China records population decline

The world’s most populous country is seeing its population shrink for the first time in 60 years. [Forward to a friend]( | [Subscribe]( | [View in your browser]( [Top of The World]( --------------------------------------------------------------- What The World is following China records population decline [A family poses for photos at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, Nov. 12, 2022.] Credit: Mark Schiefelbein/AP/File photo China The world’s most populous country, China, has recorded its [first population decline]( in six decades. Its populace began to shrink after a steady, yearslong decline in its birth rate that experts believe is [now irreversible](. The government announced that 9.56 million people were born in the country last year, while 10.41 million people died. Over the last four decades, China emerged as an economic powerhouse and a leader in the factory industry. Burkina Faso Armed men have [kidnapped about 50 women and girls](, who were foraging for wild fruits, in separate incidents in Burkina Faso. The incidents happened on Jan. 12 and Jan. 13, which the government announced on Monday in a statement by the governor of the country’s Sahel region. Burkina Faso is one of the world’s poorest nations and has seen increased violence [spilling over from neighboring Mali]( since 2012. Scotland The British government has blocked [Scotland’s new gender recognition bill]( from becoming law. The legislation would make it easier for people in Scotland to legally change their gender. The move has sparked conflict with transgender rights advocates and the nationalist Scottish administration in Edinburgh. The UK says it conflicts with “Great Britain-wide equalities legislation,” which guarantees women and girls [access to single-sex spaces]( such as changing rooms and shelters. --------------------------------------------------------------- From The World [Lula promises sustainable development for the Amazon]( [Valdemar de Assis' family farm alongside the Trans-Amazon highway in the Amazonian state of Pará has about 300 cows.]( Credit: Michael Fox/The World Brazil’s new President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has promised to [promote sustainable development]( for the Amazon — stopping deforestation while keeping agribusiness thriving. But this is not an easy task. --------------------------------------------------------------- Bright spot It’s the [fastest Corvette ever made](, and it’s set to come out later this year. The E-Ray is a gas electric hybrid, the first all-wheel-drive version of Chevrolet's storied sports car with the front wheels running on an electric motor. It makes its debut exactly 70 years after the first Corvette was introduced in New York in 1953. [The 2024 Corvette E Ray is displayed in Milford Mich, Jan. 12, 2023.] Carlos Osorio/AP In case you missed it on The World --------------------------------------------------------------- Don't forget to subscribe to The World's Latest Edition podcast using your favorite podcast player: [RadioPublic](, [Apple Podcasts](, [Stitcher](, [Soundcloud](, [RSS]( [The World logo]( [The World on Facebook]( [The World's Twitter account]( [Donate]( | [Forward to a friend]( | [Subscribe]( | [Edit your subscription]( | [Unsubscribe]( | [View in your browser]( Top of the World is written weekday mornings by the team at [The World](. [The World]( is produced by [PRX]( and [GBH](.