Latest news with #SPSC
Business Recorder
4 days ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
SPSC begins transparent recruitment with computer-based tests
The Sindh Public Service Commission (SPSC) has successfully conducted its first computer-based tests (CBT) in Hyderabad on Monday, marking a significant step toward 'transparent recruitment'. The CBT system was inaugurated by Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on July 17. Today, the SPSC successfully completed testing for three subjects for the position of lecturer. Tests were held for the posts of Lecturer in Biology, Pakistan Studies, and Islamic Studies, the spokesperson of the chief minister stated. A major feature of the new system is the instant release of results, with candidates receiving their online marks sheets within an hour of completing the exam. The results for Lecturer Biology (BPS-17) were announced immediately. CM Murad reiterated his commitment to making the recruitment process faster, fairer, and more reliable. He hailed the SPSC as a pioneer of government reforms and digitalisation in Sindh, stating that this is part of the government's agenda for digital transformation and transparency. Murad inaugurates CBT Lab at SPSC 'The CBT initiative has opened new avenues for modernizing the recruitment system,' said the chief minister. 'This transparent and paperless system is proof of the commission's commitment to merit, justice, and technology.' He added that the SPSC has set a new standard for transparency, merit, and public trust. Candidates expressed their satisfaction and confidence in the SPSC's new transparent and convenient system. The chief minister paid tribute to the SPSC team and its chairperson for the successful implementation, the CM House said in a press release. Moreover, the SPSC chairperson stated that the entire process was completed in an efficient, secure, and transparent manner. He vowed that all future examinations would be conducted through the CBT system. The results were verified by the Chief Information Officer and the SPSC chairperson. For the post of Lecturer Biology (BPS-17), five candidates successfully passed the written exam. The successful candidates include Athar Ali, Ghulam Qadir, Arif Khan, Vaneesh Kumar, and Khalid Iqbal.
The Herald Scotland
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Scots activists speak out as Palestine Action ban reviewed
Davidson, who is a senior figure in the Scottish [[Palestine]] Solidarity Campaign (SPSC), said: 'There is a very clear approach that has been taken by police up and down the UK. People have been arrested for wearing t-shirts and others have been challenged by police over [[Palestine]] flags and anti-Israel placards. 'Some of our members are more at risk when it comes to anti-terror legislation, and we've informed them of this. Of course, any risk we might take is nothing in comparison to what Palestinians are going through.' Protestors gathered in London ahead of the ban. (Image: Lucy North / PA) Davidson was one of several high-profile activists who were surveilled by police during US President Donald Trump's visit to Scotland last week. According to video evidence viewed by The National the force carried out daily bail checks at Davidson's address, as well as those of others. She told The Herald: 'It was a bit scary. I have a young daughter at home. I feel like I've disassociated at times, this isn't the country and the values people say they hold.' Davidson also hit out at Keir Starmer's plan to recognise the State of [[Palestine]] in September if [[Israel]] does not take steps to provide humanitarian aid and end the war in Gaza. She said: 'It's consistent with Keir Starmer's approach to this. He seems to believe that the inalienable rights of Palestinians, such as food, water, and self-determination, are dependent on Israel. That is not the case. 'An entire classroom of Palestinian children have been killed every day since the start of the war. If a classroom of Israeli children were being killed every day, there's no way Starmer would have given Israel a month's notice. 'The two-state solution only maintains the status quo. Meanwhile, Israel is taking more land and killing more people. Palestinians need the killing to stop.' Keir Starmer has said the UK will recognise a Palestinian state if Israel does not end the war in Gaza by September. (Image: Toby Melville/PA Wire) Last month, Palestine Action was proscribed under the Terrorism Act 2000 after causing £7m of damage to two jet planes at RAF Brize Norton. This means that expressing support for or being a member of the group is a criminal offence, punishable by up to 14 years in prison. During the TRSNMT festival last month, a 55-year-old man was charged under anti-terror legislation for allegedly wearing a t-shirt bearing the message "Genocide in Palestine Time to Take Action,' which had been produced by the SPSC. According to reports, the words 'Palestine' and 'Action' were in a larger font than the other text. SPSC spokesperson Mick Napier said: 'We put this T-shirt out because we wanted to use the furore around the ban to draw attention to the genocide. The T-shirt is not about Palestine Action, it's about genocide.' 