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  • Trump vents frustration on NATO again

    Trump vents frustration on NATO again

    The growing divide between the United States and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization has deepened further in recent days, after a planned meeting to repair strained transatlantic ties ended with President Donald Trump publicly lashing out at the 75-year-old alliance he has long criticized. Following Wednesday’s closed-door talks with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Washington D.C., Trump took to his social media platform to issue a blunt rebuke of the military bloc, which the U.S. has led since its founding in 1949. Writing in all capital letters, Trump declared: “NATO wasn’t there when we needed them, and they won’t be there if we need them again.”

    This latest accusation aligns with a long-running narrative Trump has pushed since returning to the White House: he insists NATO should have directly joined U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, a demand that ignores the alliance’s core founding mandate as a strictly defensive collective security pact, designed to respond to attacks on member states rather than launch offensive military operations.

    Rutte, who assumed the NATO secretary general role earlier this year, framed the discussion with Trump as “very frank” in an interview with U.S. broadcaster CNN. Rather than emphasizing NATO’s defensive rules of engagement, he pushed back on Trump’s criticism by highlighting the practical support European NATO members already provided, noting that “the large majority of European nations have been helpful with basing, with logistics, with overflights.” He added that the situation was a “nuanced picture” rather than a total failure of support.

    The dispute over Iran is just the latest flashpoint in a series of escalating tensions between the Trump administration and the alliance. Earlier disagreements have included a high-profile standoff over Trump’s public claim that the U.S. should acquire Greenland, an autonomous territory that belongs to NATO member Denmark and is not available for purchase. The Trump administration has also repeatedly berated European NATO members for failing to meet the alliance’s target of devoting 2 percent of their annual GDP to defense spending, a longstanding point of U.S. criticism that predates Trump’s first term in office.

    White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reiterated Trump’s harsh assessment Wednesday, confirming the president had told her that NATO had been “tested and they failed.” The escalating string of disputes has also led Trump to repeatedly threaten to withdraw the U.S. from the 32-member transatlantic alliance, a move that would fundamentally reshape global security architecture.

    However, many European policy experts and lawmakers argue that European nations were correct to avoid full participation in the Iran conflict. Koert Debeuf, a distinguished adjunct professor of Middle East studies at the Brussels School of Governance, told China Daily that European capitals have been unified in their position that the Iran conflict is not their war. “If they choose to assist countries such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, or Qatar, they would only do so after the war ends. For now, no European country wants to be involved, and that is unlikely to change,” Debeuf explained.

    He added that while a small number of European leaders, including Spain’s prime minister and Germany’s president, have publicly stated that the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran likely violate international law, most have chosen to stay largely silent. This silence, he noted, reflects “deep discomfort with the situation” among European political elites. “What is clear is that this is widening the gap between the United States and Europe in the short term,” Debeuf concluded.

    Ondrej Dostal, a Czech member of the European Parliament, went further in his criticism of Trump’s approach, telling China Daily that European nations must draw a line in opposing the administration’s actions. Dostal pointed to a series of aggressive social media posts from Trump in recent days, including open threats to “exterminate a whole civilization” and reduce Iran to the “Stone Age,” as well as other insulting language directed at the Iranian people. “Europe must clearly and unequivocally reject this,” Dostal said.

    He argued that Europe has repeatedly capitulated to the Trump administration on past disputes, from the lopsided EU-U.S. trade deal to Washington’s coercive policies toward Cuba and Venezuela, and now its illegal offensive against Iran. “This must end now,” Dostal said. “We must be clear: it was the tacit acceptance by the entire European establishment of US hegemonic aspirations that has led to the catastrophe in Iran. Had Europe stood its ground in defending international law and the UN Charter, much could have been prevented.”

  • Return of the Yangtze ‘basket ferry’

    Return of the Yangtze ‘basket ferry’

    On a fog-shrouded early morning on March 31, excitement hung thick in the air at Yangdu Wharf, located along the sprawling banks of the Yangtze River in Zhongxian County, Chongqing. Long before the first golden rays of sunrise broke through the gray mist, the crackle of celebratory firecrackers and the deep, resonant blast of a ship’s horn cut through the quiet, marking a momentous occasion for local communities: the maiden voyage of the Yu Zhong Ke 2180, the newly upgraded iteration of the region’s beloved ‘basket ferry’.

