- A defiant Hamas displays its authority in Gaza, posing a challenge to Netanyahu Yahoo! Voices
- Analysis: Hamas has been hit hard by Israel, but is not out in Gaza Al Jazeera English
- Hamas May Be Cheering, But It Is Writhing in Pain The Washington Institute
- Here’s what happens next during the ceasefire in Gaza The Associated Press
- The fight for justice in Gaza is far from over The Hill
Lunar New Year: Family, food and colour as millions celebrate Year of the Snake – BBC.com
- Lunar New Year: Family, food and colour as millions celebrate Year of the Snake BBC.com
- In pictures: Welcoming the Lunar New Year BBC.com
- Today’s New Moon Kicks-Off Chinese Lunar New Year And Sets-Up Ramadan Forbes
- Chinese zodiac predictions: What’s in store for 2025 as we enter the Year of the Snake CNN
- Lunar New Year 2025 Photos: See Year of the Snake Celebrations Across Asia The New York Times
Across Asia, hundreds of millions gather to mark lunar new year
From China to Indonesia, the year of the snake symbolises wisdom and vitality and is marked by family gatherings and festive red banners across many parts of East and Southeast Asia
Hundreds of millions of people across Asia will celebrate the lunar new year with their families on Wednesday, as they bid farewell to the year of the dragon and usher in the year of the snake.
In China, people will enjoy eight days of consecutive public holidays for the 2025 Spring festival, an opportunity to share meals, attend traditional performances, and set off firecrackers and fireworks.
Continue reading...Australia news live: Angus Taylor says cost-of-living pain ‘far from over’ despite inflation falling to three-year low
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- Underlying inflation rate falls to 3.2% to bolster case for RBA rate cut next month
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Labor adds homelessness focus to disability strategy
Australians with disabilities experiencing homelessness will be prioritised as the government commits to disability reforms, months after a scathing royal commission into the sector, AAP reports.
For the first time, they also include a number of national actions that all governments will work on together, with the disability community, to ensure people with disability right across Australia experience the benefits.
Some students, especially those in our cities, can see a career in agriculture as something that’s only for those who live in the regions or for those whose family own land that can be used to operate an agribusiness.
AgConnections aims to break down these misconceptions and build on the diversity of the industry, by highlighting and encouraging women and Indigenous Australians wanting to pursue a career in agriculture.
Continue reading...India crowd crushes: dozens feared dead at Kumbh Mela religious festival – latest updates
Pilgrims are desperately searching for missing loved ones after deadly crushes in Prayagraj where world’s largest religious gathering is taking place
Wednesday is when the sadhus (holy people), all 13 sects of them, take their holy baths in the Ganges.
The holy bathing time is at 4am and that is around the time that the crowd crushes are thought to have started. It appears three separate crushes took place, as people surged forward, into groups of people who were sitting or lying on the ground on the banks of the river.
Continue reading...Oklahoma schools plan to require proof of students’ immigration status
Proposal from state board of education condemned by teachers and rights groups, as parents and students protest
Parents enrolling children in Oklahoma public schools will be required to provide proof of their child’s US citizenship or legal immigration status under a proposed rule approved Tuesday by the state board of education.
The board voted unanimously to approve the rule aimed at helping Donald Trump’s immigration policies. It still needs to be approved by the legislature and the governor.
Continue reading...Explosion forces crew to abandon Hong Kong-flagged container ship in the Red Sea – The Associated Press
- Explosion forces crew to abandon Hong Kong-flagged container ship in the Red Sea The Associated Press
- Crew of Hong Kong flagged ship rescued after explosion sparks fire off Yemeni coast The Jerusalem Post
- Containership Ablaze and Drifting in Red Sea After Crew Abandons Ship The Maritime Executive
- News Crew abandons Chinese feeder vessel on fire in the Red Sea theloadstar.com
- Explosion Forces Crew to Abandon Ship With 'Dangerous' Cargo Newsweek
Trump signs order to defund gender transitions for LGBTQ youth
LGBTG rights group GLADD says Trump's rhetoric is 'appallingly inaccurate, incoherent, and extreme.'
