NewzIntel.com

Category: Statistics

  • MIL-OSI: Next Phase Advisors Announces Launch of Safe Bucket Blueprint™ to Help Retirees Create Reliable Income Amid Market Uncertainty

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HUNTSVILLE, AL, June 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Next Phase Advisors, a Huntsville-based retirement planning firm led by founder and retirement income specialist Jeremiah Nolen, announced the official launch of its flagship retirement income planning framework, the Safe Bucket Blueprint™. Designed specifically for today’s retirement landscape, the blueprint provides a structured approach to turning savings into a reliable income stream, offering peace of mind for retirees and pre-retirees navigating volatile markets.

    Jeremiah Nolen, CRPC®, NSSA® and Retirement Income Specialist, helps pre-retirees and retirees
    turn     savings into sustainable income through his Safe Bucket blueprint.

    With fewer Americans receiving traditional pensions and rising concerns about outliving retirement savings, the Safe Bucket Blueprint™ arrives at a critical time. This innovative approach helps clients transition from saving to spending by establishing personalized, protected income streams that support essential expenses, while allowing other assets to continue growing.

    “Retirement planning today is no longer just about how much you’ve saved. It’s about how you’ll convert that savings into a sustainable income stream,” said Nolen. “Too many people approach retirement like day traders, when what they truly need is consistent, long-term income planning.”

    A Modern Income Planning Solution

    Unlike traditional retirement strategies focused solely on accumulation, the Safe Bucket Blueprint™ shifts focus to the decumulation phase on how retirees withdraw and use their savings over a 20- to 30-year period. The blueprint uses a multi-bucket strategy that segments assets into:

    • Protected Income Bucket – covering non-negotiable living expenses with sources such as annuities or guaranteed instruments;
    • Flexible Access Bucket – for medium-term needs and unexpected expenses;
    • Growth Bucket – designed for discretionary spending, market participation, and legacy planning.

    This framework is customizable, not product-specific, and is used by Nolen and his advisory team to create income plans tailored to each client’s lifestyle and goals.

    Thinking Like a Pension Manager

    At the core of the Safe Bucket Blueprint™ is a philosophy borrowed from institutional pension planning: match future liabilities with reliable income. Nolen encourages retirees to think more like pension managers, who focus on sustainable payouts, rather than day traders who chase short-term gains.

    “Market timing is a risky game in retirement,” Nolen emphasized. “What retirees need is dependable income they can count on, regardless of market swings. Our blueprint ensures essential needs are covered, freeing clients to invest the rest with intention, not fear.”

    Responding to Industry Demand

    Industry research highlights the need for structured income planning:

    • A 2023 Transamerica study found 57% of pre-retirees lack a formal income plan.
    • The Employee Benefit Research Institute reported that only one-third of retirees receive guaranteed income beyond Social Security.
    • According to Allianz Life, the top fear among retirees remains outliving their savings.

    These statistics underscore the importance of tools like the Safe Bucket Blueprint™, especially for those approaching retirement without a clear income strategy.

    Who Should Consider the Blueprint

    Nolen recommends the Safe Bucket Blueprint™ for individuals within five to ten years of retirement, especially those:

    • Concerned about market volatility and income predictability;
    • Transitioning from 401(k) or IRA accumulation into distribution;
    • Without access to a pension or other guaranteed income source.

    “This is not just a new product—it’s a new way of thinking about retirement,” Nolen added. “The earlier you begin planning your income strategy, the more options and flexibility you’ll have to retire confidently.”

    Complimentary Strategy Sessions Available

    To mark the launch, Next Phase Advisors is offering complimentary strategy sessions to help retirees and pre-retirees explore how the Safe Bucket Blueprint™ can be customized to their needs. These sessions include a personalized income map and insights into potential gaps or inefficiencies in their current retirement plan.

    Interested individuals can visit www.nextphaseadvisor.com to learn more or to schedule their session.

    About Jeremiah Nolen & Next Phase Advisors

    Jeremiah Nolen, CRPC®, NSSA®, is the founder of Next Phase Advisors, a firm specializing in retirement income planning based in Huntsville, Alabama. With a mission to help clients transition from accumulation to income with clarity and confidence, Nolen and his team provide comprehensive, education-based guidance through personalized strategies such as the Safe Bucket Blueprint™.

    The Safe Bucket Blueprint™ helps retirees allocate assets into protected income, flexible access, and
    long-term growth buckets.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s postal sector sees strong growth in parcel handling

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    China’s postal sector handled 86.18 billion parcels from January to May 2025, a 17.6 percent year-on-year increase, according to data released Monday by the State Post Bureau.

    Express delivery services accounted for 78.77 billion of these parcels, surging 20.1 percent from the same period last year.

    In terms of business revenue, China’s postal industry witnessed stable growth, with revenue rising 8 percent year on year to 718.73 billion yuan (about 100.12 billion U.S. dollars).

    The significant growth in parcel deliveries is a sign of a thriving consumer market. According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, retail sales of consumer goods in China increased by 5 percent year on year from January to May, up from the 4.7-percent growth in the first four months of the year. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: The current state of housing in Aotearoa New Zealand – Stats NZ media release and report: Housing in Aotearoa New Zealand: 2025

    The current state of housing in Aotearoa New Zealand – media release

    17 June 2025

    Housing in New Zealand’s cities is changing, with an increase in housing density, and more multi-unit homes. Home ownership has increased, however housing affordability is still an issue for many households, according to a report released by Stats NZ today.

    Housing in Aotearoa New Zealand: 2025 brings together information from official and government administrative statistics to describe how housing intersects with people. It is an update of Housing in Aotearoa: 2020 and has updates to time series and new data sources, including aspects of housing not previously covered.

    In the June 2024 year, the average annual housing costs for a New Zealand household increased 31 percent, compared with the June 2020 year, while average disposable income increased 24 percent over the same period.

    Visit our website to read this news story and report:

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Food prices increase 4.4 percent annually – Stats NZ media and information release: Selected price indexes: May 2025

    Food prices increase 4.4 percent annually – media release

    17 June 2025

    Food prices increased 4.4 percent in the 12 months to May 2025, following a 3.7 percent increase in the 12 months to April 2025, according to figures released by Stats NZ today.

    Higher prices for the grocery food group and the meat, poultry, and fish group contributed most to the annual increase in food prices, up 5.2 percent and 5.4 percent, respectively.

    “All five food groups recorded an annual price increase in May,” prices and deflators spokesperson Nicola Growden said.

    The price increase for the grocery food group was due to higher prices for milk, butter, and cheese.

    Visit our website to read this news story and information release and to download CSV files:

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cassidy, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Give Bureau of Prisons Officers Fair Pay

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy

    WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) introduced the Pay Our Correctional Officers Fairly Act to ensure fair pay for U.S. Bureau of Prisons (BOP) employees in rural areas. The bill will help to address staffing shortages at Federal Correctional Complex (FCC) Oakdale in Allen Parish and FCC Pollock in Grant Parish by allowing for competitive pay that better reflects the cost of living, commute times, alternative careers, and the hard work and dedication of BOP employees.
    “Underpaying correctional officers leads to fatigue, which leads to mistakes and safety risks. If we want criminals to remain behind bars, then we need to provide Bureau of Prisons employees with workable conditions. This goes for FCC Oakdale, Pollock, and the rest of Louisiana,”said Dr. Cassidy.
    U.S. Representative Randy Weber (TX-14) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.
    “Every day, federal correctional officers put their lives on the line to maintain order, enforce the law, and keep dangerous criminals behind bars,”said Representative Weber. “They serve with grit, integrity, and resolve—and they deserve to be paid accordingly. This bill delivers a long-overdue pay raise to correctional officers across the country. It’s a common-sense investment in public safety that will help us recruit and retain the best in the field.”
    Cassidy was joined by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) in introducing the legislation.
    Background
    The shortage of correctional officers has grown each year over the past four years. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 7% decline in correctional officers by 2032. Understaffed prisons and overworked employees have created increasingly dangerous work environments.
    FCC Oakdale houses approximately 2,000 federal inmates and faces unsustainably low staffing levels. These vacancies force FCC Oakdale to rely on mandatory overtime and using support staff to guard inmates just to meet the basic safety needs of its mission. FCC Pollok is facing similar shortages.
    Under current policies, BOP uses cooks, teachers, and nurses to guard inmates. This temporary fix pulls employees away from their usual duties and negatively impacts inmates by limiting visitations, recreational time, and academic enrichment opportunities.
    BOP employees are usually paid on the General Schedule (GS) pay scale, with slight pay modifications for correctional officers. Locality raises are determined by comparisons of local private sector salary rates, not by cost of living. An individual’s rate is based on where he or she works, not where he or she lives. Places located outside of these locality pay areas are compensated on a lower Rest of US (RUS) pay scale.
    Cassidy has urged the BOP to address staffing shortages in the past, highlighting the challenges at FCC Oakdale in 2022 and calling for staffing increases at both Oakdale and Pollock.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Commission’s view on population rules and impact of migration on Member States’ population sizes – P-002354/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Priority question for written answer  P-002354/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Pál Szekeres (PfE)

