ASIA

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Despite government efforts to promote family-friendly policies, Japan's birth rate remains stubbornly low, with deaths exceeding births by almost a million last year – the steepest population decline since 1968. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has described this demographic crisis as a "quiet emergency," and proposed free childcare to help with this, however, previous efforts have had little impact.

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Despite recent efforts by Seoul to ease tensions, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's sister, Kim Yo Jong, stated Monday that South Korea remains "the enemy" of North Korea. In a statement released by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim Yo Jong said North Korea has "no interest" in talks with the South, regardless of the proposals offered.

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More than 7,000 cases of chikungunya virus have been reported in China’s southern Guangdong province since early July, marking an unusual outbreak of the mosquito-borne disease in the region. The hardest-hit city, Foshan, has adopted strict containment measures, including mandatory hospitalization and isolation of confirmed cases.

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Jordan and the United Arab Emirates have parachuted aid into the Gaza Strip as the humanitarian crisis in the besieged territory deepens.

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Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi formally signed the recently announced UK-India trade deal during talks held on Thursday. Hosting the Indian leader at his Chequers country estate, northwest of London, Starmer hailed the agreement as a "landmark moment" for both countries, praising Britain's "unique bonds" with India.

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In an effort to reverse declining birth rates, China is introducing its first nationwide subsidy, offering parents 3,600 yuan (£375; $500) annually for each child under the age of three. The handouts are expected to help around 20 million families with the cost of raising young children, state media reports. This comes after the ruling Communist Party abolished its one-child policy almost a decade ago.