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Category: Statistics

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Business expectations for the third quarter of 2025

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Business expectations for the third quarter of 2025 
    Business Situation
     
    For all surveyed sectors taken together, the proportion of respondents expecting their business situation to be better (10%) in Q3 2025 over the preceding quarter is lower than that expecting it to be worse (18%).
     
    When compared with the results of the Q2 2025 survey round, the proportion of respondents expecting a better business situation in Q3 2025 is 10%, slightly higher than the corresponding proportion in Q2 2025 (9%). On the other hand, the proportion of respondents expecting a worse business situation in Q3 2025 is broadly the same as the corresponding proportion in Q2 2025 (18%).
     
    Analysed by sector, respondents in quite a number of the surveyed sectors expect their business situation to decrease on balance in Q3 2025 as compared with Q2 2025. In particular, significantly more respondents in the transportation, storage and courier services sector expect their business situation to be worse in Q3 2025 as compared with Q2 2025.
     
    The results of the survey should be interpreted with care. In this type of survey on expectations, the views collected in the survey are affected by the events in the community occurring around the time of enumeration, and it is difficult to establish precisely the extent to which respondents’ perception of the future accords with the underlying trends. The enumeration period for this survey round was from June 3, 2025 to July 7, 2025.
     
    Volume of Business / Output
     
    Respondents in quite a number of the surveyed sectors expect their volume of business / output to decrease on balance in Q3 2025 as compared with Q2 2025. In particular, more respondents in the construction; transportation, storage and courier services; import/export trade and wholesale; accommodation and food services; and retail sectors expect their volume of construction output / business / sales to decrease in Q3 2025 over Q2 2025.
     
    Employment
     
    Respondents in quite a number of the surveyed sectors expect their employment to remain broadly unchanged in Q3 2025 as compared with Q2 2025. However, more respondents in the information and communications sector expect their employment to decrease in Q3 2025 over Q2 2025. In the real estate sector, on the other hand, more respondents expect their employment to increase, as compared to those expecting it to decrease.
     
    Selling Price / Service Charge
     
    Respondents in most of the surveyed sectors expect their selling prices / service charges to remain broadly unchanged in Q3 2025 as compared with Q2 2025. However, significantly more respondents in the construction sector expect their tender prices to go down in Q3 2025 over Q2 2025.
     
    Commentary
     
    A Government spokesman said that the overall near-term business outlook among large enterprises for the third quarter of 2025 was slightly better than the expectation for the previous quarter, while the hiring appetite remained stable.
     
    Looking forward, the spokesman said that the ongoing uncertainty in the external environment would continue to affect the local business sentiment. Nonetheless, the resilient local economy and sustained steady growth in the Mainland economy should provide support. The Government will continue to monitor the situation closely.
     
    Further Information
     
    The survey gathers views on short-term business performance from the senior management of about 560 prominent establishments in various sectors in Hong Kong with a view to providing a quick reference, with minimum time lag, for predicting the short-term future economic performance of the local economy.
     
    The survey covers 10 major sectors in Hong Kong, namely manufacturing; construction; import / export trade and wholesale; retail; accommodation and food services (mainly covering services rendered by hotels and restaurants); transportation, storage and courier services; information and communications; financing and insurance; real estate; and professional and business services sectors.
     
    Views collected in the survey refer only to those of respondents on their own establishments rather than those on the respective sectors they are engaged in, and are limited to the expected direction of quarter-to-quarter change (e.g. “up”, “same” or “down”) but not the magnitude of change. In collecting views on the quarter-to-quarter changes, if the variable in question is subject to seasonal variations, respondents are asked to provide the expected changes after excluding the normal seasonal variations.
     
    Survey results are generally presented as “net balance”, i.e. the difference between the percentage of respondents choosing “up” and that choosing “down”. The percentage distribution of respondents among various response categories (e.g. “up”, “same” and “down”) reflects how varied their business expectations are. The “net balance”, with its appropriate sign, indicates the direction of expected change in the variable concerned. A positive sign indicates a likely upward trend while a negative sign indicates a likely downward trend. However, the magnitude of the “net balance” reflects only the prevalence of optimism or pessimism, but not the magnitude of expected change, since information relating to such magnitude is not collected in the survey.
     
    Furthermore, owing to sample size constraint, care should be taken in interpreting survey results involving a small percentage (e.g. less than 10%) of respondents in individual sectors.
     
    Chart 1 shows the views on expected changes in business situation for the period Q3 2024 to Q3 2025.
     
    Table 1 shows the net balances of views on expectations in respect of different variables for Q3 2025.
     
    The survey results are published in greater detail in the “Report on Quarterly Business Tendency Survey, Q3 2025”. Users can browse and download the publication at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1110008&scode=300  
    Users who have enquiries about the survey results may contact the Business Expectation Statistics Section of the C&SD (Tel: 3903 7263; E-mail:     business-prospects@censtatd.gov.hkIssued at HKT 16:30

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Composite Interest Rate: End of June 2025

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Composite Interest Rate: End of June 2025 
    The composite interest rate, which is a measure of the average cost of funds of banks, decreased by 35 basis points to 1.26 per cent at the end of June 2025, from 1.61 per cent at the end of May 2025 (see Chart 1 in the Annex). The decrease in composite interest rate reflected the decreases in the weighted funding cost for deposits during the month (see Chart 2 in the Annex) (Note 2). 
     
    The HKMA publishes the composite interest rate on a monthly basis. Beginning with the end-July 2025 statistics, the monthly publication will only be released in the Monthly Statistical Bulletin on the HKMA website (www.hkma.gov.hk/media/eng/doc/market-data-and-statistics/monthly-statistical-bulletin/T0605.xls 
    Note 1: The composite interest rate is a weighted average interest rate of all Hong Kong dollar interest-rate-sensitive liabilities, which include deposits from customers, amounts due to banks, negotiable certificates of deposit and other debt instruments, and all other liabilities that do not involve any formal payment of interest but the values of which are sensitive to interest rate movements (such as Hong Kong dollar non-interest bearing demand deposits) on the books of banks. Data from retail banks, which account for about 90 per cent of the total customers’ deposits in the banking sector, are used in the calculation. It should be noted that the composite interest rate represents only average interest expenses. There are various other costs involved in the making of a loan, such as operating costs (e.g. staff and rental expenses), credit cost and hedging cost, which are not covered by the composite interest rate.Issued at HKT 16:30

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Euro area monthly balance of payments: May 2025

    Source: European Central Bank

    18 July 2025

    • Current account recorded €32 billion surplus in May 2025, up from €19 billion in previous month
    • Current account surplus amounted to €333 billion (2.1% of euro area GDP) in the 12 months to May 2025, down from €364 billion (2.5%) one year earlier
    • In financial account, euro area residents’ net acquisitions of non-euro area portfolio investment securities totalled €758 billion and non-residents’ net acquisitions of euro area portfolio investment securities totalled €744 billion in the 12 months to May 2025

    Chart 1

    Euro area current account balance

    (EUR billions unless otherwise indicated; working day and seasonally adjusted data)

    Source: ECB.

    The current account of the euro area recorded a surplus of €32 billion in May 2025, an increase of €13 billion from the previous month (Chart 1 and Table 1). Surpluses were recorded for goods (€33 billion), services (€13 billion) and primary income (€2 billion). These were partly offset by a deficit for secondary income (€16 billion).

    Table 1

    Current account of the euro area

    Source: ECB.

    Note: Discrepancies between totals and their components may be due to rounding.

    Data for the current account of the euro area

    In the 12 months to May 2025, the current account recorded a surplus of €333 billion (2.1% of euro area GDP), compared with a surplus of €364 billion (2.5% of euro area GDP) one year earlier. This decrease was mainly driven by a shift from a surplus to a deficit for primary income (from a €34 billion surplus to a €5 billion deficit), but also by a larger deficit for secondary income (up from €169 billion to €185 billion) and a reduction in the surplus for services (down from €153 billion to €146 billion). These developments were partly offset by a larger surplus for goods (up from €346 billion to €378 billion).

    Chart 2

    Selected items of the euro area financial account

    (EUR billions; 12-month cumulated data)

    Source: ECB.

    Notes: For assets, a positive (negative) number indicates net purchases (sales) of non-euro area instruments by euro area investors. For liabilities, a positive (negative) number indicates net sales (purchases) of euro area instruments by non-euro area investors.

    In direct investment, euro area residents made net investments of €200 billion in non-euro area assets in the 12 months to May 2025, following net disinvestments of €215 billion one year earlier (Chart 2 and Table 2). Non-residents invested €126 billion in net terms in euro area assets in the 12 months to May 2025, following net disinvestments of €398 billion one year earlier.

    In portfolio investment, euro area residents’ net purchases of non-euro area equity increased to €203 billion in the 12 months to May 2025, up from €84 billion one year earlier. Over the same period, net purchases of non-euro area debt securities by euro-area residents increased to €555 billion, up from €490 billion one year earlier. Non-residents’ net purchases of euro area equity increased to €395 billion in the 12 months to May 2025, up from €275 billion one year earlier. Over the same period, non-residents made net purchases of euro area debt securities amounting to €349 billion, declining from €426 billion one year earlier.

    Table 2

    Financial account of the euro area

    Source: ECB.

    Notes: Decreases in assets and liabilities are shown with a minus sign. Net financial derivatives are reported under assets. “MFIs” stands for monetary financial institutions. Discrepancies between totals and their components may be due to rounding.

    Data for the financial account of the euro area

    In other investment, euro area residents recorded net acquisitions of non-euro area assets amounting to €518 billion in the 12 months to May 2025 (following net acquisitions of €212 billion one year earlier), while their net incurrence of liabilities was €172 billion (following disposals of €104 billion one year earlier).

    Chart 3

    Monetary presentation of the balance of payments

    (EUR billions; 12-month cumulated data)

    Source: ECB.

    Notes: “MFI net external assets (enhanced)” incorporates an adjustment to the MFI net external assets (as reported in the consolidated MFI balance sheet items statistics) based on information on MFI long-term liabilities held by non-residents, available in b.o.p. statistics. B.o.p. transactions refer only to transactions of non-MFI residents of the euro area. Financial transactions are shown as liabilities net of assets. “Other” includes financial derivatives and statistical discrepancies.

    The monetary presentation of the balance of payments (Chart 3) shows that the net external assets (enhanced) of euro area MFIs increased by €417 billion in the 12 months to May 2025. This increase was mainly driven by the current and capital accounts surplus and, to a lesser extent, euro area non-MFIs’ net inflows in other investment, and portfolio investment equity and debt. These developments were partly offset by euro area non-MFIs’ net outflows in direct investment.

