrated energy provider, RusselSmith with the aim of bringing SPEE3D's cold spray additive manufacturing product to West Africa.

As part of the agreement, RusselSmith will become a regional partner and value-added reseller for SPEE3D products, deploying, training, selling, and supporting customers in the region's oil and gas, defence, and commercial industries.  

 In addition, RusselSmith has purchased a WarpSPEE3D printer to produce cold spray metal parts in Africa.

Chief Executive of SPEE3D, Byron Kennedy said partnering with RusselSmith was a huge win for his company.

“Together, we will not only bring the WarpSPEE3D printer to the region, but RusselSmith’s support as a value-added reseller will ensure customers have the sales, support, and training they need for all of our technology," Mr Kennedy (pictured) said.

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New support for workplace managers

Workplace asset management specialist, Accruent has launched its latest space optimisation and planning solution, Accruent Space Intelligence (ASI).

ASI is designed to help organisations manage the complexities of the modern workplace, which has experienced a substantial shift toward under-utilised office spaces since the pandemic.

ASI provides centralised insights from aggregated data that empower companies to make informed, strategic decisions based on a comprehensive view of their portfolio.

It reduces the time, resources and redundant systems that organisations and educational institutions often rely on for gathering and analysing space utilisation data, offering a solution in a market where many organisations lack dedicated space management software or are seeking better alternatives to their current systems.

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Banle Group locks in Indian presence

Marine fuel logistic company, Banle Group has completed its inaugural bunkering service in India.

The operation was conducted at Mundra Port, Gujarat and marks a significant step forward in Banle's expansion strategy.

Chair and Chief Executive of Banle Group, Teck Lim Chia said establishing a footprint in India's rapidly growing maritime market enhanced Banle's ability to expand its network and increase market share.

“The successful operation at Mundra Port strengthens relationships with key clients, driving sustainable growth,” Mr Chia said.

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Partnership boost for online marketers

Social Media Management Platform, Dash Hudson has announced it is partnering with digital marketing analyst and researcher, EMARKETER PRO+ product solution.

 Chief Marketing Officer at Dash Hudson, Kate Kenner Archibald said the collaboration would enable marketers to access benchmark performance data across key social platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest, Facebook and X.

“At Dash Hudson, we believe in the power of data to transform social media marketing strategies. By providing marketers with real-time, actionable insights, we empower them to stay ahead in a constantly evolving digital landscape,” Ms Archibald said.

“Our partnership with EMARKETER underscores our commitment to providing brands with the tools they need to achieve exceptional results.”

An occasional round-up of international business stories

 

No more ‘beating up bureaucracy’ – UK Minister

LONDON (July 13): Ministers must stop “going around beating the Civil Service up” and blaming officials for policy failures, a senior Minister in the new United Kingdom Cabinet has said.

Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Pat McFadden said the Labour Government intended to create a culture of innovation and “learning as you go” for the Civil Service.

“You’re not going to drive change through the traditional method of writing a White Paper, throwing it over a wall and hoping something happens,” Mr McFadden (pictured) said.

“You’re going to have to break down some of those barriers between what gets put into practice and what gets created. You’re not going to do it by creating a single national policy without properly testing stuff on the ground and learning as you go.” 

Mr McFadden said this approach would be a marked change from that of the previous Conservative Government, who he accused of “going around beating the Civil Service up”.

“There are new ways of policy innovation that have to happen and, frankly, I think it should make being in the Civil Service a richer, more rewarding experience, rather than being blamed for the failures of Ministers,” he said.

Mr McFadden could be referencing any number of incidents over the past few years, from allegations that former Ministers, Dominic Raab and Priti Patel had bullied bureaucrats to then Conservative Party Chair, Oliver Dowden telling Civil Servants working from home to “get off your Pelotons and back to work”.  

The new Minister’s comments come as Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer sent a message to Civil Servants telling them they had his “confidence, support and respect”.

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Bangladesh job quota protests turn deadly

DHAKA (July 16): At least five people were killed and dozens injured in Bangladesh as student protests against a Government jobs quota led to violence.

Student protesters clashed with pro-government student activists and with police, and violence was reported around the capital of Dhaka, as well as the cities of Chattogram and Rangpur.

Officials said at least three of the dead were students, one was a pedestrian and one was not identified.

Protesters are demanding an end to a quota reserved for descendants of veterans who fought in Bangladesh’s war of independence in 1971, which allows them to take up to 30 per cent of all Public Service jobs.

