KYIV (September 6): The Ukrainian Parliament has signed off on President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's biggest Government shake-up since Russia's 2022 invasion, voting to appoint nine new Ministers, including a new Foreign Minister and two Deputy Prime Ministers.
Andrii Sybiha (49), an experienced diplomat who does not have a prominent public profile, takes over the Foreign Ministry, replacing Dmytro Kuleba, who has been one of the best-known public faces of Ukraine in the West in recent years.
The shuffle comes at a delicate diplomatic moment as Kyiv is pressing allies for more help and seeking to win over nations in the Southern Hemisphere.
Mr Zelenskyy said he wanted the Government to be more active in dealing with Ukraine's Western allies and investors and in helping troops at the front.
"It is crucial that the Government operate as actively as possible, more actively than before, at all levels," the President said in his nightly television address.
The shake-up began when several Ministers stepped down, while at least five Cabinet seats were already vacant after earlier sackings.
Olha Stefanyshina (38) takes charge of a broader portfolio that combines her former role overseeing Ukraine's accession to the European Union and the NATO military alliance with those of the Justice Minister, who stepped down.
Ms Stefanyshina (pictured) said in a speech to lawmakers before her appointment that "hundreds and thousands" of legal changes were needed for Ukraine to become a member of the European Union.
Herman Smetanin (32), a former engineer, was appointed Strategic Industries Minister in charge of domestic arms production, continuing a rapid rise that began last year when he became head of the main State arms conglomerate.
Oleksiy Kuleba, a former Deputy Head of Mr Zelenskyy's office, was named Deputy Prime Minister in charge of reconstruction, regions and infrastructure, an important portfolio that involves oversight of potentially huge financial streams.
Lawmakers also signed off on new Ministers for agriculture, culture, environment, veteran affairs and sport.
The shake-up creates a sense of political renewal even though Ukraine cannot hold elections under the terms of martial law.
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Netanyahu’s appointment plan ‘illegal’
JERUSALEM (September 9): Israeli Attorney General, Gali Baharav-Miara has continued her fight against Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to directly appoint the next Civil Service Commissioner, by responding to High Court petitions on the matter.
She said the plan, rather than delegate the choice to a selection committee as is standard practice, was illegal.
“The Government’s decision creates a new situation whereby the Prime Minister will be able to choose a person he wishes to be appointed to the position who does not have to meet minimum professional threshold conditions of experience, skills or suitability,” Ms Baharav-Miara said in a statement to the court.
“For this reason, the Government’s decision, deviating from the method of appointing the Commissioner in the past, is illegal, and a significant step in the transformation of the Civil Service into a political system.”
Last month the Israeli Cabinet approved a measure allowing Mr Netanyahu to directly nominate a candidate, who would then be examined by the Senior Appointments Advisory Committee to the Civil Service.
The Movement for Quality Government, a good governance watchdog, condemned the move, calling it “a serious violation of the principles of good governance”, and accusing the Cabinet of “trampling on the rule of law and the values of democracy”.
In remarks released by the Prime Minister’s Office following the vote, Mr Netanyahu asserted that the responsibility to choose a Civil Service Commissioner lay with “the nation”, represented by the elected Government, and argued there was no reason to grant Civil Service professionals a say in the matter.
Amid the ongoing controversy, the Government has granted a three-month extension of the term of current Civil Service chief, Daniel Hershkowitz, which would have expired on September 10.
The current Government has repeatedly clashed with Ms Baharav-Miara since entering office in December 2022, and reports have surfaced numerous times that Mr Netanyahu was considering firing her.
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Renewed call for Malaysian Civil Service reform
KUALA LUMPUR (September 10): The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commissioner has reiterated the call made by Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim for Public Service reforms to be in line with economic progress, ensuring high-quality service delivery to the people, while combatting corruption.
Azam Baki said all parties should implement reforms in the system, laws and approaches, and increase staffing so that services could be delivered effectively to the people.
Citing
Qatar’s success in implementing reforms by going digital, he said Malaysia
should do the same for efficiency and to clamp down on bribery.
“The
challenge now is for all Heads of Departments and Secretaries-General to review
the internal procedures and governance that are outdated and need to be
updated, ensuring that they do not inconvenience the people,” Mr Azam said.
