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By HUIZHONG WU BANGKOK (AP) — How do you persuade a population to have more babies after generations of limiting families to just one? Related Articles Man and boy critical after 3 shark attacks off Sydney in just over 24 hours Prince Harry returns to London court for battle against tabloids Analysts warn that Iran crisis carries potential nuclear risks Chile fights wildfires that killed 19 and left 1,500 homeless What to know about the train crash in Spain A decade after ending China’s longtime one-child policy, the country’s authorities are pushing a range of ideas and policies to try to encourage more births — tactics that range from cash subsidies to taxing condoms to eliminating a tax on matchmakers and day care centers. The efforts haven’t paid off yet. At least, that’s what population figures released Monday show for what is now the world’s second-most populous nation. China’s population of 1.4 billion continued to shrink, marking the fourth straight year of decrease, new government statistics show. The total population in 2025 stood at 1.404 billion, which was 3 million less than the previous year. Measured another way, the birth rate in 2025 — 5.63 per 1,000 people — is the lowest on record since 1949, the year that Mao Zedong’s Communists overthrew the Nationalists and began running China. Figures before that, under the previous Nationalist government, were not available. China was long the world’s most populous nation until 2023, when it was surpassed by regional neighbor and sometime rival India. Monday’s statistics illustrate the stark demographic pressures faced by the country as it tries to pivot from a problem it is working hard to overcome: status as a nation with a growing but transitional economy that, as is often said, is “getting old before it gets rich.” Is a snake involved? The number of new babies born was just 7.92 million in 2025, a decline of 1.62 million, or 17%, from the previous year. The latest birth numbers show that the slight tick upward in 2024 was not a lasting trend. Births declined for seven years in a row through 2023. People catch a sight of the snow-covered Forbidden City from a pavilion with lantern decorations at the Jingshan Park a day after the snow fall, in Beijing, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) Most families cite the costs and pressure of raising a child in a highly competitive society as significant hurdles that now loom larger in the face of an economic downturn that has impacted households struggling to meet their living costs. Across the region, “it’s these big structural issues which are much harder to tackle, whether it’s housing, and work and getting a job and getting started in life and expectations around education…,” said Stuart Gietel-Basten, director of the Center for Aging Science at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. “It’s gonna be difficult to make a major change in those number of births until those are addressed.” Another potential factor in the numbers, at least for 2025: Last year in China was the year of the snake, considered one of the least favored years for having a child under the Chinese zodiac. The government’s official Xinhua News Agency, however, did say early last year — perhaps optimistically — that the snake “is shaking off its negative connotations.” Like many other countries in Asia, China has faced a declining fertility rate, or the average number of babies a woman is expected to have in her lifetime. While the government does not regularly publish a fertility rate, last saying it was 1.3 in 2020, experts have estimated it is now around 1. Both figures are far below the 2.1 rate that would maintain the size of China’s population. For decades, the Chinese government barred people from having more than one baby and often sanctioned those who did — a policy that produced more than two generations of only children. In 2015, the government raised the permitted amount of offspring to two and then, facing demographic…

A local man intentionally crashed his vehicle into a police station on Monday, according to police who said he nearly slammed into dispatchers. The man — who is known to police — rammed his black 2022 BMW SUV into the front lobby of the Shrewsbury Police headquarters on Monday just after 2 p.m., according to Police Chief Kevin Anderson. The SUV went through the front door and into the dispatch room, where three dispatchers were working at the time. “Obviously, they (dispatchers) are very shaken up,” Anderson told reporters at a press conference. The driver was arrested and transported to a local hospital with injuries. “It appears to be intentional,” Anderson said of the crash. “We do not have a motive at this time.” Anderson declined to provide the man’s name, but said the department has dealt with him in the past. He will be arraigned on Tuesday. No officers, staff, or residents were injured, according to Anderson, who stressed that they’re “very fortunate.” A training at the station had just ended about 30 minutes before the crash. “We have a lot of activity in that lobby,” the police chief said. “We have trainings going on. We have two conference rooms.” Anderson called the apparent intentional crash “very concerning.” Related Articles Police Blotter: One injured after car crashes into Raynham home Massachusetts police officer struck and killed in line of duty; department mourns ‘World Day of Remembrance’ remembers thousands killed in traffic crashes in Massachusetts Wrong-way driver in fatal Lowell Connector crash was ‘hammered,’ witness says This matter remains under active investigation. The front lobby was close at the police headquarters. People who want to file a police report were urged to contact the business line at 508-845-1212. In the event of an emergency, dial 911. The Shrewsbury Police Department remained fully operational, including business and 911 emergency phone lines.

Por BECKY BOHRER JUNEAU, Alaska, EE.UU. (AP) — La aurora boreal podría ser visible en todo Canadá y gran parte de los estados del norte de Estados Unidos —y posiblemente más al sur— el lunes por la noche, luego de una gran perturbación en el campo magnético de la Tierra, según muestra un pronóstico. El vaticinio, del Centro de Predicción del Clima Espacial de la Oficina Nacional de Administración Nacional Oceánica y Atmosférica (NOAA, por sus siglas en inglés), llega en medio de intensas tormentas geomagnéticas y de radiación solar, comentó Shawn Dahl, coordinador de servicios en el centro. Las tormentas geomagnéticas —que pueden dar lugar a intensas auroras boreales— también pueden interferir con las operaciones de satélites, las comunicaciones GPS y otras infraestructuras, según el Servicio Geológico de Estados Unidos. Dahl expresó que no se prevé que la tormenta actual se debilite mucho hasta algún momento del martes. En noviembre, tormentas solares generaron auroras vibrantes en partes de Europa, incluidos Hungría y el Reino Unido, y tan al sur en Estados Unidos como Kansas, Colorado y Texas. Las tormentas de radiación solar pueden afectar objetos en el espacio y ciertos tipos de sistemas de comunicación, pero Dahl hizo notar que los astronautas en la estación espacial internacional no están en riesgo actualmente. En más de dos décadas no se había registrado una tormenta con la intensidad de esta, apuntó. ——- Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con la ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.

Mecole Hardman is staying put in Buffalo. Hardman was one of 12 players signed to a reserve/future contract on Monday, the Bills announced. The 27-year-old receiver proved his worth during Saturday’s 33-30 overtime loss to the Denver Broncos in the AFC Divisional Round, hauling in a 4-yard touchdown on his only catch of the game. Hardman Played a Key Role in Playoff Loss Hardman’s catch, his first as a Bill, was nearly identical to his game-winning touchdown in Super Bowl LVIII with the Kansas City Chiefs. Hardman also appeared in two regular-season games as a Bill, in which he recorded only one target and lost a fumble. After initially joining Buffalo’s practice squad, Hardman made his Bills debut in a 44-32 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 11. He had a 61-yard kickoff return but hurt his calf later in the game returning a punt. The Bills subsequently put Hardman on injured reserve, forcing him to miss more than a month. His additional workload on Saturday came with Josh Palmer (ankle), Tyrell Shavers (knee) and Gabe Davis (knee) all having landed on IR. Hardman Was a Star Kick Returner With Chiefs Hardman spent the preseason with the Green Bay Packers but was released in August as part of final roster cuts. The next day, Hardman re-signed with the Packers’ practice squad before being cut again following Week 3. Hardman is best known for his time with the Chiefs, where he won three Super Bowls (LIV, LVII, LVIII) and earned Second Team All-Pro honors as a rookie kick returner in 2019. The 2019 second-round pick (56th overall) out of Georgia has appeared in 82 regular-season games over six seasons, recording 178 catches for 2,302 yards and 16 touchdowns. He has also rushed for three touchdowns and returned two kicks for scores. Bills Sign 12 Players to Futures Contracts In addition to Hardman, the Bills also signed defensive tackle Tommy Akingbesote, linebacker Jimmy Ciarlo, offensive lineman Travis Clayton, defensive back Te’Cory Couch, cornerback M.J. Devonshire, running back Frank Gore Jr., wide receiver Stephen Gosnell, linebacker Keonta Jenkins, defensive end Andre Jones Jr., defensive tackle Zion Logue, and defensive back Daryl Porter Jr. Like Heavy Sports's content? Be sure to follow us. This article was originally published on Heavy SportsThe post Bills Bringing Back 3-Time Super Bowl Champion Receiver appeared first on Heavy Sports.