Protesters argue the quota is discriminatory and outdated, and should be replaced with a merit-based system. They also say it benefits supporters of Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, whose Awami League party led the independence movement.

While job opportunities have expanded in Bangladesh’s private sector, many people prefer Government jobs because they are seen as stable and lucrative. Each year, some 3,000 such jobs open up to nearly 400,000 graduates.

Sheikh Hasina defended the quota system, saying that the veterans — commonly known as freedom fighters — should receive the highest respect for their sacrifice in 1971 regardless of their current political affiliation.

The quota system had been temporarily halted following a court order after mass student protests in 2018. However, last month the High Court nullified that decision, reinstating the quota system, angering scores of students and triggering the protests.

The Supreme Court then suspended the High Court’s order for four weeks, with the Chief Justice urging protesting students to return to classes, and promising a final decision in four weeks. However, the protests have continued.

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Biden slams Trump’s plan for bureaucracy

WASHINGTON (July 14): United States President, Joe Biden says former President, Donald Trump’s radical plan to reshape the Federal Civil Service was one of the reasons he remains determined to stay in this year’s Presidential campaign.

His comments came among growing concerns from voters, elected officials and party donors about his age and health.

Citing Mr Trump’s plan to consolidate executive power and uproot the non-partisan Civil Service should he regain the White House, Mr Biden said one of the former President’s plans was to eliminate the Department of Education “we’ve never been here before”.

In the final months of Mr Trump’s first term in office he signed an Executive Order establishing a new job category within the Government’s Civil Service called Schedule F.

Federal workers in ‘policy-related positions would be transferred to this new job classification and stripped of most of their Civil Service protections, effectively making them at-will employees.

Mr Biden quickly rescinded the edict before it could be implemented at Federal Agencies, but Mr Trump has made Schedule F a common refrain in campaign speeches.

Mr Trump also reportedly supports Project 2025, a conservative transition proposal from the Heritage Foundation which has called for a massive recruitment campaign of upwards of 20,000 potential political appointees.

Project 2025 also calls for the Federal Government to cease reserving Senior Executive Service posts for career Civil Servants, rather than political appointees, and described Federal employee unions as “incompatible” with Government management.

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Civil Service cleared of systemic corruption

HONG KONG (July 15): Hong Kong’s Civil Service Bureau says the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) has found no sign of collective corruption in the city’s bureaucracy following the arrest of several Government employees in a bribery case involving procurement projects for public hospitals.

The Bureau said it had logged a year-on-year 20 per cent decrease in pursuable corruption complaints in 2023, with only 42 cases involving its 170,000-strong force leading to related convictions between 2019 and 2023.

It shared the figures in a bid to reassure lawmakers after the ICAC revealed that Civil Servants were among eight people arrested in the bribery case.

The suspects included members of the Department of Electrical and Mechanical Services.

ICAC’s Community Relations Director, Corinna Wong said its own data found there was no indication of collective corruption in the Civil Service.

“The data also show no signs of a resurgence of collective corruption. So everyone can rest assured regarding the integrity of Public Servants,” Ms Wong said.

The Bureau said 42 Civil Servants had been convicted of corruption-related offences between 2019 and 2023.

Secretary for the Civil Service, Ingrid Yeung Ho Poi-yan told lawmakers that among the 42, 11 were dismissed, four were forced to retire and three received severe reprimands that barred them from promotions or appointments for three-to-five years.

She said 20 had left the Government after being convicted, another had resigned beforehand and three were still undergoing disciplinary procedures.

Several lawmakers questioned whether Government workers were aware of the potential risks when handling official purchases, saying procurement was an area most prone to corruption issues.

Ms Yeung argued there was “no room for misunderstanding or confusion”, as the Government had a very clear procurement policy, and authorities would work alongside the ICAC to regularly review current practices.

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Chinese job-seekers sign up to AI tutors

BEIJING (July 15): With record numbers of people applying for China’s Civil Service examinations, education companies are rushing to develop artificial intelligence products that can help candidates pass the notoriously competitive tests.

Civil Service jobs, with their iron-clad job security, have become increasingly attractive to Chinese workers in recent years as the nation’s economy slowed.

Last year, an unprecedented 2.6 million people applied for the examinations, competing for fewer than 40,000 available positions.

Tutoring candidates to secure a job in the public sector has become a lucrative industry, with a host of Chinese education companies launching services specifically targeting the Civil Service examinations.

Now, these firms are racing to integrate AI into their products. Online company, Fenbi leads the pack with the announcement it has developed the country’s first specially-trained AI Civil Service examination tutor.

