Author: tnpump.com

Chancellor says businesses will understand balancing the books is necessary for fiscal stability
Elton John and Michelin meals: Labour pulls out all the stops to woo investorsRichard Partington and Kiran StaceyMon 14 Oct 2024 14.07 EDTFirst published on Mon 14 Oct 2024 13.04 EDTShareRachel Reeves has dropped her strongest hint yet that she is planning to raise employer national insurance contributions in the budget, prompting accusations Labour is about to break a manifesto promise.
The chancellor used the government’s international investment summit at London’s Guildhall on Monday to warn of tax rises to come in this month’s announcement, insisting that business would understand the need for fiscal stability.
After days of rumours that Reeves is planning to increase employer national insurance contributions, the chancellor refused to rule out doing so, adding that executives would understand the need for such decisions.
Shares in UK gambling firms fall £2bn amid talk of higher taxes in budgetRead more“We will stick to the commitments we made in our manifesto,” she said. “But you know there is a £22bn black hole over and above anything we knew about going into the election that we need to fill, and that’s not just a one year, that persists throughout the forecast period.
“So we are going to need to sort of close that gap between what government is spending and bringing in through tax receipts. But we are going to be a government that sticks to our manifesto commitments, including that one [on not raising taxes on working people].”
Introducing national insurance on employer pension contributions could raise as much as £17bn a year for the exchequer, while putting up regular employer national insurance by 1p would raise about £8.5bn.
Reeves’s message was underlined by Keir Starmer, who told the summit in his keynote speech: “Our public services need urgent care, our public finances need the tough love of prudence – challenges we can’t ignore. Because we know, just as every leader here knows, that those early weeks and months are precious, and no matter how many people advise you to ignore it, that you must run towards the fire to put it out, not let it spread further.”
Speaking as the government said nearly 38,000 UK jobs would be created after a total of £63bn of international investment was announced in areas such as renewable energy, datacentres and artificial intelligence, Reeves said tax rises on employers would not count as anti-business.
“Unless you put Britain on a stable economic and financial path, we’re not going to be able to get that investment in,” she said. “And that will mean some difficult decisions, including on taxation.
“But businesses get that. They know that we have got to pay for day-to-day spending through tax receipts, they want to see a path to balance the books, but we’ve got to do it in a way that is also ensuring that we remain competitive in the global economy.”
Reeves has said she will have to take painful decisions in the budget because of the £22bn hole that Labour says it inherited from the last government.
But critics say that hiking employers’ national insurance contributions would directly violate Labour’s manifesto commitment not to raise income tax, VAT or national insurance.
Paul Johnson, the head of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, told Times Radio on Monday that such a move would count as a “straightforward breach” of the manifesto. “I went back and read the manifesto and it says very clearly, we will not raise rates of national insurance,” he said.
Jeremy Hunt, the shadow chancellor, posted on X: “It’s obvious to most people that raising national insurance would breach Labour’s manifesto pledge to … not raise national insurance!”
<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">It&#39;s obvious to most people that raising National Insurance would breach Labour&#39;s manifesto pledge to…not raise National Insurance! <a href=\"https://t.co/KFj67bduPD\">https://t.co/KFj67bduPD</a></p>&mdash; Jeremy Hunt (@Jeremy_Hunt) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/Jeremy_Hunt/status/1845835912229331248?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 14, 2024</a></blockquote>"}}”>It's obvious to most people that raising National Insurance would breach Labour's manifesto pledge to…not raise National Insurance! https://t.co/KFj67bduPD
— Jeremy Hunt (@Jeremy_Hunt) October 14, 2024Craig Beaumont, an executive director at the Federation of Small Businesses, said: “You don’t get to a pro-small business budget without the government honouring its cast-iron manifesto commitment to not increase national insurance contributions, including on small employers.
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“At a stroke this will make every job in all our local communities more expensive to maintain, which will see the current fall in job numbers in UK SMEs [small- and medium-sized enterprises] gather pace. Fewer jobs and lower pay is not the way forward.”
Labour ministers, however, say the pledge referred to taxes on working people, and therefore did not cover employer contributions.
Labour was also accused of watering down its manifesto commitment to invest £7.3bn in the national wealth fund, which it has set up to invest in green projects, after confirming the fund would only get £5.8bn. Officials said the remaining £1.5bn had been allocated elsewhere.
Reeves’s comments on tax formed part of a careful balancing act the chancellor tried to maintain on Monday as she wooed international corporations to invest more in Britain while also being clear about the tax decisions to come.
The summit was attended by high-level executives from a number of global companies, including Google, BlackRock and GlaxoSmithKline.
Andrea Rossi, the chief executive of M&G, a headline sponsor of the investment summit, said he expected Reeves’s budget would be “pragmatic” and focused on growth. However, he warned large tax rises risked “killing the economy”. “You’re not going to grow the economy if you tax the economy much, much more,” he said.
It was the attendance of the Dubai-owned DP World that caused the most attention however, after the company originally threatened to pull out after Louise Haigh, the transport secretary, called P&O Ferries, which it owns, a “rogue operator”.
DP World confirmed it would spend £1bn on the London Gateway port project in Essex, despite the row, after Starmer publicly rebuked his transport secretary. Haigh also attended the summit, although did not make any public comments.
Other investments were focused on green energy, such as a £2bn commitment to new solar farms from Octopus Energy, and on technology, including £10bn from Blackstone for a new datacentre in Northumberland.
As the final part of the government’s business charm offensive, Elton John was brought in to serenade guests at a reception at St Paul’s Cathedral also attended by King Charles.