Australia’s underlying inflation rate falls to 3.2% to bolster case for RBA rate cut next month
Consumer price index dropped to 2.4% in December quarter, according to ABS figures released on Wednesday
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Australia’s underlying inflation rate has fallen to a three-year low of 3.2%, bolstering the case for a rate cut next month that would provide a dopamine hit to the government ahead of a cost-of-living election.
The Reserve Bank of Australia’s preferred inflation gauge, which strips out volatile price swings, fell to an annual 3.2% for the December quarter, down from 3.5%.
Continue reading...As a Rising Political Star, Gabbard Paid to Mask Her Sect’s Ties to Alleged Scheme – The Wall Street Journal
As a Rising Political Star, Gabbard Paid to Mask Her Sect’s Ties to Alleged Scheme The Wall Street Journal
Trump offers US federal workers buyouts to resign
Government employees’ union says offer pressures career workers to quit and will cause chaos in federal programs
The Trump administration has offered federal workers buyouts worth more than seven months’ salary if they would leave their jobs by 6 February as the White House attempts to slash the civil service in an unprecedented overhaul of US government.
The office of personnel management, the government’s human resources agency, sent a memo to the federal workforce on Tuesday evening with four directives that it says Trump is mandating, including a full-time return to the office for most employees. It also said that the federal workforce would be subjected to “enhanced standards of suitability and conduct” and warned that most agencies would be downsized.
Continue reading...Queensland social media influencer accused of torturing one-year-old for money and fame granted bail
Magistrate allows release of 34-year-old charged with 11 offences related to treatment of her baby daughter
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A social media influencer who allegedly gave her baby multiple drugs to film her in “immense distress” in a plan to gain fame and money online has been granted bail by a Queensland magistrate.
On Wednesday morning, magistrate Stephen Courtney accepted the arguments of lawyer Mathew Cuskelly that any risk his 34-year-old client, who cannot be named for legal reasons, posed to her now 18-month-old daughter could be ameliorated by strict conditions.
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Continue reading...Ukraine war briefing: Putin refuses direct talks with Zelenskyy – The Guardian
- Ukraine war briefing: Putin refuses direct talks with Zelenskyy The Guardian
- Ukraine-Russia war latest: Putin rejects talks with Zelensky as North Korean cannon deployed The Independent
- Putin says Russia is 'open' to peace talks, shifting blame to Ukraine Euronews
- Ukraine war latest: Putin claims Zelensky doesn't have a right to sign any potential peace deal Kyiv Independent
- Ukraine War Would End In 'Two Months Or Less' Without Western Interference, Says Putin News18
US judge temporarily blocks Trump’s freeze on federal grants and loans
The order is in response to a lawsuit that says the freezing of billions of dollars in already approved funding violates the law.
US judge temporarily blocks Trump’s freeze on federal grants and loans
The order is in response to a lawsuit that says the freezing of billions of dollars in already approved funding violates the law.
New Details Reveal the Extent of the Damage Caused to russia’s Drone Storage in Oryol Region – Defense Express
- New Details Reveal the Extent of the Damage Caused to russia’s Drone Storage in Oryol Region Defense Express
- Ukrainian drones and missiles target Putin’s war machine inside Russia Atlantic Council
- Ukraine claims strike on Russian oil refinery in huge drone attack BBC.com
- Russia's Ryazan oil refinery suspends operations after drone strike, Reuters reports Kyiv Independent
- Russia claims nuclear plant targeted during massive Ukrainian drone attack Al Jazeera English
Who is celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year of the Snake and how?
Several countries mark their new year based on the Chinese lunisolar calendar involving movement of the Sun and Moon.
India hopes Mahakumbh will bring in investors, but economists are sceptical – Al Jazeera English
India hopes Mahakumbh will bring in investors, but economists are sceptical
Uttar Pradesh state has pumped in millions for the 45-day festival, which is largest gathering of Hindus every 12 years.
Origin Energy fined $1.6m after sharing private details of family violence victims
Company apologises over disclosure of information and collection of debts from vulnerable people
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Human error has been blamed after a major energy retailer shared family violence victims’ private details without their consent and for chasing other survivors for unpaid power bills.
Origin Energy has coughed up $1.6m after it was served penalty notices by Victoria’s Essential Services Commission for breaching rules designed to protect the vulnerable cohort.
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