    In the context of the provisional agreement on a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on European statistics on population and housing, amending Regulation (EC) No 862/2007 and repealing Regulations (EC) No 763/2008 and (EU) No 1260/2013, we would like to know, as a matter of urgency, the Commission’s views on the following:

    • 1.If the current rules remain in place and the rules in the expected amendments are adopted, will the population size of the EU Member States be calculated on the basis of the principle of ‘usual residence’ in the census? If so, could the census be affected by the scale of migration and the volume of migrants and refugees from non-EU countries?
    • 2.Could this also affect policymaking, influencing the population size of Member States when the proposed new definitions are adopted, and ultimately providing a strategic incentive to support more immigration from a political perspective?

    Submitted: 11.6.2025

    Last updated: 16 June 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Is there really a religious revival in England? Why I’m sceptical of a new report

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By David Voas, Emeritus Professor of Social Science, UCL

    Jantanee Runpranomkorn/Shutterstock

    The Bible Society recently published a report claiming that church attendance in England and Wales increased by more than half between 2018 and 2024. The revival was especially striking among young men, with reported church attendance jumping from 4% to 21% over this short period.

    As a quantitative social scientist who has studied religious change in modern societies for more than 25 years, I’m surprised – and sceptical. I do not doubt that the Bible Society acted in good faith, but they haven’t engaged with the mountain of evidence, some of it very recent, pointing to religious decline.

    The annual British Social Attitudes survey – widely regarded as the best and most reliable source of data on such matters – shows that the share of adults in England and Wales who said that they were Christian and went to church at least monthly fell by nearly a quarter (from 12.2% to 9.3%) between 2018 and 2023, the last year available. The Bible Society surveys suggest that churchgoers were 8% of the adult population in 2018 and 12% in 2024.

    The main Christian denominations (Anglican, Catholic, Methodist, Baptist) conduct and publish their own attendance counts every year. Those show that while churchgoing continues to rebound from the lows of the COVID lockdown, attendance at worship services remains substantially lower than it was in 2019, before the pandemic. In the Church of England, average weekly attendance is down about 20% from pre-pandemic levels, and the story is similar in other denominations.

    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

    The Bible Society report claims that “Catholicism has risen sharply.” According to their figures, Catholics were 23% of churchgoers in 2018 and 31% in 2024. As total churchgoing supposedly increased by 56% over that period, from 3.7 million to 5.8 million, the implication is that Catholic mass attendance has more than doubled.

    We know from the Catholic church itself, however, that the reality is far different. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales counted 701,902 people attending Sunday mass in 2019. In 2023, there were 554,913 – a drop of 21%.

    The findings are also inconsistent with other data from YouGov, the polling firm that collected the data for the Bible Society. A decade ago, the British Election Study (BES) commissioned YouGov to create an online panel. This panel, which includes more people than the Bible Society surveys, was asked about religious affiliation and church attendance in 2015, 2022 and 2024.

    According to YouGov’s data for the BES internet panel, the share of Christian churchgoers in England and Wales declined from 8.0% to 6.6% between 2015 and 2024, whereas YouGov’s surveys for the Bible Society apparently show an increase from 8% to 12% between 2018 and 2024.

    The fact that the findings were completely different in the two cases suggests that this kind of polling is not a reliable way of measuring trends in church attendance.

    What could be the problem with the data?

    Gold standard social surveys are based on random (probability) samples of the population: everyone has a chance to be included. The British Social Attitudes survey is one such example – and found that churchgoing fell by nearly a quarter from 2018-23.

    By contrast, people opt in to YouGov’s survey panel and are rewarded after completing a certain number of surveys. The risk of low-quality or even bogus responses is considerable.

    YouGov creates a quota sample from its large self-selected panel. The sample will match the population on a number of key characteristics, such as age and sex, but that does not make it representative in all respects. As quota samples do not give each person in the population a known chance of being selected, statistical inference is not possible and findings cannot be reliably generalised.

    To write (as in the Bible Society report) that because thousands of people participated in the two surveys, they “give a 1% margin of error at a 99% confidence level” is misleading.

    This study is not the first time such non-probability sampling has led to dubious findings. In late 2023, the Economist ran the story that one in five young Americans believed that the Holocaust was a myth, based on another YouGov poll. A study by the Pew Research Center showed that that finding was almost certainly fallacious, and the Economist added a disclaimer acknowledging the problem.

    The trouble with young adults

    The Bible Society claims that the alleged religious revival is being driven by young people flocking to church (and reading their Bibles). There are numerous reasons to be sceptical of survey findings about young adults. They are what survey researchers call a hard-to-reach population. They tend to be in transition between the parental home and education or employment; they are often out of the house and difficult for interviewers to find or for online survey companies to recruit.

    Those who do respond to surveys may not be representative of their age group. They are more likely to be living with their parents, less likely to be out with friends, more likely to be compliant, less likely to be suspicious of authority, and so on. Such characteristics are associated with religious participation.

    The Bible Society report claims 21% of men aged 18-24 are regular churchgoers.
    Yuri A/Shutterstock

    Other findings from the report are also surprising. The Bible Society asserts: “Men are now more likely to attend church than women.” Most churchgoers would probably be surprised by this news, which would make England and Wales an exception to the religious gender gap present in most western countries. For example, recent research by Pew in the US has found that, although the gender gap is less pronounced among the youngest adults, “women remain more religious than men … by a variety of measures”.

    It would be fascinating to probe all of these issues further, but regrettably the Bible Society has not published the dataset. (When contacted about this, the Bible Society pointed to aggregate statistics published by YouGov and said it plans to publish more summary tables in the coming months.) Open access to all data is now a basic expectation in scientific work.

    That the Bible Society report has generated some enthusiastic coverage is not surprising – it appears to challenge conventional wisdom, and there are plenty of anecdotes to be provided as supporting “evidence”.

    But this doesn’t mean the data should be taken at face value. We need to place more trust in surveys based on probability sampling and less in data collected from opt-in online panels. That’s particularly the case when people are pushing a story that runs counter to everyday experience – and years of data.

    In response to the arguments made in this article, the Bible Society said it was committed to producing rigorous and high-quality research that equips the church and provokes conversation in culture. “We are well aware of the limits of non-probability panels, but also the demonstrated strength of this method in producing valid and actionable insights when paired with quota controls and post-stratification, as widely acknowledged in existing survey methodology literature according to academic standards. [Our data] points to both increased engagement with Christianity and a changing spiritual atmosphere, and we are happy to acknowledge it may be on the upper end of a range that future data sets will nuance.”

    A spokesperson for YouGov said: “YouGov’s methodology is robust. We have a proprietary panel of millions of people to take part in our surveys. YouGov draws a sub-sample of the panel that is representative of British adults by range of demographic factors, and invites this sub-sample to complete a survey.”

    David Voas does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond his academic appointment.

    – ref. Is there really a religious revival in England? Why I’m sceptical of a new report – https://theconversation.com/is-there-really-a-religious-revival-in-england-why-im-sceptical-of-a-new-report-257863

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Saskatchewan Housing Starts See Remarkable 108.6 Per Cent Growth

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on June 16, 2025

    Figures Show Strong Gains, Ranking Province First in the Nation 

    Today, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation released new data showing urban housing starts in Saskatchewan increased by 108.6 per cent in the first five months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. This places the province 1st in the nation for growth in this area.

    “Saskatchewan’s economy continues to show positive momentum and investor confidence,” Trade and Export Development Minister Warren Kaeding said. “More homes are being built, and more people are living and working across the province than ever before.”

    In May 2025, urban housing starts across the province increased by 205.9 per cent over May 2024, placing Saskatchewan 2nd among the provinces for year-over-year growth.

    Within that total, housing starts on single family homes were up 63.7 per cent, while multi-unit residential construction increased by 617.9 per cent compared to May 2024.

