US core capital goods orders decline in April

New orders for key U.S.-manufactured capital goods dropped by 1.3 percent in April, marking the largest drop in six months, according to data issued by the U.S. Department of Commerce on Tuesday.

Capital goods orders, which exclude defense and aircraft goods, are seen as a barometer of business investment.

Data shows that the number was a 1.3 percent down in April, marking the largest drop since October last year, suggesting business spending on equipment weakened at the start of the second quarter.

According to a report from American media on Tuesday, a survey shows that 55 percent of Americans surveyed believe that Trump's tariff policies were unclear, and the impacts of tariffs have exacerbated economic uncertainty.

On the same day, a survey released by the Detroit Regional Chamber in Michigan showed that 54 percent of respondents believe that U.S. tariff policies will have a negative impact on the state's economy. And 62 percent of respondents believe that the U.S. economy is either weakening or heading towards a recession.

US core capital goods orders decline in April

US core capital goods orders decline in April

Ballet "A Dream of the Red Mansion", an original production by the National Ballet of China, took the stage in Singapore this week, bringing one of China's most famous literary works to Singaporean audiences.

Performed at the Esplanade from Thursday to Sunday, the show was supported by the Chinese Embassy in Singapore and organized by the China Enterprises Association (Singapore). It follows a tour in Bangkok, Thailand, marking the troupe's second overseas stop.

The ballet tells the story of Jia Baoyu through the language of choreography, delving into his innermost emotions and weaving together iconic scenes from the classic novel by Chinese writer Cao Xueqin to depict the grandeur and decline of the Grand View Garden.

Chinese Ambassador Cao Zhongming said the ballet interprets classic literature from the contemporary perspective, and blends classical ballet vocabulary with Chinese choreographic aesthetics, showing that the Chinese culture is both historical and contemporary, belonging to the Chinese nation and to the whole world as well.

Chinese ballet "A Dream of the Red Mansion" debuts in Singapore