Chinese New Year 2025: Year of the Snake

The Chinese New Year, also known as the Lunar New Year or Spring Festival, is one of the most celebrated holidays in the world. In 2025, it begins on Saturday, January 29, and marks the start of the Year of the Wood Snake according to the Chinese zodiac.

The Snake is a symbol of wisdom, intuition, and transformation in Chinese culture. It represents mystery, elegance, and a deep connection to the unseen. The Wood element adds qualities of growth, stability, and creativity, making 2025 a year focused on self-discovery, steady progress, and innovative thinking.

This year encourages people to trust their instincts, embrace change, and build foundations for future success. It’s a time for reflection and cultivating inner strength.

Celebrations traditionally last for 15 days and are full of vibrant customs and traditions:

Family Reunions: Loved ones gather to enjoy a reunion dinner on New Year’s Eve, symbolizing togetherness.

Red Decorations: Homes are adorned with red lanterns, couplets, and paper cutouts to invite good luck and ward off bad spirits.

Fireworks: Loud firecrackers and dazzling fireworks display light up the sky, symbolizing the driving away of evil spirits.

Giving Red Envelopes: Known as hongbao, these envelopes filled with money are given to children and young adults as a wish for prosperity.

Dragon and Lion Dances: These traditional performances bring good fortune and joy to communities.

Global Celebrations: Cities around the world, from New York to London, Singapore to Sydney, hold vibrant parades, street festivals, and cultural events to honour the Chinese New Year.

As we step into the Year of the Snake, may wisdom guide your decisions, creativity spark your passions, and resilience lead you to success. May the year bring you and your loved ones health, happiness, and prosperity. Happy New Year to all our Chinese friends and partners!

Happy Chinese New Year! 🐍
新年快乐! (Xīnnián kuàilè)

NEW REVOLUTION: Once ChatGPT, now DeepSeek.

Why did DeepSeek turn the world upside down?

DeepSeek is more than just technology. It is a revolution that has touched every sphere of life, from science to art. Here is what makes the DeepSeek table unique and beloved:

🔍 Depth of understanding

DeepSeek is able to analyze data with unprecedented accuracy, revealing hidden patterns and suggesting sites that were previously inaccessible.

🌐 Versatility

From medicine to space exploration, from finance to the creative industry - DeepSeek is adapted to all areas, helping to solve the most complex problems of humanity.

⚡ Speed ​​and efficiency

DeepSeek's powerful algorithms allow you to perform analysis and issue solutions faster than traditional methods, saving time and resources.

💡 Intuitiveness and accessibility

Despite the great complexity of the technology, the DeepSeek interface is simple and understandable. Although those who are far from IT can use it for their own purposes.

💭 Creative inspiration

DeepSeek helps not only solve problems, but also inspires. Artists, musicians and designers use it to generate ideas, create unique projects and expand the boundaries of design.

🤝 Ethics and responsibility

The creators of DeepSeek work to ensure that their technology is safe, ethical and transparent. This strengthens the trust of users and makes DeepSeek a reliable partner anywhere.

DeepSeek is not just a tool, it is a way to think, create and dream in a new way. That is why it has won the hearts of millions of people around the world!

DeepSeek is an advanced tool or technology designed to analyze complex data and discover hidden patterns, ideas or solutions.

DeepSeek is an innovative system based on advanced algorithms, often using deep learning, artificial intelligence (AI) and data mining techniques. It excels at analyzing multidimensional data, finding correlations and predicting outcomes. Its applications cover a wide range of areas, including big data analysis, neural network optimization and decision-making systems.

#education #franchise 

UK and Ukraine Seal a Historic 100-Year Partnership

A Landmark Agreement
On 16 January 2024, the United Kingdom and Ukraine signed a 100-year partnership agreement, set to remain in effect until 2124. This historic pact aims to foster deep and lasting ties across a wide range of areas, including trade, security, defence, science and technology, education, and culture. It marks a new era of bilateral cooperation and mutual trust between the two nations.

Key Details of the Agreement
The groundbreaking deal was signed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

"Today is truly a historic day. The relationship between Ukraine and the United Kingdom is closer than ever. We have reached a new level—this is more than a strategic partnership. We have signed a 100-year partnership agreement," Zelenskyy stated during the signing ceremony.

What the Agreement Entails

Will the Dollar Stay on Top? The Trump Factor and Its Global Impact

After Donald Trump's victory in the US presidential election, the US dollar has shown steady growth, reaching multi-year highs. This is driven by investors' expectations regarding the newly elected president's economic measures aimed at stimulating growth, increasing inflation, and reducing the likelihood of aggressive interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve. Notably, the dollar index has risen by almost 10% from the lows of late September.

However, Trump's plans to introduce tariffs and significant tax cuts may have an ambiguous impact on the currency market. These measures could lead to higher inflation, which may force the Federal Reserve to refrain from further rate cuts or even raise them. This could strengthen the dollar further, complicating global trade, increasing costs for non-US companies, and influencing the monetary policies of other countries. Countries with large trade surpluses with the US, such as China, are likely to be particularly affected.

Moreover, there are contradictions in Trump's policy towards the dollar. On the one hand, he seeks to weaken the dollar to support exports and protect jobs; on the other, he wants to maintain its strength to uphold global financial dominance. These contradictions could lead to instability in currency markets and complicate the administration's economic goals.

Thus, while the dollar remains one of the world's most profitable currencies for now, the future policies of Trump's administration could significantly affect its position. Investors should closely monitor developments and adjust their strategies in line with the new economic realities.

Author Andrew Azarov

WEF in DAVOS 2025: TOP-5 most frequently asked questions.

Davos in Switzerland is the highest town in Europe. Yet ever since the World Economic Forum brought its Annual Meeting to the alpine venue, the name resonates with the flagship event.

The meeting brings together government, business and civil society leaders to set the year's agenda for how leaders can make the world a better place for all.

Its relevance as a global gathering sits within and beyond the official programme. The importance of dialogue — often happening in private conversations — reveals an ever-important mission to convene leaders when 'threats to world stability are multiplying'.

Established more than 50 years ago, the Annual Meeting tries to embody ‘the spirit of Davos’, which is an attitude of openness and cooperation that is core to the mission of the Forum. The 'Davos Manifesto', created in 1973 and renewed in 2020, lays out the principles of stakeholder capitalism — or a system of shared goals for businesses.

Here are seven things to know about Davos, past and present, answering some of your most frequently asked questions.

1. What's in the programme at Davos?

The Year in Review: Key Events and Takeaways from 2024

As 2024 comes to a close, the world reflects on a year defined by extraordinary challenges and transformative moments. From geopolitical tensions to technological breakthroughs and climate milestones, 2024 has left an indelible mark on history. Here’s a look back at the defining events and trends of the year.

Geopolitics: A World Divided

1. Russia-Ukraine War
   The Russia-Ukraine conflict continued to dominate global headlines, reshaping alliances and economic policies worldwide. The war, now in its third year, saw intensified military actions, massive humanitarian crises, and international efforts to mediate peace. However, the UN’s paralysis, due to Russia’s veto power, highlighted the limitations of global institutions in addressing such conflicts.

   Impact:

   • Western nations increased military aid to Ukraine while imposing tighter sanctions on Russia.
   • Energy markets were disrupted as Europe further reduced its reliance on Russian gas, accelerating investments in renewables.
   • Nations like China and India benefited economically by purchasing discounted Russian resources, drawing criticism for enabling the aggressor.

2. Middle East Tensions
   The Iran-Saudi détente, brokered in 2023, faced strains as regional conflicts persisted. Meanwhile, Israel-Palestine tensions reignited, with international mediators struggling to de-escalate violence.

3. U.S.-China Rivalry
   Geopolitical competition between the U.S. and China deepened, marked by disputes over Taiwan, trade policies, and technological supremacy. Both nations expanded their spheres of influence, creating a bipolar world order.

Economy: Inflation, Innovation, and Inequality