'We're getting a substantially different response from the public even than two months ago. The atrocious actions in Gaza are burning deep into the national and international psyche.' On July 18, a 64-year-old man was arrested in Glasgow under the legislation for allegedly holding a sign bearing the same words. Police officers had asked the man to put the sign away, but he is alleged to have refused. And three men were arrested in Edinburgh for 'showing support for a proscribed organisation' in two separate incidents on July 19 and July 21. Leading charities have raised the alarm over the risk of famine in Gaza. (Image: AP) More than 200 people have been arrested across the UK on suspicion of expressing support for Palestine Action since the ban came into force. Davidson told The Herald: '[The proscription] is having a knock-on effect. It doesn't happen in a vacuum. 'The Scottish Government needs to do more. They released a statement calling for a ceasefire very early on, but have yet to call the conflict a genocide. Not to mention, they continue to fund arms companies through Scottish Enterprise.' Meanwhile, a High Court judge has ruled that [[Palestine]] Action will be allowed to challenge their proscription at a full judicial review of the Home Office's decision in November. Mr Justice Chamberlain rejected calls by the group to lift the proscription order ahead of the review, which means Palestine Action remains a banned organisation. Read more: Court bid to block Palestine Action being designated as terror group fails Glasgow man arrested over 'Palestine Action poster in window' Home Office welcomes Palestine Action ban as it comes into force A Police Scotland spokesperson said: 'We have a legal duty to protect the rights of people who wish to peacefully protest or counter-protest. 'It is an offence under the Terrorism Act 2000 to be a member of a proscribed organisation or to invite or express support for them. 'This includes wearing clothing or carrying any item in public in such a way as to arouse suspicion that they are a member of, or a supporter of a proscribed organisation. 'We are working closely with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service. Where police consider there is a sufficiency of evidence, they submit reports to the Procurator Fiscal. 'The fiscal will then consider whether there is enough evidence in law and decides what action, if any, to take in the public interest.'
Yahoo
31-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
SPS Commerce Inc (SPSC) Q2 2025 Earnings Call Highlights: Strong Revenue Growth Amid Market ...
Revenue: $187.4 million, a 22% increase over Q2 of last year. Recurring Revenue Growth: 24% year over year. Adjusted EBITDA: Increased 27% to $56.1 million compared to $44.2 million in Q2 of last year. Total Cash and Investments: $108 million. Share Repurchase: $20 million of SPS shares repurchased. Recurring Revenue Customers: Approximately 54,500. Average Revenue Per User (ARPU): Approximately $13,200. Q3 2025 Revenue Guidance: Expected to be in the range of $191.7 million to $193.2 million. Q3 2025 Adjusted EBITDA Guidance: Expected to be in the range of $57.9 million to $59.9 million. Q3 2025 EPS Guidance: Fully diluted earnings per share expected to be in the range of $0.50 to $0.54. Full Year 2025 Revenue Guidance: Expected to be in the range of $759 million to $763 million. Full Year 2025 Adjusted EBITDA Guidance: Expected to be in the range of $230.7 million to $233.7 million. Full Year 2025 EPS Guidance: Fully diluted earnings per share expected to be in the range of $2.17 to $2.22. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 1 Warning Sign with SPSC. Release Date: July 30, 2025 For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. Positive Points SPS Commerce Inc (NASDAQ:SPSC) reported a strong second quarter with revenue growth of 22% to $187.4 million and recurring revenue growth of 24%. The company has maintained 98 consecutive quarters of revenue growth, showcasing its consistent performance. SPS Commerce Inc (NASDAQ:SPSC) is uniquely positioned as the only full-service EDI solution on the market, helping suppliers maintain compliance with changing retailer requirements. The company's product portfolio enhances collaboration between trading partners, leading to improved efficiency, cost savings, and shared success. SPS Commerce Inc (NASDAQ:SPSC) is leveraging its acquisitions, such as Supply Pike and Carbon 6, to expand its product portfolio and grow wallet share with existing customers. Negative Points There is heightened spend scrutiny and delayed purchasing decisions among some customers, impacting the supplier side of the business. The macro environment, including tariffs, is causing uncertainties that affect consumer demand and the company's growth outlook. The analytics product has been negatively impacted by economic conditions and is not growing at