    For decades, these small ferries have earned their affectionate nickname from the wicker baskets local farmers stow on board, filled with fresh produce, livestock, and daily supplies bound for markets on the opposite bank of the river. For generations of agricultural producers cut off from cross-river market access by the Yangtze’s wide waters, the basket ferry has been far more than a simple transport service — it is the economic lifeline that connects their crops to paying customers, and allows them to access essential goods and services unavailable on their side of the river.

    The newly launched Yu Zhong Ke 2180 brings a welcome modern update to this longstanding community service. Its bold, bright red hull cuts a striking figure against the river’s misty surface, a vivid contrast to its predecessor, a faded yellow vessel that faithfully served the Zhongxian community for 13 years before being retired. Photographs from January, ahead of the official launch, show lines of local farmers queuing to board the new craft, their own baskets stacked at their sides, ready to use the upgraded service that will continue to support their livelihoods for years to come.

    This upgrade marks the entry of the iconic Yangtze basket ferry into a new era, balancing the deep cultural and practical roots it has in local life with modern safety and comfort improvements that ensure it can continue serving future generations of Zhongxian farmers.

  • China’s car exports surge as expectations grow for EV pivot on Iran war energy shock

    China’s car exports surge as expectations grow for EV pivot on Iran war energy shock

    Against a backdrop of softening domestic auto demand and shifting global energy markets, China’s passenger car export sector delivered explosive growth in March, data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) released Friday shows. Domestic automakers’ aggressive global expansion strategy has driven this sharp uptick, with new energy vehicles (NEVs) leading the charge amid growing consumer interest triggered by volatile fuel prices tied to international conflict.

    Last month, total passenger car exports hit approximately 748,000 units, marking an 82.4% jump from the same period in 2023 and a notable increase from February’s 586,000-unit total. The growth was even more dramatic for new energy passenger vehicles, which include pure battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid models. NEV exports soared more than 140% year-on-year to 363,000 units in March, rising 31% from February’s export volume of around 276,000 units.

    Leading domestic automakers, including industry giants BYD and Geely Auto, have ramped up their global outreach in recent quarters, investing heavily in new production facilities outside China and expanding distribution networks across emerging and established markets alike. To date, Chinese auto brands have built meaningful market share across Europe, Latin America, and Southeast Asia, with analysts noting geopolitical developments are poised to further accelerate adoption.

    The ongoing conflict in Iran has sent ripples through global energy markets, pushing fuel prices higher across many regions. While the full impact of this energy shock has not yet been reflected in March’s trade data, industry experts say it has already shifted consumer attitudes toward electric vehicles.

    “In many markets that are structurally well suited for EV adoption, uptake has remained sluggish simply because consumers lacked urgency to make the switch,” explained Chris Liu, a Shanghai-based senior analyst at technology and industry advisory firm Omdia. “A sharp, sustained rise in fuel prices changes that calculation entirely.”

    The push into overseas markets comes at a moment when China’s domestic auto market is facing notable headwinds. This year, the Chinese government rolled back support programs designed to encourage NEV adoption, while cutthroat price competition across domestic brands and a prolonged slump in the real estate sector have eroded consumer willingness to make large-ticket purchases like new vehicles.

    CAAM data confirms that domestic passenger car sales fell 19.2% year-on-year in March, dropping to just under 1.7 million units. That marks the fifth consecutive month of year-over-year declines for domestic sales, putting pressure on automakers to offset slack at home with international growth.

    However, industry analysts remain optimistic about the long-term outlook for Chinese automakers, arguing that strong export growth is more than sufficient to cushion the blow from temporary domestic weakness. “For the overall industry, the overseas market’s sales volume growth is more than enough to offset domestic decline on a full-year basis,” said Paul Gong, head of China autos research at UBS Investment Bank. Gong predicts that total annual passenger car exports by Chinese automakers could grow by 20% or more compared to 2023, a trend that will reshape the global auto landscape for years to come.

  • Officials allay concerns over West Lake disinfectant

    Officials allay concerns over West Lake disinfectant

    A viral social media post that set Chinese social platform Sina Weibo abuzz this week claimed 7 metric tons of bleaching powder would be dumped into Hangzhou’s iconic West Lake, sparking widespread public anxiety over potential ecological and tourism impacts at the UNESCO World Heritage site. But local authorities have stepped forward to ease fears, explaining the measure is a decades-old routine maintenance practice designed to protect the lake’s beloved lotus displays.