BBCCoventry City Council's Conservative opposition leader Gary Ridley wants the authority to stop investing in the schemePlans to transform the landmark former Ikea building in Coventry into a cultural venue have been labelled a “flatpack fantasy”.
Conservative opposition councillors have called for no more public money to be spent on the scheme to transform the site after council-appointed contractors ISG entered administration.
But the Labour leadership insisted it was committed to the Cultural Gateway plan to convert the building into storage for nationally important artworks.
They said the project would eventually pay for itself.
The cost has not been publicly disclosed, but the BBC has seen private reports that predicted capital expenditure for the project would reach £60.1m.
That figure is now expected to rise after ISG collapsed just two months after being appointed by the council.
The building was the UK's first city centre Ikea when it opened in 2007, but it has been empty since the furniture giant closed its doors in 2020Councillor Gary Ridley, leader of the Conservative opposition in Coventry, said ISG’s failure “raises huge questions over due diligence at the council” and it was “looking more and more like a financial black hole each day”.
He added: “It raises huge questions over whether further taxpayers’ funding is needed to salvage this flatpack fantasy.”
Labour cabinet member for communities Naeem Akhtar said the project was "not just a fantasy"The seven floor building opened in 2007 and closed in February 2020. It has the equivalent of 7.5 football pitches of floor space.
But, despite the scale of the project, the council said it was confident of finding a new contractor and is currently in talks with two firms.
Councillor Naeem Akhtar, Labour cabinet member for communities in Coventry, said it was not fair to suggest the council should have predicted ISG’s downfall and pointed towards the large number of government contracts held by the firm.
He added: “The cost of delivering this project will be recovered through the rent of our partners, because this is a fully costed project. It’s not just a fantasy.”
The building has gone through some refurbishment, but it was paused following the collapse of ISGTwo of the partners involved in the project are Arts Council England and Coventry University. Both told the BBC they remained committed to the project despite the latest setback.
The transformation of the former furniture shop into a cultural venue is supposed to be a concrete legacy of the city’s year as 2021 UK City of Culture.
But it has now become the latest in a series of setbacks after the year of celebrations was disrupted by the Covid pandemic and the charity tasked with overseeing the celebrations and legacy projects went bust in 2023.
Paul Maddocks, from Coventry Society, wants the council to get on with workPaul Maddocks from Coventry Society – an organisation which aims to promote the improvement of the city – said he wanted the council to get on with the work.
“At the moment we’ve got lots of development going on and it’s all closed down. It makes the whole place look depressing really.”
Coventry City Council said it hoped to be able to provide an update on the future of the project in the coming weeks.
Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.