    In May 2025 the Eurosystem’s stock of reserve assets increased to €1,507.7 billion up from €1,496.9 billion in the previous month (Table 3). This increase was mostly driven by positive price changes (€6.5 billion) and, to a lesser extent, by net acquisitions of assets (€2.3 billion) and positive exchange rate changes (€2.0 billion).

    Table 3

    Reserve assets of the euro area

    (EUR billions; amounts outstanding at the end of the period, flows during the period; non-working day and non-seasonally adjusted data)

    Source: ECB.

    Notes: “Other reserve assets” comprises currency and deposits, securities, financial derivatives (net) and other claims. Discrepancies between totals and their components may be due to rounding.

    Data for the reserve assets of the euro area

    Data revisions

    This press release incorporates revisions to the data for April 2025. These revisions did not significantly alter the figures previously published.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Separated men are nearly 5 times more likely to take their lives than married men

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Michael Wilson, Research Fellow and PhD Candidate in Men’s Mental Health, The University of Melbourne

    Breakups hurt. Emotional and psychological distress are common when intimate relationships break down. For some people, this distress can be so overwhelming that it leads to suicidal thoughts and behaviours.

    This problem seems especially the case for men. Intimate partner problems including breakups, separation and divorce feature in the paths to suicide among one in three Australian men aged 25 to 44 who end their lives.

    Men account for three in every four suicides in many nations worldwide, including Australia. So improving our understanding of links between relationship breakdown and men’s suicide risk has life-saving potential.

    Our research, published today, is the first large-scale review of the evidence to focus on understanding men’s risk of suicide after a breakup. We found separated men were nearly five times more likely to die by suicide compared to married men.

    What did we find?

    We brought together findings from 75 studies across 30 countries worldwide, involving more than 106 million men.

    We focused on understanding why relationship breakdown can lead to suicide in men, and which men are most at risk. We might not be able to prevent breakups from happening, but we can promote healthy adjustment to the stress of relationship breakdown to try and prevent suicide.

    Overall, we found divorced men were 2.8 times more likely to take their lives than married men.

    For separated men, the risk was much higher. We found that separated men were 4.8 times more likely to die by suicide than married men.

    Most strikingly, we found separated men under 35 years of age had nearly nine times greater odds of suicide than married men of the same age.

    The short-term period after relationship breakdown therefore appears particularly risky for men’s mental health.

    What are these men feeling?

    Some men’s difficulties regulating the intense emotional stress of relationship breakdown can play a role in their suicide risk. For some men, the emotional pain tied to separation – deep sadness, shame, guilt, anxiety and loss – can be so intense it feels never-ending.

    Many men are raised in a culture of masculinity that often encourages them to suppress or withdraw from their emotions in times of intense stress.

    Some men also experience difficulties understanding or interpreting their emotions, which can create challenges in knowing how to respond to them.

    Overall, our research found relationship breakdown may lead to suicide for some men because of the complex interaction between the individual (emotional distress) and interpersonal (changes in their social network and availability of support) impacts of a breakup.

    Many of these impacts don’t seem to feature in the paths to suicide after a breakup for women in the same way.

    Breakups also impact social networks

    As intimate relationships become more serious, we tend to spend less time investing in our friendships, especially if juggling the demands of a career and family.

    Many men, especially in heterosexual relationships, rely on their intimate partner as a primary source of social and emotional support – often at the expense of connections outside their relationship.

    This can create a risky situation if relationships break down, as it seems many men are left with little support to turn to. This rang true in our research, as men’s social disconnection and loneliness seemed to increase their suicide risk following relationship breakdown.

    We also know people can struggle to know how to support men after a breakup. Research has found some men who ask for support are told to just “get back on the horse”. Such a response invalidates men’s pain and reinforces masculine stereotypes that relationship breakdown doesn’t affect them.

    So, what can we do?

    There is no simple answer to preventing suicide following relationship breakdown, but a range of opportunities exist.

    We can intervene early, by educating young people with the skills to end relationships healthily, handle rejection and regulate the difficult emotions of a breakup.

    We can embed support groups and other opportunities for connection and peer support in relationship services that are regularly in contact with those navigating separation, to help combat loneliness.

    We can ensure mental health practitioners are equipped with the skills necessary to engage and respond effectively to men who seek help following a breakup, to help keep them safe until they can get back on their feet.

    Most importantly, if men come to any of us seeking support after a breakup, we can remember that time is often a great healer. The best we can do is sit with men in their pain, rather than try and get them to stop feeling it. This connection could be life-saving.

    Support and information is available at Relationships Australia and MensLine Australia. If this article has raised issues for you, or if you’re concerned about someone you know, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

    Michael Wilson works for The University of Melbourne and consults to Movember. He receives funding from the Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship, provided by the Australian Commonwealth Government and the University of Melbourne.

    Jacqui Macdonald receives funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council’s Medical Research Future Fund and the Australian Research Council. She convenes the Australian Fatherhood Research Consortium and she is on the Movember Global Men’s Health Advisory Committee.

    Zac Seidler has been awarded an NHMRC Investigator Grant. He is also the Global Director of Research with the Movember Institute of Men’s Health. He advises government on men’s suicide, masculinities, violence prevention and social media policy.

    – ref. Separated men are nearly 5 times more likely to take their lives than married men – https://theconversation.com/separated-men-are-nearly-5-times-more-likely-to-take-their-lives-than-married-men-258196

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Separated men are nearly 5 times more likely to take their lives than married men

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Wilson, Research Fellow and PhD Candidate in Men’s Mental Health, The University of Melbourne

    Breakups hurt. Emotional and psychological distress are common when intimate relationships break down. For some people, this distress can be so overwhelming that it leads to suicidal thoughts and behaviours.

    This problem seems especially the case for men. Intimate partner problems including breakups, separation and divorce feature in the paths to suicide among one in three Australian men aged 25 to 44 who end their lives.

    Men account for three in every four suicides in many nations worldwide, including Australia. So improving our understanding of links between relationship breakdown and men’s suicide risk has life-saving potential.

    Our research, published today, is the first large-scale review of the evidence to focus on understanding men’s risk of suicide after a breakup. We found separated men were nearly five times more likely to die by suicide compared to married men.

    What did we find?

    We brought together findings from 75 studies across 30 countries worldwide, involving more than 106 million men.

    We focused on understanding why relationship breakdown can lead to suicide in men, and which men are most at risk. We might not be able to prevent breakups from happening, but we can promote healthy adjustment to the stress of relationship breakdown to try and prevent suicide.

    Overall, we found divorced men were 2.8 times more likely to take their lives than married men.

    For separated men, the risk was much higher. We found that separated men were 4.8 times more likely to die by suicide than married men.

    Most strikingly, we found separated men under 35 years of age had nearly nine times greater odds of suicide than married men of the same age.

    The short-term period after relationship breakdown therefore appears particularly risky for men’s mental health.

    What are these men feeling?

    Some men’s difficulties regulating the intense emotional stress of relationship breakdown can play a role in their suicide risk. For some men, the emotional pain tied to separation – deep sadness, shame, guilt, anxiety and loss – can be so intense it feels never-ending.

    Many men are raised in a culture of masculinity that often encourages them to suppress or withdraw from their emotions in times of intense stress.

    Some men also experience difficulties understanding or interpreting their emotions, which can create challenges in knowing how to respond to them.

    Overall, our research found relationship breakdown may lead to suicide for some men because of the complex interaction between the individual (emotional distress) and interpersonal (changes in their social network and availability of support) impacts of a breakup.

    Many of these impacts don’t seem to feature in the paths to suicide after a breakup for women in the same way.

    Breakups also impact social networks

    As intimate relationships become more serious, we tend to spend less time investing in our friendships, especially if juggling the demands of a career and family.

    Many men, especially in heterosexual relationships, rely on their intimate partner as a primary source of social and emotional support – often at the expense of connections outside their relationship.

    This can create a risky situation if relationships break down, as it seems many men are left with little support to turn to. This rang true in our research, as men’s social disconnection and loneliness seemed to increase their suicide risk following relationship breakdown.

    We also know people can struggle to know how to support men after a breakup. Research has found some men who ask for support are told to just “get back on the horse”. Such a response invalidates men’s pain and reinforces masculine stereotypes that relationship breakdown doesn’t affect them.

    So, what can we do?

    There is no simple answer to preventing suicide following relationship breakdown, but a range of opportunities exist.

    We can intervene early, by educating young people with the skills to end relationships healthily, handle rejection and regulate the difficult emotions of a breakup.

    We can embed support groups and other opportunities for connection and peer support in relationship services that are regularly in contact with those navigating separation, to help combat loneliness.

    We can ensure mental health practitioners are equipped with the skills necessary to engage and respond effectively to men who seek help following a breakup, to help keep them safe until they can get back on their feet.

    Most importantly, if men come to any of us seeking support after a breakup, we can remember that time is often a great healer. The best we can do is sit with men in their pain, rather than try and get them to stop feeling it. This connection could be life-saving.

    Support and information is available at Relationships Australia and MensLine Australia. If this article has raised issues for you, or if you’re concerned about someone you know, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

    Michael Wilson works for The University of Melbourne and consults to Movember. He receives funding from the Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship, provided by the Australian Commonwealth Government and the University of Melbourne.

    Jacqui Macdonald receives funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council’s Medical Research Future Fund and the Australian Research Council. She convenes the Australian Fatherhood Research Consortium and she is on the Movember Global Men’s Health Advisory Committee.

    Zac Seidler has been awarded an NHMRC Investigator Grant. He is also the Global Director of Research with the Movember Institute of Men’s Health. He advises government on men’s suicide, masculinities, violence prevention and social media policy.

    – ref. Separated men are nearly 5 times more likely to take their lives than married men – https://theconversation.com/separated-men-are-nearly-5-times-more-likely-to-take-their-lives-than-married-men-258196

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: WA had the highest rates of Indigenous child removal in the country. At last, the state is finally facing up to it

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jenna Woods, Dean, School of Indigenous Knowledges, Murdoch University

    Matt Jelonek/Getty Images

    First Nations people please be advised this article speaks of racially discriminating moments in history, including the distress and death of First Nations people.

    In 1997, Australia was confronted with the landmark Bringing Them Home report. It chronicled the country’s long, dark history of the forced removal of First Nations children.

    The report also made recommendations on what to do next. Compensation was key among them. Every state and territory heeded that call in the years that followed, except Western Australia.