“Obsolete
national laws and governance procedures must be improved to ensure they do not
hinder development.”
Meanwhile
there has been significant movement among the Secretaries-General of several Ministries
following reassignments that are aimed at putting in place reforms within the
service.
Seven
Secretaries-General have been reassigned in a move that Chief Secretary to the
Government, Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar described as necessary to meet the demand
for better and efficient service by the public sector.
Two
senior bureaucrats have been promoted to the post of Secretary-General while
three have been appointed to lead Agencies.
Among
the reassignments, the Secretaries-Generals of the Agriculture and Food
Security Ministry and Defence Ministry swapped places.
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Ottawa promotes advantages of office working
OTTAWA (September 9): The Canadian Federal Government is concerned that many of its workers spending more time working in their offices this month are doing so under duress.
Under a new policy announced in May, they will have to spend at least three days per week in the office, while executives will have to spend at least four. Up till now Civil Servants have been required to be in their offices for only two days per week.
Federal employees' unions say most bureaucrats oppose the planned reduction in telework and report struggles with transportation and work-family balance. Many also say they're more productive when they work from home.
Hoping to cool the discontent, a senior Civil Servant is making the case for spending more time at the office.
Deputy Clerk of the Privy Council Office, Christiane Fox said the new policy would improve the overall performance of the Public Service and help individual Civil Servants advance their careers.
"It's to build a sense of teams that collaborate towards difficult public policy challenges," Ms Fox said.
The Government may also be hoping that bringing Civil Servants back to their offices can improve the Public Service's reputation, which has been damaged by a perception in some quarters that employees are taking it easy when they work from home.
"Of course, we can't ignore the perceptions and the comments that are made about the Public Service," Ms Fox said, while insisting this was not the rationale for the decision.
Many bureaucrats are reluctant to spend more time at the office and accuse the Federal Government of failing to properly explain its decision.
Some argue the policy is more to do with revitalising the downtown areas of Ottawa and Gatineau in Quebec, where businesses and restaurants are still caught in the post-pandemic doldrums.
Even though Civil Servants will have to work in-person more, there won't be additional buses added on routes in Ottawa or Gatineau to support them.
OC Transpo and the Société de Transport de l'Outaouais (STO) both confirmed that their routes are worked out months in advance and would have needed more notice to make changes.
President of STO, Jocelyn Blondin said it was disappointing that the Federal Government didn't collaborate with his organisation, while OC Transpo hoped it would be able to handle additional riders on its existing routes.
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False evidence claim against Scottish bureaucrat
EDINBURGH (September 4): Police are investigating allegations that a senior Civil Servant gave false evidence to the Scottish Parliament’s inquiry into the handling of harassment complaints against former First Minister, Alex Salmond while under oath.
Named Operation Broadcroft, the investigation is focused on statements made by Head of the Cabinet, Parliament and Governance Division, James Hynd to the Committee on the Scottish Government’s Handling of Harassment Complaints.
That inquiry concluded in March 2021 that the handling of complaints made about the former First Minister and subsequent judicial review were seriously flawed.
Its establishment followed the Government admitting it had not followed the correct procedures in place for handling such complaints during that judicial review, resulting in more than £500,000 ($A975,000) being paid out to Mr Salmond in legal costs.
Mr Salmond is now taking legal action against the Government he once led, alleging misfeasance by Civil Servants. He is seeking damages and loss of earnings.
In the case before the Court of Session, the former First Minister is attempting to pause proceedings, with his lawyer arguing that continuing police investigations pertinent to the case should be allowed to conclude first.
Gordon Dangerfield, representing Mr Salmond, revealed the existence of Operation Broadcroft during these proceedings.
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Agencies fail to pay for Kenyan land purchases
NAIROBI (September 5): Chair of Kenya’s National Lands Commission, Gershom Otachi has told the Senate that six State Agencies owe Kenyan citizens Sh56 billion ($A61 million) after their land was compulsorily acquired by the Government for the construction of roads and other projects.
Mr Otachi said the Agencies owing Kenyans include Kenya National Highways Authority, Kenya Urban Roads Authority, Kenya Rural Roads Authority, Kenya Airports Authority, Kenya Ports Authority and Kenya Railways Corporation.