In a recent discovery shedding light on the historical treatment of dementia, Los Angeles resident Brian Crosby, a retired teacher from Burbank, uncovered a long-hidden family secret while researching his genealogy. He stumbled upon an unmentioned death certificate belonging to his grandfather, Crosby Boghossian, who died in 1916 at the young age of 32. The document revealed that he was buried in the backyard of a psychiatric facility in northern New York, marked by gravestone number 991, and his cause of death was listed as GPI, or general paralysis of the insane—a term now recognized as late-stage dementia.

In the early 20th century, the societal perception of dementia was far from compassionate. Boghossian’s passing went unacknowledged by family rituals; he had no funeral, nor did any relatives visit his grave. Just 45 days before his death, he was transported by train from his home in Syracuse to a state psychiatric hospital located a mere two hours away. At the time, his wife was pregnant with their third child, and the stigma surrounding his illness led to a silence about his existence, with grandmother never mentioning his name again. For the past 108 years, no one in the family has visited his grave to pay their respects.

Reflecting on this painful family history, Brian expressed the profound shame that has haunted their lineage. “There’s this stigma attached to mental illness, and it’s as if my grandfather’s name just vanished, erased from our family narrative,” he said. He recalled how his father used to joke that the family changed their last name from Boghossian to Crosby as a nod to singer Bing Crosby, but Brian suspects the true motivation was rooted in a desire to distance themselves from the family’s troubled past.

Representatives from the psychiatric facility have confirmed that Crosby Boghossian is buried in an abandoned cemetery that has been closed for over 40 years, a haunting testament to how mental health was once perceived and the impact of that stigma on families.

On October 18, the Central Meteorological Administration reported that on the 17th, various regions including eastern Shaanxi, western and southern North China, Huanghuai, Jianghuai, Jianghan, western Jiangnan, and parts of northwest and southern South China experienced significant rainfall, primarily ranging from moderate to heavy. In southern Shandong, southeastern Henan, and northern and central Hunan, local areas faced downpours or heavy rain.

As we look into today’s weather, there is a noticeable trend of diminishing rainfall across the country. However, areas in central and eastern Shandong, northwest Guizhou, southern Hunan, and northern Guangxi are still expecting heavy rain or downpours. Meanwhile, parts of northwestern Xinjiang and southeastern Tibet might see moderate to heavy snowfall, with localized blizzards or severe snow (20-25 mm) expected in certain areas.

Additionally, due to strong cold air, much of northern China will experience strong winds and a drop in temperatures. Experts have cautioned that this cold front is extensive and moving rapidly southward, meaning that temperatures across most regions north of the Yangtze River will plummet, with some areas experiencing extreme wind conditions. Public awareness is crucial during this time; individuals are encouraged to monitor temperature changes and wear appropriate clothing. The risks of falling objects due to high winds necessitate vigilance in avoiding hazardous areas such as billboards and temporary structures.

Today, temperatures are forecasted to drop by 8-12°C in regions including central Xinjiang, central Inner Mongolia, eastern Northeast China, northern North China, and eastern Huanghuai, with local decreases exceeding 14°C. Additionally, parts of Inner Mongolia, western Heilongjiang, most of Liaoning, eastern Xinjiang, Hexi in Gansu, northeastern Hebei, most of Tianjin, most of Shandong, and northern Jiangsu will experience winds of 5-6 on the Beaufort scale, with gusts reaching levels 7-8. Specifically, parts of western and eastern Inner Mongolia, southern Liaoning, and the Shandong Peninsula may see gusts reaching levels 8-9.

Experts emphasize that the impact of this strong cold air is extensive and rapid, resulting in significant temperature drops in a short period. After this cold spell, regions north of central North China are expected to see minimal temperatures fall below freezing, causing a significant chill. It is important for people to take prompt measures to keep warm to avoid discomfort. Furthermore, people in eastern and central Shandong should be aware that heavy rainfall persists, and they should steer clear of areas at high risk of meteorological disasters while prioritizing travel safety.

On October 26, 2023, in Beijing, it was reported that significant progress is being made in the preparations for the Southern Advanced Light Source, a major scientific facility planned to be built next to the China Spallation Neutron Source (CSNS), which is recognized as its “perfect match.”