the same rate as the fulfillment segment. Mid-market ERP purchase decisions are being delayed, affecting the company's growth in that segment. The company is experiencing slower deal cycles and increased cost-saving measures from suppliers due to macroeconomic uncertainties. Q & A Highlights Q: How should we think about the growth by product area for SPS Commerce post-2025? A: Kimberly Nelson, CFO, explained that the high single-digit growth expectation considers the current product portfolio. The core fulfillment aspect is driven by community enablement activity, while analytics growth is more impacted by the economy. Revenue recovery offers cross-sell opportunities, but fulfillment is expected to grow faster than analytics. Q: How has the macroeconomic environment, particularly tariffs, affected SPS Commerce's business? A: Chadwick Collins, CEO, noted that while retailer activity remains strong, suppliers are focusing on cost-saving measures due to uncertainty. This has led to scrutiny of spending, slower deal cycles, and some customers reducing their use of analytics and fulfillment services. Q: Are there differences in behavior between mid-market and SMB customers in response to the current macro environment? A: Chadwick Collins, CEO, highlighted that mid-market ERP customers are delaying decisions, impacting SPS's growth. However, demand from enterprise customers remains healthy, though the majority of SPS's business is in the mid-market segment. Q: What are the expectations for organic revenue growth in the second half of 2025? A: Kimberly Nelson, CFO, stated that the guidance remains consistent with earlier expectations, with a slight increase in the low end. The organic growth rate for the year is expected to be around 10%, factoring in the impact of acquisitions. Q: How is SPS Commerce integrating its recent acquisitions, Supply Pike and Carbon 6, into its go-to-market strategy? A: Chadwick Collins, CEO, mentioned that the integration is progressing well, with go-to-market teams being consolidated to offer a complete solution across retailers. While the revenue recovery team is not yet integrated with the fulfillment team, there is a lead-sharing program in place to identify cross-selling opportunities. For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Sign in to access your portfolio
The National
18-07-2025
- Politics
- The National
Speakers announced for Edinburgh Gaza protest on Saturday
The protest on Saturday, organised by the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign (SPSC) and the Edinburgh Gaza Genocide Emergency Committee (GGEC), was called in response to reports that the UK is continuing to send spy flights over Gaza and sharing information with Israel. Campaigners will assemble outside St Giles' Cathedral at Parliament Square at 1pm on Saturday. READ MORE: Legal complaint filed after armed police threaten woman for holding Palestine flag The march route will go down the Royal Mile to Queen Elizabeth House, which is the UK Government's headquarters in [[Edinburgh]]. Campaigners will then head along Market Street before crossing over Waverley Bridge onto Princes Street, then South St David Street, before going down George Street and ending outside Bute House, the First Minister's official residence. On Friday, the SPSC announced the full list of speakers for the protest. Those set to speak include journalist and broadcaster Lesley Riddoch, former SNP MP Tommy Sheppard, Alba Party leader Kenny MacAskill and lawyer Aamer Anwar. Full list of speakers at Saturday's pro-Palestine Edinburgh protest: Doha Abu Amer, who has family in Gaza Aamer Anwar, lawyer Colin Brown, FBU Scotland Billy Hendry, Scottish ex-Royal Marine Lesley Riddoch, broadcaster and journalist Kenny MacAskill, Alba Party leader Tommy Sheppard, former SNP MP The protest was initially set to assemble at the foot of the Mound. Organisers changed the start point to the top of the Mound, however they said "safety concerns had been raised", leading them to change the meeting point to Parliament Square. Ahead of the protest on Saturday, a spokesperson for the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign said: 'Israel is planning the end game – the complete ethnic cleansing of the whole of Palestine. 'Israel is escalating its massacres in Gaza and attacks across the West Bank. Israel is designating Rafah as a concentration zone under the sick label of 'humanitarian corridor'. READ MORE: Police Scotland issue terror charge for man with 'Palestine Action poster in window' 'Children are starving to death in Gaza due to blocked aid and targeted food distribution points. Civilians attempting to access food are being ambushed and killed in huge numbers. 'The West Bank is seeing a surge in settler violence, with Palestinian homes and lives under daily threat." The spokesperson added: 'The RAF has flown over Gaza at least 518 times during the genocide, providing intelligence to the Israeli military below. 'Despite the scale of the atrocity, UK political and institutional leaders remain largely silent.'