    In the decades since, many have called for the recognition of, and compensation for, First Nations people in WA forcibly removed from their families, culture and Country. In May, Premier Roger Cook answered that call, announcing a redress scheme for living survivors of the Stolen Generations.

    But the Stolen Generations aren’t just historical; they’re ongoing. Many still feel the reverberations of decades of trauma. WA will finally seek to redress some of it.

    Generations forced apart

    WA had the highest rates of forcible removal of Aboriginal children in this country. Today, more than 50% of Aboriginal people in WA are either Stolen Generations survivors or their direct descendants.

    Historian Margaret Jacobs wrote that through the 1905 Aborigines Protection Act, “Indigeneity itself became inextricably associated with neglect”.

    Aboriginal families, due solely to their Aboriginality, were regarded as inferior and their children were removed en masse to missions where traditional cultural practices were prohibited. Stolen Generations child removals continued until the 1970s.

    In the missions where Aboriginal children were placed after removal, psychological, physical and sexual abuse was widespread. The children, often removed as infants, were institutionalised and raised by religious missionaries.

    Speaking in traditional languages or engaging in cultural practices were prohibited, with the goal being to strip them of their Aboriginality so they could be fully assimilated into Western society. To minimise barriers to this, parents and families were prohibited from communicating or visiting their children.

    The human consequences of these inhumane practices have been monumental.

    The financial impact

    Attachment theory attests to the importance of early childhood experiences of love, care and safety on an individual’s future life outcomes. The theory suggests infants develop one of four main attachment styles in response to the care they receive from their parents or other carers during infancy.

    The significance of this in the context of generations of children being forcibly removed from their caregivers cannot be understated.

    In addition, the majority of Stolen Generations children survived various forms of abuse within these institutions and live with the resulting trauma of that.

    Under the 1905 act, any property or personal items owned by Aboriginal people could be confiscated at any time and money owing to Aboriginal peoples, including wages, was to be paid to the Chief Protector of Aborigines.

    This prevented Aboriginal families from securing financial stability and establishing intergenerational wealth, despite their significant labour contributions to WA’s economic development.

    A good indicator of intergenerational wealth consolidation can be found in rates of home ownership.

    Currently, 45.8% of Aboriginal people in the greater Perth area own their home, compared with 70.4% of their non-Aboriginal counterparts.

    Of those, 10.8% of Aboriginal households own their home outright, compared with 28.5% for non-Aboriginal owners.

    This makes redress not just a symbolic move, but a deeply practical one too.

    Compounding disadvantage

    Overall, these circumstances have created a “gap within the Gap”.

    This refers to the first gap, being that Aboriginal people have poorer life outcomes than their non-Aboriginal counterparts.

    The gap within that gap is that Stolen Generations survivors and their descendants have poorer life outcomes than the general Aboriginal population.

    Stolen Generations peoples and their descendants are more likely to have mental health disorders, to experience family violence, homelessness or criminal justice involvement, and to have an addiction, including substances and gambling, while also being less likely to have a support network.

    This state scheme will make individual payments to living survivors of the Stolen Generations who were forcibly removed before July 1 1972.

    It will deliver a one-off payment of $85,000 to survivors in recognition of the trauma and pain they suffered through their removal.

    Registrations for Stolen Generations members who are eligible for this scheme will open in the latter half of 2025 and payments will commence by the end of the year.

    It won’t fix everything, but it’s a welcome sign of progress.

    13YARN is a free and confidential 24/7 national crisis support line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are feeling overwhelmed or having difficulty coping. Call 13 92 76.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. WA had the highest rates of Indigenous child removal in the country. At last, the state is finally facing up to it – https://theconversation.com/wa-had-the-highest-rates-of-indigenous-child-removal-in-the-country-at-last-the-state-is-finally-facing-up-to-it-258695

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Sunny side up for eggs and cholesterol

    Source:

    18 July 2025

    From poached to panfried, when it comes to eggs, it’s all sunny side up, as new research from the University of South Australia confirms that this breakfast favourite won’t crack your cholesterol.

    Long blamed for high cholesterol, eggs have been beaten up for their assumed role in cardiovascular disease (CVD). Now, UniSA researchers have shown definitively that it’s not dietary cholesterol in eggs but the saturated fat in our diets that’s the real heart health concern.

    In a world-first study, researchers examined the independent effects of dietary cholesterol and saturated fat on LDL cholesterol (the ‘bad’ kind), finding that eating two eggs a day – as part of a high cholesterol but low saturated fat diet – can actually reduce LDL levels and lower the risk of heart disease.

    CVD is the leading cause of death worldwide, responsible for nearly 18 million deaths each year. In Australia, one person dies from CVD every 12 minutes, accounting for one in four of deaths nationwide.

    Lead researcher, UniSA’s Professor Jon Buckley, says it’s time to rethink the reputation of eggs.

    “Eggs have long been unfairly cracked by outdated dietary advice,” Prof Buckley says.

    “They’re unique – high in cholesterol, yes, but low in saturated fat. Yet it’s their cholesterol level that has often caused people to question their place in a healthy diet,” Prof Buckley says.

    “In this study, we separated the effects of cholesterol and saturated fat, finding that high dietary cholesterol from eggs, when eaten as part of a low saturated fat diet, does not raise bad cholesterol levels.

    “Instead, it was the saturated fat that was the real driver of cholesterol elevation.

    “You could say we’ve delivered hard-boiled evidence in defence of the humble egg.”

    “So, when it comes to a cooked breakfast, it’s not the eggs you need to worry about – it’s the extra serve of bacon or the side of sausage that’s more likely to impact your heart health.”

    …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

    Contact for interview: Prof Jon Buckley E: Jon.Buckley@unisa.edu.au
    Media contact: Annabel Mansfield M: +61 479 182 489 E: Annabel.Mansfield@unisa.edu.au

    Other articles you may be interested in

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Food prices increase 4.6 percent annually – Stats NZ media and information release: Selected price indexes: June 2025

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Why employees hesitate to disclose mental health concerns – and what employers can do about it

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Zhanna Lyubykh, Assistant Professor, Beedie School of Business, Simon Fraser University

    About one in four employees has a diagnosable mental health condition, and up to 65 per cent say mental health concerns interfere with their ability to work.

    The economic toll is staggering. In the United States alone, mental health concerns cost over $280 billion annually. Worldwide, that figure reaches an estimated US$1 trillion annually.

    Mental health is increasingly being recognized as critical to workplace functioning. Organizations invest substantial resources in wellness programs, mental health training and employee assistance programs. Some even offer on-site therapy sessions at no cost to their employees.

    Yet despite these efforts, many employees remain hesitant to seek help or disclose their mental health conditions. This reluctance can leave employees under-supported and contribute to increased absenteeism and turnover. Those who choose not to disclose often miss out on access to workplace accommodations and support, which can exacerbate their conditions and even increase the risk of job loss.

    Disclosure can be a gateway to vital support, but questions remain about how to facilitate such disclosures. Our research, recently published as an open-access article, shows the decision to disclose a mental health condition isn’t purely personal and can depend on the broader workplace environment.

    Supportive workplaces lead to better mental health

    Across two samples, we surveyed 1,232 employees from Canada and the U.S. We recruited participants from Qualtrics, an online panel provider, and a large financial institution in Canada that operates across multiple locations. We asked employees — both with and without mental health concerns — to indicate the extent to which they perceived their organization as supportive of disclosing mental health concerns.

    Employees with mental health concerns shared whether they had disclosed their condition to their employer, how willing they were to disclose in the future, their levels of anxiety and depression, and a range of work-related attitudes and behaviours.

    We found that a work environment that was safe and supported the disclosure of mental health concerns was extremely beneficial for both employees and organizations.

    First, employees working in highly supportive environments were 55 per cent more likely to disclose their mental health concerns. These environments were also linked to greater willingness to disclose current or potential mental health concerns.

    Second, supportive environments were associated with lower levels of anxiety and depression, both of which are important indicators of mental health. This suggests that organizations can contribute to employee mental health by fostering supportive environments.

    Third, employees who felt their organization supported disclosure reported higher job satisfaction, greater work engagement, and more organizational citizenship behaviours, such as helping co-workers or going above and beyond their job duties. These kinds of behaviours help create healthy, high-performing workplaces.

    In one of our samples, we matched employee responses with their organizational records of absenteeism. We found that when employees rated their organizational environment as supportive of mental health disclosure, they were less likely to miss work due to illness.

    Supporting mental health disclosure

    Our study identified three elements of a workplace that support mental health disclosure. The first is the absence of stigma and anticipated discrimination. Many employees choose to conceal their concerns because they are fearful of being stigmatized, facing unfair treatment or being passed over for promotions.

    Employees often pick up on subtle cues in their environment — consciously or not — to estimate the risk of stigma. If they observe colleagues with disclosed mental health conditions being treated negatively, this signals low organizational support and makes disclosure appear risky.

    The second element is the availability of organizational resources. Disclosing one’s mental health concerns should unlock access to organizational supports, such as time off or counselling programs. These supports need to be tangible and go beyond mere mentions in the employee handbook. Employees form perceptions about how seriously their organization takes mental health based on whether these resources are present and accessible.

    The third element is the presence of social support. Our research found that social support was an important indicator of informal culture around mental health concerns. Such support may include emotional support from peers or supervisors, and the ability to openly discuss mental health.

    Employees notice whether, and how, mental health is discussed at work. When employees are encouraged to talk openly about it, the workplace appears more conducive to disclosure. In contrast, when concerns are dismissed or met with unhelpful advice such as “stay positive” or “toughen up,” the environment is unlikely to be seen as supportive.

    How organizations can support disclosure

    Our research points to four main strategies organizations can use to foster an environment that signals support for disclosing mental health concerns.

    1. Identify areas for improvement.

    Our research provides a list of survey items that organizations can use to track employee perceptions and identify priority areas for improvement. For example, employees might be asked whether they feel safe disclosing a mental health concern, or whether they believe the organization responds supportively when others do. These items can be include in annual employee surveys, with anonymity ensured to encourage honest responses.

    2. Combat stigma by role modelling.

    Workplace leaders are well-positioned to make positive change and role model appropriate behaviours. Employees often look to leaders and model their behaviour. Providing leaders with training about implicit biases, and equipping them with tools to provide support to employees with mental health concerns, can help start the cycle of positive change. Leaders who receive mental health training tend to be more supportive, more likely to encourage disclosure and are better able to guide employees toward appropriate help.

