In Sichuan, a province in southwest China, unmarried people are now legally allowed&nbsp;to have children and enjoy perks that were earlier&nbsp;exclusively available to married couples, according to health officials, as Beijing continues to unveil initiatives to boost its declining birth rate. Sichuan is China's fifth-most populous province.&nbsp;It ranks eighth&nbsp;in terms of the percentage of its population that is over 60, or more than 21 per cent in China,&nbsp;according to a Reuters report.

Previously, Sichuan's laws restricted pregnancy to married women exclusively. The decision was made at a time when the province's birth and marriage rates have recently both declined to all-time lows. A new set of regulations covering single people who desire to have children was revised by the government in 2019. From February 15, the new regulations will be in force.

Married couples and others who wish to have children will be able to register with the provincial authorities. The proposed law allows them to have as many children as they please. As per&nbsp;the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-says-covid-cases-and-deaths-trending-downwards-557185https://www.wionews.com/world/china-says-covid-cases-and-deaths-trending-downwards-557185">Sichuan health commission</a>, the initiative seeks to "promote long-term and balanced population development."

Also watch |&nbsp;World Business Watch | China: Smartphone sales plunge globally, Vivo top-selling brand over the year

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China's population plummeted in 2022&nbsp;for the first time in six decades, marking a historic shift that is anticipated to start another phase of population decline.

As a result, the government has increased its incentives and population-boosting policies, such as maternity insurance to pay for medical expenses and the right of married women to maintain their jobs during maternity leave. These advantages will now be available to unmarried men and women in Sichuan as well.

(With inputs from agencies)

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In Sichuan, a province in southwest China, unmarried people are now legally allowed to have children and enjoy perks that were earlier exclusively available to married couples, according to health officials, as Beijing continues to unveil initiatives to boost its declining birth rate.

In Sichuan, a province in southwest China, unmarried people are now legally allowed to have children and enjoy perks that were earlier exclusively available to married couples, according to health officials, as Beijing continues to unveil initiatives to boost its declining birth rate. Sichuan is China's fifth-most populous province. It ranks eighth in terms of the percentage of its population that is over 60, or more than 21 per cent in China, according to a Reuters report. Previously, Sichuan's laws restricted pregnancy to married women exclusively. The decision was made at a time when the province's birth and marriage rates have recently both declined to all-time lows. A new set of regulations covering single people who desire to have children was revised by the government in 2019. From February 15, the new regulations will be in force. Married couples and others who wish to have children will be able to register with the provincial authorities. The proposed law allows them to have as many children as they please. As per the Sichuan health commission, the initiative seeks to "promote long-term and balanced population development." Also watch | World Business Watch | China: Smartphone sales plunge globally, Vivo top-selling brand over the year China's population plummeted in 2022 for the first time in six decades, marking a historic shift that is anticipated to start another phase of population decline. As a result, the government has increased its incentives and population-boosting policies, such as maternity insurance to pay for medical expenses and the right of married women to maintain their jobs during maternity leave. These advantages will now be available to unmarried men and women in Sichuan as well. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

China's Sichuan province allows unmarried people to legally have children

A short concept video by Berlin-based Hashem Al-Ghaili, a filmmaker and biotechnologist has been making rounds on social media talking about how artificial wombs could be a “safe and pain-free alternative” to have babies in the future. Al-Ghaili came up with the idea of an EctoLife Artificial Womb Facility.&nbsp;

Additionally, the video also shows how the “world’s first artificial womb facility” which is still just a concept, allows parents to produce a customised baby which could be “reinventing evolution” by growing up to 30,000 babies in a year.&nbsp;

“Ectolife allows infertile couples to conceive a baby and become the true parents of their own offspring. It is a perfect solution for women who had their uterus surgically removed due to cancer or other complications,” said the voiceover of the almost nine-minute animated video.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japan-sees-record-breaking-fall-in-birth-rate-was-elon-musk-right-will-the-country-cease-to-exist-484729">Japan sees record-breaking fall in birth rate. Was Elon Musk right, will the country 'cease to exist'?</a>

Based on five decades of what the filmmaker calls “groundbreaking scientific research” by scientists across the world, the video claims that it is aimed to help countries that are suffering from a decline in population giving the example of Japan, Bulgaria, and South Korea.&nbsp;

According to the video, the facility will run on renewable energy and house 75 labs, each equipped with up to 400 “growth pods”. The pods would be designed to replicate the environment inside a mother’s womb, in addition to the number of sensors and scanners to monitor the baby’s growth the data for which would be accessible to parents on their phones.&nbsp;

Furthermore, the growth pod and constant monitoring of the baby would also allow parents to know about any potential genetic abnormalities, said the video. However, before the artificial womb, the video shows that an IVF would be carried out by using the sperm and egg to create and then select the most genetically superior embryo.&nbsp;

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/worlds-first-artificial-womb-facility-for-30000-babies-543059">World's first 'artificial womb facility’ for 30,000 babies!</a> 
 
