Leonardo DiCaprio, despite turning 50, feels significantly younger and prioritizes honesty and avoiding wasted time, viewing this as a key shift in perspective. He also discussed his approach to filmmaking, including taking breaks to avoid burnout, his biggest regret of missing out on a specific film, and his fondness for The Aviator due to its collaborative nature.
China is seeing a rise in marriage registrations this year, potentially due to new policies making it easier to marry anywhere in the country and offering financial incentives for families. These policies include child care subsidies and waived kindergarten fees, aiming to create a more supportive environment for families and encourage parenthood.
In Panzhihua, China, pregnant women using assisted reproductive technology (ART) are now eligible for a 5,000 yuan subsidy, part of a broader effort to support families and encourage childbirth. These new rules, effective July 2025, aim to reduce financial burdens and promote a family-friendly environment, aligning with national childcare subsidy programs.
Showa Kinen Park in western Tokyo is currently hosting a spectacular display of sunflowers, attracting visitors eager to capture the blooms, including a soon-to-be-married couple taking commemorative photos. The sunflowers are expected to remain at their peak throughout the weekend, offering continued opportunities for visitors to enjoy their beauty.
China witnessed a substantial decline in marriage registrations during 2024, with figures dropping by over 20% to approximately 6.11 million, resulting in the lowest marriage rate since 2020 at 4.3 per 1,000 people. Despite the decrease in marriages, the number of divorces also saw a reduction, offering a contrasting trend as approximately 3.50 million couples divorced last year.
China has introduced a national cash subsidy program, offering annual payments to parents of children under three years old in an effort to boost the declining birthrate. This initiative, along with other pro-birth policies, aims to alleviate financial burdens and create a more supportive environment for families, though experts note that further measures are needed.
On Monday, China announced a nationwide cash subsidy policy aimed at alleviating financial pressures on families raising children and encouraging higher birth rates. The policy offers annual payments of 3,600 yuan per child under three, effective from January 1, 2025, and aims to benefit over 20 million families each year.
YouTube is set to launch a new age-estimation technology aimed at identifying users under 18 to safeguard them from harmful content. The AI-driven feature will limit access to inappropriate content for those identified as minors and will allow users to correct any misidentification through ID verification.
Chinese leaders are facing challenges in revitalizing the economy amid a prolonged property crisis, leading to a drop in home buying and birth rates. Recent demographic trends show a population decline, prompting the government to enhance its fertility support policies while trying to address economic risks.
China is implementing an annual childcare subsidy of 3,600 yuan for children under three to address its declining birth rate, with the program applying retroactively to 2025 and offering partial subsidies for earlier births.
Responding to declining marriage rates, China has seen a wave of provinces extending marriage leave, with Hubei's recent move to 15 days bringing the total to 28 provinces offering extended time off.
A recent study challenges the conventional wisdom of retiring in warm-weather states, revealing that Northeastern states often offer better prospects for retirees due to factors like affordability, healthcare, and safety. The study highlights the importance of considering a range of factors beyond just weather when planning for retirement.
In the Philippines, Jade Rick Verdillo and Jamaica Aguilar exchanged vows in a flooded church, their wedding day coinciding with heavy rainfall and a typhoon. Facing knee-deep water, the couple persevered, viewing the challenging circumstances as a symbol of their enduring love and a testament to their commitment to overcome any obstacle together.
A new report from the Department for Work and Pensions indicates that individuals planning to retire in 2050 may receive £800 less annually than current pensioners, with almost half of working-age adults not contributing to pensions.
The HDB is launching the Family Care Scheme (FCS) to give first-time singles priority for two-room BTO flats near their parents, with specific quotas allocated within existing single-person housing allocations. This new FCS (Proximity) component replaces existing schemes, ensuring continued priority for married couples and seniors seeking to live near family.
The recent hospitalization of retiring Senator Tina Smith highlights the physical demands and stresses faced by aging politicians in Congress. Despite a slight decrease in average age in the latest Congress, several members endure health challenges that raise concerns about their capability to fulfill responsibilities.
Former President Trump announced an agreement with Coca-Cola to switch back to cane sugar in the US, while Russia passed a law preventing citizenship revocation for residents of newly annexed regions. France has withdrawn its military presence from Senegal, and the UK is considering lowering the voting age to 16.
The British government has proposed lowering the voting age from 18 to 16, aligning with practices in Scotland and Wales, and potentially increasing the electoral roll by 1.5 million. While supported by Prime Minister Keir Starmer and advocacy groups, the move faces criticism, highlighting concerns over the political motivations behind the reform.
In Guangzhou, twelve couples celebrated a collective wedding ceremony with Lingnan-themed attire, while in Xinjiang, a civil affairs bureau is offering marriage registration services at a music festival to provide convenience and create memorable experiences for couples.
Duchess Sophie faced significant health challenges in her attempts to become a mother, experiencing both an ectopic pregnancy and a life-threatening placental abruption. Despite these difficulties, she and Prince Edward welcomed two children, Lady Louise and James, after multiple medical interventions.