    When the speculation spread, thousands of netizens raised questions about the operation, worrying the disinfectant would contaminate West Lake’s water, harm native aquatic wildlife, and disrupt the site’s critical tourism industry. In response, the West Lake Water Area Administration in Zhejiang Province detailed the long-standing practice to China Daily, noting that this annual “pond-clearing” initiative has been carried out for nearly 30 years to safeguard the lake’s iconic lotus plants.

    April marks a critical juncture for lotus growth: as spring temperatures climb, harmful pests, pathogenic bacteria, and filamentous algae like spirogyra multiply rapidly. These invasive organisms compete with young lotus plants for vital nutrients, and can tangle the species’ fragile emerging buds, explained Yu Yangyang, head of the administration’s aquatic plant maintenance team. Adding to the threat, herbivorous fish often graze on tender new lotus shoots. Once shoots are damaged, the plants’ underground rhizomes become susceptible to rot, which can completely block blooming for an entire growing season.

    The bleaching powder used in the operation is primarily composed of calcium hypochlorite, a government-approved disinfectant that kills pathogens and suppresses algae growth before breaking down naturally within 24 to 48 hours, authorities confirmed. Contrary to viral claims that the full 7,000-kilogram batch would be released into the lake at once, the chemical is applied incrementally across 24 designated lotus zones covering roughly 10 hectares — just 1 percent of West Lake’s total water surface area. To avoid disrupting visitor experiences, all application work is carried out overnight, wrapping up before early morning crowds arrive at the scenic site.

    Strict operational protocols are in place to minimize ecological impact. Workers deploy in pairs from small boats, starting at the edges of each enclosed lotus zone to ensure even dispersion and keep the disinfectant contained within treatment areas. All lotus growing zones are separated from the rest of the lake by protective nets; before the operation began, maintenance teams lifted the lower edge of these nets to allow wild fish to swim out of the treatment areas, protecting the animals from chemical exposure while also preventing them from grazing on young lotus shoots once the process is complete.

    “The amount of bleaching powder we use has negligible impact on native fish and bird populations, and the entire operation is completely safe for the environment,” said an administration spokesperson. The 2026 maintenance work began on Wednesday night and is on track to wrap up by Sunday, after which lotus buds will begin to emerge, with the first full blooms expected to open by late May.

    West Lake’s lotus conservation is a year-round commitment for maintenance teams. Each spring, crews reinforce protective nets; in summer, they pull weeds and thin overcrowded plantings; in autumn, they install new enclosure nets to help lotus roots store nutrients for the winter; and in the cold winter months, they clear away withered plants to prepare for the next growing cycle. This year, visitors will also get a preview of an exciting new addition: a trial planting of a long-flowering autumn lotus variety at Fengyu Pavilion, which will extend the lake’s lotus viewing season all the way to November.

  • Investigators believe antisemitism was motive in vandalism at Israeli restaurant in Munich

    Investigators believe antisemitism was motive in vandalism at Israeli restaurant in Munich

    MUNICH — Law enforcement officials in southern Germany have confirmed they are working under the assumption that an antisemitic motive lies behind a destructive overnight attack on an Israeli-owned restaurant in the heart of Munich, local police announced Friday. The incident unfolded in the early hours of the morning, when unknown perpetrators damaged the eatery by shattering its glass windows. No individuals present or nearby were harmed in the attack, authorities confirmed.

    Multiple law enforcement sources shared details with German national news agency DPA, noting that the restaurant’s owners identify as Jewish. While official police statements did not publicly name the targeted establishment, photos and footage of the post-attack scene confirm the location as Eclipse Grillbar. According to the restaurant’s official website, it holds the distinction of being Munich’s first fully authentic Israeli dining establishment. Representatives from the eatery did not immediately respond to media requests for comment in the immediate aftermath of the incident.

    Investigators’ preliminary assessments indicate the attackers used pyrotechnic devices – most likely commercial fireworks – which were thrown into the restaurant space. The projectiles left three separate broken window panels in their wake. Emergency dispatch received the first report of the attack at approximately 12:45 a.m. local time, and responding officers conducted a immediate sweep of the surrounding area, but were unable to locate any suspects at the scene. As of Friday’s update, the identity of the perpetrator or group of perpetrators remains unknown, and the investigation remains active. Early estimates place the total property damage from the attack at several thousand euros, equivalent to a similar amount in U.S. dollars.