    Housing starts refers to the number of housing projects that started that month.

    The provincial economy continues to see substantial growth. Statistics Canada’s latest GDP numbers indicate that Saskatchewan’s 2024 real GDP reached an all-time high of $80.5 billion, increasing by $2.6 billion, or 3.4 per cent. This ranks Saskatchewan second in the nation for real GDP growth, and above the national average of 1.6 per cent.

    Private capital investment in Saskatchewan increased last year by 17.3 per cent to $14.7 billion, ranking first among provinces. Private capital investment is projected to reach $16.2 billion in 2025, an increase of 10.1 per cent over 2024. This is the second highest anticipated percentage increase among the provinces.

    Last year, the Government of Saskatchewan unveiled its new Securing the Next Decade of Growth – Saskatchewan’s Investment Attraction Strategy. This strategy, combined with Saskatchewan’s trade and investment website, InvestSK.ca, contains helpful information for potential markets and solidifies the province as the best place to do business in Canada.

    For more information, visit: InvestSK.ca.

    -30-

    For more information, contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China’s postal and courier sector records significant growth in volume of items processed in first five months of 2025

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    BEIJING, June 16 (Xinhua) — China’s postal and courier sector handled 86.18 billion packages from January to May 2025, up 17.6 percent year on year, data from the State Post Administration showed Monday.

    Express delivery services accounted for 78.77 billion of the total number of shipments, which is 20.1 percent more than in the same period last year.

    Revenue from China’s postal and courier sector also showed strong growth, increasing 8 percent year-on-year to 718.73 billion yuan (about 100.12 billion U.S. dollars) in the first five months.

    The significant increase in package deliveries is a sign of a thriving consumer market. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, China’s retail sales of consumer goods rose 5 percent year-on-year from January to May, compared with a 4.7 percent increase in the first four months of this year. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: A flesh-eating fly is spreading north to the US. It could devastate livestock farming if not controlled

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Hannah Rose Vineer, Senior Lecturer at the Institute of Infection, Veterinary & Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool

    Emily Marie Wilson / Shutterstock

    A flesh-eating parasitic fly is invading North and Central America. The consequences could be severe for the cattle industry, but this parasite is not picky – it will infest a wide range of hosts, including humans and their pets.

    The “New World screwworm” (Cochliomyia hominivorax) was previously eradicated from these regions. Why is it returning and what can be done about it?

    Flies fulfil important ecological functions, like pollination and the decomposition of non-living organic matter. Some, however, have evolved to feed on the living. The female New World screwworm fly is attracted to the odour of any wound to lay her eggs. The larvae (maggots) then feed aggressively on living tissue causing immeasurable suffering to their unlucky host, including death if left untreated.

    Cattle farmers in Texas estimated in the 1960s that they were treating around 1 million cases per year.

    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

    Between the 1960s and 1990s, scientists and governments worked together to use the fly’s biology against it, eradicating the New World screwworm from the US and Mexico using the sterile insect technique (SIT).

    A female screwworm mates only once before laying her eggs, whereas the males are promiscuous. During the eradication process, billions of sterile males were released from planes, preventing any female that mated with them from producing viable eggs.

    In combination with chemical treatment of cattle and cool weather, populations of the screwworm were extinct in the US by 1982. The eradication campaign reportedly came at cost of US$750 million (£555 million), allowing cattle production to increase significantly.

    For decades, a facility in Panama has regularly released millions of sterile flies to act as a barrier to the New World screwworm spreading north from further south.

    However, since 2022 – and after decades of eradication – the New World screwworm has once again spread northwards through several countries in Central America. Cases exploded in Panama in 2023 and the fly had reached Mexico by November 2024.

    Scientists have suggested several hypotheses for this spread, including flies hitchhiking with cattle movements, higher temperatures enhancing fly development and survival, and the possibility that females are adapting their sexual behaviour to avoid sterile males.

    Around 17 million cattle are now at risk in Central America, but worse may be to come. Mexico has twice as many cattle, and the spread towards the US continues, where around 14 million cattle would be at risk in Texas and Florida alone.

    Humans are not spared, with at least eight cases of the flies infesting people in Mexico since April.

    Live animal ban

    The US has responded by temporarily restricting live animal imports from Mexico. The governments of the US, Central American countries and Mexico are also working together to heighten surveillance and work towards the eradication of the New World screwworm by stepping up sterile insect releases.

    Sterile male screwworm pupae (juveniles) are currently produced and safely sterilised by irradiation at a rate of over 100 million per week at a facility in Panama. This is jointly funded by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Panama’s Ministry of Agriculture Development. However, a successful eradication campaign may need several times this number of sterile flies.

    For example, sterile fly production for releases in Mexico in the 1980s were reportedly in excess of 500 million flies per week. To combat this shortfall, the USDA is focusing releases in critical areas of Mexico and is already investing US$21 million to equip a fruit fly production facility in Metapa, Mexico, to also produce 60 million to
    100 million sterile screwworm per week.

    Fly production, sterilisation and release is a long process, and a reduction in wild screwworm populations would not be immediate. History has shown us that integrated control with anti-parasitic veterinary medicines are essential to repel flies and treat infestations as they arise.

    Surveillance with trained personnel is also essential but is a great challenge due to an entire generation of veterinarians, technicians and farmers who have no living memory of screwworm infestations.

    Finally, climate warming means that we may not be blessed with the cool weather that facilitated previous eradication, and further work is needed to determine how this will impact current eradication plans.

    Hannah Rose Vineer receives research funding from the UKRI (https://www.ukri.org/) research councils.

    Livio Martins Costa Junior receives funding from Brazilian agencies, including CNPq, CAPES, FINEP and FAPEMA.

    – ref. A flesh-eating fly is spreading north to the US. It could devastate livestock farming if not controlled – https://theconversation.com/a-flesh-eating-fly-is-spreading-north-to-the-us-it-could-devastate-livestock-farming-if-not-controlled-258937

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Soledad Núñez: Address – CREO 2025 Forum

    Source: Bank for International Settlements

    I would like to thank Cinco Días for their kind invitation to participate in this second edition of CREO, a forum for reflection and debate on Spain’s economic future and the challenges facing the financial system. Today two fundamental areas for our country’s development and growth have been addressed.

    First, the technology and innovation industry, which is key for driving a state-of-the-art, efficient and competitive economy.

    Second, the banking sector, which is essential in any economy for channelling the funds needed to make business investments and meet consumer needs.

    Starting with the banking sector, the first point to highlight is the prominent role it plays in our economy:1 the latest National Statistics Institute (INE) data show that the financial sector has contributed more than 5% of gross value added to the Spanish economy, above the European average. Moreover, it generates slightly more than 1% of employment in Spain. The banking sector is the main pillar of the financial industry, which also includes the insurance sector and other financial intermediaries.

    As you are all aware, the Spanish banking sector is in good health, having undergone a major transformation in recent years. Indeed, the current Spanish banking landscape looks little like that of 15 years ago. The great financial crisis triggered a series of legislative reforms, propelled by the Basel Capital Accord, which strengthened banking solvency and fuelled advances in other areas, such as governance. All this led to an improvement in risk management, which is key to ensuring the good health of the sector.

    Thanks to this prudent risk management, Spanish banks now have historically low non-performing loan ratios, profitability levels above the European average and significantly more robust solvency levels than in the past. These legislative and management changes have also been accompanied by a new supervisory framework: the Single Supervisory Mechanism for the leading banks, or so-called “significant institutions”, which in Spain account for 94% of total banking sector assets.

    As has already been noted during today’s session, the banking sector faces a range of challenges, some unique to it and others shared by the economy as a whole.

    Among the latter, the present uncertain global environment cannot go unmentioned. The new geopolitical setting, in which trade positions are still unclear, will undoubtedly affect the global economy. The projection models suggest that the direct impact on the Spanish economy will not be very significant. However, there could clearly be an indirect impact through other economies with which we have closer ties. In consequence, the banking sector will have to keep a close watch on credit risk developments, especially in the sectors that are, a priori, most exposed to changes in the new international trade order. Other risks – such as liquidity or market risk – should also be monitored in view of the potential impact of possible financial market instability owing to unexpected events.

    Another challenge faced by all economic sectors is adapting to the ongoing technological revolution, as the use of technology clearly affects the financial industry, albeit not exclusively. The emergence of new tools, new communication channels, new competitors, etc., poses a challenge for the banking sector, as banks will have to make major investments within a pre-defined strategic framework.

