The Daily Populous

Number of children in Japan falls for 37th year to hit new record low

The number of children in Japan fell for the 37th consecutive year to a new record low, the latest data showed Friday, indicating efforts by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s administration to combat the long-running low birthrate challenge are still wanting.

The ratio of children to the overall population dipped to a record low of 12.3 percent, down for the 44th straight year.

By age, children from 12 to 14 comprised the largest group at 3.26 million, while the group covering newborns to 2-year-old children stood at 2.93 million.

The number of children in the nation peaked in 1954 at 29.89 million.

While the figure briefly picked up in the 1970s due to the second baby boom, its downward trend resumed in 1982.

Among the 47 prefectures, Tokyo was the only one that had more children than the previous year, according to prefectural data as of Oct. 1.

Okinawa had the highest ratio of children to the overall population at 17.1 percent, while Akita Prefecture logged the lowest at 10.1 percent. »

Ryan Reynolds Confirms TJ Miller Will Not Return for X-Force

Authored by comicbook.com

Actor TJ Miller, whose reputation had already been rocked by sexual assault claims before he was arrested for calling in a bomb threat, will not appear in Fox's upcoming X-Force superhero team-up film according to star Ryan Reynolds, who plays Deadpool.

When asked back in January whether Miller might be replaced in the film, executive producer Lauren Shuler Donner cast significant doubt on the prospect.

Beloved characters from the original like Colossus (Stefan Kapicic), Vanessa (Morena Baccarin) Negasonic Teenage Warhead (Brianna Hildebrand), Dopinder (Karan Soni), Blind Al (Leslie Uggams), and T.J. Miller (Weasel) will also be making a return alongside Deadpool, played by Ryan Reynolds. »

California to become first U.S. state mandating solar on new homes

Authored by ocregister.com

Solar systems like this would become standard at new homes throughout California if state officials adopt proposed new energy standards.

California is on the verge of becoming the first state in the nation mandating solar power be included in all new homes built after Jan. 1, 2020.

The California Energy Commission is scheduled to vote May 9 on new standards mandating that virtually all new California homes have solar systems by 2020. »