The Institute of High Energy Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences announced that the third meeting of the Southern Advanced Light Source Advisory Committee took place in Hong Kong that same day. During the meeting, collaboration agreements were signed among the Spallation Neutron Source Science Center, which operates the CSNS, and eight universities from Hong Kong and Macau, including the University of Hong Kong, City University of Hong Kong, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong Baptist University, University of Macau, and Macau University of Science and Technology. Additionally, two academic institutions, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Academy Alliance and the Beijing-Hong Kong Academic Exchange Center, participated in the signing.

The agreements aim to deepen research collaboration between mainland China and Hong Kong-Macau, exploring new models for building the Southern Advanced Light Source. The goal is to meet the urgent demand of users in the Greater Bay Area for a world-class fourth-generation synchrotron radiation facility and to promote the development of a cluster of large scientific devices that complement various research methods. This development is deemed significant for the economic and social growth of the Greater Bay Area as well as for the establishment of a comprehensive national scientific center and an international center for technological innovation.

Dr. Wang Sheng, Deputy Director of the Institute of High Energy Physics and Director of the Spallation Neutron Source Science Center, highlighted that the CSNS, located in Dongguan, Guangdong, is the first national major technological infrastructure in the Greater Bay Area. It has maintained close collaboration with universities in Hong Kong and Macau, successfully completing 76 experimental projects in partnership with seven of them.

The upcoming Southern Advanced Light Source is highly anticipated by many scientists from Hong Kong and Macau, as it will complement the existing spallation neutron source, both referred to as “super microscopes.” The strong synergy between the neutron source and the new synchrotron light source is expected to create a scenario where the sum is greater than its parts. Both facilities will be widely applicable across vital research fields such as physics, chemistry, materials science, energy, and the environment, serving as indispensable experimental facilities that support foundational and applied scientific research and industrial applications.

To facilitate the early preparation for the Southern Advanced Light Source, the advisory committee was established in 2019, comprised of representative users and experts in synchrotron radiation from relevant fields. The committee has met twice previously in Dongguan.

Experts from the advisory committee have consistently urged for the swift planning and construction of a world-class fourth-generation synchrotron radiation facility next to the already established CSNS in Dongguan. Both the spallation neutron source and the synchrotron radiation source share numerous users and have many commonalities in key technologies, experimental methods, facility construction, maintenance, and user support, leading to a mutually beneficial integration.

As one of the hosts and signatories of the meeting, Xu Haishan, President of the Beijing-Hong Kong Academic Exchange Center, expressed optimism that the Southern Advanced Light Source could serve as a pilot and demonstration project for scientific and technological innovation collaboration in the Greater Bay Area. This initiative will focus on exploring and gradually improving mechanisms for funding, talent mobility, and cooperative models, thereby enhancing the level of research and innovation collaboration in the region.

The Zhengzhou government held a press conference on October 21 to officially announce the “Zhengzhou Bank Cup” 2024 Zhengzhou Marathon, set to take place early next month. This year’s marathon will showcase unique events including the “Surname Flag Bearer” initiative, a Shaolin martial arts station, and a Yu Opera cheering station.

Director Li Ya from the Zhengzhou Sports Bureau shared that the event will cater to up to 40,000 participants, with 15,000 runners in the full marathon, 10,000 in the half marathon, and another 15,000 in the health and family runs.

This marathon will feature three different race categories: the full marathon covering 42.195 kilometers, the half marathon at 21.0975 kilometers, and shorter health and family runs approximately 5 kilometers long. Winners will be awarded for their placements, and special prizes will also be given to athletes from Henan province.

One of the highlights of this year’s event is the continued emphasis on promoting Central Plains culture through the “Surname Marathon” theme. Participants can look forward to a variety of activities such as recruiting surname flag bearers, creating custom surname posters, and issuing unique surname-themed medals.

This year, around 4,330 participants representing 364 surnames from 31 provinces have registered for the “Surname Flag Bearer” initiative. After a rigorous selection process, 300 flagged runners wearing customized uniforms will carry their family names on flags while competing in the marathon and half marathon, celebrating and promoting their cultural heritage.

