Chinese New Year, which is marks the beginning of the new year on the lunisolar Chinese calendar, celebrating the transition from winter to spring. In 2025, the festivities will begin on January 29 and continue for 15 days, ending with the Lantern Festival on February 12.
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Much like the snake sheds its skin, 2025 marks a year when individuals and communities can let go of old patterns and embrace innovation. The Year of the Snake serves as a call for thoughtful action and strategic change.
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Top Global Stories ๐๏ธโจ:
๐ Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have gone back to their homes in northern Gaza after being displaced for more than a year.
๐ค DeepSeek: Chinese start-up DeepSeek launched its latest AI models which are on par or better than leading US models from the likes of Google and Meta, and available at a lower cost.
๐ต Streaming agreement: Universal Music Group and Spotify have struck a multi-year deal that’ll see “new paid subscription tiers” and “a richer audio and visual content catalog”.
๐ฌ๐ง Prime air: Amazon drone deliveries in the UK are being rolled out in this northern city.
๐ณ๐ฟ Working remotely: New Zealand is relaxing rules for its digital nomad visa, in an effort to boost tourism.
๐๏ธ Mount Everest climbers will have to pay 36% more to reach the Nepalese summit, meaning it will now cost over $20,000 in peak season.

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๐ง A brain implant is undergoing NHS trials for boosting patient’s mood using ultrasound. It is hoped that the treatment may help to manage depression, addiction and epilepsy in the future.
๐ช๐จ Ecuador’s coastal marine ecosystems have been given legal rights in a landmark court ruling to ensure the government implements protective measures, like setting limits on human activities in the areas. It is the only country to recognise and protect the rights of nature at a constitutional level.
๐ง Kindness has been chosen as the Children’s Word of the Year, said to be an “encouraging” sign of youngsters’ awareness of mental health
๐ก Instead of a new jail, LA built a shipping container housing complex for homeless residents
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More Good News:
๐๏ธ Portland pays homeless residents to clean up trash: 'This gives people purpose'
๐ถ To encourage pet adoptions, Lyft offers discounted 'pet rides' ahead of annual Puppy Bowl
๐ฅ Try Guys, Jason Segel, Josh Gad, others raise over $1 million for LA wildfire relief in YouTube stream-a-thon
๐ก European affordable housing project 3D printed in just 12 days: 35% faster than 'conventional methods'
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๐ญ Todays Journal Prompt: "What values do you consider most important in life (honesty, justice, altruism, loyalty, etc.)? How do your actions align with those values?"
๐ Todays Affirmation: "I’m rising above the thoughts that are trying to make me angry or afraid.โ"โ
๐ฅ Practice Gratitude: Cultivate a practice of gratitude by regularly reflecting on things you are thankful for, including the lessons learned from mistakes. Gratitude can shift your perspective and foster a positive mindset.
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๐ฅ American Formula One team Haas has appointed the sport’s first female race engineer, Laura Mueller. Previously a performance engineer, Mueller will work with incoming driver Esteban Ocon.
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โผ๏ธ Pregnant Women, State Officials and Immigrant Families Sue Trump Administration Over Birthright Citizenship Ban.
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How Long Should I Wait to Ask for a Promotion?
Asking for a promotion can feel tricky to navigate, but knowing when and how to approach the conversation is key to success. Here's a breakdown of steps to help you figure out the right timing:
๐ Define the Growth Needed for a Promotion
Don’t leave your career growth up to guesswork. Collaborate with your manager to pinpoint the skills or experiences you need to refine for your next career step. Whether it’s completing a relevant course or tackling new responsibilities, clarity is key. Have an open discussion to map out exactly what’s expected for you to move forward.
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๐๏ธ Ask for a Clear Timeline
After identifying the growth areas, shift the conversation to timing. Ask your manager for a realistic timeline for when your efforts and development could lead to advancement. This helps set expectations and ensures you both stay on the same page about your progress.
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๐ Make It Measurable
Translate the feedback from your manager into concrete goals. Whether it’s leading a project successfully or achieving a specific metric, having measurable outcomes ensures there’s no ambiguity about your progress. When the results speak for themselves, your case for a promotion becomes undeniable.
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๐ง Set Personal Boundaries
Your career timeline matters just as much as your company’s. If you’ve been consistently meeting your targets for 12 to 18 months without any traction on your promotion, it may be time to reevaluate. Setting your own boundaries can protect your ambitions and help you decide when to seek opportunities elsewhere.
