Christie’s Real Estate plans Vietnam venture

Christie’s International Real Estate has announced it will expand into Vietnam – the first global luxury real estate brand to open an office there.

The move is in partnership with S&S Group, a conglomerate of companies operating in the luxury automotive, timepiece, fashion, art, and now real estate industries.

S&S-Christie’s International Real Estate’s flagship office, which will open in early June, will be located in the Saigon Hilton, one of the newest luxury developments in Ho Chi Minh City, and home to S&S’s Lamborghini dealership.

The new firm will be led Sassy Nguyen, who along with her husband and business partner, Sam Vu, are the owners of S&S Group.

Managing Director for Christie’s International Real Estate, Helena Moyas de Forton said the company was thrilled to have found the right partner in S&S, a company with a great track record of success and an unparalleled understanding of the luxury market in Vietnam. 

“Vietnam’s real estate market has grown exponentially over the past decade, thanks to a stable economy, growth of manufacturing, and a booming agricultural sector,” Ms Moyas de Forton (pictured) said.

“A growing list of international blue-chip brands have established operations in the country, including Samsung, Procter & Gamble, Unilever, Microsoft and Honda.”  

She said while Vietnam had seen an uptick in foreign buyers and investors, primarily from Asian countries including China, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan and Japan, an increasing number of high-net-worth Vietnamese were also prioritising offshore real estate investment.

“S&S-Christie’s International Real Estate will serve clientele looking to invest in real estate around the world, in target markets including London, Paris, Dubai, Australia and the United States,” Ms Moyas de Forton said.

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Hitachi Energy augments Bass Strait power flow 

Hitachi Energy has been selected by Australia’s Marinus Link Pty Ltd to supply a high-voltage direct current project, augmenting the current connection between mainland Australia and Tasmania’s grid.  

The approximately 345-kilometer cable will enable the flow of renewable power in both directions between Victoria and Tasmania. 

The connection will enable Tasmania to import the excess supply of solar and wind produced in Victoria, while reserving its hydro and storing the extra energy.

Clean hydropower can then feed the mainland grid when it is needed most, acting as a large battery for the nation. Moreover, it strengthens the security of supply in the Australian power grid in which electricity is increasingly generated from sustainable energy.

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New hepatitis C test available in Australia

Canadian diagnostic testing company, bioLytical Laboratories Inc., has announced the availability of its INSTI HCV Antibody Test in Australia following its inclusion on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods.

INSTI HCV is the first point-of-care rapid test for hepatitis C antibody detection in Australia.

Chief Executive of bioLytical, Robert Mackie said the approval was a significant achievement for the company.

“Our INSTI HCV Antibody Test provides a rapid and reliable tool to identify hepatitis C cases quickly, helping healthcare professionals test high-risk populations and reduce transmission,” Mr Mackie said.

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Alation in move to meet Japan’s data needs

California-based Data intelligence company, Alation Inc. is to expand operations into Japan in partnership with digital business and IT services provider, NTT DATA.

Head of Design and Technology Sector at NTT DATA, Kazumasa Taninaka said Alation was a critical partner in addressing Japanese organisations' surging demand for data intelligence.

“This partnership is poised to break down the barriers of data silos, equipping Japanese organisations with the essential tools for enhanced, data-driven decision-making,” Mr Taninaka said.

“Together, we will enable more organisations to leverage data for reliable AI and decision-making, fostering smarter analysis, decisions, and strategic judgments.”

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Hospital awarded for work with kidney patients

The King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSHRC) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia has won the 2024 Tech Impact Award, presented by the Value-Based Health Care Centre Europe.

Chair of the Internal Medicine Department at KFSHRC, Wael Habhab said the award, made for the institution’s pioneering Home Hemodialysis initiative, was a testament to its patient-centric approach, designed to address the unique needs of kidney patients with advanced medical conditions.

“This comprehensive system of continuous and supportive care, delivered in the patients’ own homes, not only ensures the highest standards of safety and comfort, but also significantly improves their quality of life,” Dr Habhab said.

"The initial outcomes have revealed a substantial reduction in emergency room visits and hospital admissions, as well as lower re-hospitalisation rates."

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FDA approves tracer for palsy analysis

APRINOIA Therapeutics Inc. says the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Fast Track Designation to its florzolotau Positron Emission Tomography tracer that images tau protein in patients with suspected progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP).

Chief Medical Officer at APRINOIA Therapeutics, Brad Navia said PSP was a rare neurodegenerative disorder caused primarily by the accumulation of a specific form of tau in sub-cortical brain regions.