    3. Make resources visible and easily accessible.

    Even when organizations have resources available, employees may not know about them or may find them difficult to access. Organizations and managers need to frequently communicate about the availability of mental health resources and ensure they are easy to access. Red tape and bureaucracy can deter employees from accessing organizational supports.

    4. Talk openly about mental health.

    Talking about mental health can help normalize it and encourage employees to share their concerns. This can include intentionally creating opportunities for such discussions, such as mental health days. In addition, when senior leaders share their experiences with mental health concerns, it can help normalize such discussions.

    Ultimately, a disclosure-supportive environment benefits employee mental health and encourages positive work behaviours. In other words, when employees feel safe enough to speak up, both employees and organizations benefit from it.

    Zhanna Lyubykh receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC).

    Justin Weinhardt receives funding fromHaskayne School of Business’s Future Fund, and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC).

    Nick Turner receives research funding from Cenovus Energy Inc., Haskayne School of Business’s Future Fund, Mitacs, and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC).

    – ref. Why employees hesitate to disclose mental health concerns – and what employers can do about it – https://theconversation.com/why-employees-hesitate-to-disclose-mental-health-concerns-and-what-employers-can-do-about-it-261158

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Mauritius: African Development Bank Urges Bold Reforms to Unlock Capital and Accelerate Sustainable Growth in 2025 Report

    Source: APO

    The African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org) has urged Mauritius to accelerate structural reforms to unlock its vast capital potential and advance long-term, sustainable growth. The Bank made the call during the launch of its 2025 Country Focus Report for Mauritius, titled “Making Mauritius’ Capital Work Better for its Development.”

    The report notes that while Mauritius continues to post strong economic performance—recording real GDP growth of 4.9% in 2024, slightly down from 5% in 2023—structural constraints and external shocks continue to undermine the country’s growth trajectory. Key growth drivers in 2024 included construction, financial services, trade, and tourism, with arrivals reaching 1.38 million, representing 97% of pre-pandemic levels. On the demand side, consumption and investment were the primary drivers of growth.

    Despite the persistent challenges, the report underscores Mauritius’ significant untapped potential. In 2020, the island nation’s total national wealth was estimated at over $96 billion—more than six times its GDP—comprising human, financial, natural, and produced capital. In addition, Mauritius’ vast ocean economy resources, within its 2.3 million km² Exclusive Economic Zone, offer immense opportunities for developing a sustainable blue economy.

    Speaking at the launch event, Mahess Rawoteea, Deputy Financial Secretary at the Ministry of Finance, welcomed the recommendations in the report. “We are confident that the structural reforms outlined in the 2025–2026 Budget Speech will unlock significant investments, particularly in renewable energy, and contribute to higher GDP growth,” he said.

    Rawoteea emphasized the central role of human capital in Mauritius’ development, while acknowledging persistent challenges such as education quality, skills mismatches, low female labor participation, demographic shifts, and youth emigration. He announced the establishment of a Climate Finance Unit within the Ministry of Finance to help bridge the country’s climate financing gap.

    “Mauritius is undertaking institutional reforms to better mobilize domestic and foreign capital and promote sustainable development,” he added. “We are streamlining processes, enhancing transparency, and improving the ease of doing business. Environmental protection, including addressing beach erosion, is also a key priority.”

    Rawoteea expressed appreciation for the African Development Bank’s support, particularly in mobilizing investments in renewable energy and the ocean economy—two sectors identified as future growth pillars.

    In his keynote remarks, Prof. Kevin Urama, the Bank Group’s Chief Economist and Vice President for Economic Governance and Knowledge Management, emphasized Africa’s broader potential for transformation. “If Africa commits to investing in its own development and managing its assets efficiently, it can reduce external dependency and harness its enormous capital for transformative growth,” he said.

    Urama cited weak tax administration and inefficiencies in revenue collection as major constraints to development, urging a fundamental rethink of public financial management across the continent.

    Wolassa Kumo, the Bank’s Principal Country Economist for Mauritius presented an overview of the report. The launch event attracted senior government officials, development partners, private sector leaders, and civil society representatives.

    Among those in attendance were Hervé Lohoues, the Bank’s Division Manager for the Country Economics Department covering Nigeria, East Africa and Southern Africa, and Nontle Kabanyane, the Bank’s Principal Country Programme Officer, who moderated a panel discussion.

    The panel explored strategies for mobilizing domestic capital more effectively by strengthening institutions, improving regulatory frameworks, increasing transparency and accountability, and deepening regional trade integration. Panelists included:

    • Dr. Zyaad Boodoo, Ministry of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change (natural capital), Mauritius?
    • Mr. Sanjev Bhonoo, Principal Statistician, Statistics Mauritius (natural capital)
    • Mr. Ricaud M. Auckbur, Chief Technical Officer, Ministry of Education and Human Resources (human capital), Mauritius?
    • Ms. Zaahira Ebramjee, Head of National Economic Collaboration, Business Mauritius (business capital)
    • Mr. Vikram Ramful, Head of Listing, Stock Exchange of Mauritius (financial capital)

    Click here (https://apo-opa.co/46KmHkM) to download the report.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

    Media Contact:
    Emeka Anuforo
    Communication and External Relations Department
    media@afdb.org

    About the African Development Bank Group:
    The African Development Bank Group is Africa’s leading development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). Represented in 41 African countries, with an external office in Japan, the Bank contributes to the economic development and social progress of its 54 regional member countries. For more information: www.AfDB.org

    Media files

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    MIL OSI Africa –

  • India and Indonesia discuss statistical collaboration in bilateral meeting

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) held a bilateral meeting with a delegation from the Republic of Indonesia on Thursday at Khurshid Lal Bhawan, Janpath, New Delhi, to explore collaboration in official statistics.

    The Indonesian delegation, led by Vice Minister of Statistics Dr. Sonny Harry B. Harmadi, included Ambassador to India and Bhutan H. Krisnamurthi and other senior officials. Dr. Saurabh Garg, Secretary of MoSPI, headed the Indian delegation, accompanied by senior ministry officials.

    The discussions focused on key areas of mutual interest, including India’s methodology for GDP estimation, data collection, consistency, and productivity statistics. The Indonesian delegation expressed keen interest in learning from India’s effective practices, particularly in harmonizing official datasets, modernizing statistical systems, and ensuring quality assurance. They also sought insights into India’s use of artificial intelligence in official statistics, strategies for AI-ready data, and approaches to integrating data across ministries and state governments. Additionally, Indonesia highlighted potential collaboration in harmonizing trade statistics, digitizing agricultural data, and advancing IT and sampling methods for statistical development.

    Director General (Data Governance) P.R. Meshram opened the meeting, emphasizing the importance of bilateral cooperation, technological innovation, and excellence in statistical practices. Dr. Garg highlighted MoSPI’s initiatives, including technology-driven surveys, reduced time lags in report releases, and the use of alternative data sources, underscoring the value of this exchange in strengthening statistical systems.

    Dr. Harmadi expressed Indonesia’s interest in adopting India’s approaches to address statistical challenges, particularly in GDP estimation and data modernization. The meeting served as a platform to identify areas for knowledge exchange and reaffirmed both nations’ commitment to enhancing statistical capacity through faculty development, expertise exchange, and formal agreements, such as bilateral or trilateral Memoranda of Understanding.

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s economic resilience drives global growth

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

    BEIJING, July 17 — In the face of a complex international landscape and mounting challenges, China achieved steady economic growth in the first half of 2025, boosting confidence in global growth potential.

    According to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Tuesday, China’s gross domestic product (GDP) grew 5.3 percent year on year in the first half of 2025 and 5.2 percent year on year in the second quarter.

    Analysts noted that by steadfastly advancing high-quality development and steadily expanding high-level opening-up, the Chinese economy has demonstrated strong resilience, providing a reliable driving force for global economic growth.

    STRONG RESILIENCE

    Since the beginning of 2025, the international economic and trade order has experienced severe shocks and increasing uncertainties. In the face of mounting pressure, China’s economy has maintained a steady and positive momentum, presenting a high-quality performance.

    “Resilience” has become a key word used by overseas media when reporting on the Chinese economy, with many noting that China’s economic data in the first half of the year exceeded market expectations and that the country stays on course to meet its annual growth target of around 5 percent.

    China’s GDP growth, despite the impact of U.S. tariff policy, signals strong resilience, highlighting China’s adaptive policies and manufacturing depth, said Philippe Monnier, former executive director of the Greater Geneva Berne area (GGBa), the investment promotion agency for Western Switzerland.

    The encouraging growth of the Chinese economy is mainly attributed to the strong performance in trade, industrial production and retail sales, said Lynn Song, chief economist for Greater China at ING, a Dutch bank. He added that the solid results in the first half should keep China on track to achieve its full-year growth target.

    Thanks to efforts to strengthen economic and trade ties globally, China’s foreign trade sector delivered a strong performance, significantly contributing to overall economic growth. In the first half of the year, China’s total goods trade hit 21.79 trillion yuan (3.04 trillion U.S. dollars), reaching a record high for the same period.

    During this time, China’s imports and exports with more than 190 countries and regions registered growth, with 61 trading partners posting trade volumes exceeding 50 billion yuan (6.96 billion dollars).

    In addition to increased trade with traditional markets such as the European Union, Japan and Britain, emerging markets provided additional momentum. Notably, China’s trade with Africa and Central Asia rose by 14.4 percent and 13.8 percent year on year, respectively.

    EFFECTIVE POLICY

    Facing an increasingly complex and challenging external environment, China has effectively implemented more proactive and effective macroeconomic policies, further strengthened the domestic economic circulation, continued to advance high-level opening-up and steadily pushed forward economic transformation and high-quality development.

    In the first half of 2025, domestic demand contributed 68.8 percent to GDP growth, serving as the main engine of economic expansion, according to the NBS.

    China’s emphasis on household subsidies, fiscal support and credit access for small businesses has helped stabilize internal demand while shielding the economy from external shocks, making it more resilient to trade tensions and global slowdowns, Rwandan economic analyst Teddy Kaberuka told Xinhua.

    Japan’s Jiji Press noted that the Chinese government’s implementation of a moderately accommodative monetary policy has yielded tangible results in supporting the real economy, and measures introduced to boost consumption also played a positive role in driving economic growth.

    During the first half of 2025, China saw rapid growth in high-tech sectors such as scientific innovation and green development. Value-added industrial output in high-tech manufacturing rose by 9.5 percent, 3.1 percentage points higher than that of overall industrial output during the same period.

