This happens amid weakening domestic demand and bruising U.S. tariffs, adding pressure on Beijing to roll out more support measures to avert a sharper slowdown. Growing signs of weakness in China — which has generated nearly a third of global growth in the past decade — are stoking worries about risks to the world economy and are weighing on profits for firms ranging from Apple to big carmakers. Chinese policymakers have pledged more support for the economy this year to reduce the risk of massive job losses, but they have ruled out a "flood" of stimulus like that which Beijing has unleashed in the past, which quickly juiced growth rates but left a mountain of debt. Analysts polled by Reuters expect the world’s second-largest economy to have grown 6.4 percent in the October-December quarter from a year earlier, slowing from the previous quarter’s 6.5 percent pace and matching levels last seen in early 2009 during the global financial crisis. That could pull 2018 … [Read more...] about China set to post slowest growth in 28 years in 2018, more stimulus seen
Year 3 guided reading
Nun gets children reading
Viet Nam News Thích Nữ Quảng Phát is a woman who has given her life completely to serve her religion. Such women are called nuns. She chose not to marry and have a family, especially after seeing a couple who were her neighbours fighting all the time. As a nun, she has started a library at a pagoda where children comes and read books. Lê Hương chats with her about her passion. Inner Sanctum: Please tell me about your faith and Buddhism. I was inspired by my parents, who are Buddhists, at a very young age. When I was four, my dad took me to a pagoda in the southern city of Vũng Tàu to learn Buddhist teachings. Though my homeland is in the central province of Quảng Trị, when I was one year old, my family moved to Vũng Tàu. There have been many incidents that made me decide to lead a nun’s life. But I strongly remember a ceremony I witnessed when I was young. People flocked to a local pagoda … [Read more...] about Nun gets children reading
Young VN pianist takes to the world stage
World stage: Châu plays the piano at an international contest. Photos courtesy of her parents Viet Nam News By Thanh Hà Trần Minh Châu, 14, is one of the youngest people among 10 others receiving Việt Nam’s Outstanding Youth Awards for the Year 2017. She has successfully passed an exam to study culture and art for talent between now and 2025, approved by the Prime Minister. Her achievements last year included first prize at the Ricard Vines International Piano Contest in Lleida, Spain, first prize at the AFAF Piano International Concerto Competition in the US, first prize at the Future Stars Piano Competition in Poland, and more. Young talent: Trần Minh Châu with her piano at home. Born in Hà Nội, her parents were not artists, but from the age of four Châu displayed musical talent. She often sat side by side with her elder sister to watch her play the piano. “She seemed to be hypnotized when her … [Read more...] about Young VN pianist takes to the world stage
Nun inspires young readers with pagoda library
Viet Nam News Among the individuals praised for their contribution in encouraging people to read during the Book Month (April) this year, nun Thích Nữ Quảng Phát is a familiar name. She has been known for inspiring hundreds of school students in the northern province of Thái Bình to read books at a library she set up at Thiên Phúc Pagoda, where she acts as the head nun. Religious reader: Nun Thích Nữ Quảng Phát. VNS Photo Lê Hương Lê Hương chats with her about her passion. Inner Sanctum: Please tell me about your faith and Buddhism. I was inspired by my parents, who are Buddhists, at a very young age. When I was four, my dad took me to a pagoda in the southern city of Vũng Tàu to learn Buddhist teachings. Though my homeland is in the central province of Quảng Trị, when I was one year old, my family moved to Vũng Tàu. There have … [Read more...] about Nun inspires young readers with pagoda library
The different sides to hip-hop
Viet Nam News Nguyễn Anh Tuấn could not speak the language of refugee children he met in other countries. However, he managed to teach them hip-hop dancing. For Nguyễn Anh Tuấn, hip-hop is more than just exercise. It is a spiritual experience too. By Bích Hường Since 2013, Nguyễn Anh Tuấn has travelled every year to neighbouring countries including Thailand, Laos, Myanmar and the Philippines to teach hip-hop to street children and other disadvantaged youngsters. The 29-year-old first became a volunteer seven years ago after he met Jerry Snell – a Canadian dance choreographer and hip-hop veteran who visited Việt Nam to promote his Street Art for Street Kids initiative, teaming up with the country’s top street dance crews with shelters for vulnerable children to offer dance lessons and companionship. “In a summer day in 2012, when I was teaching hip-hop to youngsters in Hà Nội’s Lenin … [Read more...] about The different sides to hip-hop