“There are no FDA-approved diagnostic markers for PSP or any other rare tau-related disorder such as frontotemporal dementia. Until now, diagnosis has primarily relied on clinical assessment,” Dr Navia said.

“The tracer may enable more accurate diagnosis at earlier disease stages, potentially improving patient management and resulting in more efficient clinical trial designs for novel therapies.”

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Bank adopts Temenos’ digital service

Dublin-based financial services platform, Temenos Community Forum has announced that the Vietnam Public Commercial Joint Stock Bank has launched its PVConnect service with Temenos Digital, Temenos’ digital banking platform.

Managing Director at Temenos, Ramki Ramakrishnan said the bank was able to quickly design, build and launch its highly-rated mobile app, transforming the mobile banking experience for one million of its customers.

“Customers can open an account via electronic ID in minutes, use their phone number as an account number, choose savings products to suit their needs, pay bills and transfer money with a QR payment feature and via a phone number,” Mr Ramakrishnan said.

“Additionally, customers have a quick access widget to quickly view account information and make transactions directly from their phone’s home screen.”

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Baden Bower boosts visibility of clients’ brands

New York-Based public relations firm, Baden Bower has initiated a number of strategic partnerships with leading media outlets to expand the global presence of its clients' brands.

By securing placements on authoritative news sites and utilising a broad influencer network, it hopes to boost the visibility and credibility of the brands it serves.

Chief Executive, A.J. Ignacio said Baden Bower’s unique publicity model, supported by a money-back guarantee, provided brands with the assurance to pursue PR strategies that yielded measurable benefits. 

“Marketing managers prefer agencies capable of quickly securing placements in prestigious publications. Baden Bower meets this need by promising media coverage within 72 hours, facilitating faster client results,” Mr Ignacio said.

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Bombardier opens Adelaide office

Aircraft manufacturer, Bombardier has opened an office in the South Australian capital of Adelaide, providing Bombardier Defence customers with a place to meet the company’s team and explore its range of aircraft suited for civilian, military and hybrid mission types.

Vice President, Bombardier Defence, Steve Patrick said the new office would enable the company to provide more resources to the region.

He said Bombardier Defence was recognised worldwide for its diverse portfolio of proven and versatile specialised aircraft, culminating in decades of experience working with more than 160 special mission operators.

“Bombardier’s aircraft have a strong presence in Australia, including an in-service fleet of medical evacuation and search and rescue aircraft,” Mr Patrick said.

An occasional round-up of international business stories

 

 

 

 

Spain recalls Ambassador over Milei insults

BUENOS AIRES (May 22): A diplomatic crisis has erupted between Argentina and Spain with the European nation withdrawing its Ambassador — a move President Javier Milei described as "absurd".

It follows a weekend speech in Spain by Mr Milei during which he described the wife of Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez as corrupt at a meeting of the far-right party, Vox.

Spain’s Foreign Minister, José Manuel Albares said the Ambassador would remain in Madrid indefinitely.

"We did not provoke this situation. We have no desire or interest in any escalation, but it is the Government's obligation to defend the dignity and sovereignty of Spanish institutions," Mr Albares (pictured) said.

"There is no precedent for a Head of State coming to the capital of another country to insult its institutions and blatantly interfere in its internal affairs.”

Mr Milei said the move “stains the international image of Spain and [shows] how arrogant they are, like believing that they are the State and that no-one can tell them anything".

Mr Milei’s arrival in Spain caused immediate diplomatic friction as no meetings with Mr Sánchez or King Felipe VI had been organised during his stay.

Instead he appeared at Vox's Europa Viva 24 summit and launched an attack on “satanic" socialism.

"The global elites don't realise how destructive it can be to implement the ideas of socialism," Mr Milei said.

"They don't know the type of society and country that it can produce, the type of people clinging to power and the level of abuse that generates."

 Referring to Mr Sánchez he said: "When you have a corrupt wife, let's say, it gets dirty, and you take five days to think about it."

Mr Sánchez, a Socialist, recently considered resigning after Spanish prosecutors opened a preliminary corruption investigation against his wife, Bergoña Gómez, which was quickly closed.

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Rebel leader killed in foiled DRC coup

KINSHASA (May 20): Security forces in the Democratic Republic of Congo have foiled a coup attempt in which armed men targeted the homes of top officials and briefly occupied the office of the Presidency in the capital, Kinshasa.