According to the company, the AI tutor is capable of crafting personalised study plans, teaching the Civil Service examination curriculum, and explaining questions.

It can also help customers select which Civil Service role to apply for — a choice that many in China struggle with given the huge variety of jobs on offer.

Civil Service applicant, Yan said she welcomed the new AI services as they were generally cheaper than hiring a human tutor.

“Though they might not be as good as humans, it’s great to have new alternatives,” Yan said, giving only her surname for privacy reasons.

The 25-year-old said she had already purchased an AI-powered service to help her prepare for Civil Service job interviews.

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Japan finally bids farewell to the floppy

TOKYO (July 13): It’s taken a while, but the Japanese Public Service has finally phased out floppy disks.

Until last month, citizens still had to submit documents to Government Departments via the outdated hardware, with more than 1,000 regulations requiring their use.

In 2022, Minister for Digital Transformation, Taro Kono ‘declared war’ on floppy disks, saying procedures would be updated to allow for applications to be made online.

“Where does one even buy a floppy disk these days?” he asked.

The Digital Agency has now reportedly scrapped all regulations relating to the use of floppy disks — except for one related to vehicle recycling, with Mr Kono declaring: “The war is won.”

Despite the country’s reputation for advanced technology, the Public Service has lagged behind in digital transformation due to issues such as under-investment and societal resistance.

Some Government Departments still use fax machines over email and require personal carved stamps known as hanko rather than a signature. 

Mr Kono said another of his goals was to get rid of the fax machine.

Japan currently ranks 32nd out of 64 economies in the International Institute for Management Development’s world digital competitiveness ranking, behind regional peers Singapore, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and China.

Mr Kono’s Digital Agency was established in 2021 after COVID-19 exposed inefficiencies such as the complicated and slow process of applying for benefits during the pandemic.

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Officers get funding for better health

SINGAPORE (July 13): Minister-in-charge of the Singapore Public Service, Chan Chun Sing has announced an annual benefit of $S500 ($A560) for Public Servants to be used for their health, growth and wellbeing.

Mr Chan said from October officers would be able to use the benefit, called FlexiGrow, "based on their own needs, for such as courses for personal development and fitness programs".

In addition, medical and dental benefits would be enhanced for all officers from 1 January, next year.

"We need to take care of ourselves; we need to take care of each other in this long journey ahead. This is what our Public Service is committed to," Mr Chan said.

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Former UK leader says AI will ‘save billions’

LONDON (July 13): Former United Kingdom Prime Minister, Sir Tony Blair has launched a policy paper pushing the potential for the Government to save billions of pounds a year through the greater use of artificial intelligence across the public sector.

The paper, published by Sir Tony’s think tank, the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, states that by the end of the next Parliament, the annual savings could be £34 billion ($A65 billion) a year.

A related paper on the impact for the public sector workforce, acknowledged that over the same period around 1.15 million jobs would be lost, with redundancy payments in the region of £24 billion ($A46 billion).

The think tank said the current Government — and future Governments — could choose how they spent the money that would be saved by the use of AI, either investing the savings in better front-line services or banking the proceeds with the Treasury.

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President’s pay cut ‘for fiscal integrity’

MONROVIA (July 12): Liberian President, Joseph Nyuma Boakai has taken the unprecedented step of taking a voluntary 40 per cent cut in his salary.

In a statement, Mr Boakai said he was taking the action “in fulfilment of my commitment to fiscal integrity and national financial security, leading by example in strengthening Government accountability and demonstrating solidarity with the people”.

In addition to his own salary reduction, the President has pledged to empower the Civil Service Agency to ensure that Public Servants' salaries are in line with the current state of the nation and that workers receive fair compensation for their contributions to the country.

“I make a commitment to financial responsibility and fair compensation for Public Servants from various sectors of society as a positive step towards fostering a culture of accountability and equity within the Government,” Mr Boakai said.

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Ukrainian officers get website training

 

KYIV (July 12): Public Servants and Local Government workers from 12 regions of Ukraine have undergone training in web accessibility organised by the United Nations Development Program.

 

The two-day course was completed in partnership with the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, with funding from Sweden, and involved writing texts, creating videos, and producing other content for websites that was accessible to all people, including those with disabilities.

 

Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation for European Integration, Valeriia Ionan said all Ukrainians should have access to the benefits of the digital State.

 

“In addition to ensuring the digital literacy of the population, all digital products must take into account the requirements of web accessibility so that Ukrainians are able to use electronic services easily,” Ms Ionan said.

 

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