    New technologies – today notably including artificial intelligence – represent a business opportunity, paving the way for new banking products more in line with customers’ needs and delivered through new, faster channels. Although the use of artificial intelligence by banks is not yet widespread, it is a galvanising factor that will prompt efficiency gains, reducing costs and boosting profitability.

    Banks’ use of technology and artificial intelligence will have to be prudently managed, as they increase operational risk, owing to possible system failures or cyberattacks. Banks must be ready to quickly and diligently manage any such failures, as well as the risks associated with reliance on third-party providers for certain critical activities. Moreover, the use of artificial intelligence has ethical connotations that must also be considered, avoiding undue bias or inexplicable results.

    As it advances in this unstoppable digitalisation process, the banking sector, as an essential service provider, cannot leave anyone behind. This is why it must continue its efforts to ensure access to banking services for population groups who face the most barriers, whether due to a digital divide, physical distance from a bank branch or their lack of the basic financial knowledge to make sound economic decisions.

    The last challenge I wish to mention briefly here today is the sustainable transition of the banking sector. Although banking is not a highly polluting sector per se, it does play a leading role in enabling all productive sectors to transition towards a more sustainable economy. Sustainability and competitiveness are two essential and interlinked concepts; a sustainable economy tends to be more competitive because it uses fewer resources. The banking sector should play a leading role in providing appropriate funding for that transition, for which purpose it needs both data and metrics. In the current debate on regulatory simplification under way at various fora, one of the focal points is sustainability reporting. Certainly, we need to reflect on this and other requirements, but any attempt to simplify firms’ sustainability reporting must not compromise the harmonised or sufficient disclosure of critical metrics and data points for climate and nature-related risk management.

    We need to move towards a more sustainable and competitive economy, and the banking sector will play an essential role in that process.

    Moreover, as I mentioned at the start, the technology and innovation industry is key, to boost our economy and make it more competitive and productive.

    The role of the technology and communication sector is particularly crucial. Compared with the European Union (EU) average, it accounts for a smaller share of the Spanish economy in terms of gross value added (6% versus 8%) and employment (4% versus 4.5%). But our economy is very well positioned for technological change for various reasons. First, Spain has good digital skills; indeed, in 2023, 66% of the Spanish population aged between 16 and 74 had high digital skills, the fourth highest figure in the EU after the Netherlands, Finland and Ireland. It also has a good digital infrastructure, with a high penetration rate of high-speed networks. In 2023, 96% of households had access to high-capacity networks, the third highest figure in the EU.

    Second, Spanish firms are very open to adopting and using digital technologies. According to a recent survey by the European Investment Bank,2 innovation and digitalisation are the key to our firms’ competitiveness and Spain leads the way in the use of advanced digital technologies (80% versus 74%).

    Third, the industrial production index of high-tech manufacturing industries has risen more in recent years than among our main European peers. Indeed, since 2021 this sector has grown by more than 25% in Spain, compared with 12% in France and 2% in Germany.

    In short, integrating new technologies and artificial intelligence in the banking and tech sector presents significant opportunities for achieving efficiency gains, reducing costs and boosting profitability. But this progress must be prudently managed, taking into account operational and ethical risks, as well as the need for digital inclusion.

    Furthermore, the banking sector has an essential role to play in the transition towards a more sustainable economy, providing appropriate funding and correctly managing risks, drawing on data and metrics backed by clear sustainability reporting. Spain’s technological environment is well positioned to continue leading in innovation and digitalisation, with a highly skilled population and state-of-the-art digital infrastructure. As we move forward, collaboration between these sectors will be vital to drive a more competitive, productive and sustainable economy.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Sleep loss rewires the brain for cravings and weight gain – a neurologist explains the science behind the cycle

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Joanna Fong-Isariyawongse, Associate Professor of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh

    Getting enough sleep is one of the most effective ways to restore metabolic balance in the brain and body. SimpleImages/Moment via Getty Images

    You stayed up too late scrolling through your phone, answering emails or watching just one more episode. The next morning, you feel groggy and irritable. That sugary pastry or greasy breakfast sandwich suddenly looks more appealing than your usual yogurt and berries. By the afternoon, chips or candy from the break room call your name. This isn’t just about willpower. Your brain, short on rest, is nudging you toward quick, high-calorie fixes.

    There is a reason why this cycle repeats itself so predictably. Research shows that insufficient sleep disrupts hunger signals, weakens self-control, impairs glucose metabolism and increases your risk of weight gain. These changes can occur rapidly, even after a single night of poor sleep, and can become more harmful over time if left unaddressed.

    I am a neurologist specializing in sleep science and its impact on health.

    Sleep deprivation affects millions. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one-third of U.S. adults regularly get less than seven hours of sleep per night. Nearly three-quarters of adolescents fall short of the recommended 8-10 hours sleep during the school week.

    While anyone can suffer from sleep loss, essential workers and first responders, including nurses, firefighters and emergency personnel, are especially vulnerable due to night shifts and rotating schedules. These patterns disrupt the body’s internal clock and are linked to increased cravings, poor eating habits and elevated risks for obesity and metabolic disease. Fortunately, even a few nights of consistent, high-quality sleep can help rebalance key systems and start to reverse some of these effects.

    How sleep deficits disrupt hunger hormones

    Your body regulates hunger through a hormonal feedback loop involving two key hormones.

    Ghrelin, produced primarily in the stomach, signals that you are hungry, while leptin, which is produced in the fat cells, tells your brain that you are full. Even one night of restricted sleep increases the release of ghrelin and decreases leptin, which leads to greater hunger and reduced satisfaction after eating. This shift is driven by changes in how the body regulates hunger and stress. Your brain becomes less responsive to fullness signals, while at the same time ramping up stress hormones that can increase cravings and appetite.

    These changes are not subtle. In controlled lab studies, healthy adults reported increased hunger and stronger cravings for calorie-dense foods after sleeping only four to five hours. The effect worsens with ongoing sleep deficits, which can lead to a chronically elevated appetite.

    Sleep is as important as diet and exercise in maintaining a healthy weight.

    Why the brain shifts into reward mode

    Sleep loss changes how your brain evaluates food.

    Imaging studies show that after just one night of sleep deprivation, the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for decision-making and impulse control, has reduced activity. At the same time, reward-related areas such as the amygdala and the nucleus accumbens, a part of the brain that drives motivation and reward-seeking, become more reactive to tempting food cues.

    In simple terms, your brain becomes more tempted by junk food and less capable of resisting it. Participants in sleep deprivation studies not only rated high-calorie foods as more desirable but were also more likely to choose them, regardless of how hungry they actually felt.

    Your metabolism slows, leading to increased fat storage

    Sleep is also critical for blood sugar control.

    When you’re well rested, your body efficiently uses insulin to move sugar out of your bloodstream and into your cells for energy. But even one night of partial sleep can reduce insulin sensitivity by up to 25%, leaving more sugar circulating in your blood.

    If your body can’t process sugar effectively, it’s more likely to convert it into fat. This contributes to weight gain, especially around the abdomen. Over time, poor sleep is associated with higher risk for Type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome, a group of health issues such as high blood pressure, belly fat and high blood sugar that raise the risk for heart disease and diabetes.

    On top of this, sleep loss raises cortisol, your body’s main stress hormone. Elevated cortisol encourages fat storage, especially in the abdominal region, and can further disrupt appetite regulation.

    Sleep is your metabolic reset button

    In a culture that glorifies hustle and late nights, sleep is often treated as optional. But your body doesn’t see it that way. Sleep is not downtime. It is active, essential repair. It is when your brain recalibrates hunger and reward signals, your hormones reset and your metabolism stabilizes.

    Just one or two nights of quality sleep can begin to undo the damage from prior sleep loss and restore your body’s natural balance.

    So the next time you find yourself reaching for junk food after a short night, recognize that your biology is not failing you. It is reacting to stress and fatigue. The most effective way to restore balance isn’t a crash diet or caffeine. It’s sleep.

    Sleep is not a luxury. It is your most powerful tool for appetite control, energy regulation and long-term health.

    Joanna Fong-Isariyawongse does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Sleep loss rewires the brain for cravings and weight gain – a neurologist explains the science behind the cycle – https://theconversation.com/sleep-loss-rewires-the-brain-for-cravings-and-weight-gain-a-neurologist-explains-the-science-behind-the-cycle-255726

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s economy maintained steady momentum in May amid external uncertainties

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    BEIJING, June 16 — China’s economy continued to expand steadily in May, supported by ongoing policy measures that helped sustain recovery amid global uncertainties, official data showed on Monday.

