Author: Press Room

When China implemented its one-child policy in 1980, it not only raised the barriers to marriage but also made divorce easier, further exacerbating the crisis. The divorce rate soared from 0.3 per 1,000 people in 1980 to 3.4 in 2019. Hence, in 2021, China implemented a new civil code, following the example of the United Kingdom and France, to require a 30-day cooling-off period for divorce. But while this reduced the divorce rate to two per 1,000 people, it had rebounded to 2.6 by 2023 – much higher than Japan’s rate (1.5). FIRST BIRTH AT OLDER AGE The reproductive window…

The New York Mets won’t tolerate players not giving 100% on the field.Mark Vientos, the Mets’ budding star third baseman, was publicly called out by his manager after not running hard during a ground ball to third base on Tuesday. During the Mets’ loss to the Marlins, Vientos was jogging to first base when Miami’s Graham Pauley fumbled the ball. Vientos noticed and kicked it into another gear, but it was all for naught as Pauley threw him out on what should’ve been an error.  New York Mets third baseman Mark Vientos (27) scores a run during the game against the…

Richard Bernstein, a former correspondent and critic for The New York Times whose deep knowledge of Asia and Europe illuminated reporting from Tiananmen Square to the Bastille, and who wrote things as he saw them in 10 books driven by unflinching intellectual curiosity, died on Monday in Manhattan. He was 80.His death, in a hospital, was caused by pancreatic cancer, diagnosed less than eight weeks ago, his son, Elias Bernstein, said. Mr. Bernstein lived in Brooklyn.Over more than two decades at The Times, Mr. Bernstein brought deep historical knowledge, a gracious writing style and a stubborn contrarian streak to subjects…

President Trump’s announcement of sweeping tariffs on America’s trading partners has widened the rift between the United States and some of its closest allies while reconfiguring the global economic order.Mr. Trump’s plan, which he unveiled on Wednesday and is calling “reciprocal,” would impose a wave of tariffs on dozens of other countries. Among major economies hardest hit were the European Union, which will face 20 percent tariffs under the plan, and China, which will absorb an additional 34 percent on top of existing levies.“The scope and size of tariffs are both substantial and confirm the worst fears of the proponents…

February 1Donald Trump announces 25 per cent tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico — except Canadian energy, to be tariffed at 10 per cent.US hits China with 10 per cent tariffs.In response, Canada puts 25 per cent tariffs on C$30bn (US$20bn) of US imports, rising to C$155bn after 21 days.Mexico promises tariffs and other retaliatory measures. China promises “necessary countermeasures”.Trump does not put tariffs on EU goods, which he had threatened to do.February 3Hours before they are to come into force, Trump delays tariffs on Canada and Mexico by a month. European leaders vow to hit back if Trump…

Stay informed with free updatesSimply sign up to the Investment Banking myFT Digest — delivered directly to your inbox.The worst thing that can happen to an investment bank is losing money, closely followed by failing to make money. But it’s often surprisingly disruptive to find your franchise is making money, but not in the places where you expected it to. It’s early in the year, obviously, but if 2025 continues in its current direction, we can expect to see some of the bloodiest and most acrimonious compensation committees in living memory.You can get something of a clue as to what’s…

Speaker Mike Johnson’s failed effort this week to shut down a bipartisan bid to allow new parents in Congress to vote remotely after the birth of a child highlighted the limits of his power and intensified a fight that has ground the House to a halt.The clash underscored — yet again — how dependent the speaker has become on President Trump to keep Republicans in line. And it raised questions about whether Mr. Johnson, in his haste to transform the House into an organ of compliance to Mr. Trump, may have lost sight of the importance of gauging what rank-and-file…

The Department of Agriculture said on Thursday that it had frozen federal funding for education programs in Maine, the latest in a barrage of actions targeting the state since its Democratic governor, Janet Mills, sparred with President Trump over the issue of transgender athletes at the White House in February.The agriculture secretary, Brooke Rollins, notified Ms. Mills in a letter that funding would be stopped while the agency reviews grants awarded to Maine by the Biden administration, many of which “appear to be wasteful, redundant, or otherwise against the priorities of the Trump administration,” Ms. Rollins wrote in the letter,…

Descrease article font size Increase article font size There’s a new room at the Edmonton International Airport (EIA) designed to support passengers with sensory sensitivities. The Sensory Room is on the departures level, across from Gate 49.It’s a peaceful escape from the busy airport environment and designed for those with autism, anxiety and other cognitive or neurodivergent challenges.“We talk about an airport for everyone, and that is something that we truly mean. We want people who are traveling to feel welcome here,” said Erin Isfeld, corporate communications manager for EIA.“There is an anxiety that is formed around travel, around getting…

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says his Government will not seek to impose reciprocal tariffs on the US after US President Donald Trump slapped a 10 per cent tariff on Australia.“The unilateral action that the Trump administration has taken today against every nation in the world does not come as a surprise,” Mr Albanese said from Melbourne.“For Australia, these tariffs are not unexpected, but let me be clear: they are totally unwarranted.“President Trump referred to reciprocal tariffs. A reciprocal tariff would be zero, not 10 per cent.“The administration’s tariffs have no basis in logic, and they go against the basis of…