    With strategic support for sectors such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, electric vehicles and clean energy, China is transitioning toward a more sustainable, consumption-driven growth model that benefits global supply chains and investment flows, said Monnier.

    Karim Adel, head of the Cairo-based Al Adl Center for Economic and Strategic Studies, noted that in the challenging year of 2025, China has introduced a series of proactive policies not only to advance its own growth objectives but also to provide sustained momentum for the global economy.

    BENEFIT THE WORLD

    In the face of the challenging international landscape, the Chinese economy has demonstrated strong resilience and vast development potential. Driven by innovation, it is advancing high-quality development, contributing to global economic growth and sharing development opportunities with the world.

    Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut, minister of economic affairs of the German state of Baden-Wurttemberg, who led a delegation to visit China recently, told Xinhua that she was deeply impressed by China’s achievement in science and technology, adding that China is an exciting market in intelligent transportation, robot industry and other emerging areas.

    In recent years, Germany and China have been deepening cooperation in cutting-edge areas, said Bernd Einmeier, president of the German-Chinese Association for Economy, Education, and Culture.

    German enterprises remain enthusiastic about investing in China, while a growing number of Chinese companies view Germany as a strategic gateway for expanding into the European market, said Einmeier, noting that this two-way interaction serves as a stabilizing force for global industrial and supply chains.

    Munetsi Madakufamba, executive director of the Southern African Research and Documentation Center, praised China’s zero-tariff measures covering all taxable products for 53 African countries, saying it represents a significant development that has the potential to enhance China-Africa trade relations.

    The positive performance of the Chinese economy can help Africa unlock its vast economic potential and contribute to its development aspirations, he added.

    In an era marked by uncertainty, China’s stability and development represent confidence and opportunity, said Ng Chin Long, chairman of the Malaysia Friends of Silk Road Club.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Xinjiang airport records soaring cross-border trips amid opening-up push

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

    URUMQI, July 17 — A total of 500,000 trips to or from China have been recorded in 2025 at the Urumqi Tianshan International Airport in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region — the highest figure for the January-July period in a decade.

    By Monday, foreign nationals had made more than 146,000 trips to China via the airport this year, which was a year-on-year increase of 30 percent, according to statistics from the airport’s immigration authorities. Of those trips, 39,000 were visa-free entries.

    Approximately 40 percent of these foreign visitors were traveling for tourism, the immigration authorities said, noting that business and visits to relatives or friends were the second and third most common reasons for border entry among foreigners.

    The airport’s passenger and cargo capacities received a major boost when a new terminal began operations three months ago. The new terminal is a key part of the airport’s expansion project, which began in 2019.

    With the expansion, the airport now has three runways — a significant increase from its previous one — and can accommodate up to 48 million passengers and 550,000 tonnes of cargo annually. It is now capable of supporting nearly 367,000 aircraft takeoffs and landings each year.

    “As an air transport hub for China’s westward opening-up, the Urumqi Tianshan International Airport is making progress in various aspects, boosting the high-standard opening-up of the country’s northwest region,” said He Mingxing, a scholar at Xinjiang University.

    The new terminal is a representative of the rapid development of civil aviation infrastructure in Xinjiang.

    And with the Barkol Dahe Airport officially beginning operations on Tuesday, Xinjiang’s total number of civil airports has risen to 28 — the highest among all provincial-level regions in China.

    As the core area of the Silk Road Economic Belt, Xinjiang has been working hard to accelerate its airport construction. The number of airports in the region — both operational and under construction — is expected to reach 33 by the end of 2025.

    Many international travelers come to China to buy goods like daily necessities and electronic devices, and airports in Xinjiang have been enhancing their consumption experience and tax-refund-upon-departure services for these visitors.

    At the Urumqi Tianshan International Airport, a 24-hour outlet and self-service counter are in place to facilitate these services.

    “We processed a total of 168 tax-refund-upon-departure transactions by July 12, which was an increase of more than 500 percent from the same period last year,” said Liu Jiawei, head of the outlet, which is operated by a local bank.

    Xinjiang is not only an important window for China’s westward opening-up; it also has the potential to become a consumption hub connecting Central Asian countries with the Chinese market, and to play a more strategic role in enhancing an outward-looking economy, He said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Data can show if government programs work or not, but the Trump administration is suppressing the necessary information

    Source: The Conversation – USA (2) – By Sarah James, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Gonzaga University

    Do government programs work? It’s impossible to find out with no data. Andranik Hakobyan/iStock via Getty Images Plus

    The U.S. has the highest rate of maternal mortality among developed nations. Since 1987, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has administered the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System to better understand when, where and why maternal deaths occur.

    In April 2025, the Trump administration put the department in charge of collecting and tracking this data on leave.

    It’s just one example of how the administration is deleting and disrupting American data of all kinds.

    The White House is also collecting less information about everything from how many Americans have health insurance to the number of students enrolled in public schools, and making government-curated data of all kinds off-limits to the public. President Donald Trump is also trying to get rid of entire agencies, like the Department of Education, that are responsible for collecting important data tied to poverty and inequality.

    His administration has also begun deleting websites and respositories that share government data with the public.

    Why data is essential for the safety net

    I study the role that data plays in political decision-making, including when and how government officials decide to collect it. Through years of research, I’ve found that good data is essential – not just for politicians, but for journalists, advocates and voters. Without it, it’s much harder to figure out when a policy is failing, and even more difficult to help people who aren’t politically well connected.

    Since Trump was sworn in for a second time, I have been keeping an eye on the disruption, removal and defunding of data on safety net programs such as food assistance and services for people with disabilities.

    I believe that disrupting data collection will make it harder to figure out who qualifies for these programs, or what happens when people lose their benefits. I also think that all this missing data will make it harder for supporters of safety net programs to rebuild them in the future.

    Why the government collects this data

    There’s no way to find out whether policies and programs are working without credible data collected over a long period of time.

    For example, without a system to accurately measure how many people need help putting food on their tables, it’s hard to figure out how much the country should spend on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistant Program, formerly known as food stamps, the federal supplemental nutrition program for women, infants and children, known as WIC, and related programs. Data on Medicaid eligibility and enrollment before and after the passage of the Affordable Care Act in 2010 offers another example. National data showed that millions of Americans gained health insurance coverage after the ACA was rolled out.

    Many institutions and organizations, such as universities, news organizations, think tanks, and nonprofits focused on particular issues like poverty and inequality or housing, collect data on the impact of safety net policies on low-income Americans.

    No doubt these nongovernmental data collection efforts will continue, and maybe even increase. However, it’s highly unlikely that these independent efforts can replace any of the government’s data collection programs – let alone all of them.

    The government, because it takes the lead in implementing official policies, is in a unique position to collect and store sensitive data collected over long periods of time. That’s why the disappearance of thousands of official websites can have very long-term consequences.

    What makes Trump’s approach stand out

    The Trump administration’s pausing, defunding and suppressing of government data marks a big departure from his predecessors.

    As early as the 1930s, U.S. social scientists and local policymakers realized the potential for data to show which policies were working and which were a waste of money. Since then, policymakers across the political spectrum have grown increasingly interested in using data to make government work better.

    This focus on data grew starting in 2001, when President George W. Bush made holding government accountable to measurable outcomes a top priority.

    He saw data as a powerful tool for reducing waste and assessing policy outcomes. His signature education reform, the No Child Left Behind Act, radically expanded the collection and reporting of student achievement data at K-12 public schools.

    President George W. Bush speaks about education in 2005 at a high school in Falls Church, Va., outlining his plans for the No Child Left Behind Act.
    Alex Wong/Getty Images)

    How this contrasts with the Obama and Biden administrations

    Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden emphasized the importance of data for evaluating the impact of their policies on low-income people, who have historically had little political clout.

    Obama initiated a working group to identify ways to collect, analyze and incorporate more useful data into safety net policies. Biden implemented several of the group’s suggestions.

    For example, he insisted on the collection of demographic data and its analysis when assessing the impacts of new safety net policies. This approach shaped how his administration handled changes in home loan practices, the expansion of broadband access and the establishment of outreach programs for enrolling people in Medicaid and Medicare.

    Why rebuilding will be hard

    It’s harder to make a case for safety net programs when you don’t have relevant data. For example, programs that help low-income people see a doctor, get fresh food and find housing can be more cost-effective than simply having them continue to live in poverty.

    Blocking data collection may also make restoring government funding after a program gets cut or shut down even more challenging. That’s because it will be more challenging for people who in the past benefited from these programs to persuade their fellow taxpayers that there is a need for investing in a expanding program or creating a new one.

    Without enough data, even well-intended policies in the future may worsen the very problems they’re meant to fix, long after the Trump administration has concluded.

    Sarah James 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. Data can show if government programs work or not, but the Trump administration is suppressing the necessary information – https://theconversation.com/data-can-show-if-government-programs-work-or-not-but-the-trump-administration-is-suppressing-the-necessary-information-259760

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: PM speech at the Civil Society Summit: 17 July 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Speech

    PM speech at the Civil Society Summit: 17 July 2025

    The Prime Minister gave a speech at the Civil Society Summit.

    It’s fantastic to be with you all. As I look around, I see many friends and colleagues.

    Great to be here at the Science Museum, which, I have to say, feels like a fitting place to be because this is the home of innovation – celebrating the progress that has transformed so many people’s lives. And in a way, speaking to us, calling us, and inspiring us to do the same today.

    Now, as many of you in this room will remember, around 18 months ago, in opposition, in a church near Waterloo Station, I made a promise to people in this room.

    I said [political content redacted] we would work in partnership with you. To deliver on every one of our missions and change the country together. I meant that back then.

    And the moment I walked through the front door of Downing Street, our work began. And that door is now wide open to you.

    Today’s summit is the first of its kind ever. And that’s really important because this is about delivering on the priorities of working people – but it’s also about something even more fundamental than that.

    Because I often say – the changes we are making aren’t just about lines on a graph and statistics. They’re about people – and you will understand that better than anyone else.

    Take the Drive Partnership. Now, this is a fantastic initiative led by a coalition of civil society organisations. They’ve worked with the police to tackle the drivers of domestic abuse – a really serious issue, hard to deal with, and it is integral to the work we’re doing in government in our Safer Streets mission.

    So today, working together in the spirit of partnership, we’re announcing a £53 million investment to roll out the Drive Project nationally across England and Wales.

    Delivering together in partnership, taking forward the initiative that you’ve brought forward to us and recognising your power to reach into places government can’t. We’re combining the ability of the government to deliver nationally.

    Now, for me, that’s a blueprint for a brand-new way of working. And today, we take one step further with our Civil Society Covenant.