    Key economic indicators — industrial production, retail sales, investment and services — extended gains last month, while employment continued its stable trend, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

    Noting “a rapidly changing international environment,” NBS spokesperson Fu Linghui said that China’s economy has demonstrated strong resilience and vitality, backed by government efforts to expand domestic demand and maintain the stability of employment, businesses, markets and expectations.

    China’s consumer spending in May posted its strongest growth in nearly 18 months, with retail sales of consumer goods expanding 6.4 percent year on year in May, a 1.3-percentage-point increase from April.

    The services sector accelerated, with the services production index climbing 6.2 percent last month, accelerating from the 6 percent growth recorded in April. “Growing domestic consumption and holiday travel drove faster services growth,” Fu noted.

    Industrial production rose 5.8 percent year on year in May, NBS data shows, with equipment and high-tech manufacturing leading with 9 percent and 8.6 percent respective growth figures. Fixed-asset investment increased 3.7 percent year on year in the first five months of 2025.

    On the job front, the average surveyed urban unemployment rate in China stood at 5 percent in May, down 0.1 percentage points from April.

    “The unemployment rate among the main working population remained stable, with the youth unemployment rate declining for a third consecutive month, reflecting continued stability in the overall job market,” Fu revealed.

    He told press that May’s stable economic performance was built on sustained macro policy efforts, which facilitated demand expansion, production growth and improved expectations, and unleashed economic vitality.

    “The country’s trade-in policies significantly accelerated relevant consumer goods sales,” he noted in particular. Retail sales of household appliances and audio-visual equipment, communication devices, furniture, and cultural and office supplies grew between 25.6 percent and 53 percent year on year last month.

    “Together, these categories contributed 1.9 percentage points to the overall growth of retail sales of consumer goods,” Fu said.

    China launched a consumer goods trade-in program last year to boost consumer spending, subsidizing trade-ins of automobiles, home appliances and home decoration products. It expanded the scope of the program earlier this year.

    The effective implementation of trade-in policies has also boosted consumer demand for green, smart and high-quality products, which in turn drove production growth. In May, the output of new energy vehicles, tablet computers and e-bikes grew 31.7 percent, 30.9 percent and 20.5 percent year on year, respectively.

    Fu said that this overall performance suggests strong support for China’s economic growth throughout the year, but also cautioned about the complicated, severe external environment and domestic pressure from the transition from traditional economic drivers.

    China’s gross domestic product grew 5.4 percent year on year in the first quarter of 2025. The country is targeting full-year economic growth of about 5 percent this year.

    Looking ahead, Fu said that the foundation underpinning China’s long-term economic development has not changed, citing the country’s solid development momentum, effective pro-growth policies and strengthened innovation, all of which provide support for quality growth.

    “For the first half of 2025, the Chinese economy is expected to maintain its overall stability while achieving stable progress,” he said.

    He pledged that China will work to implement its more proactive macro policies, enhance innovation-driven development, and steadily advance high-quality growth to promote solid, sustained economic development.

    “China has ample policy reserves that allow for dynamic adjustments to address evolving challenges, which will ensure continued support for stable economic operations,” Fu said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China’s employment growth remained stable in May amid policy support

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    BEIJING, June 16 (Xinhua) — China’s urban unemployment rate stood at 5 percent in May, down 0.1 percentage point from the previous month, data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed Monday.

    According to the National Statistical Office, the average unemployment rate in Chinese cities and towns in the first five months of this year was 5.2 percent.

    “The unemployment rate among major working groups remained stable, and the youth unemployment rate fell for the third month in a row, reflecting the continued stability of the overall labor market,” NBS spokesperson Fu Linghui said at a press conference.

    Fu Linghui noted that despite the growing uncertainty in the global environment, which has put pressure on the demand for labor from enterprises, the country’s employment situation remains generally stable. He attributed the stability in China’s labor market to a combination of factors including the steady growth of the national economy, the improvement of industrial development dynamics, and policy support for employment stabilization.

    More proactive macro policies have expanded domestic demand and eased external pressures, Fu Linghui said, highlighting the positive role that the trade-in program and holiday spending played in supporting employment.

    Looking to the future, Fu Linghui stressed the need to strengthen vocational training and optimize the coordination of labor supply and demand to promote full employment, thereby improving people’s well-being, promoting stable and healthy economic development, and ensuring the maintenance of social stability. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s consumer spending grows at faster pace on policy support

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    BEIJING, June 16 — China’s consumer spending in May posted its strongest growth in nearly one and a half years, as the country’s supportive policies helped boost consumption and economic activity.

    The retail sales of consumer goods, a major indicator of China’s consumption strength, grew 6.4 percent year on year in May, accelerating from a rise of 5.1 percent registered in April and marking the fastest growth since December 2023, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

    From January to May, the retail sales of consumer goods rose 5 percent year on year, also accelerating from the 4.7 percent growth in the first four months, according to the NBS.

    Factors supporting consumption growth in May included the government’s consumer goods trade-in program, the “618” shopping festival that began in May this year, and the expansion of the country’s visa-free entry policy, NBS spokesperson Fu Linghui told a press conference on Monday.

    The combined retail sales of consumer goods related to trade-ins grew rapidly. In breakdown, sales of household appliances, audio-visual equipment, communication devices, cultural and office supplies and furniture surged by as much as 53 percent year on year in May, contributing 1.9 percentage points to the overall increase in total retail sales of consumer goods, Fu noted.

    The country’s online retail sales maintained solid growth, with that of physical goods expanding 6.3 percent year on year during the first five months, accounting for 24.5 percent of the total retail sales.

    Fu said that China’s economy has maintained steady momentum, with the consumption market showing increased vitality as the benefits of the consumer goods trade-in program continue to take effect.

    China’s economy grew by 5.4 percent year on year in the first quarter of 2025, up from the 5 percent full-year growth rate recorded in 2024. Economic data for the second quarter and the first half of the year is scheduled to be released on July 15.

    Monday’s data also showed that China’s industrial production and fixed-asset investment maintained steady growth from January to May, while the pace of home price declines in major cities continued to ease in May.

    Looking ahead, Fu said he expects new drivers of growth to emerge in China’s consumption sector, but emphasized that further efforts are needed to strengthen consumers’ purchasing power and confidence.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Official: China’s foreign trade maintains steady growth in May

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    China’s foreign trade held up under pressure in May, with trade volume rising 2.7% and exports growing 6.3%. This came despite a decline in trade with the U.S., thanks to China’s efforts to diversify its trading partners, an official from the National Bureau of Statistics said Monday.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Special Report: Flowers from China’s Yunnan Bloom in Kazakhstan

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    KUNMING/ALMATY, June 16 (Xinhua) — Flowers are a universal gift that is loved to be presented on various occasions in many countries, including Kazakhstan. Flowers can be used to create a beautiful composition. A bouquet appropriate for the occasion can be given to a woman or a man, friends or colleagues and can be used to express almost any message. Give a compliment, say “thank you” or “sorry” and even propose!

    Dounan is a small town on the shore of Dianchi Lake in Kunming, Yunnan Province. But in terms of “flower territory,” it is very large. It is home to Asia’s largest fresh-cut flower market and the second largest in the world. Of Dounan’s 70,000 residents, more than 40,000 are employed in the flower industry. Every day, about 10 million fresh-cut flowers are sold here. They are exported to more than 50 countries, including Kazakhstan.

    In fact, it is not only a flower market, but also a national tourist attraction. Last year alone, millions of tourists visited it. Eustoma, roses, bush carnations, matthiola and sunflowers. You can buy all kinds of flowers here. No matter whether you like flowers or not, you can’t resist the temptation to buy them in Dounan because they are so cheap here. The price for one bunch of roses is 20 yuan (US$1.40), and for a bunch of sunflowers it is only 8 yuan (US$1.10).

    As assistant to the president of Dounan Flower Industry Corporation Wang Jinyiling said, in the 1980s, the villagers of Dounan began trying to grow flowers in their gardens. And to their surprise, they discovered that it was very economically profitable. Then everyone gradually began to follow their example. “And we needed a large enough and professional flower market to sell flowers,” she noted.

