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Chinese New Year: Colorful festivities for Year of the Dog kick off

Lunar New Year falls on February 16 this year, marking the start of the Year of the Dog

Photo {{sliderIndex+1}} from 13

Chinese performers dressed in traditional costumes perform during a rehearsal of a reenactment of a Qing dynasty (1636-1912) imperial sacrifice ritual to worship the Earth, on the eve of the Chinese Lunar New Year, at Ditan Park in Beijing, China

© EPA-EFE/ROMAN PILIPEY

A woman walks past red lanterns hanging from trees to celebrate the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year at Ditan Park in Beijing, China

© EPA-EFE/ROMAN PILIPEY

The Chinese Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, falls on February 16 this year and marks the Year of the Dog

© EPA-EFE/ROMAN PILIPEY

Ethnic Chinese Thais burn joss sticks at the Leng Nuei Yee Chinese temple in Bangkok, Thailand

© AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit

An Indonesian ethnic Chinese worker arranges candles during preparations for the Chinese New Year at a temple in Bogor, Indonesia

© EPA-EFE/ADI WEDA

A group of dancers perform 'Liong' or dragon dance during the Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations at a temple in Kuta, Bali, Indonesia

© EPA-EFE/MADE NAGI

A Thai worker decorates lanterns for celebrations of Chinese New Year at the Leng Nuei Yee Chinese temple in Bangkok, Thailand

© AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit

People walk past dog-themed products at a New Year market in Victoria Park, Hong Kong

© AP Photo/Vincent Yu

A vendor displays Chinese New Year decorations at a market in Victoria Park, Hong Kong

© AP Photo/Vincent Yu

A group of dancers perform 'Liong' or dragon dance during the Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations at a temple in Kuta, Bali, Indonesia

© EPA-EFE/MADE NAGI

Ethnic Chinese Thais offer incenses during prayers at the Leng Nuei Yee Chinese temple in Bangkok, Thailand

© AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit

A woman prays with incense and joss sticks for good fortune to mark the Chinese Lunar New Year at Leng Noei Yi Temple or Dragon Lotus Temple in Chinatown, Bangkok, Thailand

© EPA-EFE/RUNGROJ YONGRIT

A giant illuminated dog for the upcoming Year of the Dog is displayed as part of Lunar New Year festivities at Chenghuang Temple in Shanghai, China

Lunar New Year falls on February 16 this year. According to the Chinese zodiac, 2018 will be the Year of the Earth Dog, following the Year of the Fire Rooster in 2017. Lunar New Year is the most important holiday for the Chinese and some of the East and Southeast Asian countries. Celebrations traditionally run from the evening preceding the first day, to the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first calendar month. Lunar New Year preparations — in pictures.

Residents of Kupyansk, Kovsharovka in Kharkov Region returning to their homes

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Russian troops liberate Ilyinka community in Donbass region over past day

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US State Department Spokesman Matthew Miller also declined to discuss the presumed first strike on Russia with the missiles

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Earlier, Muneo Suzuki emphasized on his blog that the decision that this decision by Biden on the tail-end of his presidency looked like "a last gasp"

Russian troops liberate Dalneye community in Donbass region over past day

Russia’s Battlegroup South inflicted roughly 380 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed a British-made howitzer and four US-made artillery guns in its area of responsibility over the past day

US Congressman urges to impeach Biden for allowing strikes deep into Russia

"By authorizing long range missiles to strike inside Russia, Biden is committing an unconstitutional Act of War that endangers the lives of all US citizens," Thomas Massie said

Moscow won’t allow US to silence UNSC as Washington backs Israel — Russian UN envoy

According to Vasily Nebenzya, the Security Council should "bring peace, stability and prosperity to the Middle East"

Russian diplomat accuses West of using coercive measures to punish certain countries

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Elon Musk denies his impact on Trump’s decisions on nominates for cabinet positions

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Canada neglects its sovereignty by approving transfer of land mines to Kiev — diplomat

According to Oleg Stepanov, since the authorities of the country have long acted, "especially in security matters, according to the rule 'what Uncle Sam says, so Ottawa will do' and don’t blush about this."

Zelensky admits Ukraine can't fight its way back to 1991 borders

Vladimir Zelensky also talked about the Crimean Peninsula, stating that Kiev is ready to "bring Crimea back diplomatically"

Russian forces dislodge Ukrainian troops from half of positions in Kurakhovo in DPR

The Ukrainian military is attempting to move reserves to the city’s western outskirts as shown by data-recording equipment, the source said

Newly arrived Ukrainian soldiers rob, loot in Kharkov Region’s Kupyansk

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Ex-German chancellor never expected Russia to tolerate Ukraine’s NATO membership — memoir

Angela Merkel added that another fallacy was the belief that the status "would act as a deterrent," and that Moscow "would accept these developments without taking action"

French Foreign Ministry refuses to disclose number of SCALP missiles shipped to Ukraine

Ministry Spokesman Christophe Lemoine also avoided answering if Paris supports strikes with these missiles on Russian territory, only saying that the missiles were shipped to Ukraine, and Ukraine

Decision on strikes inside Russia seals US puppet Zelensky’s fate — commentator

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Biden's decision to use ATACMS on Russia threatens to kill Americans — Tucker Carlson

The journalist also criticized US House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson (a Republican representing the state of Louisiana) for "not even mentioning it in public or in leadership meetings" with factions in the lower house of Congress

Moscow hopes West will thoroughly analyze Russia's nuclear doctrine — ambassador

Andrey Kelin also recalled that the policy of the Russian leadership enjoys the full support and confidence of the country's population

Ukraine has around 50 ATACMS missiles — The Times

According to the report, the Ukrainian military has sufficient launchers that are capable of firing them

US is now at war with Russia, Ritter says

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Putin sends message to those seeking to 'add fuel to fire' before Trump’s return — expert

The likelihood of a direct armed conflict with NATO is increasing because some individuals in the alliance are ready to raise the stakes ahead of Trump’s inauguration, Andrey Bystritsky emphasized

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At least 66 people killed in Gaza Strip by an Israeli strike — Al Jazeera

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Russian army pushes Ukraine out of Kurakhovo water reservoir’s north shore

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Lukashenko tells Putin situation is "starting to get tense with Wagner"

The Belarusian leader noted that they want to go to Warsaw

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West launched missiles targeting Russia’s Bryansk, Kursk Regions — Putin

Russian air defenses repulsed all attacks, the Russian president said

China holds US responsible for disrupted defense ministers' meeting in Laos

Wu Qian stated that the United States must immediately correct its mistakes, "honestly respect China’s main interests, and seek to create favorable conditions for high-level contacts between the military of the two countries"

Moscow-Washington hotline not in use now — Kremlin spokesman

Dmitry Peskov added that there have been no contacts via this new channel lately

Russian ambassador says UK prime minister doesn’t understand situation in Ukraine

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Humanitarian crisis in Kiev-controlled Kupyansk district of Kharkov Region near critical

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Press review: Uranium costs soar as Moscow updates nuclear doctrine and US OKs attacks

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Ukraine, not Russia, posing a threat to the Baltic region — Kremlin

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Zelensky begs ‘for his country to be flattened’ — US journalist

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Biden’s actions increase likelihood of escalation in Ukraine — PM

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Russian forces push Ukrainian troops 10 km away from Lisichansk in LPR — expert

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Weapons supplied to Ukraine cannot reach Russian territory, Spanish defense minister says

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