    This incident comes against a well-documented backdrop of sharply rising antisemitic incidents across Germany, a shift that followed the October 7, 2023, cross-border attack on Israel by Hamas-led militant groups. During that attack, Hamas fighters killed roughly 1,200 people, the vast majority of whom were unarmed civilians, and abducted 251 additional people to hold as hostages in Gaza. While a two-week ceasefire between Israeli forces and Hamas is currently in effect, and both Israel and the U.S. have carried out targeted strikes against Iranian-linked assets in recent weeks, the broader regional conflict remains tense. Israel has notably ramped up its military offensive against the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah in southern Lebanon even during the current ceasefire with Hamas, keeping regional tensions elevated and contributing to a polarized environment that has fueled anti-Jewish and anti-Israel sentiment across Europe.

  • How the moon and music have collided in space

    How the moon and music have collided in space

    When it comes to curating playlists for different settings, most people stick to unwritten rules: high-energy techno for gym sessions, groovy disco for nightclubs, and upbeat pop for cross-country road trips. But what does the perfect playlist look like 240,000 miles from Earth, orbiting the moon? For the four-person crew of NASA’s Artemis II mission, that question has an answer that mixes modern pop, hip-hop, classic rock, and deeply personal meaning — and the world is getting a glimpse of how music connects isolated astronauts to the home they left behind.

    One of the biggest breakout names from the Artemis II wake-up playlist is American rapper Denzel Curry, whose collaborative track *Tokyo Drifting* (with Glass Animals) has become one of the crew’s daily morning greetings. Curry told BBC Newsbeat he was shocked and thrilled to see his work reach such unprecedented heights. A lifelong fan of space-focused media, Curry said he would jump at the chance to meet the Artemis II crew to thank them for including his track, and he has already set a bold new career goal: becoming the first rapper to perform live from space. He hopes the cosmic placement will give his track a new wave of popularity among listeners back on Earth.

    Curry is far from the first artist whose work has made the journey to orbit, and the tradition of waking up astronauts with custom-picked songs stretches back more than 60 years. Retired British astronaut Tim Peake, who became the first Briton to walk on the International Space Station (ISS) in 2015, says music is far more than just entertainment in the isolated environment of space. As he prepared for his launch, Peake hand-picked three tracks to accompany him: Queen’s *Don’t Stop Me Now*, U2’s *Beautiful Day*, and Coldplay’s *A Sky Full of Stars*. “It gives you a connection back to Earth,” Peake explained. “It reminds you of times in your life when you’ve heard that music, of friends and family waiting for you back home.” The experience of listening to familiar music while floating above Earth, a “lovely, beautiful blue, green, white marble in the blackness of space,” is deeply surreal, he added, and that emotional connection makes the soundtrack an essential part of any space mission.

    Antonia Jaramillo, a NASA mission control team member based in Houston, echoed that sentiment, noting that the daily routine of wake-up music helps ground astronauts during high-stakes missions far from home. “They are by themselves, going around the moon,” Jaramillo said. “We all have our morning wake-up routine back on Earth, a soundtrack that gets you in the right headspace for the day. It’s a very similar thing we’re doing for our crew.” The process of getting the custom playlist to the crew is simpler than many might think: tracks are downloaded ahead of time, and flight controllers at mission control broadcast the songs to the capsule just like any other communication with the crew. For Artemis II, the full nine-song playlist was curated by the crew themselves, with input from their friends and family members, blending personal favorite tracks with songs that carry special meaning for the historic moon mission.

    Space researchers say the longstanding marriage of music and space exploration is no accident. Dr. Eleanor Armstrong, a space researcher at the University of Leicester, explained that the morning wake-up song tradition dates all the way back to NASA’s 1960s Gemini program, drawing on a long history of military organizations like the U.S. Navy using music to structure the start of a work day. That tradition has included many iconic moments beyond pre-planned playlists: during the 1965 Gemini 6A mission, astronauts Thomas Stafford and Wally Schirra smuggled a harmonica and set of small bells on board to celebrate the first successful space rendezvous, surprising mission control with a live performance of *Jingle Bells*. Those first instruments played in space are now on permanent display at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C.

    Music has also been woven into uncrewed exploration missions: NASA’s 1977 Voyager 1 probe, now traveling through interstellar space beyond the edges of our solar system, carries a golden record filled with songs and sounds that represent the diversity of human life on Earth. More recently, the Tesla Roadster that SpaceX launched into orbit in 2018 is programmed to play David Bowie’s *Space Oddity* on an endless loop.

    Artemis II crew member Christina Koch, who has long been fascinated by the intersection of music and space, has carried on that tradition in her own career. Koch famously located the original cassette tape used to play music during the 1969 Apollo 11 mission, and played it from the ISS during the 50th anniversary of the historic moon landing. During her 2019-2020 ISS mission, she even learned to play a keyboard song for her husband as a surprise for their wedding anniversary, and the pair collaboratively build playlists for her missions, so they can share the experience of her journey even when separated by hundreds of thousands of miles.

    Koch told Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney earlier this week that the Artemis II wake-up playlist is “absolute perfection,” though she joked she was disappointed that Chappell Roan’s *Pink Pony Club* was cut off right before the iconic chorus — adding that she sang the track to herself all day after the partial play. For other crew members, the songs carry equally personal meaning: Commander Reid Wiseman said *Tokyo Drifting* reminds him of annual family vacations to Florida, where he and his daughters listen to the track on the road. Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen’s family picked Queen and Bowie’s *Under Pressure* for his wake-up, while NASA astronaut Victor Glover said his wife surprised him by swapping one of his planned picks for Mandisa’s *Good Morning*, a pleasant start to his days in orbit.

    The full Artemis II wake-up playlist is now available to stream on Spotify, giving listeners on Earth the chance to hear the same soundtrack that’s greeted the crew during their history-making lunar orbit. The nine-track list includes *Sleepyhead* by Young & Sick, *Green Light* by John Legend and André 3000, *In a Daydream* by the Freddy Jones Band, *Pink Pony Club* by Chappell Roan, *Working Class Heroes* by CeeLo Green, *Good Morning* by Mandisa and TobyMac, *Tokyo Drifting* by Glass Animals and Denzel Curry, *Under Pressure* by Queen and David Bowie, and *Lonesome Drifter* by Charley Crockett.

  • Rural revolutionary bases revitalized

    Rural revolutionary bases revitalized

    For 95-year-old New Fourth Army veteran Zhang Kexia, the scattered memorial halls and historic battlefields across China’s inland mountain regions are far more than static relics of history. Enlisted at just 13 years old, Zhang sees these sites hold profound meaning as living, foundational pillars of Chinese identity. “They are not cold stones and abandoned old buildings,” she explained. “They are the shared root of all Chinese people.”

    For decades, however, these iconic old revolutionary base areas – the rural strongholds that nurtured China’s national liberation movement between 1927 and 1949 – faced a stubborn contradiction. Though they carry unmatched historical significance, their remote geographic locations and rugged terrain left them struggling to keep pace with China’s sweeping national economic growth over the past decades.

    Today, a profound, nationwide transformation is unfolding across these regions, driven by a landmark strategic commitment from the Chinese central government. In March 2026, the general offices of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council released official guidelines to accelerate the comprehensive revitalization of old revolutionary base areas, formalizing this national priority.

    The new policy framework lays out a clear development roadmap extending to 2035, with the core goal of aligning these regions’ modernization progress with the country’s broader national development targets by fostering self-sustaining, long-term economic growth. Moving away from the heavy reliance on direct government subsidies that characterized past support models, the new strategy taps into the unique local assets these regions hold – most notably their deep, rich Red cultural heritage – and integrates this legacy with modern industrial development, ecological conservation, and national rural vitalization initiatives.

    This integrated development model is already being put into practice in Shanxi province, a region home to some of China’s most pivotal old revolutionary base areas, including the key strongholds of the Eighth Route Army, the CPC-led main fighting force during the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression from 1931 to 1945. Tian Yuehui, deputy curator of the Taihang Memorial Museum of the Eighth Route Army in Wuxiang County, Changzhi, has watched this transformation unfold over her 26-year career at the site.

    Since opening to the public in 1988, the museum has evolved from a static memorial into a vibrant, engaging cultural tourism destination, according to Tian. In 2025 alone, the site welcomed more than 1.03 million visitors and hosted over 500 cultural and educational activities designed specifically for diverse audience groups.

    Beyond the museum itself, Tian noted that local authorities have developed an extensive cluster of cultural industry projects, including a purpose-built Red cultural park and a public peace square, to further amplify and preserve the Eighth Route Army’s cultural legacy. These initiatives, she explained, are injecting new, dynamic vitality into the high-quality development of the local old revolutionary base area.

    “Empowering the local cultural and tourism sector with our unique Red heritage is not only a core cultural mission for this region, it is also the only viable path to achieve robust, sustained development here,” Tian said. Backing this growth momentum, local officials have set an ambitious target to generate 3 billion yuan ($435.9 million) in annual direct tourism revenue by 2035.

    This localized development approach aligns perfectly with the priorities laid out in the national revitalization guidelines, which emphasize turning historical heritage into a dynamic, self-sustaining engine for modern shared prosperity.

    The national policy document outlines a multifaceted strategy that supports the development of distinctive local industries, advances coordinated regional and urban-rural development, strengthens core infrastructure and public service systems, expands support for education, science, technology and talent cultivation, and preserves and promotes the iconic Red culture that defines these historic regions.

    For residents and business owners who live and work in these areas, the true measure of the policy’s success lies in its tangible impact on local economies and everyday life. In Jiangxi province, the synergy between Red tourism expansion and rural entrepreneurship is already delivering visible, widespread prosperity.

    Ruijin, the historic capital of the Chinese Soviet Republic founded by the CPC in 1931 in southern Jiangxi, is home to Zhufang Village, which once served as a critical logistics base for the provisional central government and hosts multiple historic sites from early revolutionary health care institutions. In recent years, Zhufing has leveraged its unique Red heritage to build a modern health and wellness economy, centered on the integrated development of cultural tourism, rural homestays, professional health services, sustainable agriculture and other connected industries.

    “The most obvious transformation has been the massive upgrade to local infrastructure and supporting public facilities,” said Wang Xinwen, who operates a popular homestay in Zhufang. He pointed to improved paved roads, new public lighting and modernized sanitation systems as game-changing improvements. “These upgrades have directly lifted the overall visitor experience, which translates directly to higher revenue and more stable business for local operators like me,” he explained.

    Wang recalled a recent group of travelers from the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region who had only planned a short layover in the village. “They were genuinely surprised to find such a pleasant, well-maintained scenic spot here in Ruijin,” he said. “They enjoyed their stay so much that they extended their visit by an extra night after just one day exploring the area.”

    Wang added that he has seen rapid growth in demand for integrated health, wellness and study-tour services in the region. “This development path has enormous growth potential, and it aligns perfectly with the national push to revitalize old revolutionary base areas. It not only promises solid growth for individual local businesses, it also lifts the entire local tourism sector as a whole,” he said.

    Wang emphasized his appreciation for the government’s heavy investment in public infrastructure, which allows local business owners to focus their own resources on upgrading service quality and visitor experiences, rather than funding basic public works. “Working in partnership with the local government – with clear policy guidance and full support at every step of the process – we feel far more confident and secure building our businesses here,” he said.

    The growing wave of revitalization has also attracted a new generation of young entrepreneurs back to their rural hometowns. Zhong Dan, a 30-something entrepreneur, moved back to Ruijin from Beijing to launch an e-commerce platform that sells local, sustainably grown agricultural products to national consumers. “My decision to come home was driven by two things: my belief in the quality of my hometown’s eco-friendly farm produce, and my desire to use my professional e-commerce experience to bring these local specialties to a much wider national audience,” she explained.

    When Zhong and her husband first launched their farm operation, however, the village had underdeveloped roads, weak basic infrastructure, and the remote location made logistics and access extremely difficult. The local government stepped in with substantial targeted support, installing 10 new public street lamps for the farm at no cost. It also helped the village secure 900,000 yuan in collective village funds to upgrade general local infrastructure, and assisted Zhong in accessing an additional 300,000 yuan in funding to reinforce a local river embankment that protected the farm.

    In recent years, the overall upgrading of village infrastructure and the booming growth of Ruijin’s Red tourism sector has directly boosted Zhong’s business. In 2025, the farm generated 2 million yuan in turnover, selling a diverse range of products including free-range chickens, ducks, soft-shelled turtles, grass carp, wild honey, lotus seeds, wild mushrooms, as well as newly introduced organic rice and high-quality camellia oil.