    According to her, in 1998, the Dounan Flower Market with an area of 37,333 square meters was officially put into operation. And in 2015, the industrial zone – a flower market of national importance – was officially opened. Here, in addition to traditional direct flower sales, online auctions and sales are also held. Today, Dounan is not just a collection and distribution center for flowers, but also a tourist attraction. More and more tourists come here to experience the unique flower culture of Yunnan Province.

    Zhou Tianyi runs Deruier Flowers in Dounan. Every week, the shop ships 200,000 to 300,000 fresh-cut roses to Almaty. Delivery takes just five days. “The China Flower Industry Conference is held every year. We also attend it and met many entrepreneurs from Kazakhstan there,” she said.

    “The quality of Chinese flowers is very stable now. Today, there are a huge number of flower species in China, and the excellent price-quality ratio is their great advantage. These are the main reasons why Kazakh businessmen like Chinese products very much,” said the director of Deruier Flowers.

    According to Kazakh media, citing the country’s National Bureau of Statistics, in 2024 the country imported more than 1,100 tons of fresh-cut flowers and buds from China worth $7.5 million. This is almost 13 times more than the previous year. In terms of total import volume, China has become the third largest supplier of flowers to Kazakhstan.

    There are about 220,000 flower seedling companies in China, with an annual output of more than 520 billion yuan (nearly 72.2 billion US dollars), making the country the world’s largest flower producer.

    In 2024, China’s flower import and export volume was US$782 million, up 10 percent year on year. Of which, the export volume was US$516 million, up 17.78 percent year on year. China’s flower economy has shown strong vitality. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Short-Duration Thundery Showers On Some Days In Second Fortnight Of June 2025

    Source: Government of Singapore

    Singapore, 16 June 2025 – Southwest Monsoon conditions are prevailing over Singapore and the surrounding region with winds blowing mainly from the southeast or southwest.

    2          Localised short-duration thundery showers are expected over parts of the island in the late morning and afternoon on some days in the second fortnight of June 2025. There may be a few fair and occasionally windy days. The total rainfall for the second fortnight of June 2025 is forecast to be below average over most parts of the island.

    3          The daily maximum temperatures are likely to range between 33 degrees Celsius and 34 degrees Celsius on most days. On a few days, the daily maximum temperature could reach a high of 35 degrees Celsius. Most nights may also be warm and humid, and the temperatures may stay above 28 degrees Celsius.

    4          For updates of the daily weather forecast, please visit the MSS website (www.weather.gov.sg), NEA website (www.nea.gov.sg), or download the myENV app.

    REVIEW OF THE PAST TWO WEEKS (1 – 15 JUNE 2025)

    5          In early June 2025, the light and variable winds prevailing over Singapore strengthened to blow from the southeast or southwest, as Southwest Monsoon conditions set in over the region.

    6          Localised short-duration thundery showers fell over parts of the island on several days in the first fortnight of June 2025. On 8 June 2025, the passage of a Sumatra squall brought widespread thundery showers and gusty winds over Singapore in the early hours and pre-dawn. On 15 June 2025, localised convergence of winds brought heavy thundery showers over the southwestern part of Singapore in the late afternoon and night. The daily total rainfall of 131.2mm recorded at Jurong Island that day was the highest rainfall recorded for the first fortnight of June 2025.

    7          The first fortnight of June 2025 was warm, with daily maximum temperatures registering above 34 degrees Celsius on most days. The highest daily maximum temperature of 35.8 degree Celsius was recorded at Ang Mo Kio on 1 June 2025.

    8          Most parts of Singapore recorded below average rainfall in the first fortnight of June 2025. The area around Jurong Pier registered rainfall of 67 per cent below average, and the area around Clementi registered rainfall of 12 per cent above average.

    CLIMATE STATION STATISTICS

      Long-term Statistics for June
      (Climatological reference period: 1991-2020)
    Average daily maximum temperature: 31.9      °C
    Average daily minimum temperature: 25.7 °C
    Average monthly temperature: 28.5 °C
         
    Average rainfall: 135.3 mm
    Average number of rain days: 13  
     
    Historical Extremes for June
      (Rainfall since 1869 and temperature since 1929)
    Highest monthly mean daily maximum temperature: 33.2  °C (1997)
    Lowest monthly mean daily minimum temperature: 23.2  °C (1965)
         
    Highest monthly rainfall ever recorded:  378.7  mm (1954)
    Lowest monthly rainfall ever recorded: 21.8  mm (2009)

    METEOROLOGICAL SERVICE SINGAPORE

    16 Jun 2025

    ~~ End ~~

    For more information, please submit your enquiries electronically via the Online Feedback Form or myENV mobile application.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Making Migrants Count: Experts Convene in Malmö to Close Gaps in Migration Data

    Source: International Organization for Migration (IOM)

    Malmö, Sweden, 16 June 2025 – Migration experts, policymakers, statisticians, and data scientists from around the world are convening in Malmö, Sweden, for the Fourth International Forum on Migration Statistics (IFMS) from 16 to 18 June. 

    The Forum provides a platform to share knowledge, experience, and best practices in improving migration data collection and better assessing its impacts. This year’s focus includes the gender dimensions of migration and leveraging innovative tools such as Big Data and artificial intelligence to track population movement more accurately. 

    “Behind every data point is a human story. Since 2014, over 72,000 migrants have died or gone missing on their journeys – a sobering reminder of the stakes involved,” said IOM Deputy Director General, Ugochi Daniels. “The IFMS plays a crucial role in bringing together global experts to ensure migration policies are grounded in evidence and save lives. As we look ahead, IOM is proud to lead the next edition of the Forum, continuing our shared mission to turn data into action for safer, more humane migration.” 

    Another major focus this year is the implementation of the revised United Nations Recommendations on Statistics of International Migration and Temporary Mobility. For the first time, these recommendations formally recognize a distinction between international migration and temporary mobility within global statistical frameworks, marking a significant milestone in understanding and reporting international migration. Implementation is now critical to ensure they translate into meaningful, comparable, and actionable data across countries. 

    Throughout the three-day Forum, experts from around the world will explore six core themes, ranging from developments in migration forecasting to the integration of data into policy processes. Sessions will also highlight how robust data can support regular migration pathways and dispel myths through fact-based narratives. 

    “This Forum is our direct contribution to Objective 1 of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration: to strengthen the global evidence base on international migration by improving the collection, analysis and dissemination of high-quality, comparable migration data,” said Stefano Scarpetta, Director for Employment, Labour, and Social Affairs at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). “These days, more than ever, evidence-based policymaking is indispensable.” 

    “The expertise gathered in this Forum has a crucial role to play in making sure that perceptions about migration are aligned with facts,” said Ms. Bjørg Sandkjær, Assistant Secretary-General for Policy Coordination, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA). “We must continue strengthening our evidence-based migration work to document the positive contributions of safe, orderly, and regular migration, while highlighting the risks associated with irregular and unsafe migration.” 

    Coinciding with the International Day of Family Remittances, this year’s Forum is organized by the OECD, in collaboration with IOM and UN DESA, with support from Malmö University and the Government of Sweden. The IFMS 2025 builds on the momentum of previous editions held in Paris (2018), Cairo (2020), and Santiago (2023), and marks a renewed commitment to evidence-based migration policy. 

    Plenary sessions of the Forum will be livestreamed via the event’s website. For the full agenda and registration details, visit: http://www.oecd-events.org/ifms2025 

    For more information, please contact: 

    Secretariat of the IFMS: ifms2025@oecd.org 
    United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA): 
    Helen Rosengren, rosengrenh@un.org 
    IOM Media Centre 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: June 2025 issue of “Hong Kong Monthly Digest of Statistics” now available

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) published today (June 16) the June 2025 issue of the “Hong Kong Monthly Digest of Statistics” (HKMDS).
     
         Apart from providing up-to-date statistics, this issue also contains a feature article entitled “The Cultural and Creative Industries in Hong Kong”.
     
    “The Cultural and Creative Industries in Hong Kong”
     
         The cultural and creative industries are among the most dynamic economic sectors in Hong Kong, contributing to both economic growth and job creation. They comprise a set of knowledge-based activities that deploy creativity and intellectual capital as primary inputs and deliver goods and services with cultural, artistic and creative contents. This feature article provides the statistics of the cultural and creative industries in Hong Kong for 2019 to 2023.
     
         For enquiries about this feature article, please contact the Construction and Miscellaneous Services Statistics Section of the C&SD (Tel: 3903 6962; email: asps@censtatd.gov.hk).
     
