Russia recorded its lowest birth rate in 25 years in the first six months of 2024, with the number of infant deliveries falling under 100,000 for the first time in June. Vladimir Putin is desperately trying to deal with his country’s birth dearth. Last week, Russian lawmakers introduced a bill that would make it illegal to advocate for a “child-free” lifestyle, with fines of over $4,000 for individuals who don’t comply, and much higher fines for state employees or companies.
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