    Zhong is deeply optimistic about the long-term development of Ruijin and other old revolutionary base areas. “We are committed to promoting Ruijin’s high-quality agricultural products and rich rural tourism resources, introducing our local specialties and beautiful natural landscapes to a much broader national audience,” she said.

    She also voiced hope for continued government support for young e-commerce entrepreneurs building businesses in these regions.

    “Expanded access to more resources would allow more local businesses like ours to help raise incomes for more local villagers,” she added. “By riding this wave of revitalization, we can grow our ventures through rural tourism, agricultural e-commerce and other innovative industries to build a better, more prosperous future for everyone in these historic regions.”

  • Irish fuel protests enter fourth day as government seeks to head off shortages, open blocked roads

    Irish fuel protests enter fourth day as government seeks to head off shortages, open blocked roads

    DUBLIN, Ireland – Anti-high-fuel-price demonstrations across Ireland have stretched into their fourth consecutive day on Friday, leaving the nation bracing for worsening supply disruptions and risks to critical emergency services, after three days of road blockades and targeted access restrictions to energy infrastructure. The unrest, which first erupted on Tuesday, has been fueled by relentless upward pressure on gasoline and diesel prices, a trend that traces its roots to tightened oil exports from the Middle East amid ongoing regional conflict.

    When the protests launched, demonstrators organized slow-moving vehicle convoys that choked traffic on key thoroughfares in Dublin, Ireland’s capital, and successfully cut off access to major fuel depots – facilities that collectively distribute around half of the nation’s entire fuel supply. Many participants remained overnight, sleeping in their vehicles, to maintain their blockades and amplify their core demand: direct negotiations with the Irish government over relief from spiking energy costs.

    Per local industry data, the disruptions have already triggered widespread fuel scarcity. Ireland’s national public broadcaster RTE, quoting data from Fuels for Ireland, the country’s leading fuel industry association, reported Friday that more than 100 service stations have already completely run out of stock. If blockades continue to prevent deliveries, industry analysts project that number could surge past 500 by the end of Friday.

    Worsening supply chaos has already put critical emergency response operations at risk. With police, fire crews, and ambulance services facing growing delays reaching urgent calls, the Irish government took the unusual step Thursday of authorizing the national army to clear blocked roads and remove demonstrator vehicles. The government has already highlighted that it previously implemented a slate of policy measures to rein in skyrocketing fuel costs: these include a temporary cut to excise taxes on motor fuels, expanded rebate programs for commercial diesel users such as trucking and bus companies, and an extension of energy assistance initiatives for low-income households struggling with heating bills.

    A key development is scheduled for Friday, with Irish government leaders set to hold talks with representatives from the key protesting groups: farmers, long-haul truckers, and agricultural contracting firms. While protest organizers have publicly stated they will stand down their coordinated blockades immediately if the government agrees to open negotiations, uncertainty remains over whether all participating groups will earn a seat at the table in the planned talks.

  • Australian man dies after being found unconscious on balcony at a Bali hotel

    Australian man dies after being found unconscious on balcony at a Bali hotel

    A 30-year-old Australian tourist has died in Bali, Indonesia after his girlfriend found him unconscious on their accommodation’s balcony, triggering an ongoing official investigation into the unexpected death. The incident unfolded early Wednesday morning in the popular coastal resort area of Seminyak, with the girlfriend locating the unresponsive man at approximately 4:15 a.m. immediately after discovering him, she alerted hotel management and emergency response teams.

    According to official statements from Gede ADI Saputra Jaya, a public spokesman for the Denpasar Police Department, first responders confirmed the victim was still breathing when they arrived at the hotel to render aid. “He was unconscious when taken to Siloam hospital,” Jaya confirmed to local media outlets. Despite emergency medical intervention, the Australian man passed away several hours after being admitted to the hospital.

    Investigators have outlined key timeline details from the night preceding the death: the couple had spent the evening at a local bar, returned to their hotel around 1:30 a.m., and engaged in a verbal argument. Following the disagreement, the man told his girlfriend he would sleep on the open balcony, a choice that preceded the morning’s emergency discovery.