         Published in bilingual form, the HKMDS is a compact volume of official statistics containing about 130 tables. It collects up-to-date statistical series on various aspects of the social and economic situation of Hong Kong. Topics include population; labour; external trade; National Income and Balance of Payments; prices; business performance; energy; housing and property; government accounts, finance and insurance; and transport, communications and tourism. For selected key statistical items, over 20 charts depicting the annual trend in the past decade and quarterly or monthly trend in the recent two years are also available. Users can download the Digest at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1010002&scode=460).
     
         Enquiries about the contents of the Digest can be directed to the Statistical Information Dissemination Section (1) of the C&SD (Tel: 2582 4738; email: gen-enquiry@censtatd.gov.hk).

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Hong Kong’s Gross National Income and external primary income flows for the first quarter of 2025

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (June 16) the preliminary statistics on Hong Kong’s Gross National Income (GNI) and related figures for the first quarter of 2025.
     
         Hong Kong’s GNI, which denotes the total income earned by Hong Kong residents from engaging in various economic activities, increased by 6.2% in the first quarter of 2025 over a year earlier to $879.4 billion at current market prices. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP), estimated at $799.7 billion at current market prices in the same quarter, recorded a 4.3% increase over a year earlier. The value of GNI was larger than GDP by $79.7 billion in the first quarter of 2025, which was equivalent to 10.0% of GDP in that quarter, mainly attributable to a net inflow of investment income.
     
         After netting out the effect of price changes over the same period, Hong Kong’s GNI increased by 4.0% in real terms in the first quarter of 2025 over a year earlier. The corresponding GDP in the same quarter increased by 3.1% in real terms.
     
         Hong Kong’s total inflow of primary income, which mainly comprises investment income, estimated at $521.3 billion in the first quarter of 2025 and equivalent to 65.2% of GDP in that quarter, recorded an increase of 5.3% over a year earlier.  Meanwhile, total primary income outflow, estimated at $441.6 billion in the first quarter of 2025 and equivalent to 55.2% of GDP in that quarter, also increased by 1.8% over a year earlier.
     
         As for the major components of investment income inflow, direct investment income (DII) increased by 3.4% over a year earlier, mainly due to the increase in earnings of some prominent local enterprises from their direct investment abroad.  Portfolio investment income (PII) recorded a significant increase of 36.7% over a year earlier, mainly attributable to the increase in dividend income received by resident investors from their holdings of non-resident equity securities and the increase in interest income received by resident investors from their holdings of non-resident debt securities.
     
         Regarding the major components of investment income outflow, DII increased by 4.2% over a year earlier, mainly due to the increase in earnings of some prominent multinational enterprises from their direct investment in Hong Kong. PII increased significantly by 14.0%, mainly attributable to the increase in interest payout to non-resident investors from their holdings of resident debt securities.
     
         Analysed by country/territory, the mainland of China continued to be the largest source of Hong Kong’s total primary income inflow in the first quarter of 2025, accounting for 42.4%. This was followed by the British Virgin Islands (BVI), with a share of 16.7%. Regarding total primary income outflow, the mainland of China and the BVI remained the most important destinations in the first quarter of 2025, accounting for 29.9% and 21.3% respectively.
     
    Further Information
     
         GDP and GNI are closely related indicators for measuring economic performance. GDP is a measure of the total value of production of all resident producing units of an economy. GNI denotes the total income earned by residents of an economy from engaging in various economic activities, irrespective of whether the economic activities are carried out within the economic territory of the economy or outside.
     
         Figures of GNI and primary income flows analysed by income component from the second quarter of 2023 to the first quarter of 2025 are presented in Table A, while selected major country/territory breakdowns of primary income inflow and outflow for the same quarters are presented in Tables B(1) and B(2) respectively.
     
         Statistics on GDP and GNI from 2023 onwards and primary income flows from 2024 onwards are subject to revision when more data are incorporated.
     
         More detailed statistics are given in the report “Gross National Income and External Primary Income Flows, First Quarter 2025”. Users can browse and download this publication at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1040005&scode=250).
     
         For enquiries about GNI and related statistics, please contact the Balance of Payments Branch (2) of the C&SD (Tel: 3903 7054 or email: gni@censtatd.gov.hk).

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Volume and price statistics of external merchandise trade in April 2025

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Volume and price statistics of external merchandise trade in April 2025 
         In April 2025, the volume of Hong Kong’s total exports of goods and imports of goods increased by 12.3% and 13.4% respectively over April 2024.
     
         Comparing the first four months of 2025 with the same period in 2024, the volume of Hong Kong’s total exports of goods and imports of goods increased by 9.6% and 8.9% respectively.
     
         Comparing the three-month period ending April 2025 with the preceding three months on a seasonally adjusted basis, the volume of total exports of goods and imports of goods increased by 10.4% and 10.3% respectively.
     
         Changes in volume of external merchandise trade are derived from changes in external merchandise trade value with the effect of price changes discounted.
     
         Comparing April 2025 with April 2024, the prices of total exports of goods and imports of goods increased by 2.2% and 2.1% respectively.
     
         As regards price changes in the first four months of 2025 over the same period in 2024, the prices of total exports of goods and imports of goods both increased by 2.0%.
     
         Price changes in external merchandise trade are reflected by changes in unit value indices of external merchandise trade, which are compiled based on average unit values or, for certain commodities, specific price data.
     
         The terms of trade index is derived from the ratio of price index of total exports of goods to that of imports of goods. Compared with the same periods in 2024, the index increased by 0.1% in April 2025, whereas it remained virtually unchanged in the first four months of 2025.
     
         Changes in the unit value and volume of total exports of goods by main destination are shown in Table 1.
     
         Comparing April 2025 with April 2024, increases were recorded for the total export volume to all main destinations: Vietnam (45.3%), India (23.2%), the mainland of China (the Mainland) (20.2%), Taiwan (18.2%) and the USA (0.3%).
     
         Over the same period of comparison, the total export prices to Taiwan (4.8%), the Mainland (2.3%), Vietnam (2.0%) and the USA (0.9%) increased. On the other hand, the total export prices to India decreased by 1.2%.
     
         Changes in the unit value and volume of imports of goods by main supplier are shown in Table 2.
     
         Comparing April 2025 with April 2024, increases were recorded for the import volume from Vietnam (93.6%), Taiwan (41.8%), the Mainland (14.5%) and Singapore (5.0%). On the other hand, the import volume from Korea decreased by 25.8%.
     
         Over the same period of comparison, the import prices from all main suppliers increased: Korea (5.3%), Taiwan (5.2%), Singapore (2.4%), Vietnam (0.7%) and the Mainland (0.6%).
     
    Further information
     
         Details of the above statistics are published in the April 2025 issue of “Hong Kong Merchandise Trade Index Numbers”. Users can browse and download the report at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1020006&scode=230 
         Enquiries on merchandise trade indices may be directed to the Trade Analysis Section of the C&SD (Tel: 2582 4918).
    Issued at HKT 16:30

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s retail sales expand markedly in May

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    China’s market sales rebounded markedly in May, with total retail sales of consumer goods reaching 4.13 trillion yuan (US$575.3 billion), marking a year-on-year increase of 6.4%, the National Bureau of Statistics announced at a Monday press conference. The increase was 1.3 percentage points higher than April’s year-on-year growth rate of 5.1%.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Taiwan FDI Statistics Summary Analysis (May 2025)

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    According to the statistics, 819 foreign direct investment (FDI) projects with a total amount of US$5,482,475,000 were approved from January to May 2024. This indicates a decrease of 9.8% in the number of cases, but an increase of 76.64% in FDI amount compared to the same period of 2024.

    With regard to inward investment from Mainland China, 8 cases were approved with an amount of US$96,616,000 from January to May 2025. This indicates a decrease of 50% in the number of cases, but an increase of 515.9% in the FDI amount compared to the same period of 2024.

    In terms of Taiwan’s outbound investment (excluding Mainland China), 335 projects were registered from January to May 2025 with a total amount of US$15,222,183,000, indicating an increase of 10.93% in the number of cases, and an increase of 13.82% in the amount, as compared to the same period of 2024.

    As for Taiwan’s outward investment to Mainland China, 75 applications have been approved from January to May 2025, indicating a decrease of 40% compared to the same period of 2024. The approved investment amount is US$458,348,000, 63.93% less than the same period in 2024.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) launches country-wide youth consultations on the political process and starts by meeting youth in four cities


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    Youth represent 38 per cent of the population (NESDB statistics) in Libya and their voices must be included in the political process. To support this, in addition to its regular meetings with youth (aged 18-35), the United Nations Support Mission in Libya is launching a wider programme with the aim to engage 500 young men and women across Libya in the coming months. 

