For two years in a row China’s enormous population has been shrinking. As the country grapples with a declining birth rate, an ageing population, and a slowing economy, the government is urging families to have more children.

Beijing

China is facing a demographic challenge as its population begins to shrink for the second consecutive year. The nation is dealing with a combination of a declining birth rate, an ageing population, and an economic slowdown. In response to these issues, the Chinese government has been advocating for families to have more children in order to counteract these trends.

Li-Man Zhao, who runs a bicycle business, reflects a segment of the population that finds personal fulfillment and career aspirations more appealing than starting a family. Despite the government's efforts to motivate women to have more children, the decision remains a deeply personal one for many. Observations from single mothers and the perceived difficulties of raising children have influenced perspectives on family life.

The Chinese government's one-child policy, implemented in 1980 to manage population growth, was abandoned in 2015. However, its long-term effects continue to influence demographic trends, making it challenging for the government to encourage a reversal. Birth rates have significantly declined, from 14 million newborns in 2019 to just 9 million.

Economic factors play a critical role in family planning decisions. The rising cost of living and childrearing, alongside broader economic uncertainties, have impacted decisions about having children. President Xi Jinping has highlighted the necessity of promoting a new culture around marriage and childbirth in the face of these challenges.

Various measures are being enacted at both the provincial level and by private companies to stimulate higher birth rates. These include offering cash incentives for second and third children, and covering costs for fertility treatments such as in-vitro fertilization. Nevertheless, employment difficulties, high childcare expenses, and the societal pressure on only children to care for elderly parents are significant barriers. Some families are open to the idea of expanding their families if conditions allow, but the lingering effects of the one-child policy and economic pressures make such decisions complex.



China asks couples to have more babies

For Li-Man Zhao, travel and running her bicycle business was more appealing than having a family. I also have quite a few female friends who were single mothers and raised the kids after themselves and I also saw the difficulties that they experienced. Now Chinese authorities are going to great lengths to encourage women to have children, but Li-Man's not convinced. It's still a personal choice. So for most women, I think if government doesn't say you need to have more children, if they want to have more children, they will have more children. The one-child policy was introduced in 1980 to slow population growth. It was lifted in 2015 but started a trend the government is struggling to reverse. In 2019, the number of newborns in China was 14 million. Last year, it was just 9 million. The economy has had a big impact and the cost of raising children has increased significantly. President Xi Jinping says it's now critical to foster a new type of marriage and childbirth culture. Individual provinces and even companies are trying to come up with ways to encourage people to have more kids, everything from cash subsidies for having a second and third child to paying for fertility treatments like IVF. But challenges finding work, high childcare costs and a generation of only children feeling the pressure of looking after ageing parents mean it's becoming more common to have no kids at all. For some, the incentives might work. I would like to have a second child and if possible we would even like to have a third child. But sometimes love isn't enough for parents to take the leap. The shadow of the one-child policy is hard to shake. For more UN videos visit www.un.org

French police and authorities have launched a nationwide manhunt for an escaped prisoner, after an armed gang ambushed his prison van, killing two officers. Video footage has emerged of the deadly attack which took place in Normandy, France on Tuesday morning in public.

Normandy

Manhunt underway after prison van attack in France

The Federal Budget has promised an energy rebate of $300 for all Australian households, but critics say a lack of means testing is a tougher sell. Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers says the latest budget will reduce inflation, but economists disagree.

Canberra

Federal budget promises an inflation fix 'by Christmas'

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told President Volodymyr Zelenskiy during a trip to Kyiv that part of a major U.S. aid package had arrived in Ukraine and that more was on its way.

Kyiv

Ukraine Invasion

Blinken says Putin must pay for damage in Ukraine

In his second day on the stand at Donald Trump's criminal trial, the prosecution tried to build up the former fixer's credibility as a witness who can link Trump to the alleged scheme of falsifying business records to conceal hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels.

New York

Star witness Michael Cohen grilled by defence at Trump trial

A preliminary National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) report says the cargo ship Dali that collapsed the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore lost power twice in the hours before it left port.

Baltimore

Report: Ship lost power twice before ramming Baltimore bridge

At least two French prison guards were shot dead and three others seriously injured after heavily armed men ambushed a prison van to free an inmate, French police said, triggering a major manhunt.

Incarville

Manhunt underway after prisoner van ambushed

The Georgian parliament has approved in the third and final reading a divisive bill that sparked weeks of mass protests, with critics seeing it as a threat to democratic freedoms and the country’s aspirations to join the European Union.

Tbilisi

Georgian Parliament adopts controversial law despite protests

U.S. President Joe Biden has unveiled a bundle of steep tariff increases on an array of Chinese imports including electric vehicles, computer chips and medical products, risking an election-year standoff with Beijing in a bid to woo voters who give his economic policies low marks.

Washington

Biden sharply hikes U.S. tariffs on China chips, cars

The Treasurer has announced a $300 power bill rebate for households and a $325 rebate for small businesses, alongside measures to address inflation and support low-income households, aiming to alleviate the country's cost of living pressures.

Federal Budget tackles cost-of-living crisis

The New South Wales State Government has announced tougher bail laws for domestic violence accused persons, including electronic monitoring. The reforms follow the alleged murder of Molly Ticehurst in Forbes last month, after her accused killer breached bail.

