Chinese cities are taking bold steps to encourage population growth by exploring childbirth subsidies and comprehensive support systems. Major urban centers such as Shanghai and Guangzhou are at the forefront of this initiative, proposing to implement measures aimed at enhancing family support as their birth rates struggle to maintain sustainability. The Shanghai Municipal Health Commission recently released details about this plan, emphasizing collaboration across multiple government sectors to establish effective childbirth support policies.
According to the report, the focus will be on creating supportive atmospheres for families—everything from fertility guidance, optimal childbirth experiences, and improved reproductive health will be considered. The city aims to revitalize its population measures through the optimization of existing support policies and the addition of childbirth subsidies. This includes strengthening monitoring systems and establishing information-sharing mechanisms to help families navigate childbirth and parenting.
Guangzhou, which reported over 20% year-on-year growth in births among its permanent population by 2024, is also enhancing its support policies. The city government plans to broaden access to affordable childcare facilities, ensuring public hospitals offer pediatric services. Local officials believe these measures will create conducive conditions for family growth.
Meanwhile, East China's Jiangsu Province is not far behind. Recently, they announced 15 measures to cultivate a family-friendly society, which includes prioritizing wider subsidy increases for families with two or three children, under the umbrella of the national childbirth subsidy system.
The scope of these initiatives is not solely limited to financial incentives. Jiang Quanbao, from the Institute for Population and Development Studies at Xi’an Jiaotong University, elaborated on implementing comprehensive policies encompassing economic, time, and service-related support. For example, these might include one-time childbirth subsidies and tax reductions proportional to the number of children per family. Efforts to address educational anxiety and offer support to newlyweds are additional pathways being considered.
Moving onto international collaboration, the global volleyball movement is gaining momentum. Recently, representatives from the FIVB (Fédération Internationale de Volleyball) and Qatar Olympic Committee held discussions in Lausanne, Switzerland, focusing on volleyball’s expansion within Qatar and the Middle East. His Excellency Secretary General Jassim bin Rashid Al-Buenain attended the meeting alongside FIVB President Fabio Azevedo, aiming to reinforce the roadmap for developing the sport.
This is part of the FIVB’s Strategic Vision 2032, focusing on professionalism and mass participation under the motto “Together as One.” Qatar has already made its mark on the international volleyball scene, particularly beach volleyball, evidenced by its hosting of major events and recent successes at the Olympic Games.
On the African continent, India has secured 9,000 square kilometers of land for exploring copper and cobalt resources as the country seeks to expand its focus on the continent. The Indian government is working to establish partnerships through its Ministry of Mines, with initial assessments pointing to promising mineral wealth being pivotal for electric vehicle (EV) batteries and renewable energy technologies.
VL Kantha Rao, the Secretary of the Ministry of Mines, stated the Geological Survey of India (GSI) would spearhead the exploration. This move is indicative of India’s proactive approach to securing resources on the global stage and follows previous investments in South America and Australia, including lithium projects aimed at bolstering their resource inventory.
Finally, Azerbaijan is exploring military cooperation with Serbia through expert meetings under the bilateral cooperation plan for 2025. These meetings have focused on topics surrounding military strategies and operational reforms following Azerbaijan’s recent engagements. The discussions also serve to strengthen ties between the two nations and explore mutual interests—a move indicative of shifting alliances and strategic partnerships in the region.
Overall, these stories reflect different yet interconnected examples of governmental initiatives aimed at overcoming societal, economic, and strategic challenges. Whether it’s China reshaping childbirth assistance, Qatar enhancing sports infrastructure, India securing mineral assets, or Azerbaijan fostering military ties, the global stage is witnessing diverse strategies molded from unique regional needs and opportunities.