    As part of its broader efforts to engage the community on the Advisory Committee’s recommendations on how to take Libya to elections and unify institutions, UNSMIL is conducting dedicated meetings with youth representatives, both online and in-person. More information about how young men and women can get involved can be found here.

    In addition, UNSMIL has also launched an online poll to ensure that a wider audience can be reached. 

    “As we develop the next steps of the political process, we want to hear everyone’s views,” said Special Representative of the Secretary General for Libya, Hanna Tetteh. “Youth are a driving force that can help shape the future of this country. They have specific needs and concerns, and they bring different perspectives that can inform decision-making. We want to hear directly from them because a process that is meant for the Libyan people needs the meaningful participation of all Libyan people.” 

    UNSMIL has already met with youth in Zintan, Misrata, Benghazi and Nalut to discuss the Advisory Committee recommendations. Participants called for better access to economic and employment opportunities, unified government institutions, more representation and inclusion in decision-making processes, access to services, fair and equitable resource distribution. They also shared their ideas around decentralisation and political inclusion. 

    Through these consultations and online polling, the Mission will capture youth recommendations and ideas and ensure they are fed into the decision-making process on next steps. 

    UNSMIL published the Executive Summary of the Advisory Committee’s Report in May, including its four proposed options to move the political process forward. The public consultation and survey ask people to put forward their recommendations and ideas and decided which of these options they would prefer: 

    1. Conducting presidential and legislative elections simultaneously; 

    2. Conducting parliamentary elections first, followed by the adoption of a permanent constitution; 

    3. Adopting a permanent constitution before elections; or 

    4. Establishing a political dialogue committee, based on the Libyan Political Agreement to finalize electoral laws, executive authority and permanent constitution.  

    More information on the youth consultations and how to get involved can be found here.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Africa: Insufficient Domestic Funding Hinders Education Progress


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    Most African governments have consistently failed to meet global and regional education funding targets to ensure quality public education, Human Rights Watch said today on the African Union’s Day of the African Child.

    The 2025 theme for the day is “planning and budgeting for children’s rights: progress since 2010.” However, based on national data reported to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), only one-third of African countries met globally endorsed education funding benchmarks for annual average spending over the decade 2013 to 2023. The figure declined to just one quarter of countries by 2022 and 2023. Fourteen African countries did not meet any of the benchmarks a single year over the past decade. 

    “African heads of state and governments and the African Union have all made bold commitments for national investment in education,” said Mausi Segun, Africa director at Human Rights Watch. “But governments are not translating those commitments into sustained funding, and many have actually reduced spending levels in recent years.”

    Insufficient public spending on education undermines African governments’ legal obligations to guarantee free and compulsory quality primary education and make secondary education available, accessible, and free for every child. It also undermines their political commitments to AU and international development goals and benchmarks. Under the UN Sustainable Development Goals, in addition to providing at least one year of pre-primary education, African governments are required to ensure that all children complete free secondary education by 2030.

    In 2015, UNESCO member states, including all 54 African states, agreed to increase education spending to at least 4 to 6 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) and/or at least 15 to 20 percent of total public expenditure. These internationally agreed funding benchmarks for education have been included in at least five global or AU-led declarations or action plans, including the 2015 Incheon Declaration, endorsed by all UNESCO member states; the Heads of State (“Kenyatta”) Declaration on Education Financing, endorsed by 17 African heads of state and governments and ministers; the 2021 Paris Declaration and “Global Call for Investing in the Futures of Education”; and the 2024 Fortaleza Declaration. In December 2024, the AU and African heads of state and governments expanded the upper end of the GDP benchmark from six to seven percent through the Nouakchott Declaration.

    UNESCO member states have made additional commitments to invest at least 10 percent of education expenditures to guarantee at least one year of free and compulsory pre-primary education by 2030. In 2024, African countries agreed to ensure that an increased share of public funding is allocated to early childhood education.

    Despite these obligations and global commitments, governments have failed to remove tuition and other school fees, particularly at the pre-primary and secondary level, leading to unequal access, retention, and poor quality in schools, with disproportionate impact on children from the poorest households. Families across Africa continue to shoulder an enormous burden in funding education, absorbing 27 percent of total education spending, according to World Bank 2021 data.

    Africa has the highest out-of-school rates in the world, with over 100 million children and adolescents estimated to be out of school across all sub-regions except North Africa. Out-of-school rates have increased since 2015 for reasons including population increases, persistent gender gaps, the cumulative effects of Covid-19 school closures, climate emergencies, and conflicts.

    Many children also drop out due to school-related gender-based violence, as well as discriminatory and exclusionary measures against pregnant and parenting girls, refugees, and children with disabilities, among other negative practices.

    Only 14 countries guarantee free access to education, from at least one year of pre-primary through secondary education, based on available UNESCO data and Human Rights Watch research. Only 21 guarantee free access to 12 years of primary and secondary education, while 6 legally guarantee access to at least one year of free pre-primary education.

    Human Rights Watch found that Morocco, excluding Western Sahara territory that it occupies, Namibia, and Sierra Leone are the only three African countries that both legally guarantee universally free access to primary and secondary education and at least one year of free pre-primary, and that have met both international education funding benchmarks in the last decade.

    Many African countries continue to underinvest in public education to manage climate-related emergencies and conflict-related crises, but this is also due to political decisions and economic policies. Numerous African governments are applying regressive austerity measures to service debt interests and repayments. Fifteen are spending more on debt servicing than on education, leading to drastic cuts to teachers’ incomes, shortages of learning materials, and overcrowded classrooms. Creditor governments and institutions should consider debt restructuring or relief to ensure that debtor governments can adequately protect rights, including the right to education.

    In a positive development, Sierra Leone currently co-leads an initiative at the UN Human Rights Council to develop a new optional protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, with the aim of recognizing that every child has a right to early childhood care and education and guaranteeing that states make public pre-primary education and secondary education available and free to all. Botswana, Burundi, Gambia, Ghana, Malawi, South Africa, and South Sudan have publicly expressed support for this process.

    “African governments should urgently fulfill their pledges to guarantee universal access to free quality primary and secondary education,” Segun said. “Governments should focus on protecting public spending for education from regressive measures and cuts and allocate resources commensurate with their obligations to guarantee access to quality public education.”

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Human Rights Watch (HRW).

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s home prices continue to ease in May

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    China’s home prices in 70 large and medium-sized cities continued the downward trend in May, though the pace of decline slowed, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said Monday.

    “In May, home prices in 70 major cities continued to fall on a yearly basis, but the pace of decline further eased,” said NBS statistician Wang Zhonghua. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s industrial output up 5.8% in May

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    China’s value-added industrial output expanded 5.8 percent year on year in May, official data showed on Monday.

    The manufacturing sector saw its value-added output climb 6.2 percent year on year last month, with that of equipment manufacturing and high-tech manufacturing up by 9 percent and 8.6 percent, respectively, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

    In the first five months of this year, the country’s industrial output gained 6.3 percent compared to a year ago, the data showed.

    The industrial output is used to measure the activity of large enterprises each with an annual main business turnover of at least 20 million yuan (about 2.79 million U.S. dollars).

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China’s Total Fixed Asset Investment Up 3.7 Pct in Jan-May 2025 /detailed version-1/

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    BEIJING, June 16 (Xinhua) — China’s total fixed-asset investment rose 3.7 percent year-on-year in January-May 2025, official data showed Monday.

    Excluding the real estate sector, China’s fixed-asset investment rose 7.7 percent year-on-year during the period, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics.

    Investments in infrastructure and manufacturing in the country grew by 5.6 percent and 8.5 percent, respectively, compared to the same period last year.

    Investments in the primary sector of the economy grew by 8.4 percent compared to the same period last year, investments in the secondary sector grew by 11.4 percent, while in the tertiary sector, on the contrary, they decreased by 0.4 percent. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China’s house prices continued to decline in May compared to the previous month

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    BEIJING, June 16 (Xinhua) — Commercial housing prices in 70 large and medium-sized cities in China continued to fall in May, although the pace of decline slowed, data released by the National Bureau of Statistics showed Monday.

    “House prices in 70 large and medium-sized cities across the country continued to fall year-on-year in May, but the pace of decline slowed,” said Wang Zhonghua, a spokesman for the department. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –