08:51โขJapan Births Drop Below 700,000
โจThe newspapers report on Japan's fertility rate reaching a historic low of 1.15 in 2024, with births falling below 700,000 for the first time since records began in 1899 (The Japan Times, Nikkei Shimbun, Kyodo News English). The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare announced the 5.7% decline came 14 years earlier than government projections, threatening economic growth and social security systems. Meanwhile, new legislation establishes criminal penalties for firing whistleblowers who report corporate misconduct (Yahoo News Japan). Coverage continues on South Korea's Lee Jae-myung facing the challenge of engaging with Trump's administration, with economic issues and potential US tariffs dominating his presidential agenda (Nikkei Asia).