ASIA

SOUTH KOREA'S ARMED FORCES SHRINK BY 20% AS BIRTHRATE CRIS DEEPENS

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South Korea's active-duty military has contracted sharply over the past six years, falling by 20% to around 450,000 personnel, as the pool of young men eligible for mandatory service continues to dwindle. According to a Defense Ministry report released Sunday by lawmaker Choo Mi-ae's office, the decline stems from the country's record-low birthrate, which has reduced the number of 20-year-old men, the primary age for enlistment, by 30% since 2019. In 2025, that cohort stands at roughly 230,000.

MYANMAR'S LEADERSHIP STILL IN MILITARY HANDS DESPITE CHANGE

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The political landscape in Myanmar continues to be shaped by military control, even as the country experiences changes in its top ceremonial office. Myint Swe, who was appointed acting president following the 2021 military coup, has died at the age of 74. Though his role was largely symbolic, his presence served as a constitutional veneer for the junta's continued dominance.

HOW INDIA PLANS TO RESIST TRUMP'S 50% TARIFF STRIKE

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U.S. President Donald Trump pushes ahead with a sweeping 50% tariff on Indian goods, New Delhi is signaling it won't back down easily, particularly when it comes to its agricultural backbone.

CHINA TO OFFER PARENTS $500 IN BID TO BOOST BIRTH RATE

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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.

JAPAN'S POPULATION IN STEEP DECLINE

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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.

KIM YO JONG SAYS NO INTEREST IN TALKS WITH SOUTH KOREA

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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.

CHINA REPORTS OVER 7,000 CHIKUNGUNYA VIRUS CASES IN GUANGDONG PROVINCE

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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.