In addition to the races, the event will feature a Kung Fu cheering station and a Yu Opera cheering station to vividly showcase the rich cultural background of Zhengzhou’s martial arts and opera. Competitors, staff, and volunteers will receive complimentary travel via local metro and bus services, while local attractions are offering ticket discounts and dining and lodging perks specifically for participants.

Preparations for the marathon are ongoing and progressing as scheduled.

In a recent exploration of a long-running series, readers have been invited to tackle questions that span a wide range of topics, from light-hearted musings to deep scientific inquiries. One intriguing query surfaced: why are shower controls often placed under the showerhead, forcing users to deal with cold water while trying to turn it on? Kathryn Grant reached out via email to highlight her own experience with a more user-friendly design.

When asked about the quirks of shower design, one reader humorously pointed out that perhaps we should wait for the future, as depicted in “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” when sonic showers eliminate this dilemma entirely. Another reader, CaressOfSteel, rather bluntly questioned whether taking a shower was truly suitable for those who dislike being wet.

Figara chimed in, sharing the discomfort of getting sprayed with cold water while still in their dressing gown, just to get the shower started. On a different note, Xenobio expressed a preference for handheld showerheads, citing cultural practices from Malaysia that favor maximizing control while showering.

A product designer named Jess engaged in a thoughtful reflection about the persistent issue of shower control placement. They noted that designers often focus on individual products rather than considering how they fit into the broader context of bathroom design. Jess mentioned the financial implications of producing variations, as well as the disconnect between the decision-makers and the end users.

Smittenbunny shared a personal anecdote about their bathroom renovation, emphasizing the importance of having clear criteria for functionality. They felt a sense of triumph when their designer proposed a solution: a digital shower that allows for external control.

Contrasting experiences were noted in the UK, where Porthos pointed out that finding a contractor willing to accommodate specific requests isn’t always possible. UnashamedPedant provided a practical workaround for those dealing with less-than-ideal shower designs, revealing how to manage shower settings with one hand while avoiding awkward positions.

Pharmagiles discussed the common practice of placing controls and showerheads together for ease of installation in budget models. However, they argued for a more sophisticated solution where the controls are separate from the showerhead, though this comes at a higher cost—a rarity in the market.

JeremyohJ shared a positive experience from a recent renovation, where their plumber suggested placing the shower control opposite the entry. This simple adjustment has made post-vacation returns to their shower a delight, always set to the right temperature.

In conclusion, one reader, Sagarmatha1953, humorously critiqued the design of showers, insinuating that the people behind them must possess a level of insanity to create such impractical arrangements.

As the conversation unfolds, it raises the question: if enough of us voice our grievances, could it lead to meaningful changes in shower design? If you have more questions or experiences to share, feel free to reach out at [email protected].

On October 25, a collaborative report titled “France Blue Book: Development Report (2024)” was released by Beijing Foreign Studies University, the French Research Association of the China Europe Academic Network, and Social Science Academic Press. The report highlights the renewed vitality in economic and trade cooperation between China and France, signaling new opportunities for strategic collaboration.

According to the report, the ongoing Ukraine crisis and rising domestic and international challenges marked 2023. The French government is committed to implementing domestic reforms and actively pursuing its foreign strategy, striving to lead the EU’s strategic autonomy agenda in order to effectively protect its national interests. However, the report notes that issues such as sluggish economic growth, social fragmentation, and political polarization will not be resolved overnight, while the rise of protectionism and xenophobia poses inherent risks.

The report underscores the resurgence of Sino-French economic and trade cooperation, particularly in traditional sectors such as aerospace, high-speed rail, and nuclear energy. Beyond strengthening these traditional ties, both countries are actively exploring new points of growth. Notable developments include the close integration of economic cooperation with cultural exchanges, French companies showing a positive attitude towards engaging in China’s rural revitalization strategy, and robust cooperation in fields like the digital economy.

Furthermore, the report emphasizes that China and France are important collaborative partners across multiple domains, with their relationship extending beyond bilateral significance to a strategic leadership role. The alignment of the EU’s “Global Gateway” initiative, supported by France, with China’s “Belt and Road” initiative presents vast opportunities for collaboration to promote economic recovery and sustainable development.