Authorities said about 50 men in camouflage fatigues attacked the residences of the Prime Minister, Defence Minister, and a senior politician tipped to become Speaker of the Parliament.

The assailants also smashed the glass doors of the Palais de la Nation that houses the office of President Felix Tshisekedi before security forces moved in, killing the group's leader, Christian Malanga, and three others.

On his website, Malanga (41) had referred to himself as the "President of New Zaire" and the head of a Government in exile.

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Swiss court jails former Gambian Minister

GENEVA (May 18): Former Gambian Interior Minister, Ousman Sonko has been sentenced to 20 years in jail by a Swiss court sitting in Geneva.

The court heard Mr Sonko had been responsible for murders, tortures and other repressive acts committed by the West African country’s security forces.

Legal rights groups hailed what they called a landmark decision involving a former Government official for crimes against humanity, saying it could set a precedent for international justice.

Mr Sonko fled Gambia in 2016, applying for asylum in Switzerland in November of that year, and was arrested two months later. Because he has been in custody since then, he would have fewer than 13 years more behind bars if the verdict is upheld.

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Rail unions step up Olympic demands

PARIS (May 22): France’s State-owned rail company, SNCF is under pressure from unions who are demanding bonuses for working through the Olympic Games period in July and August.  

Workers backed their demands with a one-day strike that left just one in five suburban commuter trains running on some lines in Paris

Their counterparts at transport operator, RATP, which runs metro and bus services in Paris, have already secured an average €1,000 ($A1,600) bonus, reaching up to €2,500 ($A4,056) for the most in-demand train and bus drivers.

A spokesperson for the rail unions, Fabien Villedieu said talks with the SNCF had been dragging on too long "so we wanted to provoke something…because of the Olympics a whole range of our colleagues won't be able to go on holiday".

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Officials’ pandemic responsive ‘reactive’

BELFAST (May 18): A former Minister in the Northern Ireland Government says the Province’s Civil Service was "reactive rather than proactive" when faced with COVID-19 pandemic.

Sue Gray was giving evidence at the United Kingdom’s COVID inquiry sitting in Belfast.

She said at that time the Province’s power-sharing Executive had been restored after a three-year hiatus when Civil Servants had, in effect, been running the Government.

“The Executive had just reformed; Ministers were walking in the door; relationships were still being formed between Ministers and the Civil Service. I think it was a reactive nature,” Ms Gray said.

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Immigrants praised for knowledge of Norway

OSLO (May 21): Norway’s Directorate of Higher Education has announced that in 2023 more than 90 per cent of immigrants eligible for citizenship in Norway passed the country’s test that measures their knowledge of Norwegian life and society.

A spokesperson for the Directorate, Sveinung Skule said the results were a positive trend.

“It shows how many have built up competence in the Norwegian language and knowledge of Norwegian society,” Mr Skule said.

The test became a requirement in 2017, when the generally anti-immigration Progress Party wanted to make it more difficult to obtain Norwegian citizenship.

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Record release of Bangladesh exam results

DHAKA (May 20): The Bangladesh Public Service Commission (BPSC) has published the results of the 46th Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) preliminary examination, just 13 days after the test was held.

Chair of the BPSC, Sohrab Hossain said it was the fastest turnaround time in the history of BCS results.

“We had nine working days to process the results and managed to complete the job in time due to sincerity and integrity of the Commission members and officials,” Mr Hossain said.

“Along with designated Commission members and cadre section chiefs, I set a target for publishing results. We exerted significant efforts to achieve the target.”

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Dutch homeless can rest easy on benches

THE HAGUE (May 22): Amsterdam City Council is to remove central armrests from its park benches so that homeless people can stretch out on them.

Alderman Melanie Van der Horst said the centre armrests were not deliberately hostile to homeless people, but intended to help seniors in the city who could use the extra support sitting down and standing up.

“A team of expert Civil Servants have re-examined the resilience of the city’s elderly and determined that they’ll manage well without the centre armrest,” Alderman Van der Horst said.

The move follows similar decisions by the city authorities of Utrecht and Leiden in an effort to make their cities more accommodating to their homeless residents.

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Stamp buyers get a whiff of French cuisine  

PARIS (May 21): The French Postal Service has issued almost 600,000 postage stamps that release the scent of a freshly-baked baguette when rubbed.

Costing €1.96 ($A3.18) the stamp depicts a baguette decorated with a red, white and blue ribbon. Ink used on the stamps contains microcapsules which provide the fragrance.