-Sophie Psychologist
Daily Reminder ๐ :
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๐ Selena Gomez Breaks Down Over Trump Administration Deportations: 'All My People Are Getting Attacked
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๐ฒ Dave Franco Addresses Luigi Mangione Comparisons: I've Never Received More Texts in My Life'
๐Lili Reinhart Shares She Developed An Eating Disorder While Filming "Riverdale": 99% of My Thoughts Were About My Body
๐ญ Danity Kane's D. Woods Breaks Her Silence on Diddy Sexual Abuse Scandal: Felt Treated 'Like a Piece of Meat'
๐ HBO Releases the Official Trailer for Season Three of 'The White Lotus'
๐ The Bachelor's Rachael Kirkconnell Shuts Down Matt James Reconciliation Rumors
๐ Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce Seal the Chiefs' Win With a Kiss After Advancing to 2025 Super Bowl (& we are obsessed!!!
๐ผ Former Disney Channel Star Skai Jackson Gives Birth to First Child
๐ถ Lady Gaga is expected to announce LG7 today
โค๏ธ Rumours are spreading that Andrew Garfield & Demi Moore are dating.
๐ Justin & Hailey Bieber step out for date night at comedy club & were joined by Tate McRae
๐Bill Gates Reveals Melinda French Gates Divorce Is His Biggest Regret in Life
More Loop Gossip:
๐ฒ Dave Franco Addresses Luigi Mangione Comparisons: I've Never Received More Texts in My Life'
๐Lili Reinhart Shares She Developed An Eating Disorder While Filming "Riverdale": 99% of My Thoughts Were About My Body
๐ญ Danity Kane's D. Woods Breaks Her Silence on Diddy Sexual Abuse Scandal: Felt Treated 'Like a Piece of Meat'
๐ HBO Releases the Official Trailer for Season Three of 'The White Lotus'
๐ The Bachelor's Rachael Kirkconnell Shuts Down Matt James Reconciliation Rumors
๐ Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce Seal the Chiefs' Win With a Kiss After Advancing to 2025 Super Bowl (& we are obsessed!!!
๐ผ Former Disney Channel Star Skai Jackson Gives Birth to First Child
๐ถ Lady Gaga is expected to announce LG7 today
โค๏ธ Rumours are spreading that Andrew Garfield & Demi Moore are dating.
๐ Justin & Hailey Bieber step out for date night at comedy club & were joined by Tate McRae
๐Bill Gates Reveals Melinda French Gates Divorce Is His Biggest Regret in Life
๐๏ธ Billy Ray Cyrus threatens to sue son Trace Cyrus, after he begged his father in a post to seek help. "Everyone around you is terrified to tell you how they really feel. I'm not get help."
๐ชLizzo has reached her 'goal weight" in her health journey: I haven't seen this number since 2014!
๐ณ๏ธ๐ Chappell Roan is pushing back against those who have called her a diva "I'd be more successful if I was OK wearing a muzzle."
๐คMorgan Wallen has announced his new album I'm the Problem'
๐ถ Ed Sheeran becomes 1st international artist to perform in South Asian country, Bhutan: What a gig, what a country, what a beautiful place'
๐ Taylor Swift could be hinting at rerelease of Reputation & her debut album after they disappeared from Spotify yesterday
๐ฆ Miley Cyrus has 'no interest' in repairing relationship with dad Bily Ray source says
๐ฅ Lady Gaga and Rosé Make Surprise Cameos In Bruno Mars and Sexyy Red's Fat, Juicy & Wet' Music Video Her
๐ฒ Meta are secretly forcing users to follow Trump & JD Vance.
๐๏ธ Vin Diesel Vows to Shoot Remainder of 'Fast X: Part 2' in Los Angeles Amid the Devastating Wildfires
๐Most Nominated Films at the 2025 Oscars are Emilia Pérez 13 noms, Wicked 10 noms, The Brutalist 10 noms, A Complete Unknown 8 Noms & Conclave with also 8 noms
Her
๐'It Ends With Us' Author Colleen Hoover Deactivates Instagram as Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni's Legal Drama Continues
๐ SZA Announced as Guest Performer for Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl Halftime Show
๐ 'Emilia Pérez' Star Karla Sofia Gascón Is the First Openly Trans Person to be Nominated For an Acting Oscar
๐ป Little Mix Alum Jade Thirlwall Says Harry Styles Ghosted Her After One Date
๐ค Ariana Grande likes an IG post throwing shade at Carrie Underwood for her inauguration performance
๐ฐ Blake Lively Accuses Justin Baldoni of "Unwanted Touching" in New It Ends With Us Video
๐ Addison Rae speaks about ex Bryce Hall "I think he cheated on me" adding "it was a mess"
๐๏ธ Prince Harry Reaches "Substantial" Settlement in Lawsuit With U.K. Tabloids After Public Apology
โญ๏ธ Ryan Gosling in Talks to Join 'Star Wars' Movie
๐ฒ Justin Bieber Claims Someone Went Into His Instagram Account and Unfollowed Wife Hailey
๐ก Spencer Pratt Says He's Made $24K on TikTok After Losing Home Home to Wildfires
๐ฅ Tyra Banks Found Out She Lost Her Home in LA Wildfires While She Was in Australia
๐ Trevor Noah to Host GRAMMY Awards for a Fifth Time