On October 26, China News reported on the remarkable life of Huang Zongshi, born in 1974. Huang held multiple roles and earned numerous honors throughout his life. He worked as a regular employee at the Fuding Power Generation Branch of Fujian Mindong Electric Power Co., Ltd., served as a military veteran with a third-class merit, and was a member of the Fuding Blue Sky Rescue Team, distinguished for his bravery in saving lives. Despite battling illness, he remained actively involved in various ecological and environmental protection initiatives.

“Having stood on the edge of life, I truly understand the value of life,” Huang once shared. He believed in making the most of his time in this world, doing what he felt necessary, taking on new experiences, and helping others without leaving regrets behind.

Huang’s heroic actions made him a local symbol of courage, and his story has been prominently featured in campaigns promoting social morality.

One such incident occurred on June 17, 2020, when Huang was warming up at the swimming base by the Tongshan River and heard desperate cries for help—someone was drowning. Without hesitation, Huang rushed to the scene and, defying his own health challenges, leapt into the water to rescue a man who was about 20 meters offshore. With the help of others, they performed CPR and managed to revive the man.

“It was instinctual; anyone would help if they saw someone drowning,” recounted Zhu Shoujian, a member of the Fuding Swimming Association who assisted in the rescue. In a tense situation, he recalled only thinking about saving the life in front of them.

After successfully rescuing one victim, Huang heard cries for another person still in the water. He immediately submerged three times, but tragically, the second victim had been underwater too long and showed no signs of life. “Rescuing two people certainly tests a rescuer’s physical stamina, skills, and determination, but Huang went in without a second thought,” Zhu noted. Although he felt deep regret about the second victim, he recognized that not every situation offers a second chance.

In recognition of his bravery, the Fuding Municipal Police awarded Huang as an “Advanced Individual for Courage” in June 2020. The following year, he was honored again as a “Courageous Individual” in Ningde. “Despite his illness, his optimistic and proactive attitude while cherishing each day hugely inspired me,” Zhu said. Each life he saved filled Huang with immense satisfaction and purpose.

As a dedicated member of the Fuding Blue Sky Rescue Team, Huang participated in over 27 educational events, 18 rescues, and three drills by 2020, earning the Excellent Education Award for three consecutive years. Wu Weiru, the team leader, recounted Huang’s commitment to leading rescues with exemplary skill. Even after his diagnosis in 2018, Huang persevered with daily exercise, patrolling for safety near the river, educating children against drowning, and advocating for ecological conservation.

Wu shared the concern his family held for him. “Whenever he went out to rescue someone, I worried immensely, but I knew he was answering a call for help,” his wife expressed.

For the past six years, members of the Blue Sky Rescue Team offered support for Huang, whether by monitoring his health, organizing equipment cleaning, coordinating fundraising, or visiting him.

Wu reminisced, “During one rescue, Huang said, ‘In my limited life, if I can save one more person, I’ve gained.’” Reflecting on the memories, Wu became emotional, lamenting the sudden loss of a teammate who fought alongside them.

In his daily life, Huang was deeply committed to public service, regularly donating blood and receiving the Chinese Red Cross Volunteer Service Four-Star Medal and a National Blood Donation Bronze Medal for the 2016-2017 period. He actively participated in community tree planting and organized volunteer efforts for local clean-up and water source protection, inspiring those around him, especially children.

Huang served as the head of the water machine team at the Fuding Power Generation Branch for over 20 years, bringing with him the disciplined work ethic he developed in the military. “When I joined the power plant in 1996, Huang made an impression on me as a competent and decisive person,” said his colleague and roommate Ye Guoqiang. Huang’s unwavering commitment and meticulous attention to detail prevented significant accidents, including a potential flooding of the pump room after he identified a malfunction during routine inspections.

“Huang’s leadership enabled the power station to operate safely for over 20 years with zero accidents, which was crucial for alleviating the city’s electricity demands,” Ye added.

Sadly, Huang passed away due to illness on July 22, 2024. Throughout his life, he garnered multiple accolades, including the 2020 “Most Beautiful Red Cross Rescuer” in Fujian Province, moral model recognition from Ningde City in 2021, and listings on the “Fujian Good Person List” and “Ningde Good Person List” for acts of bravery.