In a statement, La Poste said the baguette was the bread of French people’s daily lives, “the symbol of our gastronomy, the jewel of our culture”.

The French baguette was given UNESCO heritage status in 2022.

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

 

 

OTC embraces overnight trading

OTC Markets Group, which operates regulated financial markets for 12,000 United States and global securities, has introduced OTC Overnight, making OTC equity securities available for trading Sunday through Thursday between 8pm and 4am (US Eastern time).

Active securities across the OTC market tiers, including global brands like Roche, Adidas, Air Canada and Techtronic Industries, will be eligible for trading in an overnight session by broker-dealer subscribers in US dollars.

Executive Vice President of Market Data, Matt Fuchs said he expected that OTC Overnight would be available in the second quarter of this year.

“This will allow investors to track and trade thousands of global equity securities during Asian market hours, as European markets open, and overnight in the US,” Mr Fuchs (pictured) said.

“Overnight trading will significantly expand accessibility and comprehensive market data coverage for the OTC markets. As more clients connect to the platform and demand for overnight trading grows, OTC Markets Group plans to expand the offering to additional securities within its network.”

He said the company continued to actively take steps to establish itself as a global market that met the needs of investors, broker-dealers and issuers at all levels.

“We have seen an increased demand from investors, broker-dealers, and other market participants looking to access the largest financial centre in the world in their respective time zones,” Mr Fuchs said.

“We are uniquely positioned to make this possible and create new levels of opportunity for thousands of global equities.”

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Partnership boosts disability accommodation

Australian ethical finance brokerage firm, Mountain Assets is collaborating with the Sumo National Disability Insurance Scheme fund to launch a project aimed at significantly enhancing the Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) sector in South-East Melbourne.

Spokesperson for Sumo, Simon Robinson said the initiative underscored a strategic endeavour to address the growing demand for high-quality, accessible housing for individuals with disabilities.

“It represents a strategic investment in two state-of-the-art SDA-compliant homes at 46 Clarendon Street, Cranbourne, with each home designed to foster independence and community integration for residents requiring high physical support,” Mr Robinson said.

“Mountain Assets will play a crucial role as the exclusive offer manager and sales team, bringing its extensive experience and commitment to ethical investment practices to ensure the project's success.”

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New metal printer speeds replacement parts

Metal additive manufacturing company, SPEE3D has announced the launch of its Expeditionary Manufacturing Unit (EMU), an on-site mobile additive manufacturing solution.

SPEE3D’s EMU enables the replacement of metal parts in hours instead of days or weeks, minimising the cost of disruption and downtime.

Unlike other additive manufacturing solutions, the EMU does not require dangerous and expensive lasers or inert gasses. Additionally, no extensive prior expertise with additive manufacturing technology is required.

Chief Executive of SPEE3D, Byron Kennedy said the launch of the EMU addressed the current state of the global supply chain, which was fragile and increasingly under pressure.

“The EMU will enable the British Army and others to take control, giving them the ability to print and post-process parts very quickly from anywhere," Mr Kennedy said.

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Deriv backs micro-plastic research team

Malaysian online trader Deriv is making its 25^th anniversary with a series of initiatives through the Kahuna Sponsorship, supporting scientific research and community projects that provide educational value and inspire positive action towards protecting the environment.

Deriv has sponsored a Kahuna team to carry out an environmental research expedition in Patagonia that aims to investigate the presence of micro-plastics and black carbon in the snow — substances that are critical indicators of environmental pollution affecting climate change.

Chief Human Resources Officer at Deriv, Seema Hallon said investing in meaningful projects such as the Kahuna expedition was the company’s way of contributing to a sustainable future for the planet and its communities.

Team member, Robin Villard said the samples collected were in good condition and were currently being analysed.

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Banle announces African expansion

Maritime fuel logistics company, Banle Energy International Limited has announced its expansion into Mauritius, marking the company’s first foray into the African continent.

Chief Executive, Teck Lim Chia, said the move marked an expansion into a new continent and underscored Banle’s commitment to enhancing its regional presence and accelerating its growth trajectory.

“Port Louis, where the bunkering service was arranged, serves as a crucial gateway for trade and commerce in Mauritius,” Mr Chia said.

“It plays a crucial role in handling a substantial portion of the country’s imports and exports, facilitating both domestic and international trade connections with various destinations across the globe.”

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Saudi capital market enters big league

Chair of the Capital Market Authority of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed Bin Abdullah El Kuwaiz says the Saudi capital market continues to make progress and is now among the top 10 largest markets in the world.

