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China’s Population Shrinks For Third Year Amid Aging Crisis, Low Birth Rate

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Chinese Official Receives Suspended Death Sentence Over $25m Bribes

China’s population shrank for the third consecutive year in 2024, as the nation grapples with a rapidly aging society, persistently low birth rates, and mounting economic pressures.

The country’s National Bureau of Statistics reported a population of 1.408 billion by the end of the year, down from 1.410 billion in 2023.

The population decrease reflects a broader demographic shift following decades of robust growth.

Once the world’s most populous nations, China was overtaken by India in 2023.

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Despite government efforts to boost birth rates through subsidies, pro-fertility campaigns, and policy adjustments, the decline persists.

Data shows that the number of people aged 60 and older rose to 310.31 million in 2024, representing nearly a quarter of the population.

This marks a significant increase from 297 million in 2023. Experts project that by 2035, seniors will comprise nearly one-third of China’s population.

“The aging crisis poses unprecedented challenges for China’s pension and public health systems,” said Zhao Litao, a senior research fellow at the National University of Singapore’s East Asian Institute.

China’s birth rate saw a slight increase in 2024, rising to 6.77 per 1,000 people, up from 6.52 in 2023.

Experts attribute this to deferred childbirth during the COVID-19 pandemic and a rise in marriages in 2023 and 2024, particularly during the auspicious Year of the Dragon.

However, demographers remain skeptical about the sustainability of this uptick. “The number of women of childbearing age is set to decline sharply in the coming decades,” said independent demographer He Yafu. “Unless significant pro-birth policies are introduced, the downward population trend will persist.”

China ended its strict one-child policy in 2016 and later allowed families to have up to three children in 2021.

Despite these changes, economic factors, such as the rising cost of living and housing, have deterred many from expanding their families.

Additionally, the growing number of women pursuing higher education and careers has contributed to falling birth rates.

“Chinese women still face entrenched labor market gender discrimination, which discourages childbirth,” said Yun Zhou, a sociologist at the University of Michigan.

China’s demographic challenges are compounded by slowing economic growth and increasing pressure on social systems.

In response, the government raised the statutory retirement age from January 1, 2024, to address labor shortages and ease the burden on pension systems.

The retirement age reform marks the first adjustment in decades, reflecting China’s transition from a period of scarcity to one of comparative wealth and improved living conditions.

Despite incremental efforts, experts predict that China’s demographic crisis will persist. “The trends of declining births, population contraction, and rapid aging remain unchanged,” Zhao Litao noted.

 

 

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Miracle in Venezuela: Toddler Rescued Alive Six Days After Deadly Earthquakes

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A three-year-old child has been rescued alive from beneath the rubble in Venezuela, six days after two powerful earthquakes devastated parts of the South American nation, offering a glimmer of hope amid a worsening humanitarian crisis.

The remarkable rescue took place in La Guaira, one of the areas hardest hit by the twin earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitudes, which struck less than a minute apart on June 24.

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Rescue workers have continued round-the-clock search operations despite the challenges posed by repeated aftershocks.

The United Nations described the rescue as a powerful reminder that every life matters as emergency teams continue combing collapsed buildings for survivors.

According to Venezuelan authorities, the earthquakes have claimed nearly 2,000 lives, while more than 6,400 people have been rescued since the disaster struck.

Tens of thousands of survivors remain without adequate shelter, with humanitarian agencies warning that urgent needs continue to grow.

The UN refugee agency said the scale of the disaster has left thousands of families in desperate need of emergency assistance, while the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) confirmed that national and international rescue teams remain active in the affected communities.

UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) teams are also assessing the extent of the destruction and identifying communities most in need of humanitarian support.

Officials said about 1,000 buildings, including hospitals, have either been damaged or completely destroyed.

More than 400 schools and water systems have also been severely affected, worsening living conditions for residents.