    And I’m really proud we’re launching that today because that’s really the hard yards of the eighteen months since I made the promise, because it recognises the national renewal, which requires everyone to play a vital role.

    Not the hierarchical, top-down approach of the state working on its own. Not the transactional approach of the markets left to their own devices. But a way forward in partnership – together – by giving civil society a home at the heart of government.

    We’re not going to shut charities out and then expect you to pick up the pieces [political content redacted].

    Nor am I interested in slogans that sound good but end up being gimmicks for governments to simply hide behind. I’m interested in solutions.

    So, we’re also working with businesses, social enterprises, and private investors.

    And with the Chancellor’s announcement just earlier this week – the largest social outcomes fund in the world to give struggling families a better start, backed by £500 million in government funding with plans to match this with up to £500 million more from local governments, social investors, and philanthropists. Transforming hundreds of thousands of lives – together. That is about genuine partnership, putting your fingerprints on everything we do.

    Take our 10-Year Plan for the NHS, which we announced earlier this month. It’s a really important initiative. We look back proudly on our NHS – it’s been around for 77 years. But we also need to make sure that in decades to come, our NHS was rebuilt and made fit for the future.

    And in that 10-Year Plan, we consulted experts, charities, and the public, so every person, no matter who they are or where they’re from, can get the treatment they deserve.

    Look at the incredible work of charities already, day in, day out, on the frontline, delivering real change where it’s needed most.

    So, I’m proud to announce an exciting new partnership between government and civil society today: Diagnosis Connect. Now, this will transform the way we work together.

    This is a new programme linking newly diagnosed patients directly to expert charities.

    Helping them navigate which charities they can get to, which support they want from each of them. Very hard to make that journey at the moment. That’s life-changing for people looking for information and support, often at a really difficult time.

    Now, that’s putting your expertise directly in people’s pockets with the NHS App.

    So that’s going to go on the NHS App, which is a central part of our plan, so people have it as their map to support from the charities they need when they’ve been diagnosed. What a comfort and security that will be for so many people.

    But I believe that good relationships need to be honest relationships.

    We won’t blindside you with public attacks like the last government did. We need to be honest about the issues people care about and expect us to tackle. Have the tough conversations on issues like migration, social cohesion, and our security as a country.

    These are issues where politicians have often chosen to stoke division instead of bringing people together to fix the problem.

    Now, we know the damage that does to our communities, so when it comes to issues like immigration, we are working differently. Strengthening our border security and tackling fraud, working with 72 local organisations as we transition people to a digital immigration status to make sure vulnerable communities aren’t shut out of that transition.

    And working with community groups to train young people in the skills we need to reduce our dependence on overseas recruitment. Together, we’ll build stronger communities, a fairer system, a better society for everyone.

    Most of all, this is about rebalancing power and responsibility. [political content redacted]. Let me tell you what I think people are tired of. I think they’re tired of establishment figures who don’t listen to them and don’t understand the challenges they face.

    Tired of being excluded from decisions about their own lives. Tired of being treated like their experiences don’t matter. They are the people this government is working for.

    Something I often talk about is the people I keep in my mind’s eye. Politics is about policies, it is about numbers and statistics, but most importantly, it’s about who you have in your mind’s eye when you make your decisions. It’s the people up and down the country who serve every day, who put in every day, often unseen, but are absolutely irreplaceable.

    So, this is an opportunity to say to each and every one of you, and through your organisations, thank you. Thank you for what you put in. To those of you who work tirelessly to make Britain a better place.

    And to say that we are keeping our promises. We said we would work differently – and we are. We promised we would listen to you – and we have.

    Those initiatives that we are announcing today – they came from you, not us. We put them into something that works in partnership.

    We said we would deliver change together – and we will, to build a society of service. Bound together by our common values and finding new pride in our country and our communities.

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: We need to value women in sport, UN rights chief says

    Source: United Nations 2

    “The playing field is still far from level,” Mr. Türk said.  

    In the past few years, topflight women’s sporting competitions have achieved increased global prominence with around a billion people watching the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023. This visibility and attention have prompted important conversations about stereotypes and power dynamics in women’s sports.

    He noted that certain groups face barriers and discrimination in the women’s sporting world — LGBTIQ+ women, women wearing headscarves, women with disabilities and women from marginalized ethnic and racial groups.  

    “We need to build up a world of sport in which women and girls, in all their diversity, are equally valuable, visible and paid.”

    A ‘stark’ pay gap

    While professional male footballers earn, on average, $1.8 million annually at the top clubs, women athletes at top clubs have an average income of $24,000. And the average woman athlete, not at top clubs, earns even less than that, rounding out to approximately $10,900 per year.  

    “Without a stable income, women are forced to take other jobs, leaving them with less time and energy to focus on training and improving,” Mr. Türk said.  

    The wage gap is made even more unsustainable by a lack of sufficient protections in the workplace – minimal, if any, maternity leave – and few places to​​ turn to for redress when harassment occurs.  

    Women are also very underrepresented in leadership of professional clubs and federations. Of the 31 federations, women chaired only three.

    Despite such sobering statistics, some federations have begun to institute changes, enshrining maternity and adoption leave and establishing pay equity agreements.  

    Driving social change

    Mr. Türk called on Member States to institute comprehensive anti-discrimination systems which promote pay equality and ensure that violence and harassment in sports is brought to justice.  

    He also said that the media can and should be a “force for good” in portraying women’s success stories in sports and by ensuring that their coverage is accurate and ethical.  

    “Sports can drive social change … and inspire and promote fairness, respect and equal opportunities for all. Today let’s champion a sporting world where women and girls can thrive.” 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Citywide Recycling Push: Preston City Council Beyondly and Recoup join forces to increase recycling and tackle contamination

    Source: City of Preston

    A targeted recycling education campaign spearheaded by Preston City Council and plastics recycling and resource efficiency charity RECOUP, with funding and support from environmental consultancy Beyondly, has reached over 265,000 residents, helping to cut recycling contamination reports by 13% and reduce material rejections at the sorting facility by 19%.

    The campaign, delivered under the RECOUP Pledge2Recycle Plastics programme, ran from September to December 2024 combining billboards, street hubs, school and community engagement, leaflet deliveries to all households in the Preston area, a radio campaign, and a fresh suite of social media assets.

    It aimed to clarify what can and cannot be recycled, with a particular focus on plastics, a key area of confusion for many households.

    Councillor Freddie Bailey, Cabinet Member for Environment and Community Safety commented:

    “The outcomes of this campaign are brilliant. Preston residents want to do the right thing when it comes to recycling, and this campaign helped make that easier. By combining local pride with practical information, we empowered people to recycle more and better.”

    Preston City Council saw an 11 tonne increase in plastic, glass and cans collected in 2024/25 in comparison to 2023/24.

    The city also recorded fewer crew-reported contaminants such as general rubbish and plastic bags in recycling bins, an encouraging sign that consistent messaging is paying off.

    Key achievements

    • Total reach of over 265,000, covering all households in Preston.
    • 13% decrease in contamination in plastic, glass, and can bins.
    • 19% reduction in material rejections at sorting facilities.
    • Leaflet and campaign materials designed with accessibility in mind, including input from local disability groups and multilingual residents.
    • Engagement in priority wards, including Plungington, Deepdale and the City Centre, where housing types and language barriers present ongoing challenges.

    The campaign delivery included engaging directly with communities through school visits, supermarket events, and a dedicated recycling van at the city’s Flag Market. Surveys conducted during engagement revealed that while many residents want to recycle more, they often struggle with understanding what’s accepted and how to prepare materials properly.

    Katherine Fleet, Head of Sustainability and Circularity at RECOUP commented:

    “Education remains a vital part of the recycling puzzle. By using visuals, clear messages, and trusted community channels, this campaign helped to reduce confusion and increase confidence in recycling.”

    Beyondly, who supported delivery of the campaign as well as providing grant funding, also praised its impact and inclusive approach:

    “At Beyondly, we’re proud to support initiatives that empower communities to make lasting environmental change,” said Charlotte Davies, Senior Consultant Resource Efficiency and Circularity at Beyondly.

    “This campaign in Preston is a fantastic example of how collaboration and clear communication can reduce contamination, increase recycling, and build a more sustainable future.”

    Looking ahead, Preston City Council plan to build on these learning’s, including strengthening relationships with schools, improving access to recycling for households without kerbside bins, and considering the needs of neurodiverse residents.

    The Preston City Council Recycling Report 2025 provides a comprehensive review of the campaign’s outcomes, highlighting not just statistics, but also the lived realities of Preston’s diverse communities.

    To learn more or access the full report, visit the RECOUP website or join us at a webinar on 10 September 2025, register your interest for the event through Eventbrite – Preston City Council Recycling Campaign – Insights, Results and Learning’s.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Programme management officer

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    Org. Setting and Reporting

    Created in December 1999, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) is the designated focal point in the United Nations system for the coordination of efforts to reduce disasters and to ensure synergies among the disaster reduction activities of the United Nations and regional organizations and activities in both developed and less developed countries. Led by the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction (SRSG), UNDRR has over 140 staff located in its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, and in regional offices. Specifically, UNDRR guides, monitors, analyses and reports on progress in the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, supports regional and national implementation of the Framework and catalyzes action and increases global awareness to reduce disaster risk working with UN Member States and a broad range of partners and stakeholders, including civil society, the private sector, parliamentarians and the science and technology community.

    This position is located in the UNDRR Office in Bonn, Germany. The Programme Officer will report to the Head of the UNDRR Bonn Office under the overall guidance of the Chief, Risk Knowledge, Monitoring and Capacity-Development Branch.