“In addition, the market is ranked the eighth largest as of market capitalisation, moving from 23rd in 2017,” Mr El Kuwaiz said. “The economic and social reforms that the Kingdom began in 2017 contributed to reducin impact of global fluctuations, including interest rates.”

He said Saudi Arabia's GDP had almost doubled during the past three yearsand now exceeded $US1 trillion ($A1.5 trillion). For the first time in the country's history non-oil GDP had risen to be equal of that from oil

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Delmar acquires Dutch freight forwarder

Canadian-based logistics and supply chain solutions company, Delmar International Inc. has completed the acquisition of freight forwarder, Intervracht Nederland BV.

Situated roughly an hour's drive from both Rotterdam and Amsterdam, Intervracht will serve as a strategic new global logistics and distribution hub for the Delmar Group.

Managing Director of Intervracht, Jörg Töpfer said the acquisition would leverage Delmar's technology with Intervracht’s global network and expertise.

“This has already started to benefit our clients, employees and stakeholders and we have identified, and are working on many more synergies as we speak," Mr Töpfer said.

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Bombardier opens Monaco shopfront

Aircraft manufacturer, Bombardier has opened an Aviator Lounge at the Monaco Yacht Club where prospective purchasers can learn about Bombardier’s aircraft, legacy, and innovations.

Vice President of International Sales for Bombardier, Emmanuel Bornand said the Aviator Lounge was a unique meeting place.

“Thanks to its location, it symbolises the meeting of the land, the sea and the air. Most importantly, it provides a welcoming place for us to meet with anyone who wants to stop by to learn about Bombardier’s ground-breaking research in sustainability,” Mr Bornand said.

“The Aviator Lounge was conceived by Paris-based architect, Andrea Mosca. Working from a blank canvas, he conceptualised an inviting space centred on Bombardier’s core value — the importance of authentic, personal, family-like relationships.”

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MoneyHero names new CFO

Personal finance and digital insurance company, MoneyHero has appointed Hao Qian as Chief Financial Officer.

Reporting directly to Chief Executive, Rohith Murthy, Mr Qian will be based at MoneyHero’s headquarters in Singapore.

The 17-year financial veteran will oversee all the company’s financial systems and teams, including accounting, capital markets, compliance, and investor relations.

Additionally, Mr Qian will play a key role in strategic finance initiatives, including mergers and acquisitions and commercial partnerships.

 

An occasional round-up of international business stories

 

 

 

UK union slams performance pay plan

LONDON (May 11): Senior United Kingdom Civil Servants are to have their pay linked to their performance in a move criticised as divisive by a leading union.

Cabinet Office Minister, John Glen said a trial of performance-related pay for some senior officers would begin later in the year.

Mr Glen (pictured) said the reforms would make pay more attractive for people hired from the private sector, without raising base salaries in the bureaucracy.

However, General Secretary of the FDA, the union representing senior bureaucrats, Dave Penman, said the move would not solve the problem of low pay in the Civil Service compared with the private sector, and would just worsen the gap between internal and external hires.

“Once again, we have Ministers fiddling while Rome burns. Rather than address the fundamentals of a broken pay system, with pay rates for existing Civil Servants half of what they could get in the private sector, we have Ministers focusing on micro-management and widening the gap between external hires and internal staff,” Mr Penman said.

“If the Government wants a world-class Civil Service, capable of meeting the challenges of the next decade, tinkering with a broken system won’t work.”

Mr Glen said the trial would be limited to certain senior Civil Service staff who would be rewarded for delivery of the projects they managed.

Mr Penman has also called on Ministers to stop undermining officials with attacks in the right-wing press and instead deliver the stability that Departments and Agencies needed.

He told the union's annual conference that policies, such as demanding all officials attend their workplaces three days a week and seeking a return of the Civil Service headcount to 2019 levels, were damaging and unsupported by evidence.

Mr Penman said Ministerial attacks on the Civil Service in the media, most recently Mr Glen's claims in the Evening Standard newspaper that officials had been languishing in lockdown habits for too long, were damaging morale and recruitment.

"What message does that send to Civil Servants working on average an extra day a week in unpaid overtime? What message does it send to those that Ministers say they want to attract to the Service with the skills we desperately need, but aren’t prepared to pay for?" he asked.

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Reform Bill meets Senate opposition

BUENOS AIRES (May 13): Argentine President, Javier Milei’s reform program hangs in the balance as he prepares to get his ‘Ley de Bases’ legislation through an Opposition-controlled Senate.