    As of press time, law enforcement teams have not announced a confirmed cause of death, with the spokesperson noting that officers are still conducting a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident. Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has been contacted by media outlets seeking comment on the case, and has not yet released an official statement.

  • Travellers told to allow more time for journeys as Irish fuel protests continue

    Travellers told to allow more time for journeys as Irish fuel protests continue

    Four straight days of disruptive fuel price protests have thrown transportation across the Republic of Ireland into chaos, with gridlock forcing travelers to take drastic measures and triggering a fierce standoff between protesters and government officials.

    On Thursday, the disruption reached a striking new level when commuters heading to Dublin Airport were captured on camera walking their carry-on and checked luggage along the northbound lane of Dublin’s busy M50 motorway. Persistent blockades had left traffic at a complete standstill, leaving many with no other option to make their flights on time. In response to the ongoing unrest, Dublin Airport issued an urgent advisory Friday urging all passengers to allocate far more time than usual for their trips to and from the terminal.

    The demonstrations, organized by farmers and transport workers, are rooted in skyrocketing fuel costs driven by geopolitical instability in the Middle East. The ongoing conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran has disrupted global energy trade, with an estimated 20% of global oil supply held up by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping chokepoint. In recent weeks, this disruption has pushed diesel prices in Ireland from roughly €1.70 per litre to €2.17, while petrol prices have jumped as much as 25 cents per litre at many retail outlets. Protesters are calling for major government intervention, including cuts to fuel taxes and a reevaluation of overly rapid climate policy rollouts that they say have added to cost burdens.

    As protests entered their fourth day, the Irish government has moved toward a hardline response. On Thursday, officials requested military support to remove vehicles blocking public roads, with Gardaí (the Irish national police service) classifying blockades at fuel storage depots as illegal obstructions. In a statement Thursday, a Gardaí spokesperson warned that the force would enter an active enforcement phase if protesters did not step back and disperse from critical infrastructure, noting that ongoing blockades already threaten access to essential supplies including food, drinking water, fuel and animal feed. Irish Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan has also warned that participants in illegal blockades will face legal consequences, including potential impacts on their driving licenses, saying penalties may not be immediate but will be enforced over time.

    The mounting disruption has already put severe strain on Ireland’s fuel supply network. Fuels for Ireland, the national fuel industry body, confirmed that as of Friday, 100 retail garage forecourts — mostly in the Munster region and western Ireland — have already completely run out of fuel. Chief Executive Kevin McPartlin told national broadcaster RTÉ that the total number of dry forecourts could reach 500 by Friday night, with half of the country’s incoming fuel shipments currently trapped behind protest barricades.

    Government officials have moved to open talks with industry representative groups Friday, with Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon and Minister of State Timmy Dooley set to meet with sector leaders. The Irish Road Haulage Association, one of the groups participating in the talks, has drawn a line at the disruptive blockades: while the association supports the protest over unsustainable costs, Deputy Vice President Eugene Drennan confirmed the group will not bring participating protesters to Friday’s meeting, and called for an immediate end to road blockades, noting they are hurting ordinary Irish citizens more than decision makers. Sinn Féin, Ireland’s main opposition party, has criticized the government’s handling of the crisis, with leader Mary Lou McDonald calling on the Taoiseach (Prime Minister) and Tánaiste (Deputy Prime Minister) to open direct talks with protesters rather than leaning on enforcement.

    For ordinary Irish residents, the crisis is already spilling over into critical public services. The Health Service Executive has issued an urgent appeal for all access routes to medical facilities to be kept clear, to ensure patients can reach life-saving treatment. Across the country, key transport routes including the M50 and N1 remain heavily congested, with traffic updates published continuously on the Transport Infrastructure Ireland website for affected travelers. Speaking Thursday, Taoiseach Micheál Martin called the blockades of public infrastructure an unfair form of protest, while Defence Minister Helen McEntee said the actions of some demonstrators have already crossed into criminal behavior.

    One participating protester, Mark Maguire, a farmer based on the Monaghan-Fermanagh border, told BBC Radio Ulster that demonstrations are a last resort for working producers facing unmanageable costs. “There’s not one farmer in Ireland or Northern Ireland that wants to be out protesting. They have enough to do,” Maguire explained, adding that the only demand from participating farmers is an end to punitive fuel taxation that has made operating impossible for many small operations.