    Responsibilities

    Within delegated authority, the incumbent will be responsible for the following duties: – 

    • Develops, implements and evaluates assigned systems programmes/projects of significant importance for the Department; monitors and analyses programme/project development and implementation; reviews relevant documents and reports; identifies problems and issues to be addressed and initiates corrective actions; liaises with relevant parties; ensures follow-up actions. In particular, oversees and supports the management and updating of the online monitoring system to track progress in the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. Tracks and monitors project progress against plan, requirements, quality measures, standard processes; liaises with users on all aspects and during all phases.
    • Provides expert advice on complex systems analysis and design; identifies the need for new systems (or modifications to existing systems) or responds to requests from users; develops plans for feasibility assessment, requirements specification, design, development and implementation, including project plans, schedules, time and cost estimates, metrics and performance measures. –
    • Provides expert advice and coordinates the roll-out of the Disaster Tracking System in all Member States, liaising with the concerned regional offices. Keeps abreast of developments in the field and determines the need for testing and evaluating new products and technologies. –
    • Leads and coordinates the official reporting on Sendai Framework and SDGs, among others, and organizes and prepares written outputs, e.g. draft background papers, analysis, sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications, technical reports, including advance analytics using AI-based tools.
    • Develops, implements and monitors application of standards and guidelines. Oversees the preparation of technical and user documentation for systems; prepares training materials and detailed technical presentations including technical guidelines to support the reporting against the indicators to assess progress towards the targets of Sendai Framework, as recommended by the open-ended intergovernmental expert working group on indicators and terminology. Works in close collaboration with the UNDRR Global Education and Training Institute (GETI) in Incheon and contributes to the development of training modules on Sendai Framework Monitoring Process. Collaborates and coordinates closely with UNDRR Regional Offices in support of strengthening the capacity of Member States to use the online Sendai Framework Monitoring system and their ability to report against the indicators. –
    • Provides substantive backstopping to consultative and other meetings, conferences, etc., to include proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations, etc. –
    • Participates in planning and preparation of the budget, work program and spending plan of the Section and of the Branch. Contributes to activities related to budget funding (programme/project preparation and submissions, progress reports, financial statements, etc.) and prepares related documents/reports (pledging, work programme, programme budget, etc.). Develops cost proposals for contractual services, oversees the technical evaluation of proposals received and manages the contract service. Provides professional leadership and work direction to assigned project team, and/or mentor and supervises the work of new/junior officers, contract staff, etc. – Performs other duties as required.

    Competencies

    Professionalism: Knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches relevant to particular sector, functional area or other specialized field. Ability to identify issues, analyze and participate in the resolution of issues/problems. Ability to conduct data collection using various methods. Conceptual analytical and evaluative skills to conduct independent research and analysis, including familiarity with and experience in the use of various research sources, including electronic sources on the internet, intranet and other databases. Ability to apply judgment in the context of assignments given, plan own work and manage conflicting priorities. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. Planning & Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently. 

    Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable. 

    Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

    Education

    An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in social sciences, management, economics, statistics or a related field is required. A first-level degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.

    Work experience

    • A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in project planning, implementation and monitoring or a related area is required.
    • Experience in disaster risk assessment and monitoring, and disaster risk reduction is required.
    • Experience in data management and statistics is desirable.

    Languages

    English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French is desirable. Knowledge of another UN official language is desirable.

    Assessment

    Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which will be followed by a competency-based interview.

    Special notice

    The appointment or assignment and renewal thereof are subject to the availability of the post or funds, budgetary approval or extension of the mandate. At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. In line with the overall United Nations policy, the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction encourages a positive workplace culture which embraces inclusivity and leverages diversity within its workforce. Measures are applied to enable all staff members to contribute equally and fully to the work and development of the organization, including flexible working arrangements, family-friendly policies and standards of conduct. Individual contractors and consultants who have worked within the UN Secretariat in the last six months, irrespective of the administering entity, are ineligible to apply for professional and higher, temporary or fixed-term positions and their applications will not be considered.

    United Nations Considerations

    According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General. Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

    No Fee

    THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: CSSA caseload for June 2025

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

    The overall Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) caseload in June showed a drop of 240 cases, representing a decrease of 0.1 per cent compared with that of May, according to the latest CSSA caseload statistics released by the Social Welfare Department today (July 17).
          
    The total CSSA caseload at the end of June stood at 195 196 (see attached table), with a total of 261 440 recipients.
          
    Analysed by case nature, low-earnings cases registered a month-to-month decrease of 1.4 per cent to 1 312 cases. Permanent disability cases decreased by 0.4 per cent to 16 534 cases. Both ill-health cases and single parent cases declined by 0.2 per cent to 27 723 cases and 18 842 cases respectively. Old age cases dropped by 0.1 per cent to 110 691 cases.
         
    Unemployment cases remained steady at 16 150 cases.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Ofqual withdraws access arrangements statistics

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Ofqual withdraws access arrangements statistics

    Ofqual is withdrawing its official statistics on access arrangements for GCSE, AS and A levels from 2014 to 2024 after identifying issues with the data.

    • Number of students reported to receive extra time in exams overstated, says regulator. 

    • No change for students receiving or applying for access arrangements as procedures are unaffected.  

    • Access arrangements granted to students remain appropriate and valid. 

    • New official statistics with improved methodology to be published in late 2025 following comprehensive evidence review.

    The exam regulator Ofqual is withdrawing its official statistics on access arrangements for GCSE, AS and A levels from 2014 to 2024 after identifying issues with the data. 

    Access arrangements are adjustments to exams for students with special needs, disabilities, or injuries, ensuring fair assessment. Examples include extra time and the use of a reader or scribe.  

    Ofqual’s statistics for access arrangements were based on data collected by exam boards. Ofqual’s detailed analysis of underlying data from the boards has now established that the published figures significantly overstated the number of students receiving access arrangements.

    The difference is due to the way the data is recorded and aggregated – for example, including arrangements for students who did not sit exams in the relevant year, or duplicate applications for the same student.  

    The new analysis suggests that the actual proportion of students receiving access arrangements – including 25% extra time in exams – is now broadly in line with the proportion of students with special educational needs in the school population.

    Tom Bramley, Executive Director of Research and Analysis at Ofqual, said: “We are correcting the record as soon as possible. The access arrangements process has not changed, and students who received support did so appropriately.

    “This issue is limited to our access arrangements dataset and our other statistics are not affected.”

    Ofqual is working with exam boards to improve data quality and reporting processes. Revised statistics will be published in late 2025 and will be classified as “official statistics in development”. Ofqual is working closely with the Office of Statistical Regulation on the new approach.

    Notes to editors

    More information is available in our blog

    For reference, SEN statistics: Special educational needs in England, Academic year 2024 to 2025

    For information on access arrangements: Access Arrangements, Reasonable Adjustments and Special Consideration – JCQ Joint Council for Qualifications 

    The withdrawn data covers all access arrangements except modified exam papers, such as large print or braille papers, which use a different data set and are unaffected.  

    Statistics on modified exam papers will be briefly taken down from Ofqual’s website and then re-uploaded on a separate page.

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Financial news: The Bank of Russia is improving approaches to calculating standards.

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Central Bank of Russia –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    From August 18, 2025, banks will begin calculating capital adequacy standards according to new instructions from the Bank of Russia No. 220-I And No. 221-I.

    The new rules imply the transition of all banks with a universal license to a finalized (more risk-sensitive) approach to calculating capital adequacy standards. The standard approach will be retained for banks with a basic license and non-bank credit institutions.

    Other important changes include:

    — the criteria for classifying borrowers as investment grade have been improved (in particular, a condition has been added for having a credit rating of at least “A”), to which a reduced risk weight is applied;

    — differentiated risk weights have been introduced for loans to subjects and municipalities of Russia depending on the level of credit rating from Russian rating agencies, and in its absence, on the level of debt sustainability as assessed by the Ministry of Finance of Russia (in the future, it is planned to completely switch to credit ratings);

    — risk weights for mortgage loans at the construction stage are equal to those used for mortgages on completed housing, and those, in turn, are calibrated based on default statistics;

    — when calculating macroprudential premiums, a single multiplicative approach will be applied both for banks using approaches to risk assessment based on internal ratings and for other banks;

    — further important steps have been taken to address the problem of credit concentration: firstly, under repo transactions the risk will be considered to be on the issuer of securities accepted as collateral if the borrower’s rating is below “AA”; secondly, banks will be able to transfer the concentration risk from the borrower to a reliable guarantor/surety/issuer of securities accepted as collateral.

    The changes will help to more accurately assess risks, will help to level the playing field for competition, and will also support balanced growth in lending to the economy.

    To make it easier for banks to adapt to the new regulations, some of the innovations will only apply to new loans, that is, those issued after August 18, 2025.

    Preview photo: focal point / Shutterstock / Fotodom

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Unemployment rate stays at 3.5%

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate stood at 3.5% in the April to June period, the same as that in March to May, the Census & Statistics Department announced today.

     

    The underemployment rate remained at 1.4%.

     

    Total employment was 3,657,300, down 7,400 from March to May, while the labour force also dropped 7,000 to 3,793,500.

     

    The number of unemployed people in April to June was 136,200, about the same as that in March to May. Meanwhile, the number of underemployed people decreased 1,000 to 52,600.

     

    Secretary for Labour & Welfare Chris Sun said various industries in Hong Kong are undergoing transition and their respective unemployment rates have different trends.

     

    Looking ahead, Mr Sun explained that the trend of unemployment rate will hinge on the overall economic performance, and he elucidated that the entry of fresh graduates and school leavers during the summer may impact the overall employment situation.

     

    “Nevertheless, the continued expansion of the Hong Kong economy should provide support to the labour market,” he added.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: ODIHR’s latest report adds to the mountain of evidence detailing serious concerns with Russia’s actions in Ukraine: UK statement to the OSCE

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Speech

    ODIHR’s latest report adds to the mountain of evidence detailing serious concerns with Russia’s actions in Ukraine: UK statement to the OSCE

    Ambassador Holland condemns Russia’s appalling actions in Ukraine – including civilians deaths, CRSV and widespread use of torture – as detailed in ODIHR’s seventh interim report on reported violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law in Ukraine.

    Thank you, Mr Chair.  Today I would like to address the issue of civilian casualties from Russia’s war in Ukraine.

    Firstly, every death in this conflict is a tragedy.  These are people, not statistics, and for each life lost, many more are destroyed as a result.  We cannot allow the normalisation of such death and destruction here or anywhere else.

    Secondly, we must remember that Russia chose to start this war.  There was no threat to Russia or Russians or Russian speakers in Ukraine.  What Russia feared was Ukraine escaping Moscow’s orbit.  It feared a prosperous, successful and sovereign Ukraine on its doorstep.  The responsibility for the increased risk to Russians, Ukrainians and our collective security sits squarely with Moscow.

    But just as President Putin chose to start this war, he could choose to end it.  President Trump has called for the senseless killing to stop and proposed an immediate and unconditional ceasefire.  Ukraine agreed to it.  Russia rejected it.  Despite Moscow’s attempts to obfuscate, these are the facts.

    Thirdly, Mr Chair, when it comes to civilian casualties, let us remember that Ukraine permits access to independent organisations who provide impartial reporting and verification of developments on the ground.  Many of these, including the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, have requested equal access to Russia.  But these requests have been denied.  We strongly urge Russia to allow access by independent international bodies who can offer impartial analysis of incidents in the Russian Federation, which would be of benefit to all OSCE participating States.