Debate has begun on the sweeping package of deregulatory economic reforms which have already passed the Lower House Chamber of Deputies

Tensions ran high after Senators from the Unión por la Patria Party proposed the Bill be quashed, declaring its text differed from what the Lower House had approved.  Presidential Spokesperson, Manuel Adorni admitted as much, with a final text only just circulated in time.

If any part of the Bill is rejected or amended, it must return to the Chamber of Deputies for further consideration.

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Hackers gain access to student data

HELSINKI (May 13): Finland’s capital of Helsinki has reported that the data of up to 120,000 students, parents and other personnel attached to the city administration’s Childhood and Education Division has been hacked.

The information consists of the usernames and e-mail addresses of nearly 40,000 city personnel, as well as the addresses and personal identity codes of roughly 80,000 students, parents and staff members.

Chief Digital Officer, Hannu Heillinen said hackers gained access to content on network drives holding tens of millions of documents, some containing information such as customer fees for early-childhood education, student welfare-related information requests, details of special needs assessments, and medical statements.

“It is also possible that the perpetrator has accessed data on persons under a non-disclosure restriction,” Mr Heillinen said.

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‘Russian Law’ passes Georgian Parliament

TIBILISI (May 14): Georgia's Parliament has voted through a divisive ‘foreign agent’ law that has resulted in weeks of mass street protests.

However, the legislation is almost certain to be vetoed President Salome Zourabichvili, which means it must be returned to Parliament for an override vote.

Critics say the Bill, which they call the ‘Russia Law, could be used to threaten civil liberties as it requires NGOs and independent media that receive more than 20 per cent of their funding from foreign donors to register as organisations "bearing the interests of a foreign power".

Similar legislation in Russia has been used by the Kremlin to clamp down on dissidents.

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Bureaucracy ‘not up to major reforms’

BELFAST (May 14): The interim leader of Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist Party says there is insufficient expertise within the Province’s Civil Service to deliver needed public sector reform.

Gavin Robinson drew attention to comments from senior Civil Servants appearing before the United Kingdom’s COVID-19 Inquiry, which he said had been “contemptuous towards elected representatives”.

Mr Robinson said improving the lives of people in Northern Ireland required political vision and ambition, coupled with expertise and capacity from Civil Servants.

“Whilst most Civil Servants are striving to achieve the very best for the public, comments from some senior figures have not only been contemptuous towards elected representatives, but highlight a continued lack of expertise within our local Civil Service to deliver the ambitious reforms that schools, roads and hospitals require,” Mr Robinson said.

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Ukrainian conflict training in troubling times

KYIV (May 15): The first group of Ukrainian Civil Servants and Local Government officials have complete a program on Conflict Management in Public Institutions, developed locally with the support of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

The program consisted of an online course and a three-day on-site practical training event focused on officers acquiring practical skills to analyse conflicts, plan conflict resolution efforts, conduct interviews with parties to the conflict and seek common ground.

Head of the National Agency of Ukraine on Civil Service, Nataliia Aliushyna said the officers were working in a stressful reality with many different challenges.

“Public service is part of society and it is important for us to be able to control our emotions and resolve conflicts emerging around us. The knowledge obtained during the training course will help us ensure a psychological balance at the workplace," Ms Aliushyna said.

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Iranian offer to dissident US students

TEHRAN (May 9): The Vice President of Shiraz University of Technology in southern Iran says the university will offer scholarships to students in the United States who have been expelled for taking part in pro-Palestinian demonstrations on campuses.

Mohammad Moazzeni said students and even professors who have been expelled or threatened with expulsion could continue their studies at Shiraz University and urged other Iranian universities to make similar offers.

Since April 18, more than 1,000 people have been arrested on over 25 campuses in the US. Pro-Palestinian protesters have also gathered on university campuses in Australia, Canada, France, Italy and the United Kingdom.

Mr Moazzeni accused Western police of "autocratic methods" and said they had used "a lot of violence in order to contain this raging movement”.

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Kenyan village elders may join bureaucracy

NAIROBI (May 14): More than 45,000 village elders could soon be absorbed into the Kenyan Civil Service if plans mooted by the Government see the light of day.

Principal Secretary of the Interior, Raymond Omollo has invited Kenyans to give their views on the proposal following the National Assembly’s approval of a Bill sponsored by Member of Parliament, Mwengi Mutuse that recognises village administrative units with payments to village elders.

Mr Omollo said the elders provided crucial services to the public for free, contrary to provisions in the Constitution on fair labour practices.