The short film also shows how parents with an “elite package” will be able to genetically engineer “any trait” of their child from their hair colour, height, skin tone, and eye colour to even eliminating inherited genetic diseases and increasing their intelligence.&nbsp;

“You can edit any trait of your baby through a wide range of over 300 genes”, said the video. The babies would be taken out with a push of a button, with EctoLife providing a “safe and pain-free alternative”. Furthermore, it also said that with their miniaturised version of the product parents would be able to incubate their baby at home.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/to-tackle-declining-birth-rate-chinese-editorial-tells-communist-members-to-have-at-least-3-kids-435843">To tackle declining birth rate, Chinese editorial tells Communist members to have ‘at least 3 kids’</a>

Understandably the video has received some mixed reactions, ranging from “insane” to “appalled” and “totally crazy”. The video has garnered 505,753 views on Youtube since it was first posted on December 9.&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

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You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

A short concept video by Berlin-based Hashem Al-Ghaili, a filmmaker and biotechnologist has been making rounds on social media talking about how artificial wombs could be a “safe and pain-free alternative” to have babies in the future.

A short concept video by Berlin-based Hashem Al-Ghaili, a filmmaker and biotechnologist has been making rounds on social media talking about how artificial wombs could be a “safe and pain-free alternative” to have babies in the future. Al-Ghaili came up with the idea of an EctoLife Artificial Womb Facility. Additionally, the video also shows how the “world’s first artificial womb facility” which is still just a concept, allows parents to produce a customised baby which could be “reinventing evolution” by growing up to 30,000 babies in a year. “Ectolife allows infertile couples to conceive a baby and become the true parents of their own offspring. It is a perfect solution for women who had their uterus surgically removed due to cancer or other complications,” said the voiceover of the almost nine-minute animated video. ALSO READ | Japan sees record-breaking fall in birth rate. Was Elon Musk right, will the country 'cease to exist'? Based on five decades of what the filmmaker calls “groundbreaking scientific research” by scientists across the world, the video claims that it is aimed to help countries that are suffering from a decline in population giving the example of Japan, Bulgaria, and South Korea. According to the video, the facility will run on renewable energy and house 75 labs, each equipped with up to 400 “growth pods”. The pods would be designed to replicate the environment inside a mother’s womb, in addition to the number of sensors and scanners to monitor the baby’s growth the data for which would be accessible to parents on their phones. Furthermore, the growth pod and constant monitoring of the baby would also allow parents to know about any potential genetic abnormalities, said the video. However, before the artificial womb, the video shows that an IVF would be carried out by using the sperm and egg to create and then select the most genetically superior embryo. ALSO WATCH | World's first 'artificial womb facility’ for 30,000 babies! The short film also shows how parents with an “elite package” will be able to genetically engineer “any trait” of their child from their hair colour, height, skin tone, and eye colour to even eliminating inherited genetic diseases and increasing their intelligence. “You can edit any trait of your baby through a wide range of over 300 genes”, said the video. The babies would be taken out with a push of a button, with EctoLife providing a “safe and pain-free alternative”. Furthermore, it also said that with their miniaturised version of the product parents would be able to incubate their baby at home. ALSO READ | To tackle declining birth rate, Chinese editorial tells Communist members to have ‘at least 3 kids’ Understandably the video has received some mixed reactions, ranging from “insane” to “appalled” and “totally crazy”. The video has garnered 505,753 views on Youtube since it was first posted on December 9. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

‘Artificial womb’ which can grow up to 30,000 babies a year? Scientist’s film shocks the internet

Thailand&nbsp;is scrambling to encourage its people to have more babies to arrest a slumping birth rate, offering parents childcare and fertility centres, while also tapping social media influencers to showcase the joys of family life.

The campaign comes as the number of births has dropped by nearly a third since 2013, when they started declining. Last year saw 544,000 births, the lowest in at least six decades and below the 563,000 deaths, which were also swelled by coronavirus-related fatalities.

While&nbsp;Thailand's demographic path is similar to other Asian economies like Japan or Singapore, as an emerging market relying on cheap labour and a growing middle class the implications for Southeast Asia's second-biggest economy are far more profound.

"The data reflects a population crisis ... where the mindset towards having children has changed," said Teera Sindecharak, an expert on demography at Thammasat University.

Senior health official Suwannachai Wattanayingcharoenchai told Reuters the government recognised a need to intervene.

"We are trying to slow down the decline in births and reverse the trend by getting families that are ready to have children faster," he said, describing plans to introduce policies so that newborns get the full support of the state.

The plans include opening fertility centres, currently limited to Bangkok and other major cities, in 76 provinces and also using social media influencers to back up the message, officials said.

Such policies may come too late for people like Chinthathip Nantavong, 44, who decided with her partner of 14 years not to have children.

"Raising one child costs a lot. A semester for kindergarten is already 50,000 to 60,000 baht ($1,520 to $1,850) and then it reaches millions later," she said, adding that other countries have better care facilities and welfare policies.

"SUPER-AGED SOCIETY"

Thailand&nbsp;is not alone in the region struggling with low fertility rates, but is less wealthy than some more developed countries that have been forced to rely on migrant workers to support their economies.