    A timely example of factual reporting from an independent organisation, this week ODIHR published their seventh interim report on reported violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law in Ukraine.  The report covers some of the deeply concerning issues that we have raised in this room.  For example, ODIHR reported that in the six months to 31 May 2025, the number of verified civilian casualties in Government-controlled areas of Ukraine was over 50% higher than in the corresponding period in 2024.

    ODIHR’s report also covered the 4 April attack on Kryvyi Rih, which involved a Russian ballistic missile hitting a playground and killing 20 civilians, including nine children.  Colleagues will remember that we held a Special Permanent Council on this shocking incident.  ODIHR states: “Following analysis of photographs and videos, as well as eye-witness statements and other publicly available evidence, ODIHR has reasonable grounds to believe that, contrary to the Russian Federation’s claims, there were no military objectives in the area immediately prior to or at the time of the strike.”

    There is much more of concern in ODIHR’s report, including testimony that conflict-related sexual violence is intensifying and increasingly cruel.  And the reconfirmation of ODIHR’s previous findings on the widespread and systematic use of torture by the Russian authorities against detained Ukrainian civilians and POWs. We are appalled by these findings and urge the full implementation of the recommendations within the report.

    Thank you, Mr Chair.

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 July 2025

    Invasion of Ukraine

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Webinar on Building Resilient Workplaces: Mental Health Awareness and Support in NSOs

    Source: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

    With more than 10% of the global population living with a mental disorder (WHO, 2019), and clear effects on staff wellbeing and performance, proactively addressing mental health has become a crucial issue in building a resilient workplace.

    This webinar aims to explore mental health challenges in the workplace, sharing experiences from various statistical offices —particularly the establishment of a mental health counselling centre.

    Please register by 15 September by following this link: https://forms.office.com/e/hme0AMr044

    If you registration is approved, you will receive a link to the webinar after the registration deadline. 

    Document Title

    Documents

    Information Flyer

     

    Opening

    Welcome speech from Indonesia Chief Statistician 

    		  

    Overview of the mental health in the workplace – WHO

    		  
    Recongizing common challenges – Professor José Guimarães Magalhães, Portugal  

    Experiences from national statistics offices

    		  

    Statistics Indonesia experience in establishing counselling centres

    • Overview of Counseling Centre – Dr. Eni Lestariningsih, S.Si, M.A b.
    • Technical Method of Counseling Centre: Yulias Untari, S.Psi, Psi c
    • Case Study & Mental Health Insight based on Counseling Centre result: Rany Komala Dewi, S.Psi, M.Psi.T & Siti Fani Daulay, S.Psi, M.Psi.T
    		  
    Addressing mental health stigma in the workplace – Philip O’Callaghan, Irish Civil Service Employee Assistance Service  
    Activities in the area of mental health done under umbrella of the Corporate Social Responsibility – Statistics Poland  

    Panel discussion

    		  
    Panel discussion  

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Beijing’s GRP up 5.5% in H1 2025

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    BEIJING, July 17 (Xinhua) — Beijing’s gross regional product (GRP) exceeded 2.5 trillion yuan (about 350.2 billion U.S. dollars) in the first half of 2025, up 5.5 percent year on year in constant prices, the Beijing Bureau of Statistics said Thursday.

    In the first six months of this year, the city’s primary sector added value reached 4.57 billion yuan, up 1.5 percent year-on-year, while the secondary sector added value was more than 335.6 billion yuan, up 4.7 percent year-on-year. Meanwhile, Beijing’s tertiary sector added value increased 5.6 percent year-on-year to more than 2.16 trillion yuan, the department’s data showed.

    In January-June 2025, the added value of Beijing’s large industrial enterprises increased by 7 percent year-on-year, 0.2 percentage points higher than in the first quarter of this year. In addition, Beijing saw rapid development of high-tech industries, with the production of lithium-ion batteries, new energy vehicles, and medical instruments, equipment, and apparatus growing rapidly.

    As for the service industry, its added value, as mentioned, increased by 5.6 percent year-on-year. The added value of the information transmission, software, and information technology services industry reached nearly 619.4 billion yuan, up 11.1 percent from the first half of 2024. In addition, the added value of the financial industry increased by 8.1 percent to nearly 436.3 billion yuan.

    Beijing’s average unemployment rate in the first half of the year was 4.1 percent, unchanged from the first quarter of 2025, while per capita disposable income in the Chinese capital reached 45,144 yuan, up 4.8 percent year on year. -0-

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Planning Inspectorate publishes June official statistic

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    News story

    Planning Inspectorate publishes June official statistic

    The Planning Inspectorate has published the June official statistic

    We have today published our latest official statistics on appeals performance which represents the greatest volume (in terms of number of cases) of the work of the Planning Inspectorate.

    The quarterly statistics also include our current appeals handling times to let customers know the average time it takes to receive a decision.

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: MAIB Annual Report 2024 published

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    News story

    MAIB Annual Report 2024 published

    This report provides information on the branch’s activities during 2024.

    Today, we have issued our annual report which details the work of the branch during 2024 and includes:

    • a statement from the Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents
    • an overview of accidents reported
    • a summary of investigations started
    • details of publications issued
    • recommendations issued in 2024 and an update on their status
    • updates on open recommendations made in previous years
    • marine accident statistics

    Read more in our Annual Report 2024.

    Media enquiries (telephone only)

    Media enquiries during office hours 01932 440015

    Media enquiries out of hours 0300 7777878

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Unemployment and underemployment statistics for April – June 2025

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Unemployment and underemployment statistics for April – June 2025 
    Comparing April – June 2025 with March – May 2025, movements in the unemployment rate (not seasonally adjusted) in different industry sectors varied. Decreases were mainly seen in arts, entertainment and recreation sector; and professional and business services sector (excluding cleaning and similar activities) while increases were mainly seen in construction sector and food and beverage service activities sector. Movements in the underemployment rate in different industry sectors also varied, but the magnitudes were generally not large.
     
    Total employment decreased by around 7 400 from 3 664 700 in March – May 2025 to 3 657 300 in April – June 2025. Over the same period, the labour force also decreased by around 7 000 from 3 800 500 to 3 793 500.
     
    The number of unemployed persons (not seasonally adjusted) in April – June 2025 was 136 200, about the same as that in March – May 2025 (135 800). The number of underemployed persons decreased by around 1 000 from 53 600 in March – May 2025 to 52 600 in April – June 2025.
     
    Commentary
     
    The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, said, “While the unemployment and underemployment rates in April – June 2025 remained the same as those of the preceding three-month period, various industries in Hong Kong are undergoing transition and their respective unemployment rates have different trends.” Looking ahead, he said, “The trend of unemployment rate will hinge on the overall economic performance. The entry of fresh graduates and school leavers during the summer may impact the overall employment situation. Nevertheless, the continued expansion of the Hong Kong economy should provide support to the labour market.”
     
    Further information
     
    The unemployment and underemployment statistics were compiled from the findings of the continuous General Household Survey.
     
    In the survey, the definitions used in measuring unemployment and underemployment follow closely those recommended by the International Labour Organization. The employed population covers all employers, self-employed persons, employees (including full-time, part-time, casual workers, etc.) and unpaid family workers. Unemployed persons by industry (or occupation) are classified according to their previous industry (or occupation).
     
    The survey for April – June 2025 covered a sample of some 26 000 households or 68 000 persons, selected in accordance with a scientifically designed sampling scheme to represent the population of Hong Kong. Labour force statistics compiled from this sample represented the situation in the moving three-month period of April to June 2025.
     
    Data on labour force characteristics were obtained from the survey by interviewing each member aged 15 or over in the sampled households.
     
    Statistical tables on the latest labour force statistics can be downloaded at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/scode200.html 
    For enquiries about labour force statistics, please contact the General Household Survey Section (3) of the C&SD (Tel: 2887 5508 or email:     ghs@censtatd.gov.hkIssued at HKT 16:30

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Why a surprise jump in unemployment isn’t as bad as it sounds

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jeff Borland, Professor of Economics, The University of Melbourne

    New figures show Australia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate unexpectedly rose to 4.3% – its highest level since late 2021 – in June this year, up from 4.1% in May.

    While this is bad news, it’s not as bad as it might seem. Higher unemployment came from more people looking for work. In the long run, that’s good for the economy.

    And these figures also make it more likely we’ll see an interest rate cut next month – which is now looking overdue.

    What’s the bad news?

    This is the second month in a row we’ve seen no growth in total employment, while total hours worked (the number of hours worked by employed individuals, regardless of whether they are full-time, part-time or overtime) in the past month has gone backwards.

    All this adds to the picture of a slowing labour market since the start of the year, after surprisingly strong growth in the second half of 2024.

    The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics release also includes data on where extra hours worked during 2025 have come from.

    Employment growth has come entirely from the “non-market sector” – which is healthcare and social assistance, education and training, and public administration and safety. And the big driver of those extra jobs has been in social assistance and health care, which is largely government-funded.

    That means employment has gone backwards in the rest of the economy, adding to a picture of a jobs market being propped up by government investment in the caring economy.

    Why it as bad as you might think

    The reason unemployment rose is that more people were looking for work – so it’s not because employment fell.

    Of course, we’d prefer those people to have found jobs. But it does mean people weren’t losing jobs for the unemployment rate to rise.

    The growth in labour force participation in June continues the trend of strong growth since late 2021. In the long run, that’s a good thing – it means the country can produce more output, and more people gain an income from work.

    An interest rate cut now looks more certain

    A fortnight ago, the Reserve Bank surprised most people by keeping the cash rate on hold at 3.85%.

    Today’s unemployment data is extra evidence that the labour market isn’t contributing to inflation pressure – in fact, it’s the opposite.

    It shows an interest rate cut is now overdue. The Reserve Bank board meets again in mid-August, with a decision on rates announced on August 12.

    When will we know if this is a blip or a trend?

    One possibility is that some of the extra people who became unemployed in June have a job to go to in the next month. Ups and downs in that group have at times been influential in driving unemployment numbers in recent times. In that case, this month’s figures may partly turn out to be a blip. We’ll be able to tell that when we see next month’s figures.

    But the blip is unlikely to explain all of the rise in June. This is also about a labour market that is slowing.

    Jeff Borland receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

    – ref. Why a surprise jump in unemployment isn’t as bad as it sounds – https://theconversation.com/why-a-surprise-jump-in-unemployment-isnt-as-bad-as-it-sounds-261375

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –