Good morning from the Financial Times.
Today is Tuesday, January 20th.
And this is your FT News Briefing.
China's birth rate has fallen again.
adding to its demographic crisis.
Saudi Arabia's banks are borrowing in record amounts to fund mega projects.
And Chinese electric vehicle makers are targeting the UK in their expansions overseas.
BYD has been expanding rapidly in Europe.
Its growth in the UK has been incredible.
We're seeing another rush of brands coming in this year.
Plus, how sustainable are Europe's generous pension schemes?
I'm Josh Gabberduian, and here's the news you need to start your day.
China has posted its lowest birth rate in years,
and measures to boost the number of children aren't having much effect.
Demographers are warning that the decline is only going to get worse,
and that it could have knock-on effects on Chinese economic growth.
With fewer young workers, there's been a big push towards automation, especially in manufacturing.
But for now, the economy is doing pretty good.
Population data was published alongside GDP figures for 2025, showing a 5% growth for the year.
The boost in GDP came from strong export numbers in spite of US President Donald Trump's tariff war.