Kenyans have until June 6 to submit their views and written memoranda on the proposed legislation and the National Government’s Village Administration Policy.

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Council to ban ‘confusing’ apostrophes

LONDON (May 10): In another example of the drift towards a post-literate society, North Yorkshire Council in the United Kingdom says it will ban apostrophes on street signs to avoid problems with computer systems.

In a statement, the Council said the punctuation point can affect geographical databases, and all new street signs would be produced without one, regardless of previous use.

Meanwhile, the UK’s Ordinance Survey is adding thousands of local nicknames for cliffs, caves, sandbanks, coastal car parks and buildings to its database so that emergency services know where they are going when called to an incident.

Examples are Stinky Bay referring to Pentire on the North Cornwall coast; Sausage Island for a popular rock on the coast of north-west Wales, and Crazy Mary’s Hole, a deep ravine in Pakefield, Suffolk, said to be haunted by the ghost of a woman whose husband was lost at sea.

 

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

Union partners in digital rail card solution

Contractor Risk Management Software provider, Avetta has announced a partnership with the Australian Rail, Tram and Bus Industry Union (RTBU) to create a nationwide industry solution for all rail workers.

Avetta’s RailWallet will verify and manage rail worker qualifications and compliance with industry requirements and regulations.

National Secretary of the RTBU, Mark Diamond said many rail employers had expressed a desire to find a better, more portable rail card that captured the entire industry.

“Representing our 35,000 workers across Australia’s rail, tram, and bus industries, we approached Avetta with the proposal late last year to achieve what we believe is a first-of-its-kind innovation,” Mr Diamond (pictured) said.

“In collaboration with key industry representatives from the rail industry, the RTBU and Avetta have partnered to develop a solution that supports the safety and compliance of all rail workers.”

He said for the first time, rail workers would have access to their rail card directly from their mobile devices.

“There, they can view their roles, competencies and compliance progress, upload competency documents, check verification status, and complete training assignments and inductions,” Mr Diamond said.

“RailWallet will reduce administrative delays and streamline worker compliance, making it easier for rail employees to understand, achieve and maintain compliance to safely in conducting the work they are asked to perform.”

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EnviroGold files patent on metal extraction

EnviroGold Global Limited, a technology company enabling the global mining industry to monetise valuable metals contained in mine waste and tailings, has filed a patent application for an improved method of extraction of metals from refractory ores.

Chief Technology Officer, Brock Hill said the patent application followed an extended pilot study conducted at ALS Global’s Metallurgical Facility in Western Australia.

“The pilot study was designed to confirm process recoveries and identify any process challenges which could prevent the company from moving to full-scale commercial production,” Mr Hill said.

“The results of this work have enabled the company to significantly improve several components of its NVRO Clean Leach Process, including improved catalyst recovery, lower operational cost, and increased recovery of gold and silver from refractory ores.”

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Agreement seeks to boost lithium production

Standard Lithium Ltd. a near-commercial lithium development company, has announced a partnership with Equinor, a multinational energy company and recognised leader in renewables and low-carbon solutions.

The aim of the link is to accelerate the development of Standard Lithium’s large-scale, sustainable lithium projects in the Smackover geological formation covering Arkansas and Texas.

President of Standard Lithium, Andy Robinson said the company was at a critical stage of its growth, and the partnership with Equinor would be fundamental to the continued de-risking and execution of its world-class lithium-brine resources in Smackover.

“One thing that we have observed in the lithium world over the past decade is that strong, mutually-aligned partnerships are the key to successful project execution and operation,” Dr Robinson said.

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Venom’s BlackBook laptop wins top award

Melbourne-based manufacturer of high-end business laptop computers, Venom has been recognised by High Performance Laptops (HPL) with its Best Business Laptop award.

In a statement, HPL said in making the award it looked for weight, battery life, screen quality and size, ports and connectivity, web conferencing, build quality, security and service-level agreements.

Venom’s BlackBook Zero 14 Phantom G9 scored the highest in these categories overall, thus winning the category award for best business laptop.

Venom was also commended for its up-to-seven-year trade in program. Head of Hardware, Jaan Turon said Venom aimed to make worthy notebook computers that carried a monetary and environmental value long after the book value had been depreciated to zero.

An occasional round-up of international business stories

 

Fury builds over office working rule

OTTAWA (May 4): Canadian Federal Public Servants are continuing to speak out over the Government’s insistence that most employees will work in their offices for three days a week beginning later this year.