“It feels like such a loss to have such a wonderful person leave us so suddenly. Thinking about him sometimes brings tears to my eyes,” Ye reflected. “His spirit is something that everyone should strive to emulate.”

The moment the reporters stepped off the bus in Shannxi Province’s apple orchards, they were immediately drawn in by Zhao Shengsheng, a local live-streamer, who “took control” of the situation for thirty seconds.

“We have excellent soil here in Shaanxi, with large temperature fluctuations between day and night, plenty of sunlight, and our apples are delicious—big, red, and juicy. Folks, hurry up and place your orders!” he urged enthusiastically.

As a second-generation fruit farmer who inherited his family’s orchard just last year, Zhao is now looking to carve out a new niche for himself using social media. With a bright smile, he shared his business strategies while demonstrating the juiciness of the apples by slicing one open, releasing its sweet aroma.

The sweetness of the apples reflects a sweeter life for the residents of Nango Village.

On October 22, after winding through tree-lined roads, the media delegation for the online promotional campaign “Promoting the Yan’an Spirit, Advancing in a Great Era” finally arrived at Nango Village in the Gaoqiao Town of Ansai District.

The scenery was picture-perfect with lush fields, beautiful gardens, and an abundance of fragrant fruit. But the most striking feature was the sprawling apple orchards, where neat rows of trees stood, their red fruits peeking through the green leaves.

“Longer-shaped apples are tastier, round ones not as much. Remember to pick the ones with more stripes on the skin; those are the sweet ones,” shared a woman named Sister Gao, who comes from a nearby village to help out in the orchards.

“It’s a great market for apples here! Lots of visitors come just to pick, pack their boxes, and buy them. A merchant from Xi’an came a couple of years ago, tasted the apples, and ended up buying millions’ worth!”

Calling the apple trees Nango Village’s “money trees” is no exaggeration. According to Zhang Zhong, the deputy head of the village committee, the village now boasts an impressive 3,160 acres of apple orchards, translating to an average of three acres per person and ten acres per household. “Apples account for 52% of our total income, with a total output value exceeding 15 million yuan and a net income of about 10.8 million yuan.”

Historically, Nango Village was a typical impoverished area, with a total land area of 24 square kilometers, consisting of seven village groups and 345 households with 1,009 residents. Following the call for poverty alleviation and rural revitalization, the village adopted a development model centered on ecological priority, agritourism integration, and green development. This was achieved through a collaborative approach involving party leadership, enterprise support, cooperative management, demonstration by party members, and community participation.

Since 2015, when the village revamped its irrigation infrastructure under its collective economy, Nango has aggressively developed economic crops like apples. By 2018, the village successfully shed its poverty designation. The residents’ per capita disposable income skyrocketed from 4,653 yuan in 2014 to 21,500 yuan in 2023, and the village’s collective income grew from zero to 630,000 yuan. Earlier this year, in an effort to enhance the apple industry’s quality and efficiency, the village introduced new varieties and renovated over 200 acres of orchards.

As of now, Nango Village has received numerous accolades, including being recognized as a national poverty reduction demonstration base, a beautiful leisure village, a national 3A-level tourist attraction, and an advanced grassroots party organization in the province. Residents’ living standards have improved significantly, leading to increased happiness.

The transformation of Nango Village epitomizes the saying, “To get rich, first plant trees.” The humble red apple has paved a new path for the village’s poverty alleviation efforts.

The Rise of Livestream Shopping: A New Future for the Apple Industry

As Nango Village forges ahead, it is marked by the emergence of new opportunities.

After apples from Yan’an made their journey into space aboard the Shenzhou XII and Tianzhou V spacecraft, the term “space apples” quickly gained traction nationwide. Many farmers, like Zhao Yongdong, have reaped significant benefits from this development.

Having cultivated apples for over a decade, Zhao’s income has steadily increased from initial earnings of around 50,000 to 70,000 yuan, and then to over 100,000 yuan. Last year, his apple yield hit 4,000 pounds per acre, bringing in 140,000 yuan in revenue. After accounting for costs, his profit reached about 100,000 yuan. Zhao Shengsheng, his son, represents one of the few young farmers returning to Nango Village to cultivate apples.