Council of the City of Sydney

NSW announces tougher bail laws for domestic offenders

The Federal Government will announce the budget in a few hours. Cost of living is said to be the key focus, along with energy rebates for Australian households and Commonwealth rent assistance. However Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor says Australian households have already shown great restraint. Inflation is also a concern.

Budget forecast ahead of announcement

Trump's former fixer and personal lawyer Michael Cohen takes the stand as a key prosecution witness at the former president's hush money trial. His testimony links the former president to alleged falsifying of business records to cover up payments to an adult film star and a Playboy model, in the 2016 campaign.

Ex- Trump fixer Michael Cohen takes stand at hush money trial

Israel's Memorial Day is typically sombre, but today angry protests over the government's handling of the war disrupted several events. The war itself is getting worse for Palestinians in Gaza as hundreds of thousands have fled the city they were already taking refuge in and still more are trapped amid intensifying fighting.

Tel Aviv-Yafo

Israel-Gaza War

Protests, fighting in Gaza mark Israel's Memorial Day

The exodus of Palestinians from Gaza’s last refuge accelerated as Israeli forces pushed deeper into the southern city of Rafah. Israel also pounded the territory’s devastated north, where some Hamas militants have regrouped. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated opposition to a major military assault on Rafah.

Jerusalem

UN urges reopening of aid lines as exodus from Rafah continues

More than a dozen student volunteers from Albury, Victoria are stranded in Vanuatu after the country's airline went into liquidation. The group having to arrange their own charter flight back to Australia after Qantas were unresponsive.

Tanna

Air Vanuatu collapse leaves teenage volunteers stranded

Australians are feeling the financial pinch, making significant cuts to their spending habits according to a report by the Commonwealth Bank. Analysis of expenditure revealed a reduction in purchases at supermarkets, liquor stores and butchers.

Aussies slash spending, according to new survey

Thousands of people been evacuated from border areas in Ukraine's Kharkiv region, as Russia kept up constant strikes on a key town as part of a cross-border offensive, officials said. The surprise Russian attack across Ukraine's northeastern border began on Friday, with Moscow's troops making small advances in an area from where they had been pushed back nearly two years ago.

Kharkiv

Thousands evacuated from Kharkiv after surprise Russian offensive

The Federal Government says tomorrow's budget is designed to provide cost-of-living relief without worsening inflation. The Treasurer expected to deliver policies that ease the housing shortage, plus wage stagnation.

Budget won't impact inflation, Government says

Three people have walked away unhurt after a light plane made an emergency landing at Newcastle Airport. The aircraft touching down on its belly after the pilot reported the plane's landing gear failed this morning

Newcastle

Pilot makes successful 'wheels up' emergency landing

Russian President Vladimir Putin tapped a civilian economist as his surprise new defense minister in an attempt to better integrate Russia's military spending into the country's overall economy, and harness greater innovation to win in Ukraine.

Moscow

Putin taps economist to run defense, replacing Shoigu

Flash floods triggered by heavy rain in Afghanistan have killed at least 315 people, and there are fears the death toll could rise. Al Jazeera spoke to displaced residents in Baghlan, one of the hardest hit areas.

Baghlan

Hundreds killed in Afghanistan flash floods

As attacks on Rafah continue, the U.S. secretary of state criticises Israel’s war planning for not doing enough to protect civilians or stopping Hamas.

Rafah

Israel intensifies Rafah attacks as U.S. ups criticism

Weather has delayed the planned controlled explosion of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, which is necessary to free a ship that has been trapped for weeks.

Baltimore bridge demolition delayed by weather

Large plumes of smoke could be seen over Alberta and in British Columbia as out-of-control fires raged across Western Canada. The federal government warned of another "catastrophic" wildfire season as it forecast higher-than-normal spring and summer temperatures.

Fort St. John

Canada blazes trigger evacuation orders

Israel has ordered thousands more Rafah residents to evacuate the city as it steps up attacks in Gaza. The UN says more than 150,000 Palestinians have fled Rafah since Monday, after Israel warned people to evacuate ahead of a major offensive.

Nowhere to go in Gaza as Israel prepares final assault

Parts of New South Wales have been hit with up to 200 millimetres of rain in the past 24 hours, seeing roads giving way. Severe weather warnings remain in parts of the state, mainly the south coast. However the weather bureau is promising clearer skies this week.

Bondi Beach

Torrential rain continues throughout New South Wales

Tens of thousands of people have rallied in Georgia’s capital against a proposed law many say will silence dissent. There are fears the legislation could cost Georgia its bid to join the EU.

Anger across Georgia over Kremlin-inspired laws

Our planet is experiencing its most powerful geomagnetic storm in more than 20 years, creating stunning colours in the night sky known as auroras. It's an event which experts warn could trigger power and communication blackouts.

Gothenburg

Stunning night skies across the globe amid solar storm

Switzerland has won the 2024 Eurovision song contest in an event marred by protests over Israel's participation. Thousands protesting outside the venue in the Swedish city of Malmo.

Malmö

Switzerland wins a Eurovision overshadowed by Gaza war

Rescue workers are braving torrential rain while searching for survivors after last week's devastating floods that killed 136 people in southern Brazil. Thousands have evacuated their homes but many in poor areas remain stranded.