Tanya King, a transgender and autistic worker for Public Services and Procurement Canada, said she was concerned about the possibility of having to spend more time in the office, given that she has faced harassment and micro-aggressions from her co-workers in the past.

Ms King has been working exclusively from home while waiting for her Agency to approve her request to work remotely, on medical advice.

“I’m worried that it will be a catch-all, they will want all of us to go in without considering it on a case-by-case basis,” Ms King said.

She also said the Government should address issues with workers’ access to workspaces and equipment before sending them back to the office more often.

“In the past I’ve definitely found myself dealing a lot with work pass issues, security, network issues, equipment issues, desks not having chairs,” Ms King said.

Telework has been a major point of contention among unions and was a sticking point during last year’s Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) strike that involved more than 155,000 workers.

Christine, a Federal Public Servant who asked that only her first name be shared due to fear of reprisal, said employees were furious about the news.

Former Clerk of the Privy Council, Michael Wernick rejected the complaints, noting that half of the Public Service — workers at parks, museums, border crossings and laboratories — had always had to go to their workplaces.

“Obviously flexibility has been very welcome for some people, especially people with family responsibilities, but organisations have paid a price for it in terms of team cohesion and some productivity issues, and passing on corporate values and culture,” Mr Wernick said.

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Minister defends ‘unprecedented’ pay boost

KUALA LUMPUR (May 5): Malaysia’s Human Resources Minister has defended the outcome of the long-awaited salary revision for Civil Servants which has awarded an unprecedented 13 per cent increase.

Steven Sim Chee Keong said the increase was “appropriate and reasonable, considering the increased efficiency of Government services.

“It is also fair to Public Servants, as the salary structure for the country's front-line workers has not seen real change for more than 10 years,” Mr Sim said.

Noting that news of such an increase had been questioned is some areas, he said that in a democratic society “we naturally cannot escape from differing opinions and criticism regarding this decision”.

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International Court rejects Gaza arms sales ban

THE HAGUE (May 4): The International Court of Justice has rejected a request by Nicaragua for an immediate order to Germany to halt military and other aid to Israel and to renew funding to the United Nations aid agency in Gaza.

The court ruled that legal conditions for making such an order had not been met and rejected the request in a 15-1 vote. German officials had told the court the country was barely exporting any arms to Israel.

In a statement, the German Foreign Ministry said Germany was not a party to the conflict in the Middle East — “on the contrary, we are working day and night for a two-State solution”.

 The court did say it would continue to hear arguments from both sides on the merits of Nicaragua’s case. However, that process could drag on for years.

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EU moves to prop-up Lebanon’s economy

BEIRUT (May 4): Lebanon is to receive €1 billion ($A1.6 billion) from the European Union to support its faltering economy and its security forces.

European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen said the package would help bolster basic services, including health and education, and would take forward economic, financial and banking reforms.

She said support to the Lebanese army and other security Agencies would be focused on providing training, equipment and infrastructure to improve border management.

Lebanon's economy began to unravel in 2019 after decades of profligate spending and corruption. However, vested interests in the ruling elite have stalled financial reforms that would grant Lebanon access to a $US3 billion ($A4.5 billion) aid package from the International Monetary Fund.

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Jersey to trim ‘largest ever’ bureaucracy

ST HELIER (May 7): Jersey's Chief Minister, Lyndon Farnham has predicted jobs could go in the Channel Island’s Civil Service.

Mr Farnham said the Government was planning to curb the use of consultants and fixed-term contracts with outside companies.

He was commenting on new figures which show Jersey’s public sector is now the largest it has ever been.

"We'll be looking at various roles in the Cabinet Office, including communications and management structures right across the public sector — money for essentials such as health and roads is not at risk,” Mr Farnham said.

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NI takes action to improver diversity

BELFAST (May 7): The Northern Ireland Civil Service has launched its Diversity Action Plan, setting out how it intends to improve diversity and inclusion within the bureaucracy across the themes of gender, disability, LGBTQ+, race and ethnicity.

Welcoming the plan, Finance Minister, Caoimhe Archibald said diversity and inclusion was rightly a key strategic priority for the Civil Service.

“By having it at the heart of everything we do will help us attract and retain the best, most diverse talent; create diversity of thought to support better policy-making, and deliver better services to the people,” Ms Archibald said.  

“The Civil Service continues to make progress in its diversity and inclusion journey and this year’s plan provides the framework to build on our successes and drive further improvements to be a truly diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive”.

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