With no one to manage the family orchard and his father aging, Zhao Shengsheng returned from the city last May to become a farmer and the village’s first livestreaming apple seller.

Interestingly, Zhao Yongdong initially disagreed with his son’s “internet celebrity” path, doubting whether one could earn money playing with a smartphone. “At first, I opposed it. I thought, how could you make money just by playing on your phone? I even joked about it, telling him to stop.”

However, as sales began to rise, he quickly recognized the internet’s potential as a sales platform. “In the past, we sold by the pile; now we sell by the box and individually. This new e-commerce model has opened up new avenues for Nango’s apple industry.” Today, Zhao Shengsheng operates the account “Brother Zhao Loves Life” on a popular short video platform, streaming live for two to three hours daily, sharing insights into farming life and rural anecdotes, drawing in viewers and boosting sales. He has currently amassed 36,000 followers.

Reflecting on his journey as a live streamer, Zhao Shengsheng remarked, “The internet is a great platform. I can take care of my kids and elderly family while making money. I always remind myself to excel in my work, set a good example, and help bring more young people back to develop and boost agriculture, so we can all walk the path toward prosperity.”

Innovative Approaches to Foster Rural Wealth

On the road to prosperity, the villagers are motivated, and the village committee continues to spark new initiatives.

In recent years, to strengthen collective economic growth and boost community incomes, Nango Village has embraced new media for livestream shopping, implemented apple and cherry “adoption” programs, built a village-level photovoltaic power station, and attracted businesses to develop nighttime economies, continuously increasing both collective profits and residents’ incomes.

The adoption campaign, “I Have a Tree in Nango,” has garnered considerable popularity. The orchard features charming “identity tags,” with designated adoption and free-pick zones. Individuals can adopt an apple tree for 500 yuan or a cherry tree for 798 yuan, with the village collecting a marketing fee from each adoption, yielding an annual revenue of 122,000 yuan.

Zhang Zhong explained, for instance, that adopting a cherry tree guarantees a minimum yield of 25 pounds; if that isn’t met, staff will supplement from the free-pick zone. An apple tree’s minimum yield is three boxes containing 24 apples each. “Visitors from outside the area can have their orders shipped. Those nearby can bring their families to experience the fun of picking.”

Moreover, Nango plans to gradually cultivate new apple varieties and employ modern techniques, such as hail nets and insect traps, to combat natural disasters and pests over the coming years. The village is also exploring a new ecological farming model that integrates livestock and crop cultivation for sustainable cyclical benefits.

Specifically, villagers raise cattle and sheep while developing orchards, allowing sheep to roam freely in the orchards; their waste enriches the soil, nourishing the apple trees which, in turn, boosts yields. The income generated from apple sales further fills villagers’ pockets. Zhang explained that the model is built on the concept of “using tourism to promote farming, using farming to support livestock, using livestock to nourish crops, and using crops to support people,” ultimately achieving both ecological and economic benefits.

The journey of small apples paves the way for major wealth creation, reinforcing Yan’an’s economic development strategy. After years of dedicated work, the apple cultivation area in Yan’an has reached 3.328 million acres, yielding an annual production of 4.644 million tons. Nearly half of the city’s 2.2 million population is involved in the apple industry, with 800,000 farmers benefiting, and apple-related income accounting for 61% of their net operating income. The apple industry has emerged as Yan’an’s most extensive, sustainable, and farmer-benefiting specialized industry.

Today, Yan’an apples are sold in over 30 cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, and exported to Europe, Southeast Asia, North America, and other regions. These impressive figures reflect not only the development of the Yan’an apple industry but also the inspiring narrative of the local residents’ journey toward prosperity and revitalization.

Walking through the yellow earth, every red apple tells a compelling story. They represent not only nature’s sweet gift but also the hard-earned fruits of perseverance, a vehicle for market connection, and a future filled with promise. They embody the unyielding pursuit of agricultural modernization by both the Party and the people, creating a vivid vision for collective prosperity and rural revitalization in this new era.