Experts said it is hard to reverse a situation where social conditions have changed and attitudes towards having children are now coloured by concerns over rising debt and elderly care.

Thailand&nbsp;is heading towards becoming a "super-aged society" where the number of people over 60 will account for more than a fifth of the population, academic Teera said. About 18% of&nbsp;Thailand's population is aged over 60.

The ratio of working-aged to elderly people last year was 3.4, but by 2040 officials forecast it could be 1.7.

"The manufacturing sector will face productivity slumps ... so we have to develop skilled labour and adopt the use of automated technologies," the head of the state-planning agency, Danucha Pichayanan, told a recent business forum.&nbsp;Thailand&nbsp;is a major regional manufacturing sector for automotive and electronics.

Danucha also noted the demographic trend could also strain government finances and experts have said welfare for the elderly is not seen as sufficient even today, with monthly allowances of 600 to 1,000 baht.

"WE HAVE A CAT"

"It's become more difficult in deciding to have children," said Teera, noting in the last decade the economy had been sluggish, while living costs increased and income growth slowed.

Political division, rising debt and education costs were also major factors determining attitudes towards having children, and short-term remedies may not be enough, experts said.

Household debt has grown to nearly 90% of gross domestic product, from 59% in 2010, Bank of&nbsp;Thailand&nbsp;data showed.

Thailand&nbsp;has also been rocked by political instability over most of the past two decades, with two military coups and large anti-government protests.

But for many like Chinthathip, who has chosen not to have children, the expense remains the main issue.

"The middle class, office workers or people that are trying make ends meet think the same way," said Chinthathip.

"Right now we have a cat and it's not as costly as a child."

Thailand is scrambling to encourage its people to have more babies to arrest a slumping birth rate, offering parents childcare and fertility centres, while also tapping social media influencers to showcase the joys of family life.

Thailand is scrambling to encourage its people to have more babies to arrest a slumping birth rate, offering parents childcare and fertility centres, while also tapping social media influencers to showcase the joys of family life. The campaign comes as the number of births has dropped by nearly a third since 2013, when they started declining. Last year saw 544,000 births, the lowest in at least six decades and below the 563,000 deaths, which were also swelled by coronavirus-related fatalities. While Thailand's demographic path is similar to other Asian economies like Japan or Singapore, as an emerging market relying on cheap labour and a growing middle class the implications for Southeast Asia's second-biggest economy are far more profound. "The data reflects a population crisis ... where the mindset towards having children has changed," said Teera Sindecharak, an expert on demography at Thammasat University. Senior health official Suwannachai Wattanayingcharoenchai told Reuters the government recognised a need to intervene. "We are trying to slow down the decline in births and reverse the trend by getting families that are ready to have children faster," he said, describing plans to introduce policies so that newborns get the full support of the state. The plans include opening fertility centres, currently limited to Bangkok and other major cities, in 76 provinces and also using social media influencers to back up the message, officials said. Such policies may come too late for people like Chinthathip Nantavong, 44, who decided with her partner of 14 years not to have children. "Raising one child costs a lot. A semester for kindergarten is already 50,000 to 60,000 baht ($1,520 to $1,850) and then it reaches millions later," she said, adding that other countries have better care facilities and welfare policies. "SUPER-AGED SOCIETY" Thailand is not alone in the region struggling with low fertility rates, but is less wealthy than some more developed countries that have been forced to rely on migrant workers to support their economies. Experts said it is hard to reverse a situation where social conditions have changed and attitudes towards having children are now coloured by concerns over rising debt and elderly care. Thailand is heading towards becoming a "super-aged society" where the number of people over 60 will account for more than a fifth of the population, academic Teera said. About 18% of Thailand's population is aged over 60. The ratio of working-aged to elderly people last year was 3.4, but by 2040 officials forecast it could be 1.7. "The manufacturing sector will face productivity slumps ... so we have to develop skilled labour and adopt the use of automated technologies," the head of the state-planning agency, Danucha Pichayanan, told a recent business forum. Thailand is a major regional manufacturing sector for automotive and electronics. Danucha also noted the demographic trend could also strain government finances and experts have said welfare for the elderly is not seen as sufficient even today, with monthly allowances of 600 to 1,000 baht. "WE HAVE A CAT" "It's become more difficult in deciding to have children," said Teera, noting in the last decade the economy had been sluggish, while living costs increased and income growth slowed. Political division, rising debt and education costs were also major factors determining attitudes towards having children, and short-term remedies may not be enough, experts said. Household debt has grown to nearly 90% of gross domestic product, from 59% in 2010, Bank of Thailand data showed. Thailand has also been rocked by political instability over most of the past two decades, with two military coups and large anti-government protests. But for many like Chinthathip, who has chosen not to have children, the expense remains the main issue. "The middle class, office workers or people that are trying make ends meet think the same way," said Chinthathip. "Right now we have a cat and it's not as costly as a child."

Thailand bids to avert 'population crisis' as birth rate crashes