Speaking before the Senate’s Roads, Transport and Housing Committee, Mr Otachi said the money involved 123 projects across the country initiated by the Agencies, who were supposed to compensate affected persons.
He confirmed that it was up to his Commission to distribute the funds after they were received from the various Agencies, and defended it against accusations it was withholding funds meant for compensation.
Mr Otachi acknowledged there are delays in compensating affected persons, citing problems with assessing who had title on land where public roads, airports, dams, railways and other facilities were built or located.
However, he also admitted that in some cases budgetary restraints meant money was simply not available.
The Senate Committee was told that some of those who were supposed to be compensated had died without receiving what was owed to them.
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Commission to probe Labour appointments
LONDON (September 4): The United Kingdom Civil Service Commission is to review a series of appointments made by the new Labour Government after concerns that rules were being bypassed to allow political appointments.
Since Labour came to power in July, a number of individuals with Labour Party background have been appointed to Civil Service roles.
The appointments were made under the Exceptions Rule to Civil Service recruitment being on merit after fair and open competition. These exceptions are intended to reflect the fact that in some circumstances it may be permissible to allow appointments made outside of the principle for short terms.
Usually, Departments can apply such exceptions without Commission approval, but First Civil Service Commissioner, Gisela Stewart has now written to Departments saying that appointments under the Exceptions Rule will now be reviewed.
In a letter to Permanent Secretaries, Ms Stewart said recruitment principles for the Civil Service provided a crucial underpinning to the integrity of the Civil Service.
“Given interest in a number of recent Civil Service appointments by Exception and the importance of public trust in these appointments, the Commission has decided to undertake a short review of appointments by Exception at delegated grades since July 1,” she said.
A follow-up email to Departmental Human Resources Directors from the Commission’s Interim Chief Executive, Kate Owen called for Departments to provide the Commission with details of appointments made under the Exception Rule and a summary of processes in place within each organisation to approve Exception Rule requests.
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President ‘open to change’ in medical quotas
SEOUL (September 6): In an apparent backflip, South Korean President, Yoon Suk Yeol says he is now open to readjusting the country's medical school admission quota for 2026 and would welcome it if a negotiating panel is formed to discuss the issue.
Mr Yoon’s revised position raises hope for a breakthrough in the prolonged walkout by thousands of junior doctors protesting at the Government's decision in February to increase the medical school quota by 2,000 from the previous 3,058 and to keep the increased quota over the next five years.
The doctors claim medical schools are not equipped to handle the increased enrolment, and such a sharp increase will compromise the quality of medical education and ultimately the country's medical services.
Now a senior Government official says it is “fake news that President Yoon Suk Yeol is insisting on the 2,000-seat increase. He is willing to hold frank discussions with an open mind if [the doctors] bring us reasonable and scientific estimates".
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Greek Ministry to consider performance bonuses
ATHENS (September 5): The Greek Interior Ministry is asking for public consultation on legislation seeking to boost efficiency in the Civil Service by introducing bonuses for State Departments which achieve annual targets.
In addition, the Ministry wants to curb the practice of new hires requesting transfers closer to home as soon as they are appointed, while candidates applying for jobs indiscriminately and bogging down the system will be discouraged from doing so by having to wait three years before another application.
On a more general note, the new legislation increases the fines for the illegal use of public space in an effort to crack down on sprawling cafe, bar and restaurant seating.
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Endangered frogs saved from Viagra fate
LIMA (September 10): The Peruvian National Forestry and Wildlife Service said it had seized hundreds of endangered frogs that were illegally captured to be used for their purported aphrodisiac properties.
The 390 frogs were found in a cardboard box inside a truck in the Puno Region on the shores of Lake Titicaca, which lies on Peru's border with Bolivia.
The shipment was bound for the Peruvian capital of Lima, where the frogs are widely used in traditional medicine as well as in dishes flagged as boosting customer's sex drive.
Some traditional healers make a brew with frog extract that they call the ‘Viagra of the Incas’, after the civilisation that ruled over a vast South American empire in the 15th and 16th centuries.
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