To support relief efforts, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has delivered an initial 47-tonne shipment of humanitarian supplies, including emergency medical kits, water purification materials, safe birth supplies, wheelchairs, child-friendly tents and educational materials. The shipment follows an earlier consignment that arrived from Panama.

UNICEF said the combined aid will support more than 100,000 children and their families over the next three months.

Speaking from La Guaira, UNICEF representative Gabriel Vockel said the organisation is working around the clock to reach as many children and families as possible, while appealing for more donations to expand its life-saving operations.

UNICEF Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, Roberto Benes, said many affected families are sleeping outdoors for fear of continued aftershocks and remain in urgent need of clean water, healthcare and safe shelter.

The agency estimates that about 680,000 children across six affected states require humanitarian assistance following what has been described as Venezuela’s most significant earthquake disaster in more than a century.

Authorities also reported that more than 600 aftershocks have been recorded since the initial earthquakes, increasing concerns over further damage and risks to survivors.

UNICEF is seeking $52 million to respond to the earthquake emergency as part of its broader 2026 Humanitarian Action for Children appeal for Venezuela, which remains significantly underfunded.

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Panic in Europe as France Records First-Ever Ebola Case

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France has confirmed its first-ever case of Ebola virus disease, triggering concern across Europe as health authorities move swiftly to contain the deadly infection.

The French Health Ministry announced on Wednesday that a doctor returning from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which is currently battling a major Ebola outbreak, tested positive for the virus after arriving in France.

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According to officials, the patient was immediately isolated upon arrival, even before laboratory tests confirmed the diagnosis, helping to reduce the risk of transmission.

In a statement, the ministry confirmed the identification of “a first positive case of Ebola virus disease on national territory,” marking the first time the virus has been detected in France.

The development also represents the first confirmed Ebola case recorded outside Africa during the current outbreak, which has affected both the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.

French authorities disclosed that the case was detected in mainland France, while Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu is closely monitoring the situation as health agencies intensify surveillance and response measures.

The current outbreak in the DRC was officially declared on May 15 following a series of unexplained deaths in the eastern Ituri Province.

The outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, for which there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment.

Despite growing concerns, public health experts have stressed that the risk of widespread global transmission remains low because Ebola is less contagious than many airborne infectious diseases.

The virus spreads through direct contact with infected bodily fluids and contaminated materials.

Ebola is a severe and often fatal haemorrhagic fever that can cause symptoms including high fever, weakness, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, and in severe cases, internal and external bleeding.

French health authorities have assured the public that all necessary precautions are being taken to contain the case and prevent any further spread of the disease.

The announcement has nevertheless sparked anxiety across Europe, given the deadly nature of the virus and its emergence outside the African continent during the ongoing outbreak.

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“He Failed Badly” — Trump Says Starmer Will Step Down as UK PM

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U.S. President Donald Trump has predicted that British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will step down from office, accusing the Labour leader of failing on two critical issues — immigration and energy policy.

Trump made the remarks on Sunday in a post on his Truth Social platform, where he claimed Starmer’s leadership had fallen short in addressing challenges facing the United Kingdom.

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“Keir Starmer will resign as Prime Minister of The United Kingdom,” Trump wrote. “He failed badly on two very important subjects — IMMIGRATION AND ENERGY (OPEN NORTH SEA OIL!). I wish him well!”

The U.S. president did not provide any evidence to support his claim, nor did he reveal the basis for his prediction that Starmer would leave office.

Starmer, who leads the Labour Party, became Prime Minister after securing victory in the UK’s general election.

Since taking office, his government has faced criticism over a range of issues, including migration policies, energy security, and the cost-of-living challenges confronting many Britons.

Trump’s comments come as debates over immigration and energy continue to dominate political discussions in the UK.

However, there has been no official statement from Starmer, his office, or the British government suggesting that he plans to resign.

As of the time of filing this report, Starmer remains in office and continues to lead the government despite the claims made by the American president.

 

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