Business Recorder
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Murad inaugurates CBT Lab at SPSC
HYDERABAD: In a significant step towards modernising recruitment processes, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah inaugurated the newly established Computer-Based Testing (CBT) Lab at the Sindh Public Service Commission (SPSC), equipped with 500 tablets, boasting a remarkable daily testing capacity of 2,000 candidates, making SPSC the first institution in the province to implement computer-based testing. This innovative approach aims to enhance transparency, minimise human error, and provide instant results. At the inauguration ceremony, which was hosted by Chairman SPSC Mohammad Waseem and attended by Provincial Ministers Sharjeel Inam Memon and Jam Khan Shoro, the Chief Minister unveiled the plaque and participated in a mock test, achieving an impressive score of 18 out of 20. Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon also took and passed the mock test. The immediate display of the test results underscored the efficiency of the new system. Addressing the inauguration ceremony, Chief Minister Murad Shah commended the SPSC for its commitment to a transparent and merit-based recruitment system, stating, 'SPSC's modern system is exemplary. It is crucial to appoint the most capable individuals to improve our public institutions.' He further praised the initiative to digitise the examination process, describing it as a commendable move towards enhancing recruitment procedures and ensuring meritocracy. Murad Shah also visited the under-construction SPSC Secretariat Complex, where he was briefed on the project's progress by Secretary Works Nawaz Soho. The complex, which has an estimated cost of Rs. 2,517.430 million, has thus far utilised Rs. 2,257.242 million. For the fiscal year 2025-26, an additional Rs. 258.400 million is required, and Shah instructed relevant authorities to release these necessary funds promptly. The new complex will feature a basement, ground floor, and five additional floors, housing various facilities including offices, an auditorium, a library, a cafeteria, and a prayer area. The digital library will accommodate 300 candidates simultaneously, while the dedicated auditorium on the third floor will facilitate examinations, programs, workshops, and training sessions, reducing reliance on external venues. Expressing satisfaction with the construction progress, Shah directed that the project be completed without delay, emphasising that such infrastructure improvements are vital for strengthening institutions and maintaining transparency in recruitment processes. In addition to the inauguration, the Chief Minister received a briefing on SPSC's performance and administrative reforms, noting that over 100 employees have been promoted under the current administration, alongside enhancements in salaries and office decor. He acknowledged the historical challenges faced by SPSC and praised Chairman Mohammad Waseem for his dedication and transparent leadership. 'I want the best officers in every provincial department, and that can only happen through a strong and transparent Commission,' he asserted, directing SPSC to expedite testing for doctors, engineers, and other professionals. Chief Minister Murad Shah, in conclusion, remarked, 'The establishment of the CBT lab is a major step towards transparency and efficiency,' reinforcing his commitment to improving public service recruitment across the province. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
